Spiritual & Environmental EVENTS

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ICJ Case Against Genocide

12th January 2024
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) hearing on South Africa’s genocide accusations against Israel, which faces accusations that it is subjecting Palestinians in Gaza to genocidal acts



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Martin Luther King Day

Celebrating the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday 15th January 2024


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Penguin Awareness Day

Saturday 20th January 2023

With the warming of the Southern Hemisphere, scientists warn of the danger of 90% of penguins going extinct by the end of the century if global warming continues unabated. Since 2016, the area of ice in the Antarctic has recorded new lows.

Penguin Awareness Day celebrates the species but draws attention to the ways they are threatened, including the large amount of by-catch in commercial fishing.

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Imbolc

Thursday 1st February (and into Friday 2nd Feb)
Imbolc is a (pre-Christian) Gaelic festival marking the beginning of spring (Northern Hemisphere). It's halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Celebrations traditionally start at sundown on the 1st of February.

It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals—along with Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain. Christians observe it as the feast day of Saint Brigid, especially in Ireland.

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The Feast Day of St Brigid

Thursday 1st February

In 2022, after a three-year campaign by Herstory, the Irish government finally acknowledged the importance of St Brigid, by declaring a new national holiday.

The Feast Day of St Brigid is now celebrated on the same day as Imbolc.


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National Sustainable Living Festival

1st - 29th February 2024 - Victoria

Live like the World Depends on it...
"The Sustainable Living Festival brings the vital message of sustainability to the forefront of our nation’s consciousness. The Festival is Australia’s largest event of its type running throughout the entire month of February 2024."



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Groundhog Day

Friday 2nd February 2024
USA - Canada

The Groundhog Day holiday is about our intrinsic links with nature, the seasons, the animals and our ecosystems. It dates back to ancient Europe, when people had a much closer connection with nature.

If the groundhog sees its shadow on February 2 it will return to its burrow, and there will be six more weeks of winter. If it doesn't see its shadow, then spring is on the way.

Read the history behind Groundhog Day here.

The film - Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray, has been dubbed by some as the "most spiritual film of our time". It deals with the Karmic nature of our existence and how to break out of repetitive loops in our lives that are the result of our past actions.

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World Wetlands Day

It's Time for Wetlands Restoration
#WetlandsandHumanWellbeing


Friday 2nd February 2024 - World Wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year on 2 February to raise awareness about wetlands.

Nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s, and we are losing wetlands three times faster than forests. Yet, wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, world economies and more.

It is urgent that we raise national and global awareness about wetlands in order to reverse their rapid loss and encourage actions to conserve and restore them.

Wetlands: Natural guardians against pollution & climate change

• Wetlands capture CO2 from the atmosphere and store more carbon than any other ecosystem on Earth.
  
  
• Peatlands store about 30% of land-based carbon — twice the amount of all the world’s forests.
  
  
• Coastal blue carbon ecosystems (mangroves, seagrass beds, salt marshes) capture and store carbon in their sediment up to 55 times faster than tropical rainforests.
  
  
• Wetlands safeguard the 60% of humanity along coastlines against storm surges, hurricanes and tsunamis.
  
  
• An acre of wetland can store up to 1.5 million gallons of floodwater.
  
  
• Wetlands are at high risk from climate change, severely impacting many economically marginalized people.
  
  
• Wetlands are integral components of resilient urban planning, restoration and vital contributors to One Health.
  
  
• Meeting the climate challenge requires ambitious wetland conservation and restoration across society.
  
  

Post your pledge to act for wetlands on the Wall of Pledges:
Post Your Pledge

Or upload your wetland photographs:
Add Your Photo


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Chinese New Year

Saturday 10th February 2024



The Chinese New Year is on the first day of the Chinese Lunar Calendar.
On the Gregorian calendar, the date falls on a different day each year, but always between the 21st of January and the 20th of February.

Each of the 12 zodiac years is also associated with one of five elements: Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, or Earth, and a zodiac animal.

2024 is the Year of the Dragon


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MindBodySpirit Festival

MindBodySpirit Festival - Brisbane
Health, wellbeing and natural therapies event.
Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th February 2024
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Bank


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Broom Mardi Gras

Wednesday 28th February - Monday 4th March

The Broome Mardi Gras is a Broome Pride event promoting social inclusion across the entire community, encouraging greater unity, cohesion and equality and supporting the vision of "ONE COMMUNITY".

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World Wildlife Day

Sunday 3rd March 2024
United Nations World Wildlife Day celebrates wild animals and plants and recognizes the unique roles and contributions of wildlife to people and the planet. This years theme is Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation.

