Thread View: ab.agriculture
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Started by Mesbah Javid
Sat, 11 Sep 1999 00:00
Baha'i Approach to Protecting the Environment
Author: Mesbah Javid
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 00:00
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 00:00
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Conservation of the Earth's Resources
Prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House
of Justice
Baha'i World Center, 1990
[selected sections....]
Baha'i Approach to Protecting the Environment
The conservation and protection of the environment
must be addressed on the individual and societal levels.
Shoghi Effendi, in a letter written on his behalf, states:
"We cannot segregate the human heart from the
environment outside us and say that once one of these is
reformed everything will be improved. Man is organic with
the world. His inner life moulds the environment and is
itself also deeply affected by it. The one acts upon the
other and every abiding change in the life of man is the
result of these mutual reactions.
"No movement in the world directs its attention
upon these aspects of human life and has full measures for
their improvement, save the teachings of Baha'u'llah. And
this is its distinctive feature. If we desire therefore the
good of the world we should strive to spread those teachings
and also practice them in our life. Through them will the
human heart be changed, and also our social environment
provides the atmosphere in which we can grow spiritually and
reflect in full the light of God shining through the
revelation of Baha'u'llah." [102]
Baha'i Solution to World's Problems
And, with regard to the solution of the world's
problems, he indicates that:
"We need a change of heart, a reframing of all our
conceptions and a new orientation of our activities. The
inward life of man as well as his outward environment have
to be reshaped if human salvation is to be secured." [103]
On a governmental level, the Universal House of
Justice calls for 'global cooperation of the family of
nations in devising and adopting measures designed to
preserve the ecological balance this earth was given by its
Creator'.[104] The House of Justice asserts:
"Until such time as the nations of the world
understand and follow the admonitions of Baha'u'llah to
whole-heartedly work together in looking after the best
interests of all humankind, and unite in the search for ways
and means to meet the many environmental problems besetting
our planet, the House of Justice feels that little progress
will be made towards their solution..." [105]
The Universal House of sets out the role of the
individual Baha'i and of Baha'i communities in relation to
saving "the wildlife and natural condition of the world"
[106] as follows:
"....the best way in which you can help to save
the wildlife and natural condition of the world is to exert
every effort to bring the Message of Baha'u'llah to the
attention of your fellowmen and to win their allegiance to
His Cause.
"As the hearts of men are changed, and they begin
to work in unity in the light of Baha'u'llah's teachings,
they can begin to implement many practical improvements to
the condition of the world. This is already beginning in the
efforts at social and economic development in those areas
where large Baha'i communities have been founded. Of course,
you can also assist those whom you come into contact who
have an interest in improving the environment, but the
fundamental solution is the one that Baha'u'llah has
brought. [107]
In addition to addressing the issue on a fundamental
spiritual level, collaboration with individuals and groups
interested in improving the environment is encouraged. The
Baha'i communities are called upon to make the conservation
of the environment an integral part of their ongoing
activities by
"....assisting in endeavors to conserve the environment in
ways which blend with the rhythm of life of our
community..." [108]
"Abdu'l-Baha sketches the following picture of the
future state of life on earth:
"The Lord of all mankind hath fashioned this human
realm to be a Garden of Eden, an earthly paradise. If, as it
must, it findeth the way to harmony and peace, to love and
mutual trust, it will become a true abode of bliss, a place
of manifold blessings and unending delights. Therein shall
be revealed the excellence of humankind, therein shall the
rays of the Sun of Truth shine forth on every hand." [109]
--------Final Words----------------------
`Chaos and confusion are daily increasing in the
world. They will attain such intensity as to render the
frame of mankind unable to bear them. Then will men be
awakened and become aware that religion is the impregnable
stronghold and the manifest light of the world, and its
laws, exhortations and teachings the source of life on
earth.' [Abdu'l-Baha]
-----------References--------------------
[102] from letter on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 17 Feb 1933
to an individual believer
[102] from letter on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 27 May 1932
to an individual believer
[104] The Universal House of Justice, Department of
Secretariat, from a letter dated 18 Oct. 1981 to an
individual believer
[105] ibid.
[106] The Universal House of Justice, Department of
Secretariat, from a letter dated 14 June 1984 to an
individual believer
[107] ibid.
[108] The Universal House of Justice, from the 1989 Ridvan
Message to the Baha'is of the World.
