|
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.
2023 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.
Please link in from wherever you are. More information at: http://www.spiritualcaucusun.org/
In September an online virtual gathering, including 30 minutes of silence, will be held on Thursday, September 21, from 2.00- 3.15 pm EDT with a particular focus on supporting the UN. Write for details to info@spiritualcaucusun.org.
|
|
|
September Please Hold These Events in the Light
September 5
International Day of Charity
Honoring the date of Mother Theresa's death, the United Nations General Assembly has designated September 5th 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.
www.un.org/
September 5
United Nations General Assembly 78th 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 ceremonial only meeting, observing 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.
.
Explore the function and purpose of the General Assembly at: www.un.org/ga/
UN General Assembly leadership highlights benefit of cooperation
What to Expect at the UN general Assembly in 2023
September 7
International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
Theme 2023: Together for Clean Air
This UN Day seeks to raise awareness of the problem of air pollution and the need for urgent action to improve air quality.
www.un.org/
www.cleanairblueskies.org
September 8
International Literacy Day
Theme 2023: Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies
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.
www.unesco.org
September 9 - 10
G20 Summit, New Delhi, India
Theme 2023: One Earth. One Family. One Future
This years Summit for the leaders of the G20 nations meets under the Presidency of India. The G20 represent two-thirds of the world population and around 75% of world trade. In advance of the annual leaders summit Finance Ministers from the G20 nations meet as well as various Engagement groups including civil societies, parliamentarians, think tanks, women, youth, labour, businesses and researchers. This year's Civil Society Engagement Group (C20) is chaired by world-renowned humanitarian and spiritual leader, Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi), also known as 'The Hugging Saint'. The C20 gathering met in Jaipur in July under the theme '#YouAreTheLight'. Alongside C20 Working Groups that were focused on topics like 'Technology, Security and Transparency' or 'Sustainable & Resilient Communities (Climate, Environment and Net Zero Targets)'; there were groups gathered around themes of 'Integrated Holistic Health: Mind, Body, and Environment', 'Sewa – Sense of Service, Philanthropy and Volunteerism' and 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – World is One Family'.
www.g20.org
civil20.net
c20.amma.org
September 10
World Suicide Prevention Day
Theme 2023: Creating Hope through Action
Supported by the World Health Organization, this annual Day promotes worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides. World Suicide Prevention Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of suicide and to promote action through proven means that will reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts globally.
www.iasp.info
September 12
International Day for South-South Cooperation
2023 Theme: Solidarity, Equity and Partnership: Unlocking South-South Cooperation to Achieve the SDGs
South-South cooperation is a manifestation of solidarity among peoples and countries of the South that contributes to their national well-being, their national and collective self-reliance and the attainment of internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
www.un.org/
www.unsouthsouth.org
September 15
International Day of Democracy
2023 Theme: Empowering the next generation
This United Nations Day highlights the state of democracy in the world.
This year's theme focuses on young people’s essential role in advancing democracy and ensuring that their voices are included in the decisions that have a profound impact on their world.
www.un.org
September 15 - 17
Clean Up the World
Clean Up the World is one the largest community-based environmental programs in the world. Voluntary groups, schools and others from all parts of the world join in actions to clean up the local environment.
www.cleanuptheworld.org
September 15 - 24
Global Goals Week & Act 4 SDGs
Global Goals Week is an annual week of virtual and in-person events involving over 150 partners from civil society, business, academia, and the UN system to accelerate action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is also an opportunity to speak out as one voice, share ideas and transformative solutions in the fight to build back better from global challenges.
Events include: NYC Climate Week; UN Private Sector Forum; and launch of the Climate Action Project when students from classrooms in over 140 countries will connect and collaborate on a range of environmental subjects. A series of Forums of the Future for young professionals and students to be held in different centres around the world includes a 'Future of Law' event.
