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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 hold these events in the light of a Higher Wisdom.
Millennium Goals & Climate Change
These International Days reflect important themes in the mobilisation of energies to:
2012 United Nations International Years
Rio + 20 Sustainable Development Summit, June 20-22
Civil society, business and governments are all actively preparing for the 2012 Earth Summit in Rio, marking the 20th anniversary of the first Earth Summit. In this special year when the mythology of the Mayan Calendar coincides with important astrological alignments the Rio Earth Summit needs our full attention. Interesting preparatory processes include Global Transition 2012 globaltransition2012.org/ led by Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future, New Economics Foundation & New Economics Institute and the inspirational '50 + 20 Year Project' www.50plus20.org where Business School and Management Education networks are developing a future agenda for Business Education to be presented at Rio + 20.
www.earthsummit2012.org
www.uncsd2012.org
Silence at the United Nations
The Spiritual Caucus at the United Nations gathers in the vicinity of UN Headquarters in New York (October - 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 Meditation Room in the public lobby of UN Headquarters in New York.
Please link in from wherever you are. More information at: http://www.spiritualcaucusun.org/
In February the Spiritual Caucus invites you to link in with 30 minutes of silence in the UN Meditation Room on January 5, at 12:45 EDT; to link in providing a silent group presence at the special meeting in the General Assembly of the United Nations on Tuesday, February 7, marking the World Interfaith Harmony Week (see opposite); and with the full one hour meeting on Thursday, February 16 at 1:15 PM EST.
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February Please Hold These Events in the Light
January 15 - February 23
Winter Feast for the Soul
People around the world from different spiritual paths are invited to join their intention for personal and planetary peace by comitting to forty minutes of spiritual practice each day for forty days. Although the Feast marks the Northern Winter participants are from northern and southern hemispheres.
We hold a vision of a world at peace that surpasses the imagined boundaries of creed, culture, and philosophical beliefs.We embrace all spiritual traditions and organizations in a synchronized period of practice where we become part of a shared dream for a consciousness of oneness and peace on our planet.
winterfeastforthesoul.com
January 30 - April 4
Gandhi King Season for Nonviolence
A 64-day educational, media, and grassroots campaign dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform, and empower our lives and our communities. Inspired by the 50th and 30th memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this international event honors their vision for an empowered, nonviolent world.
http://www.agnt.org/node/10
February 1 - 7
World Interfaith Harmony Week
In November 2010, following a proposal by HM King Abdullah II and HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan, the United Nations General Assembly decided to observe the first week of February every year as World Interfaith Harmony Week. The resolution recognized that the moral imperatives of all religions, convictions and beliefs
call for peace, tolerance and mutual understanding, and it reaffirmed that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace … Read the full resolution here.
Events will be held around the world to mark the Week. Special note should be made of a meeting, Common Ground for the Common Good, in the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations on Tuesday, February 7 (the day of the Aquarius full moon), 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM.
In calling for this meeting the President of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser of Qatar stated: The recently-concluded Fourth Doha Forum on the Alliance of Civilizations has inspired me immensely in making this call to the international community to promote respect for diversity and pluralism regardless of religion, race or ethnicity. It is this spirit of mutual respect that will afford us a firm building block in the establishment of a global culture of peace, a climate of hope and healing to address the challenges that confront our world today.
The World Interfaith Harmony Week provides a platform—one week in a year—when all interfaith groups and other groups of goodwill can show the world what a powerful movement they are. The thousands of events organized by these groups often go unnoticed not only by the general public, but also by other groups themselves. This week will allow for these groups to become aware of each other and strengthen the movement by building ties and avoiding duplicating each others’ efforts.
worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com
www.interfaithharmonyweek.info
February 1 - 10
United Nations Commission for Social Development
2012 theme: Poverty Eradication
The 46-member UN Commission for Social Development (CSD) is charged to advise the Economic and Social Council of the UN and Governments on social issues and the social perspective on development. Following the 1995 World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen the CSD is the major UN body responsible for implementation and follow-up on the Programme of Action agreed to at the Summit. This means that the annual meetings of the Commission in New York provide an important arena for governments and civil society to review progress and develop dialogue around key themes, including poverty eradication, disability, youth, ageing, families.
