World Oceans Day 2020

World Oceans Day is to celebrate and honour the oceans that connect us all together, and to remind the role of oceans in everyday life. This idea was first proposed in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Jeneiro, Brazil, and was officially implemented by the ‘United Nations’ in 2008.

Disclaimer:
The post is lengthy, around 900 words.

Why do we need to concern about the oceans when we do no direct harms to it?

Climate and weather of the landmasses are strongly influenced by oceanic circulation patterns. Drastic changes can heavily affect agriculture, animal life, followed by human lifestyle patterns to a greater extent if left unnoticed.

World Book and Copyright Day

What is the ‘Book Day’ about?

Here’s a snippet from UNESCO in its original words:

“World Book and Copyright Day is a celebration to promote the enjoyment of books and reading. Each year, on 23 April, celebrations take place all over the world to recognize the scope of books – a link between the past and the future, a bridge between generations and across cultures.

By championing books and copyright, UNESCO stands up for creativity, diversity and equal access to knowledge.”

An interesting fact:

23rd April is a symbolic date in world literature. It is the date on which several prominent authors, William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died.

Green Miniatures

“Do I look like the mini version of tender coconut?
No, I’m not.
I’m that unlucky fallen fruit nut of areca palm“.

Little Drumstick

“People of my family are usually tall.
I’m mature; but still dwarf.
That makes me cute, isn’t it?

That doesn’t make me inferior at all.
I’m special in every way.
You can’t preserve me.
But sure, you can adore me“.

Our death wish:

Now that we are to die very soon, we’d like to convey something.

World Braille Day

Today, Jan 04 2019, is the first-ever official World Braille Day. Though this day has been remembered for years to commemorate the birth of Louis Braille, this is the first observance after recognition by the United Nation’s General Assembly on November 2018.

About Braille

Braille is a communication form (writing) developed by a French man Louis Braille to help the blind people. It is some kind of tactical representation of alphabetic and numerical symbols so blind and partially sighted people are able to read the same books and periodicals printed as are available in standard text form.  At the outset, this was just an improved form of night writing.

Six dots represent each letter, number, even musical and mathematical symbols, to allow the communication of important written information. Later on, there were many developments made.  Now, the blind can even use computers and mobile devices with ease just like normal people without any eye defects, on account of technology and apps.

Are You a Food Lover? Then you gotta know this too

    June 18 is observed as World Sustainable Gastronomy Day. It is an initiative by UNESCO and FAO to create public awareness of its contribution to sustainable development.

        For most of us, Gastronomy is a new term. What does it mean? It is the practice or art of choosing, cooking and eating good food.

That’s fine. But why should this concern the food lovers?

      Let me just spill out few facts that have been recorded to better understand the significance of Gastronomy.

• According to United Nations, Food Waste consumes
  • 21% of all fresh water.
  • 19% of all fertilizer.
  • 18% of cropland.
  • 21% of landfill volume.
• If food waste were a country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, following the USA and China.

These data implies the intensity of the problem of food wastage, starvation, poverty, climate change and much more.

      They say “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”. But still, there are numerous people who don’t get food to eat. Then, how can humanity flourish? This day recognizes gastronomy as a powerful cultural expression that interlinks 3 aspects of sustainable development – People, Planet and Profit – showing a way to reach our development goals through our stomachs. In addition, this promotes

• Agricultural development;
• Food security;
• Nutrition;
• Conservation of Biodiversity;

How can Foodies contribute?

                Simply get committed to gastronomy, i.e., take up responsibility in production and consumption of food.