The Global Week to #ACT4SDGS is a global mobilization of actions to show leaders gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly that people all around the world are committed, dedicated, and inspired to take action on the SDGs.
globalgoalsweek.org
act4sdgs.org
www.sdgactioncampaign.org
September 16
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
2023 theme: Montreal Protocol: fixing the ozone layer and reducing climate change.
The 1985 Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the associated Montreal Protocol is one of the great successes of modern international action to protect the environment. As the treaty turns 35 on Ozone Day, we will remember how the Montreal Protocol ended one of the biggest threats ever to face humanity as a whole: the depletion of the ozone layer. When the world found out that ozone-depleting gases used in aerosols and cooling were creating a hole in the sky, they came together. They showed that multilateralism and effective global cooperation worked and they phased out these gases. Now the ozone layer is healing, allowing it once again to shield humanity from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.
This is a Day to celebrate humanity’s ability to work together for a common cause and is a model for climate change agreements.
ozone.unep.org/
www.un.org
www.facebook.com/my.ozone.day
September 16 - 23
Peace Week
Centered around the International Day of Peace on Thursday, September 21, Peace Week offers a wide range of events and online gatherings. It is a collabortive endeavor, co-convened by a community of international organizations, grassroots leaders and global networks.
This year, Peace Week 2023 resonates with the resounding voices of peace worldwide, uniting diverse peace events that take place during September.
peaceweek.org
September 17 - 18
Global People's Assembly 2023
The Global People’s Assembly (GPA) brings people’s representatives together and creates a strong voice at the SDG Summit for the midpoint of Agenda 2030. The assembly will be in-person in the Church Centre of the UN (opposite the UN), with 300 participants expected. Participants can also join online — we look forward to 2000 participants joining virtually, from across the world.
The Assembly is the culmination of community and national People's Assemblies in 35 countries and counting, where representatives of marginalised and excluded groups and civil society monitored and discussed the SDG implementation. Its objective is to bring civil society together and ensure that governments uphold their commitments, including the overarching principle of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs: to Leave No One Behind.
www.peoplesassembly.global/
September 18
International Equal Pay Day
International Equal Pay Day, celebrated for the first time [in 2020], represents the longstanding efforts towards the achievement of equal pay for work of equal value. It further builds on the United Nations commitment to human rights and against all forms of discrimination, including discrimination against women and girls.
www.un.org
EPIC
September 18 - 19
United Nations General Assembly Sustainable Development Goals Summit, UN HQ New York
This important Summit marks the half-way point to the deadline set for achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. It will be the centerpiece of the High-level Week of the General Assembly. It will respond to the impact of multiple and interlocking crises facing the world and is expected to reignite a sense of hope, optimism, and enthusiasm for the 2030 Agenda..
World Goodwill will be offering a Cycle of Conferences Visualisation in support of the Summit for those interested in providing subjective support.
www.un.org
September 18 - 22
Sustainable Development Impact Meetings
Organized by the World Economic Forum during the UN General Assembly opening these meetings are attended by communities of purpose that integrate business leaders, policy-makers, international and civil society organizations, innovators and entrepreneurs.
www.weforum.org
September 19 - 23
United Nations General Assembly High Level Week - General Debate, UN HQ New York
Following the ceremonial opening of the new 78th session on the first Tuesday of September, the General Debate takes place during the annual High-Level Week of the General Assembly when Heads of State from many of the member countries address the Assembly.This period marks a high point in international affairs every year because heads of state from many of the countries of the world are in New York City and a wide variety of other events are scheduled drawing attention to important global issues.
In addition to the SDG Summit, this year's High Level Week also includes the following important events when the General Assembly shines a light on key issues facing humanity: High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development; Climate Ambition Summit; High-level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response; Preparatory Ministerial Meeting for the Summit of the Future; High-level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage; High-level Meeting on the Fight against Tuberculosis.
The General Debate can be watched on UN web TV.
High Level Week Events
September 21
International Day of Peace
2023 theme: Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the #GlobalGoals.
