The Dalai Lama Encourages Action

photo: the Dalai Lama

Today, while in Australia for a series of lectures on universal responsibility and the environment, the Dalai Lama said of elected officials -

"Sometimes their number one importance is national interest, national economic interest, then global (warming) issue is sometimes second. That I think should change. The global issue, it should be number one."

On December 10th he will celebrate the 20th anniversary of his Nobel Peace Prize. He will present seeds he has blessed to attendees of his talks in Australia as a symbol of individuals' responsibility to act on climate change.

The Dalai Lama said he can't predict what will happen at the UN Climate Change Conference next month, but he's heartened by the very fact that it is being held.

He said, "I think it's very, very encouraging."