Fantasy world

Have you been Broken-hearted?

2009-08-13T13:26:00.006+07:00

Forget

Did you forget?
All the sweet times that we had?
Did you forget?
Why you made me so sad?
Did you regret?
sharing the times we had....
It made me sad..
To walk away from you.
So were you
Im sure that your heart was in two.
As was mine but now youve forgotten us...
Now youve moved on..
Found another girl.
Now you hate me...
I feel so invisible to you...
we dont talk anymore...
Now im the one with my heart in two...

Gone Forever

Theres a part of me that is glad we went our seperate ways,
but there is also a stronger part that wishes I could have you back.
I know its going to be better this way but I am going to miss you and all the amazing times we've had.
I don't know why i miss you after all that you have done to me that has caused me alot of pain and tears, but I can't seem to let you go.
There is something about you that continues to make me miss you.
Maybe its your unique personality, your loving and caring words you used to tell me, the sense of security when i'm with you, or how much we have in common and how we understand eachother so perfectly.
I know I will never hear those 3 words that I always loved to hear from you again, and your not mine anymore, but its very painful to admit it and face the facts that your gone forever this time.
Moving on is going to be the most difficult thing I will have to do.
The first step to moving on is stop telling myself that "he will change his mind"

by DamagedHeart

Scar On Soft Heart

Sincerity, you did ask for.
Sincerity, made me confess.
But sincerity failed to forgive.
It seems sincerity isn't the reason why you were gone.
Now a principle is born out of understanding.
I thought time would erase the misunderstandings.
I became a plague that you would always avoid.
You will never get from fear what love has to give.
Love, never did i believe.
So strong i tried to save myself grief.
But my love will never be brief.
You left like a treasure stolen by a thief.
If my love took a human form
It will be like you for sure
So erratic and yet so pure.
Your untimely departure.
Brought me pain of self-discovery.
The hurt you exposed me to was so excruciating.
As my first ever true love
You've become a seal of sourvenir placed in my heart.
I made a terrible judgment and only too late did i realise some corrective measures.
Though, naive, that i spent too much on desperate reconciliation.
Although my forgiving heart didn't allow me to dwell on your mistakes.
I erased you completely from my life and still everything thats beautiful still reminds me of you.
Hoping that some day you will open your eyes as well as your heart and see that the one you have been waiting for is me.

by azeezoluwa

International Youth Day (12 August, 2009)

2009-08-13T12:58:00.009+07:00

The United Nations’ (UN) International Youth Day is celebrated on August 12 each year to recognize efforts of the world’s youth in enhancing global society. It also aims to promote ways to engage them in becoming more actively involved in making positive contributions to their communities.

SUSTAINABILITY: OUr Challenge. Our Future.

Message of the Secretary General on IYD2009

The theme of this year’s International Youth Day – “Sustainability: Our Challenge. Our Future” – is a global call to action for young men and women.

Our world faces multiple, interconnected crises with severe and far-reaching impacts that fall disproportionately on the young.

In 2007, for example, youth comprised 25 per cent of the world’s working age population yet accounted for 40 per cent of the unemployed. The global economic downturn means that, in the near term, youth unemployment will continue to climb. Unemployment rates tell only part of the story, especially for the vast majority of youth who live in developing countries. For them, informal, insecure and low-wage employment is the norm, not the exception.

Climate change, meanwhile, continues to compromise economies and threaten tremendous upheaval, saddling young people everywhere with an unjust “ecological debt”. This is a potentially crushing burden. At the same time, I am encouraged by the contributions that young people have made to the debate on climate change mitigation and adaptation. Their views and proposals can help build the momentum necessary to “seal the deal” in Copenhagen later this year.

Indeed, young people have proven themselves to be key partners in sustainable development. They have gotten involved in international forums such as the Commission on Sustainable Development, and have helped their Governments and communities to formulate poverty reduction strategies, entrepreneurial schemes and many other policies and initiatives.

Young people often lead by example: practicing green and healthy lifestyles, or promoting innovative uses of new technologies, such as mobile devices and on-line social networks. They deserve our full commitment -- full access to education, adequate healthcare, employment opportunities, financial services and full participation in public life. On International Youth Day, let us renew our pledge to support young people in their development. Sustainability is the most promising path forward, and youth can lead the way.

What do people do?

Many activities and events that take place around the world on International Youth Day promote the benefits that young people bring into the world. Many countries participate in this global event, which may include youth conferences on issues such as education and employment. Other activities include concerts promoting the world’s youth, as well as various sporting events, parades and mobile exhibitions that showcase young people’s achievements.

Background

The UN defines the worlds’ youth as the age group between 15 and 24 years old, making up one-sixth of the human population. Many of these young men and women live in developing countries and their numbers are expected to rise steeply. The idea for International Youth Day was proposed in 1991 by young people who were gathered in Vienna, Austria, for the first session of the UN’s World Youth Forum. The forum recommended that an International Youth Day be declared, especially for fundraising and promotional purposes, to support the United Nations Youth Fund in partnership with youth organizations.

In 1998 a resolution proclaiming August 12 as International Youth Day was adopted during the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth. That recommendation was later endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 1999. International Youth Day was first observed in 2000. One of the year’s highlights was when eight Latin American and Caribbean youth and youth-related organizations received United Nations World Youth Awards in Panama City, Panama.

Symbols

The UN logo is often associated with marketing and promotional material for this event. It features a projection of a world map (less Antarctica) centered on the North Pole, enclosed by olive branches. The olive branches symbolize peace and the world map represents all the people of the world. It has been featured in black against a white background.

Previous Celebrations of International Youth Day include:

* IYD 2008 - Youth and Climate Change: Time for Action
* IYD 2007 - Be seen, Be heard: Youth participation for development
* IYD 2006 - Tackling Poverty Together
* IYD 2005 - WPAY+10: Making Commitments Matter
* IYD 2004 - Youth in an Intergenerational Society
* IYD 2003 - Finding decent and productive work for young people everywhere
* IYD 2002 - Now and for the Future: Youth Action for Sustainable Development
* IYD 2001 - Addressing Health and Unemployment
* First Observance of International Youth Day 2000

SMILE

2009-07-14T17:54:00.002+07:00

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Modern Times
Modern Times Poster
Buy at AllPosters.com
Framed Mounted
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

Smile - Thomas Beckmann

International Day for Biological Diversity

2009-06-08T19:55:00.008+07:00

On May 22, 1992, the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted by the of the United Nations at a conference in Nairobi, Kenya. Since 2001, the International Day for Biological Diversity is celebrated each year on the anniversary of this date.

Background

In 1992 state and government leaders agreed on a strategy for sustainable development at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, also known as "The Earth Summit", in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sustainable development is a way to meet the needs of people all over the world and ensuring that planet earth remains healthy and viable for future generations. One of the most important agreements reached during the Earth Summit was the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The Convention on Biological Diversity came into force on December 29, 1993, and each anniversary of this date was designated the International Day for Biological Diversity. From 2001 onwards the date of this celebration was moved to May 22 due to the number of holidays that fell in late December. On this date in 1992, the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted at a United Nations at a conference in Nairobi, Kenya.

Each year, the International Day for Biodiversity focuses on a particular theme. Recently, the themes have been: Biodiversity and Poverty Alleviation (2003); Biodiversity: Food, Water and Health for All (2004); Biodiversity: Life Insurance for our Changing World (2005); Protect Biodiversity in Drylands (2006); and Biodiversity and Climate Change (2007); and Biodiversity and Agriculture (2008).

Symbols

The International Day for Biological Diversity is part of a series of activities to focus attention on the Convention on Biological Diversity. The symbol of this convention is a stylized image of a twig or branch with three green leaves. Depending on the background, the leaves may be just outlines or green blocks. Each year a piece of artwork is commissioned to reflect the theme. Details of the artwork are used as symbols for different aspects of the International Day for Biological Diversity.

Themes

* 2011 - Biodiversity and Forests
* 2010 - Biodiversity for Development
* 2009 - Invasive Alien Species
* 2008 - Biodiversity and Agriculture
* 2007 - Biodiversity and Climate Change
* 2006 - Protect Biodiversity in Drylands
* 2005 - Biodiversity: Life Insurance for our Changing World
* 2004 - Biodiversity: Food, Water and Health for All
* 2003 - Biodiversity and poverty alleviation - challenges for sustainable development
* 2002 - Dedicated to forest biodiversity

What do people do?

A wide range of events are organized globally to increase the understanding of the important role of biodiversity in our future. Celebrations are organized by: the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which forms part of the United Nations Environmental Programme; many national governments; and a range of non-governmental organizations.

Activities include:

* Translating booklets, leaflets and other educational resources into local languages.
* Distributing information on biodiversity via schools, colleges, universities, newspapers, radio and television.
* Exhibitions and seminars for students, professionals and the general public.
* Showings of movies on environmental issues.
* Presentations of programs to preserve endangered species or habitats.
* Planting trees and other plants that help prevent erosion.

Politicians may also give speeches on local environmental issues and other events may include competitions for children and young people to take photographs or create artwork centered on the annual theme of the day.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Message On The International Day for Biological Diversity

22 May 2009 - The global decline in biodiversity remains alarming, despite agreement at the World Summit on Sustainable Development to significantly reduce the rate of loss by 2010.

The main causes include deforestation, changes in habitat and land degradation, often linked to the growing impact of climate change. Another threat - the focus of this year's observance of the International Day for Biological Diversity - is the spread of invasive alien species.

An unwanted by-product of globalization, non-native species are harming ecosystem services, livelihoods and economies throughout the world. The Government of South Africa alone is spending as much as $60 million per year in an attempt to eradicate plants, such as wattles, that are invading valuable farmland, river systems and economically important tourist sites such as the Cape Floral Kingdom.

In the Great Lakes of North America, zebra mussels are affecting shipping, fisheries and electric power generation. Throughout the islands of the Pacific Ocean, rats from foreign ships are exterminating indigenous birds. In many countries in Africa, water hyacinth is clogging lakes and rivers, to the detriment of aquatic wildlife and the communities and industries that profit from it.

There are many other examples of how invasive alien species can affect native biodiversity, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and even human health. Such threats stand to be exacerbated by the other drivers of biodiversity loss, and climate change in particular. The implications for poverty reduction, sustainable development and the Millennium Development Goals are profound.

The Convention on Biological Diversity is addressing the threat of invasive alien species by setting global priorities and guidelines, sharing information and expertise, and helping to coordinate international action. The most cost-effective and feasible method of control is prevention. To be successful, this strategy requires collaboration among Governments, economic sectors and non-governmental and international organizations. A country can only prevent invasions if it knows which species may invade, where they may come from and the best management options for dealing with them.

Individuals, too, have a responsibility. Abiding by local and international quarantine and customs regulations will prevent the spread of insect pests, weeds and diseases. A simple rule applies: leave living organisms in their natural habitats and bring home only memories.

Next year is the International Year of Biological Diversity. Highlights include a high-level segment of the United Nations General Assembly and the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, in Nagoya, Japan. These events will help to shape future strategies to preserve the planet's ecosystems. Controlling invasive alien species and addressing the other causes of biodiversity loss is an increasingly urgent task. I urge all Governments, organizations and individuals to renew their efforts to protect life on Earth.

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

2009-06-08T19:39:00.006+07:00

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is annually held on May 21 to help people learn about the importance of cultural diversity and harmony.

Background

The General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity in Paris, France, on November 2, 2001. It was the 249th resolution adopted at the 57th session of the United Nations General Conference. Although the declaration was the culmination of years of work, it was adopted in the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. This reaffirmed the need for intercultural dialogue to prevent segregation and fundamentalism.

The year 2002 was the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage. At the end of that year, on December 20, 2002, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The General Assembly emphasized links between the protection of cultural diversity and the importance of dialogue between civilizations in the modern world. The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development was first observed in 2003.

What do people do?

Various events are organized to increase the understanding of issues around cultural diversity and development among governments, non-governmental organizations and the public. Many of these include presentations on the progress of implementing the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity.

Events include:

* Seminars for professionals.
* Educational programs for children and young adolescents.
* The launch of collaborations between official agencies and ethnic groups.
* Exhibitions to help people understand the history of various cultural groups and the influence on their own identities.
* Celebrations to create greater awareness of cultural values and the need to preserve them.

The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development tends to be marked in countries that embraced their varied cultural history and acknowledged the importance of embracing it.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

2009-05-22T17:49:00.006+07:00

World Information Society Day is celebrated each year on 17 May to remind the world of the vision of the World Summit on the Information Society to build “a people-centered, inclusive and development-oriented information society” based on fundamental human rights.

Background

The annual observance of World Telecommunication Day, which marks the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on May 17, 1865, drew attention to the work of ITU and the challenges of global communication. In March 2006, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed May 17 as World Information Society Day to recognize the efforts made to advance communication and ITU’s role in helping people connect around the world. The UN’s first World Information Society Day took place on Wednesday, 17 May 2006.

Prior to World Information Society Day, World Telecommunication Day, which was first held in 1969, was celebrated on May 17 by people and organizations such as ITU. Many now refer to this day as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, taking into account the UN’s observance of World Information Society Day. The purpose of this observance is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the internet and other information and communication technologies could bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide.

Theme WTISD 2009: Protecting Children in Cyberspace.

This year, to mark World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, ITU Council adopted the theme: “Protecting children in cyberspace”.

At WSIS, ITU was entrusted by leaders of the international community with Action Line C5: “building confidence and security in the use of ICTs”. The WSIS outcomes also specifically recognized the needs of children and young people and their protection in cyberspace. The Tunis Commitment recognized “the role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the protection of children and in enhancing the development of children” as well as the need to “strengthen action to protect children from abuse and defend their rights in the context of ICT”.

ITU’s Child Online Protection (COP) initiative is in line with its mandate to establish the foundations for a safe and secure cyberworld for future generations. The need for COP is clear. A decade ago, there were just 182 million people using the Internet globally — and almost all of them lived in the developed world. By early 2009, however, there were over 1.5 billion Internet users worldwide, and more than 400 million of them had access to broadband. With over 600 million users in Asia, 130 million in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 50 million in Africa, the Internet is a growing common resource — vastly increasing the dangers online, especially for children.

According to recent surveys, over 60 per cent of children and teenagers talk in chat rooms on a daily basis. Three in four children online are willing to share personal information about themselves and their family in exchange for goods and services. And one in five children will be targeted by a predator or paedophile each year. The COP initiative — an integral part of ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Agenda — was presented at the High Level Segment of ITU Council 2008, where it was endorsed by Heads of State, Ministers and heads of international organizations from around the world.

The theme of this year’s WTISD aims at ensuring that children can safely access the Internet and its valuable resources without fear of falling prey to unscrupulous predators in cyberspace.

What do people do?

World Information Society Day promotes people’s awareness of the power of information and communication to build societies in which they can create, access, use and share information and knowledge to achieve their full potential. Organizations such as UNESCO actively take part in the day by inviting people to engage in various activities to promote campaigns centered on this event.

Symbols

UNESCO has not allocated a specific symbol for the day, although it uses images of modern information and communication technologies to portray the importance of the day.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, 17 May 2009
Message from Mr Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day marks the founding of the International Telecommunication Union on 17 May 1865, and commemorates its role in connecting the world.

Protecting children in cyberspace.
Over the past two decades, the Internet has been transformed into an unmatched global resource that spans the worlds of knowledge and entertainment. Now with more than 600 million users in Asia, 130 million in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 50 million in Africa, it is an ever-expanding means of communication. It lies at the fulcrum of our increasingly interconnected and networked societies, driving the world’s economies, fostering trade and commerce and promoting better health care, food production and education. With these tremendous strides, safeguarding the Internet’s vital systems and infrastructures against attack by cybercriminals has taken on great importance.

The theme of this year’s observance is "Protecting Children in Cyberspace”. Children and young people are among the most prolific users of the Internet and mobile devices. As they surf through cyberspace seeking information and entertainment and building social networks, they are also among the most vulnerable to exploitation. Without safeguards, their precious lives are at grave risk in the vicious world of cybercriminals and paedophiles that prey on easy targets.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes the right to education and access to information, as well as the right to engage in play and recreational activities. The Convention also accords the child protection against all forms of exploitation and inducement to engage in any unlawful activity. It is our duty to ensure that the provisions of the Convention are applied rigorously so that children can safely access the Internet and other online resources without fear of falling prey to unscrupulous predators.

The virtual world has exciting possibilities for nurturing children and helping them grow into creative, productive adults. But we must mind the pitfalls that could scar them for life. I urge policy makers and industry leaders to find the means to make the rapidly evolving virtual world safe for everyone.

Ban Ki-moon
UN Secretary-General

International Day of Families

2009-05-22T17:09:00.010+07:00

The International Day of Families, annually held on May 15, celebrates the importance of families and the work started during the International Year of Families.

Background

The year 1994 was proclaimed as the International Year of Families by the United Nations. This was a response to changing social and economic structures, which have affected and still affect the structure and stability of family units in many regions of the globe. The International Day of Families, on May 15, is an occasion to reflect on the work started during 1994 and to celebrate the importance of families, people, societies and cultures around the world. It has been held every year since 1995.

What do people do?

A wide range of events are organized at local, national and international levels. These include: workshops, seminars and policy meeting for public officials; exhibitions and organized discussions to raise awareness of the annual theme; educational sessions for children and young people; and the launch of campaigns for public policies to strengthen and support family units. In some countries, tool kits are created to help people organize celebrations aimed at a particular section of the population, such as school children or young adults.

Symbols

The symbol of the International Day of Families consists of a solid green circle with an image in red. The image consists of elements of simple drawings of a heart and a house. This indicates that families are the center of society and provide a stable and supporting home for people of all ages.

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FAMILIES

15 May 2009

This year’s International Day of Families, being commemorated under the theme,
“Mothers and Families: Challenges in a Changing World,” focuses on the important role
of mothers for families and communities around the world.

Mothers play a critical role in the family, which is a powerful force for social
cohesion and integration. The mother-child relationship is vital for the healthy
development of children. And mothers are not only caregivers; they are also
breadwinners for their families. Yet women continue to face major – and even lifethreatening– challenges in motherhood.

Childbirth, which should be a cause for celebration, is a grave health risk for too
many women in developing countries. Improving maternal health is the Millennium
Development Goal on which the least progress has been made. A woman in a leastdeveloped country is 300 times more likely to die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications than a woman in a developed country. We must make pregnancy and childbirth safer by enabling health systems to provide family planning, skilled attendance at birth and emergency obstetric care.

Violence against women, many of whom are mothers, remains one of the most
pervasive human rights violations of our time. It has far-reaching consequences –
endangering the lives of women and girls, harming their families and communities, and
damaging the very fabric of societies. Ending and preventing violence against women
should be a key priority for all countries.

