A MALVERN Buddhist minister is leading a daily public prayer in the town to raise awareness of global warming and encourage humans to be more respectful of the earth.
Satya Robyn of Malvern’s Bright Earth Buddhist Temple will do two prayer readings every day for a year, one online at 8am and one in public later in the day.
The prayer book Satya will use for her daily prayers contain texts from 13th century poet and theologian, Rumi, as well as Christian scripture, and indigenous wisdom and secular poetry.
After each of her prayers, which began on September 1, there will be ten minutes of silence for people who wish to stay and contemplate or pray in their own way.
The Buddhist minister hopes people will join her online in the morning or accompany her in public prayer on the steps opposite Malvern Post Office.
She also aims to inspire others to commit to reading a prayer of their own in their towns and cities.
Satya told the Observer: “I am very aware of the worsening effects of climate change.
“I want to do something to raise awareness.
“We are starting to notice more severe weather disruption in the UK with deadly heatwaves over the summer, and things are set to get much worse. Our carbon emissions are still rising, not falling.
“When people are informed, they are more likely to take action such as voting differently or speaking to their MP, and this is my small way of keeping the climate crisis in our minds.
“When I post online, I usually get a few comments from people who mock what I’m doing, or who say I should be doing something more practical instead.
“I understand that – we definitely need people to do practical things as well as this kind of activism.
“If people are inspired to make personal changes to their lifestyles then great, but the more important changes need to come from our government and big corporations such as oil and gas companies.”
Visit www.satyarobyn.com/earth prayer for more information.
