Holiday Of Poetry

Collection of poetry by Turkmen poet Mollanepes presented in Moscow

The collection of poetry by outstanding Turkmen poet Mollanepes, whose 200th anniversary will be celebrated in Turkmenistan later this year, were presented at the House of Cinema in Moscow on 13 May. The books of poetry were published in Russian language. The presentation was timed to coincide with the upcoming state holiday of Turkmenistan - the Day of Revival, Unity and Poetry of Makhtumkuli Fragi. The presentation ceremony brought together representatives of the Russian intelligentsia, representatives of the Turkmen diaspora living in Russia's regions, as well as boys and girls of Turkmenistan studying in local high schools. All guests of the event had the opportunity to buy the original print edition "Mollanepes", which was compiled by the editorial office of the international magazine "Turkmenistan" and published with the support of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the Russian Federation. There were released 3,000 copies of the book featuring about one hundred classic and new translations of Mollanepes's poems. The ceremony was opened by the Ambassador of Turkmenistan to the Russian Federation, Khalnazar Agakhanov, who congratulated the guests on the upcoming holiday and noted that the new book was another activity in a series of cultural events taking place this year in various Russian cities as part of the Days of Turkmenistan in Russia.The ceremony was also attended by the guests of honor - authors of translations of Mollanepes's poetry. They are poet Valentin Sorokin, Winner of State Prize of Russia, Literary Prize named after Yesenin; poet Ivan Golubnichy, Secretary of the Writers' Union of Russia, Honored Worker of Culture of Russia; poet Ludmila Schipahina, Winner of the International Literary Prize named after Sholokhov, Honored Worker of Culture of Turkmenistan, who shared with the audience their impressions of the book. Professor Shaukat Niazi, actress Mayyagozel Aymedova, writer Rinat Mukhamadiev also shared their personal experience of reading the poems of Mollanepes and his great predecessor - Makhtumkuli. Musicians Mamed Guseinov and Eugene Zausov performed compositions by composer Nury Khalmamedov and their own compositions. Turkmen students studying in the art universities of the Russian capital declaimed their favorite verses from the art heritage of the Turkmen poets and poems of Russian classics. The ceremony continued with the demonstration of the two-part feature film "Fraghi - separated from happiness" screened by Hodzhakuli Narliev, film director, State Prize winner of USSR and Turkmenistan, People's Artist of USSR. The film lasted almost half an hour, giving the audience an idea of the creative development of Magtymguly Fragi, his time, feelings and thoughts of the poet. According to the common opining of guests gathered in the Moscow House of Cinema on the occasion of the upcoming Day of Revival, Unity and Poetry of Makhtumkuli Fragi, the Russian public's acquaintance with the Turkmen spiritual heritage through literature and film industry will benefit the ongoing process of mutual enrichment of cultures of Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation, strengthening the ties of friendship of the two nations.

The International Museum Day is a celebration that is held each year on or about 18 May. Each year, the Advisory Committee of the Internation Council Of Museum (ICOM) defines a specific theme for International Museum Day.

“ The event provides the opportunity for museum professionals to meet the public and alert them to the challenges that museums face if they are to be — as in the ICOM definition of museums — 'an institution in the service of society and of its development."

The theme for 2010 is "Museums for Social Harmony".

Red Hill Holiday Russia -16 May 2010

Description:
The first Sunday after Easter is known to Russians as the ‘Red Hill Holiday'. A celebration of spring, it is a time when the people of Russia welcome spring into their lands after the cold, hard winter and the first budding leaves of spring are met with singing and dancing. The day is also considered to be an extremely fortuitous day for weddings and there's always a rush on churches to ensure marriages are blessed with a little 'Red Hill' luck.

South Korea Teacher's Day - May 15th

The South Korea Teacher’s Day every 15th of May is one of the most exciting celebrations in the country. Since the government declared this national teacher’s day there have been many good preparations in the past. This year promises to be another abundant teacher appreciation day in the country.

The following are line up of traditional activities in most schools in the country when the 15th of May comes.

Carnation Giving

Many students would offer Carnation flowers to the teachers as this is the most traditional ways of celebrating the teacher appreciation day. This is also a show of respect of students to the generosity of the teachers in sharing the information and knowledge. This tradition has been in Korea since 1963.Love cardsAnother traditional way of respecting the teachers is by giving them love cards. Thousands of students would prepare their personalized cards and give them to their favourite teachers. Those who can afford to buy commercial cards are also allowed but not compulsory. Many teachers believe that even this is only a simple traditional way but they would always love to read love card messages from their students.

Parties

Since Korea is one of the progressive countries in Far East, the education department is also given ample budget for this kind of celebration. With South Korea’s over 50 million people education could be playing great role in educating the thousands of Koreans. Big colleges and universities would always look up of giving special parties to their teachers as well as give awards and recognitions. During parties, the host would also prepare the country’s top delicacies to make the teacher very special in their night. The finale would be the awarding of the most outstanding teachers in their fields of endeavour.

