Hanuman Dass meets Vanessa Nakate at COP26 as part of Go Dharmic’s mission to raise awareness about the value of Ahimsa (non-violence) to protect the Earth

Go Dharmic is attending the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow and taking the message of Ahimsa (Non-violence) and its importance for protecting our environment. 

‘Causing no harm to any living being, or at least as little harm as possible is the way of life which represents the highest expression of Dharma.’ 

-Mahabharata

Hanuman Dass, Founder and Chairman of Go Dharmic is in Glasgow along with other GD members to attend COP26 and The New York Times Climate Hub.

He met the inspiring young activist Vanessa Nakate yesterday at The New York Times Climate Hub. Vanessa Nakate, a 24-year-old Ugandan activist, used her address to a crowd of protestors in Glasgow on Friday to emphasise the immediate impacts of climate change on her country and continent and draw a picture of a fairer future, arguing that the world could emerge from the climate crisis.

Hanuman Dass (Founder & Chairman, Go Dharmic) with Vanessa Nakate (Ugandan activist)

“We are in a crisis; We are in a disaster that is happening every day. There is so much to learn about the climate crisis, and learning about the climate crisis means learning from the voices that are on the front lines. We can’t have climate justice if voices from the most affected areas are being left behind.”

– Vanessa Nakate

Hanuman Dass pens down his thoughts after meeting Vanessa and shares,

“It made me think about representation and inclusion in the Media and at such significant events. People of Indian origin are around 20% of the world population, 1 in every 5 people. Still, the representation of Indian ideas and people is perhaps a measly 1-2% of the climate justice movement being represented at COP26. 

This means under-representation of important Indian heritage ideas such as Ahimsa (non-harming), Dharma (responsibility/sustenance), Yoga… Karma…Karuna.. the list goes on and on. These Universally applicable ideas need to be amplified for the benefit of our planet. 

Africa causes less than 3% of carbon emissions but is devastated by the historical impacts of climate change. We need to celebrate voices like Vanessa, who are showing extraordinary leadership in raising her voice to benefit all living beings. But, even after Vanessa was unbelievably cut out of the Davos photo last year, there is still a long way to go for a fairer, more equitable global presence for women, youth, black and ethnic minorities. We need to do everything we can to raise and amplify voices like Vanessa’s. We need fairness where we can all see beyond race, creed, tradition and invite everyone to the table.”

India will achieve its zero-net emissions target by 2070, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he presented his 5 ‘Amrit-Tatva’ before the world at the COP26. 

He shared, ‘The world agrees that lifestyle plays a vital role in climate change. I want to suggest a one-word movement in climate, which can become a key basis for one world. This word is LIFE — Lifestyle for Environment. It is necessary that all of us come together as collective participants and take ‘lifestyle for the environment’ forward as a movement. It can become a mass movement for an environmentally conscious lifestyle.’

Go Dharmic resonates with this thought, and we will continue to bring to the fore the Indian philosophy of Ahimsa, less harm which is nothing but the law of Love. Non-violence has been used for civil rights by Martin Luther King Jr, Mahatma Gandhi and others to significant effect. Now we must apply it to protect our Earth.

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Lili Gusto

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lili@godharmicstag.wpenginepowered.com