DISARMAMENT WEEK: OCTOBER 24-30, 2009

Other titles on disarmament  from UNBISnet UN | Non-UN		Disarmament Week24-30 October  The annual observance of Disarmament Week, which begins on the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, was called for in the Final Document of the General Assembly 1978 special session on disarmament (resolution S-10/2). States were invited to highlight the danger of the arms race, propagate the need for its cessation and increase public understanding of the urgent tasks of disarmament. In 1995, the Assembly invited governments, as well as NGOs, to continue taking an active part in Disarmament Week (resolution 50/72 B of 12 December). It invited the Secretary-General to continue using the United Nations information entities as widely as possible to promote a better understanding among the public of disarmament problems and the aims of the Week.    Links to UN and UN System sites: United Nations: UN Disarmament Website UN Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters UN Disarmament Commission Conference on Disarmament Department for Disarmament Affairs United Nations Open-ended Working Group on Tracing Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons Disarmament Issues Disarmament Resources Global Issues on UN Agenda – Disarmament General Assembly 61st session. 1st Committee E-Mine: The Electronic Mine Information Network UN Multimedia on Small Arms Regional disarmament UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific UN Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research Disarmament Forum Conference to Review Progress made in the Implementation of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (New York : 26 June – 7 July 2006) International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) United Nations Development Programme Crisis Prevention and Recovery  Additional Resources: The additional resources links on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not necessarily represent an endorsement by the United Nations. Abolition 2000: Global Network to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons The Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean Arms Control Association Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Non-Proliferation Project Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Biological Weapons Center for Non-Proliferation Studies – Monterey Institute of International Studies Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining Global Network against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space Henry L. Stimson Center Hiroshima Peace Institute Institute for Science and International Security International Action Network on Small Arms International Association of Lawyers against Nuclear Arms International Campaign to Ban Landmines International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) – Landmines International Peace Bureau – Disarmament Program Middle Powers Initiative NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace and Security Nuclear Age Peace Foundation Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Programme for Promoting Nuclear Non-Proliferation Project Ploughshares SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) Union of Concerned Scientists

 

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UNITED NATIONS DAY: OCTOBER 24, 2009

United Nations Day (October 24)

Background

United Nations Day is an international observance to mark the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations on October 24, 1945. In the spring of that year representatives of fifty nations gathered in San Francisco to put the finishing touches on a document of far-reaching consequence – the Charter of the United Nations. The October 24th date marks the day when a sufficient number of ratifications had been obtained to launch the new United Nations officially. A new global institution had emerged out of the chaos and destruction of the Second World War to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war – to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights – to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedoms”.

In 1947 the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring that October 24 “shall be henceforth officially called United Nations Day and shall be devoted to making known to the peoples of the world the aims and achievements of the UN, and to gaining their support for the work of the United Nations”. UN Day is now marked in the 189 UN Member States, large and small, throughout the world.

Over the years UN Day has been observed in hundreds of communities across Canada. Those observations have taken many forms, from symbolic events such as the flying of the UN flag in civic venues to serious debates and forums about the issues before the UN, their relevance to Canada, and suggestions on how to address world problems through international co-operation.

The generations born after the founding of the UN in 1945 have come to realize that the UN offers no “quick fix” to international problems but that it is an essential instrument through which multilateral processes can be brought to bear to contribute to the solutions to global problems. A United Nations Day programme offers an opportunity to groups and individuals to acquaint themselves with the activities and the accomplishments of the UN – and to address the challenges we face together as the world moves into a new century.

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INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY: OCTOBER 17, 2009

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International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

		“The campaign to make poverty history-a central moral challenge of our age-cannot remain a task for the few, it must become a calling for the many. On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, I urge everyone to join this struggle. Together, we can make real and sufficient progress towards the end of poverty.”
		United Nations Ex-Secretary-General, Kofi Annan “Excerpts taken from his message to be delivered on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 17 October 2006”.

