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Post by Hunny on May 2, 2013 22:33:03 GMT
Come here every morning to find out what day it is!May 3 is...World Press Freedom DayThe United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 to be World Press Freedom Day or just World Press Day to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and marking the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in 1991.
UNESCO marks World Press Freedom Day by conferring the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize on a deserving individual, organization or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to the defense and/or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, especially when this has been achieved in the face of danger. Created in 1997, the prize is awarded on the recommendation of an independent jury of 14 news professionals. Names are submitted by regional and international non-governmental organizations working for press freedom, and by UNESCO member states.
The Prize is named in honor of Guillermo Cano Isaza, a Colombian journalist who was assassinated in front of the offices of his newspaper, El Espectador, in Bogotá, on 17 December 1986. Cano's writings had offended Colombia's powerful drug barons.
UNESCO also marks World Press Freedom Day each year by bringing together media professionals, press freedom organizations and UN agencies to assess the state of press freedom worldwide and discuss solutions for addressing challenges. Each conference is centered around a theme related to press freedom, including good governance, media coverage of terrorism, impunity and the role of media in post-conflict countries.
The 2011 World Press Freedom Day celebration...was held in Washington, D.C., USA on May 1-3. It was the first time the United States had hosted the World Press Freedom Day celebration. The theme of the event was 21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers. The event affirmed fundamental principles of media freedom in the digital age—the ability of citizens to voice their opinions and access diverse, independent information sources—20 years after the original declaration was made in Windhoek, Namibia.
_______________________________________ MONSTER ALBUMS______________________________________________________________DAILY QUOTE:Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. - Mark Twain______________________________________________________________ Come back each day for The Daily Buzz!
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Post by Hunny on May 3, 2013 22:17:20 GMT
Come here every morning to find out what day it is!May 4 is...Renewal Day Renewal Day is an absolutely spectacular day. It's a day of new, and old, beginnings. Things get old and out of sorts. We lose touch with friends, loved ones, and relationships. For whatever reason, we "let "it" go. Well, whatever "it" is, today is the day to renew it, rejuvenate it, and bring the spark back into it. When we think of "renewal", we often think of relationships. We vow our marriage will never get old. But, it does. We swear we will remain close to our parents and siblings. But over the years, we don't. With a hug and a tear, we tell our college roommate we will call and write. All too quickly, the demands of everyday life keep us from calling or writing. ...get the picture? Renewal Day is not limited to renewing relationships and social issues. You can also renew: Your nails Your hair color and/or style. Your figure Your hardwood floors The shine on your car. Your driver's license A favorite magazine subscription Get the picture? Good. Now, get into Renewal Day! _______________________________________ MONSTER ALBUMS______________________________________________________________DAILY QUOTE:Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured. - Mark Twain______________________________________________________________ Come back each day for The Daily Buzz!
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Post by Hunny on May 4, 2013 23:21:09 GMT
Come here every morning to find out what day it is!May 5 is...Cinco De MayoCinco de Mayo, ( Spanish: “Fifth of May”) , also known as the Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, national holiday in Mexico in honour of a military victory in 1862 over the French forces of Napoleon III. When in 1861 Mexico declared a temporary moratorium on the repayment of foreign debts, English, Spanish, and French troops invaded the country. By April 1862 the English and Spanish had withdrawn, but the French, with the support of wealthy landowners, remained in an attempt to establish a monarchy under Maximilian of Austria and to curb U.S. power in North America. On May 5, 1862, a poorly equipped mestizo and Zapotec force under the command of Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza defeated French troops at the Battle of Puebla, southeast of Mexico City; about 1,000 French troops were killed. Although the fighting continued and the French were not driven out for another five years, the victory at Puebla became a symbol of Mexican resistance to foreign domination. The city, which was later renamed Puebla de Zaragoza, is the site of a museum devoted to the battle, and the battlefield itself is maintained as a park. The day is celebrated in Mexico, especially in Puebla, with parades and speeches. In some cities there are reenactments of the Battle of Puebla. Cinco de Mayo has also become a festive holiday in parts of the United States with large Mexican American populations, including many cities of the Southwest. Celebrations in the United States often extend beyond the actual