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Welcome
International Days and major international conferences reflect a growing sense that we are part of One Humanity and One Life. On these occasions there is a special opportunity to serve in the creation of a world that reflects this spirit of Oneness in all its diversity.
As meditators we can symbolically stand together with all those actively working to create right human relations, 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.
2024 United Nations International Years
Silence at the United Nations
The Spiritual Caucus at the United Nations gathers subjectively and online(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 first Thursday of the month, from October to June, Caucus members and others gather in the Meditation Room at the UN HQ in New York, from 12:30 – 1:00 pm. We spend 10-30 minutes in silence together, followed by optional conversation in the nearby cafe afterwards.
Please link in from wherever you are. More information at: http://www.spiritualcaucusun.org/
In November you are invited to gather in the UN Meditation Room for 10 - 30 minutes from 12.30 on November 7, and to join an online virtual gathering, including 30 minutes of silence, on Thursday, November 21, from 2.00- 3.15 pm EDT with a particular focus on supporting the UN. Write for details to info@spiritualcaucusun.org.
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November Please Hold These Events in the Light
October 21 - November 1
United Nations Biodiversity Conference, COP 16 - Cali, Colombia.
This important event on the UN calendar is the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and a vital step in huimanity's plans to implement a framework on biodiversity agreed to at the last Biodiversity Conference in Montreal.
www.cbd.int
October 31 - November 1
UNESCO Global Education Meeting - Fortelaza, Brazil.
Global Education Meetings are periodically convened by UNESCO to review progress being made in the SDG4 Education for All 2030 Agenda. Currently progress is severely off track and the global education crisis – of equity and quality – persists and deepens, hindering education’s transformative and catalytic potential to impact on achieving the overall 2030 Agenda.
www.unesco.org/sdg4education2030/
November 1 - 19
19 Days of Activism for Prevention of Abuse and Violence against Children & Youth
This global campaign leading up to World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse, is sponsored by a coalition of international organizations and networks.
We had a Dream … and now we have a Plan … with the Sustainable Development Goals – Agenda 2030, especially with SDG Target 16.2 “End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children by 2030.”
2024 Campaign
November 2
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
2024 Theme: Safety of Journalists in Crises and Emergencies
Between 2006 and 2024, over 1,700 journalists have been killed around the world, with close to 9 out of 10 cases of these killings remaining judicially unresolved.
www.un.org/en/
en.unesco.org
November 5
World Tsunami Awareness Day
2024 theme: Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami by passing on its lessons to a new generation of children and youth.
Tsunamis are rare events but can be extremely deadly. In the past 100 years, 58 of them have claimed more than 260,000 lives, or an average of 4,600 per disaster, surpassing any other natural hazard. The highest number of deaths in that period was in the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004.
www.un.org/
tsunamiday.undrr.org
November 6
International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict
In earlier times it was not uncommon for the environment to be damaged in warfare - crops were destroyed, water supplies poisoned and forests set alight. Modern technologies mean that environmental damage from wars can be far more serious and the consequences more long-term. The damage often extends beyond the limits of national territories and the present generation.
This Day reminds us that it is not only people who suffer in times of war. As universal ethics condition the conscience of humanity, there is a growing sense of responsibility for the well-being of all life on Earth: minerals, plants & animals.
www.un.org/en/events/
November 7 - 8
Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, Bogotá, Colombia.
Convened by the Government of Colombia with the support of UN agencies and the Government of Sweden, this first-ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children represents an historic moment; to re-imagine a world where all children are safe in their homes, schools, communities and online and make commitments commensurate with the global child protection challenge.
endviolenceagainstchildrenconference.org
November 7 - 9
Falling Walls Science Summit 2024, Berlin, Germany
Since 2009, the Falling Walls Science Summit has united the world’s greatest minds to break down barriers in science and innovation. We bring together global science leaders, business pioneers, and public sector visionaries to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and shape the future of the international innovation system—creating meaningful impact for humanity.
Topics covered in 2024 include Fusion Technology, Feeding the World in 2050, Value of Frontier Research, Overcoming Animal Testing.
falling-walls.com/
November 10
World Science Day for Peace & Development
This Annual UNESCO Day seeks to renew the national as well as the international commitment to science for peace and development and to stress the responsible use of science for the benefit of society. The Day is part of an International Week of Science and Peace.
www.un.org/en/events/scienceday/
www.unesco.org
November 11 - 12
Paris Peace Forum, Paris, France
2024 Theme: Wanted: A Functioning Global Order
ln a world where collective action is more urgent than ever but where competition and the complexity of global challenges seem overwhelming, the Paris Peace Forum is a platform open to all seeking to develop coordination, rules, capacities and political momentum.
