World Day to Eliminate Racial Discrimination

March 21^st marks the date for many important holidays celebrated worldwide. Perhaps the most important of these is the World Day to Eliminate Racial Discrimination. Also more commonly known as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the goal of this holiday is to foster peace among all races and to help fight discriminatory thoughts and practices. While it is promoted heavily by the United Nations, smaller organizations have picked up on the importance of this holiday as a way to help make societies better for everyone.

History

World Day to Eliminate Racial Discrimination was founded by the United Nations in 1966. The General Assembly called for a day to remember the Sharpeville massacre, which occurred on March 21, 1960. On this day, black protestors in Sharpeville, South Africa made a peaceful demonstration in an effort to protest against segregation laws that were set in place during that time. Police on hand were outnumbered and decided to open fire among the protestors. Tragically, 69 people were shot to death.

The United Nations sought to establish a holiday that not only commemorated the lives of those lost during the Sharpeville massacre, but also one that would denote racial discrimination. The first International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was subsequently held on March 21, 1966. It marked the sixth anniversary of the tragic Sharpeville events.

World Observance

The World Day to Eliminate Racial Discrimination was founded at a pivotal moment in history. Not only was the United States in the middle of a fight for desegregation once and for all, but the civil rights movement spread to other countries across the world. Not only is racial discrimination inhumane, but the United Nations has recognized that segregated societies are more privy to wars and other types of unrest. Tolerance promotes peace as well as a better livelihood for all.

South Africa recognizes the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination as a government holiday. This means that government offices and other public entities are closed on March 21^st of every year to commemorate human rights. This is currently the only country that recognizes the World Day to Eliminate Racial Discrimination as a public holiday.

Celebrations

This holiday is a cause for many different types of celebrations worldwide. In desegregated nations, such as South Africa, Britain, Australia and the United States, the World Day to Eliminate Racial Discrimination is a cause to celebrate racial tolerance and peace for all people. While desegregation is the law in these countries, some racism still exists among some individuals so many groups take the opportunity to foster peaceful messages to decrease discrimination once and for all.

The United Nations also hosts special celebrations to commemorate this holiday. 1978 and 1983 were of particular significance, as the U.N. made a special effort to call on all nations to support its efforts against racial discrimination through separate world conferences. In 2001, the United Nations took this concept a step further by holding a World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.

In some nations, the fight against racial discrimination is more than just a celebration. So many people are discriminated against every day, and groups continue to make progress towards social changes with the support of the United Nations. Many of these programs are targeted at children and young adults, since many older groups are already set in their ways. During the World Day to Eliminate Racial Discrimination, many event promoters utilize the logo of the United Nations for materials, such as posters and flyers.

By: Kristeen Moore

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is observed annually on March 8^th. This holiday is designed to celebrate women, but it also has many political intentions at its core. Unlike other female holidays, such as Mother’s Day, International Women’s Day is more than about love for women—it is designed to increase awareness of sexism and to promote equality between genders across the world. There are many ways to celebrate this day, and the traditions vary between countries.

Beginnings

International Women’s Day officially got its start in 1911, but other national holidays preceded this date. Prior to this time, the Socialist Party of America established a National Women’s Day in February, 1909. The purpose of the holiday was to promote equal rights for women and to protest sexism in the United States. German socialists took the concept a step further my establishing International Women’s Day, which was first celebrated on March 19, 1911. The holiday was extremely popular in Western Europe at this time, although the U.S. continued to stick with the national version of the women’s day at first. In 1913, the date for International Women’s Day was changed to March 8^th, and it has been celebrated on this day ever since.

This holiday was predominantly observed in Europe until the United Nations started promoting it in the 1970s. 1975 was declared as International Women’s Year by the organization, and it held its very own women’s conference to discuss worldwide gender equality. The U.N. adopted the holiday, which was called the United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace. While the international group still refers to March 8 this way, the rest of the world largely regards the date simply as International Women’s Day.

While the holiday was originally started by socialist groups, International Women’s Day is not considered a socialist holiday. It has been adopted by countries of varying governments to help promote the rights of all citizens.

Common Celebrations

This holiday is celebrated in numerous ways. In many western nations, citizens partake in peaceful demonstrations to help promote women’s causes across the world. Others might take the day off from work or celebrate women by distributing flowers and gifts. While many symbols are utilized for this holiday, the most famous is a purple and white logo that features the goddess Venus.

Some women take the celebrations a step further through activism. A large part of this depends on the region, as some countries do not have the gender equality that other nations do. Protests are commonplace in some countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, where citizens work hard to promote equality. International Women’s Day helps to advocate equality in the workplace as well as in society.

March 8, 1917 is slated to be a monumental International Women’s Day. This date marks the hundredth anniversary of one of the most famous female-sparked protests in recent history: the Russian Revolution. The revolution got its start when courageous women took to the streets of St. Petersburg to protest bread shortages.

Worldwide Observance

Most countries observe International Women’s Day. However, some countries have taken the celebrations a step further by recognizing March 8^th as a public holiday. Russia, Armenia and Ukraine are just a few of the countries that close government offices and schools so that citizens can celebrate the day. Some businesses also close. The United States does not currently recognize International Women’s Day as a public holiday.

