“We stand at a critical moment in Earth's history, a time when humanity must choose its future.
(This quotation and most of those that follow are from the Earth Charter)
In 2012 the world communitywas looking back to the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 with a conference Rio+20 in June which reviewed progress and assessed what the world and each of us needed to do next if we wanted to hand on a planet worth living in to future generations. One World Week 2012 offered us an opportunity to review the findings of the conference and plan the actions we could take to contribute to an equitable, harmonious and enduring future.
"Cooperatives are a reminder to the international community that it is possible to pursue both economic viability and social responsibility. "
(United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon)
2012 was also the UN Year of Co-operatives and our theme offered opportunities to celebrate sharing and working together with others.
We all wondered what the world was coming to and what the future hold for our children. How could we cope with a warming world, declining resources, growing inequality and unrest?
“As the world becomes increasingly interdependent and fragile, the future at once holds great peril and great promise.”
Could our generation take the steps needed right away to ensure that future generations would be able to continue to access the resources they needed to enjoy a fulfilling life? Were we prepared to embrace the changes that could offer hope and a future for all?
“To move forward we must recognize that in the midst of a magnificent diversity of cultures and life forms we are one human family and one earth community with a common destiny.”
We affirmed that we were all members of one world and that technology had enabled us to move around the globe for work and leisure and to communicate with ease. Also that trade had moved us closer, reinforcing our growing interdependence. However, we also recognised that some people had been forced to move by poverty, conflict and persecution to seek refuge and make new homes. We reflected that living and working together with people of many cultures and abilities had not only enriched our lives but enabled us to find shared ways of surviving as one world.
We acknowledged that our economies, natural environment and societies were increasingly interwoven. Could we cooperate to move towards a global society, which adapted to change while:
- balancing the needs of nature, economy and society,
- respecting universal human rights, and economic justice,
- and building a culture of peace?
We asked we could accept that it was only by working together to meet these challenges could we share quitably the legacy we have received with our descendants?
“Towards this end, it is imperative that we, the peoples of Earth, declare our responsibility to one another, to the greater community of life, and to future generations.”
the Earth Charter here
OWW's partners in the Stop Climate Chaos Coallition offed us a video: "Reasons to be cheerful" documenting progress on environmental protection since the first Rio Conference in 1992 (see it here)
OWWFollow up Rio+20 in your OWW events
In OWW 2012, under our theme of Sharing Destiny,we looked at the outcomes of the Rio+20 conference which took place in June, 2012. Representatives from around the world met at this UN environment summit to “secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development*, ... ”.
The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition (SCCC), of which OWW is a member, encouraged people to organise events to raise awareness of what was at stake at Rio in June and invite their MP to support a Rio Connection Declaration.
You could involve local representatives of other SCCC members in planning your OWW events for October. Have a look at the SCCC site where a Map tells you who is in your local area or you could get in touch with local branches of the SCCC members listed on the website.
In 1992, the UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, was unprecedented for a UN conference. It sought to help governments rethink economic development, recognising that economic and social progress depended on finding ways to prevent environmental degradation and preserve our resource base. Government representatives from around the world agreed to put in place:
“A comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally ... in every area in which human impacts on the environment.” (It became known as Agenda 21)
In 2012, twenty years on, the objective of the ‘Rio+20’ Conference was to:
“secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development*, assess progress to date and… address new and emerging challenges”.
(More information at: www.uncsd2012.org )
There was much debate about this term with many feeling it had been highjacked from its original meaning.
A simple and common definition is “... development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
Living within our environmental limits is one of the central principles of sustainable development, but it also means meeting the diverse needs of all people in existing and future communities, promoting personal wellbeing, social cohesion and inclusion, and creating equal opportunity.
There was much talk of a green economy - Governments and businesses wanted a green economy that promoted growth through developing energy saving technologies and low carbon technologies. One of OWW's partners, the World Development Movement, warned that it all depended on whose green economy it is! More here
Date: 1 Array 2016 00:00 to 14 Array 2016 00:00
Shadows of the Wanderer
A powerful installation by the acclaimed sculptor, Ana Maria Pacheco.
These outstanding - and thought provoking - sculptures present
ten over life-size darkly robed figures as they witness
the struggle of a young man to carry an older man on his shoulders.
Date & Time: Saturday 16th July – Monday 14th November
Venue: North Transept
Chichester Cathedral
West Street
CHICHESTER
West Sussex
PO19 1RPH
‘Shadows of the Wanderer’
presents a complex scene of twelve figures, each of them
larger than a human and carved out of a single lime tree.
Ten of the figures stand in the shadows around a young man
who is carrying an older man on his back.
These two central figures have been symbolically carved
out of the same piece of wood and draw from virgil’s Aeneid.
In Virgil’s ancient poem, dating from 29BC, a young man,
Aeneas, carries his lame father on his back and flees from
the burning ruins of Troy.
Pacheco’s contemporary – and challenging – depiction of this
scene resonates powerfully with current debates about exile,
migration, and the displacement of people who are trying to
escape persecution in our own day.
