Every year on April 30th, we can hand our attention to the smooth rhythms and soulful expressions of jazz music for International Jazz Day. The day is centered around understanding the cultural bridges, the history of this genre and a mere appreciation for it. First established by UNESCO in 2011, International Jazz Day aims to highlight the diplomatic role of jazz in bringing together people from diverse backgrounds in the spirit of harmony and mutual understanding. Once the day got recognised, it's since been filled with a variety of events! Such as informative activities, concerts, jazz nights at bars, and many other types of events. Take the event at Fuzzy Logic this year as an example! On the 25th, we hosted a trivia night all about Jazz and its history. Jazz has roots that stretch back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, coming from African American communities in the southern United States, more specifically New Orleans. Over the decades, it has evolved and adapted, incorporating influences from all around the globe to become a genre that's adored all around the world, now with local artists in nearly every country! One of the key features of jazz is its emphasis on improvisation, allowing musicians to express themselves freely and spontaneously. This spirit of improvisation mirrors the dynamic and ever-changing nature of human interaction, making jazz a fitting symbol of cultural exchange and collaboration. International Jazz Day celebrates not only the music itself but also the values it embodies – freedom, creativity, and inclusivity. Through jazz, artists and audiences alike are invited to explore new horizons, challenge conventions, and find common ground, transcending barriers of language, ideology, and nationality. Each year, International Jazz Day adopts a theme that reflects current global issues and challenges. Past themes have focused on topics such as gender equality, youth empowerment, and environmental sustainability, demonstrating jazz's capacity to address pressing social issues and inspire positive change. In addition to its cultural significance, International Jazz Day also serves as a platform for promoting music education and fostering the next generation of jazz musicians. Through workshops, masterclasses, and outreach programs, young talents are given the opportunity to learn from experienced artists and connect with peers from around the world. As we celebrate International Jazz Day, let us not only revel in the music's timeless beauty but also reflect on its message of unity and cooperation. In a world often divided by differences, jazz reminds us of our shared humanity and the power of music to transcend boundaries, bringing people together in a spirit of harmony and joy. Sofija Anna Gaumiga Sofija is a Latvian volunteer involved in the International Jazz Day.
¡Hola! On the 23rd of April we celebrate the Spanish Language Day. The importance of this language around the world is notorious, as by 2023, 6.2% of the global population was Spanish native speaker; and 7.5% was a potential user of the language. Spanish comes from Latin, just like Portuguese, Galician, Catalan, Occitane, French, Italian, Romanian and others. It is, nowadays, the second language of the world by number of native speakers, after Mandarin Chinese, and the fourth language of the world by number of global users, after English, Mandarin Chinese and Hindi. Spanish originated around the IXth century AD, coming mainly from the Castilian Romance dialect, one of the derivatives of Vulgar Latin, specifically the one developed in the medieval county of Castile. That is why the language was originally called Castilian (it was associated to the County of Castile and afterwards to the Kingdom of Castile) and why today it is still called Castilian Language, taught as a subject in the Spanish schools. Moreover, the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), despite saying Spanish and Castilian are both valid to name the language, considers the term Spanish is more appropriate for the common language of almost 500 million people around the world as of 2023, relegating the term Castilian to identify the dialect of the language spoken in some regions of Spain. RAE stands for “Real Academia Española”, which is the oldest language institution in the Hispanic world. There is a total of 23 academies regulating the use of Spanish language, all under the coordination of the Association of Academies of Spanish Language (ASALE, Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española). As an official language, we find 21 countries around the world that gives Spanish this status, with Mexico being the most populated Spanish-speaking country as well as the country with more Spanish native speakers. Spain is only the third most populated, after Mexico and Colombia, and the fourth by native speakers’ number, after Mexico, Colombia and Argentina (as of 2023, Argentina had around 1 million of people less than Spain, but it had 6.7% more of native speakers). 23 countries have a Spanish language academy, starting with Spain, followed, from oldest to newest, by Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, El Salvador, Venezuela, Chile, Peru, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Philippines, Panama, Cuba, Paraguay, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Argentina, Uruguay, Honduras, Puerto Rico, United States of America and finally Equatorial Guinea. 21 countries hold Spanish as an official language. Here there are, sorted from the most populated to the least: Mexico, Colombia, Spain, Argentina, Venezuela, Peru, Chile, Guatemala, Ecuador, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Paraguay, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Equatorial Guinea. Tengan un buen día. Hasta pronto, Mario Formisano Fernández. Mario Formisano Fernández is a spanish volunteer involved in The International Spanish Language Day
