Celebrating Golden Rule Day

3 April 2019
Golden Rule Day 2019 in Jerusalem

URI peacebuilders from around the world, who are celebrating Golden Rule Day 2019 in Jerusalem, sent this photo to share with their URI friends worldwide. 

April 5 is Golden Rule Day - a day when the URI community celebrates the Golden Rule, “Treat others and the planet as you would like to be treated.” This is a universal principle shared by nearly all cultural, spiritual, religious, and secular traditions on Earth.

Read a message for the celebration of the Golden Rule Day from H.E. Adama Dieng, United Nations Secretary-General's Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide.

You can still watch videos from the Golden Rule Day webcast, which was broadcast live on URI's Facebook page on April 5, 2019. Scroll down this page for excerpts and links.

Read a special Golden Rule Day message from Mussie Hailu, Global Envoy of URI, Continental Director for URI-Africa and URI Representative to the United Nations in Nairobi, and URI Executive Director The Rev. Victor H. Kazanjian, Jr.

See a Golden Rule Day video message from URI Executive Director Victor Kazanjian.

A message for Golden Rule Day 2019 from Ben Bowler, Executive Director of UNITY EARTH, a global network building a worldwide movement for unity and peace, and a URI Cooperation Circle.

A message for Golden Rule Day 2019 from Eliyahu McLean, Director of the Jerusalem Peacemakers, in Jerusalem.

A message for Golden Rule Day 2019 from Ulrich Nitschke, head of The International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD), a partner of URI.

A message for Golden Rule Day 2019 from Rev. Dr. Stephen Albert, in Poway California, USA.

Haji Syed Salman Chishty, Chairman of the Chishty Foundation, shares a Golden Rule Day 2019 Message.

URI North America Cooperation Circle Think Round Inc. shares a video from Golden Rule Day 2019.

Golden Rule and Woman for Change rally by URI CC leaders in Mumbai

Slideshow: A Golden Rule and Woman for Change rally by URI Cooperaton Circle leaders in Mumbai.

Golden Rule and Woman for Change rally by URI CC leaders in Mumbai
Golden Rule and Woman for Change rally by URI CC leaders in Mumbai

Videos from the Golden Rule Day 2019 Facebook broadcast:

  • See a video from Camp Anytown Las Vegas Cooperation Circle, posted on Facebook for Golden Rule Day 2019. "At Anytown, one of the ways we care for others is by declaring and modelling through our words and actions that if there is an affront to one of our traditions, there is an affront to all of us."
  • See a video message from Geoffrey Manasseh, URI Malawi Country Coordinator and Interfaith Youth Trainer, posted on Facebook for Golden Rule Day 2019.
  • See a video from Charter for Compassion's Facebook post: "Happy International Golden Rule Day...Host Karen Palmer will share highlights from the past 24 hours, plus #UN #GlobalGoals"
  • See a video from Charter for Compassion's Facebook post: young climate change activists.
  • See a video from Sari Heidenreich, URI North America Regional Coordinator, introducing more live content.
  • See a video from Latin America and the Caribbean: "Happy Golden rule day @goldenruleday. in this segment of our 24-hour program, we will travel through #Mexico #Chile #Colombia #Brazil #Spain and we will get excited with #songs #presentations and #dance with the messages of #peace #Compassion #environment."
  • See a video of a conversation between URI Executive Director Victor Kazanjian and URI Global Envoy Mussie Hailu.
  • In this video, Matthew Youde, URI Associate Director of Global Programs for Youth Leadership Development, shares inspiring stories from Europe.
  • In this video, learn how the Golden Rule is being practiced across the Middle East! "We start by hearing stories of peacebuilders in Yemen, told by URI Founder Bishop Bill Swing."
  • In this video, learn how the Golden Rule is being practiced in Pakistan and India.
  • In this video, watch an overview of International Golden Rule Day, see stories about #Japanese school children, an interview with #NewZealand Prime Minister Jacindra Ardern, and the remarkable story of Katura Halladay, a young #GoldCoast, #Australia student who traveled to #Mozambique to assist other students with education, sanitation and medication. Meet members of the Australia Compassion Team and hear #Lior sing the "Compassion Symphony" from the Sydney Chamber Orchestra.

