Ram, Ramayana and global warming

Ram, Ramayana and global warming - the association may sound odd, until you realise how an NGO in Uttar Pradesh is helping in combating the ill effects of climate change. The NGO Raunak Evam Jagruk Samaj Sanstha in Sonbhadra district, about 250 km from Lucknow, conducts recitation of the Ramayana in parts of Uttar Pradesh, holds prayers for Lord Ram and distributes saplings as prasad (consecrated offering) among the devotees. One can say it's religious formula to protect the environment and fight against global warming. Planting trees is something simple everyone can do to reduce carbon dioxide, a main greenhouse gas that causes global warming. The NGO has distributed over 18,000 saplings since the launch of Ram, Ramayana and Global Warming programme some six months ago. The programme was started in June 2009 and till now have successfully conducted it in several districts including Varanasi, Chandauli, Mirzapur and Sonbhadra.