By Gary H. Kah
The world has gone completely mad! Nothing seems to be even remotely normal anymore. Men are marrying other men. Pairs of women are starting their own families and having babies via artificial insemination. Pornography and pedophilia are rampant, and bestiality is becoming accepted. Over 50 percent of marriages in which both spouses claim to be Christians are ending in divorce. What must God think of our behavior?
On the economic front, entire countries are facing bankruptcy. Greece, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Argentina and Puerto Rico are all on the brink of collapse. And, the United States is living on the edge ― with almost $19 Trillion of federal debt and over $100 Trillion of total debt. Default seems inevitable in the not-too-distant future. Each child currently born in the US inherits almost $300,000 of debt at the time they draw their first breath. What an entangled mess!
Meanwhile, world leaders are hell-bent on creating an international bureaucracy (i.e. world government) to “solve” climate change by mandating and enforcing changes in our laws and freedoms. The new climate treaty signed in Paris recently paves the way for a comprehensive system of global government that will affect every area of our lives. It is Satanic at its core and will help set the stage for the Antichrist to assume power at just the “right” moment when the world is experiencing created crises on every side. The hyped panic over Earth’s environmental condition has long been one of the chief tools in Satan’s arsenal to deceive the masses into ultimately accepting global government as the only solution to the “dire” situation. In the second part of this article, as you examine our annual “Global Calendar of Events,” you will notice some of the other strategies and tactics being employed to move us toward an occult-based new world order.
Delegates from 195 countries convene in Paris to ratify the Climate Treaty.
I haven’t yet mentioned Islamic terrorism and the fact that tens of thousands of us could perish this year at the hands of demonic lunatics who believe they will be rewarded by their false god in eternity for blowing themselves and others up. The Jesuit, Pope Francis, recently announced his belief that we are entering World War III ― the “civilized” world verses radical Islam and its minions of terrorists. The prophecy of Albert Pike ― the Luciferic leader of Freemasonry during the late 1800s ― appears to be in motion. Pike spelled out how his successors within the powerful secret societies of the Masonic realm would eventually succeed in conquering the world. He wrote:
We shall unleash the nihilists and the atheists and we shall provoke a great social cataclysm which, in all its horror, will show clearly to all nations the effect of absolute atheism, the origin of savagery and of most bloody turmoil. Then, everywhere, the people, forced to defend themselves against the world minority of revolutionaries, will exterminate those destroyers of civilization; and the multitudes, disillusioned with Christianity whose deistic spirits will be from that moment on without direction and leadership, anxious for an ideal but without knowledge where to send its adoration, will receive the true light through the universal manifestation of the pure doctrine of Lucifer, brought finally out into public view; a manifestation which will result from a general reactionary movement which will follow the destruction of Christianity and atheism, both conquered and exterminated at the same time.
(Source: A letter written on August 15, 1871 from Albert Pike to the Italian revolutionary leader Giuseppe Mazzini about a far-distant event. See pgs. 144-145 of En Route to Global Occupation for more details surrounding this communiqué.)
The current world situation, which has been plotted for many years by evil forces, was accurately foretold by Jesus in Matthew chapter 24. When the disciples asked Jesus how they (his followers) would recognize when the time of his return would be near, He responded,
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. ― Matthew 24:6-14
The fact is we are not at the end. We are at the beginning of the end. We are witnessing the birth pains of which Jesus spoke. Our Lord gave us these prophecies so we could be forewarned and prepared for the difficult times that would unfold and lead up to his actual physical return.
Given the fact that our readers are already well-informed and are experiencing varying degrees of information overload, the most important question becomes, “What is it that God would have us do as Christians living in these turbulent yet prophetic times?” Here are some thoughts the Lord put before me this past week as I prayerfully contemplated this message.
Be a Shining Example
There is no doubt in my mind that God wants his people to be salt and light wherever He places them. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) This means we are to model the likeness of Jesus Christ to our peers in the workplace, to our fellow students (if we are in school), and among our neighbors, friends and relatives. We must realize that we are a constant living testimony for Jesus. But is our testimony one that draws on-lookers closer to the Lord, or that pushes them further away? Our witness, as far as it depends on us, must be above reproach. This can only be accomplished with a strong dependence upon the Holy Spirit and will never happen unless we have a close, personal walk with the Lord.
