Special Reports

After an intensive two weeks of climate change negotiations, with dedicated efforts being made by all 192 nations, the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was concluded with all agreeing that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time requiring long-term, cooperative action. It’s recognized that both the industrialized and developing countries must reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to keep the increase in global average temperature to less than 2oC above pre-industrial levels.

During the summit held from November 27 to December 10, Golden Year 7 (2010), in the sunny city of Cancún, Mexico, people from various sectors—non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, private companies, research institutions, and students—all expressed interest in the plant-based lifestyle change to restore the environment.

Our Association members from all over the world campaigned with great enthusiasm and devotion for the benevolent, organic, vegan solution to save our planet. Supreme Master Ching Hai also personally graced the venue as an honored guest of Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. Her sincere love and concern for all nations in this time of crisis flowed through the meeting rooms and deeply touched the hearts of world leaders and dignitaries who had the opportunity to speak personally with Her. We would like to introduce just a few of the highlights at the venue.

Association Members’ Public Campaign on the Vegan Solution

On the first day of the event, all the way from the airport to the official venues for COP16, our Association members set up big billboards, banners and other displays with the message “SOS! Yes VCan-cun” to greet thousands of international guests and delegates. Their actions captured media attention and made headlines in several local newspapers. Despite spending long hours under the hot sun, the earnest concern for the world and the joyful spirit of our fellow practitioners never decreased over the following two weeks. They distributed vegan treats and informative SOS tote bags in front of the CancunMesse for the VIP’s, which included Dr. Rajendra Pachauri. Their spirit melted the hearts of the policemen who began to approach our Association members, asking for further information and expressing their support for this noble ideal.

Through God’s arrangement some of our members were able to attend the restricted official conferences, during which time they handed out directly to attendees the SOS information specially prepared for them, including Master’s new book From Crisis to Peace: The Organic Vegan Way is the Answer, that left a deep impression on delegates from around the globe.

At the Climate Change Village

The welcoming, warm response from the Mexican people towards the noble vegan lifestyle not only made it possible for our Association members to arrange a booth in the busy Plaza Las Américas in Cancún City to reach thousands of people, but also to secure a permanent stand at the Climate Change Village. This side-event was organized by the Mexican Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources, where all were welcome to present environmental solutions for climate change.

Our Association members worked long hours to prepare and distribute delicious vegan treats along with SOS gift bags containing abundant information on the cause and the solution of climate change and Master’s message for the anticipated 30,000 visitors. Those who were committed to being vegan one day a week were also given a free T-shirt. Many schools and universities extended invitations for them to teach vegan cooking classes and share vegan recipes.

Supreme Master Ching Hai made a surprise visit to our Association’s stand. She joined the working staff to hand out vegan food as well as express appreciation to the initiates, who came from afar, for their hard work to spread the message and encouraged them to continue. Everyone was deeply touched by Master’s humility and unconditional love. She also spent a long time autographing copies of Her book, From Crisis to Peace: The Organic Vegan Way is the Answer, which were given out to the visitors free of charge. In addition, upon invitation, Master delivered a lecture to more than 300 people who sincerely waited for Her at the forum, with many more who were inspired to pledge that they would follow the vegan diet.

Supreme Master Ching Hai Shared Her Earnest Concern with World Leaders

With the start of high-level climate negotiations in Cancún, Mexico, Master was invited by the nation’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources to attend sessions of the important proceedings.

Some of the attending dignitaries who had the opportunity to speak with Master included the President of Mexico, His Excellency Felipe Calderón (photo 1); US Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Change, Dr. Jonathan Pershing; Deputy Director of the Office of Global Change and US Department of State, Mr. Trigg Talley; and the Moldovan Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Gheorghe Şalaru.

National ministers and UNFCCC National Focal Point representatives received a copy of Master’s new book, From Crisis to Peace: The Organic Vegan Way is the Answer, which She graciously signed. Togo’s National Focal Point to the UNFCCC, Ambassador Komi Tomyeba (photo 3); Head of the Climate Change Central Department at the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, Dr. Ezzat Lewis Hannalla Agaiby (photo 4); and Ugandan Environment Minister Ms. Jesca Eriyo, were among those also expressing their gladness upon meeting Master, who conveyed Her encouragement for their efforts.

While observing some of the high-level sessions, Master spoke personally with international dignitaries, including Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Dr. Rajendra Pachauri (photo 2); Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, Ms. Dessima Williams; Minister of Environment for Namibia, Ms. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (photo 5); Vice-Chair of one of the UNFCCC Ad Hoc Working Groups, Mr. Miroslav Spasojevic from Serbia; Swiss Representative from the Federal Office for the Environment, Mr. José Romero; Advisor for Afghanistan’s National Institute of Environment Protection, Mr. Abbas Basir; Cameroon’s UNFCCC National Focal Point, Ambassador Joseph Armathe Amougou; and Peru’s Environment Minister, Dr. Antonio José Brack Egg (photo 6). As Master encouraged them to help save the planet, many expressed support and respect for Her ideal, and asked for more books to bring back to fellow citizens their home countries.

Some, such as Dr. Mark Wright, Chief Scientist at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), were already familiar with Supreme Master Ching Hai’s environmental work, while others wished to know more about Her endeavors for a peaceful planet, such as Her development of Supreme Master Television and its constructive programming. Many requested Master’s autograph and to be photographed with Her.

Meet the Media

Even before the launch of COP-16, Radio Formula QR 92.3 FM, based in Cancún, Mexico, invited Master to share Her thoughts on climate change solutions. The interview was aired on two consecutive Saturdays, November 27 and December 4 at 9:50 a.m. Cancún time. Master discussed the vegan solution for saving the planet from global warming and recommended that everyone in Mexico use solar power to make the best use of their big blessing from Heaven—plenty of sun.

