Rwagasore Day Burundi - Oct 13
Prince Louis Rwagasore (10 January 1932 — 13 October 1961) is Burundi's national and independence hero. He was a Burundi nationalist and prime minister. He was the son of Mwami (King) Mwambutsa IV. He briefly attended university in Belgium, but left to spearhead his country's anti-colonial movement. He founded a series of African cooperatives to encourage economic independence, but these were quickly banned by Belgium in 1958. That same year, Rwagasore established a nationalist political movement, UPRONA (Union for National Progress). Believing that the role of the royal family should transcend partisan politics, his father promoted him to Chief of Butanyerera, but Rwagasore turned down the appointment so that he could devote himself fully to the nationalist cause. Rwagasore, a Tutsi, was married to a Hutu woman, and it was hoped he could bridge the differences between the two groups, Tutsi and Hutu, in an independent Burundi. At the first UPRONA Congress (March 1960), he demanded complete independence for Burundi and called on the local population to boycott Belgian stores and refuse to pay taxes. Because of his calls for civil disobedience, he was placed under house arrest. Despite the setbacks, Rwagasore and UPRONA won a clear victory in elections for the colony's Legislative Assembly in 1961, winning 80 percent of the vote. The next day, he was declared prime minister, with a mandate to prepare the country for independence.
in 1961 Assassination Just two weeks later, on October 13, 1961, Rwagasore was assassinated while taking his dinner at the Hotel Tan-
ganyika by a Greek national named Georges Kageorgis, allegedly in the pay of the pro-Belgian Christian Democratic Party (PDC). Inter-ethnic rivalries between the Hutu and Tutsi factions of UPRONA flared shortly after.
The October Revolution Ye m e n - O c t 1 4
The British have occupied and controlled many different parts of the world over the centuries including India, Australia and Canada. Among that list of occupied territories was Yemen. However, on a historic October 14, 1963, the people of South Yemen revolted against the British occupation and drove them out of the country. Now the people of Yemen annually celebrate National Day to commemorate the historic event.
History
On January 19, 1839, British East India Company took control of the port of Aden to utilize it as a refueling point for its ships. Afterwards, the British Empire officially ruled Aden as part of British India. In 1937, the port of Aden and the surrounding area was converted into a British Colony as part of the British Crown. On January 8, 1963 the Colony of Aden was merged into the newly created Federation of South Arabia with promises that it would be released from British control in 1968. Finally, having had enough of the oppression, the two nationalist groups Front for the Liberation of Occupied South Yemen (FLOSY) and National Front (NF) revolted on October 14, 1963 in the name of freedom, justice and equality for the Yemeni people. While many Yemeni refer to this as National Day, it must be noted that they celebrate three National Days, and it is easy to confuse them. Many Yemeni will refer to the October National Day simply as the “14 October Revolution”.
Celebrations
The status of the traditions and customs followed on this holiday has become murky with the recent crisis in Yemen. The mix of renewed Shi’ite revolt in northern Yemen, separatist unrest in southern Yemen, and fresh al Qaeda attacks across the country have effectively put any peaceful celebration of the holiday on the back burner. On October 14, 2007 gunmen opened fire on opposition activists rallying for the anniversary of the revolution. This has lead to subtle hints by extremists and activists that yet another “October Revolution” may be necessary to take their country back from a government rife with corruption and mismanagement.
Rectification Day Burkina Faso - Oct 15
When the words “Burkina Faso” are uttered, it’s easy to imagine that they originate from a single language and have significant meaning within that language. However, the name of this small African country is completely artificial. It’s not until an analysis of the country’s most popular languages is made that the origin is understood. Using roots from those local languages, we understand it to mean “country of the free men”. Curiously, the holiday Rectification Day is celebrated not for Thomas Sankara who gave the country its name, but rather for the man who took Sankara’s place.
History The territory that is now Burkina Faso was established as
a colony, French Upper Volta, by the French beginning on March 1, 1919. In the 1950s the French worked towards giving autonomy to the people of Upper Volta, and the country finally gained its independence in 1960. The country then went through periods of military and civil rule with many coups and depositions. On August 4, 1983, Thomas Sankara, a young ambitious Marxist, ousted the conservative faction in power and took control of Upper Volta backed by the powerful trade unions and left-wing parties. In 1984, Sankara gave the country its current name, Burkina Faso. Sankara implemented a number of changes to eradicate corruption and provide housing, school and clinic improvements to the people. However, Sankara eventually became isolated for his Marxist views, and on October 15, 1987 Sankara was killed during a bloody coup attempt. Sankara’s colleague Blaise Compaoré took control of the government that day and began a long chain of policies aimed at “rectification” of the Burkinabé revolution. However, Compaoré’s involvement in the coup is highly contested, and there has been controversy about the democratic legitimacy of his 1991 and 1997 elections.
HUNGARY H unga r y t o t a k e ov e r IH R A pr e s ide nc y in 2 0 1 5 (Online 11 Oct) The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) unanimously decided at its session on Thursday that Hungary will take over the presidency of the organisation in 2015. Deputy State Secretary Prőhle welcomed the decision, which recognises the efforts made by the Hungarian Government over
Rural Women's Day Worldwide - Oct 15
The first International Day of Rural Women was observed on 15 October 2008. This new international day, established by the General Assembly in its resolution 62/136 of 18 December 2007, recognizes “the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.” Rural women play a critical role in the rural economies of both developed and developing countries. In most parts of the developing world they participate in crop production and livestock care, provide food, water and fuel for their families, and engage in off-farm activities to diversify their families’ livelihoods. In addition, they carry out vital functions in caring for children, older persons and the sick.
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day U.S. - Oct 15
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is a day of remembrance for pregnancy loss and infant death which includes but is not limited to miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, or the death of a newborn. It is observed annually in the United States and Canada and, in recent years, in the United Kingdom, on October 15. The day is observed with remembrance ceremonies and candle-lighting vigils, concluding with the International Wave of Light, a worldwide lighting of candles at 7:00 p.m.
HISTORY The Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Movement
began in the United States On October 25, 1988 when former American President Ronald Reagan designated the month of October 1988 as ``Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month The October 15th Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day (PAILRD) Campaign began in 2002 as an American movement started by Robyn Bear, Lisa Brown, and Tammy Novak. Together, they petitioned the federal government, as well as the governors of each of the 50 states, and by October 15, 2002 (the first observance of PAILRD) 20 states had signed proclamations recognizing the date as such. As a result of the American campaign effort, Concurrent Resolution H. CON. RES. 222 Supporting the goals and ideals of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day was passed in the House of Representatives on September 28, 2006. . To date, all 50 states have yearly proclamations, with Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Rhode Island, and South Dakota enacting permanent proclamations. The Director of the Canadian Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Awareness and Remembrance Campaign, TerraLynn Coggan, joined the American movement in September 2004 and took on the role as the Canadian Director for October 15 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day and began the Canadian Campaign. On October 12, 2005 when New Brunswick received official recognition of October 15 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day Terra-Lynn resigned as the Canadian Director for the American Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Campaign and independently launched The Canadian Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Awareness and Remembrance Campaigns. Since New Brunswick’s Declaration of October 15, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day the province of Nova Scotia has followed suite with a similar declaration. The provinces of Ontario and Manitoba are currently considering a declaration.
International Pregnancy and Infant Loss RememDay brance Contrary to the popular belief that Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is internationally legislated and
observed as an international day of remembrance this is not the case. Through the legislative campaigns of individuals world wide Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is becoming an international day of observation. Germany and most other non-English speaking countries do not observe this day.
American Federal Campaign As a result of the American campaign effort Concurrent resolution H. CON. RES. 222 Supporting the goals and
ideals of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day was passed in the House of Representatives on September 28, 2006. H. CON. RES. 222 proclaims October 15 of each year to be Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in the United States.
