Stories from around the globe show how a united world is already in motion. This platform highlights experiences, initiatives, and projects from people and communities working for unity and peace. Explore what’s happening and get inspired.
<p> </p> <p><em>The popular pontiff also singled out South Sudan, the Central African Republic and Nigeria during his message to tens of thousands of tourists, pilgrims and Romans who gathered below the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.</em></p> <p><br /> <img src="images/news/2013-2015/Natale_Vaticano.jpg" width="250" height="150" alt="Natale Vaticano" style="float: left; margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" /><strong>Pope Francis on Christmas Day</strong> is wishing for a better world, with peace for the land of Jesus' birth, for Syria and Africa, as well as for the dignity of migrants and refugees fleeing misery and conflict.</p> <p><strong>Francis spoke from the central</strong> balcony of St. Peter's Basilica Wednesday to tens of thousands of tourists, pilgrims and Romans in the square below. He said he was joining in the song of Christmas angels with all those hoping "for a better world," and with those who "care for others, humbly."</p>
<p><em>Budapest aims to increase areas from 130,000 to 300,000 hectares.</em></p> <p><strong>Hungary has a goal of doubling the area</strong> of organic farming, even by distributing funds to farmers, and aims to further develop organic agriculture, based on techniques that respect nature and the animals' habitat. This was announced by a statement issued by of Magyar government, that specifies the objectives on which the country is working hard, as part of EU Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020. The ultimate goal is to increase organic farming from the current 130,000 hectares to about 300,000. A section of the so-called ''Action Plan for the development of organic farming'' also promotes the consumption of organic products and is designed to raise awareness on organic farming among consumers.
<p> </p> <p><em><a href="http://www.teens4unity.net/home_ita.html" target="_blank">The Young for Unity</a> in Cordoba, Argentina, go to the streets, to help restore order and melt tensions following serious social uprisings that began with police strikes</em></p> <p><strong>Cordoba is a city of 1.2 million inhabitants</strong> in the heart of Argentina. Provincial police began protesting for higher wages, leading to strikes that left the streets without police protection. Two people died and more than a thousand commercial centres, private homes and a Caritas warehouse were assaulted by groups of organized criminal delinquents on December 13th and 14th. A curfew was enforced on the citizens who remain locked in their homes, public offices, schools and universities. Public transportation was no longer in service.</p> <p><strong>The mediation carried out by Comipaz</strong> (interreligious committee), through the intervention of Auxiliary Bishop Pedro Javier Torres, Rabbi Marcelo Polakoff and religious leaders from several other confessional groups helped to re-establish calm.<br />By noontime on December 4th they reached an agreement between the parties, following which the police slowly regained control of the city.
<p><em>In Bethlehem, where the Secretariat of Youth for a United World are meeting in these days with the Youth for a United World of the Holy Land. This is the initiative for this period to trasform each city capable of welcoming the lonely ones,the marginalized, the poor and the homeless.</em></p> <p><strong>Christmas in Bethlehem!</strong> “It’s a unique opportunity to crown this year through our meeting with the Holy Land Youth for a United World”, shared Maria Guaita, Andrew Camilleri and Claudia Barrero, from the Y4UW international secretariat.</p> <p style="display: inline !important;"> </p> <p style="display: inline !important;"><strong>What significance does it have for you</strong> to spend Christmas in the Holy Land? We have welcomed this invitation as a proposal to all the Youth for a United World spread all over the planet – narrates Maria Guaita -. The Gospel narrates that Mary and Joseph found no inn to lodge: “the Word came to his own and his own people did not accept him.” We wish to welcome him especially in the lonely ones, the marginalized, the poor and the homeless. Therefore, we commit ourselves to transform each of our cities into a small Bethlehem that hosts the nativity crib that offers a cradle to baby Jesus.”
