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GLOBAL NEWS
Tina Fox of The Vegetarian Society of the U.K. emphasised the role of education in spreading vegetarianism
The 35th World Vegetarian Congress, held in Edinburgh, Scotland from 8-14 July 2002, issued a plea to the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) to "take active steps to reduce meat consumption globally". Three hundred Congress participants sent a collective statement to the WSSD,
Over 130 people attended the shibir, held in New Jersey during the first weekend of July, with the common purpose of learning more about how to rid their souls of mithyatva. As well as the keynote addresses by the visiting
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SCHOLARLY PRESENCE AT JAANA SHIBIR
benefited from activities such as bhavpuja, panel discussions, the
The next JAANA shibir will take place in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2003.
The JAANA (Jain Adhyatma Academy | Indian scholars, the shibir participants | question and answer sessions and bhakti. of North America) Adhyatmic Shibir welcomed three renowned Jain scholars from India to North America. Panditji Hukumchand Bharill from Rajasthan, Panditji Abhaykumar Jain from Madhya Pradesh and Panditji Dhirajbhai Mehta from Gujarat all brought their considerable knowledge of Jainism to bear upon a hugely enriching weekend of learning.
On the first day, Dr. Bharill delivered detailed discourses on the forty-seven strengths of the soul. Dhirajbhai Mehta then explained the concepts of karmavipak, jivsthanak and marganasthan, followed by Abhaykumar Jain's lecture on nayachakra.
VEGETARIANISM LEADS TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
which met at the end of August in Johannesburg, South Africa, arguing that a reduction in meat consumption "...is needed in order to reduce the adverse effects of factory farming and meat production on the environment, on human nutrition and health and on animal welfare. The world's population can then live more healthily on a plantbased diet, scarce global food resources can be fed directly to humans rather than wastefully to farm animals, and also water, land and air quality would be enhanced."
Edinburgh Congress in July brought together over 100 vegetarian societies and 300 participants who share grave concerns regarding the effects of factory farming and meat production. Tina Fox, Chief Executive of the Vegetarian Society of the UK stressed the importance of education in spreading vegetarianism: "Vegetarianism is a global movement that crosses many boundaries of race, religion and political inclination. It is so important that we unite to educate people across the world on the issues that relate to this healthy and liberating lifestyle."
Saurabh Dalal of Washington D.C. has become Secretary of the International Vegetarian Union. www.ivu.org
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The Congress takes place every other year providing a forum for vegetarians from different cultures and an opportunity to highlight the global culture of vegetarianism. The
Jain Spirit December 2002 February 2003
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Dhirajbhai Mehta speaking at the JAANA shibir
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