hello

Greetings to each and everyone of you.


This section for English-speaking viewers –
and all those enjoying the culture –

has developed over the months and is now offering materials of all kinds:

texts, images, poems, videos, etc.

It will continue to provide you with rich contents week after week.

 

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer – 16 September 2016

15 septembre 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: atmosphère, Climate change, Earth, global efforts, ozone layer, planet, sun rays

« On this International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, let us remember how much has already been accomplished, and commit to do more to protect our atmosphere. By working ozoneday2016together, we can build a safer, healthier, more prosperous and resilient world for all people while protecting our planet, our only home. »     Secretary-General’s Message on the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

2016 Theme: Ozone and climate: Restored by a world united.”
In 1994, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 16 September the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commemorating the date of the signing, in 1987, of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (resolution 49/114).

States were invited to devote the Day to promote activities in accordance with the objectives of the Protocol and its amendments. The ozone layer, a fragile shield of gas, protects the Earth from the harmful portion of the rays of the sun, thus helping preserve life on the planet.

The phaseout of controlled uses of ozone depleting substances and the related reductions have not only helped protect the ozone layer for this and future generations, but have also contributed significantly to global efforts to address climate change; furthermore, it has protected human health and ecosystems by limiting the harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the earth.

The theme for this year’s International Ozone Day recognizes the collective efforts of the parties to the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol towards the restoration of the ozone layer over the past three decades and the global commitment to combat climate change.

Source: Text & Image: UN  Illustration 2015 Poster

 

International Day of Democracy – 15 September

14 septembre 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: better future, change, democracy, freedom, Sustainable Development Goals, UN

« The implementation of the Goals must be underpinned by a strong and active civil society that includes the weak and the marginalized. We must defend civil society’s freedom to operate and do this vote count in Dili polling stations during parliamentary elections. 7 July 2012. Photo by UNMIT/Martine Perretessential job. On this International Day of Democracy, let us rededicate ourselves to democracy and dignity for all. » — UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon

2016 Theme: Democracy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
In September 2015, all 193 Member States of the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — a plan for achieving a better future for all, laying out a path over 15 years to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and protect our planet. At the heart of the Agenda are the Sustainable Development Goals, which call for mobilizing efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.

Speaking at the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commended the parliamentarians of the world for the valuable role they played in shaping the new framework. He also underscored that their contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda will be equally critical: “People will look to you to hold your governments accountable for achieving the goals, and to write the laws and invest in the programmes that will make them a reality,” he said, noting that democratic principles also run through the entire document “like a silver thread.”

Sustainable Development Goal 16 addresses democracy by calling for inclusive and participatory societies and institutions. It aims to “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.” The Goal is both an end in itself and a crucial part of delivering sustainable development in all countries. It has been seen by many commentators as the transformational goal and key to ensuring that the Agenda can be accomplished.

Source: Text: UN Image: Polling officers tally votes after ballots were cast in Timor-Leste’s parliamentary elections (2012). UN Photo/Martine Perret

 

 

World Day Against Terrorism – 11 September

11 septembre 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: dialogue, interdependent world, peace, reconciliation, terrorism, victims, World Trade Center

1e4ea7a20070514114138741“This Sunday, September 11, marks the 15th anniversary of one of the most tragic days in the history of the United States. On that fateful day, terrorists staged attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and were only prevented from completing another attack by the heroism of the passengers on United Flight 93. The images of that day are forever imprinted on our memories.

“The events of that day also revealed the character of ordinary American citizens who demonstrated their courage and willingness to sacrifice for their fellow men and women. Who can forget the first responders who dashed into buildings on the verge of collapse, the service members who rescued the burned and injured in the Pentagon, or the passengers who fought to take control of their doomed plane over Pennsylvania?

As we recall the events 15 years ago, let us renew our commitment to do all that we can, wherever we may be, to honour the victims of those attacks, as well as the others who have been harmed by terrorism in the years since September 11, 2001. We must defeat terrorists and all that they represent, and at the same time work tirelessly to promote dialogue, peace, and reconciliation in order to resolve the complex problems that we face in an interdependent world.

Source: Text: Victoria Ojeme, Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/911-anniversary-us-challenges-world-rise-terrorism/ Image: Perspective Monde

World Suicide Prevention Day 2016 – 10 September

9 septembre 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Care, communicate, connect, IASP, suicide

2016_wspd_banner_english

Connect, communicate and care on World Suicide Prevention Day

The World Health Organization estimates that over 800,000 people die by suicide each year – that’s one person every 40 seconds. Up to 25 times as many again make a suicide attempt. The tragic ripple effect means that there are many, many more people who have been bereaved by suicide or have been close to someone who has tried to take his or her own life. And this is happening in spite of the fact that suicide is preventable. ‘Connect, communicate, care’ is the theme of the 2016 World Suicide Prevention Day. These three words are at the heart of suicide prevention.

