2003 Social Justice /
Human Rights / Feminist Dates
* 1/1: Day the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect freeing Confederate slaves (1863); day to mourn African victims of slavery and racism (past and present), make peace, and celebrate empowerment of African Americans. [President Abraham Lincoln made the Emancipation Proclamation on 9/22/1862.][Text of Emancipation Proclamation]
* 1/1: Day the first woman was ordained an Episcopalian priest in the U.S. (1977). [Rev. Jacqueline Means]
* 1/1: Day the World Trade Organization (W.T.O.) was created (1995). Day to peacefully demonstrate to ensure that international trade complies with international and domestic standards concerning human rights, environmental protection, consumer protection, and labor practices. [See W.T.O. website.] [See also analysis of the W.T.O. and human rights: an analysis prepared for the United Nations Commission on Human Rights; an analysis from the European Journal of International Law; and an analysis of human rights and the W.T.O.'s Agreement on Agriculture.] [See also analysis of the W.T.O. and the environment: the W.T.O.'s perspective; Greenpeace's perspective; Public Citizen's perspective.] [See also analysis of the W.T.O. and consumer protection: Public Citizen's perspective; Consumers International's perspective; and the Center for Science in the Public Interest's perspective.] [See also articles promoting the use of the W.T.O. to protect and promote labor rights: by the W.T.O. and by Foreign Policy in Focus.]
* 1/3 eve: Rosh Chodesh--Jewish women gather to worship the Shekhinah, the feminine manifestation of Elohim, the one universal Deity; and to pray and act for peace, social justice, and environmental healing, to bring about Tikkun Olam (reparation of the world and reunification of the Divine). [For discussion of the Shekhinah as the feminine Divine Presence honored at Rosh Chodesh, see Wikipedia article on Shekhinah and "Women and Rosh Chodesh" by My Jewish Learning.] ["Elohim" is a masculine plural of a feminine Hebrew word that refers to a singular Deity whose unity incorporates both masculine and feminine elements. See Wikipedia article on Elohim. Kabbalists believe that estrangement between the Divine masculine and feminine elements has resulted in violence, injustice, and environmental destruction, but human action can bring about reparation and reunification. See "The History of 'Tikkun Olam'" by Jill Jacobs. While Kabbalists, Jewish feminists, the Jewish Renewal Movement, and many Reconstructionist and Reform Jews perceive Elohim as gender-inclusive, other Jews do not. Some Jews of all denominations perceive Elohim as genderless, but most Orthodox and Conservative Jews perceive Elohim as exclusively male. See "The Divine Feminine in Kabbalah: An Example of Jewish Renewal" by My Jewish Learning.] [a/k/a Rosh Chodesh Sh'vat, Rosh Chodesh Shivat, Rosh Chodesh Shivath, Rosh Chodesh Shevat, beginning of the Jewish month of Shevat]
* 1/4: Day ethnic discrimination was outlawed world-wide (1969); day to mourn all manifestations of racism. [Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: signed/adopted 3/7/1966; entered into force 1/4/1969.][Text of Convention] [For more information, see Anti Racism Information Service website; Human Rights Watch website.]
* 1/5: Birthday of Guru Gobind Rai Singh Sahib, tenth Sikh guru (1666). He believed that only those who love find Deity, and exhorted Sikhs to show compassion for humanity. [Guru Gobind Singh lived 1666-1708; guru 1675- 1708.] [a/k/a Guru Gobind Singh Parkash] [Nanakshahi calendar]
* 1/12: Day genocide was outlawed world-wide (1951); day to mourn all victims of genocide. [Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide: signed/adopted 12/9/1948; entered into force 1/12/1951.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see Prevent Genocide International website.]
* 1/13: Death day of George Fox (1691), founder of the Quakers. Quakers experience Deity within and practice egalitarianism, social activism, and peacefulness. [Born 7/1624: exact date unknown]
* 1/15 (Obs.1/20): Birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929), Baptist preacher and non-violent advocate for the rights of African Americans. [Death day 4/4/1968]
* 1/16: Day El Salvador's 12-year civil war ended (1992); vigil for true peace, justice, and respect for the human rights of all in Central America. [The 12-year civil war between leftist rebels and the military government of El Salvador ended 1/16/1992.] [For more information, see Human Rights Watch report: El Salvador.]
* 1/22: Day the Supreme Court recognized women's right to reproductive autonomy (1973). [Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973)] [Text of case]
* 1/29: Birthday of Thomas Paine (1737), Deist who recognized the inherent rights of all men and women, and opposed non-democratic government. Deists believe Deity to be consistent with Nature and reason. [a/k/a Common Sense Day] [Death day 6/8/1809]
* 2/1: Day President Abraham Lincoln approved the Constitution's 13th Amendment, outlawing all slavery (1865). [The 13th Amendment was approved by Congress on 1/31/1865 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on 12/18/1865.] [a/k/a National Freedom Day] [Text of amendment]
* 2/1 to 2/28: Ethnic Equality Month--Time to honor all peoples and their positive traditions; time to meditate on the equality of all peoples, on the respect due to them, and on God-Goddess manifesting as African, Asian, Oceanic, Middle Eastern, European, Hispanic, and Native American. [Expands idea of African-American History Month a/k/a Black History Month.]
* 2/3: Day B'Tselem was founded (1989). The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories is an organization that seeks to change Israeli policy in the Occupied Territories by confronting the Israeli government and people with accurate information about human rights abuses and injustices perpetrated by Israelis on residents in the Occupied Territories. [See B'Tselem website.]
* 2/4: Vigil for peace, religious tolerance, and equal rights for all in Sri Lanka. [Sri Lanka gained its independence on 2/4/1948; Sri Lanka's civil war arises out of the legal preference given to the Sinhala people, the Sinhalese language, and the Buddhist religion over the Tamil people, the Tamil language, and the Hindu religion. The Sri Lankan civil war has been ongoing since 1983. On 2/22/2002, the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers guerrilla organization signed a cease fire and, on 12/5/2002, an agreement was reached to develop a federal structure of government with regional autonomy. However, the Tamil Tigers pulled out of peace talks in 4/2003, claiming they were being marginalized.] [For a timeline on the conflict, see BBC News website. For information on the peace process, see Sri Lankan government peace process website; National Peace Council of Sri Lanka website. For information on the human rights situation, see Human Rights Watch report: Sri Lanka; U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report for 2002: Sri Lanka.]
* 2/6: Day to mourn all the women and girls who have been subjected to female genital mutilation. [Female Genital mutilation is also known as "FGM" and "female circumcision". FGM results in severe pain, bleeding, disfigurement, urine retention, recurrent infections, painful menstruation, sexual dysfunction, infertility, and complications in childbirth.] [International Day of Zero Tolerance of Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting established on 2/6/2003 by the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (IAC).] [Islamic fatwa ruling that female circumcision is not a prescribed ritual of Islam (8/28/2002)] [Islamic fatwa prohibiting the removal of the clitoris as part of female circumcision (2/7/2004)] [For more information about FGM, see Amnesty International website; Female Genital and Sexual Mutilation - Bibliography.
* 2/7: Birthday of Frederick Douglass (1817), non-violent advocate for the rights of African Americans. [Death day 2/20/1895]
* 2/7 eve to 2/8 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Artemis (Roman Diana/Slavic Diwitsa) - as creatrix, midwife of birthing creatures, protector of the young, and punisher of child abusers.
