Wisdom Tree...

The moderator for this evening’s Climate Wisdom, Golo Pilz, set the tone by updating the audience on the controversies surrounding COP28. Some believe that there is no need to phase off fossil fuel to reach 1.5 degree whilst others, mostly scientists say that there is no more time to lose. Methane gas, he added, is often overlooked which is about 80 times more powerful than carbon emissions.

Our panel of experts for the evening were Hanna Soldal – Act Church of Sweden, Advocacy advisor with focus on climate justice; Shantanu Mandal – Youth representative of the Brahma Kumaris to UNEP, works with International Union Conservation of Nature and Youngo and Sister Jayanti, Additional Administrative Head of the Brahma Kumaris.

Hanna was always compassionate towards nature since her childhood and would yearn for White Christmas which become quite rare. She also introduced the audience to ‘Ecocide’, i.e. the murder of nature or the destruction of eco systems. She added the need binding international law and make the murder of nature punishable. EU has decided upon a law which is similar, and many other people have been lobbying for this.

“I believe that God created every part of this earth which means nature is holy. How do we treat things that are holy? We cherish them and want to give them to the next generation.”

Shantanu who took to veganism shared his journey and the fact that it helps in reducing the emissions significantly, and a big step to curb the effects of climate change. He does see that the youth may be expecting quick fixes yet through his own actions and behavior he is able to help them see the importance of being patient, stable and calm. They need to sustain the heart with love and compassion and then the hand will do the right thing.

In light of the injustice that the world is facing currently, Sister Jayanti shared a novel concept – the seasons are cyclic; from spring to summer, then autumn, winter, and back to spring, we also have the cycle of day and night, similarly, the world historically goes through different cycles – there is a period of beauty, truth which gradually reduces, then there is a period when the pandoras box opens and all ills emerge and then we have darkness. Witnessing the huge amount of suffering for everyone, this period we are now passing through is a dark age.

When I stand as a detached observer, I see the people going through internal or external pain and sorry, both individually and collectively. Our exposure to materialism and consumerism has created negative actions; and we know that as you sow, so shall you reap. We have done so much exploitation, violence against nature, and nature is reacting in the form of droughts, floods, and so on. If we were to have a spiritual understanding of what’s going on, i.e., the laws of karma, we have upset the balance of nature and are responsible for the fruits. We can do something collectively and personally; by drawing the power of the Supreme’s love in meditation, we can share those vibrations with the world; we can also change our lifestyle and that can reduce our carbon footprint.

Wishes of trust, respect, inclusiveness, harmony and ‘taking off the delegate’s hat to become real humans’ were shared in summary of the session.