The Forum was created in 2018 by French President Emmanuel Macron to convene heads of state, leaders of international organizations and companies, and civil society organizations from all corners of the world to improve global governance.
parispeaceforum.org
November 11 - 22
UN Climate Change Conference, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan
The climate change Conferences of the Parties (COP) to the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement have become the largest annual conferences currently held under the auspices of the United Nations-and are now among the largest international meetings in the world. Every year the annual conferences are hosted by a different country, rotating between the five United Nations regional groups World Goodwill.
In addition to the 'Parties' to the UN Convention (governments) the Baku conference will also be a hub for a vast network of events in-person and virtually focusing on the human will to transform relations with the natural world. Notable events include World Goodwill's Cycle of Conferences visualisation throughout the event(begining in the first week of November).
unfccc.int
www.un.org/
November 12 - 15
United Nations World Data Forum, Medellín, Colombia
The aim of the UN World Data Forum is to spur data innovation, nurture partnerships, mobilize high-level political and financial support for data, and build a pathway to better data for sustainable development. Since January 2017, the Forum’s community has grown from 2,000 people who attended the first and second Forum in Cape Town, South Africa and Dubai, United Arab Emirates to an active list of over 20,000 interested stakeholders.
unstats.un.org
November 13
World Kindness Day
In 1997 a network of NGOs from around the world, inspired by the Small Kindness Movement of Japan, signed a 'Declaration of Kindness' and launched the World Kindness Movement. The Movement now co-ordinates the annual World Kindness Day.
The Australian Movement notes: the purpose of World Kindness Day is to look beyond ourselves, beyond the boundaries of our country, beyond our culture, our race, our religion; and realise we are citizens of the world. As world citizens we have a commonality, and must realise that if progress is to be made in human relations and endeavours, if we are to achieve the goal of peaceful coexistence, we must focus on what we have in common.
inspirekindness.com
www.theworldkindnessmovement.org
en.wikipedia.org
November 14 - 16
G20 Social Summit, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
This first Social Summit is being held as part of the G20 annual gathering which is headed by Brazil. The goal is to increase the presence of social and non-governmental participants in the discussions for decisions to be made at the G20 Leaders' Summit, which will address three key axes that Brasil's government has chosen: the fight against hunger, poverty, and inequality; sustainability, climate change, and just transition; and reform of global governance. Meetings will bring together engagement groups, grassroots movements, and civil society for debates, fairs, and cultural activities.
www.g20.org
November 15
International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime
In March 2024, the UN General Assembly declared this International Day to raise awareness of the threats posed by all forms of transnational organized crime and to enhance international cooperation in this regard.
www.un.org
November 15
Full Moon — Scorpio
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.
www.lucistrust.org
November 15 - 21
Climate Consciousness Summit
Organized by the Pocket project, founded by Thomas Hübl, this on line Summit seeks to deepen the cross-fertilisation between the climate movement and the global healing movement. The Summit will include voices from those attending COP29 in Baku as well as from communities affected by the Climate Crisis. To truly address the climate crisis, we must heal the trauma within ourselves, as the environment is not something ‘out there’— it is a reflection of our own internal state. Thomas Hübl
climateconsciousness.net
November 16
International Day of Tolerance
Tolerance and the celebration of diversity are two of the essential characteristics of the emerging mind and heart. Yet while the sense of wholeness and universal responsibility grows, the absence of tolerance and the emotional power of intolerance continues to fuel violent and separative movements in all parts of the world.
This is an important United Nations Day when we can give energy, love and support to the countless initiatives around the world designed to nourish and nurture the growing spirit of tolerance and universal responsibility. It is observed as a day to promote Tolerance Education and to reflect on how tolerance can best be fostered in our communities, particularly in divided communities.
