HOW CAN THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSIONS OF SCIENCE AND CONSCIOUSNESS HELP THE UNITED NATIONS AND HUMANITY ACHIEVE BETTER STANDARDS OF LIFE IN LARGER FREEDOM?

May 26, 2005

With Special Guest Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury, from Bangladesh, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Dr. Masaru Emoto’s know for his research and books on the consciousness of water. (see press release)

Press Release for May 26th event

Spiritual Dimensions of the Development in discussion at the United Nations

By Danilo Parmegiani

New York/USA – How can the Spiritual Dimensions of Science and Consciousness help the United Nations and Humanity achieve better standards of life in larger freedom? This question was the topic of a conference at the United Nations Headquarters, in New York, gathering researchers and international leaders around the challenge of finding more efficient paths to overcome the problems that the world faces nowadays. Within this context, the day May 26, 2005, represents a mark for the formation of a paradigm that should be structured on the comprehension of the spiritual dimensions and its applicability in the development. The event overcrowded the Conference Room #1 of the UN. The presence of the audience surprised even the organizing committee that at the eve of the event had to move to a bigger auditorium due to the great number of registrations. The conference was opened by the presentation of the musician Dr. Eileen Kalaa Ain, who is known for presenting improvised compositions according to the vibration of the surroundings.

The opening words were from the Aquarian Age Community and the Legion of Good Will, organizations with consultative status with the UN that lead the subcommittee of NGOs Spiritual Dimensions of Science and Consciousness. To redirect humanity’s priorities by love, going from a national consciousness to a global consciousness, were the words of the representative of the Aquarian Age Community, Ida Urso, which according to her, will renew the meaning of freedom. The representative of the LGW at the UN, Maria Conceição Malaman, greeted those present with a message from the President of the Organization, José de Paiva Netto, with the title “Transformation by Spiritual Consciousness”, from the article “Question of Death or Life?”. The recognition by the Human Being of this spiritual identity and the need of his integration in love, were issues defended by the institution.

The major conferences were given by two top personalities in their respective areas of action. The Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the UN Office of the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS), Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury, and the Japanese scientist Masaru Emoto demonstrated under the optics of the human relations and of science, the difference that spirituality can make in the fulfillment of the challenges such as the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), established by the UN together with 192 countries until 2015.

EVOLUTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury, from Bangladesh, known worldwide in the position he was appointed in March 2002 by the Secretary-General of the United Nations as Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, focused his presentation on how the evolution of consciousness can impact on the objectives of the United Nations to promote social progress and to have better standards of life for all people of the world, in larger freedom. “It is very necessary for the Nations of the world, for civil society, to come together to develop this consciousness, to help other parts of the world, to help other people to get connected, to feel that this world is a global village and we all live in the same village, so we have to take care of each other, we have to feel love and compassion for each other. The Millennium Development Goals can only be achieved by this kind of evolution of consciousness.” About the initiative of an event of this nature in the UN he said, “(…)All are interconnected, all are connected. As a matter of fact, our human existence, every aspect of human existence is interconnected. We cannot separate one from the other. So, that is the most important thing we have to have in mind, one impacts in the other, so we have to take total view of our human existence.” Hidden messages of the water Dr. Masaru Emoto’s research has already been presented throughout the world and has been translated to several languages. So much repercussion is due to the fact of the Japanese scientist‘s capacity of capturing, by means of a microscope, photographs of the frozen water crystals. The images take beautiful forms when the water is exposed to words with good vibrations. The opposite also happens, disfiguring the water crystal photographed. “With my research and studies people can gradually start thinking about the water or the mystery of life. Also, people are starting to think about more deeply the relationship between people and water as well. Some people who are already practicing alternative medicines didn’t quite understand why what they are doing can heal people, but now they understand the theory of vibration and they really know what is making the difference.”

AND THE ACTIVITIES CONTINUE...

This event was a result from the permanent activities of the Subcommittee Spiritual Dimensions of Science and Consciousness, of the Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns of NGOs in the United Nations.In the dawn of this new millennium the world faces global problems that challenge the Human Being to re-think concepts and behaviors. The technological advance of humanity achieves surprising platforms, although accompanied by the constraining paradox of the crescent social unequalness. World governments, the United Nations and civil society impel themselves to guarantee the sustainability of the planet and better quality of life to all the human beings. This photography of the historical moment shows a decisive stage of the evolutional path of humanity. This new spiritual paradigm that arises, presents itself as an urgent providence that fosters the maturity and responsibility of the collectiveness from the intimate transformation of the individual.  

