Talk about rebirth! Buddhist monks at a temple in Thailand are considering the cycle (recycle?) of life in a new way. Located in Thailand’s Sisaket province, about 600 km (370 miles) northeast of Bangkok, the Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew temple was built using an estimated 1.5 million glass bottles. The temple’s construction is a novel example of the growing involvement of religious communities in the conversation on environmental issues. Increasingly, religious leaders of different faiths are encouraging their followers to view environmentalism as not just consistent with their beliefs but an important component of their faith. In February 2006, for example, a group of 86 evangelical Christian leaders from across the United States unveiled a campaign for environmental reform and put out a statement calling on all Christians to push for federal legislation that would reduce carbon dioxide emissions in an effort to stem global warming. Similarly, the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s political and spiritual leader, has long been an outspoken advocate of environmental initiatives. While the Dalai Lama has admitted he never uses the world “sustainability,” he has said “we have a responsibility to take care of the environment. It is our only home.” In the case of Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew temple, this is quite literally the case. Here are some more photos of the temple.

more…