* 2/11: Day the first woman was consecrated an Episcopalian bishop in the U.S. (1989). [Bishop Barbara Harris]
* 2/15: Birthday of Galileo (1564), astronomer; day to mourn the persecution of scientists by religious authorities. [Death day 1/8/1642]
* 2/15: Birthday of Susan B. Anthony (1820), non-violent advocate for the rights of women and African Americans. [a/k/a Susan B. Anthony Day] [Death day 3/13/1906]
* 2/19: Day the President ordered the internment of loyal Japanese Americans during World War II (1942); day to mourn Asian victims of internment and exclusion (past and present), make peace, and celebrate empowerment of Asian Americans. [Executive Order 9066 was signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt.]
* 3/1 to 3/31: Gender Equality Month--Time to honor both genders; time to meditate on the equality of women and men, on the respect due to both women and men, and on Goddess-God manifesting as woman and man. [Expands idea of Women's History Month.]
* 3/3 eve to 3/13 eve: Muharram/Muslim New Year (Year 1424) & A'ashurah. The Qur'an says: "O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct." [See Qur'an Surah 49 Vs. 13. And see the Universal Islamic Declaration of Human Rights. For scholarly discussions of human rights in Islam, see Religious Human Rights in the Qur'an by Riffat Hassan and Human Rights in Islam by 'Allamah Abu al-'A'la Mawdudi. See also the Islamic Human Rights Commission, an organization that advocates for justice for all. But see Human Rights Watch report: Saudi Arabia (Saudi Arabia is the center of Sunni Islam) and Human Rights Watch report: Iran (Iran is the center of Shi'a Islam).] [a/k/a Islamic New Year] [Muharram 1-10]
* 3/5: Day commemorating the birth of Taoist Lao-Tzu (570? BCE). Taoists live simply and tranquilly, respect life, and recognize the equality of all. [570?-490? BCE; alternate dates 604-531 BCE]
* 3/5 eve to 3/6 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Athena - as protector and defender.
* 3/8: International Women's Day--Day to mourn victims of gender-based oppression and misogyny (past and present), make peace, and celebrate women's empowerment. [For information on International Women's Day, see United Nations website; A history of International Women's Day.]
* 3/9: Day slavery was outlawed world-wide (1927); day to mourn its continued existence. [Convention to Suppress the Slave Trade and Slavery: signed/adopted 9/25/1926; entered into force 3/9/1927.] [Text of Convention] See also the Protocol Amending the Slavery Convention. [Text of Protocol]
* 3/10: Death day of Harriet Tubman (1913), who risked her life to guide slaves to freedom. [Birthday unknown]
* 3/12: Death day of Henry Bergh (1888), non-violent advocate for animal rights; day to advocate for laws protecting animals from abuse. [Birthday 8/29/1811] [Henry Bergh founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.] [See The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals website.]
* 3/12: Day Pope John Paul II, in the name of the Catholic Church, asked Deity's forgiveness and apologized: to Christians of other denominations for intolerance to them, to Jews for anti-Semitism, to peoples of all non-Christian religions for intolerance and contempt for their religious traditions, to women for their humiliation and marginalization, and to the poor and the powerless for indifference to them (2000). [On the first Sunday in Lent in the Jubilee Year, as a part of the liturgy of the Mass inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Pope John Paul II made this public confession with the aid of seven cardinals and bishops. See Transcript of Confession and Request for Forgiveness.]
* 3/16: Day Pope John Paul II expressed remorse for the failure of Christians to prevent the murder of six million Jews during World War II (1998). [This was expressed in "We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah".] [Pope Pius XII, who became Pope in 1939, was silent about the Nazi persecution of Jews, other than a 1942 Christmas message that acknowledged that "hundreds of thousands of persons...because of nationality or race, have been consigned to death".] [Pope John Paul II also expressed sorrow for the suffering of Jews at the hands of Christians in a note left at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on 3/26/2000. However, Pope John Paul II planned to beatify Pope Pius XII, until protests dissuaded him. And, in spite of protests, he beatified anti-Semitic Pope Pius IX on 9/3/2000.] [For commentary on the controversy, see articles by America magazine and CNN.]
* 3/16 to 3/20: Zoroastrian celebration of Divine Spirit Spenta Mainyu (Holy Spirit), creator and protector of humans. [a/k/a Hamaspathmaedaya, All Souls, Parsi Muktad, Irani Farvadigan] [Fasli calendar]
* 3/18: Day the first bat mitzvah occurred - in Reconstructionist Judaism (1922). [In order to mark her religious coming-of-age, Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan had his daughter, Judith Kaplan, read the Torah and recite the blessings before the congregation. He wanted to recognize the equality of Jewish girls to boys, to recognize girls' obligation to fulfill the commandments, and to encourage girls to study the Torah. Bat mitzvahs are now universally done in Reconstructionist Judaism, Reform Judaism, and Conservative Judaism. Some congregations of Orthodox Judaism also conduct them.]
* 3/20: Vigil for peace, justice, and respect for the human rights of all in Iraq. [About the invasion of Iraq] [For information the human rights situation in Iraq, see Human Rights Watch report: Iraq.]
* 3/21: Mahayana Buddhist festival of Bodhisattva Tara/Kuan Yin/Kannon; celebrates Her "birth." She declared women the spiritual equals of men. [2nd Chinese month, 19th day]
* 3/28: Death day of Scott Cunningham (1993), who taught a reverent, ethical, egalitarian, and ecological form of Wicca. Wiccans create sacred space by calling on the powers of the four directions, invoke the Lord and Lady in their various guises, and raise power (through drumming, dance, and chant) to realize a positive purpose. [Birthday 6/27/1956]
* 3/29: Birthday of Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise (1819), who founded Reform Judaism in 1873. He advocated reforms in the service, including family pews, a mixed choir, and counting women in forming a minyan (religious quorum). [Death day 3/26/1900] [Reform Judaism affirms personal autonomy and the fundamental right of the individual to determine beliefs and practices. It is committed to social justice and inclusion of women equally with men.] [See Union for Reform Judaism website.]
* 3/30: Day the Constitution's 15th Amendment went into effect, recognizing the right of all ethnic peoples to vote (1870). [The 15th Amendment was approved by Congress on 2/26/1869 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on 3/30/1870.] [Text of amendment]
* 3/31: Birthday of Cesar Chavez (1927), who won recognition of migrant workers' rights through organization and non-violent protest. [Death day 4/23/1993]
* 3/31: Vigil to mourn China's annexation of Tibet (1959) and the killings, torture, and religious persecution of Tibetan Buddhists. [Day the Dalai Lama fled into exile following the Chinese invasion of Tibet.] [For more information, see International Campaign for Tibet website; Human Rights Watch report: China and Tibet; U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report for 2002: China and Tibet.]
* 4/1: Day that same-sex marriage was first legally recognized (2001). [Same-sex marriage has been legalized in the Netherlands (2001) and Belgium (2003). Many countries recognize same-sex civil unions or domestic partnerships (e.g., Denmark (1989), Norway (1993), Sweden (1995), Hungary (1996), Iceland (1996), France (1999), Germany (2001), Portugal (2001), Finland (2002), and Croatia (2003)). In the U.S., Hawaii (1997), California (1999), Vermont (2000), and D.C. (2002), have legalized same-sex civil unions or adopted same-sex domestic partnership laws. However, some U.S. states have constitutional amendments, statutes, or judicial decisions banning same-sex marriage. A federal statute (Defense of Marriage Act -- 1996) bans same-sex marriage under federal law and allows states to not recognize same-sex marriages contracted elsewhere.] [For more information, see the Wikipedia website.] [Christian denominations that perform same-sex marriage ceremonies include the Metropolitan Community Church, the Unitarian Universalist Association, the United Church of Christ, and the Ecumenical Catholic Church. Congregations of Reconstructionist Judaism and Reform Judaism also perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. Some Episcopal churches, Presbyterian churches, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) meetings, and congregations of Conservative Judaism also perform same-sex marriage or blessing ceremonies.]
