We
urge all Buddhist-affiliated groups, organizations and sanghas to strongly encourage their members to
join The March on September
21 for this historic event.
The People’s Climate March is fast
approaching and momentum is gathering. According to the vast majority of scientific
experts, climate change is the greatest crisis our civilization has ever
faced. World leaders including President Barack Obama will be meeting at
the UN
Climate Summit in New York on September 23 to
discuss strategies for our collective future on this planet. Together we must
mandate that they take definitive steps towards a cleaner energy future with
greatly reduced pollution. As the Buddha taught, we are all interdependent, so
let us march as one sangha and one voice for swift, effective action on climate
change.
Sign up for the People’s Climate March and
learn about other options for participating at the Buddhists and Other Mindful Activists site.
If you cannot make the trip to NYC, consider
acting locally with your sangha. For help, visit 350.org's global
mobilization page.
Watch Disruption—an
extraordinary film about the March.
Read an important article by Ven. Bhikkhu
Bodhi: ‘Moving From a Culture of Death to a Culture of Life:
Mobilizing for the People’s Climate March’.
STATEMENTS
BY NEW YORK AREA BUDDHIST LEADERS IN SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE’S CLIMATE MARCH:
Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi,
Founder, Buddhist Global Relief: "I am going to join the March because I believe that
climate change is the greatest moral challenge we face today, asking us each to
take personal responsibility for the fate of humanity as a whole. It also
offers us a unique opportunity to change the dominant social paradigm, from one
that extols competition and commodification to one that extols cooperation and
affirms the intrinsic value of all people and all living beings on this
planet."
Rev. Dr. T. Kenjitsu
Nakagaki, President, Buddhist Council of New York: "I am joining
the People's Climate March in order to lend my voice to the growing serious
concerns about environmental issues which affect all living beings on our
earth. I was so disappointed when the U.S. in 2001 rejected
the "Kyoto Protocol" international agreement created by the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change. As time passes, more people are
becoming aware of the environmental impact caused by climate change. Now is the
time to appeal to governments to consider this issue together on September
21 just prior to the UN assembly. We all live on this planet, and we
therefore have responsibility to take care of it well."
Roshi Pat Enkyo O'Hara, Abbot, Village Zendo: “I am joining the People’s Climate March because all of us ‘people’ are the
ones who can make change for the well being of this, our home, the
Earth. We are speaking up and supporting a healthy and vibrant Earth that
can feed and nourish all beings. Let us discard the old forms of exploiting our
Earth and instead embrace stewardship and care. Join us and we can make a
difference!”
Ven. Bhante Kondañña, Abbot, Staten Island Buddhist Vihara (Sri Lankan Buddhist Community): “I am joining with the concerned people’s
march for saving our planet. This is the only planet we have to share with other
millions of living beings. Every living being is important as my own life.
Each one of us is responsible for saving our earth that we are living in. Due
to greed and ignorance or being unable to see the danger ahead of us, many
unconcerned people are polluting our mother earth in many ways. It is time
to act to make them aware of it. So, I join with People’s March to support to
save this planet for all people and all living beings!”
Ven. Kenpo Pema Wangdak, Abbot, Palden Sakya Centers (Tibetan Buddhist Community): “I
ask Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to give us all the wisdom of protecting our earth
and the power to save, even for an extended day. May they give us the strength
to change the course of the potentially disastrous chain of environmental
events. May they help us to see all the things, religion, spirituality,
scientific progress, history, beauty, art, including our mental peace and
the enlightenment, and everything that is possibly good for humanity and that
humanity aspires for, and that all the living things on this little globe, all
will be in vain without the healthy Mother Earth. Let us remind ourselves that
it neither is too early nor too late, neither a good time or a bad
time, that there is nothing more important than this living, breathing Mother
Earth, and that everything else is secondary.”
Ven. Refa, President, American Buddhist Confederation (Chinese Buddhist Community): "I am joining the People's Climate
March. I believe that it is a good opportunity to expand the compassion of
Buddhism. It is a way to wake up leaders of the world to face the crisis
of Climate Change. It is also a chance to stop overtaking the resources of
the earth. That will make the world more peaceful."
Ven. Hwikwang, Abbot, East Regional Jogye Order of North America (Korean Buddhist Community): "You may not feel that global warming is
a serious problem. But, if global warming pollution and the temperature of the
earth are increased more than now, it would be very harmful to everyone.
On September 21st, please come out to NYC with your family, friends, and your
pet if you have one and show your concern for global warming. To keep our
environment safe, clean, and healthy, we need your voice and
participation."
Sensei Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Abbot, Brooklyn Zen Center: "As a Buddhist and a human being, if I am sincere in my vows to
liberate all suffering, to cease from harm, and to be of benefit in this world,
then to be passive or ignore the present suffering that we call 'Climate
Change' would be to make my vows a farce. This may be the greatest moral and
practical challenge that the human sangha has ever faced: How to face such
overwhelming truths as we recognize in the state of our planet, to be fearless
in the presence of fear, to be utterly committed, and to do so without hatred
or denial? I hope to see you on the streets of this great city on September
21."
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