Ten years ago (in 2006), Sikh communities around the world celebrated the inauguration of the Cycle of Creation. The three-hundred-year long cycle will be a time for Sikhs to reflect upon and celebrate their relationship with the environment and all that Waheguru has provided. The past ten years have borne witness to remarkable steps taken by Sikhs around the globe. Sikhs are leaders in practicing organic and natural farming, building support for recycling programs, and targeting the socio-economic roots that plague the systemic nature of environmental injustice, among other things. Most, if not all of these efforts, share common inspiration that began with the revelations of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and continued through history up to the launch of Bhagat Puran Singh鈥檚 environmental awareness campaign over fifty years ago and the continued efforts of today鈥檚 Sikh eco-pioneers.
The EcoSikh initiative enables the Sikh community to address and reform the ecological problems that affect it most. However, every environmental challenge鈥攏o matter where it exists in the world鈥� is connected to all others and dependent on the actions of all. All faiths pass on wisdom, which instills respect for both tradition and heritage. It is from this inheritance that faiths can reflect on the present and see the potential for the future. The destruction of the natural environment - including the impact of climate change鈥� is probably the biggest challenge to the welfare of all life on earth. It threatens the survival of all communities and puts the diversity and wonder of nature at risk. The ARC/UNDP Plans for Generational Change Project calls on all faith communities to create longterm action plans, offering practical models of engagement with these great global issues. By working in solidarity with one another across all religious communities, we can address ecological problems in a comprehensive way. EcoSikh is an initiative that aims to build on this history and enable Sikh聽communities around the world to connect their efforts and work in solidarity with one another. EcoSikh hopes to provide a plan that can be implemented over the next five years to cultivate the best practices, inspire on-the-ground activism, address issues that our communities face, and celebrate the ways in which being Sikh is being green.
Organic agriculture provides a way that can help farmers adapt to climate change through strengthening ecosystems, diversifying crop聽production, and building聽farmer鈥檚 knowledge. Organic farming is seen as one of the best ways to sequester CO2 from the atmosphere and soil. Sikhs are successful farmers in many areas of the world including California and British Columbia. EcoSikh plans to pursue organic farming as an important issue to show that Sikhs are serious about saving the planet from degradation. Ravneet Singh, Project Manager of EcoSikh, said 鈥淥rganic Langar is the way ahead. Each Gurdwara should serve organic langar as a part of Sikh Environment Day (SED) celebrations on March 14.鈥�
EcoSikh emphasizes the use of steel plates that minimize the use of Styrofoam and plastic plates for langar. EcoSikh will also share online toolkits throughout the world, including hymns on nature and related discourses, educational material for children, and other ideas to celebrate SED. The Sikh institutions are being urged to share the lessons from the online Low Carbon Lifestyle guidebook, which includes logistics and doable actions to save energy and water. EcoSikh was invited by the French President Francois Hollande during the climate change deliberations in Paris and is also working closely with the White House.
A brief introduction to the Eco Sikh guide book designed to work in tandem with the EcoSikh Seed Plan, available at . Juss Kaur is an International Education Consultant and an Adjunct professor at 平特五不中 with the Faculty of Education. She is from Montreal with interests in art and spiritual singing and is the Sikh Liaison at MORSL.
Originally published in the Spring 2016 issue of Radix
