Sunday 22 March 2015

World Meteorological Day 2015, March 23rd.

 Всемирных метеорологических дней, 23 марта.
 World Meteorological Day, March 23.



Climate Knowledge for climate Action is the theme of the World Meteorological Day 2015



United Nations Secretary-general message on the World Meteorological Day 2015, March 23rd.

    Extreme weather and changing climatic patterns are having a growing impact on our planet and on human well-being. In the last three decades, floods, storm surges, droughts and wildfires have taken a huge toll in lives and caused massive economic losses. The devastation caused by Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu and other parts of Oceania is just the latest example of how catastrophic weather extremes can be.
    Climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of these extremes and threatening water and food security in many parts of the world. Mitigating climate change and adapting to it are among the great tests of our time. To rise to these challenges, we will need timely, reliable information for decision-making and action, delivered to those who need it, in a form that is accessible and usable. Over the last twelve months, thousands of lives have been saved in India, the Philippines and elsewhere by improved weather forecasting, early-warning systems and evacuation plans.
    Information products and services based on climate predictions can assist in strengthening climate resilience. This is the aim of the Global Framework for Climate Services, initiated by the World Meteorological Organization with other United Nations partners to facilitate the use of climate information to reduce disaster risk, promote food and water security, and safeguard public health.
    Last week, Sendai, Japan, hosted the Third United Nations Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction -- the first milestone in a critical year of action on sustainable development. In July, the world will gather in Addis Ababa to discuss financing for development. Leaders will hold a summit in New York in September to adopt a new development agenda, including a set of sustainable development goals to guide us through 2030. We aim to close out the year in Paris in December with a meaningful, universal climate agreement.
   Climate resilience is an important thread that runs through this year of decision-making on our future well-being. On World Meteorological Day, I urge all actors in society to heed this central message. Armed with knowledge, we can overcome the climate challenge and create safer, more prosperous societies for all.


Ban Ki-moon




Message from M. Jarraud,Secretary-General of the World Meteorological OrganizationOn the occasion of “World Meteorological Day 2015 – Climate knowledge for climate action”


    The World Meteorological Organization, as the successor of the International Meteorological Organization, created in 1873, has its fundamental mission to support the countries of the world in providing meteorological and hydrological services to protect life and property from natural disasters related to weather, climate and water, to safeguard the environment, and to contribute to sustainable development. This cannot happen without the necessary observations, research and operations that develop the understanding and knowledge of weather and climate.
     Since 1961, World Meteorological Day has commemorated the coming into force on 23 March 1950 of the Convention establishing the World Meteorological Organization and the essential contribution that National Meteorological and Hydrological Services make to the safety and wellbeing of society. Each year, the celebrations focus on a theme of topical interest. The theme of this year, “Climate knowledge for climate action”, could not be timelier, as the international community moves towards ambitious decisions and action to address climate change.
    Climate change concerns us all. It affects almost all socioeconomic sectors, from agriculture to tourism, from infrastructure to health. It impacts strategic resources like water, food, energy. It slows down and even threatens sustainable development, and of course not only in developing countries. The cost of inaction is high and will become even higher if we do not act immediately and resolutely.
    Information on weather and climate, and its variability and change, is so embedded in our daily life– from daily weather forecasts to seasonal climate predictions – that at times it is easy to forget the amount of observations, research, computing and analysis that lies behind weather and climate information products. Today, the average weather forecast of five days in advance is as skillful as the two-day forecast twenty-five years ago and seasonal climate forecasts have become increasingly skillful. This has been made possible thanks to advances in remote sensing, including satellites, major improvements in science and dramatic increases in computer power. Scientific progress in meteorology and climatology in the last fifty years is indeed one of the most significant one in all scientific disciplines.
    The climate knowledge that has been built in the last decades is an invaluable resource and a prerequisite for decision-making and for climate action. Multiple lines of evidence – from mounting temperatures to shrinking glaciers, from sea-level rise to weather extremes – give us high confidence that the climate is changing and that this is largely due to human activities, in particular the emissions of greenhouse gases that every year reach record high levels.
    Science also gives us high confidence that we can still change course and mitigate climate change to a manageable level. Today, few people contest the evidence of climate change and the responsibilities we bear towards future generations. Climate knowledge can and must support this process, helping decisionmakers at all level to make the best decisions.
    Climate knowledge must come in a form that is easily understood and usable by those who need it. Climate products and services can assist city planners in developing policies and action plans that can strengthen urban resilience in the face of natural disasters and foster a greener economy.
    Public health authorities use climate forecasts to address in a proactive way the possible health consequences of extremes such as droughts, heatwaves and floods. Thanks to predictions about temperature and rain trends, farmers can make better planting, cropping and marketing decisions. Water resources managers use climate information to optimize water supply and flood management. The energy sector uses climate information to decide where and what type of power plant should be built in a particular location.
    The Global Framework for Climate Services, an initiative of the United Nations System led by WMO, was conceived with precisely this purpose: to enable the provision of climate services in a way that decisions can be made based on the best possible information. This is a crucial challenge for both developing and developed countries and there is a great potential benefit in learning from each other. Experiences and advances in the development and application of climate services can be shared as examples of good practices and assist other countries in accelerating their path towards climate adaption.
    In conclusion, I call on WMO Members, all Governments and the civil society to share and apply climate knowledge for a strong climate action, to minimize climate risks and foster sustainable development.

