Education News: Top Stories

Maharishi Institute in Johannesburg celebrates gift of Ezemvelo Nature Reserve by Nicky and Strilli Oppenheimer
by Global Good News staff writer

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3 September 2008

Raja Bob LoPinto, Raja of Invincible South Africa for the Global Country of World Peace, recently returned from a very exciting visit to South Africa, and reported about his trip on Maharishi's Global Family Chat on 26 August. He was speaking from Tower II in Rockville, Maryland, USA, which is the largest office building in the world built according to the principles of Maharishi Sthapatya Veda .

Raja LoPinto said that his trip was 'extremely delightful'. The overall goal for South Africa, as it is for all countries, is the enlightenment of the individual and invincibility for the nation.

The primary purpose of his trip was to attend a grand celebration and appreciation for the wonderful gift donated by Nicky and Strilli Oppenheimer to the Maharishi Institute in Johannesburg, of a 4,500 hectare nature reserve about one and a half hours from the city. Mr Oppenheimer is Chairman one of the largest diamond mining companies in the world, and the Oppenheimers are world class environmental conservationists.

Raja LoPinto explained that the Oppenheimers had created 'The Diamond Route', an umbrella organization that supports and promotes ecology, heritage, and eco-tourism on properties surrounding the diamond mines and properties owned by the Oppenheimers. The Oppenheimers also created the 'Diamond Birding Route', and the 'Diamond Insect Route', to foster research into conservation, all about birds and insects, and all aspects of ecology, the environment, and plant and animal life.

The Oppenheimers have maintained a deep commitment to the people, the environment, the heritage and culture of Africa and South Africa. In their education projects they feel that students need to be brought back to nature, and that is why the Oppenheimers felt this gift is so appropriate for the Maharishi Institute in South Africa.

Raja LoPinto showed slides of the celebration, at which Dr Taddy Blecher, Director of Education for the Global Country of World Peace in South Africa—'who has done extraordinary work to create the Maharishi Invincibility Institute under Maharishi's guidance'—presented a plaque to the Oppenheimers. The Institute offers Consciousness-Based Education and free tertiary education to underprivileged young South Africans.

Raja LoPinto quoted the Oppenheimers as saying that it's 'important to root yourself in Nature. It's great to live in Johannesburg, but you miss out if you don't touch the earth from time to time. Ezemvelo Nature Reserve is a special part of the world, peaceful and natural.'

The Oppenheimers had felt this gift was appropriate and right since the Maharishi Institute has done 'fantastic work, extraordinary, and was missing one element, to root into the earth, to . . . become one with nature.

'The Institute's project and school is exciting and we believe it will make a difference to South Africa. Ezemvelo will give the Institute another leg, more stability. For Strilli and I,' said Nicky Oppenheimer, 'this is the fulfilment of a dream. We couldn't find better people to look after this piece of nature.'

Please see also the Global Good News article about the Oppenheimer's gift and the Maharishi Institute's plans for programmes it intends to offer at the reserve.

Further information about the Maharishi Institute and the gift of the Ezemvelo Nature Reserve will be featured in Excellence in Action in the coming days.

©Copyright 2008 Global Good News^®

Global Good News comment:

For information about Maharishi's seven-point programme to create a healthy, happy, prosperous society, and a peaceful world, please visit: Global Financial Capital of New York.

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