* 4/6: Day the Hutus began genocidal massacres of Tutsis in Rwanda (1994); vigil for true peace, justice, and respect for the human rights of all in Africa. [Over 800,000 were killed.] [For more information, see BBC report; Human Rights Watch report: Rwanda.]
* 4/7: World Health Day--Day to pray for healing of all those chronically and seriously ill [especially those suffering from AIDS and cancer]; day to advocate for adequate health care for all. [Day the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) was founded in 1948.] [For information on World Health Day, see World Health Organization website; UN Dag Hammarskjold Library website.] [For information on the World Health Organization, see World Health Organization website.]
* 4/7: Birthday of William Ellery Channing (1780), Unitarian who believed all concepts of Deity to be aspects of the one Deity, and preached religious tolerance. [Death day 10/2/1842]
* 4/11: Day Pope John XXIII called for world peace, recognition of human rights, and justice under law (1963). He recognized that peace will only be realized when social justice is realized. [The Pope believed that it is the function of government to create a juridical order, in harmony with the moral order. He recognized that each person is vested with rights and duties that are universal, inviolable, and inalienable. The Pope said that each person has: the right to live, the right to the means necessary for life, the right to freedom of speech, the right to pursue the profession of choice, the right to an education and to receive information about public events, the right to religious freedom, the right to found a family, the right to work, the right to a just and living wage and work conditions conducive to family life, the right to own property, the right of meeting and association, the right to emigrate and immigrate, the right to participate in public life, and to legal protection of these rights. He indicated that government, with due regard for the equality of all, has a duty to accommodate the rights and duties of all, preventing the rights of some to impede the rights of others. Government must be particularly concerned with the welfare of the weak, minority groups, and refugees. The Pope believed that governments should, in their international relations, also act with truth, justice, and respect. He also believed that wealthier countries should aid the poorer ones. He encouraged countries to work together through the United Nations and other international entities. The Pope condemned the arms race and the development of nuclear weapons, and said that disarmament is necessary for world peace. He disapproved of war, recognizing that weapons of mass destruction could not serve justice.] [This is expressed in Pope John XXIIIs Encyclical on Peace on Earth.]
* 4/14: Day the Sikh Khalsa was created (1699). Men and women initiated into the Khalsa seek harmony with the Divine through introspection and service to the dispossessed. Both men and women are initiated equally. [Nanakshahi calendar]
* 4/16 eve to 4/24 eve: Passover/Pesach--Jewish festival recalling their deliverance from slavery in Egypt and celebrating freedom from oppression. [Observed with dietary restrictions, the Seder meal (representing their hardships), and recitation of the Haggadah (relating the Exodus).] [See "The Open Door: A Passover Haggadah", reflecting the liturgy of Reform Judaism.] [And see "Judaism and Human Rights" by Rabbi David Rosen and Declaration on Judaism and Human Rights. See also Rabbis for Human Rights website. Rabbis for Human Rights (Shomrei Mishpat) is the rabbinic voice of conscience in Israel, giving voice to the Jewish tradition of human rights. It advocates for justice, equality, and recognition of the human rights of all in Israel and in the Occupied Territories. But see Human Rights Watch report: Israel.] [Reform Jews and Reconstructionist Jews celebrate 7 days instead of 8 days; the first and last days are holy.] [a/k/a Pesah, Feast of Unleavened Bread] [Nisan 15-22]
* 4/17: Day Cambodia fell to the Khmer Rouge, who caused the deaths of more than a million civilians (1975); vigil for true peace, justice, and respect for the human rights of all in Asia. [For more information, see Yale Cambodian Genocide Study; Human Rights Watch report: Cambodia.]
* 4/18: Death day of Elhanan Winchester (1797), Universalist who exhorted people to lives of personal ethics and social reform. [Birthday 9/30/1751]
* 4/19: Day Nicaragua's 9-year civil war ended (1990); vigil for true peace, justice, and respect for the human rights of all in Central America.] [The 9-year civil war between rebels and the government of Nicaragua ended 4/19/1990.] [For more information, see Human Rights Watch report: Nicaragua.]
* 4/22: Day the world's nations guaranteed asylum to those persecuted in their homelands on account of their ethnicity, religion, or political opinion (1954). [Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees: signed 7/28/1951; entered into force 4/22/1954.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees website; Human Rights Watch website.]
* 4/24: Day to take your children to work to teach them the value of self-sufficiency. [a/k/a Take Our Daughters to Work Day]
* 4/27: Death day of Ralph Waldo Emerson (1882), Transcendentalist Unitarian who believed in equality, self reliance, and the immanence of Deity in humans and in all Nature. [Birthday 5/25/1803]
* 4/29: Holocaust Remembrance Day--Day to mourn Jewish victims of genocide and anti-Semitism, make peace, and celebrate empowerment of Jewish Americans. [See BBC Analysis: "Genocide Under the Nazis".] [a/k/a Yom Hashoa, Yom Hashoah, Yom HaShoah] [Nisan 27]
* 5/1: National Day of Prayer--Day to pray for freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state throughout the world. [Freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and separation of religion and government is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. For text and information on the First Amendment, see Cornell University's Legal Information Institute website; First Amendment Online website and 1st Amendment.com website. For domestic organizations that advocate for freedom of religion, see Americans United for Separation of Church and State website and American Civil Liberty Union website. For information on religious freedom in countries around the world, see U.S. State Department's International Religious Freedom Report; Human Rights Watch website; and Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief website.]
* 5/1: Day Pope John Paul II affirmed that capitalism must be tempered by social justice and restrained by human rights and environmental laws (1991). [Pope John Paul II rejected communism and totalitarianism, as well as consumerism and unbridled capitalism. He reaffirmed the fundamental rights of workers to their own labor, to dignity in work, to reasonable working conditions, to humane working hours, to a just and living wage, to a family life, to associate with other workers for their collective good, and to participate in a democratic process of governance under the rule of law. He indicated that the government has an obligation to seek full employment of workers through its economic policies, to provide social security for those unable to work, and to provide unemployment insurance and retraining for the unemployed. He also reaffirmed the right to private ownership of property, including technology, but cautioned that the government should not favor the wealthy over the poor. Rather, it is the responsibility of the government to protect all people, but especially the poor and the vulnerable, from exploitation by rich and the powerful companies, particularly in times of economic and industrial change. He also indicated that governments should not allow companies, in the name of capitalism, to exploit natural resources of the Earth irresponsibly and destroy the environment.] [Expressed in Pope John Paul II's Social Encyclical, issued on the 100th Anniversary of Rerum Novarum, the Social Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, which it strives to reinterpret.]
* 5/4: Birthday of Horace Mann (1796), advocate for universal nonsectarian education. [Death day 8/2/1859]
* 5/5: Cinco de Mayo--Day celebrating Mexico's struggle for independence; day to mourn Hispanic victims of exploitation (past and present), make peace, and celebrate empowerment of Hispanic Americans. [The Battle of Puebla occurred on 5/5/1862.]
