From the United Nations: “Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. But achieving true peace entails much more than laying down arms. It requires the building of societies where all members feel that they can flourish. It involves creating a world in which people are treated equally, regardless of their race.”
June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada. Join us in your School Library as we learn more about the history of the First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples of Canada.
Come down to the School Library to check out our display of items related to Canadians of Asian Heritage, as well as the history and culture of the peoples of Asia and the movement of Asian people around the world.
Eid Mubarak! As Ramadan comes to an end, Muslims in Canada and around the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr. Observant Muslims spent the holy month of Ramadan fasting during daylight hours, and with the arrival of Eid, feasting can begin.
Join us in your School Library as we celebrate Asian Heritage Month in May. Canada is a country filled with people who have backgrounds and heritage from all over the globe, including the vast landmass we call Asia. Canada has a long history of immigrants coming from such places as China, India, Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam and the many other nations of Asia, including places in the west of the continent such as Syria, Iraq, Georgia, Israel and Palestine. Be sure to visit us, both in person and online, to find out more.
Beltane is the ancient Celtic festival marking the beginning of summer. Bealtaine, (or various other spellings) is old Irish for “bright fire” or “mouth of fire.” On Beltane great bonfires may be lit, so it also known as the Fire Festival. Beltane is celebrated on the evening of April 30 into the day of May 1st. Beltane is celebrated in Ireland, Scotland and in other places where people have tried to revive Celtic festivals and observances. Remnants of Beltane traditions can be seen in many May Day festivals, including parts of Canada, such as Newfoundland.
Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, is the day that Jews around the world remember the six million who perished in the Holocaust. In Israel it is a national day of observance known officially as Yom Hazikaron laShoah ve-laG’vurah, in English “Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day.” In addition to remembrance of the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust, the day is also used to celebrate acts of resistance and heroism on the part of survivors and allies.
This year Yom HaShoah begins on the evening of April 27 and continues until sundown on April 28.
Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-N0827-318 / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE via Wikimedia Commons
Find out more about the Holocaust, the systematic mass-murder of more than 6 million Jews, and other groups, targeted by the Nazis and their allies:
Earth is our home. Earth is the only planet that we know of that has life. Earth is the only planet in the galaxy that is known to have the capacity to support life of any kind, much less human life. Earth is all we have.
There may be other planets in the universe with life. There may even be other planets in the universe that could support human life. However, so far we have no evidence of any such planets.
Even if we were to discover another planet that could sustain human life, we lack the technology to travel to such a planet. We may develop the necessary technology in the future, but we are not close to such a possibility.
In the meantime, we are destroying our home. Our only home.
The scientific consensus is that human actions, specifically the burning of fossil fuels, is responsible for climate change. (source: UN) If left unchecked, this climate change will have catastrophic results that could destroy civilization, result in mass extinctions of plant and animal life, and even threaten the future survival of humanity.
In the incomprehensible vastness of the universe, our comparatively tiny, seemingly insignificant little rock is actually far from insignificant. Our planet is incredible and it is a miraculous gift. We must recognize how precious this place is. We must do whatever it takes to protect it, for all of our sakes.
Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School Library 