Juche – a simple name for a nasty idea. Kim Il Sungism

Posted on April 5, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

Jodie Foster, Pregnant Man, Iran, Prince Philip, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, American Idol, Obama, China, Beyonce, Rolling Stones. (sorry for the deception but please read below)

Normally I wouldn’t bother to cover this but since it’s on the list I felt I needed to “dis” it as much as I could. I even took the time to get Buzzes top searches for the week to punch it up a bit. I even checked every category Energy Tough Love has to publicize this human indignity. The list of “Religions” that I used to start this meditation on the relationship between Religion and the Environment placed Juche well down on the list but with 18 million adherents that still alot of folks. I had never heard of it before and I even asked a couple of people if they had heard of it. Imagine my suprise when I typed it into a search engine and up popped this Prick who claimed he was god:

www.dictatorofthemonth.com

During his lifetime he forced millions of people in North Korea to worship him. Can you imagine anything more degrading or disgusting then a man who points a loaded gun at your head and demands that you treat him like a god. You must pray to him. Oh most Divine Leader. Makes me want to puke. But then he is followed by this buffoon:

www.beconfused.com

Now they are “worshiping” something no better than a trained monkey. If they had an ENVIRONMENTAL group in North Korea, I wish them the best of luck but I ain’t gonna publish it. I ain’t even gona type it into a search engine. If anybody ever deserved to get a nuke shoved up his poop shoot. This would be it.

Sikhism and the Environment? I got my doubts.

Posted on April 4, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

I may be wrong but after yesterdays frustration I am coming to the realisation that maybe there is an enabling level of adherents. That is maybe there is a threshold of the number adherents to a religion reached before they take on “side issues”. But it also could be an access to technology issue. Maybe the ATR’s don’t have easy access to the web. Whatever the reason I found not one (bumpkis, nada, zero zilch) African Traditional Religious groups involved in Environmentalism. If I strike out today, I may be done with religion for now.

Sikhism (IPA: /?si?k?z?m/ (help·info) or /?s?k-/ (info); Punjabi: ?????, sikkh?, IPA: [?s?kk?i?] (info)), founded on the teachings of Nanak and nine successive gurus in fifteenth century Northern India, is the fifth-largest religion in the world.^[1] This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as the Gurmat (literally the counsel of the gurus) or the Sikh Dharma. Sikhism originated from the word Sikh, which in turn comes from the Sanskrit root ?i?ya meaning “disciple” or “learner”, or ?ik?a meaning “instruction.”^[2]^[3]

The principal belief of Sikhism is faith in V?higur?—represented using the sacred symbol of ?k ?a?k?r, the Universal God. Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God. A key distinctive feature of Sikhism is a non-anthropomorphic concept of God, to the extent that one can interpret God as the Universe itself. The followers of Sikhism are ordained to follow the teachings of the ten Sikh gurus, or enlightened leaders, as well as the holy scripture entitled the Gur? Granth S?hib, which includes selected works of many devotees from diverse socio-economic and religious backgrounds. The text was decreed by Gobind Singh, the tenth guru, as the final guru of the Khalsa Panth. Sikhism’s traditions and teachings are distinctively associated with the history, society and culture of the Punjab. Adherents of Sikhism are known as Sikhs (students or disciples) and number over 23 million across the world. Most Sikhs live in the state of Punjab in India and, prior to the country’s partition, millions of Sikhs lived in what is now known as the Punjab province of Pakistan

Then again maybe I was wrong. I found this neat site and it lists Jains and the B’hai as well so I will be at it for a couple of days at least.

http://www.arcworld.org/faiths.asp?pageID=57

But first the Pretty Pictures

C.P.R Environmental Education Centre – set up to increase consciousness and knowledge about the environment.
Gender Prediction – predicts unborn child’s gender
Journal of Indian Bird Records and Conservation – provides periodic information on Indian birds, conservation etc.
SEWAA – organisation responding to the worsening conditions of the environment.
Sarasvati River – includes information on projects to develop the Sarasvati River Basin.
The Worm Man – operates worm farms to produce organic chemicals & to support charity

A.P.E. – The Association for the Preservation of the Environment
Beauty Without Cruelty – charitable organisation for animal rights in India
Centre for Human Ecology, Mumbai – environmental education in India
Chilika Development Authority – preservation of the natural eco-system of Chilika lake
Conservator of Forests – supervises wildlife management works in protected areas of Nagpur, Wardha
Friends of the Narmada – information on the Narmada movement
Indian Wildlife Club – a forum to share the beauty & wonder of Indian wildlife
Internet Tiger Activists – group of people dedicated to the cause of saving the tiger from extinction
The Gir Forest, Gujarat – reserve & natural habitat of the Asiatic lions
Vatavaran – working on environmental issues.
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), India – organisation for nature conservation & environmental protection

Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi
Environ Engineering Company – effluent treatment machinery manufacturers & environmental engineers

Way to go Punjabians.!.

