Read this online at www.intuition-in-service.org/newsletter/October17.html
With apologies for the delay.


Please Hold in the Light
October 2017

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.

Daily Reminder
Check out a daily reminder of these events to hold in the light. Share this daily reminder with others by including the app on your website.

Sustainable Development Goals & Climate Change 
These International Days and events reflect important themes in the mobilization of energies to:
  • End poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030 through practical actions to achieve the new Sustainable Development Goals
  • engaging people of goodwill all over the world in a common movement.
 
2017 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 October the Spiritual Caucus will gather for silence in the UN Meditation Room at UN Headquarters, New York on October 5 from 12.45 - 1.15 PM and for silence and discussion at the Conference Room of the NGO Resource Center at UN Headquarters in New York on October 19 from 2.00 - 3.30 PM.
 
 
 

October Please Hold These Events in the Light


October 1
International Day of Older Persons

Theme 2017: Stepping into the Future: Tapping the Talents, Contributions and Participation of Older Persons in Society.
People are living longer. This is prompting governments and people's organisations all over the world to reflect deeply on how we can plan for future societies in which: every individual, each with rights and responsibilities, has an active role to play.
At every level of society - local communities, regional groups, peoples associations, governments and international coalitions - there is a potent focus on ways in which the wisdom, maturity, skills and heart qualities of older people can be fully incorporated into healthy communities.
www.un.org/en/events/olderpersonsday
www.who.int/ageing/events/

October 2
International Day of Non-Violence

To mark the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the UN General Assembly decided that October 2nd be observed as an occasion to "disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness". The resolution reaffirms "the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence" and the desire "to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence". more

www.un.org/en/events/nonviolenceday
www.facebook.com/nonviolenceday

October 2
World Habitat Day

2017 theme: Housing Policies: Affordable Homes
Celebrated on the first Monday of October every year, the UN World Habitat Day invites us to reflect on the state of our cities and towns and what we want the cities of our future to look like.
www.urbanoctober.org
www.habitat.org

October 4
World Animal Day

World Animal Day, observed on the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, was first celebrated in 1931. Since then it has become a day for remembering and paying tribute to all animals and the people who love and respect them. Events are held around the world by peoples of diverse faiths and cultures.
www.worldanimalday.org.uk/

October 4 - 10
World Space Week

2017 theme: Exploring new Worlds in Space
Observed with over hundreds of events all over the world, World Space Week celebrates the contribution of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition. Every year events are held in schools around the world to observe the Week.
www.worldspaceweek.org
www.un.org/en/events/spaceweek/

October 5
World Teachers' Day

Theme 2017: Teaching in Freedom, Empowering Teachers
Think about the role of teachers in the transition into a new era. Who are the teachers? What is required of those who teach the children and young people?
Created by UNESCO, World Teachers Day celebrates teachers worldwide.
www.worldteachersday.org www.unesco.org/

October 5
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 achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
www.lucistrust.org
www.worldservicegroup.com/


October 10
World Mental Health Day

2017 theme: Mental Health in the Workplace
HEALERS TAKE NOTE: This is a Day to focus on the contribution all can make towards the creation of a healthy mental environment - and on the sensitive healing needed by those who suffer from mental illness in its many forms.
wfmh.com/world-mental-health-day/
www.who.int/mental_health/

October 11
International Day of the Girl

2017 theme: EmPOWER girls: emergency response and resilience planning
The international celebration of this Day is yet another sign of the growing concentration on efforts to fulfill the vision of the Declaration of Human Rights and the Declaration of the Rights of the Child as they concern gender rights.
This years theme draws attention to humanitarian crises which always hurt women and girls the most – they account for more than 75 percent of the refugees and displaced persons at risk from war, famine, persecution and natural disaster. They are also vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation, during conflicts and in refugee camp. www.un.org/en/events/girlchild/
www.unicef.org/gender/

