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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.

 

World Day for Cultural Diversity, for Dialogue and Development – 21 May

20 mai 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: cultural diversity, development, dialogue, fundamentalism, NGOs, segregation, terrorist attacks, UN, UNESCO

worlddaycul-diverWorld Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is annually held on May 21 to help people learn about the importance of cultural diversity and harmony.

Various events are organized to increase the understanding of issues around cultural diversity and development among governments, non-governmental organizations and the public. Many of these include presentations on the progress of implementing the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity.

The General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity in Paris, France, on November 2, 2001. It was the 249th resolution adopted at the 57th session of the United Nations General Conference. Although the declaration was the culmination of years of work, it was adopted in the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. This reaffirmed the need for intercultural dialogue to prevent segregation and fundamentalism.

The year 2002 was the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage. At the end of that year, on December 20, 2002, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The General Assembly emphasized links between the protection of cultural diversity and the importance of dialogue between civilizations in the modern world. The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development was first observed in 2003.

Source: Text & Image: timeanddate   ©iStockphoto.com/skynesher

Feast of the Holy Trinity, C

19 mai 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Father-Son-Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, Scripture scholars, sun, theologians

There are things we try to describe and we just can’t express what we have in mind, or what we have seen. There are situations we do our best to explain to others and it seems we simply don’t have the words that would make people understand what we want to say.

Of course, this applies especially to… God! Scripture scholars and theologians do their best to tell us who God is, what his nature and his attributes are but even their most profound language falls short of what would need to be said.Huts, www.ceed-trust.orgimagesL0SUB5UL sun, www.stockphotos.ro

A true story from an African country conveys much wisdom in this respect. A group of Christians had gathered to share the gospel on the eve of Trinity Sunday. The person responsible to prepare the meeting soon confessed: « The Holy Trinity, who can explain that? I tried to prepare something to say but I just don’t know what I could say. So, instead, let us practice our hymns for tomorrow. » At this point, the catechist inspired, no doubt, by the Holy Spirit, said to those present:

“I can explain something about the Holy Trinity. » And he went on: « If at mid-day I am in my hut with the door closed (there are no windows in a hut) what do I see? I can see the rays of the sun passing under the door and going everywhere. Then, I know the sun exists and I feel the heat which warms me. This is the Trinity:

– the sun is the Father;
– the rays are the Son whom the Father sends;
– the heat which warms me is the Spirit.”

A prayerful silence followed…

Source: Images: www.stockphotos.ro; www.ceed-trust.org

World IBD Day – 19 May

18 mai 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Crohn's disease, IBD Inflammatory Bowel Disease, medical research, ulcerative colitis

31626_1430216473_World-Ibd-DayWorldwide, five million people live with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, conditions known as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). World IBD Day is marked on 19 May each year. World IBD Day is led by patient organisations representing 35 countries on four continents from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, 28 European nations through the umbrella organisation EFCCA, Israel, Japan, New Zealand to the United States of America.

Source: Text: World IBD Day

World IBD day is observed on 19th May every year in all countries and continents. IBD stands for Inflammatory Bowel Disease and on the similar lines this special day is dedicated to the IBD patients and their supporters. All the related organizations join hands to make the day a grand success and raise the underlying issues globally. They try to create more clarity about the subsequent effects of such diseases and their repercussions. There are more than 5 million people across the globe that are affected with such problems. Doctors and professionals organize various seminars to tell the society about the crucial diseases related to IBD and try to make the society healthy, fit and independent. The various research reports from the member countries show that these chronic diseases are spreading with a fast speed.

Source: Text & Image: Altius Directory

World Day of Celiac Disease – 16 May

17 mai 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: autoimmune disease, celiac disease, gluten, protein, symptoms

wheatBelgiumWhat Is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease is a genetic autoimmune disease which damages the small intestine. The small intestine is part of the gut which digests & absorbs nutrients from food. When the small intestine is damaged, the rate of nutrient absorption from food is reduced. Celiac disease can affect people in many different ways and symptoms vary in severity. Due to the large number of possible symptoms, there are 3 recognized types of celiac disease.