M. Jarraud




Forum :  World Meteorological Day - 23 March
              Download the brochure in:  English



Events :  In March 2015, a new blueprint for action on disaster risk reduction, replacing the first Hyogo Framework for Action  (HFA), will be adopted in Sendai, Japan, at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. In December, the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) aims to achieve a new universal agreement on climate. Its Green Climate Fund (GCF) will support projects, programmes, policies and other activities in developing countries toward adaptation and mitigation to counter climate change.

  1. World Met Day 2015 Programme
  2. Private Sector Forum-Energy Programme
  3.  Natural climate variability

Documents :

Friday 20 March 2015

World Water Day 2015, March 22nd.


A day for water and water for sustainable Development

Тема дня 2015 года «Вода и устойчивое развитие»
2015年主题:水与可持续发展.
2015 Theme : Water and Sustainable Development.
Tema 2015 : «Agua y Desarrollo Sostenible ».
Thème 2015 : L’eau et le développement durable.
موضوع عام 2015: المياه والتنمية المستدامة




This year, as the UN prepares to adopt a new post-2015 sustainable development agenda in September, World Water Day highlights the essential and interconnected role of water. We rely on water for public health and equitable progress, it is essential for food and energy security, and it underpins the functioning of industries.
The onset of climate change, growing demand on finite water resources from agriculture, industry and cities, and increasing pollution in many areas are hastening a water crisis that can only be addressed by cross-sectoral, holistic planning and policies – internationally, regionally and globally.
Among the most urgent issues are access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Despite progress under the Millennium Development Goals, adopted in 2000, some 750 million people -- more than one in ten of the world’s population -- remain without access to an improved water supply. Women and children, in particular, are affected by this lack, as not only is their health compromised, but considerable hours are wasted in the unproductive – and sometimes dangerous – business of collecting water.
The statistics on sanitation are even less encouraging. Some 2.5 billion people still live without improved sanitation, and a billion people practice open defecation, making sanitation the least successful area of the MDGs. We cannot achieve a world of dignity, health and prosperity for all until we address this urgent need.
Our sustainable future is also jeopardized by climate change, which is why United Nations Member States are working hard towards a meaningful, universal climate agreement this December in Paris. Over the coming years, greenhouse gas emissions will have to significantly decline in order to avert the worst impacts of climate change, which include changed weather patterns and the threat of water scarcity in large parts of the world.
To address the many challenges related to water, we must work in a spirit of urgent cooperation, open to new ideas and innovation, and prepared to share the solutions that we all need for a sustainable future. If we do so, we can end poverty, promote global prosperity and well-being, protect the environment and withstand the threat of climate change.



The theme of 2015 it’s about how water links to all areas we need to consider to create the future we want. Learn more about the theme and join the global celebrations by organizing your own event.
Join the 2015 campaign to raise awareness of water and sanitation. You can also contribute on social media though the hashtags #WaterIs and #WorldWaterDay.










