Internatonal Day of Light 2021; May 16

 The International Day of Light, celebrated on 16 May, is a global initiative highlighting to the citizens of the world the importance of light and light-based technologies in their lives, for their futures, and for the development of society.

Light is an element that draws together many areas of human knowledge: physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, engineering, and art. Moreover, optical phenomena and the technologies based on them are widespread in our daily lives. However, it can be difficult to understand or explain these phenomena. What is light? Where are optics and photonics present in our lives and in nature? What lies behind different optical phenomena? What is an optical instrument? How does the eye resemble an optical instrument? How can we explain human vision?

FORUM: International Day of Light 2021

OSA and SPIE collaborated very actively with the major optics and physics societies to approach UNESCO and ask the United Nations General Assembly to declare 2015 as “The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies.” The success of this celebration lead to a new goal: to get an International Day of Light (IDL). It was approved by UNESCO, and 2018 was the first year we could celebrate the IDL on May 16th. The IO-CSIC and the authors of this book have participated very actively with the organisation of education and outreach events in schools and in the Institute of Optics. The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies, as well as the IDL, are global initiatives to raise awareness of how optical technologies promote sustainable development and provide solutions to worldwide challenges in energy, education, agriculture, communications and health. Light is central to life, science, technology, art and culture. Light can promote education at all levels. Light technology drives development. There was a United Nations observance that aimed to raise awareness of the achievements of light science and its applications, and its importance to humankind. Books like this communicate to society as a whole the importance of light in today’s world and inspire a new generation of students and interest them in studying science. People are familiar with many natural light phenomena that we see daily and with light-based technologies because we use many devices in which light plays a crucial role. However, they do not always know the science behind them. If it is explained in an easy and amusing way, we can attract many people who will be surprised by the beauty of science

CAMPAIGN: Trust Science Pledge – Various Languages

The 2021 campaign for the day of light is a pledge to support evidence-based science worldwide.

PUBLICATION: Discovering Light fun experiments with optics

International Day of Living Together in Peace 2021, May 16th

 The International Day of Living Together in Peace constitutes a means of regularly mobilizing the efforts of the international community to promote peace, tolerance, inclusion, understanding and solidarity, and to express its attachment to the desire to live and act together, united in differences and diversity, in order to build a sustainable world of peace, solidarity and harmony.

FORUM: The power of Positive Peace to create more resilient and peaceful societies; International Day of Living Together in Peace 2021.

This International Day of Living Together in Peace, join Rotary International President-Elect Shekhar Mehta in conversation with Businessman, Philanthropist, and Founder & Executive Chairman of the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), Steve Killelea, as they discuss the power of Positive Peace to create more resilient and peaceful societies.

Moderated by Lord John Alderdice, Liberal Democrat Member of the UK House of Lords, the discussion will explore key themes from Killelea's debut book, 'Peace in the Age of Chaos: The Best Solution for a Sustainable Future', including why we need to expand our understanding of peace in the 21st century; the importance of measuring peace; and how Rotarians are incorporating IEP’s conceptual framework – the eight Pillars of Positive Peace – into their development work and peacebuilding efforts.

US: 06:00 CDT

India: 16:30 IST

Europe: 12:00 BST

APAC: 21:00 AEST

POSITIVE PEACE PEACE REPORT 2020 - Peace is much more than the absence of violence. Positive Peace describes the attitudes, structures and institutions that underpin and sustain peaceful societies. The Institute has developed a conceptual framework, known as the Pillars of Peace, that outlines a system of eight factors that work together to build positive peace. Derived from a statistical analysis of over 4,000 datasets, the Pillars of Peace provides a roadmap to overcome adversity and conflict, and to build lasting peace.

GLOBAL PEACE INDEX REPORT 2020 - Measuring peace at the global and national level allows us to assess the social, political and economic factors that create peace. Each year the Institute for Economics and Peace produces the Global Peace Index, the world’s leading measure of national peacefulness, ranking 163 countries according to their levels of peace. A series of national peace indices have also been developed to explore the fabric of peace at the sub-national level. These include: the Mexico Peace Index and the German Peace Index.

