World Cleanup Day

On 8 December 2023, the United Nations General Assembly, in its seventy-eighth session, unanimously adopted resolution 78/122 "World Cleanup Day" which proclaims 20 September as World Cleanup Day. The resolution invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, other international and regional organizations, and other relevant stakeholders - including civil society, the private sector and academia - to observe World Cleanup Day through activities aimed at raising awareness of the role clean-up efforts play in sustainable development. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) facilitates the observance of the Day.

Over the years, many national, regional and local governments and communities have been undertaking clean-up activities globally. World Cleanup Day represents the reflection of their achievements. The clean-ups serve as a reminder of the collective responsibility we share in preserving and maintaining a clean and healthy environment as well as sustainable waste and resources management.

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

International Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19 is not a serious or deeply historical observance, it has gained popularity over the years as a way to inject humour and whimsy into our mundane lives. This whimsical and light-hearted holiday is all about having fun, embracing creativity and letting your inner pirate out for a day of silliness, serving as a reminder that sometimes, it is okay to be a little bit silly and playful.

History

The birth of International Talk Like a Pirate Day can be traced back to the year 1995 when two friends, John Baur (also known as "Ol' Chumbucket") and Mark Summers (also known as "Cap'n Slappy"), came up with this idea during a racquetball game where they decided to create a fun and quirky day dedicated to celebrating pirate culture. Hence, the parodic holiday was created and ever since then on September 19 each year, everyone in the world is encouraged to talk like a pirate.

Significance

Talk Like a Pirate Day provides a break from the daily routine to offer a day of whimsical, imaginative and carefree fun where people of all ages are encouraged to embrace their inner child and engage in playful banter, role-play and creativity. The day aims to bring people together in the spirit of camaraderie and shared amusement as friends, family and even strangers engage in light-hearted conversations, jokes and activities that lets them loose, have a good laugh and momentarily escape the stresses of everyday life.

The observance often references and celebrates pirate culture from books, movies and folklore as a way for fans of pirate-themed media to express their enthusiasm and pay homage to their favourite stories and characters so, when people speak and act like pirates, they tap into their creativity and imagination which works like an exercise in thinking outside the box and engaging in playful role-play. While Talk Like a Pirate Day is primarily about entertainment, it can also spark interest in history and folklore given that it involves references to real pirate history and legendary pirate figures.

Celebration

In the age of social media, Talk Like a Pirate Day has gained popularity as people share their pirate-themed posts, memes and videos online that reminds of the fun and creativity that can be found on the Internet. Participants engage in playful banter using pirate-themed words and phrases, such as "Ahoy, matey!" (Hello, friend!), "Avast!" (Stop!), "Shiver me timbers!" (An expression of surprise) and "Scurvy dog!" (An insult) while many people dress up in pirate costumes, complete with eyepatches, bandanas, pirate hats and props like toy swords and parrots to add to the festive atmosphere.

Imaginary pirate stories, jokes and anecdotes are created in the spirit of humour and adventure while some organisations and businesses even organise pirate-themed events, parties and promotions on this day, complete with discounts or freebies to customers who embrace their inner pirate or refer to popular pirate-themed movies, books and TV shows, such as "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Treasure Island". In some cases, Talk Like a Pirate Day is also used as a platform to raise funds for charitable causes with pirate-themed charity events and initiatives.

 

World Bamboo Day

 

Bamboo is a type of grass that grows rapidly and is known for its strength, flexibility and eco-friendliness and to celebrate the many uses and benefits of this versatile and sustainable resource, World Bamboo Day is observed on September 18 annually. The day serves as a platform for not just raising awareness about the importance of bamboo but also promoting its role in sustainable development, poverty alleviation, environmental conservation and cultural preservation.

History

World Bamboo Day was established courtesy the efforts of the World Bamboo Organization, a non-profit organization that was founded in 2005 by Susanne Lucas and David Knights to promote bamboo as a valuable and versatile resource. In 2009, the WBO organised the first World Bamboo Congress in Bangkok, Thailand which brought together bamboo enthusiasts, experts, researchers and industry professionals from around the world and proposed the idea of creating a dedicated day to celebrate bamboo.

On September 18, 2009, during the 8th World Bamboo Congress, the participants officially declared September 18 as World Bamboo Day to coincide with the birthday of the renowned bamboo researcher, Nobel Laureate and India's former President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who was a strong advocate for bamboo's potential to combat poverty and environmental degradation. Following the declaration, World Bamboo Day gained recognition and support from bamboo organisations, environmental groups, governments and bamboo enthusiasts worldwide and the day was dedicated to promote the sustainable and versatile uses of bamboo.