day to encompass an entire week, with parades and festivals that include music, dancing, and food. Consequences for the United States... Some historians have argued that France's real goal was to help break up the American Union, at the time in the midst of a civil war, by helping the southern Confederacy:[31] "The Mexicans had won a great victory that kept Napoleon III from supplying the confederate rebels for another year, allowing the United States to build a powerful army. This grand army smashed the Confederates at Vicksburg and Gettysburg just 14 months after the battle of Puebla, essentially ending the Civil War." The consequence of Cinco de Mayo to the United States has been thus recognized: "The defeat of the French army had consequences for America as well...the French defeat denied Napoleon III the opportunity to resupply the Confederate rebels for another year."Donald W. Miles adds, "At the time, there were fears in the United States that the French would use Mexico as a base to back the Confederacy, so President Lincoln and his Secretary of State went out of their way to appear 'neutral' in the Mexican situation. They did not want to take on the French and the Confederates at the same time". Dr. Miles goes on to explain that "Napoleon III had hesitated to take on the United States directly, but now the news of the Civil War changed everything". It meant that the Americans would be occupied with their conflict between North and South for some time. Upon hearing the Spaniards and the British had sailed off to grab the customs house in Veracruz to start collecting their duties, Napoleon decided he would not only send the French navy, but would also start looking for someone to place as emperor in Mexico. He would then use Mexico as a base to help the Confederates win their war against the United States. Napoleon saw this as an opportunity not to be missed. Historian Justo Sierra has written in his Political Evolution of the Mexican People, that had Mexico not defeated the French in Puebla on May 5, 1862, France would have gone to the aid of the South in the U.S. Civil War and the United States' destiny could have been very different.Ignacio Gonzalez wrote, "Some scholars, including José Antonio Burciaga, believe that had the French defeated México at Puebla, France would have aided the South in the American Civil War in order to free Southern ports of the Union Blockade. During this time, Confederate General Robert E. Lee was enjoying success, and French intervention could have had an impact on the Civil War." _______________________________________ MONSTER ALBUMS______________________________________________________________DAILY QUOTE: ______________________________________________________________ Come back each day for The Daily Buzz!
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Post by Hunny on May 6, 2013 9:12:39 GMT
Come here every morning to find out what day it is!May 6 is...National Nurses Day National Nurses Week, and a number of specific Nurses Days during this week, provides recognition to nurses for their contributions and commitment to quality health care. It brings awareness to the importance of nurses in the care , comfort, and well being of all of us, and especially our children and the aging, and those in poor health. Origin of Nurses Day:The roots of International Nurses Day goes back to 1953, when Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sent a proposal to President Eisenhower to proclaim a "Nurse Day" in October of the following year. The proclamation was not officially made. But, this day was born and eventually gained national recognition. International Nurse Day is celebrated on May 12, because this it's the birthday of Florence Nightingale. In 2003, Nationl School Nurses Day was moved from the fourth Wednesday in January to the Wednesday of Nurses Week. Many websites, still record School Nurses Day in January, unaware of this change. _______________________________________ MONSTER ALBUMS______________________________________________________________DAILY QUOTE:Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it. - Mark Twain______________________________________________________________ Come back each day for The Daily Buzz!
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Post by Hunny on May 6, 2013 23:27:36 GMT
Come here every morning to find out what day it is!May 7 is...Radio Day (in Russia and Bulgaria)Radio Day (Russian: День радио Den' Radio) is a commemoration of the development of radio in Russia. It takes place on May 7, the day in 1895 on which Alexander Popov successfully demonstrated his invention. Popov has generally been recognized in Eastern Europe as an "inventor of radio", in contrast to the West's recognition of Tesla and, historically, Marconi. Popov's work on the emission and reception of signals by means of electromagnetic oscillations built upon Tesla's accomplishments demonstrated in 1893. Marconi received a patent for radio in 1896, but his apparatus was based on various earlier techniques of other researchers (primarily Tesla) and resembled instruments demonstrated by others (including Popov). Radio Day was first observed in the Soviet Union in 1945, on the 50th anniversary of Popov's experiment, and some four decades after his death. Radio Day is officially marked in Russia and Bulgaria. _______________________________________ MONSTER ALBUMS______________________________________________________________DAILY QUOTE:Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it. - Confucius______________________________________________________________ Come back each day for The Daily Buzz!
