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World Lion Day – 10 August

World Lion Day on August 10 aims to raise awareness about the plight faced by lions. Scientifically known as ‘Panthero Leo,’ lions are one of the most well-known  popular animal species out there. They are called the ‘Kings of the Jungle’ due to their arresting and fearsome personalities created by their great bodies and heavy, shiny manes. A lion’s powerful roar is second to none, and it can be heard even five miles away. Owing to the pop culture icons like Simba from “The Lion King”, lions are also loved by children. However, while lions existed in large populations 100 years ago, today, their numbers are just below 50,000 worldwide as a result of poaching and hunting. World Lion Day, therefore, brings attention to this endangered species by raising funds and ramping up protective measures.

The lion comes from the ‘Felidae’ family of cats, and it is considered to be an apex predator. It is the second-largest cat weighing around 300 to 600 pounds, with the first being its cousin, the tiger. An average lion’s body is muscular with a short round head and ears, and a tufty tail. Its sex can be identified through its heavy and luscious mane, which are absent on lionesses. Lions also happen to be the only cats who roam around in large groups known as prides. Scientists believe that lions do so because it is easier to catch prey in the wild. Their natural habitats are savannas and grasslands. You will most likely find a pride of lions near water bodies as they strategically wait for prey to come there for a drink and then pounce on them.

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Lions have freely roamed the Earth across Asia, Africa, Middle East, and Europe as far back as 3 million years ago. But now, they are listed as vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. Although they are still not classified as endangered species, lions still face a lot of obstacles for their survival.

Right now, there are about 30,000 to 100,000 lions in our planet. Over the past few decades, the population of lions have decreased by half. This was caused by widespread loss of their habitat as well as trophy farming.

 

Source: Text: https://nationaltoday.com   dayfinders.com     Image: dayfinders.com

World Ocean Day – 8 June 2022

Every year on June 8, World Ocean Day is commemorated to remind people of the importance of the oceans and the major role they play in everyday life. According to the United Nations, the day intends to raise awareness about the impact of human activities on the oceans and to create a united movement for the species of the ocean. Besides, the day is also observed to make raise public awareness of the ocean and its resources in order to promote global ocean and resource sustainability. The day intends to highlight the various resources that mankind derives from the ocean, as well as the various threats that the ocean faces. 

World Ocean Day: Significance

The day offers a unique opportunity to not only honour, but also to conserve and safeguard our oceans. The United Nations data suggests that the ocean produces at least 50% of the oxygen and it is also termed as the « lifeline of planet Earth. » The oceans also absorb more than 30% of carbon dioxide, mitigating the effects of global warming. They also produce a wide variety of goods and services that are crucial to our health, economies, and weather. According to the UN, the ocean is key to the global economy with an estimated 40 million people expected to be employed by ocean-based industries by 2030.

World Ocean Day: Theme

The theme for World Oceans Day in 2022 is « Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean. » The focus of this year’s theme is on the ocean’s role in sustaining life and livelihood. Plastic garbage being dumped into the oceans is becoming a matter of great concern as it is damaging the life there and putting the ocean’s inhabitants at risk. This year on the occasion of World Ocean Day, the UN will organise the first hybrid celebration of the event, which will be broadcast live from the UN Headquarters in New York.

 

Source: Text: Republicworld.com   Image: UN

World Social Communications Day – 29 May 2022

Instituted at the initiative of the Catholic Church, at the end of Vatican Council II, the day of social communications manifested at the time the awareness of the social issues (moral and spiritual) that represented the means of communication of the mass.

To say that the situation has changed for 40 years is obvious, and the fact that you read this manual directly on your computer quickly makes you aware of how far you have come. The theme chosen for World Social Communications Day in 2011 was “Truth, proclamation and authenticity of life in the digital age”. In 2013, she is interested in social networks. In 2014, it focuses on “Communication at the service of a genuine culture of meeting”.

Every year, the Holy See publishes a message on the occasion of this day, to be found directly on the official website of the Vatican. 

Source: Text: vdio.com   Image: Depositphotos

Here are a few paragraphs from Pope Francis’ message for this year:

Dear brothers and sisters,

Last year we reflected on the need to “Come and See” in order to discover reality and be able to recount it beginning with experiencing events and meeting people. Continuing in this vein, I would now like to draw attention to another word, “listen”, which is decisive in the grammar of communication and a condition for genuine dialogue.

In fact, we are losing the ability to listen to those in front of us, both in the normal course of everyday relationships and when debating the most important issues of civil life. At the same time, listening is undergoing an important new development in the field of communication and information through the various podcasts and audio messages available that serve to confirm that listening is still essential in human communication.

