Isha Founder Sadhguru addressed the UN as part of his global bike journey covering 27 countries to rally support for his Save Soil Movement.
Coimbatore: Isha Founder, Sadhguru addressed the UN as part of his global bike journey covering 27 countries to rally support for his Save Soil Movement.
While addressing the UN, Sadhuguru stated, "We are consuming the food of an unborn child, thus indulging in a crime against humanity.
Amidst leaders from global organizations at the United Nations, Geneva expressing unanimous support to the Save Soil Movement, Sadhguru addressed a panel of leaders from global organizations in an urgent appeal for a global response to the issue of soil extinction.
Panel members Nadia Isler representing the Director General of the UN Office, Dr. Naoko Yamamoto from the World Health Organization and Stewart Maginnis, Deputy Director General for Programmes at the International Union for Conservation of Nature expressed unanimous support and praise for the timeliness of the movement and a consensual need for collective action to restore and protect soil by instituting soil-friendly practices. The leaders expressed resonant concern for food security, climate change and geographical vulnerability.
Addressing a rapt audience, Sadhguru stressed the importance of people’s vote and voice in a democracy where “a government is elected to fulfill the people’s mandate. Unless the people explicitly state that they want their leaders to invest in the long-term well-being of the nation, elected Governments cannot act."
Sadhguru cited the UN’s warning that rapid soil degradation could lead to a severe global food crisis which could threaten to plunge the world into brutal civil strife over the next few decades. Citing soil degradation as "crime against humanity,” Sadhguru remarked that the erosion of soil today belongs to the unborn child. “We need to absolve ourselves of this,” he stated in closing.
In an opening address, the Ambassador of Permanent Mission of India to Geneva, Indra Mani Pandey expressed his delight at seeing the Save Soil campaign receive global support and a keenness to learn more about what can be done individually and collectively to reverse global soil degradation.
Nadia Isler on behalf of the Director General of the UN Office explained, “We now live more than ever in interconnected and fast changing environments. The challenges we face are deeply intertwined and require mobilization on many different levels.” Stressing on the importance of collective action, she said, “Community engagement is key to putting ecological challenges squarely into policies and actions at all levels.”
Dr. Naoko Yamamoto, Assistant Director-General, Universal Health Coverage / Healthier Populations spoke of the critical need of healthy soil for food security, nutrition and the prevention of non-communicable diseases. She echoed the need for the global community “to work together as one.” Stewart Maginnis, the Deputy Director General for Programmes at the International Union for Conservation of Nature fervently spoke about the remarkable number of species that exist in a handful of soil, reiterating that it is this aliveness in soil that sustains our own lives. He described the Save Soil Movement as a message of urgency, hope and ultimately one of love.
Save Soil Movement is a global movement to inspire a conscious approach to saving our soil and planet. Positioned as a people’s movement, the aim is to demonstrate the support of over 3.5 billion people (more than 60 perccent of the world’s voting population) around the world and empower Governments to initiate policy-driven action to revitalize soil and halt further degradation. World leaders, influencers, artists, experts, farmers, spiritual leaders, NGOs and citizens are vocally supporting the movement to re-establish humanity’s relationship with the soil.
Website: savesoil.org