In This Edition
- UN | COMMEMORATING | International Day of Peace | 21 September
- UNHCR | UPDATING | Forcibly Displaced, Refugees & Stateless | Figures at a Glance | 13 June 2024
- GEIFN | ASPIRING | Global Engagement in Friendlier Neighbourhoods | Daily
1. UN | COMMEMORATING | International Day of Peace | 21 September
The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.Each year the International Day of Peace (IDP) is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. Never has our world needed peace more.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace.
In that declaration, the United Nations’ most inclusive body recognized that peace “not only is the absence of conflict, but also requires a positive, dynamic participatory process where dialogue is encouraged and conflicts are solved in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation.”
In a world with rising geopolitical tensions and protracted conflicts, there has never been a better time to remember how the UN General Assembly came together in 1999 to lay out the values needed for a culture of peace. These include: respect for life, human rights and fundamental freedoms; the promotion of non-violence through education, dialogue and cooperation; commitment to peaceful settlement of conflicts; and adherence to freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, cooperation, pluralism, cultural diversity, dialogue and understanding at all levels of society and among nations.
In follow-up resolutions, the General Assembly recognized further the importance of choosing negotiations over confrontation and of working together and not against each other.
The Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) starts with the notion that “wars begin in the minds of men so it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed”. It is this notion that framed the theme and logo of this year’s observance of the International Day of Peace. The ideas of peace, the culture of peace, need to be cultivated in the minds of children and communities through formal and informal education, across countries and generations.
The International Day of Peace has always been a time to lay down weapons and observe ceasefires. But it now must also be a time for people to see each other’s humanity. Our survival as a global community depends on that. More.
2. UNHCR | UPDATING | Forcibly Displaced, Refugees & Stateless | Figures at a Glance | 13 June 2024
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, other forcibly displaced communities and stateless people.At the end of 2023, the total numbers of people:
- forcibly displaced is 117.3 million, and
- UNHCR protects and/or assists is 122.6 million people.
The total population that UNHCR protects and/or assists (122.6 million) includes those who have been forcibly displaced (refugees, asylum-seekers, other people in need of international protection and internally displaced people); those who have returned home within the previous year; those who are stateless (most of whom are not forcibly displaced); and other groups of concern to whom UNHCR has extended its protection or provided assistance on a humanitarian basis.
UNHCR personnel
UNHCR works in over 130 countries around the world.
UNHCR publishes its plans and financial requirements for the coming year each November in the Global Appeal. A review of the previous year is published each June in the Global Report, including a detailed Annual Results Report for over 50 country operations.
How is UNHCR funded?
The population UNHCR protects and assists reached a record 122.6 million people and funding decreased from its 2022 peak, resulting in a record funding gap. Emergencies hit a new high, with the war in Sudan causing the year's largest displacement crisis, needing more support than received. The number of protracted refugee situations increased to 59 in 37 countries.
UNHCR was launched on a shoestring annual budget of US$300,000 in 1950. But as our work and size have grown, so too have the costs. Our annual budget rose to more than US$1 billion in the early 1990s and reached a new annual high of US$10.714 billion in 2022.
The lives of millions have been torn apart by trauma, conflict, persecution, insecurity or human rights violations, and over 130 million people are expected to be forcibly displaced or stateless by the end of 2024.
From 17 displacement situations to detailed plans for 50+ country operations, the urgent call for investment is louder than ever, with budgeted needs of $10.622 billion for 2024.
The Global Appeal provides information about UNHCR’s plans for the coming year and the funding it needs to protect, assist and empower a record number of forcibly displaced and stateless people, and to help them find solutions to their situations.
- Read Global Report 2023
- For up-to-date information about UNHCR’s financial needs visit Global Focus website.
- More UNHCR data, analysis and publications
- Make a donation
Angelique Kidjo and friends encourage all to choose love
3. GEIFN | ASPIRING | Global Engagement in Friendlier Neighbourhoods | Daily
GEIFN exists to promote harmony and respect for faiths, values, cultures and traditions by global engagement in friendlier neighbourhoods.GEIFN was formed in early 2011 with representation from many faith groups. Currently in caretaker mode with Carey Rohrlach attending.
- Promoting harmony and respect for faiths, values, cultures and traditions in our shared community.
- Providing opportunities for dialogue, understanding, harmonious interaction, co-operative community service and events that highlight positive contributions in the community.
- Demonstrating respect for others belief’s, cultures and traditions. This desire arises from our common humanity and our being people of faith.
- Recognising neighbours, that we have responsibilities to ourselves, community and the world.
- Encouraging citizens, all to put aside intolerance, prejudice and divisiveness to attain peaceful and fruitful co-existence.
- Acknowledging traditional inhabitants of Port Phillip, Glen Eira and surrounds are the Boon Wurrung, Bunurong and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation.
- Respecting past, present and future elders of all spiritual traditions. May we find together a generous way to accommodate those in need of refuge. Let us be cool, strive individually and together to overcome inequality, violence, disengagement, tragedy and injustice wherever it may be. Let us honour, savour and enjoy results of mindful effort so more thrive peacefully in our place called home.