Realisation of Truth and Truthful Living for all.
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Do Traditional/Diaspora Religions of Africa Sponsor Environmental Groups?

Posted on April 3, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

This such an overwhelming topic at one level that I feel inadequate. At another level, its a simple question? Are there any?

Africa is home to the first Human, the first Library, the first University and the first Art Gallery. Does African Tradional Religion currently involve itself with Environmentalism?

http://www.afrikaworld.net/afrel/

1. Introduction

In many African societies ancestral veneration is one of the central and basic traditional and even contemporary forms of cult. As is indicated by the title, this essay intends to expose briefly the main features of that type of veneration in black Africa, South of the Sahara.

2. Ancestral cult in Black Africa

African ancestral cult is deeply rooted in the African traditional worldview so much so that a proper and adequate understanding of that cult cannot be achieved without examining it in its intimate link with such worldview. Hence, before exposing the main features of ancestral veneration, it is useful to give first a brief survey of the African traditional worldview, in the light of which the former will and should be envisaged.

2.1 Brief Survey of African Traditional Worldview

As can be gathered from anthropological and ethnological data most of the elements found in the African worldview can be reduced to four main headings:

2.1.1 Dynamism and vitalism, comprising an existential, concrete and affective way of approach. Reality is seen and judged especially from its dynamic aspects closely related to life. The farther a being is from these elements, the more unreal and valueless it is conceived to be. Hence the emphasis on fecundity and life, and the identification between being and power or vital force. Indeed, the ideal of the African culture is coexistence with and the strengthening of vital force or vital relationship in the world and universe. Above all forces is God, who gives existence and increase of power to all others. Next come the dead of the tribe who, thanks to their transition into the other world, are endowed with special powers. The living form a hierarchy according to their power. The different manners of being are distinguished by their mode and degree of participation in the Supreme Force (God) and in superior forces of other “spiritual” beings.

The craving for power, safety, protection and life is the driving force in the African religion. This craving originates not so much from logical reflection, but from a feeling of incapacity and an obstinate desire to overcome it. Many individual needs are believed to be satisfied by dynamism and spiritism. Amulets and talisman are vehicles of vital energy. This ethic is based on the belief that every act and custom which strikes at the vital force, or at the growth and hierarchy of man is bad. What is ontologically and morally and juridically just is that which maintains and increases the vital energy received from the life-Giver, the Creator of force and the Fount from which all forces flow and are under His control.

http://afgen.com/vodoun.html

Animals are sacred in African Religions, and are used (as in ancient Biblical, Hindu and Holy Koranic texts) as offerings to our gods and ancestors in both our healing, initiation, and atonement ceremonies. Additionally, contrary to the Hollywood hype, animals are not the focus nor the center of our ceremonies. They are merely consecrated offerings, made sacred for communal meals by the initiate, to share with their gods and ancestors. The “rituals” surrounding this routine event are no more spectacular than the preparation of foods and farm animals for a family meal, or the Jewish ritual of kashrus (Kosher slaughtering) in making an animal sacred for offerings and consuming. Animal offerings are a sacred, humane, and essential religious rite that has been in practice in many cultures all over the world for thousands of years, even up until the present.

For example, because all aspects of African ritual and religious practice has been routinely demonized and maligned, few realize that their ritual practices are no different than (for example) the animal offerings used in tantric yoga.

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/brill/exch/2006/00000035/00000002/art00003

HOW ENVIRONMENTAL IS AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION?

