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:
United Nations International Year
- Contrary to common practice, the United Nations has not declared 2018 as International Year for any specific topic.
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 March the Spiritual Caucus will gather for silence in the UN Meditation Room at UN Headquarters, New York on March 1 from 12.45 - 1.15 PM and for silence and discussion, at World Goodwill, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 482, New York, NY 10017 on March 15 from 1.30 - 2.45 PM.
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March Please Hold These Events in the Light
March 1
Full Moon — Pisces
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 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 which is increasingly concentrated on the work of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.
www.lucistrust.org
www.worldservicegroup.com
March 2
World Day of Prayer
2018 theme: All God’s Creation is Very Good!.
World Day of Prayer is a global Christian ecumenical movement of 'Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action'. This is a movement initiated and carried out by women in over 170 countries. Throughout the entire day, we collectively pray all over the world, beginning with the first sunrise and ending at the last sunset. Our prayers follow the sun's path around the globe.
Every year a fresh service is prepared by women from a different country. In 2018 the Service has been prepared by women of Suriname.
www.worlddayofprayer.net
March 3
World Wildlife Day
2018 Theme: Big cats: predators under threat
This Day is an opportunity to celebrate the many beautiful and varied forms of wildlife; to raise awareness of the multitude of benefits that conservation provides to people; and to remember the urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime. This years theme focuses on dangers facing big cats in the wild.
Big cats are among the most widely recognized and admired animals across the globe. However, today these charismatic predators are facing many and varied threats, which are mostly caused by human activities. Overall, their populations are declining at a disturbing rate due to loss of habitat and prey, conflicts with people, poaching and illegal trade. For example, tiger populations plummeted by 95% over the past 100 years and African lion populations dropped by 40% in just 20 years. But a range of measures are underway to arrest this decline.
www.un.org/en/events/
www.wildlifeday.org
March 5 - 7
Cities and Climate Change Science Conference, Edmonton, Canada
Co-organized by a diverse group of international, urban and scientific organizations, including UN-Habitat, UN Environment (UNEP), Cities Alliance, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, Future Earth, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), this event will bring together representatives from national, city and regional governments, the academia, research organizations, and urban and climate change practitioners.
citiesipcc.org
March 7 - 9
World Ocean Summit, Cancun, Mexico
Hosted by The Economist, this Fifth World Ocean Summit will be attended by over 360 invited participants (leaders in their field) from 36 countries, to grapple with some of the ocean's most intractable problems — and explore new possibilities.
events.economist.com/
sdg.iisd.org/events/
March 8
International Women's Day
2018 UN Theme: The Time is Now: Rural and Urban Activists Transforming Women’s Lives
The Feminine is on the rise in human consciousness and this key festival is widely celebrated around the world. In our time the rights of women, and the rights of children nourished by women, are key issues in every modern society.
The UN document declaring the Sustainable Development Goals notes that: The achievement of full human potential and of sustainable development is not possible if one half of humanity continues to be denied its full human rights and opportunities. In addition to Goal 5 on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, 11 of the 16 other goals include gender-sensitive targets.
The day also highlights the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a historic roadmap signed by 189 governments 20 years ago that sets the agenda for realizing women's rights. While there have been many achievements since then, many serious gaps remain.
www.un.org/en/events/womensday/
www.internationalwomensday.com
March 12 - 23
UN Commission on the Status of Women, UN Headquarters, New York, USA
2018 Theme: Challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls
Every year, representatives of Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide. Representatives of civil society groups also gather at the UN for the annual NGO CSW Forum. During these annual gatherings there is a concentration of thinking and energy on issues of gender equality.
