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Contributors
Temma Ehrenfeld
Temma Ehrenfeld, co-author of the column, “From the United Nations,” with her father, Sylvain, was an editor at Newsweek when she left in March to freelance. Her freelance journalism has appeared in The New York Times and elsewhere. Read more here...
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Rose L. Walker Fund
To contribute, please send your donations to:
The Rose L. Walker Fund
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Buy our paperback on triumphs at the United Nations.
International Justice Day - July 17, 2010
On 17 July, the world celebrates International Justice Day in honor of the anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court (ICC). International Justice Day is a reminder of the urgency for all States committed to justice to ensure continued support for the Rome Statute's international justice system. The National Ethical Service urges the United States to reaffirm its commitment to ending the culture of impunity and take the necessary steps to ratify the International Criminal Court.
Twelve years ago on this date, the Rome Statute was adopted by an overwhelming vote of 120 states. Today, 111 states have joined the Court and the number keeps growing. The National Ethical Service is celebrating this day in solidarity with victims of crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes. International Justice Day is an opportunity for the world community to celebrate the historic advances in ending impunity for the worst crimes in international law. Since 1993, 181 trials, dealing with terrible crimes committed in 12 countries, have been held by six international and special tribunals. Similar trials for the gravest crimes are ongoing at national levels. To date, 3 trials are being conducted at the ICC, investigations in 5 countries were opened, and twelve arrest warrants and three summonses to appear were issued. Allegations of crimes committed in many other countries are being considered by the ICC Prosecutor.
This year, International Justice Day takes place only a few weeks following the conclusion of the first Review Conference of the ICC Rome Statute, which was held in Kampala, Uganda from 31 May to 11 June. At the Conference, ICC Member States agreed upon amendments to the Rome Statute. In particular, the Review Conference adopted a definition of the Crime of Aggression as well as provisions governing the terms of the Court's ability to investigate and prosecute individuals for the crime of aggression. In Kampala, States also made important commitments on the issues of cooperation, complementarity, victims and affected communities, and peace and justice. The National Ethical Service now calls on States to turn words into concrete actions. National Ethical Service is a member of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC). The CICC is a civil society network of 2,500 organizations in 150 countries advocating for a fair, effective and independent ICC. Through this committed global partnership, the Coalition's guiding mission is to make justice universally accessible for victims of the gravest crimes in an effort to secure lasting peace. For more information, see: http://www.coalitionfortheicc.org/
News and Events
National Peace Academy
Martha Gallahue will represent The National Ethical Service at the next Peacelearning Peacebuilding Intensive from August 1-7th. The National Peace Academy supports, advances and nurtures cultures of peace by conducting research and facilitating learning toward the development of peace systems – local to global – and the development of the full spectrum of the peacebuilder – inner and outer, personal and professional. Go to: National Peace Academy for more information.
CSVGC-NY
The 4th Annual Week of Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns, and Spirit of the UN Award Ceremony entitled, "Spirit of the UN” - Universal Harmony through Rapprochement", continues to honor and bring value to those who embody this Spirit, in their work at the United Nations. This year’s Week of Spirituality, will be 24-29 October, and the Spirit of the UN Award Ceremony is tentatively scheduled on the 25th of October 2010. Ms. Kay Dundorf, NES representative at the UN, was elected to the 2010-12 Executive Council.Go to "From the UN" tab in this web-site to read the overview of the Week of Spirituality 2009.
- Learn about the impacts of globalization and the causes of immigration directly from the voices of subsistence farmers and their families.
- See first-hand how the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), transnational penetration, and US taxpayer subsidies affect local people.
- Visit marginalized villages near the town of Cuquio, Jalisco, participating in piñata parties, donations to poor families, and village service projects.
- Experience the rich biodiversity and emerald beauty of Mexico’s high mountains as farmers show their farming techniques and village children lead hikes.
- Stay in a Guadalajara “Green” hotel, meet leaders of Mexico’s new green movement, visit the famous Tonatlin Market, and take part in cultural events.
