Welcome
During International Days and major international conferences there is a special opportunity to serve in
the creation of a more unified and compassionate world.
As meditators we can symbolically stand together with all actively working in the spirit of the Charter of Compassion, and invoke the aid of the Forces of Light in support of these events.
Sustainable Development Goals & Climate Change
These International Days and events reflect important themes in the mobilization of energies to:
- End poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030 through practical actions to achieve the new Sustainable Development Goals
- engaging people of goodwill all over the world in a common movement.
2016 United Nations International Year
2017 United Nations International Year
Silence at the United Nations
The Spiritual Caucus at the United Nations gathers in the vicinity of UN Headquarters in New York (September - June) on the third Thursday every month for 30 minutes of silence followed by 30 minutes of dialogue, sharing insights and exploring ways to use an inner focus in service of the work of the UN. On the 1st Thursday of the month the Caucus invites friends to sit in silence for 30 minutes in the newly renovated Meditation Room at UN Headquarters in New York.
Please link in from wherever you are. More information at: http://www.spiritualcaucusun.org/
In April the Spiritual Caucus will gather for silence in the UN Meditation Room at UN Headquarters, New York on April 7 from 12.45 - 1.15 PM and for silence and discussion at the Baha'i International Community, UN Office, 866 United Nations Plaza, New York, on April 21 from 1.30 - 2.45pm.
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April Please Hold These Events in the Light
April 2
World Autism Awareness Day
2016 Theme: Autism and the 2030 Agenda: Inclusion and Neurodiversity
The Day seeks to improve the quality of people with autism, recognising that there is a high rate of people with autism in all regions of the world. The 2016 theme emphasises that Autism and other forms of disability are part of the human experience that contributes to human diversity. To avoid inequality all disabilities are being considered in approaches to the UN's 2030 Development Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
www.un.org/en/events/
www.autismspeaks.org
April 4
International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action
Following a 1997 Mine Ban Treaty most countries have now banned landmines, yet anti-personnel mines continue to be used as a weapon of war and areas remain dangerouse long after conflicts have ended. This United Nations Day marks a focus for campaigns to protect civilians from landmines and explosive remnants of war.
www.un.org/en/events/
www.icbl.org
April 4 - 15
Keep it in the Ground : Global Actions to keep Coal, Oil and Gas in the Ground
A global wave of mass actions will target the world's most dangerous fossil fuel projects, in order to keep coal, oil and gas in the ground and accelerate the just transition to 100% renewable energy.
Actions will take place in at least 11 countries, including Canada, US, UK, Brazil, Nigeria, Germany, Turkey, Indonesia,and Australia.
breakfree2016.org
2016 Theme: Beat Diabetes:
About 350 million people worldwide have diabetes (mostly in low and middle income countries) and this number is expected to double in the next 20 years
Diabetes is one of four Non-Communicable Diseases targeted in the SDG's with a goal of reducing premature mortality by one-third.
www.who.int/campaigns/
April 12 - 14
UN General Assembly Informal Hearings With Secretary-General Candidates
Who will replace Ban Ki-moon? In January 2017 a new Secretary-General will begin their term at the helm of the United Nations. As a sign of a movement to make the selection process more transparent the General Assembly will hold informal hearings with all official candidates for the position - currently there are 7 candidates. Representatives of civil society will also attend the Hearings and will have an opportunity to question the candidates.
A large international network of civil society organisations has launched the '1 for 7 billion campaign' calling for a more transparent system to select the best candidate for the job.
/www.un.org/
www.1for7billion.org/
April 15 -17
Global Youth Service Day
Global Youth Service Day is the largest annual celebration of young volunteers, where millions of young people from over 100 countries in 6 continents carry out thousands of community improvement projects.
I have hope that stems in large part from my knowledge that the future of this planet lies in the tremendous energy, enthusiasm, and commitment of young people around the world. Jane Goodall
www.gysd.org
April 19 - 21
UN General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem
This Special Session of the General Assembly has been called a Global Drug Policy Summit. It will be attended by government representatives, including a number of Heads of State, as well as NGO's and international organisations concerned with drug policy.