 WWDR 2015 (Water for a Sustainable World).

Overarching Message

Water is at the core of sustainable development. Water resources, and the range of services they provide, underpin poverty reduction, economic growth and environmental sustainability. From food and energy security to human and environmental health, water contributes to improvements in social well-being and inclusive growth, affecting the livelihoods of billions.


Message 1:
water provides a range of benefits and services that are key factors in achieving sustainable development and inclusive growth, that are vital to nearly all forms of economic activity and that underpin the livelihoods of
billions.


Message 2:
water resources are renewable but the amounts available at any time or place will reflect the limits of their natural cycle. When managed within these limits, they establish a sustainable basis for development. Exceeding these limits or abusing the resource
through unsustainable growth patterns can undermine development, compromise the health of ecosystems, and impoverish vulnerable communities.


Message 3:
water resources and services have been a key factor in the progress made in the last 30 years, contributing to improvements in health, food security, social equity, economic growth and environmental sustainability and playing a role in improving the livelihoods of hundreds of millions lifted out of poverty.Unfortunately, this progress has not been evenly distributed across the globe and much still needs to be done in most places.


Message 4:
water management and decisions affecting water will play a key role in addressing the new development challenges of the middle of the 21stcentury, including urbanization, sustainable industrial development and economic growth, eradicating persistent poverty, ensuring food and energy security, responding to new patterns of consumption and conserving threatened ecosystems.


Message 5:
the many values and benefits of water resources and the ecosystem services that provide them should be more fully taken into account in the calculation of social and economic costs and benefits of development decisions and investments in water management.
When efficiently and transparently managed, investments in water generate social, economic, financial and other benefits that greatly outweigh its costs


Message 6:
water management enhances the security and resilience of and reduces risks faced by vulnerable people and ecosystems threatened by unsustainable = patterns of demand, pollution, changes to climate and land-use patterns and increasing exposure to extreme events.


Message 7:
the decisions that determine how water resources are used (or abused) are not made by water managers alone. Progress towards sustainable development thus requires engaging a broader range of political actors–in government, civil society and business–to take account of water in their decision-making processes and responses.




Events : World Water Day 2015

Water is urbanization (Every week, one million people move into cities.)

Water is urbanization

Every week, one million people
move into cities. 

- See more at: http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/learn/en/#sthash.lQocud0e.dpuf



North America - United States of America
24.03.2015 - 24.03.2015
UN Headquarters
North America - United States of America
23.03.2015 - 23.03.2015
- a platform for dialogue surrounding global efforts to manage clean water
North America - United States of America
03.10.2016 - 08.03.2015
Water is Life Kenya Awareness Day

North America - United States of America
03.10.2016 - 03.10.2016
hosted by three Mooresville Middle School students

North America - United States of America
11.04.2015 - 11.04.2015
fun and inspirational for all ages

North America - United States of America
10.04.2015 - 10.04.2015
A free event held at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
North America - United States of America
31.03.2015 - 31.03.2015
on water quality in the Great Lakes and abroad

North America - United States of America
26.03.2015 - 26.03.2015
Join Take Back the Tap and Engineers Without Borders USA

Water is nature (Ecosystems lie at the heart of the global water cycle)
North America - Canada
23.03.2015 - 23.03.2015
field trip, panel event, water walks...
Oceania - United States of America
23.03.2015 - 23.03.2015
World Water Day Talk Story - FLOOD / turn the tide


Water is industry (More water is used to manufacture a car than to fill a swimming pool.)

Europe - United Kingdom
23.03.2015 - 23.03.2015
with guest speakers Sue Illman
 
28.03.2015 - 28.03.2015
Free slideshow presentation
Europe - Switzerland
22.03.2015 - 25.03.2015
international congress
Europe - Italy
23.03.2015 - 23.03.2015
The Conference will gather representatives of Ministries of Italy, Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia, Institutions and entities

Europe - Georgia
22.02.2016 - 22.02.2016
a game to save water and help the planet to become sustainable. 

