India - National Consumer Day - 24 December

24 December - National Consumer Day in India

World Urbanism Day - World Town Planning Day - 8 November

“World Town Planning Day, also known as World Urbanism Day, was founded in 1949 by the late Professor Carlos Maria della Paolera.  at the Institut d’urbanisme in Paris

The idea was to promote good planning and highlight the role it plays in creating liveable urban communities and to draw attention to the social, environmental and economic impact from the development of cities and towns.

The United Nations estimates the world reached a total population of 1 billion in 1804. Some 123 years later in 1927, it was at 2 billion. Just 33 years later in 1960 it was 3 billion. It hit 4 billion 14 years later in 1974. By 1987 it had reached 5 billion. Then 6 billion in 1999. And now 7 billion.”


2013 Theme: Water and Planning

http://globalurbanist.com/events/2013/water-and-planning

World Savings Day - 31 October

About the Day

October 31 was declared World Thrift Day at the end of the first International Thrift Congress in 1924 in Milan.

‘World Thrift Day’ should be a day devoted to the promotion of savings all over the World.

Savings banks  worked with the support of the schools, the clergy, as well as cultural, sports, professional, and women’s associations to promote savings on the savings day.

The celebration of the World Thrift Day took various forms:  posters, lectures, brochures, leaflets, press-articles, chorus singing, broadcasting, educational and propaganda films.
(Hymns of Thrift: http://www.wsbi.org/uploadedFiles/Events/HymnofThrift1928.pdf )

Special Note

Austria

In Austria, the official mascot of saving, the called ‘Sparefroh’ (literally: ‘Happy Saver’) has  a higher degree of brand awareness  and even a street was named after him. In the 1970s the ‘Sparefroh-Journal’, an educational magazine for younger people, reached a circulation of 400,000 copies.

India

The World Thrift Day is being celebrated on 31st October of every year through out the world. In India it is being celebrated on 30th October every year. In Tamilnadu state, it was celebrated in each District with the participation of the District Collectors local MPs, MLAs etc. In Chennai, a State level function was held on 30th October with the participation of Hon’ble Minister for Finance, Govt. of Tamil Nadu , Post Master General, Director of Small Savings, Regional Director, National Savings Institute etc. The agents, PRSS Group Leaders, who mobilized highest collection under small savings were given awards by the Hon’ble Minister for Finance on that day


World Savings Day Speeches

2012 - Govennor - Bank of Italy

29 September - World Heart Day

In partnership with World Health Organization (WHO), the World Heart Federation organizes awareness events in more than 100 countries on the occasion of World Heart Day.
_______________________________

About the Day

Cardiovascular diseases are the world’s largest killers, claiming 17.5 million lives a year. Risk factors for heart disease and stroke include raised blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, smoking, inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables, overweight, obesity and physical inactivity.

In partnership with World Health Organization (WHO), the World Heart Federation organizes awareness events in more than 100 countries - including health checks, organized walks, runs and fitness sessions, public talks, stage shows, scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts, carnivals and sports tournaments.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/annual/world_heart_day/en/index.html

http://www.world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/awareness/world-heart-day/about-world-heart-day/


http://www.world-heart-federation.org/index.php?id=123

____________________________________________________________________________

Related Web Pages

What can I do to avoid a heart attack or a stroke?

Eat a healthy diet: 

A balanced diet is crucial to a healthy heart and circulation system. This should include plenty of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, fish and pulses, and restricted salt, sugar and fat intake.

Take regular physical activity:

 At least 30 minutes of regular physical activity every day helps to maintain cardiovascular fitness; at least 60 minutes on most days helps to maintain healthy weight.

Avoid tobacco use: 

Tobacco in every form is very harmful to health - cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or chewable tobacco. Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke is also dangerous. The risk of heart attack and stroke starts to drop immediately after a person stops using tobacco products, and can drop by as much as half after one year.

Q&A: what can I do to avoid a heart attack or stroke?

http://www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/en/index.html

____________________________________________________________________________

world Heart Day 2013

TAKE THE ROAD TO A HEALTHY HEART

________________

________________

World Heart Day 2011

________

Source for the picture http://www.world-heart-federation.org/index.php?id=123
______

 Employers Undertake Work Place Wellness Initiatives

http://www.world-heart-federation.org/fileadmin/user_upload/images/world-heart-day/2010/WHD_Employers_resource_guide/ERGEGlobalInitiatives.pdf

_______________________________________________________________________

World Heart Day 2009

Theme

Working Towards Wellness

As part of its commitment to the World Economic Forum initiative “Working Towards Wellness”, World Heart Day 2009 has been dedicated to this theme.

