December 22^nd is the first day* of:

HANUKKAH 

The History of Hannukah 

  *  Jewish holidays technically begin at sunset the evening before; because a Jewish "day" begins and ends at sunset, rather than at midnight.

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December 21^st is (was?):

The First Day of WINTER

Of winter's lifeless world each tree

Now seems a perfect part;

Yet each one holds summer's secret

Deep down within its heart.

- Charles G. Stater

  What, did you think it already WAS winter??    (Hey – can’t say that I blame you, if you’re in one of those areas where wintery weather has been going on for some time, already!) 

Some Winter Quotes:

“Winter is nature's way of saying, ‘Up yours.’” - Robert Byrne 

“Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius.”  - Pietro Aretino 

 “To shorten winter, borrow some money due in spring.”  - W.J. Vogel 

“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.”  - Victor Hugo  

“I like these cold, gray winter days.  Days like these let you savor a bad mood.”  - Bill Watterson     

“In the depths of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.”  - Albert Camus 

“I was just thinking, if it is really religion with these nudist colonies, they sure must turn atheists in the wintertime.”  - Will Rogers 

Wishing you warmth within your winter wonderlands – wherever they may be. 

© Care-Aware™ 2008 

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Sunday - December 14, 2008, is:

Compassionate Friends’

Worldwide Candle Lighting

(at 7:00 p.m. around the globe)

Light a candle, at that time (7 p.m. locally), for all those who have lost a child (of any age, from any cause).

Sign the online Remembrance Book [click]

Visit Compassionate Friends’ website [click]

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Sunday - December 14, 2008, is:

International Children’s Day of Broadcasting

ICDB is a day when broadcasters globally ‘Tune in to Kids’, & is a joint initiative of UNICEF and the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Visit UNICEF for more ICDB Info. [click]

Visit the MAGIC page [click]

(Media Activities and Good Ideas by, with & for Children)

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Wednesday - December 10th, 2008, is:

Universal Human Rights Day

This is also Universal Human Rights WEEK

DEC is Universal Human Rights Day MONTH

This year marks the celebration of the 60th anniversary

of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

 
Every Human Has Rights - Campaign Highlights from Every Human Has Rights on Vimeo.

"All human beings, whatever their cultural or historical background, suffer when they are intimidated, imprisoned or tortured . . . We must, therefore, insist on a global consensus, not only on the need to respect human rights worldwide, but also on the definition of these rights . . . for it is the inherent nature of all human beings to yearn for freedom, equality and dignity, and they have an equal right to achieve that."  - 14th Dalai Lama

Do you know your rights??

Read the UDHR “Simplified Version” [click]

Take the Universal Human Rights Quiz [click]

Read & Sign the Universal Declaration [click]

“The Universal Declaration... as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations...it not only crystallizes the political thought of our times on these matters, but it has also influenced the thinking of legislators all over the world.”  - Dag Hammarskjöld, Second UN Secretary-General, 1953-1961

'Freedom from fear' could be said to sum up the whole philosophy of human rights.  - Dag Hammarskjöld Second UN Secretary-General, 1953-1961

“Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free.”  - 14th Dalai Lama

Watch the UN Webcast HERE [click]

(LIVE Schedule for Dec 10^th UDHR Events)

Join the Dec 10th online Rally for Human Rights! [click]

"Human rights education is much more than a lesson in schools or a theme for a day; it is a process to equip people with the tools they need to live lives of security and dignity. On this International Human Rights Day, let us continue to work together to develop and nurture in future generations a culture of human rights, to promote freedom, security and peace in all nations."  - Kofi Annan

Every Human Has Rights!

www.everyhumanhasrights.org

“There can be no compromise on the right of personal security; there can be no compromise on securing of human rights.”  - Hubert Humphrey

“No cause can justify the abuse of human rights.”  - Irene Khan

“Give to every human being every right that you claim for yourself.”  - Robert G. Ingersoll

Join with me in standing together for the Universal Human Rights!

“It has long been recognized that an essential element in protecting human rights was a widespread knowledge among the population of what their rights are and how they can be defended.”  - Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Sixth UN Secretary-General, 1992-1996

Momentous Reality

from the book Hope through Heartsongs

written by Mattie Stepanek at age 10

The next century, the next millennium

Is being made now. Today, each second

We could be working towards

World peace, living as one spirit.

Or, we could be working towards

Disaster, chemical and nuclear wars.

The harmony and existence of the future

Depends on the harmony and existence

Of each individual here, today.

We must be brave going into the future.

We must remember to play after each storm.

We must not live in fear of bad things

Blocking our way or overcoming our optimism.

If we can work together to face the future,

If we can unite as one,

Then our future will look and be very bright…

This poem of Mattie’s was featured in Sister Anne Munley’s (IHM, Ph.D.) Welcoming Remarks at the Fifth Session of the Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom – which was held at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA, on Sunday, November 23, 2008.  [You may remember Mattie as the young poet & peacemaker (among other things) who had a form of MD - stellar young man (RIP).]

