Today, March 21 is the 80th day of 2017 according to the Gregorian calendar. For a leap year, it would be the 81st. March 21 has been set aside for several observances by the United Nations.
World Poetry Day
"Poetry is a window onto the breath-taking diversity of humanity." — Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General
This day was adopted as World Poetry Day in Paris in 1999 during UNESCO 30th General Conference. The objective is to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increase the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard.
According to UN website, “Poetry reaffirms our common humanity by revealing to us that individuals, everywhere in the world, share the same questions and feelings. Poetry is the mainstay of oral tradition and, over centuries, can communicate the innermost values of diverse cultures. In celebrating World Poetry Day, March 21, UNESCO recognizes the unique ability of poetry to capture the creative spirit of the human mind.
The observance of World Poetry Day is also meant to encourage a return to the oral tradition of poetry recitals, to promote the teaching of poetry, to restore a dialogue between poetry and the other arts such as theatre, dance, music and painting, and to support small publishers and create an attractive image of poetry in the media, so that the art of poetry will no longer be considered an outdated form of art, but one which enables society as a whole to regain and assert its identity.”
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
On March 21, 1960 police opened during a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa to protest against apartheid pass laws. Sixty nine people were killed in the shooting. This formed the background for the proclamation of the Day in 1996 by the UN General Assembly with a call on the international community to redouble its efforts in eliminating all forms of racial discriminations.
Over the years, the proclamation has been reviewed and many other Programme of activities introduced to eradicate racial laws and practices. For example, in 1979 the General Assembly resolved that a week of solidarity with people facing racism and racial discriminations starting on March 21 be observed annually.
September 2011 saw the General Assembly holding a one day high-level meeting in New York to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2017 is themed: Racial profiling and incitement to hatred, including in the context of migration.
World Down Syndrome Day
Down Syndrome is a genetic ocurrence caused by extra material in chromosome 21 that results in intellectual disability. This additional genetic material alters the course of development and causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome. A few of the common physical traits of Down syndrome are low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm - although each person with Down syndrome is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to different degrees, or not at all.
The UN General Assembly declared March 21 as World Down Syndrome Day in December 2011 and decided, with effect from 2012, to observe World Down Syndrome Day on 21 March each year, and Invites all Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to observe World Down Syndrome Day in an appropriate manner, in order to raise public awareness of Down syndrome.
For WDSD 2017, Down Syndrome International will focus on:
#MyVoiceMyCommunity - Enabling people with Down syndrome to speak up, be heard and influence government policy and action, to be fully included in the community.
International Day of Forests
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on 21 December 2012, which declared that 21 March of each year is to be observed as the International Day of Forests. The International Day of Forests is held annually to raise awareness of the importance of forests to people and their vital role in poverty eradication, environmental sustainability and food security. Sustainable management of all types of forests are at the heart of unlocking challenges of conflict-affected, developing and developed countries, for the benefit of current and future generations.
The Theme for 2017 is Forests and Energy. For more, watch International Day of Forests Video here
According to UN website, “This global celebration of forests provides a platform to raise awareness of the importance of all types of woodlands and trees, and celebrate the ways in which they sustain and protect us. This year we highlight the importance of wood energy in improving people's lives, powering sustainable development and mitigating climate change.
Wood is a major renewable energy source - Wood provides the world with more energy than solar, hydroelectric or wind power, accounting for roughly 45 percent of current global renewable energy supply (27 percent of total primary energy supply in Africa, 13 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean and 5 percent in Asia and Oceania).
Wood energy powers economic development - Almost 900 million people, mostly in developing countries, are engaged in the wood-energy sector on a part- or full-time basis. Modernizing the wood energy sector can help revitalize rural economies and stimulate enterprise development – greater investment in wood energy production and advanced wood fuels can provide revenue to finance better forest management, more growing forests and more jobs.
Wood and trees contribute to optimal urban living and lower energy bills - Strategically placed trees in urban areas can cool the air by between 2 to 8 degrees C.
Wood energy mitigates climate change and fosters sustainable development - Globally, forests hold an energy content approximately 10 times that of the world’s annual primary energy consumption. They thus have significant potential as renewable resources to meet global energy demand. Forests provide clean air, water and energy. Sustainably managed forests can provide renewable and carbon neutral energy for a greener future.
Forests for energy, now and in a future global green economy - Greater investment in technological innovation and in sustainably managed forests is the key to increasing forests’ role as a major source of renewable energy. In this way, we invest in our sustainable future, in meeting several Sustainable Development Goals and in growing a green economy. Increased areas of sustainably household and community woodlots and the use of clean and efficient wood stoves can give millions more people in developing countries access to cheap, reliable and renewable energy.”
Credit: http://www.un.org/en/sections/observances/international-days
No comments:
Post a Comment