Meanwhile, more than 60 per cent of irrigated cropland is water stressed and 11 countries, all in Northern Africa and Asia, need to urgently adopt sound water accounting, clear allocation, modern technologies and to shift to less thirsty crops.
Water math
Although “the inherent characteristics of water make it difficult to manage”, the SOFA report upholds that it “be recognized as an economic good that has a value and a price”.
“At the same time, policy and governance support to ensure efficient, equitable and sustainable access for all is essential”.
Noting that the rural poor can benefit substantially from irrigation, the report recommends that water management plans be “problem-focused and dynamic”.
Despite that water markets selling water rights are relatively rare, SOFA says that when water accounting is well performed, rights well established and beneficiaries and managing institutions participating, regulated water markets can provide equitable allotments while promoting conservation.
“Mejora Foundation awards three prestigious teachers in the 7th Edition of the Religious Freedom Awards”
The Church of Scientology Foundation for the Improvement of Life, Culture and Society, in consultative status with the United Nations since 2019, presented the Religious Freedom Awards, in the form of a Tizona sword, to Prof. Dr. Alejandro Torres, Prof. Dr. Rafael Valencia and Prof. Dr. Catalina Pons-Estel, in an online ceremony attended by Prof. Dr. Mercedes Murillo, Director of Religious Freedom of the Spain‘s Ministry of Presidency (Prime Minister’s Office).
The ceremony, inaugurated by Ivan Arjona, President of the European Office of the Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights, and Isabel Ayuso, Secretary General of the Mejora Foundation, began with the viewing of two videos regarding the right to freedom of thought, religion and conscience (one of them based on the works of L. Ron Hubbard‘s book “The Way to Happiness”), as well as a music video by international artists such as Chick Corea with a message of “Spread a Smile and not something else”, very suitable for the times of health crisis that are being experienced worldwide.
Following this, Mercedes Murillo, Director of Religious Liberty for the Ministry of the Presidency, addressed the award winners and attendees at this online ceremony, saying, “Once again this year the Church of Scientology Foundation is presenting its Religious Freedom Awards, a pioneering initiative, and so it is also appropriate for another year to recognize and appreciate this opportunity to bring together people concerned about this right around the world“
Murillo continued by saying “we are meeting this afternoon to present some well-deserved awards to three recognized specialists in this field whom I would like to congratulate” words after which the master of ceremonies went on to present the winners, who personally thanked the Fundación Mejora, of the Church of Scientology, for the award received and for the initiative that seeks to encourage people to promote and defend freedom of conscience .
Isabel Ayuso, Secretary General of Foundation, in her presentation said of these awardees that “they are the heroes of our times”…”they have changed the battleground for the classroom, the swords for the quill… on a real battle for freedom”
Prof. Dr. Alejandro Torres, Universidad Pública de Navarra
The first winner of the celebration was Prof. Dr. Alejandro Torres Gutiérrez, Full Professor of Law at the Public University of Navarra with an incredible production of publications and professor in the field of religious freedom. His publications are focused on the study of the financing and tax system of religious denominations, models of Church-State relations in Spain, Austria, Portugal and France, the status of minorities and multiculturalism in the United States, Canada and Austria. In his acceptance speech he left, among other messages, messages such as “the study of freedom of conscience is still relevant because we should not have fewer rights as a result of being less”… “in a society like ours in which there is still much violence for religious reasons I understand that the study of tolerance is important”… “the protection of diversity is key in a state like ours in which all possible interpretations of the universe have a place as long as they respect the ethical minimum of which we all participate in a democratic society”.
Prof. Rafael Valencia, Universidad de Sevilla
After which, Arjona gave the following Tizona to Prof. Dr. Rafael Valencia Candalija, currently Professor of Ecclesiastical Law at the University of Seville and that in addition to having opened religious diversity in Spain in a practical way to thousands of law students, will soon be publishing a book on Religious Freedom in Football, a pioneering prism in the field. Prof. Valencia said at the ceremony that “there is no prize today for an professor of religious freedom law giving a greater hope and joy as a recognition for protecting religious freedom” … ” we must continue to fight, therefore we must continue to work in defense of religious freedom … for those situations that violate this great right that occupies us and above all, we must continue to seek and continue to establish proposals for a better protection of the good, that is our work, and that should be our mission“.
