Jain Spirit 2000 03 No 03

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 11

GLOBAL NEWS
UR A BETTER AND | INDER WO
GO VEGETARIAN
Pix: ATUL SHAH
ARIAN RA an Vegetaria 2K PEP
TA
Janaki Mehta at the London Rally. The event was
attended by vegetarians of all ages.
Nemish Mehta and Nitin Mehta
speak at the London Rally
JAINS CAMPAIGN FOR A CARING MILLENNIUM
TO MARK THE BEGINNING OF THE NEWrecited the Worldwide Millennium Vegetarian Pledge (see millennium, two mass rallies have taken place, both of which below). A similar prayer was also propagated by Narendra attempted to highlight the world's growing environmental Sheth of the Jiv Daya resource centre in San Diego, California. crisis and promote awareness of the vegetarian lifestyle and the The following day, January 1st 2000, saw a large Ahimsa current plight of farm animals.
Mahakumbb held outside the Red Fort in New Delhi, India. On December 31st 1999, animal rights campaigners and Attended by over 10,000 people, the main aim of the rally was vegetarians met in Hyde Park, London at a rally organised by to petition the Indian government to ban exports of meat the Young Indian Vegetarians. Amongst those present were from India. The event was jointly organised by Ramesh writer Carla Lane, psychic and spiritualist Uri Geller and Chandra Jain, managing editor of the Times of India, and the Darren Johnson, Green Party mayoral candidate for London. respected Jain muni Tarun Sagar. Representing the UK Jain community were Nilesh Doshi, "It is ironic that the government runs animal welfare Prakash Patalia, Nemish Mehta and Navin Sanghrajka of boards, and yet provides subsidies for setting up Veerayatan UK. Also present were Sharad Bakhai of Jain Samaj slaughterhouses" commented Sagar. "The two actions are Europe, Raju Shah of Young Jains of America and Gulab Shah completely contradictory". The muni is not without his critics, of the Oshwal Association.
however, mainly in the Indian press. In response to the Mahavir awards were presented to various organisations in criticism that the aims of the event were idealistic and recognition of their services towards the cause of non- unachievable, Sagar commented: "if Mahatma Gandhi could violence. Amongst those awarded were Compassion in World single-handedly organise the people of this land for the Farming, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of freedom struggle, the success of a far easier task should not be Animals), the Green Party and VIVA. All those present then in doubt. What is needed is determination".
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Jain Spirit • March - May 2000