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These International Days reflect important
themes in the mobilisation of energies to achieve the Millennium Development
Goals by 2015, halving extreme poverty in the world; and respond to the
urgent needs of climate change ...
.
2009 International Years
Silence at the United Nations
The Spiritual Caucus at the United Nations gathers within UN Headquarters in New York 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.
Wherever you live on the planet, please consider contributing to the work of the Spiritual Caucus of the UN by sharing in this work with silence on the first and third Thursday of the month. Times, dates and further information at: http://www.spiritualcaucusun.org/
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July 4
International Day of Cooperatives
2009 Theme: Driving Global Recovery Through Cooperative Enterprise
The cooperative movement encompassing financial organisations, farmers, producers and consumers is playing an incredible role in pioneering new ethics and values in business and economics. This Day marks the formation in 1895 of the International Cooperative Alliance. Today the Alliance includes 223 member organisations from 85 countries, representing over 800 million individuals worldwide. A recent report by the ILO on cooperatives response to the financial crisis provides historical evidence and current empirical evidence that proves that the cooperative model of enterprise survives crisis, but more importantly that it is a sustainable form of enterprise able to withstand crisis, maintaining the livelihoods of the communities in which they operate. Find out more at: http://www.copac.coop/index.html.
The economic model of cooperatives is based not on charity but on self-help and
reciprocity. In countries hit by the financial crisis, the cooperative bank and credit union sector
expanded lending when other financial institutions had to cut back, easing the impact of the
credit freeze on the most vulnerable. This highlights the importance of strong alternative
business models and institutional diversity for the resilience of the financial system. - Ban Ki-moon
The basis of co-operation lies primarily in mutual responsibility. - Heart 559
http://www.copac.coop/idc/2009/index.html
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/social/intldays/IntlCoops/index.html
July 8 - 10
G8 Summit - L'Aquila, Italy
It is possible that this will be the last summit of the eight industrialised nations (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK, USA - plus the EU) as new forums for negotiation and decision emerge, notably the G20 group of developed and developing nations which met in response to the financial crisis or a more manageable G13 (G8 plus China, Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa). Still this gathering in Italy is especially important as a place where the eight must decide if they will fulfill promises they made in 2005 at Gleneagles, Scotland to greatly increase financial assistance towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, especially in Africa.
Meditators can hold in mind the evolution of a global will to share resources in a sustainable, equitable manner (symbolized by the targets of the Millennium Development Goals) as they ponder the possibilities of this important Summit in Italy. In preparation for the Summit check out these websites:
http://www.g8italia2009.it
http://www.whiteband.org/blog/archive/2009/04/30/gcap-develops-policy-positions-in-preparation-for-g8-summit-in-italy
http://www.endpoverty2015.org/
http://editor.whiteband.org/Action/take-action/gcap-mobilisation-2009/g8-2009/gcap-launches-2018press-the-82019-campaign-in-italy-urging-g8-leaders-to-honour-their-commitments
July 11
World Population Day
2009 Theme: Fight Poverty - Educate Girls
Achievement of all the Millennium Development Goals will require significant progress in lowering the birth rate in many of the economically poorest countries and improving reproductive health services and family planning. Yet the global financial crisis is leading governments to reduce their investment in family planning as well as in the health and education of girls.
No one knows yet what the full scale of this global economic crisis will look like. We do know that women and children in developing countries will bear the brunt of the impact. What started as a financial crisis in rich countries is now deepening into a global economic crisis that is hitting developing countries hard. It is already affecting progress toward reducing poverty.
Policy responses that build on women's roles as economic agents can do a lot to mitigate the effects of the crisis on development, especially because women, more than men, invest their earnings in the health and education of their children. Investments in public health, education, child care and other social services help mitigate the impact of the crisis on the entire family and raise productivity for a healthier economy.
http://www.unfpa.org/wpd/2009/en/
http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/population/index.html
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