| EcoSikh Unveils a Major Environment Campaign to be Observed by Sikhs’ Worldwide: Nanded to go Green
|
 |
| L to R: Jaspreet Kaur (Khalsa Multiversity), Manjit Singh (Ganga Nursery), Ravneet Singh (EcoSikh), D P Singh Chawla (Hazur Sahib), Col. KS Sandhu (AIPL, Ambuja), Harjit Singh (Chandigarh Gurdwara Association), Mr. Sabharwal (Guru Granth Sahib Sewa Society) |
Chandigarh, February 23, 2013: Prominent Sikh personalities came together to announce major initiatives on environment and endorse the upcoming celebrations on Sikh Environment Day being celebrated on March 14th . This day marks the coronation day of 7th Sikh Guru, Guru Har Rai, who is remembered in Sikh history for his deep sensitivity to nature and its preservation. EcoSikh, a Washington based international Sikh group, had designated March 14th as Sikh Environment Day to create awareness about Sikh teachings on nature preservation. Hundreds of Sikh Gurdwaras, schools, colleges, businesses and institutions across the world have joined in this effort. Dr. Rajwant Singh, President of EcoSikh, who joined from Washington declaring the target of EcoSikh this year, said, “Our audacious goal of having 1500 Sikh organizations celebrating the Sikh Environment Day on March 14th is getting tremendous boost from all over the world and in all six continents. This would be the largest Sikh direct action day on environment. Hundreds of Sikh youth are showing their enthusiasm to be involved for the betterment of the society. This gives us a chance to show that Sikhs care for nature and we are committed in saving Mother Earth from degradation.” “The Hazur Sahib Committee along with Nanded Municipal Corporation is initiating local deluxe bus service for pilgrims and locals, as step one of towards Green City Nanded”, declared D P Singh Chawla, CEO of Sri Hazur Sahib Committee. “This is the first major move towards making Nanded more eco-friendly and promoting public transportation which reduces carbon infusion in the atmosphere, the leading cause of global warming.” He further added, “The Gurdwara buildings are incomplete if they lack green patches and eco-friendly features and we are increasing greenery around Takhat Hazur Sahib and the surrounding Gurdwaras of the city.” Bhai Manjit Singh, proprietor of a leading plants Nursery, Ganga Nursery, Zirakpur, has started a major push in collaboration with SGPC to revive Naulakha Garden of Guru Har Rai ji in Kiratpur Sahib on January 31, 2013, to be completed on March 14th. Bhai Manjit Singh said, “Guru Har Rai ji had planted many herbal and medicinal plants in Kiratpur and he was known to have dispensed these healing aids to the masses. It is duty of every Sikh to revive similar healing habitats around the sacred grounds of Kiratpur Sahib and this will be our humble homage to this great Guru.” His nursery has also taken up the service to increase green patches around the famous and most visited sacred sites namely Fatehgarh Sahib, Paonta Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib. Col. Kuldip Sandhu, the Senior GM of AIPL Ambuja, a leading business institution in North India, and founders of the Dream City in Amritsar, said, “Environmental consciousness has to reflect in all aspects of our living and it is due to this commitment we have tried to incorporate green spirit in our business operations. As followers of Guru Har Rai ji, while celebrating Sikh Environment Day, it is a day that reminds us to maintain all our businesses in alignment with Guru’s thinking. Sikh businesses and industrialists must come forward and join this movement.” AIPL has been incorporating water saving and other eco-friendly features in all their townships. |
| ||||||||||
|
Ravneet Singh, the India Program Director of EcoSikh said, “Our vision
for the 3rd Annual World Sikh Environment Day is to cut down the use of
Styrofoam and other disposables from our Gurdwaras and nagar-kirtans.
General public is not aware about the harmful effects of using Styrofoam
popularly known as thermocol in Punjab. Switching to traditional steel
thalis will also reduce the amount of garbage in our cities. We appeal
the Gurdwara Parbandhaks to pioneer in making their Gurdwaras plastic
free and declare their Gurpurabs clean and green.” He added, “We are
thankful to Akal Takhat Sahib and Takhat Sri Hazur Sahib who have come
forward instructing Sikhs to celebrate this day. Last year Gurdwara
Behala in Kolkata was rewarded by the Telegraph News for their brilliant
action on Sikh Environment Day. EcoSikh website is now the prominent
portal for any environmental initiatives by the Sikhs and we are
thankful for community’s support.”
“800 schools will have a ten minute presentations and environment pledge on Sikh Environment Day across Punjab”, declared Jaspreet Kaur, Project Coordinator of Guru Nanak Multiversity Educate Punjab Project. “Our organization has been operational for moral studies in the schools of Punjab we are targeting around 800 schools to celebrate Sikh Environment Day this year in partnership with Satnam Sarv Kalyan Trust, Chief Khalsa Diwan and EcoSikh. We are confident this day would help in sensitizing our young buds and craft environment stewardship in them. The best way is the Guru way.” Harjit Singh, Secretary General of Chandigarh Gurdwara Association are also planning for a collective action from the associated Gurdwaras to celebrate Sikh Environment Day and also to reduce the use of disposables in their premises. EcoSikh’s initiative got a major boost by UNDP, SGPC, DSGMC and all the Takhats giving a supportive call to the entire Sikh community worldwide to observe the Sikh Environment Day. SGPC this time has dedicated a special programme at Manji Sahib Diwan Hall, at the Golden Temple to Sikh Environment Day which will be live on PTC on the eve of March13. Over 35 Gurdwaras are also planning observation of this day in Pakistan. Press Links: | |||||||||||
