THE ETHICAL AND SPIRITUAL DIMENSIONS OF THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

February 12, 2004

The URI-UN, in partnership with The Values Caucus, The Spiritual Caucus and The NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns, presented a Round Table Discussion to Honor the 10th Anniversary of the Values Caucus on “The Ethical and Spiritual Dimensions of the Millennium Development Goals” on Thursday, 12 February 2004 at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

More than 60 members of the UN non-governmental community attended, overflowing the small conference room. URI-UN facilitator Deborah Moldow served as moderator, opening the meeting with the Moment of Silence traditional to the Values Caucus. There were congratulations on the 10th anniversary of the Values Caucus, including a message from Ambassador Juan Somavía, director-general of the ILO in Geneva. Monica Willard presented a celebratory cake, to be shared after the meeting.The first speaker was Alfredo Sfeir-Younis, Senior Advisor in the Office of the Managing Director of the World Bank. In this recently created post, Mr. Sfeir-Younis advises on the Bank’s efforts to further the United Nations Millennium Development Goals of poverty eradication and sustainable development.  Here is an excerpt from his inspiring remarks:

For many people, the Millennium Development goals represent a major landmark in public policy making. And, in many ways, I share this view. It is not only great that we address the issues of poverty, education, gender, children, environment, and health, but fundamental to the future of humanity… One thing is certain: the MDGs have brought together the will of many people and brought around the same table many organizations that, in the past, were following their own agendas. […]

… these MDGs, as new expressions of human betterment, will demand new and higher levels of human consciousness. […] It is essential that we focus on the role that individual and social awareness/consciousness play in the attainment of the MDGs. It is important to unleash our infinite human potential and put it at the service of these MDGs and more!  […]

… there is another way: to use the power of our wisdom and free will. And, through that power generate the type of energy that is needed to mobilize each and every citizen of the world. […] It is the purity of our intent that will carry all possible energies to the attainment of the MDGs.

Following Alfredo’s stirring words were remarks by Carol Zinn, SSJ, who serves as Alternative Representative of the URI to the United Nations, as well as representing the Congregations of St. Joseph, an international network of 13,600+ Catholic women religious serving in 51 countries in the areas of poverty eradication, human rights, education, gender equality, and sustainable development. She offered a deeply personal reflection:

The following litany of consciousness-deepening questions helps me to dive more critically into my own awareness and, hopefully, open myself to the necessary transformation so that the MDGs become operative in my own life. Once they are operative in my own life, then perhaps there is a chance that they might be operative among the global family. I invite you to hold this litany close to your mind and heart as you continue to offer our world your energy, insight, concern and hope that someday the MDGs will be achieved and the house on the hill will be rebuilt on the ground of justice, equality, peace and compassion.

Has the activity of my life this day been more inclusive than exclusive? Has it been reconciling in places and moments that cried out for reconciliation? Has it been reverent to all those I met throughout the day? Has it been marked with a sense of the sacred--did I recognize the sacred in all the events of this day? Has the activity of my life this day been characterized by the presence of hope? By the expression of joy? And has the activity of my life this day moved me closer to a spirit of holy abandon? In other words, did I realize today that this work I am doing is not my work--rather, it is work that is being asked to be done through me, for the life of the world.

Responses to this conversation were overwhelmingly enthusiastic and spilled over into subsequent meetings among the NGO community. The URI-UN is planning to continue this series of discussions on “The Ethical and Spiritual Dimensions of the Millennium Development Goals,” highlighting the relationship of the MDGs to various UN agencies and conferences. The next events in the series will be during the upcoming meetings for the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in March and the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) in April.

The meeting closed with everyone saying together:
“May Peace Prevail on Earth.” 

BUILDING A CULTURE OF PEACE AND THE EVOLUTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS AT UNITED NATIONS

June 2, 2004

Conference Room 8, 3 - 6pm. With Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS) and others. Sponsored with the Aquarian Age Community and Operation Peace through Unity. The focus was on the role of the United Nations and Civil Society in Promoting a Culture of Peace. It also asked the questions: Is there a relationship between the Evolution of Consciousness and a Culture of Peace?A complete summary of the program with transcripts of keynote presentations is available by clicking here. 

THE ETHICAL AND SPIRITUAL DIMENSIONS OF THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

September 10, 2004

THE 57TH ANNUAL DPI/NGO CONFERENCE
Midday Workshop, 10 September  2004

Report by Deborah Moldow, Facilitator
The United Religions Initiative at the United NationsThe theme of the 2004 DPI/NGO Conference at the United Nations headquarters from 8-10 September was “The Millennium Development Goals: Civil Society Takes Action.” The conference, which boasted 1,800 participants from at least 79 countries, was organized by a committee chaired by Sr. Joan Kirby of the Temple of Understanding and member of the council of the United Religions Initiative at the United Nations CC, known as URI-UN.

This annual conference is traditionally enlivened by a selection of midday workshops organized by NGO groups to allow more active participation in a variety of topics related to the theme. On Friday, Sept. 10th, the URI-UN and our friends on the newly-formed New York NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns hosted an interactive workshop entitled “The Ethical and Spiritual Dimensions of the Millennium Development Goals.”

The workshop was well attended, with about 75 people filling the small conference room. Deborah Moldow, facilitator of URI-UN, welcomed everyone and requested a Moment of Silence, followed by an invocation prayer led by Audrey Kitagawa, co-facilitator of URI-UN. Monica Willard, URI Representative to the UN, then introduced the Keynote Speaker, Dr. Noel J. Brown, president of Friends of the United Nations and former head of the UN Environment Programme for the North American Region.

