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.

 

World Pest Day – 6 June

6 juin 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: agriculture, chemical repellent, pesticides, rodent, traditional pest control

HISTORY OF WORLD PEST DAY

While pest control might be as old as agriculture, the first instance was not recorded until 3000 B.C. in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians applied biological control agents by introducing cats to manage rodent populations in their grain stores. They also introduced mongooses into homes to control rodents and snakes. In 2500 B.C., the Sumerians of Mesopotamia began using sulfur compounds as insecticides. In 1200 B.C., the Chinese employed predatory ants against pests such as beetles and caterpillars to protect citrus orchards. They also used botanical insecticides to treat seeds.

While there was a continued development in pest management during Medieval times in other parts of the world, Europe regressed and adopted superstitious tactics. However, that changed with the scientific awakening during the Renaissance. New chemical repellents were discovered, including nicotine and arsenic. In the 1700s, German physician Franz Ernst Brückmann invented a mechanical flytrap to capture various insects. Brückmann later invented the flea trap, which became a popular fashion accessory during Victorian times. In 1879, James M. Keep patented the first lethal mousetrap, which used a set of spring-loaded, cast-iron jaws. New chemical insecticides were developed between the late 1800s and after WWII, including D.D.T., herbicides, organophosphates, and chlorinated hydrocarbons.

During the 1960s, the public became aware of the harmful impacts of these chemical pesticides on the environment. That led to the re-emergence of biological control. Although chemical pest control is still the primary method for pest management today, people are beginning to take an interest in traditional and natural pest control. On June 6, 2017, the Chinese Pest Control Association pioneered the first World Pest Day, collaborating with the Federation of Asian and Oceania Pest Managers’ Association, the National Pest Management Association, and the Confederation of European Pest Management Associations.

WORLD PEST DAY TIMELINE

3000 B.C.
The First Biological Pest Control

Ancient Egyptians use cats to control the rodent population.

2500 B.C.
The First Insecticide

The Sumerians employ sulfur compounds as insecticides.

1879
The Mousetrap

James M. Keep patents the first lethal mousetrap.

2017
The First World Pest Day

The Chinese Pest Control Association launches World Pest Day at the Beijing Hotel.

 

Source: Text: https://nationaltoday.com/world-pest-day/    Image: Freepik

World Environment Day – 5 June 2023

5 juin 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: crisis, environmental deal, global agreement, microplastics, plastic, pollution, recycling

Solutions to plastic pollution

More than 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year worldwide, half of which is designed to be used only once. Of that, less than 10 per cent is recycled.

An estimated 19-23 million tonnes end up in lakes, rivers and seas annually. That is approximately the weight of 2,200 Eiffel Towers all together.

Microplastics – tiny plastic particles up to 5mm in diameter – find their way into food, water and air. It is estimated that each person on the planet consumes more than 50,000 plastic particles per year –and many more if inhalation is considered.

Discarded or burnt single-use plastic harms human health and biodiversity and pollutes every ecosystem from mountain tops to the ocean floor.

With available science and solutions to tackle the problem, governments, companies and other stakeholders must scale up and speed actions to solve this crisis.

This underscores the importance of this World Environment Day in mobilizing transformative action from every corner of the world.

Fifty years celebrating World Environment Day

Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and held annually on 5 June since 1973, World Environment Day is the largest global platform for environmental public outreach and is celebrated by millions of people across the world. In 2023, it is hosted by Côte D’Ivoire.

Did you know?

  • Some 11 million tonnes of plastic waste flow annually into oceans. This may triple by 2040.
  • More than 800 marine and coastal species are affected by this pollution through ingestion, entanglement, and other dangers.
  • A shift to a circular economy can reduce the volume of plastics entering oceans by over 80 per cent by 2040; reduce virgin plastic production by 55 per cent; save governments US$70 billion by 2040; reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent; and create 700,000additional jobs – mainly in the global south.
Source: Text: https://www.un.org/en/observances/environment-day   Image: University of Prince Edward Island

Faith in a global agreement to combat plastic pollution by 2024 

Last year, 175 UN Member States endorsed a historic resolution to end plastic pollution and forge an international legally binding agreement that

will be ready by the end of 2024. This is the most significant environmental multilateral deal since the Paris accord. It is an insurance policy for this generation and future ones, so they may live with plastic and not be doomed by it.