On every 22nd of April, we celebrate the International Mother Earth which was first established by the UN (United Nations) in 2009, by joining groups that had previously celebrated it on the same day. But one might wonder, why is it so important to celebrate Mother Earth? It is a special celebration that brings communities together for the benefit of Mother Nature to remember that planet Earth is our one and only home. It allows, each year, to get our communities together and think about the planet issues we are fighting against and to find achievement. We are all responsible for protecting our planet and looking after all the species that live here. This campaign promotes harmony with nature and reminds us of the importance of protecting all the different ecosystems and species on our planet. Specifically, this year the chosen topic is “Planet vs. plastics”, and it is a calling for students, parents, businesses, governments, churches, unions, individuals, and NGOs to stop plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of plastics by 2040 and an ultimate goal of building a plastic-free future for generations to come. “The planet vs. plastics campaign is a call to arms, a demand that we act now to end the scourge of plastics and safeguard the health of every living being upon our planet.” (Kathleen Rogers, President of EARTHDAY.ORG.) In Serres (Greece) there are various heart trash cans where to throw away plastic lids (author’s picture). We have grown used to incorporating plastic into our daily routines to such an extent that encountering plastic products throughout the day is unavoidable. But what exactly is plastic, and why has it become so deeply ingrained in our lives that we tend to overuse it? While the concept of plastic emerged in the mid-19th century, it was not until the 20th century that the plastics industry truly took off. Many of the current challenges associated with plastic originated in the post-war period when plastic began replacing more costly materials.¹ Nicola de Blasio, from the Harvard University, highlights that the key characteristics of this polymeric material—its affordability, durability, and lightweight nature—have facilitated the development of modern life.We are confronted with staggering statistics: over 500 billion plastic bags were produced worldwide last year alone, equating to a million bags per minute. The amount of plastic production has grown up to over 380 million tons annually. Astonishingly, more plastic has been manufactured in the past decade than throughout the entire 20th century, and the industry shows no signs of slowing down, with plans for exponential growth in the foreseeable future.² However, despite its revolutionary impact, the lack of consideration for its end-of-life and the exorbitant costs associated with recycling have transformed this versatile material into the primary driver of a global environmental crisis, commonly referred to as "plastic pollution." Projections indicate that approximately 220 million tons of plastic waste will be generated in 2024 alone, marking a 7.11% increase in plastic waste levels since 2021.³ “Close to 50% of the world’s population currently live in areas where waste generated has already exceeded the capacity to manage it, with the figure projected to rise to 66% by 5 September 2024.”(Sarah Perreard.) In Greece, there is not the possibility to properly recycle because the government does not have the right infrastructures. According to Sarah Perreard, Co-CEO of EA (Earth Action), one of the primary challenges in managing plastic waste stems from our reliance on single-use plastics. Take, for instance, plastic bags, which serve a mere few minutes-purpose but endure for centuries thereafter. Moreover, the degradation of plastic presents a significant environmental hazard, as the breakdown of this material into microscopic particles contaminates our oceans, air, and ecosystems.⁴ Plastic pollution is now acknowledged as a threat to public health, with up to one million people per year succumbing to the consequences of mismanaged waste, as highlighted in research endorsed by David Attenborough. Specifically, microplastics have been shown to inflict damage on human cells when food or beverages are stored in plastic containers, as reported by the Journal of Hazardous Materials. For instance, heating food in such containers in the microwave can result in the transfer of these chemicals into our food and subsequently into our bodies. These chemicals pose various health risks, including potential harm to human hormones, reproductive systems, and early childhood development.⁵ Thankfully, addressing plastic overproduction and consumption is within our reach. EarthDay.org has set a significant worldwide target aiming for a 60% reduction by 2040. These goals include:
We have both produced and become overly reliant on plastic, reaching a stage where managing its waste poses a significant challenge. Now is the time to shift our approach and take decisive action, as every day should be regarded as Earth Day in our commitment to preserving our planet. ¹Science Museum ( 2019) The Age of Plastic: From Parkesine to Pollution. Retrieved from sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/chemistry/age-plastic-parkesine-pollution ² EarthDay (2024). Planet vs.Plastic Global Theme for Earth Day 2024. Earthday. Retrieved from https://www.earthday.org/ ³ Perreard S. (2024). It’s time to break the cycle of plastic overshoot. Euronews. Retrieved from https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/04/11/its-time-to-break-the-cycle-of-plastic-overshoot ⁴ Science Museum (2019). The Age of Plastic: From Parkesine to Pollution. Science Museum. Retrieved from sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/chemistry/age-plastic-parkesine-pollution ⁵ EarthDay.Org. (2022). Plastic Pollution Primer and Action Toolkit. End Plastic Pollution. EarthDay. Org. ⁶ EarthDay.org (2024). Earth Day 2024 Action Toolkit. EarthDay.org. Mathilde Pincemin and Sandra Diaferia Mathilde is a French volunteer while Sandra is an Italian volunteer, both involved in The International Mother Earth Day.