We must also ensure universal access to education. The benefits of educating
women and girls accrue not only to individual families but to whole countries, unlocking the potential of women to contribute to broader development efforts. Statistics also show that educated mothers are much more likely to keep their children in school, meaning that the benefits of education transcend generations.

As we strive to support mothers in their caregiving work, we should develop and
expand family-friendly policies and services, such as child care centres, that would
reduce some of the workload placed on women. Women and men alike need stronger
public support to share equally in work and family responsibilities. Families built on the recognition of equality between women and men will contribute to more stable and productive societies.

We face multiple challenges in our changing world, but one factor remains
constant: the timeless importance of mothers and their invaluable contribution to raising the next generation. By rewarding their efforts and enhancing their living conditions, we can secure a better future for all.

United Nations' Mine Awareness Day

2009-05-06T22:31:00.000+07:00

The United Nations' International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is observed on April 4 each year. This day aims to raise awareness about landmines and progress toward their eradication.

Background

On 8 December 2005, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared that April 4 of each year would be officially proclaimed and observed as International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. It was first observed on April 4, 2006.

It called for continued efforts by states, with assistance from the UN and relevant organizations, to help establish and develop national mine-action capacities in countries where mines and explosive war remnants constitute a serious threat to the safety, health and lives of people, or hinders social and economic development at the national and local levels.

According to the Landmine Monitor Report 2005, 84 countries were affected by landmines and unexploded ordnance, which together kill or maim between 15,000 and 20,000 adults and children annually. The UN works together with countries to find and destroy these devices. It also helps to provide various mine-action services in many countries.

What do people do

Awareness programs and activities to mark the day take place in many countries around the world on April 4 every year. Activities for these awareness-raising events include photo exhibits, press conferences, film screenings, educational displays and community chats. Public events may include public statements from land mine surivivors, mine action theatre performances and mine risk education demonstrations.

The day aims to raise awareness about landmines and progress toward their eradication. "Mine action" refers to a range of efforts to clear landmines and explosive remnants of war and to mark and fence off dangerous areas. It also includes assisting victims, teaching people how to remain safe in a mine-affected environment, advocating for universal participation in international treaties related to landmines, explosive remnants of war and their victims, and destroying landmines stockpiled by governments and non-state armed groups.

4 April 2009. On the occasion of International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called upon all country members to do everything possible to protect their citizens from dangers of explosive remnants of military conflicts.

UN Secretary-General Message:

“I have visited many countries that face the scourge of landmines. I have seen the devastation caused by these indiscriminate weapons, which hamper reconstruction, damage the environment and cause grievous injuries and death for decades after conflicts end. Conditions may vary from Iraq to Sudan, from Lebanon to Zimbabwe, from Afghanistan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. What doesn’t change is the threat to life and limb.

Facing these dangerous conditions, mine action workers risk their lives to rid land and roads of mines. Over the past two decades, United Nations assistance in mine action has reached more than 50 countries and territories. Recently, United Nations mine action specialists were among the first international workers to resume humanitarian activities in Gaza, where explosive remnants of war pose significant threats

Beyond removing weapons, mine action means ensuring a safe environment for civilians, developing local capacity and restoring dignity to survivors through job opportunities and other reintegration programmes.

Mine action also means adherence to the relevant legal instruments, including the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention, Protocol V on explosive remnants of war and the recently adopted Convention on Cluster Munitions. The Second Review Conference of the Mine Ban Convention, to be held later this year in Cartagena, Colombia, offers an opportunity to renew commitment to the treaty and to mine action efforts around the globe.

My fervent hope is that the world will one day be free from the threats caused by landmines and explosive remnants of war. But it will take concerted collective efforts on all fronts to realize this goal. On this International Day, let us renew our commitment to carrying out this life-saving work”.

World Autism Awareness Day

2009-05-06T21:29:00.000+07:00

World Autism Awareness Day aims to increase people's awareness about people, especially children, with autism. The day often features educational events for teachers, health care workers and parents, as well as exhibitions showcasing work created by children with autism.

Background

Autism is a developmental disability that remains with a person for his or her whole life. This condition affects the brain's functions. The first signs usually appear before a child is three years old. People with autism often:

* Find social interaction difficult.
* Have problems with verbal and non-verbal communication.
* Demonstrate restrictive and repetitive behavior.
* Have a limited set of interests and activities.

Autism affects girls and boys of all races and in all geographic regions and has a large impact on children, their families, communities and societies. The prevalence is currently rising in many countries around the world. Caring for and educating children and young people with this condition places challenges on health care, education and training programs.

On November 1, 2007, the United Nations (UN) called for one day each year to be designated as World Autism Day. On December 18, 2007, the UN General Assembly designated April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day. It was first observed in 2008.

What do people do?

Many events are organized on World Autism Awareness Day. These include:

* Panel discussions with autism experts, politicians and non-governmental organization (NGO) representatives.
* Informational events for parents of children with autism.
* Conferences and workshops for professionals working with people with autism.
* Artistic workshops for people with autism.
* Television and radio shows, as well as newspaper features, about people with autism and their lives.
* The launch of educational materials for parents and teachers.
* Exhibitions of art work by artists with autism.
* The display of posters and banners to increase public awareness of autism.

Special clinics are also organized for families dealing with autism to obtain consultations with pediatricians, educational psychologists and social workers.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:Message on World Autism Awareness Day, 2 April 2009

To Enable Children and Persons with Autism to Lead Full and Meaningful Lives is Not a Far-Off Dream

VIENNA, 2 April (UN Information Service) - By designating 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day, the United Nations General Assembly has helped to galvanize international efforts to promote greater understanding about autism. This year's observance is being marked with lectures, briefings, screenings, musical performances, video conferences, art installations and other activities carried out by the UN family and a full constellation of partners.

I welcome this growing international chorus of voices calling for action to enable children and persons with autism to lead full and meaningful lives. This is not a far-off dream; it is a reality that can be attained by promoting positive perceptions about autism as well as a greater social understanding of this growing challenge.

I have seen what caring people who work tirelessly for this goal can achieve. Last year, the United Nations hosted a rock concert by Rudely Interrupted, whose members have various disabilities, including on the autism spectrum. They brought the audience to its feet with warm, communicative songs and showed, through the sheer joy of their performance, how much people with disabilities can offer the world.

The words of lead singer Rory Burnside were especially inspiring. "My advice", he said, "to kids who have some form of disability is: don't let it stop you. Use it as your strength; don't use it as your weakness. One red light can lead to a whole bunch of green lights, with a few orange lights thrown in. And the red lights are just a bit of a test. There are definitely more green and orange".

On World Autism Awareness Day, let us capture and share this spirit, and let us intensify global efforts to ensure that children and persons with autism everywhere can benefit from the supportive environment they need to reach their full potential and contribute to society.

World Press Freedom Day

2009-05-06T20:52:00.000+07:00

World Press Freedom Day is annually observed on May 3 to inform the international community that freedom of the press and freedom of expression are fundamental human rights. This day reminds people that many journalists brave death or face jail to bring daily news to the public.

Background

World Press Freedom Day was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 1993 as an outgrowth of the Seminar on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press. This seminar took place in Namibia in 1991 and led to the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration on Promoting Independent and Pluralistic Media.

The Windhoek Declaration called to establish, maintain and foster an independent, pluralistic and free press. It emphasized the importance of a free press for developing and maintaining democracy in a nation, and for economic development. World Press Freedom Day is celebrated annually on May 3, the date on which the Windhoek Declaration was adopted.

Although World Press Freedom Day has only been celebrated since 1993, it has much deeper roots in the United Nations. Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights states that everyone “has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers".

Each year since 1997, the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize is awarded to honor the work of an individual or an organization defending or promoting freedom of expression, especially if it puts the individual’s life at risk. The award is named after a journalist murdered in 1986 after denouncing drug barons. Last year it was awarded posthumously to a Russian investigative reporter who was murdered in a contract-style killing in 2006.

What do people do?

World Press Freedom Day gives people the chance to pay tribute to media professionals who risked or lost their lives in the line of duty. Many communities, organizations and individuals take part in this day through various events such as art exhibitions, dinners featuring keynote speakers, and awards nights to honor those who risked their lives to bring news to the world.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: Message on World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2009

"Let Us Proclaim Again Our Commitment to Free and Independent Media"

VIENNA, 3 May (UN Information Service) - Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees everyone the right "to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers". On World Press Freedom Day, we reiterate the central importance of this right - and the need to protect the journalists and media outlets on the frontlines of exercising it.

Attacks on journalists remain shockingly high in number. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 11 journalists have been killed in the line of duty so far this year. Among them was Lasantha Wickrematunge, a prominent Sri Lankan journalist assassinated in January on his way to work. I call on the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure that those responsible for his murder are found and prosecuted. UNESCO has honoured Mr. Wickrematunge posthumously with its World Press Freedom Prize for 2009, to be presented in a Press Freedom Day ceremony in Doha.

The CPJ also reports that as of 1 December 2008, 125 journalists were in prison. Some have been incarcerated for years - and some for more than a decade. Three countries - China, Cuba and Eritrea - account for half of those cases. I urge all Governments that have detained journalists to ensure that their rights are fully respected, including the right to appeal and defend themselves against charges.

Murder and detention are only the most blatant ways that journalists are silenced. Often, fear leads journalists to censor themselves. This, too, is unacceptable; journalists must be able to do their job free of intimidation and harassment.

I am also concerned that some Governments are suppressing Internet access and the work of Internet-based journalists and others using the "new media". Not surprisingly, blogging has flourished in countries where restrictions on media are toughest. Now, according to the CPJ, some 45 per cent of all media workers jailed worldwide are bloggers. I urge all governments to respect the rights of these citizen journalists, who may lack the legal resources or political connections that might assist them in gaining their freedom.

The annual observance of World Press Freedom Day is also an opportunity to reflect on the important role of the media in addressing global problems. This year the focus is on the media's potential to foster dialogue, reconciliation and mutual understanding. Indeed, the press plays a vital role in challenging entrenched attitudes about religious, political or other differences among people. Media can also give voice to minorities and marginalized groups, thereby enlarging and even reframing debate within a community or across communities. In societies struggling to rebuild after conflict, free and responsible news media are essential for good governance and to promote confidence and trust between leaders and the public. Governments that stifle or otherwise obstruct this work are acting against their own best interests and that of their societies.

On World Press Freedom Day, I pay tribute to all those who work in difficult conditions to ensure that the rest of the world can have access to free and unbiased information. Let us renew our resolve to protect their freedom and safety, and let us proclaim again our commitment to free and independent media as an essential agent of human rights, development and peace.

World Book and Copyright Day

2009-05-06T20:29:00.000+07:00

April 23 marks the anniversary of the birth or death of a range of well-known writers, including Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Maurice Druon, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, Haldor Kiljan Laxness, Manuel Mejía Vallejo, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and William Shakespeare. For this reason, UNESCO's General Conference chose this date to pay tribute to books, the authors who wrote them, and the copyright laws that protect them.

Background

The year 1995 was named the United Nations Year for Tolerance and UNESCO's General Conference, held in Paris, concentrated on this theme. The delegates voted to establish an annual occasion to carry the message of tolerance into the future, in the form of a day to celebrate books, authors and the laws that protect them. The date was chosen because April 23 marks the anniversary of the birth or death of a range of internationally renowned writers and because of the Catalan traditions surrounding this day. In Catalonia, a region of Spain, April 23 is known as La Diada de Sant Jordi (St George's Day) and it is traditional for sweethearts to exchange books and roses. World Book and Copyright Day has been held annually since 1995.

Purpose of the day

World Book and Copyright Day is an occasion to pay a worldwide tribute to books and authors and to encourage people to discover the pleasure of reading. It is hoped that this will lead to the renewed respect for those who have made irreplaceable contributions to social and cultural progress. In some years, the UNESCO Prize for Children's and Young People's Literature in the Service of Tolerance is awarded. It is also hoped that World Book and Copyright Day will increase people's understanding of and adherence to copyright laws and other measures to protect intellectual copyright.

Symbols

Each year a poster is designed and distributed around the world. It features images designed to encourage people, particularly children, to read books and appreciate literature. There is also a logo for World Book and Copyright Day. It features a circle, representing the world, and two books, one of which is open.

What do people do?

A range of activities to promote reading and the cultural aspects of books are held all over the world. Many of these emphasize international cooperation or friendships between countries. Events include: relay readings of books and plays; the distribution of bookmarks; the announcement of the winners of literary competitions; and actions to promote the understanding of laws on copyright and the protection of authors' intellectual property.

In some years, the Children's and Young People's Literature in the Service of Tolerance is awarded. This is a prize for novels, collections of short stories or picture books that promote tolerance, peace, mutual understanding and respect for other peoples and cultures. There are two categories: one for books aimed at children aged up to 12 years; and one for those aimed at young people aged 13 to 18 years.

World Meteorological Day 2009

2009-03-27T18:06:00.000+07:00

Weather, climate and the air we breathe

23 March 2009

The United Nations' (UN) World Meteorological Day is annually held on or around March 23 to remember the World Meteorological Organization's establishment on that date in 1950. Many different activities and events are organized for this occasion.

Each year, on 23 March, the World Meteorological Organization, its 188 Members and the worldwide meteorological community celebrate World Meteorological Day around a chosen theme. This Day commemorates the entry into force, on that date in 1950, of the WMO Convention creating the Organization. Subsequently, in 1951, WMO was designated a specialized agency of the United Nations System.

This year, the theme is “Weather, climate and the air we breathe”.

What do people do?

World Meteorological Day often features various events such as conferences, symposia and exhibitions for meteorological professionals, community leaders and the general public. Some events aim to attract media attention to raise meteorology's profile.

Many prizes for meteorological research are presented or announced on or close to World Meteorological Day. These prizes include:

* The International Meteorological Organization Prize.
* Professor Dr. Vilho Väisälä Award.
* The Norbert Gerbier-Mumm International Award.

Many countries issue postage stamps or special postage stamp cancellation marks to celebrate World Meteorological Day. These stamps often reflect the event's theme or mark a country's meteorology achievements.

Public life

World Meteorological Day is not a public holiday so public life is not affected.

Background

The International Meteorological Organization was established at the first International Meteorological Congress in Vienna, Austria, in 1873. The organization aimed to establish meteorological station networks. These networks were linked by telegraph and improved weather forecasts. This contributed to shipping services' safety and efficiency.

The International Meteorological Organization became the World Meteorological Organization on March 23, 1950. It became the UN's specialized agency for meteorology, operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences in 1951.

The World Meteorological Organization plays a crucial role in contributing to people's safety and welfare. Its work is important in providing food security, water resources and transport. World Meteorological Day has been observed on March 23 each year since 1961.

Themes

Recent themes of World Meteorological Day have been:

* Weather, climate and the air we breathe (2009).
* Observing our planet for a better future (2008).
* Polar meteorology: Understanding global impacts (2007).
* Preventing and mitigating natural disasters (2006).
* Weather, climate, water and sustainable development (2005).
* Weather, climate, water in the information age (2004).
* Our future climate (2003).

A new theme is allocated to each different year for World Meteorological Day.

World Water Day

2009-03-24T12:55:00.000+07:00

The United Nations' (UN) World Water Day is held on March 22 each year. Events are organized on or around this day to increase people's awareness of water's importance in environment, agriculture, health and trade.

By resolution 47/193 of 22 December 1992, the General Assembly declared 22 March of each year World Day for Water starting in 1993. It is a unique occasion to remind everybody that concrete efforts to provide clean drinking water and increase awareness world-wide of the problems and of the solutions, can help make the difference.

In resolution 58/217 of 23 December 2003, the General Assembly proclaimed the period from 2005 to 2015 the International Decade for Action, "Water for Life".

Agenda 21 is a worldwide action plan for areas where human activities may affect the environment. It was adopted at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992. Agenda 21 recommended various measures, including creating World Water Day.

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on December 22, 1992, declaring March 22 to be the World Day for Water each year. Countries were encouraged to develop activities to highlight local needs for water. The first World Day for Water was observed in 1993.

The Water for Life Decade was launched on World Water Day in 2005. This decade will run from 2005 to 2015 and give a high profile to women's participation and the UN's water-related programs.

Themes

Recent World Water Day themes include:

* Shared Waters, Shared Opportunities (2009).
* Sanitation (2008).
* Coping with Water Scarcity (2007).
* Water and Culture (2006).
* Water for Life (2005).
* Water and Disasters (2004).
* Water for the Future (2003).
* Water for Development (2002).
* Water for Health (2001).
* Water for the 21st Century (2000).
* Everyone Lives Downstream (1999).
* Groundwater: the Invisible Resource (1998).
* The World's Water: Is There Enough? (1997).
* Water for Thirsty Cities (1996).
* Women and Water (1995).

A new theme is allocated to each different year for World Water Day.

What do people do?

Many events are held worldwide during World Water Day. These include:

* Visual art, theatrical and musical celebrations of water.
* Symposia for local, national and international leaders on water management and security.
* Educational events on the importance of clean water and protecting water resources.
* Campaigns and events to raise money for access to clean and affordable water.
* Excursions to local rivers, lakes and reservoirs.
* Special broadcasts on television and radio and the Internet.
* Walks, runs and swimming other sports competitions.

Some events are held on actual World Water Day date, while others are held on convenient dates close to March 22.

Symbols

World Water Day's main symbol is the shape of a water drop in the UN's color blue. Photographs of water being used or in rivers, reservoirs, lakes or seas are widely displayed on this occasion.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

"Water Is Our Most Precious Natural Resource"

Message on World Water Day, 22 March 2009

VIENNA, 22 March (UN Information Service) - Water is our most precious natural resource. More than ever we need to work together to use it wisely. While the world's growing population is consuming more freshwater, climate change is making less water available in many regions as glaciers recede, rainfall becomes less predictable, and floods and droughts become more extreme. Managing water carefully and balancing the varied needs for it is vital.

Much of the planet's water, above or below ground, is shared. Forty per cent of the world's people live in one of 263 basins that are shared by two or more countries. Concern over the possibility of violent disputes features regularly in discussions about sharing limited water resources. But while the potential exists for water to act as a catalyst for conflict between States and communities, precedent suggests that the opposite is actually what happens. Cooperation, not conflict, is the most common response by people facing competing demands.

Under the theme "Shared Waters, Shared Opportunities", World Water Day this year highlights how transboundary water resources can act as a unifying force. Worldwide, there are at least 300 international water agreements, often among parties that are otherwise at odds. These agreements demonstrate the potential of shared water resources to foster trust and promote peace. Political will, a flexible policy framework, strong institutions and an inclusive approach will help us build on this foundation for the benefit of all.