Author: Nisbert Tarringa

“…about the Shona religion of Zimbabwe…At a theoretical level a romantic view of Shona attitudes to nature, it is possible to conclude the Shona traditional religion is necessarily environmentally friendly. The strong belief in ancestral spirits (midzimu) pan-vitalism, kinship, taboo and totems have the potential to bear testimony to this…I argue that the ecological attitudes of the African Traditional Religion more based on fear or respect of ancestral spirits than on respect for nature itself”

But what about actual organizations or web sites?

http://library.stanford.edu/africa/eco.html

This site lists 170 literature or organizations that do conservation work in all of Africa, and I am sure that there are a lot more organizations out there that this site does not list

This web site starts with a prayer but it is Christian in nature:

http://waado.org/Environment/EnvironmentPage.html

After 6 hours of looking the closest I could get was something like this:

http://www.awish.net/Africa/ecogarden.htm

Eco-Garden Kenya

Project Summary

Eco-garden is a community based organization dedicated to educate the people of Kenya by mobilizing and working with communities to sustainably use, manage, and conserve natural resources for the benefits of current and future generations. Eco-garden integrates food production and gardening within the principles of nature in ways which preserve the holistic functions of ecosystems and the existence of biological diversity

Environmental conservation and organic gardening projects are facilitated specifically to provide technical knowledge to community groups developing on-farm and on-site conservation practices by sustainably using natural resources such that they will be available for both wildlife and human generations in the future. Eco-garden has taken the challenge to educate these communities about the values of their remaining natural resources (wildlife, fertile soil, patchy indigenous forests, and wetlands). The project targets farmers, women and youth groups, and young farmers’ clubs in both primary schools and high schools. Because the transfer of knowledge and information from government agencies (Ministry of Agriculture) has collapsed, farmers are left on their own, and no environmental conservation classes are offered in schools. Therefore, by working with school kids, Eco-garden hopes the students will pass the information to their parents. Lastly, the project aims to educate and encourage local groups to provide future training to community members through hands-on practical approaches and participatory planning.

May Your Journeys Be Smooth

Primal/Indigenous Religious Environmental Groups – Why do I think I am in over my head?

Posted on April 2, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

primal-indigenous: 300 million

Let me start by saying that this is a real tough topic because most religions of this type make no distinction between a person and a place. Thus they could be inherently environmental BUT. There is a strain of this way of thinking that argues that Skyscrapers are just as natural an extention of Gaia as are termite colonies. So beware:

http://staff.jccc.net/thoare/primal.htm

Some Basic Concepts in Primal Religion

Some Basic Concepts

Unity of experience: The primal world is not fragmented but remains whole as a symbolic paradigm of the sacred. There is no perceived division between the physical and the spiritual. The physical can indeed be a channel for the spiritual, as opposed to something “corrupt” that stands in opposition to it. In contrast, recall my use of the expression “the divorce of Mom and Dad” in regard to Western religious consciousness. Divine worship, therefore, would not be regarded as an activity to be separated or isolated from other activities. Life as lived is a sacred “activity” in and of itself. One worships as one breathes.

Place (“Not available for export”): What is the difference between “space” and “place?” Place is space with a line drawn around it. The physical location of the community is the spiritual pivot of the universe. The primal consciousness is identified with the earth in this particular place. In other words, one’s physical place is one’s spiritual base (consider the Native American crisis of relocation, e.g., the Cherokee nation). Compare this with the Western emphasis upon “history as destiny.”

Orality (“Tell me a story”); Where should story dwell? Where do ancestors live? In the soul or in a text? There are advantages and disadvantages to each. Whoever said “Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me” did not know what he was talking about. Words have life and breath. Stories may change and evolve, but they are always relational events (“And then what happened?!”). Texts, on the other hand, preserve story, tradition, information, etc. as a constant. But how often do we go read them? We often seem content simply to know they are over there safe and sound (i.e., in the library).

Time: in relationship to the characteristics articulated above, time is better thought of as “timelessness.” In the West or in technological cultures, time is linear. This implies that time and history are “going somewhere,” i.e., in fulfillment of a destiny or purposefulness. Primal time is not linear but eternal. “Eternal” does not mean “forever,” as the idea of forever is in itself linear (i.e., going on and on). Eternity simply “is.” This “isness” or beingness is the stable, unchanging backdrop within which the gods and ancestors simply “are.” It is encountered in any number of ways, such as dreams, shamanic ecstasy, mask performance, etc. Primal people may indeed speak of “the Past,” but this should be understood not as chronological but causal: the past is not “back then” but closer to the original Source of things. This relates once again to the primacy of “place” as something eternal and central.

Ritual enactment: each of the above ideas is present in what one enacts. Rituals and rites of passage are rehearsals or performances of the original creative act. Creation, therefore, is not a chronological event that took place “back then,” but an ever-presentness. Ritual enactment keeps one in touch with that presentness as an eternal reality.

