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The Seven-Year Plan: Lifestyles
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Some Hindu temples in India have introduced programmes of tree nurseries and replanting to bring back to life the forests of the gods.
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Link
here to the full Seven Year Plan.(Note this is a 2MB document).
a.) Audits:
*** Have you carried out an environmental audit of your assets and use of natural resources, recycling, energy etc as a faith community, families and individuals?
*** Have you or could you encourage your own faithful to do their own environmental audits and take action accordingly? Link here for some audits that faith and secular groups have put together.
b.) Lifestyles:
Are you encouraging, or could you encourage, your faithful to live more simply and in harmony with the environment?
*** If so, how are you supporting and assisting them?
*** If not yet, then could this be a key area for development in your seven year plan?
c.) Pilgrimage:
*** Have you looked at your pilgrimage places and routes?
*** Have you thought about how many pilgrims now travel by plane, coach and car where previously they walked, and considered ways of lessening the environmental impact of this?
SOME IDEAS AND EXAMPLES
* Re: Lifestyles: The tradition of fasting during the Muslim month of Ramadan has been taken up by many Muslim groups as the ideal time to reflect on what our lifestyle should say about the appropriate use of natural resources. Likewise, Christians could use the period of Lent for reflection. A primary school in the UK came up with a ‘green’ Lenten calendar in 2008, and it is hoped that in 2009 dozens of schools will do something similar. Link here for more details.
* Re: Pilgrimage: The ancient Hindu pilgrimage path around the shrines of the god Krishna at Vrindavan in India passes through forests dedicated to various moments in Lord Krishna’s life. However, until recently these ‘forests’ were little more than a few old trees. Now the Hindu temples have a programme in place of tree nurseries and replanting to bring back to real life the forests of the gods.
LINKS
Link here for the main project page to explain the Seven Year Programme.
Link Latest Guidelines (this is a 2MB document).
Link to the Frequently Asked Questions
page.
The Other Six Key Areas are:
1. Faith-consistent use of Assets: land, investments, purchasing and property
2. Education and Young People
3. Pastoral Care: theological education, training, rediscovering past traditions and wisdom
5. Media and Advocacy
6. Partnerships and Creating your own Environment Department
7. Celebration
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