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.
Millennium Goals & Climate Change
These International Days 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.
2013 United Nations International Years
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 May the Spiritual Caucus invites you to link in with 30 minutes of silence in the UN Meditation Room on May 2, at 12:45 EST and with the full one hour meeting on Thursday, May 16 at 1:30 PM EST.
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May Please Hold These Events in the Light
May 1
May Day / International Worker's Day / Labour Day / Beltane
May 1st, traditionally a holiday in many parts of the world, celebrates the achievements of the labour movement in improving the conditions and rights of all working people. The day is also widely observed in the Northern Hemisphere in celebration of the coming of Spring and as the Beltane Festival of the Celtic tradition.
wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day
wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Workers%27_Day
The vision behind this Day, which has been organized every year since 2004 by the Love Foundation, is to unite one and all in a celebration of love and compassion. We honor each May 1st as a symbolic day of unconditional love and call upon all people and all nations to gather together in the wisdom of peace and love.
Under the theme 'Love begins with me' all are invited to celebrate with us by consciously focusing on love and what it means to you throughout this day. We hope that by practicing love in all areas of your life, you will find it easy to love unconditionally all year long.
www.thelovefoundation.com/Global_Love_Day.htm
May 3
World Press Freedom Day
2013 theme: Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media
It is easy for those of us who live in liberal democracies to take a relatively free press for granted. Freedom of the press expressing a wide diversity of opinions and voices is essential to the health of a community. Reporters Without Borders document the many areas of the world in which journalists are far from free.
Celebrations of the Day around the world include presentation of an annual UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize
www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/
www.un.org/en/events/pressfreedomday/
May 5
International Permaculture Day
Permaculture is a design system for creating sustainable human environments. It is about designing households and communities that are productive, sustaining and largely self reliant and have minimal impact on the environment.
Permaculture Day has been widely celebrated as a National day with local community events across Australia for a number of years. It is now beginning to be observed by communities around the world. This year events are listed in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. Permaculture Day is held on the first Sunday of May.
www.permacultureday.org
May 11
World Fair Trade Day
2013 theme: Strengthening Fair Trade Relationships with the 10 Principles of Fair Trade
The global crisis confirms the need for a fair and sustainable economy locally and globally. Trade must benefit the most vulnerable and deliver sustainable livelihoods by developing opportunities for small and disadvantaged producers. Millions of producers and traders, business and policy makers, supporting organizations and volunteers have contributed to the substantial growth of Fair Trade.
The 10 principles of fair trade include: creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged peoples; payment of a fair price to producers that can be sustained by the market; ensuring no child labour and no forced labour; respect for the environment.
Fair Trade Day events will be held in more than 70 countries. The Day is organized by the members of the World Fair Trade Organizations
www.wfto.com
May 11 - 12
World Migratory Bird Day
Theme for 2013: Networking for Migratory Birds
World Migratory Bird Day is an annual awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the protection of migratory birds and their habitats. On the second weekend each May, people around the world take action and organise public events such as bird festivals, education programmes and birdwatching excursions to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day.
The 2013 theme highlights the importance of networks of sites for migratory birds along their migration routes.... Migratory birds travel huge distances along their migration routes, sometimes even tens of thousands of kilometres. These connected sites act like 'stepping stones' and are used by birds to migrate. They are important for resting, feeding, breeding and wintering.
www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/2013/
May 15
International Day of Families
2013 theme: Advancing social integration and intergenerational solidarity
International Day of Families highlights the importance of families as basic units of society and provides an opportunity for governments, organizations and individuals to promote understanding of the problems, strengths and needs of families.
This years theme draws attention to two goals:
- social integration: to bring all social groups, particularly vulnerable groups, and individuals into the political,
social, cultural and economic structures of a society so that they can participate in the decision-making process and improve their access to opportunities.
- and intergenerational solidarity: bonding between and among individuals in multigenerational family networks and among different age cohorts in the larger community.
http://social.un.org/index/Family/
May 16
UN General Assembly Debate: Sustainable Development & Climate Change: Pratical Solutions in the Energy-Water Nexus
Water and energy lie at the heart of efforts to respond to the need for urgent, practical sustainable solutions to development.
