Category DAYS TO REMEMBER

          There is hardly anyone who has not heard of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji, with his toothless smile, captivated the world with a distinct political philosophy: Non-Violence. Gandhi was instrumental in guiding India to political freedom in 1947. Following Gandhi’s model, many leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. have adopted non-violence as their philosophy. On October 2, the day Gandhi was born, the world observes the International Day of Non-Violence.

          Many nations have ceased to believe in peaceful negotiations to settle international and civil disputes. The army and the police have turned to be instruments of violence in many places. Gandhi himself did not believe in the necessity of an army at all. The UN wants to reaffirm the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence through the observance of the day. According to the UN General Assembly resolution, the day is an occasion to disseminate the message of non-violence through public awareness.

          The International Day of Non-Violence is an opportunity to remember the words of the great man: “Non-violence is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of Man”.

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          After food and clothing, what Man needs most is shelter. A home is a dream for many. Some people save every penny they earn to build a home. Home is the symbol of safety, comfort and support. The United Nations has designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day to meditate on the state of our homes, towns and cities. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the basic right of all people for adequate shelter.

           The theme of the World Habitat Day of 2018 was regarding Municipal Solid Waste Management. One of the chief concerns of town dwellers is how to dispose garbage. There was a concerted effort to raise awareness regarding promoting innovative solutions to municipal solid waste management, facilitating policy dialogues and forming partnerships among communities for mobilizing resources to address the municipal solid waste challenges.

          The World Habitat Day reminds us that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our homes, cities and towns

          Do you love travelling? Francis Bacon, the renowned English essayist, opined that travelling to distant places is not only entertaining, but also educative and reformative. Touring new places will expand our mindscape and broaden our vision. The world celebrates World Tourism Day on September 27.

          In the last sixty years or so, tourism has experienced exponential growth world over. It has turned into one of the fastest growing and most important economic activities in the world, benefiting destinations and communities worldwide. The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) predicts that this sector will continue its growth at an average of 3 per cent annually until 2030. This growth is expected despite the many challenges the growth of tourism faces, such as the global economic crisis, natural disasters and pandemic diseases.

              There are so many beautiful, strange and astonishing places in the world. There are diverse cultures, communities and life styles. Travelling and visiting these places will turn men richer in experiences and wiser in relationships.

           Do you know what our world is in dire need of, today? It is peace. Our world has been splintered into factions because of race, caste, creed, ethnicity and nationality. Intermittent wars and incessant civil strife have torn nations and communities apart. The International Day of Peace, observed on September 21, envisages a world community built on the foundations of lasting peace.

         The basis of peaceful society is the economic and social development for all people whose rights are protected. This is why the UN member states adopted in 2015 the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that cover a broad range of issues, including poverty, hunger, health, education, climate change, gender equality, water, sanitation, energy, environment and social justice. Without protecting justice and equality in a society, a peaceful society cannot exist. A peaceful society can promote a sustainable environment and the sustainable environment can foster peace, in turn.

        The International Peace Day’s theme for 2018 was ‘the right to peace’. The world also celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone document in the history of human rights, last year.

          In modern societies, people are increasingly losing faith in the rule of kings, nobles or autocrats. In an egalitarian and just society, people are their own rulers; and therefore, democracy is the rule of the people. Do you know Abraham Lincoln’s famous definition of democracy? The International Day of Democracy envisages governments of the people, by the people and for the people. This day falls on September 15.

          The purpose of celebrating such a day is to look for ways to encourage democracy and seek answers to the challenges it faces. Democracy must make nations ready to tackle economic and political inequalities, bring the young and the marginalized into the political system and make nations more innovative and responsive to emerging challenges such as migration and climate change. The rulers and governments should be made aware of the values of freedom, and respect for human rights as essential elements of democracy.

         The international Day of Democracy tells the world that the relevance and significance of democracy can be upheld only through the protection and effective realization of human rights.

          Industrial growth, urbanization and ultimately man’s greed have slowly but steadily destroyed nature. Increasing number of factories, automobiles and other carbon emitting appliances have only escalated the crisis. The ozone layer that protects our earth from harmful rays from the space has developed holes, which can have disastrous effects on life on the planet.

        The ozone layer is nothing but a fragile screen of gases. Harmful and hazardous elements emitted from factories and other carbon-discharging units can destroy this delicate shield. If the uses of ozone depleting substances are not controlled, the ozone layer may not exist for future generations. The UN has advocated a gradual phase out of these substances and this can contribute significantly to global efforts to address climate change.

           The Montreal Protocol, proposed in 1987, was aimed at a global agreement that can protect the ozone layer by systematically ending the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances.

          The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is observed on September 16.