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Let's Try To Save Our Planet

A global alarm sounds for the earth's condition, caused by human action. Major conferences address water crises from pollution and misuse, and food systems causing disease through chemicals. Education must include universal spirituality and ethics. Economic systems reliant on fossil fuels face protest. Vast gatherings of officials and citizens highlight urgent collective concern. The destruction of rainforests for paper and lumber devastates ecosystems. A simple life using natural materials and rejecting disposables is the true path. Individual initiative has value when united for the planet's welfare.

"Leave oil in the soil" and "Leave the coal in the hole."

"Use and throw, but where to throw?"

Filming location: Slovakia

Good evening to everyone. You saw a glimpse of the ten-day United Nations conference. Ten years prior, it was in Johannesburg, and ten years before that, in Rio. This was the second time in Rio after 20 years. An official governmental delegation from Slovakia was also present. There was a discussion about water conditions in Slovakia, covering different classifications: blue water, grey water, surface water, and groundwater. Problems persist with surface water, and your water is connected to systems in Hungary, with additional issues arising from Romania and Hungary. Worldwide, water is becoming a major problem due to pollution affecting its quality for drinking. In many countries, vast quantities of water are consumed for golf courses. Some nations utilize grey water—which is canalization water—for these fields. Blue water is rainwater, and green water is surface water, which also poses problems when it lies stagnant for long periods. The second major topic was food and diet. Several angles were presented: how many millions of people and children go to sleep hungry, and concerns from certain companies and NGOs about human food containing excessive chemicals. This leads to numerous diseases—heart disease, diabetes, liver and kidney issues, skin diseases—as immunity grows weaker, and cancer. Many disabled children are born as a result. Consequently, there was significant pressure to focus on organic food. Education was also discussed, with the proposal that spirituality and ethical principles should be incorporated into curricula. This spirituality should not be one-sided; all religions should be acknowledged as forms of spirituality and religion. Other delegates addressed the economy, petrol, coal, and electricity. Some protesters held large posters stating, "Leave oil in the soil" and "Leave the coal in the hole." Approximately 50,000 government delegates from 180 countries attended, alongside 30,000 NGO representatives and 24,000 security personnel. Simultaneously, there was a People's Conference; its participants were not permitted onto the UN territory but outnumbered the official visitors. With many demonstrations involving over 200,000 people, the atmosphere was akin to a Kumbh Melā. An alarm is being raised globally about the world situation, which we humans have caused. Consider Brazil, a beautiful country, the fourth largest, home to a vast rainforest. Only 5–7% has been cleared, but the remaining forest is under threat. I was invited to speak as a protector of the rainforest, and we planted peace trees. I witnessed bulldozers, chainsaws, and caterpillars destroying the rainforest to plant eucalyptus, which consumes substantial groundwater. Nothing grows beneath it—no environment, no positive feelings, no good energy. These trees are used solely for paper and construction beams. It is a pity such rainforests are disappearing. Each newspaper or magazine you purchase contributes to this destruction. A newspaper with nearly 100 pages is often glanced at and discarded. Before buying, consider that the same news is available on radio or electronic media. By avoiding paper media, you protect the forests. Reject the "use and throw" mentality. At the last UN conference in Johannesburg a decade ago, one speaker asked, "Use and throw, but where to throw?" We throw onto our earth, creating pollution. Utilize items multiple times. Avoid plastic cups and plates. Many things can be avoided; it is time to lead a simple life. Wear natural cloth, like cotton. Do not fear that using natural materials labels you as outside high society. True high society is defined by simple living and higher thinking. The United Nations slogan is that every voice will be heard and considered. If we all initiate something good, it holds value. This year, I have asked all yoga practitioners and friends to plant a minimum of twelve trees before the beginning of April next year—or July—any kind of tree, anywhere, except in a neighbor's garden without permission. Let us strive to save our planet. A very interesting subject arose. You know, when I arrived, everyone noticed. All wore black suits, black ties, and carried black computers. I walked in as I am. The media, tired of the monotony, immediately turned to our group. They asked about my aim in attending, which was very interesting. For the next UN conference, if any of you wish to join, you are welcome. We will inform you a year and a half or two years in advance. Yoga in Life holds NGO status with the UN concerning the economy, environment, and health. Sri Swami Madhavan and the World Peace Council also hold special NGO status. Thus, we have two organizations that can facilitate passes for more people to attend and observe. My work extends beyond teaching yoga exercises, as we did this morning. Did you enjoy it? Did you ask your thighs how they are? Be ready again tomorrow. I am also engaged in inter-religious activities, intercultural dialogue, education, environment, and wildlife protection. At Rio+20, I raised my voice: hunting and killing animals in the name of sport should not be acknowledged as sport. Many birds are disappearing because they are hunted for fun, as a joke. We must work to ensure animal killing is not recognized in sport. There are many fields in which I try to contribute, but I cannot succeed without your support. A tree is beautiful when full of leaves and blossoms; I may be the trunk, but its beauty is all of you. Worldwide, yogīs, practitioners, and many others support these projects. I hope you will too. We shall plant trees in Slovakia, requesting the government to allocate one, two, or ten hectares of land. These trees should not be commercial but remain as a forest. We can all sponsor five, ten, or twenty trees. We will hold a seminar here in Turčanské Teplice and organize a week in Spain, arranging buses to plant trees. You are welcome to sponsor trees for Slovakia. We are also planting in Hungary and Croatia, where one tree costs half a euro, so five euros sponsors ten trees. Governments often provide the trees, and we do the work. Let us succeed in this project. In India, I will plant on about 70 hectares of land where our abandoned cows and animals are; you can sponsor trees there as well. The trees may not be expensive, but labor is, so we will go as volunteers to plant them. Please inform me by the end of June or early July how many trees you have planted this year. Thank you very much.

This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.

The text contains hyperlinks in bold to three authoritative books on yoga, written by humans, to clarify the context of the lecture:

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