Read this online at www.intuition-in-service.org/newsletter/September21.html


Please Hold in the Light
September 2021

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:
  • 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.
 
2021 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 the physical meeting on Thursday, September 16, has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus. All are invited to link together in mind and heart on this day from 1.30 - 2.00 pm with a particular focus on supporting the UN during this difficult time.
 
 
 

September Please Hold These Events in the Light


September 2
Global Interfaith Food Summit Dialogue

This live ZOOM event is a part of the UN Global Food Summit. The Inter-Faith Dialogue will focus on building and strengthening the coalitions between faith and secular groups to achieve food systems transformation.
www.un.org

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 7
UN High Level Forum on the Culture of Peace, UN Headquarters, New York

Theme 2021: The Transformative Role of the Culture of Peace: Promoting Resilience and Inclusion in Post Covid Recovery
Convened by the President of the General Assembly, this tenth High Level Forum provides an opportunity for UN member states, UN agencies, media and civil society to consider ways and means of implementing the UN Programme of Action on the Culture of Peace and its importance to the Sustainable Development Goals. It can be watched live at webtv.un.org. The morning session will feature the official UN program with statements by the UN Secretary-General, General Assembly President, the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize winner and representatives of member states. The afternoon program features a civil society panel discussion on ZOOM coordinated by the Global Movement for a Culture of Peace.
www.un.org/pga/
Global Movement Facebook

September 8
International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies

Theme 2021: Healthy Air, Healthy Planet
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 2021: Literacy for a human-centred recovery: Narrowing the digital divide
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.un.org
www.unesco.org

September 10
World Suicide Prevention Day

Theme 2021: Creating Hope through Action
Supported by the World Health Organization, this annual Day promotes worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides. One in every 100 deaths worldwide is the result of suicide. It can affect every one of us. Each and every suicide is devastating and has a profound impact on those around them. However, by raising awareness, reducing the stigma around suicide and encouraging well-informed action, we can reduce instances of suicide around the world. 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 11 - 21
11 Days of Global Unity

During the 11 days leading up to the UN International Day of Peace, this international movement offers as many as 700 associated events in over 30 countries dedicated to addressing problems and building global unity. Programs highlight the WE 11 Campaigns for Change which calls forth the values, spirit and service needed to move us towards a culture of peace and a world that works for all.
We invite you to join us in a movement without which all the other movements for change cannot be successful. The crucial movement we are talking about is the shift from 'I' to 'WE'. Archbishop Desmond Tutu
11daysofglobalunity.org

September 12
International Day for South-South Cooperation

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.
On September 10 a Virtual High Level UN event will be held on the theme: Pathways toward the SDGs through South-South solidarity beyond COVID-19
www.un.org/
www.unsouthsouth.org

September 14
United Nations General Assembly 76th 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.
Following the ceremonial opening of the session, the General Debate takes place over a number of days (starting September 21) when Heads of State from many of the member countries address the Assembly.The period surrounding the opening of the General Assembly 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 held.
This year events will all be held with some physical presence in the General Assembly and some virtual participation, and will be broadcast on UN web TV. Explore the function and purpose of the General Assembly at: www.un.org/ga/
SDG Knowledge Hub

September 15
International Day of Democracy

This United Nations Day highlights the state of democracy in the world.
As the world struggles to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating consequences, we must learn from the lessons of the past 18 months to strengthen democratic resilience in the face of future crises.
www.un.org

September 16
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

2021 theme: Montreal Protocol - Keeping us, our food and vaccines cool.
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 a result of concerted international efforts, the ozone layer is healing itself and is expected to recover by the middle of this century.
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 17 - 26
Global Goals Week

Global Goals Week is an annual week of action, awareness, and accountability. Over 100 partners from civil society, business, academia, and the UN system work together to accelerate action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially during the UN General Assembly High-level Week. 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.
A large number of virtual events are planned for the Week, including: Global Citizen Live, a 24-hour event on September 25th with live broadcasts from large events in 8 cities on 6 continents; an International Conference on Sustainable Development hosted by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network from September 20 - 21; and the 2021 SDG Business Forum hosted by the UN DESA, UN Global Compact and the International Chamber of Commerce.
globalgoalsweek.org