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The observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty can be traced back to 17 October 1987. On that day, over a hundred thousand people gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris, where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948, to honour the victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger. They proclaimed that poverty is a violation of human rights and affirmed the need to come together to ensure that these rights are respected. These convictions are inscribed in a commemorative stone unveiled on this day. Since then, people of all backgrounds, beliefs and social origins have gathered every year on October 17 th to renew their commitment and show their solidarity with the poor. Replicas of the commemorative stone have been unveiled around the world and serve as a gathering place to celebrate the Day. One such replica is located in the garden of United Nations Headquarters and is the site of the annual commemoration organized by the United Nations Secretariat in New York.

Through resolution 47/196 adopted on 22 December 1992, the General Assembly declared 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and invited all States to devote the Day to presenting and promoting, as appropriate in the national context, concrete activities with regard to the eradication of poverty and destitution. The resolution further invites intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to assist States, at their request, in organizing national activities for the observance of the Day, and requests the Secretary-General to take, within existing resources, the measures necessary to ensure the success of the Day’s observance by the United Nations.

October 17th presents an opportunity to acknowledge the effort and struggle of people living in poverty, a chance for them to make their concerns heard, and a moment to recognize that poor people are the first ones to fight against poverty. Participation of the poor themselves has been at the center of the Day’s celebration since its very beginning. The commemoration of October 17 th also reflects the willingness of people living in poverty to use their expertise to contribute to the eradication of poverty.

GA Resolution A/RES/47/196 of 31 March 1993

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WORLD FOOD DAY: OCTOBER 16, 2009

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FAO Home Get Involved Home News Highlights Press/publicity Partners Multimedia Donate now! World Food Day TeleFood campaign Goodwill Ambassadors Professional Football Against Hunger Worldwide events Contact         “It is imperative that we support FAO’s campaign, urging young people, who more than adults enjoy the ability to spring into action…”  Rita Levi Montalcini. more…     “Achieving Food Security in Times of Crisis” is the World Food Day 2009 theme. more…     Donations to TeleFood fund small, self-contained agriculture, livestock and fisheries projects that help poor families produce more food. more…     Donations to TeleFood projects Donations to TeleFood projects are designed to give poor families and communities the tools necessary to increase the quantity and variety of food they produce. Not a penny is spent on administrative costs. Although small in scale and cost, TeleFood projects make a significant impact.       Professional Football Against Hunger Over 200 football clubs playing in more than 100 stadiums and millions of football fans will be involved in the first ever Europe-wide football weekend against hunger being held from 20 to 22 March 2009. The campaign aims at raising awareness about the urgent need to fight hunger and poverty. The funds raised during the football weekend will help to finance TeleFood small scale fighting hunger projects around the world. The International Alliance Against Hunger The International Alliance Against Hunger was created in Rome in 2003 on the recommendation of the World Food Summit, to strengthen both global and national resolve to address the scourges of hunger and malnutrition on a scale that matches the enormity of the problems. At global level, the International Alliance brings together major international institutions responsible for agriculture, food and nutrition with a growing number of international NGOs committed to ensuring that all people have enough to eat healthy diets.[…]   The Right to Food The Right to Food information and knowledge system is a knowledge platform to support the progressive realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the context of national food security. […]

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WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY: OCTOBER 10, 2009

World Mental Health Day was started by the World Federation for Mental Health in 1992. 

 

It is a unified effort to promote greater public awareness and understanding of mental health and mental illness. Every year, thousands of people across the world raise awareness and funds for mental health causes. 

 

Each year, on 10 October, the Mental Health Foundation celebrates the day by raising awareness about mental health and wellbeing.

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WORLD POST DAY: OCTOBER 9, 2009

World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Bern. It was declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. Since then, countries across the world participate annually in the celebrations. The Posts in many countries use the event to introduce or promote new postal products and services.

In most countries philatelic exhibitions are organized during this period and special stamps and date cancellation marks are issued on 9 October. Other activities include the display of World Post Day posters in post offices and other public places; open days at post offices, mail centres and postal museums; the holding of conferences, seminars and workshops; as well as cultural, sport and other recreation activities.

A World Post Day message from the Director General of the Universal Postal Union is sent each year to all Posts, read during celebrations and published in the media.

The UPU in cooperation with UNESCO has, for the past 35 years, organized an International Letter-writing Competition for young people. Most participating Posts use World Post Day to award prizes to the winners of the competition.

2009 World Post Day Message from the Director General  17kB Arabic version  59kB Portuguese version  16kB World Post Day activities  154kB Arabic version  173kB Portuguese version  152kB Russian version  291kB Spanish version  153kB 2009 Photo gallery   2008 World Post Day 2008 Photo gallery   2007 World Post Day 2007 Photo gallery   Photo library World Post Day   Contacts International Bureau Contact

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INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY FOR DISASTER REDUCTION: OCTOBER 14, 2009

International Strategy for Disaster Reduction

UNISDR International Environment House II, 7-9 Chemin de Balexert, CH 1219 Chatelaine, Geneva, SwitzerlandTel: +41 22 917 8908/8907 Fax: +41 22 917 8964 isdr@un.org       United Nations

Global Assessment Report launched in Philippines The launch of the 2009 Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR), prepared by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, took place yesterday, 28 October 2009, in the urban village of Barangay Nangka, Marikina City, one of the Metro Manila cities severely affected by floods. The report highlights the underlying drivers of disaster risk; poor urban governance, vulnerable rural livelihood and the decline of ecosystems.  View full story Rachel Shebesh appointed African Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction Rachel Shebesh, Member of Parliament of the Republic of Kenya and Chair of the African Parliamentarian Initiative for Climate Risk Reduction, was appointed today as the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction champion for disaster risk reduction in Africa during the launch of the Black and Green, Ready to Lead campaign that took place at the Pan-African Parliament in Johannesburg, South Africa.  View full story  Get to know UNISDR’s new Champion –  Q & A with Rachel Shebesh Experts and Policy Makers Gather to Discuss Critical Actions for Climate Change Adaptation Global experts and policy makers working on disaster risk reduction begin discussions today at the 2009 Stockholm Policy Forum on Climate-Smart Disaster Risk Reduction. The Forum aims to address the issue of reducing risks associated with weather-related hazards, a key component of climate change adaptation. The Forum will also identify promising practices and critical actions for post-Copenhagen implementation of adaptation. View full story New Legislation in the Philippines places Disaster Risk Reduction as the first line of defense against climate change risks A new climate change law that fully integrates the priorities of the Hyogo Framework for Action – a ten-year blueprint for reducing risks to disasters worldwide – has been passed today by the Philippine Government to address increasing climatic risks. View full story African Parliamentarians agree on concrete actions to reduce the impact of climatic disasters • UNISDR-lead advocacy results in recognition of crucial synergies between disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation N’Djamena- Parliamentarians and Ministers from Central African countries met in Chad last Saturday and recognized disaster risk reduction measures as a main tool to adapt to future climate related disasters that are already affecting many countries in Africa. View full story International Day for Disaster Reduction: new initiatives launched in London The global event of the 2009 International Day for Disaster Reduction was staged at the Royal Marsden Hospital, which was severely damaged by a fire in early 2008. The meeting gathered more than 120 participants from all stakeholder groups and was hosted by the UK Health Protection Agency in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR). View full story Related links 2009 International Day for Disaster Reduction Programme of global event in London incl. slides of presentations Video recording of the London event Opening Remarks by Sir John Holmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (delivered by Helena Molin Valdés, Deputy Director UNISDR) International Day for Disaster Reduction: Disaster Risk Reduction initiative for Nepal launched Katmandu – A new disaster risk reduction initiative for Nepal was launched by a consortium of partners that comprises the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, other United Nations organizations, the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank to mark the 2009 International Day for Disaster Reduction. View full story Online Survey ISDR World Campaign 2010-2011 on urban risk and resilient cities Interested in sharing your ideas, views and possible contributions with us to shape the Campaign? Please participate in our online survey For background information, please consult the Incheon Declaration (outcome document of the international conference ‘Building a Local Government Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction’). The Summit on Climate Change acknowledges disaster risk reduction Disaster risk reduction was highlighted during the one-day Summit on many occasions. The outcome of the Summit, captured in the Chair’s Summary, emphasized clearly that adaptation must be given higher priority and in this context called for greater synergy with disaster risk reduction. View full story UNISDR at World Climate Conference 3 (WCC-3) Geneva International Conference Center, Switzerland, 31 August – 4 September 2009 WCC-3 focuses on how humankind can benefit from the advances in climate prediction and information services to manage climate-related risks as a way of developing resilience through adaptation. Disaster Risk Reduction is a key component of the agenda and UNISDR is directly involved in a variety of events, such as the Opening of the Conference and Plenary Session 4 on Climate Extremes, Warning Systems and Disaster Risk Reduction. Bringing together more than 2 000 climate scientists, sectoral experts and decision-makers, WCC-3  established on 3 September a Global Framework for Climate Services “to strengthen production, availability, delivery and application of science-based climate prediction and services.”