________________

________________

World Heart Day 2009 Material

http://www.world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/world-heart-day/world-heart-day-2009-material/

Knol Sub-Directories

Cardiology: http://knol.google.com/k/narayana-rao-kvss/-/2utb2lsm2k7a/1469

Heart problems: http://knol.google.com/k/narayana-rao-kvss/-/2utb2lsm2k7a/1708

Original knol - http://knol.google.com/k/narayana-rao/29-september-world-heart-day/2utb2lsm2k7a/ 1710

World Cancer Day - 4 February

http://www.worldcancerday.org/

http://www.cancer.org/aboutus/whoweare/cancer-awareness-calendar

http://www.academia.edu/1679229/Agenda_on_International_Cancer_Awareness_Day
Agenda by activists at AIIMS, India on Cancer awaress published in 2010

Stand Up to Cancer Day - 13 September

In 2013, approximately 580,350 Americans are expected to die from some type of cancer.
That's about 1,600 people each day.
Think - How to reduce that number?  Stand Up To Cancer

13 September is associated with Cancer Awareness and Survival in Some Countries

http://news.yahoo.com/sept-13-stand-cancer-day-programmers-day-fortune-204300926.html

http://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/stand-up-to-cancer-day/

http://www.standup2cancer.org/

National Childhood Cancer Awareness Day September 13
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/09/12/remembering-national-childhood-cancer-month/



2013

http://www.lowellgeneral.org/new-at-lgh/september-13th-annual-cancer-survivorship-day-celebration

International Day of the World Indigenous People - 9 August

Background

On 23 December 1994, the General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People shall be observed on 9 August every year during the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (resolution 49/214 [pdf]).

By its resolution 59/174 [pdf] of 20 December 2004, in which the Assembly proclaimed the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (2005-2014), it also decided to continue observing the International Day of Indigenous People every year during the Second Decade, in New York, Geneva and other offices of the United Nations. The Assembly asked the Secretary-General to support observance of the Day from within existing resources, and to encourage Governments to observe the Day at the national level.

http://www.un.org/events/indigenous/2008/index.shtml


UN Event Page
http://www.un.org/en/events/indigenousday/

_________________________________________________________________________

2013 - "Indigenous peoples building alliances: Honouring treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements"

2009 — the theme of the observance was “Indigenous Peoples and HIV/AIDS”

2008 — the observance focused on reconciliation between States and indigenous peoples

2007 — the observance in 2007 centered on the urgent need to preserve indigenous languages

2006 — celebrations and discussions in 2006 drew upon the theme “Partnership for Action and Dignity”

2005 — the title of a panel discussion in 2005 was “The Cause of Indigenous Peoples is Ours”

__________________________________________________________________________


2013

A special event at UN Headquarters in New York will be held on Friday, 9 August, starting at 3pm, featuring the UN Secretary-General, the Chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, a delegate of Panama, a representative of the Office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights, and an indigenous representative. The event will be webcast live at webtv.un.org.

Also on 9 August, hundreds of indigenous and non-indigenous rowers are scheduled to arrive at Pier 96 at 57th Street in Manhattan at 10am, after having collectively travelled thousands of miles on rivers and horsebacks to honour the first treaty -– the Two Row Wampum -– concluded between Dutch immigrants and the Haudenosaunee (a confederacy of six nations, with capital in the Onondaga nation, in NY State) 400 years ago, in 1613. They will gather with members of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza at 1:30pm.




Knol - 5202

International Day of Friendship - 30 July

About the Day

The International Day of Friendship was proclaimed in 2011 by the UN General Assembly with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.

The resolution (A/RES/65/275) places particular emphasis on involving young people, as future leaders, in community activities that include different cultures and promote international understanding and respect for diversity.

The Day is also intended to support the goals and objectives of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace and the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010).

