potential public for Krsna Consciousness

[Guest guest]

Saturday the 18th November saw the coming together of masses of enthusiastic

people, spanning all age groups, in the Hague, Holland. It was one of the

biggest events ever organised by Friends of the Earth Europe, attracting

five thousand supporters from all over the world- coming from 180 different

countries as far away as America and even Japan. What was the attraction? To

protect Mother Nature. To save the human race.

Volunteers aged from 9 to 90 travelled long distances - some 2 or 3 days on

buses - to play their part in showing the politicians that the power lies in

their own hands, the hands of the democratic citizens, the voters, the souls

who inhabit this planet of immeasureable potential physical and spiritual

beauty . And just to demonstrate this point, they started to build a dike

(using sandbags) around the building where the convention took place.

Speeches were made, key witnesses of climate change gave their moving and

disturbing reports, individual groups staged little performances to show

what it all means to them, Brazilian drummers drummed to keep the energy

levels and motivation up and vegetarian food was being cooked on the spot

and sold at low prices.

This wall was aimed at encircling the decision-makers and putting them under

pressure to set targets; targets that may seem unachieveable at first, but

that must be realised, if severe climatic change is to be avoided.

1992 witnessed the first major meeting of this kind in Rio de Janeiro, to

discuss the state of the environment. This event resulted in a agreed policy

of environmental protection, a draught of clear-cut goals which would lead

to the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases (namely carbon dioxide and

sulphur sioxide, the major culprits in global warming). Ambitious thought

they were, some countries made genuine real attempts to control and reduce

the levels of toxic wastes resulting from industry, technology and intensive

agriculture. Others didn't.

The Kyoto Protocol was the fruit of the next big conference. Conference

followed conference, leading to the 6th Conference of Parties to the UN

Climate Convention n the Hague. Little has been done by world leaders to

shift the imbalance of focusing on economic gain, technological and

industrial so-called "advancement" to a more holistic view of the earth as

our nurturing Mother who provides for all our needs, so long as we treat her

with respect and gentleness, and show our gratitude to God by making daily

humble offerings to Him. Even those firmly gripped in a more material

world-view believe that focusing on the Kyoto Protocal is just a waste of

time. Instead, they suggest to concentrate on energy efficiency - that

means, minimising what we produce (non-biodegradeables such as plastic),

what we consume (fossil fuels - the blood of the earth), establishing

sustainable agriculture (organic and permaculture) and sustainable living

systems, a healthier respect for animals, taking only what we need, and

losing the greed! It is encouraging to finally hear respected international

scientists coming to the conclusions that the Vedas have been teaching since

time immemorial. Even the European Union is now launching changes in the CAP

(common agricultural policy) agreement to promote organic/biodynamic

farming.

So what part did the Hare Krishna devotees from Antwerp play in all this?

Tarunyamrita and husband Purna Tattva of the temple at 184 Amerikalei only

heard about this event a few days beforehand. However, they quickly

mobilised and drove to the site of the dike-building on Saturday morning.

There, they set up a table with an array of Srila Prapuphads books, flyers

and - very important to attract the curious passers-by - Prasadam in the

form of 1600 peaces of laddu! This went down a treat. The response in

general was very good, possibly even more so since they were the vegetarian

nature-conscious types. Some books were discussed and sold. For some it was

their first encounter with Krishna devotees and they were visibly left with

a strong impression of openness, caring and haute cuisine! Purna Tattva and

Tarunyamrita say that these kinds of gatherings are ideal to bring the

message of Krishna Consciousness to the people / public / ignorant and

suffering masses.

 

ys bhaktin Deirdre