A country that upholds
the values of peace
by abolishing its army
A president
who rescued thousands
of refugees’ lives…
A former US
vice president who brings
the world’s attention
to global warming…
A celebrity
who advocates
for human rights…
An animal lover
who works tirelessly
for the defenseless…
An international
organization
that provides
humanitarian aid
regardless
of national boundaries…
A worldwide
humanitarian agency
that protects human life
and alleviates suffering
(Red Cross)
These are among some of
the distinguished people,
countries
and organizations
in our present day society
that have made
a positive difference
on our planet through
their noble actions.
For the purpose
of recognizing
these caring actions,
and in response to
the reports about many
positive developments
in the world,
Supreme Master
Ching Hai founded
the Shining World
Leadership Award
in March 2006.
The pure crystal award
represents
the shining noble ideals
of the honored
individuals, nations
and organizations
whose pioneering work
and selfless dedication
have significantly
contributed to
the harmony and beauty
of our planet.
“Thank you
for this award
and most significantly,
thank you
for the work you’ve done
and are doing, and are
encouraging others to do
to awaken humanity
to its responsibility – to
live a compassionate life
and to do so in honoring
the spirit in all beings.”
The founder
of the Shining World
Leadership Award,
Supreme Master
Ching Hai,
is a world- renowned
spiritual leader,
humanitarian and artist,
who herself has brought
immense benefits
to the world through
her inspiring words
and shining example.
Supreme Master
Ching Hai’s
own selfless service
and devotion to all beings
have been highly lauded
by world leaders
and governments.
She also brings love
around the world
where there is hate.
She brings hope where
there is despair, and
she brings understanding
where there is
misunderstanding.
We don't have
enough people
like the Supreme Master.
If we had somebody
like her in every country
in the world, we will
have eternal peace,
eternal love.
For decades,
Supreme Master
Ching Hai
has exemplified
unconditional love
through her worldwide
humanitarian work.
Love
your family members
wholeheartedly;
sacrifice for them
whenever necessary.
And to other members of
mankind just show
your love universally,
and help
whoever needs your help.
That is the way of love.
Supreme Master
Ching Hai’s
wisdom and compassion
have been a source of
inspiration for countless
people worldwide.
And she
further encourages
positive work through
the Shining World
Leadership Award.
Thank you,
Shining World Leaders!
“A change of diet
is our biggest chance
to stop global warming –
and save our health
and money.”
These are the words
of His Excellency
Edward McMillan-Scott,
Vice-President
and senior Member of
the European Parliament.
The statement appeared
in an article he wrote
for the May 2010
“Green Week” edition of
“Parliament Magazine,”
a widely read
political magazine
covering the efforts
of the European Union.
The British statesman
Mr. McMillan-Scott
wrote that in the face of
costly environmental
degradation
and biodiversity loss,
a change of diet “would
also benefit millions of
[food] producers
in Europe’s uplands
and the world’s
most difficult terrains.”
He continued,
“Now I can add
the economics and
biodiversity arguments.
It takes 16 times more
energy and resources to
produce animal protein than
the vegetable equivalent;
livestock grazing
is a major cause
of desertification and
our oceans are suffering
from over-fishing…”
Along with human rights
and democracy,
encouraging everyone
in the world to adopt
a more plant-based diet
is one of
Mr. McMillan-Scott’s
foremost
ongoing campaigns.
We have a problem
with greenhouse gases.
One of the most
significant sources
of greenhouse gases
is animal production
and meat production,
and the dairy industry,
and the fact that
so much soy is now been
grown as animal fodder.
On December 3, 2009,
His Excellency
organized a hearing before
the European Parliament
in Brussels, Belgium,
on “Global Warming
and Food Policy:
Less Meat = Less Heat”
to urge policy makers to
focus on this vital action.
Invited to
speak at the hearing
were Sir Paul McCartney,
the beloved
former Beatles artist
who has been promoting
a Meat-Free Mondays
campaign
since June 2009; and
Chair of the United Nations
Intergovernmental on
Panel on Climate Change
Dr. Rajendra Pachauri,
a committed vegetarian.