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Post by Hunny on May 8, 2013 0:00:00 GMT
Come here every morning to find out what day it is!May 8 is...V.E. Day Victory in Europe Day—known as V-E Day or VE Day—was the public holiday celebrated on 8 May 1945 (in Commonwealth countries, 7 May 1945) to mark the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich, thus ending the war in Europe. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not until 9 May 1945. On 30 April Hitler committed suicide during the Battle of Berlin, and so the surrender of Germany was authorized by his successor, President of Germany Karl Dönitz. The administration headed by Dönitz was known as the Flensburg government. The act of military surrender was signed on 7 May in Reims, France, and on 8 May in Berlin, Germany. Upon the defeat of Germany (Italy having already surrendered), celebrations erupted throughout the Western world. From Moscow to New York, people cheered. In the United Kingdom, more than one million people celebrated in the streets to mark the end of the European part of the war. In London, crowds massed in Trafalgar Square and up The Mall to Buckingham Palace, where King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, appeared on the balcony of the Palace before the cheering crowds. Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister Princess Margaret were allowed to wander incognito among the crowds and take part in the celebrations. In the United States, the victory happened on President Harry Truman's 61st birthday. He dedicated the victory to the memory of his predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had died of a cerebral hemorrhage less than a month earlier, on 12 April. Flags remained at half-staff for the remainder of the 30-day mourning period.[4][5] Truman said of dedicating the victory to Roosevelt's memory and keeping the flags at half-staff that his only wish was "that Franklin D. Roosevelt had lived to witness this day." Later that day, Truman said that the victory made it his most enjoyable birthday. Massive celebrations also took place in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and especially in New York City's Times Square. Victory celebrations in Canada were marred by the Halifax Riot. Winston Churchill waves to crowds in Whitehall on the day he broadcast to the nation the war with Germany was over. _______________________________________ MONSTER ALBUMS______________________________________________________________DAILY QUOTE:The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one's real and one's declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish spurting out ink. - George Orwell______________________________________________________________ Come back each day for The Daily Buzz!
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Post by Hunny on May 8, 2013 23:19:11 GMT
Come here every morning to find out what day it is!May 9 is...Lost Sock Memorial Day Lost Sock Memorial Day recognizes your drawer full of unmatched socks. Each unmatched sock represents a missing sock. We never throw away our unmatched socks. After all, it may show up someday. On Lost Sock Memorial Day, we suggest you spend a little time (as little as possible) searching for those missing socks. After a (very) brief search, and in good "Memorial" spirit, spend a minute reflecting upon how warm and comforting the missing socks were on your stinky toes. Then, by all means, get on with your life. Today is also a good opportunity to toss out all of your unmatched socks. _______________________________________ MONSTER ALBUMS______________________________________________________________DAILY QUOTE: When Solomon said there was a time and a place for everything he had not encountered the problem of parking his automobile. ______________________________________________________________ Come back each day for The Daily Buzz!
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Post by Hunny on May 10, 2013 11:44:34 GMT
Come here every morning to find out what day it is!May 10 is...Clean Up Your Rooms Day Clean Up Your Room Day is a day parents eagerly await........... and kids dread! If you've got kids, it is very possible that their rooms are a vast wasteland, completely filled with "good stuff". "Messy" is too kind of an adjective to describe the conditions. Its impossible to walk through the room. Every dresser and shelf (and under the bed), is packed with everything imaginable. Dust has been piling up as long as your child has been around. Comfy, cozy, and quite livable to the child, its an everyday source of frustration for the "folks". To mom and dad's delight, and every child's chagrin, Clean Up Your Room Day arrives every May 10th. Get out the shovels. Call in an industrial sized dumpster. Its time for everyone to clean your rooms! Note to Kids: Clean Up Your Room Day also applies to your parents. You may want to inspect to assure that mom and dad practice what they preach! _______________________________________ MONSTER ALBUMS______________________________________________________________DAILY QUOTE:It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do. - Jerome K. Jerome______________________________________________________________ Come back each day for The Daily Buzz!
