Spirituality and the human
Friday, 2 October is International Day of Non-violence. It is the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence. Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is the mightiest weapon devised by ingenuity of Man, Mahatma Gandhi said. It is also a human value which guides human behaviour and leads to peace and integrity.
The International Maritime Organisation is a specialized agency of the United Nations, is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. It is responsible for the operation of the Law of the Sea Convention. This agency auspices the international World Maritime Day each year on September 24. For year 2020, the theme is Sustainable Shipping for a Sustainable Planet.
The maritime sector, which includes shipping, ports and the people that operate them, plays a significant role helping sovereign nations to create conditions for increased employment, prosperity and stability ashore through promoting trade by sea; enhancing the port and maritime sector as wealth creators both on land and, through developing a sustainable blue economy, at sea.
21st of September every year is the World Day of Peace, as established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. This year, the theme for International Day of Peace is Shaping Peace Together. The Coronavirus has placed many challenges before every nation to work together for a solution. Peace is found outside, when there is peace on the inside. Hence, inner peace and self-satisfaction are important for inner peace and world peace.
The 8th of September was proclaimed International Literacy Day by UNESCO in 1966 to remind the international community of the importance of literacy for individuals, communities and societies, and the need for intensified efforts towards more literate societies. The issue of literacy is a key component of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This year, this observance focuses on Literacy, Education and Covid-19
This commemoration day was adopted by consensus at the UN General Assembly on May 13, 2019 in order to condemn continuing violence and acts of terrorism targeting individuals, including persons belonging to religious minorities, on the basis of or in the name of religion or belief. This day is celebrated annually on August 22nd.
World Humanitarian Day is held every year on 19 August to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world. World Humanitarian Day is celebrated each year on August 19th. The United Nations has an Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Aid.
Humanitarianism is an active belief in the value of human life, whereby humans practice benevolent treatment and provide assistance to other humans, in order to improve the conditions of humanity for moral, altruistic and logical reasons.
Humanitarianism might be summarised as Help Ever, Hurt never, Love All, Serve All.
Indigenous peoples, today, are arguably among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of people in the world. The international community now recognises that special measures are required to protect their rights and maintain their distinct cultures and ways of life.
To raise awareness of the needs of these population groups, every 9 August commemorates the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, chosen in recognition of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations held in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1982.
To look at the spiritual essence of human beings, all humans possess a soul, called the Atma. All peoples are illuminated within by the atma, for the intellect, the source of intelligence and mind, is nearest to the soul and gives over 80% illumination to the intelligence. Where society and culture mark a difference in human life, colour of skin does not make for any difference.
World Friendship Day, also known as International Day of Friendship takes place on 30th July. The day places emphasis on involving young people, as future leaders, in community activities that include different cultures.
Human rights recognise the inherent value of each person, regardless of background, where we live, what we look like, what we think or what we believe.
They are based on principles of dignity, equality and mutual respect, which are shared across cultures, religions and philosophies. They are about being treated fairly, treating others fairly and having the ability to make genuine choices in our daily lives.
In 2010, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 64/292 recognizing “the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights”.
World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. It falls each year on June 20 and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognise their resilience in rebuilding their lives.
The International Yoga Day, marked on June 21, since 2015 is a gift of India to the world. The idea to mark the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, June 21, as the International Yoga Day was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. Out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, the proposal was approved by 177 co-sponsoring countries.
World Oceans Day is celebrated on the 8th June of each year. We celebrate World Oceans Day to remind everyone of the major role the oceans have in everyday life. They are the lungs of our planet, providing most of the oxygen we breathe. It is a day to celebrate together the beauty, the wealth and the promise of the ocean.
World Environment Day is celebrated on 5 June every year, and is the United Nations’ principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of our environment. This year the theme of World Environment Day 2020 is “Celebrate Biodiversity“. “With 1 million species facing extinction, there has never been a more important time to focus on biodiversity.”
In these days of coronavirus, many are speaking about emergence from lockdown and care for our planet – and climate change in particular. The International Day for Biological Diversity (UN Observance) is a world-wide relevant reminder that we must take action to care for the only Earth we have. The theme of the International Day for Biological Diversity on 22 May 2020 is “Our solutions are in nature“.
In 2001, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and in December 2002, the United Nations General Assembly declared 21 May to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
