Hi everyone! My name is Lisa Zaretskaya. I would like to draw your attention to my report related to the topic “Religion and environmental problems».

On Saturday, October 5, 2019, I went with my mom's friends from Spain to the Holy Land of The Thousand-Hand-and-Thousand-Eye Guanyin (Taiwan). It is a very beautiful place. The site of the sitting Buddha is located right behind the Yuan-Dao Guanyin Temple. There we learned many interesting things, for example, about green building in synergy with nature.

The site of the Holy Land of the Thousand-Hand-and-Thousand-Eye Guanyin Bodhisattva spreads over hundreds of acres. To maintain its ecology, the overall architectural design is geared toward the following nine targets: daily energy conservation, carbon dioxide reduction, greening, soil water retention, biological diversity, waste minimization, general waste disposal management, water utilization, and a healthy interior environment. Acquiring a green building label is its minimum standard.

The Holy Land is situated on hillsides, and as such environmental protection and conservation of soil and water become particularly crucial. For the sake of respecting lives, while preparing the soil in accord with its terrain features and typology, they will not conduct unnecessary digging or exploration but preserve its original landform. Moreover, they will plant trees to sustain a harmonious natural ecology. Also, the drainage facilities, water detention pool, and settling basin will be constructed to halt soil depletion and flooding damage. Large-scale sewage treatment equipment will also be installed to process the wastewater and prevent its pollution of the surrounding environment.

On each hand of the Thousand-Hand-and-Thousand-Eye Guanyin Bodhisattva, there is a special device that collects solar energy. The temple will use this energy for its consumption and illumination of the temple. It is great!

Thank you for your attention.