In 2005, Sir Tom was appointed NZ High Commissioner in Wellington, which was another fascinating time meeting other world leaders and diplomats. When his position ended, we bought a home in Montville, QLD, Australia, and moved there.
GLOBAL ENERGY PARLIAMENT
After Sir Tom died in 2007 from fish poisoning while in Rarotonga, I continued to participate as a Peace Ambassador.
In 2010, I was invited to speak at the inaugural session of the Global Energy Parliament (GEP) in Trivandrum, Kerala, India. The Isa Viswa Prajnana (IVP) Trust, started by HH Jagadguru Swami Isa, organizes the GEP. I was somewhat apprehensive about spending time in India because of food concerns. However, my inner spirit insisted I go. So, I read as much as I could about India, and off I went in November 2010, from Brisbane, via Singapore, to Trivandrum.
India was and still is an exotically different world, unlike anything I had ever experienced. The crowdedness, sights, sounds, smells, animals, and poverty seen along the roadways were astonishing and hard to grasp.
At the hotel, I met lovely Mira Purn (originally from the US), program coordinator, and devotee of HH Swami Isa. Mira works hard and long to ensure everyone is well taken care of and that everything goes as Swami scheduled. A huge task!
At the Ashram, I met HH Jagadguru Swami Isa, the founder of the IVP Trust and the GEP. We had a unique spiritual connection, and each year, I learned more about his wisdom, I-Theory, yoga mastery, and dedication to his Education for Total Consciousness (ETC) school. His projects, ETC dedication, and mastery were an inspiration that solidified my support and commitment to the GEP for the past 15 years.
The three days in Parliament were long, very active, and also immensely rewarding. It was a pleasure connecting with the dignitaries, government leaders, and fascinating guest speakers, such as Sir James Mancham, Founding President of the Seychelles, Dr. Masaru Emoto, Messages from Water author, Dr. Rahul Jindal, U.S. Kidney transplant surgeon, Dr. Lindsay Baines, U.S. MD, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Under Secretary General of the UN, Dr. Shraddha Ingale, Professor from India, Prof. CSP Iyer, GEP, Dr. MR Thampan, GEP Secretary, Clara Cressy, Julien Carroll from France, Dr. Klaus Volkamer, Kerala Min. Binoy Vishwam, MIP Prof. P.J. Kurien, and from Germany: Dr. UweReuter, Germany, Marcus & Franziska Guderie, Stephanie Pfeiffer to name a few.
The students I spoke with were an inspiration beyond all expectations. They gave me hope for the future. The attitude of young people in India is vastly different than that in Western countries. Indian youth are eager to learn and please others. They have a spirit unlike any other. I can see why so many people fall in love with India despite the poverty and pollution. It is the people and their spirit that make a place.
On day two, during a break, I was invited to meet HH, the Maharaja of Travancore Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma at his palace. He was Oxford-educated and gave a meaningful, thought-provoking speech to GEP members at the end of Parliament. It was an honor to meet him, and sadly, he has since passed away.
During my stay, I accepted the position as the GEP Minister for Environment. It encompasses the inner and outer environments, enabling me to make use of my nutrition knowledge. Good nutrition begins in the soil, and our inner and outer environments are inseparable. I also visited ancient temples and other historical sights. India is rich in history and culture.
There was no way I was going to be in India and not see the Taj Mahal. So, when the GEP ended, I flew to New Delhi and stayed at the notable Imperial Hotel. Their hallways looked like an art museum, and their service was outstanding. While there, I visited Mrs. Kamla Singhvi, the widow of one of India’s High Court Justices, both of whom I had met as a fellow Peace Ambassador in Hawaii. Mrs. Singhvi provided an Indian feast of delicacies for me, but almost everything contained sugar. So I couldn’t indulge as I didn’t want to get sick on my once-in-a-lifetime Indian adventure.
To get to the Taj Mahal in Agra, I had to hire a driver. He was excellent and ensured that we only stopped at safe-to-eat restaurants. My favorite meals were with goat meat and vegetables. They were delicious! Along the way, I saw some ancient forts and historical sites. What an amazing history I saw, before my eyes!
Viewing the beauty of the Taj Mahal, as I did for the first time, early in the morning, brought tears to my eyes. I think it is the most beautiful architectural masterpiece in the world. I walked around it and inside several times, touching its magnificent marble walls, decorated with stone inlays. And, I connected with its spirit. A photographer took photos to document my dream of a lifetime experience. The photos tell the rest. With its beauty implanted in my heart, I was sad to bid the Taj Mahal farewell.
The next day, I was in Jaipur, the famous, historic ’pink city,’ for another fascinating experience! The small hotel I stayed at was very accommodating with preparing healthy, gluten-free, sugar-free meals, which was a blessing. I visited some of Jaipur’s picturesque historic sites and had some beautiful saris and clothes made according to my designs. The silks, jewelry, and colors of India are gorgeous! And, the skills of the workers were outstanding. Perhaps it is the Italian in me, but I love beautiful things, including Indian silks, saris, and the Taj Mahal!
In 2017, I attended another GEP in Trivandrum, India, as the GEP Minister for Environment. The theme was Science for Happiness and Freedom. I brought a big box full of educational books for Swami’s Isa Viswa Vidyalayam ETC School and enjoyed speaking with the children.
GEP Speaker Dr. CV Ananda Bose, whom I have befriended, arranged a special dinner for me at a nearby hotel and presented me with a beautiful white and gold sari. It was an honor and another heart-warming, memorable event. The next day at the GEP, it was nice to see some of the members I met from the 2010 GEP and meet more of our European delegation, such as Dr. Christophe Dumas, Dr. Kiran Vyas, Dr. Anuja gsi, and Dr. Dirk and Susanne Seeling, whom I have befriended. Ven. Banagala Upatissa Nayaka Thero, Buddhist leader, Sri Lanka, VS Achuthanandan, former Chief Min. Kerala, Madhavan Nair, former ISRO Dir., and former speakers of Kerala State Assembly.
At the end of each GEP session, we prepare recommendations and solutions for global problems to present to other countries. When unable to attend each GEP in person, I attended virtually online.
The 2023 GEP, with the Science and Faith theme, was hosted by the new Governor of West Bengal, HE Dr. CV Ananda Bose, at the Raj Bhavan (Gov. mansion built 1799-1803), in Kolkata.
When I received the invitation, there was no way I could refuse my GEP family. However, Texas, where I was residing, is at the opposite end of the earth from India. It was a long and grueling journey, but with mileage points, I could upgrade to business class, which meant better food and more comfort.
The excitement and joy of arriving back in India, staying at the Raj Bhavan (see photos), and reconnecting with Swamiji, Mira, my GEP family, and another Parliament event overpowered the tiredness of the long trip.