Related closely to ritual enactment is the concept of liminality. From the Latin limen, meaning “threshhold” or “entryway,” liminality refers to the ritual state of transition in a rite of passage, wherein the initiand is in a condition (or non-condition) of ambiguity or “between two worlds.” He or she is in the midst of the process of leaving something old and becoming something new. Compare this to, for example, the contemporary process of engagement and marriage. The period of time between “Will you marry me?” and “I do” can last for months, and it is often filled with confusion and chaos. The partners-to-be are not married yet, but they are not single, either. They are in a liminal state of ambiguity in which they are, in a sense, non-persons, until they re-emerge on the other side as husband and wife. This is why a bride is traditionally “carried over the threshhold” on her wedding day. A similar custom is that in which both partners jump over a pole, such as a broom handle, that is extended out in front of the couple at about ankle height.

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Harvard Comes Shining through again. But then this is what you would expect from the place where Ralph Waldo Emerson taught. First the pretty picture:

http://environment.harvard.edu/religion/religion/indigenous/links.html

Alaska Native Knowledge Network
Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources
First Nations Environmental Network
Honor the Earth
Indian Trust Management Information
Indigenous Agricultural and Environmental Knowledge Systems
Indigenous Environmental Network
Intertribal Environmental Council
National Environmental Coalition of Native Americans
National Laws and International Agreements Affecting Indigenous and Local Knowledge (article)
National Tribal Environmental Council
Native American Fish and Wildlife Society
Native Americans and the Environment
Native Web Resources
Pluralism Project
World ’s Indigenous Women ’s Foundation

Alpha Institute Indigenous/Environmental Links
Acre Amazon Link
Center for Indigenous Environmental Resources
Center for World Indigenous Studies
Elders and Graduate Level Educators
Taiga Rescue Network
Pictish Nation
Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO)

Akwesasne (Mohawk) Task Force on the Environment
Cherokee Nation
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Comunidades Indigenas de los Altos de Chiapas
Dine CARE (Navajo environmental organization)
Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs
Muscogee Creek Nation
Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation
Oneida Indian Nation
Operation Amazonia Nativa
Organization of the Indigenous Peoples from Tarauacá and Jordão (Amazon)
Zapitistas

Constitution of Iroquois Nation

Lakota Links Page

University of Texas: Lanic (Indigenous Peoples in Latin America) Resources
Native American Indian Resources
Resources on Aztec and Mayan Law
Traditional Ecological Knowledge Database

As a bonus Austin Arensberg also lists a group of Chinese Energy Advocate Groups

Posted on April 1, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

WOOHOO I love this guy now if he would just cover the Sikhs, the Jains and all the rest that I have as yet to do…

http://www.austinarensberg.com/?page_id=313

China Energy Conservation Association

Gansu Province Solar Home System Project

http://www.nrel.gov/international/china/gansu_pilot_project.html
South-North Institute for Sustainable Development
http://www.snisd.org.cn
Global Village Beijing
http://www.gvbchina.org/
Energy Foundation
http://www.efchina.org
BP-Tsinghua Clean Energy Centre
Shangde Solar Energy Power Company
BECon – The Beijing Energy Efficiency Center
http://www.beconchina.org/
Shanghai Energy Conservation Science and Technology Center
Alliance to Save Energy China Program
http://www.ase.org/section/program/eeip
China Energy Group
http://china.lbl.gov/
Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association
http://www.creia.net/

Chinese Traditonal Religion Operates An Environmental Group? How do I write about this and avoid racism?

Posted on April 1, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

If you go back and look at the original list of the WORLD’S RELIGIONS there are roughly 1.5 billion people that fall into 2 pretty blurry categories. Easiest to deal with are th 1.1 billion,

Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 1.1 billion

Because I write about them everyday when I am not writing directly about Energy Issues, I am not going to do a post here.. The Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth and most of the other environmental nonprofits are of this group. Much harder to discuss though are religions like those of mainland China.

Chinese traditional religion: 394 million

Chinese Traditional Religion causes clouds in westerner’s minds. I mean it would be so easy to get all New Earthy here with cliches and stuff. Or make rude references to the television program Kung FU and being like a “grasshopper” or make fun of Shanghai Knights and Jackie Chan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_folk_religion

Western views

The absence of a proper name for this religion, associated with the absence of any canonical literature, have for a long time caused Chinese folk religion to be viewed by Westerners as a popularized version of an “authentic” religion, in the same way that the cult of the saints is viewed. Both in China and outside, adherents often describe themselves, or are described by others, as followers of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, or a mix among these.

http://www.blurtit.com/q738169.html

Blurtit expands on this definition:

“Worship of animals, the sun, moon, earth, the heavens and stars has been a tradition of this religion. Various devotions in celebration of legends, festivals, folk gods and goddesses has been part of the Chinese culture for centuries. Mythical figures, “saints,” immortals, and demigods are part of the Chinese tradition.”