Prof. Dr. Catalina Pons-Estel, Universtitat Illes Balears
And in this 2020, 40th Anniversary of the Law of Religious Freedom, could not miss an award for Prof. Dr. Catalina Pons-Estel Tugores, from the University of the Balearic Islands, who in addition to teaching this subject since 1997, this year has completed a series of lectures reviewing and commenting on the current Spanish law with the vision of both minor and major religious entities, as well as professionals in the field both scholars and government officials, which she has brought to the general public in addition to classrooms. In her acceptance speech, Prof. Pons-Estel explained that “religious freedom is a very current subject, a subject that is very much alive and close to all citizens” … “although we have all taken for granted the importance of the fundamental right of religious freedom, in these times in which everything seems to be in crisis, it never hurts to remember the importance of these rights that have cost us so much to achieve and guarantee”.
The ceremony was recorded online and can be accessed on the Foundation’s social networks and HERE.
The event also had space for a statement by the Director of Religious Freedom of the Ministry of the Presidency, to remind citizens about the current health situation: “I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the responsibility that all religious entities have had in this situation to limit their various forms of worship and replace them with other ways of providing spiritual care to their faithful … Therefore, I appreciate this task that they have been developing and that has not only maintained the possibility of meeting those who share their beliefs, but also in a difficult situation I know that all have maintained their solidarity activities towards the most vulnerable”.
The Holy See has reiterated its firm determination to contribute to the universal adherence to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) and has renewed its appeal to all States outside the Convention to consider joining in the global efforts to building together a more secure world. The Treaty was signed in 2008 by over 100 States to address the humanitarian consequences and unacceptable harm caused to civilians by cluster munitions, through a categorical prohibition and a framework for action.
Speaking at the Second Review Conference of the Convention currently being held on 25-27 November 2020 in a virtual format, Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, Vatican Permanent Observer to the UN and Other International Organizations in Geneva, expressed the Holy See’s appreciation for the efforts made towards the universalization of the Convention, welcoming Sao Tomé & Principe, Niue and Saint Lucia as new States Parties.
However, he regretted that the goal of 130 States Parties that was set at the first Review Conference in Dubrovnik in 2015 is still far from being reached and – most importantly- the fact that “cluster munitions continue to be used in some conflicts today, inevitably giving rise to new victims and contamination”. “Universalization is not an optional component of the Convention. It is a legal obligation” that “has direct implications and far-reaching consequences on the operations and on the effective implementation of the Convention, in particular with relation to victims’ assistance” he said, stressing that: “The more we invest in universalization and disarmament efforts, the less will we need to spend on humanitarian assistance”.
In his statement Archbishop Jurkovič also reiterated the Holy See’s concerns over the introduction of new terminology in the proposed Action Plan which, he said, “would shift the attention and efforts away from the core obligations of the Convention towards more political and ideological issues”. He therefore once again urged “that any language that could have a negative impact on universalization efforts should be avoided”.
Appeal to States outside the Convention
Finally, the Vatican Observer underscored the Holy See’s firm determination to contribute to the universal adherence to the Convention and to upholding its standards and renewed the appeal to all States outside the Convention to consider joining: “We owe this to the too many victims of the past and to the potential victims whose lives we can protect by the full implementation of the Convention”, Archbishop Jurkovič concluded.
In the context of the 5th anniversary of Pope Francis’ 2015 Encyclical Laudato Si, the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), together with other faith-based institutions, commits to divest from fossil fuels, following the Vatican’s guidelines on ethical investment. COMECE: “We encourage others to join us and support the European Green Deal as a way of implementing the Paris climate agreement”.
Global efforts to promote divestment from fossil fuels expanded further as 47 faith institutions, including COMECE, announced their divestment from fossil fuels on Monday, 16 November 2020, in the largest-ever announcement of its kind among religious leaders.
