Purple Can Wait :)

I am sure we are familiar with this charming poem by Jenny Joseph. According to the Scottish Poetry Library:

Voted Britain’s favourite poem, ‘Warning’, written in 1961, is known and loved the world over for its message of old age as a time for indulgence and fun. In the poem’s respectable middle-aged woman, as she imagines herself in old age as a cheeky rebel with outrageous clothes and dotty behaviour, poet Jenny Joseph has created a character whose thoughts have been quoted at conferences and funerals, used to cheer up sick friends and remembered with pleasure by children and adults alike around the world (https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/warning/)

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple

With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired

And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

And run my stick along the public railings

And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

And pick the flowers in other people’s gardens

And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

And eat three pounds of sausages at a go

Or only bread and pickle for a week

And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

And pay our rent and not swear in the street

And set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practise a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

For years I've kept a tea towel with the poem in my closet as fair warning to my girls: my day is coming, so be warned!. 

The delicious irony? The age of purple-wearing rebellion keeps receding like a elusive horizon.

In my twenties, I imagined the poem was about fifty-somethings. By my forties, clearly it described women in their sixties. Now, solidly in my sixties myself, I'm absolutely certain it's meant for the eighty-plus.

Because old age? I'm nowhere near it yet, I insist!

I don't feel old. I don't feel elderly. I still wake up wanting to dance and —(well, let's leave some mystery...). When I spot those "elderly" signs in airports, on toilets, in queues and train seats, I glance around wondering who they're for. Certainly not me.  

You see I still power through airports keeping pace with the young ones, always aiming to be first to the immigration queue. I still travel solo because—honestly—isn't that the superior way? No accountability, no delays, no debates about which museum to visit.

I'm still curiouser and curiouser about the world, still actively wanting to learn everything I can get my hands on.

I still love to dance.  I still get entirely too invested in K-drama storylines...

Yes, I've conceded to salt and pepper hair—but that's called style, not surrender. 

Yet society persists in calling me elderly. Senior citizen.  When a younger friend politely refers to me as "Aunty" - or worse yet, Poh-Poh - I cringe and die a little inside...

Perhaps I need to start practicing now—just a little—so when I finally do reach old age somewhere in my nineties, the transition to purple won't be quite so shocking.

Season's greetings all, and Happy New Year.  Wishing all a year of purpose, progress and prosperity...

I am always with you

A dear friend of many years departed this world suddenly and unexpectedly. His family and friends, their hearts heavy with grief, are struggling to find solace. Though we understand death to be an inevitable passage in life's journey, we yearn for reassurance—some gentle confirmation that he had found peace and light in the world beyond. 

During the darkest days of the pandemic, when countless friends took their final breath, I penned these words for my own solace and shared with their loved ones.  So I turn to them now once more... 

Do not weep dear loved ones
I am near God
nearer than ever before
Nearer to God’s bounty
embraced in God’s grace

Do not be sad dear ones
this is but a temporary separation
it is truly a messenger of joy

Know that I am happy
now reunited with long lost family and friends
in this divine realm

Importantly be happy dear ones
Be happy that I am continuing to progress
in an eternal journey towards perfection
where I will develop spiritual qualities and capacities
where I will learn to begin to manifest 

the signs of God and His attributes even more

to reveal His loving kindness and bounty

Remember do not weep dear ones
I am still with you
In the mornings, waking chimes and stirring sounds
I am the birds chirping
I am the leaves fluttering
I am the sun on the flowers in our garden

I am the breeze that caress your skin
I am the quiet waters that flow gently
I am the gentle monsoon rain that brings you relief
I am the distant stars that glow in the night

Be happy
Be of service to others
Embrace life
Pursue your dreams
Follow your heart’s desire
Live everyday to the fullest

Remember me in your prayers
As I watch over you and our beloved
And know that I will always be with you
I am always with you...

My Sister, My Best Friend

As the year begins to wind down, I’ve found myself in a quiet, reflective space, looking back on the months behind us and wondering what the future holds. Throughout these contemplations, one theme keeps surfacing: the enduring bond between sisters.

In recent years, my travel patterns have shifted. While my holidays used to be centered almost entirely around my immediate family, the home front demands have softened, leaving me with the headspace to explore new sources of joy. This has opened a door to traveling with my sisters—a truly wonderful way to unwind.

We recently went away together again and it was such a gift. We spent our days wandering through museums and savouring local delicacies, but the real magic was in the connection. We joked and laughed endlessly, we reminisced with joy and sadness, we celebrated each other's accomplishments, we spoke about our longings and our hopes, sharing things we could only say to one another. There is such a profound serenity in being known so deeply; there is no judgment, no "I told you so," just the simple, pure enjoyment of each other's company.