This thematic debate will examine and discuss the challenges and opportunities in managing the water-energy nexus to enhance sustainable development and meet the challenge of climate change.
http://www.un.org/en/ga/president/67/
May 17
World Telecommunication & Information Society Day
2013 theme: ICTs and improving road safety
This is a day to reflect on information and communications technology (ICT) which is linking people the world over, as Peter Russell says, in much the same way as are the billions of cells in our own brain. The Day aims to raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other ICTs can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide between rich and poor.
This years theme highlights the fact that communication technologies can play a major role in reducing road accidents.
www.itu.int/en/wtisd
May 17 - 18
Global Elementary Model United Nations, Dallas, TX, USA
Every year since 1990 Elementary and Middle School children from several countries participate in this unique Model United Nations, role playing different governments in response to various issues before the UN General Assembly and the governing bodies of different UN Agencies. Over the years more than 6,000 children have taken part.
GEMUN is an excellent hands-on approach to learning in a global context. By role-playing delegates to the United Nations, young people from varied backgrounds learn about other countries, cultures and international relationships, while developing a global perspective on real issues confronting the world community today, and acquiring many transferable skills.
www.unol.org/gemun/
May 20 - 31
UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, UN HQ, New York
The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), established at the promptings of indigenous peoples, is a high-level UN body charged to advise the Economic and Social Council on all matters dealing with indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, environment, education, health and human rights. Annual meetings of the Forum provide a focal point for discussion of indigenous peoples issues at the UN - they are attended by representatives of large numbers of indigenous peoples groups from around the world who also meet together in a Global Caucus, a Womens Caucus and a Youth Caucus. During the Forum there is a strong presence of Indigenous Peoples at UN Headquarters.
social.un.org/index/IndigenousPeoples.aspx
May 21
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
An international Day to mark the important role that dialogue between different cultures plays in the overall development of society. A new global consciousness is in process of emerging. While human unity and the oneness of life are greatly valued; the immense diversity of human cultures is also held in high esteem.
Following the events of 11 September 2001, the 185 member states of UNESCO unanimously adopted the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. The Declaration reflects the conviction that respect for cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue is one of the surest guarantees of development and peace.
Check out the Facebook page for the Day: Do One Thing for Diversity and Inclusion.
www.un.org/en/events/culturaldiversityday/
May 22
International Day for Biological Diversity
2013 theme: Water & Biodiversity
The day marks the date of adoption of the Convention on Biodiversity, and focuses on actions being taken by nations and communities to conserve and protect the fragile eco-system of the planet.
Water is essential for life. No living being on planet Earth can survive without it. It is a prerequisite for human health and well-being as well as for the preservation of the environment. Watch the Biodiversity Day Power Point presentation, Drinking Water, Biodiversity and Development
.
www.cbd.int/idb/2013/
May 22 - 24
Economics of the Commons, International Conference, Berlin, Germany
This is the second major gathering of the global commons movement. The Commons Movement has been defined as a movement of "people self-organizing to co-produce & co-govern resources essential to their livelihood and/or well-being".
One of the most significant impediments to positive social change is the entrenched power of market-fundamentalism as an economic and political paradigm. The prevailing dogma is that only a scheme of individual self-interest, expansive individual property rights, market exchange and globalized free trade can advance human well-being. This view has increasingly been called into question as the predatory dynamics of the market economy became clear and as its threats to the biosphere have become more acute.
During the conference the paradigm of the commons will be explored as as an alternative worldview and provisioning system.
www.kosmosjournal.org/articles/
p2pfoundation.net/ECC2013
commonsrising.ning.com
May 29
International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
May 29 - 30
Social Innovation Summit, (May 30 at United Nations Headquarters, New York)
The Social Innovation Summit is a private forum, jointly organized by the United Nations Office of Partnerships, to explore "What's Next?" in the world of Social Innovation. Participants include Corporate Executives, Government Leaders, Investors, Foundation Heads and Social Entrepreneurs eager to discuss social challenges, analyze innovative approaches and build lasting partnerships that enable them and their organizations to affect positive social change.
www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/53222/home/?&
May 31
World No-Tobacco Day
2013 theme: Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship
Since May 1999, the World Health Organisation has been co-ordinating an international political process inspired by the idea that every tobacco related death is preventable. Tobacco use is one of the leading preventable causes of death. The global tobacco epidemic kills nearly 6 million people each year, of which more than 600,000 are people exposed to second-hand smoke.
The WHO (World Health Organization) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which came into force in 2005 has become one of the most widely embraced treaties in UN history with over 170 parties.
www.who.int/tobacco/wntd/en/
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