To mark the International Day of Friendship the UN encourages governments, international organizations and civil society groups to hold events, activities and initiatives that contribute to the efforts of the international community towards promoting a dialogue among civilizations, solidarity, mutual understanding and reconciliation.

http://www.un.org/en/events/friendshipday/

http://www.un.org/en/events/friendshipday/background.shtml

_____________________________________________________________________

Friendship Poems
http://friends.com/friendship-poems-that-express-the-heart


Friendship Quotes
http://friends.com/friendship-quotes-to-remember

World Population Day - 11 July

About the Day

On this day in 1987, the world's population exceeded 5 billion.

http://learn.christianaid.org.uk/Other/Events/Copy_of_world_population_day_2008.aspx

World Population Day was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989 as a way to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues. It was an outgrowth of the interest generated by the Day of Five Billion, which was observed on 11 July 1987.

http://www.unfpa.org/public/site/global/lang/en/wpd

World Population Day Themes

http://worldpopulationday.org/

____________________________________________________________________


World Population Day 2013


The report 'World Population Prospects' says the world's population will reach 10.9 billion by 2100, with the growth mainly occurring in developing countries, with more than half in Africa.

But, with the number of future global dwellers linked to fertility, the number at the end of the century could be as high 16.6 billion or even fall to 6.8 billion, it adds.

India will surpass China's population of 1.45 billion in 2028 and will continue to grow further
( http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-14/india/39975710_1_population-division-population-growth-world-population-prospects                    )


_____________________________________________________________________

World Population Day 2012

The Theme of World Population Day 2012

Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services

http://www.unfpa.org/public/world-population-day

Secretary General's Message

UN Secretary General BanKi-moon's Message for World Population Day 2012

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2012/sgsm14401.doc.htm

We can and must do better

____________

World population crossed 7 billion on 31 October 2011. We need to improve our population control efforts so that we can provide proper facilities to the population.

Source: UN photo http://www.un.org/en/events/populationday/

____________

http://www.unfpa.org/webdav/site/global/shared/wpd/docs_2012/SG_population2012.pdf

UNFPA in Zimbabwe is organizing the day's activities with the theme "Re-energizing Family Planning".
http://www.zw.one.un.org/newsroom/event/world-population-day-0

Also there is a world summit on Family Planning organized by Gates Foundation on 11 July in London.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2012/jun/10/global-summit-family-planning. UNFPA is supporting it. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/11419

UNFPA called for photos related to family planning issues.
http://www.unfpa.org.ni/documentos/UNFPAPHOTOCONTESTFP.pdf

Book Review of World Population Policies: Origin, Evolution and Impact
10 page review by Anatole Romaniuk


Quotations on Population
http://www.populationinsync.net/population-quotes.html
____________________________________________________________________

World Population Day 2011

Theme: The World at 7 Billion

This year, as the world population is expected to surpass 7 billion, UNFPA and partners are launching a campaign called 7 Billion Actions. It aims to engage people, spur commitment and spark actions related to the opportunities and challenges presented by a world of 7 billion people.

In many ways a world of 7 billion is an achievement: Globally, people are living longer and healthier lives, and couples are choosing to have fewer children. However, meeting the needs of current and future generations presents daunting challenges as our numbers continue to increase.

Whether we can live together equitably on a healthy planet will depend on the choices and decisions we make now. In a world of 7 billion people, and counting, we need to count each other.

Remember 1.2 billion people are living below poverty line.

http://www.unfpa.org/public/site/global/lang/en/world-population-day

Message from the Secretary-General of UNO and the Executive Director of UNFPA  are available in the above web page.

_______________________________________________________________________

2011

World population to reach 10 billion by 2100
http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/Other-Information/Press_Release_WPP2010.pdf

World population is projected to grow to 7 billion on 31st October 2011.
http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/home/news/pid/7597;jsessionid=A02EBF0EB5801080B3A79F75CDDFB97C.jahia01

World Population - 7 billion

National Geographic Articles (Seven planned)

First Article in January 2011

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/01/seven-billion/kunzig-text

_________________

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc4HxPxNrZ0

_________________


______________________________________________________________________

World Population Day 2010

The theme, Everyone Counts, underscores the importance of data for development. Its focus on understanding why reliable, disaggregated data is so crucial to progress and it encourages people to participate in the census and other data collection efforts.

http://www.unfpa.org/public/site/global/lang/en/wpd
________________________________________________________________________

World Population Day 2009

This year's theme is chance to build awareness of the importance of educating girls to a wide range of development issues, including poverty, human rights and gender equality.

