International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

Though UN has implemented various actions to repel the trafficking of illicit drugs, more and more amount of drugs is still spilling over the border.

- Around 200 million people around the world still use illicit drugs
- The production farm of opium increased by 36% in 2014
- The death toll due to abuse of illicit drug has risen to 183000 in the previous year


Despite the consequences, people still don’t back off from the illicit abuse and trafficking of drugs. Over the years the death tolls due to drug abuse has been significantly increasing. Not only has illicit drug been a major reason for premature death but also it has wasted the productive years of many who have fallen under its trap. Though United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime have taken various steps to minimize the abuse of illicit drugs, still  rough report states  that 0.6 percent of the total population falls under the criteria of drug abuse. Despite of government bodies around the world taking necessary steps to minimize drug trafficking and abuse, the issue seems to remain constant. One of its main reasons is the globalization of chemical trade which consequently has diverted the use of chemicals from legal to illegal.

This year, on 26th of June, International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking let’s work towards making our world a drug abuse-free planet. Let’s create a better world.

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World Day for Cultural Diversity

As popular the notion of virtual reality bringing the world together is there is something more that keeps the world and the people together. That thing is cultural diversity.  In November, 2001 the UN General Assembly recognized the role of culture in enabling sustainable development and saw its potential as a source of new ideas and way of thinking. By the end of the next year, the General Assembly had declared 21 May to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity. The observance is the reminder of the rich hub of cultural diverseness that our world is and its importance.

The day is an opportunity to understand the value of cultural diversity and to learn to live together in peace and harmony. Also, the day magnifies the values we can learn from one culture and teach to other, and in doing so develop together. The day also carries a powerful message about social and cultural inclusion, and to some extent can prove to be a tool to eradicate bullying and discrimination. Pen Boutique is proud to be a team with members from diverse communities, races and cultures. Together with all our differences, uniqueness and ways of thinking, we make the company better.  And if the company can function smoothly despite and because of the diverseness, we believe that the world can too.

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International Day of Human Space Flight

On 12 April, 1961 Yuri Gagarin shot off to space to become the first human to fly to space opening numerous pathways and possibilities for space exploration.

To remember the first human spaceflight, the United Nations General Assembly declared the same day 12 April as the International Day of Human Space Fight. The day recognizes cosmic science and technology as crucial contributors to achieve the objectives of sustainable development and improve the welfare of the people. The day also promotes further space exploration but for peaceful purposes, wherein every country and the people benefit from the discoveries made. And yes, we have learned so much about space since the first man shot off to space. Neil Armstrong has stepped on moon and Curiosity has been sending us pictures from Mars, an Earth look-alike planet has been spotted, and so much more has been possible because of one man taking the flight to space.

While it is all good and positive, on this special day let’s also take a minute to recognize a space tool without which space exploring could not have been as easy as it has been. Of course, there are technologies worth millions of dollars on board that have eased the entire process, but a small technology of utter importance has to be the space pens and among them, the Fisher Space pen holds the prestigious position of being the pioneer in space writing tools. Ever since the Apollo 7 mission in 1968, the Fisher Pen has been the standard writing instruments for astronauts in their space missions.

As the story goes, NASA was looking for pens that wouldn’t burn in a 100 percent-oxygen environment. When big pen companies couldn’t find a solution, news came to them that a guy named Paul Fisher could be the answer to their prayer. According to Paul Fisher’s son Cary Fisher, Paul’s reply to the call from NASA was, “Where the heck you guys been? I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for a year!” He had already been working on developing a pen suitable for space, which could write whenever, wherever, however. It took Paul a few years, a whole lot of experiments, tests and failures, to find the ultimate winner – a pressurized pen that didn’t leak and didn’t rely on gravity to push the ink to the ball. While NASA has already moved on to different writing tools for space exploration today, it is worthwhile to acknowledge the importance of Fisher Space Pens. Like without Gagarin going to space, space exploration might not have been as advanced as today, without Fisher Space Pens, astronauts might as well have been stuck with facing dangers of a pencil lead breakage.

Just as April 12 is a reminder of possibilities and knowledge, Fisher Space Pens is a reminder of being different than the usual and winning at doing that. So be different. Different is good.

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Celebrating a Day of Happiness

Happiness is a blurry emotion, because there is no one definition to it. It means different things to different people. And although everyday should be one filled with happiness at every curve, it isn’t always that way. 20 March is the International Day of Happiness as declared by the United Nations. The day gives recognition to the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals in the lives of human beings and promotes the idea that “the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental goal.”

