Commentary: Where faith and environmentalism intersect
Close to 10,000 people, from more than 80 countries and representing some 50 established religions, participated in this year’s Parliament of the World’s Religions (PWR).
This was a weeklong global experience of understanding, tolerance, respect and international friendship organized by the Council on the Parliament of the World Religions (CPWR), which was established in 1893.
After beginning in Chicago, and moving around the world to various cities, including Cape Town, South Africa, Barcelona, Spain, and Melbourne, Australia, this year’s event was held last month in Salt Lake City.
The conference looked like a mini-world, with a wide range of nationalities, ethnicities, races and religions. The opening ceremony was impressive, with celebrities and distinguished leaders speaking profoundly and humanistically on unity, peace and harmony.
This year, his holiness, the Dali Lama, was set to be the keynote speaker, but unfortunately his health deteriorated a few days before the opening, and he was rushed to the hospital. He managed to send a message, which was read on his behalf. We prayed for his quick recovery and complete health.
Three Native-American chiefs from separate tribes started the opening ceremony while some of their tribe members were beating drums and playing centuries-old songs. The chiefs, in their traditional dress and eagle-feather headbands, along with top members of their tribes marching behind them, were impressive.
Once on stage, one of the chiefs made a passionate speech on behalf of all three reminding us where we all come from and where we all will eventually end up: the cradle of Mother Earth.
I was interviewed the first day by a journalist from Utah. I had the opportunity of sharing some thoughts based on global friendship, love, peace and harmony, and our collective efforts.
I received the honor of being part of this event almost a year ago, when asked to chair one of the tracks on climate change, “Stewardship of the Environment,” where I had five speakers, including myself, address the relationship of man, nature and religion.
I was also part of another panel, “A Petition to United Nations,” where we proposed the establishment of a belief-based arm for the United Nations to help work toward creating lasting peace among various beliefs and cultures.
This was well-received, and the committee that formed afterward is collecting signatures through an online petition to be submitted to the U.N, which can be viewed at UNReligiousArm.org
The “Stewardship of the Environment” was a fascinating forum. The timing could not have been better, as Pope Francis had just issued his second encyclical letter, “On Care for our Common Home,” which was part of the Holy Father Laudato Si (Praise Be To You) writings.
In a separate article I had written couple of months ago about the Pope’s Laudato Si, I believe the well-written encyclical letter can be summarized in following statements:
• That If we care for our common home, and if we want a betterment of life for all humanity, plants and animals on a tiny speck of land we call Mother Earth, we need a paradigm shift in our way of living.
• It may be a bit late, or getting late, but better late than never. The paradigm shift is a new way of looking at our lives, for those of us who are blessed to be living in a great country bestowed with so many sacred blessings.
• And whether we are a believer, a follower of faith, any faith, or are an atheist, it makes no difference: the blessings are here.
• Considering the fact that we are living in an ever-increasing world of global interconnection and inter-dependence, with instant news, a disposition of even a small group of people in one corner of the world, be it in Africa or the Middle East, will impact lives halfway across the globe.
It was with this view that I had planned the “Stewardship of the Environment.” And in the end, we came up with an action-item list for consideration. The overall point is simple: Use, but don’t abuse.
And the list is just a draft suggestion, respectfully submitted to the readers, which goes beyond the “5 Rs” (Recycle, Reuse, Repair, Respect and Reduce), offering a sixth maxim, “Rethink.”
We all need a paradigm shift if we care for our common home, and if we want a betterment of life for all humanity.
The following are the seven proposed initiatives for you, the respectful and caring reader, to consider:
1.) Create a global council, perhaps “Council on Care for Our Common Home.”
2.) Create a “Planet Earth — Our Common Home Prize,” similar to the Nobel Prize.
3.) Ask an executive from a participating corporation to go once a month to elementary schools and create awareness for our common home among children.
4.) Allow these kids to become “Ambassadors of Care for Our Common Home” when they grow up.
5.) Create a “Chief Caring Officer,” or CCO. A top executive would assume the position of CCO within the corporate culture of their for-profit organization and do her/his best for care for Our Common Home.
6.) Create “Net Care.” One main measure of success for businesses is net profit. Creation of a new success measurement, based on intangible values a company can contribute to betterment of life, may take some companies to a deeper level of ethics and morality.
7.) Embedding the very simple 6Rs in our daily lives, via creating awareness through all channels of communications and via educations starts with another fundamental R: Rethink.
K.E. MEHRFAR lives in Corona del Mar.