South Africa
Spreading the Vegan Message at the 17th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change By Durban News Group (Originally in English)
[Durban] From November 28 to December 9, Golden Year 8 (2011), approximately 16,000 delegates from around the world participated in the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP17) at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in the beautiful coastal city of Durban, South Africa. The Conference participants advanced implementation of the Convention and Kyoto Protocol, the Bali Action Plan, and the Cancun Agreements, as well as agreed to adopt a universal legal covenant on climate change no later than 2015. To bring the urgent “Be Veg, Go Green 2 Save the Planet” message to the delegates and decision makers, a group of our Association members from around the world conducted a wide range of activities during the event. Active Veg Campaign At the ICC our Association members set up a booth in the public exhibition area. They took the opportunity to serve delicious vegan food samples and to hand out informative climate change leaflets there as well as in markets, on the streets and at a tent on the beach front. The visitors showed great interest in learning about the earth-saving diet and many volunteered to distribute the crucial information in colleges and libraries. Some said they had heard of Supreme Master Ching Hai through Her 1999 lecture tour and several inquired about initiation. Joining other environmental advocates and groups, our Association members participated in the “We Have Faith” Multi-faith Mass Rally and in various gatherings at the Speaker’s Corner. Singing the “Be Veg” song and carrying large banners, their presence was felt and warmly received on the streets of Durban. In addition, a special “Cyber Café” was established to provide the public with vegan food and a large selection of publications on climate change. At the Café, approximately 200 enthusiastic police officers and personnel were served a delicious vegan lunch on December 5, and the birthdays of several captains were celebrated with vegan cheesecakes. Each officer was given related global warming leaflets and a copy of Master’s book From Crisis to Peace. Deeply impressed by the event, one official later asked for more promotional flyers and T-shirts, planning to bring them to remote areas of the country. The schools, libraries and universities visited by our Association members responded positively to the vegan message, agreeing to distribute the information to 89 libraries and make Master’s book From Crisis to Peace available to university students and staff. “Veganism to Save the Planet” Gala
On December 1, our Association members hosted the special gala “Veganism to Save the Planet” at the Olive Convention Centre. Approximately 400 guests were served a sumptuous, five-course vegan dinner while being entertained by acclaimed Zulu singer/songwriter Tu Nokwe, the renowned Drakensberg Boys’ Choir, an enthusiastic South African Boot dance, cultural dancing, and original compositions by Canadian singer/songwriter Sylvain Lamy. Many dignitaries attended the event, including the Director-General of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Mr. Nhlanhla Ngidi; His Majesty King Setlamorago Godfrey Thobejane of Bapedi in Limpopo; the Secretary-General of the United Nations Association of South Africa, Professor Harold Herman; and Kenya’s Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, the Honorable Dr. Noah Wekesa. Distinguished guest speakers for the evening included the Honorable Maneka Gandhi, animal advocate, former Minister of Environment and Forests, and current Member of Parliament for India; Dr. Daniel Maingi, a vegan Kenyan scientist, and executive director of Biowatch and the Animal Welfare Network of Africa; and Mr. Stephan McGuire, co-producer of the award-winning documentary, the “11th Hour” and co-founder and President of Coalition For A Sustainable Africa. Dr. Kirk Smith, IPCC scientist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, although unable to attend, joined the Gala via a video greeting sent from UC Berkeley. Footage of Master’s inspirational speech was played in the evening, in which She encouraged all to be vegan now instead of waiting for the development of sustainable technology, and called on leaders to guide the planet to a noble, virtuous, life-saving and planet-sustaining path. At the press conference afterwards, Mrs. Gandhi and Dr. Maingi answered questions from the media.
Many guests from the Gala said they were inspired and ready to make a shift to the vegan diet. They were astounded at the quality of the food as well as the variety of dishes and flavors. Mrs. Gandhi and Mr. McGuire, who have been long-time vegetarians, decided to take dairy out of their diet! The Gala was covered in a detailed article by South Africa’s major financial newspaper, Business Day. Entitled “COP-17: A Message from the Master,” it spoke highly of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s concise message, and brought greater awareness that the vegan lifestyle is the fastest, most efficient solution to the climate crisis. In an interview with Supreme Master Television, His Majesty King Setlamorago Godfrey Thobejane said, “Once we start taking this and understand the significance of shifting our way of life into this veganism, I think we can save the planet. The meat that we love so much, it’s a life threat; it threatens our lives. Leaders from all categories need to start taking serious this particular campaign without any waste of time.” During the entire UNCCC in Durban, our Association members distributed over 20,000 SOS flyers, 26,000 informative climate change DVDs, 24,000 copies of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s book From Crisis to Peace, and more than 40,000 servings of tasty vegan fare. This momentous event once again reunited our Association members from around the globe and with gratitude and blissful hearts, they extended our Master’s love and concern for the planet.
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