Source for the picture
http://www.unfpa.org/public/site/global/lang/en/wpd




There are many ways to promote this theme:

• Consider inviting local celebrities to help spread the message.
• Organize events to generate widespread attention about the importance of girls' education.
• Spark discussion with seminars, conferences and debates. Host essay and poster contests.
• Work with community groups to create plays and soap operas.

Encourage women and girls to speak or write about the impact of education in their own life. The messages can come to life when different people from different circumstances share their own experiences and knowledge. A full list of suggested activities is available to inspire your own planning.

http://www.unfpa.org/public/
United Nations Population Fund

_______________________________________________________________________

World Population Day 2009 -Announcements and News

India

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is organizing World Population Day.

It released an advertisement on the occasion with the message

Rising Numbers .....Limited Resources

A Stable Population is Vital for Healthy Nation

(davp 17102/13/0080/0910)

South Africa

Announcement on Capetown Green Map

Today, there are more than 6 billion people on the planet, with half of the world’s population under the age of 25 - at or just reaching their childbearing years.

Nearly 600,000 women still die each year from pregnancy-related causes. And an estimated 90 percent of infants whose mothers die at childbirth will not survive to their first birthday.

Wild species are becoming extinct 50 to 100 times faster than they naturally would, because of the impact of rapid population growth and increased population density in many countries.

http://www.capetowngreenmap.co.za/node/147

 ----------------

World population has been increasing steadily at the rate of 78 million per year. Statistics predict that there will be between 7.3 billion to 10.7 billion people on planet earth by the year 2050.

 http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news/Young-and-their-Reproductive-Health---Theme-of-World-Population-Day-12108-1/

 -------------------

_____________________________________________________________________

World Population Day 2008

In 1968, world leaders proclaimed that individuals have a basic human right to determine freely and responsibly the number and timing of their children. Forty years later, modern contraception remains out of reach for hundreds of millions of women, men and young people.
World Population Day 2008 reaffirmed the right of people to plan their families. It encouraged activities, events and information that will help make this right real — especially for those who often have the hardest time getting the information and services they need to plan their families, such as marginalized populations and young people.
When people can plan their families, they can plan their lives. They can plan to beat poverty. They can plan on healthier mothers and children. They can plan to gain equality for women. Plan to support World Population Day this year!

Plan to beat poverty. Plan to gain equality. Plan to beat maternal death.

________________________________________________________________________
New Regarding Celebrations in Previous Years

--------------------------------------
India
Contests organised to mark World Population Day in Ludhiana, 11 July 2008
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/contests-organised-to-mark-world-population-day/335234/
Goa students participate in World Population Day programmes, 11 July 2008
http://indiaedunews.net/Goa/Goa_students_participate_in_World_Population_Day_programmes_5113/

International and World Days - Knol Book 

___________________________________________________________________________

original knol - http://knol.google.com/k/narayana-rao/world-population-day-11-july/2utb2lsm2k7a/ 1279

International Day of Families - 15 May

About the Day

The International Day of Families is observed on the 15th of May every year. The Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 with resolution A/RES/47/237 and reflects the importance the international community attaches to families. The International Day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.

In its resolution, the General Assembly also noted that the family-related provisions of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits of the 1990s and their follow-up processes continue to provide policy guidance on ways to strengthen family-centred components of policies and programmes as part of an integrated comprehensive approach to development.

The International Day of Families has inspired a series of awareness-raising events, including national family days. In many countries, that day provides an opportunity to highlight different areas of interest and importance to families. Activities include workshops and conferences, radio and television programmes, newspaper articles and cultural programmes highlighting relevant themes.