On this World Water Day, I urge governments, civil society, the private sector and all stakeholders to recognize that our collective future depends on how we manage our precious and finite water resources.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (21 March)

2009-03-24T12:20:00.000+07:00

The United Nations’ (UN) International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed with a series of events and activities worldwide on March 21 each year. The day aims to remind people of racial discrimination’s negative consequences. It also encourages people to remember their obligation and determination to combat racial discrimination.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March. On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid "pass laws". Proclaiming the Day in 1966, the General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination (resolution 2142 (XXI)).

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was established six years after an event, known as the Sharpeville tragedy or Sharpeville massacre, which captured worldwide attention. This event involved police opening fire and killing 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against the apartheid “pass laws” in Sharpeville, South Africa, March 21, 1960.

The UN General Assembly called on the international community to increase its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination when it proclaimed the day as a UN Day of observance in 1966. It also called on all world states and organizations to participate in a program of action to combat racism and racial discrimination in 1983. It held the World Conference against Racism and Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in 2001. The UN continues its work to fight against all forms of racial intolerance.

Symbols

The UN logo is often associated with marketing and promotional material for this event. It features a projection of a world map (less Antarctica) centered on the North Pole, inscribed in a wreath consisting of crossed conventionalized branches of the olive tree. The olive branches symbolize peace and the world map depicts the area of concern to the UN in achieving its main purpose, peace and security. The projection of the map extends to 60 degrees south latitude, and includes five concentric circles.

What do people do?

Various activities and events are arranged in many countries worldwide on this day. Previous activities included a webcast from the UN headquarters on March 21 featuring special appearances of UN leaders. Such events aim to help young people voice their opinions, find ways to fight racism, and promote tolerance in their communities and in their lives.

Young people also have the option of posting their opinions regarding discussions on human rights and racial discrimination at Voices of Youth, which is UNICEF’s online bulletin board for young people. Contributors to Voices of Youth come from different parts of the world including Jamaica, Kazakhstan, and the Philippines. Other activities include essays, photo projects, and published articles that promote the fight against racial discrimination.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

"Too Many Individuals, Communities and Societies Suffer from the Injustice and Stigma that Racism Brings"

Message on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 21 March 2009

VIENNA, 21 March (UN Information Service) - On this day in 1960, 69 peaceful protestors were gunned down by police in the South African township of Sharpeville as they demonstrated peacefully against the apartheid "pass laws". Many more - including women and children - were wounded. A wave of revulsion washed round the world. By proclaiming 21 March as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the General Assembly wished to honour the memory those who were massacred and to condemn racism.

Since then, the apartheid system in South Africa has been dismantled. Racist laws and practices have been abolished in many countries, and we have built an international framework for fighting racism, guided by the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The Convention is now nearing universal ratification, yet still, in all regions, too many individuals, communities and societies suffer from the injustice and stigma that racism brings.

Next month, government and civil society representatives will meet in Geneva to review progress since the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, in Durban. In the years since, the world has witnessed a disturbing rise in reports of hatred and bigotry, linked in part to terrorism and increasing migration. The Review Conference is a timely opportunity for countries to share experiences, identify best practices and reaffirm their commitment to the battle against racism. Racism exists in all countries, and I urge all countries to work together in the struggle against it.

The first article of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights affirms that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reminds us of our collective responsibility for promoting and protecting this ideal. Together, we must strengthen our common endeavour to put an end to racial discrimination and xenophobia wherever it occurs.

International Women's Day

2009-03-14T20:24:00.000+07:00

International Women’s Day is annually held on March 8 to celebrate women’s achievements throughout history and across nations. It is also known as the United Nations (UN) Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.

The theme for 2009 is:
“Women and men united to end violence against women and girls”

International Women’s Day: Looking Back

Introduction

International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.

In 1975, during International Women's Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day on 8 March. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions. In adopting its resolution, the General Assembly recognized the role of women in peace efforts and development and urged an end to discrimination and an increase of support for women’s full and equal participation.

History

International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe.

1909: The first National Woman's Day was observed in the United States on 28 February. The Socialist Party of America designated this day in honour of the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions.

1910: The Socialist International, meeting in Copenhagen, established a Women's Day, international in character, to honour the movement for women's rights and to build support for achieving universal suffrage for women. The proposal was greeted with unanimous approval by the conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, which included the first three women elected to the Finnish Parliament. No fixed date was selected for the observance.

1911: As a result of the Copenhagen initiative, International Women's Day was marked for the first time (19 March) in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, where more than one million women and men attended rallies. In addition to the right to vote and to hold public office, they demanded women’s rights to work, to vocational training and to an end to discrimination on the job.

1913-1914: International Women's Day also became a mechanism for protesting World War I. As part of the peace movement, Russian women observed their first International Women’s Day on the last Sunday in February. Elsewhere in Europe, on or around 8 March of the following year, women held rallies either to protest the war or to express solidarity with other activists.

1917: Against the backdrop of the war, women in Russia again chose to protest and strike for ‘Bread and Peace’ on the last Sunday in February (which fell on 8 March on the Gregorian calendar). Four days later, the Czar abdicated and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote.

Since those early years, International Women's Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike. The growing international women's movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women's conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women's rights and participation in the political and economic arenas. Increasingly, International Women's Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

The United Nations and Gender Equality

The Charter of the United Nations, signed in 1945, was the first international agreement to affirm the principle of equality between women and men. Since then, the UN has helped create a historic legacy of internationally-agreed strategies, standards, programmes and goals to advance the status of women worldwide.

Over the years, the UN and its technical agencies have promoted the participation of women as equal partners with men in achieving sustainable development, peace, security, and full respect for human rights. The empowerment of women continues to be a central feature of the UN’s efforts to address social, economic and political challenges across the globe.

Symbols

The International Women’s Day logo is in purple and white and features the symbol of Venus, which is also the symbol of being female. The faces of women of all backgrounds, ages, and nations are also seen in various promotions, such as posters, postcards and information booklets, on International Women’s Day. Various messages and slogans that promote the day are also publicized during this time of the year.

What do people do?

International Women’s Day events are held worldwide on March 8. Various women, including political, community, and business leaders, as well as leading educators, inventors, entrepreneurs, and television personalities, are usually invited to speak at various events on the day. Such events may include seminars, conferences, luncheons, dinners or breakfasts. The messages given at these events often focus on various themes such as innovation, the portrayal of women in the media, or the importance of education and career opportunities.

Many students in schools and other educational settings participate in special lessons, debates or presentations about the importance of women in society, their influence, and issues that affect them. In some countries school children bring gifts to their female teachers and women receive small presents from friends or family members. Many workplaces make a special mention about International Women’s Day through internal newsletters or notices, or by handing out promotional material focusing on the day.

The Secretary-General: Message on International Women's Day

8 March 2009

One year ago, I launched a campaign calling on people and governments the world over to unite to end violence against women and girls. The campaign will run through 2015, the target date for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The link with the Goals is clear. We must stop the habitual and socially ingrained violence that mars lives, destroys health, perpetuates poverty and prevents us from achieving women’s equality and empowerment.

Violence against women is also linked to the spread of HIV/AIDS. In some countries, as many as one in three women will be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Women and girls are also systematically and deliberately subject to rape and sexual violence in war.

Violence against women stands in direct contradiction to the promise of the United Nations Charter to “promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.” The consequences go beyond the visible and immediate. Death, injury, medical costs and lost employment are but the tip of an iceberg. The impact on women and girls, their families, their communities and their societies in terms of shattered lives and livelihoods is beyond calculation. Far too often, crimes go unpunished, and perpetrators walk free. No country, no culture, no woman, young or old, is immune.

Increasingly, men, too, are speaking out against this stain on our society. Global examples include the White Ribbon Campaign and the V-Day Campaign’s “V-Men” counterpart. And at community workshops, men are teaching other men that there is another way and that “real men don’t hit women”.

Changing mindsets and the habits of generations is not easy. It must involve all of us – individuals, organizations and governments. We must work together to state loud and clear, at the highest level, that violence against women will not be tolerated, in any form, in any context, in any circumstance.

We need economic and social policies that support women’s empowerment. We need programmes and budgets that promote non-violence. We need a positive image of women in the media. We need laws that say violence is a crime, that hold perpetrators accountable and are enforced.

The “Unite to End Violence against Women” campaign encourages men and women to join hands to oppose violence against women. Only by acting together can we create more equal and peaceful societies. Let us all, on this International Women’s Day, resolve to make a difference.

International Mother Language Day

2009-03-11T15:40:00.000+07:00

The United Nations' (UN) International Mother Language Day annually celebrates language diversity and variety worldwide on February 21. It also remembers events such as the killing of four students on February 21, 1952, because they campaigned to officially use their mother language, Bengali, in Bangladesh.

Background

At the partition of India in 1947, the Bengal province was divided according to the predominant religions of the inhabitants. The western part became part of India and the eastern part became a province of Pakistan known as East Bengal and later East Pakistan. However, there was economic, cultural and lingual friction between East and West Pakistan.

These tensions were apparent in 1948 when Pakistan's government declared that Urdu was the sole national language. This sparked protests amongst the Bengali-speaking majority in East Pakistan. The government outlawed the protests but on February 21, 1952, students at the University of Dhaka and other activists organized a protest. Later that day, the police opened fire at the demonstrators and killed four students. These students' deaths in fighting for the right to use their mother language are now remembered on International Mother Language Day.

The unrest continued as Bengali speakers campaigned for the right to use their mother language. Bengali became an official language in Pakistan on February 29, 1956. Following the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, Bangladesh became an independent country with Bengali as its official language.

On November 17, 1999, UNESCO proclaimed February 21 to be International Mother Language Day and it was first observed on February 21, 2000. Each year the celebrations around International Mother Language Day concentrate on a particular theme.

International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by UNESCO's General Conference in November 1999. The International Day has been observed every year since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.

Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues will serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.

What do people do?

On International Mother Language Day the UN's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and UN agencies participate in events that promote linguistic and cultural diversity. They also encourage people to maintain their knowledge of their mother language while learning and using more than one language. Governments and non-governmental organizations may use the day to announce policies to encourage language learning and support.

In Bangladesh, February 21 is the anniversary of a pivotal day in the country's history. People lay flowers at a Shaheed Minar (martyr's monument). They also: purchase glass bangles for themselves or female relatives; eat a festive meal and organize parties; and award prizes or host literary competitions. It is a time to celebrate Bangladesh’s culture and the Bengali language.

The Linguapax Institute, in Barcelona, Spain, aims to preserve and promote linguistic diversity globally. The institute presents the Linguapax Prize on International Mother Language Day each year. The prize is for those who have made outstanding work in linguistic diversity or multilingual education.

World Day of Social Justice

2009-03-11T15:14:00.000+07:00

The United Nations' (UN) World Day of Social Justice is annually observed on February 20 to encourage people to look at how social justice affects poverty eradication. It also focuses on the goal of achieving full employment and support for social integration.

Background

The World Summit for Social Development was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1995 and resulted in the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action. At this summit, more than 100 political leaders pledged to make the conquest of poverty and full employment, as well as stable, safe and just societies, their overriding objectives. They also agreed on the need to put people at the center of development plans.

Nearly 10 years later, the UN's member states reviewed the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action when they gathered at a session of the Commission for Social Development in New York in February 2005. They also agreed to commit to advance social development. On November 26, 2007, the UN General Assembly named February 20 as the annual World Day of Social Justice. The day was scheduled to be first observed in 2009.

At its sixty-second session, in November 2007, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed 20 February as World Day of Social Justice. The day is to be observed for the first time in 2009.

Member states were invited to devote this special day to the promotion of concrete national activities in accordance with the objectives and goals of the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth session of the General Assembly, entitled “World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world”.

As recognized by the World Summit, social development aims at social justice, solidarity, harmony and equality within and among countries and social justice, equality and equity constitute the fundamental values of all societies. To achieve “a society for all” governments made a commitment to the creation of a framework for action to promote social justice at national, regional and international levels. They also pledged to promote the equitable distribution of income and greater access to resources through equity and equality and opportunity for all. The governments recognized as well that economic growth should promote equity and social justice and that “a society for all” must be based on social justice and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The observance of the day should contribute to the further consolidation of the efforts of the international community in poverty eradication, promotion of full employment and decent work, gender equity and access to social well-being and justice for all.

What do people do?

Many organizations, including the UN and the International Labour Office, make statements on the importance of social justice for people. Many organizations also present plans for greater social justice by tackling poverty, social and economic exclusion and unemployment. Trade unions and campaign groups are invited to call on their members and supporters to mark the day. The Russian General Confederation of Trade Unions declared that the common slogan would be "Social Justice and Decent Life for All!".

Schools, colleges and universities may prepare special activities for the day or plan a week of events around a theme related to poverty, social and economic exclusion or unemployment. Different media, including radio and television stations, newspapers and Internet sites, may give attention to the issues around the World Day of Social Justice.

It is hoped that particular coverage is given to the links between the illicit trade in diamonds and armed conflicts, particularly in Africa, and the importance of the International Criminal Court. This is an independent court that conducts trials of people accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

For My Friends who were married on Valentine's Day

2009-02-17T18:15:00.001+07:00

The Passionate Shepherd to His Love by Christopher Marlowe

Come live with me and be my love,
And we will all the pleasures prove
That valleys, groves, hills, and fields,
Woods or steepy mountain yields.

And we will sit upon the rocks,
Seeing the shepherds feed their flocks,
By shallow rivers to whose falls
Melodious birds sing madrigals.

And I will make thee beds of roses
And a thousand fragrant posies,
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle;

A gown made of the finest wool
Which from our pretty lambs we pull;
Fair lined slippers for the cold,
With buckles of the purest gold;

A belt of straw and ivy buds,
With coral clasps and amber studs:
And if these pleasures may thee move,
Come live with me and be my love.

The shepherds' swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May morning:
If these delights thy mind may move,
Then live with me and be my love.

Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

May God be with you and bless you;
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.

May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.

How do I love thee? by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being an Ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old grief's, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Quotes from women about men ...

Any woman can fool a man if she wants to and if he's in love with her.
Agatha Christie

Can you imagine a world without men? No crime and lots of happy, fat women.
Marion Smith

I require only three things of a man. He must be handsome, ruthless and stupid.
Dorothy Parker

It's not the men in my life that count, its the life in my men.
Mae West

Marrying a man is like buying something you've been admiring for a long time in a shop window. You may love it when you get home, but it doesn't always go with everything else in the house.
Jean Kerr

I never married because I have three pets at home that answer the same purpose as a husband. I have a dog that growls every morning, a parrot that swears all afternoon and a cat that comes home late at night.
Marie Corelli

Men make love more intensely at 20, but make love better, however, at 30.
Catherine II of Russia

No nice men are good at getting taxis.
Katherine Whitehorn

I like to wake up each morning felling a new man.
Jean Harlow

Give a man a free hand and he'll run it all over you.
Mae West

Behind every great man there is a surprised woman.
Maryon Pearson

The trouble with some woman is that they get all excited about nothing, and then marry him.
Cher

A husband is what is left of the lover after the nerve is extracted.
Helen Rowland

Before marriage a man will lay awake all night thinking about something you said; after marriage he'll fall asleep before you have finished saying it.
Helen Rowland

An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have. The older she gets, the more interested he is in her.
Agatha Christie

Quotes from men about women

By all means marry. If you get a good wife you will become happy - If you get a bad one you will become a philosopher.
Socrates

Marriage is a sort of friendship recognised by the police.
Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who wants to live in an institution?
Groucho Marx

Marriage has many pains, but celibacy has no pleasures.
Samuel Johnson

It's a funny thing that when a man hasn't anything on earth to worry about, he goes off and gets married.
Robert Frost

Marriage is popular because it combines the maximim of temptation with the maximum of opportunity.
George Bernard Shaw

Marriage is based on the theory that when a man discovers a particular brand of beer exactly to his taste, he should at once throw in his job and go to work in the brewery.
George Nathan

All husbands are alike, but they have different faces so you can tell them apart.
Ogden Nash

A husband's last words should always be 'OK buy it'.
Nothing makes a good wife like a good husband.
Whoso findeth a wife, findeth a good thing.
The Bible

The man who says his wife can't take a joke, forgets that she took him.
Oscar Wilde

No man should have a secret from his wife. She invariably finds it out.
Oscar Wilde

The most dangerous food a man can eat is wedding cake.
Woman like silent men, they think they are listening.
Marcel Achard

100th ANNIVERSARY U THANT

2009-01-23T15:39:00.000+07:00

The year 2009 marks the centenary of the birth of U Thant, who served as Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1961 to 1971. He was selected to head the world body when Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld was killed in an air crash in September 1961. U Thant was born at Pantanaw, Myanmar (formerly called Burma), on 22 January 1909, and was educated at the National High School in Pantanaw and at University College, Yangon (formerly called Rangoon). Prior to his diplomatic career, U Thant’s
experience was in education and information work.

At the time of his appointment as Acting Secretary-General of the United Nations, U Thant had been Permanent Representative of Burma to the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador (1957-1961). During that period, he headed the Burmese delegations to the sessions of the General Assembly, and in 1959, he served as one of
the Vice-Presidents of the Assembly’s fourteenth session. In 1961, U Thant was Chairman of the United Nations Congo Conciliation Commission and Chairman of the Committee on a United Nations Capital Development Fund. During his diplomatic career, U Thant served on several occasions as adviser to Prime Ministers of Burma.

U Thant began serving as Acting Secretary- General on 3 November 1961, when he was unanimously appointed by the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Security Council, to fill the unexpired term of the late Secretary- General, Dag Hammarskjöld. He was then unanimously appointed Secretary-General by the
General Assembly on 30 November 1962 for a term of office ending on 3 November 1966.
U Thant was appointed for a second term as Secretary-General of the United Nations by the General Assembly on 2 December 1966 on the unanimous recommendation of the Security Council (resolution 229 (1966) of 2 December 1966). His term of office continued until 31 December 1971.

U Thant died of lung cancer in New York on November 25, 1974. By this time Burma was ruled by a military junta which refused him any honors. The then Burmese President Ne Win was envious of U Thant's international stature and the respect that was accorded him by the Burmese populace. Ne Win also resented U Thant's close links with the democratic government of U Nu which Ne Win had overthrown in a coup d'etat on March 2, 1962. Ne Win ordered that U Thant be buried without any official involvement or ceremony.

From the United Nations headquarters in New York, U Thant's body was flown back to Rangoon but no guard of honour or high ranking officials were on hand at the airport when the coffin arrived.

On the day of U Thant's funeral on December 5, 1974, tens of thousands of people lined the streets of Rangoon to pay their last respects to their distinguished countryman whose coffin was displayed at Rangoon's Kyaikasan race course for a few hours before the scheduled burial.

