Virtual teach-in on peace... Iraq, North Korea, Israel-Palestine, India-Pakistan, Northern Ireland, Nuclear Weapons, Chemical Weapons, Biological Weapons, Landmines, Preemptive Strike, Self-Defense and Defense of Others, U.N. Security Council, International Criminal Court
2003 Peace / Disarmament Dates
* 1/1: Day to meditate for peace throughout the world. [World Peace Day; Universal Hour of Peace: 7:00-8:00 a.m. EST.]
* 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 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: Mindfulness Day--Zen Buddhist day for being mindful of the peace, joy, and beauty of the moment.
* 1/6 eve to 1/7 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Aphrodite--Day to honor peace and compassion.
* 1/10: Day North Korea (DPRK) withdrew from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (2003). [About North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Program] [Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: signed 7/1/1968; entered into force 3/5/1970. The International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.) is authorized to enforce compliance with the Treaty.] [For more information, see Non-proliferation Treaty: Text of Convention; International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.) website; Federation of American Scientists (FAS) nuke guide; Human Rights Watch report: Democratic People's Republic of Korea.]
* 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 rebels and the military government of El Salvador ended 1/16/1992.] [For more information, see Human Rights Watch report: El Salvador.]
* 2/1: Sojong Day--Tibetan Buddhist day of fasting, confession, and reparation for harm done.
* 2/1 to 2/28: February dedicated to Old Roman God-Goddess Februus-Februa - purifier and protector of the home. Homes were cleaned and blessed, offerings of reparation were given, and peace was made.
* 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.]
* 2/7: Birthday of Frederick Douglass (1817), non-violent advocate for the rights of African Americans. [Death day 2/20/1895]
* 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]
* 2/17 to 2/18 (A 3/30 to 3/31): Old Egyptian festival of Neteret Bastet, Cat Goddess who fosters domestic harmony. Her image was transported outside the temple on a bark. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 3/30 to 3/31] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Paenrenenutet days 4-5]
* 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.]
* 2/22: Caristia--Old Roman festival for renewing family ties and patching up quarrels. [Roman calendar]
* 3/1: Day the production and use of landmines was outlawed world-wide (1999); day to mourn their victims. [Protocol on Prohibition or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps, and Other Devices a/k/a Convention on Landmines a/k/a Mine Ban Treaty, amending the 1980 Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be Deemed Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects: Treaty signed/adopted 10/10/1980; entered into force 12/2/1983; Protocol signed 12/3/1997; entered into force 3/1/1999.] [See also U.N. Charter Article 26, which gives the U.N. Security Council authority to regulate armaments.] [The U.S. has refused to sign the Protocol.] [There are between 60 and 70 million landmines in the ground of 70+ countries: Egypt has 5-7.5 million; Afghanistan has 4 million; Vietnam has 3.5 million; Ethiopia has 1.5-2 million; Eritrea has 1.5-2 million; Morocco has 1-2 million; Croatia has 1-1.2 million; Bosnia and Herzegovina have 1 million; Thailand has 1 million; Mozambique has 800,000-1 million; Cambodia has 300,000-1 million; Angola has 200,000-6 million; Chad has 600,000. Though cheap to produce and easy to lay, removal is costly, difficult, and dangerous. Consequently, landmines often remain in the ground years after hostilities have ceased. Landmines maim or kill approximately 26,000 civilians each year, including 8,000 to 10,000 children. Those that survive endure a lifetime of hardship. Though landmines were formerly used defensively, they are now commonly used offensively and targeted at civilian populations.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see International Campaign to Ban Landmines website; Adopt a Minefield website.] [Text of United Nations Charter, chapter V, article 26]
* 3/5 to 4/17 (OC 3/10 to 4/19): Ash Wednesday (fast day) and Lent--Christian time of purification by self-reflection, peace-making, reparation for harm done, and helping those in need. [On Ash Wednesday, a cross of ashes is imposed on foreheads of Christians. They are reminded of their mortality and exhorted to repent of their sins. Some observe a partial fast and abstain from meat on Fridays throughout Lent.] [See prayers for Ash Wednesday and prayers for Lent.] [a/k/a Great Lent]
* 3/6 eve to 3/7 eve: Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Hermes--Day to honor the divine feminine and divine masculine in harmony.
