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Speech by Martin Palmer, Jurong: 29 October 2008
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"A journey of one thousand miles starts beneath
your feet", Dao De Jing Chapter 64.
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I want to congratulate the delegates to the Third
Ecology Protection Forum of the China Daoist Temples and
Pagodas on two outstanding and historically important
documents.
I found your description at the
beginning – of how as one thing is hurt others will be
harmed, and how when one thing is protected, others will
share the benefit – to be beautiful, poetic and
profound.
The Mao Shan Declaration takes the
important principles established by the Qinling
Declaration several steps further. The success of the
Daoist Temple Ecology Education Alliance, founded upon
the Qinling Declaration, can now advance even
further.
Your draft recommendations for the
Daoist Eight Year Plan are inspirational. And the plan
is achievable for five reasons.
1. For every
idea, and item in the plan, there is already a temple
doing something. For example, education centres already
exist in so many temples, and you can learn from each
other.
2. The Network of Daoist Temples links
temples which are committed to the environment, and
which already lead by example.
3. Some new
areas such as the youth camps build upon ideas and
experiences. Fore example, Master Liu from Purple Cloud
Temple spoke of his joy at hearing more birds in the
morning, because nature in his area was recovering after
years of suffering. Imagine how taking young people from
crowded cities to the peace and beauty of nature will
awaken respect and love for nature.
4. This
can largely be done by using the resources you already
have. In the spirit of the Dao this MUST be a programme
that you can sustain and where the energy comes from
you, although sometimes with a little help from
outside.
5. This Eight Year Plan is not
something that outsiders have created. This plan
breathes with the energy of the Dao. It is founded upon
the wisdom of Lao Zi. It is filled with the vision of
Daoism. It is how Daoism will help to shape the
wonderful harmony and balance which China and the world
require. You, as Daoists, are the strength of this
plan.
Many of your ideas will now help
inspire other people in other religions, and we will be
taking this draft version of the plan back with us, to
show to others, and say these are the wonderful things
that are being done by Daoists in China.
There
is a phrase from the Dao De Jing Chapter 64 that a
journey of one thousand miles starts beneath your
feet.
Thank you, and may we walk with you,
and make the first steps together based on where we are
right now… as together we make this world heaven upon
earth.
**** Links
*** Link
here
for news of the Third Daoist Ecology Forum which opened
on 27 October 2008 in Jurong, near Nanjing in Jiangsu
Province.
*** Link
here
to read the Mao Shan Declaration in Chinese and
English.
*** Link
here
for details of Martin Palmer's introductory talk at the
Daoist Ecology Forum in Jurong.
*** Link
here
for details of UN's representative, Olav Kjorven's
speech at the Third Daoist Ecology Forum in Jurong.
***
And link
here
to read an article on Daoism and climate change written
by Olav Kjorven.
*** Link
here
for details of Chinese Daoists' Ecology Protection Eight
Year Plan.
*** Link
here
for more Daoist eco-news.
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July 11 2008:
UN/ARC Seven Year Plan for Generational
Change
After a year of discussions, consultations and
drafts, ARC is proud to announce the launch, with
the UNDP, of the Guide to Creating Seven Year Plans.
The purpose is to help faith communities to move
into a new stage of environmental action, reflection
and thought. Many have already done audits and have
looked into traditional practices for eco-friendly
ways of living. This is the next level of
engagement.
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Last updated: September 24, 2009 :
Latest news on the Long Term Commitments
A sample of some of the faith groups around the
world that are creating Five, Seven, Eight and Nine
Year Plans to protect the natural environment,
through the UNDP-ARC framework.
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Daoist Faith Statement
Formal statement of Daoist beliefs about ecology:
"If all things in the universe grow well, then a
society is a community of affluence. If not, this
kingdom is on the decline."
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