2013 Message of Secretary General

"Families hold societies together, and intergenerational relationships extend this legacy over time. This year’s International Day of Families is an occasion to celebrate connections among all members of the constellation that makes up a family. It is also an opportunity to reflect on how they are affected by social and economic trends – and what we can do to strengthen families in response."

http://www.un.org/en/events/familyday/index.shtml

Themes of Past International Day of Families

2013:  Advancing social integration and intergenerational solidarity
2012:  Ensuring work family balance
2011:  Confronting Family Poverty and Social Exclusion
2010:  The impact of migration on families around the world
2009:  Mothers and Families: Challenges in a Changing World
2008:  Fathers and Families: Responsibilities and Challenges
2007:  Families and Persons with Disabilities
2006:  Changing Families: Challenges and Opportunities
2005:  HIV/AIDS and Family Well-being
2004:  The 10th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family: A Framework for Action
2003:  Preparations for the 10th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004
2002:  Families and Ageing: Opportunities and Challenges
2001:  Families and Volunteers: Building Social Cohesion
2000:  Families: Agents and Beneficiaries of Development
1999:  Families for all ages
1998:  Families: Educators and Providers of Human Rights
1997:  Building Families Based on Partnership
1996:  Families: First Victims of Poverty and Homelessness

Universal Children's Day - 20 November

Children's Day is recognized on various days in many places around the world, to honor children globally. It was first proclaimed by the World Conference for the Well-being of Children in 1925 and then established universally in 1954 to protect an "appropriate" day. Major global variants include a Universal Children's Day on April 30, by United Nations recommendation.

Children's Day is often celebrated on other days as well. International Day for Protection of Children, observed in many countries as Children's Day on June 1 since 1950, was established by the Women's International Democratic Federation on its congress in Moscow (22 November 1949).

Universal Children's Day takes place annually on November 20. First proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1954, it was established to encourage all countries to institute a day, firstly to promote mutual exchange and understanding among children and secondly to initiate action to benefit and promote the welfare of the world's children.
This day is observed to promote the objectives outlined in the Charter and for the welfare of children. On November 20, 1959 the United Nations adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. The United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989.


By resolution 836(IX) of 14 December 1954, the General Assembly recommended that all countries institute a Universal Children's Day, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children. It recommended that the Day was to be observed also as a day of activity devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the Charter and the welfare of the children of the world. The Assembly suggested to governments that the Day be observed on the date and in the way which each considers appropriate. The date 20 November, marks the day on which the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1989.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children's_Day

http://www.unac.org/en/news_events/un_days/children1.asp

http://www.capechameleon.co.za/printed-version/issue-5/news-arena/

http://www.un.org/en/events/childrenday/

World Schizophrenia Day - 24 May

The 24th of May is celebrated the world over as World Schizophrenia Day. The day was created to raise awareness about the disease, enabling those suffering to get immediate help, and to increase support for all those affected by the disease.


About Schizophrenia

http://www.who.int/mental_health/management/schizophrenia/en/

http://www.world-schizophrenia.org/disorders/schizophrenia.html

World Turtle Day - 23 May

The purpose of World Turtle Day, May 23, sponsored yearly since 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue, is to bring attention to, and increase knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and encourage human action to help them survive and thrive

Founded in 1990, American Tortoise Rescue is the founding sponsor of World Turtle Day. American Tortoise Rescue (ATR) is certified by state and federal agencies as a nonprofit 501(c)(3)corporation to provide for the protection of all species of tortoise and turtle.

Featured in Chase’s Book of Annual Events, the day was created as an annual observance to help people celebrate and protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats around the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Turtle_Day

http://www.tortoise.com/id49.html

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1112855300/world-tortoise-day-052313/

http://asiancorrespondent.com/108080/how-to-celebrate-world-turtle-day-down-under/

International Day for Biological Diversity - 22 May

About the Day

The United Nations has proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. When first created by the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly in late 1993, 29 December (the date of entry into force of the Convention of Biological Diversity), was designated The International Day for Biological Diversity. In December 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted 22 May as IDB, to commemorate the adoption of the text of the Convention on 22 May 1992 by the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This was partly done because it was difficult for many countries to plan and carry out suitable celebrations for the date of 29 December, given the number of holidays that coincide around that time of year.

http://www.cbd.int/idb/



2013

Message of the Secretary General
http://www.cbd.int/idb/doc/2013/messages/idb-2013-unsg-message-en.pdf



