All over the planet, from 1-9 May, the ‘United World Week’ takes off at the same time. This is an initiative that has been promoted by Youth for a United World (the wide-reaching youth section of the Focolare Movement) since 1996 to influence public opinion.

It is made up of many different types of events including cultural evenings, celebrations, sports competitions; meetings on subjects that interest young people, from disarmament to immigration. Above all solidarity projects in run-down neighbourhoods. With just one aim: to spread the values of fraternity, peace, and unity amongst peoples. And to show that universal fraternity is possible. ‘United World: let’s face the challenge’ is the slogan for this year’s events.

In a presentation of these events in an American magazine called ‘Living City’ we read: ‘The activities organised by the Youth for a United World throughout the world are like a mosaic of fraternal love, where they try to put into practice the true meaning of the word “love” and with the word “fraternal” they transmit a sense of equality and fraternity.’

Chiara Lubich said to the young people: ‘Your main aim is to apply the Gospel to earthly realities to make it come alive.’ The young people welcomed her words with great enthusiasm. This message is common to many of the great religions and other spiritual leaders. Mahatma Gandhi used to say: ‘You and I are one. I cannot harm you without harming myself.’ In the Suras of the Koran we read: ‘Give your relation what he is due, and do the same with the poor person and the traveller.’ It is the application of the Golden Rule, which is present in all the great religions, which says: ‘Do to others what you would have them do to you’ (Lk 6:31).

There are many websites giving information in different languages on the different events:

http://settimanamondounito2010.blogspot.com/p/gmu-nel-mondo.html or simply:

www.mondounito.net.

The young people like to use a name for their events that Chiara Lubich suggested: Fragments of Fraternity. Fragments because it may simply be an activity involving a home for old people, a nursery or a school. Fraternity because they are projects which have an aim: to promote in the world we live in and with all the means suggested by love a culture of communion, interdependence and love amongst different peoples, races and cultures.