The real problem for many of the world’s religions from a Jewish/Christian/Islam perspective is that they lack a Messianic Character (Christ); they are largely oral and interpretive in nature; and they are not monetheistic. This is true of a post already put up that dealt with Hinduism, but even more true of Jainism and some others.

Yet many of these religions directly address the environment as being much more important than the current leaders of the food chain, and caution against the over use of resources such as energy.

I rarely ever get lucky, but on this topic I did. a guy named Austin Arensberg put together this enormous list of groups, mostly local NGOs, working on environmental issues in China and sharing a traditional perspective.

A partial list includes:

Green Earth Volunteers

http://www.virtualfoundation.org/about/consortium/greenearth.html

Green Watershed
http://www.greenwatershed.org

Green River
http://www.green-river.org/

Nu River Project
http://www.nujiang.ngo.cn

China Rivers Network
http://www.chinarivers.ngo.cn

Wild China
http://www.wildchina.com

Han Hai Sha: Volunteer Website Dedicated to Desertification in China
http://www.desert.org.cn

China Green Foundation

Green Camel
http://www.greencamel.ngo.cn/

Perspectives plateau

www.plateauperspectives.org
Contact: Marc Foggin
Phone: +86 0 976 889 2104
Email: marc_foggin@hotmail.com

Green Khampa
Contact: Mr. Ding Xiaotao
Phone: +(86) (0) 836 283 9119
gzdingxiaotao@vip.sina.com

Friends of Grasslands
Contact: Mr. DA Lintai
Phone: +(86) (0) 471 4312480
steppecl@eyou.com

Green Campbell – Lanzhou Grasslands Research Institute

Gansu Grassland Ecological Research Institute
Contact: Dr. Liang Tiangang
Phone: + (86) (0) 0931 8662047, Fax: 86 0931 8497314
ggeri@public.lz.gs.cn
Address: P.O. Box 61, 730020, Lanzhou, Gansu Province

Snowland Great Rivers Environmental Protection Association
www.snowland-great-rivers.org
Contact: Gara Sandrup Rokai
Phone: + (86) (0) 971 6116 843, 0976 882 9088
Fax: 0976-8829099
uyohata@sina.com ,

okphone2001@yahoo.com

Upper Yangtze Conservation Development Organisation
China Vetiver Network

China Biodiversity Conservation Foundation
Fujian Bird-watching Society
Fujian Fire Bird?
HongKong Bird-Watching Society
Xiamen Bird-Watching Society
Shenzhen Bird-Watching Society
Wetland of the Dongting Lake?

Center for Biodiversity and Indigenous Knowledge
(http://www.cbik.org/)
Siberian Tiger Park
Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Foundation
China Wildlife Conservation Association
Nature and Culture Conservation Club

Green Dalian
Friends of Nature

And a 2006 Worldwatch Institute article makes this point:

http://www.worldwatch.org/node/3870

In this 2006 article by Lila Buckley, titled:

Maturing Environmental Movement Takes Uniquely Chinese Approach

“While many of their issues are familiar to activists around the world, environmentalists in China recognize that they must forge their own path. Speaking at the NGO Forum, Mei Yue, media director for Greenpeace China, explained how her organization tries to take advantage of environmental principles embedded in Chinese culture and philosophy. “Thinking locally in China involves traditional ideas of humanity in harmony with nature,” she said, noting that environmentalists need to stress more broadly the notion that this harmony is out of balance. “Then we can come up with uniquely Chinese understandings of new terms like ‘ecology’ and ‘sustainable development’ in order to solve our problems,” Mei explained.”

Unfortunately hindsight paints a less than hopeful Picture. The main point of the article is that Chinese Environmentalist are ready to dig in and fight. This last year brought global warming to China producing the first Heavey snowstorms during their New Year and ruining everyone’s holidays. The drought continued in the west and their deserts expanded and they drove the price of oil up over a 100$$$ per barrel.

And as usual the pretty pictures too:

Buddhist Environmental Groups? You would just bet that that was the case

Posted on March 28, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

Given the nature of the religion, more accurately called a way of life, you would think that there would be a lot of groups with this point of view. I found a few:

http://www.dharmanet.org/engaged.html

Environment / ecology

Dharma Gaia Trust -The mission is to nurture awareness of the complementarity of Buddhism and ecology through generating funds for Buddhist-inspired ecological projects in Asia and the developing world.
Earth Sangha [U.S.] – Founded in 1998 as a nonsectarian, nonprofit Buddhist environmental organization, our mission is to encourage the practice of Buddhism as an answer to the global environmental crisis, and to do practical conservation work of a kind that expresses the Buddhist ideal of compassion for all beings.
Zen Environmental Studies Center[U.S.] – Formed in 1992 to coordinate Zen Mountain Monastery’s activities in the areas of environmental eduation, recreation, research, and protection.