Liberia - Unification Day-----------14May

We here in the United States get cranky at our politicians for the slightest misstep, like plunging our country into bankruptcy or sending our children into misguided opportunistic wars.
Yet our stalwart Liberian cousins put up with 14 years of civil war before finally giving their leaders the boot in 2005. The rallying cry of the president to-be?
“All the men have failed Liberia. Let’s try a woman this time!”
In November 2005 the Liberians elected Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to the highest office in the country, becoming Africa’s first elected woman head of state.
President Sirleaf declared:
“My administration shall thus endeavor to give Liberian women prominence in all affairs of our country…. We will also try to provide economic programs that enable Liberian women — particuarly our market women — to assume their proper place in our economic process.”
Americans may not know it, but the U.S. has played a pivotal role in Liberian history over the past two centuries, unparalleled in transAtlantic history. Back in 1817 the American Colonization Society purchased land in on the West African coast to emigrate freed African-American men, women and children. The motives for doing so were as different as the Society’s members, which included abolitionists and slave owners. Some saw emigration as the road to freedom for African Americans; others saw it as an alternative to integration in order to maintain a homogenous white state.
According to From Plantation to Ghetto:
“In the main, free blacks were suspicious of the motives of the American Colonization Society and strongly opposed it.”
Over 3,000 free blacks met in Philadelphia to protest the Society in the year of its founding.
However, over the next 40 years the well-funded ACS “repatriated” 13,000 African Americans to live in Liberia.
The Society’s involvement in Liberia lessened after 1847 when the Americo-Liberians (those who emigrated from the U.S.) declared Liberia an independent nation. Americo-Liberians modeled Liberia after the U.S. in a number of ways. The name Liberia itself means “Land of the Free.” Its capital is Monrovia, named for President James Monroe. Its flag, government and constitution are modeled on that of the U.S. It became the first African republic in 1847, though the U.S. didn’t recognize its independence until 1862.
Liberia received monetary support from the United States over the years. Despite the fact that Americo-Liberians constituted a small minority of the population, the “Americans” as they were called, controlled the government and dominated the African population for the next 150 years.
“That is, because they were not regarded as citizens in in America, they too, did not recognize the indigenous inhabitants as citizens of the new Republic.” — Unification and Integration in Retrospect – Sehgran K. Gomah
In fact, as late as the 1930’s, the League of Nations censured the Liberian government for the forced labor of its indigenous population. Even after the abolishment of forced labor, indigenous Liberians remained disenfranchised second-class citizens until 1951. President William V.S. Tubman was a major proponent of integration and unification during his 28 years as President (1943-1971). Under his leadership, the government declared May 14 National Unification Day (during the 1959/1960 legislative session) to celebrate the integration of American and indigenous Liberians.
President Sirleaf reinvigorated National Unification (and Integration) Day in 2007, calling on Liberians work together to heal the wounds of a decade and a half of civil war.
“In November 2005, Liberian women strapped their babies on their backs and flocked to voting tables all across their war-racked country to elect Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as Africa’s first female president. It was a seminal moment in the political history of not just Liberia but the entire continent, where patriarchal rule has long dominated, leaving African women on the sidelines to fetch water, carry logs, tend farms, sell market wares and bear the children of their rapists, while their menfolk launched one pointless war after another.”

Freedom Day In South Africa

Freedom Day is an annual celebration of South Africa's first non-racial democratic elections of 1994. Peace, unity, the preservation and the restoration of human dignity hallmark Freedom Day celebrations on the 27th of April of each year.

The road to democracy was a long and difficult one. Since the arrival of the White man at the Cape in 1652, the indigenous peoples of South Africa came under White control and domination. Soon all peoples of color were denied the vote and hence a say in the running of the country. South Africa was never truly independent nor democratic. The exclusion of the majority of South Africans from political power was at the centre of the liberation struggle and resistance to white minority rule.
Despite much opposition to White rule to halt white encroachment on black land in South Africa, blacks were systematically herded into restricted areas and homelands and their rights to equal opportunity denied.

With the formation of the South African Native National Congress (which later became the African National Congress (ANC)) in 1912, the resistance movement became formalized. The ANC strived to improve the conditions of the blacks. Its task became more difficult after the Nationalist Party victory of 1948 - when the grand machinery of Apartheid was put into motion and became law. Each race was given different privileges, some more and others less.
Nevertheless, the ANC and its allies continued to seek the freedom of all its peoples and continued to challenge the unjust apartheid laws. When The Congress of the People (held in Kliptown in 1955), adopted the Freedom Charter, the blue-print for a democratic South Africa was laid. The Charter affirmed 'that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no Government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of the people'.
In 1961 South Africa became a Republic and the 31st of May was declared a national holiday (Republic Day) by the National Party, yet it was never celebrated by all South Africans. The Umkonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the ANC was formed during this period as a means of armed resistance. Many of the leaders were banned, imprisoned and tortured

