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 October the Spiritual Caucus invites all to link subjectively on Thursday, 2nd, 12:45 - 1:15 USA Eastern Daylight Time, holding the Meditation Room at the United Nations in the light during this period when the Room is closed due to rennovation work. Please also link with the full meeting on Thursday, October 16 at 1.15 PM EDT.
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October Please Hold These Events in the Light
September 20 - October 20
Action for Seed, Food & Earth Democracy
Indian seed activist Vandana Shiva writes: Every passing year the interconnected crises of our planet become clearer; we face social, economic, and ecological collapse in every corner of our world. Industrial agriculture has degraded our land, destroyed our biodiversity, and uprooted farmers from their livelihoods and culture. By privatizing and patenting the seed, the old economy has created an ecological crisis and an economic disaster. It is imperative that we reclaim the commons of the seed, our land, and our cultural heritage. Every passing year the need for collective action becomes more urgent while the solutions to these crises become more evident. Stand with us as we commit to defending the freedom of the seed.
The Global Alliance for Seed Freedom calls for actions throughout this period, placing a special focus in October on October 2nd, Non-Violence Day; October 13, Columbus Day; and October 16, World Food Day.
seedfreedom.in
September 27 - October 3
New Story Summit, Findhorn Community, Scotland
The Summit is designed to support the emergence of a coherent new story for humanity and to produce practical, collaborative ways to live this new story. It is our call to people of all ages and cultures.
Kosmos Journal Newsletter writes The Summit promises to be a watershed event and is drawing multigenerational participants from around the globe: storytellers, indigenous leaders, activists, inspirers from many lands and traditions – all living their edge of the New Story. Almost as soon as the event was announced more people wanted to attend than were able to be accomodated and there are now groups of local summits to be held in different locations. Keep up to date at the New Story Hub
newstoryhub.com
October 1
International Day of Older Persons
Theme 2014: Leaving No One Behind: Promoting a Society for All
People are living longer. This is prompting governments and people's organisations all over the world to reflect deeply on how we can plan for future societies in which: every individual, each with rights and responsibilities, has an active role to play.
At every level of society - local communities, regional groups, peoples associations, governments and international coalitions - there is a potent focus on ways in which the wisdom, maturity, skills and heart qualities of older people can be fully incorporated into healthy communities.
www.un.org/en/events/olderpersonsday
October 2
International Day of Non-Violence
To mark the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the UN General Assembly decided that October 2nd be observed as an occasion to "disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness". The resolution reaffirms "the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence" and the desire "to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence". more
www.un.org/en/events/nonviolenceday
www.facebook.com/nonviolenceday
October 4
World Animal Day
World Animal Day, observed on the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, was first celebrated in 1931. Since then it has become a day for remembering and paying tribute to all animals and the people who love and respect them. Events are held around the world by peoples of diverse faiths and cultures.
www.worldanimalday.org.uk/
October 4 - 10
World Space Week
2014 theme: Space: Guiding Your Way
Observed with over 1400 events in 80 countries in 2013, World Space Week celebrates the contribution of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition. Every year events are held in schools around the world to observe the Week. This year's theme explores the benefits to society of satellite navigation and GPS networks.
www.worldspaceweek.org
www.un.org/en/events/spaceweek/
October 5
World Teachers Day
Theme 2014: Invest in the Future. Invest in Teachers!
Think about the role of teachers in the transition into a new era. Who are the teachers? What is required of those who teach the children and young people?
Created by UNESCO, World Teachers Day celebrates teachers worldwide. Its aim is to mobilise support for teachers and to ensure that the needs of future generations will continue to be met by teachers.
www.worldteachersday.org
www.unesco.org/
October 6
World Habitat Day
2014 theme: Voices from Slums
Celebrated on the first Monday of October every year, the UN World Habitat Day invites us to reflect on the state of our cities and towns and what we want the cities of our future to look like.