Despite Her many activities in Cancún in addition to attending sessions at the United Nations Climate Change Summit, Master set aside time to give media interviews and personally served delicious vegan food for some of reporters at the hotel where She stayed. Her discussion with the famed journalist Ms. María José Cadena Castro from Mexico’s EncadenaTV on December 9 was broadcast in the peninsula area through TVCUN and Canal Mundo Maya. She also accepted interviews from December 11 to 13 with Mr. Luis Ballesteros from El Quintanarroense newspaper; Mr. Millysent Bradley Crea from Televisa TV Mexico, the second largest TV station in Quintana Roo; and Ms. Veronica Ocampo of Agence France-Presse (AFP) News Network Cancún. All members of the media were greatly impressed by Master’s presence, Her natural approach towards the protection of our beautiful planet, and Her deep understanding of all elements of creation.

On December 18, Master was invited to a press conference to address regional journalists and answer questions from more than 10 media groups, including print publications such as News of Quintana Roo (Novedades de Quintana Roo); La Verdad Editorial; De Peso; A New Quintana Roo (Un Nuevo Quintana Roo); The Voice of the Mayas Magazine (La Voz de los Mayas Revista); and Por Esto! Quintana Roo, as well as Radio Turquesa, Radio Formula, Cancún Radio, and television station Canal 10.

In a warm and candid atmosphere, journalists listened attentively to Master’s logical and moral insights as She explained about the urgent situation of climate change. In identifying the livestock industry as the main cause of global warming and other environmental crises on our planet, Master asked for the media members’ help in sharing these vital facts with the public.

During the press conference, a delicious vegan lunch was served to the journalists. Many eagerly wanted to know more about the lifestyle for themselves, with one reporter saying that he became a vegan just 30 days ago while another stated that he has been wanting to open a vegan shop. Master also made sure that further factual material was given to the journalists, including Mexico-specific data, so that they could provide readers, listeners and viewers with the most up-to-date and relevant information about climate change.

The Greenest Heroes Gala: A Gift for the Soul

Amidst the key discussions taking place for the COP16 United Nations Climate Change Conference, a special event was held in Cancún on Sunday, December 5. Hosted by the Mayor of Cancún, The Honorable Jaime Hernández Zaragoza and the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, “The Greenest Heroes Gala” celebrated champions of the environment in halting global warming through the vegan diet.

Broadcast live on Supreme Master Television, the event opened with warm greetings from esteemed former Costa Rican President José María Figueres Olsen, followed by a welcome speech from the Honorable Mayor Zaragoza, and a keynote address by the 7th President of Ireland, Her Excellency Mary Robinson.

Gracing the lively, meaningful celebration was special guest of honor Supreme Master Ching Hai, who together with Mayor Zaragoza presented The Greenest Heroes distinction to eight vegan and vegetarian laureates: ultra-endurance athlete and attorney Rich Roll; leading communication coach Richard Greene; best-selling author and speaker Dr. Will Tuttle; 3-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Cary Brown; soprano opera singer Kerry Walsh; accomplished film producer Julie Bergman Sender; and the evening’s two Masters of Ceremonies, multi-Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Lionel Friedberg and actress Mariana Tosca.

A wonderful array of star-studded musical performances began with Grammy and Oscar-winning composer David Shire accompanying soprano Lynne Wintersteller; followed by others that included founding member of the legendary Beach Boys, Al Jardine; and Tony Award-winning vocalist Melba Moore singing to the music of two-time Oscar winning composer Al Kasha—all of whom presented songs inspired by Supreme Master Ching Hai’s poetry.

During the gala, attendees celebrated the premiere of the book, From Crisis to Peace: The Organic Vegan Way is the Answer, a compilation of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s messages on the environment, giving a clear view of the causes of global warming and the road map to save the planet. In addition, audience members enjoyed the debut of Birds of Paradise, a feature animation film based on Supreme Master Ching Hai’s #1 international best-selling book, The Birds in My Life.

The shining highlight of the evening was an address from Supreme Master Ching Hai, as She spoke about the preciousness of human lives as well as the act of saving them. In doing so, She also revealed certain spiritual information for the first time ever, which reaffirmed in a whole new light why the organic vegan diet is paramount to a happy future for all.

Continuous Love in Action from Supreme Master Ching Hai

On December 9, at the invitation of the Honorable Paty Meneses de Hernández, Lady Mayoress of Cancún and president of the social welfare agency for the Municipality of Benito Juarez, Supreme Master Ching Hai attended the opening of the Christmas pastoral season in Colonia Avante, and shared gifts prepared by our Association members with all the children that included clothes, candies as well as Her contribution totaling US$10,000 given in envelopes of lucky money. In addition, to support the welfare campaign “Shelter a Family,” Master lovingly provided 250 eco-blankets to the disadvantaged families of Leona Vicario so they could enjoy a cozy and warm Christmas Eve.

We join the world in thanking all distinguished participants of the Climate Change Conference for their concerted efforts in Cancún, Mexico, including the government leaders, NGOs, media and individuals. We especially thank Supreme Master Ching Hai for Her genuine love and concern for nations worldwide facing this shared challenge. Our prayers that leaders make the wisest decisions to save the planet, especially the urgent switch to the organic vegan lifestyle.

To view highlights of Master's visit in Cancún, Mexico, during the United Nations COP16 Climate Change Conference, please visit: http://video.godsdirectcontact.net/magazine/WOW1620j.php

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