22.02.2016 - 22.02.2016
bring one glass of water and to put it into the earth

Europe - Hungary
06.07.2015 - 10.07.2015
at the Central European University, Budapest, Hungary

Europe - Poland
24.03.2015 - 24.03.2015
meeting to exchange of knowledge and experiences in protection and managment of water resources
Europe - Spain
25.03.2015 - 25.03.2015
Mai morire
24.03.2015 - 24.03.2015
Telde, Spain
Europe - Norway
24.03.2015 - 24.03.2015
et program som dekker både internasjonale og norske perspektiver
Europe - Romania
23.03.2015 - 25.03.2015
visit Budeasa Water Plant and Pitesti Waste Water Treatment Plant
 
Europe - France
23.03.2015 - 28.03.2015
La journee mondiale de l'eau prendra la forme d'une semaine a Oppede en France

Europe - Serbia
23.03.2015 - 23.03.2015
in Serbia, Nis
Europe - Montenegro
23.03.2015 - 23.03.2015
Montenegrin Coast

Europe - Germany
22.03.2015 - 22.03.2015
Events around the year accompany the award
Europe - Austria
22.03.2015 - 22.03.2015
Haus des Wassers (The Waterhouse) Environmental education for the youn

Water is equality (Every day women spend 200 million hours carrying water.)

Central America - Mexico
24.03.2015 - 24.03.2015
Circuito Universitarios

Central America - Mexico
28.03.2015 - 28.03.2015
Actividades para el cuidado del agu
Central America - Barbados
23.03.2015 - 28.03.2015
A week of activities of seminars, an open day and a cricket match.

Water is food (To produce two steaks you need 15 000 liters of water.)

South America - Argentina
26.04.2015 - 26.04.2015
MARCHA AL PUENTE INTERNACIONAL GENERAL SAN MARTIN

South America - Brazil
28.03.2015 - 28.03.2015
Instituto Federal de Educacao
 
24.03.2015 - 26.03.2015
DIA MUNDIAL DA AGUA in SAO PAULO

South America - Chile
24.03.2015 - 24.03.2015
relevando la cuenca del rio Laja
South America - Ecuador
24.03.2015 - 25.03.2015
24 and 25 March 2015 at Park-Museum of Water - YAKU
 

South America - Peru
22.03.2015 - 22.03.2015
domingo 22 de marzo
 
South America - Nicaragua
22.03.2015 - 22.03.2015
water exhibtion

Water is energy (Water and energy are inseparable friends.)

Asia - United Arab Emirates
22.03.2015 - 22.03.2015
Centro Capital Centre by Rotana
Asia - Myanmar
17.09.2015 - 19.09.2015
provide a platform for the Myanmar and ASEAN water and wastewater industries
Asia - India
05.04.2015 - 12.02.2015
Discussions on ways of water conversation and its implementation policy.
Asia - Indonesia
28.03.2015 - 29.03.2015
CONSERVATION OF WATER RESOURCES
Asia - Lebanon
26.03.2015 - 19.03.2015
at the American University of Beirut

Asia - Malaysia
25.03.2015 - 25.03.2015
in conjunction with World Water Day 2015 

23.03.2015 - 25.02.2015
2-days conference and a 1-day technical visit to various sites

Asia - Philippines
23.03.2015 - 23.03.2015
tree growing activity
Water is health (Clean hands can save your life.)

Africa - Swaziland
27.03.2015 - 28.03.2015
Symposium and Water Sector Awards hosted by the Department of Water Affairs, Swaziland
Africa - Ethiopia
24.03.2015 - 24.03.2015
Run for Clean Water
24.03.2015 - 24.03.2015
in Woliso, Ethiopia

International Day of Forests 2015, 21 March.