Connect
Fostering connections with those who have lost a loved one to suicide or have been suicidal themselves is crucial to furthering suicide prevention efforts. Although every individual suicide is different, there are some common lessons to be learned. Those who have been on the brink of suicide themselves can help us understand the complex interplay of events and circumstances that led them to that point, and what saved them or helped them to choose a more life-affirming course of action. Those who have lost someone to suicide, or supported someone who was suicidal, can provide insights into how they moved forwards on their journey. The sheer numbers of people who have been affected by suicide would make this a formidable network.

Communicate
Open communication is vital if we are to combat suicide. In many communities, suicide is shrouded in silence or spoken of only in hushed tones. We need to discuss suicide as we would any other public health issue if we are to dispel myths about it and reduce the stigma surrounding it. This is not to say that we shouldn’t exercise necessary caution; we don’t want to normalise suicide either. Careful, considered messages about suicide and its prevention are warranted, as is an awareness of how different groups of individuals may receive and interpret this information.

Care
All the connecting and communicating in the world will have no effect without the final ingredient – care. We need to make sure that policy-makers and planners care enough about suicide prevention to make it a priority, and to fund it at a level that is commensurate with its significance as a public health problem.

Most of all, we need to ensure that we are caring ourselves. We need to look out for others who may be struggling, and let them tell their story in their own way and at their own pace. Those who have been affected by suicide have much to teach us in this regard.

Source: Text & Image: IASP

24th Sunday of the Year, C

8 septembre 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: anthropomorphism, conversion, Ex.32:7-14, Father, God changing his mind, God rejoices, Lk.15:1-32, prodical son, repentant sinner

Speaking of God, calling on him, imagining his shape and his activities – all this is part of our efforts to come to know him. In their sophisticated language, Bible scholars speak of ‘anthropomorphism’ – in simple words it means lending to God some of our human attributes and attitudes. All through the Bible, we find such language telling us of God’s eyes, arms, ears, etc. Some texts speak of his anger, his jealousy, his tenderness, his faithfulness, his love.

We believe that God is a Spirit but this is not easy for us to understand, so we compare him to… ourselves! We even assign to him some human functions: he works, then, he needs to rest (Gn.2:1-2). The prophet Jeremiah speaks of him as a potter (Jer.18:6). Isaiah says that he plays with us as a mother with her infant (Is.66:12). Amazingly, he can regret having done something (Gn.6:6), and he is even shown as changing his mind!

The first reading of this Sunday (24th, Year C – Ex.32:7-11,13-14) describes him doing exactly that: changing his mind about the punishment he was about to bring on his people. Moses intercedes for the people of Israel and we are told that God relents and will not bring disaster on them.

We know well (or, do we?…) that God does not change his mind but… he waits patiently that we change ours!
We are the ones who need to change our minds and our lives. It is up to us to change the direction we had been following up to now – this is exactly what CONVERSION is about! This is the attitude of the ‘repentant sinner’ described in today’s gospel (Lk.15:1-32) over whom God rejoices. Yes, amazingly (in anthropological terms!) we can give joy to God.
2011-10-063-jesus-declares-the-parable-of-the-lost-sheep-1920x9602011-10-055-the-prodigal-son-1920x960
That very joy so well described by Jesus in the parable of the father welcoming his ‘lost’ son. The son changed his mind – the father did not need to do so, he had been waiting all along, checking whether the horizon would offer him the long-awaited sight… his beloved son on the way home.

Changing our minds… taking the way home where a Father will lavish on us more than we can ever dream of – this is ‘prodigality’ in its deepest sense.

Source: Images: en.wikipedia.org    www.lds.org

International Literacy Day – 8 September

7 septembre 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: communicable diseases, education, epidemics, health, Literacy, schools, UN, UNESCO

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.int-literacy-day

UN International Literacy Day
International Literacy Day highlights the importance of literacy in areas such as health and education.

What Do People Do?
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and its partners promote the day to underline the significance of literacy for healthy societies, with a strong emphasis on epidemics and communicable diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.

Background
According to UNESCO, about 774 million adults lack the minimum literacy skills. One in five adults is still not literate and two-thirds of them are women. About 75 million children are out-of-school and many more attend irregularly or drop out. However, literacy is also a cause for celebration on the day because there are nearly four billion literate people in the world.

The UN General Assembly proclaimed a 10-year period beginning on January 1, 2003, as the United Nations Literacy Decade. The assembly also welcomed the International Plan of Action for the Decade and decided for UNESCO to take a coordinating role in activities at an international level within the decade’s framework. On International Literacy Day each year, UNESCO reminds the international community of the status of literacy and adult learning globally. This day was first celebrated on September 8, 1966.

Source: Text & Image: timeandday.com ©iStockphoto.com/Emrah Turudu

World Physical Therapy Day – 8 September

7 septembre 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: athletic activity, healthy behaviour, human body, physical activity, physical therapy, sporting activity

physical-therapy-day1-e1441355142628-808x378The human body is remarkably easy to damage and break, and no more so than when participating in strenuous physical activity such as sporting or athletic activity.

