Jain Digest 1995 11

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 16

ERIE
County of Erie Office of County Executive
Proclamation WHEREAS, Many Jain families live and contribute to the local community; and WHEREAS, Ahimsa according to Jainism means non-violence in thoughts, words and actions;
thinking to hurt a living being is violence in thoughts, threatening to hurt a living
being is violence in words, and hurting a living being is violence in action; and WHEREAS, The concept of violence is not limited to actual harm only; it is the intention to harm,
the absence of concern and the lack of compassion for living beings that makes
words and actions violent; and WHEREAS, Ahimsa Day celebrates vegetarianism and reverence for all living beings as taught
by Lord Mahuir and practiced by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and WHEREAS, Cultivating plants for direct human consumption uses less energy and vital resources
than needed for production, and offers a beneficial measure for alleviating world
hunger; and WHEREAS, The vegetarian diets have been associated with lower risk for chronic diseases such
as coronary artery disease, obesity, hypertension, diabetes and colon cancer; and WHEREAS, Mahatma Gandhi, a great champion of Ahimsa was born on October 2nd and his
non-violent approach can resolve various political, religious and social conflicts on the
earth; NOW, THEREFORE, I, DENNIS T. GORSKI, Erie County Executive, do hereby proclaim Monday, October 2nd, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety Five as
"Ahimsa Day" In this Majestic County of Erie, of the Great State of New York the Empire State.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have caused to be affixed the Seal of the County of Erie, this 2nd day of October, 1995.
TA DENNIS T. GORSKI || Erie County Executive
Compliments of the Jain Community of Buffalo
JAIN DIGEST
14
Sept./Dec. 1995
Jain Education Intemational