BRAHMA KUMARISBRAHMA KUMARISENVIRONMENT INITIATIVEENVIRONMENT INITIATIVE

« When I change, the environment changes »

What is the BK Environment Initiative?

• This is the Brahma Kumaris’ contribution to the protection of the environment and the development of a sustainable lifestyle.

• As an international organisation in over 100 countries the Brahma Kumaris will encourage all its centres to develop a plan for environmentally friendly ways of working.

What are the aims of the BK Environment Initiative?

• To help individuals and communities make the connection between consciousness and the state of the planet;

• To raise awareness of how self transformation and action based on spiritual values, such as non-violence and respect, contribute to a change in the environment;

• To encourage spiritual empowerment of the individual and communities to enable lasting changes in lifestyle.

Brahma Kumaris Environment Initiative

The underlying principles of the initiative:

• Positive focus: « What can I do, rather than what I shouldn’t do ». Creating enthusiasm.

• Integration: Adding value to my own life by giving value to the environment through my actions.

• Ownership : Each centre is responsible for choosing its own level of engagement and implementation.

Suggested activities

• Green workshops for BK Centres

• Green workshops for the public on Environmentally Friendly Living

• Creating a Green Spiritual Footprint (a personal plan for evaluating the positive impact of my life on the environment)

Sample Green Workshop for BKs

1. Share background information and context on climate change

2. Dialogue: what are the purpose and benefits

of a sustainable lifestyle?

3. Actions: what would we like to change in the working of our centre?

4. Implementation: gaining approval from your NC for any major changes

A Green Spiritual Footprinta personal plan for charting the impact of

my life on the environment

Thoughts:• Am I fresh and green or cloudy-minded?Words:• Are my words like a green cool breeze?Deeds:• Did I travel in a green way today?• How much green was there in my plate?• Where shall I spend my next beautiful green time-out?• Can I count my green acts of love for mother earth

today?

Suggested topics for workshops on Environmental Friendly Living

1. Simplifying our needs so using everything from Mother Earth in a worthwhile way

2. Learning to respect and care for the environment and share resources

3. The Link between our inner and outer climate - understanding the effect of our vibrations on the environment

4. Spiritual response to possible emergencies

5. The beneficial effect of a vegetarian diet on the environment

Additional ideas

• Green thought for the day/week• Dedicating time for a Green meditation• Regional Green retreats and trainings for

BKs and close contacts on environmentally sustainable living

• A Green BK website dedicated to share information and best practices

Sample Ecological Charter

Current Green Best Practices in BKWSU Worldwide

• Villa Serra Serena a completely eco-friendly Retreat Centre, Brazil, (buildings, water, organic agriculture, 7000 tree-planting)

• Casa Sangam Retreat Centre, Italy

• Itteville Retreat Centre, France

• St Etienne les Orgues, France

BKWSU Environmentally Friendly Projects in India

1) Brahma Kumaris is a leading organisation in India using renewable energies, (especially solar energy) in Mt Abu, Om Shanti Retreat Centre in Gurgaon, Delhi, Hyderabad and many other cities

2) Events to promote environmental awareness have been held all over the country

3) The latest project aims to make the Shantivan complex in Mt Abu completely independent in its energy needs, including electricity

Gurgaon

Latest solar energy project in Shantivan, Mt Abu

Number of dishes: 750 nos. of 60m2

Electrical output: 1,0 Mw el. (net. 22000 kwh/24hrs)

Thermal output: 150 Mwh th. ( 24hrs)

Thermal Storage: 82 Mwh th. storage for continuous operation

Solar Field: 25 Acres near to campus (1.3 km)

Total mirror Area : 45.000 m2

Turbine: 1,0 Mw el. at 255C and 41 bar

(Siemens)Solar field , 25 Acres750 dishes , 140 Mw th.~8 t. steam / hrs

Sewage treatmentPlant

Steamline Hot Water Line

Mukri Mata

Hot Water & Steam

440V 3phase

440V 3phase

Turbine 1,0 Mw el.41bar, 255C

Canal

Road

WRST 1.0 Mw el. solar thermal power plant

with cogeneration Abu Road, Rajasthan

Brahma Kumaris HeadquartersMt Abu, India

• Vegetable waste used to feed cattle and as compost in organic agriculture

• Recycling of cooking oil, washing powder and soap

• Recycling of all waste at the Global Hospital and Research Centre

United Nations Climate Change Conference

& NGO ForumCopenhagen 7th - 18th December 2009

Brief Overview of COP 15

• COP15 - the 15th Conference of the Parties under the UN ‘Climate Change Convention’

• Ministers and officials from 192 countries are expected to attend

• A parallel NGO Forum, organised by local NGOs and sponsored by the Danish Government.

BK participation in COP15

• Observer status at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (to be confirmed)

• Participation in the NGO Forum

• The Brahma Kumaris community – raising awareness of an environmentally friendly lifestyle

Brief Overview of Kyoto Protocol• Stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the

atmosphere

• 4 gases : carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrons oxide (N2O), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)

• 2 groups of gases : hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons

• Industrialized countries agreed to reduce their production of greenhouse gases by 5.2% compared to the year 1990

• European nations 8%, USA 7%, Japan 6%, Russia 0%

Green Thanks for Your Attention