PARMIONOVA: April 2013

Monday, 29 April 2013

International Jazz Day 2013, April 30.

The year 2013 marks the beginning of the International Decade for People of African Descent, consecrated to the theme, “Recognition, justice and development for people of African heritage.” This constitutes yet another highlight of the event that the United Nations will surely support. Africa, whence jazz draws its origins, will thus be doubly honoured this year.

Istanbul is the official host city for 2013. Turkey has an age-old tradition of jazz. Munir Ertegun, Turkish Republic’s first ambassador to Washington in the 1930s, opened his embassy’s parlors to African American jazz musicians, who gathered there to play freely in a socio-historical context which was deeply divided by racial segregation at the time. Inspired by this legacy, the ambassador’s sons, Ahmet and Nesuhi, went on to establish the United States’ first jazz and gospel label in 1947 - Atlantic Records - which was seminal in spreading the beauty of jazz music around the world.

Video Message of Irina Bokova, UNESCO's Director General

Video Message of Herbie Hancock, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador & Chairman of Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz(20 sec)

How you can participate to International Jazz Day ?

Culture-centered projects on cultural diversity, dialogue and exchange, cultural heritage, jazz in cultural and creative industries, status and social condition of jazz musicians. Musical events can be organized for the Day. The musical events already scheduled and taking place on 30 April could be occasions to remind and give visibility to the International Jazz Day.

Jazz-related themes could be discussed through round tables, publications, blogs, book fairs, exhibitions, happenings
The Ministry of Culture could organize a nation-wide forum on jazz on their website
A public radio discussion on the future of jazz music in your country
Record labels and publishing houses could organize a seminar on the business of jazz music
A seminar organized at music conservatories with music professionals
Small community jazz concerts organized by the municipalities
Youth clubs could hold a jazz concert or screen a jazz concert on DVD
Music schools could be encouraged to organize public concerts for schools
Music students might give demonstrations or convene discussion groups with students
The National Commission of your country might organize a concert in partnership with local conservatories

Educational initiatives promoting the history and presenting practices of jazz (origin and transformation, global spread, social inclusion, women’s empowerment, improving technique).

Teachers (primary and secondary level) may choose to center part of their classes on jazz. Jazz music and jazz videos (concerts, fiction, documentaries) could be discussed
Literary, artistic or video contests could be organized
Special scholarships for jazz or jazz-related studies could be offered on the occasion of the Day
Organize a classroom discussion on the origins of jazz
Organize a classroom listening session - teachers can bring in a CD, or can log into a UNESCO Jazz Day website for further information
Organize a classroom exchange/debate with other schools via the UNESCO associated schools network

Social and human sciences projects focusing on the links between jazz and human and cultural rights, social inclusion, communities, migration, urbanization and other social issues.

Seminars, university classes and round tables (in person or online) could be organized in this context
Publications (reviews, books, and blogs) can be dedicated to those issues
Organize a discussion/student presentation on liberation movements and the role of jazz music
Organize a discussion/student presentation on women's emancipation and jazz music

Communication and information initiatives that concentrate on the links between traditional and/or contemporary media, ICT and jazz.

Join UNESCO on Facebook and Twitter to exchange with others about jazz’s impact. Make sure to use #JazzDay in your message!
Upload your own jazz music or videos of jazz musicians you admire to Youtube, Facebook or Twitter
Start a blog about what jazz means to you

24 Apr 2013 - Concert in honour of the General Assembly Committee on Information

PART I : Jazz, A Language for Peace: The first Dave Brubeck Forum

In Istanbul

ALL STARS JAZZ EVENING CONCERT IN ISTANBUL, APRIL 30, 2013

Hagia Irene church (Istanbul):Dating back to the 4th century, the Hagia Irene, located in the outer courtyard of Topkapi Palace – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is regarded as an international treasure for music lovers.

Save the date for the live streaming concert!

Istanbul Programme: concerts, educational and fringe events (pdf)

In Paris with the Association Paris Jazz Clubs

Paris will bring jazz unto the streets from morning masterclasses up till "nuit blanche" (overnight) jazz jams.