Dr. Brown delivered a rousing and inspiring address. He characterized the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as “the moral expression of the hopes of the leaders of the world at the dawn of the new millennium.” He spoke of the “singular erosion of the moral order” in a “climate of terror and a culture of fear.” He warned that “the war against terror has eclipsed the war against poverty,” and asked, “How do we build a global political ethos?” He stated that, despite many setbacks, the UN still has a moral capability that must be engaged.

Dr. Brown offered a number of practical suggestions for moving forward, including the following:

1.    Propose a Millennium Development Day, to provide a focus of attention and measure progress across the globe;
2.    Produce textbooks and curricula to bring the MDGs into the educational process. Create a children’s version of the MDGs and games in which they can be achieved. An MDG scholarship was also suggested;
3.    Prepare a report on the Ethical and Spiritual Dimensions of the Millennium Development Goals and submit it to the Secretary-General. Organize NGO Millennium Development Partners to work with the United Nations.

Dr. Brown’s remarks were warmly received. After one or two questions, it was time to move on to the interactive segment of the workshop. Participants were asked to move into groups, each of which would focus on one of the MDGs. In a process that drew inspiration from Appreciative Inquiry, each group responded to these instructions:

Question for each group member:        (10 minutes)
How do the ethical and spiritual dimensions of this MDG empower your NGO’s work? Introduce yourself and your work.

Group discussion:                (10 minutes)
Which are the key ethical and spiritual principles that underlie or support this MDG? Principles from religion, ethics, morality, history, etc.

Group Statement:                (10 minutes)
What statement would your group make to summarize the ethical and spiritual dimensions of this MDG? One sentence, please.

After a half-hour of lively discussion, the groups reported back to the whole gathering. Remarkably, the groups had managed, in the short time, to come up with rather cohesive statements, as follows:

GOAL 1:  ERADICATE EXTREME POVERTY AND HUNGER– Barbara Valocore, facilitator
Poverty and hunger diminish human dignity. We are one human race, so what affects the poorest affects us all. Do something every day–take it personally.

GOAL 2:  ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION – Nickolai Parker, facilitator
It is crucial for children especially to develop images of themselves that inculcate values of friendliness, love, compassion, respect for diversity, generosity, justice, fairness, peace, kindness and acceptance in their lives. As part of this process, we suggest incorporating these values into children’s games and play, and to create children’s versions of the MDGs that include these ethical, moral, and spiritual dimensions to imbue young people with the worth and importance of the development goals.

GOAL 3:  PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER WOMEN – Monica Willard, facilitator
Our goal is to create a Culture of Peace in which the equality of women and men would redress the imbalance that arose historically with a Culture of Violence that has included trafficking of women and other abuses. The qualities of this Culture of Peace include unity, partnership, balance, communication, compassion, and receptivity, qualities that are valued by women as builders of society.
GOAL 4:  REDUCE CHILD MORTALITY – Frances Edwards, facilitator

GOAL 5:  IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH – John Clausen, facilitator (combined report)
We value all life on earth and acknowledge that each human life has a unique purpose. We honor women as the sacred chalice that gives birth to the child. As such, her health and well-being are vital and she should be surrounded by beauty.

GOAL 6:  COMBAT HIV/AIDS, MALARIA AND OTHER DISEASES –Martha Gallahue, facilitator
All spheres of society are affected by the infectious diseases of HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria and emerging & re-emerging diseases (i.e. sand flea parasite and polio).  Business and academia have a duty to engage with the international community of government and NGOs in the study, recommendation and deployment of solutions to MDG #6 (with cognizance of the other MDGs). The bond of covenant transcends gender, religion and geography. Infectious disease knows no boundaries, so it is incumbent upon all members of humanity to create and implement compassionate policy.

GOAL 7: ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY – Noel Brown, facilitator
It is our sacred duty to revere and care for the world to preserve the beauty and abundance of nature that is the birthright of all humanity.

GOAL 8:  DEVELOP GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT – Diane Williams, facilitator
1.    Do unto others as you wish done unto you;
2.    Develop a new spiritual consciousness  on how to be a responsible global citizen in the world today, and awaken a spiritual (r)evolution driving global partnerships;
3.    In an interdependent world, global partnerships serve the material needs of citizens in developing countries and provide an opportunity in the richer countries to share resources to meet the needs of all the people in the world.

We celebrated with an enthusiastic round of applause.

After some encouraging remarks by Dr. Brown, Diane Williams, chair of the New York NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns, delivered a closing statement, reminding us that the very values that underpinned the work of Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are the same as those that move us to support the Millennium Development Goals.

As we closed with a final Moment of Silence in gratitude, a participant requested that we all join hands – a sight not often seen in a United Nations conference room. Together, we affirmed a sincere prayer: May Peace Prevail on Earth!

ANNUAL RETREAT OF THE NGO COMMITTEE ON SPIRITUALITY, VALUES AND GLOBAL CONCERNS

September 12, 2004

11 DAYS OF GLOBAL UNITY

September 11-21, 2004

The NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns sponsored a Meditation Room card with URI-UN, Earth Values Caucus, Spiritual Caucus, and Values Caucus.  

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THE ROLE OF RELIGION IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE AT THE UN
“RELIGIOUS NGOS, CIVIL SOCIETY AND UN REFORM”
October 22, 2004

Discussion on the Secretary-General’s Report on the recommendations by the Panel of Eminent Persons on UN-Civil Society Relations (Cardoso Report) 

Featuring:

Francis K. Butagira (invited)
Permanent Representative
Permanent Mission of Uganda to the UN

Martin Thuemmel
First Secretary
Permanent Mission of Germany to the UN

Adrian Hills
Senior Officer
Office of Deputy Secretary-General

The Church Center for the United Nations, 12th Floor
777 United Nations Plaza at 44th & 1st Avenue

Sponsored by the Committee of Religious NGOs and
Co-sponsored by Values Caucus, NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief, NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns