GreenFriends

"Only through love and compassion is the protection and preservation of Nature possible." —Amma

GreenFriends is an organization established by the Ashram for the preservation and protection of the environment. The organization was built upon the ethos that it is our dharma to take care of Nature because of the simple reason that she is in fact our true mother. GreenFriends feel this understanding to be essential in re-establishing the lost harmony between man and Nature, as well as between fellow human beings. For only when we realize that Mother Nature is our real mother will we treat all the plants, animals and other human beings lovingly as our brothers and sisters. GreenFriends started in India in 2001 and has since spread throughout the globe, with thousands of members today throughout the United States, Europe, Australia and Japan. Members are of all ages, with even small children participating.

Currently GreenFriends' chief focus is reforestation, through the planting of saplings. This project is known as Amrita Vanam (Amrita Forests). All GreenFriends members vow to plant and take care of 18 saplings each year. On top of this, in Kerala, GreenFriends plants 100,000 saplings every November. Currently this is being done in collaboration with the Kerala State Forestry Department, but GreenFriends is in the process of establishing 200 greenhouses of its own, so as to be able to independently generate 100,000 saplings bi-annually.

Another GreenFriends project is Kavinte Raksha Nadinte Raksha (Sacred Groves). It is an ancient tradition in Kerala for families to set aside a small portion of their property as a sacred grove, a sanctuary for plants and animals, consisting of a pond and small shrine. Caring for a grove as one would a temple is yet another means of reminding us that divinity pervades all of nature. In this world where buildings are ever coming up and trees ever coming down, such groves also help to safeguard the ecosystem. Sadly, this tradition has all but died. But it is the aim of GreenFriends to both protect the existing sacred groves as well as to revive the tradition.

GreeenShore is a new Amrita Vanam project (beginning June 5th 2005, National Environment Day). The project sees to the planting of 100,000 casuarina saplings in Alappad Panchayat, Kerala. The casuarina trees not only beautify the shoreline but also protect the beach from erosion.

Another GreenFriends project is Kavinte Raksha Nadinte Raksha (Sacred Groves). It is an ancient tradition in Kerala for families to set aside a small portion of their property as a sacred grove, a sanctuary for plants and animals, consisting of a pond and small shrine. Caring for a grove as one would a temple is yet another means of reminding us that divinity pervades all of nature. In this world where buildings are ever coming up and trees ever coming down, such groves also help to safeguard the ecosystem. Sadly, this tradition has all but died. But one of the aims of GreenFriends is to both protect existing sacred groves as well as to revive the tradition

GreenFriends organizes Prakriti Sameeksha (Nature Talks) in institutions and schools to help people understand the interrelatedness of all living beings. The talks encourage children to love nature and serve humanity through environmental awareness. It also conducts Aranya Sameeksha (Forest Retreats), wherein GreenFriends members take nature walks, observe ecosystems and learn how to avoid disturbing or damaging them. They also practice meditation and discuss Amma's teachings, deepening their awareness of humanity's unity with Nature.

If you would like to register as a GreenFriend, coordinate a specific project or start a GreenFriends group in your area, please send your name, address, telephone number and e-mail to:

GreenFriends
M.A. Math
Amritapuri P.O., Kollam Dt.
Kerala, 690 525, India
Phone: +91-476-2897 578
email: greenfriends@amritapuri.org