WORLD HABITAT DAY: OCTOBER 5, 2009

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World Habitat Day 2009     World Habitat Awards     Global Observance     Press material     Events around the world     Participate     Scroll of Honour     The 2009 Scroll of Honour Award Winners     Previous Celebrations     Newsletters     Statements and Speeches     Publications     News     Photos     Videos     Contact Us   Events around the world         View all events     World Habitat Day 2009 The United Nations has designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day. The idea is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat. Read more… World Habitat Day 2009 NEWS Obama administration lauds Mrs. Tibaijuka Washington .D.C – 08/10/2009The administration of President Barack Obama this week paid a glowing tribute to UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka saying she has done a commendable job at the agency. See all Feature Stories on World Habitat Day 2009 PARTICIPATE   Global celebration   Around the world   Scroll of Honour Press material   Marketing material MESSAGES ON WORLD HABITAT DAY 2009 The Secretary-General message on World Habitat Day 5 October 2009 The theme of this year’s observance of World Habitat Day, Planning our Urban Future, is meant to underscore the urgency of meeting the needs of city dwellers in a rapidly urbanizing world. Read more English|Arabic|Chinese|French|Russian|Spanish   Statement of the Executive Director, UN-HABITAT On the occasion of World Habitat Day 2009 We have chosen the theme, Planning our Urban Future, for World Habitat Day 2009 for a simple but very important reason: In many parts of our world urban planning systems have changed very little. Indeed, they are often contributors to urban problems rather than tools for human and environmental improvement. Read more English|Arabic|Chinese|French|Russian|Spanish

WORLD TEACHER’S DAY: OCTOBER 5, 2009

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World Teachers’ Day, October 5

World Teachers’ Day, held annually on 5 October since 1994, commemorates the anniversary of the signing in 1966 of the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers. It is an occasion to celebrate the essential role of teachers in providing quality education at all levels. 

World Teachers’ Day 2009 – “Build the future: invest in teachers now!”

World Teachers’ Day 2009 puts the spotlight on the global teacher shortage and the challenges of being a teacher today. 

In our rapidly changing and interdependent world, teachers not only have to ensure that students acquire solid skills in basic subjects, but also that they become responsible local and global citizens, at ease with new technologies and able to make informed decisions about health, the environment and other challenges.

Sustained investment is required to develop a well-trained and motivated teaching force. A global total of 10.3 million teachers should be recruited between 2007 and 2015 just to meet the goal of universal primary education. At a time when the global economic slowdown risks putting tight constraints on education budgets, it is critical that governments support the recruitment, training and professional development of teachers.

 Related Links

Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO 

Press Release

Information note about World Teachers’ Day 2009

Provisional programme 

Education International (Global federation of teacher unions) World Teachers’ Day  page and poster

Hands Up for Education: Education International’s strategy for recovery

United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe: Human Rights Education

UNESCO Institute for Statistics Information Sheet on Global Demand for Teachers

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WORLD SPACE WEEK: OCTOBER 4-10, 2009

The Largest Public Space Event on Earth Celebrated in over 60 Nations every October 4-10    The White House and 60 Nations Celebrate World Space WeekHighlights         Calendar        Fact Sheet        Photos        ThemeOrganize an Event         Coordinate         Volunteer          Donate Posters           Reports          Teacher Guides            All Products Student Flight in Zero G                Washington Awards Reception     “To celebrate each year at the international level the contributions of  space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition” — as declared by the United Nations General Assembly   Promote Your Organization GloballySupport World Space Week Association   World Space Week is Proudly Supported ByHamilton Sundstrand     Turksat    See All   contact us   Copyright ©2000-2009 World Space Week Association.

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