In many cases, where there are no noticeable symptoms, a person has ‘silent coeliac disease’.
People with ‘minor celiac disease’ have minor symptoms. These can include a wide range of symptoms such as indigestion, bloating, weight loss, and mild abdominal pain.

People with ‘major celiac disease’ have severe symptoms which can be of great discomfort. These may include ‘minor celiac disease’ symptoms which are more severe, and other symptoms such as stomach cramps, diarrhea and muscle spasms.
People with celiac disease are sensitive to gluten which triggers these symptoms. Gluten is a protein found in grains such as barley, wheat and rye. Consumption of gluten can affect the whole body.

Source: Text: What health  Image: Gluten Away

World Telecommunications Day – 17 May

16 mai 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: awareness, communication, International Telegraph Union ITU, internet, inventions, satellite, technologies, telephone

world-telecommunications-day-e1447499439563-808x380World Telecommunications Day celebrates the constant evolution of one of the most important factors of our lives: communication. The main goal of World Telecommunications Day (WTD) is to highlight the importance of communication and how information travels across the world. It also aims to increase awareness of how crucial communication is in our lives, and stimulate the development of technologies in the field.

The World Telecommunications Day is in tight connections with the International Telegraph Union (ITU), the committee formed in 1865 to support the emerging communication methods of the time. ITU was present throughout all the great breakthroughs in communication – the invention of the telephone in 1876, the launch of the first satellite in 1957 and, ultimately, the birth of the Internet in the 60s. Even though The International Telegraph Union has since changed its name to International Telecommunications Union, it still remains the most important entity in the field of communications, thus remaining in the spotlight at World Telecommunications Day.

Source: Text & image:daysoftheyear

World Hypertension Day – 14 May

13 mai 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: blood pressure, diabetes, diagnosis, diet, diseases, drugs, hypertension, obesity, treatment

WorldHypertensionDay_SmallThe WHD was first inaugurated in May 2005 and has become an annual event ever since. The purpose of the WHD is to promote public awareness of hypertension and to encourage citizens of all countries to prevent and control this silent killer, the modern epidemic. The theme for World Hypertension Day is Know Your Numbers with a goal of increasing high blood pressure (BP) awareness in all populations around the world.

Hypertension is very common indeed and hence a major public health issue. The prevalence is expected to increase considerably in the coming years. In 2000, the estimated number of adults living with high blood pressure globally was 972 million. This is expected to increase to 1.56 billion by 2025! Lifestyle factors, such as physical inactivity, a salt-rich diet with high processed and fatty foods, and alcohol and tobacco use, are reasons for this increased disease burden, which is spreading at an alarming rate from developed countries to emerging economies, such as India, China and African countries.

Adequate treatment of high blood pressure lowers this cardiovascular risk towards normal levels. However, the biggest problem for controlling hypertension is compliance with treatment. Despite very effective and cost-effective treatments, target blood pressure levels are very rarely reached, even in countries where cost of medication is not an issue. Sadly, many patients still believe that hypertension is a disease that can be ‘cured’, and they stop or reduce medication when their blood pressure levels fall to normal levels. Despite the availability of effective and safe antihypertensive drugs, hypertension and its related risk factors (obesity, high blood lipids, and diabetes mellitus) remain uncontrolled in many patients. One often talks about ‘the rule of the halves’: Only one half of the patients with high blood pressure in a population have been diagnosed, only half of those detected have been treated, and only half of those treated have been adequately treated to a normal blood pressure.

Source: Text & image: International Society of Hypertension

International Nurses Day – 12 May

12 mai 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Crimea, Florence Nightingale, nurses, Nurses Associations, student nurses

images-6
The U.S. celebrates National Nursing Week each year from 6 May to 12 May (the birthday of Florence Nightingale). Canada celebrates National Nursing Week each year during the week that includes May 12, which is Florence Nightingale’s birthday. The Canadian Minister of Health instituted National Nursing Week in Canada in 1985.

