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 of Solidarity with the Palestinian People – 29 November

29 novembre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: culture, partition of Palestine, rights, support

The United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is annually observed on November 29. The day is also known as Solidarity Day. 

Background
On November 29, 1947, the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine (resolution 181 (II)). On December 2, 1977, it was recorded that the assembly called for the annual observance of November 29 as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (A/RES/32/40 B). On December 1, 2003, the assembly encouraged member states to continue to provide support and publicity to observe the day. So the day was observed on December 1 in 2003.

The assembly also requested that the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat should continue to organize an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights or a cultural event with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations.

Source: Text: timeanddate.com Image: UNISPAL

World Day of Nursing Assistants – 26 November

26 novembre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: aging, Care, patience, predictability, stability, wisdom

Nursing Assistants: Specialists in the Art of Caring

Because they remain in care-giving positions, Career Nursing Assistants provide predictability and stability to care, which in turn enhances the feeling of security for our aging, frail or chronically challenged population.

Career Nursing Assistants also bring wisdom, patience, humor and a general attitude of caring to the daily lives of residents.

 

Source: Text & Image: National Network Nursing Assistants

 

International Day of the Bible – 24 November

24 novembre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Bible, change life, encourage, faithfulness, gift, honor God, hope, word of God

The First ‘International Day of the Bible’ was launched on November 24, 2014. Bible ministry groups across the country are asking people to read or promote scripture publicly or online at noon on Nov.24 in what’s been dubbed the first International Day of the Bible.

« This is a very simple act of faithfulness and honor to God about His word, » Richard Glickstein, president of the National Bible Association, told The Christian Post. « God’s word is meant to encourage us and bring us personal hope, but it is also meant to bring us together to realize that this is such a great gift … and trust that He can change our world through it. The words of God changed my life and continues to. It’s not our event, we hope it’s an event for the body of Christ and those who love God, come together and thank Him. »

The day is being sponsored by the National  Bible Association along with support from the American Bible Society and the YouVersion Bible app.

Source: Text: Amanda Casanova | Religion Today Contributing Writer | Friday, November 7, 2014. Image: American Bible Society

 

 

34th Sunday of the Year A – Feast of Christ the King

23 novembre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: 1 Cor.15:20-28, assistance, Care, commitments, encounter, king, kingdom, Matthew 25:31-46, needy, ompassion, recognise, see

It is interesting to note that, on this feast of Christ the King, the first and the 3rd readings do not speak of a king or a kingdom.

The 2nd reading of Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor.15:20-26.28) has a short reference to this theme when it speaks of the resurrection at the end of time when Christ will “hand over the kingdom to God the Father.”
We are told that this kingdom will be that of “those who belong to him.”

This is possibly where we can find the link with the gospel text: how are we to belong to Christ?
It is clearly spelled out in the text of Matthew: it is by welcoming Christ who came our way under the guise of the needy of all kinds.
If we have been able to recognize him in the hungry, the thirsty, the strangers, the sick, those in prison – all those in need of compassion and assistance, then we will find a place reserved for us in God’s home.

It is demanding indeed:
not to turn away,
not to pass by,
not to do as if we had not seen –
but precisely to SEE, and to RECOGNIZE, and to CARE.

We are busy people,
we have so many commitments and so little time,
so much to do and so little free spaces in our agenda,
so many engagements already and so few hours to spare for what is not listed in our ‘to do list’…

Perhaps, in our daily planning, it may be wise to leave a line for the unexpected encounter of some people – the very ones listed in Matthew 25:31-46…

Pic: newcreationchurch-sj.org

World Television Day – 21 November

21 novembre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: conflicts, impact, information, media, openness, peace, philosophy, radio, security, threats, transparency, UN, world population

The first World Television Forum was staged by the United Nations in the mid ’90s, and it was out of this event that World Television Day was born. The forum brought together leading figures from the media industry to analyze the growing impact that TV had on decision-making and public opinion when it comes to issues of peace and security around the planet.