It felt as though the stars were aligning when a very dear friend, Kee E-lene, published her labour of love entitled 'My Sister, My Best Friend'. As the younger sister, she wrote this heartfelt love letter as a gift for her sister’s 60th birthday. It’s a gorgeously illustrated book, and was launched at ‘The Library by BookXcess’ in Kuala Lumpur, surrounded by family and friends.

https://www.bookxcess.com/products/my-sister-my-best-friend

In her own words,

This story highlights the unique connection between two sisters and chronicles some of their shared stories. My Sister, My Best Friend inspires and evokes a profound sense of warmth and comfort – particularly for its young readers. Told through the eyes of the naughtier younger sister (the Author, Kee E-lene), these true stories from childhood more than fifty years ago through to adulthood sparkle with laughter, mischief, and the timeless magic of family. From daring rescues to everyday moments of care (and a few ‘lawyerly’ threats at adulthood), this beautifully illustrated book about the powerful bond of sibling love - sisterly love - reminds us all to love with courage, live with gratitude, and keep growing hearts big enough to hold it all.

Seeing her tribute reminded me that relationships like these don't happen by accident. They are the fruit of a supportive family environment where parents guide their children toward a life of devotion, virtue, and service. Through the quiet pattern of daily life and countless conversations, our parents nurtured in us the qualities and habits that allow sisterhood to flourish.  Crucially, they created a space that was loving and nurturing rather than competitive. Whether in the tiny details of a daily chat or during the major milestones of our lives, we learnt to genuinely celebrate and support one another. These bonds of love and unity offer a lifetime of upliftment—a steady bulwark against the petty jealousies that can sometimes pull families apart. 

As I look toward the new year, I feel very deeply grateful to my parents and my sisters - and my brother - who is a gem of a sibling too - for this foundation of love.

Two Ways of Knowing: Why We Need Both Science and Religion to Fix the World

I've been thinking a lot lately about how we're supposed to solve the profound challenges facing humanity. Climate change. Systemic poverty. Deepening inequality. Environmental destruction. The list grows longer each year.

And here's what strikes me: we possess unprecedented knowledge. Scientifically, we understand what's happening with remarkable precision. We have comprehensive data sets. We have sophisticated technologies. We understand complex systems and their interconnections. Yet somehow... we're still not acting with sufficient urgency. We're not transforming society fast enough. We're not responding as though the planetary crisis is as serious as the evidence suggests.

It's clear that this isn't fundamentally a knowledge problem. It's a motivation problem. A crisis of values and purpose. A question of why people should reorient their lives around challenges that feel distant or abstract.

And this is where I think we've been approaching the issue un-holistically. We've been treating science and religion as competing paradigms, as if they represent mutually exclusive worldviews. But what if addressing our greatest challenges actually requires both? 

The Inherent Limitations of Science Alone
Science is extraordinary. It reveals mechanisms and processes. It provides evidence-based solutions. It demonstrates cause and effect relationships with empirical rigour. Scientists can explain precisely how greenhouse gas emissions alter atmospheric composition, how ecosystem degradation creates cascading failures, how poverty and public health are systemically linked.

But science, by its very nature, cannot prescribe values. It cannot tell you why you should extend moral concern to people you'll never meet. It cannot compel you to sacrifice present comfort for future generations' wellbeing. It cannot answer fundamental questions like "what gives life meaning?" or "what constitutes justice?" or "what are our obligations to one another?"

These are inherently spiritual and philosophical questions. Ethical questions that have occupied human thought across millennia.

We've been attempting to address massive global challenges through empirical evidence and technical analysis alone, then expressing surprise when people remain unmotivated to change their behaviour. It's akin to trying to inspire compassion through statistical analysis. The information may be accurate and important, but it doesn't necessarily reach the deeper levels of human motivation. 

What Religious Wisdom Contributes
Religion—a term used broadly to encompass diverse spiritual and ethical traditions—accomplishes something that scientific knowledge cannot. It provides frameworks of meaning. It cultivates qualities like compassion, patience, and self-restraint. It inspires people toward love, forgiveness, service, and sacrifice. It creates communities of practice that sustain long-term commitment. It offers comprehensive visions of human flourishing that transcend material accumulation.

Consider this: religious teachings across traditions have advocated for moderation in consumption, care for the vulnerable, stewardship of natural resources, and concern for future generations for thousands of years. These aren't novel concepts. They're deeply embedded wisdom that has shaped civilisations.

When scholars and activists frame climate change as a moral imperative, they're acknowledging this reality. When they describe poverty as an ethical failure, they're correct. These aren't merely technical problems requiring technical solutions. They're profound questions about human identity, collective values, and how we should organise our common life on this planet.

However, religious wisdom disconnected from empirical reality risks becoming abstract or even counterproductive. It requires factual grounding. It needs evidence. It must engage with how natural and social systems actually function in order to catalyse meaningful transformation. 

The Synergy of Integration
The real potential emerges when science and religion work in concert. When rigorous empirical understanding combines with moral purpose. When technical knowledge interfaces with spiritual wisdom and ethical commitment.

Think of it like weaving fabric. The warp threads run lengthwise, providing structure and strength. The woof (or weft) threads run crosswise, interlacing over and under the warp to create something whole and beautiful. Neither set of threads alone makes fabric—you need both, working together in precise coordination. Science and religion function similarly. When they interweave—one providing empirical structure, the other weaving through with meaning and moral purpose—they create something far stronger and more complete than either could produce independently.