* 5/9: Day for meditation on Tantric Bodhisattva Deities Avalokitesvara and Green Tara, consciousness and empowerment of Compassion. Buddhists recognize the equality of all sentient beings. [Green Tara Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha] [Avalokitesvara Mantra: Om Mani Padmi Hum] [a/k/a Tara Puja] [8th Tibetan day]
* 5/10: Death day of Theodore Parker (1860), Unitarian slavery abolitionist and social justice activist. [Birthday 8/24/1810]
* 5/12: Day the first woman was ordained a rabbi in Conservative Judaism (1985). [Rabbi Amy Eilberg] [Conservative Judaism now fully embraces the ordination of women and has abolished most gender distinctions that limit women from full participation in Jewish ritual. See Wikipedia article on Women in Judaism. See also United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism website and Women's League for Conservative Judaism website.]
* 5/13 eve to 5/14 eve: Mawlid al-Nabi--Day commemorating the birth of Prophet Muhammad (570). He conceived Deity to be a compassionate, genderless unity. [While many Sufis consider Allah to be gender-inclusive, and some Muslims of all denominations consider Allah to be gender-neutral, most Muslims consider Allah to be exclusively male.] [a/k/a Mawlid an-Nabi, Milad-un-Nabi, Miladun-Nabi] [Rabi' al-Awwal 12]
* 5/17: Day the Supreme Court concluded that ethnic-based segregation of schools violates the U.S. Constitution (1954). [Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954)] [Text of case]
* 5/19: Day the first woman was ordained a rabbi in Reconstructionist Judaism (1974). [Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso] [Reconstructionist Judaism fully embraces the ordination of women and rejects gender distinctions that limit women from full participation in Jewish ritual. It also has developed gender-inclusive prayer books. See Wikipedia article on Women in Judaism and "American Jewish Feminism: The Movement Matures" by My Jewish Learning. See also Kolot: Center for Jewish Women's and Gender Studies.]
* 5/20: Day the Supreme Court recognized that discrimination against lesbians and gays violates the U.S. Constitution (1996). [Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620 (1996)] [Text of case]
* 5/21: Death day of Jane Addams (1935), social worker, feminist, and peace advocate. [Birthday 9/6/1860]
* 5/23: Birthday of Margaret Fuller (1810), Transcendentalist and feminist who argued that women as well as men have immortal souls. [Death day 7/19/1850]
* 5/25: Dakinis' Day--Day Tantric Buddhists make offerings to Mother Tantra; day to unite will and power to manifest positive social change and environmental healing. [Observed primarily by Tantric initiates.] [a/k/a Mother Tantra Puja, Tsog, Tsok] [25th Tibetan day]
* 5/26: Memorial Day--Day to contemplate all the horrors of war, mourn war's victims, and support relief efforts for them.
* 6/1 to 6/30: June dedicated to Old Roman Goddess Juno - partner of Jove (God of Happiness), protector of marriage and family, and punisher of abusive and adulterous spouses.
* 6/1 to 6/30: Gay and Lesbian Coming Out Month--Time to celebrate all forms of love and family. [a/k/a Gay and Lesbian Pride Month]
* 6/3: Day the first woman was ordained a rabbi in Reform Judaism (1972). [Rabbi Sally Priesand] [Reform Judaism now fully embraces the ordination of women and has abolished all gender distinctions that limit women from full participation in Jewish ritual. It also has developed gender-inclusive prayer books. See Wikipedia article on Women in Judaism and "American Jewish Feminism: The Movement Matures" by My Jewish Learning. See also Women of Reform Judaism website.]
* 6/3 eve to 6/4 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Athena - as protector and defender.
* 6/4: Day to mourn the massacre of the peaceful, pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China (1989); vigil for democracy and respect for the human rights of all in China. [For more information, see Human Rights Watch report: China; U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report for 2002: China.]
* 6/5: Baha'i feast honoring the one Deity as Nur - Light. Baha'is recognize ethnic equality.
* 6/11: Birthday of Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan (1881), founder of Reconstructionist Judaism. He perceived Deity to be a genderless Cosmic Force of Nature, and promoted a Judaism that recognizes gender equality and rejects violence and social injustice. [See article on Mordecai Kaplan.] [Rabbi Kaplan wrote "The Meaning of God in Modern Jewish Religion" and "Judaism as a Civilization".] [Death day 11/8/1983] [Reconstructionist Judaism values personal autonomy and democratic decision-making as well as religious law and tradition. It embraces science and diverse views of Deity. It exhorts Jews to work for progressive ethical and social evolution in Judaism and society. See "Who is a Reconstructionist Jew?" by the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation. See also Jewish Reconstructionist Federation website.]
* 6/13: Christian feast of St. Anthony (d. 1231), guardian of the poor and the powerless, and guide of social justice activists.
* 6/14 (A 7/25): Beginning of Old Egyptian Shomu/Harvest month of Mesut-Ra/Mesori, dedicated to Neteru Ra and Rait. Priests and priestesses made offerings to the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses) to ensure that there would be security and protection for all. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 7/25] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Mesut-Ra day 1]
* 6/16: Birthday of Fr. Sergei Bulgakov (1871), Orthodox Christian mystic who believed the one universal Deity to be Father and Mother, Spirit and Matter. [Death day 7/12/1944]
* 6/17: Day to celebrate Starhawk's work in reclaiming the Goddess and raising Goddess-consciousness. She teaches an eco-egalitarian form of Wicca. Wiccans advocate for environmental protection and gender equality out of reverence for Goddess, who controls, and is manifested in, Nature. [The Wiccan rede is: Do what you will, but harm none.]
* 6/17: Day a fatwa condemned "honor killings" as un-Islamic and banned the practice (2002). [An "honor killing" is the killing of a woman by her relatives because she has been raped, is suspected of sexual activity outside of marriage, is pursuing unauthorized courtship, has refused an arranged marriage, or is seeking a divorce.] [Sheikh Atiyyah Saqr, former head of the al-Azhar University Fatwa Committee said "Islam strictly prohibits murder and killing without legal justification. Allah, Most High, says, 'Whoso slayeth a believer of set purpose, his reward is Hell for ever. Allah is wroth against him and He hath cursed him and prepared for him an awful doom.' (An-Nisa': 93) The so-called 'honor killing' is based on ignorance and disregard of morals and laws, which cannot be abolished except by disciplinary punishments...[P]eople are not entitled to take the law in their own hands, for it's the responsibility of the Muslim State and its concerned bodies to maintain peace, security, etc., and to prevent chaos and disorder from creeping into the Muslim society."] [Islamic fatwa condemning "honor killings" as un-Islamic (6/17/2002)] [For more information about "honor killings" see Islamic Research Foundation International (IRFI) article; United Nations Report on Honor Killings]
* 6/21: Taoist festival honoring Shang-Ti/Heavenly Emperor, Father of Justice and Law, and manifestation of the Te (Virtuous Inner Power). Also celebrates the peak of the masculine Yang half of the year and the Shen of Fire, South, and Summer; prayers are made for strength and maturity, and offerings are made to the ancestors.
* 6/21: Day Unitarian Universalists adopted seven unifying Principles (1985). U.U.'s affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. [adopted 6/17-6/21/1985]
* 6/21: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Orisha Babalu Aye, Guardian of the Disabled.
* 6/25: Day the first woman was ordained a Universalist minister in the U.S. (1863). [Rev. Olympia Brown]
* 6/25: Day the Supreme Court recognized that government-sponsored prayer in public schools imposes religion on students and violates the U.S. Constitution (1962). [Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962)] [Text of case]
* 6/26: Day torture and extrajudicial killing were outlawed world-wide (1987); day to mourn their continued existence. [Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment: adopted 12/10/1984; signed on 2/4/1985; entered into force 6/26/1987.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights website; Human Rights Committee website; Human Rights Watch website; Amnesty International website.]
* 6/28: First day of the Stonewall riot (1969); day to mourn victims of homophobia (past and present), make peace, and celebrate lesbian and gay empowerment. [Rioting occurred June 28-29, 1969.]
