International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

 

On the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, celebrated annually on May 29th, we honour the extraordinary contributions of peacekeepers towards international peace and security. Since the establishment of the first UN peacekeeping mission in 1948, more than two million peacekeepers have served in 71 missions, helping countries navigate from war to peace.

Current Peacekeeping Missions and Their Impact

Currently, over 76,000 peacekeepers from more than 120 countries are deployed across 11 global operations. Their hard work and commitment help foster peace and stability for millions affected by conflict. Despite evolving challenges, peacekeepers remain steadfast in safeguarding civilians, saving and transforming lives, and promoting peace.

Honouring the Establishment of UN Peacekeeping

The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers honours the establishment of the UN’s first peacekeeping mission, UNTSO, which was deployed in 1948. On this day, we recognize the bravery and commitment of all peacekeepers who serve globally and pay our respects to those who sacrificed their lives in the pursuit of peace.

 

International Everest Day

International Everest Day is observed on May 29 every year in order to commemorate two brave climbers Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa who climbed the highest mountain in the world on 29 May 1953.

International Everest Day is an opportunity to honour the bravery and endurance of those who have attempted the climb and to inspire others to take risks and achieve their goals.

International Everest Day: History and significance

The day holds great significance as it reminds people to not get away from hard steps in their lives. Climbing a mountain at a time when little to no resources were available to these climbers. Hillary and Sherpa were in their early years when they left everything and joined the 1935 British Mount Everest reconnaissance expedition headed by Eric Shipton, an English Himalayan mountaineer.

International Everest Day: How to celebrate

There are various ways to celebrate International Everest Day. Here are a few suggestions:

Join a Local Mountain Club or Organization: Engage with people who climb mountains despite the challenges and risks. Listen to their stories and learn how they motivate themselves to face such challenges. Congratulate them on their achievements on International Everest Day.

Go Hiking or Camping: Experience the outdoors by hiking up a hill or going camping. Even if you are not a mountain climber, a hike can be a great way to celebrate the day. It’s a fun activity that promotes fitness. Ensure you are accompanied by experienced individuals who can assist if needed.

Watch Mountain Documentaries or Attend Workshops: Learn more about the history and culture of mountains by watching documentaries or attending educational workshops. These activities will help you appreciate the significance of International Everest Day and learn about the courageous people who have climbed Mount Everest.

International Everest Day: Importance

Regardless of how you choose to celebrate, International Everest Day is a significant opportunity to appreciate the beauty and fragility of the natural world.

World Otter Day 2024

 

Every year, on the last Wednesday of May (29^th of May this year), the world comes together to celebrate a unique and playful creature – the otter. World Otter Day is a global event dedicated to raising awareness about these fascinating animals, their habitats, and the threats they face. It’s a day to learn, share, and contribute to the conservation of otters, a species that brings joy to many and plays a crucial role in our ecosystem.

Beautiful, sleek and playful, otters are a joy to watch as they twist and dive in the water but sadly otter species are at risk worldwide. Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae. The 13 otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic, or marine. 12 of these species are decreasing; 7 of these are classed as vulnerable and 5 are endangered.

Otters are playful animals that exhibit a varied life cycle and can live up to 16 years. Their diet mainly consists of fish and sometimes frogs, birds, or shellfish, depending on the species. Otters are distinguished by their long, slim bodies, powerful webbed feet for swimming, and their dense fur, which keeps them warm and buoyant in water.

National Flag Day (Philippines)

 

National Flag Day (Philippines) is celebrated every year on May 28. It is observed as a national holiday in the Philippines in celebration of their independence from the Spanish. It was on this day in 1898, that the flag was hoisted for the first time and the nation came together to form the country’s first republic. The flag remains a symbol of patriotism and nationalism, and in the Philippines, it was a beacon of hope during the tyrannous times of the colonial era.

On this day in 1898, the nation’s flag was first unfurled on Philippine soil, an inspiring moment that followed after the triumph of the Philippine Revolutionary Army against the Spanish forces in the Battle of Alapan, in Imus, Cavite. This event planted the first seeds in the nation’s journey toward independence.

Recognizing this pivotal event in their history, President Diosdado Macapagal signed Presidential Proclamation No. 374 on March 6, 1965. This declared the “28th day of May each year as Flag Day and (enjoining) all government officials and employees as well as private citizens of the Philippines to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies.”