One reason I believe Christians haven’t been more effective in winning those who are lost to Christ, is that so many of us set a poor example. Frankly, if I would have based my view of Jesus on my experience with some professing believers, I probably would never have become a Christian. (Some Christians are rude, have abrasive personalities, or are just downright obnoxious.) I do recognize that none of us are perfect, including myself. The Lord is well aware of this fact and came to atone for our sins because of it ― He loves us immeasurably and chose to sacrifice Himself in order to redeem us. Yet, wouldn’t it be better and more pleasing to God if we were more yielded to Him and as a result lived our lives more perfectly (more like Christ) amidst our peers? After all, Jesus said, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)
Similarly, there is often little noticeable difference between professing believers and those who are non-believers, when it comes to our life focus. This too grieves the Lord. We must never allow ourselves to become carnal Christians, pursuing and obsessing over the things of this world. Rather, our devotion and obedience to Jesus must be our number one priority. If it is, we will radiate the love of Christ toward those we influence. As a result, more individuals will respond favorably, realizing that we are genuinely different from the pagan world around us.
Peter, the Apostle, capsulized this principle in his letter to the early Church. He wrote:
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. ― 1 Peter 2:11-12
In order to set a consistent godly example in an ungodly world, we must be ever mindful of the fact alluded to by Peter, that as followers of Jesus we are strangers in this world. This is not our permanent home; we are merely passing through (as the old hymn says) ― on our way to eternity in our heavenly home with Jesus.
James, likewise, warned about getting too caught up in the affairs of this world, stating, “What is your life [on this earth]? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (James 4:14b)
Yet, in spite of these warnings, or perhaps because of them, we are called to be Christ’s ambassadors in this world. Along with setting a Christ-like example in our behavior, we are to stand for the truth when the opportunity arises. Apostle Paul took such a strong stand that it nearly got him killed on numerous occasions. (In fact, in the end it did!) Paul’s interactions with unbelievers are described in the book of Acts as follows:
● “proving” that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 9:22)
● speaking boldly for the Lord (14:3)
● sharp dispute and debate (15:2)
● reasoned with them…explaining and proving (17:2-3)
● he reasoned…trying to persuade (18:4)
● vigorously refuted…in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ (18:28)
● arguing persuasively (19:8)
You get the picture. Paul contended strongly for the faith but did so in a spirit of love. His opponents knew that his passion stemmed from his strong love for Christ and concern for the well-being of their souls. Paul was no pushover, and neither should we be. However, to the greatest extent possible we, like Paul, should speak from a heart of love. Be bold when necessary, but never leave those around you doubting that you love and genuinely care for them.
Be Informed, Not Overwhelmed
Keeping all of this in mind, let us continue to make a reasonable effort to be informed Christians. We must know the truth to take an effective stand on doctrinal matters as well as the important issues of our day ― which we are to do if we are truly Christ’s ambassadors in this world. But, at the same time, let’s not allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the news of the day. Rather, let’s use today’s headlines as an opening to speak God’s truth into each situation. By doing so, we demonstrate our confidence that God is in control and will have the last word, while reflecting the inner peace that passes understanding (Phil. 4:7) which comes from our strong faith and trust in Him.
If we become fearful and panicked, it destroys our witness for Christ among those around us. God has made clear throughout Scripture that we ought never to fret. The inspired psalmist wrote,
Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away…
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret ― it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
― Psalm 37:1, 7–9
We must on a daily basis surrender our human tendency to fear, and replace it with trust and confidence in the Lord’s sovereign ability to maneuver our lives and keep us in the center of his will, despite the darkness swirling around us. Therefore, as we enter 2016, which is likely to be a perilous and calamitous year, may we keep these comforting truths at the forefront of our minds while applying God’s unfailing principles to whatever circumstances we face.
Global Calendar of Events 2016
The purpose of this Global Calendar is to shed light on upcoming “world change” events planned for 2016. This calendar lists the dates and places, and provides some context to help you understand the movements and agendas in play. Please be aware that this is only a limited calendar. Hundreds of other events are planned and will take place during the next twelve months ― everything from security summits to meetings at the United Nations to New Age transformational festivals and transhumanism conferences. Indeed, many more events will surface as 2016 progresses. We will not prevent these gatherings from taking place. However, we can be aware of them and, with God’s help, expose their misleading one-world intentions; hopefully enlightening some of the unwitting participants while preventing others from falling prey to these schemes.
