Pipal Tree is a network of persons concerned about social, cultural and ecological transformation. Pipal Tree works with farmers on agricultural issues and with students, teachers, women and community leaders on environmental problems. The key works of Pipal Tree are inter religious conflict resolutions known as communal harmony and media intervention.

Pipal Tree believes that ‘all things are connected’ and that the cause of our present global crisis is the overlooking of this central truth of our existence. Siddhartha, the head of Pipal Tree said and strongly believes "If we believe that we are connected to all humans and the earth, then we are not likely to hurt our fellow beings or the mother earth, from whom we have evolved. Hurting another being or the earth is to hurt oneself. Our notions of progress often lead us on the path to social injustice and ecological degradation because we believe that as individuals we are only responsible to ourselves. The truth is we are not outsider-individuals but compassionate nodes in the larger web of life."

Pipal Tree attempts to realise this vision through the following programmes:

Conflict Resolution and inter-religious harmony

Pipal Tree is involved in three areas in Bangalore (Ullalu, Uthiri, Mysore Road) that are communally sensitive and economically backward. These areas have peace committees which work in harmonious coexistence. These committees help to immediately reduce dangerous rumours, curb mischievous provocations and reassure the local people.

Participatory Community Action

Pipal Tree works with a network of organic farmers and community leaders from surrounding villages near Bangalore on arresting the deterioration of agricultural wastelands and water-bodies such as streams and tanks through:

FIREFLIES

Fireflies, is an inter-religious, secular ashram of Pipal Tree

Located 30 kms from Bangalore at Uthiri on an organic farm, it holds round the year workshops on eco-spirituality for students, teachers, social workers, writers, artists and company executives.

Farmers meet here to discuss the dangers of chemicals in agriculture. These farmers have been motivated to take organic farming practices like wormi-compost, green manure development, and natural pesticides (such as neem, garlic and tobacco) more seriously.

A yearly international meeting of various religious and spiritual leaders explores the implications of Earth spirituality from the perspective of the different religions.

The ashram has single and double room accommodation. It also has a meditation hall, conference hall, dining room and library.

It brings out a quarterly journal on eco-spirituality and hosts a website on eco-social and spiritual issues at: www.fireflies.org

Fireflies holds bimonthly training sessions in conflict resolution for leaders from these communities. The peace committee members, religious leaders, local elected representatives, police officers and residents from these affected areas attend these gatherings.

FIREWORDS

Firewords-press.org is a global community of socially-engaged journalists writing on the most significant alternative issues emerging in the 21st century in the areas of ecology, culture, spirituality, politics, democracy and globalisation.

Firewords, a media network of the Pipal tree, began with the notion that there should be 'alternative spaces' in the world of information. Journalists motivated by their social and democratic convictions must work as a global network and be able to provide a kind of collective strength.

Pipal Tree and Fire words invite writers, journalists and poets who are like minded to contribute to the website ( features, interviews, profiles, poems, books and film reviews) on the above areas. They have a List Serve that keeps this community of writers in touch with each other and talking with one another. If you would like to write for firewords-press.org or be part of its List Serve, email them at: transformingword@yahoogroups.com or pipaltree@vsnl.com

Publications

Pipal Tree also publishes books on cultural, spiritual and ecological issues.

Address:
Pipal Tree
No.139/9, Domlur Layout,
Bangalore: 560 071, India
Fax / Tel: 00-91-80-2535 1756.
Email: pipaltree@vsnl.com

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