The coffin of U Thant was then snatched by a group of students just before it was scheduled to leave for burial in an ordinary Rangoon cemetery. The student demonstrators buried U Thant on the former grounds of the Rangoon University Students Union (RUSU), which Ne Win had dynamited and destroyed on July 8, 1962.

During the period of December 5–11, 1974, the student demonstrators also built a temporary mausoleum for U Thant on the grounds of the RUSU and gave anti-government speeches. In the early morning hours of December 11, 1974, government troops stormed the campus, killed some of the students guarding the make-shift mausoleum, removed U Thant's coffin, and reburied it at the foot of the Shwedagon Pagoda, where it has continued to lie.

Upon hearing of the storming of the Rangoon University campus and the forcible removal of U Thant's coffin, many people rioted in the streets of Rangoon. Martial law was declared in Rangoon and the surrounding metropolitan areas. What has come to be known as the U Thant crisis — the student-led protests over the shabby treatment by the Ne Win government of U Thant — was crushed by the Burmese government.

U Thant's Famous Quotes

Every human being, of whatever origin, of whatever station, deserves respect. We must each respect others even as we respect ourselves.

Wars begin in the minds of man, and in those minds, love and compassion would have built the defenses of peace.

FIRST DAY CANCELLATIONS 100TH ANNIVERSARY U THANT

On 6 February 2009, special first day handcancellations for the “100th Anniversary U Thant” stamps will be available at United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Palais des Nations, Geneva, and the Vienna International Centre. The New York hand-cancellation is illustrated below:

Proverbs for Modern adaptions of old proverbs

2009-01-15T16:24:00.000+07:00

Modern adaptions of old proverbs
A supporter has forwarded this list which are puns on old proverbs. You will recognise the original proverbs with their modern technology terms. They do not qualify as true proverbs but are included here for a laugh.

* A burden in the bush is worth two in the hand.
* A journey of a thousand sites begins with a single click.
* C:\ is the root of all directories.
* Don't byte off more than you can view.
* Fax is stranger than fiction.
* Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; Teach him to use the Net and he won't bother you for weeks.
* Great groups from little icons grow.
* Home is where you hang your @.
* Modulation in all things.
* Oh, what a tangled web site we weave when first we practice.
* Pentium wise, pen and paper foolish.
* Speak softly and carry a cellular phone.
* The e-mail of the species is more deadly than the mail.
* The geek shall inherit the earth.
* The modem is the message.
* There's many a slip 'twixt the dock and the ship.
* Too many clicks spoil the browse.
* Virtual reality is its own reward.
* What boots up must come down.
* Windows will never cease.
* You can't teach a new mouse old clicks.

proverbs for Modern & Weather

2009-01-15T16:18:00.000+07:00

Modern
We previously stated that there were no new proverbs being created, but here are some that appear to be modern.

* Absence makes the fond heart wander.
* Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.
* Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
* Everyone has a photographic memory, some just don't have film.
* If it's not broken, don't fix it.
* If it's not broke, mess with it till it is.
* It is lonesome in the saddle since the horse died.
* The lights on, but nobodies home.
* Winners never quit, quitters never win.
* You snooze, you lose.

Weather

The majority of the proverbs regarding the weather have grown into rhymes. For example "Red sky at night, sailors delight" has a second line although most of us only quote the single line. To accommodated the weather section a separate page has been created titled Folk Lore Weather Forecasting.

Proverbs for Contradictions

2009-01-15T16:14:00.000+07:00

Contradictions
A proverb is a popular saying, expressing a truth or common fact. However this has led to some proverbs being a direct contradiction of another.

We have listed these together for you to enjoy the conflicting wisdom.

* The pen is mightier than the sword.
* Actions speak louder than words.
* ------------------------
* Many hands make light work.
* Too many cooks spoil the broth.
* ------------------------
* You're never too old to learn.
* You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
* ------------------------
* Ask no questions and hear no lies.
* Ask and you shall receive.
* ------------------------
* Variety is the spice of life.
* Don't change horses in midstream.
* ------------------------
* Don't cross the bridge till you come to it.
* Forewarned is forearmed.
* ------------------------
* Silence is golden.
* The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
* ------------------------
* Clothes make the man.
* Never judge a book by its cover
* ------------------------
* The best things come in small packages.
* The bigger, the better.
* ------------------------
* A miss is as good as a mile.
* Half a loaf is better than none.
* ------------------------
* Look before you leap.
* He who hesitates is lost.
* ------------------------
* If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
* Don't beat a dead horse.
* ------------------------
* The early bird gets the worm.
* The second mouse gets the cheese.

Proverbs for Fools

2009-01-15T16:12:00.000+07:00

Fools

* A fool and his money are soon parted.
* A fool in a gown is none the wiser.
* A wise man doesn't need advice, and a fool won't take it.
* Advice when most needed is least heeded.
* Always in a hurry, always behind.
* Cheap is dear in the long run.
* Confess and be hanged.
* Cut off one's nose to spite one's face.
* Empty vessels make the most noise.
* Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.
* Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
* He who won't be advised, can't be helped.
* If the cap fits, wear it.
* In one ear and out the other.
* It can't happen here is number one on the list of famous last words.
* It is better to stay silent and be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
* One of these days is none of these days.
* Pride cometh before a fall.
* Pride feels no pain.
* See nothing, say nothing, know nothing.
* The bigger they are the harder they fall.
* The fool wanders, the wise man travels.
* The hood does not make the monk.
* The wise man is deceived once but the fool twice.
* There is no fool like an old fool.
* Use not today what tomorrow will need.
* What's the good of home, if you are never in it?
* You cannot lose what you never had.

Provebs for Business

2009-01-15T16:07:00.000+07:00

Business

* A good conscience is a soft pillow.
* A good thing is soon snatched up.
* A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
* Better safe than sorry.
* Better late than never.
* Business before pleasure.
* Credit won by lying is quick in dying.
* Damage suffered makes you knowing, but seldom rich.
* Desperate diseases must have desperate remedies.
* Divide and conquer.
* Don't rely on the label on the bag.
* Don't throw the baby out with the bath-water.
* Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
* Experience is the best teacher.
* First come, first served.
* Fore-warned is fore-armed.
* Hasty climbers have sudden falls.
* Hasty judgements are generally faulty.
* Honesty is the best policy.
* If anything can go wrong, it will.
* If you don't know where you're going, then the journey is never ending.
* It's a poor job that can't carry one boss.
* Keep It Simple (The KISS principal).
* Let the buyer beware.
* Look before you leap.
* Nobody can serve two masters.
* One false move may lose the game.
* One man's loss, is another man's gain.
* Peace begins just where ambition ends.
* Possession is nine tenths of the law.
* Rules are made to be broken.
* The customer is always right.
* The gods help them that help themselves.
* The golden age never was the present one.
* To each his own.
* We do not always gain by changing.
* Where there's a will there's a way.

Proverbs for Money

2009-01-15T16:06:00.000+07:00

Money

Find a coin pick it up
All the day you'll have good luck.
Drop a penny leave it lay
Bring someone a lucky day.
----------

* A bad penny always comes back.
* A light purse makes a heavy heart.
* A little each day is much in a year.
* A man's intentions seldom add to his income.
* A penny saved is a penny earned.
* A poor man is better than a liar.
* A single penny fairly got is worth a thousand that are not.
* Always you are to be rich next year.
* Beggars can't be choosers.
* Better to have than to wish.
* Diamonds are forever.
* Every man has his price.
* Every man is the architect of his destiny.
* Experience is the father of wisdom.
* Fair exchange is no robbery.
* He has enough who is content.
* He that pays last never pays twice.
* He is rich that is satisfied.
* In for a penny, in for a pound.
* It is better to be born lucky than rich.
* Little and often fill the purse.
* Little thieves are hanged, but great ones escape.
* Money burns a hole in your pocket.
* Never spend your money before you have it.
* One today is worth two tomorrows.
* Penny wise, pound foolish.
* Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves.
* The best cast at dice is not to play.
* The love of money is the root of all evil.
* There is no honour among thieves.
* Waste not, want not.

Proverbs for Growth

2009-01-15T16:02:00.000+07:00

Growth

* A little body doth often harbour a great soul.
* A point is the beginning of magnitude.
* A spark can start a great fire.
* A short cut is often a wrong cut.
* Big fish eat little fish.
* Everything has an end.
* Fall seven times. Stand up eight.
* First in best dressed.
* From trivial things, great contests often arise.
* Give them an inch and they'll take a mile.
* Grow angry slowly, there's plenty of time.
* He who hesitates is lost.
* It's either all or nothing.
* It is easier to destroy than to build.
* It is the first step that is difficult.
* Little strokes fell great oaks.
* Lost time is never found again.
* Many drops make a shower.
* Mighty oaks from tiny acorns grow.
* Necessity is a hard nurse, but she raises strong children.
* Rome wasn't built in a day.
* Small faults indulged let in greater.
* Some of the best gifts come in small packages.
* Step by step one goes far.
* You have to crawl before you walk.

Proverbs for Rural

2009-01-15T16:00:00.000+07:00

Rural

* A chain is no stronger than its weakest link.
* A rolling stone gathers no moss.
* After the storm comes the calm.
* All aren't hunters that blow the horn.
* As green as grass.
* As is the gardener so is the garden.
* As you sow, so shall you reap.
* Best to bend it while it's a twig.
* Better to go back than go wrong.
* By hook or by crook.
* Deeds are fruits, words are but leaves.
* Distance lends enhancement to the view.
* Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
* Don't cross your bridges until you come to them.
* Empty bags cannot stand upright.
* Every cloud has a silver lining.
* Every path has its puddle.
* Fresh as a daisy.
* Good company on the road is the shortest cut.
* Leave no stone unturned.
* Make hay while the sun shines.
* Milk the cow but don't pull off the udder.
* Never cackle unless you lay.
* Oaks may fall when reeds take the storm.
* Shake the hand before you plough the field.
* Strike while the iron's hot.
* The beaten path is safest.
* The best ground bears weeds as well as flowers.
* The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
* The longest journey begins with the first step.
* The longest way round is the sweetest way home.
* The more you stir, the more it stinks.
* The sun shines on both sides of the hedge.
* The worst wheel always creaks most.
* Too many irons in the fire.
* You can't get blood out of a stone.

Proverbs for Animal Related

2009-01-15T15:54:00.000+07:00

Animal related

* A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. See note 2
* A bird makes his nest little by little.
* A cat has nine lives.
* An elephant never forgets.
* An old fox need learn no craft.
* Birds of a feather flock together.
* Curiosity killed the cat; Satisfaction brought it back.
* Curses, like chickens come home to roost.
* Every dog has its day.
* His bark is louder than his bite.
* If you lie down with dogs, you'll get up with fleas.
* It's an ill bird that fouls its own nest.
* It's an old dog for a hard road.
* It's no use closing the stable door, after the horse has bolted.
* Kill two birds with the one stone.
* Let sleeping dogs lie.
* Like a fish out of water.
* Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
* Nothing falls into the mouth of a sleeping fox.
* Putting the cart before the horse.
* Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
* The early bird catches the worm.
* The leopard does not change his spots.
* The sleepy fox catches no chickens.
* There's no use in flogging a dead horse.
* To scare a bird is not the way to catch it.
* What do you expect from a pig, but a grunt?
* When a fox hears a rabbit screaming it comes running, but not to help.
* While the cats away the mice play.
* You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.
* You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

NOTE. "A hair on the head is worth two in the brush".

2009-01-15T15:50:00.000+07:00

Work
Once a task has first begun, never quit until it's done,
be the labour great or small, do it well or not at all.
----------

* A bad workman blames his tools
* A good reputation is a fair estate.
* All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
* An idle man is the devil's playfellow.
* Diligence is the mother of good luck.
* Don't try kicking against the wind.
* Everybody must row with the oars he has.
* If a job is worth doing it is worth doing well.
* If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
* If you can't help, don't hinder.
* If you see something you like, take it and make it better.
* It's all in a days work.
* Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes it.
* Least talk most work.
* Many hands make light work.
* More haste less speed.
* Needs must when the devil drives.
* Never put off 'til tomorrow what you can do today.
* No life can be dreary when work is a delight.
* Not to break is better than to mend.
* The devil finds work for idle hands.
* The harder you work, the luckier you are.
* The hardest work is to do nothing.
* Work as if everything depends on me, but pray as if everything depends on God.

Proverbs for Wisdom

2009-01-15T15:46:00.000+07:00

Wisdom

* A change is as good as a rest.
* A stitch in time saves nine.
* A throne is only a bench covered in purple velvet.
* A wise man shall hold his tongue till he sees his opportunity.
* Accidents will happen.
* All's well that ends well.
* Attack is the best means of defence.
* Charity begins at home.
* Different strokes for different folks.
* Do not in an instant what an age cannot recompense.
* Don't knock on death's door, ring the doorbell and run.
* Don't try to teach your grand-mother to suck eggs.
* Empty vessels make the most sound.
* Empty barrels make the most noise.
* Four eyes are better than two.
* He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day.
* Innocent as a new born babe.
* It's an ill wind that blows no-one some good.
* It is better to stay silent and be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
* Necessity is the mother of invention.
* No one can be caught in places he does not visit.
* No wise man ever wishes to be younger.
* Not in a month of Sundays.
* One mans junk is another man's treasure.
* Out of the frying pan into the fire.
* Show a clean pair of heels.
* Still waters run deep.
* The darkest hour is before the dawn.
* The wise shall understand.
* Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
* Tomorrow is a new day.
* Two heads are better than one.
* You can't tell a book by its cover.
* Where observation is concerned, chance favours only the prepared mind.
* Where there's smoke there's fire.
* Wisdom is better than strength.
* Wisdom is neither inheritance nor a legacy.
* Wisdom is the wealth of the wise.
* Wise it is to comprehend the whole.
* You can't put an old head on young shoulders.
* You never know what you can do till you try.

Proverbs for Conversation

2009-01-15T15:41:00.000+07:00

Conversation

* A fool uttereth all his mind.
* A bad excuse is better then none.
* Actions speak louder than words.
* Angry words fan the fire like wind.
* Bad news travels fast.
* Call a spade a spade.
* Do as I say not as I do.
* Don't advertise: Tell it to a gossip.
* Don't go off half-cocked.
* Few words and many deeds.
* For donkeys' ages.
* Gossips are frogs, they drink and talk.
* He who sings drives away sorrow.
* If you don't say it you will not have to unsay it.
* It takes two to have an argument.
* Keep your mouth shut and your eyes open.
* Listen to the pot calling the kettle black.
* Many a true word spoken in jest.
* No news is good news.
* Nothing is ill said if it is not ill taken.
* One picture is worth a thousand words.
* Say what you mean and mean what you say.
* Silence is an excellent remedy against slander.
* Silence is golden.
* Silence is less injurious than a bad reply.
* Since before cocky was an egg.
* Speak clearly, if you speak at all.
* Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.
* Stop beating around the bush.
* Take your wife's first advice.
* Talking comes by nature, silence by wisdom.

Proverbs for Health & Food

2009-01-15T15:36:00.000+07:00

Health & Food

* After dinner rest a while, after supper walk a mile.
* An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
* A drowning man will clutch at a straw.
* An onion a day keeps everyone away.
* Another pot ! Try the teapot.
* As fit as a fiddle.
* As hard as nails.
* As sick as a dog.
* As you go through life, make this your goal, watch the doughnut and not the hole.
* Beauty is but skin deep.
* Better late thrive than never do well.
* Better to be poor and healthy rather than rich and sick.
* Better to wear out than rust out.
* Bread never falls but on its buttered side.
* Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
* Content is health to the sick and riches to the poor.
* Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
* Drink like a fish, water only.
* Early to bed, early to rise, makes you healthy, wealthy & wise.
* Good wine ruins the purse, and bad wine ruins the stomach.
* Greediness burst the bag.
* Grumbling makes the loaf no larger.
* Half a loaf is better than none.
* He who drinks a little too much drinks much too much.
* He who rises late must trot all day.
* His eyes are bigger than his belly.
* Hunger is the best sauce.
* It is no use crying over spilt milk.
* Old friends and old wine are best.
* One man's meat is another man's poison.
* Ready money is ready medicine.
* Sound as a bell.
* The nearer the bone the sweeter the meat.
* The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
* There's many a slip, twixt cup and the lip.
* To add insult to injury.
* To look as if butter will not melt in his mouth.
* Too many cooks spoil the broth.
* What can't be cured must be endured.
* What you eat today walks and talks tomorrow.
* You are what you eat.
* You can't have your cake and eat it too. See note
* You can eat an elephant if you do it one mouthful at a time.
* You can't unscramble a scrambled egg.
* Wondrous is the strength of cheerfulness.

NOTE. One proverb that is always quoted incorrectly is "You can't eat your cake and have it too". It is often quoted as...."You can't have your cake and eat it too" but you can "have your cake and (then) eat it" however, you cannot "eat your cake and (still have it)".

Proverbs for Life

2009-01-15T15:34:00.000+07:00

Life

* A bully is always a coward.
* A handsome shoe often pinches the foot.
* A good thing is all the sweeter when won with pain.
* A man too careful of danger lives in continual torment.
* A miss is as good as a mile.
* All promises are either broken or kept.
* All things come to those that wait.
* An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
* An open door may tempt a saint.
* As one door closes, another always opens.
* As you go through life, make this your goal, watch the doughnut and not the hole.
* Brevity is the soul of wit.
* Cut your coat according to the cloth.
* Discretion is the better part of valour.
* Do right and fear no man.
* Easy come, easy go.
* Experience is the hardest teacher. She gives the test first and the lesson afterwards.
* Familiarity breeds contempt.
* Fortune favours the brave.
* Hall binks are oft sliddery. An explanation
* He who laughs last, laughs longest.
* Home is where the heart is.
* Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
* In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
* It never rains but it pours.
* Leave tomorrow till tomorrow.
* Life begins at forty.
* Lifes trials may be hard to bear, but patience can outlive them.
* Live and learn.
* Manners maketh the man.
* No man is worse for knowing the worst of himself.
* Only the good die young.
* The best things in life are free.
* The family that prays together, stays together.
* The longer you live the more you see.
* The meek shall inherit the earth.
* The receiver is as bad as the thief.
* To wait and be patient soothes many a pang.
* Up and down like a fiddler's elbow.
* We cannot erase the sad records from our past.
* What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over.
* While there's life there's hope.