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. See internationaldayofpeace.org.
Meditation Vigils and interfaith events are being organized around the world for Peace Day. Many will take part in the Global Silent Minute at 9.00pm GMT. All are invited to participate in a global 24 hour Vigil on Peace Day using the Great Invocation or another universal invocation on the quarter hour for for periods from 30 minutes or longer.
www.internationaldayofpeace.org
www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/
www.peaceoneday.org
September 21 - 24
International Youth Conference, New York, USA
Theme 2022: Bold Visions of a Peaceful Future
This 8th International Youth Conference is organized by Generation Next - Voice of Youth with support from UN agencies including UN-Habitat. The Conference seeks to provide a platform for young people to discuss the progress made towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and explore ways young people can contribute to this effort.
www.internationalyouthconference.org
September 24
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 previous years several million people across more than 60 countries have participated in the Day.
worldriversday.com
September 26
International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
The UN has been aiming to achieve nuclear disarmament for much of its history. It was the subject of a General Assembly resolution in 1946. On July 17 2017 the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted. This is the first multilateral legally binding instrument for nuclear disarmament to have been negotiated in 20 years, by 122 countries. The Day will be observed at the United Nations this year with a High Level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on September 26.
Today around 12,705 nuclear weapons remain. Countries possessing such weapons have well-funded, long-term plans to modernize their nuclear arsenals. More than half of the world’s population still lives in countries that either have such weapons or are members of nuclear alliances.
www.un.org
www.unfoldzero.org
www.pnnd.org
September 26 - October 4
Collective Trauma Summit 2023
2023 Theme: Creating A Global Healing Movement
This free, online event features over 60 speakers, artists and visionaries from around the world who aim to lead deep conversations on the most pressing issues of our time that illuminate the root causes of trauma and help us create a global healing response system.
The Summit is organized by Thomas Hubl and the Pocket Project.
collectivetraumasummit.com
September 27
World Tourism Day
2023 Theme: Tourism and Green Investment
This United Nations Day seeks to foster awareness of the social, cultural and economic importance of tourism and its role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
www.un.org/en/events/
www.unwto.org
September 28
World Rabies Day
2023 theme:All for 1, One Health for All
Marking the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur who developed the first rabies vaccine, Rabies Day raises awareness about rabies prevention and celebrates progress in defeating the disease. The WHO and FAO have agreed to a goal to achieve zero human deaths from canine rabies by 2030.
WHO promotes mass dog vaccinations and animal birth control programs among street and stray dog populations. Significant progress has been made in pioneering this work at Help in Suffering Animal Shelter in Jaipur India and the two shelters in the Darjeeling District of India administered by Darjeeling Goodwill Animal Shelters Trust.
www.who.int/campaigns/
rabiesalliance.org/
September 28
International Day for Universal Access to Information
2022 Theme: Online Space and Access to Information
The Day will feature a major global conference in Oxford, UK. The Opening session will be followed by the High-level roundtable, which will discuss access to information and internet disruptions in the context of the Vienna Declaration adopted at the World Conference on Human Rights.
www.un.org
en.unesco.org
September 29
International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste Reduction
2023 theme: Reducing food loss and waste: Taking Action to Transform Food Systems
The Day recognizes the fundamental role that sustainable food production plays in promoting food security and nutrition. ... One-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally, which amounts to about 1.3 billion tonnes per year.
fao.org
www.un.org
September 29
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 Sustainable Development Goals will be achieved.
www.lucistrust.org
September 30
International Translation Day
International Translation Day is meant as an opportunity to pay tribute to the work of language professionals, which plays an important role in bringing nations together, facilitating dialogue, understanding and cooperation, contributing to development and strengthening world peace and security.
The day is observed on the Feast Day of St Jerome, bible translator who is considered to be the patron saint of translators. Working in six official languages, the United Nations is one of the world's largest employers of translators.
www.un.org
|
|
