Yoga is More than Stretching: It’s Serving the World. It’s MAPS: the Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary.
International Yoga Day is a time to remember the true meaning of yoga: union. That’s the founding principle for all-volunteer Canadian environmental not-for-profit Parvati.org. Inspired by its founder, the Toronto-based musician, yoga teacher, activist and author Parvati, everyone at Parvati.org performs selfless service, or karma yoga, to create MAPS: the Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary. MAPS establishes the Arctic Ocean north of the Arctic Circle as the world’s largest international marine protected area, free from commercial fishing, natural resource exploitation, seismic testing, military activity and through shipping traffic.
In the spirit of yoga as union, MAPS brings together leaders like Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Academy Award winning director Louie Psihoyos (The Cove, Racing Extinction), Grammy winning music producer Chris Porter (Sir Elton John, George Michael) and CBE’s legendary concert promoter Harvey Goldsmith (Live Aid) in support of this vital intervention. In this time of global crisis, MAPS unites world leaders in the commitment to no longer put short term gain ahead of long-term consequence, recognizing that the needs of the collective are greater than the needs of the individual.
Parvati.org has taken the unprecedented step to create the international Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary (MAPS) Treaty, an addendum to the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, then translated it into the six official UN languages, sent it to all 193 UN member states, took it to the United Nations’ COP21 and 22 and will also be presenting it at the upcoming COP23.
Parvati is the first performer to ever sing at the North Pole, where she travelled to raise awareness of the quickly melting polar ice caps. She has dedicated her exceptionally broad creative offerings (music, yoga and words) to the goal of realizing MAPS for the benefit of all. To raise worldwide awareness of MAPS, Parvati wrote and produced the celestial pop song I Am Light, which has been playing to millions on Top 40 FM radio stations across Asia. Its video debuted to millions more on Vietnam’s music network, YAN TV. As part of outreach for I Am Light, Parvati asks all her fans to “keep your footprint on the planet light” and support MAPS. Her full I Am Light pop concept album, featuring a journey through blockbuster radio singles to a cosmic chakra meditation, is upcoming. Also watch for her next album Electro Yog, which gives electronica new heart and soaring heights in an unprecedented, multidimensional 5.1 and stereo sonic experience of cinematic songs, block-rocking beats and angelic vocals.
“The karma yogi knows that to serve another is to serve oneself, as there is no real separation between us,” says Parvati. “The Arctic Ocean may seem far away, but what happens in the Arctic affects us all. For thousands of years, the Arctic sea ice has protected humanity from an overheated earth. With it melting quickly, it’s now our turn to safeguard the Arctic Ocean.”
Watch the “I Am Light” video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btKji3_lvOo
Sign the MAPS petition: https://parvati.org/