After 1976 the liberation struggle gained momentum. The Soweto Uprising of 1976 saw increased militancy. Trade Union movements started to revive and assert the rights of workers. Hundreds of residents' associations, sports, student, women's and religious organizations joined the resistance struggle. The Church could no longer stand by silently and added its voice to the liberation struggle.
In 1984, the Government introduced the Tri-cameral parliament, giving Colored and Indians the right to vote. The Blacks, who were in the majority, were excluded from this formula. The United Democratic Front (UDF), launched in 1983, brought over 600 organizations together to demand the scrapping of the Tri-cameral parliament. In 1985 the Government declared a State of Emergency in an attempt to suppress the freedom movement.

By 1988 a stalemate had been reached. The Government began looking for a way out and as a result started negotiations with the ANC leadership. The ANC, South African Communist Party (SACP), Pan African Congress (PAC) and other organizations were unbanned on 2 February 1990. A non-racial constitution was eventually agreed upon and adopted in 1993. The new Constitution came into effect on 27 April 1994, the day the nation cast its vote in the first democratic election in the country. The ANC was voted into power and Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the President of South Africa on 10 May.

Significance of Freedom Day

Today, our country celebrates Freedom Day to mark the liberation of our country and its people from a long period of colonialism and white minority domination - which means that we no longer have the situation in which political power is enjoyed and exercised by a minority of our population, to the exclusion of the majority. Freedom Day is not an African National Congress day, but a day for all South Africans. When South Africa was liberated both the oppressor and oppressed were liberated. We pledge "Never again would a minority government impose itself on the majority".
South Africans are "One people with one destiny". It is therefore imperative for South Africans of diverse political and economic backgrounds to work towards a common objective. On Freedom Day we celebrate the relentless efforts of those who fought for liberation, of the many men and women who took up arms and courted imprisonment, bannings and torture on behalf of the oppressed masses.

However "Are we really free when our people remain poor, when there is mass unemployment, unwarranted violence and crime"? Freedom should mean emancipation from poverty, unemployment, racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination- but poverty continues to exist, with black people, women, children, the disabled and the elderly. "We need to continue to work to eradicate poverty, racial inequalities and socio-economic disparities," Freedom Day means something very valuable, the necessary condition for us to achieve the vital and fundamental objective of a better life for all.

On Freedom Day, we commit ourselves to ensuring the defence of the sacred freedoms that we had won as a result of a long, difficult and costly struggle. We remind ourselves that the guarantee of these freedoms requires permanent vigilance. It is our pledge to devote ourselves to continue to work to wipe out the legacy of racism in our country. We need to ensure that all our people enjoy these freedoms not merely as theoretical rights but they must form the daily life experience of all South Africans.

Jan 01
Global Family Day
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World Braille Day
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World Literary Day
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International Thank-You Day
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World Leprosy Day
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Darwin Day
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International Mother Language Day
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World Book Day
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World Down Syndrome Day
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World Day for Water
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World Meteorological Day
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Earth Hour – 8pm Local Time
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International Children’s Book Day
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World Health Day
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Yuri`s Night
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International Special Librarian’s Day
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International Creativity and Innovation Day
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Earth Day
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World Copyright Day
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International Midwives Day
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World Red Cross Day
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World Lupus Day
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International Nurses Day
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EEE Global Engineering Day
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International Day of Families
May 18

International Museum Day
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World Day for Cultural Diversity
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International Day for Biological Diversity
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World Turtle Day
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World Schizophrenia Day
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Towel Day
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World No-Tobacco Day
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World Ocean Day
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World Blood Donor Day
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International Day of the African Child
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World Day to Combat Desertification & Drought
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World Refugee Day
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International Day Against Drug Abuse & Trafficking
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World Population Day
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World Snake Day
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Universal & International Infinity Day
Aug 07

International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
Aug 10

International Biodiesel Day
Aug 12I

nternational Youth Day
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International Lefthanders Day
Aug 14

World Lizard Day
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International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade & its Abolition
Sep 08

International Literacy Day
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International Chocolate Day
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Software Freedom Day
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International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
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Talk Like a Pirate Day
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World Gratitude Day
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World Car-Free Day
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Inventors Day
Oct 01

International Music Day
Oct 02

World Farm Animals Day
Oct 03

World Temperance Day
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World Animal Day
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World Teacher’s Day
Oct 10

World Mental Health Day
Oct 16

World Food Day
Oct 17

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Oct 24

United Nations Day
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International Internet Day
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World Town Planning Day
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International Day for Tolerance
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World Television Day
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International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Nov 30

International Computer Security Day
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World AIDS Day
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International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
Dec 05

International Volunteers Day
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International Civil Aviation Day
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Human Rights Day