All around the world, people are grieving and praying in solidarity with those most affected by the terrible massacre of innocent people on Easter Sunday.  Friends in Harmony Orchestra have produced an inspirational and stirring message of unity as a tribute to the people, and to the nation of Sri Lanka.

‘A beautiful eulogy was written in memory of the victims of the Easter carnage in Sri Lanka by an author not known to us.  We thank him or her for the beautiful thoughts written, which Friends in Harmony felt should be put to music. 

We have changed the words slightly to fit into the music in a tune beloved by all Sri Lankans as a tribute to our Nation.’    Friends in Harmony

 

Video - A Tribute to our Nation, Friends of Harmony Orchestra

 

 

The Parliament of the World’s Religions announces the launch of the Climate Commitments Project. This web-based resource is the virtual face of the Climate Commitments Project, which is the effort of the Parliament to coordinate and strengthen interfaith and faith-based climate action campaigns. 

Religious and spiritual leaders from every corner of the globe have confirmed their dedication to the Earth as our planetary home and pledged to address climate change as the greatest threat to our future. 

The web hub provides some of the tools to do that. Please join us and help build a global interfaith climate action movement.

This groundbreaking tool invites participants to Explore, Collaborate, Assess, and Celebrate with colleagues and peers in the global faith-based climate action community.

 

Today we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This milestone document proclaims the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being -- regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. It is the most translated document in the world, available in more than 500 languages.

While its promise is yet to be fully realized, the very fact that it has stood the test of time is testament to the enduring universality of its perennial values of equality, justice and human dignity.

The principles enshrined in the Declaration are as relevant today as they were in 1948. We need to stand up for our own rights and those of others. We can take action in our own daily lives, to uphold the rights that protect us all and thereby promote the kinship of all human beings.  

#StandUp4HumanRights

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights empowers us all.

• Human rights are relevant to all of us, every day.

• Our shared humanity is rooted in these universal values.

• Equality, justice and freedom prevent violence and sustain peace.

• Whenever and wherever humanity's values are abandoned, we all are at greater risk.

• We need to stand up for our rights and those of others.

 

 

Some other key dates to save in your calendars

February 20 - World Day of Social Justice

March 8 - International Women's Day (IWD)

March 22 - World Water Day

April 22 - International Mother Earth Day

April 24 - Feastday of St Mary Euphrasia Pelletier

May 26 - June 24 - Ramadan (varies)

June 5 - World Environment Day

June 14 - 20 - Refugee Week

June 20 - World Refugee Day

June 24 - Good Shepherd Day (Australia)

July 22 - Good Shepherd Day (Aotearoa/New Zealand) 

July 30 - World Day against Trafficking in Persons

August 9 - International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

August 19 - Feastday of St John Eudes

September 1 - World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation

September 21 - International Day of Peace

October 6 - World Habitat Day

October 11 - International Day of the Girl Child

October 16 - World Food Day

October 17 - International Day for the Elimination of Poverty

November 2 - All Souls Day

November 11 - Diwali festival

November 18 - World Day of the Poor

November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

November 25 - 10 Dec - 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence

December 2 - International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

December 5 - International Volunteer Day

December 10 - Human Rights Day