Themes

2013 - Water and Biodiversity
2012 - Marine Biodiversity
2011 - Forest Biodiversity
2010 - Biodiversity, Development and Poverty Alleviation
2009 - Invasive Alien Species
2008 - Biodiversity and Agriculture
2007 - Biodiversity and Climate Change
2006 - Protect Biodiversity in Drylands
2005 - Biodiversity: Life Insurance for our Changing World
2004 - Biodiversity: Food, Water and Health for All
2003 - Biodiversity and poverty alleviation - challenges for sustainable development
2002 - Dedicated to forest biodiversity

Countries - Overviews - Index

Country Overviews - Index Page
____________________________







    Albania ,    Algeria , Andorra ,   Angola , Antigua and Barbuda ,  Armenia ,
Australia ,     Afghanistan,   Argentina,  Austria , Azerbaijan ,


 Bahamas , Bahrain, Bangladesh ,  Barbados ,  Belarus ,  Belgium,  Belize , Benin , Bhutan ,   Bolivia ,
  Bosnia and Herzegovina , Botswana ,
Brazil,  Brunei Darussalam , Bulgaria , Burkina Faso , Burundi ,

Cambodia , Cameroon, Canada , Cape verde , Central African Republic , Chad , Chile ,
 China ,  Colombia ,Comoros , Congo , Costa Rica , Cote D'ivoire , Croatia , Cuba , Cyprus ,
Czech Republic

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) ,  Democratic People's Republic of the Congo,    Denmark  ,  Djibouti , Dominica, Dominican Republic

  Equador , Egypt , El Salvador , Equatorial Guinea ,   Eritrea , Estonia , Ethiopia

  Fiji ,  Finland  ,  France,

  Gabon ,  Gambia ,  Georgia ,   Germany,  Ghana ,   Greece ,  Grenada , Guatemala , Guinea , Guinea Bissau , Guyana,

  Haiti , Honduras , Hungary ,

  Iceland ,  Iran , Irag , Ireland , Italy
India

Indonesia, Israel ,

Jamaica ,  Japan,  Jordan

  Kazakhstan ,  Kenya ,  Kiribati ,  Kuwait , Kyrgyzstan

  Laos ,  Latvia , Lebanon , Lesotho , Liberia ,   Libya  , Liechtenstein , Lithuania ,  Luxembourg ,

  Madagascar , Malawi ,  Malaysia ,

  Maldives ,  Mali , Malta , Marshall Islands ,  Mauritania ,   Mauritius , Mexico , Micronesia (Federates States)
  Monaco  , Mongolia , Montenegro , Morocco , Mozambique , Mynmar ,

 Namibia , Nauru , Nepal , Netherlands, New Zealand , Nicaragua , Niger ,   Nigeria ,  Norway ,
  Oman ,

  Pakistan , Palau , Panama , Papua New Guinea ,    Paraguay ,    Peru ,

Philippines, Poland ,  Portugal ,
  Qatar ,
  Republic of Korea , Republic of Moldova ,   Romania ,
Russia ,  Rwanda ,

  Saint Kitts and Nevis , Saint Lucia , Saint Vincent and Grenadines , Samoa, San Marino , Sao Tome and Principe , Saudi Arabia , Senegal , Serbia , Seychelles, Sierra Leone,   Singapore , Slovekia , Slovenia ,
   Soloman Islands, Somalia ,   South Africa , South Korea, South Sudan ,  Spain , Sri Lanka ,  Sweden ,  Syria ,

Tajikistan ,  Thailand , The  Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia , Timor-Leste , Togo, Tonga ,
Trinidad and Tobago , Tunisia ,   Turkey , Turkmenistan , Tuvalu


Uganda , Ukraine ,  UAE ,  UK ,  United Republic of Tanzania ,   USA ,  Uruguay, Uzbekistan

 Vanuatu ,   Venezuela,  Vietnam ,
Yemen ,

 Zambia ,  Zimbabwe

____________________________________________________________

Countries of the World

World Bank Briefs - Profiles on Countries
Countries of the World - Part 1 - Afganistan to Luxembourg
Countries of the World - Part 2 - Macau to Zimbabwe
Member of the United Nations
Growth of Membership of UN - 193 members 2011 - http://www.un.org/en/members/growth.shtml

Cameroon - Country Profile

Republic of Cameroon

Capital: Yaounde

Other Cities/Towns: Douala, Bafoussam

Population: 16,380,005

Languages: French and English

Currency: CFA Franc

Date of Independence; 1 January 1960

World Blood Donor Day - 14 June

World Blood Donor Day, celebrated on 14 June every year, serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.