Sadly, women in certain regions are not permitted to participate in International Women’s Day due to oppression and differences in cultural views. While women have come a long way in terms of gaining equality, much more work is to be done. This holiday aims to increase awareness so women do not lose sight on the overall goals of equal rights.

By: Kristeen Moore

World Cancer Day

World Cancer Day is dedicated to raising awareness about cancer. Observed every year on February 4^th, the mission of this holiday is to encourage healthier habits to prevent cancer, as well as to promote better healthcare access to help patients catch the diseases early on. World Cancer Day also advocates for new treatment measures and to encourage hope among victims.

This holiday was first formed in 1933. World Cancer Day is put together by the Union for International Cancer Control. This organization is based in Switzerland, but it works with groups in various other countries to put together a World Cancer Day campaign. For example, the American Cancer Society, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Livestrong all serve the campaign on behalf of the United States. The advisory group helps to put together a plan of action for every World Cancer Day, which includes a global theme.

Cancer Facts

According to World Cancer Research Fund International, about 12.7 million people had cancer in 2008. By 2030, this number is anticipated to rise up to 21 million. While a part of this expected increase may be attributed to population growth, another contributing factor is a lack of awareness and access to healthcare. World Cancer Day helps to promote awareness about various cancers so people around the world can gain better access to the help they need.

A cancer diagnosis is made based on the origination of the tumors. Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in the world among both men and women. The goal is to help treat cancer before it spreads to the lymph nodes as well as to other parts of the body. Your chances for survival are greater if the cancer is treated at its origination.

Observance and Celebration

World Cancer Day is recognized globally in many different ways. Not only does the United Nations observe this day, but other organizations across the world can celebrate the holiday in their own way. Many of the celebrations focus on the year’s theme, while others are dedicated to cancer victims and survivors.

Fundraising is a big part of World Cancer Day. Special luncheons, dinners and other meals may be held as a way to raise research money for specific forms of cancer. Other events can include fundraiser walks, parades and family activities. This day is also a special opportunity to help raise public awareness of cancer in the form of ads, announcements and free educational events. Some communities even offer free cancer screenings.

Special Focuses in 2013

Each year, World Cancer Day operates with a theme that will help educate the public as well as promote call to action. The designated theme for 2013 is “Cancer – Did you know?”, which aims to clear up misconceptions about cancer. Four main myths will be cleared up, including that cancer is:

• Merely a health issue
• Always deadly
• An individual’s fate
• Only affects certain social or economic groups

The fact is that cancer can happen to anyone, regardless of an individual’s background. At the same time, treatment innovations and early detection processes have made it possible for patients to find cancer and beat it for good. World Cancer Day aims to remind individuals of these facts while helping to promote better health for everyone.

By: Kristeen Moore

 Reference:

http://www.wcrf.org/cancer_statistics/world_cancer_statistics.php

Human Rights Day

On December 10, 1948, the newly established United Nations General Assembly made the first global written declaration for human rights. Coined as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), it was the first international promise to seek equal rights around the world. In 1950, the United Nations decided to make December 10^th Human Rights Day to keep the momentum of the UDHR going.

The issue of human rights is still prevalent today, but it first gained prominence in the late 1940s. After World War II, citizens across the globe witnessed the aftermath of the Holocaust and wanted to take action to ensure that such horrific acts against humans would never occur again. Also, increased communication technologies made more people aware of genocides and civil wars in other nations, particularly those in Asia and Africa.

Human Rights Day is celebrated in a variety of forms. Some advocates celebrate the day in an upbeat way through ceremonies, parades, plays and musical performances. Others make it a mission to increase outreach on this holiday to people who don’t understand their rights. Most countries focus on educating women and children on human rights, especially in regions where such groups may be oppressed. In other cases, Human Rights Day presents opportunities for protests against oppressive governments. The majority of these protests are carried out peacefully.

2008 marked a special celebration for Human Rights Day. December 10, 2008 marked 60 years since the United Nations penned the UDHR. To date, it is the most-translated document in the world, and it has been printed in over 360 languages. The purpose of the UDHR holds true to this day as citizens from around the world continue to learn about their rights and gain freedom from oppressive governments. Some countries pass out copies of the UDHR every year on Human Rights Day.

All nations in the world recognize December 10^th as Human Rights Day with the exception of South Africa. Instead, the day is observed on March 21^st to remember the Sharpeville massacre that resulted in dozens of deaths after citizens protested against the Arpatheid government. This government promoted white supremacist policies, which resulted in segregation among the population. The deadly massacre occurred on March 21, 1960.

It’s no coincidence that December 10^th is also the same day that the Nobel Peace Prize and the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights are also awarded. The first award is annual, and the second is given every five years. Both prizes tie into the same theme of human rights, so each tie into this holiday just right.

While Human Rights day is designated as a full day for world-wide recognition of inhumane treatment in a variety of forms, it is important that participants take away with lessons to apply to everyday situations. The fight for human rights can be a long-term battle for some groups, and it is important to have the right information and resources on hand at all times in order to succeed.