Dharma Teachers Climate Statement

From: Bob Doppelt <bob@trig-cli.org>
Date: 25 March 2014 18:17:47 GMT
To: Bob Doppelt <bob@trig-cli.org>
Subject: Request to distribute Dharma teachers climate statement to your sanghas

To: Dharma Teachers From Around the World

March 25, 2014

Thank you for signing The Earth as Witness: International Dharma Teachers Statement on Climate Change (http://www.oneearthsangha.org/articles/dharma-teachers-statement-on-climate-change/). 

As of today, 426 Dharma teachers from around the world have signed the statement. The 30 plus members of the International Dharma Teachers Collaborative on Climate Change that wrote the statement together offer a deep bow to each of your for adding your signature.

By explaining how the Dharma offers a pathway to reducing the climate crisis to manageable levels, the members of the Collaborative on Climate Change hope that sangha members worldwide would sign the statement as well as teachers.  Through this we hope that the Buddhist community can become a powerful voice in the inter-faith movement to address the climate crisis.

However, as of today, only 985 sangha members have signed the statement. With 426 teachers signing the statement, it seems there could be 10,000 or more signatures from sangha members.

The members of the Teachers Collaborative therefore ask you to consider letting your sangha members and network know about the statement and encouraging them to sign it.

In addition, the members of the Teachers Collaborative ask that you and your sangha members and network consider engaging in solutions to the climate crisis.

Action is needed in these areas and more:

1. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in:

· Transportation

· Energy production (extraction, pipelines, power plants)

· Residential energy use

· Commercial and industrial energy use

· Product energy use

· Waste generation and management

· Agriculture

· Material and resource consumption in general

2. Increase ecological sequester of carbon in: 

· Forests

· Wetlands

· Agriculture

3. Increase preparedness for and resilience to acute and chronic climate impacts in: 

· Built systems-- infrastructure, buildings, roads, water systems etc.

· Ecological systems--forests, waterways, wetlands, marine environments

· Economic systems--including agricultural systems and others

· Human systems--prepare for acute traumas (extreme weather events)

· Secondary trauma (including moral distress, compassion fatigue)

Numerous websites have information on how to implement changes in the areas listed above. 

4. Assert political pressure on elected officials and government agencies at all levels in all countries.

Dharma teachers and their sanghas and networks can also play these key roles in climate solutions:

a. Provide spiritual leadership by continually voicing the principles of the Dharma in discussions and issues related to climate change (using the statement as basis)

b. Walk the talk of support for change through your physical presence at social and political events urging solutions to climate change.

c. Inspire change through written statements, letters, media pieces, talks etc with the media, other groups, your sangha etc. describing how the Dharma offers a pathway to solutions to the climate crisis.

d. Join with other spiritual organizations to promote change at all levels.

e. Work in your neighborhoods and communities. 

f. Awaken and inspire your sanghas, students and colleagues.

For more information about the Dharma Teachers International Collaborative on Climate Change go to: dharmateachersclimatecollaborative.org   

Please let us know if you would be interested in becoming involved.

Sincerely,

Bob Doppelt

For the Dharma Teachers International Collaborative on Climate Change

 

--
Bob Doppelt
Executive Director

The Resource Innovation Group


PO Box 51182
Eugene, Oregon 97405
P: 541-744-7072541-744-7072
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Email: bob@trig-cli.org
Website: www.theresourceinnovationgroup.org