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MindBodySpirit Festival

MindBodySpirit Festival - Sydney
Health, wellbeing and natural therapies event.
Thursday 7th - Sunday 10th March 2024
International Convention Centre, Darling Harbour


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International Women's Day

Friday 8th March 2024
2024 International Women's Day theme: #InspireInclusion

"Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #InspireInclusion."

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World Water Day

Friday 22nd March 2024 - Everywhere

Water for Peace

As climate change gets worse, groundwater will become more and more critical. Groundwater may be out of sight, but it must not be out of mind.

The effects of climate change all over the world are demonstrating that natural disasters are mostly connected to water, either too much water, or too little.

Water can create peace or spark conflict.

When water is scarce or polluted, or when people have unequal, or no access, tensions can rise between communities and countries.

As climate change impacts increase, there is an urgent need, within and between countries, to unite around protecting and conserving our most precious resource.

Public health and prosperity, food and energy systems, economic productivity and environmental integrity all rely on a well-functioning and equitably managed water cycle.

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World Science Festival - Brisbane & Queensland

Friday 15th - Sunday 24th March 2024 - Brisbane, Australia

World Science Festival Mission: To create a general public informed by science, inspired by its wonder, convinced of its value, and prepared to engage with its implications for the future


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Oxfam Trailwalker Melbourne

1st - 3rd March 2024

"Choose your team and take on an epic 30km, 55km or 100km challenge along some of Melbourne’s most beautiful and challenging trails"


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Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

Monday 25th March 2024

A penumbral lunar eclipse only the more diffuse outer shadow of Earth - the penumbra – falls on the moon’s face. At best, at mid-eclipse, very observant people will notice a dark shading on the moon’s face. Most won't notice any difference.

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Earth Hour

Saturday 23rd March 2024 at 8:30pm your local time
The fight for our planet’s future is on! - It’s time to switch off.

Earth Hour Schools' Day will be held Friday 22 March 2on 024.

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Earth Day

Monday 22nd April
Earth Day 2024 - Climate Action

"Climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and the life-support systems that make our world habitable."

Earth Day was a unified response to an environment in crisis — oil spills, smog, rivers so polluted they literally caught fire.

On the first Eart Day on April 22 1970, 20 million Americans — 10% of the U.S. population at the time — took to the streets, college campuses and hundreds of cities to protest environmental ignorance and demand a new way forward for our planet.

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National Sorry Day

Sunday 26th May 2024 - Australia

National Sorry Day is held on 26th May each year in Australia to acknowledge and recognise members of the Stolen Generations.

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World Oceans Day

Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean & Climate - Saturday 8th June
#WorldOceansDay - Together we can protect and restore our oceans.

One Ocean,
One Climate,
One Future - Together


By supporting 30×30, we can protect our planet’s life support systems – specifically the interconnected issues of ocean, climate, and biodiversity.  Currently, less than 17% of land and 8% of the ocean worldwide is protected.


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MindBodySpirit Festival

Melbourne MindBodySpirit Festival
Health, wellbeing and natural therapies event.
Friday 9th - Monday 12th June 2023
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

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World Population Day

Thursday 11th JULY 2024
World Population Day is a good time to draw attention to the great inequalities and humanitarian emergencies in the world.


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Nelson Mandela Day

Take Action; Inspire Change; Make Every Day a Mandela Day.
Thursday 18th July - Nelson Mandela Day

"It is time for the next generations to continue our struggle against social injustice and for the rights of humanity. It is in your hands."
– Nelson Mandela

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Supermoon

Monday 19th August 2024

This is the first Supermoon for 2024.

The term 'Supermoon' is attributed to astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979. It describes the full moon at its closest point to Earth for the year (most nearly coinciding with perigee). Another description is: any full moon that is less than 360,000 kilometres from Earth (or there abouts).

This supermoon will be 361,969 kilometers from Earth. There are four supermoons in 2023.

Vine writes about the Spiritual Meaning of the SUPERMOON here.


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World Elephant Day

Monday 12th August 2023 - Everywhere #WorldElephantDay

Bringing the world together to help elephants. Why? Because elephant numbers have dropped by 62% in the last 10 years. They could be extinct by the end of next decade. World Elephant Day is dedicated to the preservation and protection of the world's elephants.

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World Humanitarian Day

Monday 19th August 2024

World Humanitarian Day pays tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service and rallies support for people in crisis around the world.

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Partial Lunar Eclipse

17th September 2024

During a partial lunar eclipse the shadow across the moon grows larger, and then recedes, never reaching the total phase. At best, at mid-eclipse, very observant people will notice a dark shading on the moon’s face. Most won't notice any difference.

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Supermoon

Wednesday 18th September 2024

This supermoon will be 357,485 kilometers from Earth.