World Habitat Day 2014 campaigns to recognize life in slums, give voices to slum dwellers for improving quality of living conditions in existing slums.
www.unhabitat.org
www.habitat.org
October 6 - 9
International Summit of Cooperatives, Quebec City, Canada
This major biennial gathering for leaders of the cooperative movement from around the world will be addresssing five themes: developing cooperative and mutual enterprises; economics, finance and capitalization; employment; food security; health & social care services.
www.intlsummit.coop
October 8
Full Moon - Libra
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
October 8 - 11
Nobel Laureates Symposium on Global Sustainability, Hong Kong
2014 theme: 4C: Changing Climate, Changing Cities
This important gathering of Nobel laureates will include prominent scientists, business leaders, policy makers and community stakeholders from throughout East Asia and the Pacific region.
How the urbanization of Asia proceeds will affect its populations and have critical impacts on climate change with global consequences. The Laureates discuss presentations from experts on subjects that are crucial to planetary health and our survival. Many participants will be from China and regional countries at ministerial and other levels.
www.nobel-cause.de/
October 10
World Mental Health Day
2014 theme: Living With Schizophrenia
HEALERS TAKE NOTE: This is a Day to focus on the contribution all can make towards the creation of a healthy mental environment - and on the sensitive healing needed by those who suffer from mental illness in its many forms.
At least 26 million people are living
with schizophrenia worldwide according to the World Health
Organization, and many more are indirectly affected by it. The
illness affects a person’s well being, shortens life and is among
the top causes of disability globally. It is often neglected and
misunderstood. It imposes a heavy toll on the individuals who
experience it, and their family members and caregivers. And the
high level of stigma associated with schizophrenia is an added
burden.While the illness is severe, new approaches are resulting in
improved outcomes over time for many who have it.
wfmh.com/world-mental-health-day/
www.who.int/mental_health/
October 11
International Day of the Girl Child
2014 theme: Empowering Adolescent Girls: Ending the Cycle of Violence
The international celebration of this Day is yet another sign of the growing concentration on efforts to fulfill the vision of the Declaration of Human Rights and the Declaration of the Rights of the Child as they concern gender rights. Perhaps more than anything else this demonstrates the rising power of the feminine in human affairs.
www.un.org/en/events/girlchild/
www.unicef.org/gender/
October 12 - 14
Biodiversity Summit for Cities and Subnational Governments, Pyeongchang, South Korea
Jointly hosted by ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainablility, and the Secretariat of the UN Convention on Biodiversity, this 'Cities For Life' Biodiversity Summit, will bring together local, sub-national and national governments to share ideas, engage with experts, and strengthen multi-level cooperation to implement the Convention on Biodiversity, with a view to enhancing management of biodiversity and safeguarding the ecosystem services upon which we so heavily depend.
www.biodivercity-summit.org/eng
October 13
International Day for Disaster Reduction
2014 theme: Older Persons and Disasters
Disaster risk reduction is about understanding our personal and environmental risks of a hazard, like an earthquake, flood, hurricane/cyclone, and landslides and finding ways to reduce this risk so that we are not affected by them, or be able to bounce back quickly if they do affect us.
This years focus is on older people, including their needs and what they contribute to better planning and understanding of disaster risk in their communities.
www.unisdr.org
www.un.org/en/events/
October 13 - 15
IFOAM Organic World Congress, Istanbul, Turkey
Every three years leaders of the organic farming community from around the world meet in a World Congress organised by IFOAM, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement.
Over 2,500 people are expected to take part in the Congress, including farmers, scientists, traders, processors and practitioners.
http://www.owc2014.org/
October 15
International Day of Rural Women
First celebrated by the UN in 2008, this Day is yet another sign of the major focus on women and gender issues in global affairs. The Day has been celebrated by civil society around the world since the Beijing Women's Conference in 1995.
