22 Feb :Hindus have urged European Union (EU) to become serious in halting the loss of biodiversity, which is in gravely unhealthy state in Europe.Rajan Zed, acclaimed Hindu leader, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that EU was clearly failing to meet its own targets on stopping the biodiversity loss. According to reports, about 80 percent of habitats were vulnerable/threatened and about half of the European species of conservation concern remained vulnerable/threatened.
Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that Europe should look into its consumption patterns contributing to world biodiversity loss and make policy changes accordingly, like the demand for palm oil, soya, metal ore, etc.
Rajan Zed pointed out that EU needed to chalk out effective legal framework on soil protection, support restoration, and ensure effective application of sustainable fishing principles by its member countries. Renewable energy sources should not be developed at the expense of nature.
Zed stressed that loss of biodiversity was a global threat, as critical as climate change, and could not wait and should not be taken lightly. Remember, once a species was lost, it was gone forever.
Rajan Zed argued that it was moral responsibility of EU and European countries to halt the loss of biodiversity. Zed invited other religions also to join campaign against halting the loss of biodiversity, saying that religions should not be silent spectators to destruction of God’s creation.