* 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.]
* 3/12: 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.]
* 3/20: 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.]
* 3/26: Day production and use of biological weapons was outlawed world-wide (1975); day to mourn their victims. [Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction a/k/a Biological Weapons Convention: signed 4/10/1972; entered into force 3/26/1975.] [See also U.N. Charter Article 26, which gives the U.N. Security Council authority to regulate armaments.] [A working group of signatories has been negotiating a draft Biological Weapons Convention Protocol since 1995, to create an enforcement mechanism to ensure compliance with the Convention. The Protocol would authorize U.N. inspectors to inspect facilities for biological weapons. On 7/25/2001, the U.S. repudiated the draft, but did not offer an effective alternative.] [20 countries are believed to have current or past biological weapons programs. Countries believed to have current biological weapons programs include Iran, Syria, Egypt, Israel, North Korea, China, and Russia. On 4/16/2003, Syria proposed making the Middle East a region free of all weapons of mass destruction.] [All biological weapons should be destroyed under the supervision of U.N. weapons inspectors. Use of these weapons cannot be justified under any circumstances and would constitute a crime against humanity, whether used by a terrorist organization or state. Anyone who plans, orders, or carries out such an act (even if ordered to) is legally culpable.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see U.N. Disarmament of Weapons of Mass Destruction website; Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention website; Sipri Chemical and Biological Weapons Project: Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Mainpage; Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Project website; Monterey Institute of International Studies Chemical and Biological Weapons Resource Page; Federation of American Scientists (FAS) Chemical and Biological Arms Control Program website.] [Text of United Nations Charter, chapter V, article 26]
* 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]
* 4/1: Veneralia--Old Roman festival celebrating Venus (Goddess of Peace) vanquishing Mars (God of War) with love. She nurtures peace, friendship, and love; and punishes war-mongers, hate-mongers, and false friends and lovers. [Roman calendar]
* 4/5 eve to 4/6 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Aphrodite--Day to honor peace and compassion.
* 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.]
* 4/11: 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 commemorating the birth of Mahavira Vardhamana Jnatrputra (599 BCE), founder of the Jain faith. Jainas avoid aggression and practice harmlessness, simplicity, and charity to attain enlightenment and unity with Deity. [599-527 BCE: exact dates unknown] [a/k/a Mahavir Jayanti, Mahavira Jayanti, Mahavir Bhagwan's Janma Kalyanak] [Chaitra Shukla 13]
* 4/14 to 4/25 (Icelandic 4/24, Old Icelandic 4/10): Old Norse Summer Days Feast--Offerings were made to the Deities (particularly Odin, Thor, and Freyr) for success, peace, and plenty. Toasts of mead and ale were made in honor of the Deities. [a/k/a Summer's Day, Sumardag, Sommerdag, Summer Blot, Sumarblot, Sigrblot, Odinblot, Freyjablot, Thorrablot, Sifblot, Freyrblot]
* 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.]
* 4/19: 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.]
* 4/29: 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]
* 4/29: Day production and use of chemical weapons was outlawed world-wide (1997); day to mourn their victims. [Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons: signed 1/13/1993; entered into force 4/29/1997.] [See also U.N. Charter Article 26, which gives the U.N. Security Council authority to regulate armaments.] [The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (O.P.C.W.) is authorized to enforce compliance with the Treaty.] [26 countries are believed to have current or past chemical weapons programs. Countries believed to currently possess chemical weapons include Iran, Libya, Syria, Egypt, Israel, Pakistan, India, China, Taiwan, North Korea, Burma, and Russia. Iraq's Saddam Hussein is known to have used chemical weapons on Kurdish Iraqis and Iranian soldiers. On 4/16/2003, Syria proposed making the Middle East a region free of all weapons of mass destruction.] [All chemical weapons should be destroyed under the supervision of O.P.C.W. inspectors. Use of these weapons cannot be justified under any circumstances and would constitute a crime against humanity, whether used by a terrorist organization or state. Anyone who plans, orders, or carries out such an act (even if ordered to) is legally culpable.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see U.N. Disarmament of Weapons of Mass Destruction website; Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons webpage; Sipri Chemical and Biological Weapons Project: Chemical Weapons Convention Mainpage; Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Project website; Monterey Institute of International Studies Chemical and Biological Weapons Resource Page; Federation of American Scientists (FAS) Chemical and Biological Arms Control Program website.] [Text of United Nations Charter, chapter V, article 26]
* 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 Pueblo occurred on 5/5/1862.]
