International Day of Conscience

Consciousness is not a process in the brain but a kind of behavior that, of course, is controlled by the brain like any other behavior. Human consciousness emerges on the interface between three components of animal behavior: communication, play, and the use of tools. These three components interact on the basis of anticipatory behavioral control, which is common for all complex forms of animal life.  All three do not exclusively distinguish our close relatives, i.e., primates, but are broadly presented among various species of mammals, birds, and even cephalopods; however, their particular combination in humans is unique. The interaction between communication and play yields symbolic games, most importantly language ; the interaction between symbols and tools results in human praxis.  Taken together, this gives rise to a mechanism that allows a creature, instead of performing controlling actions overtly, to play forward the corresponding behavioral options in a “second ...

 The objectives of the International Day of Conscience at UNESCO Headquarters on 5 April each year are:  (a) to raise awareness of the importance of building a culture of peace with love and conscience, in accordance with the customs of local, national and regional communities;  (b) publicize the importance of affirming the principles of peace with love and conscience through quality education, public awareness and activities;  (c) highlight the relationship between peace with love and conscience and sustainable development. In The paragraph 5 of resolution 73/329: the United Nations General Assembly "requests the Secretary-General to bring this resolution to the attention of all Member States, United Nations entities, businesses, academia and civil society so that the International Day is celebrated properly"  The observance of the Day will therefore be linked to the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013-2022).

The Carleton Centre for the Study of Islam , in collaboration with the Intercultural Dialogue Institute – Ottawa and the Canadian Council of Muslim Women , hosted a workshop entitled “ Averting Violent Extremism: Religious Literacy, Pluralism and Community Resilience ” Check out the podcast! The overall goal of the interdisciplinary workshop was to assess the viability of the religious literacy approach in ameliorating the attractiveness of violent extremism for vulnerable youth. It was an interactive event designed to enable broad participation by a large number of knowledgeable and experienced people.

Cultural respect is vital to reduce health disparities and improve access to high-quality healthcare that is responsive to patients’ needs , according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Nurses must respond to changing patient demographics to provide culturally sensitive care . This need is strikingly evident in critical care units. Developing Cultural Competence in Nursing Framework for Delivering Culturally Competent Nursing Services Campinha-Bacote and Munoz (2001) proposed a five-component model for developing cultural competence in The Case Manager . Cultural awareness involves self-examination of in-depth exploration of one’s cultural and professional background. This component begins with insight into one’s cultural healthcare beliefs and values. A cultural awareness assessment tool can be used to assess a person’s level of cultural awareness. Cultural knowledge involves seeking and obtaining an information base on different cultural and ethnic groups. This compon...

This book of Ricard Zapata-Barrero and Anna Triandafyllidou seeks to offer a European view of diversity challenges and the ways in which they are dealt with. It highlights important similarities and differences and identifies the groups that are worse off in the countries studied. While it may be difficult to devise policy approaches that are responsive to the needs of all the 16 European countries studied here (let alone the 27 EU member states), it is however possible to develop policies that address a number of European countries that share common or parallel migration and ethnic minority experiences.

  The UNESCO and the UNAOC play an important role in fostering the intercultural dialogue.  Together; They conduct activities related to the culture of peace and non-violence and make efforts in promoting a culture of peace through a number of practical projects in the areas of youth, education, media and migration, in collaboration with governments, international organizations, foundations and civil society groups, as well as the media and the private sector.