* 6/28 eve to 6/29 eve: Celebration day for Muhyi ad-Din Ibn El-Arabi (d. 1240), Sufi saint who honored Deity as a unity manifested in all Nature, both genders, and countless forms. He theorized about divine immanence ("Allah is Nature, and Nature Allah"), divine transcendence ("Allah is above Nature, which Allah created"), and the unity of being. [El-Arabi lived in Spain and wrote "Bezels of Wisdom" and "Meccan Revelations".] [a/k/a Muhyi ad-Din Ibn El-Arabi Wissal] [Rabi' al-thani 28] [Birthday & death day unknown] [See article on Muhyi ad-Din Ibn El-Arabi.]
* 6/30: Vigil for peace, democracy, religious freedom, ethnic equality, and the end of slavery in Sudan - now in the throes of civil war. [About the Darfur crisis] [For more information, see CNN website; Global Security website; Human Rights Watch report: Sudan; U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report for 2002: Sudan.]
* 7/1: Canada Day--Day to celebrate the union of diverse peoples, languages, and cultures into one nation.
* 7/1: Day the International Criminal Court came into being (2002). [The I.C.C. is a politically neutral tribunal empowered to prosecute those who commit acts of international terrorism, genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Anyone who plans, orders, or carries out such an act (even if ordered to) is legally culpable. Day to lobby for U.S. ratification. The U.S. has refused to ratify the statute creating this Court, even though the Court would be governed by international (and U.S.) standards of due process.] [The I.C.C. Statute was adopted by 160 countries on 7/17/1998, at the U.N. Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court in Rome, Italy.] [After threatening to stop providing U.S. troops for U.N. peacekeeping missions, on 7/12/2002, the U.S. was granted immunity from I.C.C. jurisdiction for U.S. troops serving as U.N. peacekeepers. The U.S. is also negotiating bilateral agreements with countries to gain immunity from I.C.C. jurisdiction for U.S. troops. The E.U. has objected to this practice.] [For more information, see Website of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; Coalition for the International Criminal Court website; USA for the International Criminal Court website; Human Rights Watch website; Amnesty International website.]
* 7/2: Day discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, gender, and religion was prohibited in public accommodations and employment (1964). [The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson.] [Pub. L. 88-352, 78 Stat. 241, 42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.] [Text of statute] [Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in employment.] [Text of statute] [For more information on fighting discrimination in employment based on gender, see U.S. E.E.O.C. website.] [For more information on fighting discrimination in employment based on ethnicity, see U.S. E.E.O.C. website.] [For more information on fighting discrimination in employment based on religion, see the U.S. E.E.O.C. website.]
* 7/3 eve to 7/4 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Aphrodite--Day to honor peace and compassion. [a/k/a Aphrodesia]
* 7/4: U.S. Independence Day--Day to celebrate the right of all peoples to exercise peaceful, democratic self-determination. [Day the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress in 1776.] [Text of Declaration of Independence]
* 7/4: Death day of Thomas Jefferson (1826), who ensured that the U.S. Constitution would protect basic rights and liberties. A Deist, he practiced a religion that was based on Nature, reason, and ethics. [Birthday 4/13/1743]
* 7/10: Day the World Union for Progressive Judaism was founded (1926). It was formed to promote progressive values within Judaism, including modernism, pluralism, equality, and social justice, and to serve Reform, Reconstructionist, and Liberal Jews around the world. [Its headquarters was moved from the U.K. to Israel in 1973, enabling it to found Progressive Jewish congregations, kibbutzim, and settlements there.] [See World Union for Progressive Judaism website and Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism website.]
* 7/10: Day Pope John Paul II acknowledged the evil of sexism and apologized for the Catholic Church's past oppression of women (1995); day to mourn the continued subordination of women by the Church. [See Letter to Women.] [See also Catholic Perspective on: Women in Society and in the Church. And see the Catholic feminist response: "Feminist Christology" by Elizabeth Johnson; "Heart of Flesh: A Feminist Spirituality for Women and Men" by Joan Chittister O.S.B.; "Equality: A Radical Democratic Ekklesial Vision" by Elisabeth Schssler Fiorenza; "Feminist Theologians Speak Encouragement to Women"; and the Catholic Network on Women's Equality website.]
* 7/11: Day Srebrenica, Bosnia, fell to attacking Serbs (1995), beginning a massacre of thousands of civilians because of their ethnicity and religion; vigil for true peace, justice, religious tolerance, and respect for the human rights of all in the Balkans. [Though it was declared a U.N. "safe haven," Srebrenica, Bosnia, was attacked and fell to Christian Serb aggressors on 7/11/1995. 8,000-15,000 civilian Muslim Slavs were killed there from 7/12-7/17/1995 because of their ethnicity and religion. On 8/2/2001, Bosnian Serb General Radislav Krstic was convicted of genocide for his part in the massacre. Former Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic is now being tried for war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity for his part in the massacre at Srebenica and the "ethnic cleansing" elsewhere in Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo.] [For more information, see Report of the Secretary General Pursuant to General Assembly Resolution 53/35 (1998); Human Rights Watch report: Serbia-Montenegro; Human Rights Watch report: Bosnia-Herzegovina; Human Rights Watch report: Croatia; U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report for 2002: Serbia-Montenegro; U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report for 2002: Bosnia-Herzegovina; U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report for 2002: Croatia.]
* 7/12: Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne (1690); vigil for true peace, justice, religious tolerance, and equal rights for all in Northern Ireland. [The Battle of the Boyne, which marked the defeat of Catholic James II by Protestant William III, occurred on 7/12/1690. Following this defeat, the law discriminated against Catholics. Protestants annually celebrate their victory over Catholics on this date, providing an impetus to civil strife. Catholics and Protestants committed to peaceful coexistence, power-sharing, and disarmament by signing the Good Friday Peace Agreement on 4/10/1998.] [For a history of the conflict, see CAIN Web Service: The Northern Ireland Conflict 1968 to the Present; BBC News website: The Troubles; CNN News website.]
* 714 to 7/25 (Icelandic 7/24, Old Icelandic 7/10): Old Norse/Icelandic Mid-Summer Althingi--Community gathering for democratic decision making. Forseti and Tyr, Gods of Justice and Self-Sacrifice, were honored. Toasts of mead and ale were made in honor of the Deities. [See Norse Nine Noble Virtues] [a/k/a Mid-Summer Blot, Midsumar, Midsumardag, Midsommerdag, Forsetiblot, Tyrblot, Almannathing, Althing]
* 7/18: Day South Africa's apartheid was internationally outlawed (1976); birthday of Nelson Mandela, non-violent anti-apartheid activist. [Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid: signed/adopted 11/30/1973; entered into force 7/18/1976.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see Human Rights Watch report: South Africa; African National Congress website.]
* 7/19: Day women demanded recognition of their equality to men in the legal, political, economic, religious, and domestic spheres (Seneca Falls, New York 1848). [Declaration of Sentiments drafted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott & other Founding Mothers at the Women's Rights Convention 7/19-7/20/1848.]
* 7/20: Vigil for peace, justice, and respect for the human rights of all in Colombia - now in the throes of civil war. [Colombia's Independence Day was 7/20/1810. Colombia is embroiled in a long-lasting civil war fueled by drug-trafficking. Civilians are being caught between the military, paramilitaries, and guerrillas.] [For more information, see Human Rights Watch report: Colombia.]
