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.
Daily Reminder
Now you can get a daily reminder of these events to hold in the light. Share this daily reminder with others by including the app on your website.
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 (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 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 September the Spiritual Caucus invites all to link subjectively on Thursday, 5th, 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, September 19 at 1.15 PM EDT which will be sepecially dedicated to the International Day of Peace, September 21.
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September Please Hold These Events in the Light
September 1 - 6
World Water Week, Stockholm, Sweden
Theme 2013: Water Cooperation – Building Partnerships
World Water Week, which has been held every year in Stockholm since 1991, is the major event in the life of humanity when water and our relationships with water are held in the light. Over 200 organisations will be convening events during the week in Stockholm and people from every corner of the planet will be present.
World Goodwill's Cycles of Conferences project offers a special meditation focus on three significant events focused on water issues: last months Dushanbe High Level international Conference on Water Cooperation; World Water Week; and next months Budapest Water Summit. www.lucistrust.org/en/cycle
www.worldwaterweek.org/
September 5
International Day of Charity
Honoring the date of Mother Theresa's death, the United Nations General Assembly has designated that from 2013 onwards, September 5th be observed as International Day of Charity.
Affirming the role of charity in furthering the culture of peace the Day seeks to draw attention to the value of charitable organizations. The day is dedicated to commemorate the common desire to help the most disadvantaged members of society and to promote charitable activities around the world. Charity, like the notions of volunteerism and philanthropy, provides real social bonding and contributes to the creation of inclusive and more resilient societies. The prime purpose of the International Day of Charity is to raise awareness and provide a common platform for charity related activities all over the world for individuals, charitable, philanthropic and volunteer organizations for their own purposes on the local, national, regional and international level.
www.facebook.com/dayofcharity
September 6
Second United Nations High Level Forum on the Culture of Peace, UN Headquarters, New York
Jointly convened by the President of the General Assembly and the Global Movement for the Culture of Peace, this second High Level Forum will focus on the UN Programme for Action on the Culture of Peace. People of goodwill are invited to register to attend this all-day program which will include presentations by the President of the General Assembly and the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and panel discussions on the role of interfaith cooperation in promoting a global Culture of Peace and the Culture of Peace as the agenda for a new global civilization: Where are we now? The Forum can be watched live at webtv.un.org
www.gmcop.org/creating-together/
September 7
Day of Prayer for Syria
Pope Francis has called for a world day of prayer and fasting for Syria, today, Saturday September 7. Everyone has been invited to participate, "including our non-Catholic Christian brothers, followers of other religions and all men of good will ... "
"We will gather in prayer and in a spirit of penance, invoking God's great gift of peace upon the beloved nation of Syria and upon each situation of conflict and violence around the world ... Humanity needs to see these gestures of peace and to hear words of hope and peace."
Please consider using the Great Invocation as a contrinbution to this global focus of prayer and meditation. May light, love and and a sense of purpose guide national leaders and peoples as they seek to find the right and appropriate response to the plight of the Syrian people, and to the use of chemical weapons.
www.caritas.org/
Shift Network
September 8
International Literacy Day
2013 Theme: Literacies for the 21st Century
This special UNESCO Day celebrates one of the most basic movements in the education and uplift of consciousness: the movement to promote support and teach adult literacy programs. Large numbers of professionals and volunteers work in every country helping adults in their efforts to learn to read and write.
Literacy contributes to peace as it brings people closer to attaining individual freedoms and better understanding the world, as well as preventing or resolving conflict. More
www.unesco.org
September 10
World Suicide Prevention Day
2013 theme: Stigma, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
Supported by the World Health Organization, this annual Day promotes worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides. Data from the WHO indicate that approximately one million people worldwide die by suicide each year. This corresponds to one death by suicide every 40 seconds. The number of lives lost each year through suicide exceeds the number of deaths due to homicide and war combined.
www.iasp.info
September 15
International Day of Democracy
2013 theme: Strengthening Voices for Democracy
This United Nations Day highlights the state of democracy in the world.
Democracy is as much a process as a goal, and only with the full participation of and support by the international community, national governing bodies, civil society and individuals, can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere.
www.un.org/en/events/democracyday/
www.ipu.org/idd/
September 16
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
2013 theme: A healthy atmosphere, the future we want
The Montreal Protocol on Preservation of the Ozone Layer (signed on September 16, 1987) is one of the great successes of modern international action to protect the environment. Following the Protocol treaty nations and companies acted with determination to replace ozone destroying gases from commercial products such as spray cans. Last year's Ozone Day marked the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Montreal Protocol.
This is a Day to celebrate humanity’s ability to work together for a common cause and is a model for climate change agreements.
www.un.org/en/events/ozoneday/
ozone.unep.org
www.facebook.com/my.ozone.day
September 16 - 20
Global Alliance for Ministries and Infrastructures for Peace, Summit, Geneva, Switzerland
2013 Theme: Nesting Peace: Creating Infrastructures to Sustain Diversity
This is the sixth in a series of international summits organized by the Global Alliance for Ministries and Infrastuctures for Peace.
The Alliance is a community of dedicated individuals, organisations and autonomous campaigns, supporting their national governments to significantly invest in the development of skills and infrastructure dedicated to the peaceful resolution of conflict.
http://www.gamip.org
September 17
United Nations General Assembly 68th Session opens with a Minute of Silence
Every year the annual session of the General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York opens with a Minute of Silent Prayer or Meditation. The General Assembly is the one place where representatives of all 193 member states of the UN have the opportunity to take part in deliberation and policy making on global issues. The Minute of Silence is an important symbolic moment in UN affairs, when according to the Rules of Procedure, members are invited to stand to observe one minute of meditation or prayer.