Date: Unknown.
Where: Unknown.
Sometime later in 2016, a new organization with the backing of the US Conference of Mayors is to have its first congress-styled event, the Global Parliament of Mayors (GPM). With three planning sessions already convened, and momentum building since September 2014, the GPM project is a grouping of mayors from around the world who hope to create a new guiding entity. According to the background explanation on the GPM website, “…the GPM must be realized as a legitimate governance platform for common global action.” In other words, “world cities” will carry the banner of “world government.”
At this point the project is in its early stages, but the list of individuals who are assisting as international advisors is remarkable: Jan P. Balkenende (former PM of Netherlands), Tom Cochran (Executive Director of the US Conference of Mayors), Bruce Katz (Brookings Institute), Ken Livingston (past Mayor of London), and Jeffrey Sachs (Director of The Earth Institute).
Support has already been expressed from a number of mayors representing major cities: Cape Town, Warsaw, Baltimore, Rotterdam, Boston, Athens, Seattle, Bristol, Barcelona, and Amsterdam. As their own promotional material states, “A planet ruled by cities represents a new paradigm of global governance…”
January 13-15: New Approaches for a Peaceful and More Sustainable World.
Where: Vienna, Austria.
Hosted by the Vienna office of the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS), this event will consider opportunities to strengthen the United Nations as it reflects on its seventy-year history. Furthermore, as Vienna is home to a range of UN duty stations and agency offices working in close proximity to other global and regional organizations within the Vienna “International City,” the location and nature of this conference is expected to attract active diplomats and members of the United Nations.
Anticipated topics include the new 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, outcomes from the Paris Climate Change summit, and migration and security concerns in light of the Middle East.
ACUNS is an international network of academics, diplomats, concerned laypeople, and members of UN agencies. The organization focuses on the role of the UN in support and maintenance of global governance.
January 20-23: World Economic Forum.
Where: Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.
This annual event is the premier gathering of the planet’s most influential leaders from business and industry, government, finance and banking, civil society and academia. What happens at the World Economic Forum (WEF) reverberates throughout economic and political circles on every continent. Over the year, regional WEF meetings will focus on specific parts of the world. For 2016, the regional meetings announced thus far include:
- May 11-13, WEF Africa in Kigali, Rwanda.
- October 19-22, WEF Asia, Japan.
The theme for this year’s annual Davos event is: Mastering the Fourth Industrial Revolution. According to the WEF literature, “In global governance, the balance of power between nation states and the international framework that managed it in the last century are frayed.” Hence, this event will work to improve global governance in partnership with corporations and major financial institutions.
February 1-7: World Interfaith Harmony Week.
Where: United Nations, New York City, and Global.
The World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) is an official United Nations program that was influenced by The Common Word campaign, a 2007 inter-religious dialogue between Muslim and Christian leaders. On September 23, 2010, King Abdullah II of Jordan proposed the idea of an Interfaith Harmony Week while at the UN General Assembly. The proposal was unanimously adopted and the first week of February was set aside as the timeframe for this interfaith program.
Multiple events are set to take place during the 2016 WIHW, including a five day interfaith film festival in Toronto, Ontario, featuring the four-part movie series, The Sacred Bee ― “Gently uniting the World’s Religions through the Paradigm of the Bee.” The Washington DC Interfaith Leadership Summit is also scheduled to coincide with the World Interfaith Harmony Week.
February 12-15: PantheaCon.
Where: San Jose, California.
PantheaCon is a large and long-standing pagan convention that serves the pagan community in the Bay Area of California. The event itself incorporates rituals, sacred spaces, vendors, and workshops on a variety of topics: Goddess spirituality, sustainability, green living, shamanism, tarot, ceremonial magic, etc.
As the pagan worldview continues to gain supporters, expect more pagan/Wiccan events to take place. The fact that 2016 marks the 22nd year for PantheaCon demonstrates how entrenched and growth-oriented the pagan mindset has become, thriving alongside a sleeping Christian church.
February 16-17: Doha Interfaith Conference.
Where: Doha, Qatar.
For twelve years, the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue (DICID) has hosted a lavish, annual conference promoting interfaith activity.
