Buddhist Monks fly sky lanterns for energy revolution

Bodh Gaya : Buddhist monks from Thailand, Japan, China, and Tibet and other countries, as a symbol of hope, released sky lanterns before the 80 foot statue of Buddha in Bodh Gaya, India to call for renewable energy as an solution to Bihar’s power crisis.

This place marks the place Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment.

The event was part of the Urja Kranti Yatra, a Greenpeace India tour through ten districts of Bihar to spread awareness of renewable energy and inspire citizens and civil society to demand an energy revolution in the state.
Bihar is one of the most energy deficient states in India, and the rural population in particular have little or no access to vital public energy services.

There are already instances of social entrepreneurs delivering electricity to villages through renewable energy, using decentralised models of generation and distribution, said Greenpeace, a leading non-governmental organisation (NGO) working on environmental issues.

Greenpeace India is campaigning for decentralised renewable energy as a means to deliver energy justice to the people, without exacerbating deadly climate change.