From December 6 to 8, Golden Year 7 (2010), more than a hundred exhibitors from 25 countries participated in the 8th Middle East Natural and Organic Product Expo (MENOPE) held at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event was co-sponsored by the United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environment and Water, the Dubai Municipality, and several other organizations such as the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements. His Excellency, Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali, the United Arab Emirates’ Federal Minister for Health, presided over the opening ceremony with officials and other dignitaries of honor.

In conjunction with MENOPE, the first ever Middle East Vegetarian Congress organized by the Middle East Vegetarian Group (MEVEG) and affiliated with the International Vegetarian Union (IVU), was held at the same venue. His Excellency Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali was present to light the candle of good health for the auspicious opening. Broadcast live on Supreme Master Television, this two-day event was hosted by behavioral psychologist and TV personality, Ms. Zaufyshan Haseeb.

	Ms. Sandhya Prakash, founder-director of MEVEG, receives the lighted “candle of good health” from His Excellency Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali.
	The Birds in My Life (Arabic Edition) is presented to His Excellency Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali. (center)
	His Excellency Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali visits the Loving Hut booth and receives the interviewed from Supreme Master TV.

Featured speakers included Dr. Arash Rashidi, head of Iran’s National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, who spoke on the connection between meat and cancer; Mr. Thomas Cierpka, Senior Manager of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, who elaborated on the ecological and economic sense of organic crop growing; and Ms. Shankar Narayan, the founder of the Indian Vegan Society, who addressed the benefits of the plant-based lifestyle.

The highlight of the event was a special video conference with the guest of honor, Supreme Master Ching Hai, who took time from Her busy schedule at COP 16 in Cancún to give a presentation on “Being a Vegan — Environmentally Sustainable Food Choice.” Citing abundant scientific data, with deep emotion Master shared the devastating effects of climate change and more seriously—meat consumption on Dubai and other emirates' land and peoples. Examples included severe water shortage, ground water depletion, food insecurity, problems with water desalinization, air pollution, marine pollution, and overfishing, in addition to coral reef and other marine life destruction.

Hearing from participants about how little public exposure and open discussion took place on the urgent subject of stopping meat consumption, Master caringly said, “We have to be honest and truthful about the main topic. We cannot run around in a circle and avoid the meat industry question like we avoid a sore thumb or avoid a boil on our body: ‘Don’t touch it, don’t touch it!’ We have to touch it in order to heal it. Especially, if we know that it is a very dangerous boil, which could affect our lives, which could be fatal to our lives, even infect others, and even in this situation, infecting the entire planet, could kill the whole world. Then, we have to touch that boil and let the doctor heal it or we heal it ourselves, if we know how. And we do know how. We have techniques; we have power. Each one of us can do this just by being vegan.”

Master also praised the wise Emirati government leaders for their green actions in planting more trees, promoting organic farming, implementing new technologies, and for their generous hearts in giving to charities. She suggested that the government should take one step further by supporting the organic vegan solution. Master revealed Her inner knowledge obtained through meditation about the merit of promoting the cruelty-free lifestyle, that is, whoever in the government approves the plant-based solution will earn thousands of zillions of spiritual merit points. She said, “Whoever approves this even, just one time, it’s enough for him to fly to Heaven already. . . . And whoever makes sure that it is carried out will obtain the same zillions of spiritual merit points that Heaven will bestow upon them.” She applauded the government’s initiative in solving food insecurity by buying farm land in foreign countries and investing in technology to grow fruit and vegetables in a better way. It is reported that the United Arab Emirates had 13 organic farms as of March 2010, with 23 planned to be operational by June 2011.

Master also patiently answered various questions from the guests on the plant-based lifestyle and the current state of the world. She confirmed the concern raised by Mr. Harvey Ellis, a senior IT executive and vegetarian, that United Arab Emirates is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change and that there will be a dangerous impact if people at large don’t change their ways. She urged everyone to turn to a compassionate lifestyle quickly before the situation gets out of control.

Regarding the question from Mr. Tony Satinder Pal Singh, a senior executive from a top oil and gas firm, on sowing seeds of long-term peace in such Middle Eastern regions as Israel and Palestine through adopting a vegan diet, Master said that we need a lot of spiritual points to pay for the price of peace due to the great negative karmic effects of the wars. She called for an awakening of all humanity to be veg which would help the world by earning more merits that could be used to restore peace.

In responding to a question from Ms. Leena Abbas, a vegan and Founder/CEO of the Zen Beauty Lounge, on the role of animals in our spiritual, physical and mental well-being, Master stated that animals are here to bless us and each of them can give us different spiritual points. In fact, without the animal-balancing blessing power, humanity would have perished already, or the planet would have been destroyed.

	A mom and her child enjoy reading Master’s book in Knokuniya Bookstore, Dubai.

MEVEG also marked the launch of the Arabic edition of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s #1 international best-seller, The Birds in My Life. This edition is being published by United Printing & Publishing, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC), owned by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, who is also the successor to the current president of the United Arab Emirates. Within just two days, all available copies of the book were sold out! Fortunately, another shipment was on the way. This book is now available at Kinokuniya and in other large bookstores in the nation. Mr. Rafeeque Kappadathil, the Area Manager of Abu Dhabi Media Company, the largest book distributor in United Arab Emirates, praised the book highly and said that it is very beneficial to the new generation and will have a fast-growing readership in the country.

The vegan lunch prepared by Loving Hut for all the distinguished guests.

On the second day of the Congress, a special vegan lunch prepared by the local Association members, the Loving Huts of Singapore and Indonesia was served to the distinguished guests of the MEVEG Congress and exhibitors from MENOPE 2010, which was welcomed with enthusiastic praise and review.

After working with the Loving Hut team, one of the Dubai World Trade Centre chefs decided to stop eating meat and will add vegan dishes to his menu. Many participants commented that it was the best vegan food they had ever tasted—simply mouth-watering! Our Association members also took the opportunity to spread the SOS message and introduced Master’s books. His Excellency Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali, and the Consul/Economic Affairs of Indonesia in Dubai, Mr. Bapak Dede Achmad Nfai, also graciously paid a visit to their booth.

Our thanks Middle East Veg Group, the government of Dubai and all involved in this successful conference on the fascinating and relevant topic of the plant-based lifestyle. We are grateful to Supreme Master Ching Hai for sharing Her deep concern and thoughts regarding today’s vast environmental challenges. May we all help lead the way in the healing of our planet through the benevolent, organic, vegan diet. Blessed be the efforts of leaders and individuals in changing to this loving, Earth-sustaining way of life for the benefit of one and all.

To watch Supreme Master Television’s coverage of this Climate Change Conference, please visit:
http://video.Godsdirectcontact.net/magazine/WOW1602j.php

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