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What's your plan this Sikh Environment Day 2013?

Two months to go…

Since 2011, Sikhs have been celebrating March 14 as Sikh Environment Day throughout the world to mark the enthronement day of Sri Guru Har Rai ji, the saviour of flora and fauna. On the first year, more than 400 Gurdwaras, schools, business, and communities marked this occasion. Last year more than 1000 Sikh organizations and institutions did so, including some of Sikhism’s largest organizations such as SGPC, the DSGMC, Sri Hazur Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, over 25 Gurdwaras from North America, the Sikhs in the British Army and 25 Gurdwaras from Pakistan as well. And after March 14 this year, many Sikh organizations took positive steps to protect Mother Earth, as our Gurus would have wanted. A few for example are the Golden Temple Solar Kitchen plan was set up and Leicester’s Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara in the UK switched to solar energy and Haryana plantation drive. Read more HERE what all the many organizations around the world did in service of mother Earth to mark Sikh Environment Day-2012.

This year (2013) Sikh Environment Day target is 1500.

What’s your plan?

Plan now, what you can do on upcoming Sikh Environment Day in 2013; you can chose from nature focused kirtan or katha program, buta prasad, flower show, plantation drive, switching to 10% solar for Gurdwaras or bicycle rally, nature seminar, painting competitions for schools, schools can also prepare their own nursery.
There is enough time to realize a powerful plan of action for this special Green Gurpurab. EcoSikh urges all Sikhs, in India and diasporas, to talk to your friends, family, school teachers, college heads, colleagues, neighbours and associates at the Gurdwara to make a plan. EcoSikh team is waiting to hear about, and publicise your plan of action.
Steps to celebrate Sikh Environment Day:
1. Get a group of people together who are keen to join together.
2. Read the Sikh Environment Day Guide (toolkit) in English or ਸਿੱਖ ਵਾਤਾਵਰਣ ਦਿਵਸ ਲਈ ਸੁਝਾਅ ਪੱਤਰ in Punjabi with many inspiring ideas to celebrate the Green Gurpurab.
3. Make a plan based on your resources, situation, inspiration and energy.
4. Get more people together, based on the final plan.
5. Improve it, and make it achieve more.
6. Send your plans via email to us at EcoSikh. All inspirational plans shall be mentioned on our SED-2013 timeline page.
As a community we are learning that, although every day must be a day when we are protectors of nature, yet it is good to mark one day a year to celebrate this. Sikh Environment Day is a good time to make a commitment to learn more about the environment and how being a Sikh we can help to protect it. Let’s reflect on Gurbani teachings for environment conservation.
Your plans for Sikh Environment Day celebrations can inspire your fellows and if you share your story with us it can become the source of motivation to many. So check your resources, think, set your plan for four months time and share with us and we will share with the sangat. We will help by using our website, newsletters, social media, talks and articles and radio interviews. We will also keep a timeline on this page (LINK), as we kept a timeline last year (LINK).
Other useful links for SED-2013 at EcoSikh:
Registration for Sikh Environment Day 2013
Eak Bageecha (nature focused Gurbani compilation) with introduction in Punjabi or English
SED Timeline from 2012
SED Pledge Form for sangat
10 minute Eco-Assembly for schools
SED poster English, Punjabi for notice boards
SED-2011 and SED-2012 reports
Green Nagar Kirtan
How to raise a plant
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