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Post by Hunny on May 10, 2013 23:29:09 GMT
Come here every morning to find out what day it is!May 11 is...Twilight Zone Day Twilight Zone Day is mysterious, weird, surreal and perhaps a little scary. We can think of many other adjectives, but I think you get the picture. Every once in a while, you have a day like this. And, today is designed to be that day. The television show The Twilight Zone, was created, written and narrated by Rod Serling. It premiered on October 1, 1959. The episodes were wildly popular, stretched the imagination, and captivated viewers. The show aired from 1959-1964. To celebrate Twilight Zone Day, you need to either trick a friend into thinking they're in The Twilight Zone, or imagine that you are in The Twilight Zone, or watch the Twilight Zone. And, oops, here it is now! _______________________________________ MONSTER ALBUMS______________________________________________________________DAILY QUOTE:In science one tries to tell people, in such a way as to be understood by everyone, something that no one ever knew before. But in poetry, it's the exact opposite. - Paul Dirac______________________________________________________________ Come back each day for The Daily Buzz!
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Post by Hunny on May 11, 2013 22:04:20 GMT
Come here every morning to find out what day it is!May 12 is...Mothers Day Mother’s Day is a holiday honoring motherhood that is observed in different forms throughout the world. The American incarnation of Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and became an official U.S. holiday in 1914. Jarvis would later denounce the holiday’s commercialization and spent the latter part of her life trying to remove it from the calendar. While dates and celebrations vary, Mother’s Day most commonly falls on the second Sunday in May and traditionally involves presenting mothers with flowers, cards and other gifts. Mother's Day: Historical Precursors...Celebrations of mothers and motherhood can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele, but the clearest modern precedent for Mother’s Day is the early Christian festival known as “Mothering Sunday.” Once a major tradition in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe, this celebration fell on the fourth Sunday in Lent and was originally seen as a time when the faithful would return to their “mother church”—the main church in the vicinity of their home—for a special service. Over time the Mothering Sunday tradition shifted into a more secular holiday, and children would present their mothers with flowers and other tokens of appreciation. This custom eventually faded in popularity before merging with the American Mother’s Day in the 1930s and 1940s. Mother's Day: Early Incarnations The roots of the modern American Mother’s Day date back to the 19th century. In the years before the Civil War (1861-65), Ann Reeves Jarvis of West Virginia helped start “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to teach local women how to properly care for their children. These clubs later became a unifying force in a region of the country still divided over the Civil War. In 1868 Jarvis organized “Mothers’ Friendship Day,” at which mothers gathered with former Union and Confederate soldiers to promote reconciliation. Another precursor to Mother’s Day came from the abolitionist and suffragette Julia Ward Howe. In 1870 Howe wrote the “Mother’s Day Proclamation,” a call to action that asked mothers to unite in promoting world peace. In 1873 Howe campaigned for a “Mother’s Peace Day” to be celebrated every June 2. Other early Mother’s Day pioneers include Juliet Calhoun Blakely, a temperance activist who inspired a local Mother’s Day in Albion, Michigan, in the 1870s. The duo of Mary Towles Sasseen and Frank Hering, meanwhile, both worked to organize a Mothers’ Day in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some have even called Hering “the father of Mothers’ Day.” Mother's Day: Founding by Anna Jarvis...The official Mother’s Day holiday arose in the 1900s as a result of the efforts of Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis. Following her mother’s 1905 death, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children. After gaining financial backing from a Philadelphia department store owner named John Wanamaker, in May 1908 she organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration at a Methodist church in Grafton, West Virginia. That same day also saw thousands of people attend a Mother’s Day event at one of Wanamaker’s retail stores in Philadelphia. Following the success of her first Mother’s Day, Jarvis—who remained unmarried and childless her whole life—resolved to see her holiday added to the national calendar. Arguing that American holidays were biased toward male achievements, she started a massive letter writing campaign to newspapers and prominent politicians urging the adoption of a special day honoring motherhood. By 1912 many states, towns and churches had adopted Mother’s Day as an annual holiday, and Jarvis had established the Mother’s Day International Association to help promote her cause. Her persistence paid off in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. Anna Jarvis had originally conceived of Mother’s Day as a day of personal celebration between mothers and families. Her version of the day involved wearing a white carnation as a badge and visiting one’s mother or attending church services. But once Mother’s Day became a national holiday, it was not long before florists, card companies and other merchants capitalized on its popularity. While Jarvis had initially worked with the floral industry to help raise Mother’s Day’s profile, by 1920 she