World Kindness Movement

World Kindness Movement
Founded 2000
Type Acts of kindness
Website

http://www.theworldkindnessmovement.org
General.Secretary@theworldkindnessmovement.org
The General Secretary
The World Kindness Movement
Level 13 99 York St Sydney 2000 NSW Australia


Tel 612 9362 8008 Fax 612 9299 1445

The World Kindness Movement (WKM) Is the peak global body, an organization with no religious or political affiliation. The WKM’s chief object shall be to foster goodwill among the broad community – local, national and international – by way of kindness and in so doing, create greater understanding and co-operation between all people and all nations throughout the world. WKM is a worldwide coalition of various kindness movements—organizations that study and promote improved individual and collective human behavior. The movement was initially conceptualized in 1997 with the aim of bringing like minded kindness movements across the globe together. The current members of the movement are 20 kindness organisations with representatives from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, India, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Romania, Scotland, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine and the USA. Pending applications from, Kenya, Spain, Argentina, Uganda, Liberia and South Africa will be determined following a review by the membership committee on 18 December 2014.

History

The idea of a World Kindness Movement was conceived at a Tokyo conference in 1996 when founders of the Small Kindness Movement in Japan brought together like-minded individuals from around the world who had started kindness movements in their own countries. They were led by Dr. Wataru Mori, a physician in Tokyo, who envisioned that a more compassionate and peaceful world could be achieved if a critical mass of acts of kindness was ignited.[1]

Cosmos bipinnatus, official flower of the World Kindness Movement

A second conference was held in 1997 in which the World Kindness Movement was formed. The founding members of the movement were Japan, Singapore, Australia, Canada, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.[2]

During the 1999 World Kindness Movement conference in Tokyo, the cosmos bipinnatus was adopted as the official flower for the organization.[3]

The movement was then officially launched in Singapore in November 2000 at the Third WKM Conference, hosted by the Singapore Kindness Movement. The conference saw 33 delegates from 22 countries.[4]

In 2003, the Singapore Kindness Movement assumed the role of secretariat of the movement.[5] The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is one of the United States delegates of the movement.[6]

General Assemblies

in 1997 a second conference was held in which the World Kindness Movement was formed. The founding members of the movement were Japan, Singapore, Australia, Canada, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States. During the 1999 World Kindness Movement conference in Tokyo, the "cosmos bipinnatus" was adopted as the official flower for the organization.
in November 2000 The movement was then officially launched in Singapore at the Third WKM Conference, hosted by the Singapore Kindness Movement. The conference saw 33 delegates from 22 countries discussing in attendance
In 2003, Singapore assumed the role of secretariat

2005 Parma Italy hosted by the Movimento Italiano per la Gentilezza

2007 Singapore hosted by the Singapore Kindness Movement

2010 the 6th General Assembly was hosted by Australia in Sydney for the first time at the Conservatorium of Music where Singapore indicated it wished to pass the kindness torch on and see the secretariat hosted by another nation referring to the 6th General Assembly host as a potential secretariat in waiting. The meeting was chaired by Mr Rodney Tan, Vice President of Singapore Kindness Movement. Many ideas were put forward including adopting a yellow flower hand out for World Kindness Day on 13 November and giving thought to establishing a World Kindness Youth Council. Delegates were taken to Rose Bay Secondary College where teachers and students hosted a morning tea and presented the school initiative for kindness.[7] Using the school's radio studio, they taped a student interview with Michelle Tay from Singapore and Will Glennon from the USA.

2012 On 20 September, the 7th General Assembly in London, hosted by Kindness UK, Australia was officially appointed as the new secretariat with Mr Michael Lloyd-White, Chairman and Founding Director of World Kindness Australia, being elected by the international members as the General Secretary. The assembly brought significant constitutional changes, which now include an International Council and the change to a generic domain name of www.theworldkindnessmovement.org. The conference was attended by the USA, Japan, South Korea, China, UK, Italy, India, Singapore, and Australia, with observers from Spain and Switzerland. New members from the USA attended for the first time. Life Vest Inside, Random Acts of Kindness, The Be Kind People Project, and China made début presentations. The meeting closed with a signing ceremony that declared continued support for the endeavours of WKM. In addition there was an undertaking by members to implement global strategies through unified and collaborative approach to new ideas where the outcome will see all nations united in a common goal for a kinder world. As a new member from the USA, Life Vest Inside, will be coordinating with other nations a global Flash Mob on 18 November to highlight World Kindness Week.[8]

2014 8th World Kindness Movement General Assembly in Sydney Australia 2014 17–19 September 8th General Assembly Sydney Australia - Premier of NSW Hon Mike Baird and Australian Commissioner of Human Rights Mr Tim Wilson provide Letters of Support.

16 September Lord Mayor of City of Sydney host welcome reception hosted by Cr Christine Forster (Prime Minister of Australia Sister)

17 September Distinguished panel "What Does Kindness Mean?" Q&A Commissioner Human Rights Mr Tim Wilson, Ms Eva Cox, Activist Author Academic Ms Pavalli Sinha Immigration Human Rights Lawyer and Academic.