2013

The slogan "Give the gift of life: donate blood"

This year’s campaign is the 10th anniversary of World Blood Donor Day. It will focus on the value of donated blood to the patient, not only in saving life, but also in helping people live longer and more productive lives.

http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-blood-donor-day/2013/en/

Ethiopia - National Day - 28 May

Ethiopia - Country Overview

May 28 Derg Downfall Day (National Day)

Commemorates the end of the Derg junta in 1991. Although this day is Ethiopia's National Day, its official name is Derg Downfall Day.

Ethiopia - Country Overview

Africa

Capital: Addis Ababa

Large cities/towns: Dire Dawa, Gondar

Languages: Amharic, Oromigna, Tigrigna,

Currency: Birr

Azerbaijan - Republic Day - 28 May

May 28 Republic Day Founding of Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan (1918).

Azerbaijan - Country Overview

Former Soviet Republic

Capital: Baku

Large cities/Towns: Gandja, Sumgait

Languages: Azeri, Turkish, Russia

Currency: Manat

Guyana - Independence Day - 26 May

The Cooperative Republic of Guyana celebrates the Independence Day on May 26 every year. The day commemorates the date in 1966 when it attained freedom from the British Empire.


Guyana Independence Day is a significant public holiday in Guyana. It is celebrated on May 26 every year. May 26 is the day when the country attained its independence in 1966 when the British Dominion over Guyana ended.

Guyana - Country Overview

Capital: Georgetown

Large towns: Linden, New Amsterdam

Languages: English, Hindi, Urdu, Creole

Currency: Guyana Dollar

Date of Independence 26 May, 1966

Georgia - National Day - 26 May

The Democratic Republic of Georgia was the first modern establishment of a Republic of Georgia. It existed from May 1918 to February 1921. The DRG was created after the collapse of the Russian Empire that began with the Russian Revolution of 1917. Georgia's capital is Tbilisi, and its state language was Georgian. Proclaimed on May 26, 1918, on the break-up of the Transcaucasian Federation, it was led by the Social Democratic Menshevik party. It collapsed between February and March 1921 to become a Soviet republic.

Georgia - Country Overview

Capital: Tbilisi

Large Cities/Towns: Batumi, Kutaisi

Languages: Georgian, Russian

Currency: The Lari

Georgia was a former Soviet Republic

Jordan - Independence Day - 25 May

The National Day of Jordan is on the 25 May

It is Independence Day, from the United Kingdom 1946. The parliament of Transjordan made Abdullah I of Jordan their king 1946.

Jordan - Country Overview

Asia

Capital: Amman

Large Cities/Towns: Irbid, Salt, Zarka

Languages: Arabic, English

Currency: Dinar

Date of Independence: 25 May 1946

Argentina - Day of the First National Government - 25 May

The May Revolution  was a week-long series of events that took place from May 18 to 25, 1810, in Buenos Aires, capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. This Spanish colony included roughly the territories of present-day Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. The result was the removal of Viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros and the establishment of a local government, the Primera Junta (First Junta), on May 25.

This day is celebrated as the day of the First National Government in Argentina.

Argentina - Country Overview

Capital: Buenos Aires

Large cities/towns: Cordoba, La Plata, Mendoza, Rosario

Languages: Spanish, Italian

Currency: Peso

Date of Independence: 9 July 1816

Eritrea Independence Day - 24 May

Independence Day of Eritrea is observed on May 24 every year. On this day in 1991, Eritrean People's Liberation Front forces moved into the capitol Asmara, re-instating independence, following a severe 30 years battle against Ethiopian army regime.

Yemen - Unification Day - 22 May

Yemen - Country Overview

Yemeni unification took place on 22 May 1990, when North Yemen was united with South Yemen, forming the Republic of Yemen.

Yemen - Country Overview

Asia

Arabian Peninsula

Capital: Sana'a
            Aden

Language: Arabic

Currency: Rial

Formation of the Country:  22 May 1990

Norwegian Constitution Day - 17 May

Norwegian Constitution Day is the National Day of Norway and is an official national holiday observed on May 17 each year. Among Norwegians, the day is referred to simply as syttende mai (meaning May Seventeenth), Nasjonaldagen (The National Day) or Grunnlovsdagen (The Constitution Day).