This action also includes divestment in all funds, stocks or bonds that have to do with fossil fuels, from oil to coal. With this important step COMECE follows the Vatican’s first-ever operational guidance on the environment and joins with nearly 400 other faith institutions that have already divested from fossil fuels. The full list of Catholic institutions that have divested to date is here.
Encouraging others to join COMECE in taking concrete steps to solve the climate crisis, Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, General Secretary of COMECE, stated that “the European Green Deal is a way to commit to the Paris climate agreement, which is very important.Solving the climate crisis – he added – protects the human family from the dangers of a warming world, and decisive action is needed now more than ever.”
HYDERABAD: TRS working president and industries minister K. T. Rama Rao on Wednesday said TRS government gives paramount importance to safety of people not their religion.
Interacting with business people, realtors and industrialists during “Hushaar Hyderabad with KTR” programme in the city here, he said, “We want employment not emotions. We have asked BJP leaders to spell out to people what they have done for Hyderabad. But they are speaking about Babar, Bin Laden and so on.”
Continuing his scathing attack on the BJP-led NDA government, KTR said the economy of the country had been hit even before the Covid-19 pandemic. Economic slowdown had begun much before the lockdown was announced. He pointed out, “Eight consecutive quarters of slowdown have resulted in recession. It started with demonetisation, which impacted small, micro and medium enterprises, and hit the growing economy badly. Today, the results of it are seen and the lockdown has hit the economy further.”
The minister wondered and asked audience as to how many of them have benefited from the Rs. 20 lakh crore stimulus package announced by the NDA government.
Recalling his childhood memories, he said, “At that time, Abids was the only destination for shopping. I remember there was only one footwear shop in Abids. Now, shopping malls have come all corners of the city,” he maintained pointing to development achieved under the KCR regime.
Rama Rao recalled his first meeting with steel traders in 2014 at Kachiguda, wherein they sought uninterrupted power supply and stable government. He said that now the TRS government is providing 24/7 uninterrupted power and stable, curfew-free rule since the past six years.
Later in the evening, the TRS working president addressed a road show in Uppal area. He criticised national BJP leaders for campaigning in Hyderabad for GHMC elections and said, “We welcome the top leadership of BJP to the state. It would have been much better if the same leaders had come to Hyderabad when the city was facing heavy rains and floods.”
He suggested that since the top BJP leaders are anyway visiting the city, they can also pay a visit to Durgam Cheruvu Bridge, Annapurna Canteens, and Basti Dawakhanas too. He said, “Instead of coming with empty hands, I request them to bring along the Rs. 1,350 crore of financial assistance, which CM KCR had requested for in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi (for carrying out relief measures in rain-affected colonies).”
Continuing his attack on BJP, KTR stated that some of its leaders are stooping low for a few votes and seats. “One insane leader says he will break memorials of NTR and P. V. Narasimha Rao and another mad leader encourages triple riding and promises to pay challans.”
The TRS working president underlined: “Hyderabad has been peaceful for the past six years. There has not been a single incidence of communal tension. But today, BJP leaders only want to divide people in the name of religion. I urge you all not to support such parties.”
He highlighted Kalyana Lakshmi, KCR Kits, Annapurna Canteens, Basti Dawakhanas, installation of five-lakh CCTV cameras in Hyderabad as part of his campaign. He pointed out, “There was a major water crisis in Uppal five years ago. But today, every house is getting drinking water every alternate day. The TRS government has resolved the water crisis very efficiently.” KTR urged people of Uppal to vote for TRS party candidates, so that Uppal’s development could continue along with that of Hyderabad.
A member of the virtual audience asking a question during His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s discussion with members of the Einstein Forum from his residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on November 25, 2020. Photo by Ven Tenzin Jamphel/OHHDL
His Holiness the Dalai Lama was invited to take part in a discussion this morning with members of the Einstein Forum, a foundation in the state of Brandenburg, Germany, that serves as an open laboratory of the mind. It offers an annual fellowship to outstanding young thinkers who wish to pursue a project in a field different from that of their previous research. Fellows may live at Einstein’s summerhouse in Caputh with easy access to the universities and academic institutions of Potsdam and Berlin.