The History of World Television Day
In December 1996 the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the 21st of November World Television Day, the same year the first World Television Forum was held. According to the United Nations, this decision was taken in order to give recognition of the increasing impact television has had on decision-making by bringing various conflicts and threats to peace and security to the world’s attention, as well as its coverage of other major issues, including economic and social. 

World Television Day is not meant to be so much a celebration of the electronic tool itself, but rather of the philosophy which it represents–a philosophy of openness and transparency of world issues. Television has long been thought to represent communication and globalization in the contemporary world. However, not all of the government representatives present saw matters quite that way.

The delegation from Germany said, “Television is only one means of information and an information medium to which a considerable majority of the world population has no access… That vast majority could easily look at World Television Day as a rich man’s day. They do not have access to television. There are more important information media and here I would mention radio in particular.”

Source: Text & Image: DAYSoftheYEAR

 

 

World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse – November 19

19 novembre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: abandonment, information, injury, maltreatment, neglect, prévention, victims, violence

In 2000, the Women’s World Summit Foundation (WWSF), a non-governmental organization, launched the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse on November 19. WWSF, along with an international coalition of advocacy organizations for women and children’s issues, mobilized governments and societies to take action and prevent child abuse. In 2001, APA, through its International Office, joined the coalition and also marked the day, November 19, as the World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse. APA developed the following fact sheet, « Violence Against Children in the US, » with information on violence against children in the US. It includes tips for identifying and preventing child abuse, with an outline of the association’s contributions to child abuse prevention.

Violence Against Children in the US

  • In 2004, an estimated 3 million children were alleged to have been victims of physical, sexual, verbal and emotional abuse, neglect, abandonment, and death. After investigations, almost 900,000 of these victims were found to have been victims of child maltreatment.
  • In the USA, Children are more likely to die from violence and neglect than from accidents. Child violence permanently disables 18,000 children and youth every year and seriously injures 565,000.
  • Violence and neglect against children kills more than 3 children every day in America. Most of the children who die are younger than six years of age. Of these fatalities, 85 percent were under the age of six; 44 percent of the children were under the age of one.
  • Almost 80 percent of the perpetrators are parents
Source: Text: American Psychological Association Image: ppaccentral.org

 

International Day for Tolerance – 16 November

16 novembre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: ages, civilizations, commitment, cooperation, cultures, differences, diversity, message, understanding, UNESCO

Background
In 1996 the UN General Assembly invited member states to observe the International Day for Tolerance on November 16, with activities directed towards both educational establishments and the wider public (resolution 51/95 of 12 December). This action came in the wake of the United Nations Year for Tolerance, 1995, proclaimed by the assembly in 1993 (resolution 48/126). The year was declared on the General Conference of UNESCO’s initiative. On November 16, 1995, the UNESCO member states adopted the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance and Follow-up Plan of Action for the year.

The 2005 World Summit Outcome document outlines the commitment of Heads of State and Government to advance human welfare, freedom and progress everywhere, as well as to encourage tolerance, respect, dialogue and cooperation among different cultures, civilizations and peoples.

Symbols
UNESCO’s logo, which features a temple including the UNESCO acronym (for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) within itself and the words “United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization” underneath the temple, is used for online or print promotional material associated with the International Day for Tolerance. The use of the complete name in English, in association with one or several other languages provides an explanation of the acronym of the organization. The six official languages of UNESCO are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

Images of people of all backgrounds, cultures and ages, which are assembled into a collage, are also used for the International Day for Tolerance to get the message across to people about understanding tolerance regardless of differences.

Source: Text and Image: timeanddate.com

 

33rd Sunday of Year A

16 novembre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: appreciation, compliment, doubt, efforts, faithful servant, fear of God, fear of judgement, God happy, good intentions, message, Mt.25:14-30, Saint John Marie Vianney

Do you like receiving compliments?
Most people do.
Very rare are those who are not happy when congratulated for something.
We usually enjoy the appreciation shown for what we have done.

And what if the appreciation comes from… God?
Yes, God does rejoice in what we do to please him.
You smile?… You doubt?…

The parable of Jesus in today’s gospel (33rd Sunday of Year A – Mt.25:14-30) says as much.
We often focus our attention on the reprimand given to the third servant.
We rush to the conclusion of the story thinking that this is where the ‘message’ will be found.

