Faith communities need to engage, respond, and advocate for the ever-rising global crisis around land, water, and food, said Dinesh Suna, WCC programme executive for Land, Water, and Food. In his address to the participants, he emphasized an inclusive roadmap towards land restoration, upholding the right to water and food Security. Desertification, water crisis, and food insecurity are opposed to the very basis understanding of faith and religion, he added. The event was attended by 54 people including religious leaders, development experts, CEOs of social and development organizations, research scholars, and thinkers. An interfaith panel was a highlight of the event. Religious leaders from Brahmakumari, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Baha’i, and Christianity spoke at the panel. Sister Leena from Brhamakumari urged a transformation of the current trend of lifestyle and thought process which will determine our future. Food habit and respect for food will be crucial for ensuring food for all and combating land degradation, said Shilpi Jain from Jainism. Sanghamitra Dubey, Buddhist, reflected about the need to slow down and give nature a space to rest. Tanwir Sayed from Islam and Bishop Surendra Kumar Nanda, both Christians, stressed that land belongs to God and humans are called to fulfil the purpose of God and not theirs. The ideological and faith-based ethos Inspired by the biblical concept of jubilee that “land must rest,” was also shared by Suna. A poster was released to launch the National Interfaith Coalition on Land, Water, and Food, primarily with members of Odisha, which will later be expanded to pan-India. This is an important landmark in the present context where land is highly commercialized and is being looked only as resources for profit must be challenged and the spiritual and indigenous values of land must be restored and upheld, said Angelious Michael, director of India Peace Centre and member of the WCC Working Group on Land, Water, and Food. | 
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