Christine Thuring is one of our greatest BAM enthusiasts. After several years organising and running events in Sheffield, Christine has been coordinating Buddhist Action Month on behalf of the Network of Buddhist Organisations (NBO) since 2016. The NBO initiated the BAM campaign in 2012, and is a UK-based organisation uniting numerous Buddhist traditions. (Because Triratna is a member of the NBO, all members of the Triratna sangha in the UK are automatically members of the NBO. Check it out, there are lots of interesting projects and campaigns!)
In 2016, iIn response to a session at Green Earth Awakening on socially-engaged Dharma, Christine initiated a reflective project with the aim of determining how BAM could better serve individuals and society. More explicitly, the project sought to determine what tools had been most effective for sharing BAM events and activities (e.g., phone calls and posters versus social media?). A survey was conducted by a fantastic collaborative team, inquiring into technologies but also perceptions of BAM and the demographics of those involved. The results are easy to read, with figures and highlights of key findings; take a look if you haven’t come across it yet.
If you'd like to get involved in this exciting campaign, then don't hesitate to get in touch! The NBO will need a new BAM coordinator in 2018, and new members for the BAM committee. It's a wonderful way to work with Buddhists from Triratna and from different traditions, and a very rewarding project.
2017 BAM report