Health is defined by a person’s mental or physical condition. The WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All, has found that at least 140 countries recognize health as a human right in their constitution, because it is. The World Health Organization proclaims that every human have the right to; have access to a safe and quality health care without any discrimination, having privacy and confidentiality of your health information, having informations about your treatment with informed consent and finally, the bodily autonomy which represents « my body, my choice »: a fundamental right. Health, is a ressource for everyday life. On the 7th of April, we are celebrating the international day of health. The theme of the year is: « My health, my right ». Every human being has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. All of the different countries have a legal obligation to develop an health awareness, from the individual scale, to community scale. Physical health, is how well your organs and body systems function; we all know how to take care of it: by doing health activities, sleeping, eating and drinking well, doing sport, maintaining our body. Despite that, which is also part of human rights, is mental health. It represents a state of well mental well-being emotionally, psychologically and socially. It affects how we think, feel, act and helps to determine how we handle stress, related to others and make choices. Mental health is determined by a set of individual, social and structural pressure, it makes us contribute to community life. Our personal, social and economical development is related to it. Having a well mental-health, is not about the absence of mental illness. The reality is more complicated, subjective with different degrees, of different sufferings with social and clinical manifestations. It is important in every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence trough adulthood. As life goes on, factors can combine themselves to protect or compromise and then modify the state of our mental health. These are what we call: risks factors. To reduce the amount of people who are suffering from mental problems, protection and prevention factors must be used. Individually, mental health is manifested by a combination of psychology and biology: emotions, substances and genetic. Those determinants can increase the vulnerability. Socially, economically, environmentally, this is more linked to poverty, inequalities, violence, and deprivation off good conditions. Those can increase the risks of having mental problems because the environment is linked to our mind. The risks manifesting during childhood are risks factors for later. Hopefully, protective factors throughout life strengthen our resilience. They represent our individual and social skills and attributes. These include emotions, social interactions, a good education, a serene environment and community cohesion. Risks and protection that influe our mental health depends of the society, from different scale: local threat is a risk for the human, family and community. Mondial threat, which is the economical and climatic situation today for example, is more linked to the population in the globally. It is really important to identify the individual, social and structural factors to reduce the risks. We need programs of promoting and prevention and they must intervene in education, work, justice, environment, social protection. For now, what's most effective in all countries are social-emotional learning programs in schools. Not only must we protect and promote the mental well-being of all, we must also meet the needs of those who are suffering. At present, we have gaps in the treatment of common mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety. Countries need to find an innovative way. The World Health Organization has established a global action plan for mental health between 2013 and 2030. This is a call for all countries to help the mental health of the population. To achieve this, they have identified 3 factors: increasing the value given to it by individuals, communities and governments. Also to act on the physical, social and economic characteristics of family, school and professional environments in the community at large, in order to better preserve mental health and prevent problems. There's also the matter of strengthening mental health care. WHO focuses on the protection and promotion of human rights in a multi-sectoral approach. We want a world where mental health is recognized equally as physical health. Nina Lemarquand Nina is a french volunteer involved in The World Day of Health
Since 1993, the World Water Day has been marked on March 22 as an annually celebrated international day by the United Nations. Every year, there is a theme which is chosen by UN-Water all with the focus on promoting sustainable development within the field of freshwater and sanitation. Water is a vital resource for all aspects of life. Water is used for sanitation, industry, agriculture and consumption for all living organisms. Water is a basic human need and a human right. But this human right is far from being fulfilled by everyone. 