Hindus praise Pope for linking environment protection with world peace

Hindus have applauded Pope Benedict for establishing connection between protecting the environment and promoting peace in his message for the 43rd World Day of Peace, which will be celebrated on January one next.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, lauded His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for the central theme “If you want to cultivate peace, protect the creation" of the World Day of Peace message and Pope’s statement- “Protection of the environment is a challenge for all humankind. It is shared and universal duty to respect a collective asset destined for everyone."

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, also commended Pope’s frequent calls to save the planet and curb environmental degradation. In his recently published encyclical, Pope Benedict said, “The environment is God’s gift to everyone, and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations and towards humanity as a whole.”

Faiths, coming out in support of the environment are a remarkable signal; Rajan Zed said and urged all world religious leaders, religions and denominations to openly bless the environmental causes. Ancient Hindu scriptures, especially Atharva-Veda, were highly respectful of Mother Nature, he added.

We may believe in different religions, yet we share the same home- our Earth. We must learn to happily progress or miserably perish together. For man can live individually but can only survive collectively, Zed says quoting scriptures.

Pope Benedict heads the Roman Catholic Church, which is the largest of the Christian denominations. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksha (liberation) is its ultimate goal.

- Sampurn Media