So we invited a lot of people all over Lahore, and about 100 showed up, 20% of which were youth,which is a satisfactory start for now, but much more needs to be done to create awareness in the youth. The media was also there to carry the message forward to those of you that missed it.

We screened the documentary 11th Hour and invited top panelists to discuss Environment in Pakistan.

Those invited include: Dr. Mehjabeen Abib-Habib, leading environmentalist scholar, Mr. Ali Habib, Director General of WWF Pakistan, and Mr. Asif Farooqui of Waste Busters. 

The discussion was focused on what the state of Environmentalism in Pakistan was, and what our individual efforts can do to improve the situation we face in Pakistan.

I would also like to thank SAFMA for all their help in making this event such a success. I will be following their work around South Asia everywhere I go. 

This system was radically changed by St. Benedict

he founded a christian order on the rule of "ora et labora", i.e. pray and work. Other orders followed this rule. They had big lands, not belonging to anybody personally, but belonging to the order. They created a new role model of working for a cause and developing new techniques of farming etc.
 
This was later taken up by the Knights Templar, who made big progress in techniques of money handling, estate management etc. They spread over Europe within very short time, and everybody trusted in their true commitment and entrusted them with money and property.

 
Later Adam Smith observed the socio-economique life and esp. the issue of self interest and well being of the community. He said that self interest is a good energy in social life and not harmful, because there is something like an "invisible hand" which turns the results of self interest into the well being of the whole community.

 
This became the basic justification of modern capitalism. It was challenged by Karl Marx and other socialist thinkers, but they could not survive against the enormous power behind the self interest, more and more turning to pure "make money", no matter by which means or for which cause.
 
Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), an eminent scientist and spiritual teacher, gave – within his teachings on human nature, cosmos etc. -  some basic ideas about social life. Other than Adam Smith, he stated that the well being of the community is depending on working for each others and not claiming the proceeds of the work for himself but leaving them to the other members of the society.

 
His teachings on the nature of the human being and his development from childhood led to a complete pedagogical concept, now applied in around one thousand Rudolf Steiner or Waldorf Schools worldwide, all based on NGOs, and in this way at the same time overcoming the forces of self interest.
http://www.paedagogik-goetheanum.ch/987.html?&L=1
 
The teachings on human nature and on medicine and also on organic farming inspired people working with special persons and led to the Camphill Movement and many similar communities with special persons, one of them being Roshni Association, Lahore.

 
Later on a German Lawyer, Wilhelm Ernst Barkhoff, got inspired by the social ideas of Rudolf Steiner. After founding a big Rudolf Steiner School in Bochum/Germany he started the first bank, based on principles of  community needs, and working without interest rates on credits but with a fee only covering the expenses of the bank. He developed also money lending techniques, based on human guarantees instead of material securities like mortgages. His bank is now working for more than 30 years and found followers in other countries, like Triodos Bank Netherlands:

http://www.rsfsocialfinance.org/
 
Similar ideas came up in Asia and inspired Prof. Yunus to start micro credit. Recently he has taken a second step by proposing "social business" in his new book, asking for business for a cause instead of making money.

 
Rudolf Steiners ideas also inspired Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish, an Egyptian entrepreneur, and led to a big development project, based on organic farming

The Sekem Farm can be a role model for countries like Pakistan and encourage people to work for the cause of social justice, environment, and sustainability.
 
Roshni Association is trying to implement these ideas in Lahore and promote such ideas and projects in Pakistan. Latest step was the opening of the first organic shop in Pakistan (in Gulberg opp. SHAPES).
 
We are always interested in your comments and suggestions.
 
Hamid Hellmut Hannesen
roshni(at)gmx.net

One of the examples of this comes from the Bachao group in Lahore that pressured the government not to cut down all the trees along the canal in order to widen the roads, eventually a bypass was developed, which took out some of the trees, but most of them were still left, their serenity in tact.

Another success story I heard was actually produced from a study by students from Kinnaird College for Women who tested the health of traffic police. The result was high levels of air pollutants in their lungs which is produced by petrol. The result was a proposal for CNG rickshaws to take over the transport system in lieu of the petrol burning rickshaws which were a source of major pollution. 

Peer review and accountability are important features of environmental awareness! 

Lastly, I am excited at Punjab University in opening a new faculty department for Environmental Science. It will be in operation this year for students to expand their research and labwork in working with environmentalism. Although the establishment is far from an eco-design, the curriculumis very cross disciplinary, so many students will be exposed to the issues of the day.

Last night I arrived in Pak Pattan Sharif, which is about 2 and a half hours outside of Lahore, but if you’re like me and took the Niazi Bus, then expect it to take 7 hours. Yes 7 hours later at midnight I arrive in this town of less than 150,000 people. Instead of cars, I could hear crickets; instead of noise from the streets below I heard only silence. I struggled to find my way to the Mazaar, but once I reached I was greeted by the kindest hospitality, and the warmest food. A real treat indeed.

That night we slept under the stars, in real hand woven charpai’s, sleep came to me as a faint sound of crickets in the moon light.

This truly is an amazing place to start my journey, as I am surrounded by silence, and opportunity. The banes of busy life stress have all vanished, and I have been able to practice the power of Now.

Today we awoke with the light, enjoyed home cooked breakfast, real lassi, chai and khava. We then paid a visit to Baba Farid’s Mazaar, where I quickly became a sort of celebrity with my white skin. My entourage of 50 children-in-toe made it difficult to enjoy the silence, but the qawwali singers brought music to life, with such passion and expression exhuming from their devotion. An experience that can only be characterized as fez, or fayd, which means the overwhelming joy one has with their divine source.

The kids ended up being a blessing, as after wandering the street gulleys, the kids brought us up onto a hill overlooking the Mazaar and the whole of Pak Pattan Sharif, where we flew kites and took many pictures.

[piflasa]http://picasaweb.google.ca/data/feed/base/user/kurt.archer/albumid/5232109047210531521?kind=photo&alt=rss&hl=en_GB|300[/piflasa]

Two years later, im wearing Salwar Kamize on a weekly basis, and feeling more than at home with myself in Karachi. However, today is my last day at home. Ive cleaned out my room, said my goodbyes and see you laters and packed my bags: i'm ready to go.

Now Airports are one of those places where people come and go, it creates a finality in our minds, a certain closure about leaving. Maybe its because after the short journey you find yourself in a completely different environment. Well this time I am doing things differently. I'm the first to leave Karachi by train. The slow gradual 23 hour long train ride gave me lots to reflect on, and much to be excited about for my journey ahead. There is something culturally romantic about leaving on a train in Pakistan, it sort of becomes a symbol of my journey and represents the non-closure of my experience – the fact that I will take with me everything I have learnt, loved and experienced along the way. It has prepared me more than ever for my journey into Asia.

I miss you all Karachi, your magic, your fast rhythm dance, your ever surprising days, and your ability to overcome any obstacle that is presented to you. I'll be back. Indeed, I will always be back to visit home.