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Channing Z. Snyder was committed for much of his life to environmentally sustainable approaches to farming and energy, as well as spreading the unifying message of Baha’u’llah since 1977. He combined these callings in his 10 years as a Baha’i pioneer in Finland. Chan passed away October 30, 2012, having lived for many years on [...]
In this blog entry on The Huffington Post, Peter Adriance, Representative for Sustainable Development in the U.S. Baha’i Office of Public Affairs, shares his reflections after attending a gathering sponsored by the White House office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, which was attended by more than 150 representatives of widely diverse faith groups and congregations from [...]
Originally published in Baha’i World News Service RIO DE JANEIRO – World leaders seeking to promote sustainable development should embrace the principle “that each one of us enters the world as a trust of the whole and, in turn, bears a measure of responsibility for the welfare of all.” This concept was among several that [...]
In 1992, the Rio Earth Summit was one of the largest events ever organized by the United Nations. Now, world leaders are preparing to return to the city to consult about the global path to sustainable development – an idea that was first broadly raised here two decades ago. Representatives from governments, the private sector, [...]
Environmental Representative for the U.S. Baha’is Delivers Keynote Address at the 15th Annual International Environment Forum in Tasmania, Australia. (Scroll down for bonus TIMELINE) When Peter Adriance, NGO Environmental Liaison for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States, accepted to give the keynote address at a global environment conference focused on [...]
The Climate Ethics Campaign is aiming for 1,000 endorsements of its new climate change statement by November 30th, the day the campaign plans to officially release and circulate the statement on Capitol Hill. A representative of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha‘is of the United States recently endorsed the statement, titled “Statement of Our Nation’s Moral Obligation to Address Climate Change”
An environmental magic show was one of the highlights of the five-day program, “Environmental Stewards: Champions of Justice!” at Green Acre Bahá’í school in Eliot, Maine, in late July. Bob Fellows’ entertaining magic tricks reinforced many of the themes the program aimed to convey, said Peter Adriance, who coordinated the eco-friendly retreat attended by more [...]
5-day academy ignites Jr. Youth on environment & justice
An important part of the “Sustainable Development Academy” for junior youth held at Green Acre Baha’i School in July 2011 was the study of Baha’i Writings on the environment and social justice. The interactive lessons helped the 52 young people in their pre- and early teens to make a connection between the spiritual and material [...]
“The enthusiasm with which many communities responded to the Preach-In signaled the Baha’i community’s growing interest in engaging in contemporary discourses and social action,” Adriance said, noting that climate change is one of the topics of discourse that the world governing body of the Faith suggested to the Baha’is of the world in a major message April 2010. “Through reflection on principles of environmental stewardship and justice many were then inspired to engage in related acts of service and social action.”
A process of learning — workshops model best practices
A process of learning we can all emulate marked workshops offered at the Bahá’í Conference on Social and Economic Development. They covered such topics as community health; taking moral leadership to neighborhoods; educating school teachers about the oneness of humankind; service through the arts; providing legal assistance to the poor; spiritual parenting; and spreading prosperity. [...]
Interfaith Action Days on Global Warming
On February 11 to 13, the Baha’is of the United States will join other faith groups in a three-day campaign to raise awareness about global warming.—an issue of increasing concern to people of faith due to its scientific and ethical dimensions. Interfaith Power and Light’s annual “Preach-in” on Global Warming encourages faith groups to discuss [...]
Efforts by Baha’i communities in support of the environment are at an early stage but growing.
Frequently asked questions about the importance of acting immediately to stem the tide of climate change.
Addresses and workshops at the Baha’i Conference on Social and Economic Development and sessions of the preceding seminar for experienced practitioners wove a tapestry of the conference theme on development and growth.
Experienced practitioners participating in a seminar preceding the Baha’i Conference on Social and Economic Development showed how their endeavors connect to wider Baha’i efforts to build community.
Workshops at the Baha’i Conference on Social and Economic Development reflected language, approaches and processes that will continue to develop as opportunities for social action and wider public discourse arise.
Essay by Samuel Jordan shows how our choice of products to buy affects the lives of people around the world.
Brilliant Star magazine, published for children ages 8–12 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States, received a 2010 APEX Award of Excellence for Green Writing. This is Brilliant Star’s fourth APEX Award for Publication Excellence. The Green Writing category focuses on topics such as conservation, energy, the environment, and climate change. [...]
For the first time, Baha’is were among more than 80 representatives of the world’s major faith traditions participating in the World Religions Summit held this week at the University of Winnipeg, just ahead of the G8 and G20 summits in Toronto. The faith leaders convened from more than 20 countries—including the G8 countries of Canada, [...]
NEW YORK — A new statement challenging the common assumption that human beings are slaves to self-interest and consumerism has been issued by the Baha’i International Community. A more profound look at human nature would reveal the ability to respond to a higher calling, suggests the document – issued this week for the United Nations Commission on [...]
Acceptance of the ethical dimension of climate change has risen to a new level of importance in discussions at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, say members of the Baha’i delegation.
Baha’is from five continents, including two from the United States, are making presentations at the Parliament of the World’s Religions – an event now held every five years in the modern continuation of an initiative begun more than a century ago.
A study course on the Scientific and Spiritual Dimensions of Climate Change has just been made available online by the International Environment Forum (IEF), a Baha’i-inspired organization addressing environment and sustainable development.