<p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; border-width: 0px;"><em>Parliamentary polls were also taking place and this could mean a power-sharing deal is necessary.<br /></em></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; border-width: 0px;"><strong>Madagascar has been voting</strong> in round two of a presidential poll, which it is hoped will help one of Africa’s poorest <br />nations emerge from political, economic and social crisis.</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; border-width: 0px;"><strong>It is the first such ballot</strong> since 2009 when democratically-elected Marc Ravalomanana was ousted in a military-backed takeover by incumbent President Andry Rajoelina.</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; border-width: 0px;"><strong>Claims of fraud on both</strong> sides have not been confirmed by independent monitors and, according to Africa Diaspora in Europe Observer Olivier Combo, the vote unfolded peacefully.
<p><em>The World Day of Migrant and Refugees is celebrated every Dicember 18. We want remember it with the message of Jean Paul II in 2005.</em></p> <p><strong>International Migrants Day</strong>, proclaimed by the United Nations in 2000, invites countries to celebrate this date because: "We owe this to the millions of migrants who, through their courage, vitality and dreams, help make our societies more prosperous, resilient and diverse."</p> <p><strong>We want remeber this occasion</strong> with the message dated 2005 of Jean Paul II.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> </span></em></span></p> <p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">«<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><strong>1. The World Day of Migrants and Refugees</strong> is at hand. In the annual Message I usually address to you on this occasion, I would like this time to consider the phenomenon of migration from the perspective of integration.</span></span><strong>Many people</strong> use this word to denote the need for immigrants to be truly incorporated in the host country, but neither the content of this concept nor its practice is easy to define. In this regard I would like to sketch the picture by recalling the recent Instruction Erga migrantes caritas Christi (The love of Christ towards migrants) (cf. nos. 2, 42, 43, 62, 80, 89).</span></span></p>
<p><em>For "Protagonists of Fraternity" Chaira Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement that 7 December celebrated its seventy years old of foundation.Catholic, she was committed in person to building ecclesial communion, to ecumenism, to interreligious dialogue and among people of non-religious convictions.</em></p> <p><strong>Chiara Lubich (1920-2008), foundress of the Focolare Movement</strong> in 1943, is considered one of the most influential spiritual figures of the twentieth century. Catholic, she was committed in person to building ecclesial communion, to ecumenism, to interreligious dialogue and among people of non-religious convictions.</p> <p><strong>Decorated with 15</strong> honorary doctorates, in the most diverse disciplines, and with recognitions from national and international entities, as well as with honorary citizenships from major Italian cities and Buenos Aires, she tirelessly promoted a culture of unity and fraternity among peoples.</p> <p><strong>Historical profile</strong></p> <p><strong>Silvia, the baptismal name given to Chiara</strong>, was born in Trent on 22 January 1920. She was the second of four children, Gino, Liliana and Carla. Her father, Luigi Lubich, a wine-seller, ex-typesetter, anti-fascist and socialist, had once been a close colleague of the once socialist Benito, and later the unyielding political opponent of the fascist Mussolini. Her mother, Luigia, was animated by a strong traditional faith. (...)</p>
Dialogue & Interculture
United World Week
Every year, from May 1st to 7th, the United World Project support, together with the Focolare Movement and Youth for a United World (Y4UW), the United World Week, a global action where many people promote events and initiatives worldwide to foster dialogue, unity, and peace.
Dialogue & Interculture
Dialogue & Interculture
Dialogue & Interculture
United World Week
Here’s the key: knowing that we do not know. No one possesses the absolute Truth, and by engaging in dialogue with everyone we can grasp aspects or fragments of truth that help us reassemble a shattered vase that we can restore only if we are “together”.
Economy & Work
Anna Granata, professor at the University of Milano-Bicocca, reminds us that teaching peace is not an abstract utopia. It is something that happens every day in Italian classrooms among children with diverse stories, languages, and backgrounds.
Art & Social Commitment
Celebrated Marvel and DC artist Gabriele Dell’Otto invites us to consider the people who are working to build peace as the real superheroes of our world. A profound discussion on responsibility, citizenship, and the challenge of doing the extraordinary in our everyday lives.
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