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 hold these events in the light of a Higher Wisdom.
A new world is in process of being born. The conferences and events featured here are one important part of the transformation that is taking place in the way we think about the future, plan for the future and act to bring that future into the present.
Millennium Goals & Climate Change
These International Days and events reflect important themes in the mobilization of energies to:
- fulfill the historic promise made by world leaders in 1999 to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, halving extreme poverty
- to respond appropriately to the urgent needs of climate change
- and to engage people of goodwill all over the world in the process of defining new Sustainable Development Goals to replace the Millennium Development Goals that expire in 2015.
2014 United Nations International Years
2015:
2015 will be observed as International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies & International Year of Soils. more information. It is also marks the conclusion of the Millennium Development Goals and the launch of a new set of goals for the international community, the Sustainable Development Goals.
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. Traditionally a gathering has been held in the Meditation Room in the public lobby of UN Headquarters in New York, but during the major redevelopment of the UN building in NY the Meditation Room is closed so on this first Thursday all are invited to hold the Meditation Room in the light and ponder its significance.
Please link in from wherever you are. More information at: http://www.spiritualcaucusun.org/
In July the Spiritual Caucus is on a summer break.
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July Please Hold These Events in the Light
June 30 - July 9
UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, United Nations, New York
The whole United Nations system is engaged in a process of dialogue and negotiation as principles of sustainable development are brought into every area of UN activity. The High Level Political Forum (including heads of state)meets once a year. It provides important political leadership and guidance and acts as a review to ensure that principles are being expressed in action.
We have created this Forum for the express purpose of delivering more effectively on our aspirations and agendas at a time when we realize that the practice of sustainability provides the only real bridge from our past to our present and our future, and from our planet to our peoples and our prosperity. John W. Ashe, President of the 68th session of the General Assembly
sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?menu=1768
July 1
Fast for the Earth
On the first day of every month people from all walks of life and from all parts of the world are fasting to stand in solidarity with vulnerable people who are most affected by dangerous climate impacts.
By choosing not to eat on the first day of every month, a growing movement of fasters including many youth groups, environmentalists and faith communities, is calling for world leaders to act to confront the climate crisis.
www.fastfortheearth.com
fastfortheclimate.org
July 3
International Bag Free Day
Every minute of every day 1 million non-biodegradeable single use plastic bags are in use around the world. Each bag is used on average for only 25 minutes and, depending on the type of plastic, it takes between 100 to 500 years for it to disintegrate.
On Bag Free Day citizens groups around the world campaign for single use plastic bags to be banned.
www.plasticbagfreeday.org/
July 5
International Cooperative Day
Theme 2014: Co-operative enterprises achieve sustainable development for all.
The cooperative movement encompassing financial organisations, farmers, producers and consumers is playing an incredible role in pioneering new ethics and values in business and economics. This Day, which is observed on the first Saturday of July, marks the formation in 1895 of the International Cooperative Alliance. Today the Alliance includes 268 member organizations (many of which include thousands of cooperatives) from 93 countries, representing one billion individuals worldwide.
We forget how widespread cooperative enterprises are: in Kenya 63% of the population derive their livelihood from cooperatives; in the US 30,000 cooperatives provide over 2 million jobs; in 2007 consumer cooperatives in Denmark held 36.4% of the consumer retail market; 91% of all Japanese farmers are members of cooperatives. .
The basis of co-operation lies primarily in mutual responsibility. - Agni Yoga, Heart, 559
ica.coop/en/events/all
http://undesadspd.org/Cooperatives.aspx
July 11
World Population Day
Achievement of all the Millennium Development Goals will require significant progress in lowering the birth rate in many of the economically poorest countries largely by improving reproductive health services and family planning. A recent report from the UN Population Fund, UNFPA, finds that up to 3.6 million deaths could be avoided each year if midwifery services are upgraded by 2015. Check out the excellent UN Population Fund site exploring the links between the Goals and Population issues: www.unfpa.org/pds/
worldpopulationday.org/
www.un.org/en/events/populationday/
July 12
Full Moon - Cancer
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 Millenium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals will be achieved.
