NewZNew (Chandigarh) : EcoSikh is a leading Sikh Global Environmental organization headquartered in the US & has its India Office in Punjab. The organisation has done yeoman service in generating Environment protection awareness, which has already shown results in Punjab and various other states in India where Gurudwaras exist. It was informed in a news release issued from Chandigarh, that EcoSikh President, Dr. Rajwant Singh and South Asia Project Manager, Ravneet Singh presented EcoSikh’s 10 years Sikh Environmental Action Plan, at a meeting with senior UN officials in Bristol, UK, in coherence with UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN Faiths Meeting was co-hosted by Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), UK and UNDP.
Dr. Rajwant Singh said, “In next ten years EcoSikh will be focusing on major projects working with international institutions like World Bank, WWF and R20, (an institution formed by Arnold Schwarzenegger) to create and implement many development and environmental projects in Amritsar as well as in Pakistan on the sites related to Guru Nanak Dev. We also envision projects to create major push towards organic farming among Sikh farmers in Punjab.”
Ravneet Singh said, “EcoSikh has already started a major plantation drive in the holy city of Amritsar, it has also purchased a digger to expand this activity. We are connecting employment related activity leading to sustainable and wholesome development of Punjab with the Sikh diaspora and we already got a good response from Sikh community in England.”
The Bristol meet was also attended by representatives from the United Nations, the World Bank, The Nature Conservancy, WWF and the Governments of France and Germany. ARC Secretary General Martin Palmer said “The Bristol Commitments are specific, faith-related, detailed programmes of work by faith communities from around the world, each inspired by their own values and beliefs, and will make a significant contribution to improving life for millions of people around the world.
Paul Ladd, UNDP Director Post-2015 Team, said: “More than 80% of the world’s people express a religious affiliation. Knowing this, it becomes clear that the UN needs to work closely with faith communities over the next 15 years if the new Global Goals for Sustainable Development are to be achieved.”
EcoSikh declared that it will run awareness campaigns in Punjab and elsewhere focused on healthful living.