had become disgusted with how the holiday had been commercialized. She outwardly denounced the transformation and urged people to stop buying Mother’s Day flowers, cards and candies. Jarvis eventually resorted to an open campaign against Mother’s Day profiteers, speaking out against confectioners, florists and even charities. She also launched countless lawsuits against groups that had used the name “Mother’s Day,” eventually spending most of her personal wealth in legal fees. By the time of her death in 1948 Jarvis had disowned the holiday altogether, and even actively lobbied the government to see it removed from the American calendar. Mother's Day: Celebrations and Traditions...While versions of Mother’s Day are celebrated throughout the world, traditions vary depending on the country. In Thailand, for example, Mother’s Day is always celebrated in August on the birthday of the current queen, Sirikit. Another alternate observance of Mother’s Day can be found in Ethiopia, where families gather each fall to sing songs and eat a large feast as part of Antrosht, a multi-day celebration honoring motherhood. In the United States, Mother’s Day continues to be celebrated by presenting mothers and other women with gifts and flowers, and it has become one of the biggest holidays for consumer spending. Families might also celebrate by giving mothers a day off from activities like cooking or other household chores. At times Mother’s Day has also been a date for launching political or feminist causes. In 1968 Coretta Scott King, wife of Martin Luther King Jr., used Mother’s Day to host a march in support of underprivileged women and children. In the 1970s women’s groups also used the holiday as a time to highlight the need for equal rights and access to childcare. SOURCE... _______________________________________ MONSTER ALBUMS______________________________________________________________DAILY QUOTE:There are two ways to slide easily through life; to believe everything or to doubt everything. Both ways save us from thinking. - Alfred Korzybski______________________________________________________________ Come back each day for The Daily Buzz!
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Post by Hunny on May 12, 2013 23:08:33 GMT
Come here every morning to find out what day it is!May 13 is...Leprechaun Day Leprechaun Day is a dedicated to the little elves of Ireland. Saint Patrick's day is a huge day in March that celebrates Irish pride and everything about Ireland. But, tiny Leprechauns with their precious, hidden pot of gold, deserve their own day reserved just for them. According to Irish legend, or folklore, Leprechauns have a hidden pot of gold. If you catch a Leprechaun, he must give you his pot of gold. On Leprechaun Day, we suggest you take a few minutes to admire your own "pot of gold" - or do something to grow or increase the size of your own pot of gold. Short of these two activities, we suggest you go out and try to catch a Leprechaun! _______________________________________ MONSTER ALBUMS______________________________________________________________DAILY QUOTE:All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages. - William Shakespeare______________________________________________________________ Come back each day for The Daily Buzz!
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Post by Hunny on May 13, 2013 23:40:14 GMT
Come here every morning to find out what day it is!May 14 is...Dance Like A Chicken DayNope, I don't make these up. I find them on a holidays calendar! This one - Dance Like A Chicken Day - we're told "is for those who like to do the "Chicken Dance". All 'ya gotta do is dance like a chicken. While any dance song will do, there's no dance like the Chicken dance. It's tradition at every wedding reception to play and to dance the Chicken Dance. It gets people of all ages up dancing and mingling. It puts a smile on everyone's face. The Chicken Dance is not limited to weddings. It is also played at other social events where there is a band and dancing. The only problem is that events are way too infrequent for a chicken dance lover. Therefore, today exists to provide you with another opportunity to dance like a chicken. So don't pass up this priceless opportunity." And that's what it said for today. I think Psycho Killer by The Talking Heads was a good Chicken Dancing song. Let's see... _______________________________________ MONSTER ALBUMS______________________________________________________________DAILY QUOTE:Invention is the mother of necessity. - Thorstein Veblin______________________________________________________________ Come back each day for The Daily Buzz!
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Post by Hunny on May 16, 2013 22:46:34 GMT
Come here every morning to find out what day it is!May 17 is...International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and TransphobiaThe International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) is an annual event celebrated every May 17. It is coordinated by the Paris-based "IDAHOBIT Committee", founded and presided over by Frenchman Louis-Georges Tin. The day aims to coordinate international events that raise awareness of LGBT rights violations and stimulate interest in LGBT rights work. May 17 was the day that homosexuality was removed from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization in 1990. READ MORE..._______________________________________ MONSTER ALBUMS______________________________________________________________DAILY QUOTE:You must not think me necessarily foolish because I am facetious, nor will I consider you necessarily wise because you are grave. - Sydney Smith______________________________________________________________ Come back each day for The Daily Buzz!