- On August 8, a week after the trip, visit California farm worker family members who have immigrated from the villages to a migrant labor camp in Watsonville
Dates: Monday, July 19 – Friday, July 30, 2010. A pre-trip meeting will also be held.
Cost: $1200, includes air travel, hotels based on double occupancy, main meal each day, all daily ground travel in Mexico, cultural events, administrative fees, and incidental expenses. $600 due by June 10th to reserve space. Remainder of $600 due on July 10th. Space limited. Send $600 check (not refundable) payable to “Human Agenda” to Human Agenda Treasury, 3845 Wellington Square, San Jose, CA 95136.
Tour Leaders: Professor Ann Lopez, Ph.D., Author, The Farmworkers’ Journey, UC-Berkeley Press Richard Hobbs, Esq., Immigration Attorney & Executive Director, Human Agenda.
Earth Charter Initiative:
10 Years At A Glance
You are invited to flip through this overview of events and activities that have taken place since the Earth Charter was launched in 2000. This is a beautiful photo album and short video capturing some of the key moments of the evolving Earth Charter Initiative in the past 10 years. A new book features the Earth Charter The new book "Sustainable Economy: Corporate, Social and Environmental Responsibility" (2010) edited by Raymond W Y Kao (published by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd). features the Earth Charter. This book brings together an impressive list of international experts, who contribute to the discussion on feasible solutions towards a sustainable future. Go to EarthCharter.org for more information.
The Universal Ethics Working Group founded by Martha Gallahue of the National Ethical Service sponsors Storybowl to fight hunger
I often say "I’m starving!" My stomach is rumbling and maybe I have trouble thinking and know I have to grab a bite. Recently I’ve learned what would happen if I were truly starving. Your skin becomes stiff, pale and cold. Your hair becomes dry and sparse and falls out. It takes two or three months to starve to death.
Every week this year there will be four million new urgently hungry people worldwide. Most of the world’s hungry aren’t about to starve. Every day they eat just enough to live. Every night they go to sleep not knowing whether they will have food tomorrow. Their hunger makes it hard to function--work or move much. Underfed or undernourished children have trouble playing.
If a friend visiting your home said she was hungry, you’d immediately offer food. Feeding each other is human nature. We can build on that impulse to create a world where no one goes hungry. To awaken compassion for the world’s hungry, storytellers around the world have launched Storybowl, a series of events to benefit hunger-relief organizations, led by Bob Reiser, a story-teller and writer who has coauthored two books with Pete Seeger. The project launch took place in the Nigerian Mission, featuring story-teller Laura Simms. The event was sponsored by the Universal Ethics Working Group founded by Martha Gallahue of The National Ethical Service of the American Ethical Union.
Temma Ehrenfeld
See a video from the World Food Programme at the United Nations
Learn about the United Nations efforts to prevent famine
Take a quiz
Compassion
Compassionate Eye
Our first article in Compassionate Eye is by guest Kurt Johnson, PhD, who is a cofounder of InterSpiritual Dialogue in Action (www.isdna.org) and widely engaged internationally in spiritual teaching, professional science, social activism, and ethics. Kurt serves in a number of capacities for the American Ethical Union, including Vice-President of The National Ethical Service, Lecturer at Humanist Institute.
From the UN
Millenium Development Goals
In the year 2000 the member states at the UN undertook an ambitious challenge to meet the basic needs of the globe. They set eight goals to be achieved by 2015.These goals, for the world's well being, are designed to free a major portion of humanity from the shackles of extreme poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease.Read the complete article here.
Recent Articles
Announcement
The National Ethical Service elected new officers: President Dr. Jacqueline Pope, NYSEC; Vice-President Dr. Kurt Johnson, ESWOW; Corresponding Secy. Dr. Sylvain Ehrenfeld, Bergen Society, Treasurer Kay Dundorf, Riverdale Society and Leader Martha Gallahue, BSEC. The election was held at the AEU National Assembly, June 17, 2010, in Scranton, Pennsylvania.