By Tempa Gyaltsen Zamlha
"I was born in a
small village called Taktser, in the northeast of Tibet, on the fifth day of
the fifth month of the Wood Hog year of the Tibetan calendar-that is, in 1935",
writes the Dalai Lama in his first ever biography 'My Land and My People’,
published in 1962
 |
| Dalai Lama's message to His Holiness the the UNFCCC and government delegates at the COP25:UN Climate Summit in 2019 |
85 years since then, on 6
July 2020, people across the world will be celebrating his birthday and his
life’s work of promoting universal peace and compassion. As commendation for of
the Dalai Lama's immense global contribution to world peace and religious
harmony, he has being hailed as one of the world's most respected, admired and
influential living figures.
The focus of the Dalai
Lama’s colossal endeavors extends from the cause of the Tibetan freedom
struggle to universal ethics to religious harmony. Yet another vital aspect of
his professed goals towards which he has consistently worked for, has been calling
for wildlife conservation and environmental protection ever since he took
political responsibility of Tibet in 1950. From ordering measures for forest
protection and banning hunting during the period of independent Tibet, ending
poultry farming and supporting vegetarianism in the exile Tibetan community in
India, calling for tree plantation and wild life protection in Tibet,
highlighting ecological importance of the Tibetan Plateau and urging for global
cooperation on climate change, the Dalai Lama has consistently worked for
environmental conservation for the last seven decades.
An Environmentalist: A
Core Principal
Environmental
Conservation has been a core principle that directs the mission goals of the
Dalai Lama as its clearly represented in his Three
Main Commitments in life. After
the devolution of all political responsibility to a democratically elected
leader of the Tibetan people in 2011, the Dalai Lama evocatively stated that he would continue to
devote his life to three main commitments - the promotion of human values, the
promotion of religious harmony, and the preservation of Tibet's Spiritual
heritage and protection of its environment. The last commitment reaffirmed his lifelong
objective towards striving for environmental conservation. Such a significant
pledge from the Dalai Lama, who is both
the most revered person in Tibet as well as a deeply admired global figure,
immensely strengthen the cause of environmental conservation.
Furthermore, the Dalai
Lama has been a strong supporter of global cooperation on climate change and
global warming. His statement, during the 1992 address to the Parliamentary
Earth Summit at the Rio Earth Summit, reads:
I believe that to
meet the challenge of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater
sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not for his or
herself, family, or nation, but for the benefit of all mankind
In a video message to the
delegates of Paris Climate Summit in 2015, Dalai Lama rightly noted that human
beings are responsible for the current climate crisis and that it is not a
question of one nation or two nations. But rather a question of humanity affecting
the whole world. In a similar manner, the Dalai Lama sent another written
message, delivered in hand by this author, to the Conference of Parties (COP
24) and its delegates on 20 November 2018, the message states:
I extend my greetings and
prayers to my dear brothers and sisters, delegates to the 24th
Conference of Parties (COP24) to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change … I would sincerely like to thank all of you who have selflessly
and tirelessly put effort into creating a better environment for the world so
that future generation will be able to live a healthy, happy life
An Environmentalist: Being One in Practice
Proposal for Tibet
as Zone of Peace for men and Nature in Five Point Peace Plan - 1987
With an increasingly interdependent world and a rapidly degrading
ecological situation in Tibet, the Dalai Lama put forth the famous Five
Point Peace Plan during
an address to the U.S. Congressional Human Right's Caucus in 1987. Proposing
for a transformation
of the whole of Tibet into a zone of peace, he stated,
It is my sincere desire, as well as that of the Tibetan people, to
restore to Tibet her invaluable role, by converting the entire country -
comprising the three provinces of U-Tsang, Kham and Amdo - once more into a
place of stability, peace and harmony.
The proposal further adds “In the best of Buddhist tradition, Tibet
would extend its services and hospitality to all who further the cause of world
peace and the well-being of mankind and the natural environment we share."
