Environment and Universal Responsibility Presentation by Kalsang Tsomo (President) Tibetan Womens Association, Toronto, Tibetan Womens Association, Toronto,

Environment Environment and and

Universal ResponsibilityUniversal Responsibility

Presentation Presentation

by Kalsang Tsomo (President)by Kalsang Tsomo (President)

Tibetan Women’s Association, Toronto, Tibetan Women’s Association, Toronto, Ontario CanadaOntario Canada

All Women Panel DiscussionAll Women Panel DiscussionSept 12Sept 12thth, 2009, 2009

Our Tired Mother EarthOur Tired Mother Earth

The Paradox of our AgeThe Paradox of our AgeWe have bigger houses, but We have bigger houses, but smaller smaller

familiesfamilies

more conveniences, but more conveniences, but less less

time.time.We have more degrees, but We have more degrees, but less less

sensesense

more knowledge, but more knowledge, but less less

judgmentsjudgmentsmore experts, but more experts, but more more

problemsproblemsmore medicines, but more medicines, but less less

healthiness.healthiness.

We have been all the way to the moon and We have been all the way to the moon and back,back,

but have but have trouble crossing the streettrouble crossing the street

to meet the new neighbour.to meet the new neighbour.

We build more computersWe build more computers

to hold more informationto hold more information

to produce more copies than everto produce more copies than ever

but have but have less communication.less communication.

We have become long on quantity,but short on quality.

These are times of fast food,but slow digestion

tall man, but short character

steep profits, but shallow relationships.

It is a time when there is much in the window,

but nothing in the room.

- by Dalai Lama- by Dalai Lama

Aware of this?Aware of this?

"Peace and the survival of life on earth as we "Peace and the survival of life on earth as we

know, are threatened by human activities that know, are threatened by human activities that

lack a commitment to humanitarian values. lack a commitment to humanitarian values.

Destruction of nature and natural resources Destruction of nature and natural resources

results from ignorance, greed and lack of results from ignorance, greed and lack of

respect for the earth's living things”.respect for the earth's living things”.

“Taking care of our planet environment is like

taking care of our own home.

It is our only home.”

Ecological ResponsibilityEcological Responsibility

It is important that each individual It is important that each individual

realizes the responsibility for realizes the responsibility for

preservation of the environment, preservation of the environment,

make it part of daily life, create the make it part of daily life, create the

same attitude in the family, and spread same attitude in the family, and spread

in the community.in the community.

““Attitude is a small thing that makes a big difference”.Attitude is a small thing that makes a big difference”.

Increase awareness through Increase awareness through

education, from kindergarten, the education, from kindergarten, the

concept of a dialogue about taking concept of a dialogue about taking

care of the environment should be care of the environment should be

part of their life through education.part of their life through education.

Promotion of human values and Promotion of human values and

religious harmony is needed in religious harmony is needed in

order to take care of humanity’s order to take care of humanity’s

““inner environments.”inner environments.”

Ultimately, the decision to save Ultimately, the decision to save

the the environmentenvironment must come from must come from

the the human heart. human heart.

Genuine sense of Genuine sense of

universal responsibilityuniversal responsibility that that

is is

based on based on love,love, compassion compassion

and and

clear clear awareness.awareness.

““Safe and clean environment is a Safe and clean environment is a

human right like any other human right like any other

rights. rights.

It is therefore part of our It is therefore part of our

responsibilityresponsibility. .

We have the capability and the We have the capability and the

responsibility responsibility

to act before it is too late”.to act before it is too late”.

We should be wise to be selfish.We should be wise to be selfish.

May Peace Prevail on EarthMay Peace Prevail on Earth

Thank you in saving our Earth Thank you in saving our Earth

ResourceResource

(From (From "Humanity and Ecology""Humanity and Ecology", © , © 1988, The Office of His Holiness the 1988, The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama)Dalai Lama)