According to the DICID, “From the perspectives of the world monotheistic religions we seek to reach common and harmonious cooperation and a genuine desire to lay the foundations of world peace. And for that very reason we as a team of true believers and promoters of the inter-faith dialogue wish to share our vision with the global community, to resolve world conflicts and restore peace and harmony.”
February 17-18: United Nations Youth Assembly.
Where: UN Headquarters, New York City.
According to the literature, “The Youth Assembly at the United Nations is a unique platform created to foster dialogue and generate partnerships between exceptional youth, UN high officials and staff, private sector, and civil society.”
Two days of plenary sessions, roundtables, working groups, and leadership building will equip the next generation to see themselves as global citizens. The goals of the Assembly include: promoting youth involvement in UN programs and affiliated agencies, strengthening youth-based opportunities in the implementation of Sustainable Development, and promoting long-term commitment to the global organization.
February 20: World Day of Social Justice.
Where: Global.
Sponsored by the United Nations as an Official Observance, the World Day of Social Justice highlights collective social action and global development. Local events that build on the ideas of social justice are encouraged, and each year the UN Secretary General issues a statement concerning a particular topic or concern in light of social justice.
Although some debate has taken place in the Christian community as to the meaning of social justice, the UN understands its context: “Unlike justice in the broad sense, social justice is a relatively recent concept, born of the struggles surrounding the industrial revolution and the advent of socialist (and later, in some parts of the world, social democratic and Christian democratic) views on the organization of society.” (Social Justice in an Open World: The Role of the United Nations, UNDESA, 2006, p.2)
February 21-24: Building a Better World: The Academy as Leader.
Where: Montreal, Canada.
This year’s annual conference of the Association of International Educators will endeavor to build local-global connections, and help universities see themselves as globally embedded actors. Subthemes include climate change, food security, religious intolerance, human trafficking, universal education, and best practices in global interaction. Another significant subtheme is Global Citizenship which highlights curriculum development, assessment, and modeling.
March 18-20: Paganicon.
Where: Minneapolis, Minnesota.
This is an annual convention geared to advancing and celebrating paganism in the US Midwest. Who attends? Druids, Wiccans, Heathens and Pagans of many stripes – and the event is open to the public.
Paganicon has become a nationally recognized event, and is one of the prominent indoor conferences on paganism. Opening and closing ceremonies, rituals, vendors, a costume ball, art exhibitions, sacred fires, workshops, and networking opportunities are part of the experience.
March 24-27: Marxism 2016.
Where: Melbourne, Australia.
With over 100 working sessions, the Marxism 2016 conference is the largest student-organized event of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region. Attending this event will be Marxist personalities from around the world: musicians, filmmakers, unionists, feminists, anti-Israel activists, environmentalists, and community organizers. Workshops and panel discussions are to include “Sexual Oppression under Capitalism,” “What is the Capitalist State?” “The Greek Social Struggle,” “The Left and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt,” and “Why you should be a socialist today.” The University of Melbourne Student Union is an official supporter.
March 25-27: Justice in Action, From Local to Global.
Where: De Poort, Groesbeek, Netherlands.
Open to the public and hosted by the Baha’i Community, the Justice in Action forum will explore structures for global justice, including the interplay between international and national systems of law. As the Baha’i vision for a just world includes an effective world government, a single global currency and the oneness of all faiths, it recognizes that international law ― along with a dedicated global citizenry ― are essential elements in creating the planetary society.
April 9: Mormon Transhumanist Association Annual Conference.
Where: Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Mormon Transhumanist Association (MTA) is the “world’s largest network for the ethical use of technology and religion to extend human abilities.” Indeed, it has become a leading voice in the transhumanist movement, bridging the culture of science with religious thought and post-human aspirations.
Each year the MTA hosts a conference for Mormons and non-Mormons, giving academics, authors, technicians and interested laypeople the opportunity to explore and discuss transhuman developments, theories, and goals. The MTA does not undertake scientific operations, but works as a membership organization to advance the post-human idea.
April 11-12: High-level Thematic Debate on Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Financing.
Where: UN Headquarters, New York City.
The President of the UN General Assembly will convene a high-level meeting on implementing global climate change principles, pursuing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and unlocking financing for these two major areas of global governance.
April 22: Earth Day.
Where: Global.