Prof Susan Neiman, Director of the Einstein Forum opened the conversation, telling His Holiness how honoured and excited she and her colleagues were to welcome him today. She regretted being unable to invite him to Einstein’s house, but read a quotation from Einstein that highlighted his appreciation of the potential for collaboration between Buddhism and science. She told him that the Einstein Forum was created 27 years ago to recreate and encourage the kind of conversation Einstein used to have about science and religion, politics and social justice. She thanked Shyam Wappuluri, an Einstein Forum fellow from India for organizing the event and Amber Carpenter, another fellow, for moderating the conversation.
“Today, we are not in direct contact,” His Holiness began, “but we are able to see and talk to each other over the internet. All religions convey a message of compassion and emphasise the importance of warm-heartedness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline. Many religions believe in a creator God and the notion that as children of that God, all human beings are brothers and sisters. Then, there are also non-theistic traditions, mainly in India, that regard loving-kindness as the most precious of human qualities.
“Scientists observe that we human beings are social animals with a strong sense of concern for our community, because our very survival depends on the well-being of the community. Nurturing its welfare is one of the best ways of fulfilling our own interest.
“In this context, scientists are paying closer attention to what needs to be done to develop peace of mind. One aspect is coming to understand that it is internal obstacles, destructive emotions like anger, that disrupt our peace of mind. When anger arises, your inner peace is gone. However, the antidote to anger is compassion.
“India has for thousands of years preserved a tradition of non-violence, restraint from doing harm. And this is supported by ‘karuna’ or compassion and concern for others’ well-being.
“In Buddhist tradition we don’t rely on faith to cultivate compassion and peace of mind, we employ reason. We follow the Buddha’s advice not to accept his words at face value, but to examine and test them as a goldsmith tests gold. As a result, followers of the Buddha in India, and later in Tibet, valued taking a logical, investigative approach – and this accords with a scientific attitude.
“Because he taught people of varying mental disposition at different times and places, we have to examine what he taught and evaluate it. The great teachers at Nalanda University who came after Nagarjuna drew a distinction between those of the Buddha’s teachings that could be accepted as definitive and those that require interpretation.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama responding to questions from the virtual audience during his discussion with members of the Einstein Forum by video link from his residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on November 25, 2020. Photo by Ven Tenzin Jamphel/OHHDL
“Since the 8th century, when the Tibetan king, Trisong Detsen, invited a top scholar at Nalanda University, Shantarakshita, to Tibet, we have also adopted a logical approach. In addition to his treatises, we translated and rigorously studied the works of the great Indian logicians Dignaga and Dharmakirti.
“This logical training is the basis on which I have been able to hold discussions with scientists for many years. There are points of convergence between ancient Buddhist thought and the discoveries of quantum physics on the one hand. On the other, scientists are beginning to register an interest in the workings of the mind and emotions.
“Today, on this planet, we face a lot of problems derived from anger, jealousy and fear. The weapons systems, including nuclear weapons, we have employed our intelligence to develop, are a threat to peace. However, more and more people support moves not only to eliminate nuclear weapons, but to achieve a complete global demilitarization. People value and appreciate the prospect of world peace, but nothing will come of it unless we as individuals develop peace of mind within ourselves. We all belong to human society and we have to learn to contribute to it and live together.”
In his responses to questions from the audience, His Holiness touched again on the importance of finding inner peace. He confirmed that training in ways to achieve peace of mind should be part of our education. He noted that just as everyone observes a code of physical hygiene, there should be a corresponding practice of emotional hygiene. This would include understanding that compassion actively counters anger and fear.
He mentioned a Tibetan monk he knew, who spent 18 years in Chinese prisons. When this monk reported being in danger during that time, His Holiness thought he was referring to threats to his life. However, the monk clarified that he had, at times, been in danger of losing his sense of compassion for his Chinese jailers. His Holiness cited this monk as someone with a remarkable degree of peace of mind.
