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 Post Day – 9 October 2024

8 octobre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: awareness, business, communication, empowering, nations, social and economic development

World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October. The event was declared by the 1969 Universal Postal Congress in Tokyo as a means to mark the anniversary of the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) creation in 1874.

The purpose of World Post Day is to bring awareness to the Post’s role in the everyday lives of people and businesses, as well as its contribution to global social and economic development.

As a result, the UPU’s member countries are encouraged to organize their own national activities to celebrate the event, including everything from the introduction or promotion of new postal products and services, to the organization of open days at post offices, mail centres and postal museums.

To mark the 150th anniversary of the UPU, the World Post Day theme for 2024 is: « 150 years of enabling communication and empowering peoples across nations ».

 

Source: Text & Image: https://www.upu.int/en/universal-postal-union/outreach-campaigns/world-post-day

27th Sunday of Year B – 2024

4 octobre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: beloved brother, creed, Hebrews 2:9-11, recognize, relationship, same family, trust, understanding

There are some texts from the Bible which we know well –
we have heard, or read, some of Jesus’ parables many times and we are familiar with their message.
On the other hand, there are other texts that we do not recognize as easily.
Yet often, the message they offer us is striking and… more than a little encouraging!

This may be the case with the 2nd reading of today’s celebration (Hebrews 2:9-11).
The author of the epistle to the Hebrews says:

“Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family”.

And he adds immediately the logical conclusion:
“So, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters”.

If we pause a moment to realize what this means… it is quite astonishing!
It is, in a single sentence, the presentation of God’s incarnation – God has become a human being like us!
We are “of the same family”, indeed – God himself has chosen to be born of a woman of our race.

Every time we recite the Creed – which is, in fact, the summary of what we believe – we dare to say:
“I believe in Jesus Christ… conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary”.

So, Jesus acknowledges us – all of us – as his “brothers and sisters”.
Do we realize what this involves?

The question arises: Do WE recognize him as… our brother, truly so?…
Do we have with him a close relationship?
Do we turn to him with the spontaneous trust that we have in a beloved brother?

We may need to adjust our understanding of… who God is and, as we do, we may become truly inspired!

 

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/27e-dimanche-de-lannee-b-2024/

 

Source: Image: https://www.scripture-images.com/bible-verse/web/hebrews-2-11-web.php

International Day of Older Persons – 1 October 2024

1 octobre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: challenges, diseases, health, healthy active persons, independent, life expectancy, needs opportunities

Ageing is a natural phenomenon. The process has not often resulted in healthy active older persons who are still independent. As countries addressed communicable diseases and improved health and living conditions, a global trend for increase in life expectancy can be seen.  Health services must be inclusive of the needs of older persons.  The International Day of Older Persons, is commemorated on 1 October each year, to raise public awareness about the opportunities and challenges with ageing populations and to mobilize the families, community groups and stakeholders to address the difficulties faced by older people.

This year’s theme,  ‘Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide’ encourages the governments, policy makers and social services across the world for a concerted and sustained action to address the physical, social, psychological and health needs of older persons. The commemoration also underscores the importance of promoting healthy living conditions for elderly that respect the dignity, beliefs, needs, and privacy of older persons, and for the right to make decisions about their care and quality of their lives.

 

Source: Text: https://www.who.int/srilanka/news/detail/01-10-2024-ageing-with-dignity    Image: https://www.WHO+world+day+older+persons+1+october

International Day of the deaf – 29 September 2024

29 septembre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Abbe Charles Michel de L’Épée 18th cent., alphabet, attitudes, communication, culture, Gestuno, gestures, language, study

International day of the deaf. This day is celebrated worldwide on the initiative of the UN on the last Sunday of September, in honor of the establishment in 1951 of the International Federation of the deaf.

The beginning of the formation and development of societies deaf people in many countries has been made possible thanks to the meetings and associations of graduates of schools for the deaf.

The founder of facial communication method and a supporter of the language is considered to be the French of the Abbe Charles Michel de L’ÉPÉE, founded in the 18th century the world’s first Institute for the deaf in Paris. Since the beginning of the 19th century graduates of this institution, was built in the tradition of the birthday celebration de L’ÉPÉE. On the bicentennial anniversary of the birth of the great Frenchman, was invited many deaf people from different countries, and it became the first international meeting of the communities that initiated the contact.

On the planet about two and a half thousand tongues but there is one form of communication — language attitudes and gestures. In 50-ies of the world Federation of the deaf in order to maintain the international deaf events, we developed a special system of gestures, which he called Gestuno. In the first dictionary Gestuno, published in 1965, recorded 300 gestures, the third edition is already 1500.