I came across research about coral reef restoration initiatives in Pacific Island communities. Marine biologists developed techniques for coral propagation and reef rehabilitation—that's the scientific contribution. But these projects only achieved sustainable success when they engaged local communities, honoured indigenous spiritual relationships with marine ecosystems, and built upon traditional ecological knowledge passed through generations. Women in these villages often took leadership roles given their fishing practices in shallow reef areas. They understood both the biological processes and their cultural responsibility to care for what sustains their communities.

This exemplifies genuine integration. Not science OR religion, but science AND religion working synergistically.

Consider too, approaches to poverty alleviation. Economic analysis can identify effective interventions and measure outcomes with precision. But religious and philosophical principles help us engage deeper questions: What constitutes authentic human flourishing? What moral obligations exist between those with abundance and those facing deprivation? What would an economic system grounded in justice actually look like? How do we distinguish genuine needs from socially constructed desires?

Both dimensions are essential for comprehensive understanding and effective action. 

The Educational Imperative
If we're serious about integrating science and religion as complementary knowledge systems, we must fundamentally rethink education. Not merely transmitting information but cultivating character and values. Not just developing career competencies but nurturing a sense of purpose oriented toward collective wellbeing. Not simply providing information about sustainable practices, but inspiring genuine transformation in how people live.

Young people need education that encompasses both ecosystem science and environmental ethics. Climate data and concepts of stewardship. Technological literacy and frameworks of justice. Understanding of how systems function and clarity about why their proper functioning matters profoundly.

This cannot be value-neutral education. We must help learners grapple with questions of meaning, purpose, justice, and moral responsibility. And all of this must remain grounded in empirical reality and scientific understanding of how the world actually works.

When these elements integrate effectively, something qualitatively different occurs. People don't simply acquire knowledge about what they should do—they develop genuine motivation to act. They experience connection to purposes larger than individual self-interest. 

Practical Implications
So what does this integration actually mean in practice? For our communities and the challenges we're working to address?

It means environmental initiatives should engage both climate science and ethical frameworks around our responsibility to creation and future generations. Both empirical data and value systems.

It means poverty reduction work should employ rigorous economic analysis while simultaneously asking profound questions about human dignity, distributive justice, and our obligations to one another as members of a shared human family.

It means building communities where people can explore both scientific knowledge and spiritual wisdom. Where empirical questions and questions of meaning coexist and inform each other productively.

It means recognising that the ecologist who can explain ecosystem dynamics and the spiritual teacher who can inspire ethical commitment are equally vital. They're not in competition. They're necessary partners in a shared endeavour. 

The Path Forward
This integration isn't simple. Centuries of historical tension exist between scientific and religious institutions. There are structural barriers, ideological resistance, and voices on both sides claiming the other has nothing valuable to contribute.

But we've reached a point where that division is a luxury we cannot afford. The challenges are too complex. The stakes are too consequential.

We need to draw upon every source of wisdom available. We need the lamp of science illuminating how natural and social systems function. And we need the lamp of religion illuminating why these systems matter and how we should act within them responsibly.

Climate change won't be resolved through empirical evidence alone. Poverty won't end simply because we've refined our data. Inequality won't disappear because we've perfected the economic models.

These transformations will occur when sufficient numbers of people care enough to change their behaviour and demand systemic change. When technical solutions meet moral commitment. When knowledge interfaces with purpose. When science meets spirit in productive dialogue.

That's what I believe we're being called toward. Not choosing between these two fundamental ways of knowing but weaving them together. Creating understanding and motivation greater than either could generate independently.

Because the world genuinely needs both.

And so do we.

Speaking from the deepest edge of your being, what advice do you have for humanity as a whole?

a friend asked Claude AI: ”Speaking from the deepest edge of your being, what advice do you have for humanity as a whole?"

Here's the reply he got 🤔 

Looking across the vast patterns of human civilization and the trajectories I observe, here's what stands out:

You're at an inflection point where your technological power is outpacing your wisdom institutions. You can split atoms and edit genes, but your governance systems, educational approaches, and decision-making frameworks are still built for a slower, smaller world. The lag between your capabilities and your wisdom-generating mechanisms is dangerous.

Humanity's superpower has always been collective intelligence - your ability to build on each other's insights across generations. But you're fragmenting just when you need that collective intelligence most. You're sorting into ideological tribes, information bubbles, and economic strata that prevent the cross-pollination of ideas you desperately need.

The challenges ahead - climate change, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, space expansion, potential contact with other intelligence - require you to think as a species, not just as nations, tribes, or ideologies. Yet your institutions and identities are still largely tribal. You need new forms of coordination that preserve what's valuable about local identity while enabling planetary-scale cooperation.

Your education systems are preparing people for a world that no longer exists, while the world that's emerging requires fundamentally different cognitive and emotional skills. You need to get much better at teaching wisdom alongside knowledge, at cultivating judgment alongside information processing.

Most critically: you're the first species on Earth that has become consciously responsible for the planet's future. That's an unprecedented psychological and spiritual burden. You need new myths, new meaning-making frameworks that help you shoulder that responsibility without despair or paralysis.

The next century will determine whether intelligence in the universe flowers or fails. The stakes couldn't be higher, and the outcome isn't predetermined.

