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Global Dignity Day
By Drew Granchelli
Oct 17, 2008, 08:38 PST
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A Global Effort to Raise Compassion
Inaugural Event: October 20, 2008
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| Mozambique photo courtesy of Stig Nygaard 2008 |
Nonprofits around the world unite in a global event to raise the awareness of students worldwide to standards of living, with regards to health care, education, and humane treatment. Global Dignity Day, the international event and inaugural celebration of hope and dignity, will take place simultaneously around the world on October 20, 2008 in over twenty countries, including South Africa, India, United States, Nigeria, Turkey, Norway, Finland, Jordan, Austria, Japan, Poland, Mozambique, Mexico, England, Canada, Venezuela, China, Belgium, and Singapore. Global Dignity Day goes so far as to reach outer space!
"It is not enough to merely acknowledge that all human beings have inherent dignity. Our actions must reflect the dignity of others," HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, co-founder of Global Dignity. The goal of Global Dignity Day 2008 is to empower and unite youth across the globe in a universal principle - Dignity, at a time when the world agrees on little else, and to give thousands of youth in a single day with the knowledge and skills to obtain a human level of health care, education, income and security, but most of all a personal sense of dignity. It is a paradigm shift in thinking about our global challenges, a new language and a mindset to approach issues of poverty, peace, and progress.
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| Norway image courtesy of Jarkko Laine - Flickr 2008 |
"This is a message to all participants of Global Dignity Day. My name is Richard Garriott and I am on a space ship orbiting the Earth. The view is spectacular from up here. The world looks both beautiful and fragile. In one day I can look down on all of you without seeing any boarders that separates you. It really becomes apparent that we are all in this together. We really do have more in common than what separates us. By focusing on dignity as a powerful source for positive change you are all bringing the world forward. The future is in your hands. The next steps are up to you. That's it from space. I wish you the best of luck," said CEO Richard Garriott while broadcasting world-wide through the Amateur Radio Station on-board the International Space Station (ISS) as he orbits the Earth.
Global Dignity Day 2008 builds upon the success of more than a dozen successful "Dignity Day" events. This event is a global demonstration of the inspirational and inclusive power of dignity, and the mission of the Dignity Project is to implement globally the universal right of every human being to lead a dignified life though an understanding of the Five Dignity Principles:
- Every human being has a right to lead a dignified life.
- A dignified life means an opportunity to fulfill one's potential, which is based on having a human level of health care, education, income and security.
- Dignity means having the freedom to make decisions on one's life and to be met with respect for this right.
- Dignity should be the basic guiding principle for all actions.
- Ultimately, our own dignity is interdependent with the dignity of others.
"We wish to be inspiration-based; commending and encouraging best practice and dignity centered leadership rather than criticizing shortcomings," added Co-founder Professor Himanen during his "Dignity Day" session in Finland.
© Copyright 2008 by Classbrain.com
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