New Brunswick, Canada
New Brunswick is the first province in Canada to officially recognize October 15 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Through the lobbying efforts of Terra-Lynn Coggan, a Saint John resident with the assistance of Saint John-Champlain MLA Roly MacIntyre, New Brunswick Minister of Health and Wellness, Hon. Elvy Robichaud in a declaration dated October 12, 2005 did declare October 15 to bePregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day across the province. "Miscarriage and infant death are a source of grief, often silent, for mothers, fathers, siblings and grandparents." To recognize this loss, Hon. Elvy Robichaud, New Brunswick Minister of Health and Wellness declared October 15 to be Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day He called on provincial residents to help promote "support, education and awareness for grieving parents who have lost infants during pregnancy or shortly after birth.
Wave of Light International The International Wave of Light invites participants from around the world to light a candle in honor of PAILRD, start-
ing at 1900 hours on October 15 in their respective time zones, and to leave the candle burning for at least an hour. The result is a continuous chain of light spanning the globe for a 24 hour period in honor and remembrance of the children who die during pregnancy or shortly after birth.
Boss Day U.S. - Oct 16
Boss' Day (alternative spelling Boss's Day, also known as Bosses Day or National Boss Day) is a secular holiday celebrated on October 16 in the United States and Canada. It has traditionally been a day for employees to thank their boss for being kind and fair throughout the year. The holiday has been the source of some controversy and criticism in the United States, where it is often mocked as a Hallmark Holiday. One interesting feature of this occassion in India, is that Boss's present gifts to their subordinates.
History Patricia Bays Haroski registered "National Boss' Day"
with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1958. She was working as a secretary for State Farm Insurance Company in Deerfield, Illinois at the time and chose October 8 because she forgot that the birthday of her boss, who was her father, was actually on the 16th. Four years later in 1962, Illinois Governor Otto Kerner backed Haroski's registration and officially proclaimed the day. National Boss' Day has become an international celebration in recent years and now is observed in countries such as Australia, India and South Africa and very recently Ireland and the UK. Hallmark did not offer a Boss' Day card for sale until 1979. It increased the size of its National Boss' Day line by 90 percent in 2007.
St. Gallus Day Switzerland - Oct 16
Saint Gall, Gallen, or Gallus (c. 550 - c. 646) was an Irish disciple and one of the traditionally twelve companions of Saint Columbanus on his mission from Ireland to the continent. Saint Deicolus is called an older brother of Gall.
Biography Gall and his companions established themselves with
Columbanus at first at Luxeuil in Gaul. In 610, he accompanied Columbanus on his voyage up the Rhine River to Bregenz but when in 612 Columbanus traveled on to Italy from Bregenz, Gall had to remain behind due to illness and was nursed at Arbon. He remained in Swabia, where, with several companions, he led the life of a hermit in the forests southwest of Lake Constance, near the source of the river Steinach in cells. He died around 646-650 in Arbon, and his feast is celebrated on 16 October. After his death a small church was erected which developed into the Abbey of St. Gall, the nucleus of the Canton of St. Gallen in eastern Switzerland the first abbot of which was Saint Othmar. The monastery was freed from its dependence of the bishop of Constance and Emperor Louis the Pious made it an imperial institution. The "Abbey of St. Gall", (not from the name of its founder and first abbot, but of the saint who had lived in this place and whose relics were honoured there) the monastery and especially its celebrated scriptorium played an illustrious part in Catholic and intellectual history until it was secularized in 1798. From as early as the 9th century a series of fantastically embroidered Lives of Saint Gall were circulated. Prominent was the story in which Gall delivered Fridiburga from the demon by which she was possessed. Fridiburga was the betrothed of Sigebert II, King of the Franks, who had granted an estate at Arbon (which belonged to the royal treasury) to Gall so that he might found a monastery there. Another popular story about Gall has it that, at the command of the saint, a bear brought wood to feed the fire which Gall and his companions had kindled in the forest. The fragmentary oldest Life was recast in the 9th century by two monks of Reichenau, enlarged in 816-824 by the celebrated Wettinus, and about 833/884 by Walafrid Strabo, who also revised a book of the miracles of the saint. Other works ascribed to Walafrid tell of Saint Gall in prose and verse. The last is mentioned in Robertson Davies' book The Manticore, where he interprets the legend in Jungian psychological terms. In the final scene of the novel where David Staunton is celebrating Christmas with Lizelloti Fitziputli, Magnus Eisengrim, and Dunstan Ramsay he is given a gingerbread bear. Ramsay explains that Saint Gall made a pact of peace with a bear who was terrorizing the citizens of the nearby village. They would feed him gingerbread and he would refrain from eating them. The parable is a Jungian exhortation to make peace with one's dark side.
World Food Day Worldwide - Oct 16
World Food Day is celebrated every year around the world on 16 October in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945. It is also the Food Engineer day. The World Food Day theme for 2011 is "Food prices - from crisis to stability".
Origins World Food Day (WFD) was established by FAO's Member Countries at the
Organization's 20th General Conference in November 1979. The Hungarian Delegation, led by the former Hungarian Minister of Agriculture and Food, Dr. Pál Romány has played an active role at the 20th Session of the FAO Conference and suggested the idea of celebrating the WFD worldwide. It has since been observed every year in more than 150 countries, raising awareness of the issues behind poverty and hunger.
Themes
Since 1981, World Food Day has adopted a different theme each year, in order to highlight areas needed for action and provide a common focus. Most of the themes revolve around agriculture because only investment in agriculture – together with support for education and health – will turn this situation around. The bulk of that investment will have to come from the private sector, with public investment playing a crucial role, especially in view of its facilitating and stimulating effect on private investment. In spite of the importance of agriculture as the driving force in the economies of many developing countries, this vital sector is frequently starved of investment. In particular, foreign aid to agriculture has shown marked declines over the past 20 years.
Events Events take place in over 150 countries to mark World Food Day. Below are example of events held across the world in recent years.
United States of America:
Marguerite Marie Alacoque or Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (22 July 1647, Verosvres– 17 October 1690) was a French Roman Catholic nun and mystic, who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in its modern form.
Early life
She was born at Lhautecour, a village in the diocese of Autun, now part of the commune of Verosvres in 1647. From early childhood, Margaret was described as showing intense love for the Blessed Sacrament (the Eucharist), and as preferring silence and prayer to childhood play. After her First Communion at the age of nine, she practised in secret severe corporal mortification (including carving the name "Jesus" into her chest as an adolescent) until rheumatic fever confined her to bed for four years. At the end of this period, having made a vow to the Blessed Virgin to consecrate herself to religious life, she was instantly restored to perfect health.
Visions
She had visions of Jesus Christ, which she thought were a normal part of human experience and continued to practise austerity. However, in response to a vision of Christ, crucified but alive, that reproached her for forgetfulness of him, claiming his Heart was filled with love for her due to her promise, she entered, when almost 24 years of age, the Visitation Convent at Paray-le-Monial on 25 May 1671, intending to become a nun. She was subjected to many trials to prove the genuineness of her vocation. She was admitted to wearing the religious habit on 25 August 1671, but was not allowed to make her religious profession on the same date of the following year, which would have been normal. Finally, she was admitted to profession on 6 November 1672. She changed her baptismal name of Marguerite (Margaret) to her religious name of Marguerite-Marie (Margaret Mary). In this convent she received several revelations of the Sacred Heart, the first on 27 December 1673, and the final one 18 months later. The visions revealed to her the form of the devotion, the chief features being reception of Holy Communion on the First Friday Devotions of each month, the Eucharistic adoration during the Holy Hour on Thursdays, and the celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart. She stated that in her vision she was instructed to spend an hour every Thursday night to meditate on the sufferings of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Holy Hour practice later became widespread among Catholics. Initially discouraged in her efforts to follow the instruction she had received in her visions, Marguerite-Marie was eventually able to convince her superior, Mother de Saumaise, of the authenticity of her visions. She was unable, however, to convince a group of theologians of the validity of her apparitions, nor was she any more successful with many of the members of her community. She received the support of Saint Claude de la Colombière, the community's confessor for a time, who declared that the visions were genuine. In 1683, opposition in the community ended when Mother Melin was elected Superior and named Margaret Mary her assistant. She later became Novice Mistress, saw the convent observe the Feast of the Sacred Heart privately beginning in 1686, and two years later, a chapel was built at the Paray-le-Monial to honour the Sacred Heart.
