World Day Against Death Penalty

Today October 10th, 2001, the 9th World Day against the Death Penalty is to raise awareness on the inhumanity of the death penalty throughout the entire process, from sentence to execution.

When Amnesty International was founded in 1961, only nine countries had abolished the death penalty for all crimes. Fifty years on, the trend towards worldwide abolition of the death penalty is unmistakeable. Every year on 10 October Amnesty International joins other activists in the abolitionist movement to celebrate the World Day Against the Death Penalty, calling for the abolition of this inhuman punishment worldwide.

At least 17,833 people were on death row around the world at the end of 2010.
At least 67 countries imposed death sentences in 2010. Belarus is the last country in Europe that allows the death penalty.

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International Literacy Day

The United Nations' (UN) International Literacy Day annually falls on September 8 to raise people's awareness of and concern for literacy issues in the world.

It was proclaimed by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) on November 17, 1965 and was first celebrated in 1966.

Literacy is more than reading and writing– it is about how we communicate as a society. It is about social practices and relations, about knowledge, language and culture. (United Nations)

On International Literacy Day each year, UNESCO reminds the international community of the status of literacy and adult learning globally. Celebrations take place around the world.

The theme for the 2011 International Literacy Day is "Literacy and Peace".

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World Day to Combat Desertification

The World Day to Combat Desertification is celebrated every year on 17 June all over the world since 1995, the same year the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was implemented, to mark the date that the Convention was adopted in Paris, France, in 1994. By 2005, 191 governments around the world had signed the UNCCD, which promotes effective action through innovative programmes and supportive international partnerships.

The aim of the United Nations in designating a day of observance is to sensitize the public and policy makers to the increasing dangers of desertification, land degradation and drought for the international community. The observance events are designed to get everyone to undertake at least one action that year to help minimize the threat highlighted. This being the International Year on Forests (http://www.un.org/en/events/iyof2011/), the World Day to Combat Desertification for 2011 will focus specifically on the forests in the drylands areas of the world, guided by the motto: ‘Forests Keep Drylands Working’.

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Dia do Café (Brasil) - Vai um cafezinho?

Hoje convido os meus leitores a tomar um revigorante, saboroso, moralizante, quentinho e já indispensável (dois ou três por dia...) café! Hoje é Dia Nacional do Café, no Brasil, maior produtor mundial de café. Mas os portugueses são certamente um dos maiores consumidores per-capita...

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International Day for Biological Diversity

Forest Biodiversity

The United Nations proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IBD) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. When first created by the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly in late 1993, 29 December (the date of entry into force of the Convention of Biological Diversity), was designated The International Day for Biological Diversity. In December 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted 22 May as IBD, to commemorate the adoption of the text of the Convention on 22 May 1992 by the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This was partly done because it was difficult for many countries to plan and carry out suitable celebrations for the date of 29 December, given the number of holidays that coincide around that time of year.

The theme for 2011 is Forest Biodiversity.

Help to protect the Nature and the Biological Diversity.

Video Message from the United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for biodiversity - Edward Norton

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International Museum Day / Dia Internacional dos Museus

International Museum Day, since 1977, has been celebrated around the world because «Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, co-operation and peace among peoples».

Museum and Memory is the theme of International Museum Day 2011.

Visit ICOM

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Happy Easter / Páscoa Feliz / Gesseënde Paasfees / Buona Pasqua / God Paske / Joyeuses Pâques / Hyvää Pääsiäistä / Felican Paskon / Paşte Fericit

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Earth Day

Earth Day is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. It is held annually during both spring in the northern hemisphere and autumn in the southern hemisphere. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in 1970 and now is coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and is celebrated in more than 175 countries.

Earth Day is a time to celebrate gains we have made and create new visions to accelerate environmental progress. Today Earth Day, particularly, but every day is a time to act to protect our planet. Indeed Earth is where we live...