“This is the duty of our generation as we enter the twenty-first century -- solidarity with the weak, the persecuted, the lonely, the sick, and those in despair. It is expressed by the desire to give a noble and humanizing meaning to a community in which all members will define themselves not by their own identity but by that of others.”  - Elie Wiesel

“We've got to take back the ideal of justice, we've got to take back this principle of human dignity. We've got to take it back from vengeance, from hatred, we've got to say: look, we're all in this together. We are human beings.”  - David Kaczynski

“I am the inferior of any man whose rights I trample underfoot.”  - Horace Greeley

For more on the UDHR & Universal Human Rights Day, visit:  www.un.org/events/humanrights/2008

Friday, December 5th, 2008, is:

International Volunteer Day

International Volunteer Day recognizes the contribution of volunteerism to peace and development.

Visit the United Nations’ UN Volunteers website [click]

…& their newly-launched Online Volunteering website [click]

…& it’s also:

National Communicate With Your Kids Day

Get quick tips & resources, visit:

Family Guide website [click]

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This Week – December 1^st through the 7^th –  is:

Aplastic Anemia Awareness Week

To learn more about Aplastic Anemia, visit www.aamds.org  &  www.josefwood.com.

To donate blood &/or marrow, visit www.givelife.org  &  www.marrow.org.

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Visit the Care-Aware home page (if you’re not there already):  http://care-aware.spaces.live.

Wednesday December 3rd, 2008, is:

International Day of Persons with Disabilities*

December is Universal Human Rights MONTH

The 2008 Theme for IDPD is:

“Dignity and justice for all of us.”

• Around 10 per cent of the world’s population, or 650 million people, live with disabilities.

• All over the world, persons with disabilities continue to face barriers to their participation in society and are often forced to live on the margins of society.  They are routinely denied basic rights such as to equal recognition before the law and legal capacity, freedom of expression and opinion, and the right to participate in political and public life, such as voting.

• The rights to education and health are also routinely denied.   Ninety per cent of children with disabilities in developing countries do not attend school, says UNESCO.

• Approximately 20 million women acquire disabilities as a result of complications during pregnancy or childbirth.

• Many persons with disabilities are forced into institutions, a direct breach of the rights to freedom of movement and to live in the community.

• For persons with disabilities, as for all persons, the denial of one right can lead to the denial of other rights and opportunities throughout their lives.

• Eighty per cent of persons with disabilities – more than 400 million people – live in poor countries and there is a strong link between disability and poverty.  In developing countries, 80 per cent to 90 per cent of persons with disabilities of working age unemployed and in industrialized countries it is estimated to be between 50 per cent and 70 per cent.

On May 3^rd, 2008, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol were put into force.  This Convention includes a statement which asks that States Parties take steps to safeguard and promote the realization of the right to an adequate standard of living and social protection, including ensuring “access by persons with disabilities and their families living in situations of poverty to assistance from the State with disability-related expenses, including adequate training, counseling, financial assistance and respite care.”  It also clearly reaffirms that persons with disabilities have the right to full and equal enjoyment of their human rights; & marks a clear reaffirmation of the principles of ‘dignity and justice for all of us’.

*  Note: The official title of the Day was changed from “International Day of Disabled Persons” to “International Day of Persons with Disabilities” by the UN General Assembly in December of 2007.

Source:  United Nations enable – Visit www.un.org/disabilities

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Monday, Dec 1st is:

World AIDS Day

“Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.”

2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day.

• Leaders in most countries from around the world now acknowledge the threat of AIDS, and many have committed to do something about it. As of 2007, nearly all countries have national policies on HIV.  However, despite these policies, most have not been fully implemented and many lack funding allocations.

• While treatment for HIV and AIDS has improved and become more widespread since 1988, many still do not have access to it – in 2007 only 31% of those in low- to middle-income countries who need treatment received it.

• Despite HIV awareness now reaching nearly all areas of the globe, infection rates are still happening 2.7 times faster than the increase in number of people receiving treatment.

• While the number of countries protecting people living with HIV continues to increase, one third of countries still lack legal protections and stigma and discrimination continues to be a major threat to universal access.

• More broadly, real action on HIV and AIDS and human rights remains lacking. Legal barriers to HIV services still exist for groups such as women, adolescents, sex workers, people who use drugs, and men having sex with men, and programmatic responses promoting HIV-related human rights have yet to be prioritized.

Current Goal:  Universal access to comprehensive prevention programs, treatment, care and support by 2010.

Pledge your leadership to help stop AIDS (goal - at least 100,000 signees):

Visit http://pledges.worldaidscampaign.info [click]

(click on your country - then on the red ribbon, there)

Source: world aids campaign – visit www.worldaidscampaign.org

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