International Tea Day 2022; May 21st.

FORUM: ''Celebrating Tea around the world, from field to Cup.'' International Tea Day 2022.

The International Tea Day is an opportunity to celebrate the cultural heritage, health benefits and economic importance of tea, while working to make its production sustainable “from field to cup” ensuring its benefits for people, cultures and the environment continue for generations. Follow the conversation with the hastags #InternationalTeaDay; #TeaDay; #21May

Key messages

• Tea production and processing represent a source of livelihoods for millions of families, including millions in least developed countries.
• Tea export earnings help to finance food import bills, supporting the economies of major tea-producing countries.
• The specific agro-ecological conditions where tea thrives occur in areas which are highly vulnerable to climate change.
• Global trade in 2020 was affected by logistics issues and measures imposed to contain COVID-19.
• Trade recovered in 2021 as shipments from major exporters resumed
• During the COVID-19 pandemic tea sales remarkably increased spurred by purchases for in-home consumption, as tea brought comfort to millions around the world
• Increasing in-home consumption of tea more than offset declining out-of-home consumption in many instances.
• In order to ensure benefits for both people and the environment, the tea value chain must be sustainable at all stages, from field to cup.

EVENTS: Celebrate International Tea Day with us!

The event, to be opened by FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, will highlight the vital role the tea sector plays for Members as well as its broader economic and social impacts around the world. 

The event will be an occasion focus on the contribution of tea to the food systems transformation that is needed to ensure better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

The opening ceremony will be followed by a panel discussion that will complement the celebration and touch on issues affecting the tea sector.

High-level segment
12:00-13:00 hours CEST

Panel discussion
13:30-14:30 hours CEST

World Bee Day 2022; May 20th.

 FORUM: Be Engaged. World Bee Day 2022.

Bee engaged – Celebrating the diversity of bees and beekeeping systems. 

Beekeeping is a widespread and global activity, with millions of beekeepers depending on bees for their livelihoods and well-being. Together with wild pollinators, bees play a major role in

• maintaining biodiversity
• ensuring the survival and reproduction of many plants
• supporting forest regeneration
• promoting sustainability and adaptation to climate change
•  improving the quantity and quality of agricultural systems 

                           

EVENTS: WORLD BEE DAY 2022.

20 May 2022, 13:00–14:45 CEST
Agenda | Register | Webcast

This year FAO will celebrate World Bee Day through a virtual event, under the theme ‘Bee Engaged: Celebrating the diversity of bees and beekeeping systems’ 

The event featuring bee and pollinator experts and practitioners from across the world will open with a video message by FAO Director-General QU Dongyu. The event will raise awareness on the importance of the wide variety of bees and sustainable beekeeping systems, the threats and challenges they face and their contribution to livelihoods and food systems.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2022; May 17th

 Theme: "Digital technologies for older persons and healthy ageing​." World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2022.

The ageing of the global population will be the defining demographic trend of the 21st century—yet our societies struggle to see the opportunities that this trend can unfold. Telecommunications and information communication technologies (ICTs) have a role to play in achieving healthier ageing, but also in helping people build smarter cities, combat age-based discrimination at the workplace, ensure financial inclusion of older persons, and support millions of caregivers across the world.

EVENTS

WTISD 2022 will allow ITU membership, partners and other stakeholders to raise awareness about the important role of telecommunications/ICTs in supporting people to stay healthy, connected and independent, physically, emotionally and financially – to a life of healthy ageing – and as critical for the sustainability of economic and health systems.

As part of ITU’s efforts towards the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and the theme of WTISD 2022, “Digital technologies for Older Persons and Healthy Ageing”, ITU invites you to actively participate in commemorating, contributing, and innovating throughout the year with national, regional, and international initiatives to accelerate digital technologies for older persons and healthy ageing.​

“Digital technologies for older persons and healthy ageing​​​”

What: High-level panel to mark WTISD 2022 
When: Tuesday, 17 May, 13:00 to 14:30 (CET) 
Where: ITU Members, Missions to the UN in Geneva and representatives from sister UN organizations can attend in person at ITU by registering here. Badges can be collected on Tuesday, 17 May, from 11:00 to 13:30 (CET) at the ITU Headquarters, Montbrillant building. To participate remotely, through the WSIS Forum 2022, register here.
Programme: See the programme here.  

Speakers:

• Mr Houlin Zhao, Secretary-GeneraI, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
• Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, Deputy Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO)
• H.E. Ms. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister, Ministry of Communication and Digitalization, Ghana
• My Linh Kha, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Japan Asia-Pacific, AMGEN
• Dr Jane Barratt, Secretary-General, International Federation on Ageing (IFA)
• Justin Derbyshire, Chief Executive Officer, HelpAge International

Webcast live

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) has been celebrated annually every 17 May since 1969 to mark the founding of ITU and the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865.

International Day of Living Together in Peace 2022; May 16th.

