Events

The Brahma Kumaris, along with organizing partners, the Values Caucus, International Day of Yoga Committee and the International Federation of Women in Legal Careers, hosted this event to honor the UN’s Human Rights Day. BK Jayanti Kirpalani, the Regional Coordinator of the Brahma Kumaris in the UK and Europe, and the UN Representative of the BKs, was the special guest speaker. The afternoon opened with a warm welcome by Ms. Julia Grindon-Welch followed by Ms. Judy Rodgers, who prepared our minds and souls to listen to the deep insights from Sr. Jayanti.

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A vibrant group of 30 Israeli women, representing the Israeli Women’s Leadership Forum (IWLF), had an engaging discussion with other influential women representing various NGOs – Values Caucus at the UN, Commission on the Status of Women, Bahai’s International, WINWIN, International Federation of Women Lawyers. The women shared the wonderful work their organization is doing in the community to uplift and empower women and girls.

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During CSW women from all over the world gather to express their experiences on the status of women.

Our space will be a place to cultivate* together each other’s learning – perhaps to emerge something new!

*Cultivate: (v) To bestow attention, care, and labor upon, with a view to valuable returns

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Annual CSW Community Discussion

You are invited to join our special guest: United Nations Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi, as we explore youth contributions to the advancement of women in the UN’s Post 2015 Agenda and how we can support their efforts.

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A 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign Event

Join us for an interactive presentation focusing on child sexual abuse. We will screen Ping Chong’s documentary Secret Survivors: Using Theatre to Break the Silence.

The film includes: footage from a live theatre performance, testimonies from survivors and experts speaking about the movement to end child sexual abuse.

Ping Chong, an internationally acclaimed theatre director, playwright, video and installation artist will share his vision of interdisciplinary theater.

Sara Zatz is the Associate Director of Ping Chong + Company. She is the writer and director of Secret Survivors and oversees the Secret Survivors National Initiative.

Deshannon Bowens, Founding Director of Ilera, will facilitate discussion, share her experiences of counseling adult survivors and explore how we can support the healing of those who have been victimized and work to prevent sexual violence.

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Exploring the Future We Want
A Values-Based Conversation relating to Rio+20

A multi-stakeholder conversation to explore the ecological and sustainable development future we want, and how to get there.

The purpose of the UN and the NGOs is to foster the development of a world that works for everyone – as well as out planet co-dwellers – plants, animals, etc. We will explore together how our ideas and actions limit and further these goals. We will also consider the implications for Rio+20.

We welcome your ideas and participation in moving forward towards greater understanding and a successful future.

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William J. Snape
Senior Counsel, The Center fo Biological Diversity (CBD) and
A Leagal Fellow and Practitioner in Residence at the American University Law School.

Mr. Snape’s presentation provides us an opportunity to learn more about biodiversity issues.

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UN Headquarters
New York
Conference Room 6

The Honourable Agnes Mutindi Ndetei
Former Assistant Minister of Education
and Kibwezi MP
Founder of the NGO solace self Help

She will share a first hand account of recent events in Kenya. Ms. Ndetei is a part of Kenya’s burgeoning peace movement, Sackcloth and Beads

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with
Dr. Don Beck
Founder of The Global Center for Human Emergence
and
ELza Maalouf
Co-Founder and CEO of the Center for Human Emergence – Middle East

This presentation will get to the core of issues around the world, from reframing solutions in Africa to Creative ways to defuse the hot issues in the Middle East.

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Presented by Rafael Nasser

A member of the Center for Human Emergence, an NGO founded by Dr. Don Beck the developer of Spiral Dynamics. He focuses on developing effective strategies for sustainable large scale systems change.

Rafael will begin today’s presentation with an overview of Spiral Dynamics, a conceptual framework that maps the emergence of human values across eight stages of increasing complexity. Following, he will lead the group in an exercise designed to awaken in the participants a practical taste of spiral dynamics within the context of the Middle East conflict. Finally, he will offer an analysis of the crisis between Israel and Palestine and chart the way forward using spiral dynamics as a road map.

Please join us for this transformative and enlightening experience

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United Nations Headquarters
New York
Conference Room TBD

United Nations Headquarters
New York
Conference Room C

United Nations Headquarters
New York
Conference Room C

The Search for Values in an Age of Transition

“In an effort to move beyond a community of nations bound by primarily economic relationships to one with shared responsibilities for one another’s well-being and security, the question of values – the underlying ethical principles shaping worldview and decision-making – must take a central place in deliberations, be articulated and made explicit.” -Search for Values in an Age of Transition

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In Commemoration of the INternational Year of Sport and Physical Education
(IYSPE 2005)

Sport and physical education play a vital role at all levels of society. For the individual, sport enhances one’s personal abilities, general health and self-knowledge. On the national level, sport and physical education contribute to the economic and social growth, improve public health, and bring different communities together. On the global level, if used consistently, sport and physical education have a long-lasting positive impact on development, public health, peace and the environment.

