“Congratulations on a job well done! It is hoped this eco-guide will create a readership that is fired up and inspired to act on being more aware and conscious of our environment. Our lives and all of creation are intrinsically interwoven and interconnected. Therefore, we have a responsibility to breathe as ‘ONE.’ Each time we fail in sharing this breath of life, we bring about our own death and the death of all creation! This ‘ruach’ or breath is that which gives life and sustains all of creation! Besides the reader-friendly layout and presentation, the checklist provides the dedicated opportunity for all faith based organisations to keep track of their ecological footprint. Thank you for coordinating the first Faith & Nature Conference in Singapore at the turn of the 21st century! Your efforts have blossomed into an ecological and environmental guide that will go a long way for Faith and Nature initiatives in Singapore. I recommend this book to peoples of all ages, cultures and creed who desire to re-discover new energies in reaching out, lifting up and renewing the whole of creation.”

Sister Mary Elizabeth Lim, Religious of the Good Shepherd, Spiritual Director
Vice Chair, Singapore Archdiocesan Catholic Council  for  Ecumenical Dialogue
Council Member, Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity; World Council of Churches; and Faith and Order Commission

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“The world today is facing a dire environmental crisis. Resources are being depleted while waste generated is poisoning the land and changing the climate. All these will return to haunt us and impact our way of life. While scientists, engineers and economists have been pointing out problems, the barriers to changing attitudes and behaviours are beyond their disciplines. Religion, however, a powerful force driving the formation of civilizations and collective human behaviour, can play a powerful role in conserving the quality of the environment around us. What I like about this book is the “scorecard” for self-assessment by organizations to see how well they are doing in terms of supporting environmentally-friendly practices. I see the value in this part of the book in listing out the actions that organisations can take in their day-to-day functioning to reduce the environmental footprint of their devotees and encourage an awareness of the ongoing environmental crisis.

I do hope that religious groups will find this book useful as a guide to start talking with their members about environmental issues. I also applaud the editors for putting this together across religious lines; it is a demonstration that on some issues, different religions can be more similar than they are different.”

Chong Kwek Yang, Past President of the NUS Buddhist Society (2006-2007)
Research Fellow working on ecology and biodiversity conservation at Dept. of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore.

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“Just as human beings are not exclusive in this Universe but a part of it; likewise our very existence is dependent on the environment we are surrounded by and live in. Nature is an integral part of our existence and we are but custodians of the natural environment we live off. The most important aspect of my very existence is reverence and respect for all forms of life. It is all about treating others as I would like to be treated. I am delighted that this eco-guide is put together and confident that it will serve its users well. While it is very timely and relevant for us to reflect upon the environmental messages, it will also help us put these principles into practice in our day to day lives.”

Kirtida Mekani, Past Executive Director, Singapore Environment Council
Management Committee Member, Garden City Fund, National Parks Board
Board of Trustees, United World College of Southeast Asia Foundation

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“Given their rich traditional doctrines and the power of religious fervour, faith-based communities are the most promising communities for the defence of the environment. Their abilities, however, remain latent as they focus on other issues and largely overlook environmental concerns. This guidebook is an admirable practical step in the direction of addressing those concerns and getting faith-based organizations and communities engaged in the global response to the ever-threatening environmental crisis. The practical tables it offers for self-assessment can aid communities in developing a practical response to the environmental crisis.”

Munjed M Murad
Green Muslims
Washington DC Chapter