Significance

World Bamboo Day aims to promote the environmental friendly and sustainable resource (as bamboo grows quickly, requires minimal water and pesticides and can be harvested without harming the plant's root system), increase awareness about the diverse uses of bamboo (from construction and furniture making to textiles and culinary applications), emphasises the economic potential of bamboo for communities and businesses (as bamboo-based industries can create jobs and income opportunities in many parts of the world), recognises the cultural significance of bamboo in various societies and its role in traditional crafts, music and rituals. Given that bamboo is often a habitat for various wildlife species, celebrating bamboo further highlights the importance of conserving bamboo forests for biodiversity, encourages research and innovation in bamboo-related industries and fosters collaboration among governments, organisations and individuals to promote the responsible cultivation and use of bamboo resources.

 

 

 

Hyderabad Liberation Day

 

Hyderabad Liberation Day is observed on September 17 in honour of the martyrs of the Hyderabad Liberation Movement.

Hyderabad did not get independence for 13 months after India's independence on August 15, 1947, and was under the rule of the Nizams.

The region was liberated from Nizam's rule on September 17, 1948, after a police action namely 'Operation Polo'.

When India gained independence, the Razakars called for Hyderabad state to either join Pakistan or to become a Muslim dominion while resisting its merger with the Union of India.

The people of the region fought valiantly against the atrocities of the Razakars to merge the region into the Union of India.

The Razakars, a private militia, had committed atrocities and defended the erstwhile Nizam rule in Hyderabad.

On September 17, 1948, the then Hyderabad state, which was under the rule of the Nizams, was annexed into the Union of India following military action, initiated by the then Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

 

World Ozone Day

World Ozone Day or International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is a global event held annually on September 16 to promote awareness about the ozone layer's significance and the dangers of its depletion. 

History of World Ozone Day

The date of the world ozone significantly goes to the 1980s when scientists realized that there was a reduction in the ozone layer due to certain human-made chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons. This dire realization led to concern about the impacts that might ensue from the depletion of the ozone layer on man as well as the environment.

In response, the Montreal Protocol was signed on the 16th of September, 1987 aimed at eliminating production of the ODS. The protocol has been ratified by all the member states thus placing it among the most successful environmental conventions in history.

 

Significance of the Ozone Layer

The ozone layer is a thin shield of gas in the Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It plays a crucial role in protecting life on Earth by preventing excessive UV radiation from reaching the surface, which can lead to higher rates of skin cancer, eye cataracts, and ecosystem damage.

 

International Day of Democracy

The International Day of Democracy observed every year on 15 September provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world. Democracy is as much a process as a goal, and only with the full participation of and support by the international community, national governing bodies, civil society and individuals, can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere. Democracy, in both theory and practice, is the subject of a huge field of literature. Within this literature, the international dimensions of democracy are increasingly understood and explored. Democracy has even come to be seen by some practitioners as something of a political panacea. It is widely accepted as a universal value. Yet the role of the United Nations – the embodiment of international society – in the promotion of democracy remains understudied, even though the organization has adopted democracy promotion as an important objective ‘‘The phenomenon of democratization’’ has had a marked impact on the United Nations. Just as newly-independent States turned to the United Nations for support during the era of decolonization, so today, following another wave of accessions to Statehood and political independence, Member States are turning to the United Nations for support in democratization.

Hindi Day or Hindi Divas

 

Hindi Day (Hindi: हिन्दी दिवस, romanized: hindī divas) is celebrated in India to commemorate the date 14 September 1949 on which a compromise was reached—during the drafting of the Constitution of India —on the languages that were to have official status in the Republic of India. The compromise, usually called the Munshi-Ayyangar formula, after drafting committee members K.M. Munshi and N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, was voted by the Constituent Assembly of India after three years of debate between two opposing camps. The Hindi protagonists wanted Modern Standard Hindi register of the Hindustani language in Devnagiri script to be the sole "national language" of India (replacing the British era Hindustani of Perso-Arabic script); the delegates from South India preferred English to have a place in the Constitution. The Munshi-Ayyangar formula declared (i) Hindi to be the "official language" of India's federal government; (ii) English to be an associate official language for 15 years during which Hindi's formal lexicon would be developed; and (iii) the international form of the Hindu-Arabic numerals to be the official numerals. The compromise resolution became articles 343–351 of India's constitution, which came into effect on 26 January 1950. In 1965, when the 15 years were up, the Government of India announced that English would continue to be the "de facto formal language of India."