Beatification
After Margaret Mary's death, on 17 October 1690, the devotion to the Sacred Heart was fostered by the Jesuits and the subject of controversies within the Church. The practice was not officially recognized till 75 years after her death. The discussion of her own mission and qualities continued for years. All her actions, her revelations, her spiritual maxims, her teachings regarding the devotion to the Sacred Heart, of which she was the chief exponent as well as the apostle, were subjected to the most severe and minute examination, and finally the Sacred Congregation of Rites passed a favourable vote on the heroic virtues of this "servant of God". In March 1824, Pope Leo XII pronounced her Venerable (the first step on the path to canonised sainthood), and on 18 September 1864 Pope Pius IX declared her Blessed. When her tomb was canonically opened in July 1830, two instantaneous cures were recorded to have taken place. Her incorrupt body rests under the altar in the chapel at Paray-le-Monial, and many striking blessings have been claimed by pilgrims attracted there from all parts of the world. She was canonised by Benedict XV in 1920, and in 1929 her liturgical commemoration was included in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints for celebration on 17 October, the day of her death. In 1969, this date was assigned to a saint of the Apostolic Age, Saint Ignatius of Antioch, and the memorial of Saint Margaret Mary was moved to the previous day, 16 October. In his 1928 encyclical Miserentissimus Redemptor, Pope Pius XI affirmed the Church's position regarding the credibility of her visions of Jesus Christ by speaking of Jesus as having "manifested Himself" to Saint Margaret Mary and having "promised her that all those who rendered this honour to His Heart would be endowed with an abundance of heavenly graces". Her short devotional writing, La Devotion au Sacré-Coeur de Jesus (Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus), was published posthumously by J. Croiset in 1698, and has been popular among Catholics.
Angola celebrated WFD in 2005 through the 4th Forum on Rural Women, while in Burundi the second Vice-President planted potatoes to provide a symbolic example about food production. In Central African Republic, the President of the Republic has inaugurated a bridge at Boda to coincide with World Food Day, making the agricultural production area more accessible. In Chad, thousands of people have attended debates, conferences and activities including theatre, films, folk dance, visits to project sites and visits by agricultural companies. In Ghana, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has hosted a food security conference, while Namibia has run an awareness campaign through national media. Egypt has hosted a Forum on nutrition issues. Morocco and Tunisia have held seminars and exhibitions.
Latin America:
In Chile, exhibitions of indigenous food products have been prepared by local communities. In Argentina, senior officials of the Government, academics, international organizations and the press have participated in the main ceremony. In Mexico in 2005, a National Campaign for a "Mexico Without Hunger" was held, with the involvement and support of civil society and students. In Cuba, producers have been able to exchange views and experiences at an agricultural fair. The media strongly supports awareness campaigns on World Food Day; for example in Venezuela there has been national coverage of events.
Black Poetry Day U.S. - Oct 17
Jupiter Hammon (October 17, 1711 – before 1806) was a black poet who in 1761 became the first African-American writer to be published in the present-day United States. Additional poems and sermons were also published. Born into slavery, Hammon was never emancipated. He was living in 1790 at the age of 79, and died by 1806. A devout Christian, he is considered one of the founders of African American literature.
Early life and education Born into slavery in 1711 in a house now known
as Lloyd Manor in Lloyd Harbor, NY -- per a Town of Huntington, NY historical marker dated 1990 -- Hammon was held by four generations of the Lloyd family of Queens on Long Island, New York. His parents were both slaves held by the Lloyds. Unlike most slaves, his father, named Opium, had learned to read and write. The Lloyds allowed Hammon to attend school, where he also learned to read and write. As an adult, he worked for them as a domestic servant, clerk, farmhand, and artisan in the Lloyd family business. He became a fervent Christian, as were the Lloyds. His first published poem, "An Evening Thought. Salvation by Christ with Penitential Cries: Composed by Jupiter Hammon, a Negro belonging to Mr. Lloyd of Queen's Village, on Long Island, the 25th of December, 1760," appeared as a broadside in 1761. He published three other poems and three sermon essays. Although not emancipated, Hammon participated in new Revolutionary War groups such as the Spartan Project. There on September 24, 1786, he delivered his "Address to the Negroes of the State of New York", also known as the "Hammon Address." He was seventy-six years old and had spent his lifetime in slavery. He said, "If we should ever get to Heaven, we shall find nobody to reproach us for being black, or for being slaves." He also said that, while he personally had no wish to be free, he did wish others, especially “the young Negroes, were free.” The speech draws heavily on Christian motifs and theology. For example, Hammon said that Black people should maintain their high moral standards because being slaves on Earth had already secured their place in heaven. He promoted gradual emancipation as a way to end slavery. Scholars think perhaps Hammon supported this plan because he believed that immediate emancipation of all slaves would be difficult to achieve. New York Quakers, who supported abolition of slavery, published his speech. It was reprinted by several abolitionist groups, including the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery. In the two decades after the Revolutionary War and creation of the new government, northern states generally abolished slavery. In the Upper South, so many slaveholders manumitted slaves that the proportion of free blacks among African Americans increased from less than one percent in 1790 to more than 10 percent by 1810. In the United States as a whole, by 1810 the number of free blacks was 186,446, or 13.5 percent of all African Americans. Hammon's speech and his poetry are often included in anthologies of notable African-American and early American writing. He was the first known African American to publish literature within the present-day United States (in 1773, Phillis Wheatley, also an American slave, had her collection of poems first published in London, England).
Dessalines Day Haiti - Oct 17
Haiti’s founding father Jean-Jacques Dessalines proclaimed Haiti’s independence on this day in Gonaives, Haiti. It was a monumental achievement that marked the first successful slave revolution in world history and in the establishment of the independent Republic of Haiti.
History Dessalines was born on a plantation in an area called
Cormiers, (today, Cormier), in the hills near the town of Grande Rivière du Nord 25 kms from Cap-Haitien. That plantation belonged to a french man named Duclos. The young man was given the first name of Jacques. Hence, he will be called Jacques Duclos, as the practice was that slaves took their master’s last name. Of Dessalines’ mother or father, no one knows for sure, as slaves did not get birth certificates. The only known parent of his, is a certain aunt named Victoria Montou, that he called affectionately Toya. During the war, old Victoria Montou fought against the French in the Cahos mountains of the Artibonite region. She would remain in the house of the emperor until her death, June 12, 1805. At the age of 30 or so, he would be sold off on the market and be bought by a free black man named Dessalines. He changed his name from Jacques Duclos to Jean Jacques Dessalines. In 1791, though, he would join the slave revolt that would ultimately lead to independence. He followed the example given by the Boukman, Jean François and Biassou, early band leaders. He became a lieutenant in the Army of Jean François. He followed Jean François when he lent his services to the Royal majesty of Spain. There, he met Toussaint Bréda later called Louverture who was climbing the ranks and gaining notoriety for his successive brilliant victories against forces far superior to his. When the French Republic proclaimed freedom for all slaves, Dessalines followed Toussaint who rallied to the French flag in order to fight the armies of the Spanish and British crowns. Dessalines is widely regarded by Haitians as one of the outstanding heroes in the struggle against slavery and colonialism, in this spirit he is also affectionately called: ‘Papa Desalin’ (lit. Father Dessalines). He was the GovernorGeneral of Saint-Domingue from November 30, 1803 to December 31, 1803, the day before the Haitian Declaration of Independence. In contrast many non-Haitian observers have focused on Dessalines treatment of French colonialists and less on his achievements in the freedom struggle.
