"A Buddhist Response to the Climate Emergency"

[Moira Shek]

I went on the Wisdom Publications website looking for a book and guess what's on its front page ... a new book titled "A Buddhist Response to the Climate Emergency." http://www.wisdompubs.org/index.lasso.  [Amazon.com $11.53 has the published date of August 1, 2009 so it must be just hot off the press; see product description below.] One link leads to another, I got into the "Ecological Buddhism" website: tp://www.ecobuddhism.org/index.php  Check it out; it's quite interesting! In fact, if  you went back to Michael's first posting introducing the "350 Target" project, you will see this website among the several links there. I have to admit that I have not disgested all the materials and information. I hope more of our Sutra class classmates are joining this CTZEN Development group to learn from each other and exchange ideas of action, and to  respond to Jian Hu Shifu's call to come up with some specific Chung Tai projects. Cathy and Michael, thank you for your lead! What if you convene a brainstorming among fellow classmates on the ideas/projects you have come up and see what it takes to do a couple of projects (to start), and see what Shifu thinks. Palms together, Moira

Product Description

Today, we are confronted by the gravest challenge that humanity has ever faced: the ecological consequences of our collective actions. What role can Buddhism play in our response to this global predicament? Can Buddhist traditions help us meet this challenge successfully? Should we focus on prayer and meditation or social action? This book shows that it’s possible to do both. It presents the hard science of global warming and solutions to the crisis from a Buddhist perspective, together with the views of leading contemporary teachers. The Dalai Lama, Chatral Rinpoche, Sakya Trizin, Thich Nhat Hanh, Joanna Macy, Joseph Goldstein, Lin Jensen, and other eminent voices address topics such as peak oil, deforestation, renewable energy, and breaking the addiction to fossil fuels in essays that are both meaningful and mindful. Prayers for the planet, along with steps we can take individually and as a society, offer hope and inspiration.

"Eminent scientists have said that global warming is as dangerous for our future as nuclear war. We have entered the uncharted territory of a global emergency, where 'business as usual' cannot continue. We must take the initiative to repair and protect this world, ensuring a safe-climate future for all people and all species…. It is now urgent that we take corrective action to ensure a safe climate future for coming generations of human beings and other species." -The Dalai Lama

"If we continue abusing the earth this way, there is no doubt that our civilization will be destroyed. This turnaround takes enlightenment, awakening. The Buddha attained individual awakening. Now we need a collective enlightenment to stop this course of destruction." -Thich Nhat Hanh