Proverbs for Relationship

2009-01-15T15:26:00.000+07:00

Relationships

* A good friend is one's nearest relation.
* A man is known by the company he keeps.
* A man of straw needs a woman of gold.
* A wink is as good as a nod, to a blind man.
* An injury is forgiven better than an injury revenged.
* Anger and hate hinder good counsel.
* Appearances are deceptive.
* At a round table there's no dispute about the place.
* Be slow in choosing, but slower in changing.
* Blood is thicker than water.
* Cheerfulness smooths the road of life.
* Confess and be hanged.
* Conscience makes cowards of us all.
* Don't blow your own trumpet.
* Do as you would be done by.
* Do unto others as you would have them do to you.
* Grow angry slowly; there's plenty of time.
* He bears misery best that hides it most.
* He that hurts another, hurts himself.
* He who wronged you will hate you.
* Heavy givers are light complainers.
* If you lose your temper, don't look for it.
* It's not over till it's over.
* Joy shared is double joy; grief shared is (only) half grief.
* Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry and you cry alone.
* Never let the sun set on angry heart.
* Never let the sun go down on your anger.
* Never let the sun set on thy wrath.
* No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry.
* Open confession is good for the soul.
* Out of sight, out of mind.
* Patience is a virtue.
* Persuasion is better than force.
* Spare the rod and spoil the child.
* Temper is so good a thing that we should never lose it.
* To the world you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world.
* Wondrous is the strength of cheerfulness.
* You made your bed, now you must lie in it.

Proverbs for Love

2009-01-15T15:24:00.000+07:00

Love

* A loveless life is a living death.
* Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
* All's fair in love and war.
* Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
* Before you meet the handsome prince you have to kiss a lot of toads.
* Better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all.
* Cold hands, warm heart.
* Distance makes the heart grow fonder.
* Faint heart never won fair lady.
* First impressions are the most lasting.
* Hatred is as blind as love.
* Love and a cough cannot be hid.
* Love does much but money does all.
* Love levels all inequalities.
* Love makes a good eye squint.
* Love sees no faults.
* Love sought is good, but given unsought is better.
* Love to live and live to love.
* Love with life is heaven; and life unloving, hell.
* Man is the head but woman turns it.
* Marry in haste, repent at leisure.
* The course of love never did run smooth.
* The Lord loveth a cheerful liar.
* There is a thin line between love and hate.
* To eat one's heart out.
* True beauty lies within.
* You can't live on bread alone.

Proverbs for Friendship

2009-01-15T15:12:00.001+07:00

Friendship

* A friend's frown is better than a fool's smile.
* A friend in need is a friend indeed.
* A friend is easier lost than found.
* A friend to everybody is a friend to nobody.
* A problem shared is a problem halved.
* A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand, but touches your heart.
* False friends are worse than open enemies.
* Flattery is all right so long as you don't inhale.
* Give credit where credit is due.
* Grief divided is made lighter.
* Memory is the treasure of the mind.
* Nothing dries sooner than a tear.
* Old friends and old wine are best.
* The best of friends must part.
* The best things are not bought and sold.
* There is no better looking-glass than an old friend.
* To err is human (To forgive divine).
* Two cannot fall out if one does not choose.

Happy New Year 2009!

2009-01-02T13:31:00.000+07:00

MySpace Comments

Happy New Year To You

Happy New Year to you!
May every great new day
Bring you sweet surprises--
A happiness buffet.

Happy New Year to you,
And when the new year’s done,
May the next year be even better,
Full of pleasure, joy and fun.

By Joanna Fuchs

MySpace Comments

New Year’s Reflections

Looking back on the months gone by,
As a new year starts and an old one ends,
We contemplate what brought us joy,
And we think of our loved ones and our friends.

Recalling all the happy times,
Remembering how they enriched our lives
We reflect upon who really counts,
As the fresh and bright new year arrives.

And when I/we ponder those who do,
I/we immediately think of you.

Thanks for being one of the reasons I'll/We'll have a Happy New Year!

By Joanna Fuchs

MySpace Comments

Happy New Year Wish

My Happy New Year wish for you
Is for your best year yet,
A year where life is peaceful,
And what you want, you get.

A year in which you cherish
The past year’s memories,
And live your life each new day
Full of bright expectancies.

I wish for you a holiday
With happiness galore;
And when it’s done, I wish you
Happy New Year, and many more.

By Joanna Fuchs

Send these bright and beautiful ecards to wish your loved ones a very Happy New Year.

International Human Solidarity Day

2008-12-19T17:08:00.000+07:00

International Human Solidarity Day was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2005 as an initiative in the fight against poverty. (A/RES/60/209)

International Human Solidarity Day is:

A day to celebrate our unity in diversity

A day to remind governments to respect their commitments to international agreements

A day to raise public awareness of the importance of solidarity

A day to encourage debate on the ways to promote solidarity for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals including poverty eradication

A day of action to encourage new initiatives for poverty eradication

Background

In the Millennium Declaration world leaders identified Solidarity as one of the fundamental values essential to international relations in the twenty-first century and emphasized that “Global challenges must be managed in a way that distributes the costs and burdens fairly in accordance with basic principles of equity and social justice. Those who suffer or who benefit least deserve help from those who benefit most.” In the context of globalization and the challenge of growing inequality, the strengthening of international solidarity and cooperation is indispensable for the realization of the Millennium Development Goals.

Convinced that the promotion of the culture of solidarity and the spirit of sharing was important for combating poverty, the General Assembly proclaimed 20 December as International Human Solidarity Day.

Solidarity Quotes

“In our interconnected world, the human family cannot enjoy security without development, cannot enjoy development without security, and cannot enjoy either without respect for human rights…to act on that understanding, we need a strong United Nations, and true solidarity among governments and peoples working together to fulfill those goals.”

“Solidarity remains a crucial pillar of international cooperation. As markets expand and deepen, we have an opportunity to give new meaning to solidarity by enlisting new allies. Preparing the ground for investment and growth while at the same time forging new alliances may unlock the potential to successful development. At the same time, we have to rebuild the moral foundation and purpose of solidarity…Our duty is to new our efforts to make the case for solidarity; to strengthen not only its economic but also its moral underpinning.”

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan

“To recognize the social solidarity of the human family brings with it the responsibility to build on what makes us one. This means promoting effectively and without exception the equal dignity of all as human beings endowed with certain fundamental and inalienable human rights. This touches all aspects of our individual life, as well as our life in the family, in the community in which we live, an in the world. Once we truly grasp that we are brothers and sisters in a common humanity, then we can shape our attitudes towards life in the light of the solidarity which makes us one. This is especially true in all that relates to the basic universal project: peace.”

John Paul II ‘Development and Solidarity: two keys to peace’.

Human Rights Day

2008-12-19T16:56:00.000+07:00

Human Rights Day is annually observed December 10 to mark the anniversary of the presentation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

On December 10, 1948, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This represented a shift in a world coping with the legacy of the holocaust, colonialism and inequality within and between countries.

What do people do?

Events focused on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are held worldwide on and around December 10. Many events aim to educate people, especially children and teenagers, on their human rights and the importance of upholding these in their own communities and further afield.

The day may also include protests to alert people of circumstances in parts of the world where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is not recognized or respected, or where the importance of these rights are not considered to be important. Cultural events are also organized to celebrate the importance of human rights through music, dance, drama or fine art.

Background

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted between January 1947 and December 1948. It aimed to form a basis for human rights all over the world and represented a significant change of direction from events during World War II and the continuing colonialism that was rife in the world at the time. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is considered as the most translated document in modern history. It is available in more than 360 languages and new translations are still being added.

The UN General Assembly adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, France, on the December 10, 1948. All states and interested organizations were invited to mark December 10 as Human Rights Day at a UN meeting on December 4, 1950. It was first observed on December 10 that year and has been observed each year on the same date.

Each year Human Rights Day has a theme. Recently, the themes have been: "Vision to bring about new equilibrium in international relations" (2002); "Knowing your human rights" (2003); "Human rights education" (2004); "Torture and the global efforts to combat it" (2005); "Fighting poverty: a matter of obligation, not charity" (2006); "Dignity and justice for all of us" (2007); and "Know your rights" (2008).

Message of the Secretary-General on Human Rights Day

December 10th marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On this historic occasion, we should reaffirm the fundamental principles that its inspired group of framers articulated. In the Universal Declaration they recalled the “disregard and contempt for human rights” that led to actions which “outraged the conscience of mankind” and they heralded the “advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want,” proclaiming this as “the highest aspiration of the common people.”

On this Human Rights Day, we also celebrate the 60 th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Drafted amid utter destruction and destitution following the Second World War, the Declaration reflects humanity’s aspirations for a future of prosperity, dignity and peaceful coexistence. Its adoption was a landmark. Today, the Declaration remains a core part of the UN’s very identity. The challenges we face today are as daunting as those that confronted the Declaration’s drafters.

* We face a food emergency and a global financial crisis.
* Humankind’s assault on the natural environment continues.
* There is political repression in too many countries.
* And as ever, the most vulnerable continue to be on the frontlines of hardship and abuse.

The luckiest among us, those who are spared the most negative effects of disaster, poverty or instability, cannot turn a blind eye. The cascading effects of abuse and indifference can eventually engulf the entire planet. Rights, and especially their violation, must hold the whole world in solidarity.

On this Human Rights Day, it is my hope that we will all act on our collective responsibility to uphold the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration. We can only honour the towering vision of that inspiring document when its principles are fully applied everywhere, for everyone.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

2008-12-19T16:47:00.000+07:00

Since 1992, the United Nations' (UN) International Day of Persons with Disabilities is annually held on December 3. It aims to increase the understanding of the issues around disabilities and attention to the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

It also aims to increase the awareness of the gains for everybody if disabled persons are integrated into all aspects of political, social, economic and cultural life and raising money for resources for persons with disabilities.
What do people do?

Many events are held on and around the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3 each year. Many of these events aim to involve groups of people from all sections of society in upholding the rights of persons with disabilities and to celebrate the contributions by persons with disabilities to their communities.

Other events take the form of protests to highlight the difficulties disabled people have in playing a full role in society. Examples of events include: forums with experts and disabled persons; public discussions; the presentation of information campaigns; exhibitions of art created by disabled people; social gatherings; and fundraising activities to raise money to support disabled people.

Background

The United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons was held from 1983 to 1992 to enable governments and organizations to implement measures to improve the life of disabled persons all over the world. On October 14, 1992, as this decade drew to a close, the UN General Assembly proclaimed December 3 as the International Day of Disabled Persons. This day was first observed on December 3, 1992. On December 18, 2007, the assembly changed the observance's name from the "International Day of Disabled Persons" to the "International Day of Persons with Disabilities". The new name was first used in 2008.

Each year the International Day of Disabled Persons or International Day of Persons with Disabilities focuses on a particular theme. These themes have been: "Arts, Culture and Independent Living" (1998); "Accessibility for all for the new Millennium" (1999); "Making information technologies work for all" (2000); "Full participation and equality: the call for new approaches to assess progress and evaluate outcome" (2001); "Independent living and sustainable livelihoods" (2002); "A voice of our own" (2003); "Nothing about Us without Us" (2004); "Rights of persons with disabilities: action in development" (2005); "E-Accessibility" (2006); "Decent work for persons with disabilities" (2007); and "Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities: dignity and justice for all of us" (2008).

World AIDS Day

2008-12-19T16:31:00.000+07:00

AIDS is a condition resulting from damage done to the human immune system by HIV. It affects tens of millions of people around the world. The United Nations' (UN) World AIDS Day is held on December 1 each year to honor the victims of the AIDS pandemic and focus attention on the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS related conditions.

What do people do?

World AIDS Day is the focal point of the World AIDS Campaign, which is active all year round. During the days and weeks leading up to World AIDS Day, there is often a lot of coverage of the condition in the media and fundraising for AIDS and HIV-related charities. In addition, health education campaigns aiming to reduce the transmission of HIV and discrimination of people living with HIV and AIDS are often launched on or around December 1.

On World AIDS Day, many community, national and international leaders issue proclamations on supporting and treating people living with HIV and AIDS and stimulating research into the treatment of these conditions. Local communities may hold events to remember and honor members who have died of AIDS-related conditions or exhibitions around the subject. A particularly well-known example is the AIDS Memorial Quilt. This project allows friends or family members of a person who has died of AIDS to construct a quilt panel. The panels are then exhibited all over the United States.

Background

AIDS stands for "acquired immune deficiency syndrome" or "acquired immunodeficiency syndrome" and denotes a condition, which results from the damage done by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) to the immune system. The condition was first identified in 1981 and the name "AIDS" was first introduced on July 27, 1982.

HIV can only be transmitted between people through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the blood stream with a bodily fluid. Hence, there has been a lot of stigma around the spread of HIV and people living with HIV and AIDS. It has been estimated that around 33 million people around the world have been infected with HIV and that around two million people die from AIDS related conditions each year.

On October 27, 1988, the UN General Assembly officially recognized that the World Health Organization declared December 1, 1988, to be World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day has also been observed on this date each year since then. Each year World AIDS Day concentrates on a specific theme. Recently, these have been: "Stigma and Discrimination" (2003); "Women, Girls, HIV and AIDS" (2004); "Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise" (2005); "Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise - Accountability" (2006); "Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise - Leadership" (2007); and "Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise - Lead, Empower, Deliver" (2008).

Symbols

A simple red ribbon is one of the most widely recognized symbols of HIV and AIDS and the people who live with these conditions. The symbol was presented by the Visual AIDS Artists Caucus in 1991. The individuals in this group wished to remain anonymous, keep the image copyright free and create a symbol to raise consciousness of HIV and AIDS. The red ribbon was originally intended to be worn as a badge, but is now used in a wide variety of ways.

The symbol of UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS consists of the word "UNAIDS". The letters "U" and "N" are in black and the rest of letters are in red. To the left of the word 'UNAIDS' is a red ribbon superimposed on the symbol of the United Nations. This symbol is shown in black and consists of an azimuthal equidistant projection of the globe centered on the North Pole surrounded by olive branches.

The symbol of the World AIDS Campaign consists of a sketched image of a red ribbon and the words "world aids campaign". The words "world" and "campaign" are in black and the word "aids" is in red. The ends of the ribbon merge into splashes of green, blue, purple and orange. The splashes of color can be interpreted in a variety of ways, but are often taken to indicate the diversity of people living with HIV and AIDS.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

2008-12-19T16:25:00.000+07:00

The United Nations' (UN) International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is an occasion for governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations to raise public awareness of violence against women. It has been observed on November 25 each year since 2000.

What do people do?

Various activities are arranged around the world to draw attention to the need for continuing action to eliminate violence against women, projects to enable women and their children to escape violence and campaigns to educate people about the consequences of violence against women. Locally, women's groups may organize rallies, communal meals, fundraising activities and present research on violence against women in their own communities.

An ongoing campaign that people are encouraged to participate in, especially around this time of the year when awareness levels for the day are high, is the “Say NO to Violence Against Women campaign”. Through the campaign, anyone can add their name to a growing movement of people who speak out to put a halt to human rights violations against women.

Background

On November 25, 1960, three sisters, Patria Mercedes Mirabal, María Argentina Minerva Mirabal and Antonia María Teresa Mirabal, were assassinated in the Dominican Republic on the orders of the Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo. The Mirabel sisters fought hard to end Trujillo's dictatorship. Activists on women's rights have observed a day against violence on the anniversary of the deaths of these three women since 1981.

On December 17, 1999, November 25 was designated as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women by the UN General Assembly. Each year observances around the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women concentrate on a particular theme. These have been: “Not a minute more” (2005); “Where violence against women is not tolerated” (2006); “Say NO to Violence against Women!” (2007); and “Demanding Implementation, Challenging Obstacles” (2008).

World Television Day

2008-12-19T16:15:00.000+07:00

The United Nations’ (UN) World Television Day is annually observed in many places around the world on November 21. The day recognizes that television plays a major role in presenting different issue that affect people.

What do people do?

World Television Day is a day to renew governments’, organizations’ and individuals’ commitments to support the development of television media in providing unbiased information about important issues and events that affect society. News about World Television Day may be shared via print, online and broadcast media. Television and radio bloggers may write comments, editors may write in the editors’ columns, and writers, academics and journalists may write feature articles about the meaning behind this event.

Educational institutions may mark World Television Day on their calendars and educators may use this day as an opportunity to invite guest speakers to discuss media and communication issues relating to television. Discussion topics may include: how television promotes cultural diversity and a common understanding; the links between democracy and television; and the role of television in social, political and economic developments.

Background

The UN acknowledges that television can be used to educate many people about the world, its issues and real stories that happen on the planet. Television is one of the most influential forms of media for communication and information dissemination. It is used to broadcast freedom of expressions and to increase cultural diversity. The UN realized that television played a major role in presenting global issues affecting people and this needed to be addressed.

On December 17, 1996, UN General Assembly proclaimed November 21 as World Television Day to commemorate the date on which the first World Television Forum was held earlier that year. The UN invited all member states to observe the day by encouraging global exchanges of television programs focusing, among other things, on issues such as peace, security, economic and social development and cultural change enhancements.

Universal Children's Day (20 November)

2008-12-19T16:09:00.000+07:00

By resolution 836(IX) of 14 December 1954, the General Assembly recommended that all countries institute a Universal Children's Day, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children. It recommended that the Day was to be observed also as a day of activity devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the Charter and the welfare of the children of the world. The Assembly suggested to governments that the Day be observed on the date and in the way which each considers appropriate. The date 20 November, marks the day on which the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1989.

In 2000 world leaders outlined Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015. Though the Goals are for all humankind, they are primarily about children. UNICEF notes that six of the eight goals relate directly to children and meeting the last two will also make critical improvements in their lives. (MDGs, UNICEF.)

What do people do?

Many schools and other educational institutions make a special effort to inform children of their rights according to the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Teachers stimulate their pupils to think about the differences between themselves and others and explain the idea of “rights”. In countries where the rights of children are generally well-respected, teachers may draw attention to situations in countries where this is not the case.

In some areas UNICEF holds events to draw particular attention to children's rights. These may be to stimulate interest in the media around the world or to start nationwide campaigns, for instance on the importance of immunizations or breastfeeding.

Many countries, including Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, hold Universal Children's Day events on November 20 to mark the anniversaries of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. However, other countries hold events on different dates, such as the fourth Wednesday in October (Australia) and November 14 (India). Universal Children's Day is not observed in the United States, although a similar observance, National Child's Day, is held on the first Sunday in June.

International Mountain Day

2008-12-19T15:53:00.000+07:00

International Mountain Day is an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build partnerships that will bring positive change to the world's mountains and highlands.

It was the UN General Assembly who designated 11 December, from 2003 onwards, as 'International Mountain Day'. This decision results from the success of the UN International Year of Mountains in 2002, which increased global awareness of the importance of mountains, stimulated the establishment of national committees in 78 countries and strengthened alliances through promoting the creation of the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions, known as the 'Mountain Partnership (WSSD, Johannesburg, 2 September 2002). FAO was the designated lead coordinating agency for International Year of Mountains and is mandated to lead observance of International Mountain Day.

