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 Persons with Disabilities – 3 December 2017

3 décembre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: agents of change, awareness, humanitarian action, inclusion, résilience, risk reduction, sustainable development, transformation

The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3 in 1992. It aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of on the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

Building on many decades of UN’s work in the field of disability,  the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, adopted in 2006, has further advanced the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other international development frameworks, such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action, the New Urban Agenda, and  the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development.

The theme for this year’s IDPD is “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all”.

The 2030 Agenda pledges to “leave no one behind”. Persons with disabilities, as both beneficiaries and  agents of change, can fast track the process towards inclusive and sustainable development and promote resilient society for all, including in the context of disaster risk reduction and humanitarian action, and urban development. Governments, persons with disabilities and their representative organisations, academic institutions and the private sector need to work as a “team” to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Source: Text: UN Image: idpwd.com.au

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery – 2 December

2 décembre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: chidren, debt bondage, forced labour, forced marriage, freedom, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, threats, victims, violence, Women

Slavery is not merely a historical relic. According to the  International Labour Organisation (ILO) more than 40 million people worldwide are victims of modern slavery. Although modern slavery is not defined in law, it is used as an umbrella term covering practices such as forced labour, debt bondage, forced marriage, and human trafficking. Essentially, it refers to situations of exploitation that a person cannot refuse or leave because of threats, violence, coercion, deception, and/or abuse of power.

In addition, more than 150 million children are subject to child labour, accounting for almost one in ten children around the world.

Facts and figures:

An estimated 40.3 million people are in modern slavery, including 24.9 in forced labour and 15.4 million in forced marriage.

There are 5.4 victims of modern slavery for every 1,000 people in the world.

1 in 4 victims of modern slavery are children.

Out of the 24.9 million people trapped in forced labour, 16 million people are exploited in the private sector such as domestic work, construction or agriculture; 4.8 million people in forced sexual exploitation, and 4 million people in forced labour imposed by state authorities.

Women and girls are disproportionately affected by forced labour, accounting for 99% of victims in the commercial sex industry, and 58% in other sectors.

ILO has adopted a new legally binding Protocol designed to strengthen global efforts to eliminate forced labour, which entered into force in November 2016.

The 50 for Freedom campaign aims to persuade at least 50 countries to ratify the Forced Labour Protocol by 2018.

Source: Text: UN Image: Ecpat.UK

World AIDS Day – 1st December

1 décembre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: awareness, discrimination, education, facts, health, HIV, money, pandemic, prejudice, reality

What is World AIDS Day?
World AIDS Day is held on 1 December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day and the first one was held in 1988.

 Why is World AIDS Day important?
Around 100,000 are currently living with HIV in the UK and globally an estimated 34 million people have HIV. More than 35 million people have died from the virus, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.

Today, many scientific advances have been made in HIV treatment, there are laws to protect people living with HIV and we understand so much more about the condition. But despite this, people do not know the facts about how to protect themselves and others from HIV, and stigma and discrimination remain a reality for many people living with HIV. World AIDS Day is important as it reminds the public and Government that HIV has not gone away – there is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education.                                                    

Source: Text & Image: Awareness Days UK

1st Sunday of Advent, Year B

30 novembre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: awake, awareness, Jesus, meaning, message, Mk. 13:33-37, option, relationships, season, wake up call

Many of us will have heard the words of a friend calling on his friend : “Wake up! I am talking to you!”
Or, someone addressing a colleague with insistence: “Wake up! I am speaking to you about something important.”
In both cases, what we hear is a ‘wake up call’, literally so.

In some way, we could say that such a ‘wake up call’ is one of the main themes of the Advent period starting today.
A message is addressed to us inviting us to come out of our slumber – mental and spiritual – and to pay attention to what is happening around us and within us too.

In today’s gospel (Mk. 13:33-37), it is Jesus himself who tells us: “Stay awake”!
And addressing his twelve friends, he adds:

“What I say to you I say to all: ‘Stay awake’.”
 
There is a word that, in form and in meaning, is quite similar to the word awake;
It is the word: ‘aware’.
It is good to look at them together and find there the deep meaning of this season of Advent.
In is a time when we should be especially aware – aware of what is taking place around us, aware of what is happening within us.

Aware of God’s message coming to me every day through events and people.
Aware of what I live from day to day, compared to what I would like to live.
Aware of what I do, which may be quite different from what I know I should be doing.
Aware of how I relate to others, and getting to realize that my relationships could be more mutually enriching.

Aware also of what could happen… if only we allow God to reach us and walk with us!
He who chooses the amazing option of becoming a human being like us!
Aware of how close, or how far, I am from him who wants me to live more intimately with him.

Advent: Awake and Aware: the attitude characteristic of this graced season.

Source: Image: lds.org

Note: Another reflection is available in French on a different theme at: https://image-i-nations.com/1er-dimanche-de-lavent-annee-b/

and a video presentation can be seen at: https://image-i-nations.com/1er-dimanche-de-lavent-annee-b-quil-revele/

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