In the U.S., National Nurses Week was first observed from October 11–16, 1954 in honor of the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s mission to Crimea. President Nixon later proclaimed a « National Nurse Week » in 1974. In 1982, President Reagan signed a proposal officially designating May 6 as « National Recognition Day for Nurses, » now known as National Nurses Day or National RN Recognition Day. In 1990, the American Nurses Association (ANA) expanded the holiday into the current National Nurses Week celebrated from 6 May to 12 May.

images-22In 1997, at the request of the National Student Nurses Association, the ANA designated 8 May as National Student Nurses Day. In 2003, the ANA designated the Wednesday within National Nurses Week as National School Nurse Day. The National Association of School Nurses, however, claims that National School Nurse Day has been recognized since 1972.

Source: Text: Wikipedia; images: shoestring.agency

Fibromyalgia International Awareness Day – 12 May

11 mai 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: chronic fatigue CFS, fibromyalgia, ME

285380_10151259358697161_652560662_nMay 12 is ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia International Awareness Day.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), is characterized by substantial debility, which affects daily activities, and is accompanied by profound fatigue that is not relieved by rest. While varying by person, symptoms include post-exertional malaise, cognitive problems, unrefreshing sleep, and pain.

Researchers estimate that at least one million Americans have ME/CFS, but only 20% are diagnosed with the illness. Patients, families, employers, and society endure significant costs associated with ME/CFS. These costs are estimated to be $18-51 billion annually in the United States. Although most common in women, ME/CFS affects people of all ages, including children, and all races and ethnicities. Scientists have not determined the cause or causes of ME/CFS.

Source: Text: CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  Image: Facebook

Pentecost, C

11 mai 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: "under the influence", 1 Cor.12:12-13, 1 Cor.12:3-7, Acts 1:1-11, Holy Spirit

jeanbesset.unblog.fr“He is under the influence…” This expression has come to be used for someone “driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”
But is can be heard as well when speaking of a child acting “under the influence” of siblings or peers. Again a person seen as being weak in character will be said to be “under the influence” of anyone showing him or her some friendship.

Sadly, those examples have somehow a negative connotation but the expression itself need not be understood negatively. There are some good and positive influences. There are people who display some inspiring attitudes and generous behaviour and it is good to be under the influence of such men and women. We can sometimes see a brilliant student and people exclaim: “He is exactly like his Prof!” Or, those meeting a young artist painter or sculptor notice how he or she reproduces the skill of the famous master who trained him or her.

And today, on the Feast of Pentecost, it may be appropriate to think that we should be “under the influence” of the Holy Spirit, no less!

Of the apostles who, on the day of the first Pentecost, received this Spirit, the 1st reading (Acts 1:1-11) tells us: “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit”. And, in the 2nd reading (1 Cor.12:3-7,12-13), Paul reminds the first Christians of Corinth that the “Spirit was given to us all.” And this is valid for us as well.

To be under the influence of the Spirit means to allow him to inspire us, to mold us, to move us.  To lead us so that we may follow God’s way, take on God’s thoughts, adopt Christ’s values and imitate his attitudes – simply that, all of that!

Source: Image: jeanbesset.unblog.fr

World Fair Trade Day – 11 May

10 mai 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Climate change, coffee farmers, Fair Trade, global support, NGOs, sustainability standards, technological advances

 ISEAL Global Sustainability Standards ConferencefairTradeLogo
The 2016 Global Sustainability Standards Conference is the leading global event for those who support the uptake of credible sustainability standards. It will bring together over 250 sustainability leaders and experts from NGOs, government, business and academia to discuss the theme of Growing Impacts: Innovation and Evolution. The conference will look at how standards can harness technological advances, new tools and opportunities for collaboration so that they can evolve, improve impacts and scale up.

World Fairtrade ChallengeWorld
With the World Fairtrade Challenge millions of coffee lovers around the world can raise their cup to support small-scale coffee farmers. The goal is to achieve a record number of cups of Fairtrade coffee drunk within three days and to send a powerful message that small-scale coffee farmers have global support for their fight against climate change.

Source: Text & Image: Fairtrade international