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.
Please link in from wherever you are. More information at: http://www.spiritualcaucusun.org/
In December the Spiritual Caucus invites you to link with friends who will gather in the newly renovated Meditation Room at UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday, 4th, 12:45 - 1:15 USA Eastern Daylight Time. Please also link with the full meeting on Thursday, December 18 at the earlier time of 12.15 PM EDT.
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December Please Hold These Events in the Light
December 1
World AIDS Day
2014 theme: Close the Gap
In an effort to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, the theme for World AIDS Day focusses on closing the gap between people who have access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services and people who are being left behind. .In 2013, there were 35 million people living with HIV. Since the start of the epidemic, around 78 million people have become infected with HIV and 39 million [35 million–43 million] people have died of AIDS-related illnesses.
www.unaids.org/en/resources/
UN Aids Day
December 1 - 12
UN Climate Change Conference, Lima, Peru
This year's annual climate change conference is of particular significance because coutries are now in negotiation for a climate agreement to be reached in Paris in December next year. The EU, US and China have already announced climate targets for 2020 and beyond in preparation for the Paris agreement.
newsroom.unfccc.int/lima/
wikipedia.org/wiki/
December 2
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
2014 theme: End Slavery Now
Millions of men, women and children around the world are forced to lead lives as slaves. Although this exploitation is often not called slavery, the conditions are the same. People are sold like objects, forced to work for little or no pay and are at the mercy of their 'employers'. more The UN reports that almost 21 million men, women and children are today victims of slavery and forced labor.
Slavery was, in a very real sense, the first international human rights issue to come to the fore. It led to the adoption of the first human rights laws and to the creation of the first human rights non-governmental organization….
On the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, let us reaffirm the inherent dignity of all men, women and children. And let us redouble our efforts so that the words of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights -- "no one shall be held in slavery or servitude" -- ring true. - Kofi Annan
www.un.org/en/events/
www.iloartworks.org
December 2
#Giving Tuesday
#Giving Tuesday is a global day dedicated to giving and generosity
It’s a simple idea. Just find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to come together to give something more. Then tell everyone you can about how you are giving. Join us and be a part of a global celebration of a new tradition of generosity.
www.givingtuesday.org/
December 3
International Day for Persons with Disabilities
2014 theme: Sustainable Development: The Promise of Technology
Over a billion people, approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population, live with some form of disability. Following the historic passage of a global Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities there has been a growing recognition by governments and civil society that any plans for human development must include and involve the community of people living with disabilities. This is becoming an important theme in preparing a new set of global development goals after 2015
The 2014 commemoration of International Day for Persons with Disabilities will work to harness the power of technology to promote inclusion and accessibility to help realize the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in society and shape the future of sustainable development for all!
www.un.org/disabilities/
www.un.org/en/events/
December 5
World Soil Day
World Soil Day aims to connect people with the soil, and to raise awareness of the critical importance of soil in their lives.
Soil is the basis for food, feed, fuel and fibre production and for services to ecosystems and human well-being.
Next year, 2015, will be celebrated by the United Nations, scientific and agricultural organizations and peoples' groups as International Year of Soil.
www.fao.org/globalsoilpartnership/
www.fao.org/soils-2015/en/
December 5
International Volunteer Day
2014 theme: Make Change Happen: Volunteer!
A day to celebrate the goodwill energy radiated throughout the human family by volunteers. Every society in the world relies on a vast network of volunteers to bring the energies of heart into community.
Volunteer Day offers an opportunity for volunteer organizations and individual volunteers to make visible their contributions - at local, national and international levels - to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Over the years, rallies, parades, community volunteering projects, environmental awareness, free medical care and advocacy campaigns have all featured prominently on Volunteer Day.
In a world dominated by self, volunteers are catalysts in the generation of the selfless spirit. Volunteers bring soul into community. Because volunteers in human development and environment issues are, more often than not, acting from idealistic and altruistic motives they bring a spiritual force into their own communities and the communities they serve. In the process of serving others, volunteers become a source of inspiration. They help to create an atmosphere of hope and goodwill that can be the critical transforming factor in ending a cycle of poverty and despair.
Yet bringing soul into community is not only about inspiration and vision. It is about meeting the most basic human needs at all levels - physical as well as psychological. Volunteers play a crucial role in every area of life, in all parts of the world. Wherever people are in need, volunteers are at hand to assist. In times of disaster, governments turn to voluntary agencies for all manner of expertise and assistance. And volunteers are key agents in tackling the silent disasters and human tragedies associated with poverty, pollution, disease and conflict.
www.un.org/en/events/
www.volunteeractioncounts.org/en/
December 8
Full Moon - Sagittarius
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
December 6 - 7
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons : Civil Society Forum, Vienna, Austria
This major forum will take place immediately ahead of the Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons. The Forum seeks to capitalise on the momentum generated by the Vienna Conference.