* 7/26: Day discrimination against the disabled was prohibited in public accommodations and employment (1990); day to celebrate empowerment of the disabled. [The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law by President George Bush.] [Pub. L. 101-336, 104 Stat. 327, 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.] [Text of statute] [For more information on fighting discrimination in employment based on disability, see U.S. E.E.O.C. website.]
* 7/28: Day the Constitution's 14th Amendment went into effect, guaranteeing due process and equal protection of the law to all (1868). [The 14th Amendment was approved by Congress on 6/13/1866 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on 7/28/1868.] [Text of amendment]
* 8/3 eve to 8/4 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Artemis (Roman Diana/Slavic Diwitsa) - as defender of rights and liberties, and punisher of rapists and oppressors.
* 8/5: Death day of Rabbi Isaac Luria (1572), Kabbalistic mystic. He taught of the Shekhinah, the feminine manifestation of Ein Soph, the unknowable infinite being that created the Universe. Because the Shekhinah has become separated from Ein Soph, there is chaos and injustice in the world. But the Shekhinah will restore cosmic order with reunification of the Godhead. [See Kabbalistic Reunification Blessing/Beracha Tikkun.] [See articles on Isaac Luria and Lurianic Kabbalah. See also "Window of the Soul: The Kabbalah of Rabbi Isaac Luria," Translated by James David Dunn.] [Born 1534: exact date unknown]
* 8/5: Day that six women were excommunicated for failing to renounce their claims to the priesthood (2002). They had been ordained Catholic priests without Vatican authority on 6/29/2002. [See Declarations issued by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.]
* 8/6: Day to mourn those harmed by the atomic bomb attacks on Japan (1945); day to advocate for world-wide prohibition of all weapons of mass destruction. [Hiroshima was bombed on 8/6/1945; Nagasaki was bombed on 8/9/1945: over 270,000 civilians died from the bombs and radiation.] [Use of weapons of mass destruction is now recognized to constitute a crime against humanity and cannot be justified under any circumstances.]
* 8/6: Day the Voting Rights Act became law (1965) - register to vote! [The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson.] [Pub. L. 89-110, 79 Stat. 437, 42 U.S.C. 1973 et seq.] [Text of statute]
* 8/7: Dakas' Day--Day Tantric Buddhists make offerings to Father Tantra; day to unite will and power to manifest positive social change and environmental healing. [Observed primarily by Tantric initiates.] [a/k/a Father Tantra Puja, Tsog, Tsok] [10th Tibetan day]
* 8/8: Vigil for democracy and respect for the human rights of all in Burma. [Day a pro-democracy demonstration opposing the authoritarian military government was attacked by government troops (1988); catalyst for the military crackdown.] [For more information, see Human Rights Watch report: Burma.]
* 8/13: Birthday of Lucy Stone (1818), social worker and non-violent advocate for women's rights. [Death day 10/18/1893]
* 8/15: Day India was partitioned into India and Pakistan, and Kashmir joined India over Pakistan's objection (1947); vigil for true peace, justice, and religious tolerance for all in South Asia. [About the Indo-Pakistani conflict] [For information on the nuclear problem, see Federation of American Scientists (FAS) website: Indo-Pakistani Conflict; India's nukes; Pakistan's nukes. For information on the history of the conflict, see Jammu & Kashmir : The Complete Knowledge Base. For information on human rights, see Human Rights Watch report: India; Human Rights Watch report: Pakistan; U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report for 2002: India; U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report for 2002: Pakistan.]
* 8/17: Birthday of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (1924), founder of the Jewish Renewal Movement. [Rabbi Schachter-Shalomi broke with the Lubavitcher Hasidic sect of Ultra- Orthodox Judaism to found the Jewish Renewal Movement in 1969. The Jewish Renewal Movement seeks to fully embrace modernism, egalitarianism, environmentalism, pacifism, and deep ecumenism. It incorporates Kabbalistic and Hasidic theology and practices, traditional prayer, meditation, joyous chant, and ecstatic dance. Both personal spiritual practice and social action are emphasized. See Wikipedia article on Jewish Renewal and ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal website.]
* 8/17: Vigil for peace, justice, religious tolerance, and respect for the human rights of all in Indonesia--now struggling against religious terrorism. [Indonesia Independence Day 8/17. Since 1/1/1999, due to forced conversions to Islam, there has been interreligious violence between Muslims and Christians in Indonesia.] [For more information, see Human Rights Watch report: Indonesia; U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report for 2002: Indonesia.]
* 8/19 (A 9/29): Beginning of Old Egyptian Akhet/Inundation month of Menkhet/Paopi, dedicated to Neteru Amen-Ra-Atem and Amenet-Rait-Mut. Priests and priestesses made offerings to the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses) to ensure that there would be strength and freedom for all. [Kemetic calendar (leap year)] [Alexandrian calendar 9/29 (leap year)] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Menkhet day 1]
* 8/23: Feast of the Furies--honoring Nemesis and the Erinyes, the Old Greek Goddesses who punish murderers, abusers, and exploiters of others. [Roman calendar]
* 8/25: Day to mourn the Iraqi attacks on civilian Kurds because of their ethnicity (1988); vigil for justice and respect for the human rights of the Kurdish people. [On 8/25/1988, the Iraqi government began the 4th Anfal campaign against the Kurds in Northern Iraq using chemical weapons. The Iraqi government first launched chemical weapons attacks against the Kurds in Northern Iraq on 3/16/1988. 60,000-100,000 Kurds were killed during these campaigns.] [See Human Rights Watch report: Genocide in Iraq.]
* 8/26: Day the Constitution's 19th Amendment went into effect, recognizing women's right to vote (1920). [The 19th Amendment was approved by Congress on 6/4/1919 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on 8/26/1920.] [a/k/a Women's Equality Day] [Text of amendment] [For more information, see U.S. National Archives & Records Administration website]
* 8/27: Birthday of Mother Teresa (Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu) (1910), Catholic nun who served the poorest of the poor and saw Deity in each person. [Death day 9/5/1997]
* 8/28: Day of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s peaceful march on Washington, D.C., for recognition of the rights of African Americans (1963). [Rev. King made his inspiring "I have a dream" speech at this rally.]
* 8/28: Opening of the Second World Parliament of Religions (1993), attended by members of all the world's religions. A Global Ethic was adopted that condemns hatred, aggression, oppression, and environmental abuses committed in the name of religion. [Text of Global Ethic] [See also website for the Parliament of the World's Religions.]
* 8/28 eve to 8/29 eve: Remembrance day for Sufi saint Haji Bektash (d. 1337). He initiated women into his order equally with men and advocated gender equality in Islamic society. [The Bektashi order is also open to all ethnicities, nationalities, and classes. See Bektashi Sufi Order website. All are equal, regardless of gender or ethnicity; nobility is shown by conduct alone. See Qur'an Surah 49 Vs. 13. ] [Rajab 1] [Birthday & death day unknown]
* 8/30 eve to 8/31 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Athena - as protector and defender.
* 8/31: Remembrance day for Tahirih (d. 1852) - feminist, poet, scholar, and preacher of the nascent Baha'i Faith. Baha'is recognize gender equality. [Born in 1817; died in 1852 between 8/16 & 8/31.]
* 9/1: Labor Day--Day to reflect on the sacredness of all work and the value of ethical, meaningful employment.
* 9/3: Day gender discrimination was outlawed world-wide (1981); day to mourn all manifestations of sexism. [Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women: adopted by U.N. General Assembly 12/18/1979; signed 3/1/1980; entered into force 9/3/1981.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see WomenWatch: United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women website; Feminist Majority Foundation website; Human Rights Watch website.]