his hope that Hungarian voters would not support them, so that these forces would not mean any threat. Prime Minister Orbán talked at a press conference following a meeting with his British counterpart David Cameron, about both countries agreeing that EU institutions should be reformed, with national and EU jurisdictions better clarified. The parties also agreed that Hungary and the United Kingdom have built a strong alliance on many issues, including nuclear energy. Talking about utility price cuts, he stated that it is not surprising that Brussels is attacking this policy. He mentioned that Hungary had received a letter from the European Commission on this matter, to which the Government will reply in due course. During his stay, Prime Minister Orbán also met with the Central European directors of the largest British investors in Hungary, Tesco, Vodafone, and GlaxoSmithKline. Negotiations focused mainly on cooperation with the Hungarian Government, as well as regional economic trends and possible UK development projects in Hungary.
State Secretary Szijjártó on official visit in Seoul
culture Popular In James Joyce's short story "Eveline", part of his Dubliners, a "coloured print of the promises made to Blessed Mar-
garet Mary Alacoque" is mentioned as part of the decorations of an Irish home at the turn of the 20th Century, testifying to her enduring popularity among Irish Catholics.
Day for the Eradication of Poverty Worldwide - Oct 17
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is celebrated every year on October 17 throughout the world. It was officially recognised by the United Nations in 1992, but the first commemoration of the event took place in Paris, France, in 1987 when 100,000 people gathered on the Human Rights and Liberties Plaza at the Trocadéro to honour victims of poverty, hunger, violence and fear. This call was made by Joseph Wresinski (1917–1988) founder of the International Movement ATD Fourth World. The text engraved in the stone reads as follows: Wherever men and women are condemned to live in extreme poverty, human rights are violated. To come together to ensure that these rights be respected is our solemn duty. – Joseph Wresinski (1917–1988) founder of ATD Fourth World.
Testimonies
One of the main aims of the day is to make the voice of the poor heard. To this end, commemorations often include testimonies from people living in poverty, describing their own experiences or those of people they know.
Alaska Day U.S. - Oct 18
Alaska Day is a legal holiday in the U.S. state of Alaska, observed on October 18. It is the anniversary of the formal transfer of the Territory of Alaska from Russia to the United States which took place at a flagraising ceremony at Fort Sitka on Friday October 18, 1867 (11 hours behind St. Petersburg, Russia, half past midnight, Saturday 7 October, St. Petersburg time, Julian Calendar, or 3:30 p.m. in Sitka, 7 October). Alaska Day is observed statewide, and is a paid holiday for State of Alaska employees. The official celebration is held in Sitka, where schools release students early, many businesses close for the day, and events such as a parade and reenactment of the flag raising are held. It should not be confused with Seward's Day, the last Monday in March which marks the signing of the treaty for the Alaska Purchase in which the U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia on March 30, 1867. Although the territory was sold to the U.S. in March, it was not until the 18th of October that year that the Commissioners arrived in Sitka and the formal transfer was arranged. The original ceremony included 250 uniformed U.S. soldiers, who marched to the Governor's house in Sitka at "Castle Hill", where the transfer was made. It was here that the Russian troops lowered the Russian flag and the U.S. flag was raised. The official account of the affair as presented by General Lovell Rousseau to Secretary of State William H. Seward continues: "... The troops being promptly formed, were, at precisely half past three o'clock, brought to a 'present arms', the signal given to the Ossipee ... which was to fire the salute, and the ceremony was begun by lowering the Russian flag ... The United States flag ... was properly attached and began its ascent, hoisted by my private secretary [and son], George Lovell Rousseau, and again salutes were fired as before, the Russian water battery leading off. The flag was so hoisted that in the instant it reached its place the report of the big gun of the Ossipee reverberated from the mountains around ... Captain Pestchour off stepped up to me and said, 'General Rousseau, by authority from his Majesty the Emperor of Russia, I transfer to the United States the Territory of Alaska' and in a few words I acknowledged the acceptance of the transfer, and the ceremony was at an end."
Photo: Prime Minister's Office (Online 11 Oct) Hungary's State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Economic Relations Péter Szijjártó in Seoul on Friday discussed opportunities to develop bilateral business ties and further explore South Korean investment projects in Hungary. Following his talks, Mr Szijjártó stated that South Korean companies would soon launch health and car manufacturing schemes in Hungary, but added that the investors would not be named until the projects are officially announced. Mr Szijjártó met Han Jin-hyun, the
deputy minister of trade, energy, and industry, and Cho Tae-yul, the deputy foreign minister, as well as senior officials of six large companies. South Korea is Hungary's third largest partner in the East. The turnover of bilateral trade shrank by some 30% during the crisis, but Hungary has again increased its exports to South Korea by 14% during the first half of 2013, the State Secretary said. South Korea's investment in Hungary totals nearly two billion dollars, represented by 40 Korean companies, which employ 22,000 people. Be-
sides encouraging further Korean investment, it is a priority for the Hungarian government to promote cooperation between small and medium-sized companies of the two countries, Mr Szijjártó said. An agreement, signed with the Korean deputy minister for industry, seeks to help medium-sized Korean businesses start operations in Hungary as suppliers to the larger firms, he added. Parties at the Seoul talks also agreed on closer cooperation in nuclear research and education, the Hungarian State Secretary stated.
A new milestone of HungarianMongolian economic partnership (Online 10 Oct) The Hungarian-Mongolian Business Forum organized by the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which was also supported by Hungary’s Ministry for National Economy, held on 8 October 2013 in Budapest was an event which attracted great interest. The business forum was held after the fourth annual meeting of the Hungarian-Mongolian Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation (JCEC) where Minister of State for Economic Regulation and the Hungarian Co-Chair-
man of the JCEC Kristóf Szatmáry, President of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dr László Parragh, Mongolia’s Minister for Environmental Protection and Green Development and the Mongolian CoChairwoman of the JCEC Oyun Sanajasuuren as well as General Director of the National Bank of Hungary Dr Róza Nagy delivered welcome speeches. The speakers presented the achievements of the Budapest session of the HungarianMongolian Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation, emphasizing the numerous options available for im-
proving bilateral economic relations. At the event, representatives of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as those of the National Chamber of Agriculture signed cooperation agreements along with the representatives of the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. After the business forum, the Hungarian-Mongolian arm of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Trade was established with the main aim of expanding business relations.
Hungary captured speacial attention of Moscow A g r i c u l t u r e F a i r
Independence Day Azerbaijan - Oct 18
Azerbaijan officially the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Respublikası) is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to the south. The exclave of Nakhchivan is bounded by Armenia to the north and east, Iran to the south and west, while having a short borderline with Turkey to the northwest. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the first democratic and secular republic in the Muslim world, was established in 1918, but was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1920. Azerbaijan regained independence in 1991. Shortly thereafter, during the Nagorno-Karabakh War, neighboring Armenia occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, its surrounding territories and the enclaves of Karki, Yukhary Askipara, Barkhudarly and Sofulu. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, which emerged in Nagorno-Karabakh, continues to be not diplomatically recognized by any nation and the region is still considered a de jure part of Azerbaijan, despite being de faction dependent since the end of the war. Azerbaijan, a nation with a majority Turkic and Shia population, is a secular and a unitary republic with an ancient and historic cultural heritage. Azerbaijan is one of the six independent Turkic states as well as the active members of the Turkic Council and the TÜRKSOY community. Azerbaijan has diplomatic relations with 158 countries and holds membership in 38 international organizations. It is one of the founding members of GUAM and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and in December 1991 the country became a founding member of the Commonwealth of Independent States. On May 9, 2006 Azerbaijan was elected to membership in the newly established Human Rights Council by the United Nations General Assembly. The term of office began on June 19, 2006. A Special Envoy of the European Commission is present in the country, which is also a member of the United Nations, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and the NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) program. Azerbaijan is a correspondent at the International Telecommunication Union and member of the Non-Aligned Movement and holds observer status in World Trade Organization. Being one of the five most developed countries among CIS members, Azerbaijan has the 67th highest human development level in the world In 2009 the country had an unemployment rate of 6% and a low crime rate compared to other CIS and Eastern European countries.