The power of civil society in creating the conditions for political breakthroughs must not be underestimated, and now more than ever, it’s time to show the unity of NGOs, international organisations and other coalitions in favour of banning nuclear weapons.
www.icanw.org/
goodbyenuk.es
December 8 - 9
Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, Vienna, Austria
This third international conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons will be hosted by the government of Austria. With this conference, Austria wishes to strengthen the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime and to contribute to the growing momentum to firmly anchor the humanitarian imperative in all global efforts dealing with nuclear weapons and nuclear disarmament.
www.bmeia.gv.at/en/
December 9
International Anti-Corruption Day
2014 theme: Break the Corruption Chain
Attitudes on corruption are changing. As recently as ten years ago, corruption was only whispered about. Today there are signs of growing intolerance toward corruption and more and more politicians and chief executives are being tried and convicted.
The United Nations Convention against Corruption - which entered into force in December 2005 - is both a cause and an effect of this trend. Its provisions are the most comprehensive, universal and even-handed measures for tackling this global challenge. The Convention subjects all the State Parties to the same scrutiny and sets clear rules to be applied equally to all.
www.un.org/en/events/anticorruptionday/
www.actagainstcorruption.org/
www.transparency.org
December 9 - 12
Peoples' Summit on Climate Change, Lima, Peru
Civil society organizations will be meeting in Lima to lobby governments negotiating a new climate convention and to develop action plans in response to the climate crisis.
grupoperucop20.org.pe/
December 10
Human Rights Day
2014 theme: Human Rights 365
On 10 December every year, Human Rights Day commemorates the date on which the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaiming its principles as the "common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations."
This year’s slogan, Human Rights 365, encompasses the idea that every day is Human Rights Day. It celebrates the fundamental proposition in the Universal Declaration that each one of us, everywhere, at all times is entitled to the full range of human rights, that human rights belong equally to each of us and bind us together as a global community with the same ideals and values.
www.un.org/en/events/
www.ohchr.org/
December 10
Animal Rights Day
Animal rights campaign groups around the world use this day to call for United Nations member states to adopt a Universal Declaration of Animal Rights.
There is an urgent need for an international commitment to protect animals and their welfare. Such a commitment would inspire political leaders, organisations and individuals to treat animals better and will be the beginning of the end of animal cruelty across the world. It is our responsibility to ensure that animals are given the protection they deserve and that the indisputable link between animal welfare, the protection of people and the planet is recognised.
www.animalequality.net/
www.animalsmatter.org/en/
www.worldanimalprotection.org/
December 10 - 14
Global Eco Village Summit, Ngor, Dakar, Senegal
Summit theme: Connecting Communities for a Sustainable World
The Global Ecovillage Summit aims to mainstream Ecovillage strategies in regional and national sustainable development programs to support community-led response to climate change. The Senegalese government launched a program to transition 14,000 traditional villages to Ecovillages. What can we learn from this? The summit will bring together governmental decision makers, social entrepreneurs, NGO representatives and Ecovillage experts from around the world to share solutions and exchange best practice.
gen.ecovillage.org/
www.gen-africa.org/ges2014
December 11
International Mountain Day
2014 Theme: Mountain Farming
International Mountain Day is an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build partnerships that will bring positive change to the world’s mountains and highlands.
Many of the world's great mountain regions have long been considered to be sacred. See for example:
Nine Sacred Mountains of China;
Sacred Mountains, Themes and Teachings by Edwin Bernbaum.
www.fao.org/forestry/
www.mountainpartnership.org/
www.un.org/en/events/mountainday/
December 18
International Migrants Day
International Migrants Day is observed on December 18 to mark the anniversary of the adoption by the UN General Assembly, in 1990, of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. During the last decade migrants have made up around 3% of the global population — 214 million people are today classified as migrants.
Migrants contribute greatly to the sense of cultural diversity in modern societies, and to our appreciation of the oneness of the human spirit. They give us the experience of living in a global neighborhood. Yet migrants are often subject to discrimination and exploitation. In a world of unity in diversity all communities are challenged to ensure that migrants are treated with humanity and their rights respected.
The Day will be observed by Migrants groups as The Global Day of Action for the Rights of Migrants, Refugees and Displaced People.
www.un.org/en/events/
www.globalmigrantsaction.org/
www.gfmd.org/
December 20
International Human Solidarity Day
Convinced that the promotion of the culture of solidarity and the spirit of sharing was important for combating poverty, the UN General Assembly, in 2005, proclaimed 20 December as International Human Solidarity Day.
It is to be observed as :
- A day to celebrate our unity in diversity
- A day to remind governments to respect their commitments to international agreements
- A day to raise public awareness of the importance of solidarity
- A day to encourage debate on the ways to promote solidarity for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals including poverty eradication
- A day of action to encourage new initiatives for poverty eradication.
Once we truly grasp that we are brothers and sisters in a common humanity, then we can shape our attitudes towards life in the light of the solidarity which makes us one. This is especially true in all that relates to the basic universal project: peace. - John Paul II.
www.un.org/en/events/
www.facebook.com/
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