20 March 2008
ADVOCATING DAY OF SILENCE WORLDWIDE
Posted by webmaster under: Articles .
By : Heidi Foo
KUALA LUMPUR: A group of environmentalists are reaching into the past in their efforts to save the future.
They are advocating that the world shuts down for a day to cut air pollution.
This symbolic gesture has its roots in an ancient Hindu Balinese ritual known as Nyepi Day (Silent Day).
Nyepi marks the day when people are to indulge in activities related to spiritual purification. It is also a day for introspection of one’s self.
More recently, a group which advocates conservation - Bali NGO Collaboration on Climate Change - decided to adopt this practice.
Its representative, Hira Jhambani, said World Silent Day will be inaugurated today.
“The idea saw its birth after a number of focus group discussions held last year,” she said adding that consequently World Silent Day was launched during the UN Climate Change Conference in Nusa Dua last December.
She said anyone could be a part of the campaign by switching off electrical appliances such as the computer, television, air conditioning, phones and some lightings.
“We want to make this a habit, so we thought the first step would be to get people to refrain from using electrical appliances from 10am to 2pm.
This year Nyepi was observed on March 7 as it used the dates in the Lunar calendar, while Silent Day will be observed today.
“March 21 marks the spring equinox when the sun moves to the North marking the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere,” said Hira.
“On Nyepi Day this year, our local electricity company said Bali saved three billion rupiah which is a new record. This was also reported in the local dailies.”
Hira added that a rough calculation showed Bali could reduce carbon dioxide emission (the largest contributor of greenhouse gas) by about 30,000 tonnes a day.
This was based on keeping 200,000 motor vehicles off the road and closing the airport to 80 planes.
“Many people come here to experience it themselves because they don’t believe the airport will be closed from 6am to 6pm, at least not in the 21st century,” said Hira.
Hira suggests that the United Nations adopts World Silent Day as the date coincides with Water Day.
Besides this, Hira said a group of NGOs would present a guava tree each to 10 families with babies born on March 21.
“This is to show that when the child grows up he or she will have a tree, much like our future generation would be able to continue life on earth.
“A guava tree is also useful as its leaves are known as a cure for diarrhoea and its fruit is filled with rich vitamins and minerals,” she said.
Source: News Strait Times
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April 4th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
BALINESS PEOPLE START SILENT DAY FROM LONG LONG TIME AGO….
ITS GOOD FOR US AND OWN EART
April 27th, 2008 at 2:22 am
i think silent day schould not be alowed people should talk about how they feel about any thing that they desire. the world can make many changes just through one voice and so all voices should be heard. I love Jesues Christ and it is my duty to spread the gospal to as many people as I can as well as the whole world. I feel that who ever belives in silent day should be silent themselfs and I will pray for them.
May 26th, 2008 at 2:36 am
Absolutly AGREE…
But, first let do national silent day in Indonesia and if that have a good response we can spread out this issues to others country. Nyepi in Bali is powered by Balinese people that spiritual movement, from my humble opinion this will not running smooth…
Let’s try and do do do do . . .