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 invoke the aid of the Forces of Light in support of these events.
Sustainable Development Goals & Climate Change
These International Days and events reflect important themes in the mobilization of energies to:
- Build right relations in the world by addressing serious problems of poverty, inequality and climate change through practical actions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030
- engaging people of goodwill all over the world in a common movement.
2020 United Nations International Year
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 newly renovated Meditation Room at UN Headquarters in New York.
Please link in from wherever you are. More information at: http://www.spiritualcaucusun.org/
In June the physical meeting on Thursday, June 18, has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus. All are invited to link together in mind and heart on this day from 1.30 - 2.00 pm with a particular focus on supporting the UN during this difficult time.
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June Please Hold These Events in the Light
A Day to honor the role of parents. Families bear the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the anchors of the family and the foundation of our communities and societies, parents have the responsibility of sheltering their families from harm, caring for out-of-school children and, at the same time, continuing their work responsibilities. Without support from parents, children’s health, education and emotional well-being is at risk. By introducing family-friendly workplace policies and practices, companies and organizations will be in a better position to promote children’s safety and wellbeing and provide systematic support to employees.
www.un.org/en/events/
June 1 - 7
Global Sharing Week
Global Sharing Week is the largest annual mass engagement campaign celebrating the sustainable economic system known as 'the sharing economy'. In 2018 over 450 events were held in 247 cities across 39 countries on every continent during the Week. Events included clothes swaps, food shares, recycling events - anything to share skills, knowledge, time, goods, food. Due to the coronavirus in 2020, the Week will see a coordinated online effort to ensure that those living in poverty will receive the vital resources they need to survive the crisis.
www.globalsharingweek.org
June 1 - 7
Humanity Rising: NEXTGEN Youth Leadership Circles
Acknowledging the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries, and that it is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation, fostering environmental stewardship and health, the UN General Assembly decided to declare 3 June World Bicycle Day.
It encouraged stakeholders to emphasize and advance the use of the bicycle as a means of fostering sustainable development, strengthening education, including physical education, for children and young people, promoting health, preventing disease, promoting tolerance, mutual understanding and respect and facilitating social inclusion and a culture of peace.
www.un.org/en/events/
June 4
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
The purpose of the day is to acknowledge the pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse. This day affirms the UN's commitment to protect the rights of children.
Humanity is organising as never before to put children first in the process of building a better world, and this Day also celebrates the millions of individuals and organizations working to protect and preserve the rights of children. UNICEF devotes considerable resources to the protection of children and conducts annual surveys tracking progress in the rights of the child: We strive towards the day when nations will be judged not by their military or economic strength, nor by the splendour of their capital cities and public building, but by the well being of their children.
www.un.org/en/events/
June 5
World Environment Day
2020 Theme: Time for Nature
Observed since 1972, World Environment Day (Earth Day) is "considered by many to be the most important event on the environmental calendar". UNEP reports that the Day "inspires action by governments, individuals, non-governmental organisations, community and youth groups, business, industry and the media to improve their environment, including clean-up campaigns, tree planting, street rallies, exhibitions, green concerts, essays, painting and photographic competitions, recycling efforts and much more".
worldenvironmentday.global
June 5
Stand With Arts & Nature: Beethoven Pastoral Project Virtual Event
Beethoven loved nature. For him it was a place of relaxation, solitude and inspiration. His Sixth Symphony, the ‘Pastoral’, musically depicts the harmonious unity between mankind and nature. Today, nature is under threat and mankind is on a course to destroy his environment and livelihood.
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of Beethovens birth, more than 250 artists and orchestras from around the world are linked in the Beethoven Pastroal Project to draw attention to the relationship between humanity and nature. It was originally planned that World Environment Day would be celebrated with performances around the world, but due to Covid19, a Virtual event featuring music, statements and interviews from participants around the world will be broadcast from the Beethoven-Haus Bonn in Germany at 6pm CEST.
pastoralproject.org
June 5
World Invocation Day & Festival of Humanity
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 Sustainable Development Goals will be achieved.
This is the third of three major spiritual festivals in the annual cycle of full moon festivals described by Alice Bailey (Easter - Wesak and the Festival of Humanity). As well as being the Festival of Humanity and the Christ's own Festival, the day is celebrated as World Invocation Day when people of goodwill are encouraged to use the world prayer, the Great Invocation, to invoke universal qualities of Light Love and Spiritual Purpose. God's purpose for humanity, the divine Plan, works out as human beings respond, organically and often unconsciously, to these higher energies.
In a special World Invocation Day radio broadcast in 1952, Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of US President Franklin D Roosevelt, and one of the pioneering visionaries behind the universal Declaration of Human Rights, recorded the Great Invocation. Listen to this broadcast here. Watch a new video of the Great Invocation in multiple languages (under 2 minutes).
