The original

World leading scientists are warning that there are only a dozen years before millions of people experience the risks of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty due to climate change. This warning was also announced loud and clear to world leaders, Buddhist leaders, and Buddhists around the world at the celebrations of United Nations Day of Vesak 2019 (UNDV 2019) held in Vietnam through one single painting.

Called the "Cover of Future", Vietnamese artist Nguyen Thi Kim Duc used traditional Vietnamese silk, Van Gogh inspired water colors, soft but bold strokes, together with deep and lifeless colours to paint a dying tree which is partly submerged in sea water. This painting shows a stark picture of what the world would become if humans continue to ignore climate change. It would turn into a world without green trees, animals and humans.

Using a simple painting style, Mrs. Nguyen wanted the artwork to pass from "heart to heart", relaying her love for the environment, like in Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu's words: "People rely on land, land relies on God, God relies on religion, religion replies on nature".

This while holding a belief that humans are the main cause of climate change, Mrs. Nguyen said that even if millions of new trees are planted to absorb the main driver of climate change, carbon dioxide, the environment will still be destroyed unless people change their wasteful and polluting habits.

105 copies of this painting were given as a gift for the heads of state and leaders of Buddhism from over 100 countries who attended attend the Vesak celebrations last month. They include Buddhist leaders such as Professor, Dr. Phra Brahmapundit - Chairman of the International Council for the Day of Vesak (ICDV), Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung - Minister of Information and Communication of Vietnam, Ryan Giggs - Coach of the Welsh National Football Team, the Prime Minister of Nepal, the President of Bhutan's Senate, and Sang Ji Zha Xi - Deputy Secretary General of the Chinese Buddhist Church. They were all very sympathetic and touched upon receiving the painting.

VNF