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Universal Ethics and Global Concerns Meeting

September 27, 2005

The Universal Ethics and Global Concerns Subcommittee of the CONGO Committee, Spirituality Values and Global Concerns, held its first meeting on Tuesday, September 27th, at 2:30 pm, in UN Church Center, 5th floor, Conference room. This meeting was co-sponsored by the subcommittee, The Culture of Peace. With Special Guest speaker David Adams. David succeeded in developing a survey with 700 NGO's relating to The Culture of Peace. David offered his views as which universal ethics may need to be prioritized in order to succeed at creating an effective culture of peace. First meeting of subcommittee Universal Ethics and Global Concerns in concert with subcommittee Culture of Peace:   Attendance: Thomas A Downes, Pax Christi International/ VCC, Ana Lita, International Humanist Ethical Union, Ex.Dir. The Appignani Bioethics Center, Edward Emery, Ethical Futures, Noema Chapin, Aquarian Age Community/ VCCC, Diane Williams, Chair of CSCGC, Kathleen Quain, Information Habitat, Rose Walker, The Nat'l Serv.Conf. of AEU, Martha Gallahue, facilitator, Chair of subcommittee EUG, Anne Creter, World Peace Prayer Society/ Co-Chair of subcommittee Culture of Peace Guest: David Adams, first Director of UNESCO project, Decade for a Culture of Peace. cf. http://decade-culture-of-peace.org . 

This meeting took place on September 27, 2005, at The UN Church Center, 5th floor Conference Room from 2:30pm-5:00pm.   The purpose of the meeting was to converse with David about his findings included in the 3000 page report from 700 NGO's in nearly 100 countries. We sought to uncover strategic steps forward to implement the Culture of Peace. We sought to highlight those universal practices or ethics relevant to the United Nations’ Mission.   Report on Conversation:   David gave to each person present a copy of Excerpts from Executive Summary of the World Report on The Culture of Peace, a Civil Society Report at Midpoint of Culture of Peace Decade and a list of all NGO's who contributed to the survey. We are reminded that, "The United Nations defines the culture of peace as respect for human rights, democracy and tolerance, the promotion of development, education for peace, the free flow of information and the wider participation of women as an integral appraoch to preventing violence and conflicts, and efforts aimed at the creation of conditions for peace and its consolidation (UN Resolution A/53/25). ...It is a holistic approach that can facilitate the integration and synergy of all the great social movements of our time."

We asked David first what universal ethical practices could he point to from the survey that would guide us in implementing a culture of peace?   David replied in two ways. First, he reviewed briefly the efforts that went into the creation of UN Resolution A 53/25 that instituted the decade and reminded us that we can never know the resistance we face until we push a bit. Thus, while all countries signed onto the Resolution, one country was heard to say, " It will be more difficult to start a war." He noted as well a mention of a voluntary contribution of monies to support The Culture of Peace was deleted when the resolution was passed. Thus, while we have a document with noble rhetoric, we have not as yet governmental motivation to achieve the reality.   Second, he stated that while 96% of the non-governmental organizations saw progress toward a culture of peace, both the lack of funding mechanisms needed to promote it and the practice of mass media that believes bad news is news and good news is not remain the major obstacles in promoting the campaign for a culture of peace. In addition, when television portrays humans as paranoid, violent, selfish, dogmatic and helpless, there is much greater difficulty in holding the torch of peace as an attainable goal.   Both David and the group then pursued again, what ethical requirements were needed to hold up a culture of peace.

David recommended that we look to the promotion of true democracy built upon transparency. He observed that we have a 5000 year old history of repression of internal dissension. In addition, there is a taboo that simply does not allow talking about the home use of military to control exploitation. All militaries throughout the world are used to control people both at home and abroad. He recommended that we locate an article in the Journal of Peace which describes the history of internal interventions by the military in the United States. There have been an average of 15 per year. We need to identify those taboos governments are using to promote fear and denial. Democracy includes a recognition of rights, of dissension, of openness. 

Several members recommended increased non-violent engagement with those we might consider our opponents as Gandhi did. We discussed the principle in martial arts of physical encounter that allowed the aggressors to defeat themselves. In martial arts, physical combat involves deep listening. We supported disciplined interaction built upon respect and loyalty to the principle of the good of all. Another pointed out shifting from hierarchical organizing to "spontaneously self-organizing symphonies of voices" such as happens in networking. Through the internet and other open systems for information sharing (aka trusting relationships), we can diffuse boundaries brought on by ethncity, nationality, religion and create a different level of coherence. We can mobilize a wider net of disparate groups to express their will for peace. Indeed, large groups of dissenting voices about the Viet Nam war may have prevented the US from using nuclear force. We recognized technology that was originally designed for war purposes is now being used for both war and peace. Nevertheless, it speaks to the principle of what was earlier mentioned in the martial arts approach, which is to use the energy of the other to gain an opposite effect.

We discussed what ethical strategies and actions are at play in the promotion of the culture of peace.   We reiterated that new governance models built upon transparency are making a big difference. Networking was looked upon as a new form of intimacy when it is directed to achieving nobler ends than individual citizens can achieve alone. Barbara Marx Hubbard was mentioned as doing innovative work in this regard. We note the work of Global Coalition Against Poverty (GCAP) a worldwide network against poverty. There are 75 million signatories on the Manifesto for Peace, 15 million of them from Brazil.  We agreed that ethical action must be dynamic and energizing. Turning military factories into factories of industry was mentioned as a way of turning minds toward peace and shifting the basis for human security. At a Peace Alliance Conference held September 23, in Washington, DC., there was a recommendation to campaign governments to putting 2 % of their military budgets toward peace education. Again we noted the principle of martial arts shifting energy from destructive to constructive use. Respect for others may require setting our agendas aside including our most deeply held assumptions that emphasize difference.