Join the annual global Vigil when people around the world use the Great Invocation every 15 minutes for periods of from 15 minutes to mseveral hours. The goal is to ensure that the Great Invocation is being sounded somewhere on the planet for every 15 minutes of the 24 hours of World Invocation Day - details at www.meditationvigil.org
www.worldinvocationday.org
www.lucistrust.org/
June 7
World Food Saftey Day
2020 Theme: Food safety, everyone’s business
Food safety is the absence — or safe, acceptable levels — of hazards in food that may harm the health of consumers. Food-borne hazards can be microbiological, chemical or physical in nature and are often invisible to the plain eye: bacteria, viruses, or pesticide residues are some examples.
The goal of activities during the day is to promote global food saftey awareness.
www.un.org/
www.fao.org
2020 Theme: Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean.
Described as the world's largest celebration of the oceans, World Oceans Day recognizes the importance and significance of international cooperation in caring for the well-being and sustainable management of the oceans.
The oceans of the world: Generate most of the oxygen we breathe; Help feed us; Regulate our climate; Clean the water we drink; Offer us a pharmacopoeia of potential medicines; Provide limitless inspiration!
www.un.org/
www.worldoceansday.org
June 1 - 7
Humanity Rising: Strategies for Change
Humanity Rising is a 'global solutions summit' consisting of online conversations with specific themes. Strategies for Change explores the question How do we become more effective in implementing solutions? What strategies can we implement that can make a real difference?
humanityrising.solutions
www.facebook.com/UbiquityUniversity
June 12
World Day Against Child Labour
2020 theme: COVID-19: Protect children from child labour, now more than ever!
The COVID-19 health pandemic and the resulting economic and labour market shock are having a huge impact on people’s lives and livelihoods. Unfortunately, children are often the first to suffer. The crisis can push millions of vulnerable children into child labour. Already, there are an estimated 152 million children in child labour, 72 million of which are in hazardous work. These children are now at even greater risk of facing circumstances that are even more difficult and working longer hours.
www.ilo.org/
www.un.org/en/events/
June 13
International Albinism Awareness Day
Albinism is an inherited genetic condition impacting melanin production that affects up to 1 in every 1,000 people in Africa. Most people with albinism have white or pale skin, redish to blond hair, low vision eye conditions, and are extremely sensitive to the sun. Those affected by albinism have a high incidence of skin cancers, and suffer significant discrimination.
www.un.org/en/events/
Salif Keita Global Foundation
June 14
World Blood Donor Day - WHO
Every year, on 14 June, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day. The event serves to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood and to raise awareness of the need for regular blood donations to ensure the quality, safety and availability of blood and blood products for patients in need.
www.who.int/
June 15
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
The global population of people aged 60 years and older will more than double, from 542 million in 1995 to about 1.2 billion in 2025. Around 4 to 6% of elderly people have experienced some form of maltreatment at home. Elder maltreatment can lead to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences. The incidence of abuse towards older people is predicted to increase as many countries are experiencing rapidly ageing populations.
www.un.org/en/events/
June 16
International Day of Family Remittances
The day recognizes the contribution of over 200 million migrants to improve the lives of their 800 million family members back home, and to create a future of hope for their children. Half of these flows go to rural areas, where poverty and hunger are concentrated, and where remittances count the most.
www.un.org/en/events/
June 17
World Day to Combat Desertification
2020 Theme: Food. Feed. Fibre.
Land has been an overlooked component in sustainable development for years. The UN reports that 52% of the land used for agriculture is moderately or severely affected by soil degradation. 12 million hectares are lost every year as a result of drought and desertification.
As populations become larger, wealthier and more urban, there is far greater demand for land to provide food, animal feed and fibre for clothing. Meanwhile, the health and productivity of existing arable land is declining, worsened by climate change.
www.unccd.int/
www.un.org/en/events/
June 18
Sustainable Gastronomy Day
In November 2016 the UN General Assembly asked UNESCO and the FAO to coordinate global celebrations of Sustainable Gastronomy Day as a contribution to achievement of the SDGs. The decision acknowledges gastronomy as a cultural expression related to the natural and cultural diversity of the world. It also reaffirms that all cultures and civilizations are contributors and crucial enablers of sustainable development.
www.un.org/
UNESCO - Creative Cities of Gastronomy
June 19
International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict
In 2008 the UN Security Council condemned sexual violence as a tactic of war and an impediment to peacebuilding. This Day seeks to raise awareness of the need to put an end to conflict-related sexual violence, to honour the victims and survivors of sexual violence around the world and to pay tribute to all those who have courageously devoted their lives to and lost their lives in standing up for the eradication of these crimes.
www.un.org/
June 20
World Refugee Day
2020 theme: Take a Step with Refugees
Around the world, communities, schools, businesses, faith groups and people from all walks of life are taking big and small steps in solidarity with refugees. This World Refugee Day, we challenge everyone to join together and take a step with refugees.