Rural women the world over play a major role in ensuring food security and in the development and stability of the rural areas. Yet, with little or no status, they frequently lack the power to secure land rights or to access vital services such as credit, inputs, extension services, training and education. Their vital contribution to society goes largely unnoticed. World Rural Women's Day aims to change this by bringing rural women out of obscurity at least once a year — to remind society how much they owe to rural women and to give value and credit to their work.
www.woman.ch
www.un.org/en/events/ruralwomenday
October 16
World Food Day
2014 theme: Family Farming: Feeding the World, Caring for the Earth
2014 is the International Year of Family Farming and this World Food Day focuses attention on the significant role of family farming in eradicating hunger and poverty, providing food security and nutrition, improving livelihoods, managing natural resources, protecting the environment, and achieving sustainable development, in particular in rural areas.
www.fao.org/world-food-day/home/en/
globaldimension.org.uk/calendar/
October 17
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
October 17th presents an opportunity to acknowledge the effort and struggle of people living in poverty, a chance for them to make their concerns heard, and a moment to recognize that poor people are the first ones to fight against poverty. Participation of the poor themselves has been at the center of the Day's celebration since its very beginning. The commemoration of October 17th also reflects the willingness of people living in poverty to use their expertise to contribute to the eradication of poverty.
undesadspd.org/Poverty/
overcomingpoverty.org
www.un.org/en/events/povertyday/
October 20 - 24
Week of Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns, UN Headquarters, New York
2014 theme: Spirit of the UN: Dynamics of Ethical and Spiritual Sustainability – Embracing the New Era.
Organised the NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns - NY, this annual week of events honors the anniversary of the founding of the UN. It seeks to foster the growth of a culture of peace in which "we, the peoples of the world", can address together our common challenges in a holistic, positive and transformative way.
www.csvgc-ny.org/
October 24
United Nations Day
This is the birthday of the UN - a day to celebrate, reflect on the past and envision the future. Hold the United Nations in the light especially on this Day marking the coming into force of the UN Charter. Visualise the General Assembly being overshadowed with higher energies of Synthesis and of the active principle of Peace. Please also hold the Meditation Room at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in the light - you will find a photograph of the room and a copy of Dag Hammarskjold's inspiring paper on the room here. This Room is currently closed during a major renovation of UN Headquarters so it is especially important to keep it in mind. Read about the Chagall Window of Peace outside the Meditation Room here.
www.un.org/en/events/unday
October 24
Global Oneness Day
Humanity's Team and Association for Global New Thought invite groups around the world to celebrate UN Day, October 24, as Global Oneness Day. In May 2010, a global petition was presented to the UN, calling on this Day to be observed by the United Nations and in the same year the first Oneness Day was observed by groups from around the world. It is a day intended to inspire awareness, appreciation and celebration of life's underlying Oneness in the same way that Earth Day is intended to inspire awareness, appreciation and celebration of the earth's natural environment. A virtual event will be held on line with visionary speakers. Sign the Declaration of oneness.
www.global-oneness-day.org
October 24 - 30
World Disarmament Week
Disarmament Week has been observed by the United Nations since 1978. Member States are invited to highlight the dangers of the arms race, promote recognition of the need to stop the arms race, and increase public understanding of the urgent tasks of disarmament. NGOs organize a range of events seeking to raise public opinion and pressurize governments to act on disarmament.
www.un.org/en/events/disarmamentweek
October 31
World Cities Day
2014 theme: Leading Urban Transformations
In 2013 the UN General Assembly proclaimed October 31st as World Cities Day, to be observed every year from 2014.
The Day is expected to promote the international community’s interest in global urbanisation, encourage cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges in urbanization towards sustainable urban development.
World Cities Day Challenge, sponsored by UN Habitat and The Guardian newspaper, invites members of the public to submit an idea for sustainable cities being pioneered by their city: We want to hear the best ideas from cities around the world – one idea, pioneered by your city, that other cities should adopt.
unhabitat.org/world-cities-day/
www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/
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