| “2 Minutes to Change”–Celebrating the 15th Supreme Master Ching Hai Day Compiled Report from Centers around the World (Originally in English)
On February 22, Golden Year 6 (2009), our Association members and participating groups worldwide stood motionless for two full minutes, inviting the public to pause and consider the dire state of our quickly warming Earth. It was one of the largest international events coordinated by our Association members to date. Participating Centers hailed from countries as diverse as Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Togo, Cameroon, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, the United States and Canada. Upon hearing of their good–hearted, Earth-saving events, Supreme Master Ching Hai sent a loving message to thank our Association members and wish them good luck and great success! In Indonesia, over 200 initiates and their families peacefully strolled through the car-free-day zone on CBD Road Thamrin - Sudirman on that early morning, while happily singing environmental songs and shouting in spirit, “Be Veg! Go Green! Save the Planet!” They offered over 1,000 vegan food samples. At 08:22 am local time, they stood still holding a 50-meter long SOS banner covered with signatures, which attracted several local TV stations and newspaper journalists to cover this precious moment. Most people around the Circle also participated in this ‘freeze’ moment to symbolize changing our world for a better life. In the Czech Republic, initiates from the Prague Center passed out SOS DVDs and information flyers on the global warming issue and its simple solution - vegetarianism. They covered one of the busiest squares in Hradec Králové and the capital city Prague. They gave to passers-by free vegetarian food samples and organized a petition requesting the government to inform citizens about the urgent situation of global warming encouraging them to abstain completely from or at least significantly reduce their consumption of animal products. In downtown Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, on the vibrant Cuba Street, fellow initiates sang a few “veggie songs” for the public after the two minute ‘freeze.’ Hundreds of free vegan snacks and thousands of information packages on the vegan diet were also shared. Many people expressed their interest in knowing more about how an improvement of our diet could greatly help the planet. In Costa Rica’s capital of San Jose, pedestrians stopped, some for hours at a time, to become better informed about climate change and the vegetarian diet. One man was seen warmly encouraging his wife and children to be more noble and become vegan. In Chile, Vegan Man (Homo Vegetus), natural animals (Naturianimalis), CDA (Coalición por los Derechos Animales), and all the vegetarians and vegans were invited to participate in this event, which was held at Plaza de Armas square of Santiago. Guest speakers hosted discussions for the public on subjects like “Steps to be Vegetarian and Vegan,” “The Myths of Being Vegetarian,” and “Global Warming from the Animal’s Perspectives.” 5,000 SOS flyers, balloons, and candies with SOS logo were delivered and colorful entertaining programs were also performed. And in Trafalgar Square in London, distinguished UK speakers were invited to share the many benefits of being veg with the audience. More than 412 signatures were collected in the UK for the Food Versus Feed Petition, asking the United Nations to ease world hunger by halting the waste of valuable grain for consumption by livestock. Our Association members in France reached at least 4,500 people with the SOS message in front of the annual Salon de l’Agriculture. Many stood watching the vegan cooking show broadcasts, and hundreds of delicious veggie food samples were gone in no time, leaving nothing but smiles! In some regions like Goiania, Brazil, specially invited participants such as professors and government officials were present. Our Hungarian Association members rallied the support of vegetarian celebrity Andras Laar at a gathering in the heart of the capital city of Budapest. In South Korea, 350 Association members staged a dramatic performance that contrasted the present “perishing meat-diet world” with the ideal “beautiful vegetarian world.” A seminar on food and climate in Seattle, Washington, USA was viewed attentively by concerned, noble citizens. The responses from the public and the media, including mainstream and national television, radio, internet and newspapers, were overwhelmingly favorable. Brazil’s #1 television channel, Globo, and largest newspaper, Estadao, published a report. Costa Rica’s principal television stations, Channel 7 and Channel 13, also aired the event. NBN News in Australia reported, “They say the answer is far more simple and in the community’s control.” “Trading beef for beans or poultry for tofu, switching to vegetarianism isn’t just good for you, but good for the environment as well.” In Chile, Radio Portals, Radio Agriculture, and national TV Channel 7 broadcasted the event to the whole country. In Korea, the event was aired by SBS TV on its primetime 8 o’clock news and made it to the front pages of The Hankuk Ilbo and The Korea Times, as well as other national newspapers. Major news agencies such as AP, Yonhap and Newsis also covered this news.
Newspapers reporting on the event
We thank our Association members worldwide and all supportive organizations, government officials, media, families and individuals for being a part of this meaningful event. We are ever-grateful to Supreme Master Ching Hai, whose loving guidance at this pivotal time in our history is not only inspiring, but invaluable! With our days to make a difference clearly numbered, may all of humanity unite to Be Veg, Go Green, and Save the Planet! For more information about this event, please visit: www.feb22event.com
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