News

When I started serving at the UN in Geneva, representing the Brahma Kumaris in the arena of Human rights, I became acutely aware of the many violations and breaches of these rights there are in the world. To address these issues, we needed a group of strong, like-minded people and organisations to work together as allies. As the Brahma Kumaris are a spiritual organisation, we naturally turned to the oldest social structures within society, namely religions.

Consequently, the Geneva Interfaith Forum for Climate Change, Environment and Human Rights was formed. We started acting as a proactive group to move forward the topic of climate change and human rights, until we succeeded in obtaining a ‘UN Special Mandate’ and finally a ‘Special Rapporteur’, whose work it was to study climate change from a human rights angle.

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As an only child growing up in the forest of Yuin Country (New South Wales) in Australia, I felt a genuine connection with other species and the living landscape. In First Nations languages of Australia, there are many words that capture the profound art of deep, silent listening. One such word is “Dadirri,” a Pitanjajara term from the Western Desert, which conveys an attentive, affectionate, and curious listening to the present moment. It’s about being fully present and open—qualities that form the foundation of how we connect with the world around us.

This newsletter explores non-verbal ways of communication, not just with each other but with all living beings. Often, we rely on words, but there exists a richer dialogue in the silence and subtle exchanges of energy that connect us all.

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The focus in this edition of the BKEI Eco-newsletter is on appreciation; appreciation of the contribution that trees can, and do, make to our lives.

However, appreciation for something can be a bit slippery. It is perhaps a little like a rainbow. When you first see it, you stop to wonder at its beauty, you perhaps bring it to other people’s attention, too. Then, gradually, as the rain passes, the intensity begins to fade until there is just the slightest hue remaining before it’s gone. So too, with appreciation. When something is present in your life on a regular basis our appreciation for it can fade into the background.  That is until something or someone comes along and prompts us to look through fresh eyes once again.

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At the time of writing, I am sitting in a snow-covered beautiful landscape in the Swedish Forests. It is cold, minus 10, and it is stunningly beautiful. I am reflecting on our participation in the last UNclimate change conference COP28, which took place in Dubai, UAE, in December 2023. With over 80.000 participants, it became the biggest COP conference ever. The Brahma Kumaris is an accredited observer organisation and was represented by an experienced team with over 15 delegates.

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Hold a seed in your hand, try to feel the life that it contains within itself. It’s amazing to realise that what I hold in my hands, this humble little seed, is the source of life for us all. A seed is like an embryo, a unit of life that is nurtured by water and the strength of the sunlight. It is also nourished by the richness and accommodation of the soil and all the microorganisms within the soil.

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Many would argue that the world is in a state of degradation, despite the advancements in technology. However, the proof of this lies in the rapid rate by which land is being degraded worldwide. The impacts of land degradation will be felt by most of the world’s population. The two major challenges are soil erosion and desertification.

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We live on a blue planet. The name is misleading, we call it Earth, yet over 70% of its surface is covered by the ocean. It is the Blue Marble as in the beautiful image taken by astronauts in 1972. Sometimes we forget how essential the ocean is for the water we drink, the air we breathe, the food we eat, for life. The ocean is the biggest ecosystem on the planet, holding 99% of all habitable space in the world, it contains 94% of the world’s wildlife and 97% of all the water. It is responsible for at least 50% of the oxygen on Earth. The ocean is a major factor in the water cycle that affects climate and weather. It controls rainfall and droughts. Without this process, most of our planet would be an icy desert. The ocean is our biggest ally in the fight against climate change. It is responsible for absorbing 25-50% of the carbon dioxide humans have released into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels. Scientists have determined that the ocean absorbs more than 90% of the excess heat, which is attributed to greenhouse gas emissions.

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I grew up in an iron ore mining town in northern Canada. I grew up knowing that food was purchased at the grocery store. I then worked in community development in Canada, Africa and Asia and learned food actually comes from the land. From the land, and the farmers and harvesters, transporters, processors, wholesalers, retailers and all the others involved in the food system. To enjoy food there is also a chain of cooking, eating and disposing of waste. And, when we think about it, there is a huge global, industrial system of food production and consumption based on geo-political relationships, energy consumption, using chemical fertilisers, pesticides and preservatives, financial subsidies, corporate profits, seed patents, land ownership … and as much as 35% of production goes to waste! Food is a complicated issue! 

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The state of the planet is broken. We must stop our war on nature. Making peace with nature is the defining task of the 21st century. Food systems are one of the main reasons why we are failing to stay within our planet’s ecological boundaries” Antonio Guterres – Secretary-General of The United Nations

Welcome to our January Newsletter.  In this edition, we are focusing on how we can restore our sacred relationship with the Earth particularly in relation to how we produce our food.

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