Feb 18, 2015: As the United Nations gears up for a major global summit on climate change in Paris in December, EcoSikh, a US-based organisation, has appealed to Sikhs to focus on climate change when they celebrate Sikh Environment Day on March 14 this year.
Sikh Environment Day coincides with the Gur-ta-Gaddi Divas (enthronement day) of Guru Har Rai, the seventh Sikh guru, who is remembered in Sikh history for his deep sensitivity to nature and its preservation, EcoSikh president Dr Rajwant Singh said at a press conference here.
EcoSikh has been working with the White House and the State Department on climate issues in the US.
“On March 14, EcoSikh will engage the Sikh community in increasing renewable and alternative forms of energy,” he said.
He specifically highlighted the role of Gursahib Singh, the team leader of a Ludhiana-based youth group, ‘Young Flares’, that put in two years of hard labour in greening and cleaning the environment.
The key steps taken included sensitising gurdwara managements on discarding the use of Styrofoam plates and returning to steel utensils for langar (community kitchen).