Combating Desertification

At the core of the Brahma Kumaris’ work is the understanding of the connection between our consciousness, thoughts and actions, and their impact on the world. Currently, next to the climate change and biodiversity loss, humanity faces one more environmental crisis related to the land management. The last one is another clear call to transform our awareness and lifestyle and start caring for how we use and respect the available resources on the planet Earth.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management, creating conditions for a future that avoids, minimizes, and reverses desertification/land degradation and mitigates the effects of drought in affected areas at all levels.

Brahma Kumaris, with over thousands of centres in local communities, on all continents, contributes to the vision and aims of the UNCCD by creating a lasting change in the understanding and attitudes of people and thus enabling a sustainable world through empowered and resilient individuals and communities. For many years, Brahma Kumaris have been conducting rural outreach programs for education and empowerment of rural women, farmers and youth. Some of the main BK programs and activities relevant in that area are as follows:

• Sustainable yogic farming;
• R&D in renewable energy and extensive usage of solar power.
• Water management: harvesting, recycling and sanitation in drought prone areas;
• Tree plantation, urban parks, restoration of dry, waste lands;
• Healthcare and development for tribal areas;
• De-addiction campaigns in rural and urban areas;
• Disaster services: preparation, responding and serving;

Life is sacred, nature is sacred. It’s time to remind ourselves how sacred this plant is and that it’s our duty to love and respect nature and every living being.