Activities, Americas, Announcements - Monday, April 23, 2012 16:30 - 0 Comments

Walk to save Gangotri

“It is the duty of human beings to serve and take care of nature, which, in turn, will supply us with all the necessary things.” – Amma

The Gangotri region of the Himalayas is home to one of the largest glacier systems in the world.  The Gangotri Glacier is the source of the Ganges River which supplies water to over 400 million people in South Asia.  This life-giving glacier is in danger.

NASA images show the Gangotri glacier has retreated at an alarming rate of 850 meters in the last 25 years.  Global warming and changes in local climate are thought to be major causes for the accelerated loss of the Himalayan glaciers.

Prior unrestricted access to the Gangotri area by pilgrims and tourists has deforested the alpine highlands.  Deforestation has caused changes in the local climate reducing snowfall in the region.   The Indian Government has restricted the number of tourists and pilgrims in the area, but the environmental damage remains.  Dr. Harshvanti Bisht of the Himalayan Association for Development and Research Initiatives (HADRI) is attempting to reverse the environmental damage and slow the retreat of the Gangotri glacier by reforesting the Alpine highlands.  There is much work to do and the time to act is now.
Come join us in our WALK TO SAVE GANGOTRI

Date:  Saturday, May 26, 2012
Time:  Check-in at 9:00 am Walk begins at 9:30 am

Location:  The C&O Canal National Park in Potomac, Maryland.

Parking is available in the Park for a fee of $5.00 per vehicle

The 4 mile walk will take place on the C&O Canal towpath and begins and ends at the Great Falls Tavern Visitors Center.
All participants must pre-register here

No registration is allowed in the national park.

All proceeds go to HADRI (Himalayan Association for Development and Research Initiatives) for SAVE GANGOTRI.

Activities, Germany, INTERNATIONAL, Youth Conference, Youth Conference 2011 - Saturday, August 20, 2011 9:42 - 0 Comments

Youth reach new heights together

From 24 – 31 July 2011 the M.A Centre, Germany, hosted the 7th European Youth Initiative “Reaching New Heights – The Power of Youth to Change the World”, a multinational youth programme that welcomed 180 youth from 20 countries from Europe and beyond.
Reaching New Heights focused on eight main challenges faced by youth in today’s society: lack of self-confidence, depression and suicide, addictions and substance abuse, erosion of culture and values, violence, poverty and unemployment, lack of perspective and meaning, family and social crises and environmental challenges. Each country group chose one specific challenge to deal with during the initiative.
For six months prior to the camp, each country group chose one specific challenge to work with. Based on scientific research, discussions, and interviews with affected youth they produced a short video clip and facts poster which was presented at the beginning of the camp.
Four ‘Powers’ were then identified to deal with these problems: the power of confidence, the power of commitment, the power of creativity and the power of community. Tackling the eight challenges through these four powers thus leads to eight corresponding goals, referred to during the camp as the ‘Youth Development Goals’: Confidence, Understanding, Health, Tolerance, Nature, Culture, Progress and Vision.
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