A respected doctor, accustomed to treating the wounds of the soul, was once asked what the greatest need of human beings is. He replied: “The boundless desire to be heard”. A desire that often remains hidden, but that challenges anyone who is called upon to be an educator or formator, or who otherwise performs a communicative role: parents and teachers, pastors and pastoral workers, communication professionals and others who carry out social or political service.

Listening with the ear of the heart

(…) We all have ears, but many times even those with perfect hearing are unable to hear another person. In fact, there is an interior deafness worse than the physical one. Indeed, listening concerns the whole person, not just the sense of hearing. The true seat of listening is the heart. Though he was very young, King Solomon proved himself wise because he asked the Lord to grant him a “listening heart” (cf. 1 Kings 3:9).

Source: Text: Vatican.va

 

 

World Fish Migration Day – 21 May

Global awareness raising event

World Fish Migration Day (WFMD) culminates every two years in a global celebration to create awareness about the importance of migratory fish and free-flowing rivers. This international day of events is coordinated by the World Fish Migration Foundation. On World Fish Migration Day, organizations from around the world coordinate their own event around the common theme of: CONNECTING FISH, RIVERS AND PEOPLE. And this year it’s all about breaking free.

After a year of lockdowns, we all want to break free. With millions of man-made barriers littering the world’s waterways, migratory fish do too! This year we want to celebrate the hundreds of dam removals executed and planned in recent years, and encourage fish heroes far and wide to advocate for free flowing rivers, the removal of barriers, and the return of rivers full of fish! Let’s Break Free!

Source: Text: World Fish Migration Day     Image: RiverWatch

International Jazz Day – 30 April 2022

World Jazz Day: India’s Astonishing Links With the Music Genre International Jazz Day is celebrated every year around the world on 30 April. This day is observed to promote Jazz and raise awareness about its significance.

As per the official website of the United Nations (UN), Jazz is recogniSed for promoting peace, dialogue among cultures, diversity, and respect for human rights and human dignity, eradicating discrimination, promoting freedom of expression, fostering gender equality, and reinforcing the role of youth for social change.

On International Jazz Day, people from all around the globe come together to celebrate this important art form, learn about its roots, history, impact, and future.

International Jazz Day 2022 Theme

The theme for International Jazz Day 2022 is ‘A Call for Global Peace and Unity’. It focuses on the importance of unity and peace through dialogue and diplomacy.

International Jazz Day Quotes

“If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.”   ― Louis Armstrong

« Life is a lot like jazz… it’s best when you improvise. » – George Gershwin

« Jazz to me is a living music. It’s a music that since its beginning has expressed the feelings, the dreams, hopes, of the people. » – Dexter Gordon

« Diplomacy is like jazz: endless variations on a theme. » – Richard Holbrooke

« Jazz is about being in the moment. » – Herbie Hancock

« That’s the thing about jazz: it’s free-flowing, it comes from your soul. » – Billy Crystal

“Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life.” – Art Blakey

Source: Text & Image: The Qwint World

World Intellectual Property Day – 26 April 2022 

The 26th of April is celebrated as World Intellectual Property Day, which aims to raise awareness of the value of intellectual property (IP).

World Intellectual Property Day 2022:  Every year, on April 26, people throughout the world celebrate World Intellectual Property Day. The purpose of the day is to create public awareness about the importance of intellectual property rights, including patents, copyright, trademarks, and designs. Societies all across the world employ intellectual property (IP) rights to foster innovation and creativity.
This year World IP Day puts innovation and supports the efforts to create a green future. It is a need to care for our earth our home. Initiated by the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO), it aims to enhance innovation and creativity through IP. It is also known as World IP Day.
Source: Text: ZeeNews  Image: republicworld.com

World Kidney Day – 9 March 2023


About the Day

World Kidney Day is a global campaign aimed at raising awareness of the importance of our kidneys.

World Kidney Day comes back every year. All across the globe many hundred events take place from public screenings in Argentina to Zumba marathons in Malaysia. We do it all to create awareness. Awareness about preventive behaviors, awareness about risk factors, and awareness about how to live with a kidney disease. We do this because we want kidney health for all.

World Kidney Day is a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology  (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF).

Our Mission

World Kidney Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to our overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.