FORUM: Living together in peace is all about accepting differences and having the ability to listen to, recognize, respect and appreciate others. International Day of Living Together in Peace 2022; Join us ro discuss how conscience can ensure our living in a peaceful and united way. Follow the conversation #LivingTogetherInPeace. and #16May.

ACTIONS: Promote a culture of peace and non-violence that benefits all of humanity, including future generations.

The International Day of Living Together in Peace was adopted, on 8 December 2017, by the United Nations General Assembly, unanimously by the 193 United Nations member states.

International Day of Light 2022; May 16th.

FORUM: "The central role that light plays in the lives of the citizens of the world." International Day of Light 2022.

The applications of light science and technology are vital for advances in medicine, communications, entertainment and culture, and that light-based technologies respond to the needs of humankind by providing access to information and increasing societal well-being, and promoting peace through improved communications.

                       

EVENTS  The celebration of the  International Day of Light 2022 will reach an audience of millions of Research Scientists, light Industry sector leaders and members of the public worldwide. We welcome inquiries from both the Private-public sector partnership.

The International Day of Light is celebrated on 16 May each year, the anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman. This day is a call to strengthen scientific cooperation and harness its potential to foster peace and sustainable development.

 

societal well-being, and promoting peace through improved communications,

International Day of Families 2022; May 15th.

FORUM: Families and Urbanization. International Day of Families 2022.

This year’s theme of the International Day of Families on “Families and Urbanization” is to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable and family-friendly urban policies. Urbanization is one of the most important megatrends shaping our world and the life and wellbeing of families worldwide. Sustainable urbanization is related to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets, such as SDG1 (Poverty eradication) SDG 3, (Good health and well-being); SDG 11 (Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable), SDG10 (Reduce inequality within and among countries). All the above SDGs and targets depend on how well urbanization is managed to benefit families and enhance the well-being of all generations living in the cities.

EVENTS
Friday, 13 May, 10:00-11:15 AM (New York time)

UNDESA will organize a panel discussion that will include presentations from academics, civil society and urban authorities. The event will include the launch of the background paper as well as presentation of civil society initiatives such as Venice Declaration and Civil Society Declaration for IYF+30. A major research paper is to be launched at the observance as part of the preparations for IYF+30. The keynote address by the author will mainly examine current urbanization trends from a Family perspective.

 .

Background paper:

“Migration, Urbanization, and the Family Dimension” by Bahira Sherif Trask, Professor & Chair, Human Development & Family Sciences, University of Delaware

Presentations:“Designing Cities for Children and Families”” by Brenna Hassinger-Das, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Pace University and Science Advisor, PLLAN
“Migration, Urbanization, and the Family Dimension” by Bahira Sherif Trask, Professor & Chair, Human Development & Family Sciences, University of Delaware

World Migratory Bird Day 2022; May 14th.

FORUM: "Dim the lights for birds at night." World Migratory Bird Day 2022.

Light Pollution will be the focus of the World Migratory Bird Day campaign.

Artificial light is increasing globally by at least 2 per cent per year and it is known to adversely affect many bird species. Light pollution is a significant threat to migratory birds, causing disorientation when they fly at night, leading to collisions with buildings, perturbing their internal clocks, or interfering with their ability to undertake long-distance migrations.

 

Solutions to light pollution are readily available. For instance, more and more cities in the world are taking measures to dim building lights during migration phases in spring and autumn. Best practice guidelines are also being developed under the Convention on Migratory Species to address this growing issue and ensure that action is taken globally to help birds migrate safely.

EVENTS

Every Word Migratory Bird Day event is unique and as diverse and creative as the people and organizations involved. United by a common theme and campaign, #WorldMigratoryBirdDay events
take place in all corners of the world and involve and inspire thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds. While events are usually organized on one of the two peak days of World Migratory Bird Day, events can be linked to World Migratory Bird Day throughout the year.

There are really no limits on creativity! A successful World Migratory Bird Day event often gets people outside, engages them in learning about birds and habitats, and equips them to take conservation action. WMBD events usually promote the conservation theme, contribute to raising awareness or
encourage people to take action. 

This year’s event could highlight the impact of light pollution by including night-time bird walks and other evening programs focusing on nocturnal bird migration as well as citizen science projects and other dark-sky-themed activities.  The 2022 World Migratory Bird Day can also be used as an occasion to highlight any actions already being taken to address the issue of #lightpollution within your government, city or community. These actions could be changes in policy or a concrete future commitment which could be announced.

ACTIVITIES: Past activities and awareness-raising events have included birdwatching tours, educational workshops and exhibitions, webinars, festivals, and painting competitions, which have been organized at schools, parks, town halls, education centers, and nature reserves. 

World Migratory Bird Day is an annual awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats. It has a global outreach and is an effective tool to help raise global awareness of the threats faced by migratory birds, their ecological importance, and the need for international cooperation to conserve them.