What can the European
Parliament do,
and the governments
of the world?
I suggest that they could
encourage and guide
people to reduce
meat consumption.
It's no longer
a personal choice.
This is something
that’s going to affect
the whole of the planet.
The hearing,
which was chaired
European Parliament
Vice President
Edward McMillan-Scott,
came on the eve of
the United Nations
Climate Change
Conference in
Copenhagen, Denmark.
We can decide
for ourselves now how to
slow climate change.
Less Meat = Less Heat.
In addition to
expert testimonies on
health and environmental
benefits of “Less Meat,”
many supportive voices
also came from
the European Parliament
President Jerzy Buzek
and Parliament Members.
Everybody can give up
meat for one day,
at least one day a week.
I think this is a matter
that is serious.
I think diet
needs to be addressed.
We’re going to
have to have a much
less meat-based diet,
because it’s simply an
incredibly inefficient way
of using grain resources
in a constrained world.
Thank you all for coming.
We’ve just had
a very successful hearing
with several hundred
members and staff,
assistants, lobby groups,
NGOs.
But we’ve been
focusing on the issue
that is not on the agenda
at Copenhagen –
to anything like the extent
that it should be –
which is that livestock
production causes
more greenhouse gases
than the whole
of the transport sector,
a point made repeatedly
this morning.
And the three of us have
signed a joint statement,
which is addressed to you,
to governments,
and to individuals
around the world,
to follow the lead
set by people like
Dr. Rajendra Pachauri,
and his advocacy
of eating less meat,
Sir Paul McCartney.
I personally
haven’t eaten meat
since last Christmas lunch,
and my bad cholesterol
went down by 27%,
and I lost 6.5 kilos.
So, it’s a good thing to do.
And we heard
our speakers saying from
an expert point of view,
how beneficial
not eating much meat
is for your health,
or eating any at all
is even better.
Just preceding
the European Parliament
hearing, His Excellency
Mr. McMillan Scott
wrote an editorial
that was published in
the UK’s “Yorkshire Post”
newspaper, titled
“Losing Our Appetite
for Meat Could
Ease Global Warming.”
He explained why he,
along with public leaders
like Sir Paul McCartney
and Dr. Rajendra Pachauri,
has chosen
not to eat meat.
“Some gases
from meat production
are far more dangerous
than those
produced by transport.
Nitrous oxide has
about 300 times the
Global Warming Potential
of CO2.
Most of this
comes from manure.
Meat takes upwards
of 16 times more energy
and resources than
its vegetable equivalent.
This includes
massively more water,
at a time when 62%
of the world's population
face water "stress"
or drought…
The human dimension
cannot be ignored.
One billion of the world's
population are obese –
and one billion
suffer food scarcity
or are starving.”
Calling a vegetarian diet
“a healthier and
cheaper alternative,”
Mr. McMillan-Scott
furthered the case:
“This is now
the recommendation for
all of us from the NHS,
the German
environment agency,
the Swedish government
(at present
in the chair of the EU) and
numerous other bodies…
Even better is
that vegetarians have
28% less heart disease,
39% lower cancer mortality
and suffer
50% less diabetes…
The issue of
sustainable food policy
is seen by many –
but not enough – as key
to winning the "hot war"
against global warming…
Africa's small farmers,
who produce most of
the continent's food and
depend mostly on rain,
could see harvests halve
by 2020.
We must make
significant changes
to feed ourselves and,
most especially,
to safeguard the poorest
and most vulnerable:
the wealthy world
must literally step up
to the plate to make
the developing countries'
food production sustainable.
As Pope Benedict told
the UN's World Food
Summit in Rome which
preceded Copenhagen:
"Hunger is the most cruel
and concrete sign
of poverty.
“Opulence and waste
are no longer acceptable
when the tragedy of hunger
is assuming
ever greater proportions.”
