Local events and training opportunities, and any breaking news of interest to global
educators.
World TB Day
24 March 2012
24 March every year: Raising awareness that tuberculosis (TB) remains an epidemic in much of the world.
World Tuberculosis Day aims to raise awareness that tuberculosis remains an epidemic in much of the world, and is responsible for about 1.6 million deaths each year, mainly in the world's poorest countries.
The date, 24 March, commemorates the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced his discovery of the TB bacillus, the first step towards diagnosing and curing a disease which at the time was raging through Europe and the Americas, causing the death of one out of every seven people.
HIV and TB are linked in that each speeds the other's progress. HIV weakens the immune system, so someone who is HIV-positive and infected with TB is far more likely to become sick with TB than if they were HIV-negative. TB is thus a leading cause of death among people who are HIV-positive, and in Africa, HIV is the single most important factor contributing to the increase in incidence of TB since 1990.
For further information visit the World Health Organization website or the Stop TB Partnership website, where you can find out more about the the Global Plan to Stop TB.
To find further teaching resources to help your school mark World TB Day you could browse through the resources listed on our database under the topics of Health and HIV/AIDS.
(Information copied from Global Dimension Calendar: http://www.globaldimension.org.uk/calendar)
World Meteorological Day
23 March 2012
23 March every year: Celebrating the creation of the World Meteorological Organization on 23 March 1950.
Each year, on 23 March, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), its 188 Members and the worldwide meteorological community celebrate World Meteorological Day around a chosen theme. The Day commemorates the entry into force, on that date in 1950, of the convention creating the WMO.
Each year has a different theme. You can find out more, and download a brochure on the yearly theme, from the WMO website. The site also has pages for young people on weather, climate and water science.
To find resources on the Global Dimension database with a meterological theme you could browse through the climate change listings or do a search on the keyword 'weather'.
(Information copied from Global Dimension Calendar: http://www.globaldimension.org.uk/calendar)
World Water Day
22 March 2012
22 March every year: Focusing on the importance of freshwater and the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
?This day, declared by the UN General Assembly, aims to promote awareness of the extent to which water resource development contributes to economic productivity and social well being.
The theme for World Water Day 2012 is Water and Food Security. It aims to aims to raise awareness of the amount of water needed to produce food. ?You can find out more on the UN World Water Day website. In addition, the UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) have some free downloadable posters showing how much water is 'embedded' in different food products - you can find them on the FAO Water web page.
If you would like some more ideas to help your school mark World Water Day have a read through our article on Water, which provides an introduction to some of the issues.
Or take a look at the classroom discussion suggestions prompted by the Water photo from our Picture the Global Dimension photo activity.
You can also search for teaching resources by browsing through those listed on our database under the topic of 'water'.
(Information copied from Global Dimension Calendar: http://www.globaldimension.org.uk/calendar)
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
21 March 2012
21 March every year: Calling on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.
In 1966 the United Nations declared the first Day for the Elmination of Racial Discrimination to commemorate those who had been killed on 21 March 1960, whilst peacefully protesting against the Apartheid pass laws in South Africa.
You can read more about the Sharpeville Massacre (as it later came to be called) on the BBC 'on this day' website. The UN Photo Library also has a set of photos on Flickr.com about Apartheid in South Africa.
For further details about the UN observation of this Day, visit: www.un.org/en/events/racialdiscriminationday/.
To find materials to help your school combat racism, browse through the resources listed on our database under the topics of Racism or Discrimination or Diversity & inclusion.
(Information copied from Global Dimension Calendar: http://www.globaldimension.org.uk/calendar)
World Poetry Day
21 March 2012
21 March every year: Celebrating poetry and the power of language.
?World Poetry Day was adopted as 21 March by UNESCO in 1999. It is an invitation to reflect on the power of language and the full development of each person’s creative abilities. It also supports linguistic diversity through poetic expression and offers endangered languages the opportunity to be heard within their communities.
Further information is available on the UN World Poetry Day web page.
You could celebrate World Poetry Day in your school by organising readings of poems from different cultures, including from pupils' own cultures. Or investigate different forms of poem, such as the Japanese Haiku or the Arabic Ruba'i. The Wikipedia page on Poetry has various examples.
(Information copied from Global Dimension Calendar: http://www.globaldimension.org.uk/calendar)
World Water Day 2012 - themed open afternoon
15 March 2012
Free Tea-time taster drop in session!
Did you know that one-eighth of the world’s population don’t have access to clean, safe drinking water!
TEA-TIME TASTER - OPEN AFTERNOON - to help prepare for World Water Day on 22 March!
Thursday, 15 March 2012 – 4-7pm
The Global Education Centre, 12 Bramble Street, Derby DE1 1HU
01332 298185
MORE INFO: admin@globaleducationderby.org.uk
Download the flyer here: http://files.invosis.com/ged/20120221060508360_ks0djfafueu.pdf
Commonwealth Day
12 March 2012
Second Monday in March every year: Celebrating Commonwealth links.
An annual event in which the fifty-three member countries of the Commonwealth celebrate their links with one another. Visit the Commonwealth Secretariat website for further details and resources.
If you would like some ideas to help your school celebrate Commonwealth Day, have a browse through resources using the keyword 'Commonwealth'.
(Information copied from Global Dimension Calendar: http://www.globaldimension.org.uk/calendar)
National Science and Engineering Week 2012
09 March 2012
9 to 18 March 2012: Celebrating science, engineering and technology.
?A ten-day celebration of science, engineering and technology, with events, experiments and activities across the UK. A great opportunity for people of all ages, areas and organisations to take part in science, engineering and technology activities. Each year there is a different theme for the week.
Find out more from the British Science Association website >>
Why not give your school's Science Week a global spin, with resources from the Global Dimension database? Browse through the resources listed under 'Science'. Or get some ideas from the following case studies:
» A trip to Nicaragua via the Botanic Garden
» Comparing household waste in different countries
» Climate conscious schools
» Brick making with Uganda
» Saving energy brings schools together
» Medicine and its global roots
» Becoming a better Global Citizen – a challenge for the 21st century
(Information copied from Global Dimension Calendar: http://www.globaldimension.org.uk/calendar)
International Women's Day
08 March 2012
8 March every year: Celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.
?This Day aims to highlight the importance of creating conditions for the elimination of discrimination against women and for their full and equal participation in social development.
For further information about plans for International Women's Day each year, visit the UN International Women's Day web pages or the separate International Women's Day website.
2011 marked 100 years since the first IWD event in 1911. Read our special article prepared for the IWD centenary >>
If you would like to find teaching resources to help your school celebrate International Women's Day then have a browse through the resources listed on our database under the topic of 'gender'.
(Information copied from Global Dimension Calendar: http://www.globaldimension.org.uk/calendar)
World Book Day
01 March 2012
Encouraging children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own: www.worldbookday.com
First Thursday of March every year: Celebrating books and reading.
A day to celebrate the joys of books and reading. Further details on the World Book Day website - www.worldbookday.com.
Why not celebrate World Book Day at school by using books with a global theme? Have a browse through the resources listed on the Global Dimension database under the subject 'English: story/literature'.
(Information copied from Global Dimension Calendar: http://www.globaldimension.org.uk/calendar)