Source: Text & Image: UNEP 2023

World Bicycle Day – 3 June

3 juin 2023
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: city planners, cycling, healthy lifestyle, riders, safery, traffic, transportation

On June 3, World Bicycle Day targets individuals as a way to promote a healthy lifestyle, especially for those with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Organizers also target local governments to encourage them to improve road safety and integrate bicycling into transportation infrastructure planning and design.

Bicycles and the routes their riders are on the increase. They’re seen as a healthier, inexpensive and convenient mode of transportation, and they’re sharing the road with more traditional urban transit systems. City planners looking to alleviate the increased flow of automobile traffic encourage bicycles usage. In some cities, public transportation systems can’t handle the demand, so cities are beginning to accommodate bikes with improvements such as “bicycle-only lanes” and other improvements.

Did you know that according to transportation researchers, $50 billion is spent worldwide on bicycles each year – and that number is growing? On top of that, the U.S. cycling market is a $5.9 billion industry.  In many cities, dockless bicycle systems are fueling the popularity of bicycling. Dockless systems allow users to locate a bicycle nearby and unlock it electronically. Did you know that the fastest-growing bicycle type in the market right now is electric?

WORLD BICYCLE DAY HISTORY

The first World Bicycle Day was observed in 2019. In April 2018, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 3 as International World Bicycle Day.

 

Source: Text & Image: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/world-bicycle-day-june-3/

Feast of the Holy Trinity, Year A – 2023

2 juin 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: believe, christian doctrine, Exodus 34:4-6, Exodus 34:8-9, God Father Son Spirit, Scripture scholars, theologians

Most people want to know God.
People of all ages and situations, of various background and experiences, try to discover if there is a God and…
If such a being exists, who is he?

Some specialists publish what they know about God.
Theologians and scripture scholars present what they have found about him.
Their language aims at being precise but… their texts are not always clear for all of us.

This may be the case with the name of today’s feast: the Holy Trinity.
These words translate accurately the Christian doctrine: God is ONE in THREE PERSONS.
While Christians throughout the world express their faith in this God, some people may wonder about the deep meaning of this expression.

If one of them asked me: ‘But who is this God really?’
I would repeat the words we heard in today’s first reading –
What God said of himself to his servant and friend, Moses (Exodus 34:4-6,8-9):

« God passed in front of him (Moses) and called out,
“God, God, a God of mercy and grace, endlessly patient –
so much love, so deeply true –
loyal in love for a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin”. 

MERCY, GRACE, PATIENCE, LOVE, TRUTH, FORGIVENESS – this is God as he is,
as he wants to be known in the threefold presence of FATHER, SON, AND SPIRIT.     
        

Note: text is available on a different theme, in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/fete-de-la-trinite-annee-a-2023/

 

Source: Image: perfectinchrist.org

 

World Day for Responsible Tourism – 2 June

2 juin 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Aboriginal culture, big issues, economy, environment, indigenous land claims, landscapes, sustainability

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM IN CANADA

Everything is big here. Even the issues around responsible tourism in Canada. And although Canada has a reputation for being environmentally sensitive and caring for the land, it isn’t always true, especially when you look at the big picture. It is a huge resource extraction-based economy, particularly in the Arctic regions. But also with regards to logging, which still happens in a big way – even in places like Vancouver Island, where you will see massive areas just ‘clear cut’. Clearcutting, as opposed to selective cutting of lumber, is very controversial regarding its sustainability.
The other big issue is, of course, the Aboriginal culture, indigenous land claims and so on. Tourism is still slow to embrace Aboriginal communities and vice versa. So, just as your eyes will open wide when you first see the scope of Canadian landscapes, keep your eyes and ears open to the big issues too while you are there. They are still sensitive issues, and so tread carefully, but they are big all the same.
Source: Text: https://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/canada/travel-guide/responsible-tourism-in-canada    Image: Unesco.org

Global Day of Parents – 1st June

1 juin 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Children, growth, healthy environment, nurture, parenthood, parenting, relationship, role models

HISTORY OF GLOBAL DAY OF PARENTS

Parents are a beacon of a child’s life. They lay the foundation for children, and nurture and equip them with the skills that are necessary throughout life. Parents protect their children and make countless selfless sacrifices to ensure their growth. 

