Brahma Kumaris at United Nations

The International Day of Peace and Nonviolence is celebrated for one day a year to cultivate the experience of peace amongst the people of the world for one day. Governments and NGOs have worked together in the past to fulfill the other designation of the day that of Cease Fire. When humanity the world over comes together in a way in which cooperation is used for sharing peaceful vibrations with the world wonderful things can happen.

A couple of meetings have happened at the United Nations to promote the Awareness of the International Day of Peace. Many who attended and presented have done much in the world to promote peace. The hope is of course that this one day of focussed cooperation for the promotion of peace the world over will multiply into more than one day so that peace can be shared by all.

The Secretary General Ban Ki Moon urged governments to promote ceasefires in their countries, and for communities and individuals to initiate plans for peaceful activities 100 days before the day on 13 June 2008.

Here is his speech written and in video. links from the UN CyberSchoolBus Read or listen

Please promote peace in your own lives and share peace with others it is the only way to share peace with the world.

Here is the UN Website for the International Day of Peace and below that a page from it that offers ideas for many different ages to promote peace in various ways. http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org/

Examples of Peace Day Events:

• Art & Culture
• Media
• Music & Performance
• Petitions/Government
• Education
• Spiritual
• Sports/Health
• Other/Mixed
• Kids

Deborah Moldow, Representative to the UN of the World Peace Prayer Society, Jeremy Gilley, Producer “The Day After Peace” and Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the UN and Chairman of the NGO Committee on the International Day of Peace at an NGO DPI briefing for Peace One Day where Jeremy Gilley’s film “The Day After Peace” was screened and a discussion took place among the panelists on peace Susan Manuel, Chief, Peace and Security Section, DPI not pictured was on the panel as well and members of the audience of various NGOs and students asked questions and commented on the peace presentations. The Briefing took place 17 July 2008 and the Secretary General’s 100 days until the International Day of Peace Message from 13 June was presented in video format and highlighted in the conversation as well.

Make your commitment for Peace!
peaceoneday.org

Thank you for sharing peace.
Kymberly Schneider

The Brahmna Kumaris offers a platform for reflection and conversation for the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

4 WORKSHOPS to read in English:

4 WORKSHOPS to read in French

Setting the context:

On 10th of December 2007, Human Rights Day, the Secretary-General launched a year-long campaign in which all parts of the United Nations family take part in the lead-up to the 60th birthday of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on Human Rights Day 2008.

The theme of the campaign, “Dignity and justice for all of us,” reinforces the vision of the Declaration as a commitment to universal dignity and justice rather than something that should be viewed as a luxury or a wish-list. Its core values, inherent human dignity, non-discrimination, equality, fairness and universality, apply to everyone, everywhere, and always. The Declaration is universal, enduring, and vibrant, and it concerns us all. Since its adoption in 1948, the Declaration has been and continues to be a source of inspiration for national and international efforts to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Methodology:

Questions are universally the best way to engage people in a reflection. The aim of these workshops is to propose personal reflective questions on human rights with the objective that it will provide an opportunity for participants to experience their rights from within. In a broader context, participants will be engaged in exploring more deeply the whole concept of human rights.

To print out the booklet click here: 4 WORKSHOPS TO PRINT in English

4 WORKSHOPS TO PRINT in English (A4)

4 WORKSHOPS TO PRINT in French

4 WORKSHOPS TO PRINT in French (A4)

When you have use he workshops in your community, we would be happy to have your feedback. Click on Comments below:

In celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Brahma Kumaris have published a small booklet titled: Upholding the Highest Aspirations of all People: Human Rights Spiritual Rights.

The spiritual principles that operate in the world are extremely subtle and quiet but they have a continuous influence and a powerful and lasting impact on our lives. The discussion of Human Rights gains a new dimension when we recognize that all human beings are fundamentally spiritual beings and that human rights and spiritual rights are closely related.

To uphold the highest aspiration of a human being is to see that person with innate dignity and divinity. Policies do not give this to a person, but allow for its unfettered expression.

For rights to be respected, they have to be integrated and assimilated into our lives at all levels, political, social, and spiritual.

Let us celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Human Rights Declaration by witnessing acts of human greatness and recommitting ourselves to appreciating all dimensions of a human life and protecting each one’s right to full expression and contribution to the world’s families, communities, and societies.

Each article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is offered to support the individual for living a life with justice and dignity, in the same way that individuals have human rights, every individual also has spiritual rights.  Reflect for a moment on any of the UDHR articles in the booklet Human Rights Spiritual Rights and the companion spiritual article and then respond to the following question:

In what way has this article of the UDHR or spiritual right been applicable in you life and how have you used it or seen it applied by another person?

We would like to collect your stories on human rights and spiritual rights to make them more broadly available:
•  Write your story by clicking on comments.
•  Once you have written your story click on submit comment button.