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 Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty – 17 October

17 octobre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: human rights, humanity, hunger, ignorance, poverty, respect, violence

On October 17, 1987,World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty , at the call of Father Joseph Wresinski , 100,000 human rights defenders gathered at the Parvis du Trocadéro in Paris to honor the victims of hunger, violence, ignorance and violence. To say their refusal of misery and call on humanity to unite to make respect for Human Rights..

A slab, proclaiming this message, was inaugurated on this occasion on the Parvis des Libertés and Human Rights, where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948.

Source: Text: Zyppia, NationalPedia Image:UN

 

 

World Food Day- 15 October

16 octobre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: agriculture, awareness, biodiversity, crisis, fishing, food, security, UN

World Food Day was first launched in 1945. The reason World Food Day was created was to celebrate the launch of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation.

The main principle which World Food Day celebrates is the furtherance of food security all over the world, especially in times of crisis. The launch of the Food and Agriculture Organisation by the UN has played a huge role in taking this worthy goal forward. Its annual celebration serves as a marker of the importance of this organisation and helps to raise awareness of the crucial need for successful agriculture policies to be implemented by governments across the world to ensure there is ample food available for everyone.

In recent years, World Food Day has used its annual day of celebration to focus on different aspects of food security and agriculture, including fishing communities, climate change and biodiversity.

Source: Text: DAYSoftheYEAR   Image: hah.hr

 

 

World Hospice and Palliative Care Day – 14 October

14 octobre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: carers, destitution, financial burden, health, illness, palliative care, poverty, suffering, UHC

The Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA) has announced the theme of this year’s World Hospice and Palliative Care Day and Voices for Hospices. The theme is: Universal Health Coverage and Palliative Care: Don’t leave those suffering behind!

World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is the global day of action for hospice and palliative care. It is taking place this year on 14 October 2017 to raise awareness of palliative care as a crucial, defining part of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

The sub-theme is: CARE, COUNT, COST.

CARE
It isn’t UHC without universal access to palliative care. Palliative care is an essential, defining part of Universal Health Coverage (promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services).

UHC means that all people and communities can use the promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services they need. We must bring UHC including palliative care to those who need it most.

COUNT
What gets measured gets done. We need to measure palliative care as part of UHC. 40 million people need palliative care annually including 20 million at the end of life. In 42% of the world’s countries there is ZERO availability of palliative care.

COST
No one should face destitution and poverty when they get sick. Paying for costly treatment or travel to treatment and care services as well as loss of income by the person who is ill or their carers can lead to financial risk. Palliative care can reduce the financial burden driven by serious chronic and life-limiting illness.

Source: Text: whpca.org  Image: International drug Policy Consortium

28th Sunday of Year A

12 octobre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: invitation, Jn.1:39, Jn.12:35, Jn.3:1-16, Jn.4:5-30), Jn.8:1-11, Jn.8:46), joy, Lc.10:25-37, Lc.18:18-23, Lc.19:1-10, Mt.22:1-14, Mt.9:9, not interested, wedding feast

On this Sunday (28th of Year A) we are given another of those parables well-known to us: the invitation to a wedding party (Mt.22:1-14).
Who would want to miss this? But, obviously, some people are not keen on the idea…
The gospel text says as much: “They were not interested…” (v.5)

Looking at the gospel narratives as a whole, I realize that many of the texts show us scenes of… INVITATIONS.
It is obvious for the first disciples, Andrew and John, who were told: “Come and see… (Jn.1:39).”
 
The invitation was addressed, in one form or another, to all the apostles.
Matthew, among others, was asked to leave his tax collector work and follow Jesus (Mt.9:9).
And all the others accepted as well to join the group of Jesus’ close followers.

Much later, Thomas was invited to a life of a faith which no longer admits of doubt: “Doubt no longer but believe” (Jn.21:27).

Nicodemus (Jn.3:1-16) was invited to be born anew…

The Samaritan woman (Jn.4:5-30) was invited (requested…) to give Jesus water so that, in turn, he may do the same for her, but giving water of a different kind.

The adulterous woman (Jn.8:1-11) was invited to a new life leaving behind her old ways: “Go away, and don’t sin anymore.”…

The scribe asking the question (Lc.10:25-37) about his ‘neighbour’ was invited – more still, was told – to “do the same…”

In subtle, and not so subtle ways (as in today’s parable), the Pharisees too had been invited: “If I speak the truth, why do you not believe me?” (Jn.8:46). “Walk while you have the light or the dark will overtake you” (Jn.12:35). But they stubbornly refused any such invitation.

