The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.116)

52 2019 • 11 Mr Spengler: Globally, more and more people are paying attention to environmental issues. We are currently promoting Green Architecture, with the hopes that the planting of trees and conservation of energy will be considered during the initial stage of planning a building to protect the Earth’s resources and to maintain balance in the ecosystem. Master ChengYen: Nowadays environmental awareness has also gradually spread in Taiwan. Tzu Chi has been promoting this concept and encouraging the public to cherish the Earth and to create a beautiful living environment together by taking steps to conserve energy and participate in recycling activities. Tzu Chi volunteers are setting an example by always using reusable cups, bowls and chopsticks to cut down on the use of disposable utensils. We also learnt fromwhat is happening abroad that reusing water is also very important. Therefore at the Jing Si Abode, we are reusing water as much as possible, such as flushing toilets with collected rainwater or water that had been used to wash our hands and vegetables. Among Tzu Chi buildings, such as the middle and elementary schools, we also make sure that water is reused as much as possible. Tzu Chi volunteers gained deep realizations during their international relief distributions that water is one of the most important things in life and that everyone must use water sparingly. For example, in early May this year, while surveying the water shortage situation in the drought area of Gansu Province, China, Tzu Chi volunteers realized how seriously and directly drought affects people’s everyday life. On the Loess Plateau, where the average altitude is two thousand metres, both humans and animals have difficulty getting drinking water. The villagers living in the mountains often rely on animals to transport water from miles away. Some people even have to get up before dawn to fetch water by carrying buckets hung on each end of a bamboo stick over their shoulders. They have to walk through steep hills and low valleys just to collect one day’s supply of water for their families. It takes them six hours to make a round trip on foot. Mr Spengler: From your observations, what is the most urgent task for Taiwan regarding environmental protection? Serene Reflection Between Master Cheng Yen and Mr John D. Spengler on Environmental Protection and the Balance of the Ecosystem June 10, 1998 Question & Answer Mr JohnD. Spengler, Dean of theGraduate School of Environmental Science at HarvardUniversity, was visiting public and private sectors of environmental institutions in Taiwan when he learnt that Tzu Chi has been promoting recycling for a long time. Dean Spengler came toTzu Chi for a visit, accompanied by Professor Zhan Changchuan of the Public Health School at National Taiwan University.