United Nations and Illien Global Announce 4th Annual International Day of Happiness on March 20th

BOSTON - March 11, 2016 - PRLog -- United Nations (UN) and Illien Global are overjoyed to announce the 4^th annual International Day of Happiness on Sunday, March 20, 2016. The International Day of Happiness is an official UN day founded in 2012, which "recognizes the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal, along with the need for "a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes sustainable development, poverty eradication, happiness and the well-being of all peoples."

Jayme Illien and his team conceptualized the International Day of Happiness with the belief that happiness is a human right for all human beings and that the recently popular "happiness movement " holds the key catalysts to unlocking individual and global happiness and solving many global challenges from unemployment, to poverty, hunger, and climate change. To support and advance this 4^th annual day, Illien Global, an international Public Benefit Corporation, developed a list of fifteen effortless ways to celebrate the International Day of Happiness, otherwise known as Happiness Day, on Sunday, March 20^th.

• Wish everyone you meet a "Happy International Day of Happiness"
• Do what makes you happy
• Chose Happiness
• Spend time with friends and family
• Enjoy the environment and connect with nature; support climate solutions
• Do/Take a yoga or fitness class
• Travel and/or explore somewhere new
• Try something new
• Meditate, be mindful
• Take a minute to laugh out loud
• Smile at a stranger
• Volunteer or do community service
• Do someone a favor without expecting something in return
• Buy a friend or stranger a tea or coffee
• Read a book, listen to music

Jayme and the Illien team are encouraging everyone to share their ways of celebrating International Day of Happiness on their own social media channels through words, photos, videos and GIFs using the hashtag #InternationalDayOfHappiness and tagging their posts and photos on the International Day of Happiness Facebook page or on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat with the handle @UNIDOHappiness for an opportunity to see their photos on the HappinessDay.org homepage.

"Governments, businesses, organizations and everyone across the globe has a civic responsibility to create environments where one can pursue their own version of happiness," said International Day of Happiness Founder, Jayme Illien. "Happiness is a fundamental human right and goal, and we're seeing to it that each and every person on this planet gets to experience it not only on this special day, but throughout the calendar year as well."

International Day of Happiness Founder, Jayme Illien collaborated with friends Kweku and Ndaba Mandela (Nelson Mandela's grandsons) and artist/photographer, and feel good missionary Joseph Peter (referred to as the "Pied Piper of Happiness" by the New York Times) in 2012 to approach senior officials and ultimately the United Nations Secretary to bring the idea of the new global day to the United Nations. They got approved, drafted the resolution, and then lobbied 193 countries to get their support resulting in UN Resolution 66/281, birthing the "International Day of Happiness."

"Everyone smiles in the same language," added Illien. "Happiness economics, happiness in public policy, and happiness as choice and approach to life and business represent the potential for all human beings to unite around the same values at a time when we are facing many transformative challenges and opportunities as a species and planet."

Hip-hop artist and GRAMMY award winner Pharrell Williams celebrated the 2015 International Day of Happiness by visiting United Nations headquarters where he gave a speech on happiness as a human right and the need for solutions to climate change; conducted a lighting ceremony at the Empire State Building and spoke to students at the UN with climate experts Sylvia Earle and Philippe Cousteau to discuss creating a happy planet through climate action.

"That's what today is about. Today is about everyone taking on the idea that happiness is a birthright to everyone," said Pharrell Williams. "I want humanity to harmonize."

International Day of Happiness has also received the support and involvement of Google, the UN Foundation, Richard Branson, HH Sheikh Mohammed, Jay-Z, Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé, Cody Simpson, Gwen Stefani, World Happiness Report editors Economist Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Richard Layard and John Helliwell, Live Happy magazine, Action for Happiness, Project Happiness and Make It Happy.

About Illien Global:

   Our mission - happiness for all humankind - is founded on 33 years of working on social programs focused on children, families, and poverty. We believe all human beings have a right to happiness. While each individual has a personal concept of happiness, we believe it encompasses certain fundamental and universal ideals such as freedom, dignity, human rights and opportunity. Our purpose is derived from a history of working with the most vulnerable communities in the world, orphaned and abandoned children, and people living in poverty. Our experiences with people in need have deeply impacted our understanding of what matters. We believe in a personal sense of responsibility and duty to promote human happiness and find sustainable solutions to the complex and interrelated challenges confronting all people and our planet.  Illien Global strives to create, develop, and promote collaborative initiatives to advance individual and global happiness through its founding of the International Day of Happiness (http://www.illienglobal.com/happiness/international-day-o...) and its work in support of non profits, business, governments and the United Nations, 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development and what UN Secretary General calls "Gross Global Happiness". For more information, please visit www.happinessday.org.