ওয়াশিংটন বাংলা রেডিও Washington Bangla Radio USA

Hindus have applauded His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for taking a strong stand on environment. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, praised Pope’s powerful statement linking world peace to respecting the environment at Castel Gandolfo near Rome (Italy) on August 29, as reported by Catholic News Service. Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, also praised Pope’s frequent calls to save the planet and curb environmental degradation. Pope was quoted as saying: People today have a duty to leave the earth in a state in which future generations "can live in dignity and safeguard it further”. "There can be no peace in the world without respecting the environment." Faiths coming out in support of the environment was a remarkable signal; Rajan Zed said and urged all world religious leaders, religions and denominations to openly bless the environmental causes. Ancient Hindu scriptures, especially Atharva-Veda, were highly respectful of mother nature, Zed added. We may believe in different religions, yet we share the same home—our Earth. We must learn to happily progress or miserably perish together. For man can live individually but can only survive collectively, Zed says quoting scriptures. Pope Benedict heads the Roman Catholic Church, which is the largest of the Christian denominations. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.