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>Vatican City, July 31 -</em> <em>Pope Francis on Wednesday announced that the theme for the celebration of his first World Day of Peace will be "<strong>Fraternity</strong>, the Foundation and Pathway to Peace"</em></p> <p>Celebrated on January 1, the Day of Peace was the brainchild of Pope Paul VI and advocates for the end of world violence. "<strong>Fraternity</strong>, a gift and task that comes from God the Father, urges us to be in solidarity against inequality and poverty that undermine the social fabric, to take care of every person, especially the weakest and most defenceless, to love him or her as oneself, with the very heart of Jesus Christ," said a Vatican statement.</p> <p> </p>
<p><br /><em>At the conclusion of the <a href="http://www.cantierelegalita.org/" target="_blank">Meeting of Caserta</a> a wide-ranging discussion on how one person’s choices affects others. My revealing waste habits</em></p> <p>A current trend in society is the quantified self, capturing data about our daily lives such as diet, sleeping patterns and exercise routines to better understand our habits and improve our quality of life. As a part of my master’s research project, which was dedicated to understanding the invisible urban waste infrastructure, I began exploring the quantified self through the lens of waste. What if we could track our waste habits to better understand our lifestyle choices?
<p><em>Little but great experiences during the WYD's eve. A seminar was held at PUC University in which young people belonging to the three great monotheistic religions have builded bridges in Rio de Janeiro</em></p> <p><strong>For the first time in the World Youth Day history</strong>, there was an encounter between young people of the three great monotheistic religions. Sunday, 21st, 150 young Catholics, Jews and Muslims met at the auditorium in the PUC University for a seminar sponsored by the Interreligious Youth of Rio de Janeiro (JIRJ, in Portuguese) in order to celebrate “unity in diversity” and put into practice dialogue, going down to the smallest details. For example, the organizers decided not to offer any refreshments during the interval in order to respect the Muslim fasting period of Ramadan.</p>
<p><em>Source: <a href="http://www.focolare.org" target="_blank">www.focolare.org.</a> By living the Golden Rule in the Focolare community of Acquaviva delle Fonti in southern Italy, people share the family spirit with otherswho are living far from their homes and loved ones.</em></p> <p><strong>They come from the most varied backgrounds, lands and cultures</strong>: Albania, Ukraine, Georgia, Morocco, Senegal, Romania, Nigeria and Belarus. Like many of their fellow countrymen and women they are leaving behind dramatic situations, as well as their loved ones in the hope of finding work and a better future for their lives.
<p><em>This is the very first of our monthly appointments: “Leaders in fraternity”. What we would like to do is take a look through history and discover people who have lived for this ideal. We want to begin with Cardinal Francois-Xavier Ngujén Van Thuan, an Asian contemporary. The 6th July marked the conclusion of the first phase of the beatification process</em></p> <p><strong>Simplicity and hope.</strong> For many people, whether in Tanzania or in Korea, he was known simply as ‘Bishop Francis’ which is what he wanted to be called. He was a simple and friendly person. His love for humanity and confident hope made him an icon of the Asian Catholic Church. The first phase of Cardinal Van Thuan’s beatification process concluded on 5th and 6th July in the Vatican. It is a process that began immediately after his death in 2010.
<p><em>There are on-going meetings between the Youth for a United World (Y4UW) and the UNESCO National Commissions in various countries of the globe. After Australia, it was Jordan’s turn to meet UNESCO at Amman, early July. The Y4UW give a summary of this afternoon meeting.</em></p> <p> </p> <p>“Throughout this year, along with our community, we have tried to spread the culture of fraternity.<br />This was our aim and spirit when we met with Ms Nuria Roca Ruiz, responsible for the Culture Unit at the UNESCO National Commission in Amman, Jordan on Monday 1st July. During the one and a half hours spent with Ms Nuria we described the United World Project (UWP) in its three aspects: the Network, the Watch and the Workshop.</p>
<p><em>An Italian girl narrates as a firsthand observer, the launch of the project of sharing with the African continent, which involves the youth of the Focolare Movement, as part of the larger United World Project. A "one way" trip. From the site www.focolare.org</em></p> <p> </p> <p>“We reached Mariapolis Piero (Nairobi, Kenya) on the 10 May morning, and were welcomed as only the Africans know how: with smiles and hugs without reserve for all! This is because they place the person at the centre of their days, and we discovered this through their lives, and the stories of their tribes that were presented during the School of Inculturation.
<p><br /><em>“Legality”: a meeting at Caserta from 29th July to 2nd August 2013 for over 600 young people of the Peninsula who wish to bear witness to a strong desire for change</em></p> <p>There is a need for a change towards a more lawful society in order to respond to Italy’s local challenges. Young people from all over Italy, who wish to become leaders for this change will be gathering at Pala Vignola, from 29th July to 2nd August. They are the promoters of this meeting which will also engage associations, local businesses and citizens. They wish to stop the growing mistrust in particular territories which is extending to the whole country in order to become responsible and active agents for this important change.
<p><em>In spite of the crises in Spain, in the small city of Aljucer in southern Spain there has been an increase in the number of projects in favour of the “Brotherhood with Africa” project</em></p> <p>A group of Focolare volunteers from the Spanish communities recounts: “It seems only yesterday that we began to work with the “Brotherhood with Africa” project. It was in April 2009. To help the project grow we had organized several activities in the region of Murcia, which concluded with a benefit dinner. Now we are holding the fifth edition.”
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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