2.2 billion people lacked the access to safe and clean water in 2022. The World Water Day aims to raise awareness on the challenges we face regarding the access to clean water and sanitation, and how to solve these challenges. World Water Day is an all-encompassing international day within the water field. There are many things that are relevant for this day. The fight for achieving clean water is a comprehensive battle and the engagement of all part takers is important, to work towards the goal of this day; a more sustainable use of our shared water on earth, the most important resource that we have. Even Though we are far from reaching the goal for clean water, there has been positive progress over the last years: “Between 2015 and 2022, the proportion of the world’s population with access to safely managed drinking water increased from 69 per cent to 73 per cent” states United Nations. This positive development creates optimism for the future. However, this advancement can be threatened by climate change due to global warming, which has a huge impact on water. Due to climate change we experience droughts to a larger extent than before. The access to water becomes more unforeseeable due to climate change and water scarcity more prominent. The fight for clean water and against climate change are inchargebly connected. Moreover, the absence of clean water also contributes to the biodiversity crisis and affects entire ecosystems. The World Water Day is closely related to the Sustainable Development Goals by the United Nations. The 6th goal of “Clean Water and Sanitation” is most important to allude to. This international day supports this goal of promoting clean water, sanitation, good water quality etc. For this year’s theme “Leveraging Water For Peace” it is also important to allude to the 16th Goal of “Peace, Justice and strong Institutions” because this year the focus is on collaboration on water between people in order to achieve a better and more peaceful relationship. Moreover, it is important to acknowledge that clean water and the fight for achieving this goal is closely related to the other goals as well. When we fight for clean water it has many positive outcomes for achieving the other SDG’s. Clean water has positive impacts on the 3rd goal “good health and well-being” because clean water improves sanitation which is essential for one’s health. The importance of keeping water clean also has a huge impact on different species in water and on land. So this goal is also connected with the 14th goal of “life below water” and the 15th goal of “life on land”. The sustainable development goals are interconnected and the achievement of one goal influences another. For this year, 2024, the theme is “Leveraging Water for Peace”. As the name implies, the focus is on how the cooperation on water between countries and communities can be a driver for peace. Water or the lack of water can create conflicts between countries, communities and people. Especially, if the access to water is not equal, conflicts can grow and create animosity between people. UN-Water states that: “out of 153 countries that share rivers, lakes and aquifers with their neighbours, only 24 countries report having cooperation agreements for all their shared water”. The theme “Water for Peace '' strives to promote cooperation and collaboration on water between different actors with the goal of achieving peace. The collaboration on water is expected to have a domino-effect, so the actors also collaborate on other things. The UN-Water fact sheet states that: “cooperation over shared water resources and ‘hydrodiplomacy’ can be a starting point for communication and broader cooperation, including beyond water resources.” Sources: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/water-and-sanitation/ https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/2023/12/wwd2024_en_factsheet.pdf https://www.un.org/en/observances/water-day https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/water-and-peace https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/water-and-climate-change https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/water-and-ecosystems https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/human-rights-water-and-sanitation https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/water-quality-and-wastewater https://www.unwater.org/our-work/world-water-day Mille Elbaek Fig Mille Elbæk Fig is a danish volunteer involved in the World Water Day
We are humans, living on earth. We eat, breath, love and drink. We owe most of our lives and our belongings to the forests, because they are part of us, and they are helping us.The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests in 2012 to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests. A lot of people depends on forest, 70 million including indigenous communities call this a home. It gives to the humans oxygen, a shelter, jobs, food, water. It’s not really shared, but, by feeding our rivers, forests provide drinking water for almost half of the world's largest cities. Forested watersheds and wetlands provide 75% of the world´s accessible freshwater. It’s a filter pollution and chemicals, which improves the quality of the water available for human use. ! The soils are conserved, so it’s protecting the communities against floods and produces the rich topsoil needed to grow plants and crops. Human health is linked to forest health: the deforestation increases the risks of diseases for us but also for animals. It was also shown that time spent on forest has a positive benefit on cardiovascular disease respiratory, and mental health. The forest is a home for 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. The deforestation of tropical forest loss of as many as 100 species a day, an entire ecosystem. The wildlife population have declined on average by 69% since 1970. And the amazon forest is the most affected. We all know the critical climate situation. The forest is the largest storehouse of carbon after the ocean. It absorbs it and lock it, below ground. So cutting, and damage the forests are release a huge amount of carbon emission that contributes to the climate crisis. The events caused by the climate change are a lot of wildfire, which limits the ability of our forest to regenerate .The climate action is to stop deforestation and restoring forests. Since 1990, we lost 420million of hectare. What engenders deforestation is also massive crops such as oil palm, soja sauce, wood, paper pulp… It destroyed 70% of tropical forests. The international forest day this year is focused on using modern technologies more, to fight against this. This is what we called also, innovation. We can use chemistry of trees and turning in Into biodegradable plastic for example, batteries, new sustainable fashion, materials, and place to work. Innovation and technologies have revolutionized forest monitoring enabling countries to track and report on their forest more effectively ! Countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns. Mindsets are changing, we all talk more about this. We need to have hope for the future, because this is our life engaged. Before, forests represented, and took half of the planet space. Now, they only represent 30% of the planet. The fate of the forest is also ours. Nina Lemarquand Nina is a french volunteer involved in The International Day of Forests