A day to reflect on the scope of the refugee problem (there are nearly 20 million refugees under the care of the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and nearly 60 million people are displaced worldwide); the immense personal, family and community suffering experienced by refugees; and the opportunities which the refugee crisis presents all peoples to act on their sense of interdependence and compassion.
www.unhcr.org/refugeeday/
www.un.org/en/events/
June 20 - 27
World Unity Week
World UNITY Week is a 8-day celebration of our global unity, beginning with the mid year solstice and winding towards the celebrations of the UN 75th anniversary. Key events include the UN International Day of Yoga, the launch of Purpose Earth and 5 days of “open space” offerings. Key conversations during World UNITY Week will spotlight topics as: collective climate action, partnerships for peace, global governance, interfaith harmony, sustainable and regenerative development, the role of business and economics, human rights, disarmament and other key elements of a new kind of future that we want to create. The Week will bring together a wide range of groups in shared online events.
On June 21 the Global Purpose Movement (Global Purpose Movement is working to nurture a worldwide culture aligned with humanity’s highest purpose) will launch PURPOSE EARTH a global, virtual event creatively weaving our interconnected stories and catalyzing real-world impact through music, conversation, movement, and inspiration. This cross-cultural, multigenerational experience joyfully champions humanity and planet Earth as we dance, dream, and grow together.
worldunityweek.org
www.globalpurposemovement.org
June 21
International Day of Yoga
In December, 2014 the UN General Assembly unanimously voted to declare June 21st International Day of Yoga. Proposing the Day during his address to the General Assembly, Indian President, Narendra Modi commented: Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change.
www.un.org/en/events/
www.facebook.com/YogaDayCommittee/
June 21
International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice
Mindful that the solstices and equinoxes symbolize the fertility of the land, agricultural and food production systems, cultural heritage and their millenary traditions; the General Assembly of the United Nations acknowledged that the celebration of those events is an embodiment of the unity of the cultural heritage and centuries-long traditions, and further play a significant role in strengthening the ties among peoples on the basis of mutual respect and the ideals of peace and good-neighborliness. It, therefore, recognized 21 June as the International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice.
www.un.org/en/events/
summersolstice.blog
June 23
United Nations Public Service Day
The UN Public Service Day celebrates the value and virtue of public service to the community; highlights the contribution of public service in the development process; recognizes the work of public servants, and encourages young people to pursue careers in the public sector.
www.un.org/en/events/
June 23
International Widows’ Day
To give special recognition to the situation of widows of all ages and across regions and cultures, the United Nations General Assembly decided to observe International Widows’ Day on 23 June each year through its resolution A/RES/65/189 adopted on 21 December 2010.
The abuse of widows and their children constitutes one of the most serious violations of human rights and obstacles to development today. Millions of the world’s widows endure extreme poverty, ostracism, violence, homelessness, ill health and discrimination in law and custom.
www.un.org/en/events/
June 26
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
June 26
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
This Day is widely observed as a focal point for a global campaign to eradicate torture. The campaign is co-ordinated by the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims. On this day events will be held all over the world in support of victims of torture.
In most cases the crime of torture is commited with impunity - no one is prosecuted or punished.
www.irct.org/
www.un.org/en/events/
June 27
Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
A day to encourage governments to increase awareness of and suport for small businesses that employ less than 250 people and provide the largest source of employment in all countries, particularly developing countries.
www.un.org/en/events/
June 29
International Day of the Tropics
The Tropics account for 40 per cent of the world’s total surface area and are host to approximately 80 per cent of the world’s biodiversity and much of its language and cultural diversity. The tropical region faces a number of challenges such as climate change, deforestation, logging, urbanisation and demographic changes.
www.un.org/en/events/
June 30
International Asteroid Day
In December 2016 the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/71/90, declaring 30 June International Asteroid Day in order to "observe each year at the international level the anniversary of the Tunguska impact over Siberia, Russian Federation, on 30 June 1908, and to raise public awareness about the asteroid impact hazard."
www.un.org/en/events/
June 30
International Day of Parliamentarism
Strong parliaments are a corner-stone of democracy. This Day celebrates parliaments and the ways in which parliamentary systems of government improve the day-to-day lives of people the world over. It is also an opportunity for parliaments to take stock, identify challenges, and ways to address them effectively.
www.un.org/en/events/
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