November
- December 2009
Ottawa
Bahá’ís Blending Ecology with Community
by Samuel Benoit
Signs of humanity’s
strained relationship with the environment have been of much interest
to members of the Ottawa Bahá’í community. Believers hold the principle
of the oneness of humanity very close to their hearts. This principle,
coupled with teachings that describe nature as the embodiment of the
Creator, have provided motivation to move towards sustainability.
The Bahá’í Faith is the youngest of the world’s religions. Its founder,
Bahá’u’lláh (1817-1892), propounded the message that humanity is one
race and that the time has come for its unification in one global
society.
The Bahá’í spiritual obligation of the Huqúqu’lláh (“Right of God” in
Arabic) can lead to sustainable habits. The law of Huqúqu’lláh dictates
that individuals are to voluntarily pay to the community a tax of 19
per cent of their excess wealth after accounting for the necessities of
life and the payment of any debts. The regular evaluation of one’s
actual needs against one’s wants has been found by many believers to be
a powerful guard against overconsumption.
PHOTO:
Children at a recent eco-camp at the Ottawa Baha’i Centre made costumes
made of newspaper as a demonstration of how materials normally
considered to be waste can be reused in fun and creative ways. Photo:
Farhood Nowzartash.
The long-awaited purchase
of a Bahá’í Centre in 2005 has given the community opportunities to put
its environmental values into action. The building at 211 McArthur
Avenue in Vanier was chosen for its central location and easy access to
public transit and the Rideau River bike path.
Over a series of weekends, dozens of skilled volunteers transformed
what was then an Italian restaurant into a community centre, improving
the building’s insulation and replacing many windows, installing CFL
light bulbs while reusing and recycling material wherever possible.
Users of the centre are asked not to bring in disposable plates, cups
or utensils but rather to use the dishes provided, the dishwasher and a
three-compartment sink. The Bahá’í Centre recycles other materials, and
environmentally friendly products are used for cleaning.
While the Bahá’í Centre has become a hub of planning and administration
for Ottawa’s Bahá’í community, there is a strong emphasis on working
locally. The city is divided into nine administrative sectors. Within
those sectors there are many smaller groups who work together to
deliver programming in their neighbourhoods.
Recent years have seen an increase in the integration of environmental
concerns into the neighbourhood-based regular activities of the
community. Children and youth are taught principles of moderation,
justice and detachment, and they have the opportunity to apply them to
the relationships they develop in their regular classes and the several
eco-camps that have already taken place. Friends and neighbours hold
informal devotional gatherings to meditate on the interconnectedness of
all things and the sacredness of creation.
The Ottawa Bahá’í community hosted the 11th International Environment
Forum (subtitled “Responding to Climate Change: Scientific Realities,
Spiritual Imperatives”) in October 2007. This conference brought
together aboriginal, scientific, religious, political, academic,
business, international development, activist and youth voices to
address the spiritual implications of the climate crisis.
The major challenge for the Bahá’ís is blending efforts to conserve the
environment into the rhythm of their community life as mandated by the
Universal House of Justice, the supreme Bahá’í governing body. How are
they to mobilize individuals to be agents of positive change in their
community?
All are welcome to drop in for information sessions every first Friday
of each month at 7:30 pm and to visit the Information Centre and
bookstore (weekdays 11 am-1 pm, Saturdays 10 am-4 pm and Sundays 12
pm-4 pm), which is located in the Bahá’í Centre at 211 McArthur Avenue
and on the web at bahai-ottawa. org. People are also invited to call
613-742-8250 or e-mail secretariat@bahai-ottawa.org to enquire about
activities in their neighbourhood.
Samuel Benoit is the Chairperson of the Ottawa steering committee for
Faith and the Common Good, and serves as its Bahá’í representative. He
is also a Programs Director at the Otesha Project and blogs at
samuelbenoit.wordpress.com.
Insider Volume 24, Number
6 November - December 2009
The Pen Peace and Environment News
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