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World Day
for Circles of Compassion
- 2 November -
Open Letter 2007 
Open Letter 2006
Open Letter 2005
World Day Poster
To view and print poster in high resolution, click
here (3,7 Mo)
To view and print poster in low resolution, click
here (300 Ko)
Introduction to the World Day
The Women's World Summit Foundation WWSF launches the World Day for Circles of Compassion to be commemorated on 2 November 2003 as an annual rallying call for all citizens to seed and nurture Circles throughout the world.
WWSF, a non-profit, non-confessional, international non-governmental organization (NGO) with United Nations consultative status, based in Geneva, Switzerland, has as its mission to help implement women's and children's rights and promised United Nations development goals.
Via yearly Circle training workshops and the World Day, WWSF commits to mobilize civil society, NGOs and grassroots groups to create Circles which encourage connection and cooperation among their members and inspire compassionate solutions to individual, community and world problems. Inspired by the Millionth Circle Initiative, WWSF hopes that with time, Circles of Compassion will reach out in ever-widening circles to help implement the United Nations Millennium Goals* and finally achieve a world that works for all.
"Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace"
Albert Schweitzer
Circles of Compassion
A gift from indigenous peoples' traditions to the 21st century, a Circle is a gathering of people to communicate more honestly and openly. In a Circle, compassion, understanding and wisdom are nurtured.
More than an emotion, compassion is a force for action. When you help an unhappy person. when you show that you care. when you listen from the heart to what hurts. when you forgive others and yourself when mistakes are made. when you offer your service to a person or creature in need.
When these qualities are expressed, compassion grows in your heart and moves you to action.
Creating Circles
- Anyone can launch a Circle as long as Circle guidelines are faithfully observed
- Invite your friends, colleagues and acquaintances
- Define a Compassionate Goal, a development objective* that will benefit your Circle's members, your community
- Ensure a commitment from members to work within the Circle to achieve its objective
For information on Circle training workshops,consult
Circle Guidelines
- Create and maintain a Circle with a sacred centre space
- Begin with a period of silent reflection
- One person speaks at a time (a talking stick may be used).
- Share leadership and remember that all in the Circle are equal
- Speak from the heart and from your own experience
- Listen for wisdom with compassion and with discernment instead of judgement
- Invite silence and reflection, when needed, in you and in the Circle
- Take responsibility for your experience and your impact on the Circle
- Make decisions, whenever possible, by consensus
- Encourage and welcome diverse points of view
- Agree to hold the tension, instead of rushing in to fix things
- Keep the confidence of the Circle and respect the trust relationship
- Feel free to add other guidelines should Circle members find it useful to do so
"when a critical number of people change how they think and behave, a new era will begin"
from the book "The Millionth Circle" by Jean Shinoda Bolen
Feedback
Every Circle counts in the creation of a world that works for all. We want to hear about your Circle and invite you to give us feedback by using one of the attached return cards. You may also wish to register your Circle in the Millionth Circle count via Internet: www.millionthcircle.org.
*The UN Millennium Development Goals
Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Universal primary education
Gender equality
Empowerment of women
Reduction of child mortality
Improvement of maternal health
Combat HIV/AIDS, mlaria and other diseases
Ensure environmental sustainability
A global partnership for development
Internet: www.un.org/millenniumgoals
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