Unlike Gestuno, the international language of gestures developed in a natural way, in the course of the study which noted the use of natural and iconic gestures, a large number of iterations, use drawings and labels, lexical and grammatical elements of national sign languages. Freer deaf and dumb man speaks the national language, the easier it is given to international communication.

A huge contribution to the development of sign language was made the General Secretary of the world Union of the Deaf Magicians, Simon Carmel. Carmel a long time exploring the life and culture of deaf people in different countries and is fluent in sign language. He is also the author of a book titled ‘international manual alphabet of the Deaf”, which describes 43 dactylic alphabet used in 59 countries around the world.

Source: Text & Image: Russian Events and Holidays

 

26th Sunday of Year B – 2024

27 septembre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Categories, classes, God's generosity, God's gifts, God's Spirit, God's ways, grades, Isaiah 55:8, Number 11:25-29, ranks

God’s ways are… so often different from what we expect…
Different and puzzling… we are tempted to question them…
In fact… they question us!

The text of today’s 1st reading does precisely this (Number 11:25-29).
In the scene described, we see the Jewish leader, Moses, and we are told that, on him, God’s Spirit rests.
God then decides to share his Spirit also with 70 elders who start to prophesy.

Then, two more men who, even absent from the group, are also invested with God’s Spirit.
They, too, are given the gift of prophesy.

A young man wonders about this…
So does Joshua who has been Moses’ assistant from his youth.
How can this be?
Elders are usually recognized as wise people, but who are those two men, Eldad and Medad, who remained in the camp…?
How is it that they are also enjoying God’s special gift?

God does not limit his choice to people we think deserve his gifts.
Categories, grades, classes, ranks, parameters – these are all human inventions!
God does not restrict his blessings according to our concepts.
He does not conform himself to our judgements so limited and often prejudiced…

God is a God of abundant, immeasurable generosity who enjoys pouring his blessings on human beings.
And, let’s be honest: none of us deserves them!

Many years after Moses’ death, the prophets will tell the people of Israel about this God – their God.
Through one of them, Isaiah, God will say:

“My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways” (Isaiah 55:8).

We must constantly remind ourselves of this…

 

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/26e-dimanche-de-lannee-b-2024/

 

Source: Image: https://www.scripture-images.com/bible-verse/web/numbers-11-26-web.php

World Dream Day – 25 September

25 septembre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: empower, highest potential, inspire, make positive changes, new realities, quality of the worle, take action

On this day, people around the world declare, share, celebrate and activate their dreams. Join in and make higher dreams for our world come true!

On World Dream Day, people all over the world are inspired to take action for their dreams. This day is a powerful reminder that we all have the ability to make positive change in our lives and in the world. By coming together and declaring our dreams, we create a force of positive change that can empower us all to achieve our highest potential.

THE 2024 EXPERIENCE: World Dream Day 2024 will be a time of personal and collective inspiration and upliftment. Together, we will elevate our vision of what’s possible and collectively prepare ourselves to BE the change we want to see, then go out and MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN! 

Dreams are the foundation for new realities. The quality of our dreams for the future create the quality of the world we inevitably will live in.

What dreams for the future are essential to lead us towards a world that works for all?

For World Dream Day 2024, we invite individuals, businesses, and communities to create the foundation for a brighter future, by dreaming the change, then becoming the change we want to see.

 

Source: Text & Image: https://worlddreamday.org/celebrate2024/

World Pharmacists Day – 25 September

25 septembre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: diagnostic tests, educating patients, global needs, health advice, public health, research, vaccines

“Pharmacists: Meeting global health needs”

World Pharmacists Day, organized by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), a WHO partner, is a day to recognize and celebrate the crucial role that pharmacists play in building healthier communities everywhere.

 Pharmacists are integral to our health-care systems, often being the first point of contact for health advice and primary health care, as well as addressing the health needs of our populations in many varied ways, including:

  • ensuring access to and providing guidance on essential medicines and medical devices, including diagnostic tests and assistive products;
  • providing expertise for patient care and public health;
  • promoting disease prevention, such as by administering vaccines, conducting health screening, educating patients, and helping to improve health literacy;
  • supporting public health campaigns;
  • participating in the research and development of new medicines;
  • leading in pharmacovigilance, for instance, ensuring the safety and efficacy of antibiotics and other medicines;
  • implementing greener ways of working and addressing the impacts of environmental factors on health;
  • advocating for policy changes that promote better health outcomes; and
  • as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists are at the forefront of addressing regional and global health crises.