During the 10 days of the Commission conference rooms at UN Headquarters in New York will be full of events organized by civil society as well as governments on the theme of poverty eradication. NGO events include: Transition in the Arab World: Poor-People Power for Peace, Democracy and Progress; Equitable Societies: A Roundtable Discussion on the Underlying Assumptions of the Relationship between Poverty and Wealth; Cooperatives and Youth Employment.
social.un.org/index/CommissionforSocialDevelopment/Sessions/2012.aspx
www.ngosocdev.net/
February 2
World Wetlands Day
2012 Theme: Wetlands and Tourism
On February 2,1971 an intergovernmental treaty was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar, on the shores of the Caspian Sea. The Treaty, known as the Ramsar Convention, commits member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories. It is the only environmental treaty governing a particular ecosystem. World Wetlands Day has been observed on February 2, every year since 1977. Government agencies, NGO's, and people of concern mark the day with activities to raise awareness of the value of wetlands and their need for protection.
Ensuring well-managed tourism practices in and around wetlands and educating tourists on the value of wetlands contributes to their health and the long-term benefits that wetlands provide to people, wildlife, economics, and biodiversity.
www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-activities-wwds-wwd2012index/main/ramsar/1-63-78%5E25324_4000_0__
February 4
World Cancer Day
On this Day groups around the world shine a light on the global impact of cancer and efforts to raise the quality of care for cancer patients. Cancer is the generic term for a large group of diseases in which cells grow out of control and can spread to other parts of the body. Cancer involves a series of mutations or changes in the genetic make up of a cell, causing it to look and function differently from normal cells. Thus, cancer is actually a disease of the cell.
Every year the equivalent of the entire population of Switzerland dies from cancer - two thirds of these deaths occur in low and middle-income countries. Cancer kills more people every year than AIDS, malaria and TB combined. It is estimated by the UN's World Health Organisation that between 2005 and 2015, 84 million people will die of cancer without intervention. Research suggests that one-third of all cancer deaths can be avoided by prevention and another third by earthly detection and treatment.
For many cancer patients and their families the disease provides an opportunity to access deep spiritual resources and there are now a wide range of programs in meditation, spiritual development and alternative therapies offered as part of cancer treatment. See, for example, the US government's National Cancer Institute:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/spirituality/Patient. Similar sites are available from major cancer centers in many countries.
www.worldcancerday.org
WHO World Cancer Day
February 20
World Day of Social Justice
The United Nations World Day of Social Justice celebrates the international agreements reached at the World Summit on Social Development in Copenhagen, 1995.
On this Day governments are called upon to undertake concrete activities towards the goals of poverty eradication, full employment and social integration.
The World Summit in 1995 recognised that social development aims at social justice, solidarity, harmony and equality within and among countries and social justice, equality and equity constitute the fundamental values of all societies. To achieve "a society for all" governments made a commitment to the creation of a framework for action to promote social justice at national, regional and international levels. They also pledged to promote the equitable distribution of income and greater access to resources through equity and equality and opportunity for all. The governments recognized as well that economic growth should promote equity and social justice and that "a society for all" must be based on social justice and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
http://www.un.org/en/events/socialjusticeday/
February 21
International Mother Language Day
We live in One World, and are all part of One Life. Yet within this unified whole each individual unit is precious and significant. It is essential that cultural diversity be fostered to maintain richness and variety in the human community. At the heart of culture is language.
Each individual's mother language plays a vital role in their health and development: "It is the language of childhood, of intimate family experience and of our social relations". Yet in a world of increasing globalization small language groups find it increasingly difficult to survive.
UNESCO estimates that about half of the approximately 6,000 languages spoken in the world are under threat.
International Mother Language Day promotes linguistic and cultural diversity and multi-lingualism The date represents the day in 1952 when students demonstrating for recognition of their language, Bangla, as one of the two national languages of the then Pakistan, were shot and killed by police in Dhaka, the capital of what is now Bangladesh.
http://www.un.org/en/events/motherlanguageday/
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/languages-in-education/advocacy/international-mother-language-day-21-february-2009/
February 27 - March 9
UN Commission on the Status of Women
2012 Priority Theme: The empowerment of rural women and their role in poverty and hunger eradication, development and current challenges
Every year, representatives of Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide.
Together with the policy making deliberations the Commission acts as a focal point for a vast number of gatherings at UN HQ, organised by governments, international agencies and NGO's. It is always a joy to be at UN Headquarters during the CSW sessions when there are so many women present. The list of official parallel events and unofficial NGO events will be available soon online.
Imagine what a concentration of thinking and energy the Commission represents - and consider the role it plays in mobilising the will to promote gender equality.
www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/56sess.htm
www.ngocsw.org
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