Today is Europe Day, a day to celebrate peace and unity in Europe! Earlier in the week, May 5^thwas a day designated to the Council of Europe, whereas today’s date designates the European Union.

Unity in Diversity - the EU Flag

Europe Day is simply an observance day and it’s not a public holiday. It is a political event, nevertheless, and the day attempts to teach people more about the ways in which the EU works and to speak in support of European integration.

Today’s date marks the birthday of Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross, and the recipient of the world’s first Nobel Price. Today, May 8^th, is the World Red Cross Crescent Day, and days from May 6th to 12th mark an annual Red Cross week.

Today, Red Cross has approximately 97 million volunteers, members, and staff members world wide. National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies exist in nearly every country in the world…

Wesak (or Vesak) is one of the most important Buddhist holidays. It is always celebrated during full moon in May, which this year falls onto May 5^th.

Enlightened Buddha

Wesak celebrates the birthday, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. The death of the Buddha is not a sad occasion because it simply marks the day when the Buddha finally reached Nirvana, a heavenly state where there is no pain or suffering…

Today is World Press Freedom Day. On 2011, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,
 Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and 
Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General all declared in a joint-message that:

Freemedia

“Violations of fundamental human rights cannot go unanswered. State authorities must do everything to counter impunity and to protect the safety of journalists. We will never forget the courage of journalists who paid with their lives for our right to know. ”

World Press Freedom Day was established to highlight Article 19 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

May Day is significant in many different ways. First, May Day, also known as the International Workers’ Day, is a celebration of the labor movement and other left-wing movements.

Maypole Dancing from www.vagabondbaker.com

International Workers’ Day originated in 1886 when workers around the world gathered to demonstrate against impossible working hours and to demand the 8-hour working day. Before this movement it was common for factory workers to work 10-16 hours a day in dangerous, unhealthy conditions. These demonstrations soon achieved their goal and the 8-hour working day was made an official policy. Therefore, in some countries, International Workers’ Day is not only celebrated by labour unions, but by all workers because (setting its socialist roots aside) the day has come to symbolize social justice and international labor rights. Traditional celebrations for International Workers’ Day usually include public demonstrations and organized street marches.

UNESCO and the International Music Council have declared April 30th 2012 the first International Jazz Day!

UNESCO is organizing a Jazz concert at the UNESCO head quarters in Paris, and is anticipating the day to “bring together performers, educators, governments, experts, and fans alike, as they explore together the history, meaning, impact, and legacy of jazz music throughout the world.”

The one and only way to celebrate International Jazz Day is to listen to some jazz. After all, even Louis Armstrong once said: “If you have to ask what jazz is you will never know.”

Today is the 9th anniversary of World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

'Green' technology doesn't always mean 'safe'

The day was established by ILO (International Labour Organisation) in order to promote good, safe working conditions and basic rights every work place.

This year’s theme for the day is Health and Safety in a Green Economy. Generalized advertising and public fear of global warming had led to a common perception that anything ‘green’ must be thoroughly good. The International Labour Organisation website corrects this and explains the theme choice by saying, “Even if certain jobs are considered to be “green”, the technologies used may protect the environment but not be safe at all.” In addition, “A true green job must integrate safety and health into design, procurement, operations, maintenance, sourcing and recycling policies, certification systems and OSH quality standards.”

In our postmodern era of information overload, instant communication, and virtual realities,  who owns ideas?

Who owns ideas?

If no text is original, everything is intertextual, writing is teamwork, music is an industry, and art has no fixed meaning, then what is intellectual property?

April 26th is World Intellectual Property Day (also know as IP Day). The day is founded by WIPO, World Intellectual Property Organization, a special branch of the UN, to create understanding and awareness of intellectual property rights. WIPO is dedicated to creating a balanced intellectual property system to protect the ownership of ideas, while still encouraging innovation.

According to the WHO, the World Health Organization, in 2012 half of the world’s population was at the risk of Malaria. Every year, this leads to 216 million cases of Malaria and to approximately 655 000 deaths. 

April 25th commemorates World Malaria Day. The theme for 2012 is Sustain Gains, Save Lives: Invest in Malaria. This theme has been chosen to remind the public that, although Malaria deaths have been reduced in the last decade (by 30% in Africa, and by 50% outside of Africa), malaria spreads easily and these numbers are fragile.

The day was first observed in 2007, at the sixtieth session of the World Health Assembly, the board of WHO. The United Nations hopes that the existence of World Malaria Day will open discussion for the countries affected by malaria to learn from each other’s experiences. In addition, for further progress, the UN hopes for new donors to set against malaria, for researchers to share their advances with each other, and for sponsors to showcase their efforts.

Today is St. George’s Day! St. George was a Roman soldier who lived approximately from 275-303 AD. He was killed as a Christian martyr, and after his death he became a patron saint for many countries.

St. George's Rose

Examples of countries that celebrate St. George’s day are Lebanon, Hungary, Spain, and England. In each country, the celebrations usually include street fairs, music, and food. In places like Valencia and Catalonia the day even hosts street performances and parades.

Red roses are traditionally associated with St. George in every country. Other than the rose, however, colours used on St. George’s day are usually appropriate to each nation’s flag. In England, for example, St. George’s Day has high nationalistic value. Currently, the day is not a public holiday but a large petition online  is advocating it to become one.