International Women's Day

Reading some facts is just shocking.
The UN gave official sanction to the International Women's Year in 1975 and since then sponsors International Women's Day.
It is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women.
But... is this still a men's world?
The day remains an official holiday in Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam, and is observed by men giving the women in their lives - mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc., flowers and small gifts.
So, this one goes to an incredible girl. The girl I am in love with! Natalie, thanks for everything! Jeg elsker deg!! :W

Language Movement Day

ভাষা আন্দোলন দিবস, in Bengali. Two days ago, we had the Intrnational Mother Tongue Day. And it was set on that day by UNESCO as an international recognition of this day in Bangladesh life.
Bangladesh declared its independence from Pakistan in 1971. Discontent against Pakistan's "Urdu-only" policy had spilled into mass agitation since 1948 and reached its climactic strength after police fired upon and killed student demonstrators on February 21, 1952.
You can read the complete history at Wikipedia and at Mukto-Mona.

International Mother Language Day

Today is the International Mother Language Day. It's objective is to promote the linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
UNESCO started celebrating it in 2000. They selected February 21st because Bangladesh had been commemorating the Language Movement Day since 1952.
This year, the theme will be devoted to the topic of multilingualism.
The programm includes:

• Multilingualism in Romance-Language countries

• Mother writing

• Philosophy: a riddle of words

• The challenges of bridge building: from mother tongue to multilingual education

To download the poster: in English, in French, black version.

How important is your mother tongue? BBC article.