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by Maharishi University of Management, The Review, USA
8 October, 2007
Maharishi University of Management, showing its
commitment to life in accord with Natural Law, has signed a climate agreement pledging to eliminate
campus greenhouse gas emissions over time.
University President Dr. Bevan Morris signed the
American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, joining 320 college and university
presidents around the United States who have signed
the agreement thus far. Maharishi University of Management is a "Charter Signatory," meaning it is
among the first group of institutions to sign the
agreement.
Presidents who sign the Climate Agreement are
committing to taking various steps toward being "climate neutral" and reducing the campus's
greenhouse
gas emissions. These steps include:
* Completing an emissions inventory
* Within two years, setting a target date and interim milestones for becoming climate neutral
* Taking immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by choosing from a list of short-term actions,
including integrating sustainability into the curriculum and making it part of the educational experience
* Making the action plan, inventory, and progress reports publicly available.
"One of our University's original seven goals when we
were founded in 1971 was 'To maximize the intelligent use of the environment,'" said Dr. Craig Pearson,
executive vice-president. "The University has already been taking specific steps to be a greener campus,
such as use of geothermal heating and cooling and growing our own organic produce. Our Sustainable Living
program
is the first program of its kind in the country and
our largest undergraduate major. And there is strong interest in doing everything we can to be environmentally
friendly. So signing this agreement was a natural next step."
The Role of Consciousness-Based Education
Dr. Pearson said the University's commitment goes far
beyond these steps. He cites the unique system of
Consciousness-Based(SM)
Education, which entails
practice of the
Transcendental Meditation®
and
TM-Sidhi® programs.
Research has shown that practice of these programs
brings individual life into accord
with Natural Law, as shown in improved health,
happiness, and well-being, along with growth of creativity, intelligence, and moral maturity.
Other research has demonstrated that group practice of
these technologies can reduce social stress and bring a whole society into harmony with Natural Law —
reflected in reduced crime, accident, and sickness rates and reduced conflict and warfare.
"We all desire a transformation of our world," Dr.
Pearson said. "We all desire health and happiness, peace and prosperity. But that transformation must
originate from within. The Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi
programs, including Yogic
Flying, bring individual and
collective life into accord with Nature's managing intelligence, which governs the whole universe
with perfect balance. That same intelligence can be
awakened and harnessed in the life of society. With this, we can go far beyond 'sustainability' —
we can create invincibility for our nation and peace for our world family."
Campus Sustainability Coordinator Appointed
In addition, Professor Lonnie Gamble has been
appointed Campus Sustainability Coordinator at the University. Professor Gamble is cofounder of Abundance
Ecovillage in Fairfield and teaches in the University's
Sustainable Living program.
Another step already in place is the University's
"Green Trust" team, which is looking at all facets of the University to identify various ways
sustainability can be incorporated.
Generous donors have helped to support initial steps,
including a forthcoming solar hot water heater and the
construction of a network of bike and walking paths.
The Role of the Climate Agreement
The American College and University Presidents Climate
Commitment is a high-visibility effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments
to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher
education
to equip society to restabilize the earth's climate.
It provides a framework and support for America's
colleges and universities to become climate neutral. The Commitment recognizes the unique responsibility
that institutions of higher education have as role models for
their communities and in training the people who will
develop the social, economic, and technological solutions to reverse global warming.
Copyright © 2007 Maharishi University of Management
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