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International Women's Day

Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women

2011 year marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. The day was commemorated for the first time on 19 March 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, following its establishment during the Socialist International meeting the prior year. More than one million women and men attended rallies on that first commemoration..

Celebrated on 8 March, International Women's Day (IWD) is the global day connecting all women around the world and inspiring them to achieve their full potential. IWD celebrates the collective power of women past, present and future ...

Originally called International Working Women’s Day IWD is a major day of global celebration of women. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and social achievements.

The United Nations theme for this IWD is Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women.

Did you know that purple, green and white are the official international women's colours?

Learn more about International Women's Day

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International Migrants Day

International Migrants Day is commemorated on December 18 as declared by the General Assembly of United Nations on 4 December 2000 (resolution 55/93), considering the large and multiplying number of migrants all over the world. The General Assembly conducted the international convention for safeguarding the rights of migrant workers and their family members. On that day, in 1990, the Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (resolution 45/158).

So, this is a specific day to organize and support events to reaffirm the commitment to the rights of all immigrants.

Visit www.december18.net/: a Portal for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Migrants. Also visit The National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

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Happy Thanksgiving Day (USA)

Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Traditionally, it has been a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. While it may have been religious in origin, Thanksgiving is now primarily identified as a secular holiday. It is sometimes casually referred to as Turkey Day.

For the people in US Thanksgiving is a time for merrymaking, shopping, family reunion, feasts and family dinners. People also take time to thank God for his constant grace and for all the material possessions man enjoys. For many Thanksgiving is also the time to thank near and dear ones and being grateful for their kindness.

Date of Thanksgiving Day varies every year and several countries celebrate it in different time of the year. In USA it's celebrated with lot of fervor and euphoria on the fourth Thursday in the month of November. In Canada is celebrated on 2nd Monday in October.

Today, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving Day, independently of the place you are!

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World Toilet Day

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World Rabies Day + Ask a Stupid Question Day

World Rabies Day highlights the impact of human and animal rabies and promotes how to prevent and stop the disease by combating it in animals. Sponsors - the Global Alliance for Rabies Control and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - report that 55.000 people die every year from rabies, an average of one death every 10 minutes.

September 28, is also the Ask a Stupid Question Day!

Why there is an Ask a Stupid Question Day? That is a stupid question, isn't it? It's fine, today you have a correct excuse to make those usually stupid questions!

Ask a Stupid question, today... but don't be stupid: Celebrate the Day happily!

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European Day of Languages

The European Day of Languages celebrates the rich heritage of cultures and traditions embodied in all the languages of Europe. Being convinced that linguistic diversity is a tool for achieving greater intercultural understanding and a key element in the rich cultural heritage of our continent, the Council of Europe promotes plurilingualism in the whole of Europe.

At the initiative of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg, the European Day of Languages has been celebrated every year since 2001 on 26 September. The first European Day of Languages took place on 26 September 2001.

The general objectives of the European Day of Languages are:

• Alerting the public to the importance of language learning and diversifying the range of languages learnt in order to increase plurilingualism and intercultural understanding;
  
  
• Promoting the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe, which must be preserved and fostered;
  
  
• Encouraging lifelong language learning in and out of school, whether for study purposes, for professional needs, for purposes of mobility or for pleasure and exchanges.
  
  Don't forget talk to me, leaving a comment, critic or suggestion
  

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World Carfree Day

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International Day of Peace

The International Day of Peace, observed each year on 21 September, is a global call for ceasefire and non-violence. This year, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling on young people around the world to take a stand for peace under the theme, Youth for Peace and Development.

The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by resolution 36/67 of the United Nations General Assembly to coincide with its opening session, which was held annually on the third Tuesday of September. The first Peace Day was observed in September 1982. Since then, "Peace Day" has grown to include millions of people around the world who participate in all kinds of events.

You can see here the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s Message on the 2010 International Day of Peace.

Have a peaceful day!

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International Literacy Day / Dia Internacional da Alfabetização

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Each year, September 8th marks the celebration of literacy and learning internationally. International Literacy Day (ILD)was proclaimed by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) on November 17, 1965 and was first celebrated in 1966.

