"Global food security comes from climate change and manmade disasters, whether natural or conflict-driven," said CEO Po-Wen Yen of Tzu Chi Foundation during a side event at COP28 on December 8. Through a virtual connection with participants in Dubai, UAE, Yen discussed how, in the face of climate threats, collaborative efforts spanning generations and driven by faith and technology, could be harnessed to address food security. He said that human action driven by economic activities had caused environmental degradation, accelerated global warming and increased the frequency of natural disasters. Ultimately, it has led to conflicts worldwide.
In response to such threats, what strategies does Tzu Chi have? Yen said that, guided by Master Cheng Yen's compassion, the Tzu Chi Foundation aimed to inspire both givers and recipients on a spiritual level. With over a million volunteers and tens of millions of donor members globally, Tzu Chi actively engages in the community, and partners with organizations around the world. Through these efforts, the foundation transforms unavoidable disasters into driving forces. Whether they are natural or man-made, Tzu Chi consistently provides food and essential supplies to those affected in the immediate aftermath, to ensure their survival, before offering long-term support.
Tzu Chi's Humanitarian Response to the Ukraine Crisis and Principles for a Sustainable Future
Yen shared Tzu Chi’s experience in aiding Ukrainian refugees, to illustrate how volunteers helped turn adversity into motivation. Following Russia’s invasion in February 2022, Tzu Chi swiftly mobilized local volunteers in Poland and coordinated efforts with overseas volunteers from 12 countries; they provided food, necessities, and cash cards to Ukrainian refugees. They distributed over 81,317 relief packages, and many refugees joined Tzu Chi's volunteer training and became a force to assist their compatriots. They helped with distributions and dedicated themselves to music concerts for the refugees.
Yen elaborated on this year’s Tzu Chi Forum in Taipei this November. The event featured a speech by Yotam Polizer, CEO of IsraAID, a non-governmental international humanitarian aid organization based in Israel. Polizer shared insights from his experience in aiding war refugees, revealing that some individuals were transformed and grew more resilient with the effects of PTSD. Yen underscored that this resilience was a form of spiritual growth – a solution found through the power of the human spirit to cope with conflicts. He further emphasized that the power to overcome conflict lay in finding strength through spirituality – this is Tzu Chi's approach.
To summarize, Yen listed three principles to ensure food and livelihood security – a plant-based diet, responsible consumption to reduce waste, and purifying the heart and mind. Only through these practices can conflicts between humans and nature be minimized, to pave the way for a sustainable future.
Dino Foi, a committed Tzu Chi volunteer in Mozambique, explained how the organization tackled climate issues in the region. Tzu Chi goes beyond distributing seeds – they provide vital agricultural education and kits, helping to set up community farming projects.
In an area where most farmers lack professional knowledge and equipment, Tzu Chi took a proactive step. Local agricultural experts were hired to give short training courses; they covered essential topics like Bio-ecology theory and practical techniques tailored to the local conditions. Just three months after a cyclone, the community celebrated a successful sesame harvest. This effort not only gave volunteers practical agricultural skills but also motivated them to actively help with harvesting and supporting vulnerable members of the community.
Foi highlighted the importance of passing on skills and knowledge, to empower young people to be leaders in the community. He stressed the need to involve more community members to effectively address climate challenges in Mozambique.
After the discussion, participants both on-site in Dubai and online unanimously agreed that collaborative efforts were the fundamental solution to solving problems. | Photo provided by Tzu Chi Foundation | Dubai, UAE | 2023/12/08
Join Tzu Chi. Together we can turn challenges into opportunities and create positive changes for a better future.
