wfn.org | Baha'i news: Baha'is join global plan for "generational change" on climate change

[Sally Weeks <sweeks@bwc.org>]

>Baha'i World News Service
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Baha'is join global plan for "generational change" on climate change

NEW YORK, 27 October (BWNS) - The Baha'i International Community today anno unced that it has become a partner in a United Nations-sponsored program to  promote "generational change" to address climate change and environmental  sustainability.

The program, which is co-sponsored by the Alliance of Religions and Conserv ation (ARC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), seeks to p romote lifestyle changes that will help slow global warming and other envir onmental problems during a seven-year period from 2010 to 2017.

"We are very pleased to join with other world religions and with the United  Nations in this inspiring initiative to promote lasting change in the way  people interact with the environment," said Tahirih Naylor, a representativ e of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.

"The significance of this effort is the manner in which it capitalizes on t he strengths of faith communities - such as their strong grassroots network  and the transformative power of religious belief - to address environmenta l problems at their foundation, which is human behavior.

"One of the long-term goals of the Baha'i Faith is to promote the positive  transformation of individuals and communities, and to this end we already s ponsor thousands of study circles, children's classes, devotional gathering s, and youth groups in more than 180 countries.

"We look forward to learning more about the efforts of other faith communit ies and are confident that we can make a useful contribution to this exciti ng program," she said.

Ms. Naylor will join representatives of the world's other religions next we ek at Windsor Castle when the ARC/UNDP program is formally launched. The ev ent, scheduled for 2-4 November, will feature a keynote speech by UN Secret ary General Ban Ki-moon and will be hosted by HRH The Prince Philip.

More than 200 faith and secular leaders are expected to be present, and man y faith groups will announce commitments to practical initiatives, like the  Baha'i plan, to meet global environmental challenges. Joining Ms. Naylor a s a Baha'i representative to the event will be Arthur Lyon Dahl, a former d eputy assistant executive director of the United Nations Environment Progra mme, an author, and a well-known specialist on coral reefs and biodiversity .

Ms. Naylor noted that the BIC has been a member of ARC since its founding,  and has consistently sought to support its program of interfaith conservati on efforts.

"The worldwide Baha'i community has long been involved in promoting sustain able development and in creating small-scale projects that include environm ental conservation," she said. "And so this initiative is especially exciti ng because of the way it concretely addresses the underlying attitudes and  values that are at the root of many of humanity's environmental problems."

Specifically, said Ms. Naylor, Baha'is around the world will be encouraged  to explore the relationship of humans to the environment as articulated in  the Baha'i sacred writings and to take action at the individual and communi ty level.

"In our experience, connecting the hearts of people to sacred writings is t he best way to provide the motivation for social change and action," she sa id. "As well, Baha'is will be encouraged to engage in acts of service relat ed to environmental sustainability."

At the present time, Ms. Naylor said, many thousands of Baha'is in virtuall y every country are engaged in a coherent framework of action that promotes  the spiritual development of the individual and channels the collective en ergies of its members towards service to humanity.

These activities include the systematic study of the Baha'i writings in sma ll groups in order to build capacity for service; devotional gatherings aim ed at connecting the hearts of participants with the Creator; neighborhood  children's classes that offer lessons aimed at laying the foundations of a  noble and upright character; and groups that strive to assist young teens t o navigate a crucial stage of their lives and become empowered to direct th eir energies toward the advancement of civilization.

The Baha'i International Community is an international nongovernmental orga nization that represents the worldwide Baha'i community, which has some fiv e million members in 100,000 localities spread through virtually every coun try. Its members come from nearly every ethnic group, culture, profession,  and social or economic background.

ARC is a secular body that helps the major religions of the world to develo p their own environmental programs, based on their own core teachings, beli efs and practices. It was founded in 1995 by Prince Philip. Its members inc lude 11 major world religions.

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