Interfaith Solidarity at the Heart of Climate Week in NYC
As Climate Week sees passionate individuals converge upon New York City from all corners of the world, we at Hindus for Human Rights stand in reverence and gratitude. Sept 14th morning, in a spirit of solidarity, we participated in an interfaith invocation organized by Greenfaith outside Chase Bank in NYC. A gathering that highlighted the pressing need for collective environmental action, and a beautiful testimony to how diverse faith traditions can unite to speak for Mother Earth. On the 17th we again joined the protests calling for an end to fossil fuels.
Sunita Viswanath, the Executive Director of Hindus for Human Rights, gracefully conveyed a prayer deeply rooted in our ancient scriptures, a prayer echoing both pain and hope:
Honoring the breath of life while so many of us can't breathe, and die gasping for breath.
I invoke these prayerful and rageful words of Reverend William Barber: “Why am I still breathing? Why are you still breathing?
Whatever breath you have, with every step you take, use it for justice, and mercy, and love, and truth. Because anything else is merely a waste of precious breath.“
Praana, which is the Sanskrit word for breath, is all cosmic energy. Praana is that which continues even when all of us cease to exist.
All who perish due to the interconnected injustices of racism, poverty, the war economy, religious nationalism, and environmental devastation, dissolve into praana. And that same praana is our life force for our justice work.
Om
praano ha pitaa
praano maataa
praano bhraataa
praanah svasaa
praana aachaarya
praano braahmaana
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
The Praana is the Father,
The Praana is the Mother,
The Praana is the Brother,
The Praana is the Sister,
The Praana is the Teacher,
The Praana is the Brahman.
Om Peace, Peace, Peace
~ Chandogya Upanishad :7:15:1
Greenfaith's initiative beautifully brought together diverse voices and traditions to amplify the call for environmental justice. We, at Hindus for Human Rights, are humbled and honored to contribute our voice, standing shoulder to shoulder with our interfaith partners, advocating for a sustainable world grounded in the sanctity of all life.
Why Chase Bank? The decision to gather at Chase Bank was deliberate. As a leading financial institution, Chase Bank has come under scrutiny for their involvement in industries contributing to environmental harm. By joining voices in front of this banking behemoth, Hindus for Human Rights, alongside other organizations, hoped to spotlight the urgent need for eco-responsible financial practices.
A Rallying Cry for Collective Action The presence of Hindus for Human Rights and their counterparts from other faiths outside Chase Bank was a resounding assertion against environmental harm. The message, "Not in our name!", exemplified the spirit of collective resistance against practices detrimental to our shared planet. Their stance encourages us all to become more conscientious about our own roles in environmental stewardship.
Uniting Across Faith Lines What was particularly striking about this event was the coming together of various faiths. Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and members of other religions united outside Chase Bank, underscoring the universal commitment to environmental preservation. This moment of interfaith collaboration reinforces the idea that, regardless of our spiritual or religious affiliations, we all share the responsibility of caring for our planet.
In an era where differences often take center stage, it's uplifting to witness diverse faiths coalescing for a shared cause. Protecting our environment isn't just a Hindu, Christian, or Muslim duty – it's a universal call to action. This shared responsibility bridges our faith differences, showing that when united, we can move mountains – or perhaps even change corporate practices.
