The word solstice is derived from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still). As seen from Earth, the Sun's daily path appears to stand still at a northern or southern limit before reversing direction when the Sun reaches its most northerly or southerly day-arc relative to the equator. Two solstices occur annually. One […]
Public service refers to the supplying of a commodity (e.g., water, electricity, gas) or service (e.g., welfare, transportation) to any or all members of a community, in the public interest and (usually) under government employment. Public Service Day is to celebrate the value and virtue of public service to the community, highlight the contribution of […]
Of the estimated 258 million widows globally, near one in ten live in extreme poverty and many face the additional problems of violence, ill-health and conflict-related situations. Established in 2011, International Widows Day is to listen to the voices and experiences of widows and to achieve full rights and recognition for widows. Governments are to […]
Day of the Seafarer is to recognise the contribution made by 1.5 million seafarers to international trade and the world economy, often at great personal cost to themselves and their families. Ships carry more than 90% of world trade safely, efficiently and with minimal impact on the environment. Issues facing the modern-day seafarer include piracy, […]
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) counters illegal drugs, organised crime, corruption and terrorism globally. According to the World Drug Report, a global overview of the supply and demand of opiates, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine-type stimulants and new psychoactive substances: drug use is on the rise, with an estimated 269 million users in […]
Torture and other forms of cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment seek to annihilate personality and deny the inherent dignity of a human being. Though prohibited under international law and totally unjustified, torture persists in all regions of the world. Its pervasive consequences go beyond vile acts on an individual and can be transmitted through generations, […]
According the International Council for Small Business (ICSB), formal and informal Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) make up over 90% of all firms and, on average, account for 70% of total employment and 50% of GDP. Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day is thus to raise public awareness of their contribution to sustainable development […]
The Earth's tropics lie roughly in the middle of the globe between the latitude lines of the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn; and include the Equator and parts of North America, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. Tropical locations are typically warm, experience little seasonal change in day-to-day temperature and have high […]
An asteroid is a body of rock that orbits the sun. Large numbers of asteroids are found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. International Asteroid Day, founded in 2016, is to observe each year at the international level the anniversary of the Tunguska impact over Siberia, Russian Federation on 30th June 1908 and to […]
Parliament is a 14th century English term derived from Anglo-Norman and coming from the 11th century Old French parlement, from parler, meaning "to talk". In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government (similar to a senate, synod or congress) commonly used in countries that are current or former monarchies. A […]