Going even further
in his campaign
for the dietary solution
to climate change
and humanitarian crises,
Vice-President
McMillan-Scott also
created a related flyer,
called “The Green Card,”
and distributed it
to all the Members of
the European Parliament
and their staff.
Not only does
the Green Card
give a number of tips
on how to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions
in the areas of home,
travel, and of course diet,
it also lists out
many easy examples
of highly nutritious
vegan foods and
the vitamins and minerals
each contains.
Ideal serving proportions
for each category
are marked – for grain,
legume, vegetable, fruit,
and fats.
There is even
a sample menu:
muesli or porridge
for breakfast,
hummus sandwich
with salad for lunch, and
thai red churry with rice
and mango pudding
for dinner!
The practical and
informative Green Card
is still available free
for anyone to download
as a pdf document from
His Excellency’s website,
which also maintains
a prominent link to his
“Less Meat = Less Heat”
campaign.
For his noble call
on all leaders and citizens
to change their diets
as “our biggest chance
to stop global warming,”
Supreme Master Ching Hai
honored His Excellency
Edward McMillan-Scott
with the Shining World
Leadership Award.
The following is
her letter of appreciation:
“Your Excellency,
It is with the greatest
pleasure and admiration
that we present to you
the “Shining World
Leadership Award.”
This Award is presented
in recognition of
the outstanding wisdom,
nobility and courage
shown in your enlightened
vice-presidency of
the European Union.
Such wise statesmanship
guides nations towards
a brighter future, expands
the borders of peace
on Earth
and creates a more secure
and harmonious future
for humanity.
The noble tenor of
your distinguished office
is exemplified by
your heartfelt call
for the world
to consume less meat
to ease the pressures
of global warming.
In an editorial published in
the UK’s Yorkshire Post,
you called on
governments, organizations
and individuals
to opt for a healthier and
environmentally-friendly
alternative diet.
You have further
advanced this ideal
at a hearing before
the European Parliament
on Global Warming
and Food Policy urging
the world’s policy makers
to focus attention
on this vital solution.
Your influential words
are backed by
your eminent reputation
and personal decision
to avoid meat thus
setting a powerful model
of leadership by example.
To openly promote
such a policy,
often in the face of
strong opposition
from vested interests,
takes a leader of
exceptional fortitude
and determination.
Sir, you are that most rare
and precious of leaders –
a leader inspired
with a high-minded
and far-sighted vision
to safeguard humanity’s
future on this planet
and endowed with
the talents and strength
to achieve that dream.
For responding to
the global climate change
crisis with impassioned
and effective action,
for leadership
and governance
of the highest order,
for wisdom
that values and cares
for our Mother Earth
above all else, we hereby
applaud and celebrate
the noble deeds of
Your Excellency
Edward McMillan-Scott,
Vice President of
the European Parliament.
With Great Honor,
Love and Blessings,
Supreme Master
Ching Hai”
Acknowledging
Supreme Master Ching Hai’s
dedicated efforts to
promote dietary change
and virtuous living
to preserve the planet,
the honored
award recipient once
conveyed this greeting.
I am also delighted that
I am able to deliver
of message of greeting
from the European
Parliament to
Supreme Master Ching Hai,
whose work
is well understood
around the world.
And in particular
at a time of concern
about climate change,
this message
is being propagated
and encouraged by
Supreme Master TV
which is
an important mechanism
of communication
around the world.
Our heartfelt thanks,
Your Excellency,
for your advocacy
of a meat-free diet
to sustain lives,
especially through
the European Parliament.
We pray that many others
will wisely heed your call
for a plant-based diet
and policy
to save our planet
and do justice
to fellow humans.
For updates about
European Parliament
Vice-President
Edward McMillan-Scott’s
campaign on diet change
to stop global warming,
including links
to his articles,
please visit
Cherished viewers,
thank you
for your presence
on today’s program.
Please keep your dial
tuned to Supreme Master
Television for
Words of Wisdom,
up next after
Noteworthy News.
May we all
be courageous leaders
and Be Veg,
Go Green
2 Save our Planet!