10 Mar Message from H.H. 14th Dalai Lama

Water is the basis of our life. We cannot survive without it. Every living being on this earth is deeply connected to our natural environment. Therefore, every one of us is responsible to it, too.

In Dharamsala, India, where I have lived since 1960, there used to be a lot of snow. In recent years, there has been less and less. Climate change is real and we need to do whatever we can to ensure a safe planet for future generations.

New challenges, such as scarcity of safe drinking water, affect us all.Therefore, we all have responsibility to take care of the entire planet, our only home. It is not a luxury; it is a matter of our own survival.

Human beings have been the cause of much of climate change. We therefore have the responsibility to work hard to make sure that it does not become irreversible. I have made environmental conservation one of my life’s commitments and I advocate protection of the environment wherever 1 go. We older people may be able to manage over the next several decades; however, we must think about how life will be for future generations.

I believe that to meet the challenge of our times, every one of us will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility to ensure that our children and grandchildren can continue to enjoy clean water. Each of us must learn to work for the benefit of all humankind. Without that, there can be no real survival, or peace.

I hope the conference will address the issue of water to see how we can all contribute to ensuring that our water resources remain available not only for today’s generation, but for generations to come.

With my prayers and good wishes,