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International Day of Peace

Saturday 21st September 2024 - Everywhere

Day of Peace
"Let us all work together to help all human beings achieve dignity and equality; to build a greener planet; and to make sure no one is left behind." - Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary Genral, 2007-16

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International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

Thursday 26th September - Everywhere

Achieving global nuclear disarmament is one of the oldest goals of the United Nations. It was the subject of the General Assembly’s first resolution in 1946.

"The consequences of any further use of nuclear weapons, whether intentional or by mistake, would be horrific. When it comes to our common objective of nuclear disarmament, we must not delay - we must act now."

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World Animal Day

Friday 4th October 2024
Everywhere



"Through increased awareness and education we can create a world where animals are always recognised as sentient beings and full regard is always paid to their welfare..." World Animal Day website



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MARCH FOR NATURE

SATURDAY 5th October 2024
Speakers Corner, The Domain, Sydney, NSW Australia



No Nature, No Future
The march will consist of a short, 1.3km walk to Mrs Macquarie's Chair (Botanic Gardens). The March for Nature is for people of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life.

In the middle of a climate and extinction crisis the Australian Labor government recently approved three new coal mine extensions, and is refusing to work with the Greens and crossbench to deliver new nature laws that would help stop the bulldozers, better protect forests and stop more climate harm.

At the same time, that same government is preparing to host world leaders and businesses in Sydney for the first-ever global Nature Positive Summit on the 8th October 2024.

The MARCH FOR NATURE aims to say LOUDLY that the destruction must stop, and this government must do better.

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Nature Positive Summit

Tuesday 8-10th October 2024
Sydney, NSW Australia



The Australian Labor governments's Global Nature Positive Summit has been spruiked as an event that will accelerate collective action to drive investment in nature and strengthen activities to protect and repair our environment.

But, will it help?

Labor’s Cave-in on Environment - Fueling Extinction and Climate Crisis

Is Labor's Nature Positive Summit simply greenwashing to make it look like they're doing something, while in fact Labor continues to allow degradation of the environment and continues to approve new coal and gas mines that will drastically worsen climate change and hopes for the future? Governments around Australia have also criminalised those who protest this destruction.

In conjunction with Labor's Nature Positive Summit, Environmental groups are sounding the alarm.


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Protest Plibersek - 8th October

Tuesday 8th October 2024
8:45am - 10am
International Convention Centre front entrance, Iron Place Wharf (off Darling Drive), Darling Harbour Sydney, NSW Australia




Lock-the-Gate:
There are 116 new coal and gas projects proposed across Australia, including massive clearing of Koala habitat for coal and fracking across Northern Australia.

But Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek plans to lead a Global ‘Nature Positive’ Summit in Sydney... as if she cares about our wildlife.

Lock-the-Gate is calling this a global greenwashing attempt, and we’ll be gathering there on Tuesday, to call it out directly.


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Supermoon

Thursday 17th October 2023

This supermoon will be 357,363 kilometers from Earth.


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United Nations Day

Thursday 24th October 2024

United Nations Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter.

"Humanity has entered the era of sustainability – with a global commitment to fulfil the great promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.


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Halloween

31st October - Sunset

Many Halloween traditions originated from ancient Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain, which is also celebrated from sunset 31st October to sunset 1st November.

In the 9th century, the Christian Church shifted All Saints' Day from May to the 1st of November. The 31st of October is All Saints' Eve or All Hallows' Eve, hence the name Halloween (In Scots, the word eve is for evening, contracted to e'en or een).

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Samhain

1st November - Sunset 31st Oct to sunset 1st Nov.

Samhain is a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the "darker half" of the year (Northern Hemisphere).

In the 9th century, the Christian Church shifted the date of All Saints' Day from May to 1st of November. Nowadays, Samhain is celebrated as Halloween from sunset 31st of October.


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World Vegan Day

Friday 1st November 2023

The official date for World Vegan Day is November 1st every year. However, many cities and towns choose another day in either October or November for their vegan celebrations, so check your local guides.

Donald Watson first coined the term vegan in 1944. The Vegan Society defined veganism as, living without exploiting animals.

Fight Climate Change - Go Vegan

A recent study at the University of Michigan, suggests that going vegan could be the best thing you can do to fight climate change.

Researchers have said that, "Reducing the impact of our diets—by eating fewer calories and less animal-based foods—could achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions... It's climate action that is accessible to everyone, because we all decide on a daily basis what we eat."


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Supermoon

Friday 15th November 2024

At 361,866 kilometers, this supermoon will be the closest full supermoon in 2023.




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UN Climate Change Conference - COP28

11th November - 22nd December 2024 - United Arab Emirates

The 29th UN Climate Change Conference (known as COP29) is designed to produce an international response to the climate emergency.

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Human Rights day

Tuesday 10th December 2023
Every year, Human Rights Day commemorates the day on which the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.


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