* 5/21: Death day of Jane Addams (1935), social worker, feminist, and peace advocate. [Birthday 9/6/1860]
* 5/26: Memorial Day--Day to contemplate all the horrors of war, mourn war's victims, and support relief efforts for them.
* 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.]
* 6/4 eve to 6/5 eve: Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Hermes--Day to honor the divine feminine and divine masculine in harmony.
* 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: Day the U.S. withdrew from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (2002). Day to lobby the U.S. to reconsider. [Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems (between U.S. & U.S.S.R.): signed 5/26/1972; entered into force 10/3/1972.] [Text of Convention] [President Bush intends to create an expensive missile defense shield to protect the U.S. from attack by an inter-continental ballistic missile even though withdrawal from the Treaty may result in an arms race recurring.]
* 6/21: Old Slavic Kupala--Goddess Morana/Lada and God Jarilo/Lado marry, bringing peace and ensuring a good harvest. [Celebrated with ritual bathing, feasting, dancing around bonfires, and coupling.] [a/k/a Noc Kupaly, Sobotka]
* 6/24: First appearance of Our Lady of Medjugorje, Queen of Peace, Mother of All Peoples (Yugoslavia 1981).
* 6/26: Day the United Nations Security Council was created to maintain world peace (1945). [The Security Council is authorized to investigate international disputes, recommend appropriate measures to resolve disputes, and require disputing countries to seek peaceful means of dispute resolution, including the International Court of Justice. If there is a threat or an actual breach of the peace or an act of aggression, the Security Council may take whatever measures are necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security, including use of economic sanctions, peacekeepers, and military force.] [Permanent members of the U.N. Security Council (who have veto power) are the U.S., the U.K., France, Russia, and China. 10 other countries rotate on and off of the U.N. Security Council.] [The Security Council is empowered by U.N. Charter Articles 23-51.] [U.N. Charter signed 6/26/1945; entered into force 10/24/1945.] [Text of United Nations Charter] [For more information, see United Nations Security Council website; United Nations website; Global Policy Forum website; United Nations Association 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.]
* 6/30: 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: Day the world's nations committed to stop proliferation of nuclear weapons (1968); vigil to protest the production and use of all nuclear weapons world-wide. [Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: signed 7/1/1968; entered into force 3/5/1970.] [See also U.N. Charter Article 26, which gives the U.N. Security Council authority to regulate armaments.] [The International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.) is authorized to enforce compliance with the Treaty.] [The Treaty calls for those countries who have nuclear weapons (the U.S., the U.K., France, Russia, and China) to work towards disarmament, and prohibits other countries from developing nuclear weapons. However, the U.S. is developing a new nuclear weapon. Israel, India, and Pakistan have developed nuclear weapons in spite of the Treaty. (None of them have ratified the Treaty.) North Korea announced its intention to reactivate its nuclear program in 10/2002, ejected I.A.E.A. inspectors in 12/2002, withdrew from the Treaty on 1/10/2003, and announced that it had a nuclear weapon on 4/25/2003. Iran and other countries may also be attempting to develop or acquire nuclear weapons. The U.N. Security Council has failed to take action to stop any of this. However, on 4/16/2003, Syria proposed making the Middle East a region free of all weapons of mass destruction.] [All nuclear weapons should be destroyed under the supervision of I.A.E.A. inspectors. Use of these weapons cannot be justified under any circumstances and would constitute a crime against humanity, whether used by a terrorist organization or state. Anyone who plans, orders, or carries out such an act (even if ordered to) is legally culpable.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see U.N. Disarmament of Weapons of Mass Destruction website; International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.) website; Nuclear Age Peace Foundation Nuclear Files; Federation of American Scientists (FAS) website; Arms Control Association website; Greenpeace website.] [Text of United Nations Charter, chapter V, article 26]
* 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.]
