The plan is that, in 10 minutes during their morning assembly sessions, schoolchildren will listen to an environmental talk on how: “The bad news is that humanity has contributed to spoiling the environment. The good news is that humanity has the power to save it, and that young people can be leaders.”

After this talk they will take a vocal pledge with their school head that they will plant a tree in this year, they will not waste water and they will always use dustbins etc. Where there are many Sikh children in a school, the talk will also show how Sikhism teaches followers to protect the vulnerable, and how this includes the natural world.

Around 60 school teachers and principals were present at this conference at Khadoor Sahib. Baba Sewa Singh Ji, congratulated all the teachers and staff heads for incorporating environmental education and practice in their schools.

Ravneet Singh, EcoSikh Project Manager addressed the audience by phone from Ludhiana and thanked them all for nurturing their students for environment protection, which is needed not only today but also in the future, which is which all the students represent.

Together with Sukrit, EcoSikh has called on 1,000 schools within Punjab to be a part of these faith oriented environmental celebrations. The idea of a 10 minute program evolved out of the fact that schools are reluctant to take any extra activities in February and March months due to final exams in Punjab Schools. However every school can take 10 minutes. Some schools will celebrate their own Environment Day once the exams are over.

The Sukrit Trust works closely with community on religious affairs in India and especially young generations for education and anti-drug campaigns.

EcoSikh was set up in 2009 as the Sikh response to the UNDP initiative for civil society, including religions, to take the first powerful steps to protect this earth from Climate Change and destruction of the natural environment.

Download this book HERE as pdf

Learn about other actions for Sikh Environment Day 2012 by linking here.

February 20, Haryana:

Gurdwara Patshahi Chhevi in Bani Badarpur, which is managed by SGPC in Haryana came up with the first ever Guru Ka Baagh, or Guru’s Garden project to celebrate Sikh Environment Day. The Haryana EcoSikh volunteer Gurpreet Singh invited manager Sukhdev Singh of Kurukshetra to consider the idea of developing their vacant land of Gurdwara to create an orchid garden as a tribute to Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji. The Gurdwara management welcomed the idea enthusiastically.

EcoSikh facilitated the SGPC by providing a vital connection with Baba Sewa Singh Ji of Khadoor Sahib who will help them by planting trees in this land and the Gurdwara management will then maintain the trees thereafter.

At this great effort by SGPC, Baba Sewa Singh Ji congratulated them and stated, “This is the great move by the committee and more Gurdwaras should come up with plans like this. It is an inspiration for Sikh Environment Day, for the rest of world to follow and we are so happy to be a part of this.”

Ravneet Singh, EcoSikh Project Manager, India quoted, “How beautiful is it to see this happening out of Gurbani inspiration. I hope more Gurdwaras will follow the trend and we have all our Gurdwara lands covered with trees.”

Planting a tree at the Gurmat Gian Missionary College, March 14, 2011

EcoSikh’s India Manager, Ravneet Pal Singh today gave a 45 minute presentation at Gurmat Gian Sikh Missionary College in Ludhiana to some 50 parcharaks, or Sikh missionaries, all of whom were keen to discuss afterwards how they can bring Sikh Environment Day most effectively to the villages where they preach and teach.

They were supported with Sikh Environment Day guides in Punjabi which will help them to involve the Sikh community in the Punjab villages.

“There were 50 parcharaks there, aged between 22 and 45 and they had so many interesting questions about how to make guards for the trees or organise clean-up drives, etc,” Mr Singh said.

There are nine key areas of action for Sikh Environment Day in the 2012 Toolkit just published by EcoSikh. These are:

1. Kirtan (hymns)

2. Katha  (teachings)

3. Children’s Activities

4. Healthy Langar

5. Plastic and Styrofoam free

6. Buta Prasad (offerings)

7. Tree planting and tree care

8. Organising clean ups

9. Telling others what you have done and inspiring them.

Mr Singh said that it was easy to discuss introducing environmentally oriented kirtan and katha, both of which were very familiar elements of action by Sikh parcharaks, but that the other seven were new areas for many of the attendees. However the ideas were seen to be exciting and a good challenge.

“One of the missionaries said they would be planting 60 trees in his village on Sikh Environment Day and he would share details of how he is organising this in his village, in order to support the rest of the Parcharak team. The rest said then that they would plan with their villages what their action would be, and then submit the details online.”

Even those parcharaks who were personally less familiar with technology were confident that they would be able to work with others in their community to inform the rest of the Sikh community around the world about their actions, through the internet and the EcoSikh website.

Link here for the latest news about Sikh Environment Day 2012.

Link here to register for Sikh Environment Day this year.

KS Pannu watering a tree sapling with army officer and others at Amritsar

“The objective was to protect the serenity of the Divine city of Guru RamDas Ji and to protect Golden Temple surroundings from pollution”, said Mr. KS Pannu. “Out of these 4 Million trees planted in 4 years of time, 1 Million trees were planted in honour of our seventh Guru, Sri Guru Har Rai Ji beginning from his GurGaddhi Diwas or Sikh Environment Day on March 14, 2011”, he added.