Around the world, children and adults from all cultures and religions will engage in Earth Day, a time to consider ecological issues and uphold the Earth. Started in 1970 with an overtly anti-Christian and anti-family tone, Earth Day has now become one of the most recognized “secular holidays” on the planet. Nevertheless, the “green pagan” aspect of this day cannot be overlooked. Summing up Earth Day in 1990, the actor James Coburn said the following to Christian researcher, Caryl Matrisciana: “Mother Earth is our Mother. She’s the Mother Goddess. She’s the one we should be praising rather than raping. I mean, all of these people here today are here for one reason, because they are concerned about what’s happening to the Earth, what Mankind is doing to the Earth… The Earth is a living organism. We’re killing the one we love the most, and she loves us. We’ve got to praise our Mother Goddess!”
April 22 is also a United Nations declared observation: “International Mother Earth Day.”
April 25-30: TSC 2016.
Where: Tucson, Arizona.
TSC ― The Science of Consciousness ― is an annual conference bringing together 700 recognized scientists, modern philosophers, New Thought/New Age teachers, and experts and academics to explore “what is consciousness?” Quantum science, paranormal experiences, artificial life, transformational encounters, Eastern spirituality and yoga, neuroscience, virtual reality, the role of art… all of these topics and more, are considered in the quest to understand human consciousness and its “evolutionary” connection to “universal consciousness.” In many respects, TSC is a merging of science and spirituality in the pursuit of oneness.
May 4-8: Integral European Conference.
Where: Lake Balaton, Hungary.
Integral theory is a system of evolutionary consciousness as transmitted by former Christian, and now Buddhist mystic and Emergent thinker, Ken Wilber. It is the recognition of oneness, wherein everyone’s consciousness and the cosmos are interconnected as a whole.
In 2014, the first Integral European Conference was held, acknowledging the deep history of the continent and its cultural yearning for unification, and framing this within the context of a new level of spirituality ― moving away from “conventional level religion” ― and accepting an evolutionary oneness couched in the “global feeling.” Now, two years later, the next IEC will convene. According to the IEC 2016 website,
At this 2nd Integral European Conference we will reflect upon: Is Europe at a crucial transformational point? What does it take to reinvent Europe from an embodied integral perspective, synchronizing different value-systems? Can Europe become a role model in the world to reflect a true unity in diversity, politically but also culturally by including and transcending our national identities? If so, how?
Integral theory has already been introduced to major corporations. Brian van der Horst, an “Integral Consultant,” explained at the 2014 event that he had been teaching Integral to Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Siemens, and BMW.
May 10-11: High-Level Thematic Debate on Strengthening the UN’s Role in Peace and Security.
Where: UN Headquarters, New York City.
The President of the UN General Assembly will convene a high-level meeting on the role of the United Nations within the global security system. Expect discussions to include peace- keeping operations, security requirements, and potential UN responses to regional crisis.
May 17-21: Festival of Faiths.
Where: Louisville, Kentucky.
Internationally acclaimed mystic, Richard Rohr, has called the Kentucky-based Festival of Faiths “the Sundance of the sacred.”
This inter-spiritual festival includes music, films, art, a daily “guided spiritual practice led by practitioners from diverse faith traditions,” and inter-faith dialogues. Leading mystics, Hindu teachers, “Christian” professors and pastors, Islamic scholars, and representatives from other religions converge to explore contemplative spirituality, talk about pressing global concerns, and re-connect with the “sacred self” and the Earth. It is a coming together of “East and West.”
Major personalities at past festivals have included Jeffrey Sachs, Director of The Earth Institute; William Vendley, Religions for Peace International; Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, noted for his work with the first Encyclopedia of Hinduism; Jon Symes of the Pachamama Alliance; and Ambassador Thomas Graham Jr., who served under six US presidents.
May 23-24: United Nations World Humanitarian Summit.
Where: Istanbul, Turkey.
Climate change, global income inequality, sustainable development, urban growth, and disaster risk mitigation are some of the pressure points that led the UN Secretary General to call for the World Humanitarian Summit. This international summit will bring together heads-of-state, major civil society organizations, international agencies, the private sector, and regional and national actors. The purpose: To pursue and initiate major steps of action in building systems of humanitarianism, based on the UN 2030 program – to “set the tone and ambition for a global agenda for humanity.” The World Humanitarian Summit will be a flagship event for 2016.
May 23-24: Transformative Global Climate Governance.
Where: Berlin, Germany.
