STRENGHTENING COMMUNITIES AGAINST CLIMATE-RELATED DISASTERS
BLIA’s local, national, and international initiatives and programs seek to address modern economic, social, and environmental challenges. What We Do
Hospital Los Angeles Paraguay-China
The Hospital Los Angeles Paraguay-China (Fundacion Para La Salud Los Angeles Paraguay- China), established in 2003, serves the country’s second largest city, Ciudad del Este. It meets the health and medical needs of an underserved population with scarce economic resources by providing free, quality essential health care to all, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, and beliefs. Over 700,000 patients have sought obstetrics- gynecologic care, procedures such as mammograms or medical imaging (radiology), and pediatric care. The hospital has decreased the rate of child mortality and improved maternal health in the region. Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for people at all ages, is important to building prosperous societies. The Hospital Los Angeles Paraguay-China resolves inequalities in health care access and sustains maternal-fetal and children’s health.
BLIA Paraguay launched the Zero Hunger program in 2001, providing soy milk machines and set up more than 130 stations for over 6,000 underprivileged families. Classes are given on the uses of soybean pulp, which has high fiber, protein, and other nutrients. The soy milk stations are a vital food source and allow the families and the community to supplement their diet and nutrition. Eradicate hunger
SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION OF RESOURCES
The climate crisis is causing climate-related disasters all over the world. The most vulnerable tend to be the poorest, and BLIA helps to restore the people’s health, safety, and economic well-being and provides assistance for recovery and gaining control of their future. BLIA has led and contributed to emergency and disaster relief for survivors, regardless of gender, ethnicity, and beliefs, in Sichuan, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, and Thailand, as well as other regions and countries.
In protecting and safeguarding natural resources and developing accessible public green spaces, BLIA chapters, the BLIA Young Adult Division (YAD), and Buddha’s Light Scout troops conduct environmental preservation activities, such as cleaning public spaces, gardening, recycling, and planting trees. These initiatives encourage all to live a greener lifestyle. BLIA locations serve as a focal point for the practice of Humanistic Buddhism and as a cultural and community touchstone. Our sites, including that in Christchurch, New Zealand, have been recognized with national architecture awards for their green, energy efficient, and inclusive designs. These safe, open-to-all, and eco-friendly spaces is BLIA’s response to sustainable urbanization. In encouraging climate action, BLIA’s campaign, VegePlan A (started by BLIA chapters in Melbourne and Sydney in 2005), promotes the health and environmental benefits of a meat-free diet through robust media advocacy, partnership with local and national businesses, and interactive outreach events, such as VegRun. T-Earth is another initiative that tackles reforestation and biodiversity. Through the BLIA chapters’ existing participation in tree planting campaigns to offset carbon footprint, it also seeks to bridge public/private partnerships by asking 1,000 companies to plant 1,000 trees in 1,000 cities by 2050.
Promoting good health and well-being
MOBILIZATION DURINGTHE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Basketball, gymnastics, baseball, and soccer—BLIA supports movement, teamwork, and leadership with sports education for students and youths. For example, the BLIA Cup gives young student-atheletes the experience of competition in large-scale basketball tournaments. Established in 1996, Buddha’s Light Scouts is the first Buddhist scouts group in the world and has over 2,000 members. Within their troops, young adults develop and grow in their training, leadership, and interpersonal skills as well as participate in international exchanges and community service.
As the world dealt with a global health crisis in 2020, BLIA offices and chapters continued to provide service – safely – to our communities. Globally, our members organized food drives for people in need and donated millions of units of masks and PPEs to frontline workers as well as oxygen machines, disinfectants and sanitizers,
and various medical equipment and devices to hospitals and clinics. Once available, BLIA also helped to make tests widely accessible.
Community Health Centers in India
Since 2009, BLIA medical teams in India and Nepal have provided general practice services, including dental care, preventative care, health education, and traditional Chinese medicine to more than 57,000 people in these two countries. The free clinics serve low income individuals who mostly live in remote locations, advancing basic health and well-being for the most vulnerable.
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