 Тема Дня 2015 году «Леса и изменение климата»
 2015国际森林日庆祝活动包括:联合国总部的一场特别活动.
 The theme 2015 “Forests and Climate Change”
 El tema de 2015 «Los bosques y el cambio climático»
 Theme 2015 : « Les Forêts et les changements climatiques »
 موضوع عام 2015: الغابات وتغير المناخ





The International Day of Forests is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of all types of forests and trees outside forests.  Some 1.6 billion people -- including more than 2,000 indigenous cultures -- depend on forests for food, fuel, shelter and income.  Three quarters of freshwater comes from forested catchments.  Forests prevent landslides and erosion and – in the case of mangrove forests -- reduce loss of life and damage caused by tsunamis.
For these reasons, and more, forests are integral to the post-2015 development agenda.  Among their most important functions is their role in building climate-resilient societies.  That is why, in this year of action for sustainable development, climate change is the theme for the International Day of Forests.
Sustaining healthy forests and mitigating and adapting to climate change are two sides of the same coin.  Forests are the largest storehouses of carbon after oceans.  The carbon they store in their biomass, soils and products is equivalent to about 10 per cent of carbon emissions projected for the first half of this century.  At the same time, deforestation and land-use changes account for 17 per cent of human-generated carbon dioxide emissions.
Forests are on the front lines of climate change.  These ecosystems, rich with biodiversity, are increasingly vulnerable to changes in weather, temperature and rainfall patterns.  It is essential, therefore, that we work to preserve and sustainably manage our forests.
Despite the ecological, economic and social value of forests, global deforestation continues at an alarming rate – some 13 million hectares of forest are destroyed annually.  This is not sustainable for people or the planet.  However, there are some encouraging signs.  In the past decade, the rate of global deforestation has decreased by almost 20 per cent, which indicates that solutions exist to reverse this destructive trend.
To build a sustainable, climate-resilient future for all, we must invest in our world's forests.  That will take political commitment at the highest levels, smart policies, effective law enforcement, innovative partnerships and funding.  On this International Day of Forests, let us commit to reducing deforestation, sustaining healthy forests and creating a climate-resilient future for all.
Ban Ki-moon




United Nations Forum on Forests
 




Events : 
Activities expected to take place on the 2015 International Day include a special event at United Nations Headquarters, tree-planting and other community-level events, and national celebrations including art, photo and film as well as social media.

A special event for the International Day of Forests, entitled “International Day of Forests: Create a Climate Smart Future” will be held on 20 March 2015 at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Chamber.
The event will be webcast live.
You can get involved by creating your own International Forest Day exhibit on the lead up to the Day by using the design material available and by using the hashtag #IntlForestDay on social media.

More information on the Day is available at the UN Forum on Forests.



FAO's International Day of forests 2015


International Day of Forests events around the world


6 March 2015 - Iran (Islamic Republic of), Forest Park of Sohanak, Tehran

 
Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Del. Baja California, el departamento de Promotoría Forestal y Programa de Cultura Forestal de la Comisión Nacional Forestal, Baja California
17 March 2015 - Mexico, Baja California




Grupo de Acción Forestal de la Universidad de Talca
17 March 2015 - Chile, University of Talca

International Day of Forests, Algeria
Association of Life, Environment and Tourism
19 March 2015 - 21 March 2015
African Union
20 March 2015 - Ethiopia, African Union Commission headquarters



20 March 2015 - United States of America, UN headquarters, New York
FAO [idf@fao.org]
20 March 2015 - Italy, FAO headquarters, Rome
Miscellaneous documents: Programme

UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section
20 March 2015
Switzerland, Palais des Nations, Geneva

International Day of Forests student debate, Bangkok
FAO, RECOFTC [Wirya.Khim@fao.org]
20 March 2015 - Thailand, Bangkok
Miscellaneous documents: Brochure

International Day of Forests symposium, Seoul
Korea Forest Service and Korean Forest Society [sjp1011@korea.kr]
20 March 2015 - Republic of Korea, Seoul, Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Hug a tree, Republic of Korea
 Korea Forest Service [sjp1011@korea.kr]
21 March 2015 - Republic of Korea, Korea National Arboretum, Pocheon



Office français de la Fondation pour l'Education à l'Environnement en Europe
21 March 2015 - France

Giornata Internazionale delle Foreste, Italy
La Riserva Naturale Regionale Orientata Bosco delle Pianelle [info@riservaboscopianelle.it]
21 March 2015 - 22 March 2015
Italy, Martina Franca
Miscellaneous documents:Calendario
Kids-to-Forests field excursion, Thailand
21 March 2015 - 22 March 2015
Thailand, Kanchanaburi

Regional Agency for Services to Agriculture and Forests of Lombardy, Italy
21 March 2015 - 21 May 2015 - Italy

International Day of Forests, Malaysia
Forest Research Institute Malaysia [frim_ccu@frim.gov.my]
28 March 2015 - Malaysia, Kepong Botanic Gardens, Kepong
Miscellaneous documents: Poster

Little Hands Go Green
22 April 2015 - Uganda, Kampala


Documents : 

International Day of Nowruz , March 21st

International Day of Nowruz, 21 March.




