Dalai Lama endorses Save Our Soils campaign

The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, yesterday accepted a "Soilmate" that was offered to him by Volkert Engelsman, CEO Eosta and Nature & More, initiator of the international Save Our Soils campaign. The event took place at the 'Education of the Heart' symposium in Rotterdam where business leaders and scientists explored the mindshift that needs to take place in education to achieve a more sustainable world. The Dalai Lama confirmed that saving fertile soils should be one of the prime concerns of mankind and later called on the youth in the audience to help in the task.

Spiritual leader accepts "Soilmate" from Save Our Soils initiator

As Volkert Engelsman handed over the Save Our Soils campaign symbol, a box of organic tomatoes with compost and basil seeds, he thanked the Dalai Lama for his clear stance on saving soils: ‘Restoring life in soils requires a journey of soul- and soilmates. Thank you for navigating us and for being a true soilmate!’ The spiritual leader smilingly accepted the gift and stated that compassion is a gift for people as well as our living environment. Volkert Engelsman was one of the speakers in the symposium, in the panel of sustainable and innovative industry leaders.

The United Nations have proclaimed the year 2015 as the International Year of Soils. But already in 2002, the Dalai Lama acknowledged  that soil erosion may be a bigger threat to mankind than the destructive power of weapons. "There are other almost imperceptible changes - I am thinking of the exhaustion of our natural resources, and especially of soil erosion - which are perhaps more dangerous still, because once we begin to feel their repercussions it will be too late" the Dalai Lama stated in The little book of inner peace.

The Save Our Soils campaign aims to make consumers aware of the need for saving fertile soils worldwide. The campaign was initiated by Nature & More, a leading European distributor of organic fruits and vegetables, together with the FAO and more than 60 international partners. The Soilmate is one of the ways in which the campaign tries to educate consumers about soil loss. Currently 30 football field of soil are lost every minute due to soil degradation.  

The Save Our Soils campaign was initiated in December  2012 by Eosta, a Dutch-based leading international distributor of organic fruits and vegetables. Eosta received numerous awards for its online transparency system Nature & More, including the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Award in Austria, 2012. The Save Our Soils campaign now has more than 60 international partners. See also: www.saveoursoils.com and www.natureandmore.com.