See the UNESCO Declaration on the Principles of Tolerance
www.unesco.org
November 18
World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse
and Violence
Globally, countless young individuals are victims of sexual misconduct and exploitation. Such violations are pervasive, cutting across all nations and societal strata.... The sexual abuse and exploitation of children is a violation of human rights and a public health problem with significant consequences for global health and development.
un.org
November 15 - 16
G20 Heads of State and Government Summit, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The G20 is an intergovernment forum bringing together 19 countries plus the EU, and includes industrialized and developing nations. Throughout the previous 12 months working groups of ministers and senior officials from the 20 states have been meeting in 13 different cities across Brazil. The Summit marks the conclusion of the process when Heads of State agree to the final declarations and decisions. The theme of this years Summit, Building a just world and a sustainable planet reflects the focus of the Brazilian presidency of the G20: the reduction of hunger, poverty and inequality worldwide, as well as socio-environmental development that includes a fair and inclusive ecological transition.
www.g20.org
November 18 - 24
World Anti-Microbial Awareness Week
2024 theme: Educate. Advocate. Act now.
The World Health Organisation coordinates this annual global campaign which was formerly known as World Antibiotic Awareness Week. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat.
who.int
November 19
World Toilet Day
2024 Theme: Toilets: A Place for Peace
World Toilet Day, celebrated on 19th November every year, is about inspiring action to tackle the global sanitation crisis and help achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which promises sanitation for all by 2030.... This essential space, at the centre of our lives, should be safe and secure. But for billions of people, sanitation is under threat from conflict, climate change, disasters and neglect.
un.org/en/
November 20
World Children's Day
2024 theme: Listen to the future!
One of the outstanding keynotes of our present time is the focus that is being put on children: the rights of children; the needs of children; the importance of considering children in every area of life. At a global level this is reflected in The Convention on the Rights of the Child, an international human rights treaty that is transforming the lives of children and their families around the world. Under the Convention, ratified by all but one of the world's countries (USA) governments have agreed to meet universal standards, guaranteeing children the rights to survival, health, education, a caring family environment, play and culture ….
World Children's Day celebrates children and empowers the vision of an interdependent world of families, communities and nations in which the rights and needs of children are accorded the highest priority. 20 November marks the day in which the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1989.
un.org/en/
unicef.org/
November 21
World Television Day
World Television Day is not so much a celebration of the tool, but rather the philosophy which it represents. Television represents a symbol for communication and globalization in the contemporary world.
un.org/en/
November 21
World Philosophy Day
This UNESCO Day celebrated on the third Thursday of November underlines the enduring value of philosophy for the development of human thought, for each culture and for each individual.
Philosophy is an inspiring discipline as well as an everyday practice that can transform societies. By enabling to discover the diversity of the intellectual currents in the world, philosophy stimulates intercultural dialogue. By awakening minds to the exercise of thinking and the reasoned confrontation of opinions, philosophy helps to build a more tolerant, more respectful society. It thus helps to understand and respond to major contemporary challenges by creating the intellectual conditions for change.
unesco.org/
November 25
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world. Globally, an estimated 736 million women — almost one in three — have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life.
Women's activists have marked 25 November as a day against violence since 1981. The date commemorates the brutal assassination of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, in 1960 on orders of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo .
Each year, for 16 days, bookended by the International Day to End Violence Against Women (25 November) and Human Rights Day (10 December), groups from around the world join together to speak out against gender violence which all too often, is covered up or tacitly condoned.
unwomen.org
un.org/en/
November 25 - 30
ICA Global Cooperative Conference, New Delhi, India
November 26
World Sustainable Transport Day
Transport is vital for promoting connectivity, trade, economic growth and employment. Yet it is also implicated as a significant source of green-house gas emissions. Resolving these trade-offs is essential to achieving sustainable transport and, through that, sustainable development.
un.org/
worldsustainabletransportday.org/
November 29
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
The International Day of Solidarity traditionally provides an opportunity for the international community to focus its attention on the fact that the question of Palestine remains unresolved and that the Palestinian people have yet to attain their inalienable rights as defined by the General Assembly, namely, the right to self-determination without external interference, the right to national independence and sovereignty, and the right to return to their homes and property, from which they have been displaced.
un.org/en/
un.org/unispal/
November 29
Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare
Agreement to disarm all chemical weapons was reached in 1993 with adoption of the Chemical Weapons Convention. This memorial Day remembers victims of chemical weapons and maintains the focus on illegal use of chemical weapons.
www.un.org/en/
www.opcw.org
November 30
Goi Peace Foundation Forum, Tokyo, Japan
2024 theme: Peace to Peace
For 25 years the Goi Peace Foundation has been promoting peace consciousness and building cooperation among people across diverse fields to foster a sustainable and harmonious global society. Speakers at this years Forum include Jane Goodall, Hafsat Abiola-Costello and Nipun Mehta.
goipeace.or.jp
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