The problem of hunger in mountains is getting worse. Harsh climates and the difficult, often inaccessible, terrain combined with political and social marginality make mountain people vulnerable to food shortages. Indigenous knowledge about local foods and traditional agricultural practices in mountain areas is eroding and agricultural diversity as well as productivity are declining, further increasing the vulnerability of mountain people.

Recent studies indicate that mountain populations suffer from high rates of micronutrient deficiencies, which is one of the contributing factors to the significantly higher infant mortality rates in mountain regions.

Now food prices are soaring worldwide and increased transportation costs to remote mountain areas mean mountain communities are paying that much more for their food.

International Mountain Day 2008, with its theme of Food security in mountains, is an apt occasion to reflect on how hard it is for mountain people to consistently get adequate and nutritious food to lead healthy and active lives. Priorities for improving food security in mountains include promoting and expanding traditional mountain crops; safeguarding indigenous land use practices; improving breeding programmes of mountain-adapted livestock; better market access; and mountain-specific public policy, developed with the participation of mountain people.

International Migrants Day (18 December)

2008-12-19T15:39:00.000+07:00

On 4 December 2000, the General Assembly, taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world, proclaimed 18 December International Migrants Day (resolution 55/93). On that day, in 1990, the Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (resolution 45/158).

Member States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations are invited to observe International Migrants Day through the dissemination of information on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants, and through the sharing of experiences and the design of actions to ensure their protection.

The Day celebrates the the rich diversity of cultures and peoples making up the one human family. In the twenty-first century growing numbers are leaving their native countries to live in different countries.

Today, there are more people living outside their countries of birth than ever before. In 2000, an estimated 175 million lived outside their country of birth. Of these, about 159 million were deemed international migrants; approximately 16 million were recognized refugees fleeing a well-founded fear of persecution; and 900,000 asylum seekers.

In Kofi Annan's words, the Day 'recognises the huge, but often unseen, contribution that millions of migrants make to the economies, societies and cultural advancement of countries throughout the world. It is also an opportunity to identify the challenges migration presents for the future'.

Merry Christmas 2008!

2008-12-16T23:35:00.000+07:00

Please choose one of the following season's greeting cards and show your love to your beloved friends.Wishing you all Merry Christmas!May God bless you all.

Fairy Tales

2008-11-20T22:04:00.000+07:00

********** STORY 1 ************

A girl and a boy were on a motorcycle, speeding through the night.
They loved each other a lot.....
Girl:"slow down a little.. I'm scared.."
Boy: "No, it's so fun.."
Girl: "please..it's so scary.."
Boy: "Then say that you love me.."
Girl: "Fine..I love you..can you slow down now?"
Boy: "Give me a big hug.."
The girl gave him a big hug.
Girl: "Now can you slow down?"
Boy: "Can you take off my helmet and put it on? It's uncomfortable and it's bothering me while i ride."

The next day, there was a story in the newspaper. A motorcycle had crashed into a building because its brakes were broken. There were two people on the motorcycle, of which one died, and the other had survived...The guy knew that the brakes were broken. He didn't want to let the girl know, because he knew that the girl would have gotten scared. Instead, he was told the last time that she loved him,got a hug from her, put his helmet on her so that she can live, and die himself...

Once in a while, Right in the middle of an ordinary life, Love gives us a fairy tale...

*** Message "Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well"

*********** Story 2 *********

Nurse: "It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30 am, when an elderly gentleman, in his 80's, presented to have sutures (stitches) removed from his thumb.

He stated that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I (nurse) took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him.

I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, we began to engage in conversation. Asked him if he had a doctor's appointment this morning somewhere else, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.

I then inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer Disease.

As we talked, and I finished dressing his wound, I asked if she would be worried if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him. "And you are still going every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?" He smiled as he patted my hand and said. "She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, "That is the kind of love I want in my life."

True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

Good friends are like stars...You don't always see them, but you always know they're there

************ ********* ****** STORY 3 ************ ********* ***

The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the attractive young woman with the white cane made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver and, using her hands to feel the location of the seats, walked down the aisle and found the seat he'd told her was empty. Then she's settled in, placed her briefcase on her lap and rested her cane against her leg.

It had been a year since Susan became blind. Due to a medical misdiagnosis she had been rendered sightless, and she was suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, anger, frustration and self-pity. 'How could this have happened to me?' she would plead, her heart knotted with anger. But no matter how much she cried or ranted or prayed, she knew the painful truth, her sight was never going to return. A cloud of depression hung over Susan's once optimistic spirit. All she had to cling to was her husband Mark.

Mark was an Air Force officer and he loved Susan with all his heart. When she first lost her sight, he watched her sink into despair and was determined to help his wife gain the strength she needed to become independent again.

Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there? She used to take the bus, but was now too frightened to get around the city by herself. Mark volunteered to drive her to work each day, even though they worked at opposite ends of the city. At first, this comforted Susan and fulfilled Mark's need to protect his sightless wife who was so insecure about performing the slightest task. Soon, however Mark realized that this arrangement wasn't working - it was hectic, and costly.

Susan is going to have to start taking the bus again, he admitted to himself. But just the thought of mentioning it to her made him cringe. She was still so fragile, so angry. How would she react?

Just as Mark predicted, Susan was horrified at the idea of taking the bus again. "I'm blind!" she responded bitterly. "How am I supposed to know where I'm going? I feel like you're abandoning me."

Mark's heart broke but he knew what had to be done. He promised Susan that each day he would ride the bus with her until she got the hang of it.

And that is exactly what happened. For two solid weeks, Mark, military uniform and all, accompanied Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other senses to determine where she was and how to adapt to her new environment. He helped her befriend the bus drivers who could watch out for her, and save her a seat. Each morning they made the journey together, and Mark would take a cab back to his office.

Although this routine was even more costly and exhausting than the previous one, Mark knew it was only a matter of time before Susan would be able to ride the bus on her own. Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning arrived, and before she left, she threw her arms around Mark, her temporary bus riding companion, her husband, and her best friend.

Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, his love. She said good-bye, and for the first time, they went their separate ways. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.... Each day on her own went perfectly, and Susan had never felt better.

On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was paying for her fare to exit the bus, the driver said, "Boy, I sure envy you." Susan wasn't sure if the driver was speaking to her or not. After all, who on earth would ever envy a blind woman who had struggled just to find the courage to live for the past year? "Why do you envy me?"

The driver responded, "It must feel so good to be taken care of and protected like you are." Susan had no idea what the driver was talking about, "What do you mean?" The driver said, "You know, every morning for the past week, a fine looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you when you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he watches you until you enter your office building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a little salute and walks away. You are one lucky lady."

Tears of happiness poured down Susan's cheeks. For although she couldn't see him, she had always felt Mark's presence. She was blessed, so blessed, for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift she didn't need to see to believe - the gift of love that can bring light where there had been darkness.

"You don't love a woman because she is beautiful, but she is beautiful because you love her..."

So if you love someone be faithful to that person.

************ ********* ******STORY 4*********** ********* ****

From the very beginning, girl's family objected strongly on her dating this guy, saying that it has got to do with family background, & that the girl will have to suffer for the rest of her life if she were to be with him.

Due to family's pressure, the couple quarrelled very often. Though the girl loved the guy deeply, she always asked him: "How deep is your love for me?" As the guy is not good with his words, this often caused the girl to be very upset. With that & the family's pressure, the girl often vents her anger on him. As for him, he only endured it in silence.

After a couple of years, the guy finally graduated & decided to further his studies overseas. Before leaving, he proposed to the girl:

"I'm not very good with words. But all I know is that I love you. If you allow me, I will take care of you for the rest of my life. As for your family, I'll try my best to talk them round. Will you marry me?" The girl agreed, & with the guy's determination, the family finally gave in & agreed to let them get married. So before he left, they got engaged. The girl went out to the working society, whereas the guy was overseas, continuing his studies. They sent their love through emails & phone calls. Though it was hard, but both never thought of giving up.

One day, while the girl was on her way to work, she was knocked down by a car that lost control. when she woke up, she saw her parents beside her bed. She realized that she was badly injured. Seeing her mum crying, she wanted to comfort her. But she realized that all that could come out of her mouth was just a sigh. she had lost her voice....

The doctor says that the impact on her brain has caused her to lose her voice. Listening to her parents' comfort, but with nothing coming out from her, she broke down. During the stay in hospital, besides silent cry,.. it's still just that silent cry that accompanied her.
Upon reaching home, everything seems to be the same. Except for the ringing tone of the phone. Which pierced into her heart everytime it rang.
She does not wish to let the guy know & not wanting to be a burden to him, she wrote a letter to him saying that she does not wish to wait any longer.

With that, she sent the ring back to him. In return, the guy sent millions & millions of letters, countless phone calls,.. all the girl could do, besides crying, is still crying.... The parents decided to move away, hoping that she could eventually forget everything & be happy.

With a new environment, the girl learns sign language & started a new life. Telling herself everyday that she must forget the guy. One day, her friend came & told her that he's back. She asked her friend not to let him know what happened to her. Since then, there wasn't anymore news of him.

A year has passed & her friend came with an envelope, containing a invitation card for the guy's wedding. The girl was shattered. When she opened the letter, she saw her name in it instead. When she was about to ask her friend what's going on, she saw the guy standing in front of her.

He used sign language to tell her "I've spent a year to learn sign language. Just to let you know that I've not forgotten our promise.
Let me have the chance to be your voice. I Love You." With that, he slipped the ring back into her finger. The girl finally smiled.

Treat every relationship as if it's the last one, then you'll know how to Give. Treat every moment as is it's the last day, then you'll know how to treasure.

Treasure what you have right now, or else you will regret one day...

************ ********* *** STORY 5 ************ ********* *****

After 21 years of marriage, I discovered a new way of keeping alive the spark of love. A little while ago I had started to go out with another woman. It was really my wife's idea.

"I know that you love her," she said one day, taking me by surprise. "But I love YOU," I protested.

"I know, but you also love her."The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my mother, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. "What's wrong, are you well?" she asked. My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.

"I thought that it would be pleasant to pass some time with you," I responded.

"Just the two of us."

She thought about it for a moment then said "I would like that very much."

That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous.

When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on.

She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's.

"I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed," she said, as she got into the car. "They can't wait to hear about our meeting". We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. my mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady.

After we sat down, I had to read the menu to her. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entree, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me.

A nostalgic smile was on her lips. "It was I who used t o have to read the menu when you were small," she said.

"Then it's time for you to relax and let me return the favor," I responded.

During the dinner we had an agreeable conversation, nothing extraordinary - but catching up on recent events of each others lives. We talked so much that we missed the movie.

As we arrived at her house later, she said "I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you". I agreed.

"How was your dinner date?" asked my wife when I got home. "Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined," I answered.

A few days later my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her.

Some time later I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined.

An attached note said: "I paid this bill in advance. I was almost sure that I couldn't be there but, nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant to me. I love you."

At that moment I understood the importance of saying, in time: "I LOVE YOU" and giving our loved ones the time that they deserve.

Nothing in life is more important than God and your family and friends.

Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off til "some other time".

Someone once said "I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I think this is true with your in-laws, grandchildren, sisters, brothers and your friends. Anyone that means something to you-you should spend time with them and let them know how much they mean to you as often as you can.

International Day for Tolerance (16 November)

2008-11-18T21:21:00.000+07:00

In 1996, the General Assembly invited Member States to observe the International Day for Tolerance on 16 November, with activities directed towards both educational establishments and the wider public (resolution 51/95 of 12 December). This action came in the wake of the United Nations Year for Tolerance, 1995, proclaimed by the Assembly in 1993 (resolution 48/126). The Year had been declared on the initiative of the General Conference of UNESCO. On 16 November 1995, the UNESCO member States had adopted the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance and Follow-up Plan of Action for the Year.

The 2005 World Summit Outcome document (A/RES/60/1), outlines the commitment of Heads of State and Government to advance human welfare, freedom and progress everywhere, as well as to encourage tolerance, respect, dialogue and cooperation among different cultures, civilizations and peoples.

THE SECRETARYGENERAL MESSAGE ON INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR TOLERANCE

16 November 2008

Tolerance provides the basis for mutual understanding and respect. It is an
approach to life that allows for the rich diversity of the world’s cultures to flourish. It is also a cornerstone of our efforts to promote global harmony. As stated in the 1995 UNESCO Declaration of Principles on Tolerance, tolerance is “the virtue that makes peace possible [and] contributes to the replacement of the culture of war by a culture of peace.”

The promotion of tolerance is particularly important in today’s era of rapidly
increasing globalization, mobility and interdependence. While diversity is an invaluable asset, it can also be a source of tension. Tolerance can diffuse potential conflicts. It can help prevent theories of racial or cultural superiority from emerging, and help societies to gradually overcome longheld prejudices and negative stereotypes.

Tolerance should not be mistaken for concession or condescension. Genuine
tolerance is about openness, curiosity and communication. It goes hand in hand with
knowledge and understanding. Education is one of the best ways to prevent intolerance,by revealing similarities between people and spreading a healthy respect for differences.

Nor should tolerance be confused with indifference. Being tolerant does not mean
being passive in the face of racism, xenophobia and exclusion, or silent when minorities,refugees, migrant workers and other vulnerable groups face abuse. Tolerance is an injunction to all of us to stand up and speak out in defense of all who are deprived of their fundamental rights and freedoms.

On the International Day for Tolerance, and in this year in which we commemorate the 60 th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I call on all people to renew our commitment to tolerance. And let us redouble our efforts to achieve, through tolerance, our longsought goal of a global culture of harmony and peace.

World Diabetes Day (14 November)

2008-11-18T20:16:00.000+07:00

World Diabetes Day raises global awareness of diabetes - its escalating rates around the world and how to prevent the illness in most cases. Started by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and WHO, the Day is celebrated on 14 November to mark the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, was instrumental in the discovery of insulin in 1922, a life-saving treatment for diabetes patients.

WHO estimates that more than 180 million people worldwide have diabetes, according to 2005 figures. This number is likely to more than double by 2030 without intervention. Almost 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low and middle-income countries.

WHAT IS DIABETES?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Hyperglycaemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body's systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels.

UN Secretary General issues statement in support of World Diabetes Day

The Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon has issued a statement on the occasion of World diabetes Day.

In his statement the Secretary General thanks the International Diabetes Federation and the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh for co-sponsoring the World Diabetes Day panel discussion on diabetes (held November 14 at the UN). He acknowledges that diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood, that both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can strike children at any age and that diabetes is often diagnosed late or misdiagnosed.

“We must do more to inform children and adults about the warning signs of the disease, particularly in the developing world. We must also ensure access to proper medical care. Many children in the developing world die from diabetes because they do not have insulin.”

ON WORLD DIABETES DAY, SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON ALL TO SHINE LIGHT ON IMPACT OF THIS DEADLY DISEASE, LIGHT WAY TO IMPROVED HEALTH SERVICES, CARE

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on the occasion of World Diabetes Day, today, 14 November, in New York:

I thank the International Diabetes Federation and the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh for co-sponsoring today’s panel discussion on diabetes. As it happens, I recently returned from Bangladesh, where I received a wonderfully warm welcome from the Bangladeshi authorities and people. The country’s involvement in this observance of World Diabetes Day is yet another sign of its strong commitment to the United Nations.

This year, we focus on the challenge of diabetes among children and adolescents. Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood, and both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can strike children at any age. The disease is often diagnosed late or misdiagnosed as something else, such as the flu. We must do more to inform children and adults about the warning signs of the disease, particularly in the developing world. We must also ensure access to proper medical care. Many children in the developing world die from diabetes because they do not have insulin.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1 million people died from the disease in 2005, almost 80 per cent of them in low- and middle-income countries. WHO projects that, without urgent action, deaths from diabetes will increase by more than 50 per cent in the next 10 years. And by 2030, the number of people worldwide with diabetes -– currently more than 180 million -- is likely to double.

On World Diabetes Day, more than 800 buildings and landmark sites around the world are lighting blue circles as an expression of commitment to fight diabetes. Let us each do our part to shine a light on the impact of this deadly disease, and to light the way towards improved health services and care.

Thankful things.................

2008-11-12T17:37:00.000+07:00

I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO, BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED.

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE.

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT
NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY < BR>BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF
LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND
AC HING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN
CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE
EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

Live well, Laugh often,
& Love with all of your heart!

WHAT IS A FRIEND?

2008-11-12T17:30:00.000+07:00

Your Heart is your Love,
Your love is your Family ,
Your family is your Future ,
Your future is your Destiny ,
Your destiny is your Ambition,
Your ambition is your Aspiration ,
Your aspiration is your Motivation ,
Your motivation is your Belief ,
Your belief is your Peace ,
Your peace is your Target ,
Your target is Heaven,
Heaven is no fun without FRIENDS!

F - Few
R - Relations
I - In
E - Earth
N - Never
D - Die

မနဲ႔ေမာင္

2008-11-12T17:17:00.000+07:00

(၁)
(က)
အိမ္ေထာင္က်စ
မ။......... ။ တင္းေနေအာင္ ဖက္မထားနဲ႔ေလေမာင္.. မ အသက္႐ႈလို႔ မဝေတာ့ဘူး။
ေမာင္။... ။ ဖက္မထားရင္ ေမာင္အိပ္မေပ်ာ္လို႔ပါ မရယ္။

ႏွစ္အတန္ၾကာေသာ္
မ။......... ။ ေမာင္အိပ္ရင္ မကို ဖက္မအိပ္တာၾကာျပီေနာ္။
ေမာင္။...။။ ဖက္ျပီးအိပ္ရင္ အသက္႐ႈလို႔ မဝဘူးဆိုတာ မသိဘူးလား။

(ခ)
ခ်စ္သူဘဝ
လူစည္ကားရာ ေနရာတစ္ခုတြင္ ေမာင္က မကို ေပြ႔ဖက္လိုက္သည္။
မ။....... ။ ေမာင္ ႐ူးေနလား? လူေတြၾကည့္ေနတယ္ေလ.. ႐ွက္စရာၾကီး
ေမာင္။..။ ၾကည့္ၾကည့္ေပါ့ မရယ္။ ေမာင္က ခ်စ္တာကို

အိမ္ေထာင္က်ျပီးေနာက္
မ။.....။ အရင္က ဒီေနရာမွာ မ့ကို ေမာင္ ေပြ႔ဖက္ဖူးတယ္ေနာ္။ ခုဖက္ပါအုန္းလား ေမာင္
ေမာင္။.... ။ လူေတြေရွ႕မွာ ဖက္ရေအာင္ ရူးေနလား?

(ဂ)
အိမ္ေထာင္က်စ
မ။..... ။ ေမာင္ေရ မကို ေပြ႔ပါအုန္း
ေမာင္က မကို ေပြ႔ျပီး ကုတင္ေပၚ တင္ေပးလိုက္တယ္။

ႏွစ္အနည္းငယ္ၾကာေသာ္
မ။........... ။ ေမာင္ေရ မကို ေပြ႔ပါအုန္း
ေမာင္။..... ။ ေျခေထာက္က်ဳိးေနျပီလား?

