Celebrating Sikh Environment Day

I wrote a post a couple of months ago about the new environment movement that seems to be developing among religious circles, connecting the need to protect the planet with religious and spiritual beliefs (Indeed, the United Church of Canada was a strong force at the Copenhagen negotiations).

It looks like the movement is still going strong with groups like the Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE) declaring March 14 as "Sikh Environment Day".

In July 2009, in collaboration with the United Nations, SCORE organized an EcoSikh conclave in New Delhi in which Sikh organizations and leaders declared a five-year plan as a Sikh response and commitment to save the earth against the threat of climate change. The plan was presented to UN's secretary-general Ban Ki Moon at Windsor Castle which hosted an international conference of all religions and climate change.

Part of the plan was the creation of Sikh Environment Day, scheduled for the first time this year on March 14, to coincide with the celebration the 7th Guru, Guru Har Rai Ji who had preached that Sikhs must come to the defense of all that is vulnerable and protect the well-being of plants and animals.

The main organizers are hoping that all major Sikh Gurudwaras will sing hymns with an environmental theme on this day, along with the planting of trees with the community.