The annual observance of Nowruz is a wonderful opportunity for people to join together to celebrate cultural diversity, dialogue and mutual respect. It is a moment of unity and solidarity, within and among societies, that is all the more important at times of strife and division.
This year’s Nowruz also takes on special meaning as the United Nations works to shape a new vision for sustainable future and adopt a meaningful universal climate agreement. These priorities for 2015 are in line with the spirit of Nowruz, which promotes harmony with nature and all peoples to foster cooperation for lasting peace.
This ancient New Year tradition coincides with the arrival of spring, giving rise to a rich array of customs, rituals and festivities, from communities in Western, Central and Southern Asia, to the Caucasus, Balkans and other regions. Nowruz is inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, under UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
I wish joyous and peaceful celebrations to all. May the spirit of Nowruz live on throughout the year.

Ban Ki-moon




Nowruz marks the New Year and the arrival of spring across many countries of Western, Central and Southern Asia, the Caucasus, the Balkans and other regions. This age-old celebration of diversity, dialogue and solidarity brings together peoples of many different cultures, religions and languages, joining families and communities together.

Celebrated across so many borders, Nowruz has given rise to a rich horizon of customs, rituals and festivities that are often associated with nature and fertility. The songs, dances, festive meals and other social practices that form an integral part of Nowruz provide vivid demonstration of the creative diversity that UNESCO seeks to promote in all of its work. In 2009, Nowruz was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity -- one year later, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution recognizing 21 March as the International Day of Nowruz.

The fundamental values of Nowruz are those of peace and solidarity, reconciliation and good-neighbourliness. This is a celebration of diversity on the basis of tolerance and harmony with nature, promoted and carried from generation to generation, within and between communities. These messages are especially important today, in this turning point year for the Millennium Development Goals and as States shape a new global sustainable development agenda. The intangible cultural heritage of humanity is a wellspring of confidence and belonging – it is a source of strength and creativity for the benefit of all.

In these uncertain and turbulent times, let us all embrace the values of Nowruz and carry forward its message of peace, harmony, tolerance and reconciliation.
Irina Bokova







Events :
On the occasion of the International Day of Nowruz 2015

Celebration | Nowruz

When, local time:  Wednesday, 18 March 2015 - 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Where:  France, Paris
Type of Event: Concert
Contact: dl.iran@unesco-delegations.org


A musical evening featuring Iranian music and traditional songs, inspired by Persian poems of Hafez and Mowlana, composed by Sohrab Pournazeri, performed by the group Syavosh, the famous classical singer Homayoun Shajarian and the artists Aeen Meshkatian, Azad Mirzapour, Atena Mostaan Eshtiaghi, Hossein Rezaeenia, Mahyar Toreihi.

World Poetry Day 2015, March 21st.