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Post by Hunny on May 25, 2013 11:45:58 GMT
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Post by Hunny on May 25, 2013 22:56:46 GMT
May 26 is...National Sorry Day (Australia)National Sorry Day is an annual event that has been held in Australia on 26 May, since 1998, to remember and commemorate the mistreatment of the continent's indigenous population. The Australian government's most controversial policies resulted in an entire "Stolen Generation", i.e., "Aboriginal children separated, often forcibly, from their families of origin in the interest of turning them into white Australians". 26 May carries great significance for the Stolen Generations, as well as for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and non-indigenous Australians. On 26 May 1997, the "Bringing Them Home" report was tabled in Parliament. The annual National Sorry Day commemorations remind and raise awareness among politicians, policy makers, and the wider public about the significance of the forcible removal policies and their impact on the children that were taken, but also on their families and communities. READ MORE..._______________________________________ MONSTER ALBUMS______________________________________________________________DAILY QUOTE:Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation. - John F. Kennedy______________________________________________________________
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Post by Hunny on May 26, 2013 23:10:55 GMT
May 27 isChildren's Day (in Nigeria)Children's Day is recognized on various days in many places around the world, to honor children globally. It was first proclaimed by the World Conference for the Well-being of Children in 1925 and then established universally in 1954 to protect children working long hours in dangerous circumstances and allow all children access to an education. The UN General Assembly recommended that all countries should establish a Universal Children's Day on an "appropriate" day. ~ click and scroll down to see when your country celebrates Childrens' Day ~ _______________________________________ MONSTER ALBUMS______________________________________________________________DAILY QUOTE:Democracy and defense are not substitutes for one another. Either alone will fail. - John F. Kennedy______________________________________________________________ The Daily Buzz!
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Post by Hunny on May 27, 2013 21:56:43 GMT
May 28 isAmnesty International Day Amnesty International Day recognizes the need to protect human rights around the world. The Amnesty International organization strives to accomplish these goals by providing awareness and recognition of the issues. They work to publicize local and regional problems, and to arouse citizens, governments and politicians to action. Celebrate Amnesty International Day by: Learning more about human rights issues Becoming active in human rights causes Writing your politician on human rights issues Making a donation READ MORE..._______________________________________ MONSTER ALBUMS______________________________________________________________________________DAILY QUOTE:If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. - John F. Kennedy ______________________________________________________________________________ Come back each day for The Daily Buzz!
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Post by Hunny on Jun 1, 2013 12:23:14 GMT
June 1 isThe Gawai Dayak Festival in SarawakCelebrated with enthusiasm across Sarawak both in cities and rural villages, Gawai Dayak is a multi-day festival to honor the indigenous people. Gawai Dayak translates to "Dayak Day"; the Dayak people include the Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit and Murut tribes which once roamed Sarawak and relieved unsuspecting traders of their heads. Although steeped in headhunting traditions of the past, the only head removed these days during Gawai Dayak belongs to a chicken sacrificed to honor a successful rice harvest. More than just a touristy demonstration of indigenous culture for tourists, Gawai Dayak is celebrated with genuine joy and enthusiasm. Weddings take place, singing and toasts fill the air, and families are reunited with one another after being separated all year. The History of Gawai Dayak...The traditions celebrated during Gawai Dayak are ancient, but the holiday is not. The first Gawai Dayak festival took place in 1965 after several years of renewed cultural pride within the oppressed Dayak community. When first asked to create a public holiday in celebration of the Dayak people in Sarawak, the colonial government refused; they were afraid that other minority groups would make similar demands. Instead, the government declared June 1 as "Sarawak Day". Eventually, once Sarawak was awarded independence, the holiday was officially changed to Gawai Dayak. The Traditional Gawai Dayak Ceremony...Unless advertised otherwise, the opening ceremonies for Gawai Dayak in villages are typically closed to tourists. The festival begins on the evening of May 31 with traditional music and Muai Antu Rua - a ritual aimed at keeping the spirit of greed from ruining the celebration. During Muai Antu Rua two men drag a basket along the longhouse; families in each room throw clothing and household items into the basket. The basket is later dumped on the ground as a "sacrifice" to prevent interference from evil spirits. At sundown, the