Earth Initiative at the Global Climate Strike

· Earth Initiative, Sangha News · , ,

Sangha members joined with over six million people in a Global Climate Strike on September 20, 2019, attending rallies upstate and in NYC and other locations. Led by young people and their supporters inspired by Greta Thunberg’s leadership, the strike was an urgent call to wake up and address the causes of our climate crisis and to ask that governments take the lead.

High School students in Kingston, NY

Greta herself arrived in New York to rally with youth and to address the United Nations Climate Summit the following week, which was a focus of the NYC action.

FLT sangha walking to the climate strike via the Brooklyn Bridge

Starting early morning, the Brooklyn Earth Initiative group, led by Hojin Sensei, walked over the bridge to meet up with other Buddhist groups for liturgy, meditation and a silent walk to join youth at Foley Square.

Donna Niccolino touches the earth during the BCAN liturgy in City Hall Plaza

The gathering of different sanghas was organized by the Buddhist Climate Action Coalition, a group of individuals from various sangha, including Fire Lotus Temple, ZCNYC.

Kingston, NY Climate Strike marchers with Monastery residents and local sangha attending

Meanwhile upstate, Monastery residents and Earth Initiative sangha members led by Shugen Roshi gathered in Kingston, NY with local clergy, citizens, and youth, to call for an end to reliance on fossil fuels and other means of addressing the climate crisis.

Climate Strike at City Hall with Kingston, NY students and their supporters

Earth Initiative is a Dharma Action group in the Mountains and Rivers Order. EI meets regularly at the Temple and at the Monastery to address environmental justice, the climate crisis, and how to learn from and care for our great earth as dharma practice.

Jikai, Seijo, Linus and Calvin at the NYC Climate Strike
Stu, Ishin, Tenfu, Hojin Sensei and Yunen at the NYC Climate Strike

NextZMM Podcast: Larry Shainberg discusses his new book "Four Men Shaking"