Every year, on June 5, the world unites to celebrate World Environment Day, a platform to raise awareness and inspire action on pressing environmental issues. This year, the theme is Land Restoration: From Desertification to Transformation and it is shining a light on the crucial role healthy land plays in our collective well-being.
From lush rainforests to fertile plains, healthy land is the foundation of life on Earth. It provides us with food, water, clean air, and essential natural resources. Yet, decades of unsustainable practices like deforestation have degraded vast swathes of land, pushing ecosystems to the brink and exacerbating the challenges of desertification and drought.
A world in need of healing
Desertification, the land degradation that leads to desertlike conditions, is a growing threat affecting over 3.6 billion people globally. It reduces agricultural productivity, disrupts food security, and displaces communities. Droughts, periods of abnormally dry weather, become more frequent and intense in degraded landscapes, further straining resources and leading to conflicts.
The impact of unhealthy land extends far beyond these drylands. Deforestation not only destroys precious habitats but also disrupts the delicate water cycle, leading to floods and water scarcity. Degraded land loses its ability to store carbon, a key driver of climate change.
Reversing the damage, building resilience
This story is from the June 2024 edition of Heartfulness eMagazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 2024 edition of Heartfulness eMagazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE SEEKER OF KNOWLEDGE
SARA BUBBER shares a story from the Upanishads about knowledge, communication, truthfulness, and courage. She then gives us a few reflections and an activity to connect with Nature.
Serving Smiles: FROM HEART TO TABLE
NIROOP PRABHAKAR owns and runs the restaurant 615chutney in Nashville, Tennessee. 615chutney started as the only Indian food truck serving vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free South Indian food. Niroop's goal was to bring South Indian cuisine to the US. He believes that customer service is the key. The voices of his customers and employees matter to him. Here he is interviewed by the Heartfulness Wellness team.
Nature's Humble Superfood
KARUNA RAWAL is interviewed by AAVNI KUPPUSAMY after they met at the SXSW Food Tank event in Austin Texas earlier this year. Karuna speaks about how her company, Nature's Fynd, is pioneering ways to make high protein, high fiber foods from fungi. They offer sustainable agricultural practices without destroying the planet and without the high price tag.
Communicating with Plants and Animals
SARA BUBBER is interviewed by ANANYA PATEL about her experiences of communicating with plants and animals, and how they have enriched her life and her sense of humor.
My Mother's Hands
ANNA MONARDO is coming to terms with her parents' traditional arranged marriage and their struggles to settle in the US and provide a good life for her family. In this brave account, she exposes the problems that many new immigrants face, and honors the roles her parents played in giving her a life free from the shackles of war-torn Europe.
Why Not Artificial Consciousness?
VICTOR KANNAN explores the debate oround whether AI hos consciousness. He comes up with 0 very compelling logic for how it can easily be solved.
Treating Insiders Like Outsiders
DR. ICHAK ADIZES explores the need for effective internal communication and decision-making within organizations, and how we can all contribute to that.
Master yoga 2024 UNESCO PARIS
The Master Yoga exhibition, held at UNESCO House in Paris from June 14 to 21, 2024, marked the 10th anniversary of International Day of Yoga proclaimed by the United Nations. Organized by the \"Yoga for Unity\" collective under the aegis of the Heartfulness Foundation, the event brought together around twenty partner organizations and thirty renowned teachers. CLAIRE BIGAND was the exhibition coordinator, and here shares an overview of the week-long celebration.
Serve, Share, Sacrifice
BAWA JAIN, the Secretary-General for the World Council of Religious Leaders, shares his perspective on the greatest blessing, and his own grounding philosophy that guides him through life.
Becoming Better Communicators
DAAJI shares some tips on how to improve your communication skills, to bring harmony and compassion to daily interactions with others in the workplace, in the family, and everyone you meet.
