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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 hold these events in the light of a Higher Wisdom.
Millennium Goals & Climate Change
These International Days reflect important themes in the mobilisation of energies to:
2011 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 (October - 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 December the Spiritual Caucus invites you to link in with 30 minutes of silence in the UN Meditation Room on December 1, at 12:45 EDT and with the full one hour meeting on Thursday, December 15 at 1:15 PM EST.
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December Please Hold These Events in the Light
November 28 - December 9
United Nations Climate Change Conference, Durban, South Africa
Continuing on from the Cancun conference in 2010, this major gathering of parties to the UN Climate Change Framework Convention will see national governments negotiating and struggling to reach agreement on a common approach to climate change. Even if, in the current political environment around the world, where it is finance, banking and debt that is driving national conversations, a deeper response to the challenges of our time is building, and the discussions at Durban reflect this deeper momentum in consciousness. Behind the scenes a new economics acknowleding the welfare of the Earth and fostering human development is in process of emerging.
Although Durban is primarily a negotiation for governments, the new economics is emerging out of a vast, multi-faceted process involving peoples movements the world over, business, science, local government as well as national governments. Governments are pressured by popular opinion. So at Durban thousands of participants will gather from every part of the world representing a vast array of civil society movements and international organisations.
Official United Nations Site: www.cop17-cmp7durban.com
Civil Society network www.c17.org.za/
Local Government for Sustainability: www.iclei.org/index.php?id=7694
December 1
World AIDS Day
2011 Theme: Getting to Zero : Zero New HIV Infections; Zero Discrimination; Zero AIDS Related Deaths
The global HIV response is at a pivotal moment, where huge strides forward are at serious risk and current approaches are reaching their limits. Only one third of the 15 million people living with HIV and in need of life-long treatment are receiving it. New infections continue to outpace the number of people starting treatment, while the upward trend in resources suffered a serious downturn this year.
AIDS Day attracts huge attention around the world and involves millions of people. This year the focus is on clarifying goals, in line with the Millennium Development Goals, that can be reached by 2015.
www.un.org/en/events/aidsday/2011/
December 2
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
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
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/slaveryabolitionday/
www.antislavery.org
www.freetheslaves.net
December 2 - 4
Durban Local Government Convention: Adapting to a Changing Climate
Local governments and municipal authorities around the world are very much engaged in the global response to climate change. At this Convention, held during the UN talks, representatives will be actively engaging in negotiations to further ensure that they are empowered to design and implement the global climate regime.
www.iclei.org/index.php?id=12503
December 3
Global Day of Action, Durban
The Global Day of Action (GDA) is a traditional and important event at UN Climate Change Conferences. The primary action is a mass march of international and national community, labour, women, youth, academic, religious and environmental organisations and activists. It demonstrates civil society's common determination to address climate change.
www.c17.org.za/global-day-of-action
December 3
International Day of Persons With Disabilities
2011 theme: Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development
Persons with disabilities make up an estimated 15 per cent of the world’s population. Almost one-fifth of the estimated global total of persons living with disabilities, or between 110-190 million, encounter significant difficulties. Furthermore, a quarter of the global population is directly affected by disability, as care-givers or family members.
www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1561
December 5
International Volunteer day for Economic & Social Development
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/volunteerday/index.shtml
www.worldvolunteerweb.org/intl-vol-day.html
volunteeringmatters.unv.org/
December 9
International Anti-Corruption Day
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/index.shtml
www.unodc.org/yournocounts/
www.transparency.org
December 10
Human Rights Day
December 10, 2011 marks the 63rd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This remains one of the most significant documents to have been drafted by the international community. The Universal Declaration forms a fundamental focal point in the evolution of a new civilisation and it is right and appropriate that the anniversary of its signing should be celebrated. Human Rights Day also provides an opportunity to assess how far there is to go in the creation of a global civilisation centred on human rights, freedoms and a sense of human unity.
2011 has been a remarkable year for human rights with millions of people across the world taking to the streets and demanding their rights.
www.un.org/en/events/humanrightsday/2011/
www.ohchr.org/EN/Pages/WelcomePage.aspx
http://everyhumanhasrights.org/
http://www.rightsandhumanity.org/
December 10
International Animal Rights Day
December 11
International Mountain Day
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 clasified 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 neighbourhood.
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.
www.un.org/en/events/migrantsday/index.shtml
www.december18.net/
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 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/humansolidarityday/index.shtml
www.facebook.com/InternationalHumanSolidarityDay
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