I apologize for the link to the Dharma Gaia Trust above, I am using a new editing system because of problems with my Internet Explorer. I tried twice to get it right because the source text is not an accurate link but I failed. So here it is:

http://teknozen.igc.org/dgt/

As with the Muslims, Harvard appears to have become a leader in the link between religion and the Environment. Maybe they can shame the world into stopping BURNING the world up! As always the link between burning fossil fuels and the Environment is absolute.

http://environment.harvard.edu/religion/religion/buddhism/projects/alliance_religion.html

Environmentalists always have pretty pictures.
Buddhist Engaged Projects

Alliance of Religion and Conservation (ARC)

The Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) is a secular group that helps the world’s major religions develop their own environmental programs based on their core teachings, beliefs, and practices. ARC links religions with key environmental organizations, creating powerful alliances between religious communities and conservation groups. The Alliance works with eleven major religions (Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Shinto, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism) as well as the key traditions or denominations within each tradition. ARC recognizes the crucial role that the world’s religions play in addressing the environmental crisis: the eleven religions participating in the Alliance own seven percent of the habitable surface of the planet; if they invested together, they would be the world’s third largest identifiable block of holders of stocks and shares. Combined, these religions reach out to every village and town, have the trust of more people than any other national or international group, and their followers constitute at least two-thirds of the world’s population. By drawing on holy books, sacred sites, traditional farming, education networks, media, and the assets of the religions, ARC helps create environmental projects such as forest management, organic farming, alternative energy, socially responsible investing, educational projects, sacred nature reserves, urban planning, and professional development. Current ARC projects include the founding of an International Interfaith Investment Group (3iG) with the intention of working with the investment arms of religions to create models for positive investment. The aim of this project is for each religion to assess its portfolios with due regard to its beliefs, values, the environment, and human rights “so that all life on Earth can benefit.” Another major initiative, the Asian-Buddhist Network, enables Buddhists from all corners of Asia to share their experiences with environmental projects within their communities.

Other Buddhist Environmental Resources and Links

Nuclear Guardianship Project (NGP): General Information
Nuclear Guardianship Project (NGP): Library
Pitaka: Academic Buddhist Resources
Shin Dharmanet

On to Weird Bird Friday>>>>>

Peace Be With You

Muslim Environamental Groups? Is there even such a thing…

Posted on March 27, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

I know there must be because we found an Environmental Group in Iran of all places and when I tried to be cute and download some environmental screed in Arabic (save our planet save ourselves) my computer got mad at me (language not recognized) and would not do it. But it does get you to wondering how many times am I going to have ask this question? Like, scooby, how many religions are there in the world? rut row

http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html

Christianity: 2.1 billion
Islam: 1.5 billion
Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 1.1 billion
Hinduism: 900 million
Chinese traditional religion: 394 million
Buddhism: 376 million
primal-indigenous: 300 million
African Traditional & Diasporic: 100 million
Sikhism: 23 million
Juche: 19 million
Spiritism: 15 million
Judaism: 14 million
Baha’i: 7 million
Jainism: 4.2 million
Shinto: 4 million
Cao Dai: 4 million
Zoroastrianism: 2.6 million
Tenrikyo: 2 million
Neo-Paganism: 1 million
Unitarian-Universalism: 800 thousand
Rastafarianism: 600 thousand
Scientology: 500 thousand

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But I have seen someplace that counting all the sects there maybe as many as 4,200 individual religions. I am hoping that they all do not have environmental websites or this little blogger is in deep doo doo. Another classification system show this:

There are twelve classical world religions. This is the list of religions described most often in surveys of the subject, and studied in World Religion classes (some of them more for historical rather than contemporary reasons):

Baha’i
Buddhism
Christianity
Confucianism
Hinduism
Islam
Jainism
Judaism
Shinto
Sikhism
Taoism
Zoroastrianism

In alphebetical order not order of importance. Please no holy wars here. Amazingly enough the big three Judeao religions have come through pretty well so far…

again a lot of pretty pictures..

http://environment.harvard.edu/religion/religion/islam/projects/islamic_foundation.html

Islam Engaged Projects

Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences (IFEES)

The Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences (IFEES) is an internationally recognized charity organization articulating Islamic perspectives on the environment that activates those properties inherent in Islam that are capable of remedying the socio-ecological imbalances of our time. IFEES is motivated by Islamic principles such as tawhid (unity), amana (entrustment) of the Earth to khalifa (the stewardship of humankind), and a system of ethics grounded in the Qur’an and sunnah (the guidance) of the Prophet Muhammad. The main objective of this multi-dimensional organization is to set up a center for Islamic research on conservation practice which would serve as the primary training site for practical and theoretical subjects based on the principles of Shariah. The center also serves as a demonstration and promotional site for experimental projects on sustainable land resource management and traditional and non-industrial farming techniques (e.g., organic farming) as well the development of alternative low energy, low cost technology (e.g., water wheels, solar panels, and waste recycling). IFEES currently produces collaborative instructive materials, maintains its own publication, the Qur’an, Creation and Conservation (1999), written by Fazlun Khalid, is compiling a database that will act as an informational exchange unit for environmental affairs, and organizes conferences and seminars throughout the world. IFEES networks globally with NGOs, international organizations, academic bodies, and grassroots organizations, and invites collaborative efforts with organizations and individuals who are dedicated to protecting the Earth for future generations.

And then there is this:

Date: Sunday 19th March 2006
Time: 10am – 6pm
Venue: Muslim World League, 46 Goodge Street, London W1P 1FJ
(Nearest Tube: Goodge Street Station)

One day meeting with all UK Islamic Environmental groups to
discuss activities, future events and strategies.

The meeting will be chaired by Dr Fazlun Khalid, who is the
founder and director of the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and
Environmental Sciences (IFEES). Local Islamic eco-groups include:
LINE, MINE, SHINE, WELCOME

*ALL WELCOME
*FREE event but must register

To register or for further enquires about event please contact:
Tel: 079092 032 136
E-mail: events@ifees.org.uk
Website: www.ifees.org.uk

http://12degreesoffreedom.blogspot.com/2007/10/lesson-in-muslim-environmental-ethics.html>

And this:

>
>Many environmentalists believe that conservation is an American idea. E.O. Wilson goes so far as to say that Americans invented it in his recent Atlantic Monthly essay that I posted this past Tuesday. Do you think he was referring to Native Americans?Probably not, so it may come as a surprise to him and others that the Koran (or at least a modern interpretation of it) has provided the inspiration and guidance for the development of programs in Tanzania designed to help fishermen sustainably harvest the waters off the west coast. (GW)

African fishermen find way of conservation in the Koran

An experiment in Tanzania is emerging as an Islamic model for spreading environmental ideals.

By Eliza Barclay
The Christian Science Monitor
October 31, 2007

Pemba, Zanzibar – For years, Salim Haji was told by government officials and international groups that his methods of fishing were destroying the coral and weren’t sustainable. But few fishermen on this small island off Tanzania’s coast paid much heed.

Then, the local imam told him that using dragnets to fish and spears to catch octopuses was wrong.

As a devout Muslim, he listened.

“I’ve learned that the way I fished was destructive to the environment,” says Mr. Haji, “This side of conservation isn’t from the mzungu,” he says, using the Swahili word for white man, “it’s from the Koran.”

On this remote edge of the Indian Ocean, an experimental model for implementing Muslim environmental ethics and education is yielding results. Local and international nongovernmental organizations, which pioneered the project, will publish a guidebook later this year in English and Swahili to be distributed throughout the Swahili-speaking coast of East Africa and eventually in Muslim communities around the world.
>

ALLAH ACKBAR

Jewish Environmental Groups? I thought this could be a lot of fun

Posted on March 26, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

While I was working on the last 2 posts, a thought came to me. Are there religious based environmental and energy advocacy organizations around the the country or the world?

http://www.coejl.org/resources/israelorg.php

And quick as you can say Holly Moelly Batman, I find this site and they got pretty pictures too.

Israeli Environmental Issues and Organizations

Adam Teva V’Din: The Israel Union for Environmental Defense

info@iued.org.il
http://www.iued.org.il
Protection and restoration of Israel’s environment through research, grassroots organizing, litigation, and political advocacy.

Alma – Association for Environmental Quality
A citizens group involved in promoting the use of environmentally-friendly products and organically-grown produce, in encouraging industry to reduce waste, in advancing recycling and in forming an environmental youth movement.