Hear a Golden Rule Day 2019 message from Quinaroes Cooperation Circle, a URI member group in Venezuela.

Hear a Golden Rule Day 2019 message from Misiones Unidas, a URI Cooperation Circle (member group) in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Hear a Golden Rule Day 2019 message from Circulo De Cooperación para el Diálogo, a URI Cooperation Circle (member group) in Caracas, Venezuela.

Hear a Golden Rule Day 2019 message from Comunidad Cosmica, a URI Cooperation Circle (member group) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Singer-songwriter Kristin Hoffmann shares a Golden Rule Day live song.

See https://www.facebook.com/kristinhoffmannmusic for more.

Congratulations to Pato Banton and Antoinette Rootsdawtah, who were appointed as Goodwill Ambassadors of the Golden Rule by URI-Africa.

On April the 5th we celebrate The Golden Rule Day in which we honor the ideal of treating all people, regardless of color, class or creed, with the love and respect that we all deserve. This song is dedicated to Ambassador Mussie Hailu (https://uri.org/mussie-hailu ) who encouraged me to write this song as a tribute to the United Religions Initiative (URI) and to all the people of the world who believe in the beautiful idea of One Love for all humanity.

In 2007, URI-Africa and Interfaith Peace-building Initiative (a URI Cooperation Circle member) declared April 5 as “Golden Rule Day” in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and called upon all citizens of the world and many other organizations, including the United Nations, to join them in proclaiming the day and living everyday according to the teaching of the Golden Rule in order to make our world better and more peaceful for all.

Since then, about 700 organizations in 165 countries have joined in proclaiming Golden Rule Day and a request for a United Nations declaration of Golden Rule Day is pending before the General Assembly.

The Golden Rule ~ Performed by Pato Banton & The Now Generation

(Music composed by Antoinette Rootsdawtah)

Tell me now

Can you love your neighbor as yourself?

And care about their happiness an’ health?

If disrespected can you turn the other cheek?

And still remain humble and meek?

Cunning as a fox but gentle as a dove

Can we forgive and show our enemies love?

Can we give the way we want to receive?

Well if seeing is believing make we practice weh we preach with The Golden Rule

When I treat you how I want to be treated

It’s The Golden Rule

When you know Jah love could never be defeated

It’s The Golden Rule

When you love Mama Nature and all creatures too

It’s The Golden Rule

Gotta teach it to the children too

Tell me now

Are you making time to pray and meditate?

And with the Most Highhhhh communicate?

Do you try to keep a smile on your face

As you do the best you can to make this world a better place now

We need more peace and harmony 

The honoring of human dignity

More Justice and Equality

Cause everyone has a right to be free now

Bridge

And you can keep your Religion

But we don’t need no division

We join together on this Global Mission

To end Prejudice & Racism

And when your Soul is invested

You can expect to be tried and tested

That’s the way that we grow Yow

And who feels it knows…. It’s The Golden Rule

When I treat you how I want to be treated

It’s The Golden Rule

When you know Jah love could never be defeated

It’s The Golden Rule

When you love Mama Nature and all creatures too

It’s The Golden Rule

Gotta teach it to the children too

www.patobanton.com www.facebook.com/patobanton www.facebook.com/ministerpatobanton www.facebook.com/patobantonandthenowgeneration www.reverbnation.com/patobantonandthenowgeneration

Interfaith Cooperation Circle - Central Virginia

Ron Povich from the Interfaith Cooperation Circle - Central Virginia will be participating in Golden Rule Day by hosting a special edition of World Turning, a world music show on WTJU (91.1 FM in Charlottesville, VA, USA) between noon and 2 pm on April 5.  The show can also be heard worldwide via WTJU.net (live, and via the “tape vault” archives for up to two weeks after airing.)