Physical therapists work to undo damage, educate on healthy behaviour and to restore lost or damaged functionality. Physical Therapy Day, then, is dedicated to these professionals throughout the world, and aims to recognise their commitment to keeping us all fighting-fit.

Source: Text & Image: daysoftheyear

World Physical Therapy Day is on 8th September. The day is an opportunity for physical therapists from all over the world to raise awareness about the crucial contribution the profession makes to keeping people well, mobile and independent.

Source: Text: World Confederation for Physical Therapy

International Day of Charity – 5 September

4 septembre 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Charity, Children, fighting diseases, Mother Teresa, UN

international-day-of-charity-1-e1450098273597-808x380-2Every year, charities all over the world help to save and improve people’s lives, fighting disease, protecting children, and giving hope to many thousands of people. To honour the important work that these many charities do, in 2012 the United Nations decided to nominate an annual International Day of Charity as an official day of recognition and celebration.

The reason the date was chosen is because it is the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. This choice commemorates the tireless work that Mother Teresa did by devoting her whole life to charity work. To celebrate this special day every year, the work of different charities all over the word is publicised and celebrated, and people are encouraged to donate money and time, to carry out charitable works, and also to educate people and raise awareness about the many charitable issues worldwide. Education and giving are the essence of this special day.

Source: Text & Image: daysoftheyear

Mother Teresa to be canonized on September 4

2 septembre 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: canonisation, Mother Teresa, Pope Francis, St. John Paul ll, Vatican, Year of Mercy

Pope Francis will declare Blessed Teresa of Kolkata a saint at the Vatican September 4. Mother Teresa was widely known as a living saint as she ministered to the sick and the dying in some of theA poster of Blessed Teresa of Kolkata and Missionaries of Charity are seen in Kolkata, India, in this Sept. 5, 2007, file photo. Pope Francis will declare her a saint at the Vatican Sept. 4, the conclusion of the Year of Mercy jubilee for those engaged in works of mercy. (CNS photo/Jayanta Shaw, Reuters) See POPE-SAINTS-DATES March 15, 2016.poorest neighborhoods in the world. Although some people criticized her for not also challenging the injustices that kept so many people so poor and abandoned, her simple service touched the hearts of millions of people of all faiths.

Born to an ethnic Albanian family in Skopje, in what is now part of Macedonia, she went to India in 1929 as a Sister of Loreto and became an Indian citizen in 1947. She founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950.
Shortly after she died in 1997, St. John Paul II waived the usual five-year waiting period and allowed the opening of the process to declare her sainthood. She was beatified in 2003.

After her beatification, Missionary of Charity Father Brian Kolodiejchuk, the postulator of her sainthood cause, published a book of her letters, « Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light. » The letters illustrated how, for decades, she experienced what is described as a « dark night of the soul » in Christian spirituality; she felt that God had abandoned her. While the letters shocked some people, others saw them as proof of her steadfast faith in God, which was not based on feelings or signs that he was with her.

The date chosen for her canonization is the eve of the 19th anniversary of her death and the date previously established at the Vatican for the conclusion of the Year of Mercy pilgrimage of people like her who are engaged in works of mercy.

Source: Text & Image: Catholic News Service By Cindy Wooden; CNS photo/Jayanta Shaw, Reuters: A poster of Blessed Teresa of Kolkata and Missionaries of Charity are seen in Kolkata, India.

23rd Sunday of the Year, C

1 septembre 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: being God's friend, Building, cost of discipleship, counting the cost, life of companionship with the Lord, Lk.14:25-33, Redemption, the cross, walk in the footsteps of Christ, Wis.13:9-18

better towerIt is obvious that the work of building requires knowledge and skill. And it demands also planning, if the venture is to be successful. Planning that involves not only the intervention of an architect but also the sound evaluation of the means of the owner – will he be able to afford the cost involved?

The gospel text of this Sunday (23rd, Year C – Lk. 14:25-33) reminds us of this important prerequisite. But Jesus speaks of this as an example for something more important still. He does not refer only to the building of a tower and its possible cost but of something else – the cost of discipleship.

count costWe are called to become aware of what it means to be a follower of Christ. What is involved in being a Christian. We must be committed to building something, yes, something not made of bricks or mortar but as real and as solid: building a life of companionship with the Lord. And, we must be aware that this can be costly, indeed very costly at times…

This entails first of all that the focus of our life is on God’s will, we set ourselves to know his intentions, as the first reading reminds us in the Book of Wisdom (Wis.13:9-18).
It also means that we do not allow anything nor anyone to come between God and us. Simply said: our possessions and our relations, even the people closest to us, must not be ‘god’ for us.
That will sometimes take the shape of… a cross, a cross that we must carry walking in the footsteps of Christ.

There is a price to pay for being God’s friend but then… he, himself, paid the price for us to become his friends in the first place! The theological word for this is: ‘Redemption’…

Source: Image: www.pcog.org   pastoron7.wordpress.com