ECONOMICS OF PEACE:The Institute has developed an innovative methodology to calculate the economic impact of violence to the economy. It does this by calculating 13 different types of violence related spending at the national level, and applying a multiplier effect to account for the lingering influence of violence and fear. There are immediate and obvious examples of the impact of violence to the economy, like hospital fees, or security costs, and there are also more subtle long term impacts, such as a shift tomore defensive spending by individuals, businesses and governments.

UNDERSTANDING THE RISKS: Using data collected since 1996, the Institute has developed a new methodology to identify countries at risk of falling into instability and violence. The risk model allows a deep understanding of the resilience of nations towards internal and external shocks and can be used for forecasting risk and opportunity. Read about the latest risk to countries in the COVID-19 and Peace report.

International Day of Famlies 2021, May 15th

 

FORUM: ''Families and new technologies'' International Day of Families 2021.

Megatrends, including new technologies, demographic shifts, rapid urbanization, and migration trends, as well as climate change, dramatically shape our world. The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of digital technologies for work, education, and communication. In preparation for the thirtieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2024 (IYF+30), annual observances will raise awareness of these megatrends and the family-oriented policies tackling their effects.

 The observance of the International Day of Families 2021 focuses on the impacts of new technologies on the well-being of families.

Presentations

• Technology Use and Families: Implications for Work-Family Balance and Parenting Education 
• Families and Technology: Preliminary Findings from an International Focus Group 
• Pivoting to Telehealth Implementation of Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (an evidence-based home visiting intervention) 
• Online Education Tools for the Family and how to Keep Parents in the Workforce 

2021 Observance of the Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War; 8 -9 May

        

The Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War is an annual international day of remembrance designated by Resolution 59/26 of the United Nations General Assembly on November 22, 2004.

              

FORUM: Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during WWII.

Soon after victory was celebrated in 1945, Americans began to reflect on how to honor the sacrifices of those who served and died in World War II. Early efforts began in 1947 with the creation of a federal foundation which was established to raise funds for a bronze statue to honor the veterans of Iwo Jima.

Soon memorials were being erected throughout the United States to honor all who served to include the Nisei, those who suffered the tragedy at Port Chicago, and later the Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism in Washington D.C.

Despite a national memorial for later wars in Korean and Vietnam, it wasn't until 1987, when WWII veteran Roger Durbin petitioned Congress to dedicate a spot on the National Mall for a national memorial to tell the story of all aspects of the war in Europe and the Pacific. World War II veteran Senator Bob Dole became the national chairman of the World War II Memorial Campaign and the Memorial was opened on April 29, 2004.

World Migratory Bird Day 2021, 8-9 May

 

FORUM: Sing, Fly, Soar; Like A Bird.

Every year, the Arctic tern migrates from the Arctic Circle to the Antarctic Circle, one of the longest annual migrations of any animal on Earth. But today this dainty bird is threatened by our triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution and waste.

World Migratory Bird Day on May 8 offers a chance to reflect on the threats to the Arctic Tern and other migratory birds and resolve to do better to protect the habitats they depend on.

“Climate change is changing and disturbing the migratory patterns of birds. The destruction of the natural world threatens these pollinators, critical for food security and well-being. And pollution whether in water bodies, land or air, is proving toxic for migratory birds,” says Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.

In the case of the Arctic Tern, the warming of the oceans in its traditional nesting grounds in the Northern Atlantic is the problem. Around 250,000 tern couples nest in Iceland each year but this number is decreasing, says Guðmundur A. Guðmundsson, Animal Ecologist at the Icelandic Institute of Natural History. He says the problem is the collapse of sand eel stocks in the seas around Iceland.

“A very likely cause is the warming of the ocean. The young sand eels are threatened by the early blooming of algae – too early for them,“ he explains.

This year, World Migratory Bird Day will focus on “bird song” and “bird flight” to inspire and connect people of all ages in a global effort to protect birds and the habitats they need to survive. It’s a particularly apt message ahead of the official launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration on World Environment Day on June 5.

Learn more about the amazing Arctic Tern and the threats facing this incredible bird here. Check out the important work of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals here.

CAMPAIGN: Want to get involved in World Migratory Bird Day? There are loads of ideas of what you can do here , Join in with the hashtags #WMBD2021 #WorldMigratoryBirdDay #SingFlySoar #LikeABird #ForNature on your social media

Raise Your Voice for Bird Conservation!