But personally, I find a message – and as important as the concluding one – in the words of the master to the first and the second servants:
“Well done, good and faithful servant…”
A statement that is a real compliment showing genuine appreciation!

It was probably unexpected and rather surprising coming from a master known to be:
“a hard man, reaping where he had not sown and gathering where he had not scattered.”
But the man knew how to recognize goodness and faithfulness when he saw them.

And God knows that also.
God is obviously NOT a harsh master demanding from us what we are unable to give.
In fact, our offerings to him are already his gifts to us!
Whatever we do to please him, he is the one enabling us to do it.
Yes, he is genuinely happy when he sees our good intentions.
He delights in our efforts to carry out what we discover is pleasing to him.

How far this picture of God is from that of a demanding and exacting master.
How remote from our misguided imagining which pictures him constantly checking on us to see where we may go wrong.
Yet, sad to say but… it can take a lifetime to correct our wrong ideas of God…

Saint John Marie Vianney – known as the Curé D’Ars – used to say that God is much more eager to forgive a sinner than a mother would be to take her child out of a fire!
And we fear his judgement, we are afraid of punishment!…

At the end of a day, when we have tried to do our best, it may be good to hear again – this time addressed to us – the words of the parable: “Well done, good and faithful servant…”

Source: Image: Pinterest

World Recycling Day – 15 November

15 novembre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: awareness, commitment, environment, landfill, recycled materials, social media, waste

America Recycles Day
 Each year on November 15, millions of people across the United States take part in America Recycles Day, a day which was created to raise awareness about recycling and the purchasing of recycled products.

How to observe
Recycle, buy recycled goods and help teach others the benefits of recycling and continue to do so each day! Use #AmericaRecyclesDay to post on social media.

History
America Recycles Day was started in 1997 by the National Recycling Coalition and is declared each year by Presidential Proclamation, encouraging Americans to commit to recycling.  Since 2009, this day has been a program of Keep America Beautiful.  There are thousands of events that are held across the United States to raise awareness about the importance of recycling and offering personal pledges that can be signed, committing to recycling and buying products made from recycled materials.

Source: Text & Image: America Recycles Day

In Canada, not only do we join in the World Recycling Day but we have a whole week dedicated to this.

Canadians generate a lot of waste. On average, every Canadian will generate 720 kg (1,587 lbs.) of waste that goes to landfill, which is equal weight to a full grown female giraffe. In the spirit of Waste Reduction Week in Canada here are ten easy take-action tips that will reduce our reliance on landfills and help you adopt more environmentally conscious choices.

Source: Text & Image wrw.com

World Diabetes Day – 14 November

14 novembre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: awareness, Care, education, epidemic, health, issues, risk, treatment, UN

World Diabetes Day is the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign reaching a global audience of over 1 billion people in more than 160 countries. The campaign draws attention to issues of paramount importance to the diabetes world and keeps diabetes firmly in the public and political spotlight.

World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by IDF and the World Health Organization in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat posed by diabetes. World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2006 with the passage of United Nation Resolution 61/225.

1 in 10 women are living with diabetes. Many do not have access to education, treatment and care.
1 in 7 births is affected by gestational diabetes.

 The World Diabetes Day campaign aims to:
Be the platform to promote IDF advocacy efforts throughout the year.
Be the global driver to promote the importance of taking coordinated and concerted actions to confront diabetes as a critical global health issue.

The campaign is represented by a blue circle logo that was adopted in 2007 after the passage of the UN Resolution on diabetes. The blue circle is the global symbol for diabetes awareness. It signifies the unity of the global diabetes community in response to the diabetes epidemic.

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella organization of over 230 national diabetes associations in 170 countries and territories. It represents the interests of the growing number of people with diabetes and those at risk. The Federation has been leading the global diabetes community since 1950.

Source Text & Image: Int. Diabetes Fed.@IntDiabetesFed   2nd Image: VectorStock