On Global Parents Day, children express their gratitude to their parents for all that they have done for them. Really, our relationship with our parents is the most important and true bond that most of us will ever have, and our parents’ dedication towards us is respected and cherished on this day. Those of us who have a friendship with our parents and are able to have a healthy relationship based on trust and respect rather than authority or strict guardianship are lucky. It is truly a blessing to have good parents. 

It goes both ways, with parents also recognizing that they have a primary responsibility towards their offspring and the importance of their roles in the development of their children. It is essential for a child to grow up in a healthy environment with healthy boundaries, and parents are the best role models for that. Studies show that trauma and emotional wounds sustained by a child greatly hinders their development and outlook on life, and are an overall barrier to achieving the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals. It may not seem much at face value, but parenting has an impact on economic prosperity and social development. 

During the 1980s, the United Nations started to focus on issues related to the family, and how the emotional- and mental well-being of a child branches out into other spheres of development on a large scale. On December 9, 1989, the General Assembly passed a resolution that proclaimed the year 1994 as the International Year of the Family. In another resolution in 1993, May 15 was decided on as the day for the observance of the International Day of the Families, every year. 

On September 17, 2012, the United Nations declared June 1 as the day to observe Global Day of Parents. The day aims to stimulate awareness of the importance of parenthood and its role in providing protection and the tools needed for positive development in children. Parents are, after all, the first teachers and human interaction that a child is exposed to. Community leaders, parents, children, teachers, and family organizations get together in celebrating the day and promoting effective parenting.

 

Source: Text: https://nationaltoday.com/global-day-parents/    Image: pexels (Vidal Balielo Jr.)

World Multiple Sclerosis Day – 30 May

30 mai 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: awareness, diagnosis, MS, research, resources, support, support systems

World Multiple Sclerosis Day on May 30th creates an opportunity to boost awareness and connect those with MS to resources and improve support systems.

#WorldMultipleSclerosisDay

As one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system, Multiple Sclerosis impacts more than 2.3 million people around the world according to the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation.  The term multiple sclerosis means “many scars,” and this term relates to the areas that appear on the brain and spinal cord after the myelin covering our nerves is damaged or dies. The damaged myelin leaves a lesion behind. These lesions are identified by an MRI when symptoms begin to appear.

The resulting symptoms vary and progress at different rates for each person diagnosed with MS. The disease is unpredictable, progressive, and challenging to diagnose. The cause is also unknown.

While there is no cure, treatments are advancing to help slow the progression of MS and reduce the symptoms. As with many conditions, education, research, and funding are necessary.

 

Source: Text: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/world-multiple-sclerosis-day-may-30/    Image: National Day

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers – 29 May

29 mai 2023
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: courage, dedication, pay tribute, peacekeeing, professionalism, UN

Background

The General Assembly, in its resolution 57/129, designated 29 May as the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. This is the date when in 1948 the first UN peacekeeping mission named the « United Nations Truce Supervision Organization », or UNTSO, began operations in Palestine. On this day, we pay tribute to the professionalism, dedication and courage of all the men and women serving in UN peacekeeping operations, and honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace.

Since the first UN Peacekeeping mission was established in 1948, 3,800 military, police and civilian personnel have lost their lives in the service of peace as a result of acts of violence, accidents and disease. On 29 May, UN offices, alongside Member States and non-governmental organizations, hold solemn events to honour fallen peacekeepers.

At the UN Headquarters in New York, the Secretary-General presides over a wreath-laying ceremony in honour of all peacekeepers who lost their lives while serving under the UN flag. In addition, the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal is awarded posthumously to the peacekeepers who have fallen while serving in the cause of peace, during the preceding year.