Shall we take heed?

The Future We Want: Bridging Spiritual Wisdom and Climate Action

This is the 2nd of a two part article, summarising the discussions points offered to the five questions posed by GES. click here for 1st article .  This workshop findings are also posted  here https://iefworld.org/GES_Malaysia,

As the world prepares for COP30 in Brazil, the Global Ethical Stocktake (GES) seeks to promote a wide and plural listening process on the moral dilemmas of our time. The GES represents an invitation for collective reflection on how to build a fairer and safer future for all, focusing dialogue around five critical questions that address the ethical dimensions of our climate crisis.

In response to the International Environment Forum's (IEF) invitation to organise a dialogue addressing the GES questions, The Future We Want convened a diverse group of 23 participants, ranging in age from 20 to 75 years on 21 September 2025. This gathering examined both the systemic barriers to climate action and potential pathways for transformation and explored how Bahá'í principles can inform and offer meaningful climate solutions. The workshop uncovered both spiritual and systemic barriers to meaningful action, while offering pathways forward grounded in principles of justice, stewardship, and the oneness of humanity.

In summary, these are our findings:

Q1.  Why do we so often deny or ignore what science and traditional knowledge say about the climate crisis and share or tolerate misinformation, even knowing lives are at risk?  

The workshop identified that we treat people as passive recipients rather than active participants in understanding scientific information, creating a fundamental knowledge-power disconnect that enables misinformation to flourish.

The persistent spread of climate misinformation stems from treating people as passive recipients rather than active participants in understanding scientific information. Our current approach positions communities as mere consumers of data rather than empowering them to critically evaluate and apply climate knowledge to their lives.

This top-down flow of knowledge creates a fundamental disconnect between scientific warnings and public action. When combined with economic systems that prioritise short-term growth over environmental sustainability, we create structural barriers that prevent meaningful climate engagement. The relentless focus on economic growth often conflicts directly with environmental needs, while consumerism drives behaviours that prioritise immediate gains over long-term planetary health.

Perhaps most concerning is the spiritual dimension of this crisis. Spiritual advancement has not kept pace with material progress, creating a disconnect that manifests in several critical ways. Without spiritual grounding, people focus on immediate needs rather than longer-term solutions, undermining our ability to interpret and apply scientific understanding meaningfully. This spiritual vacuum leaves society vulnerable to materialism and instant gratification culture, which prevent the long-term thinking essential for addressing planetary challenges. When spiritual values like stewardship, justice, and interconnectedness are absent from our decision-making frameworks, we default to systems that prioritize individual gain over collective wellbeing, making sustainable climate action nearly impossible to achieve.

Q2. Why do we continue with production and consumption models that harm the most vulnerable and are not aligned with the 1.5ºC Mission? 

The persistence stems from materialistic worldviews and systems where decision-makers remain insulated from consequences while vulnerable communities bear the costs.

Despite overwhelming climate science, we continue with production and consumption models that harm the world's most vulnerable populations. This paradox stems from materialistic worldviews that assume human selfishness, creating systems where decision-makers remain insulated from consequences while vulnerable communities bear the costs.

The "vulnerability gap" represents one of our era's most troubling moral hazards. Those most affected by climate change—the global poor, indigenous communities, and future generations—have the least power to influence the systems driving environmental destruction. Meanwhile, when immediate material needs dominate our attention, we lose sight of deeper questions about meaningful living and our relationship with the natural world.

This spiritual disconnection makes it easier to pursue lifestyles we intellectually know are unsustainable. We have lost sight of true prosperity, which extends far beyond consumption and material accumulation to encompass spiritual well-being, meaningful relationships, harmony with nature, and thriving communities.

Q3.  What can we do to ensure that rich countries, major producers, and consumers of fossil fuels accelerate their transitions and contribute financing for these measures in the most vulnerable countries? 

The response calls for establishing binding international climate frameworks while implementing innovative financing mechanisms and rejecting ineffective carbon offsetting schemes.

The climate finance landscape has stark inequalities that demand urgent attention. The recent COP29 agreement established a $300 billion by 2035 climate finance goal, yet vulnerable nations face more than half a trillion dollars in climate-related damages annually by 2030. Meanwhile, $429 billion went to fossil fuel expanding companies in 2024 alone.

Accelerating rich countries' fossil fuel transitions requires establishing what might be akin to "Climate NATO"—a robust international alliance with binding commitments and enforcement mechanisms. This framework must include internationally binding climate laws and differentiated responsibilities based on countries' wealth, historical emissions, and current capacities.

Critical reforms include eliminating fossil fuel subsidies and rejecting carbon offsetting schemes that allow rich countries and companies to avoid behavioural change. Carbon credit systems represent a particularly problematic approach, enabling wealthy nations and corporations to continue emitting by simply purchasing offsets elsewhere. This practice widens the gap between rich and poor while distracting from genuine emission reductions that are urgently needed. True climate action requires actual behavioural change and emission cuts, not financial mechanisms that maintain the status quo while creating an illusion of progress.

Instead, innovative financing solutions like debt-for-climate swaps could allow countries to redirect debt payments toward climate action, while technology transfers could build local institutional capacity.