(ဃ)
တစ္ေန႔မွာ ေမာင္က

"မ ဝလာလည္း ခ်စ္မွာပဲ။ ဝဝကစ္ကစ္ မ ခႏၶာကို ေပြ႔ေခၚမယ္။ အသက္အရြယ္ၾကီး အိုမင္းသြားတဲ့အထိ မကုိ အျမဲခ်စ္မယ္။ မကို အျမဲဖက္မယ္" ဟု သစၥာဆိုသည္။

ႏွစ္အနည္းငယ္ ၾကာေသာ္
မ။.......... ။ ေမာင္ မကိုေပြ႔ပါအုန္း
ေမာင္။.....။ ဒီခႏၶာကိုယ္နဲ႔ ငါ့ ခါးက်ဳိးေအာင္ လုပ္ေနတာလား?

(၂)
မ။............ ။ ေမာင္ေရ.. မ အလွျပင္ျပီးျပီ၊ သြားရေအာင္
ေမာင္။......။။ ေနပါအုန္း.. ငါ မုတ္ဆိတ္ရိတ္ေနေသးတယ္။
မ။............။ မုတ္ဆိတ္ရိတ္တာ ဒီေလာက္ၾကာသလား? မ ေတာင္ ျပင္ျပီးေနျပီ..

ေမာင္။......။ နင္အလွျပင္တာကို ေစာင့္ရင္း ရိတ္ျပီးသား ငါ့မုတ္ဆိတ္ေတြ ထပ္ရွည္လာလို႔ ေနာက္တစ္ေခါက္ ထပ္ရိတ္ေနတာ။

ဒဂံုတကၠသိုလ္ သင္ပုန္းၾကီးဖတ္စာ

2008-11-12T17:10:00.000+07:00

Mistakes

2008-11-12T16:41:00.000+07:00

If a barber makes a mistake,
It's a New Style.

If a driver makes a mistake,
It is a New Path.

If a engineer makes a mistake,
It is a New Venture.

If parents makes a mistake,
It is a New Generation.

If a politician makes a mistake,
It is a New Law.

If a scientist makes a mistake,
It is a New Invention.

If a tailor makes a mistake,
It is a New Fashion.

If a teacher makes a mistake ,
It is a New Theory.

If our boss makes a mistake,
It is a New Idea.

If an employee makes a mistake,
It is a 'Mistake'

Jokes Of Mr. Bean

2008-11-12T16:16:00.000+07:00

1) BRAIN TUMOR:

Doctor: I regret to tell you that you have a brain tumor.
Mr. Bean: Yesss!!! (jumps in joy)

Doctor: Did you understand what I just told you?

Mr. Bean: Yes of course, do you think I'm dumb?

Doctor: Then why are you so happy?

Mr. Bean: Because that proves that I have a brain!

2) MR. BEAN WHILE IN GRADE SCHOOL:

Teacher: What is 5 plus 4?
Mr. Bean: 9

Teacher: What is 4 plus 5?

Mr. Bean: Are you trying to fool me, you've just twisted the figure, the answer is 6!!

3) WHILE IN A DRUG STORE:

Mr. Bean: I'd like some vitamins for my grandson.
Clerk: Sir, vitamin A, B or C?

Mr. Bean: Any will do, my grandson doesn't know the alphabet yet!!

4) AT ATM MACHINE:

Friend: What are you looking at?
Mr. Bean: I know your PIN no., hee, hee.

Friend: Alright, what is my PIN no. if you saw it?

Mr.. Bean: four asterisks (****)!

5) Marriage:

Friend: How many women do you believe must a man marry?
Mr. Bean: 16

Friend: Why?

Mr. Bean: Because the priest says 4 richer, 4 poorer, 4 better and 4worse.

6) CHATTING WITH HIS FRIEND:

Friend: How was the tape you borrowed from me, is it Ok?
Mr. Bean: What do you mean ok, I thought it's a horror film. I didn't see any picture.

Friend: What tape did you took anyway?

Mr. Bean: Head Cleaner.

7)DEATH OF HIS MOTHER:

Mr. Bean:(crying) the doctor called, Mom's dead.

Friend: condolence, my friend.

(After 2 minutes) Mr. Bean cries even louder

Friend: what now?

Mr. Bean: my sister just called, her mom died too!

8) MR. BEAN ATTENDING A MEETING:

Colleague: Sorry I'm late. I got stuck in an elevator for 4 hrs because of a power failure.
Mr. Bean: That's alright, me too....I got stuck on the escalator for 3 hrs.

9) Spelling lesson:

Mr. Bean's Son: Dad, what is the spelling of successful....is it one c or two c?
Mr. Bean: Make it three c to be sure!

ANYWAY ( မည္သို႔ပင္ျဖစ္ေစ)

2008-11-12T16:00:00.000+07:00

၁။ လူေတြဟာ အေၾကာင္းဆင္ျခင္ဥဏ္လည္းမရွိ
တကိုယ္ေကာင္းလည္ ဆန္လွတယ္
မည္သို႕ပင္ျဖစ္ေစ ေစတနာထား နာလည္းေပးလိုက္ပါ ။

၂။ လူေတြဟာ ေကာင္းေသာအမွု သင္မည္မွ်ျပဳေသာ္လည္း
မရိုးမသား ကိုယ္က်ိဳးစီးပြား အတြက္ပါလ႔ို စြပ္စြဲၾကလိမ့္ဦးမည္
မည္သို႕ပင္ျဖစ္ေစ ေကာင္းေသာအမွုကို ျပဳျမဲသာျပဳပါ ။

၃။ သင္ေအာင္ျမင္ျပီဆိုလွွ်င္ သင့္မွာ မိတ္ေဆြအတုအေယာင္မ်ားေရာ
ရန္သူစစ္စစ္မ်ားပါ ရရွိလာလိမ့္မည္
မည္သို႕ပင္ျဖစ္ေစ ေအာင္ျမင္ရန္သာအားထုတ္ပါ ။

၄။ ရိုးေျဖာင့္ ပြင့္လင္းစြာ စကားဆိုုျခင္းတို႕ေၾကာင့္
သင့္မွာ ထိခိုက္စရာေတြ ၾကံဳခ်င္ၾကံဳရလိမ့္မယ္
မည္သို႕ပင္ျဖစ္ေစ ရိုးသာစြာသာ ေျပာဆိုဆက္ဆံပါ ။

၅။ သင္ယေန႔ျပဳသည့္ ေကာင္းေသာအမွုကို
မနက္ျဖန္ သူတို႔ေမ့ေကာင္း ေမ့သြားပါလိမ့္မယ္
မည္သို႕ပင္ျဖစ္ေစ ေကာင္းေသာအမွဳကိုျပဳျမဲျပဳပါ ။

၆။ လူေတြ ဟာ နိမ့္ပါးသူ ကိုယ္ေအာက္လူမ်ားကို
ေစတနာပိုတတ္တယ္ ဆိုေသာ္လည္း လက္ေတြ႔မွာ အေပၚစီး
ရသူ ထိပ္ဆံုးလူမ်ားေနာက္သို႔သာလိုက္ေနတတ္ ပါတယ္
မည္သို႕ပင္ျဖစ္ေစ နိမ့္ပါးသူ ေအာက္လူတို႕အတြက္ ရပ္တည္ေပး
တိုက္ပြဲ၀င္ေပးပါ ။

၇။ ႏွစ္ေပါင္းမ်ားစြာ သင္တည္ေဆာက္ခ့ဲေသာအရာသည္
ေန႔ခ်င္းညခ်င္း ျဖိဳလွဲဖ်တ္ဆီးျခင္း ခံခ်င္ခံရလိမ့္မည္
မည္သို႕ပင္ျဖစ္ေစ တည္ေဆာက္စရာရွိတာ ဆက္လက္တည္ေဆာက္ပါ ။

၈။ ေလာကအတြက္အေကာင္းဆံုးကို သင္ေပးလ်က္လည္း
သင့္ကို ခါးသည္းနာက်ည္းဖြယ္ တံု႔ျပန္ေကာင္း တံု႔ျပန္လိမ့္မယ္
မည္သို႕ပင္ျဖစ္ေစ သင့္မွာရွိသည့္ အေကာင္းဆံုးကိုသာေပးျမဲ တိုင္းေပးပါ ။

International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict (6 November)

2008-11-10T14:57:00.000+07:00

On 5 November 2001, the General Assembly declared 6 November of each year as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict (resolution 56/4). In taking this action, it considered that damage to the environment in times of armed conflict impairs ecosystems and natural resources long after the period of conflict, often extending beyond the limits of national territories and the present generation. The Assembly also recalled the United Nations Millennium Declaration, which emphasized the necessity of working to protect our common environment.

MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR PREVENTING THE EXPLOITATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT
IN WAR AND ARMED CONFLICT

6 November 2008

The natural environment enjoys protection under Protocol 1 of the Geneva
Conventions. But this protection is often violated during war and armed conflict. Water wells are polluted, crops torched, forests cut down, soils poisoned, and animals killed, all in order to gain military advantage. The draining of the marshlands of the Euphrates-Tigris Delta during the 1990s deliberately targeted the ecosystem for political and military goals.

From the Balkans to Afghanistan, from Lebanon to Sudan, the United Nations is studying the environmental impacts of conflict across the world. We have seen how environmental damage and the collapse of institutions are threatening human health, livelihoods and security.These risks can also jeopardize fragile peace and development in post-conflict societies. In Afghanistan, warfare and institutional disintegration have combined to take a major toll. In a clear case of environmentally induced displacement, tens of thousands of people have been forced from rural to urban areas in search of food and employment.

The environment and natural resources are crucial in consolidating peace within and between war-torn societies.Several countries in the Great Lakes Region of Africa established trans-boundary cooperation to manage their shared natural resources. Lasting peace in Darfur will depend in part on resolving the underlying competition for water and fertile land. And there can be no durable peace in Afghanistan if the natural resources that sustain livelihoods and ecosystems are destroyed.

The United Nations attaches great importance to ensuring that action on the environment is part of our approach to peace.Protecting the environment can help countries create employment opportunities,promote development and avoid a relapse into armed conflict.On this International Day,let us renew our commitment to preventing the exploitation of the environment in times of conflict, and to protecting the environment as a pillar of our work for peace.

The Hippo and the Tortoise

2008-10-29T00:27:00.000+07:00

'Much of life can never be explained but only witnessed' - Rachel Naomi Remen, MD

A baby hippopotamus that survived the tsunami waves on the Kenyan coast has formed a strong bond with a giant male century-old tortoise in an animal facility in the port city of Mombassa ,officials said.

The hippopotamus, nicknamed Owen and weighing about 300 kilograms (650 pounds), was swept down Sabaki River into the Indian Ocean , then forced back to shorewhen tsunami waves struck the Kenyan coast on December 26, before wildlife rangers rescued him.

After it was swept away and lost its mother, the hippo was traumatized. It had to look for something to be a surrogate mother. Fortunately, it landed on the tortoise and established a strong bond. They swim, eat and sleep together,' the ecologist added. 'The hippo follows the tortoise exactly the way it followed its mother. If somebody approaches the tortoise, the hippo becomes aggressive, as if protecting its biological mother,' Kahumbu added.

'The hippo is a young baby, he was left at a very tender age and by nature, hippos are social animals that like to stay with their mothers for four years,' he explained.

It is incredible. A-less-than- a-year-old hippo has adopted a male tortoise, about acentury old, and the tortoise seems tobe very happy with being a 'mother',' ecologist Paula Kahumbu, who is in charge of LafargePark, told AFP.

This is a real story that shows that our differences don't matter much when we need the comfort of another. We could all learn a lesson from these two creatures of God, 'Look beyond the differences and find a way to walk the path together.'Save the Earth... it's the only planet with chocolate.

United Nations Day ( 24 October 28)

2008-10-25T22:36:00.002+07:00

The anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Charter on 24 October 1945 has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. Simply put, it is the birthday of the United Nations.In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution recommending that the day be observed as a public holiday by Member States. It has traditionally been marked throughout the world by meetings, discussions and exhibits on the achievements and goals of the Organization.

How is the Day observed at United Nations Headquarters?

Traditionally, UN Day is marked by an international concert in the General Assembly Hall. Sometimes, special events are arranged, electronically linking the UN with cities around the world.

The Day is also notable for messages issued by the UN Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly. A video taped message of the Secretary-General is often shown by national TV stations around the world.

In addition, special briefings are arranged for non-governmental organizations on UN-related topics. Sometimes schools and civic groups arrange “peace marches” and other celebratory events.

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL'S MESSAGE ON UNITED NATIONS DAY

24 October 2008

On this 63rd anniversary of our Organization, I join you in celebrating UN Day.

This is a crucial year in the life of our United Nations. We have just passed the midpoint in the struggle to reach the Millennium Development Goals -- our common vision for building a better world in the 21st century. We can see more clearly than ever that the threats of the 21st century spare no one. Climate change, the spread of disease and deadly weapons, and the scourge of terrorism all cross borders. If we want to advance the global common good, we must secure global public goods.

Many countries are still not on track to reach the Millennium Development Goals by the target date of 2015. I am also deeply concerned about the impact of the global financial crisis. Never has leadership and partnership been more important.

This makes our success at the high-level MDG event in September all the more remarkable. We brought together a broad coalition for change. Governments, CEOs and civil society. We generated unprecedented commitment in pledges and partnerships to help the world's poor.

The final tally is not in yet, but the total amount pledged at the MDG event may exceed 16 billion dollars.

Partnership is the way of the future. Just look at the advances on malaria. Our global malaria effort has brought us within range of containing a disease that kills a child every 30 seconds. It is doing so through focused country planning. Greater funding. Coordinated global management. Top-notch science and technology.

We need models like these to tackle other challenges, including climate change, as we approach the conferences on Poznan and Copenhagen. We need them to achieve all the other Millennium Development Goals.

Let us keep building on this as a way forward. There is no time to lose. The United Nations must deliver results for a safer, healthier, more prosperous world. On this UN Day, I call on all partners and leaders to do their part and keep the promise.

Funny Cartoons

2008-10-25T22:36:00.001+07:00

Funny Cartoons - Upload a Document to Scribd

Puzzle for You !!!!

2008-10-22T17:00:00.001+07:00

Here is a puzzle for you.

Imagine you are in Africa . You have been tied hanging on a tree with a rope anchored on the ground, a candle is slowly burning the rope, and the lion is waiting for you to drop and be his lunch.

Your survival hinges on the rope staying intact, there is no one around to help you. What to do now? Write your answer before your scroll down....

Scroll down for answer.....
Sing a Happy Birthday song.

Howzzzzzz that!!!!

Cherry Bloomsoms

2008-10-22T16:58:00.000+07:00

Cherry Bloomsoms - Upload a Document to Scribd

Enjoy Laughing

2008-10-22T16:56:00.000+07:00

Salary Day

2008-10-22T16:55:00.000+07:00

Salary Day - Upload a Document to Scribd

Cute pets

2008-10-22T16:54:00.000+07:00

Cute pets - Upload a Document to Scribd

A Mysterious Tree in NALGONDA --- Andra Pradesh ---India

2008-10-22T16:52:00.000+07:00

Mysterious Tree - Upload a Document to Scribd

10 Most Wonderful Temples of the World

2008-10-21T19:43:00.000+07:00

10 Most Wonderful Temples of the World - Upload a Document to Scribd

Cute snaps

2008-10-21T19:39:00.000+07:00

Cute Snaps - Upload a Document to Scribd

Stay blessed

2008-10-20T10:06:00.000+07:00

Three things in life that, once gone, never come back
1. Time
2.. Words
3. Opportunity

Three things in life that can destroy a person
1. Anger
2. Pride
3. Unforgiveness

Three things in life that you should never lose
1. Hope
2. Peace
3. Honesty

Three things in life that are most valuable
1.. Love
2. Family & Friends
3. Kindness

Three things in life that are never certain
1. Fortune
2. Success
3. Dreams

Three things that make a person
1. Commitment
2. Sincerity
3. Hard work

Three things that are truly constant -
Father - Son - Holy Spirit

I ask the Lord to bless you, as I pray for you today,
to guide you and protect you, as you go along your way.
God's love is always with you, God's promises are true.
And when you give God all your cares, you know God will see you through.

Do not curse the darkness
Light a candle instead.

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

2008-10-16T17:23:00.000+07:00

In recognition of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the theme for this year's observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is "Human Rights and Dignity of People Living in Poverty".

The observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty can be traced back to 17 October 1987. On that day, over a hundred thousand people gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris, where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948, to honour the victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger. They proclaimed that poverty is a violation of human rights and affirmed the need to come together to ensure that these rights are respected. These convictions are inscribed in a commemorative stone unveiled on this day. Since then, people of all backgrounds, beliefs and social origins have gathered every year on October 17 th to renew their commitment and show their solidarity with the poor. Replicas of the commemorative stone have been unveiled around the world and serve as a gathering place to celebrate the Day. One such replica is located in the garden of United Nations Headquarters and is the site of the annual commemoration organized by the United Nations Secretariat in New York.

Through resolution 47/196 adopted on 22 December 1992, the General Assembly declared 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and invited all States to devote the Day to presenting and promoting, as appropriate in the national context, concrete activities with regard to the eradication of poverty and destitution. The resolution further invites intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to assist States, at their request, in organizing national activities for the observance of the Day, and requests the Secretary-General to take, within existing resources, the measures necessary to ensure the success of the Day's observance by the United Nations.
October 17th presents an opportunity to acknowledge the effort and struggle of people living in poverty, a chance for them to make their concerns heard, and a moment to recognize that poor people are the first ones to fight against poverty. Participation of the poor themselves has been at the center of the Day's celebration since its very beginning. The commemoration of October 17 th also reflects the willingness of people living in poverty to use their expertise to contribute to the eradication of poverty.

The struggle against poverty has evolved more and more visibly into an overarching development goal of the international community. Poverty eradication, however, is not only a development goal; it is also a central challenge for ensuring world-wide recognition of human rights. The international community has acknowledged that poverty is a violation of human rights and that promoting human rights can reduce poverty.

The world-wide persistence of poverty can be attributed in part to the violations of human rights. In fact, human rights violations can be both a cause and a consequence of poverty. People living in poverty are excluded from society, and their ability to secure their own rights is particularly limited by their predicament.

Poverty can be seen as a human condition of deprivation of resources, capabilities, choices, security and power necessary for the enjoyment of an adequate standard of living and other civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights.