The theme of World Migratory Bird Day 2021 is unique in that it directly appeals to people of all ages to express themselves, to use their own human voice and creativity to show their appreciation and support for birds and international bird conservation. We encourage all participants to use World Migratory Bird Day as an opportunity to express their support for bird conservation and to highlight what they are doing in support of migrator birds.

Be Creative!

Linking human song with the song of birds opens a huge spectrum of creative possibilities which can be universally applied across borders in many countries around the world. Ideas range from tapping into existing popular songs dedicated to birds from all corners of the world, to activating people in different countries to “speak up” and to actually sing for birds, i.e. to “sing like a bird - for migratory birds” in their own language.

SING and FLY #LikeABird!

In order for this to become a truly global “wave of human creativity and expression” for birds and nature, people should record and share their bird inspired songs (or other forms of creative expression!) on social media using the following hashtags #SingFlySoar #LikeABird.

Another possible activation path for the “#LikeABird campaign”, could be to invite nature photographers and film makers to share their best “birds in flight” videos and photos.

Similar to the “act of singing” one could also go a step further and link bird flight with actual human flight, looking at everything from sky diving, hang gliding, paragliding and other activities which are associated with a form of aerial adventure.   Participants are encouraged to share their “in flight” photos and videos via social media using the hashtags Sing Fly Soar; Like A Bird.

World Press Freedom Day 2021; May 3rd

FORUM: "Information as a public Good." World Press Freedom Day 2021.

This year’s World Press Freedom Day theme “Information as a Public Good” serves as a call to affirm the importance of cherishing information as a public good, and exploring what can be done in the production, distribution and reception of content to strengthen journalism, and to advance transparency and empowerment while leaving no one behind. The theme is of urgent relevance to all countries across the world. It recognizes the changing communications system that is impacting on our health, our human rights, democracies and sustainable development.

To underline the importance of information within our online media environment, WPFD 2021 will highlight three key topics:

• Steps to ensure the economic viability of news media;
• Mechanisms for ensuring transparency of Internet companies; 
• Enhanced Media and Information Literacy (MIL) capacities that enable people to recognize and value, as well as defend and demand, journalism as a vital part of information as a public good.

Join the conversation by using the hashtag #3May. #worldpressfreedomday, Informationasapublicgood,

CONFERENCES: 25th Anniversary of the  Windhoek Declaration.

The 2021 Global Press Freedoom Conference is hosted by UNESCO and the Government of Namibia. It will take place on 29 April - 3 May in Windhoek. The event will be a physical and digital experience combining virtual and in-presence participation. Register now to be part of the regional forums, side events, keynotes, artistic showcases, films screenings and more! Join media leaders, activists, policymakers, media and legal experts, artists and researchers from all over the world.

The Conference will call for urgent attention to the threat of extinction faced by local news media around the world, a crisis worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will put forward ideas to tackle the challenges of our online media environment, push for more transparency of internet companies, strengthen safety of journalists, and improve their working conditions. The Conference will also call to support independent media and empower citizens to face these challenges.

 

• The Windhoek+30 Declaration is now adopted!
• Read more about the 1991 Windhoek Declaration

MINUTE OF SILENCE : Pay tribute to journalists/reporters  and Media workers who died in the line of duty. 

"The theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, “Information as a Public Good”, underlines  the  indisputable  importance  of  verified  and  reliable  information.  It  calls  attention  to  the  essential  role of free and professional  journalists  in  producing  and  disseminating this information, by tackling misinformation and other harmful content."

—  Statement of the UNESO Director-General on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2021

              

Joint Statement on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day on 3 May;

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration for the Development of a Free, Independent and Pluralistic Press, we pay tribute to the African newspaper journalists who met in Windhoek, Namibia in 1991 and produced a statement of press freedom principles. The Windhoek Declaration has been influential for 30 years as a catalyst in the process of encouraging press freedom, independent journalism and media pluralism worldwide. Endorsed by the 25th UNESCO General Conference, this landmark document marked the beginning of the international commitment to address the need to foster an enabling environment for journalists and media workers to exercise their freedom of expression and for them to make their crucial contributions to consolidating democracy and enhancing sustainable development. It gave rise to the World Press Freedom Day, celebrated on 3rd May each year, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 and the Guillermo Cano Prize in 1997 as well inspired further regional declarations, such as the Declaration of Alma Ata in Kazakhstan in 1992, the Declaration of Santiago de Chile in 1994 and the Declaration of Sana’a in Yemen in 1996 and finally, in 1997, the Declaration of Sofia, all of them supporting unreservedly the principles enshrined in the Windhoek Declaration. These principles are still valid today, 30 years after their adoption and their implementation constitutes a foundation for the safety of journalists, online and offline.

