Brahma Kumaris Press Conference at UN Climate Change Conference

Katowice, Poland: UN Climate Change Conference COP24

Brahma Kumaris (BK) Press Conference: Visionary Leadership to change hearts and minds for immediate action

The COP Press conferences are precisely 30 minutes and are webcast live.  Golo gave a general introduction of the Brahma Kumaris, BK renewable energy projects and BK work in promoting values and ethics.  Sister Jayanti emphasized the importance of our thoughts and how to create the required change of mindset.  One participant, a former minister from India, said how much the activities of the Brahma Kumaris are appreciated.

Brahma Kumaris Side Event: Building a Spirit of Solidarity to overcome the climate crisis

This official side event was co-organised with the Quakers and the Franciscans. The panelists were invited to share ideas on how to build solidarity, overcome fears and take responsible decisions to protect humans from increasing temperatures.

Debra Roberts, Co-Chair of the IPCCC Working Group II and co-author of the IPCCC report on 1.5˚, said the report is a powerful tool to serve humanity and it brought light onto areas we need to know more about.  It is powerful because it addresses how we can change our daily lives and consumption of food and energy.  Even though our leadership and policies are not yet fully in place, for each of us, our daily choices count.

Moderator Lindsey Cook, Hindou Ibrahim, Archbishop Auza, Debra Roberts, Isabelle Adarve, Martin Frick, Sister Jayanti

Isabel Cavelier Adarve, Principal Advisor Mission 2020, added that our responsibility is not only for service, but compassion towards everyone.  She informed the audience that the negotiation process can become extremely difficult as each comma and phrase can create a different meaning and has to be approved.  She said that she sometimes suffers from the climate syndrome, where there is nothing else and this is the most urgent thing.

Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Nuncio of the Holy See to the UN, emphasized that we have to resist temptations to be selfish and use dialogue to build solidarity.  Do we only interact with people who agree with us? We can also foster intergenerational solidarity by our care and compassion for future generations.  The principle of interconnectedness will also build solidarity.

Martin Frick, Director, Policy & Programs UNFCCC, focused on the principle of trust.  If we step up as humanity to a higher level of co-operation, the outcome will be better than a compromise.

Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Coordinator AFPAT, said that we need to be aware who we are and to whom we belong.  How can we change the minds of the decision makers? We can do it only by solidarity in transforming our consciousness and lifestyle.

Sister Jayanti explained that our consciousness, both individually and collectively, is the basis for everything that happens.  In the awareness of one family, we develop compassion and co-operation.  In solidarity, our actions become powerful and positive.  Once we feel love for our human family, we want to do the best for them.  With this attitude of love, we simplify our lives and change for the sake of the world.  Solidarity means to trust each other.  Trust starts from the inside.  I can have trust in myself when my inner core values are aligned with my conscience and my actions.  These principles of trust work in the same way between countries.

Side event at ENERGIES 2050 Pavilion:
Raise Awareness for the Transition to Clean Technology

Guillaume de Laboulaye from ENERGIES 2050 gave a short introduction of his organisation as a platform for new ideas and change.  This is the 3rd year that the Brahma Kumaris have co-operated with this group.

Paul Allen from the Centre for Alternative Technology participated via a video message and he advised on the importance of sharing information and transformation models with each other.

Golo introduced the Brahma Kumaris and BK success stories in renewable energies.  He emphasized the importance of wise leadership and meditation in developing large-scale renewable energy systems.

Guillaume de Laboulaye, Caitlyn Hughes, Golo, Sonja

Caitlyn Hughes, Director of Solar Cookers International, presented their global activities promoting solar cookers in local communities.  Sonja moderated the session and summarized that personal integrity, love, family values, higher consciousness and solidarity are required to start using renewable energies effectively and to move in the right direction.

RINGO Meetings

The Research and Independent Non-Governmental Organizations (RINGO) constituency meets each day from 9 to 10 am.  RINGO is one of nine NGO constituencies recognized by the UNFCCC.

Often more than 100 people participate at these meetings, representing many universities and independent organisations such as BK.  This platform gives the opportunity for them to share the latest developments and to discuss further strategies.

“Finding Hope In a Time of Transition” organized by The Global Peace Initiative of Women in Krakow

Aneta was invited to participate in this program.  Other panelists were:

• Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister,
• Sraddhalu Ranade,
• Acarya Judy Lief,
• Richard Cizik,
• Swami Atmarupananda and
• Dena Merriam.

They discussed how the power of goodness, love and truth is necessary for maintaining hope.  It is important to develop the personal commitment to do the right thing, no matter what others are doing.  Then divine help comes in.

As people struggle to meet the challenges of climate change in an increasingly polarized world, there are pockets of hope and a vision as to how we can achieve a more peaceful and sustainable world community.  Participants spoke of their faith in the self and God, being the foundation of hope, about the principle of inside-out transformation and the eternity of time and spirit.

Jatsek, Dorotka and Aneta together with the Global Peace Initiative of Women in Krakow

Indian Pavilion at COP24

Sister Jayanti visiting the Indian Pavilion