YouProtocol | The Planet is in Your Hands

2008 May 3rd Tzu Chi Harmony Festival

Mon, 05 May 2008 14:49:27 -0800

Tzu Chi celebrated "Harmony Festival" in the rain

Over two thousands people waved their handkerchiefs in the air, pledging to protect Mother Earth.

On May 3rd 2008, Tzu Chi Foundation Canada celebrated Harmony Festival at Richmond's King George Park. The event included Tzu Chi volunteer exhibitions, field trip for the students of Tzu Chi academy of Humanistic Studies (Richmond, Coquitlam, Vancouver, Surrey and Burnaby), environmental friendly fair, promote healthy and environmentally sound vegetarian diet, and multicultural stage performances.

Despite the rain, the sprits of the volunteers and public were not dampened, the Harmony Festival still attracted over two thousands people. The attendees included: David Emerson, the Minister of Industry, and three mayors of the Metro Vancouver, as well as over a hundred representatives from all levels of the government and clubs.

During the event, Tzu Chi gave out handkerchiefs to all the patrons present at the event. Mr. Gary Ho, C.E.O. of the Tzu Chi Foundation Canada, stated: handkerchief is a symbol of loving the environment, whenever we use handkerchief, we turn our slogan into action.

"Mother Earth, we love you!"
When all the volunteers sang "A Clean Planet", all the patrons waved their light blue handkerchief as a show of their support in protecting the environment.

In recognition of the contributions of Tzu-Chi volunteers, the provincial government of British Columbia along with six other B.C. municipalities proclaimed May 3rd 2008 as Tzu Chi Day.

Article: Yuyen

Tzu Chi Foundation Distributes Over 1000 Hand Towels Downtown

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:07:41 -0800

Over 18,000 more to be distributed throughout the region this week

The Tzu Chi Foundation Canada took to the streets today to give away free, pocket-sized hand towels in downtown Vancouver to remind people that simple everyday actions, like using a cloth hand towel to dry your hands instead of paper towel, make a big difference to the environment.

The hand towel blitz was part of Tzu Chi's YouProtocol campaign, a call to action for individuals to take the environment into their own hands instead of leaving its protection solely up to governments and industry. Launched in Metro Vancouver and modeled after the international Kyoto Protocol, the YouProtocol challenges individuals to do their part to protect the planet. The campaign focuses on two simple actions people can do everyday when washing and drying their hands: Turning down the tap to conserve water, and using cloth hand towels instead of paper towels. Individuals are being urged to sign the YouProtocol at www.youprotocol.com.

"The first step towards living in a more environmentally-friendly way is to change your daily habits," said Gary Ho, CEO of Tzu Chi Foundation Canada. "Using a cloth hand towel instead of paper towel saves both energy and paper. We hope that when we give people reusable hand towels, it will make them think about all the little things they can do to reduce their impact on the planet."

Over the next week, Tzu Chi will be giving away 20,000 hand towels, wrapping up with their annual Harmony Festival on May 3rd in Richmond, which is expected to draw more than 2,000 people. Everyone who attends the festival will also be given a complimentary cloth hand towel. The festival will feature interactive demonstrations teaching people how they can live in harmony with the planet and will be attended by several Lower Mainland Mayors, including Sam Sullivan, Derek Corrigan, and Malcolm Brodie.

About The Tzu Chi Foundation:

The Tzu Chi Foundation is a non-profit Buddhist organization founded in 1966 on the east coast of Taiwan, dedicated to giving material aid and inspiring humanity. The Canada chapter was founded in 1992, and has been recognized by 'Tzu Chi Day' proclamations by the cities of Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey and Port Moody. The Tzu Chi Foundation has dedicated itself to the fields of charity, medicine, education, environmental protection, and the promotion of humanistic values and volunteering. For more information, please visit http://en.tzuchi.ca.

Gary Ho, CEO of Tzu Chi Foundation Canada, is available for media interviews.

Tzu Chi Harmony Festival Schedule

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:29:50 -0800

Tzu Chi Harmony Festival Schedule (pdf)

Lyrics to 'A Clean Planet'

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:27:19 -0800

A Clean Planet

Let's leave for our children
A planet clean and pure.
Let's leave for our children
A river crystal clear.

Let's leave for our children
A blue sky shining bright.
Let's leave for our children
A meadow lush with life.

May love's Great Compassion,
Comfort all the weary souls.

May love's Great Compassion
Make the world a brighter place.

May this Great Compassion
Make a stream of pure Great Love,

Flowing round the planet,
Changing hearts forever more.

The YouProtocol Poster Girl

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 12:11:53 -0800

Tzu Chi Foundation launches www.YouProtocol.com

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:10:29 -0800

Campaign conveys a simple message: The Planet is in Your Hands

The Tzu Chi Foundation Canada today announced the launch of the YouProtocol campaign, a unique local and global grassroots effort to encourage citizens to pledge a personal commitment to reduce their eco-footprint.

