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Auckland, November 6, 2021
Last month, various religious leaders presented a Climate Change Statement to Climate Change Minister James Shaw, who represented New Zealand at the COP26 Summit held in Glasgow, Scotland, this week.
Over the last few months, the Religious Diversity Centre Aotearoa New Zealand (RDC) has been bringing together leaders of different religions across New Zealand to help develop a Statement on issues of climate change.
The Statement was presented to Mr Shaw at an event at the Anglican Cathedral opposite the New Zealand Parliament.
Increasing demand by the youth
With Climate Change being at the forefront of various discussions at national, regional and local levels, the number of groups engaging in this discussion has increased. With youth being one of the demographics heavily impacted by climate change, there has been an increasing demand by young people for more work to be done in this area.
Mandira Shailaj, one of the members of the RDC Climate Change Advisory Group and a volunteer for Hindu Youth New Zealand, was the only youth member on the Advisory Group.
“In addition to bringing the Hindu perspective to the advisory group discussions, I was able to provide a youth voice to help form the Climate Change Statement,” she said.
Pursuing a Master’s of Climate Change Science and Policy, Mandira is hoping to further her work in the Climate Change space. “This is an area which I am particularly passionate about and want to help bring about a change. With Hindu Youth New Zealand’s support, I took these important discussions to the wider community” she said.
Hindu Youth New Zealand activities
Hindu Youth New Zealand (HYNZ) has been working extensively with young people in New Zealand, providing them with a platform, and helping them to reach their potential.
Young people who have worked with HYNZ have helped deliver national conferences, seminars and workshops for professional development, worked in advocacy with ethnic and interfaith communities, helped bring Hindu culture and arts to the mainstream and have worked extensively with Tangata Whenua.
HYNZ President Murali Krishna Magesan said that these young leaders have progressed to work in governance, policy, and represent New Zealand at an international level.
“Hindus living in New Zealand have been actively contributing to wider society in various fields whether its education, politics, business, health, environment, creative arts or sports. Young Hindus are no different. It is heartening to see them taking the initiative to participate in these important conversations and helping to shape New Zealand’s future” he said.
For further information, please email hinduyouth.newzealand@gmail.com or visit Facebook
