General Awareness

DAYS AND EVENTS - April 2020

Apr 2020

Sep 28, 2020

Israelis Mark Yom Kippur

The solemn Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, which annually sees Israeli life grind to a halt, began on Sunday in a nation already under a sweeping coronavirus lockdown.
Every year, businesses shut down, roads empty out and even radio and TV stations go silent as the faithful fast for 25 hours and hold intensive prayers of atonement on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The more secular-minded can be seen riding bikes or even picnicking on deserted highways. The holiday began at sundown on Sunday.
But this year all non-essential businesses have already been forced to close, and Israelis have been ordered to stay within 1,000 metres (yards) of their homes throughout the High Holidays, which began last week with the Jewish New Year and continue to mid-October.

International Day for Universal Access to Information

The 74th United Nations General Assembly proclaimed on 15th October 2019 that 28th September 2020 would observe the International Day for Universal Access to Information. The 2020 edition of the day focuses on the right to information in the times of crisis. It is celebrated to showcase the advantages of statutory and constitutional policies in order to provide public access to information.
• The day is commonly called as the Access to Information Day.
• It was designated by the UNESCO General Conference, initially.
• The day was inaugurated in November 2015.
• This day was first observed on 28 September 2016.
• Since 2002, the day had been recognized as International Right to Know Day.

Sep 27, 2020

World Rivers Day

World Rivers Day is observed every year on the fourth Sunday of September.
In 2005, the United Nations launched the Water for Life Decade to help create a greater awareness of the need to better care for our water resources. Following this, the establishment of World Rivers Day was in response to a proposal initiated by internationally renowned river advocate, Mark Angelo.
The proposal for a global event to celebrate rivers was based on the success of BC Rivers Day, which Mark Angelo had founded and led in western Canada since 1980. River enthusiasts from around the world came together to organise the inaugural WRD event.

World Tourism Day

Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation has celebrated World Tourism Day as international observances on September 27. This date was chosen as on that day in 1970, the Statutes of the UNWTO were adopted. The adoption of these Statutes is considered a milestone in global tourism. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness on the role of tourism within the international community and to demonstrate how it affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide.
Tourism has been among the hardest hit of all sectors by the COVID-19 pandemic. No country has been unaffected. Restrictions on travel and a sudden drop in consumer demand have led to an unprecedented fall in international tourism numbers, which in turn have led to economic loss and the loss of jobs.
The tourism crisis is also a threat to wildlife conservation initiatives and to the protection of the world's cultural heritage. The sudden fall in tourism revenues has cut off funding for biodiversity conservation. With livelihoods at risk in and around protected areas, cases of poaching and looting are expected to rise. With 90% of World Heritages Sites closed as a result of the pandemic, humanity's cultural heritage is at risk in all parts of the world.
For the first time in the history of World Tourism Day, the 2020 official celebration was hosted by a group of countries and not a single UNWTO Member State. The cross-border cooperation of the MERCOSUR Member States (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, plus Chile, Member Associate) reflects the current need for international solidarity and cooperation. This is especially true for tourism, working together towards a common goal.
World Tourism Day this year focuses on the theme "Tourism and Rural Development". The theme encourages the celebration of the unique role played by tourism in job creation outside of the big cities. It also in a huge way helps in the conservation of cultural and natural heritage of nations.

Sep 26, 2020

European Day of Languages

The European Day of Languages is observed 26th September, as proclaimed by the Council of Europe on 6 December 2001, at the end of the European Year of Languages (2001), which had been jointly organised by the Council of Europe and the European Union. Its aim is to encourage language learning across Europe.
The general objectives of the European Day of Languages are to:
Alert the public to the importance of language learning and diversify the range of languages learned in order to increase plurilingualism and intercultural understanding;
Promote the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe;
Encourage lifelong language learning in and out of school.
In keeping with these rules, people, young and old, are encouraged to take up a language, or take special pride in their existing language skills. Also, those responsible for providing access to language learning are encouraged to make it easier for people to learn a range of languages, and to support policy initiatives to promote languages. There is also emphasis on learning a language other than English.
There are about 225 indigenous languages in Europe – roughly 3% of the world's total. Most of the European languages are of Indo-European origin.

Sep 25, 2020

National Workshop on Spice Production from September 29

The Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode, will host the 31st annual workshop of the All India Coordinated Research Project on Spices (AICRPS) from September 29. The two-day national workshop will review all major research projects related to production of spices and future research plans for enhanced spices varieties.
The virtual workshop is expected to draw the participation of scientists working on various spice crops in 14 agro climatic zones in 25 states. The latest research outcomes on 17 spice crops covering black pepper, large cardamom, small cardamom, ginger, turmeric, mango ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, ajwain, nigella, saffron, and kalazeera will be discussed and reviewed for future development at the workshop.
R. Chandra Babu, Vice Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University, will open the event. It will be chaired by A.K. Singh, Deputy Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Ministerial Roundtable Dialogue on Biodiversity

Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Keshav Javadekar represented India at the Ministerial Roundtable Dialogue on Biodiversity that was held virtually. The dialogue was hosted by China.
The dialogue was conducted on Biodiversity Beyond 2020: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth. The dialogue was held a week ahead of the United Nations Summit on Biodiversity to exchange views on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. More than 15 ministers from different countries participated in the dialogue.

Sep 24, 2020

World Maritime Day

World Maritime Day is observed on September 24 to mark the contribution of international maritime industries towards the economy of the world especially shipping. Every year the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) celebrates World Maritime Day. The exact date is left to individual Governments but, it is usually celebrated during the last week in September, generally the last Thursday of the month.
World Maritime Day focuses on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security, and the marine environment.
The theme for 2020 World Maritime Day is "Sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet". This theme is to focus on providing an opportunity to raise awareness of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The shipping industry, with the support of the IMO regulatory framework, has already started the transition towards this sustainable future.
The world relies on a safe, secure, and efficient international shipping industry, which is an essential component of any program for future sustainable green economic growth in a sustainable manner. International shipping transports more than 80 percent of global trade to peoples and communities all over the world. World Maritime Day was first held on March 17, 1978, to mark the date of the IMO Convention's entry into force in 1958.

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