Concerned of the grave implications from a poor environmental situation
in Tibet, the Dalai Lama called for 'Restoration and Protection
of Tibet's Natural Environment' in the
Five Point Peace Plan. Emphatically voicing against the production of nuclear weapons and the
dumping of nuclear waste on the plateau. he further stated that the Tibetan people's inherent respect for all forms of
life is enhanced by the Buddhist faith, which prohibits the harming of all
sentient beings, whether human or animal. The proposal to transform
Tibet as a Zone of Peace stems from his strong desire for a peaceful
co-existence among different nations, and a lasting solution for the ongoing
conflict between India and China on Tibet’s border would only result from the
fruition of this proposal. It would also protect the world’s highest Plateau
from further degradation and destruction, which ultimately would result in the
conservation of the source of Asia’s most important rivers such as; Senge
Tsangpo/Indus, Yarlung Tsangpo/Brahmaputra, Machu/Yellow River, Zachu/Mekong
River, Drichu/Yangtze River and Gyalmo Nyulchu/Salween River, which together
support more than 1.5 billion people in Asia or a fifth of the world’s
populations.
Opposing and
ending the Tradition of wearing Animal Fur Dress in Tibet
The wearing of Tibetan
traditional clothes with a layer of tiger or leopard or Otter skin trimmed on
their dress was an extremely popular attire across Tibet, particularly in
eastern Tibet. Therefore, an abrupt end to this tradition was an unimaginable
scenario until it happened soon after a strong objection from the Dalai Lama in
2006 during the Kalachakra Puja in Amravati, South India.
At the Kalachakra Puja on
9 January, the
Dalai Lama strongly spoke out against this practice, (Dalai Lama on
Environment, page 114) stating that
Some insensitive Tibetan
in Tibet wear outfits adorned with tiger, leopard, and otter skins. Such
behaviors, indeed, makes every one of us feel embarrassed. I have emphasized
this so many times before. I once again emphasize to all of you, particularly
those from Tibet, the flaunting clothes trimmed with animal skins is nothing
but an act of stupidity- a source of embarrassment to you and your fellow
Tibetans.
Such a strong objection
resulted in scores of Tibetans
in Tibet enthusiastically burning, in large number, their much loved
and expensive animal fur or skin dresses and pledging never to use them again. Such scenes of putting an end to the practice
emerged from all parts of Tibet. This fundamental change has had immense
positive effects towards saving hundreds of tigers and leopards in Asia,
particularly in India. It was beyond anyone’s speculation that the Dalai Lama’s
statement would receive such a prompt and decisive reaction from Tibet. As
an environmentalist myself, this author has long considered it as one of the
greatest environmental contribution by the Dalai Lama or anyone else.
First Nobel Laureate to be recognized for Their
Environmental Conservation Efforts
The Dalai
Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his decade’s long commitment
to a peaceful struggle, even in the face of extreme aggression, for the restoration
of freedom in Tibet. However, he also became the first Nobel Laureate to be
recognized for his motivation and concern towards global environmental problems
as well.
In
a Press
Release dated 5 November 1989, on their decision to award the Nobel
Peace Prize to the Dalai Lama, the Norwegian
Nobel Committee wrote,
the Dalai Lama has developed his philosophy of
peace from a great reverence for all things living and upon the concept of universal
responsibility embracing all mankind as well as nature. In the opinion of the
Committee the Dalai Lama has come forward with constructive and forward-looking
proposals for the solution of international conflicts, human rights issues, and
global environmental problems.
This recognition was a
significant milestone in the Dalai Lama’s endeavors for environmental
conservation, one that has been supplemented and strengthened by a global
acknowledgement of his efforts as an environmentalist.
A Continuing Quest for
the Environment
As the Dalai Lama turns
85 this year, his dedication towards the environment has not dimmed in the
slightest but continues to grow stronger. The strength behind such dedication
stems from the core principle of environmental conservation that is one of the
foundational pillars of his belief while he increasingly advocates for a more
compassionate human society and a positive relationship with the global
environment. His three commitments to
the world have seen him transcend the perception of being a Buddhist or a
Tibetan leader to a global figure that is respected and revered across borders,
religions, cultures, and politics. As a consequence of such recognition, the
Dalai Lama has been able to highlight the importance of environmental
conservation, achieve long lasting results and become not just a beacon for
compassion and universal ethics, but also as one of the most important
ambassadors for environmentalists all over the world.
The original post was published by ‘The
Quint’ on July 5, 2020
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