Etymology
The name of Azerbaijan derives from Atropates, a Persian satrap under the Achaemenid Empire, that was later reinstated as the satrap of Media under Alexander of Macedonia. The original etymology of this name is thought to have its roots in the once-dominant Zoroastrian religion. In the Avesta, Frawardin Yasht ("Hymn to the Guardian Angels"), there is a mention of âterepâtahe ashaonô fravashîm ýazamaide, which literally translates from Avestan as "we worship the Fravashi of the holy Atropatene". Atropates ruled over the region of Atropatene (present-day Iranian Azerbaijan). The name "Atropates" itself is the Greek transliteration of an Old-Iranian, probably Median, compounded name with the meaning "Protected by the (Holy) Fire" or "The Land of the (Holy) Fire". The Greek name is mentioned by Diodorus Siculus and Strabo. Over the span of millenniums the name evolved to Āturpātākān then toĀdharbādhagān, Ādharbāyagān, Āzarbāydjān and present-day Azerbaycan. The word is translatable as "The Treasury" and "The Treasurer" of fire or "The Land of the Fire" in Modern Persian.
Photo: Csaba Pelsőczy (Online 10 Oct) Hungary is one of the special guests at the Golden Autumn agriculture and food industry exhibition, which opened in Moscow on Wednesday. The Hungarian delegation is headed by Minster for Rural Development Sándor Fazekas. Russia's most important agricultural event, organised for the 15th time this
tion of products. Each Russian region is represented with a very wide range of goods, world class products and excellent packaging, and we must also compete with them for a place on the Russian market. However, the prospects for high quality, hand-made Hungarian foods are extremely good, because we provide wonderful
On this occasion, Hungarian wines are represented by the Szekszárd wine region. Sándor Fazekas told the press that in addition, Hungarian meat industry and cheese-making enterprises and companies that market various food industry and feed production technologies are also present at the exhibition, as well as Hungarian
History
The earliest evidence of human settlement in the territory of Azerbaijan dates to the late Stone Age and is related to the Guruchay culture of the Azykh Cave. The Upper Paleolithic and late Bronze Age cultures are attested in the caves of Tağılar, Damcılı, Zar, Yataq-yeri and in the necropolises of Leylatepe and Saraytepe. Early settlements included the Scythians in the ninth century BC. Following the Scythians, Iranian Medes came to dominate the area to the south of the Aras. The Medes forged a vast empire between 900–700 BC, which was integrated into the Achaemenids Empire around 550 BC. The area was conquered by the Achaemenids leading to the spread of Zoroastrianism. Later it became part of Alexander the Great's Empire and its successor, the Seleucid Empire. Caucasian Albanians, the original inhabitants of the area, established an independent kingdom around the fourth century BC. During this period, Zoroastrianism spread in the Caucasus and Atropatene. Ancient Azerbaijanis spoke the Old Azari language.
Feudal era:
The Sassanids turned Caucasian Albania into a vassal state in AD 252, while King Urnayr officially adopted Christianity as the state religion in the fourth century. Despite numerous conquests by the Sassanids and Byzantines, Albania remained an entity in the region until the ninth century. The Islamic Umayyad Caliphate repulsed both the Sassanids and Byzantines from the region and turned Caucasian Albania into a vassal state after the Christian resistance, led by Prince Javanshir, was suppressed in 667. The power vacuum left by the decline of the Abbasid Caliphate was filled by numerous local dynasties such as the Sallarids, Sajids, Shaddadids, Rawadids and Buyids. At the beginning of the 11th century, the territory was gradually seized by waves of TurkicOghuz tribes from Central Asia. The first of these Turkic dynasties established was the Ghaznavids, which entered the area now known as Azerbaijan by 1030. The pre-Turkic Azerbaijani population spoke an Iranian language called the Old Azari language, which was gradually replaced by a Turkic language, now known as the Azerbaijani language from the 11th century onward until it became completely extinct in the 16th century. To distinguish it from the Turkic Azerbaijani or Azeri language, this Iranian language, is designated as the Azari language (or Old Azari language), because the Turkic language and people are also designated as "Azari" in the Persian language. However some linguists have also designated the Tati dialects of Iranian Azerbaijan and the Republic of Azerbaijan, like those spoken by the Tats, as a remnant of Azari. Locally, the possessions of the subsequent Seljuq Empire were ruled by atabegs, who were technically vassals of the Seljuq sultans, being sometimes de facto rulers themselves. Under theSeljuq Turks, local poets such as Nizami Ganjavi and Khagani Shirvani gave rise to a blossoming of Persian literature on the territory of present-day Azerbaijan. The next ruling state of the Jalayirids was short-lived and fell under the conquests of Timur. The local dynasty of Shirvanshahs became a vassal state of Timur's Empire and assisted him in his war with the ruler of the Golden HordeTokhtamysh. Following Timur's death two independent and rival states emerged: Kara Koyunlu and Ak Koyunlu. The Shirvanshahs returned, maintaining a high degree of autonomy as local rulers and vassals from 861 until 1539. During their persecution by the Safavids, the last dynasty imposed Shia Islam upon the formerly Sunni population, as it was battling against the Sunni Ottoman Empire.
Modern era:
After the Safavids, the area was ruled by the Iranian dynasties of Afshar and Zand and briefly by the Qajars. However de facto self-ruling khanates emerged in the area, especially following the collapse of the Zand dynasty and in the early Qajar era. The brief and successful Russian campaign of 1812 was concluded with the Treaty of Gulistan, in which the shah's claims to some of the Khanates of the Caucasus were dismissed by Russia on the ground that they had been de facto independent long before their Russian occupation. The khanates exercised control over their affairs via international trade routes between Central Asia and the West. Engaged in constant warfare, these khanates were eventually incorporated into the Russian Empire in 1813, following the two Russo-Persian Wars. The area to the North of the river Arax, amongst which the territory of the contemporary republic of Azerbaijan were Iranian territory until they were occupied by Russia. Under the Treaty of Turkmenchay, Persia recognized Russian sovereignty over the Erivan Khanate, the Nakhchivan Khanate and the remainder of the Lankaran Khanate. In 2007, during the construction of a stadium, constructors discovered the Guba mass grave. Studies by Azerbaijani and foreign scientists have confirmed the human remains found there to be of local residents of various nationalities, including Jews and Lezgins who were killed in the 1918 massacre. To date, the remains of 600 people have been found, including about 50 children and 100 women. After the collapse of the Russian Empire during World War I, Azerbaijan, together with Armenia and Georgia became part of the short-lived Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic. When the republic dissolved in May 1918, Azerbaijan declared independence as the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR). The ADR was the first modern parliamentary republic in the Muslim World. Among the important accomplishments of the Parliament was the extension of suffrage to women, making Azerbaijan the first Muslim nation to grant women equal political rights with men. In this accomplishment, Azerbaijan also preceded the United Kingdom and the United States. Another important accomplishment of ADR was the establishment of Baku State University, which was the first modern-type university founded in Muslim East. By March 1920, it was obvious that Soviet Russia would attack the much-needed Baku. Vladimir Lenin said that the invasion was justified as Soviet Russia could not survive without Baku's oil. Independent Azerbajian lasted only 23 months until the Bolshevik 11th Soviet Red Army invaded it, establishing the Azerbaijan SSR on April 28, 1920. Although the bulk of the newly formed Azerbaijani army was engaged in putting down an Armenian revolt that had just broken out in Karabakh, Azeris did not surrender their brief independence of 1918–20 quickly or easily. As many as 20,000 Azerbaijani soldiers died resisting what was effectively a Russian reconquest. On October 13, 1921, the Soviet republics of Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia signed an agreement with Turkey known as theTreaty of Kars. The previously independent Naxicivan SSR would also become autonomous ASSR within Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic by the treaty of Kars. On the other hand, Armenia was awarded the region of Zangezur and Turkey agreed to return Gyumri (then known as Alexandropol). During World War II, Azerbaijan played a crucial role in the strategic energy policy of Soviet Union, with most of the Soviet Union's oil on the Eastern Front being supplied by Baku. By the Decree of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in February 1942, the commitment of more than 500 workers and employees of the oil industry of Azerbaijan was awarded orders and medals. Operation Edelweiss carried out by the German Wehrmacht targeted Baku because of its importance as the energy (petroleum) dynamo of the USSR. A fifth Azerbaijanis fought in the Second World War from 1941 to 1945. Approximately 681,000 people with over 100,000 of them women went to the front, while the total population of Azerbaijan was 3.4 million at the time. Some 250,000 people from Azerbaijan were killed on the front. More than 130 Azerbaijanis were named Heroes of the Soviet Union. Azerbaijani Major-General Azi Aslanov was awarded twice Hero of the Soviet Union.