Under the core human rights instruments, human beings are guaranteed among others, the rights to life, liberty and security of person, the right to the highest attainable standard of health, the right to just and favourable working conditions, the right to adequate food, housing and social security, the right to education and participation in the democratic process. Securing those rights for all would bring us closer to poverty eradication.

Human rights based approach to fighting poverty links poverty reduction to the question of obligation, rather than charity and compels policymakers to implement strategies helping the most vulnerable individuals and groups escape poverty and destitution.

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY

17 October 2008

The theme of this year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty – “Human Rights and Dignity of People Living in Poverty” – recalls the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 60 years ago. The Declaration affirms that “everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family”.

Sixty years on, hundreds of millions of people are still deprived of basic human rights such as food, housing, education, and decent working conditions. Those forced to live in poverty often face social exclusion, discrimination and disempowerment. Poverty robs the poor of their human dignity.

Our efforts to eradicate poverty must pay close attention to respect for human rights and the dignity of all. They must go beyond basic material needs and address discrimination and inequality. That means ensuring that all poor people have access to the resources they need - land, capital, knowledge and skills – to escape poverty. It means empowering the poor to effectively participate in decision-making and other activities that directly affect their lives.

Current economic uncertainties make this task even more challenging, but also even more important. Rising food and fuel prices, and the global financial crisis, are threatening to negate the progress made to reduce poverty and hunger in many parts of the world. An estimated 100 million people are now at risk of falling into poverty.

At the high-level event last September, Governments reconfirmed their commitments to the Millennium Development Goals. Many pledged new resources to bolster food security, eradicate disease, ensure access to water and sanitation and manage the financial crisis. These commitments are not a matter of charity, but an obligation in the pursuit of human rights for all. If we fail to keep our promise on the MDGs, we create the conditions for greater human misery and global insecurity.

Poverty will not be eradicated without due respect for human rights. On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, let us guarantee the inherent dignity and equal rights of all members of the human family and strive for a world free of poverty and injustice.

About the Millennium Development Goals

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight goals to be achieved by 2015 that respond to the world’s main development challenges. The MDGs are drawn from the actions and targets contained in the Millennium Declaration that was adopted by 191 member countries of the United Nations,during the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000.

This unprecedented global framework for development is a crucial step towards ending poverty and inequality.

However, at the halfway point to the 2015 deadline for the achievement of the Goals, we have seen some progress, but much more needs to be done. Urgent action must be taken by nations if they are to fulfill their promise to achieve the MDGs. Since agreeing to make the MDGs a key framework for international action and cooperation to reduce poverty, much progress has been made.

But despite the gains, no region in the world is on-track to achieve all of the Goals, and some regions are off-track on many of them. Uurgent action is needed to implement sound policies to achieve the Goals set in 2000, and deliver on the promise made to the world’s poor in the Millennium Declaration:

“We will spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanising conditions of extreme poverty, to which more than a billion of them are currently subjected”

The eight MDGs break down into 21 quantifiable targets that are measured by 60 indicators. The eight MDGs are:

1. eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. achieve universal primary education
3. promote gender equality and empower women
4. reduce child mortality
5. improve maternal health
6. combat HIV/AIDs, malaria and other diseases
7. ensure environmental sustainability
8. develop a global partnership for development

The MDGs:

* synthesise, in a single package, many of the most important commitments made separately at the international conferences and summits of the 1990s;
* recognise explicitly the interdependence between growth, poverty reduction and sustainable development
* acknowledge that development rests on the foundations of democratic governance, the rule of law, respect for human rights and peace and security
* are based on time-bound and measurable targets accompanied by indicators for monitoring progress;
* bring together, in the eighth Goal, the responsibilities of developing countries with those of developed countries

World Food Day

2008-10-15T17:33:00.000+07:00

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations celebrates World Food Day each year on 16 October, the day on which the Organization was founded in 1945.

The objectives of World Food Day are to:

* encourage attention to agricultural food production and to stimulate national, bilateral, multilateral and non-governmental efforts to this end;

* encourage economic and technical cooperation among developing countries;

* encourage the participation of rural people, particularly women and the least privileged categories, in decisions and activities influencing their living conditions;

* heighten public awareness of the problem of hunger in the world;

* promote the transfer of technologies to the developing world; and

* strengthen international and national solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty and draw attention to achievements in food and agricultural development.

FAO Director-General’s message on the World Food Day/TeleFood 2008 theme:

"World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy"

From 3 to 5 June 2008, delegates from 181 countries met in Rome – including 43 Heads of State and Government and over 100 ministers – to participate in the High-Level Conference on World Food Security. Over 5 000 people attended this event, which brought the food crisis to the forefront of the global development agenda. The Conference reaffirmed the need to produce more and therefore to invest more in agriculture. There is indeed a need to address the growing food demand due to increasing populations, economic progress in emerging countries and competition in the bioenergy sector when supply is affected by climate change and declining stocks.

This year’s World Food Day theme which is: “World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy”, provides an opportunity to promote the conclusions of the High-Level Conference in order to implement them as soon as possible.

Climate change affects everyone but the poorest regions are already its first victims. Their situation is likely to worsen in the next decades. The worst hit will be hundreds of millions of people who are already vulnerable and food insecure: small-scale crop and animal producers, fishers and foresters. Climate change will affect availability of land, water and biodiversity. Changes in temperatures and precipitation, as well as more frequent extreme weather patterns, are expected to result in agriculture production shortfalls with negative impacts on access to food.

Therefore, climate change is likely to increase migration towards richer countries while rising sea levels may force many communities in low-lying coastal areas and river deltas to move to higher ground. These risks need to be taken into account. And the analysis of food security needs to be placed in a completely new context.

During the last three years, due to the soaring food and energy prices, the number of hungry people has increased by another 75 million at the end of 2007. This crisis is due to decreasing investments in agriculture in the poorest countries during the last 30 years. The share of agriculture in public development aid declined from 17% in 1980 to 3% in 2006. Financial institutions drastically reduced their funds for agriculture. We need to reverse this trend to come back to the previous level of investment. We also need to create food enabling frameworks for substantial increase of direct foreign investments for agriculture in low-income, food-deficit countries. Equitable partnerships between countries which have land, water and labour supply and countries which have financial resources, management facilities and markets would constitute a solid base for sustainable agriculture. Agriculture has to be able to double global food production by 2050, when the current population of the globe now at 6 billion, will reach 9 billion. This is the only way to mobilise the needed funds for a renewal of agriculture which are estimated at US$ 30 billion per year by the special High-Level Task Force on the Global Food Crisis.

On this World Food Day 2008, I invite you to promote the Declaration of the High-Level Conference on World Food Security, mobilising all stakeholders: national governments, international institutions, agricultural professional organizations, civil society and the private sector for its implementation. More than ever, the future of this planet depends on our capacity to sustain the development of agriculture in the poorest countries.

Jacques Diouf
Director-General
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

International Day of Rural Women(15 October 2008)

2008-10-15T16:34:00.000+07:00

The first International Day of Rural Women is observed on 15 October 2008. This new international day, established by the General Assembly in its resolution 62/136 of 18 December 2007, recognizes “the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.”

The idea of honoring rural women with a special day was put forward by international NGOs at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. It was suggested that 15 October be celebrated as “World Rural Women’s Day,” the eve of World Food Day, in order to highlight the role played by rural women in food production and food security. “World Rural Women’s Day” has been celebrated, primarily by civil society, across the world for over a decade.

In 2007, at the tenth session of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean, Member States of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, expressed in the Quito Consensus their decision to promote the adoption of an International Day of Rural Women “as an explicit recognition of [rural women’s] economic contribution and the development of their communities, in particular with regard to the unpaid work they perform.”

The contribution of rural women

The International Day of Rural Women will direct attention to both the contribution that women make in rural areas, and the many challenges that they face. Women play a critical role in the rural economies of both developed and developing countries. In most parts of the developing world they participate in crop production and livestock care, provide food, water and fuel for their families, and engage in off-farm activities to diversify the family income. In addition, they carry out vital functions in caring for children, older persons and the sick.

Women make an important contribution to food production. According to the International labor Organization (ILO), 428 million women work in the agricultural sector around the world, compared to 608 million men. In many parts of the world, agriculture is the first sector of employment for women, for instance in Sub-Saharan Africa and in South Asia, where respectively 68 per cent and 61 per cent of working women are employed in agriculture.

Access to education and health

In developing countries, 25 per cent of rural children do not attend primary school, compared to 16 per cent of urban children, and gender inequalities in access to education remain: 69 per cent of rural girls attend primary school compared to 73 per cent of rural boys.

Different factors, including the need for their labor, the low levels of education of their parents, and lack of access to quality schooling, account for the high proportion of out-of-school children in rural areas. The gender disparity is partly due to the fact that girls are heavily relied upon for housework and child care. Other factors that account for girls’ unequal access to education in rural areas include a lack of a safe means of transportation, poor security in schools, and the lack of separate sanitation facilities.

Rural women are also disadvantaged in their access to health. For instance, in many countries, reproductive health care remains inadequate, and maternal mortality continues to be high, with the highest rates in Sub-Saharan Africa. In every region of the world, the presence of skilled birth attendants is lower in rural than in urban areas.

Most pregnant women in rural areas continue to work while pregnant and resume work soon after delivery. Moreover, the absence of timely medical care, inadequate diet and heavy workload often results in complicated pregnancies and high maternal mortality rates.

Poverty

Rural women are particularly vulnerable to poverty. According to the World Bank, 75 per cent of the poor in developing countries live in rural areas. While women work the land, they often do not hold formal and clear land titles. Less than two per cent of land in the developing world is owned by women, according to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). A lack of rights over land makes women extremely vulnerable to eviction and negatively affects their economic options.

Women’s access to credit is also limited because land is the major asset used as collateral to obtain loans. Women have to rely heavily on the unregulated, informal sector to meet their needs, and often pay higher interest rates as a result. While limited access to land and credit affects rural women as a whole, some groups are particularly vulnerable and marginalized, such as widows, indigenous women and women heading households – a growing category, due to male out-migration.

Global challenges

Women and girls, particularly in rural areas, are also acutely exposed to the food crisis currently affecting the world. High food prices mean that the poor have to spend a larger proportion of their income on food and will probably buy less food or food that is less nutritious.

Moreover, in some societies the practice for men and boys to eat before women and girls may further compromise the latter’s food intake in times of shortages.

Another current global issue that disproportionately impacts rural women is climate change. Women and girls living in areas affected by desertification and deforestation have to walk longer to collect water and firewood, which further limits the time they can devote to school or income-generating activities. It may also put them at greater risk of gender-based violence.

Moreover, rural women suffer more from natural disasters, such as floods, fires, and mudslides, than men. A study of 141 countries showed that natural disasters killed more women than men, both directly and indirectly, in countries where the status of women was low. Other research provides evidence that there are frequently higher female casualties during floods because women have not been taught how to swim.

World Mental Health Day

2008-10-15T16:03:00.000+07:00

World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year to raise public awareness about mental health issues. The theme for this year's World Mental Health Day - 'Advocacy for Global Mental Health: Scaling Up Services through Citizen Advocacy and Action' - was chosen partly to gather together the hundreds of grassroots mental health organizations that participate in the World Mental Health Day so they can plan and carry out awareness and advocacy events within their own communities and countries.

Greater efforts are needed to address the difficulties in providing mental health care and protecting the human rights of those with severe disorders, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, urging scaled up resources to provide care to those who need it.

“Mental health is of paramount importance for personal well-being, family relationships and an individual’s ability to contribute to society,” Mr. Ban said in his message on World Mental Health Day, observed annually on 10 October.

He pointed out that mental disorders occur “in all cultures and at all stages of life,” and are too often linked to poverty, marginalization and social disadvantage.

Resources to tackle the issue are “insufficient, inequitably distributed and inefficiently used,” the Secretary-General noted.

“Scaling up services should be a priority,” he said, hailing a new initiative announced by the UN World Health Organization (WHO).

With over three quarters of people suffering from mental disorders in the developing world receiving no care, “Mental health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP): Scaling up care for mental, neurological and substance use disorders” seeks to close the massive treatment gap.

WHO said that tens of millions could be treated for diseases such as depression and schizophrenia, even where resources are scarce, so long as there is proper care, psychosocial assistance and medication.

“Governments across the world need to see mental health as a vital component of primary health care,” said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan. “We need to change policy and practice.”

In most countries, less than 2 per cent of health funds are earmarked for mental health. One third of people living with schizophrenia, over half suffering from depression and three quarters with alcohol-use disorders cannot access affordable care.

Meanwhile, one person dies of suicide – one of the leading causes of death, albeit a preventable one, among young adults worldwide – every 40 seconds.

The cost of boosting services is not very high, WHO said, and can be as low as $0.20 per person per year to enhance treatment for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and hazardous alcohol use.

“We need to ensure that people with these disorders are not denied opportunities to contribute to social and economic life and that their human rights are protected,” said Benedetto Saraceno, Director of WHO’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Department.

In her message on the Day, the head of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) stressed the importance of addressing mental health through the lens of reproductive health, which “is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.”

During pregnancy and after delivery, many women suffer from depression, but cannot access the necessary treatment. “Perinatal depression is associated with increased risk of obstetric complications and premature birth,” said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, UNFPA’s Executive Director. “And depressed women are less likely to seek and receive antenatal or postnatal care.”

Survivors of gender-based and sexual violence need mental health and psychosocial support services, she added.

UNFPA and WHO have joined forces to integrate mental health services into existing maternal and child health policies.

“Today, we call on all governments and partners to include measures for mental health in efforts to achieve human development and respond to humanitarian crises,” Ms. Obaid said. “Mental health is central to human dignity.”

International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction

2008-10-15T15:17:00.000+07:00

The United Nations’ (UN) International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction is annually observed on the second Wednesday of October to raise the profile of disaster risk reduction. It also encourages people and governments to participate in building more resilient communities and nations. This event is held on October 8 in 2008.

In 2008 the UN’s International Day for Disaster Reduction focuses on ensuring hospitals and health facilities are safe from disaster. As part of the day, governments, organizations, community groups and individuals worldwide are joining forces to raise people’s awareness of disaster reduction.

Many people around the world have lost their lives, homes or access to essential facilities, such as hospitals, due to natural disasters, including earthquakes, droughts, tsunamis, heavy flooding, hurricanes or cyclones. Some of these disasters have caused economic damage to some countries. The UN acknowledges that education, training, and information exchanges are effective ways to help people become better equipped in withstanding natural disasters.

On December 22, 1989, the UN General Assembly designated the second Wednesday of October as the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction. This event was to be observed annually during the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, 1990-1999. On December 20, 2001, the assembly decided to maintain the observance to promote a global culture of natural disaster reduction, including disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness.

THE SECRETARY GENERAL MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR DISASTER REDUCTION

8 October 2008

The observance of the International Day for Disaster Reduction for 2008 takes
place in a year that has seen more than its fair share of natural calamities, and falls on the third anniversary of the earthquake in South Asia. With the casualties of that disaster and of this year’s Wenchuan Earthquake and Cyclone Nargis still fresh in our minds, it is all the more appropriate to recall the lessons we have learned.

Nearly four years ago, Governments adopted the Hyogo Framework for Action,
which aims to reduce our collective vulnerability to natural hazards.But we must do
more to turn commitments on paper into deeds that can keep the next major disaster from taking so many lives and destroying so many livelihoods. Now more than ever, when we are trying to accelerate national and international efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, disaster risk reduction needs to be acknowledged and incorporated as a key plank of that work. The threats posed by climate change – including increasing droughts, floods and storms – increases the urgency further still, particularly in the world’s poorest, most vulnerable communities.

The World Disaster Reduction Campaign for 20082009 focuses on making “Hospitals Safe from Disasters”. When health facilities are damaged, so, too, is our ability to improve maternal and child health and to provide other essential health services.
But in resilient communities, health systems are better able to withstand natural hazards. We need to mobilize society at every level to reduce risk and protect health facilities so that they can save lives.

I urge all partners – Governments, civil society, international financial institutions and the private sector to step up implementation of the Hyogo Framework. Disaster risk reduction is everybody’s business. Only by investing in tangible risk reduction measures can we reduce vulnerability and protect development. On this International Day, let us renew our dedication to this vital task.

World Habitat Day 2008

2008-10-15T14:43:00.000+07:00

The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October (this year, 6th October) each year as World Habitat Day. The idea is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right to adequate shelter for all. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.

The United Nations chose the theme of Harmonious Cities for 2008 to raise awareness about the problems of rapid urbanization, its impact on the environment, the growth of slums, and the urbanization of poverty as more and more people teem into towns and cities looking for a better life.

In an age where for the first time half of humanity is now living in towns and cities, the quest for adequate shelter for all along with basic services such as water, sanitation, electricity, decent health care, safe streets, etc., is more urgent than ever, especially in developing countries. There should also be no illusion that cities have the greatest impact on the environment and climate change. And where they are poorly managed, with weak governance structures, it is their citizens and their surrounds that suffer most.

Urgent action is thus needed to foster widespread use of new energy efficient and environmentally friendly technologies to reduce urban pollution.

Harmonious Cities are inclusive cities where everyone and every culture is at home.

Indeed, such is the importance of all these aspects of Harmonious Cities that UN-HABITAT’s main flagship report in 2008 and the fourth session of the World Urban Forum in Nanjing, China from 3-7 November will also focus on Harmonious Cities to reinforce the World Habitat Day message.

The Secretary-General's message on World Habitat Day 2008

Many of the world’s most pressing challenges – poverty, natural disasters, escalating prices for food and fuel – have important links with rapid urbanization.

Urbanization changes forever the way we use land, water and energy. Done well, it can bring people choices and help them thrive. Done poorly, it reduces safety, despoils the environment and exacerbates the marginalization of those who are already suffering and excluded.

The theme of this year’s World Habitat Day is “harmonious cities”. Our rapidly urbanizing world cannot claim to be harmonious if slum-dwellers do not enjoy opportunities to find jobs and improve their living conditions. Nor will it be harmonious if the growth and expansion of urban areas comes at the expense of the natural environment. The Millennium Development Goals call for a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020. As of 2005, slightly more than one third of the urban population in developing regions lived in slum conditions. In sub-Saharan Africa, the proportion was over 60 percent, meaning that large investments will be necessary, for example to provide access to water, sanitation, durable housing or sufficient living space. But even in that region, and in others where deprivation is not as acute, simple, low-cost interventions could go a long way.

Cities have tremendous potential to be places where balanced development prevails, where diverse people live in harmony, and where healthy living conditions coexist with low levels of energy consumption, resource-use and waste. As we observe World Habitat Day, I call on all partners and stakeholders to do our utmost to realize this potential, and to build decent living conditions for all women, men and children in a way that also preserves our natural heritage and promotes greener and smarter growth.