UN Peacekeeping operations use the Day to strengthen bonds with the local populations that they have been deployed to serve. For example by holding sporting events, school and orphanage visits, art and essay competitions, photo exhibits, neighbourhood clean ups, tree plantings, concerts, and conferences and workshops on peace issues.

 

Source: Text & Image: https://www.un.org/en/events/peacekeepersday/background

 

Feast of Pentecost, Year A – 2023

26 mai 2023
Nicole Gregoire
2 Comments
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Abba, Acts 2:1-3, dove, Genesis 1:2, Jean 3:8, Matthew 3:16, Romans 8:15, Spirit of God, tongues of fire, wind, wisdom

People think about God… and they talk about God…
Some ask the question whether God exists…
Others wonder about him… Who is he really?…

Professors explain his attributes with expertise,
Scripture scholars search ancient documents to know more about him, as they should…
Theologians teach about his nature and his relation to human beings, of course…
Wise people continue to reflect about what they hear…

It may be appropriate to remind ourselves that…
GOD is NOT
                      a thought
                     a theme
                     a thesis…

He is not the product of our imagination, he is beyond all we can think of.
He is a PERSON really and truly.

Such a reflection is relevant on this feast of Pentecost.
It is significant because it is precisely in ‘signs’ or ‘symbols’ that we can speak of God’s Spirit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Different Bible texts evoke his presence:

  • “hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2).
  • “descending like a dove and alighting on Jesus” after his baptism in the Jordan (Matthew 3:16).
  • Like “the wind (that) blows where it wishes… So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit”, in the words of Jesus to Nicodemus (John 3:8).
  • “When the day of Pentecost came… they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that came to rest on each of them” (Acts 2:1,3).

Sings, symbols, evocation… leading to the perception of God’s Spirit who alone can reveal himself to us.

A lifetime attuned to this Spirit,
moving under his guidance,
transformed by his presence…

The Spirit enlightening our own spirit,
gently blowing within us his wisdom,
teaching us to speak ‘Abba’ with the unique accent of his children… (Romans 8:15)

This is what this celebration is about.
      

Another text is available on a different theme, in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/fete-de-la-pentecote-annee-a-2023/

 

Source: Images: pexels.com (Cesar Coni)   3-Minute Bible Studies    pexels.com (Indonesia Nature)    Living in the Spirit

 

World Turtle Day – 23 May

23 mai 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: endangered species, environment, extinction, protect, reptiles, tortoises

Turtles are a type of reptile that exists in many environments throughout the world and have found their way into literature, poetry, and parable throughout the world’s history. World Turtle Day celebrates these noble reptiles and their place in the world and encourages people to take action to help protect both the common pet turtle and the ever endangered sea turtle.

History of World Turtle Day

Well, the first thing to know is that Turtles and Tortoises are not the same thing, though this day is dedicated to celebrating and protecting both. First created in 1990 by American Tortoise Rescue, World Turtle day recognizes that some species of our hard (and soft!) shelled friends are suffering and almost on the edge of extinction due to environmental hazards, issues with hunting and harvesting of their eggs.

American Tortoise Rescue was created by Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson, a married pair of animal activists who had a particular passion for tortoises. We all have to have something that drives us in this life, and for these two it was bonding over animal right’s activist work. Don’t think these two are just closet hippies with an overwhelming adoration for all things shelled and scaly.

Susan is deeply involved with television arts & sciences and the public relations society of America while being a partner in Tellem Grody Public Relations Incorporated. They organize charity collections and works around the world to help protect these amazing critters, and created World Turtle Day to get everyone involved and spread awareness of the shrinking habitat and declining numbers of these sensitive creatures.

So what is the difference between turtles and tortoises? Although they are both reptiles, the main difference between the two is that turtles live in the water at least some of the time, while tortoises live on the land. Because they live in the water, turtles have streamlined and mostly flat shells, while tortoises often have larger and more domed ones.

Our tortoise friends can also live longer than their reptilian cousins. Tortoises can live over 300 years, although their average lifespan can go up to around 150 years. Turtles live up until the age of 40, although one record-breaking turtle almost lived to the age of 90!

 

Source: Text: https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/turtle-day/    Image: National Today