17 September French Consulate host Welcome reception

18 September Cities present Initiatives Councillors and representatives from City Avignon (France), City Of Gold Coast (Aust) City of Bangkok (Thailand) Waverly (Aust) Randwick (Aust)

18 September 1st World Kindness Movement Youth Council General assembly hosted at University of Sydney Women's College

18 September NSW Parliament Gala Dinner hosted by Youth Council Amendments were made to the constitution on the recommendations of the 3rd International Council meeting in Hong Kong with the following unanimous resolutions resulting at the 8th General Assembly; the formation of "The World Kindness Movement Youth Council" (WKMYC) forming part of WKM and meeting in conjunction with the WKM General Assemblies (Ages 17–24)

(Following this motion the 1st WKMYC General Assembly was held at the Women's College on the grounds of The University of Sydney on Thursday 18 September and reported its outcomes providing a list of executive appointments at the Members Dining Room in the NSW Parliament House.

The USA has been appointed as the Chair Grady McDermitt 17yrs old San Diego USA with Australia appointed as the Secretary, Daniella Lucci 17 yrs old Sydney Sutherland Shire)

WKM shall be able to endorse peak national bodies and regional bodies (e.g. World Kindness France and or World Kindness Movement EU) subject to recommendation from the WKM International Council.

WKM shall be able to officially list cities as "World Kindness Cities" subject to cities meeting criteria and with the recommendation from the WKM International Council and the peak national bodies respectively.

(Following this motion World Kindness Australia, World Kindness India, World Kindness Korea, World Kindness Thailand, World Kindness Nigeria and World Kindness China have all been endorsed as the peak national body representing their respective country)

August 2015 upcoming announcement of the 1st World Kindness Summit" in Bangkok hosted by the Government of Thailand inviting our World Leaders to attend the K20.

International Council

On 23 November 2012 the Voting for the International Council concluded. The International Council is the Governing Body through the Secretariat. Positions will be up for election in 2014 at the 8th General Assembly Office Bearers - President Ms Jin Heo South Korea | Vice President Ms Lidia Kemeny Canada | Treasurer Ms Nirmala Mehendale India |'General Secretary' Mr Michael Lloyd-White Australia |'Executive Members' Mr Ade Adenekan Nigeria | Mr Will Glennon United States of America | Ms Miriam Guttman-Jones Australia | Ms Marcia Meyer United States of America | Ms Orly Wahba United States of America

21 August 2013 The 3rd International Council Meeting held in Hong Kong attended by Ms Jin Heo, President, (South Korea) Mr Michael Lloyd-White, General Secretary (Australia), Ms Nirmala Mehendale Treasurer(India)Ms Orly Wahba Executive Member (USA)Mr. Stephen Oke, Executive Member (Nigeria) and observers from Switzerland (Member), Argentina, China (Member), Malaysia, Thailand (Member) Croatia 22 August World Kindness China launches campaign in Hong Kong and receives a Welcome Message from the Prime Minister of Australia the Hon Kevin Rudd PM

2014 16th Sept"" 4th International Council Meeting Sydney Australia on 19 September 2014 our International Member nations in attendance of the 8th General Assembly have appointed a new International Council to fulfill the objectives and continue to steer WKM to achieve its goals. They are the following; President South Korea, Ms Jin Heo, Second term Vice President Switzerland, Ms Cristina Milani, First Term Treasurer India, Ms Nirmala Mehendale-Peters, Second Term General Secretary Australia, Mr Michael Lloyd-White Second Term Executive Member Nigeria, Mr Stephen Oke Second Term Executive Member, Thailand, Mr Danai Chanchaochai First Term Executive Member China, Mr Roman Fong First Term Executive Member Australia, Mr Craig Spence First Term Executive Member France, Ms Sabine Devlieger First Term Executive Member USA, Ms Jill McManigal First Term Please join me in thanking the retiring Executive Members Vice President, Canada Ms Lidia Kemeny Executive Member, USA Mr Will Glennon Executive Member, USA, Ms Marcia Meyer Executive Member, USA, Ms Orly Wahba Executive Member, Australia Ms Miriam Guttman-Jones

World Kindness Day

The date decreed for World Kindness Day is 13 November. This was the opening day of the first World Kindness Movement conference held at Tokyo in 1998, and the 35th anniversary of the Small Kindness Movement of Japan, which brought the signatories of the ‘declaration of kindness’ of the World Kindness Movement together in 1997.[9]

References


  1. ↑ "Sweet Milk of Human Kindness". Africa News. 7 May 2009.
  2. ↑ "Celebrating kindness". The Hindu. 10 June 2001. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "Cosmo Flowers". Flowerinfo.org. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "World Kindness-Kind Acts". Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  5. ↑ Trish Clancy (2007). Kindness around the world. World Kindness Movement. ISBN 978-981-05-9260-8.
  6. ↑ "Random Acts of Kindness - About Us". Retrieved 2011-01-24.
  7. ↑ "World Kindness and RBSC". RBSC. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  8. ↑ "Australia's World Kindness Movement (video)". Channel/. Australia: Yahoo!7. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "World Kindness Day - Australian Kindness Movement". Retrieved 2011-01-13.

World Kindness AustraliaTHE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION