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| Sunday, 4 December 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Human Rights Day - December 10 : Equal rights for all
All human beings, whether they are men, women or children, have the right to live their lives in dignity and freedom. Whether we are rich or poor, black or white, tall or short, all of us are entitled to the same rights and privileges. But is equal rights for all a reality in today's world? Hardly. We see many disadvantaged sections of people denied even their basic rights. Human rights are ignored or dismissed around the world, especially where wars are being fought. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, states that "...the equal and inalienable Right of all members of the Human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world". The anniversary of the adoption of this Declaration has been marked by the General Assembly as Human Rights Day. In 1950, all states and interested organisations were invited by the UN to observe December 10 as Human Rights Day. The Day reminds us of the human rights (HR) problems lingering in our communities and in the world, and calls for efforts on everyone's part to make them a reality for all. Activities connected with the Day are led by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva, Switzerland, New York, USA and its field offices. The OHCHR, which has as its mission 'protecting and promoting all human rights for all', works in association with UNESCO. Last year saw the conclusion of the Decade on HR Education. The year 2005 ushered in a World Programme for HR Education, of which the first phase to be carried out from 2005 to 2007 will be devoted to HR education in primary and secondary school systems. An education on human rights is essential for all to lead a life of dignity and security. A human rights culture is needed for harmonious and peaceful development. The improvement of HR education has long been recognised by the international community; allocating a prominent place for this at the Vienna World Conference on HR in 1993, and the UN observing the Decade on HR Education are proof of this. The HR Day should be used to organise education activities, spread good practices and launch future initiatives. It is a day to honour HR educators and defenders who strive to safeguard human rights in all corners of the world, at great risk to their own lives.However, this education should not be confined to a day. It is a lifelong process through which people learn respect for the dignity of others and the need for ensuring that respect in all societies. ####### Aviation - bringing the world closer
Aviation is absolutely necessary in the modern world where people travel all over the world for education, business and on holidays. It's vital to global diplomacy and the evolution of the global society. Air travel has brought the world closer. From the moment the Wright brothers took to air, aviation has grown by leaps and bounds. Aviation is so important in the modern world, that there is even a special day to focus on the benefits the world has seen as a result of aviation. December 7 was declared as the International Civil Aviation Day in 1996, by the United Nations General Assembly, which urged governments as well as national, regional, international and inter-governmental organisations to take steps to observe it. The Day had been declared in 1992 by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a UN specialised agency, to highlight and advance the benefits of international civil aviation. Observation of the Day started on December 7, 1994 - the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation in 1944, which established the ICAO. The Day was recognised by the UN in 1996. The purpose of the special observations is to generate and strengthen public awareness on the importance of international civil aviation in the social and economic development of states, and of the role of the ICAO in promoting safety, efficiency and regularity of international air transport. ########## Reconstructing tsunami-affected schools Schools numbering 182 in the North, East and South, which were almost completely destroyed by last year's tsunami, will be reconstructed within the next few months, with financial aid that has already been received from foreign aid organisations. Steps will also be taken to rehabilitate and resettle tsunami victims housed in a further 446 schools. Some of the schools in the coastal belts of North, East and South were almost completely washed away by the tidal waves, and the school buildings, desks and benches, school and laboratory equipment and playgrounds of these affected schools have to be replaced, for the children to resume their normal studies. The Government is expecting to launch this project of rehabilitation
and reconstruction immediately, in order to restore normalcy in the
education system of the affected areas. |
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| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
Imagine a world without aircraft, air travel or aviation. Just how
difficult would it be to travel from one country to another, even from one
city to another, far away, if not for aviation? You'd have to travel by
ship, which is very slow, or by train, which is even slower. A journey by
plane, which would only take a few hours, could take days by ship. 