* 7/3 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]
* 7/11: 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.]
* 7/15 eve to 7/16 eve: Synoikia--Old Greek festival celebrating the peaceful cooperation of states. Offerings were made to Aphrodite and Eirene, Goddesses of friendship and peace.
* 7/18: Day South Africa's apartheid was internationally outlawed (1976); birthday of Nelson Mandela, non-violent anti-apartheid activist. [International 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.]
* 7/20: 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.]
* 7/24: Day that aggressive war was outlawed and the right to defend victims of aggression was recognized world-wide (1929). [Anticipatory self defense (a preemptive strike) is not allowed under international law. Individual and collective self defense is only authorized after an armed attack occurs.] [Treaty Providing for the Renunciation of War as an Instrument of National Policy a/k/a Kellogg-Briand Peace Pact a/k/a Pact of Paris: signed 8/27/1928; entered into force 7/24/1929; U.N. Charter Article 51: U.N. Charter signed 6/26/1945; entered into force 10/24/1945.] [Text of Convention] [Text of United Nations Charter, chapter VI, articles 33 and 34, and chapter VIII, article 54]
* 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.]
* 8/9 eve to 8/10 eve: Old Greek festival honoring Athena Polias and Zeus Polios as protectors of city and state.
* 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.]
* 8/20: Birth of the White Buffalo (1994), signaling the return of White Buffalo Woman (manifestation of Star Goddess Wohpe) who gave the sacred peace pipe to the Lakota people. Lakota rites include smoking the sacred pipe, purification in the sweat lodge, and making a vision quest for wisdom.
* 8/24 to 8/31: Paryusana--Jain festival of recitation of holy scripture, fasting, self-discipline, introspection, and reserve. Jainas grant forgiveness to others, ask forgiveness of others for harm done, whether knowingly or unknowingly, during the past year, and make vows to avoid causing future harm. The festival ends with a communal meal. [a/k/a Paryusan, Paryushan, Paryushan Parva, Paryushan Mahaparva, Pajjusan] [Ends at Samvatsari a/k/a Samvatatsari] [Bhadrapad Krishna 12-Bhadrapad Shukla 4]
* 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.]
* 8/28: 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.]
* 8/27 eve to 9/26 eve: Elul--Jewish month of self-reflection, peace-making, and renewal. [Jews ask for, and grant, forgiveness for harm done.] [For an article on peace in Judaism, see "Judaism and Peace" by Rabbi David Rosen. For Jewish texts on peace, see "Judaism on Peace" by GroupDialogue.org. See also the Jewish Peace Fellowship website. JPF is an organization dedicated to promoting nonviolence, peace, and justice. And see the Peace Now website. Peace Now (Shalom Achshav) is an Israeli organization that advocates a negotiated peace with the Palestinian people in the Occupied Territories and creation of a Palestinian state.] [Jews also visit cemeteries and remember their ancestors.] [See Psalm/Tehillim 23.]
* 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.]
* 8/29: Birthday of Henry Bergh (1811), non-violent advocate for animal rights; day to advocate for laws protecting animals from abuse. [Death day 3/12/1888] [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.]
* 8/31 eve to 9/1 eve: Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Hermes--Day to honor the divine feminine and divine masculine in harmony.
* 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]
* 9/21: 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.]
* 9/24: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Obatala, Orisha of Peace and Justice.
* 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 eve to 9/30 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Aphrodite--Day to honor peace and compassion.