“The first Sikh Environment Day day was held in March 2011,” said EcoSikh India Coordinator, Ravneet Pal Singh. “And it has been so inspiring to see how many Sikh gurdwaras and organizations and communities have carried the message of Sikhism being an environmental faith, so actions have lasted throughout the year.”

In November 2011, Amritsar was announced as one of the founding members of the Green Pilgrimage Network, with plans to create green maps, gardens, recycling, trash clearance, distribution of saplings as prasad in most of the temples and an annual celebration of Sikh Environment Day on March 14 every year.

“With its succesful tree-planting programme, but also with its vision of making itself a finer city to live in for both people and nature because it is sacred, Amritsar could become one of the models of green action for India,” said EcoSikh Program Officer from the UK-based Alliance of Religions and Conservation, Victoria Finlay.

“It has been impressive to see how many members of the Sikh community – who have been brought up to see the importance of protecting the vulnerable in society – have embraced the idea, that the environment is one of the vulnerable elements of society that needs protecting. All the residents, committees and NGO’s of Amritsar has shown this commitment with their extreme co-operation with their city leader, Mr. Pannu,” said EcoSikh President, Dr. Rajwant Singh.

Mr. Pannu, now Chief Administrator of the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority, has been very passionate in improving the environmental conditions – both by prevention of negative activities and promotion of positive ones – as was seen during his six months of tenure as Chairman of Punjab Pollution Control Board until the end of 2011, or his role as DC of Amritsar for four years before May 2011.

In these four years various local government and non-government organizations were involved in long plantation drive. While most trees were planted within the Galiara Project of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee with Nanhi Chhan and ‘Go Green-Go Clean’ campaign, in the rest of the project Military authorities, Pingalwara, Khudai Khidmatgara, MC Amritsar, Baba Sewa Singh Ji, The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Mission Aagaz,Baba Kashmir Singh Bhoori Wale, Amritsar Pollution Control Committee, Chief Khalsa Diwan, Amritsar Vikas Manch, Agriculture and Horticulture Departments, Amritsar Forest Department, Guru Nanak Dev University, Village Panchayats, Amritsar Civil Defense Association, Amritsar Mohalla Association, Improvement Trust all major local schools were associated in this huge success.

The story of Amritsar and leadership has set an example that non-forest cities can show huge improvements in their green cover under such collaborative efforts by locals. Also it has set a benchmark for all the DC’s of other cities and they should see such possibilities in their cities as well.

Links for Press:

Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC)

Forest Survey of India

Green Pilgrim Cities (Handbook)

Guru Har Rai Ji observing Sikhs, planting trees

January 31, 2012: Today the Sikhs celebrated the 382^nd birth anniversary of Sri Guru Har Rai ji , who is remembered for his sensitivity towards the nature and his passion for preserving it.

In the 17^th century, Guru Har Rai ji was instrumental in developing Kiratpur Sahib on the banks of tributary of the river Sutlej in Punjab as a town of parks and gardens: he planted flowers and fruit-bearing trees all over the area, as well as medicinal herbs and wildlife sanctuaries for the benefit of the masses making him perhaps the earliest environmentalist in the Indian subcontinent. According to Sikh history this created a salubrious environment, attracting birds and animals to the town and turning it into an idyllic place to live.

The story of love with nature began when Guru Har Rai as a young  boy accidentally battered a flower in his garden with his gown. He was deeply hurt at this incident and never plucked any flower or leaf in his whole life instead he became an intense lover and preserver of nature. He began a medicinal herb garden known as called Naulakha Baagh.

History tells of how when Dara Shiko (the son of Shajahan the Emperor of India) was poisoned with tiger’s whiskers by his own brother Aurangzeb, the royal family begged for medicinal herbs from the Guru Har Rai’s medicinal garden. The medicines included cloves and 100 grams of Harar (termininalia chebula; known in Ayurvedic medicine as Aralu and credited with having laxative and stomachic properties). To these ingredients, Guru ji added a pearl called Jagmoti which was to be ground and used as a subsidiary remedy. When his son was healed, the Emperor was naturally very pleased and forgot all his enmity with the Guru, and vowed that he would never again cause him annoyance.

Drawing inspiration from their great Guru’s life; Sikh devotees today have begun celebrating his Gurugaddi diwas as Sikh Environment day. EcoSikh takes pride in initiating this global movement. Sikhs throughout the world celebrate this day on March14 by pledging to plant and protect trees, presenting plants and saplings to their local Gurdwara or to their family and friends, conducting seminars and speeches on a range of subjects including kitchen gardening, cleanliness, organic food, water preservation, recycling and re-use etc.

In a way the Sikhs are stepping forward to protect vulnerable Mother Nature to meet the challenge of the present day, as a tribute to their seventh Guru, Sri Guru Har Rai Ji.

Links

Click here to register your school, family, gurdwara or business for Sikh Environment Day.

Click here to read a list of things you can do for Sikh Environment Day.