And Zachée (Lc.19:1-10) had his own special invitation: in fact, Jesus invited himself to his place asking him to be his host. Quite an invitation! 

And then, there was the rich young man (Lc.18:18-23) invited to follow Jesus, but his attitude resembled very much that of today’s invited guests of the parable… “He turned away sad…” 

Every one of them had a choice to make, a decision to take – this is what invitations are about!

Looking at my own life, I can notice as well a whole series of invitations from God – I could make a long list of them.
And I guess that you could make such a list for yourself.

Some of those requests from God, I accepted… sometimes reluctantly, sometimes wholeheartedly.
It happened that I debated with myself and I had to overcome my laziness, my indifference, my ‘busy-ness’ with so many other concerns…
At times, to my shame I must admit that… I was not very much interested… God had to convince me with ways that are uniquely his!

And, I find myself today, still on the way – on the way to readily welcome God’s interventions in my life, for this is what his invitations are.
Interventions of his to help me grow in readiness and willingness to welcome him in my day-to-day life and experiences.
This is THE way to taste the deep JOY of sharing in this exceptional feast he has prepared for me!

Source: Images: Pinterest, crosswalk.com

World Mental Health Day – 10 October

10 octobre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: anxiety, awareness, disorders, education, health problems, illness, problems, schizophrenia, stigma

World Mental Health Day was established in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health. In some countries around the world, it forms just one part of the larger Mental Illness Awareness Week.

Mental health problems, ranging from issues like depression and anxiety disorders to conditions like schizophrenia, affect millions of people around the world. In fact, according to current statistics, 1 in 4 people will experience some kind of mental health problem during their lifetime and many more will see friends of family members affected.

The purpose of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues, increase education on the topic and attempt to eliminate the stigma attached. It is hoped that this, in turn, will encourage sufferers to seek help and support.

A number of fundraising events take place globally, so why not check if there is an event happening near you and show your support for this serious issue?

Source: Text: DAYSoftheYEAR   Image: Union of Students in Ireland

 

World Day for Decent Work – 7 October

7 octobre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: corporations, economy, governments, minimum wage, mobilisation, Oxfam, planet, standard of living, trade unions, wealth, workers

Since 2015, the richest 1% has owned more wealth than the rest of the planet (Oxfam).

71% of people say governments should work towards a pay rise for workers (ITUC Global Poll 2017).

80% of people say the minimum wage in their country is too low (ITUC Global Poll 2017).

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the World Day for Decent Work (WDDW), which will fall on 7 October. Millions of people have taken part in WDDW events since 2008, and this year will also be a day for global mobilisation: all the trade unions in the world will stand up for decent work.

Decent work must be at the centre of government actions to bring back economic growth and build a new global economy that puts people first. No action is too big or too small for the World Day for Decent Work – i.e. a table discussion, a huge demonstration, a protest letter, a flash mob action or something completely different.

This year, the global focus is on the world struggle for living minimum wages and a pay rise for all workers. Governments should heed the call from working women and men for decent wages, safe and secure jobs, and an end to greedy corporations setting the rules of the economy. This means ensuring that minimum wage-floors must be enough to ensure a decent standard of living, and that all workers must have the right to join a union and bargain collectively.

Source: Text & Image: International Trade Union Confederation

27th Sunday of Year A

5 octobre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: bad faith, behaviour, compassion, exclusion, Jesus, Mt.21:33-46, obstinacy, parable, Pharisees, pride, rejection, scorn, scribes, truth

The gospel narratives give us many parables of Jesus.
All of them are inspiring, some are challenging, others rather disturbing.
I think that the one in this Sunday’s gospel (27th Sunday, Year A – Mt.21:33-43) must have appeared very shocking to Jesus’ listeners.
And it was!

For us, 21 centuries later, the meaning is obvious and the words leave no doubt as to what Jesus wanted to say.
But I believe that the scribes, the Pharisees and the leaders of the people who heard the words of Jesus also had a rather clear picture of what he meant.
It was aimed at them – at their obstinacy in refusing to recognize him as God’s messenger.
In the verse following the parable we are told: “The chief priests and the scribes realised he was speaking about them” (v.45).

