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Sikhism –The Green Faith
Gurmeet Kaur
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World Sikh News is pleased to welcome a new genre of Sikh
environmental-conscious activists and writers. Last week, while
commenting on the Indo-US nuclear deal we had regretted the lack
of dialogue and debate by Sikhs on the deal and the global
energy crisis. This article is the author’s response to our
comment |
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 Pavan guru paani
pita, maata dhart mahat ...
Air is our teacher, Water our father, And the Great Earth our mother
...
-Guru
Nanak, Japji, Epilogue
While the
governments of the world move at a snail's pace in solving the
energy crisis, a grassroots movement at the consumer level can turn
the tide around. It is just a matter of realization, consciousness,
and making some lifestyle changes. It is starting to happen around
the world. It is significant and it is the only thing we can do
right now.
It is very
simple: Reduce the demand on Energy!
It pains me to
see how well-off Sikhs (and South Asians in general) in both the
East and the West are so complacent over one of the biggest crises
in the world right now. We have not shown any concern (unless it
affects our pockets), and little leadership and vision in this area.
Addicted to
cheap supplies from the third world, driving the biggest gas
guzzlers, buying huge houses that ultimately end up owning us, and
stuffing the landfills with disposables, we show our affluence by
hogging the energy, trashing the environment ... and taking a lot of
pride while at it.
I hate to start
this article by blasting ourselves, but I think you will appreciate
where I am coming from if you read on.
 Recently, I found myself on a long drive with a few teens. Being the
tree hugger and all that I am, I wanted to use the time en route in
a useful discussion on the environmental degradation and our
responsibility as Sikhs.
I am ashamed to
say that I was totally unsuccessful.
With all due respect to their good behaviour otherwise, they were
absolutely not interested in such an important issue; and mind you,
I was not lecturing. I was listening and trying to create a
dialogue, but all they had to offer was their enthusiasm about the
12-cylinder Ferrari their relative bought, or the 10-bedroom
beachfront pool house their friend owns.
When I brought
up the point that global warming is not so far out and that it is
affecting our lives every day, one of them mentioned that her family
had a large mansion in India they can go to if something like the
wildfires got to them. (Great job, parents!)
Even though my
ears started hurting from all the materialistic chatter, I didn't
give up. As a last resort, I told them that they could only speak if
they talked about Sikhi values, benevolence or taking care of Mother
Earth.
Well, there was
total silence for the next ten minutes, and then one of them spoke
up: "There are these organic jeans at the Gap for a hundred and
eighty dollars that are so cool.....!"
Now that you understand where I am coming from, let us get to the
point.
Common sense change at the grassroots level will reverse the energy
crisis, and the environmental crisis. And I expect and hope that
Sikhs around the world will not only be a part of that change, but
be the very leaders.
Why?
It is
fundamental to our faith and tradition. Our faith is a green faith.
Earth is designated as our physical Mother in Gurbani and we have
the obligation to take care of it. We have the duty to leave a
better world for our next generations.
I derive my inspiration from the great environmentalists like the
late Bhagat Puran Singh who spent all his life lobbying and caring
for the environment (and yes, looking after the disabled).
I first came
across his extraordinary writings on the desertification of
Punjab
when I was young. His volunteers handed me a recycled paper pamphlet
that talked about it all, as we walked out of Darbar Sahib.
While most of
those were used by people to wrap around left-over Parshad or to
wipe hands, I saved mine and asked my Dad to read it for me. I still
remember all the words uttered ... The rivers are being poisoned ...
The land is becoming a desert ... We need to live simply, and we
need to plant trees if we are to save our future ...
Gurbani
stresses, over and over again, that we lead simple lives by, for
example, consuming less.
And today that
message is so relevant. Reducing the demand at the consumer level is
the best way to solve the global crisis of energy and the
environment.
I am citing some
changes that we have easily incorporated in our lives at home, in
order to reduce our energy footprint. Please take what you can and
think of your own creative ways that work for you.
Be the change,
and spread it forward.