[109] Abdu'l-Baha, Selections, section 220, pages 275
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<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff face=3D"Comic Sans MS" =
size=3D5><STRONG>Conservation of the=20
Earth's Resources</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#ffff00 face=3D"Comic Sans MS">Prepared by the =
Research=20
Department of the Universal House of Justice</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#ffff00 face=3D"Comic Sans MS">Baha'i World Center,=20
1990</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Comic Sans MS" =
size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans MS">[selected sections....]</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000 face=3D"Comic Sans MS" =
size=3D4><STRONG>Baha'i Approach to=20
Protecting the Environment</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans =
MS"> The=20
conservation and protection of the environment must be addressed on the=20
individual and societal levels. Shoghi Effendi, in a letter written on =
his=20
behalf, states:</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Comic Sans MS"> =20
"We cannot segregate the human heart from the =
environment=20
outside us and say that once one of these is reformed everything will =
be=20
improved. Man is organic with the world. His inner life moulds the =
environment=20
and is itself also deeply affected by it. The one acts upon the other =
and=20
every abiding change in the life of man is the result of these mutual=20
reactions.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans MS"><FONT =
color=3D#000080> =20
"No movement in the world directs its attention =
upon these=20
aspects of human life and has full measures for their improvement, =
save the=20
teachings of Baha'u'llah. And this is its distinctive feature. If we =
desire=20
therefore the good of the world we should strive to spread those =
teachings and=20
also practice them in our life. Through them will the human heart be =
changed,=20
and also our social environment provides the atmosphere in which we =
can grow=20
spiritually and reflect in full the light of God shining through the=20
revelation of Baha'u'llah."</FONT> [102]</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000 face=3D"Comic Sans MS" =
size=3D4><STRONG>Baha'i Solution to=20
World's Problems</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans =
MS"> And,=20
with regard to the solution of the world's problems, he indicates=20
that:</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans MS"> =
<FONT=20
color=3D#000080>"We need a change of heart, a reframing of all our =
conceptions=20
and a new orientation of our activities. The inward life of man as =
well as his=20
outward environment have to be reshaped if human salvation is to be =
secured."=20
</FONT>[103]</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans =
MS"> On a=20
governmental level, the Universal House of Justice calls for 'global =
cooperation=20
of the family of nations in devising and adopting measures designed to =
preserve=20
the ecological balance this earth was given by its Creator'.[104] The =
House of=20
Justice asserts:</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans MS"> =
"Until=20
such time as the nations of the world understand and follow the =
admonitions of=20
Baha'u'llah to whole-heartedly work together in looking after the best =
interests of all humankind, and unite in the search for ways and means =
to meet=20
the many environmental problems besetting our planet, the House of =
Justice=20
feels that little progress will be made towards their solution..."=20
[105]</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans =
MS"> The=20
Universal House of sets out the role of the individual Baha'i and of =
Baha'i=20
communities in relation to saving "<FONT color=3D#0000ff>the wildlife =
and natural=20
condition of the world</FONT>" [106] as follows:</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans MS"> =
"....the=20
best way in which you can help to save the wildlife and natural =
condition of=20
the world is to exert every effort to bring the Message of Baha'u'llah =
to the=20
attention of your fellowmen and to win their allegiance to His=20
Cause.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans MS"> =
"As the=20
hearts of men are changed, and they begin to work in unity in the =
light of=20
Baha'u'llah's teachings, they can begin to implement many practical=20
improvements to the condition of the world. This is already beginning =
in the=20
efforts at social and economic development in those areas where large =
Baha'i=20
communities have been founded. Of course, you can also assist those =
whom you=20
come into contact who have an interest in improving the environment, =
but the=20
fundamental solution is the one that Baha'u'llah has brought.=20
[107]</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans =
MS"> In=20
addition to addressing the issue on a fundamental spiritual level, =
collaboration=20
with individuals and groups interested in improving the environment is=20
encouraged. The Baha'i communities are called upon to make the =
conservation of=20
the environment an integral part of their ongoing activities by =
</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans MS">"....assisting in endeavors to =
conserve the=20
environment in ways which blend with the rhythm of life of our =
community..."=20
[108]</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans MS"> =20
"Abdu'l-Baha sketches the following picture of the future state of life =
on=20
earth:</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans MS"><EM><FONT =
color=3D#800080> =20
"The Lord of all mankind hath fashioned this human =
realm to=20
be a Garden of Eden, an earthly paradise. If, as it must, it findeth =
the way=20
to harmony and peace, to love and mutual trust, it will become a true =
abode of=20
bliss, a place of manifold blessings and unending delights. Therein =
shall be=20
revealed the excellence of humankind, therein shall the rays of the =
Sun of=20
Truth shine forth on every hand."</FONT></EM> =
[109]</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans MS"><BR>--------Final =
Words<FONT=20
color=3D#800080><EM>----------------------<BR> =20
`Chaos and confusion are daily increasing in the =
world. =20
They will attain such intensity as to render the frame of mankind unable =
to bear=20
them. Then will men be awakened and become aware that religion is =
the=20
impregnable stronghold and the manifest light of the world, and its =
laws,=20
exhortations and teachings the source of life on earth.'=20
[Abdu'l-Baha]</EM></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans MS">
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT=20
face=3D"Comic Sans =
MS">-----------References--------------------</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans MS">[102]<FONT face=3D"Comic =
Sans MS"> from=20
letter on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 17 Feb 1933 to an individual=20
believer</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans MS">[102]<FONT face=3D"Comic =
Sans MS"> from=20
letter on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 27 May 1932 to an individual=20
believer</FONT></FONT></DIV><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans MS">[104] The =
Universal House=20
of Justice, Department of Secretariat, from a letter =
dated 18 Oct.=20
1981 to an individual believer</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans MS">[105] ibid.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans MS">[106] The Universal House =
of Justice,=20
Department of Secretariat, from a letter dated 14 June 1984 to an =
individual=20
believer</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans MS">[107] ibid.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans MS">[108] The Universal House =
of Justice,=20
from the 1989 Ridvan Message to the Baha'is of the World.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3D"Comic Sans MS">[109] Abdu'l-Baha, =
Selections,=20
section 220, pages 275</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft> </DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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