Following the ceremonial opening of the session, the General Debate takes place over a number of days when Heads of State from many of the member countries address the Assembly.
This year the Opening Session will be followed by High Level Meetings on Disability and Development (September 23) and Nuclear Disarmament (September 26); and, on September 25th, by a Special Event Reviewing the Millennium Development Goals (see below).
Explore the function and purpose of the General Assembly at: www.un.org/ga/
September 20 - 22
Clean Up the World Weekend
2013 theme: Our Place. Our Planet. Our Responsibility
Groups, organisations, schools and businesses from communities around the world unite on Clean Up the World Weekend to take action at a local level to address global environmental issues. Millions of people participate in this annual weekend of activities.
Clean Up activities include tree planting, cleaning parks or beaches, conserving water or running environmental awareness-raising and education initiatives.
www.cleanuptheworld.org
September 20 - 22
Interdependence Day
In the year 2000 a small group of scholars, civic and political leaders, and artists from 12 countries met under the auspices of Citizens Without Borders to discuss what could be done to help raise consciousness around the realities and possibilities of interdependence. Following the tragic events of 9:11 the following year it was decided to launch a movement to celebrate September 12 as Interdependence Day. Subsequently special events have been crafted in 9 different global cities and other locations and this year the main event (coinciding with International Day of Peace) will be held in Dublin, Ireland.
Sign up on line to the Declaration of Interdependence, beginning with the affirmation: We the people of the world do herewith declare our interdependence as individuals and members of distinct communities and nations. More
interdependencemovement.org
September 21
International Day of Peace
2013 theme: Education for Peace
UN Peace Day has come to be widely observed around the world with citizens undertaking a huge variety of local actions for peace including interfaith prayers, meditations and minutes of silence. At UN Headquarters, an annual ceremony is held during which the Secretary General ceremonially rings the Peace Bell and calls on the people of the world to observe a minute of silence at 12 noon. The day is celebrated by the UN as a day of non-violence and cease fire, inviting all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities during the Day, and to otherwise commemorate the Day through education and public awareness on issues related to peace.
Events organized around the world on the day include festivals, concerts, a global Peace Wave with moments of silence at noon in every time zone and countless local activities, including this year a Global Feast for Peace. A global broadcast from peaceday.tv will be available September 20-23. Special talks by leading peace builders from around the world are available now from the Summer of Peace 2013 initiative. The Summer of Peace has the overarching goal of activating a global commitment to Peace.
Meditation Vigils and inter faith events are being organized around the world for Peace Day. A network of groups including the Gaiafield Project (linking subtle activists for collective healing and social change), Pathways to Peace, Peace OneDay, HeartMath, Center for Visionary Leadership and Summer for Peace is coordinating Be the Peace, a global synchronized meditation and prayer for peace at 12 AM, 12 noon and 12 midnight GMT. Last year meditations were held in 248 cities around the world - this year the goal is 500 cities. A global 24 hour Vigil will again be organized by Intuition in Service, using the Great Invocation or another world prayer every 15 minutes. To find out more and register for the Vigil visit: http://www.intuition-in-service.org/peaceVigil.cfm. Registration will be available from September 7.
www.internationaldayofpeace.org
www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/
September 21
Earthdance Global Peace Party - Prayer for Peace
Earthdance coordinates the annual Global Peace Party, a multi-location charity event in alignment with the United Nations International Day of Peace on September 21. All events support local charities. More than an entertainment event, Earthdance is an international network of communities coming together locally and connecting globally to deliver real solutions for peace, sustainability, and social justice.
The highlight of the Earthdance Global Peace Party is a sychronized link-up, when every event around the world plays the Prayer for Peace music track at the same time. The link-up takes place at midnight, 00:00 GMT, on Sunday September 22.
www.earthdance.org/linkup/
September 22 - 24
Social Good Summit
The Social Good Summit is a three-day conference where big ideas meet new media to create innovative solutions. Held in New York, while heads of state and others are gathered for the opening of the UN General Assembly, the Summit unites a dynamic community of global leaders to discuss a big idea: the power of innovative thinking and technology to solve our greatest challenges. The most innovative technologists, influential minds and passionate activists will come together with one shared goal: to unlock the potential of new media and technology to make the world a better place, and then to translate that potential into action.
September 23 - 26
Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting
2013 theme: Mobilizing for Impact
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, CGI convenes a community of global leaders to forge solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 150 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. The meeting takes advantage of the number of world leaders gathered in New York for the General Debate of the UN General Assembly
To date, CGI members have made more than 2,100 Commitments to Action, which are already improving the lives of nearly 400 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued at $69.2 billion.
www.clintonglobalinitiative.org
September 25
UN General Assembly: Special Event on the MDGs
This Special Meeting of the General Assembly has been called to explore gaps and weaknesses in achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and to look forward to the post-2015 development agenda.
This important event will be preceded by a dialogue between civil society, govenments and UN representatives on the post-2015 development agenda on September 22; and, on September 23, by a High Level Forum hosted by the Secretary-General of the UN on MDG Success: Accelerating Action and Partnering for Impact
www.un-ngls.org
www.un.org/en/ga/president/67/issues/
www.un.org/millenniumgoals/mdgpartner-overview.shtml
September 29
World Rivers Day
Every year since 2005, when the UN Water for Life Decade was launched, millions of people around the world have observed the last Sunday of September as World Rivers Day.
World Rivers Day highlights the many values of our rivers, strives to increase public awareness, and encorages the improved stewardship of all rivers around the world. Activities include stream cleanups, habitat enhancement projects, educational outings, and community riverside celebrations. In 2012, several million people across more than 60 countries participated in the Day.
www.worldriversday.bcit.ca
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