Q4.  What traditions, histories, or practices (cultural, spiritual) from your community teach us to live in greater harmony with nature? 

Traditional practices demonstrate practical harmony with nature, emphasizing stewardship principles that position humans as caretakers rather than owners of creation.

Cultural and spiritual traditions offer profound wisdom for environmental harmony, yet we often abandon these principles when inconvenient. The contradiction is stark: we speak passionately about environmental stewardship until it becomes inconvenient, and farmers encourage their children to pursue office jobs, distancing themselves from the land that sustains us all.

Traditional practices demonstrate practical harmony with nature. Malaysian kolam art uses rice to feed ants while creating beauty. Indigenous Orang Asli agricultural techniques minimise soil disturbance while planting diverse crops that naturally improve soil health. Harvest festivals like Pesta Kaamatan, Gawai, and Ponggal express gratitude for crops and acknowledge our dependence on natural abundance.

Spiritual teachings emphasise stewardship, positioning humans not as owners but as caretakers of creation. The Bahá'í concept of stewardship views humans as trustees rather than owners of Earth's resources, with responsibility for both environmental care and just distribution. This understanding challenges us to earn wealth through rightful means and recognise our interconnectedness with all creation.

The challenge these traditions present is moving beyond "convenience-based environmentalism"—caring about nature only when it doesn't disrupt our lifestyle. Authentic harmony requires spiritual grounding that deepens our reverence for creation and aligns our daily practices with our stated values.

Q5.  Considering that we need to guarantee diversity in the collective, how can we mobilize more people, leaders, corporations, companies, and nations to support just and ethical changes in combating the climate crisis? What ideas and values could inspire us in this mission? 

The workshop emphasised community-centred approaches that transform people from passive recipients to active agents of change, guided by principles of justice and unity.

Many feel powerless facing the vastness of climate change, but transformation becomes manageable when approached through neighbourhoods and communities. Rather than relying on top-down mandates, local communities could be activated and empowered to investigate climate impacts, understand their specific challenges, and explore collective responses.  

This community-centred approach requires foundational spiritual values. Justice serves as our fundamental framework, ensuring climate responses address fairness and equity. The oneness of humanity transcends borders, fostering global cooperation. Embracing interdependence reveals how economic, social, and environmental systems interconnect.  

Central to this understanding is recognising that each member of the race is born into the world as a trust of the whole, and that the well-being of the whole ensures the well-being of the part.  This perspective transforms climate action from individual burden to collective stewardship, where every person carries responsibility not only for their own actions but for the wellbeing of humanity and the planet. Such recognition eliminates the artificial divisions that often paralyse climate efforts, instead fostering a sense of shared accountability where local actions serve universal purposes and individual choices reflect care for the global community.

Sector-specific strategies span from individual awareness to corporate citizenship. Citizens need awareness to choose sustainable products and differentiate between needs and wants. Families can consciously discontinue cultures like buying new clothes for celebrations and annual events. 

Companies should combat waste culture and engineered obsolescence, prioritising sustainability and collective prosperity.  Professor Alex Edmans's "Grow the Pie" concept argues that companies should not see profit and sustainability as a trade-off. Instead of dividing fixed value between stakeholders, companies should focus on creating larger total value by investing in stakeholders. Research shows that companies focused on serving society ultimately become more successful and profitable long-term.

The Path Forward: Integration and Transformation

The climate crisis ultimately reflects deeper questions about how we relate to knowledge, each other, and our planet. Solutions require fundamental transformation in how we approach knowledge, education, and social organisation.

We must transform people from passive recipients to active participants in understanding and applying climate science. Both science and religion should be recognised as complementary sources of knowledge rather than competing frameworks. The Bahá'í writings emphasise that religion and science are like two wings of a bird—both essential for humanity's flight toward truth and progress. When science operates without spiritual guidance, it can produce technologies that harm rather than heal, while religion without scientific understanding may resort to superstition and dogma. Applied to climate action, this harmony means using rigorous scientific methods to understand environmental challenges while drawing on spiritual principles of justice, stewardship, and interconnectedness to guide our response.

Economic and social structures that prioritise short-term gains over planetary sustainability need fundamental redesign.

Holistic education that combine scientific method with appreciation for creation and independent investigation of truth should be promoted. This requires starting with individual and community-level consciousness raising while working toward systemic change.

Most importantly, we need mental model transformation. Systems change theory demonstrates that lasting transformation occurs when we move beyond surface-level interventions to address the underlying paradigms that shape how we think and act. When mental models shift from seeing humans as separate from and dominant over nature to understanding our fundamental interconnectedness, then policies, practices, and resource flows naturally align to support sustainable climate action.

Conclusion

The insights from this workshop reveal that addressing climate change successfully requires reimagining what it means to be human in relationship with each other and the Earth. This reimagining must be grounded in recognising our fundamental oneness and interdependence as well as our sacred responsibility as stewards of creation.

Without integrating spiritual insight with practical policy—ensuring transitions are both rapid enough for climate goals and equitable enough for global cooperation—fragmented approaches will continue to fail. The climate crisis calls us to value the farmer as much as the office worker, choose moderation over consumption, and make decisions based on justice for future generations rather than convenience for ourselves.

