PLEASE HOLD THESE EVENTS IN THE LIGHT

AUGUST 2003

During International Days and major international conferences there is a special opportunity to serve in the creation of a more unified and compassionate world. All who work in meditation and prayer can hold these events in the light, invoking the lighted, loving energies of divinity with the aim of inspiring and nourishing all that is being done in the world to create a culture of peace (right human relations).

A suggested meditation outline for international Days is available on the web at: www.UNmeditation.org. 

August 9                       International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

Saturday                       http://www0.un.org/cyberschoolbus/indigenous/index.asp

http://www.unmeditation.org

This Day, together with the International Decade on the World’s Indigenous People, is a sign of the growing concern for the rights and welfare of indigenous communities. In past decades they have suffered greatly as minorities in their own lands, yet the heart values, passion for the Earth, and wholistic spiritual perspective found amongst many Peoples of the Earth are now seen as a source of inspiration.

In May 2002 a new United Nations body, the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, met for the first time. The Forum gives indigenous a voice in the global community. Speaking at the closing session of the Forum's historic first meeting, UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, noted :I would like to ... say to all the world's indigenous peoples: "You have a home at the United Nations".

The reciprocity of the experience of life with the earth, with nature, with the places where the planet rests is natural. And in those places where life is deeply altered, where the quality of life is directed to other horizons, nature becomes shy not because she has impoverished herself, not because she has lost herself. Nature becomes shy because of our lack of care. Nature becomes shy because of our lack of attention. When people open their hearts and turn their attention (not the intellectual attention, but the one of the spirit) to a sun's ray that crosses the sky and touches the ground, they are restoring a subtle level of contact with life and nature. When the heart starts to beat again in unison with the cycle of the winds, the rain, the moon, this spiritual reintegration of the man with the place where he dwells starts to unveil again and starts to run vividly inward and outwardly.

Ailton Krenak

August 12                     International Youth Day

Tuesday                       http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/iyouthday/iyd2003.htm         

                                     www.unmeditation.org

A day to focus on the needs of young people and on the vital contribution they make in the creation of a better world.

This years’ theme, Finding decent and productive work for young people everywhere , focuses on the needs of unemployed young people.

Young people make up over 40% of the worlds unemployed. What a challenge this places before our societies, and before every organization and group dedicated to right relations: to engage, inspire, involve, young people in initiatives that will employ their will, enthusiasm, creativity and energy.

Young people should be at the forefront of global change and innovation. Empowered, they can be key agents for development and peace. If, however, they are left on society's margins, all of us will be impoverished. Let us ensure that all young people have every opportunity to participate fully in the lives of their societies.

Koffi Anan  

All who have meditated on the act of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of the world depends on the education of youth.

Aristotle

August 23            International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

Saturday            http://www.unesco.org/culture/dialogue/slave/html_eng/day.shtml

                            http://www.antisalvery.org

                         http://www.UNmeditation.org      

                                    

This is a Day to celebrate humanity’s achievement in abolishing the slave trade, and to reflect upon the history of the relations between Africa, Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean.

 

The process that led to the abolition of the slave trade began on the night of 22 to 23 August, 1791 when the slaves of Saint-Domingue and Haiti rose up in rebellion.

 

Meditators can reflect on the deep significance to the goodwill movement in the world of the struggle against slavery, and its eventual abolition. They might also reflect that although the slave trade was abolished by law, slavery continues to be practiced throughout the world, and the struggle against slavery continues in many fields of human relationship. The principle of freedom and human rights is now deeply ingrained in the conscience – the struggle is to bring this principle into expression. 

 

**** REMEMBER : SEPTEMBER 21, SUNDAY, INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE ******

now is the time to be planning your participation in this important day in the international calendar. Take part in a meditation Vigil – www.idpvigil.com ; www.intuiton-in-service.org ; and / or plan a local event www.pathwaystopeace.org

 

2003 IS INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FRESHWATER  www.wateryear2003.org

 

Remember these important International Decades:                 

 

                                  1993-2003 Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination

 

                                  1994-2004 International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People

 

1995-2006 UN Decade for Human Rights Education

 

                                 1997-2006 UN Decade for the Eradication of Poverty

 

2001-2010 International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World

 

2003-2012 UN Literacy Decade : Literacy for All

 

  Suggested Meditations in support of UN Days and UN International Years are available on the web at: www.unmeditation.org

 

  FOR UP TO DATE, INDEPENDENT, DAILY NEWS REPORTS ON THE UNITED NATIONS CHECK OUT – www.unfoundation.org/unwire/index.asp . Subscribe online to a free daily email update of the latest stories.

 

             HAVE YOU SIGNED UP, ON-LINE, TO THESE IMPORTANT STATEMENTS AFFIRMING THE VALUES OF A NEW WORLD AND A NEW HUMANITY?

 

·         Manifesto for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence (already signed by over 75 million people): http://www3.unesco.org/manifesto2000/uk/uk_6points.htm

·         Earth Charter  http://www.earthcharter.org

 

 

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