To kick off the two-week campaign, Tzu Chi today unveiled www.YouProtocol.com, where citizens can sign the protocol and pledge their commitment to the environment. Launched in Metro Vancouver and modeled after the international Kyoto Protocol, the YouProtocol challenges individuals to do their part to protect the planet. The campaign focuses on two simple actions people can do everyday when washing and drying their hands: Turning down the tap to conserve water, and using cloth hand towels instead of paper towels.

Next week, a team of Tzu Chi youth volunteers will spread out across Metro Vancouver to promote the YouProtocol and give away thousands of reusable hand towels. As a symbol of personal responsibility, the hand towels will be embroidered with the YouProtocol web address, and a simple message: "The Planet is in Your Hands."

The YouProtocol campaign will wrap up with Tzu Chi's annual Harmony Festival on May 3rd in Richmond, which is expected to draw more than 2,000 people. Everyone who attends the festival will be given a complimentary cloth hand towel.

"We all share the responsibility to reduce our environmental impact," said Gary Ho, CEO of Tzu Chi Foundation Canada. "If we all do our part, everyone's small contributions will make a big difference. Even simple daily steps, such as conserving water and paper, go a long way towards helping the planet. Once people have signed the YouProtocol, I encourage them to tell their friends and family about the pledge. After all, the Planet is in Your Hands."

The YouProtocol will be the focus of the third annual Tzu Chi Harmony Festival, being held at Cambie Park in Richmond on May 3. The festival will feature interactive demonstrations teaching people how they can live in harmony with the planet and will be attended by several Lower Mainland Mayors, including Sam Sullivan, Derek Corrigan, and Malcolm Brodie.

Cassidy of Vancouver, a Tzu Chi student, was the first person to sign the YouProtocol and will be featured in a promotional video Tzu Chi will be broadcasting on YouTube to encourage individuals around the world to visit www.YouProtocol.com.

2007 Tzu Chi Buddha Bathing Ceremony

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:10:53 -0800

Invitation to Harmony Festival 2008

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:51:52 -0800

Printable Copy of this letter

Dear friends,

We sincerely invite you to take part in the Tzu Chi Foundation's Harmony Festival 2008 campaign to increase environmental awareness. There are three key aspects of this campaign and we would be honoured to have you participate in any or all of the following:

We will be launching the YouProtocol, an initiative modeled after the international Kyoto Protocol, to encourage people to take personal responsibility of protecting the environment. Starting from mid-April, people are welcomed to visit www.YouProtocol.com and pledge to do at least two simple tasks such as using a hand towel to dry their hands, or turning down a running tap on a daily basis. By simply signing to follow the protocol, you can help contribute to a healthy environment.
To enhance the launch of the YouProtocol, we will be distributing free cotton hand towels throughout the Lower Mainland for individuals to replace the use of paper towels when drying their hands. It will be greatly appreciated if you can join our volunteer force in handing out the hand towels and spreading the word about the YouProtocol. The distribution of hand towels will commence in late April, and we will provide you with a time and place prior to the event.
On May 3, 2008, we will be holding the third annual Harmony Festival in Richmond's King George Park. There will be exhibitions and demonstrations of how people can lead a more environmental friendly life. We will also introduce people to sign the YouProtocol, and prepare twenty thousand free hand towels for distribution. During the morning of the event, it is expected more than two thousand patrons will join in waving the free hand towels to announce their actions in protecting the environment.

Within the past forty two years, the Tzu Chi Foundation has internationally established chapters in more than forty-five countries. Over one million volunteers have served in local communities in more than sixty-five countries. The Tzu Chi Foundation has also dedicated to the fields of international relief by building over fifteen thousand permanent houses and more than a hundred schools for disaster victims.

Tzu Chi Foundation Canada, a registered charity organization, is a member of the Taiwan-based Tzu Chi Foundation founded in 1966. Since its 1992 inception in Vancouver, the Tzu Chi Foundation Canada has contributed more than eighteen million dollars and one million volunteer-hours to local communities in Metro Vancouver, Metro Toronto, and Montreal; Tzu Chi Foundation Canada has participated in several international joint relief projects with other chapters. To recognize such contribution of Tzu-Chi volunteers, the provincial government of British Columbia along with six other B.C. municipalities proclaimed May 13, 2007 as Tzu Chi Day.

To continue contributing to the social and environmental well-being of our society, we strive to promote responsible environmental actions and hope that you will be willing to join us. We look forward to seeing you and your family at our celebration.

Date:
Saturday, May 3, 2008

Time:
10:00am to 4:00pm

Venue:
King George Park
12360 Cambie Road, Richmond, B.C. (Intersects with No. 5 Road & Cambie Rd.)

Sincerely,

Gary Ho, CEO, Tzu Chi Foundation Canada

A Clean Planet

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:45:52 -0800

Plastic bottles to blankets

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:51:02 -0800

Tzu Chi's work in Indonesia

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:50:12 -0800

YouProtocol

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:40:06 -0800

By signing the protocol, you are committing to take simple actions on a regular basis to reduce your consumption, reduce your waste, and conserve energy. By developing everyday good habits - such as using less water and drying your hands with a hand towel to reduce the use of paper towel - your actions can make a big difference.

We all share the responsibility of reducing our environmental impact, and everyone's small contributions can make a big difference. You can start by signing the YouProtocol.