Do One Thing! World Day for Cultural Diversity
It seems like only yesterday, but it has been ten years since the United Nations put forth the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and made May 21 the annual celebration of diversity and dialogue.
Article 4 – Human rights as guarantees of cultural diversity
The defence of cultural diversity is an ethical imperative, inseparable from respect for human dignity. It implies a commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular the rights of persons belonging to minorities and those of indigenous peoples. No one may invoke cultural diversity to infringe upon human rights guaranteed by international law, nor to limit their scope.
It's a particularly poignent time to think about cultural tolerance -- Sufi tombs destroyed in Timbuktu, the Anders Breivik trial in Norway, the heated rhetoric of elections across the globe. UNESCO focuses on the role cultural heritage can play in national development, but there is also a Facebook campaign with simple things an individual can do to celebrate and safeguard cultural diversity.
Join and do one thing and tell us on our Facebook page what sites you visit for a little taste of cultural diversity.
Here's a few to start with:
And, of course, sign the Charter for Compassion!
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