The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies (AIES)
Email: info@arava.org
http://www.arava.org/
AIES offers the foremost environmental studies program in the Middle East. Participants come from The Palestinian Authority, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and a variety of other nations including the US, Canada, Sweden, China, and Australia.

Council for a Beautiful Israel
Email: cbi@israel-yafa.org.il
http://www.israel-yafa.org.il/
CBI is active in promoting environmental awareness, protecting the natural beauty of Israel, preserving historical sites, promoting the rehabilitation of run-down urban areas and developing public recreation sites and gardens.

Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME)/EcoPeace
Email: contact@ecopeace.com
http://www.ecopeace.com
A consortium of Egyptian, Jordanian, Israeli and Palestinian environmental non-governmental organizations that work jointly to promote sustainable development in the Middle East.

For Bicycles
Email: taba@bike.org.il
http://www.bike.org.il/
Local associations for the promotion of bicycles as a means of transportation in Israel’s cities.

Green Action
Email: info@greenaction.org.il
http://www.greenaction.org.il/
An association fighting against environmentally damaging projects by means of colorful demonstrations, attracting media attention to issues.

Greenpeace Mediterranean
Email: mmedia@diala.greenpeace.org
http://www.greenpeacemed.org.mt

Green Course (Megama Yeruka)
Email: megama@green.org.il
http://www.green.org.il/
Students’ group aimed at promoting environmental issues inside and outside the universities, colleges and other higher education institutes.

Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership
Email: heschel@heschelcenter.org
http://www.heschelcenter.org/about_eng.html
Integrates environmental ethics into Jewish and Israeli education through seminars, teacher training, curricula development, and research.

Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel (ICCI)
Email: iccijeru@icci.org.il
“http://www.icci.org.il/
The ICCI is an umbrella organization of over 70 Jewish, Muslim and Christian institutions actively working towards interreligious and intercultural understanding in Israel and the region.

Israel Economic Forum for the Environment
Email: ecoforum@netvision.net.il
The forum encourages industry, transportation, agriculture and other economic sectors to incorporate environmental concerns into their development planning alongside economic and operational concerns.

Israeli Green Party
http://www.green-party.org.il/

Israeli-Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI) (Environmental Programs)
Email: ipcri@ipcri.org
http://www.ipcri.org

Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
Email: jcpa@netvision.net.il
http://www.jcpa.org/jep.htm
List of recent Jewish Environmental Publications

Jewish Global Environmental Network (JGEN)
Email: jgen@coejl.org
http://www.jgenisrael.org
The mission of the JGEN is to develop partnerships and collaborative initiatives through which Jewish environmental leaders in Israel and around the world work together toward a sustainable future for Israel.

Jewish National Fund
Email: communications@jnf.org
http://www.jnf.org/
Forestry and land reclamation in Israel; education; Israel trips; campus programming.

Kibbutz Lotan
Email: lotan-office@lotan.ardom.co.il
Email: lotan-programs@lotan.ardom.co.il
http://www.kibbutzlotan.com/
Kibbutz Lotan offers creative approaches for integrating the study of Liberal/Progressive Judaism, kibbutz, desert ecology, and environmental protection.

Life and Environment
Email: sviva@sviva.net
http://www.sviva.net
An umbrella organization to coordinate environmental activities among Israel’s non-governmental organizations.

Ministry of Environment
www.sviva.gov.il/

Neot Kedumim
Email: Gen_Info@Neot-Kedumim.org.il
http://www.neot-kedumim.org.il
Nature reserve dedicating to restoring the flora and fauna of biblical Israel; publication of educational materials.

New Israel Fund
info@nif.org
http://www.newisraelfund.org
New Israel Fund pursues an integrated strategy of grantmaking, technical assistance and coalition building to support national and community-based public interest organizations in Israel.

Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI)
Email: international@spni.org.il
http://www.spni.org.il/e, birthright mission: http://israelnature.com/

Israel’s largest environmental organization advocates environmental protection and offers a wide variety of educational programs and tours.

American Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (ASPNI)
email: aspni@aol.com
http://www.aspni.org/

Teva Adventure Israel
Email: info@tevaadventure.org
http://www.tevaadventure.org
Teva Adventure is a new not-for-profit informal Jewish educational organization that combines outdoor, environmental & adventure education with Jewish programming.

SHALOM

Fundamental Christians And The Environment – They do take themselves seriously

Posted on March 25, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

Where some of the Christian Environmental Groups come off as tree huggers and naturists, the Fundamentalists take themselves seriously. It’s a job, damn it!

http://www.creationcare.org/resources/signatores.php

And they are not afraid to bring out the heavy guns.