In light of the 2015 Paris Climate Summit, what models of global governance are needed? How will international actors work with national governments to implement global standards? What role will the European Union play in advancing global governance? Will “global justice” be established, and on what basis?
These questions, and other core concerns, will be considered at the Berlin conference on climate and governance. This event is an interdisciplinary academic gathering, and is organized by the German Development Institute and the Environmental Policy Research Centre, receiving support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation.
June 5: World Environment Day.
Where: Global.
Declared by the United Nations as a special observance, World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated by an annual host city, along with local and regional events. Each year, WED adopts a theme. In 2015 it was “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care”. In 2009 it was “Your Planet Needs You – UNite to Combat Climate Change.” The “un” in UNite was intentionally capitalized to focus attention on the United Nations as a unifying entity.
June 13-14: The Practical Politics of Global Integration.
Where: Brisbane, Australia.
Geared as an academic conference, this two-day event is specifically designed to explore the practical challenges of global security, world democracy, and international justice in the context of planetary integration. Presenters include academics from major universities, including Yale and Johns Hopkins, along with Andreas Bummel, director of the Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly.
June 19-26: Pagan Spirit Gathering.
Where: Earlville, Illinois.
This annual weeklong pagan festival is one of the largest in the United States, and one of the oldest, with its beginnings going back to 1980. Over 150 activities take place at PSG including workshops, rituals, concerts, network meetings, a leadership program, and a continuously burning Sacred Fire. PSG is also noted for its Summer Solstice Ritual and the 1000-candle labyrinth.
June 21: International Day of Yoga.
Where: Global.
In 2015, the UN officially celebrated the first International Day of Yoga. The year before, in petitioning for the creation of this day, India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, told the UN General Assembly, “It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day.”
Many events took place around the world in 2015 in celebration of this day. Likewise, mass yoga events and gatherings are anticipated for 2016.
July 8-9: NATO Summit.
Where: Warsaw, Poland.
The Poland gathering will be a time to critically examine NATO force structures and strategic adaptation in light of Russia’s involvement in the Ukraine and Middle East. It is anticipated that a Very High Readiness Joint Task Force will be announced, giving NATO a 5,000-man rapid reaction unit that could be quickly deployable.
With Russian aggression and the fact that Middle Eastern conflicts have spilled into Europe through the refugee crisis, and the threat of ISIS within NATO member nations, the 2016 Summit will be a critical time in cementing responses through “collective security.” NATO now finds itself, for the first time since the end of the Cold War, facing serious tests that potentially have global ramifications.
July 10-11: Warsaw Security Forum.
Where: Warsaw, Poland.
The Warsaw Security Forum (WSF) is an annual security and defense conference, bringing together Ministerial ranking officials, noted military personnel, diplomats, the heads of security and aerospace firms, and leading academics.
This year, the WSF is being structured to act as a support and follow-through conference for the NATO Summit, and will critically examine the new tensions on Europe’s eastern flank along with internal pressures due to Middle Eastern spillover.
July 11-20: High-Level Political Forum.
Where: UN Headquarters, New York City.
This forum will be a governmental follow-up of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by the UN in September 2015. The heads of government agencies are expected to formulate “platforms for partnership,” conduct state-level reviews, and work to find ways of enhancing the 2030 Agenda at the national level.
August 9-14: World Social Forum.
Where: Montreal, Canada.
The World Social Forum is an annual, global gathering that seeks to create a socialist-oriented international system as opposed to corporate globalization. The first forum took place in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2001, with 12,000 people attending. WSF attendance, over the years, has been staggering. In 2005 the event had over 150,000 registered individuals, and in 2015 ― with the WSF held in Tunisia ― over 70,000 delegates participated.
The Montreal WSF call reads thus:
The goal of the WSF 2016 is to gather tens of thousands of people from groups in civil society, organizations and social movements who want to build a sustainable and inclusive world, where every person and every people has its place and can make its voice heard. Join this collaboration and solidarity process between the North and South, East and West, and between the older generation of social actors and the new movements of indignation, resistance, decolonization and occupation that have emerged around the world since the Arab Spring of 2011. In order to build real alternatives, it is now urgent to unify humanity around a solidarity between people beyond divisions, to collectively take back power over our lives and thereby to open the horizon of possibilities.
August 25-September 1: Burning Man.
Where: Black Rock Desert, Nevada.