In This Section
Consider obtaining and distributing from the growing range of collateral below. (Any receipts go towards production costs and ongoing service provision.)3.1 Badges
For equity: YES, I amDescription:
Size: 56mm diametre, safety-pin clasp
Pack Contains: 20
Cost: $40 per pack
Includes Postage to Australian Addresses
OR download free digital version here for adding to your documents:
3.2 Photocards
What is reconciliation? “Of people spending 60,000 years wiped out by illness and violence in a land rich with creature and plant life, spirit forms and respect... The wish to say sorry, to honour, to respect land, ancestors, people... What is reconciliation? It is a beginning. A process. Healing.”– Ajahn Thanasanti, Australian Buddhist nun
Description:
High quality high gloss 1 sided on photographic paper
Individual Size: 15x10cm
Pack Contains: 10 cards
Cost: $6 per pack
Includes Postage to Australian Addresses
OR download free digital version here:
3.3 Coffee Mugs
View 1: Lost Piece in the midst of Desire, Envy, Anger, Pride and Confusion?View 2: Found Peace: If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.
Description:
- White ceramic 325ml mug with wrap-around image
- Pack Contains: 1 Mug
- Cost: $25 ea until stocks last
- Includes Postage to Australian Addresses
3.4 Contemplations
Take Away Contemplation:(Daily, before meals or anytime)
We give thanks for the precious nature
of life.
We give thanks for the precious nature
of the lives of those we care for
and who care for us.
We give thanks for the precious nature
of the many interconnected conditions
that come together today
to allow us to enjoy this place,
this company,
this purpose,
this potential,
this time.
We give thanks for the precious nature
of all Teachers, Teachings and Opportunities to Share.
We give thanks for the precious nature
of my/your/our life.
May all beings enjoy such benefits
or if not, have less Suffering until planting the seeds for growth.
For the benefit of all, thankyou.
Contemplating Departure:
(Daily, after meals or at the closing)
Please forgive me
For anything I did or said
Or failed to do or say,
That hurt you or upset you,
Whether I did them intentionally or unintentionally
I forgive you
For anything you did or said
Or failed to do or say
That hurt me or upset me,
Whether you did them intentionally or unintentionally
May all live in Peace, Wellbeing and Happiness
Description:
High quality laserprinted 2 sided leaflet
Individual Size: 21x10cm
Pack Contains: 12 leafs
Cost: $6 until stocks last
Includes Postage to Australian Addresses
OR download free digital version here:
3.5 Inspirations
Be Aspiring, Change View:Found Peace. If it was easy then everybody would be enjoying it.
Beat Time, Check Source:
Re:lig:ion = again/back : join/unite : energy
Description:
High quality laserprinted 2 sided leaflet
Individual Size: 21x10cm
Pack Contains: 12 leafs
Cost: $6 per pack
Includes Postage to Australian Addresses
OR download free digital version here:
3.6 Sharing Downloadable PDF Statements
Other language translations available on website
Join us with 'humanising the other'
Caretaker Carey Rohrlach
Tel: 0438 371 488
Email: caretaker@geifn.org
Website: www.geifn.org
Subscribe to Monthly Newsletter
3.7 Update Your Contact Details
Global Engagement In Friendlier Neighbourhoods (GEIFN)Join us with 'humanising the other'
Caretaker Carey Rohrlach
Tel: 0438 371 488
Email: caretaker@geifn.org
Website: www.geifn.org
Subscribe to Monthly Newsletter
3.8 Community Engages
3.9 Acknowledgments
Reconciliation
Acknowledging traditional inhabitants of Cities of Port Phillip and Glen Eira are the Boon Wurrung, Bunurong and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. Respect is offered to past, present and future elders of all spiritual traditions. May we find together a generous way to accommodate those in need of refuge. Let us be cool, strive individually and together to overcome inequality, violence, disengagement, tragedy and injustice wherever it may be. Let us honour, savor and enjoy results of mindful effort so more thrive peacefully with less effort in our place called home.Invitation to Support Content Creators
The music/stories/videos have been sourced from public domain. If you like any of the content, please consider buying directly from online marketplaces to support creators and truth telling in the public interest.Caretaker Disclosure
Words and concepts are conditional things that point to a 'reflection of experience'. They are limited and do not adequately describe the 'full lived experience'. Like the moon's reflection on a lake's surface, it is not the moon, nor the experience of gazing up at the darkened sky transformed by the presence of a full moon. It is in the eyes/ears/nose/mouth/touch/cognisance of the beholder.This curation is an interpretation of the universal basis of re:lig:ion (Latin = again:uniting:energy) or bodhicitta (Sanskrit = Awakening Consciousness). This email invites a sharing of countless thoughts, words and actions wishing, causing and receiving less Suffering and more Happiness. For benefit initially of the individual increasing in beneficiaries until it includes all across the 3 times and 10 directions. Or not. As each case may be.
It is not personal, it just the way things are.
3.10 Dedicating Merit and Best Wishes for Less Suffering
Dechen Shak gives a modern interpretation of Avalokiteshvara/Chenresi/Loving Eyes (Sanskrit/Tibetan/English) mantra
May all beings have happiness,
May all beings be free from suffering,
May all beings feel an ocean of happiness and joy
And may we live with the good heart
Feeling close to all.
