Read this online at www.intuition-in-service.org/newsletter/July17.html


Please Hold in the Light
July 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 July the Spiritual Caucus is on a summer recess.
 
 
 

July Please Hold These Events in the Light


July 2
International Day of Co-operatives

Theme 2017: Co-operatives ensure no one is left behind
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, which is observed on the first Saturday of July, marks the formation in 1895 of the International Cooperative Alliance. Today the Alliance includes 292 member organizations (many of which include thousands of cooperatives) from 95 countries, representing one billion individuals worldwide.
We forget how widespread cooperative enterprises are: co-ops employ over 250 million people worldwide (almost 12% of the entire employed population in G20 countries); in Kenya 63% of the population derive their livelihood from cooperatives; in the US 30,000 cooperatives provide over 2 million jobs; in 2007 consumer cooperatives in Denmark held 36.4% of the consumer retail market; 91% of all Japanese farmers are members of cooperatives.
The basis of co-operation lies primarily in mutual responsibility. - Agni Yoga, Heart, 559
ica.coop/
www.un.org/development/desa/

July 3
International Plastic Bag Free Day

Every minute of every day 1 million non-biodegradeable single use plastic bags are in use around the world. Each bag is used on average for only 25 minutes and, depending on the type of plastic, it takes between 100 to 500 years for it to disintegrate.
On Bag Free Day citizens groups around the world campaign for single use plastic bags to be banned.
www.plasticbagfreeday.org/


July 9
Full Moon - Cancer

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 Millenium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals will be achieved.
www.lucistrust.org
www.worldservicegroup.com/

July 10 - 19
UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

Theme 2017: Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world
This Forum has been established as the main UN body to review progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs. Its task is to provide political leadership, guidance and recommendations on the 2030 Agenda's implementation and follow-up; keep track of progress; spur coherent policies informed by evidence, science and country experiences; as well as address new and emerging issues.
All member states and UN agencies will participate in the Forum in addition to representatives of 'Major Groups and other Stakeholders' (including Women, Indigenous Peoples, NGOs, local authorities, workers and trade unions, farmers, science and technology, business and industry). Government Ministers will meet for 3 days at the Forum (July 17 - 19). Every 4 years the High Level Forum will include a summit of heads of state. During this Forum 44 countries will present a voluntary review of the progress they have made towards the Goals.
The Sustainable Development Goals can only become a focus for the living will in humanity if and as people of goodwill in every sector of society are inspired to contribute towards their achievement. Governments will only act to the extent that people of goodwill push them to act. This Forum is important because it includes representatives of civil society as well as governments.

sustainabledevelopment.un.org
www.globalgoals.org

July 11
World Population Day

Theme 2017: Family Planning: Empowering People, Developing Nations
The unprecedented decrease in mortality that began to accelerate in the more developed parts of the world in the nineteenth century and expanded to all the world in the twentieth century is one of the major achievements of humanity. By one estimate, life expectancy at birth increased from 30 to 67 years between 1800 and 2005, leading to a rapid growth of the population: from 1 billion in 1810 to over 7 billion in 2012.
Around the world, some 225 million women who want to avoid pregnancy are not using safe and effective family planning methods, for reasons ranging from lack of access to information or services to lack of support from their partners or communities. Most of these women with an unmet demand for contraceptives live in 69 of the poorest countries on earth. .
Leaders and advocates from around the world will gather on this day in London for the 2017 Family Planning Summit. www.unfpa.org/events/
www.un.org/en/events/

July 15
World Youth Skills Day

In 2013 the UN estimates that 74.5 million youth around the world were unemployed. One in five young people (125 million)who are working live in extreme poverty (less than US$1 per day).
First observed in 2015, World Youth Skills Day focuses attention on the importance of young people learning skills as a way of reducing unemployment and under-employment. www.un.org/en/events/
www.worldskills.org

July 16 - 20
European Ecovillage Conference, Sweden

2017 Theme: solidarity, resilience and hope
The 21st annual conference of the Global Ecovillage Network of Europe will bring together change-makers, activists, experts, intentional community members, and all those friends who dream, hope and act for a conscious and sustainable lifestyle. Together we will nurture meaningful ideas to grow into purposeful actions.
www.angsbacka.se/event/

July 18
Nelson Mandela International Day

2017 Theme: Action Against Poverty
This official United Nations Day has been observed every year on Nelson Mandela's birthday since 2010.
The overarching objective of Mandela Day is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for good. Ultimately it seeks to empower communities everywhere. "Take Action; Inspire Change; Make Every Day a Mandela Day."
www.un.org/en/events/
www.mandeladay.com/

July 26 - 28
Nexus Global Youth Summit on Innovative Philanthropy and Social Entrepreneurship, New York, USA

This is the seventh annual global gathering bringing together millennial wealth holders, social entrepreneurs, and impact investors.. The event aims to inspire new leadership, greater generosity, and more strategic investing in social and environmental projects. Part of the event will be held at UN Headquarters. Over 500 people will be attending the event.
Nexus is a global movement of 2000+ young people from over 70 countries working to increase and improve philanthropy and impact investing by bridging communities of wealth and social entrepreneurship.

www.nexusyouthsummit.org

July 28
World Hepatitis Day

2017 theme: Eliminate hepatitis
Hepatitis remains largely unknown as a health threat in many regions of the world - yet around 257 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B and around 71 million people chronically infected with hepatitis C. Many of those who are infected with the disease have no symptoms, often for decades, until they develop chronic liver disease. Approximately 1.34 million people died as a result of the virus in 2015, commonly from cirrhosis and liver cancer.
A new global strategy focuses on global targets to be met by 2030: 90% of all people living with Hepatitis B and C to be tested and 80% of eligible patients to be reached for treatment.
www.who.int/campaigns/
www.worldhepatitisday.org

July 30
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

Human trafficking is a crime that exploits women, children and men for numerous purposes including forced labour and sex. The International Labour Organization estimates that 21 million people are victims of forced labour globally.
www.un.org/en/events/
http://www.unodc.org/endht/

July 30
International Day of Friendship

United Nations International Day of Friendship highlights friendship as the fundamental glue uniting people across diverse cultures and backgrounds; an essential requirement in building the Culture of Peace and fundamental to the work of the United Nations.
The idea of friendship permeates the work and ideals of the United Nations. The Charter proclaims that one of the purposes of the Organization is "to develop friendly relations among nations". These same words appear in the preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. UNESCO’s Constitution speaks of the need for peace based not just on the "political and economic arrangements of governments", but on the "intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind". And the UN Alliance of Civilizations initiative aims to improve cooperation and understanding among nations and peoples across cultures and religions, including to counter the forces that fuel extremism. Ban Ki-moon
www.un.org/en/events/