Together with the policy making deliberations the Commission acts as a focal point for a vast number of gatherings at UN HQ, organised by governments, international agencies and NGO's. It is always a joy to be at UN Headquarters during the CSW sessions when there are so many women present from every part of the world.
www.unwomen.org/
www.ngocsw.org
March 12
Commonwealth Day
2018 Theme:Towards a Common Future
The Commonwealth is made up of 53 independent countries that work together to pursue common goals which promote development, democracy and peace. With a combined population of 2.4 billion, the Commonwealth includes industrialised and developing economies in Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific. Held every year on the first Monday of March, Commonwealth Day is an occasion for people throughout this unique family of nations to host a wide variety of events celebrating the vast diversity, strong unity and uplifting values that define the Commonwealth.
thecommonwealth.org
www.commonwealthofnations.org
March 20
International Day of Happiness
International Day of Happiness is a United Nations Day honoring the work on national happiness by the Kingdom of Bhutan. In resolving to observe the Day the UN General Assembly highlighted the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals ... and the importance of their recognition in public policy objectives. The world needs a new economic paradigm that recognizes the parity between the three pillars of sustainable development. Social, economic and environmental well-being are indivisible. Together they define gross global happiness. Ban Ki-moon
www.un.org/en/events/
happathon.com
www.happycounts.org
March 21
International Day of Forests
2018 theme: Forests and Sustainable Cities
This United Nations Day dedicated to forests affirms the degree to which human beings are struggling to develop a new and more responsible relationship with the natural world.
Urban trees remove harmful pollutants from the air; trees in urban areas can cool the air by up to 8 decrees celsius; trees reduce noise polution in cities; urban green spaces encourage active and healthy lifestyles, improve mental health and prevent disease ...
www.un.org/en/events/
www.fao.org/forestry/
March 21
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
2018 theme: Promoting tolerance, inclusion, unity and respect for diversity in the context of combating racial discrimination
On March 21 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid "pass laws". In 1966 it was agreed to observe this day as a reminder of the deep commitment needed to end racial discrimination in all its forms in all parts of the world. The challenge of our time is to foster the ethics of human unity.
UNESCO sponsors an International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities, linking over 500 cities commited to ending racism. A report features more than 50 good practices developed by over 38 cities in the network.
www.un.org/en/events/
March 21
World Poetry Day
World Poetry Day, sponsored by UNESCO, aims to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression and to offer endangered languages the opportunity to be heard within their communities. Moreover, this Day is meant to support poetry, return to the oral tradition of poetry recitals, promote teaching poetry, restore a dialogue between poetry and the other arts such as theater, dance, music, painting and so on, support small publishers and create an attractive image of poetry in the media so that the art of poetry will no longer be considered an outdated form of art.
www.un.org/en/events/
www.unesco.org
2018 theme: Nature for Water
This Day focuses attention on water. Over 63 million people do not have access to safe water close to home. This year's theme highlights the importance of nature-based solutions to the water challenges we face in the 21st century.
Explore the work of visionary water advocate Maude Barlow and the Blue Planet Project, a global movement struggling to achieve the Right for Water as a fundamental human right.
www.worldwaterday.org
March 23
World Meteorological Day
2018 Theme: Weather-ready, climate-smart
Climate affects the thinking, and the moods of people - and, many spiritual traditions suggest, the thinking of people en masse affects the climate. For the first time on a global level, it is now recognized that there is a need to alter the way we think and behave in order to offset the serious affects of climate change.
The ever-growing global population faces a wide range of hazards such as tropical cyclone storm surges, heavy rains, heatwaves, droughts and many more. Long-term climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of extreme weather and climate events and causing sea level rise and ocean acidification. Urbanization and the spread of megacities means that more of us are exposed and vulnerable. Now more than ever, we need to be weather-ready, climate-smart and water-wise.
public.wmo.int
The Earth Hour Movement began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, under the sponsorship of WWF, when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for an hour as a symbol of their stand for the Earth and their willingness to act against climate change.
Today it has become what WWF describe as the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment. Every year hundreds of millions of people from 172 countries take part in the lights off campaign, turning their lights off for one hour at 8:30 pm local time.
www.earthhour.org
March 25
International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
2018 Theme: Remember Slavery: Triumphs and Struggles for Freedom and Equality
Recognizing how little is known about the 400-year-long transatlantic slave trade and its lasting consequences, March 25 has been designated as an annual day of remembrance of the trade and its victims. The intention is to raise awareness among future generations of the causes, consequences and lessons of the transatlantic slave trade and to communicate the dangers of racism and prejudice.
www.un.org/en/events/
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