 

Source: Text: https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/events/item/2024/09/25/default-calendar/world-pharmacists-day        Image: https://www.fip.org/world-pharmacists-day

International Day of Peace – 21 September 2024

21 septembre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: ceasefires, commitment, conflicts, cooperation, culture of peace, development, dialogue, education, weapons

2024 Theme: Cultivating a Culture of Peace

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace.

In that declaration, the United Nations’ most inclusive body recognized that peace “not only is the absence of conflict, but also requires a positive, dynamic participatory process where dialogue is encouraged and conflicts are solved in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation.”

In a world with rising geopolitical tensions and protracted conflicts, there has never been a better time to remember how the UN General Assembly came together in 1999 to lay out the values needed for a culture of peace. These include: respect for life, human rights and fundamental freedoms; the promotion of non-violence through education, dialogue and cooperation; commitment to peaceful settlement of conflicts; and adherence to freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, cooperation, pluralism, cultural diversity, dialogue and understanding at all levels of society and among nations.

In follow-up resolutions, the General Assembly recognized further the importance of choosing negotiations over confrontation and of working together and not against each other.

The Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) starts with the notion that “wars begin in the minds of men so it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed”. It is this notion that framed the theme and logo of this year’s observance of the International Day of Peace. The ideas of peace, the culture of peace, need to be cultivated in the minds of children and communities through formal and informal education, across countries and generations.

The International Day of Peace has always been a time to lay down weapons and observe ceasefires. But it now must also be a time for people to see each other’s humanity. Our survival as a global community depends on that.

 

Source: Text & Image: https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-peace

25th Sunday of Year B – 2024

20 septembre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: building the world, God's help, impossible dream, James 3-16 – 4:3, peace-loving, reality, righteousness, sincerity

If we could only dream for a while…
Just imagine…

A world where there is no envy or selfish ambition…
A world where no disorder or evil practice are to be found …
A world where wisdom inspires every thought…

In that world everyone is compassionate to all…
Impartiality and sincerity reign…
People are truly peace-loving…
And righteousness is ever present…

Some readers will soon interrupt and exclaim: IMPOSSIBLE!
This can only be… a dream!

Perhaps but… it could become reality, if only…
If only we were ready to work at building such a world…
If only we were willing to make this dream come true!

In fact, it is the way of life to which the apostle James is calling the first Christians.
We find his message in today’s 2nd reading (James 3-16 – 4:3).

Of course, it means overcoming our selfishness and thinking of others.
It calls for treating everyone as we like to be treated ourselves.
It involves freeing oneself from the inclination of focusing only of what is pleasing to us…

The apostle James warns that disorder and evil practices come from envy and selfishness.
Quarrels and fights follow, of course.
This is hardly an enjoyable perspective…

So, it may be worthwhile to dream… and to try to follow the way that offers a more promising life…
The impossible dream? Not with God’s help!

 

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/25e-dimanche-de-lannee-b-2024/

 

Source: Image: https://www.scripture-images.com/bible-verse/web/james-3-16-web.php

World Patient Safety Day – 17 September 2024:

17 septembre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: biases, communication, diagnosis, fatigue, getting right, patient, safety, stress, teamwork

« Get it right, make it safe! »

World Patient Safety Day is an opportunity to raise public awareness and foster collaboration between patients, health workers, policymakers and health care leaders to improve patient safety.This year the theme is “Improving diagnosis for patient safety” with the slogan “Get it right, make it safe!”, highlighting the critical importance of correct and timely diagnosis in ensuring patient safety and improving health outcomes.A diagnosis identifies a patient’s health problem, and is a key to accessing the care and treatment they need. A diagnostic error is the failure to establish a correct and timely explanation of a patient’s health problem, which can include delayed, incorrect, or missed diagnoses, or a failure to communicate that explanation to the patient.Diagnostic safety can be significantly improved by addressing the systems-based issues and cognitive factors that can lead to diagnostic errors. Systemic factors are organizational vulnerabilities that predispose to diagnostic errors, including communication failures between health workers or health workers and patients, heavy workloads, and ineffective teamwork. Cognitive factors involve clinician training and experience as well as predisposition to biases, fatigue and stress.WHO will continue to work with all stakeholders to prioritize diagnostic safety and adopt a multifaceted approach to strengthen systems, design safe diagnostic pathways, support health workers in making correct decisions, and engage patients throughout the entire diagnostic process.  

Source: Text: https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2024/09/17/default-calendar/world-patient-safety-day-17-september-2024    Image: Wikipedia