International Happiness Day, celebrated annually on March 20th, serves as a poignant reminder of the significance of happiness and well-being in our lives. In 2024, as the world continues to grapple with various challenges, this day takes on added importance. It offers an opportunity to reflect on the importance of finding joy amidst adversity and fostering a collective spirit of positivity and resilience. The Pursuit of Happiness: Happiness is a fundamental human aspiration, transcending cultural, geographical, and socioeconomic boundaries. International Happiness Day underscores the universal desire for contentment and fulfillment. It serves as a reminder that regardless of our circumstances, we all have the capacity to cultivate happiness in our lives through meaningful connections, personal growth, and acts of kindness. Navigating Challenges with Resilience: The year 2024 has presented its share of obstacles, from global health crises to economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions. In the face of such challenges, cultivating resilience becomes paramount. International Happiness Day encourages individuals and communities to adopt a resilient mindset, embracing setbacks as opportunities for growth and finding strength in adversity. It emphasizes the importance of fostering resilience as a cornerstone of lasting happiness. Promoting Well-Being: International Happiness Day also highlights the importance of holistic well-being, encompassing physical, mental, and emotional health. It encourages individuals to prioritize self-care and to nurture their overall well-being. Whether through mindfulness practices, regular exercise, or engaging in activities that bring joy, International Happiness Day inspires individuals to take proactive steps towards leading happier and more fulfilling lives. Celebrating Acts of Kindness: Acts of kindness have the power to uplift spirits and spread joy far and wide. International Happiness Day encourages individuals to engage in acts of kindness, both big and small, that contribute to the happiness of others. Whether it's offering a helping hand to a neighbor, volunteering in the community, or simply sharing a smile with a stranger, every act of kindness has the potential to make a positive difference in someone's day. As we celebrate International Happiness Day in 2024, let us embrace the power of joy to uplift and unite us. In the face of challenges, let us cultivate resilience, prioritize well-being, and spread kindness wherever we go. Together, let us create a world where happiness knows no bounds, and where each day is filled with moments of joy, laughter, and gratitude. Julia Schürheck
World Theatre Day was created in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute known also as the “ITI”. It is celebrated annually on the 27th of March by ITI Centres and the international theatre community. Every year on the 27th of March, The World Theatre day is celebrated with the theme “Theatre and a Culture of Peace” by the ITI in many and varied ways. It is celebrated as a goal as to promote the theatre in all it is forms across the world, to make people aware of the theatre value, to enable theatrical communities to promote their work on a large scale and to share the joy of theatre with the others. Each year, an exceptional personality of the theater or a person exceptional heart and mind of another field is invited to share its reflections on theatre and international harmony. This year, the message’s author is named Jon Fosse. As the World Theatre Day explain it on their website, Jon Fosse is a renowned Norwegian writer born in 1959. He is known for his extensive body of work, which includes plays, novels, poetry collections, essays, children's books, and translations. Fosse's writing style is characterized by minimalism and emotional depth, making him one of the most performed playwrights in the world. In 2023, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his innovative plays and prose that give voice to the unsayable. For this World Theatre Day 2024, Jon Fosse wanted to show and express the uniqueness of a person and people. He expresses in his message the exceptional difference between humans, it therefore highlights art in the union and comprehension of humans, it states the gifts of art on the understanding of the unknown and the union of opposites. “Art, good art, manages in its wonderful way to combine the utterly unique with the universal. It lets us understand what is different—what is foreign, you might say—as being universal. By doing so, art breaks through the boundaries between languages, geographical regions, countries. It brings together not just everyone’s individual qualities but also, in another sense, the individual characteristics of every group of people, for example of every nation.” “I have been speaking here about art in general, not about theater or playwriting in particular, but that is because, as I’ve said, all good art, deep down, revolves around the same thing: taking the utterly unique, the utterly specific, and making it universal. Uniting the particular with the universal by means of expressing it artistically: not eliminating its specificity but emphasizing this specificity, letting what is foreign and unfamiliar shine clearly through.” I invite you, for those who will be interested, to visit the site world-theatre-day.org and read the whole message of Jon Fosse for this World Theatre Day 2024. https://www.world-theatre-day.org/ Mathilde Pincemin Mathilde is a french volunteer involved in The World Theater Day
