A GREEN DIWALI & THE AMAZON

Just recently I visited Minnehaha Falls, which is part of the mighty Mississippi, Our Ganga. I was performing an artie to Mother Earth and providing an offering of organic kiwi fruit to Her. My offering ended up in the Minnehaha Creek, which is also part of the Mississippi. Many people of various traditions perform ceremonies near or in the falls. It is truly one of our most cherished sacred sites in the Minneapolis area. At the falls you see the diversity of humanity: Hindus, Native Americans, pagans, Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Asians, Mexicans and more. You also see the diversity and beauty of nature at the falls or at Longfellow Gardens. Today I saw a blue jay. Sometimes I see humming birds, gold finches and even eagles. The gardens display various flowers, greens, ferns and bushes. The energy of nature is powerful and beautiful at the same time. Today I realized that we have islands at the falls, another great part of nature.

We will be celebrating Diwali very soon. Many people light their deeyas indoors in our northern climate. Hindus in India, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia often can place them at their door stops. Although some people celebrate taking in a fire works display, many Hindus choose to be more environmentally conscious and reject such displays in their communities. In the northern climes we go to the mandir to experience ceremonies focused on the light and how it overcame the darkness.

A green Diwali is also having a green life style and supporting environmental causes worldwide. Recycling, reusing, composting and eating organic food are important actions we all can take year around to reduce the effects of global warming. Some will be able to use solar, wind and geothermal energy in their homes. Planting trees on your property or donating to organizations which plant trees are important actions for all of us to take in these times of global warming. When conducting a ceremony or a puja, it is good to use offerings or materials which are reusable, biodegradable and can be composted. When you walk on Mother Earth, you are walking on sacred, hollow ground. Advocating for better environmental laws and policies is very important. Use mass transit, carpool, bike, walk or use a scooter as much as possible. Buying a car with higher gas mileage, a hybrid or electric car are other options you can take advantage of in the market place.

Diet is something not every one thinks of as a cause of global warming, but it certainly is a big cause when it comes to the destruction of the Amazon Rain Forest. Eating beef is contributing to global warming. Consider that the Amazon is the lungs of the planet and the Ganga of South America. There were 19,925 fire outbreaks in September of this year. Consider that the number of fires were reduced in September by 35% over the previous month. In the first nine months of 2019, the fires increased 41% over 2018.

President Bolsonaro of Brazil had been encouraging people to over develop the Amazon. The two groups he was encouraging were beef ranchers and mining interests. Most of the land destruction is because people eat beef. The one action we all can take is to stop eating beef. The rain forest is being cleared for more beef ranches. The use of cattle for meat is causing unnecessary destruction of habitat for animals, plants, trees and increases CO2 in the environment. The Amazon will turn into a savanna and global warming will greatly increase if we do not act now.

Students from all over the world and in India have protested the actions of the Brazilian President. He finally realized he had to do something about the situation because of pressure from the public. The military was deployed to the basin and a two month ban on clearing through fires was imposed. A stronger enforcement of environmental laws and respect of Native people's land are also needed in Brazil. Deforestation had decreased before his presidency because of the more strict enforcement of environmental laws. Several leaders of the world, including the President of France, called for stopping the fires in Brazil. Seven South American countries signed a pact to protect the Amazon. President Ivan Duqueo of Columbia, President Evo Morales of Bolivia, President Lenin Moreno of Ecuador, Ernesto Araujo - Foreign Minister of Brazil and members of several indigenous communities met in September to agree on measures to protect the Amazon. Other people in attendance were several ministers of South American countries, President Martin Vicarra of Peru, Suriname's Vice President Michael Adhin and Guyana's Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman. Sixty percent of the rain forest is in Brazil. The other countries which have parts of their countries in the rain forest are: Columbia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela and French Guyana.

The mining interests are also part of the problem. This where the public needs to promote recycling of metals found in these mines. Old cell phones should be recycled by donating them to non profits for use by lower income individuals who need phones. Some businesses do recycle phones. Junk yards also recycle metals. Call them to find out what you can recycle in your house. Many appliance companies now recycle refrigerators and stoves. Some states even given them tax credits for this purpose.

The "Vedas" is a text book of ecology and has so much information on how the ecosystem works. The Rishis and Rishikas were wise seers who knew we would need this knowledge in the future. Krishna extolled the greatness of trees in the "Bhagavat Purana." This Diwali when you light your deeya at home or at the mandir keep in mind ecological practices which help overcome the darkness of global warming. You are the light who will overcome the darkness. Many traditions honor light at this time of the year. Be the light at Diwali and all year around.

JAI SHRI DIWALI! JAI SHRI LIGHT! JAI SHRI MA!

Radhapriestess