Building upon this foundation, President Fidel V. Ramos further “enhanced” the one-day event and issued Executive Order No. 179, signed on May 24, 1994. This EO extended the period of celebrating National Flag Day from May 28 to June 12. It mandated the “prominent display of the National Flag in all buildings, establishments, institutions of learning, and homes” and “all government departments, agencies, offices, government owned and controlled corporations, instrumentalities, and local government units.”

“The National Flag, which symbolizes patriotism, love of country, and sense of nationhood, and embodies the aspirations and sentiments of the Filipino people in their unceasing quest for freedom and independence, can be instrumental in raising the level of socio-civic consciousness of the Filipinos, especially among the youth,” the EO said.

Jawaharlal Nehru's Death Anniversary

 

Jawaharlal Nehru, who passed away on 27 May 1964, aged 74, was an Indian independence activist and the first Prime Minister of India, serving from 1947 until his death in 1964. A central figure in Indian politics before and after independence, Nehru was a protégé of Mahatma Gandhi and played a pivotal role in India's struggle for independence from British colonial rule. His tenure as Prime Minister shaped India's path in the post-independence era, both in its internal development and its foreign policy.

Nehru was born into a wealthy Kashmiri Brahmin family in Allahabad. He was educated at home and in Britain, where he attended Harrow School and later, Cambridge University. He then trained as a barrister at the Inner Temple in London. Upon his return to India, he was drawn into the Indian National Congress and the nationalist struggle against British rule.

Under Gandhi's guidance, Nehru became a prominent leader in the Congress Party. He actively participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement in the 1920s and the Civil Disobedience Movement in the 1930s. Nehru was imprisoned several times by the British authorities for his role in the independence movement.

As Prime Minister, Nehru worked to shape a modern, secular, and democratic India. He emphasized social and economic development, launching plans to industrialize the economy, improve agricultural productivity, and expand access to education and healthcare. His government also undertook major projects to build infrastructure and develop heavy industry.

Nehru's foreign policy was marked by the principles of non-alignment during the Cold War. He was a founding figure of the Non-Aligned Movement, advocating for an independent course for India in international affairs, as free as possible from the influence of the major Cold War powers.

Nehru was also a noted writer and thinker, and his works, including The Discovery of India and Glimpses of World History, reflect his insight into Indian history and culture, as well as world affairs. He also wrote Letters from a Father to His Daughter (1929) while he was imprisoned.

Guyana Independence Day

 

Independence Day is a national holiday in the Co-Operative Republic of Guyana on May 26th.

This holiday commemorates Guyana gaining its independence on May 26th 1966.

Unusually, this is not Guyana's National Day, that takes place on February 23rd marking the country becoming a republic on that date in 1970.

History of Guyana Independence Day

Christopher Columbus was the first European to sight Guyana during his third voyage in 1498. Sir Walter Raleigh reported on the region in 1596, but it was the Dutch who first established colonies, importing African slaves to work on sugar plantations.

The British took control of the Dutch colonies during the Napoleonic Wars, creating a single colony known as British Guiana in 1831.

Trade unions formed after the first world war, with political parties emerging after the second world war along with political awareness and demands for independence.

A new constitution heralded the first elections in 1953 and a degree of self-government by the end of the 1950s.

Guyana achieved independence from the United Kingdom on May 26th 1966.

 

Georgia Independence Day

 

Georgia Independence Day is an annual public holiday in Georgia that is observed on 26 May. It honours the 26th May 1918 adoption of the Act of Independence. The Democratic Republic of Georgia was established on this day in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution of 1917. 

History of Georgia Independence Day

26th May marks a very important day in the history of Georgia. Georgia carries a long and rich history, dating back to the 6th century BC. The country has been overrun and occupied by many different empires over the centuries. 

Georgia was annexed by the Russian Empire in the 19th century and its independence journey started with the Russian Revolution in 1917. The revolution began to oppose widespread corruption, growing dissatisfaction among people and the monarchy. 

It began on March 8, 1917, which was during the First World War, and lasted for a few years. After this revolution on this day in 1918, Georgia declared independence. 

However, this independence didn’t last long as Georgia was again invaded by the Soviet Russian army in 1921 and had to incorporate into the newly formed Soviet Socialist Republics.

Forwarding 70 years later, in April 1991 the Soviet Union collapsed and Georgia regained independence.  

This is why May 26 continued to be Independence Day and April 9 was declared as the Day of National Unity, Civic Concordance, and Remembrance. Both days are celebrated as national holidays.