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o In November 1990, an international delegation of Jains went to Buckingham Palace in London, UK and under the leadership of the Late Dr. L.M. Singhvi, presented to H.H. Prince Philip a copy of the Jain Declaration on Nature. I was part of that delegation. This declaration clearly states Bhagwan Mahavir’s proclamation, “One who neglects or disregards the existence of earth, air, fire, water and vegetation disregards his own existence which is entwined with them. Jain cosmology recognizes the fundamental natural phenomenon of symbiosis of mutual dependence,
which forms the basis of modern day science of ecology.” o If the memory has not faded, some of us may remember
the terrible toxic sludge spill in Hungary in October 2010 and the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Both of these (as with so many others that happen every day in many parts of the world) caused untold damage and destruction to all forms of life, vegetation, and the environment and none of us can escape from their after effects. In Hungary, the toxic sludge, a byproduct of aluminum manufacturing, poured from a broken containment pond and flooded many villages, bursting into homes and overturning vehicles. Even after a few days, in a mountain valley community about five miles from the source of the spill, the red sludge remained
knee-deep in some places. o A few years ago, at one of the JAINA conventions, one Jain
scholar and environmentalist came to attend and deliver a lecture at the convention. For three days, he observed and did not see any concern for environment. Instead what he saw was a lot of food being wasted along with nearly unlimited use of paper plates, napkins, and disposable glasses and utensils. During his lecture he commented that if JAINA plans to invite him again, please do so not for delivering a lecture but to wash the dishes. I hope we learn
from his remarks. o In November 2010, at the invitation of Mr. Sunil K. Jain,
IPS and Additional Director General of Police of the State
An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide
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