Ya Ali Madad,
This month, Ismaili Muslims worldwide observe Navroz (Nowruz), a festival celebrated in many cultures, particularly Shia Muslim communities. For many of these communities, it marks the beginning of a new year and the first day of spring. More generally, it signifies a time of spiritual renewal and physical rejuvenation, as well as a spirit of gratitude for blessings and an outlook of hope and optimism towards the future. With people, nature rejoices too!
We see a transformation in our surroundings; bleak and dead winters pave the way for warm, joyful summers; new shoots crop up marking the beginning of greenery and life.
This month we also celebrated Women’s Day. This International Women’s Day, 8 March, join UN Women and the world in coming together under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, and call for climate action for women, by women.
With the latest data, we now understand the vital link between gender, social equity and climate change, and recognize that without gender equality today, a sustainable future, an equal future, remains out of reach.
As women and girls bear the burden of climate impacts, they are also essential to leading and driving change in climate adaption, mitigation and solutions. Without the inclusion of half of the world's population, it is unlikely that solutions for a sustainable planet and a gender equal world tomorrow will be realized.
This month a New Year is coming. Ever the optimists, we hold out hopes for this New Year. We persevere.
The Dalai Lama said it simply: “Choose to be optimistic. It feels better.”
Mark Twain opined, “It’s better to be an optimist who is sometimes wrong than a pessimist who is always right.”
Navroz Mubarak!
Adapted
#Stay Safe
#Be Responsible