Click here to sign up for the EcoSikh Newsletter.

Click here to read the special press story about Guru Har Rai Ji from Ajit News.

Washington DC, January 30, 2012:

According to Dr. Rajwant Singh, President of EcoSikh:  “This will be perhaps the largest direct action event by the Sikhs worldwide to help preserve the natural environment of Mother Earth. It’s great to start this campaign on the auspicious day of Guru Har Rai’s birthday. Last year over 450 Sikh bodies all over the world marked the day with various thoughtful actions and celebrations and this year we are audaciously setting the goal of 700.”

EcoSikh has already received confirmation of participation from many Sikh institutions, gurdwaras and Sikh-run schools and colleges in India and abroad. EcoSikh has a website for gurdwaras and Sikh institutions to register their participation internationally.

Last year participants included the highest Sikh institutions. Sri Akal Takhat Sahib and Takhat Hazur Sahib in Nanded, Maharasthra, the SGPC, Gurdwaras, Khalsa schools, youth groups from India, USA, Australia, Canada, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Argentina, Nigeria, Kenya, UK etc celebrated the first Sikh Environment Day as a tribute to Guru Har Rai ji.

The Sikhs remember Guru Har Rai ji for his sensitivity to nature and his passion for preserving it. The Seventh Guru was instrumental in developing Kiratpur Sahib on the banks of tributary of the river Sutlej in Punjab as a town of parks and gardens: he planted flowers and fruit bearing trees all over the area, as well as medicinal herbs and wildlife sanctuaries for the benefit of the masses in the 17th century making him perhaps the earliest environmentalist in the Indian Subcontinent. According to Sikh history this created a salubrious environment, attracting birds and animals to the town and turning it into an idyllic place to live.

Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Washington based Sikh Council on Religion and Education and President of EcoSikh, said: “Guru Har Rai ji inspired Sikhs to care for nature and his life lifts us towards ecological consciousness precisely when earth is facing dire circumstances due to human carelessness. We have no choice but to walk on the footsteps of this great man and leave minimum footprints.”

Bandana Kaur, New York based Program Director of EcoSikh in North America, said: This is a positive way to connect Sikhs in the diaspora to be aware of environmental issues facing in their own localities but also be conscious of challenging state of ecology in their own spiritual homeland.”

Ravneet Singh, Indian Project Manager in Ludhiana, Punjab, said, “Our message is simple: wherever you are, plan to inspire others with what Guruji taught us. Whatever you do, plan to plant a tree and save water, clear up rubbish in your neighbourhood and talk to a child about nature preservation.”

Link here for information and ideas about how your gurdwara, school, business or family can celebrate Sikh Environment Day.

Link here to register.

Press coverage IANS, PTI

• Register March 14th Sikh Environment Day – Sikh Vatavaran Diwas
• EcoSikh Supports Punjab-Wide Alliance for the Environment
• Protecting Wetlands, a Sikh Perspective
• Did You Know? The Sikh Gurus and Punjab’s Native Trees

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Thank you for supporting EcoSikh. Please consider a financial contribution. Our work would not be possible with your generosity.

Candidates with pledge forms

Ludhiana, January 19th, 2012: As many as SIX candidates from Ludhiana Constituency from various parties like Indian National Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (B), Peoples Party of Punjab etc took pledge at GGN Khalsa College, Ludhiana. They were all asked to face the public to promise and sign a pledge form as a commitment to protect the environment and health of their land and the fellow citizens. Click for the full report.

Also see the press coverage Ajit Jallandhar in Punjabi.

January 17th, 2012: EcoSikh formally joined hands with Vatavaran Ate Samaj Bachao Morcha (Save Environment and Society Campaign), an alliance of more than 50 civil society organizations working on environmental and social causes in Punjab. This alliance is people’s dialogue series on Punjab Environment and Public Health Agenda for upcoming Vidhan Sabha Elections on 30^th January, 2011

EcoSikh released a statement in support and call for Punjab residents to rise up for healthy and happy Punjab. Click the following links to see the EcoSikh statement:

Sikh group asks Punjab politicians to focus on environment : MSN (PTI) News

Rise up for healthy and happy Punjab : sikhsiyasat.net

Upcoming event on 19th Jan, 2012

EcoSikh also organized an event for Vatavarn Ate Samaj Bachao Morcha in collaboration with GGN Khalsa College, Ludhiana on 19^th Jan, 2012, where the election candidates from the city would be invited to publically sign the pledge that they would consider environment as their top priority and that they would serve to save and improve the Punjab’s environment and health.

• Oxford University Invites EcoSikh to Map Religious Forests
• Dreams of Hope by Saffron Press
• Baba Sewa Singh Receives Justice Kuldip Singh Environmental Protection Award
• Save the Date, March 14th, Sikh Environment Day 2012
• Did You Know: Bhai Vir Singh’s Poetry 

Remember to sign up to receive a copy of our newsletter each month.

Thank you for supporting EcoSikh. Please consider a financial contribution. Our work would not be possible with your generosity.