Republic era:
Following the politics of glasnost, initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev, civil unrest and ethnic strife grew in various regions of the Soviet Union, including Nagorno-Karabakh, a region of the Azerbaijan SSR. The disturbances in Azerbaijan, in response to Moscow's indifference to already heated conflict, resulted in calls for independence and secession, which culminated in Black January in Baku. Later in 1990, the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan SSR dropped the words "Soviet Socialist" from the title, adopted the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Azerbaijan Republic and restored flag of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic as a state flag. On 18 October 1991, the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan adopted a Declaration of Independence which was affirmed by a nationwide referendum in December 1991, when the Soviet Union was officially dissolved. The early years of independence were overshadowed by the Nagorno-Karabakh War with neighboring Armenia. By the end of hostilities in 1994, Armenia occupied up to 16 percent of Azerbaijani territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh itself. An estimated 30,000 people had been killed and more than a million had been displaced. Four United Nations Security Council Resolutions (822, 853, 874, and 884) demands for "the immediate withdrawal of all Armenian forces from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan." In 1993, democratically elected president Abulfaz Elchibey was overthrown by a military insurrection led by Colonel Surat Huseynov, which resulted in the rise to power of the former leader of Soviet Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev. In 1994, Surat Huseynov, by that time a prime minister, attempted another military coup against Heydar Aliyev, but Huseynov was arrested and charged with treason. In 1995, another coup attempt against Aliyev, by the commander of the OMON special unit, Rovshan Javadov, was averted, resulting in the killing of the latter and disbanding of Azerbaijan's OMON units. During his presidency, Aliyev managed to reduce the country's unemployment, rein in criminal groups, establish the fundamental institutions of independent statehood, and brought stability, peace and major foreign investment. At the same time, the country was tainted by rampant corruption in the governing bureaucracy. In October 1998, Aliyev was reelected for a second term. Despite the much improved economy, particularly with the exploitations of Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli oil field and Shah Deniz gas field, Aliyev's presidency was criticized due to suspected vote fraud and corruption.
Photo: Csaba Pelsőczy year, was opened by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Megvedev, after which he immediately visited the Hungarian stand in the company of Russian Minister of Agriculture Nikolay Fyodorov. The Prime Minister tasted some flambé goose liver, prepared by master chef Lázár Kovács, as well as the accompaniment, recommended cherry pálinka and Tokaj wine. Mr. Medvedev praised Hungarian cuisine, stating that its traditions are also present in Russia and must be preserved, Sándor Fazekas recounted. The fact that the Prime Minister made such a gesture and paid his respects at the Hungarian part of the exhibition is also significant because Russia was the guest of honour at the 76th National Agriculture and Food Industry Exhibition (OMÉK) held in Budapest in September, the Minister for Rural Development told Hungarian news agency MTI. "This is a huge and very elegant exhibition with an extremely wide selec-
flavours and a excellent range of products", Minister Fazekas said, assessing what he had seen at the exhibition. 50 Russian regions and 24 foreign countries, presenting some 2500 enterprises, are represented at the exhibition held at the All-Russian Exhibition Centre (VVC). Holland is this year's official partner to the Golden Autumn exhibition, within the framework of the Dutch-Russian bilateral year. The participants do their best to not only present their food industry products, but to also give visitors a taste of their cultural traditions. Dagestan and Ingushetia, for instance, attracted interest with exotic dances from the Caucasus, but all of the exhibitors also offer samples of their most characteristic foods. While the stand of Ingushetia presented horse meat and sheep's milk cheeses, wine, salami, stew and chimney cakes were the order of the day at the Hungarian stand, with large queues often forming.
stock animals and seeds. There is a wide selection of Hungarian exhibitors from agricultural machine manufacturer Hevesgép and wine-makers from Szekszárd to the Vegetable Crops Research Institute (ZKI). We can offer the highest international standards of quality from raw materials through to finished products, and Hungarian products have attracted a great deal of professional interest at the exhibition, added the Minister for Rural Development, who on Wednesday also held bilateral talks with his Russian counterpart Nikolay Fyodorov and took part in a special presentation of wines from Szekszárd. The Hungarian delegation for the exhibition also includes Minister of State for Food Chain Supervision and Agricultural Administration Endre Kardeván and Minister of State for Agricultural Economy György Czervan, as well as Deputy State Secretary for Law and Administration Attila István Simon.
U N w e l c o m e s H u n g a r y ’s e n e r g y and climate policy efforts (Online 09 Oct) Representative for the UN initiative Sustainable Energy for All, Kandeh K. Yumkella, had discussions with Minister of State for Climate Policy Attila Imre Horváth, Minister of State for Energy Affairs Pál Kovács and Deputy State Secretary for Green Economy Ferenc Hizó in Budapest on October 8, 2013. At the meeting, the parties summarised the action performed and to be performed in the fields of sustainability, energy security, climate protection, renewable energy and nuclear energy. The United Nations declared the period of 2014-2024 the Decade of Sustainable Energy for All. Kandeh K. Yumkella, UN Representative for financing energy development projects, welcomed Hungary’s considering energy and water management aspects in the formulation of climate policy goals. The Representative acknowledged Hungary’s efforts in climate protection
and on behalf of the UN as a global organisation he emphasised the importance of harmony between local and global objectives. At their discussions with the UN Special Representative, the Representatives of the Ministry of National Development outlined their stance according to which it was through increasing R&D funding that competitive renewable energy production could be achieved and nuclear energy had an important role in the decarbonisation process of the 21st century. The pace of reducing carbon dioxide emission could only be kept through energy developments, they said. The Representatives of Ministry argued for the policy importance of energy efficiency, highlighting upon the objectives of the National Building Energy Strategy currently being developed, to serve as a basis for a comprehensive building energy programme to be worked out by the Government. They emphasised the Government
had contributed to meeting green economy development objectives by almost HUF 150 billion in the past three years, thereby stimulating a reduction in energy consumption and overhead costs in the case of some 217 thousand families. The officials present also highlighted upon the elements and objectives of Hungary’s National Energy Strategy as well as the current state of affairs in meeting Hungary’s EU commitments. In the past years, Hungary has had significant achievements in the utilisation of renewable energy resources, it was mentioned at the meeting. Within the latter, the share of using thermal energy gained from renewable energy resources grew, from 2011 to 2012, by almost 20%. The parties agreed that the use of geothermal energy and biomass in Hungary also involved great opportunities.
