Multimedia

Tahani Ruhi Helmy, a Journalist, social media consultant, Interfaith Activist and the coordinator of Naya CC (URI Cooperation Circle) and  Sameeh Qumi, from Naya CC delivered a session on “Baha'i perspective on protecting the environment” during the ''Role of Faith in Protecting the Earth'' workshop which was organized by the URI MENA under the UNEP Faith for Earth initiative in Amman on 17 December 2022.

“Will humanity act on the truth that its own destiny and that of the planet are irrevocably intertwined? Or will still greater calamities be required to move it to action?” asks the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) in a statement it recently released on the occasion of Stockholm+50.

The science says that the affluent are the most responsible for the existential challenges of climate change, the biodiversity crisis and pollution threats and that we must turn the corner in this decade before these crises lead to catastrophe. Governments have already, in the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement and other texts, mapped out what needs to be done. The failure is in implementation due to the power of vested interests, corruption, materialist ideologies and the lack of political will faced with the necessary material sacrifices. Only a just transition motivated by ethical and spiritual values at the grass roots can lay the foundations for a more meaningful and sustainable social order offering a positive way forward through the turmoil of the inevitably difficult transition.

In this podcast episode, Rainn Wilson talks about climate change and issues relating to the environment with Arthur Dahl, Christine Muller, and Afsaneh Angelina Rafii. These three Baha'is have been passionately involved in environmentalism in some way, shape, or form, and discuss a range of issues relating to the environment including both practical, and spiritual themes that need to be addressed.

Climate change is already adversely affecting people in many parts of the world and seriously threatens the survival of human civilization. The present-day world order is disintegrating before our eyes, and increasing climate change impacts are compounding social problems. At the same time, we can see the integrative forces in youth climate action, interfaith collaboration, and constructive high-level discourse at the United Nations. Discourse starting at the family level, to neighborhoods, to groups, to friends, even at work will catalyze the groundswell needed to initiate change, and mitigate the catastrophic events that we see on the horizon. We’ll consult together about how we can change the trend, from disintegrative to integrative!

What are the scientific projections for our future on a warming Earth? How quickly do we need to reduce carbon emissions to lower widespread human suffering and to keep the Earth livable for humans and other life? How can we cope with the dire scientific projections and their spiritual challenge? How can this situation provide the opportunity for individual spiritual growth and for social transformation?

Climate change is a complex issue, and it is often misinterpreted. The presentation provides a basic introduction to the causes of global warming and what we can do to bring the Earth's climate system back into balance. Knowledge of the causes of climate change will also make us think more deeply about the meaning of justice, the “best beloved of all things”. The discussion will focus on the many ways we can all become part of the solution.

As COVID-19 sweeps the world, fear and panic are natural responses. The world was already in a mess, and now mass suffering is impacting everyone. For young people, their future already overshadowed by the climate catastrophe, hope may seem impossible. Yet this cloud does have a silver lining giving hope, which we can explore together. Dahl’s recent book In Pursuit of Hope suggests ways to arm ourselves for the environmental, social and economic challenges we are now facing and those still to come. At the individual level, all the great spiritual traditions speak of trial and suffering as paths to spiritual growth and refinement of character as we fight our inner battles. From the perspective of systems science, in a globalized world in which human organization has to adapt to a new scale of functioning, a process of rapid and often chaotic change is necessary to sweep away old institutions no longer adapted to the new reality, allowing a new and better system to emerge bringing justice and sustainability.

In this episode, Rainn Wilson speaks with Halldor Thorgeirsson, the Chair of Iceland’s Climate Council and retired Senior Director of the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC).

Some people subscribe to the notion that societal change needs to be radical, revolutionary, or even violent. But change may require only a shift in world view. Carl Murell, Baha’i Representative to the United Nations, discusses the increasing acceptance of the once controversial idea that the earth is one common homeland.

This Baha'i web talk explores the issue of living sustainably and why the Baha'i community supports sustainability.

Representatives of the Baha'i International Community's United Nations Office, Daniel Perell, Ming Hwee Chong and Julia Berger, discuss how their work to advance sustainable development relies upon the identification and application of spiritual principles (e.g. trusteeship, generosity, trustworthiness, love, empathy, compassion) and the fostering of genuine consultation (a process of collective, non-adversarial decision making), among diverse players on key contemporary issues. Reaching consensus at the international level can directly influence progress at the local level.