www.lucistrust.org
www.worldservicegroup.com/
July 14 - 18
Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations, New York - 13th Session
Focus of attention at the United Nations is on discussions to prepare a new set of Sustainable Development Goals for the human community. The plan is for these goals to be aspirational and easy to communicate - goals that can inspire people of goodwill in all parts of the world with a vision of achievable future possibilities. Nothing like the level of dialogue and noegotiation surrounding the birth of these new SDG's has ever happened before - in the history of the UN, or in human history. So it is worth paying attention - these can be goals that we the people of the world share, and that we take responsibility for working towards them. Discussions center around 17 focus areas - from 'Poverty eradication, building shared prosperity and promoting equality' to 'Peaceful and inclusive societies, rule of law and capable institutions'.
This 13th meeting of the Group is the final session when the goals and targets are defined and ready for presentation to the General Assembly and to the Secretary-General. This is one important phase in a wider process involving governments and heads of state before the final goals will be defined.
The Working Group consists of 30 members of the General Assembly charged with the task of presenting a proposal for the SDG's to the full General Assembly.In order to involve all members states in this process an innovative process has been developed. Each of the 30 seats on the Working Group is shared by a group of 1-4 nations, with each group deciding how it will work together.
sustainabledevelopment.un.org/
July 18
Nelson Mandela International Day
This official United Nations Day has been observed every year on Nelson Mandela's birthday since 2010. Following Mandela's death in December 2013 there is special poignancy to the Day this year.
The Day honors Mandela's stature as a world leader and his remarkable contribution to freedom, justice and democracy. He is indeed greatly loved by people of goodwill around the world. Nelson Mandela is a living embodiment of the highest values of the United Nations. … He is an exemplary global citizen, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The overarching objective of Mandela Day is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for good. Ultimately it seeks to empower communities everywhere. "Take Action; Inspire Change; Make Every Day a Mandela Day."
www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/
www.mandeladay.com/
July 23 - 26
Nexus Global Youth Summit on Innovative Philanthropy and Social Entrepreneurship, UN Headquarters, New York, USA
This is the fourth in an annual series of global gatherings bringing together young philanthropists, investors, social entrepreneurs and allies. The event aims to inspire new leadership, greater generosity, and more strategic investing in social and environmental projects. Nexus is a global movement of 2000+ young people from over 70 countries working to increase and improve philanthropy and impact investing by bridging communities of wealth and social entrepreneurship.
www.nexusyouthsummit.org/global2014/
July 28
World Hepatitis Day
Hepatitis remains largely unknown as a health threat in many regions of the world - yet around 240 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B and around 150 million people chronically infected with hepatitis C. Many of those who are infected with the disease have no symptoms, often for decades, until they develop chronic liver disease. Approximately 1.4 million people die every year as a result of the virus, commonly from cirrhosis and liver cancer.
World Hepatitis day provides an opportunity to hold this silent epidemic in the light, focussing on strengthening prevention, screening and control; increasing Hepatitis B vaccine coverage and coordinating a global response to hepatitis.
www.who.int/campaigns/hepatitis-day/
www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/
July 30
International Day of Friendship
United Nations International Day of Friendship highlights friendship as the fundamental glue uniting people across diverse cultures and backgrounds; an essential requirement in building of Cultures of Peace and fundamental to the work of the United Nations.
The idea of friendship permeates the work and ideals of the United Nations. The Charter proclaims that one of the purposes of the Organization is "to develop friendly relations among nations". These same words appear in the preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. UNESCO’s Constitution speaks of the need for peace based not just on the "political and economic arrangements of governments", but on the "intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind". And the UN Alliance of Civilizations initiative aims to improve cooperation and understanding among nations and peoples across cultures and religions, including to counter the forces that fuel extremism. Ban Ki-moon
www.un.org/en/events/friendshipday/
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