Hungary hosts United Nations’ Water Summit
Persons Day Canada - Oct 18
Persons Day is an annual celebration in Canada, held on October 18 each year. The day commemorates the case of Edwards v. Canada (Attorney General), more commonly known as The Persons Case – a famous Canadian constitutional case decided on October 18, 1929 by the Judicial Committee of the Imperial Privy Council, at that time the court of last resort for Canada, which held that women were eligible to sit in the Canadian Senate. While not a civic holiday, several women's groups across Canada make signficant note of the day, including The Women's Legal Education and Action Fund and The Canadian Voters Congress In 1979, on the 50th anniversary of the Privy Council's decision, the Government of Canada instituted the Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case to recognize outstanding contributions to advance equality for women in Canada. The Awards are presented annually at a ceremony on Persons Day.
Sa m or a Ma c he l D a y Mozambique - Oct 19
Asia:
The Government of Bangladesh has been involved through organizing a food festival; in China in 2005, celebrations were organized in Qujing City, where numerous ethnical minorities live, by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Government of Qujing City, with the participation of a number of senior officials of the Government. In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, seminars have been held and visits made to various project sites. The Ministry of Agriculture ofIndonesia has in the past organized a major Food Expo in Bandung, West Java, while a Farmers' and Fishermen's Workshop of NGOs was held in Bali. In Armenia, staff from the Ministry of Agriculture, non-governmental organizations, Armenian State Agriculture University, the donor community, international organizations, and the mass media have participated in the World Food Day ceremony. In Afghanistan, representatives of Ministries, embassies, UN agencies, International Financial Organizations, National and International NGOs and FAO staff have attended the World Food Day ceremony. In Cyprus, special ceremonies have been organized in primary and secondary schools, where teachers explained the significance of World Food Day.
policies. It is clear that the same economic policy will not suit the United Kingdom, Sweden and Hungary, he emphasised, adding that a wide range of diverse responses must be acknowledged. Later in the day, after talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron, the Hungarian Prime Minister stated that since the United Kingdom’s government is currently reviewing legislation, he requested his British colleague to share their experiences in this field. In his speech at Chatham House, the Prime Minister stated that the Hungarian Government had spotted the demise of the welfare state at an early stage and was building a workbased society based on merit-based benefits. He mentioned the flat-rate tax, the family tax system, the cuts in corporate tax and a new, more flexible Labour Code as examples of the Government's steps in this direction, added that other measures included the transformation of the higher education system, cutting public debt, boosting competitiveness and helping to maintain social and political stability. Speaking about radical political forces, the Prime Minister expressed
path of ruin that made Him form the design of manifesting His Heart to men, with all the treasures of love, of mercy, of grace, of sanctification and salvation which it contains, in order that those who desire to render Him and procure Him all the honour and love possible, might themselves be abundantly enriched with those divine treasures of which His heart is the source." — from Revelations of Our Lord to St. Mary Margaret Alacoque
Europe:
Africa:
Photo: MTI/AP/Alastair Grant (Online 09 Oct) Hungary is operating like a real laboratory, trying to give responses based on traditional values to modern challenges, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Wednesday when addressing a forum of 200 guests in Chatham House, in London. He also added that political radicalism however cannot be mentioned among European values. The Prime Minister outlined Hungary's responses to the crisis, emphasising that recent years have seen a real renewal of Hungary rather than simply reforms. He stated that the Hungarian Government regards the crisis as an opportunity to carry out deep structural changes. He said large systems must go through complete renewal and families and communities must also be encouraged to change their life strategies. The European Union which used to be a strong, self-confident and optimistic community, now demonstrates uncertainty while lacking a clear image of the future, Prime Minister Orbán added. He stated that differences between Member States must be respected and non-Eurozone states allowed the right to follow their own economic
Quote "And He [Christ] showed me that it was His great desire of being loved by men and of withdrawing them from the
World Food Day has been a tradition in the USA since the first World Food Day in 1981. In the United States the endeavor is sponsored by 450 national, private voluntary organizations. One example for World Food Day events in 2011 is the World Food Day Sunday Dinners that Oxfam America is sponsoring in collaboration with several other non profits. Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu and author Francis Moore Lappe have teamed up with Oxfam America to promote World Food Day Sunday Dinners. In Italy, ministries, universities, research agencies, international agencies and NGOs have organized many conferences as well as exhibitions and symposia. The Italian Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Policies organized a meeting which focused on women's rights in rural areas in 2005. In Germany, the Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture have all become involved via press conferences. Spanish television has been active in broadcasting events. FAO Goodwill Ambassador – Spanish soccer star Raul – has taken part in events and helped highlight food-security issues across his country. The UK Food Group has also been active through conferences and media broadcasts. In the emerging economies of Eastern Europe – i.e., Albania, Armenia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro, and Slovak Republic – a variety of activities have been held. In Hungary, renowned experts have given presentations in the Hungarian Agricultural Museum and FAO, and WFD medals have been awarded to well-known Hungarian experts by the FAO Sub-Regional Representative. On behalf of the Holy See, Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI have sent an annual message for food producers and consumers on World Food Day.
Memorial Year in 2014, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Hungarian Shoah. The IHRA, founded in 2000, has 31 members and 10 permanent observers, including both states and international organisations. The aim of the Alliance is to promote and support Holocaust education and remembrance.
Feast of St. Margaret Alacoque St. Lucia - Oct 17
Celebrations While Rectification Day is officially celebrated by the government, its popularity with the local Burkinabé is in question.
Indeed, there are those that celebrate Compaoré and the democratic changes he has made towards global integration, yet many youth in Burkina Faso and other parts of Africa look to Sankara as a martyr for the ideas he implemented in the 1980s.
the past few years. He stated that IHRA had honoured Hungary with this opportunity for the country to prove its commitment to fighting anti-Semitism. This presidency will be a continuation of previous events initiated by the Government: the Raoul Wallenberg Year in 2012, dedicated to the Swedish diplomat’s legacy, or the Holocaust
PM Viktor Orbán to visit Britain, meet Cameron
Photo: Csaba Pelsőczy (Online 09 Oct) Hungary is currently hosting the United Nations’ World Water Summit, taking place on October 8-11 in Budapest. The prestigious event is co-organised by the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Rural Development. In 2013, the world celebrates the International Year of Water Cooperation
servation of the world's fresh water. "Humanity has consumed more resources over the past five decades than over the previous five thousand years," he said in his opening speech. He highlighted that “four out of every 10 people do not have access to sufficient clean drinking water." and stated that "If we do not reverse this
must work together to provide it. Hungary has fresh water resources that are significant even from a global perspective, here in the heart of the Carpathian Basin, he added. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his opening speech: "Water and sanitation is key to achieving the Millennium goals.", and also empha-
Samora Moisés Machel (September 29, 1933 – October 19, 1986) was a Mozambican military commander, revolutionary socialist leader and eventual President of Mozambique. Machel led the country from independence in 1975 until his death in 1986, when his presidential aircraft crashed in mountainous terrain where the borders of Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa converge.
