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The idea of Mother Earth was originated in 1970 by Gay Lord Nelson, a Senator of the USA. But the Mother Earth Temple is an original formulation of Parimal Dey, a social activist in East and north-east India. Recently, the reportervisited the place at 4, Vidyasagar Colony near Jadavpur under 99 ward of Kolkata Municipal Corporation. It is actually a small place with a tank inside it. In the mean time it was forcefully transformed into a dumping ground. Quickly it became a source ofmosquito borne diseases and a lot of unsocial activity occurred around the place. That has now been turned into a place of visit where small boat and swans and plantation and music are the source of attraction. The place has been illuminated with colourful lights. But the most attractive item here is the Mother Earth Temple.

Mother Earth Temple

It represents not the temple in usual sense. It reminds each of us that the Earth and its ecosystems provide us with life and sustenance. It also recognizes a collective responsibility, as called for in the 1992 Rio Declaration, to promote harmony with nature and the Earth to achieve a just balance among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations of humanity. The Mother Earth Temple provides an opportunity to raise public awareness around the world to the challenges regarding the well-being of the planet and all the life it supports.

Proper education is said to be the foundation for the progress of human being. It is known that concepts of climate change and awareness of its unprecedented threat to our planet has been a cause of concern. So one needs to empower oneself with the knowledge to inspirehis/her own action in defence of environmental protection. Environmental and climate literacy is the engine not only for creating green voters and advancing environmental and climate laws and policies but also for accelerating green technologies and jobs.

Actually Dey considers clean, green and beautiful are the three mainmantrasof the sustainable living condition in the earth. In the Mother Earth Temple all Gods and Goddess reside. So all persons irrespective of faith and belief can come to this Temple and be part of it. Actually there can be no difference among human being when our lives are in threat.

Save earth movement and The Temple 

Dey likes to involve in the Save Earth movements. But he prefers to do it in his own way. ‘Of course I am a part of Save Earth movement. But I practise it according to my own way. Our goal is the same but the way may not be the same”, said Dey. April 22, is being celebrated as Earth Day every year, a common practice where people across the globe plant new trees in a bid to help preserve and save the planet. On this day, millions of people led by environmental activists take part in a range of activities from tree planting to picking up litter.

Now Dey thinks of spreading the Temple to many places of the country. But is it possible to do it on your own money and effort? “No no, that is true. It is only possible if more and more persons can be convinced about itsnecessity. Then they themselves will take initiatives. That is the only way of its expansion. As of now tens of people are already in love with this idea. Only thing is to take initiatives”, said Dey.