festival chief sacrifices a chicken to show thanks for a good harvest and to ask the same for next year's rice harvest. Dinner - usually accompanied by bamboo-steamed rice and sweet cakes made from coconut milk - is served after the sacrifice. Just before midnight a procession known as the Ngalu Petara passes by seven times to welcome the friendly spirit gods to the festival. At midnight, the festival chief holds a toast with tuak - locally-brewed rice wine - for long life. The festival turns into an informal free-for-all following the toast with dancing, singing, and drinking. What to Expect During Gawai Dayak... Once the previous night's formal ceremonies finish, tourists are invited to visit on June 1. Activities differ between longhouses; some allow tourists to shoot traditional blowpipe guns or to watch cockfights. No matter the locale, visitors are always greeted with a shot of strong rice wine; drink up or find a place to hide it - refusing is impolite! Iban and Dayak homes are opened during Gawai Dayak, allowing visitors a glimpse of daily life. Tourists are invited to wear colorful costumes for photos, participate in traditional dances, and sample delicious cakes and treats. Witnessing the Gawai Dayak Festival... Although celebrated all over Sarawak in Borneo, your best bet for seeing Gawai Dayak festivities is near the capital of Kuching. The Sarawak Cultural Village - the same venue used annually for the Rainforest Music Festival - is a popular and convenient place for tourists to learn more about indigenous culture. Kuching typically holds a celebration on May 31 at the Civic Centre which includes dinner, dancing, and even a beauty pageant. Do not expect to arrive on May 31 to join the Gawai Dayak celebration; Kuching is busier than ever with parades and demonstrations along the waterfront that begin a week prior to Gawai Dayak. Another option for the more adventurous is to make your way up the river from Sibu to the small village of Kapit and arrange for a visit to a local family's traditional longhouse. There is a push within the Dayak community to unify the celebration, however for now Gawai Dayak remains mostly incongruous with each longhouse holding separate events and itineraries. Do not expect any less from the festival - as many as 30 families can occupy a single longhouse! Gawai Dayak in Modern Times... Forget the romantic stereotypes - not all of Sarawak's indigenous people still live in longhouses or choose to don a traditional costume during Gawai Dayak. Many Dayak people have moved from their rural homes into the cities in search of work. Urban Dayak communities may choose to celebrate their holiday simply by taking time off work - a rare occasion - to visit family outside of the city. Christian Dayaks often attend mass at a church and then celebrate with dinner in a restaurant. More Information... Specific locations and ways to participate in Gawai Dayak can be found by emailing the Sarawak Tourism Board: stb@sarawaktourism.com or by visiting their website: www.sarawaktourism.com (offsite). _______________________________________ MONSTER ALBUMS______________________________________________________________DAILY QUOTE: If liberty and equality, as is thought by some are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost. - Aristotle ______________________________________________________________ Come back each day for The Daily Buzz!
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Post by Hunny on Jun 2, 2013 21:19:15 GMT
June 3 isMabo Day (Australia)Mabo Day occurs annually on 3 June. It commemorates Eddie Koiki Mabo (c. 29 June 1936–21 January 1992) a Torres Strait Islander whose campaign for Indigenous land rights led to a landmark decision of the High Court of Australia that, on 3 June 1992, overturned the legal fiction of terra nullius which had characterised Australian law with regards to land and title since the voyage of James Cook in 1770. Mabo Day is a gazetted bank holiday in Queensland. In 2010 a campaign was launched to make it a national holiday in Australia It has been suggested that Mabo Day is more significant to Australians than the Queen's Birthday (a national holiday in Australia), since it 'marks the day that non-indigenous Australians were given the opportunity to reverse the damage caused by the colonisation process'. In 2002, on the tenth anniversary of the High Court decision, Mabo's widow, Bonita Mabo, called for a national public holiday on 3 June. On the eleventh anniversary, in 2003, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) launched a petition to make 3 June an Australian Public Holiday.
Eddie Mabo Jnr, for the Mabo family, said:
We believe that a public holiday would be fitting to honour and recognise the contribution to the High Court decision of not only my father and his co-plaintiffs, James Rice, Father Dave Passi, Sam Passi and Celuia Salee, but also to acknowledge all Indigenous Australians who have empowered and inspired each other. We believe that a public holiday would be fitting to honour and recognise the contribution to the High Court decision of not only my father and his co-plaintiffs, James Rice, Father Dave Passi, Sam Passi and Celuia Salee, but also to acknowledge all Indigenous Australians who have empowered and inspired each other.To date we have not had a public holiday that acknowledges Indigenous people and which recognises our contribution, achievements and survival in Australia.
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