Through the enthusiastic collaboration of initiates from the
United States, México, Costa Rica, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina,
Formosa, Korea and other countries, the “SOS-Save the
Planet” videoconference with special guest Supreme Master
Ching Hai was held on March 6, Golden Year 6 (2009), in Xalapa,
the capital city of Veracruz, Mexico. The event attracted more
than 1,250 guests and was broadcasted live on Supreme Master
TV and Oliva Radio; it was also covered by local media such
as Avan Radio, Noticable Xalapa, News from the
Government of the State of Veracruz, Diario Zona Sur,
AVC Noticias, Informate Poza
Rica, and El Golfo.
Distinguished guests included State Governor Fidel
Herrera Beltrán and City Mayor David Velasco Chedraui and
his wife Mrs. Mariana Munguía. Both Governor Beltrán and
Mayor Chedraui praised Supreme Master Ching Hai’s humanitarian
work and shared with the audience details of the local environmental
and health programs and projects.
In his speech, Mr. Chedraui recognized global warming
and climate change as the main challenge facing humanity today.
He said, “Our commitment
as a government is to achieve the protection of all our surroundings
to ensure our future and present generations a clean and healthy
environment where they can live in peace and harmony with their
planet.” He expressed the determination of Xalapa
City to “follow the direction set by Governor Beltrán,
whose great environmental vision has resulted in Veracruz being
the first state in the country with an action plan to fight
climate change.” He invited everyone “to
be a part of this great ecological crusade, one in which we
must all participate with the goal of preserving, taking care
of, and protecting our natural resources to attain an environment
that is totally clean, healthy and sustainable.”
 Governor
Beltrán conveyed the deep love the people of Mexico have
for the planet, their water, soil and skies, and their will
to do everything within reach to save our world. He further
pointed out that the founding fathers of Mexico were, “the
Indians to the North of Veracruz, the Huastecs; the ones in
the middle of the state, the Totonacas – the flyers; and
the ones in the South, the Olmecs. All of them loved nature,
loved their land, loved their culture, loved their religion,
and were basically vegetarians.” The Governor
repeatedly expressed his support for Master’s noble endeavor
of saving the planet. In his final words, he said, “I
believe on behalf of everyone here, and all of those who live
in Xalapa, in the State of Veracruz, in Mexico, in Latin America,
that we back your efforts. We encourage you to keep doing the
same you have been doing, and to back the Kyoto Protocol, to
take all possible action together with the political concern
and the political backing that you have been building.”
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| Governor Fidel Herrera Beltrán
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Several overseas VIPS, including Legislator Tien Chiu-chin
of Formosa (Taiwan), Senator Heherson T. Alvarez of the Philippines,
and Vice President Edward McMillan-Scott of the European Parliament,
conveyed their appreciation through video to Supreme Master
Ching Hai for Her noble endeavors, and expressed their concern
and determination to save the planet from a major catastrophe.
EP Vice President McMillan-Scott announced that he has abstained
from eating meat one day a week since the end of 2008 to help
reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock industry.
Supreme Master Ching Hai graciously greeted all the
guests. She stressed once again that the vegetarian or vegan
diet is the best solution to mitigate global warming and
“that is really ‘love in action.’ Not only
love for the animals but truly love for our planet and our children,
the future generation.” She strongly encouraged
people to forego their taste for the meat-eating habit, which
is detrimental to their health; and promised that if they do
that, the planet will heal itself and we will have an even better
world afterward.
Master later answered a wide range of questions posed
by teachers, students, journalists and scientists, many of whom
are vegetarian. She took the opportunity to elaborate on the
deeper meaning of vegetarianism which essentially reversed the
mental attitude, the conception that has resulted in so much
destruction to our environment and addressed the deepest cause
of global warming which is the violent karma. “If
we nourish life, we also can have life and happiness. If we
destroy life, then we cannot expect health, long life and happiness
in return,” She said.
Regarding the question on newly found rich oil deposits
in Mexico, Master enlightened everyone by saying that if we
stop 80% of global warming by going vegan, we can continue to
have oil and cars. “We
have not invented enough instruments for transportation and
other uses, so we may continue to use the oil if we have it,”
She said. “Of course, it’s better if we don’t
use it; but at the moment, we must use it. If we just leave
all the meat, animal production alone, then we can use anything.
And Mexico can make use of this advantage of oil to elevate
the standard of living of the people.”
She once again called upon the governments and the
media to promote the vegetarian diet, and suggested that the
citizens remind the government and take action themselves as
well. Master noted the importance of the teaching profession
saying that “an
entire generation of young students can be inspired through
one teacher’s beneficial approach. The most correct way
to teach the children is through the moral standard of the spiritual
way of living.”
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| Mayor David Velasco Chedraui |
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Mr. Elfego Riveros Hernandez, director of Radio Teocelo,
asked about the feasibility of a comprehensive contingency plan
to halt environmental destruction that involves the local governments,
businesses, scholars, the press, schools and civic organizations.
Master responded with a 7-step proposal: 1) Be vegetarian as
individuals, 2) Ban meat and publicize the vegetarian diet as
governments and media, 3) Subsidize organic farming, 4) Plant
vegetables and trees, 5) Be frugal, 6) Spread the news, and
7) Meditate and pray.
In wrapping up the event, Master gave an up-to-date,
comprehensive report on the effects of climate change in Mexico
from beach erosion to severer weather conditions, from drought
to desertification. She concluded, “I’ve
finished my report, but the damage is not finished here.
Please do something; for your country at least.”
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| News media covering the event |
The conference was a great success. Many people were
shocked by the new information and are ready to act to save
the planet. Weeks after the event, our Mexico Association members
are still receiving letters and calls from individuals and schools,
asking for further information on climate change, and hoping
that there will be more similar events in the future. With Master’s
blessing, may the trend of the compassionate lifestyle continue
to grow in Mexico and restore the country’s beautiful
vegetarian tradition. 
To watch Supreme Master Television’s coverage
of this videoconference, please visit:
http://video.Godsdirectcontact.net/magazine/WOW927s.php
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