The goal of the Session will be to develop and co-ordinate policies leading to a significant reduction in the demand and supply of narcotic drugs. There will be a review of progress made in the implementation of a Plan of Action agreed to by governments in 2009.
www.ungass2016.org
idpc.net/policy-advocacy/
April 19 - 23
Global Soil Week
2015 was the International Year of Soils. During the year there were a massive number of events, publications, exhibitions and films aiming to foster awareness of the fundamental importance of soil for the well-being of the planet and its inhabitants.
Yet as Amy Green of the Global Soil Forum writes the achievement of a truly effective and sustainable protection of soil will require nothing less than an overhaul of our global society and its systems. The industrialized production and distribution systems currently used for food and consumer goods are simply neither sustainable nor equitable. We can no longer afford to squander our most precious soil resources, yet this continues unabated. Land degradation and demographic trends in global hot spots have set the stage for an explosive future. Awareness on the need for the sustainable management of soils and the responsible governance of land is as important as ever.
globalsoilweek.org
April 21
United Nations High Level Thematic Debate on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
The UN is, above all, a place where cooperation between national governments to achieve common ends is facilitated. This debate, hosted and enthusiastically promoted by the current President of the General Assembly, is designed to stimulate a political momentum for prompt action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. It will bring together global political, business and civil society leaders in New York to focus on kick-starting SDG implementation. The event will also build on the synergy that has been growing since the Paris Conference between efforts to act in response to climate change and efforts to implement the SDGs and the 2030 Transformative Agenda.
www.un.org/pga/
ngosbeyond2014.org
April 22
Full Moon Taurus & Wesak Festival
Since ancient times human beings have honored the full moon as a time when the sacred is most accesible. It is a time of light - the moon reflects the light of the sun onto the face of the earth. In astrology this is a time when the qualities and potentials of the zodiacal sign of the sun are especially available to humanity for use in service.
During the full moon religious and esoteric groups around the world use the opportunities of this time to vizualize light and love and spiritual power flowing into humanity and strengthening all that is being done to help prepare the way for a world of unity, justice and peace; a world in which the Sustainable Development Goals will be met.
www.lucistrust.org
www.worldservicegroup.com/
April 22
International Mother Earth Day & Earth Day
Over a billion people participate in Earth Day activities every year. It is the largest civic observance in the world, and is evidence of the massive concern to build right relations between humanity and the Earth. In 2009 the United Nations General Assembly added its weight to this popular movement, proclaiming April 22 International Mother Earth Day, with a significant resolution affirming the interdependence that exists among human beings, other living species and the planet we all inhabit.
Mother Earth Day is helping to define new emerging economic, social and political processes through which humanity is seeking to raise the quality of its relationships with Mother Earth.
www.harmonywithnatureun.org
www.un.org/en/events/motherearthday/
www.earthday.org
April 25
World Malaria Day
The global fight towards zero malaria deaths is one of the great stories of our time. A partnership of over 500 UN agencies, governments, organizations and stakeholders are working together in the Rollback Malaria Partnership. Throughout the past decade, as a result of this effort, deaths from malaria have steadily declined. The Malaria target in Goal 6 of the Millennium Development Goals, to halt and begin to reverse the incidence of malaria by 2015, was met 'convincingly'. Over 15 years new malaria cases dropped by 37%.
Yet malaria remains an acute problem in many areas. In 2015 there were an estimated 214 million new cases of the disease, and around 438,000 people died from malaria. (WHO Report on the Malaria Target) A new strategy aims to reduce malaria cases and deaths by 90% by 2030 from current levels. Four countries have been certified free of malaria in the last decade and the post-2015 strategy sets the goal of eliminating the disease from a further 35 countries by 2030.
www.who.int/campaigns/malaria-day/
www.malariaconsortium.org/
www.rollbackmalaria.org/
April 30
World Tai Chi and Quigong Day
The last Saturday of April each year in 100s of cities, spanning over 80 nations, people come together … to breathe together and provide a healing vision for our world.
www.worldtaichiday.org
April 30
International Jazz Day
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