- We have
taped shut our clothes dryer. With so much solar heat outside, the
line drying of clothes is working just fine. It also allows us to
breathe fresh air and smell the roses while we fold our laundry in
the backyard. It's one of the simplest ways of using the alternative
energy resources directly and reducing the dependence on fossil
fuels. Energy savings - 20%.
- By planting
trees around the house, we have developed a mature shade-giving
canopy over the years. The temperature underneath the shade is 15-20
degrees cooler than the ambience. Who needs the air conditioner ? We
open the windows in the night when the temperatures are low and let
the house cool. In the morning, we shut windows, pull the shades,
and enjoy the moderately cool house. Energy savings - 20%.
- We drive
less. I have managed telecommuting from home for a few days out of
the month and repay my employer by working for an extra hour those
days. (With the saving in drive time, that is an easy thing to do.)
By making simple changes in driving habits such as car pooling,
reduced speeds and accelerations, well-inflated tires and clean air
filters, 10% to 30% of fuel consumption can be saved. The national
gas bills may have gone up, but ours have gone down.
- Once or
twice a week, I walk to the grocery store for eco-shopping trips.
First, I get my exercise and second I do my shopping. I don't
understand the idea of using energy to burn energy; i.e. driving to
the gym or using a treadmill or both.
- We have
literally stopped visiting shopping malls unless we must have
something that's not available online. It used to be that I would go
to malls and buy things I absolutely didn't set out for. We have
saved thousands - YES, thousands of dollars in the last three years
from spurious shopping. That takes care of dasvandh right there and
leaves us with more time and money to invest into greening and other
community projects.
- We try to
buy locally manufactured goods even if we have to pay extra. There
are hidden costs of shipping involved with buying cheap imported
goods. Shipping overseas pollutes environment, kills wildlife, and
is bad for the local economies. Here, the savings may not show up in
our account, but they help the world energy supplies and local
economy.
- Weddings,
birthdays, graduations? We give one of these things: spiritual,
educational, local handicraft items or plants. It saves on a lot of
headaches, time and driving around while enriching the loved ones
and the environment.
- With all the
conservation mania, you would wonder if we ever have any fun in our
lives. You bet, we do. Ever heard of eco-vacations ? We hike, kayak,
swim, sail and snorkel at nearby destinations. We have tent-camped
for over ten years in the most pristine state and national parks in
the U.S., but never once have we run into another Sikh family having
eco-fun. (Too busy visiting international shopping destinations ?)
Reduced flying and forgoing of expensive resorts results in energy
savings of over 75%.
You probably
have read about all the simple changes we have made in our kitchen.
My neighbour was
shocked the other day when we compared our energy bills. We consume
less than 50% of the energy and water they do. We have the same size
houses and yes, we do shower every day. With all the savings in
energy costs, we can afford to eat healthier, local and organic
foods.
We made all these changes gradually, so they were not as hard to
make as one might think. Over time, they have become our lifestyle.
We keep looking for new ways to contribute to the reversal of global
warming. The most important thing is awareness and the feeling of
responsibility.
Also, what helps is that we are not ashamed to be called
conservationists. We are proud of it. Carrying our water in reusable
glass jars, toting our cloth shopping bags, are statements we love
to make. "Reducing, Reusing and Recycling" is the mantra we are more
than happy to share with the world. Sometimes we get called "poor"
or "cheap" in the affluent circles, and we just smile.
How else will this become a grassroots movement if we were not to
pour out our passion, overcome false pride, and educate and inspire
the world with all we have?
“Never doubt
that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the
world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has". [Margaret Mead]
 Gurmeet
Kaur is a telecommunications architect and an active member of the
Sikh Community in Atlanta working on various youth symposiums and
projects. She is a passionate envirnonmental advocate and an active
volunteer for Community Activism, the Kalghidhar Trust and United
Sikhs. She loves Sikhi and says that because of her deep love for
Gurbani, she is “a better mother, better friend, better student and
a better citizen of this earth” She may be contacted at
GB6799@att.com
29
July, 2008
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