On the 21st of February, we celebrate World Poetry Day. The slogan for 2024's Poetry Day intends to remark on the importance of the legacy of many great writers around the world and through time. Our giants. But first, let’s take a look at the history of this poetic day. UNESCO adopted the 21st of March as World Poetry Day during its 30th General Conference in Paris in 1999, “with the aim of supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard”. Audrey Azoulay, Director General of UNESCO, talks like this about poetry: "Arranged in words, colored with images, struck with the right meter, the power of poetry has no match. As an intimate form of expression that opens doors to others, poetry enriches the dialogue that catalyzes all human progress, and is more necessary than ever in turbulent times." UNESCO does several actions to promote poetry and literature in general like the designation of the World Book Capital every year to promote the power of books and the influence of literature in our society. Designated cities should create activities to spread willingness not only to write but to read. The program was established in 2001 and Madrid, the capital of Spain, was the first World Book Capital. Coming back to the core of this article, the poetry itself, we need to mention what this literary art represents for top writers. Spanish late great Federico García Lorca said about poetry that “it is something that walks around the streets. Something that moves and passes next to us. Everything has a mystery and poetry is the mystery of everything”. Uruguayan world-class author Mario Benedetti opines the following: “Because the problem is that: that poetry bites. For being free, questioning, transgressive, questioning, subjective, fanciful, hermetic at times and communicative at others. That's why it bites. And that is why a good part of the public (I mean the one who reads, of course) prefers prose that often contains answers, obeys plans and structures, is usually objective, knows how to organize its fantasies and in general does not bite, especially when they put (or puts on) the muzzle. Even in times of censorship, and given that censors are not usually specialists in metaphors, poetry usually passes through customs with much more grace than prose”. To finish this article and to give a most personal perspective on poetry, I would like to share with you these humble words: Poetry is freedom, poetry is justice, poetry is love, but poetry also can be disaffection, punishment and a cage of feelings, of ideas. Poetry is the world in your hand, your heart and your mind at once. Enjoy poetry. Mario Formisano Fernández Mario is a spanish volunteer involved in The World Poetry Day
On the 21st of March is the international day for the elimination of racial discrimination. This year 2024 is the 75st anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. By signing this declaration international community agreed to the value that every human being is equal and should have the same rights, without any distinction of any kind. On the 21st march in 1960 the police in Sharpeville, south Africa killed 69 people at an open fire during a peaceful demonstration against the apartheid “pass laws”. To remember the victims, we observe this day annually. In 1979 the general assembly decided that a week of solidarity with the peoples struggling against racism and racial discrimination, beginning on 21 March, would be organized annually in all States. Through that action the apartheid system in South Africa has been dismantled. However racial discrimination and racist laws are still in some governmental legislations and racist actions are still deeply rooted in our society. This is why the celebration and the worldwide fight for the elimination of racial discrimination continue. Difference between racial discrimination and racism The difference between Racial discrimination and Racism is as follows: Racism is the ideology that attributes personality behavior, morals and worth can be traced back to race, while Racial discrimination is if the race of a person has an effect on any distinction, conduct or action of another one. Importance of the elimination In 2020 George Floyd a black man died through the hands of a white police officer in … This shocking event alarmed people worldwide and the Black-Lives-Matter movement was born. All over the world people went to the streets and demonstrated against racism and racial discrimination. This shows that Racism is not something in our past still an issue today and it shows the importance of the elimination. When a white person is dressing up and paints their face black it is called Blackfacing. It is an act of discrimination because it assumes that you take black people not seriously and make fun about them. Research by the Pew Research Center analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, in the United States of America, shows that the payment depends on race and gender. White men are getting paid better than Black and Hispanic men. We fight for equality no matter what skin color, religion, gender or sexuality! We fight for human right for everyone! Milena Scheibler Milena is a german volunteer involved in The International for the elimination of racial discrimination
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