From the start they had challenged him, they opposed him, and they tried to trap him in all kinds of ways.
They saw all too clearly how his miraculous powers had a great influence on the crowds of people coming to hear him from all over the country.
They noted how his compassion for those whom they themselves despised was bringing more and more people to him.
“The crowd looked on him as a prophet but they would have liked to arrest him” (v.46).
A hard text, directed at people precisely hardened in their thoughts and settled in their ways – thoughts of pride and arrogance and ways of contempt and rejection.

Has the story, well-known as it is, anything to tell us in this day and age?
We like to believe that we would never have followed the ways of the Pharisees.
We would never have adopted such a behaviour as theirs.

Yet, one can wonder: are self-conceit, obstinacy, scorn, disdain, bad faith, exclusion, rejection,
are all these absent from our own attitudes in this or that situation?…
One can only wonder . . . and . . . possibly face an unpleasant truth never acknowledged until now.

Source: Image: LDS

World Teachers’ Day – 5 October

4 octobre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: education, status, teaching, UNESCO

On October 5, 1966, the Special Intergovernmental Conference on the Status of Teachers in Paris, France, was closed and the « Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers » was signed by representatives of UNESCO and International Labour Organization. On October 12, 1997, the 29th session of UNESCO’s General Conference was opened. During this conference, on November 11, 1997, the « Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher Education Teaching Personnel » was adopted.

On October 5, 1994, the first World Teachers’ Day was held. This event has been organized on the same date each year since then. However, local events may be on some other date close to October 5, so that they do not fall during fall (northern hemisphere) or spring (southern hemisphere) school vacations. In 2002, Canada Post issued a postage stamp to commemorate World Teachers’ Day.

Source: Text: timeanddate.com Image: Wayne Highlands School District

World Animal Day – 4 October

4 octobre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: animals, awareness, création, cruelty, ecologists, Heinrich Zimmermann, Saint Francis of Assisi, violence

It’s all about animals on October 04 – the World Animal Day (WAD). This is an international awareness day and puts the harm of animals caused by humans into the centre of attention. Often farm animals and pets are kept under bad conditions and neglected.

It was Heinrich Zimmermann, a German-Jewish author, who made an application to initiate a day dedicated to animals, in 1931 on the convention of ecologists in Florence. He had fought for animal rights for many years. His suggestion had been effectuated in shape of World Animal Day.

Animal rights groups support the rights of animals on a global basis on World Animal Day. They should be treated like living creatures and not as products or things. A species-appropriate husbandry means to care for medical treatment, feed them, and give them enough space and love. Extremely cruel treatments like violence, neglect or too long periods of transports are blasted. Very often animal homes, shelters and animal clinics organize open house on World Animal Day. Everyone shall be encouraged to rise up against cruelty towards animals.

World Animal Day takes place on the Saint’s day of Francis of Assisi. He was very fond of animals and godly monk. From his point of view even the smallest worm has to be seen as a creation of God and needs to be protected and honored. During his life he preached that animals are equal to humans and it is our sacred duty to protect them and treat them kind. That is exactly the basic idea of the modern World Animal Day.

Source: Texte:  www.cute-calendar.com  Images: Wikipedia, For Ever For Always No matter What

 

 

International Day of Non-Violence – 2 October

2 octobre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: awareness, force, Mahatma Gandhi, mankind, message, non-violence, philosophy, relevance, strategy

The International Day of Non-Violence is marked on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.

According to General Assembly resolution A/RES/61/271 of 15 June 2007, which established the commemoration, the International Day is an occasion to « disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness ». The resolution reaffirms « the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence » and the desire « to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence ».

Introducing the resolution in the General Assembly on behalf of 140 co-sponsors, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. Anand Sharma, said that the wide and diverse sponsorship of the resolution was a reflection of the universal respect for Mahatma Gandhi and of the enduring relevance of his philosophy.

Quoting the late leader’s own words, he said: « Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man ».

Source: Text & Image: UN

The sculpture « Non-Violence » by the noted Swedish sculptor Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, is a gift of the Government of Luxembourg to the United Nations. It’s a large replica of a .45 calibre revolver with a twisted barrel, to symbolize peace and non-violence. UN Photo/Pernaca Sudhakaran
The sculpture de Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, entitled “Non Violence” dates from 1985 and can be seen at Malmö.