* 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]
* 10/5 eve to 10/6 eve: Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement--Jewish day of fasting, prayer, reconciliation, making reparation for harm done, and helping those in need. [See Prayers of Confession/Viddui] [The shofar is blown to mark the end of the ten Days of Penitence.] [Tishri 10]
* 10/10 eve: Nisfu Sha'ban--Muslim night of repentance for all harm done. [The following day, Allah determines the fate of all for the coming year.] [For views on attaining inner peace and world peace through Islam, see Islam and World Peace - Explanations of a Sufi by M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen and The Quran and World Peace by Dr. Israr Ahmad. See also Muslim Peace Fellowship, an organization that advocates use of nonviolent means to attain justice and positive social transformation.] [a/k/a Nisf Sha'ban, Lailatul-Bara'at, Lailutul-Bara'at] [night following Sha'ban 14]
* 10/10 eve to 10/17 eve: Sukkot/Feast of Ingathering--Jewish thanksgiving for the fruit harvest. Originally, a dance procession was made to vineyards and wine was offered to Elohim. Also commemorates the years in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. [See Blessing for Wine/Beracha Borei Pr'i Ha-Gafen.] [Temporary dwellings are built, in which Jews eat, sleep, and pray during the festival, to remind them of the Shekhinah, the Divine Presence, who protected them in the wilderness. A prayer for world peace is recited.] [a/k/a Sukkoth, Feast of Tabernacles] [Tishri 15-21]
* 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)]
* 10/21: Day military attacks on civilians were outlawed world-wide (1950). [Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War a/k/a Fourth Geneva Convention: signed 8/12/1949; entered into force 10/21/1950.] [Text of Convention]
* 10/22 to 10/25: Diwali/Lunar New Year/Festival of Lights--Hindu festival for Goddess Lakshmi (source of health, fertility, and prosperity) and Her consort, God Vishnu (the preserver of life); focus is on peace-making and new beginnings. [See Mantra to Lakshmi and Mantra to Vishnu.] [a/k/a Divali, Dipavali, Deepavali, Bandi Chhor Divas] [Kartik Krishna 12-15/30]
* 10/24: Day the United Nations came into being to facilitate world-wide peaceful cooperation (1945). [U.N. Charter signed 6/26/1945; entered into force 10/24/1945.] [Text of United Nations Charter] [For more information about the United Nations and United Nations organizations, see the United Nations website and United Nations System website.] [See also United Nations Association website; Human Rights Watch website.]
* 10/24 to 10/30: World Disarmament Week--Time for peaceful activism to help end the arms race. [Sponsored by the U.N.]
* 10/26: Death day of Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1902), non-violent advocate for women's rights. [Birthday 11/12/1815]
* 10/26 eve to 11/24 eve: Ramadan--Muslim month of purification by self-reflection, fasting from sunrise to sunset, peace-making, and helping those in need.
* 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.
* 11/7: 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.
* 11/8: Birthday of Dorothy Day (1897), activist for peace, economic justice, and workers' rights. [Founder of the Catholic Worker Movement.] [Death day 11/22/1980]
* 11/11: Death day of Lucretia Mott (1880), Quaker preacher and non-violent advocate for the rights of women and African Americans. [Birthday 1/3/1793]
* 11/13: Kindness Day--Day for practicing random acts of kindness. [a/k/a World Kindness Day]
* 11/17 (A 12/28): Beginning of Old Egyptian Proyet/Emergence month of Shefbedet/Tobi. Priests and priestesses made offerings to the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses) to ensure that there would be peace and harmony throughout the land. [Kemetic calendar (leap year)] [Alexandrian calendar 12/28 (leap year)] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Shefbedet day 1]
* 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]
* 11/27 eve to 11/28 eve: Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Hermes--Day to honor the divine feminine and divine masculine in harmony.
* 12/15 (A 1/25): Old Egyptian festival of Neteret Bastet, Cat Goddess who fosters domestic harmony. Her image was transported on a bark on the Nile River from Karnak to Bubastis. [Kemetic calendar (leap year)] [Alexandrian calendar 1/25 (leap year)] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Shefbedet day 29]
* 12/17 (A 1/27): Beginning of Old Egyptian Proyet/Emergence month of Rekehwer/Mekhir. Priests and priestesses made offerings to the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses) to ensure the continuation of order (maat) and life (ankh). [The Negative Confession reflects the ethics of the ancient Egyptians.] [Kemetic calendar (leap year)] [Alexandrian calendar 1/27 (leap year)] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Rekehwer day 1]
* 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.]
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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
