By Sejal Shah | Posted: June 04, 2018
Did you know that 8.3 billion tons of plastic has been produced, but only 9% has been recycled? The rest is dumped in landfills & oceans - one of the leading causes of pollution. Roughly 14 million tons of single-use plastic ends up in the ocean every year. That is the equivalent of a full garbage truck being dumped into the ocean every minute of every day.
“We need to protect the Earth. The ancient people all over the world used to honor the Earth, the rivers, the mountains, and the air. We need to retain these ancient values and have a modern vision for development and prosperity for everybody."- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder, Art of Living Foundation
Read more: Ancient Spiritual Values for Environmental Sustainability As Everyday Practice in Modern Times
Mission Green Earth
The Art of Living launched ‘Mission Green Earth’ on a massive scale in collaboration with the United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). In a very short time, ‘Mission Green Earth’ raised the planet’s tree count by 10.6 million, thanks to scores of volunteers the world over who are protecting and planting indigenous trees. In fact, their huge numbers rival the number of trees planted, making this endeavor one of the biggest in the fight against global warming!
Volunteers from around the world have initiated several environmental sustainability projects – large-scale tree plantations through Mission Green Earth, water management and protection including cleaning polluted rivers and rejuvenating dried rivers, and zero-budget natural farming techniques that are both economically and organically sound.
‘Voice Against Pollution - Moving Towards Green Energy - Join the symposium online at the comfort of your home
On this World Environment Day, it is imperative for all of us to take steps to #BeatPlasticPollution. The Art of Living and the United Nations invite you to join the live webcast of ‘Voice Against Pollution - Moving Towards Green Energy,’ a symposium to raise awareness on the dangerously rising plastic pollution.
Come, take a pledge with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to reduce the use of plastic by less than half and invest in a greener tomorrow. Click here to join us LIVE on 5th June, 6:30pm IST onwards.
Join the #MyMissionGreenEarth today
On this World Environment day June 5, 2018, Art of Living volunteers in the USA pledge to continue their efforts with even more enthusiasm and innovative ideas, personalizing this project by calling it #MyMissionGreenEarth. It awakens in an individual a sense of belonging and ownership for the planet earth.
His Holiness Dalai Lama once said “In the present circumstances, no one can afford to assume that someone else will solve their problems. Every individual has a responsibility to help guide our global family in the right direction. Good wishes are not sufficient; we must become actively engaged.”
This year the campaign is focused on Beating Plastic Pollution, and appeals to everybody to participate by these 3 simple and doable things.
1. Reduce: Take the pledge to reduce plastic consumption by at least half
This World Environment Day, let's pledge to reduce our plastic consumption by at least half and help #BeatPlasticPollution. Refuse single use plastics like plastic straws, cutlery, plastic water bottles, poly bags. Find alternatives to your everyday plastic items like toys, toothbrush, etc. Here are 9 tips for living with less plastic:
2. ReUse: Choose to use ReUsables
As many people know, reuse is a step up from recycling. In fact, reuse is the middle-way between reduce and recycle. Once you start looking for them, you would be surprised at how many opportunities we have to reuse. Here are some simple and fun ways to reuse plastic.
3. Become a Mission Green Earth Eco-Champion
We invite you to be part of this mission and inspire others as well. Social media can be a huge help here. Share your pledge to reduce plastic pollution on social media, inspire 5 more friends to join you in reducing single use plastic with #BeatPlasticPollution #MyMissionGreenEarth and tag us at: fb.me/mymissiongreenearth or instagram.com/mymissiongreenearth
If you would like to be part of this initiative, or for more information, please get in touch with deepanshu.sandhuria@artofliving.org today!
Calling all yogis out there
Trying to live each day as environmentally friendly as possible is a great way to practice ahimsa (non-violence) -- the very first of Maharishi Patanjali’s Yama and Niyama.
Inspire your yoga community to join the Mission Green Earth and be a yogi Eco-Champion!
I commit to do this. Do you?
Take these pledges and happily wish everyone Happy World Environment Day!
By Sejal Shah, E-YRT 500 Sri Sri Yoga and Art of Living Teacher, YACEP, NYU Post Graduate Medical School approved Yoga-CME Art of Living retreat facilitator, Mind-Body Wellness Writer, Homeopath
