Epilepsy (from Ancient Greek ἐπιληψία) is a common and diverse set of chronic neurological disorders characterized by seizures. Some definitions of epilepsy require that seizures be recurrent and unprovoked, but others require only a single seizure combined with brain alterations which increase the chance of future seizures. In many cases a cause cannot be identified, however factors that are associated include brain trauma, strokes, brain cancer, and drug and alcohol misuse among … [Read more...]
International Widow’s Day – June 23
June 11, 2024 by
International Widows Day takes place every year on 23rd June. It was initially launched by the Loomba Foundation at the House of Lords in London in 2005. The date, 23 June, was chosen because on this day Shrimati Pushpa Wati Loomba, the inspiration for the Foundation, became a widow. … [Read more...]
The International Day of Forests, March 21
March 20, 2024 by
Until the advent of fossil fuels, for thousands of years, wood was the primary source of energy for human populations. Today, over 2 billion people worldwide, in rural and urban areas, still rely on wood for their primary energy needs. Wood constitutes the primary source of energy for cooking and heating in many developing countries, where nearly 90 per cent of fuelwood and charcoal is consumed. Regions with the greatest incidence of poverty, most notably Sub-Saharan Africa and low income … [Read more...]
History of Valentine’s Day
February 13, 2024 by
Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is an annual holiday celebrated on February 14. It originated as a Western Christian liturgical feast day honoring one or more early saints named Valentinus, and is recognized as a significant cultural and commercial celebration in many regions around the world, although it is not a public holiday in any country. Several martyrdom stories associated with the various Valentines that were connected to February … [Read more...]
International Women’s Day 2023
March 8, 2023 by
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has insisted that the world “cannot emerge from the pandemic with the clock spinning backwards on gender equality”. In 1977, the United Nations officially recognized International Women’s Day. This year of 2023, the United Nations’ theme for International Women’s Day is “Embrace Equity.” “Imagine a gender-equal world,” says the International Women’s Day website. “A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, … [Read more...]
World Mental Health Day – Global Priority for All
October 10, 2022 by
Hashtag: #WorldMentalHealthDay WHO: Whilst the pandemic has, and continues to, take its toll on our mental health, the ability to reconnect through World Mental Health Day 2022 will provide us with an opportunity to re-kindle our efforts to protect and improve mental health. Many aspects of mental health have been challenged; and already before the pandemic in 2019 an estimated one in eight people globally were living with a mental disorder. At the same time, the services, skills and … [Read more...]
WORLD DAY AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS – July 30, 2022 International
July 18, 2022 by
THEME 2022 “Use and Abuse of Technology” This year’s theme focuses on the role of technology as a tool that can both enable and impede human trafficking. With the global expansion in the use of technology - intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift of our everyday life to online platforms -- the crime of human trafficking has conquered cyber space. The internet and digital platforms offer traffickers numerous tools to recruit, exploit, and control victims; organize their … [Read more...]
High-level Political Forum 2022 – Debrief Webinar
July 12, 2022 by
Webinar — Monday, 18 July 2022 9:00-10:15 EDT / 15:00-16:15 CAT CEST The SDG Lab, Cepei, and IISD, in collaboration with the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), invites you to a panel discussion and Q&A session after the 2022 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) closes, answering: How did the HLPF go? What challenges were identified and what themes emerged for moving forward with the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals … [Read more...]
FEB 6: Queen Elizabeth II Celebrates 70 years – Platinum Jubilee
February 6, 2022 by
Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, ascended to the throne on February 6, 1952. The princess was 25 and on a royal visit to Kenya when she heard about the sudden death of her father, King George VI. Her Majesty became the queen of Britain and more than a dozen other realms including Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne will be a good deal more earthbound: The 95-year-old monarch plans to spend … [Read more...]
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Jan 11
January 11, 2022 by
What is Human Trafficking? Human Trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit. Men, women and children of all ages and from all backgrounds can become victims of this crime, which occurs in every region of the world. Data is hard to capture primarily because the individual either lacks awareness of victimization or fears to report it. Human trafficking victims are … [Read more...]
UN Women: The Strategic Plan 2022–2025
January 11, 2022 by
The Strategic Plan 2022–2025 will guide UN Women for the next four years—with an eye toward the 2030 deadline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It articulates how UN Women will leverage its unique triple mandate—encompassing normative support, UN system coordination, and operational activities—to mobilize urgent and sustained action to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls and support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable … [Read more...]
International Volunteer Day (IVD) – December 5 2021
December 3, 2021 by
International Volunteer Day (IVD) is a global celebration of volunteers. It takes place every year on December 5 to shine a light on the impact of volunteer efforts everywhere. Volunteers are leading social change around the world. This special day promotes the work of volunteers at all levels, including local, national and international. United Nations Volunteers founded International Volunteer Day in 1985. It offers an opportunity for volunteer-involving organizations and individual … [Read more...]
International Day to End Violence against Women – 25 NOV
November 9, 2021 by
25 November marks the International Day to End Violence against Women, and the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence campaign. Since 1991, the campaign has brought together activists and organizations around the world to raise awareness and inspire actions. This year’s theme for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!”. Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect! As … [Read more...]
DIWALI – Celebrated Globally
November 3, 2021 by
Diwali (also spelled Devali in certain regions) or Deepavali, popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a five day festival which starts on Dhanteras, celebrated on thirteenth lunar day of Krishna paksha (dark fortnight) of the Hindu calendar month Ashwin and ends on Bhaubeej, celebrated on second lunar day of Shukla paksha (bright fortnight) of the Hindu calendar month Kartik. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November. Diwali is an official holiday in … [Read more...]