September 17 - 28
#Act4SDGs

As a part of Global Goals Week, #Act4SDGs is designed to inspire millions of individuals and organizations around the world to initiate specific actions in support of the SDGs. The project aims to drive collective action, mobilizing key stakeholders from all sectors to drive change while reminding world leaders that people around the world are doing their part to accelerate progress on the SDGs. Held during the high- level week of United Nations General Assembly, this year’s mobilization will also drive action around the Food Systems Summit, pre-COP in Milan, and keep up momentum in the lead up to COP 26 in Glasgow.
act4sdgs.org
www.sdgactioncampaign.org

September 17 - 19
Clean Up the World

Clean Up the World is one the largest community-based environmental programs in the world when voluntary groups, schools and others join in actions to clean up the local environment.
www.cleanuptheworld.org

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 20 - 23
Sustainable Development Impact Summit, Geneva

7 Key Themes: How to Save the Planet; Fairer Economics; Tech for Good; Society & Future of Work; Better Business; Healthy Futures; Beyond Geopolitics
This digital meeting organized by the World Economic Forum during the UN General Assembly opening will bring together global leaders from diverse sectors, disciplines and geographies. Ensuring the world exits the pandemic stronger than it entered it will only be possible if leaders work together across sectors and borders to share and deploy know-how, innovation and promising approaches and accelerate the recovery.
www.weforum.org

September 21
Full Moon - Virgo

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 21
International Day of Peace

2021 theme: Recovering Better for an Equitable and Sustainable World.
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 the list at: internationaldayofpeace.org.
Meditation Vigils and inter faith events are being organized around the world for Peace Day - more information here All are invited to participate in a global 24 hour Vigil on Peace Day using the Great Invocation or another universal invocation every 15 minutes - more information at: www.meditationvigil.org.
www.internationaldayofpeace.org
www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/
www.peaceoneday.org

September 23
World Food Systems Summit

A wide variety of Pre-Summit dialogues and events that have been held in recent months culminate in this virtual Summit held as part of the High Level Week at the UN General Assembly in New York.
Over the past 18 months, the Summit has brought together all UN Member States and constituencies around the world - including thousands of youth, food producers, Indigenous Peoples, civil society, researchers, private sector, and the UN system - to bring about tangible, positive changes to the world’s food systems. As a people's summit and a solutions summit, it has recognized that everyone, everywhere must take action and work together to transform the way the world produces, consumes, and thinks about food. All are invited to participate in the Summit. Registration details here.
www.un.org

September 24
UN General Assembly: High Level Dialogue on Energy

The purpose of this High Level event at the UN in New York is to promote the implementation of the energy-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Dialogue should raise ambition and accelerate action towards the achievement of the SDG7 targets by catalysing innovative solutions, investments and multi-stakeholder partnerships in support of the Decade of Action to deliver the SDGs and accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
www.un.org

September 24 - 26
One Planet Pace Forum

Theme 2021: Living Peace, Building Peace
This online ZOOM event is the second in what is planned as an annual event aiming to offer a universal platform for people of all spiritual and secular expressions to cocreate solutions to humanity’s most challenging issues.
oneplanetpeaceforum.org

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.
Today, some 15,000 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/en/events/
www.unfoldzero.org
www.pnnd.org

September 26
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 27
World Tourism Day

2021 Theme: Tourism for Inclusive Growth
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

2021 theme:Rabies: Facts not Fear
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

2021 Theme: The Right to Know: Building back better With Access to Information
The theme of the 2021 International Day for Universal Access to Information will highlight the role of access to information laws and their implementation to build back strong institutions for the public good and sustainable development, as well as to strengthen the right to information and international cooperation in the field of implementing this human right.
Universal access to information means that everyone has the right to seek, receive and impart information. This right is an integral part of the right to freedom of expression. The media plays a crucial role in informing the public about issues of interest, but it relies on the ability to seek and receive information, too. Hence, the right to universal access to information is also bound up with the right to freedom of the press.
www.un.org
en.unesco.org

September 29
International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste Reduction

In 2019, the 74th United Nations General Assembly designated 29 September as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, recognizing 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.
www.un.org/
www.fao.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