The Martial Arts has much to teach us as individuals and as a collective about preventing violence, embracing tranquility, and ways to transform violence into a context for peace.

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for the 60th Anniversary of the UN and the
100th Anniversary of the birth of Dag Hammarskold

The Spirit of the United Nations: Markings for the Future

A wonderful celebration that will lift your spirits:
Remembering the birth of the United Nations and the hopes that the founders of the UN and its proponents including, Dag Hammarskjold , had for the UN decades ago. Reflecting, individually and collectively on what is the true spirit of the United Nations, and creating our vision of the future:

Includes video montages, dance, song, reflection, and a presentation of a birthday surprise.

Also:

Mr. Shashi Tharoor, Under-Secretary-General, United Nations Communications and Public Information

H. E. Mr. Jan Eliasson, President of the Sixtieth Session of the United Nations General Assembly

Ramu Damodaran, Chief, Civil Society Service, Outreach Division, Department of Public Information President, United Nations Staff Recreation Council

Organizers

The Values Caucus
NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns (NY), a committee of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO) and its special project the Spiritual Council for Global Challenges.

Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University
Legion of Goodwill
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahai’is of the United States

In Cooperation with The Department of Public Information and the United Nations Staff Recreation Council

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The event was Webcast- see on UN archived webcasts – Dated October 27

for the 60th Anniversary of the UN and the
100th Anniversary of the birth of Dag Hammarskold

Working Title
The Spirit of the United Nations: Markings for the Future

We want make the planning of the event
and the event itself as inclusive as possible
Welcome to:
All interested UN NGO Committees and Caucuses, NGOs, UN Agencies, Permanent Missions, UN Staff, Indigenous Peoples, Secretariat Staff Clubs, and any other interested parties.

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Spiral Dynamics
A New Modle for Understanding the Values that Shape our World

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How Can the Spiritual Dimensions of Science and Consciousness Help the United Nations and Humanity Achieve Better Standards of Life in Larger Freedom? A Seminar and Group Discussion

Speakers:

Dr. Masaru Emoto,
Research Scientist and Author, The Hidden Messages in Water

Anwarul K. Chowdhury,
UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative

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Presented by
Sharon Franquemont

As professionals committed to improving life on Earth, how do you organize your intentions and utilize intuition to create successful activities? What is your secret? Can you learn from others in order to forward the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence?

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Portrayed by Ronald Gross
Chairman of the University Seminar on Innovation at Columbia University in New York City, author of Socrates’ Way and other books, and on-line columnist for About.com, one of the most popular portals on the Internet.

“The Globalization of Spirit
T vs.
The Globalization of Selfishness

Rabbi Lerner speaks about the post-election possibilities for world transformation and peace in an era of cynical realism.

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PART 1
1:15pm – 2:45pm
PART 11
3:00 – 4:30

“Culture of Peace is a Set of Values . . .

Following a Career as professor of psychology (Wesleyan University), David Adams went to UNESCO in 1992 to develop the Culture of Peace Programme as a supplement and non-violent alternative to military peacekeeping operations. He directed the unit for the International Year for the Culture of Peace, proclaimed for the year 2000 by the UN General Assembly, and subsequently the international Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World. His UN responsibilites also include development of national culture of peace projects in El Salvador and Moszambique, Research and Development of the Cutlture of Pece concept, and training in peace-building and conflict resolution.

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Water and the Value of Bio-Ethics for Our Future

Dr. Hurtak (Social Scientist and Futureist) is founder and president of the International Academy for Future Science. He is a noted archeologist, philosopher, researcher, author, and world-renowned authority on space research and ecology.

Reception and Networking
in anticipation of
The UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development
(2005-2014)

• Learn and share information about cooperative efforts underway at international and national level.
• Hear from representatives of UNESCO; the Global Higher Education for Sustainability Parnership: United Nations University Institute for Advanced Studies; the US Coalition for the Decade of ESD; and others.
• Join and make friends, network, enjoy good food and fellowship.

Dr. Laszlo’s latest book, You Can Change the World: The Global Citizen’s Handbook for Living on Planet Earth deals with the potential consequences of continuing to live in an environmentally unsustainable way and what each of us can do to avoid those consequences.

All NGOs, UN Staff, and General Public
(No UN passes are necessary)

You are invited to a Special Screening of a Segment of

“Women on the Frontlines”
Colleen kelly
of the
September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows
will be joining us for the discussion

A Project of Peace x Peace, “PEACE BY PEACE: Women on the Frontlines” profiles women building peace in Afghanistan, Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burundi and the United States, and premiered at the United Nations on the third anniversary of the signing of UN SCR 1325.

All NGOs and UN Staff are invited

The Value of Knowing and Using
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

In this installment of our community discussion series, we’ll read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and discus it’s relevancy today and the impact it has on people around the world.

