Hindus to celebrate International Day for Biological Diversity, 22 May 2010
22 May 2010

In what is believed to be a global first, Hindus worldwide are meeting in London on 22nd May to mark the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB). Top of the agenda will be the threat to the Gulf of Mannar, the shallow stretch of water separating India from Sri Lanka. The Indian government plans to build a shipping channel through the shallow waters, one of the last remaining intact ecosystems of its kind on earth, and the site of Adam's Bridge or Ram Sethu, a sacred site for Hindus. The event, convened by the Living Planet Foundation of the USA, is supported by numerous Hindu and environmental organisations and is titled 'Sacred Dimensions of Biodiversity'.

Thousands of years ago, Hindu sages realised we needed to preserve our environment and maintain ecological balance to ensure the survival of life on earth," says Kusum Vyas, Founder of the Living Planet Foundation. "Hindus believe all life is sacred, so we must challenge issues such as development projects that cause mass species extinction and loss of biodiversity."

"Act of terrorism against Nature"

Top of the agenda will be the threat to the Gulf of Mannar, the shallow stretch of water separating India from Sri Lanka. The Indian government plans to build a shipping channel through the shallow waters, one of the last remaining intact ecosystems of its kind on earth, and the site of Adam's Bridge or Ram Sethu, a sacred site for Hindus. "We cannot stand idly by and allow our fragile environment to be defiled in this way," insists Mrs Vyas. "Hindus must play a much stronger role in fighting what amounts to an act of terrorism against Nature and against a sacred site."

Guest speakers at the event, to be held in Harrow, include the environmental campaigner Kathy Goldsmith, Ian Stephen of the Zoological Society of London, and the Hindu ecologist and author Ranchor Prime.

Organisations supporting the event include:Agni Foundation (the Netherlands), British Hindu Voice, Croydon Hindu Council, Food for Life Vrindavan, India; Hindu Council UK; Hindu Students Union; Hindu Voice UK; Siddhashram Shakti Centre; Majapahit Centre, Bali; President Sukarno Centre, Bali; Mauritius Sanatan Dharma Temples Federation; Rainforest Concern, UK; Rainforest Rescue International, Sri Lanka; Transnational Indian Identity, UK; Universitas Mahendradatta, Bali; World Hindu Youth Organization (WHYO), Bali.

The event will be held on Saturday, 22 May 2010, from 6.00 - 9.00PM, at the Maes Feild Hall, Harrow Leisure Centre, Christchurch Avenue, Harrow, Middlesex, HA3 5B, United Kingdom.

For more information on the Living Planet Foundation, visit www.livingplanetfoundation.org.