(This exhibition is supported by Amnesty International).k
For more Details go to the Chichester Cathedral Website
Admission : Free
The Cathedral is open
from 7.15am until 6.30pm (Monday to Saturday)
and from 7.15am until 5.00pm (Sunday).
There is no charge for entry.
Date: 19 Array 2016 00:00 to 29 Array 2016 00:00
One World Week
Welcoming the Stranger
Display and Event
Display runs from:
Wednesday 19th October at 9.30am
to
Saturday 29th October at 5.00pm
Event:
Monday 24th October 2016
Venue: Bradford on Avon Library
Bridge Street
Bradford on Avon
Wiltshire
BA15 1BYy
Displays by Local Community Groups including
Oxfam, Amnesty International, Quaker Outreach
Save the Children, Fairtrade, Climate Friendly Bradford
and Churches Together
There will be information and stories that illustrate global issues
A member of the organising group will be present to answer questions
For more details contact the library
Telephone: 01225 863280 or 01225 868127
Date: 23 Array 2016 09:00 to 30 Array 2016 17:00
OWW Exhibition
Date & Time: Sunday 23rd October - Sunday 30th October 2016
9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: Truro Cathedral
TRURO
TR1 2AFH
A One World Week Exhibition
featuring local groups and organisations
that are trying to make a difference in the world.
Admission Details: Free
Contact Name : Colin Reid
Contact Email : colin@trurocathedral.org.uk
Date: 25 Array 2016 10:00 to 29 Array 2016 17:00
Free Chocolate Tasting
Date & Time:
Saturday 22nd, Tuesday 25th - Saturday 29th October 2016
10am - 5 pm
Venue: Fair Do's/Siopa Teg CIC
10 Llandaff Road
CARDIFF
CF11 9NJ
Free tastings of Divine Chocolate all week long!
Come and taste this delicious chocolate,
made all the sweeter by the fact that it is fair trade.
Divine Chocolate is a company co-owned by the
chocolate farmers themselves and one of the only
chocolate companies in the world to provide
real fair conditions and wages to their workers,
as well as many other benefits.
Admission Details: Free
Contact Name: Jan Tucker
Contact Email: info@fairdos.com
26 October 2016
Lessons about the Palestine-Israeli Conflict
A talk by Prof Cobi Sonnenscheink
Date & Time: Wednesday 26th October 2016
at 5.30pm
Venue: Brasenose College
Radcliffe Square
Oxford
OX1 4AJ H
A talk by Prof Cobi Sonnenschein, on
"Lessons about Palestine-Israel Conflict:
Life in Neve Shalom / Wahat al - Salam."
Neve Shalom / Wahat al - Shalam
meaning "Oasis of Peace"in Hebrew and Arabic
is the only community where Jewish & Palestinian Israelis
have chosen to live together to promote peace & equality.
Cobi and his wife Nava are one of the original four young
couples who founded NSWaS in 1979.
Since then the community has grown to over 60 families,
with anothe 90 planned in the coming years.
Cobi is a member of the municipal council which plans the
future and development of the Village.
Nava is the founder and Director the School for Peace,
the outreach educational arm of the Village.
Cobi holds the
Wolfson Chair of Theoretical Physics at Tel Aviv University
and is currently conducting Research at Imperial College, London.
Admission Details: Free, BUT need to Register by email
Contact Name : Millius Palayiwa
Contact Email : millius.palayiwa@gmail.com
Date: 26 October 2016to 21:30
Including You
an evening of speakers and discussion on our response
to refugees and asylum seekers followed by refreshments
Date & Time: Wednesday 26th October 2016
7.30pm - 9.30pm
Venue: Portsmouth Cathedral
High Street
Portsmouth, Hampshire
PO1 2HH
Acting together for One World in Peace
Bringing people together to hear other perspectives.
Everyone is affected by the impacts of migration and refugees,
diversity and inclusion, extremism, Islamophobia and racism.
Our society needs to think in new ways to understand these
issues and address the causes and effects to enable us all
to live together in peace.
Chaired by:
The Very Reverend David Brindley - Dean of Portsmouth
Speakers:
Michael Woolley from Friends without Borders
Julia Thistleton-Smith from the Rural Refugee Trust
Jess Gealer from Modern Slavery Partnership
An opportunity to ask questions and discuss how we might all be
able to work together and support each other in peace.
Local groups working with displaced people locally and
worldwide are invited to bring a display from 7pm.
Refreshments will be served at 9pm
Admission Details:
Contact Name: Sue Ward
Contact Email: sueandterryinpk@yahoo.com
26 October 2016
Interfaith Discussion on Religious Rituals
Loughborough Council of Faiths
Date & Time: Wednesday 26th October 2016
7.30pm
Venue: Geeta Bhawan
Lemyngton Street
Loughborough
LE11 1UHH
Admission Details: All welcome
Contact Name : Varsha Parmar
Contact Email : enq@lborofaiths.org.uk
Contact Telephone: 01509 261651