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><em>An unprecedented high number of names being put forward this year.</em></em></p> <p><strong>The highly prestigious Nobel Prize for Peace</strong> is seeing an unprecedented high number of names being put forward this year. There are more than 250 candidates. The list is kept secret. But bookmakers are giving two to one odds that Malala Yousafzai wins it.</p> <p><strong>The 16-year-old was shot in the head and left</strong> for dead by Taliban attackers in her native Pakistan, but she survived. She had been actively campaigning for support for education for girls. If she were chosen, she would be the youngest laureate in the history of the Nobel awards.(...)
<p><em>The medical director of a clinic in Italy shares what touches her most when treating patients. During 18-19 October, in Padua, health professionals will gather together in a conference to share reflections and projects on patient-centred care.</em></p> <p><strong>“I was standing near a stretcher in the Emergency Room</strong> when I saw two perfectly dressed women at the end of the corridor. They were followed by a small child whose jumpsuit was a bit too big. He appeared hesitant with his astonished gaze as he clutched a small airplane close to his chest. I wondered who the boy’s mother was because he didn’t resemble either one of the two who, by the way, answered in unison to every question about the boy’s health. Meanwhile, Vito sat on a clinic couch, refusing to give his airplane to the nurse who wanted to take a blood sample.”</p> <p><strong>This is the story of Marina D’Antonio</strong>, an Italian doctor who says that she’s ‘in love’ with the Gospel. She has already racked up countless experiences with patients of all ages and backgrounds. And she says that she has always made an effort to set aside rules and impositions that often hide behind the white coat, and embrace the humanity of each patient that comes to her for treatment.In this story the main character is a child.</p>
<p><em>The continuing economic crisis can lead to dishonest shortcuts, an experience that goes against this current.</em></p> <p><strong>Around two years ago, in a timespan of about three months</strong>, my teeth began to deteriorate in a dramatic way. So I went to a dentist and asked for an estimate of the cost of the work that would have to be done. Heart attack! It was going to cost a good 10,000 Swiss francs.</p> <p><strong>I discussed the decision with my wife</strong> and, given the urgency, we decided to accept the doctor’s estimate and proceed with the treatment. The cure lasted a few months and that gave us time to prepare for the important investment.<br />On the second to last visit the dentist informed me that there were further complications and the cost would be raised to a total of 11,280 francs.
<p><em>An original and simple idea from an assistant teacher helps to melt tensions in classrooms of small children. The teacher recounts:</em></p> <p><strong>“I work in an elementary school as an assistant teacher</strong>. There is a boy in my classroom who wears a hearing aid. For the sake of privacy I’ll call him F. He has problems getting along with his classmates who are then disrespectful towards him and excluding him from their games. There is a general atmosphere of rivalry among the children who compete in underscoring the errors and defects of those who seem to be weak. So I decided to engage them in an activity that would be gratifying to them and would help them to see the good in one another; and hoping that they would also see the good in F.
<p><em>The experience of Rahmé confirms that in the name of brotherhood, any barrier can be torn down, even at the cost of serious risks.</em></p> <p><strong>«After my studies of fashion design I worked</strong> for several years in the clothing sector. Providence then gave me a chance to work in a humanitarian organization with a religious sister of the Focolare Movement. Together we brought ahead projects, teaching the women evacuees sewing, embroidery as well as fashion design. In this way we helped them to then find a job in order to support their families.</p> <p><strong>In September 2012, 45 women enrolled for the course</strong>. They belonged to all the different faiths present in the country (Sunnites, Shiites, Christians, Alawites, Druze) and of various political tendencies. They had only one thing in common: they were evacuees and had lost everything. There were very strong and evident tensions between them, they even refused to stay in the same place.
<p><em>The International Day of Non-Violence is marked on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence</em>.</p> <p><strong>According to General Assembly resolution</strong> A/RES/61/271 of 15 June 2007, which established the commemoration, the International Day is an occasion to "disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness." The resolution reaffirms "the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence" and the desire "to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence."</p> <p><strong>Introducing the resolution in the General Assembly</strong> on behalf of 140 co-sponsors, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. Anand Sharma, said that the wide and diverse sponsorship of the resolution was a reflection of the universal respect for Mahatma Gandhi and of the enduring relevance of his philosophy.</p>
<p><em>Almost a month after its adoption, we want to give relief to this important legislation </em></p> <p><strong>6 August 2013 - IOM South Africa has welcomed the signing</strong> into law of the long-awaited Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill by President Jacob Zuma.</p> <p><strong>The new legislation clearly makes trafficking in persons</strong> a criminal offence. In addition, it has also created offences such as debt bondage; the possession, destruction, concealment of and tampering with travel documents; and using the services of victims of trafficking, among others.</p>
<p><em>Sharing is an act of fraternity. A story from Texas </em></p> <p><strong>Beginning my first semester in a community college</strong>, I found that everyone was extremely individualistic. Little to no communication happened between students, and what was said was not always nice. In my math class, I found that my neighbour next to me always made rude remarks under his breath about everything my friends and I did.</p> <p><strong>This was my chance to build bridges</strong>. I brought a bag of chips to class and informed my friends about my plan. At the beginning of class, I popped open the bag, offering some to my friends first so as not to awkwardly come off too aggressively to the person I was really trying to love, my enemy.
<p><i><span>The 27th of September the fifth UN assessment report on the state of climate science. All you need to know from <a href="http://www.theguardian.com">www.theguardian.com</a></span></i> </p> <p><strong><span>What is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)?</span></strong></p> <p><span>Set up in 1988, the IPCC is a UN body that evaluates the state of climate science. It produces major assessments every five-seven years. The last report, published in Paris in 2007, said that scientists were 90% certain that humans were responsible for global warming. The panel was awarded the Nobel peace prize in the same year, shared jointly with former US vice–president, Al Gore.</span></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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