To mark the day this year, United Nations is assembling “the world’s happiest playlist” and musicians including Ed Sheeran, James Blunt, David Guetta and John Legend are contributing to the list. The campaign also encourages everyone to be a part of it by tweeting a song that makes them happiest with the hashtag #HappySoundsLike. While you are at that, find out what makes you happy and how can you make others happy. Research shows that connecting with other people is important to stay happy. So, try starting a conversation with the person sitting next to you on the bus or  at station. If it isn’t your cup of tea, do something else that reflects your happiness. Take dance classes, take up sketching, start a blog, join a cooking school or start one yourself. Do everything that keeps the beautiful upward curve on your lips. Even better, try doing something to make others happy and experience their happiness as it reflects on your face. Stay happy!!

 

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International Day for Tolerance

Jessica Lange once said, “Acceptance and tolerance and forgiveness, those are life-altering lessons”.  When the UN General Assembly gathered the UN Member States in 1996 to pen 16 November as the International Day for Tolerance, their thoughts might have been similar to that of Lange.

With wars blazing across the planet, especially in the name of faith and violence in all shapes and forms surfacing, the International Day for Tolerance seems even more significant today. Observed every year on 16 November, the day is dedicated to educating people about the negative effects of intolerance. It also tends to encourage tolerance and respect towards rights and beliefs of others, focusing on the negative impacts caused by injustice, oppression, racism and discrimination.

Different activities are carried across the globe in different manners by different groups to celebrate the day. Educators write articles about tolerance while human rights activists organize events and speak on human rights law, focusing on banishment and punishment on hate crimes and discrimination. Secretary General of UN, Ban Ki-moon said about this day, " On this International Day of Tolerace, I call on all people and governments to actively combat fear, hatred and extremism with dialogue, understanding and mutual respect. Let us advance against the forces of division and unite for our shared future."

But the actions inspired by this day should not be limited to the day. The day is to advocate and inspire others, while the rest of the 364 days are to work for a tolerant community, city, nation and most importantly a tolerant you. So, let’s join our hands together for a more tolerant society, so that we and the future generation could live in a more harmonious and peaceful society.

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International Day of the Girl Child 2014

What started as a “Because I Am a Girl” project of a non-governmental organization called Plan International, churned enough results to convince Canadian Federal government for support. They in turn proposed “International Day of the Girl Child”, a broader extension of the aforementioned campaign, as a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly. The outcome was 11 October, a date dedicated to girl children all over the world. Its purpose is to endorse girl’s human rights, shed light on the inequalities between girls and boys, and address the discrimination and abuses faced by girls.

Sticking to the purpose of the day, the first International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October 2012 was observed around the world with the theme “ending child marriage”. The second year saw the theme “Innovating for Girls’ Education”. This 11 October, it will be the third “International Day of the Girl Child”, and the theme for this year has been announced to be “Empowering Adolescent Girls: Ending the cycle of violence”. This year the day is focused on raising awareness about the importance of empowering adolescent girls and, preventing and eliminating every form of violence they are subject to.

Here are some facts and figures from UN to help you fathom the reality of violence, discrimination and inequality against girl child all over the world:

• Almost 60 million girls are sexually assaulted at, or on their way to school, annually.
• The same number of girls is estimated to go ‘missing’, mostly in Asia, as an outcome of infanticide, neglect or sex-selected abortions.
• Among 800,000 people trafficked annually, 80% are women and girls. The majority among them are trafficked for reasons of sexual exploitation.
• Up to 5% of women report being physically abused while pregnant. 
• There are over 60 million child brides all over the world. The definition of married life for many of them is violence and abuse.

If the numbers penned above astounds you in anyway, choose to make a difference: Fight to eliminate inequality and discrimination between boys and girls, strive for girl education, raise voice against female infanticide, work to stop violence against girl child and do everything and anything in your power to ensure that girls are not ill treated in any form.

A day has been set, but do not treat it as any other day. Moreover, let us not forget about this subject during the remaining 364 days of the year. Don’t ridicule the purpose by sidelining it on other days. Let the goal be not only for 11 October but every day. Your voice counts, so let it be heard. All over the world, people gather together, men and women to organize events for awareness. Be a part of it and make a difference. And when it is not 11 October, keep fighting for girl children, their rights and security. It is a year-round responsibility that belongs to all of us. Let’s also keep in mind the HeForShe campaign that has been initiated by UN and call out all boys and men to join forces to support girl child and their rights. It is a movement that needs pushing from all of us to be indefinitely successful.

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World Ozone Layer Day

 

World Ozone Layer Day

“A Healthy Atmosphere, The Future We Want”.  The international institution UNEP, United Nations Environment Programme, is celebrating the international day for the Preservation of Ozone Layer, with this theme.

Pen Boutique supports the global efforts to minimize the emission sources that harm the protective ozone layer of our treasured home planet.

Together let's protect what protects us.

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