PGH Ambassador Sharing

I want to describe my experience of being a Project GreenHands (PGH) ambassador. I came to it because of the facts and figures about global warming. To me, this program appeared to be a most important expression of Isha's reach to all humanity.

Our goals are lofty, to plant 25 million trees in Tamil Nadu in the year 2007-08, with each tree plantation to its self sufficiency costing ~ one USD. Our support for the PGH team in India has been to raise funds and increase awareness through programs such as "Gift of Trees" and "Pongal Awareness." I am thoroughly enjoying working with the PGH USA team, the wonderful PGH India team, the Isha teachers, and so many Isha volunteers around the country who contribute their time, ideas and efforts. Their dedication has been astounding, and I thank them sincerely. We have had 5 new ambassadors join us and we hope to continue to grow.

I want to share an experience, which for the first time gave me a glimpse of the true meaning of this work. Last weekend, as part of my son's social service project we volunteered to plant trees with "Trees Atlanta". When we showed up on a beautiful but cold Saturday morning at the designated neighborhood, there were at least 15 other adults and children working. We went about the ritual of digging the hole, getting the young tree out of its bucket, loosening its roots, placing it in the hole, covering it with dirt, and placing mulch around it. It was at the moment that we watered this tree that I could feel its roots absorbing it and drinking it, and suddenly I could feel its energy resonating with my own energies. I almost burst into tears, it was only then I for the first time felt the beauty and magnanimity of this work; the work that thousands of volunteers in India with PGH, and around the world are doing to actually plant trees. I for the first time understood Sadhguru's message to the Isha volunteers, who had helped plant the 852,000 tree saplings in October 2006, to create the Guinness World Record. He had said: "On this day, what all of you have done is a privilege very few in this world enjoy. You have created something far bigger than yourselves, and will live well beyond you. This massive expression of concern and commitment for the well being of all is unique and I am sure it will inspire many around the world to emulate the same."

Because of this experience, I will continue my efforts to raise funds and increase awareness for the PGH team in India, with a new fervor. Some of you may ask why we are focused on planting trees in India rather than the US. Part of the answer is that our climate here is temperate whereas in south India it is tropical and it is well documented that planting trees in tropical countries is most beneficial to offset "global warming." This is due to an "Albedo Effect" (click on the link to read more), as well as one gets a "bigger bang for the buck" here (one tree planting in the US is $25-$100 versus $1 in India). If we all work together, I do know we will move towards our goal one tree at a time.

Fehmida Visnegarwala, Atlanta