Early life Samora Machel was born in the village of Madragoa
(today's Chilembene), Gaza Province,Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique), to a family of farmers. He was a member of the Shangana ethnic group and his grandfather had been an active collaborator of Gungunhana. Under Portuguese rule, his father, a native, was forced to accept lower prices for his crops than white farmers; compelled to grow labor-intensive cotton, which took time away from the food crops needed for his family; and forbidden to brand his mark on his cattle to prevent thievery. However, Machel's father was a successful farmer: he owned four plows and 400 head of cattle by 1940. Machel grew up in this farming village and attended mission elementary school. In 1942, he was sent to school in the town of Zonguene in Gaza Province. The school was run by Catholic missionaries who educated the children in Portuguese language and culture. Although having completed the fourth grade, Machel never completed his secondary education. However, he had the prerequisite certificate to train as a nurse anywhere in Portugal at the time, since the nursing schools were not degree-conferring institutions. Machel started to study nursing in the capital city of Lourenço Marques (today Maputo), beginning in 1954. In the 1950s, he saw some of the fertile lands around his farming community on the Limpopo river appropriated by the provincial government and worked by white settlers who developed a wide range of new infrastructure for the region. Like many other Mozambicans near the southern border of Mozambique, some of his relatives went to work in the South African mines where additional job opportunities were found. Shortly afterwards, one of his brothers was killed in a mining accident. Unable to complete formal training at the Miguel Bombarda Hospital in Lourenço Marques, he got a job working as an aide in the same hospital and earned enough to continue his education at night school. He worked at the hospital until he left the country to join the Mozambican nationalist struggle in neighbouring Tanzania.
Liberation struggle Machel was attracted to Marxist ideals and began his political activities in the Lourenço Marques hospital where he
protested against the fact that black nurses were paid less than whites doing the same job. He later told a reporter how bad medical treatment was for Mozambique's poor: "The rich man's dog gets more in the way of vaccination, medicine and medical care than do the workers upon whom the rich man's wealth is built." His grandparents and great grandparents had fought against Portuguese colonial rule in the 19th century, so it was not surprising that in 1962 Machel joined the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) which was dedicated to creating an independent Mozambique. He left his first wife and four children behind. He received military training in 1963 elsewhere in Africa, and returned in 1964 to lead FRELIMO's first guerilla attack against the Portuguese in northern Mozambique. Machel married his second wife, Josina (née Mutemba), in 1969, who gave him a child later that same year. By 1969, Machel had become commander-in-chief of the FRELIMO army which had already established itself among Mozambique's peasantry. His most important goal, he said, was to get the people "to understand how to turn the armed struggle into a revolution" and to realize how essential it was "to create a new mentality to build a new society". Two months after the assassination of FRELIMO's president, Eduardo Mondlane, in February 1969, a ruling triumvirate comprising Samora Machel, Marcelino dos Santos and Frelimo's vice-president Uria Simango assumed the leadership. Simango was expelled from the party in 1970, and Machel assumed the presidency of the movement.
Memorial
Photo: Csaba Pelsőczy with a series of international events. Some 1,500 participants from over 100 countries are expected to attend the four-day event, including statesmen, diplomats, scientists and businessmen. The Summit was opened by Hungary’s President János Áder and UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon. On Tuesday, President Áder urged the international community to work together to find solutions for the con-
process, 25 years from now, two thirds of humanity will be in this same situation”. Minister for Rural Development Sándor Fazekas spoke at the conference’s board of directors' meeting, where he emphasised the fundamental importance of water stocks to everyday life. He stated that access to healthy drinking water is a fundamental human right and both interest groups and international communities
sised Hungary’s crucial and historical role in this field. The summit is expected to adopt recommendations for the post-2015 UN development goals, which are an extension of the Millennium Goals adopted in 2000. It will provide a platform for discussions on a wide range of issues related to global development policy and the post-2015 development period.
Viktor Orbán receives WHO award for anti-smoking legislation
A memorial at the Mbuzini crash site was inaugurated on January 19, 1999 by Nelson Mandela and his wife Graça, and by President Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique. Now the monument is made professional and the memorial service is held on the 19th October each year. Designed by Mozambican architect José Forjaz, at a cost to the South African government of 1.5 million Rand (US$ 300,000), the monument comprises 35 steel tubes symbolising the number of lives lost in the air crash. At least eight foreigners were killed there, including the four Soviet crew members, Machel's two Cuban doctors and the Zambian and Zairean ambassadors to Mozambique. Also, a street in Moscow bears his name and the Zimbabwean band R.U.N.N. family had a hit song that mourned his loss.
Mother Teresa Day Albania - Oct 19
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta has been memorialized throughout the world in honor of her selflessness and unswerving devotion to the poor. During her lifetime this commemorization often took the form of awards and honorary degrees bestowed upon her. She has also been memorizalized through museums and dedications of churches, roads and other structures.
Mother Teresa in Albania • Mother Teresa Day (Dita e Nënë Terezës) on October 19 is a
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public holiday in Albania. The airport of Tirana, the capital of Albania, is the Tirana In ternational Airport Nënë Tereza, named after Mother Teresa in 2002. The second largest square in Tirana, the largest being Skan derbeg Square, was named after Mother Teresa. A monu ment of Mother Teresa is also found there. The biggest Civil Hospital in Tirana, was named after her.
Musical Tribute Photo: Gergely Botár In 1998 a musical tribute album was compiled and released by Lion Communications (Polygram Records). The
album featured artists from around the world paying tribute to Mother Theresa and was called "Mother, We'll Miss You". Some of the artists included on the CD were Latino Grammy legend Jose Feliciano and famed black gospel group Walt Whitman and the Soul Children of Chicago. The album was produced by Scottish singer Dave Kelly, who also wrote and performed the title track. Over fifty major American newspapers, such as the Boston Globe and the Philadelphia Inquirer, featured stories on the release of the tribute album and also took this opportunity to honor the life and work of Mother Teresa.
Parishes with Mother Teresa as patroness Mother Teresa parish, Dakota Dunes, SD, USA - 1 September 1999
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Blessed Teresa of Calcutta parish, Woodinville, WA, USA - 1 July 2004 Blessed Teresa of Calcutta parish, Ferguson, MO, USA - 1 July 2005 Blessed Teresa of Calcutta parish, North Lake, WI, USA - 1 July 2005 Blessed Teresa of Calcutta parish, Limerick, PA, USA - 1 July 2006 Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Halifax, NS, Canada
Schools Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School, YCDSB, Markham, Ontario, Canada - 1979
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Blessed Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School (Previously Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School), TCDSB, Scarbrough, Ontario, Canada - 1985 Mother Teresa Catholic High School, OCSB, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada - 1998 Mother Teresa Regional School, Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, US
Streets
A block of Lydig Avenue, between Holland and Wallace Avenues, located in the New York City borough of the Bronx was renamed Mother Teresa Way on 30 August 2009, honoring her and the borough's growing Albanian community.
(Online 08 Oct) UN World Health Organisation’s Director-General Margaret Chan presented Prime Minister Viktor Orbán with the World No Tobacco Day 2013 award on Tuesday in recognition of his government's non-smoking initiatives. The acknowledgement primarily goes to those Hungarian citizens, who used to light one cigarette after another but have now succeeded in giving up, the Prime Minister said, adding that it can now be stated that more and more people in Hungary are choosing to give up smoking. In view of the fact that the country is leading mortality
statistics in smoking-related lung cancer, the Hungarian Government has introduced several measures to combat smoking and protect nonsmokers. Listing such measures, the Prime Minister recalled that in 2012, smoking was prohibited in enclosed as well as in some public spaces and from 2013 tobacco products can only be sold if they include illustrated warnings on their packaging. He also underlined the importance of introducing daily physical education lessons at schools. In her statement, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan praised the Hungarian Prime Minister for having the
courage to fight against smoking, thus defending the health of his fellow citizens. Before presenting the award, she acknowledged the Prime Minister’s victory over the „tactics of the tobacco industry”. Hungary is on the UN organization’s honour list for providing citizens with smokefree, fresh air in public areas, the Director-General said. She also asked the Government to inform the WHO about additional health-protection measures, including taxes the Government decided to levy on food products that are high in fat, sugar and salt.