The United Nations designated 21st May as “International Tea Day”. FAO announced the ceremony of the International Tea Day will start from 14:00 Roma time on the webcast of FAO.
“The celebration promotes the sustainable production, consumption and trade of tea, and offers an opportunity for actors at global, regional and national levels to ensure that the tea sector continues to play a role in reducing extreme poverty, fighting hunger and safeguarding natural resources.” This phrase is described on the announcement page of FAO webcast.
As a tea enthusiast and tea-science-lover, I hope the celebration provide us with a great opportunity and motivation to accelerate the sustainable activities related to tea worldwide.
For example, I hope FAO would introduce “Chagusaba Practice” as one of the sustainable activities of tea farming. This traditional management of tea plantation using grass grown the surrounding “Traditional Tea-Grass Integrated System” has been certified as one of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(GIAHS) by FAO.
On the other hand, the sustainability cannot be archieved without peaceful mind. This time might be a godd opportunity to review the beneficial effects of tea on our health, including not only physical aspect but also mental health, just in my opinion.
Tea has affected our mind historically. It is very famous that Zen monks used tea during their meditation. My favorite novel “Teaism of Shogun Administrator” describes that Sen no Rikyu he wished Cha-no-yu tea ceremony would provide people with spiritual serenity through the mental liberation, resulting in peaceful society. Besides, OKAKURA Kakuzo represented “teaism” as various expressions. “Moral geometry, in as much as it defines our sense of promotion to the universe.” “A tender attempt to accompolish something possible in this impossible thing we know as life.” “The cult founded on the adoration of the beautiful among the sordid facts of everyday existence.” … (We can read “Book of Tea” on the webpage of Yunomi and listen the book on Youtube.)
These expressions could imply the great contribution of tea and the culture on our mind.
International Tea Day could provide us with a great opportunity to think about tea from various aspects. Hopefully the ceremony could contribute the peace of our society via inner peace of us.
< Event information >
- Event : 1st Ceremony of International Tea Day
- Date : Start 14:00 (Roma time) on 21st, May, 2020.
- Venue : Online
- Access : We can see the ceremony via the webcast of FAO