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 […]
Nuclear weapons testing began in 1945 and nearly 2,000 tests have subsequently been undertaken. International Day against Nuclear Tests is to learn about the effects of nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions and the need for their cessation as one of the means of achieving the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world and […]
As explained by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, ozone is a gas made up of three oxygen atoms (O3) that occurs naturally in the upper atmosphere -- called the stratosphere and at 10-50 kilometres altitude. In the lower atmosphere (the troposphere) near the Earth’s surface, ozone is created by chemical reactions between air pollutants […]
The horror of the Second World War, culminating in the nuclear blasts at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, brought home the need to address the nuclear issue. However, and as outlined in the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) 2020 Armaments, Disarmament and International Security yearbook, at the start of 2020, nine countries — the United States, […]
International Translation Day is to pay tribute to the work of language professionals in bringing nations together, facilitating dialogue, understanding and cooperation, contributing to development and strengthening world peace and security. Transposition of a literary or scientific work, including technical work, from one language into another language, professional translation, including translation proper, interpretation and terminology, […]
Initiated in 1975 by Lord Yehudi Menuhin, the 1 October International Music Day is to encourage the promotion and application of: musical art among all sections of society; UNESCO ideals of peace and friendship between peoples, of the evolution of their cultures, of the exchange of experience and of the mutual appreciation of their aesthetic […]
In 1963, Harvey Ball created the smiley face symbol - a yellow circle with black eye dots and a smile curve. World Smile Day began in 1999 and is on the first Friday of October each year. It is a Day to smile and to make small acts of kindness. Harvey wanted to keep the […]
International Day of Non-Violence marks the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the famous and much-loved leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence. The Day is to disseminate the message of non-violence, and to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence. In Gandhi's words: Non-violence is the […]
United Nation Day marks the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter and the coming into being of United Nations (UN). Then 50 states and now made up of 193 Member States, the UN undertakes the following: Maintains International Peace and Security by working to prevent conflict; helping parties in conflict make peace; […]
The 1995-adopted Declaration of Principles on Tolerance explains tolerance as respect and appreciation of the variety of the world's cultures, forms of expression and ways of being human. Qualifying tolerance not just as a moral duty, the Declaration states tolerance also as a political and legal requirement for individuals, groups and governments and suggests the […]