The Constitution of Norway was signed at Eidsvoll on May 17 in the year 1814. The constitution declared Norway to be an independent nation.

Norway Country Profile

Europe

Northwestern Europe

Capital Oslo
Large cities: Bergen, Trondheim

Language: Norwegian

Currecny: Krone

Date of Independence: 7 June 1905

Paraguay Independence Day - 14, 15 May

Paraguay gained independence from Spain on May 14, 1811.

The independence day is observed on 15 May every year.

Both days are holidays for schools.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Paraguay

http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Americas/Paraguay-HISTORY.html

Paraguay - Country Overview

South America

Capital: Asuncion

Large cities: San Horenzo, Encarnacion

Languages: Spanish, Gurani

Currency: Guarani

Date of Independence 14 May 1811
Paraguay gained independence from Spain on 14 May, 1811.

Liberation Day- Netherlands - 5 May

In the Netherlands, Liberation Day  is celebrated each year on May 5th, to mark the end of the occupation by Nazi Germany during World War II.

On the 5th of May 1945, the Canadian General Charles Foulkes and the German Commander-in-Chief Johannes Blaskowitz reached an agreement on the capitulation of German forces in the Netherlands in Hotel de Wereld in Wageningen.

After the liberation in 1945, Liberation Day was commemorated every 5 years. Finally, in 1990, the day was declared to be a national holiday, when the liberation would be commemorated and celebrated every year.

Netherlands - Country Overview

Europe

Capital Amsterdam

Large Cities: Rotterdam, Ulrecht

Currency Euro

3 May - Poland Constitution Day

Poland


The Constitution of May 3, 1791  was drafted between October 6, 1788, and May 3, 1791, when it was adopted as a "Government Act" ) by the Great Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch).

The Seym of the Republic of Poland, at the request of the Senate, re-established the May 3 Constitution Day on April 6, 1990.

http://www.polishworld.com/polemb/const/

Poland - Country Overview

Capital Warsaw

Other Large Cities: Lodz, Krakow

Language: Polish

Currency; Zloty

Date of Independence 11 November 1918

World Intellectual Property Day - 26, April

About the Day

World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) member states designated April 26 – the day on which the WIPO Convention came into force in 1970 – as World Intellectual Property Day with the aim of increasing general understanding of Intellectual Property.

________________

About WIPO


The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is the United Nations agency dedicated to the use of intellectual property (patents, copyright, trademarks, designs, etc.) as a means of stimulating innovation and creativity.

The Mission: The mission is to promote innovation and creativity for the economic, social and cultural development of all countries, through a balanced and effective international intellectual property system.


WIPO's nine strategic goals were adopted by our member states in December 2009 in the first phase of a comprehensive strategic realignment process within the Organization.

Balanced Evolution of the International Normative Framework for IP
Provision of Premier Global IP Services
Facilitating the Use of IP for Development
Coordination and Development of Global IP Infrastructure
World Reference Source for IP Information and Analysis
International Cooperation on Building Respect for IP
Addressing IP in Relation to Global Policy Issues
A Responsive Communications Interface between WIPO, its Member States and All Stakeholders
An Efficient Administrative and Financial Support Structure to Enable WIPO to Deliver its Programs



_________________

2013

Theme: Creativity: The Next Generation

http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2013/article_0011.html

Featured Innovators - 2013
http://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/ip-outreach/en/ipday/2013/pdf/innovator_snapshots.pdf

_________________

World Forest Day - 21 March

About the day


The United Nations General Assembly has passed a draft resolution to designate 21 March each year as World Forest Day, encouraging all Member States to organize forest-related activities. This resolution marks the importance of forests and their contribution to human enlightenment.

March 21 is observed as ‘World Forestry Day’ around the globe every year to raise awareness about the significance of forests and its ecosystems, and to provide opportunities for people to learn how forests can be managed and used sustainably for generations to come.

http://zeenews.india.com/SlideShow/world-forestry-day_37.html

http://www.fao.org/docrep/f3730e/f3730e0c.htm
______________________________________________

World Forest Day 2012

http://www.fao.org/docrep/f3730e/f3730e0c.htm

Visit the Amazon on World Forest Day with Google Street View

______________________________________________


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_Day