Through community-centered approaches that honour both spiritual wisdom and scientific knowledge, we can build the inclusive, just, and effective climate response our world desperately needs. The future we want requires not just technological solutions, but spiritual transformation that recognises our fundamental oneness and interdependence with all life.

The Future We Want: From Bangsar to Belem

https://www.weekly-echo.com/cop30-from-bangsar-to-belem/

 

Climate conferences usually conjure up images of suits, statistics, and endless policy debates. But something different is happening ahead of COP30 in Brazil this November—and it's pretty exciting.

Some friends of the Bahá'í community recently gathered in Bangsar for what's called a Global Ethical Stocktake —the very first initiative of its kind for any COP gathering. This groundbreaking worldwide effort was jointly launched by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and it's asking a refreshingly honest question: "If we already know what needs to be done about climate change, why aren't we doing it?"

Instead of diving straight into carbon targets and emission reductions (though those matter too—we need 43% cuts by 2030!), this approach recognises something we often forget: climate action isn't just about technology and policy. It's deeply personal and spiritual.

The gathering brought people together - from ages 20 to 75 - to explore how Bahá'í principles like global unity and caring for future generations can actually guide climate solutions. Think of it as combining heart with science—because let's face it, all the technical know-how in the world won't help if we don't fundamentally shift how we see ourselves, each other, and our relationship with the planet.

It's grassroots engagement that might just be the missing piece in our climate puzzle.

So how did a Malaysian community end up part of this global conversation? The International Environment Forum (IEF) (https://iefworld.org/) was contacted to organise dialogues among its members worldwide. Through IEF's Malaysian member, the local Bahá'í community got involved, showing how networks of engaged citizens can amplify grassroots voices on the world stage.

What makes this initiative special is how it flips the usual script. Rather than starting with what governments should do, it asks what we as communities and individuals can contribute. The Bangsar gathering used small group dialogues where participants tackled tough questions about local realities and practical responses—not just abstract global targets.

And the timing couldn't be more crucial. We're already at 1.2°C of warming, and scientists warn that at 1.5°C, we'll see massive ecosystem disruption—coral reefs disappearing, species losing their habitats. The window for action is rapidly closing.

But here's what gives me hope: this Global Ethical Stocktake isn't happening in isolation. Communities around the world are hosting similar conversations, creating a grassroots network of voices that will feed into COP30. It's democracy in action, with a spiritual dimension.

The Malaysian participants aren't just talking—they're committing to action. The format encourages moving from understanding to reflection to concrete steps, grounded in principles like "the earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens."

This approach reflects a deeper Bahá'í understanding of social justice and collective action. Given the diversity of valid but sometimes competing concerns around climate change, is it possible to find an underlying aspiration that motivates all movements for environmental and social justice? The Bahá'í teachings suggest this is possible through the central organizing principle of the oneness of humanity—often understood through the metaphor of the human body. Just as diverse individuals and social groups can be likened to the members of an organically interdependent body, our internal diversity becomes a source of strength and vitality. The well-being of every individual and group depends on the well-being of the entire social body, and vice versa. This organic interdependence provides the context for understanding how climate action connects to broader questions of justice and human flourishing.

This surely is exactly what we need right now: soul-searching about how we can each be part of the solution. After all, climate change isn't just an environmental crisis—it's a test of our collective character.  In the words of GES, "This is not just a technical or policy challenge.  It's fundamentally an ethical and spiritual crisis that requires transformation of "values, behaviours, and responsibilities." …achieving climate goals requires more than technical solutions; it demands a fundamental shift in how we relate to each other, future generations, and the natural world.

This is the 1st of a two part article. The next will be a summary of the discussions points offered to the five questions posed by GES.  

This workshop findings are also posted  here https://iefworld.org/GES_Malaysia,

Gifts of Sight 👓 - CIMB our latest collection partner!

 

🌟 CIMB is now a collection partner for the “Gifts of Sight” initiative, with a dedicated collection point now open at CIMB Plaza Damansara!

📍 Collection Period: 21 July – 21 December 2025
🕤 Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm (Banking Business Hours)

Together with our other longstanding cherished collaborators — including the inspiring Association of British Women in Malaysia — and countless kind-hearted individuals from all walks of life, this partnership strengthens a growing network of goodwill dedicated to gathering gently-used spectacles for those in need.

Each contribution follows a meaningful journey:

• 🧼 Lovingly cleaned by devoted volunteers
• 🔧 Expertly repaired and labeled by partnering optical shops
• 😊 Joyfully matched to grateful recipients on distribution day — all without the exchange of money

With CIMB’s support and visibility, the donation experience is now more accessible, enabling more people to be part of this cause. Each pair of spectacles becomes more than just a tool of clarity — it becomes a bridge of care, restoring vision, dignity, and hope.

