Jain Spirit 2002 06 No 11

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

Page 17

NEWS IN BRIEF
Compiled by Prakash Mody
AHIMSA AND HUMANITARIANISM IS THE BIGGEST RELIGION Mumbai, India: Mahavir International organised World Peace Through Non-Violence, a two-day World Religious Conference at Mumbai, India. Leaders from different religions joined to express their views on world peace, communal harmony, non-violence and other related issues. They said that ahimsa and humanitarianism were the biggest amongst all religions today, and that inculcation of respect and understanding towards other traditions is necessary. Ms. Indu Jain pointed out that the responsibility for avoiding violence and maintaining peace cannot be thrust entirely on the Government; religious leaders should ensure peace, unity and harmony amongst the different sections of the society. Others who spoke included, Acharya Sadhvi Chandanaji, Kushal Chand Jain and Surendrasingh Savai (Jain). Archbishop Cardinal Dais of Bombay (Roman Catholic, Christian), Maulana Karim Parekh (Muslim), Dasturji Jamapasa (Parsi, Indian Zoroastrian), Jayendra Sarsawati (Hindu), Lama Lonbjeng (Buddhist), Mukhya Granthi and Gyani Pooran Singh (Sikh). They all emphasised the need to develop mutual harmony, respect and goodwill amongst all sections of communities and religions.
AHIMSA YATRA BY ACHARYA MAHAPRAGYA India: Head of Terapanth, Acharya Mahapragyaji started his extensive three-year Ahimsa Yatra, (non-violence promotion journey) covering the States of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. More than 300 monks and nuns and hundreds of followers joined in the Yatra, walking from village to village with short stopovers at selected places. Through discussions, discourses, holding of prayers, distribution of literature and displays of posters and banners, they spread the message of nonviolence, peace, communal harmony, moral and ethical values and austerity in life. Awakening of non-violence, consciousness, education and training, development of backward communities, improvement of moral values and the building of a healthy and tension-free society were among the themes of Mahapragyaji and YuvAcharyamuni Mahashramanji. A seminar was organised during Mahapragyaji s stay at Jodhpur. Students and teachers from the University and other institutions were there to discuss the topic - The Influence of Science of Living on Valuebased Education. A regional conference was arranged on the theme Economics and nonpossessiveness of Mahavir, where the chief guest was the Finance Minister. A National Conference on ahimsa was held at Jaipur on 20-21 January 2002, where the Rajasthan Governor, eminent jurist and MP. Dr. L. M. Singhvi, High Court Judges and many others were present.
McDONALD'S SORRY FOR USING BEEF USA: Fast food behemoth, McDonalds have agreed to apologise publicly to Hindus, vegetarians and others for failing to disclose the use of animal products in their foods identified as vegetarian. The company will also donate $10 million to concerns espoused by these groups as part of a settlement in a classaction lawsuit initiated by Indian-American attorney Harish Bharti. However, McDonalds India clarified that they have never used beef, pork or animal extract in their vegetarian products. McDonalds will insert ads in newspapers apologising for the mistake. "We acknowledge that upon our switch to vegetable oil in the early 1990s for the purpose of reducing cholesterol mistakes were made in communicating to the public the ingredients in our French fries and hash browns." The ads will continue to say: "We regret we did not provide our customers with complete information, and we sincerely apologise for any hardship that this has had on Hindus, vegetarians and others." The lawsuit arose from an episode in April 2001 when some Indian-American vegetarians on the West Coast accused McDonalds of misleading customers by presenting their golden fries as vegetarian. Harish Bharti, who oversaw the effort, claimed, "We have forced a giant corporation to change their attitude and their way of thinking. I am proud of that."
TOOTHPASTE AND PAANMASALA HARMFUL Jaipur, India: Dental surgeon Dr. D. K. Gupta, speaking to a large group of medical practitioners at Jaipur, India, stressed that the continued use of toothpaste and paanmasala was highly damaging to health, especially for children, due to the presence of fluorides in these products, which could lead to diseases like fluorosis. Basic raw materials used in the manufacture of toothpaste, such as calcium carbonate and chalk powder typically contain 800 to 1,000 p.p. of fluoride. Eminent dental specialist Dr. Sunil Jain, advised that mouth fresheners are equally harmful as they contain large amounts of fluorides and other undesirable constituents.
SAFFRON SHOWERS ON CHINMAYA SAGARJI India: Chinmaya Sagarji Maharaj, a disciple of Acharya Vidhyasagarji, was showered with saffron for 27 minutes while he was giving his discourse at Bhatpara, India. It is said that similar showers occurred on the day of commencement of Chaturmas, and also at the end of his four-month-long stay there.
ACHARYA TARUNSAGARJI HONOURED New Delhi, India: Madhya Pradesh State Government will make an exception to its policy when they honour Acharya Tarunsagarji as a state guest. India and its provincial governments follow secularism and normally no official favour is made to religious leaders. During his journey within the province, Acharyaji will enjoy all the privileges of a state guest, including security arrangements and any other facilities required to address a huge mass of people. It is estimated that a minimum of 25,000 to 30,000 people, both Jains and non-Jains, will attend his discourses every morning. This is the first time that such a status has been conferred to a Jain sage.
June - August 2002. Jain Spirit
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