Literacy is more than reading and writing– it is about how we communicate as a society. It is about social practices and relations, about knowledge, language and culture. (United Nations)

On International Literacy Day each year, UNESCO reminds the international community of the status of literacy and adult learning globally. Celebrations take place around the world.

Some 776 million adults lack minimum literacy skills; one in five adults is still not literate and two-thirds of them are women; 75 million children are out-of-school and many more attend irregularly or drop out.

According to UNESCO’s "Global Monitoring Report on Education for All (2008)", South and West Asia has the lowest regional adult literacy rate (58.6%), followed by sub-Saharan Africa (59.7%), and the Arab States (62.7%). Countries with the lowest literacy rates in the world are Burkina Faso (12.8%), Niger (14.4%) and Mali (19%). The report shows a clear connection between illiteracy and countries in severe poverty, and between illiteracy and prejudice against women.

So, The Power of Women's Literacy is the theme chosen for ILD 2010.

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World Humanitarian Day

The General Assembly of the United Nations adopted in its Plenary Session on 11th December 2008, the Swedish sponsored Omnibus Resolution on “Strengthening of the Coordination of Emergency Humanitarian Assistance of the United Nations”, that carried the historic decision by the world body, to designate the 19th August as World Humanitarian Day to honor all humanitarian and the United Nations and associated personnel who have lost their lives in the cause of duty and those who have worked in the promotion of the humanitarian cause. (Read here A-63 L49 Resolution (pdf link).

The designation of 19 August as World Humanitarian Day is the outcome of the relentless efforts of the The Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation and his family working closely with the Ambassadors of France, Switzerland, Japan and Brazil in both Geneva and New York to table and steer the draft Resolution through the General Assembly.

Sérgio Vieira de Mello dedicated a life time spanning over thirty years in the United Nations, serving in some of the most challenging humanitarian situations in the world to reach the voiceless victims of armed conflict, alleviate their suffering and draw attention to their plight. He was killed together with 21 colleagues on 19 August 2003 in Baghdad.

So, World Humanitarian Day is designated "in order to contribute to increasing public awareness about humanitarian assistance activities worldwide and the importance of international cooperation in this regard, as well as to honour all humanitarian and United Nations and associated personnel who have worked in the promotion of the humanitarian cause and those who have lost their lives in the cause of duty, and invites all Member States and the entities of the United Nations system, within existing resources, as well as other international organizations and non-governmental organizations, to observe it annually in an appropriate manner."

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International Youth Day - Internacional Year of Youth

Dialogue and Mutual Understanding

The United Nations’ (UN) International Youth Day was designated by the United Nations on 18 December 1999 by the adoption of resolution 54/120 and is celebrated on August 12 each year to recognize efforts of the world’s youth in enhancing global society. This day is an opportunity for governments and others to draw attention to youth issues worldwide. It also aims to promote ways to engage them in becoming more actively involved in making positive contributions to their communities. Concerts, workshops, cultural events and meetings involving national and local government officials and youth organisations take place around the world to mark the International Youth Day.

On 18 December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution A/RES/64/134 proclaiming the year commencing on 12 August 2010 as the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding. The Year will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the first International Youth Year in 1985 on the theme Participation, Development and Peace.

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International Day in Support of Torture Victims

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The International Day in Support of Torture Victims, is a day created by the United Nations General Assembly to honor the Convention against Torture and other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatement or Punishment, as well as to demonstrate solidarity to all whose mind, body or spirit have been impacted by torture and to remind people that human torture is not only unacceptable – it is also a crime. This event gives everyone a chance to unite and voice their opinions against human torture.

"This is a day on which we pay our respects to those who have endured the unimaginable. This is an occasion for the world to speak up against the unspeakable. It is long overdue that a day be dedicated to remembering and supporting the many victims and survivors of torture around the world." (United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan).

IRCT site

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