Burning Man is a massive transformational festival and counterculture celebration in the Black Rock Desert of northern Nevada. How large is it? In 2015 the attendance topped 70,000 people.
In the final weeks of August, a tent-camper city arises out of the sand. This town, known as Black Rock City, is built in a C-configuration around an enormous human effigy: The Man. Constructed out of wood, this towering figure is the focal point of the week-long celebration. At the end of the week, the Man is ritually razed to the ground, followed by the burning of the Temple on Sunday. This Temple is an artistically designed shrine, and its theme for 2015 was “Temple of Promise.”
Burning Man is a celebration of inclusiveness, radical self-reliance and expression, community building and participation ― with a combination of bohemian living, “self discovery,” sexual adventurism, and pagan encounters. Artisans of all stripes create unique sculptures, theme camps arise, and music stages are assembled. Clothing is optional.
Burning Man is considered a “petri-dish for postmodernism,” seeking to experience the building of a temporary utopian community that reflects “what the world could be.”
NOTE: A global network of Burning Man regional events and communities now exist. Each year about 65 regional burns are held, with locations throughout the United States and in 15 other countries. At the 2015 Burn in Israel, the effigy that was razed was “Adam and Eve.”
September 4-5: G20 Summit.
Where: Hangzhou, China.
The G20 is an economic and governance forum bringing together heads of state and ministerial level officials, central bank representatives, and global institutional leaders. This year China is hosting the event, and it has already announced its intent to move the G20 towards a more robust system of global economic governance.
September 17-18: Pagan Pride.
Where: Global.
Pagan Pride, also known as Pagan Pride Day, will be celebrated around the world. Founded in the late 1990s, the Pagan Pride network now consists of over 100 public events. The Day is geared to be a celebration within the Pagan community and an outreach to the general public. Although the majority of gatherings will be held in the United States, Canada and Brazil, each host a significant number of PP events. The Day is also gaining popularity in Chile, England, and Italy.
Some celebrations span a weekend and are quite large. For example, the Raleigh, NC Pagan Pride is a two-day festival attracting 3,000 people. Others, like the Fargo/Moorehead Pagan Pride Day and the Kalispell, MT event, are intimate one-day gatherings.
While most Pagan Pride events will occur on the weekend of September 17-18, the time period is fluid, with festivals and gatherings ranging from August 1 until the end of September.
September 21: International Day of Peace and Vigil.
Where: Global.
Instituted by the United Nations, the International Day of Peace (IDP) is meant to bring the world closer together in peaceful co-existence. All major religions participate in this annual day marked with peace ceremonies, the ringing of a peace bell, interfaith prayer meetings, concerts and celebrations, peace rituals, and meditations for world harmony. Associated with the IDP is the International Day of Peace Vigil, a grassroots spiritual component to the IDP project. This vigil has been supported by a variety of religious organizations, including Hindu groups like the Aetherius Society, the Church of Scientology, In the Light – an interfaith Hindu/Muslim organization, the Buddhist Yun Lin Temple, and the Mennonite Central Committee.
In 2015, the Education Outreach Section of the United Nations hosted a student videoconference to commemorate the IDP.
October 17-20: United Nations HABITAT III.
Where: Quito, Ecuador.
Delegates from member states, civil society actors, mayors and urban planners will convene to promote “a new model of urban development” that aligns with the goals of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Part of this new model includes linking and expanding national governments to engage in urban planning, installing new rules and outcome goals for urban development, and bringing urban centers into the larger circle of global governance. Up to 30,000 people could take part in this international event.
October 24: Global Oneness Day.
Where: Global.
Initiated by Humanity’s Team, an organization formed by best-selling “New Spirituality” author Neale Donald Walsch, Global Oneness Day (GOD) is a worldwide event meant to usher in a New Age of world unity and global harmony. This aspiration is to be accomplished through the realization of “Oneness” ― the deity of humanity and the interdependence of the universe.
As an annual event, the main thrust of Global Oneness Day is a major Telesummit (over 60,000 participated in 2015) with the likes of Neale Donald Walsch, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Ken Wilbur, Jean Houston, Ervin Laszlo and other New Age/New Spirituality gurus. Other events will take place around the world including Drumming Circles and “Sunday Oneness Services.”
A petition is being readied for presentation to the United Nations in the hope of making Global Oneness Day an officially sanctioned observation.
October 24 is also United Nations Day.