October 13
International Day for Disaster Reduction

2017 theme: Home Safe Home: Reducing Exposure, Reducing Displacement
Disaster risk reduction is about understanding our personal and environmental risks of a hazard, like an earthquake, flood, hurricane/cyclone, and landslides and finding ways to reduce this risk so that we are not affected by them, or be able to bounce back quickly if they do affect us. In 2014, 19.3 million people were displaced by natural disasters.
This year the day draws attention to target B,the second of seven targets for disaster preparedness ('the Sendai 7') mutually agreed upon by governments. Target B aims to reduce the numbers of people at the community level affected by natural disasters.
www.unisdr.org
www.un.org/en/events/

October 15
International Day of Rural Women

First celebrated by the UN in 2008, this Day is yet another sign of the major focus on women and gender issues in global affairs. The Day has been celebrated by civil society around the world since the Beijing Women's Conference in 1995.
Rural women the world over play a major role in ensuring food security and in the development and stability of the rural areas. Yet, with little or no status, they frequently lack the power to secure land rights or to access vital services such as credit, inputs, extension services, training and education. Their vital contribution to society goes largely unnoticed. World Rural Women's Day aims to change this by bringing rural women out of obscurity at least once a year — to remind society how much they owe to rural women and to give value and credit to their work.
www.woman.ch
www.un.org/en/events/ruralwomenday

October 16
World Food Day

2017 theme: Change the Future of Migration. Invest in Food Security and Rural Development
Three-quarters of the extreme poor base their livelihoods on agriculture or other rural activities. Creating conditions that allow rural people, especially youth, to stay at home when they feel it is safe to do so, and to have more resilient livelihoods, is a crucial component of any plan to tackle the migration challenge.
www.fao.org/

October 17
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

2017 theme: Answering the Call of October 17 to end poverty: A path toward peaceful and inclusive societies
October 17th presents an opportunity to acknowledge the effort and struggle of people living in poverty, a chance for them to make their concerns heard, and a moment to recognize that poor people are the first ones to fight against poverty. Participation of the poor themselves has been at the center of the Day's celebration since its very beginning. The commemoration of October 17th also reflects the willingness of people living in poverty to use their expertise to contribute to the eradication of poverty. www.un.org/development/
overcomingpoverty.org
www.un.org/en/events/povertyday/


October 24
United Nations Day

2017 theme: Potential in Diversity
Hold the United Nations in the light especially on this Day marking the coming into force of the UN Charter. Visualise the General Assembly being overshadowed with higher energies of Synthesis and of the active principle of Peace. Please also hold the Meditation Room at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in the light - you will find a photograph of the room and a copy of Dag Hammarskjold's inspiring paper on the room here. Read about the Chagall Window of Peace outside the Meditation Room here.
www.un.org/en/events/unday

October 24
Global Oneness Day

Humanity's Team invite groups around the world to celebrate UN Day, October 24, as Global Oneness Day. In May 2010, a global petition was presented to the UN, calling on this Day to be observed by the United Nations and in the same year the first Oneness Day was observed by groups from around the world. It is a day intended to inspire awareness, appreciation and celebration of life's underlying Oneness in the same way that Earth Day is intended to inspire awareness, appreciation and celebration of the earth's natural environment. A virtual event will be held on line with visionary speakers. Sign the Declaration of Oneness.
globalonenesssummit.org

October 24 - 28
Week of Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns, UN Headquarters, New York

Organised by the NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns - NY, this annual week of events honors the anniversary of the founding of the UN. It seeks to foster the growth of a culture of peace in which "we, the peoples of the world", can address together our common challenges in a holistic, positive and transformative way.
www.csvgc-ny.org/

October 24 - 30
World Disarmament Week

Disarmament Week has been observed by the United Nations since 1978. Member States are invited to highlight the dangers of the arms race, promote recognition of the need to stop the arms race, and increase public understanding of the urgent tasks of disarmament. NGOs organize a range of events seeking to raise public opinion and pressurize governments to act on disarmament. www.un.org/en/events/disarmamentweek

October 31
World Cities Day

2017 theme: Innovative Governance, Open Cities
In 2013 the UN General Assembly proclaimed October 31st as World Cities Day.
The Day is expected to promote the international community’s interest in global urbanisation, encourage cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges in urbanization towards sustainable urban development.
www.un.org/en/events/
urbanoctober.org