Underpinning the Windhoek Declaration is the premise that access to reliable and verifiable information is a public good and that those contributing to this end should be protected not only for the guarantee of their own rights but for the good of society as a whole. In this context, we would like to underline the importance of addressing sexual and gender-based violence and abuse, both online and offline, as it can result in deepening existing gender-related inequalities in the public space and impact negatively on pluralism. The Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals, endorsed by all UN member states, acknowledges that the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as of access to universal and reliable information are an integral part of sustainable development and the principle of "leaving no one behind". Among other aspects, the COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated the crucial need for access to reliable, trustworthy and fact-based information, as well as the key role of free, independent and pluralistic media to enhance transparency, accountability and trust, and to address the challenges of misinformation and disinformation.

This year’s world press freedom day focuses on "information as a public good". By defending and promoting media freedom and the safety of journalists, we defend and promote the right to freedom of expression, including the right of the individual to seek, receive and impart information of all kinds. Free, independent and pluralistic media depend on the safety of journalists and an enabling environment for access to information. It is of utmost importance to address impunity for crimes against journalists and media workers, both online and offline, through an effective judicial 2

process and accountability. Independent journalism and media pluralism are only possible where conditions exist for their economic viability and sustainability. Ensuring the transparency and the accountability of internet platforms constitute growing challenges in the age of digitalisation and rapid technological change.

A healthy media system does not exclusively depend on governments whose responsibility is to protect freedom of expression. It is also built on multi-stakeholder cooperation, including the private sector, civil society and individuals of all ages who consume information from different sources in order to make informed decisions in their daily lives.

Enhancing media and information literacy globally is thus crucial for empowering individuals to navigate the modern information environment taking full advantage of the many opportunities offered by the digital ecosystem. It also enables them to mitigate the risks, such as disinformation and misinformation, incitement to hatred and violence, racism and sexual and gender-based violence, in accordance with the right to freedom of opinion and expression, media independence and pluralism.

It is in the spirit of Windhoek, that we are determined to reinforce the safeguards of a free, independent and pluralistic media highlighted by the Windhoek Declaration while developing new policies and initiatives that will equip us to better protect journalism, promote the safety of journalists and media workers and access to information as a public good.

Issued by the Chairs of the Groups of Friends on the Safety of Journalists and members of the Groups of Friends in Paris (UNESCO), New York (United Nations), Geneva (United Nations), Vienna (OSCE) and Strasbourg (Council of Europe) listed in the annex

World Tuna Day 2021; May 2nd

FORUM: Sustainable development and management of fisheries and aquaculture.  

World Tuna Day 2021.

Their meat is rich in Omega-3 and it also contains minerals, proteins, and vitamin B12, among other advantages. If tuna markets can't control overfishing, more than biodiversity will be endangered. Learn about the goal's target related to overfishing and its importance for an industry that employs more than 200 million people. At present, over 96 countries are involved in the conservation and management of tuna, which has an annual value of almost 10 billion USD, and some FAO relevant programmes have started giving positive results in reducing overfishing.

Let's be optimistic about the tuna of tomorrow.

                                                            

Improve the identification of marine organisms of actual and potential interest to fisheries.

• Provide and disseminate tools to facilitate species identification in fisheries, and in so doing, improve fisheries data quality.
• Provide a global and coherent system of scientific and common nomenclature.

Priority is assigned to resources of major commercial importance or threatened and to developing regions facing difficulties in species identification.

Activities

• Secure the best up-to-date information calling upon knowledgeable specialists in taxonomy.
• Compile information on species distribution to produce distribution maps.
• Draw reliable and accurate illustrations of marine organisms and their anatomical details.
• Produce and distribute through different media, species identification information for fishery purposes.

 The United Nations General Assembly designated 2 May as World Tuna Day in its Resolution 71/124.