The poet John Burnside wrote:
“If what we insist on calling
fate seems inexplicable or cruel
it’s only because
we lack the imagination
to wish for what it brings,
to brighten it
with something more inventive
than dismay.”
This is the power of poetry. It is the power of imagination to brighten reality, to inspire our thoughts with something more inventive than dismay.
Poetry is the universal human song, expressing the aspiration of every woman and man to apprehend the world and share this understanding with others, through the arrangement of words in rhythm and meter. There may be nothing more delicate than a poem and, yet, it expresses all of the power of the human mind, and so there is nothing more resilient.
Poetry is as old as humanity itself, and as diverse -- embodied in traditions, oral and written, that are as varied as are the human face, each capturing the depth of emotions, thought and aspiration that guide every woman and men.
Poetry is intimate expression that opens doors to others, enriching the dialogue that catalyses all human progress, weaving cultures together and reminding all people of the destiny they hold in common. In this way, poetry is a fundamental expression of peace. In the words of Cherif Khaznadar, laureate of the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture, “Knowledge of the other is the gateway to dialogue, and dialogue can only be established in difference and respect for difference.” Poetry is the ultimate expression of difference in dialogue, in the spirit of unity.
Every poem is unique but each reflects the universal in human experience, the aspiration for creativity that crosses all boundaries and borders, of time as well as space, in the constant affirmation of humanity as a single family.
This is the spirit of World Poetry Day, and this guides all of UNESCO’s work to strengthen humanity as a single community – by safeguarding poetic documentary heritage under the Memory of the World Programme, as well as humanity’s intangible heritage. This is embodied in the recent inscription of Al-Zajal on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This traditional Lebanese poetry expression espouses tolerance and dialogue to resolve conflict and strengthen social cohesion.
In times of uncertainty and turbulence, perhaps never before have we needed the power of poetry to bring women and men together, to craft new forms of dialogue, to nurture the creativity all societies need today.
This is UNESCO’s message on World Poetry Day 2015.

Irina Bokova



 FORUM : 21 march is World Poetry Day


Classical Poets (Homer, Ovid, Lucan, Horace)

POETS CELEBRATED IN 2015


Akaki Tsereteli (Georgia)
100th anniversary of the death of Akaki Tsereteli, poet and writer (1840-1915)

Andrés Bello López (Venezuela)
150th anniversary of the death of Andrés Bello Lopez, humanist (1781-1865)

Nguyen Du (Viet Nam)
250th anniversary of the birth of Nguyen Du, poet (1765-1820)


Poetry reaffirms our common humanity by revealing to us that individuals, everywhere in the world, share the same questions and feelings. Poetry is the mainstay of oral tradition and, over centuries, can communicate the innermost values of diverse cultures.

In celebrating World Poetry Day, March 21, UNESCO recognizes the unique ability of poetry to capture the creative spirit of the human mind.

A decision to proclaim 21 March as World Poetry Day was adopted during UNESCO’s 30th session held in Paris in 1999.One of the main objectives of the Day is to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression and to offer endangered languages the opportunity to be heard within their communities.

The observance of World Poetry Day is also meant to encourage a return to the oral tradition of poetry recitals, to promote the teaching of poetry, to restore a dialogue between poetry and the other arts such as theatre, dance, music and painting, and to support small publishers and create an attractive image of poetry in the media, so that the art of poetry will no longer be considered an outdated form of art, but one which enables society as a whole to regain and assert its identity.




 Documents :

UNESCO's World Poetry Day 2015 Celebrations  
 UNESCO’s message on World Poetry Day 2015.
UNESCO Official Proclamation of 21 March as World Poetry Day in 1999
Discover more than 100 articles on the world poetry, published over the last sixty years!



International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2015, March 21


2015 Theme: "Learning from historical tragedies to combat racial discrimination today"
Тема Дня 2015 года «Извлекать уроки из прошлых трагедий, чтобы бороться с расизмом сегодня»
El tema del 2015 es: «Aprender de las tragedias históricas para combatir la discriminación racial del presente»
Thème 2015 : « Apprendre des tragédies historiques pour mieux lutter contre la discrimination raciale »
2015年主题:从历史悲剧中吸取教训,抗击今日种族歧视
موضوع عام 2015:
التعلم من المآسي التاريخية لمكافحة التمييز العنصري اليوم




United Nations Secretary-General Message for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2015.



“Learning from past tragedies to combat racism today”

Every day, people of all ages endure hatred, injustice and humiliation because of their skin colour, descent, national or ethnic origin, or other supposedly racial characteristics.  Such discrimination has underpinned oppression, poverty, slavery, genocide and war. 
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is an opportunity to renew our commitment to building a world of justice and equality where xenophobia and bigotry do not exist.  We must learn the lessons of history and acknowledge the profound damage caused by racial discrimination.  That means carefully preserving the memory of historical wrongs so we may use our knowledge to eradicate prejudice and teach tolerance, non-discrimination and respect for diversity everywhere and for all. 
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the launch of the International Decade for People of African Descent.  In the past fifty years, there has been progress in the fight against racism and racial discrimination.  We have seen the end of colonialism, the dismantling of apartheid and the rise of a global movement for equality.  Yet, as history and current events attest, racial discrimination still presents a clear danger to people and communities in all regions. 
Lasting peace can only be built on the premise that all people have equal rights and dignity – regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, social or other status.  To that end, I urge all nations to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to promote historical accuracy and put in place robust policies and laws that will end all forms of discrimination as enshrined in the Convention.