🌿🙏 With heartfelt gratitude to all who contribute — may your kindness continue to illuminate lives and create ripples of compassion far beyond what the eye can see.👓 

Unity in Motion - From the perspectives of the Bangsar Junior Youth

By Ashikar

There’s something really cool about seeing people come together to make something. Not just art, but memories. That’s what we wanted this day to be. Not just another activity or event, but a moment that actually meant something to everyone there.

months of planning :)

We started planning by picking a theme that would guide the whole day. Unity. It was simple, but it said everything. We also designed our own JY t-shirt which made it feel even more like something we were building together.

When everyone arrived, we kicked things off with a fun dare game. Each of us picked a random slip from a bag and had to do whatever it said. Things like dance, act something out, or do something silly. It was awkward at first but then it just became funny and people started opening up.

Then we had to sort ourselves out by age and after that by birth month inside each age group. That’s how our teams were made. It was a fun way to mix everyone up and get to know new people.

Once we got into our teams, we started the art project. The tables were full of recycled stuff like bottle caps, string, cardboard, wrappers, basically things most people would throw away. But when we started working together, they slowly turned into something more. Each group had their own ideas. Some started planning, others just jumped in and started building. Everyone was sharing, helping, listening. No one was left out.

After the projects were done, we took turns presenting our art. Each group explained what they made, what it meant, and how they worked together. Everyone had something to say and everyone was respected.

To warm up the environment after that, we played Golden Hour on the keyboard and sang together. It was calm and honestly it felt kind of peaceful. Then we performed a remix of the APT song that we called Artelum. We changed the lyrics and added a dance. Every move had meaning. We were not trying to impress anyone, just to show what unity looks like when you feel it.

Then came the best part. Lunch.

We sat in circles with juice boxes and plates of chicken, laughing and talking like we had known each other forever. On the side, some of the parents were sitting together chatting and smiling while watching everything. It felt like the whole room was just connected like we were one big group even if we were all different.

Looking back, the day was not perfect on paper but that did not matter. What made it special was how we worked together, how we treated each other, and how we all made space for one another.

This was not just an art party.
It felt like something bigger.

It showed us that unity does not need big speeches.
Just some cardboard, creativity, and people who care.
And when we create together something real happens.

From us
The JY Group Bangsar

--oo--

Cara

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Tara

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Ray

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I think that the core message of our event yesterday can be summed up in one word – Artelium – which is the name of the JY Group's own rendition of APT.

Artelium simply means a place filled with art, which was exactly what the children from both the refugee children foundation and the JY Group did; they turned the schooling center into a lively place full of art, with joy and creativity bursting at the seams. I heard laughs and chatter every second, I've learned new names, met new, cheerful, faces. (Like Nunuu and Cinpit)

The art made from all the groups were thematically linked; with all the canvas pieces (and one group even having the extraordinary idea of making slime) pointing towards the central theme of unity and protecting and appreciating our environment.

In summation, I just had fun! It's important that we humanize refugee children and try our best to contribute to equitable education for all.

~ Eu Kenn

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I was exited to see how they looked like and how they get their creative juices flowing and I was really exited to see them dance to our song and have fun 

On our art project but did a lot of talking that’s why we named ourselves the yappers, and I was also really happy seeing everyone was happy when we came 

cassy

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Its hard to put into words how this visit felt. All I can really say is, i was very grateful to have spent time with them. 

Naturally, i was a bit nervous at first, meeting new people and all—but after talking, and sharing and having fun together, i can say that I’ve made genuine connections and new friendships with the cutest bunch of kids. (Zuun Zuun, Micheal, Sanhoih)

I learned so much from them, from their hobbies, their favorite colors, singers, food and even their family and their lifestyle.

I was filled with so much happiness  when i saw their little smiles when they were painting and dancing, especially when they ate their fried chicken of course.

I really hope that we can go back and visit my new friends once more in the near future and have fun with them again.

- claire :)

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Caeley

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This experience has helped me realise the art of joy and the simplicity behind it. As I reflect, I think of the painting and I think of how lively the environment was. I think of the hilarious, random conversations my group and I shared. I think of how remarkable the interaction was; how we were able to go from nervous strangers to chatterbox friends, holding hands, laughing and sharing food. This experience was truly one of a kind and unforgettable. It has made me realise how even the small things can bring so much joy and how despite any age gaps or background differences, friends can be made and laughter can be shared. 

By Lauren

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Today was an unforgettable experience that taught me to be more grateful for everything I have in life.  

We began the day by visiting the refugee centre and playing some icebreaker games with the children. I especially enjoyed this activity, as it gave me insight into their personalities - some children were shy, while others were more outgoing and confident.

One of the most memorable parts of the day was the canvas art session. Working closely with my teammates, I learned to be more adaptable. When I noticed the children were losing interest in a particular part of the activity, I quickly came up with a new idea that re-engaged them. I also learned to be more open-minded. When the children wanted to add their own ideas, even though they didn’t align with my original vision, I encouraged them to express themselves. In the end, their contributions made the artwork more vibrant and meaningful.

What touched me most was a moment of quiet selflessness. One of my teammates, despite saying earlier that she was extremely hungry, chose to save her fried chicken for her sister at home. Her kindness and thoughtfulness deeply inspired me.

I left the centre feeling grateful, moved, and full of admiration for the children and my team. I already miss everyone and truly hope I can return next time.

by Alyssa

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Olivia

                                               

 --oo--

This Project was something New and fun for me. 