* 9/3: Day Pope John Paul II beatified symbols of progressive religious authority (Pope John XXIII) and autocratic religious authority (Pope Pius IX) (2000). [Pope John XXIII instigated the reforms of the Vatican II Council in 1962, and advocated freedom of religion, peace, and social justice. Pope Pius IX adopted the doctrine of papal infallibility at the Vatican I Council in 1870, and rejected the doctrines of separation of church and state, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech in his Syllabus of Errors in 1864.] [See articles by CNN (about both) and American Catholic (about Pope John XXIII.]
* 9/6: Day Latin American Catholic Bishops espoused Liberation Theology (1968). They believed that the Gospel requires Christians to aid the poor and oppressed in the struggle for economic and social justice. [The Second Latin American Bishops Conference was held in Medellin, Colombia, on 9/6/1968.] [See a "Liberation Theology Chronology"; "A Concise History of Liberation Theology" by Leonardo and Clodovis Boff; and "Is there a Change in Paradigm in Liberation Theology?" by Jose Maria Vigil.]
* 9/8: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Oshun, Orisha of Love and Compassion.
* 9/8 eve to 9/9 eve: Demokratia--Old Greek festival celebrating democracy, constitutional government, and justice under law. Zeus Agoraios, Athena Agoraias, and Themis were honored.
* 9/11: Day terrorists killed over 3,000 innocent civilians of many ethnicities and religions from 86 nations (2001); day to mourn all victims of terrorism. [Al-Qaeda terrorists, using passenger planes, struck the World Trade Center (in New York, N.Y.) and the Pentagon (outside Washington, D.C.)] [See BBC Analysis: "September 11 in Context".] [For statements by Muslims around the world condemning the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001 as horrific and un-Islamic, see Islamic Statements Against Terrorism and Muslims Condemn Terrorist Attacks.] [For international efforts against terrorism, see UN Action Against Terrorism.] [For incidents in which governments have used the fight against terrorism as an excuse to suppress civil liberties, see Human Rights Watch website.]
* 9/13: Day Israelis and Palestinians committed to peaceful coexistence (1993); vigil for true peace, justice, religious tolerance, and equal rights for all in the Middle East. [Declaration of Principles was signed by Israel & the P.L.O. on 9/13/1993.] [The History of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict]
* 9/14: Birthday of Margaret Sanger (1883), non-violent advocate for education, autonomy, and responsibility concerning sexuality, reproduction, and birth control. [Death day 9/6/1966]
* 9/15: Day the first woman was ordained a Congregational/Unitarian minister in the U.S. (1853). [Rev. Antoinette Blackwell]
* 9/21: International Day of Peace--Day to demonstrate for peace with justice throughout the world. [a/k/a U.N. International Day of Peace] [For more information on the International Day of Peace, see International Day of Peace website and International Day of Peace Vigil website.]
* 9/22: Death of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib, first Sikh guru, commemorated. Guru Nanak rejected caste and believed in the equality of all people. [a/k/a Guru Nanak Dev Jyoti Jot] [Guru Nanak Dev 1469-1539] [Nanakshahi calendar]
* 9/23: Taoist festival honoring the Shen of Winds, West, and Autumn; thanksgiving is made for the harvest. Taoists live simply, respect life, and recognize the equality of all.
* 9/24: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Obatala, Orisha of Peace and Justice.
* 9/26 to 10/5: Navaratri/Durga Puja--Hindu festival of Great Goddess Maha Devi as Durga, Protector of the Powerless; celebrates Her destruction of evil and restoration of cosmic order. [See Mantra to Durga.] [a/k/a Sharad Navaratri, Sharad Navratri, Ashwin Navaratri, Ashwin Navratri, Maha Navaratri, Navratras, Navaratra, Vijaya Dashami, Dussehra, Dasara, Dasehra, Devi Puja, Devi Vrat] [Ashwin Shukla 1-10]
* 9/28: Birthday of Confucius (K'ung Fu-Tzu) (551 BCE). He taught that societal harmony could be realized when individuals acted with loving care for family, concern for friends and neighbors, benevolence to strangers, and respect for all. [Founder of Confucianism.] [Death day 11/29/479 BCE]
* 9/29: Feast of Michael, Angel of Protection, and Uriel, Angel of Justice.
* 10/2: Birthday of Mahatma Mohandas Gandhi (1869), Hindu advocate for human rights and self-reliance, who practiced active non-violent resistance to injustice. [a/k/a Gandhi Jayanti] [Death day 1/30/1948]
* 10/4: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Orunmila, Orisha of Wise Counsel and Protection.
* 10/4 to 10/7: Tewa Deer Dance--celebrating the cosmic duality of feminine and masculine. The Tewa recognize gender equality and honor both male and female ancestors.
* 10/11: Birthday of Eleanor Roosevelt (1884), advocate for world-wide recognition of the rights of all. [Death day 11/7/1962]
* 10/11: Opening of Vatican II Council, during which the Catholic Church committed to ecumenism, freedom of religion, and social justice (1962). [The Council met from 10/11/1962 to 12/8/1965.] [For information about the Vatican II Council and its aftermath, see Wikipedia article and National Catholic Reporter articles. See also Documents of the Vatican II Council.]
* 10/12 (Obs. 10/13): Columbus Day--Commemorates Europeans' arrival in America (1492); day to mourn Native American victims of conquest and oppression (past and present), make peace, and celebrate empowerment of Native Americans. [a/k/a Native Americans' Day, Dia de la Raza (Mexico), Thanksgiving Day (Canada)]
* 10/12: Day the first woman was ordained a Methodist minister in the U.S. (1880). [Rev. Anna Howard Shaw]
* 10/14 eve to 10/17 eve: Apaturia--Old Greek festival in which newcomers and children were welcomed into the community.
* 10/24: Day the first woman was ordained a Presbyterian minister in the U.S. (1956). [Rev. Margaret Ellen Towner]
* 10/26: Death day of Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1902), non-violent advocate for women's rights. [Birthday 11/12/1815]
* 10/31: Day to mourn the women tortured and killed as "witches" because of their independence, wealth, wisdom, or religion.
* 11/2: Day the first openly gay man was consecrated an Episcopalian bishop (2003). [Bishop Gene Robinson]
* 11/3: Christian feast of St. Martin of Porres (d. 1639), healer and advocate of social equality and inter-ethnic harmony; guide of healers and human rights activists.
* 11/4 eve to 11/5 eve: Remembrance day for Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (d. 619 or 623), Mother of Islam: first convert to Islam, partner of Prophet Muhammad in monogamous marriage, mother of Fatimah, and liberated businesswoman. [The Prophet Muhammad did not take a second wife during Khadijah's lifetime. She was known for her financial support of Islam and for her generosity to the poor.] [a/k/a Khadijah al-Kubra (the Great)] [Ramadan 10] [Born in 555, 564, or 565. Some sources say she died on the 10th or 11th day of Ramadan.] [See article on Khadijah.]
* 11/6: Day a Muslim woman first defied a ban on women entering the mosque by the front door and praying in the main hall (2003). [In the Morgantown, West Virginia, mosque, as in many mosques in the United States and elsewhere, women are required to enter by a back door and pray in a separate room. Asra Nomani, the author of "Standing Alone in Mecca", has begun a movement to desegregate mosques throughout the United States.] [See Charleston Gazette article.] [For scholarly discussions of gender equality in Islam, see Members, One of Another: Gender Equality & Justice in Islam by Riffat Hassan and Gender Equity in Islam by Jamal Badawi Ph.D. For an examination of the feminist movement in Islam, see Inside the Gender Jihad: Womens Reform in Islam by Amina Wadud.]