Ban Ki-moon






 FORUM : 21 March is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

This Year 2015, and as requested by the General Assembly, Presidents of the General Assembly and of the Human Rights Council will convene meetings both in New York and Geneva during the commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination through a debate on the state of racial discrimination worldwide.
This year's theme “Learning from historical tragedies to combat racial discrimination today” aims to explore the root causes of racism and racial discrimination and will stress the essential need to learn the lessons history has provided in order to combat racism and racial discrimination today.

Events

In Geneva, a panel event and a movie screening will take place at the Palais des Nations on 20 March 2015.
Panellists will speak at the Human Rights Council about the importance of preserving the historical memory of past human rights tragedies, including slavery, the slave trade, transatlantic slave trade, apartheid, colonialism and genocide which have led to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. They will explore the need of elaborating educational and awareness raising materials with a view to contribute to eradicating contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination.
For the screening of the movie on racism, young people from secondary schools are invited to participate in the event and to hold an exchange of views about situations of day to day racism.
In New York, the same day, a panel event will take place at the United Nations Headquarters, with the participation of academics, including historians and experts from the civil society, active in the field of racism and racial discrimination.
  
The global fight against racism
On the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, UN experts say the historical memory of past atrocity crimes must be preserved to strengthen the global fight against racism.

For further information, please contact registry@ohchr.org.


 Learning from historical tragedies is key to strengthen the global fight against racism International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - Saturday 21 March 2015

GENEVA (20 March 2015) – Speaking ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, three United Nations experts on racism have called on Governments around the world to preserve the historical memory of past atrocity crimes to make more effective the global fight against racism.

The Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, Mutuma Ruteere; the  Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, Mireille Fanon Mendes-France; and the Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, José Francisco Cali Tzay, said that  breaking the silence on past human rights tragedies can only be achieved through political will and education.

“This year the International Day for the elimination of racial discrimination has a particular resonance as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and commence the International Decade for People of African descent (2015-2024).

Striving for a world free of racism and racial discrimination while remembering historical tragedies and inhumane actions, related to racial or ethnic hierarchizing and discrimination, which have affected global history and caused untold suffering are inseparable parts of the fight against racism that all actors must undertake. We continue to be confronted with evidence that we are still some way from realizing the goal of universal non-discrimination, inter-ethnic harmony and unbiased justice that so many have worked to achieve.

The complex linkages between past and contemporary forms of racism must indeed be considered to prevent racial discrimination, xenophobia, afrophobia and related intolerance and banish racism in our societies. In this respect, political will and education is key in breaking the silence on past human rights tragedies.

Often history books are silent about past atrocities committed in the name of race and ethnicity, falsify or distort historic facts, spread racial prejudice, and elude the history, cultures, traditions and positive contributions of those exposed to racism and discrimination, including people of African descent, minorities, migrants, indigenous peoples and other groups.

As we commemorate this important milestone for the ICERD, we can look back and see some great successes in the fight against racism; the most significant has been the end of Apartheid in South Africa.   But racism and discrimination is present today in our modern societies across the globe and in many forms.  Only by recognising and learning from history can we make past successes a contemporary reality.

We call upon States, and all relevant actors to adopt and implement measures to preserve historical memory of past atrocity crimes, to promote an accurate reflection of historical facts relating to past atrocities in text books and other educational material; to implement awareness-raising initiatives and ensure trainings for teachers on racial discrimination; prescribe unbiased schoolbooks that include the positive contribution of the victims of racial discrimination, while promoting more tolerance and respect for diversity.

We urge States to fully implement the ICERD as well as the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and the Programme of Activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice and Development which constitute key instruments in the global fight against racism including past atrocities.”


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