Happy New Year! 2010
All aboard for 2010!
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Happy New Year! The Copenhagen climate summit took place December 7-18 when world political leaders came together to discuss climate change issues of today and the future. At the same time there were NGO sessions at the People’s Summit sponsored by the Danish government. Shumei was given the opportunity to offer a session and we chose the theme of “Organic Solutions to Climate Change and Food Security” Our friend from Zambia, Mrs. Barbara Banda shared the success story of a group of Zambian women farmers’ efforts for their self sustainability using the Shumei Natural Agriculture practice. I shared a possibility of what Natural Agriculture could offer. The following is an excerpt from the Copenhagen NGO session: “Natural Agriculture is more than a method of food production. It is a way of life for all people, both farmers and consumers, to live in harmony with Nature. … I was once asked if I thought Organic and Natural Agriculture could feed the world’s 7 billion people. I think an alternative to depending on a small number of huge agricultural corporations’ new techniques and innovations to feed the world, we could empower thousands and millions of small-scale farmers’ individual efforts to be self-sufficient in developing nations. And if we encourage thousands and millions of consumers to eat healthy seasonal local produce in industrially developed nations, we have the chance to change and perhaps save our common home, planet earth. I can say that the central message of Natural Agriculture contains a major solution to food security and climate change in the world today. In addition, Natural Agriculture changes the inner climate of human hearts, so that they nourish and give back to the Earth and all life around them.”
A small part of “Osechi” traditional Japanese first meal of the New Year.
World political leaders have been, and continue making effort, but I strongly believe that the real change will come from each individual persons’ responsive attitude for the well being of the whole human family, the greater community of life, and future generations. Last year here at the Shumei International Institute’s Crestone center we received more than 1,200 new visitors to our Center. Many of our visitors experienced the healing blessings of Jyorei for the first time during these visits. In 2009 we began a new concert series and hosted 9 musical concerts. We continue to offer Taiko, Japanese drum classes and 11 artists participated in our ongoing art Symposia series. Now more of our friends in the Crestone community have their own Natural Agriculture kitchen gardens in their personal practice of seeking a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. In 1970 the organizational founder of Shinji Shumeikai, commonly referred to simply as “Shumei” gave a speech in which she used the metaphor of a ship in speaking about the birth of Shumei. I would like to build on her metaphor. At the beginning, the ship called "Shumei" launched in this great world to heal people under the guidance of our “Captain” Mihoko Koyama, known to our friends as Kaishusama. This year, in 2010 we are going to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kaishusama. We can say that the ship called "Shumei" that she launched in 1970 has, along with our many friends and collaborative organizations become an entire fleet. We dedicate our work in this centennial year to Kaishusama’s legacy. Cooperating closely with Misono, Shumei's headquarters representing the element of “fire", and Kishima island representing "water", the ship of the Crestone center as the sacred place representing "earth", welcomes the crew of all the ships in the fleet. We are committed to continuing to provide the energy to help ourselves by helping others. All the members of the crew in the ship called "Crestone" hold to the theme of "…helping people of the world realize that they are world citizens, able to act for the common good." This is the mission statement of the Shumei international Institute. We are committed to happily work together sharing Meishusama’s philosophy as we continue to sail throughout the world. Together with all the staff of Shumei International Institute, Crestone Center, I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous new year and I welcome everyone to visit our Crestone center. All aboard for 2010! Executive Director - Alan Imai
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