* 11/7: World Community Day--Day for celebrating the unity behind diversity and remembering we are all one people - all children of the one universal Deity of many names and aspects.
* 11/7: Anniversary of the first Re-Imagining Conference, where worship of Holy Spirit Wisdom was introduced to mainstream Christianity (1993). [This conference was organized by the Women's Ministry Unit of the Presbyterian Church USA. 24 other Christian churches and organizations also participated. 2200 Christian leaders, scholars, clergy, and laity attended the conference between 11/4/1993 and 11/7/1993 to address the problem of patriarchy in the church and in society. Following the conference, there was a backlash against its organizers, who were accused of heresy.]
* 11/8: Birthday of Dorothy Day (1897), activist for peace, economic justice, and workers' rights. [Founder of the Catholic Worker Movement.] [Death day 11/22/1980]
* 11/9 eve: Krystallnacht--Night of the Nazi attacks on Jewish homes, synagogues, and shops in Germany, beginning the persecution that would end with the deaths of six million Jews (1938); night for meditating on the evil of all religion-based hatred.
* 11/11: Veterans Day--Day to honor all warriors, past and present, who defend against evil of all kinds.
* 11/11: Death day of Lucretia Mott (1880), Quaker preacher and non-violent advocate for the rights of women and African Americans. [Birthday 1/3/1793]
* 11/12: Birthday of Sr. Juana Ines de la Cruz (1651), Catholic nun and feminist poet. [Death day 4/17/1695]
* 11/21 eve: Laylat al-Qadr/Night of Power--Commemorates the first revelation of the Qur'an to Muslim Prophet Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel in 610 CE. The Qur'an says: "Let there be no compulsion in religion." [See Qur'an Surah 2 Vs. 256. For scholarly discussions of freedom of religion in Islam, see Freedom of Religion and Belief in Islam by Mohsen Kadivar and Freedom of Religion in Islam by Brig. Gen. (Retd.) Syed Ashrafuzzaman. But see U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report for 2002: Saudi Arabia (Saudi Arabia is the center of Sunni Islam); and U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report for 2002: Iran (Iran is the center of Shi'a Islam).] [a/k/a Lailatul-Qadr] [night following Ramadan 26]
* 11/26: Death day of Sojourner Truth (1883), Christian preacher and non-violent advocate for the rights of women and African Americans. [Born 1797: exact date unknown]
* 11/26 eve to 11/27 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Athena - as protector and defender.
* 11/28: Day the Women's Ordination Conference opened, advocating the ordination of women priests in the Catholic Church (1975). [See Women's Ordination Conference website.]
* 12/1: World AIDS Day--Day to pray for healing of all those suffering with AIDS and HIV. [For information on World AIDS Day, see World AIDS Day website. For information about the global fight against AIDS, see UNAIDS website.] [For information on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, see Human Rights Watch website.]
* 12/4: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Orisha Shango, Defender Against Evil.
* 12/6: Mindfulness Day--Zen Buddhist day for mindfully seeing and acting with compassion for the poor and oppressed.
* 12/10: Day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, and fundamental rights were recognized world-wide (1948). [The U.N. General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (U.D.H.R.) in Resolution 217 A(III). See Text of Declaration. For more information on the history of the U.D.H.R., see Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Institute website. The U.D.H.R. is generally recognized as binding customary international law. In 1966, the concepts of the U.D.H.R. were expanded and drafted into two binding international treaties with enforcement mechanisms. The Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Text of Covenant) is enforced by the Human Rights Committee (see Human Rights Committee website; University of Minnesota Human Rights Library website) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (see Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights website; Human Rights Watch website). The Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (Text of Covenant) is enforced by the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights(see Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights website).] [a/k/a International Human Rights Day]
* 12/12: First Appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of God and Mother of the Oppressed, at the former shrine of Aztec Moon Goddess Coatlicue (Mexico 1531).
* 12/15: Day the Bill of Rights became part of the Constitution, guaranteeing fundamental rights to all (1791). [Text of Bill of Rights] [For more information about the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution, see U.S. National Archives & Records Administration website and the Bill of Rights Institute website. For information on organizations that advocate for enforcement of rights and liberties in the Bill of Rights, see Center for Constitutional Rights website; American Civil Liberties Union website.] [a/k/a Bill of Rights Day]
* 12/17: Death day of Jalal ad-Din Rumi (1273), Sufi saint who believed all people to be a part of Deity and, consequently, believed all should be respected. [Members of his Mevlevi order whirl in his remembrance on this night annually.] [Birthday 9/30/1207] [Wissal on Jumada al-thani 5.] [See article on Jalal ad-Din Rumi.]
* 12/18: Day the Constitution's 13th Amendment went into effect, outlawing all slavery (1865). [The 13th Amendment was approved by Congress on 1/31/1865 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on 12/18/1865.] [Text of amendment]
* 12/19 eve to 12/27 eve: Hanukkah/Festival of Lights--Jewish festival commemorating a victory in their struggle for religious freedom and rededication of the second Temple in Jerusalem to Elohim. Menorah candles are lit. [See Hanukkah Prayers.] [Though there was only enough oil for one day at the rededication, it miraculously burned for eight days.] [For articles on freedom of religion and Judaism, see "Religious Freedom as a Basic Human Right: The Jewish Perspective" by Asher Maoz and "Freedom of Religion in Israel" by Prof. Shimon Shetreet. See also the U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report for 2002: Israel and the Occupied Territories] [a/k/a Chanukah, Channukah] [Kislev 25-Tevet 2]
* 12/23: Birthday of Joseph Smith (1805), founder of the Mormon Church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). He promoted a religion that was egalitarian and communitarian, and worshipped Deity as a Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. [Death day 6/27/1844]
* 12/22: Birthday of Lily Montagu (1873), who co-founded Liberal Judaism in the U.K. in 1902. She was the first Jewish woman to serve as lay minister, both officiating and preaching. [Death day 1/22/1963] [She advocated reforms in the service, including use of English as well as Hebrew, use of musical instruments, and allowing men and women to sit together. Liberal Judaism stresses ethical conduct above ritual observance, affirms each individual's freedom to act in accordance with conscience, and recognizes the full equality and participation of women.]
* 12/28: Day a woman was ordained a Catholic priest without Vatican authority (1970). [Mother Ludmila Javorova was ordained by Catholic Bishop Felix Maria Davidek in Czechoslovakia. Her ordination is not recognized by the Vatican.] [See Wikipedia article on Ludmila Javorova. See also "Out of the Depths: The Story of Ludmila Javorova, Ordained Roman Catholic Priest" by Miriam Therese Winter.]
* 12/28: Day an Islamic court ruled FGM to be un-Islamic and banned the practice (1997). [The State Council, Egypt's highest administrative court, also ruled that FGM was illegal unless medically necessary. See BBC News article.]
* 12/29: Day Guatemala's 36-year civil war ended (1996); vigil for true peace, justice, and respect for the human rights of all in Central America. [The 36-year civil war between leftist rebels and the government of Guatemala ended 12/29/1996. During the war, the military killed or "disappeared" 200,000 people, targeting Mayan communities and civilians. The U.S. government was complicit in these atrocities.] [For more information, see American Accountability Project: Guatemala Genocide; Human Rights Watch report: Guatemala.]
* 12/30: Day for meditation on Tantric Bodhisattva Goddess Red Tara, protector against evil and harm. [Red Tara Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Santa Ra Hri Svaha] [a/k/a Tara Puja] [8th Tibetan day]
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Permission to use and distribute these excerpts is granted for non-commercial purposes, provided the following information is included:
Excerpted from
THE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2003
A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality
© 2002 Marija Miovski
www.WheeloftheYear.com