Paris Programme (pdf, in French)

- See more at: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-days/international-jazz-day-2013/#sthash.NIbcPyk6.dpuf

PART II : Jazz, A Language for Peace: The first Dave Brubeck Forum

Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare 2013, 29 April

° Día de Conmemoración de todas las víctimas de la guerra química, 29 de abril
° День памяти всех жертв применения химического оружия, 29 апреля
° Journée du souvenir dédiée à toutes les victimes de la guerre chimique, 29 avril
° Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare, 29 April
° 化学战受害者纪念日, 4月29日
°يوم إحياء ذكرى جميع ضحايا الحرب الكيميائية مناسبة

Statements

UN Secretary-General's message for 2013

United Nations Secretary-General's Message for the Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare 2013

This annual Day of Remembrance is designated by the international community to remember and pay respects to all victims of chemical warfare.
This year’s observance is especially timely, as the spectre of chemical weapons is once again casting its ominous shadow. Recent allegations of the use of these indiscriminate and morally repugnant weapons in Syria serve as a reminder of the continuing vital importance of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The Convention is both practical and aspirational. It provides a framework for implementing chemical weapons disarmament and facilitating the peaceful uses of chemistry. It is also a highly symbolic instrument -- representing a determined refusal of States Parties to allow the atrocities of the past to be repeated.
At the time of last year’s Day of Remembrance, nearly three-quarters of declared chemical warfare agents had been verifiably destroyed. This year, the figure stands close to 80 per cent. This continuing progress is a testament to the effectiveness of the Convention and the work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
But, as current events attest, we must stay vigilant. The threat of chemical weapons persists, and eight States remain outside the Convention. Until the Convention is universal and the last stockpiles have been destroyed, our debt to the victims of chemical warfare will remain unpaid.
On this Remembrance Day, I urge the international community to intensify efforts to rid the world of chemical weapons, along with all other weapons of mass destruction. Let us work together to bring all States under the Convention and promote its full implementation. This is how we can best honour past victims and liberate future generations from the threat of chemical weapons.

Ban Ki-moon

OPCW Director-General's statement [PDF - 24 KB]

A commemoration of the Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare. The event took place on 29 April 2013.

Sunday, 28 April 2013

Asian Development Outlook 2013 Highlights

Economic Trends and Prospects in Developing Asia :

Developing Asia is bouncing back from the slowdown of the previous year. Robust domestic demand and greater reliance on regional trade will accelerate growth from 6.1% in 2012 to 6.6% in 2013 and 6.7% in 2014. Though still relatively stable, inflation is forecast to pick up as regional economies return to their production potential in the midst of rising global liquidity from advanced economies. Consumer prices are expected to rise by 4.0% in 2013 and 4.2% in 2014, up from 3.7% last year.

Developing Asia’s recovery phase remains vulnerable to shocks. Strong capital inflows could feed asset bubbles. Political discord surrounding fiscal debates in the United States, austerity fatigue in the euro area, and border disputes in Asia could jeopardize macroeconomic stability.

The region needs an ample supply of clean, affordable energy to continue its rapid growth in the coming decades. To achieve energy security, developing Asia must actively contain its rising demand, aggressively explore new supply sources and technology, and progressively integrate regional energy markets and infrastructure.

Asian Development Outlook 2013 Official Launch

The annual ADO provides a comprehensive analysis of economic performance for the past year and offers forecasts for the next 2 years for the 45 economies in Asia and the Pacific that make up developing Asia.

Viet Nam; Vanuatu; Uzbekistan; Tuvalu; Turkmenistan; Tonga; Timor-Leste; Thailand; Tajikistan; Taipei,China; Sri Lanka; Solomon Islands; Singapore; Samoa; Philippines; Papua New Guinea; Palau; Pakistan; Nepal; Nauru; Myanmar; Mongolia; Micronesia, Federated States of; Marshall Islands; Maldives; Malaysia; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Kyrgyz Republic; Korea, Republic of; Kiribati; Kazakhstan; Indonesia; India; Hong Kong, China; Georgia; Fiji; Cook Islands; China, People's Republic of; Cambodia; Brunei Darussalam; Bhutan; Bangladesh; Azerbaijan; Armenia; Afghanistan.

Asian Development Outlook 2013: Asia’s Energy Challenge by Asian Development Bank

Developing Asia - World's Largest Energy Consumer in Two Decades: Asian Development Outlook 2013

Asia's Energy Challenge

ADO 2013 features a special chapter on Asia's energy challenges. The region needs an ample supply of clean, affordable energy to continue its rapid growth in the coming decades. To achieve energy security, developing Asia must actively contain its rising demand, aggressively explore new supply sources and technology, and progressively integrate regional energy markets and infrastructure.