Guest Speaker
Dr. John Woodall
Director, Resilient Responses to Social Crisis Interfaculty Working Group at Harvard University’s Mind Brain Behavior Initiative

What motivates people to end wars, work together, build community and forgive?

Come hear Dr. John Woodall share his ideas on constructing a shared identity between different groups based on common ethical motivations. He is a research fellow at the Judge Baker Children’s Center at the Harvard Medical School, a practicing psychiatrist with a special expertise in posttraumatic stress disorder and on the medical faculties of the University of Massachusetts and Tufts Medical School.

Guest Speaker
Dr. Noel Brown President, Freinds of the UN and
former Regional Director of the UNEP NOrth American Office

Value, Responsibility and Opportunity of being and NGO at the UN at theis critical time.

Reports from members of the
Ethics and Values Caucus of the just completed PrepCom of the
World Summit of the Information Society

Information will be povided
on how you can give feedback to the
Panel of Eminent Persons on UN-Civil Society Relations

Spiritual Dimensions in
Global Public Policy series
The Spirit of Human Security: New Paradigms for Perennial Challenge

Guest Speakers

Audrey Kitagawa – Advisor to the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict at the United Nations. U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich – Chair of the Progressive Caucus of the U.S. Congress, Initiator of the Department of Peace legislation. BK Mohini Panjabi – Main Representative to the United Nations & Regional Coordinator for North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.

International
Day of Peace
UN & NGOs Working Together

A Community Discussion
with
International Day of peace (IDP)
Steering Group Facilitators

ROBIN LUDWIG
Sr. Political Affairs Officer,
Department of Political Affairs

SHARON MCPHEARSON
Information Officer,
Department of Public Information

The UN Steering Group for the International Day of Peace (IDP) was formed to collaborate activities and events for the observance of the International Day of Peace, September 21. Although 2003 will mark the 21st observance of the International Day of Peace, this newly formed UN Steering Group is adding a most needed emphasis to peace building activities, observing cease-fires and stressing nonviolence in our world today.

Find out how your NGO can become more involved in this global commemoration.

The Role of Values in the Future of the United Nations:

A conversation with
Shashi Tharoor
Under-Secretary-General
For Communications and Public Information

This is a rare opportunity for the NGO community to meet and have a conversation with Mr. Tharoor. Our Discussion will touch on his personal sense of mission, ideals and commitments, as an individual and as well as in his capacity as Under-Secretary General.

Speakers:
Michael Penn
Professor of Psychology,
Franklin and Marshall, Pennsylvania
and Sr. Clare Nolan,
NGO Working Group on Girls
lead Community Discussion on

“Girls, Boys, Women, Men:
The Value of Recognizing Our Worth”
During the 47th session on the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights they are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1)

Iraq and Korea: Opportunity or Crisis:

Community Discussion:

Another in a series of community discussions organized for the NGO community by the Values Caucus that will examine what is before us as the UN and its member states try to balance different points of view on war versus diplomacy regarding the situation in Iraq and Korea. Please come and share your opinions as we explore ways for the NGO community to influence this process.

an event by the
NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief

The Future of Freedom of Religion or Belief in a World Gripped by Terrorism

Key note Speaker:
Ambassador Mokhatar Lamani
Organization of the Islamic Conference

Business Agenda:

• Nominations for the Values Caucus Coordinating Council
• Launching of the Values Caucus web site.

Community Discussion: Values Practices that we have noticed at the UN since our last meeting

Community Discussion

Reflections on the WSSD: In the Light of the Millennium Declaration

The Values Caucus will take a look at the Summit in light of the Values declared by the GA in its Millennium Declaration for example:

Shared Responsibility

Equality

Respect for Nature

Members of our NGO community who were present in Johannesburg will share reflections of the WSSD in this context as we contemplate next steps together.

Speaker: Dr. Hossain Danesh
President, Landegg International University, Switzerland

A community discussion. Values Caucus Meeting at the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Connecting Character to Conduct: Helping Students to do the Right Thing. with special guest,
Co-Author Roberta Richin

In preparation for the Special Session on Children, we invite you to engage in the process.

An intergenerational dialogue on Values Co-Sponsored by the NGO Committee on Ageing, New York, Imagine Chile and the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University. as part of the NGO Forum on Ageing at the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid.

Ambassadors from geographically diverse countries to come together to dialogue on the question: “How can the Earth Charter be a Useful Tool for Governments?”

Our intention is to bring ambassadors together to explore the possibilities of seeing the Earth Charter as a tool for meaningful values based change for the implementation of Agenda 21.

Women from different regions who have been attending the 46th session on the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), meet to discuss values from their regional and gender perspective.

Getting to know each other better in terms of the values-based “work” we do on an individual basis and/or organizational basis within and outside of the United Nations.