Continuing to intrude language for the culture of peace into the 60th General Assembly session was recommended (cf paragraph 144 in Millennial Summit Outcome document). David mentioned that he already had mobilized youth from Fondacion de Paz to participate in circulating the "Civil Society Report at Midpoint" to governmental Ambassadors. He encouraged us to join with this group for a meeting in The Church Center on Friday, October 14th at 5:00pm to help with this effort and hear how the youth were organizing to achieve their purpose. Their intent is to get the survey into Ambassadors hands before October 20th, the GA's Plenary session.

David also reminded us that we may need to be prepared for dramatic global changes in the next five years. The possibility of nuclear war, environmental disasters, and governmental collapses are all too real. Our approaches will have to factor in the contexts in which we find ourselves.   We then all offered closing remarks. (Anne recommends spelling this out more extensively)   Our group described this meeting with David as: creating unifying conversation, offering an expanding rich discussion of multiple-layered intersections. We need to work more with media, and make sure that we extend our outreach beyond those with whom we are comfortable. Yet in small groups, we can fortify our own intentions to implementing peace in our own locales. One member offered that war is not a culture and that art possesses great power to inspire us to be peace.   David closed by reminding us that all institutions are limited. They serve as beacons of purpose with great values. But they require us to put the values into action. “We here are attracted to the beacon United Nations. The greater UN, however, is ‘We the People’ Because of the presence of the UN, we have found others who are giving their lives to the same values we share. Because of the UN, a Manifesto was created as was GCAP, the MDG's, AGENDA 21, Our business are these ideals. We are the makers of a culture without precedent.” We are the creators of new traditions that can transcend war.

Summary Conclusions: Three strategies to implement a culture of peace: deep dialogue, closer encounter with others who may have different points of view from our own, inclusion of culture of peace language into UN documents,   Institutional changes to promote: increased information sharing and transparency in decision-making, mobilization of civil society via networking to increase advocacy effectiveness cf. Manifesto 2000, GCAP, Millennium Summit+5 network, etc.

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Season of Sacred Feasts, Season of Hope

October 6, 2005

Hardin Room, 11 th floor, Church Center, CSVGC Co-Sponsored with the Sub-Committee for the Elimination of Racism of the International Committee on Human Rights: Season of Sacred Feasts, Season of Hope. The unusual confluence of Sacred Feasts of various religions this October provides a wonderful opportunity for people of all faiths to make “spiritual connections” with each other for peace, human rights, social justice, and the healing of our wounded earth. This panel featured: Mr. Joel Levy – Jewish Faith, Director, New York Region, Anti-Defamation League; Brother Thomas Barton – Roman Catholic Faith, Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, HIV/AIDS Case Management for the Franciscan AIDS Initiative, Pilgrimage Guide to Assisi and Rome; Mr. Imbraham Ramey – Moslem Faith, Disarmament Program Coordinator for the Fellowship for Reconciliation, Dialogue and Call to Action. Leader of Song: Sister Jo-Ann Jackowski, Franciscan Sisters of the Poor. Co-Sponsors: International NGO Committee on Human Rights, NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns, NGO Committee on Children’s Rights, Franciscans Intl. & the Temple of Understanding 

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United Nations 60 th Anniversary event:

Ongoing Planning Committee Meetings for the UN 60 th event from April 2005 – October 2005.

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The Spirit of the United Nations: Markings for the Future

Thursday, October 27 th, 2005

On the occasion of the UN 60 th Anniversary and the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Dag Hammarskjold the Second Secretary General with Special Guests Hula Halau: Ka Leo Lake I Ka Hikina O Ka La, Roberto Mucaro Borrero, Chairman, NGO Committee on the UN International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Carl Murrell, Co-Chair, Values Caucus, Diane Williams, Chairperson, NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns (NY) a committee of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations and Co-Chair, CSVGC Spiritual Council for Global Challenges, Shashi Tharoor, Under-Secretary-General for Communication and Public Information, H.E. 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, UN Singers, Video Montage of Reflections from Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Under-Secretary General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director, UNIFEM, Farida Ali, Senior Programme Officer, UNICEF, Pera Wells, Acting Secretary-General, WFUNA, Gordon Tapper, Chief, Special Services Section, Office of Central Support Services, Julia Grindon-Welch, Co-Chair, Values Caucus, United Nations International School, Audrey Kitagawa, Co-Chair, CSVGC Spiritual Council for Global Challenges. This event was organized by the NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns and it’s special project the Spiritual Council for Global Challenges with the Values Caucus, Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, Legion of Goodwill, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States. In cooperation with The Department of Public Information and the United Nations Staff and Recreation Council and numerous NGOs and supporting organizations.