World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2013 theme is: "The Prevention of Occupational Diseases. "

Health and safety at work: Facts and figures

2.02 million people die each year from work-related diseases.
321,000 people die each year from occupational accidents.
160 million non-fatal work-related diseases per year.
317 million non –fatal occupational accidents per year.

This means that:

Every 15 seconds, a worker dies from a work-related accident or disease.
Every 15 seconds, 151 workers have a work-related accident.

Deaths and injuries take a particularly heavy toll in developing countries, where a large part of the population is engaged in hazardous activities, such as agriculture, construction, fishing and mining.

ILO Director-General's statement on World Day for Safety and Health at Work

Worldwide, occupational diseases continue to be the leading cause of work-related deaths. According to ILO estimates, out of 2.34 million occupational fatalities every year, only 321,000 are due to accidents. The remaining 2.02 million deaths are caused by various types of work-related diseases, which correspond to a daily average of more than 5,500 deaths. This is an unacceptable Decent Work deficit.

The inadequate prevention of occupational diseases has profound negative effects not only on workers and their families but also on society at large due to the tremendous costs that it generates; particularly, in terms of loss of productivity and burdening of social security systems.

As every year, the ILO Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment has prepared a report which calls on governments, employers, workers and their organizations to collaborate in the development and implementation of national policies and strategies aimed at preventing occupational and work-related diseases.

Prevention is more effective and less costly than treatment and rehabilitation. All countries can take concrete steps now to improve their capacity for preventing occupational diseases.

Sources :

International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre (CIS)

Partners :

Newsletter :

°African Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety
°Asian-Pacific Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety

°Barents Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety

- Poster for the World Day for Safety and Health at Work - 28 April 2013

- Presentation for the World Day for Safety and Health at Work - 28 April 2013

- Questions and Answers on the prevention of occupational diseases

Wednesday, 24 April 2013

April 26 is World Intellectual Property Day. The 2013 year theme is Creativity – The Next Generation.

Message from Director General Francis Gurry.

World Intellectual Property Day - April 26, 2013

April 26 is World Intellectual Property Day. This year our theme is Creativity – The Next Generation.

Creativity is common to the whole of humanity.

Whoever we are, wherever we live, whatever our circumstances, we all have the capacity to create. And it is this human creativity and inventiveness that is responsible for improving our quality of life in every sphere: our medical care, our transport, our communication, our entertainment. The aim of intellectual property is to promote conditions that help this creativity and innovative capacity flourish across the world.

The way in which humanity expresses itself creatively has changed profoundly in the last 30 years. People are creating in ever more exciting ways. We have seen an explosion of user-generated content, and vast numbers of people coming together - through crowd-sourcing and open innovation platforms for example - to take part in collective creation. This creative collaboration is opening up rich new possibilities for humanity.

What will the next generation bring?

Director General Francis Gurry

While predicting the future is difficult, we do know that the speed of change has accelerated through recent generations. And now we see before us a whole range of new technologies with the potential to fundamentally change the way we live. That change is coming more and more quickly. The next generation will be here tomorrow.
The next developments in the life sciences, for instance, could transform our lives. Information technology, molecular biology, regenerative medicine, and even technologies such as 3D printing are coming together in and around the life sciences to generate extraordinary potential.
On World IP Day we encourage people to reflect about the role of intellectual property in our changing world. I believe there is a certain genius in intellectual property. What it does is create a unique incentive for investment in research and development, in innovation, and in cultural creation and production.
How does it do that? By creating a mechanism for buying, selling and sharing access to the benefits of innovation and cultural creation. Our challenge is to ensure that the conditions for access are fair and balanced, so that the benefits are widespread, and so that it fosters a truly dynamic, creative global society in which the next generation will thrive.
Young people have the capacity to dream in a way that far surpasses the capacity of older people. They are the future. So my message to the next generation on World IP Day is keep creating, keep innovating. And keep thinking about how IP should fulfill its role in the future social management of creativity and innovation.

Tuesday, 23 April 2013

"Invest in the future: defeat malaria" is the chosen theme for World Malaria Day 2013 (25 April)

In Africa a child dies every minute from malaria...

World Malaria Day (25 April) is an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and control.

Roll Back Malaria (RBM) World Malaria Day 2013 - What can it do for you?

World Malaria Day is a chance to shine a spotlight on the global effort to control malaria. Each year, Roll Back Malaria (RBM) partner organisations unite around a common World Malaria Day theme. Invest in the future: defeat malaria is the theme partners chose for the next three years to call attention to #thebigpush needed to reach the 2015 Millennium Development Goals and defeat malaria in the future.

