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><em>International relief effort is under way, but rescue workers have struggled to reach some towns and villages cut off since the storm.</em></p> <p><strong>Officials estimate up to 10,000</strong> people have died in Tacloban city (Leyte Island, Philippines) and hundreds elsewhere. Hundreds of thousands of people are displaced. The typhoon flattened homes, schools and an airport. It has since made landfall in northern Vietnam, near the Chinese border, where it has weakened to a tropical storm.<br />Supplies</p> <p><strong>Four million people have been affected</strong> in the Philippines, and many are now struggling to survive without food, shelter or clean drinking water.<br />A huge international relief effort is under way, but rescue workers have struggled to reach some towns and villages cut off since the storm.
<p> </p> <p><em>The Grand awa Family lives in one of the areas most affected by conflict</em></p> <p><strong>The Awa are an indigenous people who straddle</strong> the Ecuador-Colombia border but do not feel part of the modern societies on either side. That has not saved them suffering the consequences of the armed conflict that has battered Colombia for years. (…)</p> <p><strong>For the more than 4,000 Awa in Ecuador</strong> and some 40,000 in Colombia the border is non-existent. The ´Grand Awa Family´ is considered one territory, irrespective of internationally recognized borders. Unfortunately for the Awa people they live in one of the areas most affected by conflict. (…)
<p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #595959; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #515151; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 15px;">Region starts infrared plane, drone, sattelite controls on area</span></em></span></p> <p><strong>Naples, November 8</strong> - Air surveillance has been ordered over the southern Italian region of Campania to identify any anomalies and any environmental issues related to illegal waste-management practices that have in recent months hit international headlines.</p> <p><strong>The aerial oversight will use</strong> an ATR 42 MP aircraft bearing infrared vision systems, and aims to help authorities combat environmental crimes such as the illegal burning of rubbish in areas near the city of Naples, which have triggered the location in question to be renamed "Terra dei Fuochi" or "Land of the Fires".</p>
<p><em>First participation for GMU to the 8th UNESCO Youth Forum with 500 young people. Three days of work on the theme "Youth and Social Inclusion", whose recommendations will be presented to the General Conference in November. "Different, but so committed to solve the problems together.This really made us feel as one family."</em></p> <p><strong>For the first time, three delegates of Youth for a United World</strong> participated in the 8° UNESCO Youth Forum: three days of intense work at its headquarters in Paris from 29 to 31 October. Gathered around the theme " Youth and Social Inclusion: Civic Engagement, Dialogue and Development of Competences" , five hundred boys and girls around the world have debated on the main objectives of the draft strategy to the youth of the institution for the period 2014-2021.</p> <p><strong>Absolute protagonists</strong>, they have made recommendations for the member Countries of UNESCO which will presented during the session of the 37th General Conference which will be held in the coming weeks (5-20 of November, <em>ndr.</em>). The participants also worked together to choose fifteen projects to promote youth actions who have received the quality label "8th UNESCO Youth Forum" .
<p><em>The diplomatic speeches closing. The words of the President of the UNESCO General Conference Katalin Bogyay . The contribution that each one can give. The third and final part narrated by young people who partecipated.</em></p> <p>"On the third day strong was the impact on us of the speeches of diplomats closing of the Forum. It was very loud to hear them talk about concepts that are very close to our ideal: the world must live as one human family, to achieve peace we must open our hearts and love each other or it's the little concrete acts that constitute a better world.</p> <p><strong>"Resound even more the words of Katalin Bogyay</strong>, president of the General Conference of UNESCO, who attended the Genfest . She closed the Forum speaking to all of "Ubuntu", this African value that expresses the belief that ' I am because we are ' and that is the basis for Sharing with Africa, the next step of the United World Project. A great experience to know many young people who think themselves to their ideas and skills to be able to change the world.</p>
<p> </p> <p><em>From Egypt an act of fraternity: it's giving it's receiving. From the Facebook page of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Y4UW.JO?fref=ts" target="_blank">Youth for a United World - Jordan</a>.</em></p> <p><strong>"Two years ago, I worked at the British Embassy</strong> during summer period. I was trying to save as much money as possible in order to pay for my final year at university and not to be burden on my parents. After 4 months of hard work I managed to put aside a large sum of money which would cover all my final year expenses.</p> <p><strong>"One day I met a person I knew on the street</strong>. As soon as he saw me, he felt compelled to open up his heart and share with me all the difficulties he was facing. He had many debts and he did not know how to get out of the situation. The sum that he needed was exactly the same amount I was able to save in my bank account.
<p><em>Censis studies revealed an Italy more altruistic</em></p> <p><strong>Rome, November 6 -</strong> A majority of Italians are spiritual, altruistic, and still willing to fight for a better society, according to the latest research by the Center for Social Investment Studies (Censis). In its report released Wednesday and titled 'Italian Values in 2013: The Pendulum Returns', Censis asked respondents what they get the biggest charge out of: 59% said spirituality, 46.2% said family, 36.9% said being in love, and 29.5% said helping those in need.These were followed by making money (26.6%), being with friends (25.3%), and going to the gym (16%).</p>
<p><em><span face="Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, sans-serif;">The new Marmaray tunnel to cross the Bosphorus Strait in just four minutes.</span></em></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong><span face="Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, sans-serif;">It </span>is now possible to cross the Bosphorus Strait –</strong> from Asia to Europe in just four minutes by the new Marmaray tunnel. It is the realisation of a project dreamt up by Ottoman sultans more than a century ago.The tunnel is the world’s first connecting two continents and was inaugurated on the 90th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey.</p> <p><strong>The engineering feat spans 13 kilometres</strong> and will carry subway commuters in Istanbul, which is Europe’s biggest city with a population of 15 million people. An estimated two million cross the Bosphorus Strait daily. Work began in 2004 on what is one of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan pet projects designed to change the face of Turkey.Archaeological excavations delayed completion. Eventually the tunnel will serve high-speed and freight trains.
<p><em>7.2 magnitude in Bohol. The <a href="http://giovaniperunmondounito.blogspot.it/" target="_blank">Youth for a United World</a> did something for them with the support of the community</em>.</p> <p><strong>“Seeing the devastating effects on the news during the aftermath of the earthquake in Bohol</strong>, I knew I wanted to do something concrete for the victims. I especially wanted to make these people feel the love of God in these moments, wherein they may feel that all hope is lost. I was very privileged to be given the chance to do so. At first, I was scared because of the aftershocks that occur once in a while, but I knew that these are small trials, compared to the suffering of the families who lost their homes and loved ones because of the calamity. With the support of the Focolare community, we went to Bohol with around 15 <a href="http://giovaniperunmondounito.blogspot.it/" target="_blank">Youth for a United World</a> and some adults from Manila and Cebu. Upon arrival, we immediately packed 200 bags containing mats, blankets and materials for making tents for them to live in. We heard that this is what they needed most. It was a very joyful atmosphere even though it was hard work because we knew we were doing it out of love. It took us several hours to finish, until midnight, and only had a few hours to rest.
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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