March 21st is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination) and World Poetry Day.
It is a day observed around the world to create awareness on the harmful effects of racism. The United Nations made this designation in 1966 to mark an event that took place on March 21, 1960 in Sharpeville, South Africa when 69 peaceful demonstrators were killed during a protest against apartheid.
Every year, numerous activities aiming to raise public awareness on the issue of racism take place across Canada. The Racism. Stop It! National Video Competition that encourages kids to fight against racism and mobilizes thousands of youth across the country to express their feelings about eliminating racism through video.
Watch some of the winning videos here.
In 1999, UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) March 21st was also declared World Poetry Day. The purpose of the day is to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout the world and, as the UNESCO session declaring the day says, to "give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional and international poetry movements."
I'm seeing a play tonight that examines, of all thing, the poetry of former US Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld. Weird, huh? How are you going to celebrate?
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