What can World Malaria Day do for you?

Get ideas.
Put your event on the map.
Join in!

World Book and Copyright Day 2013, April 23

°Día Mundial del Libro y del Derecho de Autor, 23 de abril
° Всемирный день книги и авторского права, 23 апреля
° Journée Mondiale du livre et du droit d'auteur, 23 Avril
°World Book and Copyright Day, 23 April
° 世界书籍与版权日, 4月23日
° اليوم العالمي للكتاب وحقوق المؤلف

Message of Irina Bokova, Director General for World Book and Copyright Day 2013

UNESCO has celebrated World Book and Copyright Day on 23 April for 17 years now. UNESCO Member States around the world celebrate the power of books to bring us together and transmit the culture of peoples and their dreams of a better future. This day provides an opportunity to reflect together on ways to better disseminate the culture of the written word and to allow all individuals, men, women and children to access it, through literacy programmes and support for careers in publishing, book shops, libraries and schools. Books are our allies in spreading education, science, culture and information worldwide. The city of Bangkok has been designated “World Book Capital 2013” in recognition of its programme to promote reading among young people and underprivileged sections of the population.

This is a source of inspiration in our collective efforts to promote editorial diversity, and to protect intellectual property and equitable access to the wealth of books. UNESCO is committed to this work in the spirit of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, along with all its partners, including the International Publishers Association, the International Booksellers' Federation and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. This day also calls us to reflect on the changes in books over the long term and the intangible values that should guide us. Digital books offer new opportunities for access to knowledge, at reduced costs and over wide geographical areas. Traditional books are still powerful technology: failsafe, portable and standing the test of time. All forms of books make a valuable contribution to education and the dissemination of culture and information. The diversity of books and editorial content is a source of enrichment that we must support through appropriate public policies and protect from uniformity. This bibliodiversity is our common wealth, making books much more than a physical object, for they are our most beautiful invention for sharing ideas beyond the boundaries of space and time.

SOURCE :

UNESCO:

World Book and Copyright Day
Books and Reading
Copyright
One of the most important achievements was the introduction of the universal copyright symbol © at the UNESCO-organized conference at which the Universal Copyright Convention was adopted.
Text of the Universal Copyright Convention as revised at Paris on 24 July 1971
Protection of Folklore
UN Literacy Decade 2003 - 2012

World Intellectual Property Organization

United Nations

UN Bookshop

CyberSchoolBus - Bookstore

UN Education Portal

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

The additional resources links on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not necessarily represent an endorsement by the United Nations.

Centro Regional para el Fomento del Libro en América Latina y el Caribe
Commonwealth of Learning
Copyright Research and Information Center (Japan)
EUCLID International
European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations
European Publishers Council
Intellectual Property Watch
International Board on Books for Young People
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
International ISBN Agency
International Publishers Association
International Reading Association
United States Copyright Office

This is a source of inspiration in our collective efforts to promote editorial diversity, and to protect intellectual property and equitable access to the wealth of books.

UNESCO is committed to this work in the spirit of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, along with all its partners, including the International Publishers Association, the International Booksellers' Federation and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.

This day also calls us to reflect on the changes in books over the long term and the intangible values that should guide us. Digital books offer new opportunities for access to knowledge, at reduced costs and over wide geographical areas. Traditional books are still powerful technology: failsafe, portable and standing the test of time. All forms of books make a valuable contribution to education and the dissemination of culture and information. The diversity of books and editorial content is a source of enrichment that we must support through appropriate public policies and protect from uniformity. This bibliodiversity is our common wealth, making books much more than a physical object, for they are our most beautiful invention for sharing ideas beyond the boundaries of space and time.

Message of Irina Bokova, Director General for World Book and Copyright Day 2013

UNESCO has celebrated World Book and Copyright Day on 23 April for 17 years now. UNESCO Member States around the world celebrate the power of books to bring us together and transmit the culture of peoples and their dreams of a better future.

This day provides an opportunity to reflect together on ways to better disseminate the culture of the written word and to allow all individuals, men, women and children to access it, through literacy programmes and support for careers in publishing, book shops, libraries and schools. Books are our allies in spreading education, science, culture and information worldwide.

The city of Bangkok has been designated “World Book Capital 2013” in recognition of its programme to promote reading among young people and underprivileged sections of the population.