Online Thursday September 9, 2021 10:00am - 1:30pm ET

In solidarity with other NGO’s offering a strong critique of the fall UN Food Summit, FORUM2021 explores the potential of local regenerative agriculture, highlights the growing organic farming movement and offers an interfaith moral call to redressing the harm caused by agribusiness, the industrialization of the world’s food production system.

FORUM2021 explores the ancient, respectful and regenerative ways of farming practices and our spiritual relationship to food by focusing on the Earth as an interconnected web of life. A moral and spiritual voice is essential in the transition away from the industrialized, fossil fuel and chemical intensive, global agriculture system which is degrading our Earth, contributing to the climate crisis and to the extinction of species, as well as creating severe health issues for all living beings. FORUM2021 is a call to all spiritual and religious leaders and activists for a return to local, biodiverse organic food systems which regenerate soil, water and biodiversity while providing healthy sustenance for all. 
FORUM2021 Sacred Food ~ Blessed Earth
Presented by the Temple of Understanding in collaboration with Marble Collegiate Church
Opening Prayer & Welcome

19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle for the Great Sioux Nation. 

Welcome from the Temple of Understanding: Chris Wang, TOU Board Member

Welcome to the FORUM2021: Dr. Michael Bos, Senior Minister, Marble Collegiate Church
Chief Oren Lyons Keynote Address

Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan, Member Chief of the Onondaga Council of Chiefs and the Grand Council of the Iroquois Confederacy, the Haudenosaunee Peoples. 
Dr. Vandana Shiva
Reclaiming Ancient Wisdom 
to Protect Our Future
Founder, Navdanya Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology (India) and President of Navdanya International. World-renowned environmental thinker, activist, feminist, philosopher of science, writer and science policy advocate.
Dr. Vandana Shiva & Lyla June Dialogue
Reclaiming Ancient Wisdom 
to Protect Our Future
Indigenous musician, scholar and community organizer of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne) and European lineages.
International Activists on Regenerative Farming Panel
Darcy Neill, (Moderator)
Temple of Understanding Board member
Kathryn Manga (pictured above)
Peasant Movement, KMP, Philippines 
Director of Primary Sector & Renewable Natural Resources, 
Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources, Mexico
Seed Saver Network, Kenya 
Scientists on the Impact of Industrialized Agriculture Dialogue
Professor of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley.
Dr. Daphne Miller (pictured above)
Clinical Professor at the University of California San Francisco, and Research Scientist at the University of California Berkeley School of Public Health.
Faith-Based Farming in the United States Panel
 Rev. Susan Hendershot, (Moderator)
Interfaith Power & Light, USA
Freedom Farm Community NY
Peoples’ Farm, AZ
Jewish Farmer Network, NC
Leah Penniman (pictured above)
Soul Fire Farm, NY
A Call to Urgent Action to Support Sustainable Food Systems
Rev. Jim Antal (pictured above)
Denominational leader, climate activist, author and public theologian. Special Advisor on Climate Justice to the General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ.
Senior Lecturer & Research Scholar, Yale University, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and Divinity School, Department of Religious Studies.
Universal Prayer for the Earth
A deeply moving and inspiring Interfaith service of prayers, affirmations and contemplations offered by Indigenous and world religious leaders and sacred music by renown international artists.
(Grandmother Mona Polacca pictured above)
Prayers and Offerings
Dr. Michael Bos, Imam Saffet Catovic, Samir Chatterjee & Steve Gorn,
Prof. Ephraim Isaac, Lyla June,
Chief Arvol Looking Horse,
Grandmother Mona Polacca,
Rev. Dr. John H. Vaughn (pictured above)
And more to be announced!
#Support local farmers, support your health, protect the Earth
Become a Supporter of the Temple of Understanding and Make a Difference Today!
Your support will impact the lives of others through low or no fee education programs, advocacy efforts, and the development of events that educate the mind and touch the heart.
The Temple of Understanding is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 13-1935186) and all donations are tax deductible.