Worldwide support for the compassionate way of life
Worldwide support for the compassionate way of life. Individuals and communities united on March 20 and 21 for the International Meatout Day. The 25th anniversary campaign was commemorated in over two dozen countries to bring the message of veganism – that is, the cruelty-free plant-based diet, to the public. Locations included Finland…

Meatout Day 2009

Participant – Helsinki, Finland (M): I’m joining Meatout Day. Let’s take meat out of our diets.

VOICE: The United Arab Emirates, where support for climate change action is also high.

Citizen – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (M): Peace be upon you. In solidarity with the Climate Change Day of Action, I urge all the viewers to not eat any meat or related products.

VOICE: And in the United States.

Participant – Florida, USA (F): Hi, my name is Ibana. And I would like to say, “Let’s pledge to be veg.”

VOICE: Through this noble event, civilians were able to share their discovery of some of the countless reasons for choosing the life-saving plant-based diet. Let’s first take a look at Toronto, Canada.

Participant – Toronto, Canada (M): We are expected to lose 80% species on Earth by the end of this century, Amazon rainforest, the Arctic. That’s tragic. We can’t allow that to happen.

VOICE: In South Africa, similar revelations were being made.

Participant – Johannesburg, South Africa (M): The idea of people reducing the eating of meat will work. Looking at this pamphlet it clearly explains the reasons why people should reduce the intake of meat and rather eat more vegetarian.

VOICE: The benefits of a plant-based regimen are manifold – ranging from saving much of Earth’s natural resources, to enhancing peace in communities, to personal fitness.

Vegan participant – Florida, USA (M): I lost 15 pounds when I became vegan.

Vegan participant – Houston, USA (M): You got cancer, heart attack, diabetes, arthritis, etc. We’re doing something wrong. Go vegetarian, go vegan.

Stacy – Meatout event organizer, vegetarian, Houston, USA (F): Tonight we’re hosting a film night and vegan bake sale. We’re screening “Peaceable Kingdom,” and we also have veggie hotdogs and vegan baked goods for sale.

VOICE: United States’ big-city mayors issued “Meatout Proclamations,” calling on fellow citizens to turn toward the most wholesome plant-based diet. One event organizer shared a proclamation from the Mayor Bill White of Houston, a metropolis of 3 million people:

Christen – Meatout event organizer, Houston, USA (F): “Whereas a wholesome plant-based diet of whole grains, vegetables and fresh fruits reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and other chronic and infectious diseases that cripple and kill nearly 1.3 million Americans annually; and whereas a diet that helps enormously in reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases that produce global warming ;and whereas such diet helps prevent the suffering and death of more than10 billion sentient animals in the United States each year, the City of Houston salutes those committed to this challenging and worthwhile campaign, and extends best wishes to all for the successful and rewarding event. Therefore I, Bill White, Mayor of the City of Houston hereby proclaim March 20, 2009 as Great American Meatout Day.”

VOICE: Indeed, many caring civilians expressed their wishes to put an end to the cruelty that is inseparable from the meat making process.

Citizen – United States (F): I think is an important question. If human beings can have the diet they need to live well without eating any animals, then how can we justify eating animals?

Group of students: We should change our diet and change the world. At our school, every day is Meatout Day. Veggies, yummy!

VOICE: We express our heartfelt gratitude to all heroes involved for bringing awareness and encouragement to the widespread adoption of a vegetarian diet. God bless your righteous and dignified efforts. Let us all choose the kind-hearted plant based diet for Eden on Earth.

For more information on how to start an animal-free diet, you can find free veg starter kits and easy recipes on the internet, such as on Meatout.org and www.SupremeMasterTV.com.
 
1500 species facing extinction in northern Australia, scientists warn
Deforestation and climate change could bring massive extinctions. A report from the United Nations Environmental Program indicates that in 2005, deforestation of nearly 20% of the Amazon forest – an area equivalent to the size of Venezuela – had already led to the extinction of 26 plant and animal species. With trees continuing to be lost at a rapid pace, another 644 species are presently in danger of being lost forever, including the red-faced spider monkey and the spectacled bear.

Meanwhile, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy and scientists for the Northern Territory are warning of mass extinctions of approximately 1500 plants and animals unless immediate measures are taken to protect their environment. They cite overgrazing by cattle and climate-related fires among the key reasons as to why so many species are at risk.

Our thanks United Nations Environmental Programme, Australian Wildlife Conservancy and Northern Territory scientists for these alarming reports on the flora and fauna that are in danger of leaving our planet forever. We pray that humanity quickly adopts such protective practices as the plant-based diet to safeguard all living beings.

In light of the this grave situation for the animal kingdom, Supreme Master Ching Hai has given humans a rare glimpse into the inner lives of our co-inhabitants, including their thoughts on the current situation of the Earth. The following discussion comes from a videoconference in July 2008 with our Association members in Germany.


China to spend billions on tree-planting projects: official
China continues national forestation campaign. With an allocated budget of nearly US$9 billion per year and a goal of 20 percent reforestation by 2010, China is set to plant over 16 million additional hectares of trees. Along with a national mandate that halted the felling of natural forests a decade ago, thus preserving some 95 million hectares, the Ministry of Education is working to raise further awareness of environmental conservation by calling on all students to plant at least one tree before their graduation.

Our sincere appreciation, China, for this laudable project to improve the environment. As part of sustainable living, let us all similarly strive to restore the verdant havens of our life-giving trees.

 New way to farm boosts climate, too
Organic vegetable farming technique promotes natural carbon sequestration. Research Director Paul Hepperly of the Rodale Institute in the United States says that a combination of growing organic produce along with a method known as no-till agriculture could absorb and store more than half of all the CO2 emissions generated in a year if used on the entire world’s 3.5 billion tillable acres. Called “organic no-till,” the Rodale Institute has been developing the method over the past 18 years, whereby farmers can plant a cover crop that protects and nourishes the soil until it’s time to sow the food crop.

During sowing, special equipment attached to a tractor levels the cover crop to the ground to provide mulch for the food crop, offering weed protection and valuable carbon storage as the food crop grows up through it.

Wow, what an advancement, Director Hepperly and Rodale Institute researchers! We applaud your development and can’t wait to see wider adoption of this method that provides the most healthy fruits and veggies along with valued protection of our ecosphere.