"They are getting together - the seven big religions of the world - to commit to a seven year plan for conservation. I have been peripherally involved as well, so feel good that something of what I do will contribute towards saving the planet for the coming generations."

That’s what a woman working in the UN in New York e-mailed me recently. She added: "The momentous event with the Secretary General’s attendance will be at Windsor Park from 2-4 Nov. It really is a wonderful initiative since it brings together eleven different faiths and through their commitment, to work towards building a better planet. How great is that! I personally think this is what a miracle is all about and when faiths live up to their true calling, the effect is holistic and immensely uplifting. The faith’s that are to be represented are: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Baha’i, Daoism, Sikhism, Shintoism, Zoroastriunism and Jainism."

I agree with her on the wonder of the getting together. Interest aroused, I asked for more information, some of which I pass on to you. I too believe strongly that if religious leaders get together they may really save the world, working with political leaders and other organizations and individuals concerned with excessive carbon emission and warming of the atmosphere. Even we in our island home need to fear this as the Maldives is doing. To alert the world more immediately the Maldivian government held a Cabinet meeting on the sea bed, with the young President and his Ministers in diving gear. Did that elicit responses? Not much since small countries are expendable, the sea can rise as long as it does not affect the rich and powerful countries. Cynical? Yes. Justified? Most certainly!

Now this getting together of faiths will surely have an impact, particularly since the The Copenhagen Climate Change Summit is scheduled for December this year

 "Without the full support and cooperation and participation of religious leaders, it will be very difficult to create a political climate conducive to agreeing on a very balanced and harmonious and equitable and binding agreement in Copenhagen. They have a strong influence and network. The reach is wide and deep and long so we must use this long and wide and deep reach in our common efforts to address climate change," observed the Secretary-General of the United Nations, His Excellency Ban Ki-moon.

Olav Kjorven, Assist Secretary-General UNDP, observed: "The world’s faiths joined together in the cause – if viewed in terms of sheer numbers of people – could become the planet’s largest civil society movement for change. With their unparalleled presence throughout the world, the world’s religions could be the decisive force that helps tip the scales in favor of a world of climate safety and justice for future generations... this event will be one for the history books."

From November 2-4, faith leaders from around the world met in Windsor at an event hosted by HRH Prince Philip and attended by the Secretary General of the United Nations, senior officials from the UNDP, the World Bank, UNFPA and some INGOs, with of course religious leaders. The aim was to launch and discuss their long term initiatives to Protect the Living Planet and to pass them on to the leaders meeting in December. Religious leaders will announce their own commitments to protect the natural environment and work to reduce the carbon impact of their own organizations, of their followers, and of the countries in which they are based. This important event will also send the message to governments that this major element of civil society believes that care for the natural environment is not a luxury, but that it is at the core of what most of the world believes and wants. It will also, hopefully, start chains of activity which will protect the environment for generations, regardless of what the governments decide at Copenhagen.

There will be a sharing of initiatives undertaken by individual faiths and places such as all Daoist Temples in China being solar powered; greening all types of religious buildings; protecting sacred forests; developing ethical investment policies; printing sacred books on environmentally-friendly paper; creating educational programmes through the faiths’ major role in both formal and informal education.

In 2008, the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) inaugurated an international programme in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The intention was to help all key religions launch major new initiatives as a contribution towards protecting the natural environment and addressing issues such as climate change.

In 1986 ARC’s now Secretary General, Martin Palmer, worked with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to create a historic event in Assisi in which five key faiths were invited to "come proud of what they believe and humble enough to listen to others" and discuss what they each believed about human relationship with the environment. This meeting was one of the key moments in the beginning of an alliance between faiths and conservation and ten years later it led to the formal founding of ARC at a ceremony in Windsor. In 2000 ARC organised the groundbreaking Kathmandu Faiths and Nature event, with WWF, which led to the dedication of dozens of Sacred Gifts around the world. The Windsor event just concluded is the most significant event that ARC has organised, and it is the first time UNDP have partnered in this way with the faiths.

On 3 November delegates were invited for a special vegan lunch hosted by HRH Prince Philip at Windsor Catle - the first time Castle caterers have organized a vegan meal for a Royal banquet. 

It also saw the launching of ARC’s new internet portal - religionsandconservation.org, enabling groups around the world to tell their stories through text, video, audio and pictures, and to be linked together to inspire others. On 4 November, a public meeting for some 1,000 people was held at the Quaker Meeting House entitled: "Many Heavens: One Earth - Faiths, the Environment and Copenhagen".

There were many addresses from leaders, both religious and secular, on the three days. In addition, all food at the conference was vegetarian and free-range, most local, organic and fair-trade.

A question was asked as to why people were flying in from overseas to a meeting which is about reducing carbon emissions. The answer of ARC was that they had offset all the carbon emissions - and more - generated through flights for this Celebration through supporting tree nurseries and planting by Christian and Buddhist run projects in Zambia and Sri Lanka. (Please note)

Buddhism and ecology

It will be very interesting to know who represented Sri Lanka at this celebration/series of meetings.

Buddhism has a very strong slant to the environment and its protection. The Buddha’s very life proves it since his birth, enlightenment, most of his preachings and his death happened in the open, under trees, one with nature. I believe this was deliberate, apart from Queen Mahamaya giving him birth in the sal grove, on the part of Siddhartha and then the Buddha.

The Buddha knew full well and stressed the connection between man and his environment and the importance of treating nature with respect. Didn’t he venerate the Bo tree for one entire week after his enlightenment? His doctrine of living simply, forswearing conspicuous consumption through greed, protection of life, right livelihood, quiet reflection and meditation point very much to the protection of the environment that sustains life.

In the words of Maha Ghosananda (Somdech Preah – Supreme leader of Cambodian Buddhists. b 1929):