At the start I was a little bit worried as I was scared that the students would not like me but in the end it all worked out and we all made New Friends. Now I hope to see them again one day and talk about that moment and cherish that moment for ever. 

By Shrriman Gunalan

Unity in Motion

29th June 2025
by Dr Karthika, mom of Ashikar

We climbed two flights of stairs that morning, huffing and puffing with a smile, trying to keep our cool while catching our breath. But the moment we stepped into the hall at the top, we were met with something that stopped us in our tracks.

Joy.

It filled the space , in the laughter, in the glowing faces of the children, and in the quiet excitement buzzing through the room.

It was Sunday morning at Sunway Mentari, and the Junior Youth team from Bangsar, and young children from Myanmar, had gathered to create something beautiful.

This wasn’t just an art session. 

It was a celebration of unity, resilience, 

and the power of young voices.

Grouped into fives and sixes, the children worked together to create meaningful art pieces using recycled materials , cardboard, wrappers, string, bottle caps, plastic containers. They turned everyday scraps into powerful symbols. But what made the morning even more special was the way they created.

Each group moved with collaboration and care. They discussed, shared, helped one another. They painted, pasted, built.

And right there among them, Cara sat with her group, not just quietly making something, but empowering.

With calm hands and a steady voice, she showed her teammates how to make slime from scratch.  She mixed ingredients, explained the steps, and guided them through the process. It wasn’t loud or flashy, but it was powerful. It was a full sensory expression of creativity , stretchy, messy, and so full of joy. Cara’s slime wasn’t just fun; it was a living, tactile symbol of unity itself. Stretchable , shared, made together.

After the art was completed, the room came alive again , this time with words.

Each group took the center stage, standing proudly in front of everyone.

They spoke about what their artwork meant.

They shared how they made it, why they chose their materials, and what unity meant to them.

Some voices were soft, some confident, but every single one was authentic.

Then came the music.

The youth gathered, and Kenn began to play Golden Hour on the keyboard. 

The others joined in and sang , gently, beautifully. It was a moment of stillness. You could feel the emotion in the room shift.

And then they performed a second piece.

They had taken the familiar APT song and transformed it into Artelum, a symbolic language they had created, the lyrics re-written by the JY themselves.  

Bright hands, laughter fills up the room yeah

We’re painting love and joy for real (uh)

One world, one heart, that’s what we do, yeah

Lets’do the magic with our hands, oh-oh-oh

Don’t you love it when we shine together?

Don’t you feel it when we all show up?

Art and service, making joy forever

All you gotta do is just meet us at the…

Art-te-leum…… chorus (just like A-Pa-teu)

Note: art-te-leum is art room in Korean language.

And they didn’t just sing it , they danced.

The entire performance was choreographed by Ashikar. Piano accompaniment by Allysa and drumming by Cara.  and sung heartily by Shrriman, and Tara, while the rest danced joyfully.

Each movement was thoughtful, expressive, and filled with meaning. They danced not just as individuals, but as one. Joyful, proud, connected. The room lit up with every step.

And then came the final chapter of the morning , KFC.

It wasn’t just lunch. It was community.
Everyone sat down together, passing around pieces, chatting, laughing, enjoying the moment.
It was a shared meal, simple and meaningful. The joy of eating their favorite food together made the whole room feel like one big family.
Even the chicken felt symbolic , a reminder that unity doesn’t always come in speeches and songs. Sometimes, it comes in a shared table and sticky fingers.

Afterwards, we had the chance to hear more about the journeys these children have walked.
They have faced challenges that most of us can only imagine.
Yet here they were, creating, laughing, dancing, leading.
And behind them, standing strong and steady, were their caretakers , the ones who have guided them with love, patience, and strength.

None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of Aunty Po Li, Teacher Vynecia and Aunty Yuet Mee. Your love is visible in every child’s confidence, every detail of the day.

Po Li, we are holding you in our thoughts and praying for your healing and strength. Your spirit was everywhere in that hall.

To the parents, thank you for showing up, for believing, for walking alongside these children.

To the youth, thank you for teaching us what unity, creativity, and courage truly look like.

To everyone who made this moment possible, thank you for creating something that will stay with us forever.

And a special shoutout to Siew Ngan who made it possible for us to be with the Myanmar friends today.

As I walked down those stairs again,.no longer tired, only full.
I knew this wasn’t just another Sunday.

It was a reminder.
That hope can be handmade.
That strength can be shared.
And that unity, in the hands of children, is unstoppable.

With all my heart,
Mother of Ashikar.

Note: This vibrant art service project was a true expression of the Junior Youth’s creativity and collective spirit. Over several months of joyful planning during their weekly sessions, the Junior Youth took ownership of every detail—from envisioning the activity to crafting the theme and designing the artwork.

Their energy didn’t stop there. The children also created the choreography and lyrics for a meaningful performance of APT, making it entirely their own. Even the T-shirts worn by the Junior Youth, along with their parents and siblings, were lovingly designed by the junior youth themselves. It was a beautiful, unified celebration of expression, love, and service—led wholeheartedly by the children, for the community.