Reforestation Tree Planting Activity

          Abbot of I.B.P.S. London, Ven. Chueh Ru and more than 100 members of BLIA London chapter went to Theydon Bois on October 10 to organize the 3^rd time Fo Guang forest reforestation tree planting activity.

　　 Mrs. Tracy Chapman, person-in –charge of the Tree Planting Promotion Unit of Essex, Mr. John Brown, representative of Reforestation Foundation, and 3 councilors of Theydon Parish Council were our distinguished guests. About 100 members from 3 environmental protection and charity organizations, Blue Guide, Rainbows and Brownies, also joined the tree planting activity.

　   The Fo Guang reforestation tree planting activity was organized by I.B.P.S. London, BLIA London chapter and Reforestation Foundation, famous charity, environmental protection and educational organization in United Kingdom. It planned to plant 5,000 saplings of the local species within 3 years at 5 acres of reforestation area in Theydon Bois. Totally 3000 saplings had been planted at the 1^st time reforestation activity on October, 2007 and the 2^nd time on October, 2008. The 3^rd time reforestation activity had been planted 2000 saplings on October 10, 2009. The objectives of the reforestation activity are reducing ecological crisis made by global climate changed. conserving the aged forest in United Kingdom, promoting greening, increasing the public environmental consciousness and caring our community.

 
　　Ven. Chueh Ru, Ms. Huang Hua Kuen, president of BLIA London chapter, and about 100 BLIA members arrived in Theydon Bois, the planting area, early in the morning. The Tree Planting activity started at eleven o’clock. Mr. John Brown, the representative of Reforestation Foundation, gave a speech that the Fo Guang reforestation activity is a grand project. It not only represented charitable works, but also established the environmental consciousness. He thanked for the works arranged by I.B.P.S. London and Reforestation Foundation.

　　Ven. Chueh Ru thanked all the branch temples of Fo Guang Shan in Europe for their support and sponsor. Also thanked Reforestation Foundation gave I.B.P.S. London the chance to organize such meaningful activity. Since we live on the same earth, we need to be interdependent. It is the same as “Oneness and Coexistence” in Buddhism. Besides paying attention to the nature ecological balance, we need to understand the relationship between human being and the nature. When we start to conserve the global environment, don’t forget to protect our spiritual pure-land.