Report for 6 & 7 Dec 2012
Side event at the Intercontinental Hotel: Sustainable Innovation Forum
As COP18 Qatar draws to a close, business and government leaders gathered at the Sustainable Innovation Forum. The forum took place in the Intercontinental Hotel overlooking the beautiful Al Corniche area of Doha and the Arabian Gulf. It was hosted by Climate Action in partnership with UNEP led by Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director and Under Secretary General of the United Nations. As the Forum is also looking into collaboration with the civil society, NGO's were invited, and from Brahma Kumaris there were 6 participants.
Sister Jayanti was invited to be part of innovation, by leading a moment of silent reflection for the gathering. When the first plenary session moderated by Jane Dutton, Senior News Presenter at Al Jazeera, came to its close Sister Jayanti came up onto the stage. She thanked UNEP for taking this innovative step to give time something new. Sister Jayanti introduced meditation with addressing the energy of thought:
"Let’s take a moment to experience clean, infinity renewable energy of thought to sustain the self, so that there is hope clarity and courage to move forward."
A three-minute reflection was led by Sister Jayanti, and the atmosphere of many words were changed into one of peace. Many people came up to Sister Jayanti afterwards, wanting to express their thanks and appreciation.
Peninsula News: about the Birla School Program with Sister Jayanti, Golo Piltz and Anthony Phelips: Please click here.
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Climate change interview to Sister Jayanti during COP18
Message from the organizers of the Qatar Sustainability Exhibition to Jagir Baxi, who was the responsible for the BKEI stand in the QSE: “Thank-you for all of the time you spent with members of the local community and school children who visited - education regarding sustainability was definitely the highlight of the show. Please pass my thanks on to anyone who assisted at your stand”.
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Report from 7 December 2012
Side event organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC)
Ethical and religious insights on the climate crisis
Climate change, adaptation and mitigation have been at the core of religious communities and faith-based organizations’ concerns and actions. Religious communities shared ethical and spiritual dimensions of the climate crisis echoing the suffering of people who are experiencing threats to their livelihoods.
Moderator: Rev. William Somplatsky-Jarman
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Speakers: Sister Jayanti Kirpalani
Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University - Europe
Father John T. Brinkman, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
Archbishop Seraphim Kykotis of Zimbabwe and Angola
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa
From Brahma Kumaris, apart from Sister Jayanti, the participants
were: Valeriane Bernard,Jyotika Hulmani, Mohit Sibal,
Teresa Mumgazi and Teresa Lugones.
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Rev. William Somplatsky-Jarman presented the film: “Living in solidarity with the victims of climate change”. The situation that Tuvalu Island is going through, as a result of climate change, was clearly exposed through the film: coral barrier, which used to protect the island from high waves, disappeared; they are loosing land, crops and fish. The inhabitants of the island do not want to become climate change refugees transferred to some refugee camps. They strongly feel that they do not want to loose their traditions, their language, their faith: they want to be Tuvalus. They feel that the international community has to take action to allow Tuvalu to survive.
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Sister Jayanti Kirpalani stated that the cause of moving away from a harmonious world is the fact that we have forgotten about the value for our own inner being and therefore no value is given to other human beings and nature. An individual personal choice is needed, a change of consciousness and awareness of spiritual values. I am responsible in a give and take relationship with nature, she said, so let me reduce what I take.
Another important aspect to consider is the law of cause and effect. Whatever we do will return to us, therefore we need to be able to give back what we have taken.
Nature is eternal and the soul is eternal. The most fundamental aspect of spirituality is the power of our relationship with the Divine. While we are connected to God, the vibrations reach all around us. This is not only true for people but also for nature. This connection gives us the opportunity to reverse the process of damage that we have been responsible for.
Archbishop Seraphim Kykotis noted the strength that the united voice of six billion believers can have. He said: the planet is one body, and if one part of the body is suffering, the whole body suffers.
- Father John T. Brinkman stated
that we are going through difficult times, developing and developed countries are pointing their fingers at one another. We just have to know what is true and to do what is right. Every human being has the right to access a world that provides the means for personal fulfillment and fulfillment of the planet itself.
- World Council of Churches at COP 18
article related to Sister Jayanti Kirpalani
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Interview from UNFCCC Studio at COP 18 to Valeriane Bernard and Guillermo Kerber, from the World Council of Churches
Guillermo talked about international negotiations, stressing the relationship between human rights and climate change.
The rights of humanity are being affected: right to food, to water, to land, to their home. We are calling the international community and all sectors of civil society to mobilize and tackle the hurdles that obstruct adequate and equitable international action on climate change and human rights, he said. We urge NGOs, Civil Society movements and government officials to call for the establishment of a Special Rapporteur on human rights and climate change.
Valeriane was requested to talk about the role of interfaith in the context of Climate Change. In all Religions and faiths, nature is considered sacred, as a Mother, and human beings are the trustees of Nature. This is something there is agreement about in all faiths. Ethics is at the basis of the discussion. As people are being affected and their voices are not being heard by their Governments, she said, our duty is to bring their voices to these negotiations. Churches, Mosques and Temples are representing voices of people who are suffering from climate change. They are the voice of care. That is the reason why the Interfaith Group was created.
There was also an Interview from Qatar Foundation Live Radio to Sister Jayanti on 7 December 2012
Overview of activities by Brahma Kumaris Environment Initiative at UN Climate Change Conference COP18, Doha 2012
3 Preparatory Meetings
2 Exhibitions – one inauguration
1 Youth Workshop
3 Side events at COP18
1 Press Conference COP
4 Public Talks – Expo, Al Safa Hotel, Birla School
1 VIP meeting
1 Qatar Foundation presentation
2 Presentations at companies – Woqood, Mercure Hotel
Experiential meditation at Business Forum,
1 Radio Interview
1 Climate Change TV
5 News Paper Articles
12 reports
Interfaith meetings
Networking, meeting ministers and main UN individuals
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Report for 5 Dec 2012
What is needed now is a profound shift in global awareness