Scientists have found evidence to suggest that it is basic human nature to be compassionate. We receive kindness from the moment we are born. Learning to maintain peace of mind is a key factor in our own ability to cultivate warm-heartedness.
His Holiness explained that the basic nature of the mind is pure and that purity is referred to as Buddha-nature. This is what underlies the idea that we can reduce and eliminate destructive emotions and purify the mind. He clarified that the quality of our action depends on our motivation, not so much on whether it is gentle or forceful. If the motivation is positive and compassionate, the action that follows will be beneficial.
When we are angry, the object of our anger seems to be absolutely negative. However, we can counter this by reflecting that nothing exists independently in the way it appears. Experience teaches that today’s enemy can become tomorrow’s friend. The label ‘enemy’ is our mental projection.
His Holiness observed that cultivating compassion and understanding the reality that nothing exists independently as it appears are crucial factors in reducing and overcoming our destructive emotions and therefore in achieving peace of mind. This approach is referred to in Buddhist terms as combining method and wisdom.
Understanding the workings of the mind and emotions has been part of discussions he has held with scientists over several decades. At the same time, facilities for the study of science have been established in the Tibetan monastic centres of learning re-established in South India.
“We’ve learned from science,” His Holiness remarked, “that accounts in Buddhist literature referring to a flat earth or to the sun and moon as being the same size and distance from the earth are mistaken. Among Buddhist scholars, Chandrakirti criticized masters who expressed such views and I count myself as his student.”
Asked how to view the functioning of karma in relation to science, His Holiness stated first that karma means action and action is subject to momentary change. However, physical, verbal and mental actions leave imprints on the mind that can remain for a very long time. He declared that the cumulative imprints of positive actions eventually ripen in the attainment of Buddhahood.
Prof Susan Neiman, Director of the Einstein Forum, opening the conversation with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at his residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on November 25, 2020. Photo by Ven Tenzin Jamphel/OHHDL
To apply a healing spirit to a divided society His Holiness recommended including training in ways to achieve peace of mind in general education. This would involve approaches to overcome anger and fear. He observed that competition can be beneficial when the aim is for everyone taking part to succeed, but when it involves winners and losers it is obstructive. He reiterated the importance of recognising the oneness of humanity and that we all have to live together motivated by a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood.
“The Indian master Shantideva commented that our enemy can be our best teacher. Being kind to your enemy is to show pure kindness, whereas showing kindness and affection to friends is generally mixed with attachment. Although the practice of compassion is described in religious texts, it should be adopted as something having universal value.
“Chapter six of Shantideva’s book ‘Bodhicharyavatara’ explains the negative effects of anger and how to overcome it. Chapter eight deals with the damaging effects of a self-centred attitude. Altruism is crucial to the achievement of happiness and these two chapters contain advice that is helpful whether you are a Buddhist or not.
“Since this book was explained to me, my way of thinking has changed. Today, I read it whenever I can. Combined with what Chandrakirti has to say about understanding reality it has been wonderfully effective in helping me transform my mind.”
His Holiness agreed that an ever-increasing human population is a risk because there limits to how much food the planet can produce. In addition, global warming poses a serious threat that may result before too long in the drastic dwindling of sources of water. He emphasised the need to assess these problems realistically from a wider perspective. He joked that an effective way to limit overpopulation would be for more people to become celibate monks or nuns.
Prof Susan Neiman brought the conversation to a close, declaring that it was her honour, on behalf of the Einstein Forum, to thank His Holiness for joining them today. She thanked the organizers and the technical team at the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for ensuring that the conversation could take place. She also thanked the team of translators who had simultaneously translated the conversation into 13 languages.
His Holiness replied that it was an honour for him to interact with an institution connected with Albert Einstein, a man for whom he has great respect and admiration.
.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.1500.844.jpeg?w=696&resize=696,0&ssl=1 "Holy See calls for universal adherence to Convention on Cluster Munitions - Vatican News")