Our Objectives

  • Raise awareness about our “amazing kidneys” Highlight that diabetes and high blood pressure are key risk factors for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
  • Encourage systematic screening of all patients with diabetes and hypertension for CKD.
  • Encourage preventive behaviours.
  • Educate all medical professionals about their key role in detecting and reducing the risk of CKD, particularly in high risk populations.
  • Stress the important role of local and national health authorities in controlling the CKD epidemic. On World Kidney Day all governments are encouraged to take action and invest in further kidney screening.
  • Encourage Transplantation as a best-outcome option for kidney failure, and the act of organ donation as a life-saving initiative.

 

Source: Text & Image: www.worldkidneyday.org

World AIDS Day – 1 December 2021

World AIDS Day brings together people from around the world to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and demonstrate international solidarity in the face of the pandemic.

The day is an opportunity for public and private partners to spread awareness about the status of the pandemic and encourage progress in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care around the world. It has become one of the most widely recognized international health days and a key opportunity to raise awareness, commemorate those who have died, and celebrate victories such as increased access to treatment and prevention services.

On 1 December 2021, WHO is calling on global leaders and citizens to rally to confront the inequalities that drive AIDS and to reach people who are currently not receiving essential HIV services.

 

Source: Text: WHO  Images: hiv.gov    unaids.org

World Oceans Day – 8 June 2021

« Love ocean, he will not betray you. »

On June 8, the entire world comes together for the largest water body surrounding us, which is the ocean. It is an important part of our earth as it provides us with water, the most integral element that we need in our daily lives.

However, over the years, the oceans have to bear the brunt of man-made destruction. From industrial waste to throwing unwanted litter, its degradation is destabilizing the earth’s dynamics with its natural resources that will lead to an eventual and unfortunate end.

Therefore, it becomes all the more important to save the oceans around the world.

World Ocean Day History

This was first suggested in 1992 during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The aim behind this was to not only celebrate the vast water body and its benefits in our lives but also to raise awareness about what can be done to make it a part of sustainable development. On December 5, 2008, a resolution was passed by the UN General Assembly to designate this day.

World Ocean Day Significance

UNESCO states that this day is observed to remind everyone that oceans are the lungs of our planet. Awareness is raised about how to conserve it and rescue it from the eventual degradation that is caused by our careless activities. Therefore, World Ocean Day is celebrated for this reason all across the world.

World Ocean Day Theme

This year, the theme of World Ocean Day is ‘The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods’. Owing to the pandemic, all the celebrations today will happen virtually.

World Ocean Day Quotes

  1. “Faith is knowing there is an ocean because you have seen a brook.” —William Arthur Ward
  2. « No water, no life. No blue, no green. »- Sylvia Plath
  3. « There is going to be no life. We are going to save our oceans. On the occasion of World Oceans Day, Let us join hands to save them. Happy World Oceans Day. »
  4. « You will love the ocean. It makes you feel small. But not in a bad way. Small because you realize you’re part of something bigger. »- Lauren Myracle
  5. Ocean is more ancient than the mountains, and freighted with the memories and the dreams of Time. – H. P. Lovecraft
  6. .Being out there in the ocean, God’s creation, it’s like a gift he has given us to enjoy. – Bethany Hamilton
  7. To me the sea is a continual miracle; The fishes that swim–the rocks–the motion of the waves–the ships, with men in them. What stranger miracles are there? – Walt Whitman

 

Source: Texte: www.timesnownews.com.    Image: latestly.com

4th Sunday of Easter, Year B – 2021

It happens that, all of a sudden, two children start quarreling while each one claims:
“My father is stronger than yours.”
Or, “My father is more clever than yours, he can do this and that…”

We smile at such a behavior and we understand clearly that what is at stake is
the child’s pride at being the son, or the daughter, of that father who is so strong, so clever!

The 2nd reading of this Sunday (4th Easter Sunday, year B) is very short (1 John 3:1-2).
Yes, the text of John’s first epistle given to us has only two verses but they express an amazing message.
They invite us to become aware of who we are.

“Beloved, now are we the children of God.”
 
Probably, most of you reading these lines have been baptized long ago.
Has it ever happened to you, even only once, that you said to yourself:
I AM the child of God?
Have you ever had this experience of a sudden flash of awareness prompting you to exclaim:
“But it is true, I AM God’s son, God’s daughter!”?

If you have, I would venture to think that you still remember that occasion as a blessed experience.
This Sunday may be a good moment to recapture this graced happening and… repeat it with renewed thanksgiving to HIM – your Father…

 

Note: Another reflection on a different theme is available in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/4e-dimanche-de-paques-annee-b-2021/

 

 Source: Image: Inspirational Bible Verse Images – Knowing Jesus