Did you know that today (December 7) is International Civil Aviation Day? The purpose of the event, which is organised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), is to generate and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation in the social and economic development of States. It also emphasises ICAO’s role in promoting the safety, efficiency and regularity of international air transport.

The day had been declared in 1992 by the Assembly of the ICAO, a specialised UN agency, to highlight and advance the benefits of international civil aviation. Observations started in 1994, on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which established the ICAO.

It has been recognized by the UN since 1996. The UN has also urged governments, as well as national, regional, international and inter-governmental organisations, to take steps to observe the event.

The ICAO, which has its headquarters in Montreal, Canada, lays down the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth.

Its Council adopts standards and recommended practices concerning air navigation, prevention of unlawful interference, and facilitation of border-crossing procedures for international civil aviation.

It also defines the standards for air accident investigation followed by transport safety authorities in countries signatory to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, commonly known as the Chicago Convention.

* World AIDS Day on December 1

The day is organised every year to drive home the seriousness of AIDS, which is one of the most dreaded diseases in the world. The event was held for the first time in 1988, and is not just about raising money for research, but also about increasing awareness, fighting prejudice(unreasonable dislike) and improving education. World AIDS Day was originally organised by UNAIDS, but from 2005, it had been organised by an independent organisation known as The World AIDS Campaign.

*International Day of Disabled

Persons on December 3

The day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase public awareness about the gains to be had from getting the full contribution of differently abled people in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

* International Volunteer Day
on December 5

Formally known as the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development, it aims to thank volunteers for their efforts and increase public awareness on their contribution to society.

It provides an opportunity for organisations involving volunteers and individual volunteers to work together on projects and campaigns promoting their contributions to economic and social development at local, national and international levels. Designated by the United Nations in December 17, 1985, the day’s events are led by non-governmental organisations such as the Red Cross, scouts and others including UN Volunteers.

Do you take good care of your school books? If you didn’t until now, it’s time you started doing so.

Besides making maximum use of these books, which require much funds to produce, you also stand to win gifts by taking good care of your books.

There are some schoolchildren who intentionally spoil the textbooks provided to them free by the Government.

This should never be done as so much money is spent annually to print school books. Besides, many other children can make use of them if they are handed back in good condition at the end of the year. To prevent the unwarranted spoilage of school textbooks and to make the best use of them, the Education Ministry has now introduced a new mechanism.

Accordingly, the Ministry has already issued a circular to all principals and educational officials, advising them to take measures to reuse textbooks while bringing down the rate of spoiling.

School principals have been advised to summon a meeting of schoolchildren before the final day of the last school term. On this day, named as ‘Books Distribution Day’, the principals would advise the students on the importance of keeping the textbooks neat and tidy.

Then the students will hand over the textbooks they had used to junior students. To encourage children in this regard, the Ministry will offer gifts and certificates for three students who have utilised their textbooks carefully and neatly.

The Government allocates considerable funds every year from the National Budget for the provision of textbooks to students throughout the country.

By Ruzaik Farook

The Hajj festival would be celebrated by Muslims around the world on December 9. Still responding to that original call of Ibrahim Alahiwasallam and following in the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad, over two million people from every corner of the globe gather at Mecca to perform Hajj every year.

Along with the profession (declaration) of faith, daily prayers, a month-long annual fast and charity to the poor, Hajj is one of the five tenets of Islam. Hajj is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for every Muslim, male or female, provided he/she is healthy enough to travel and has the means to undertake the pilgrimage.

One very important obligation during Hajj is the wearing of unstitched clothing comprising two sheets (women wear normal clothes with a scarf to cover the head). All men, rich or poor, black or white, are dressed this way, so that all men of all countries look alike in identical, simple garments, and no pilgrim may feel tempted to take pride of place over another.

The Sacred Mosque of Mecca, due to continuous expansion, can accommodate about one million pilgrims at one time. Here the pilgrims encircle the holy Kabah seven times. Near the Kabah, are two small hills called Safa and Marwah - “Signs of God” as they are described in the Quran.

The hills, which were previously outside the precincts of the Sacred Mosque, have now been enclosed within its boundaries. The pilgrims walk briskly back and forth seven times between these hills, a distance of about 394 metres.

This rite is performed in memory of Abraham’s wife, Hagar, who ran helplessly between the two hills seven times in search of water for her baby, Ishmael, who was crying from thirst. God was pleased and a miracle took place - a spring gushed forth from which the baby could drink water. The well, known as Zamzam, still quenches pilgrims’ thirst.

On the first day of Hajj, the pilgrims set out for Mina, a small town about three miles from Mecca. Here the pilgrims stay three nights and three days.

As one of the rites of Hajj, the pilgrims throw small pebbles at stone pillars, which symbolise the devil within people. From Mina, the pilgrims go on to Arafat, where the climax of the pilgrimage - “the standing of Arafat” takes place. The centre of attention is the 200 feet high Mount of Mercy from which the Prophet Muhammad preached his last sermon in 632 AD.

The International Mountain Day is commemorated on December 11. The event is spearheaded by the Food and Agriculture Organisation in collaboration with various partners, particularly the Centre for Development and the Environment in Switzerland.

The Day is an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build partnerships that will bring positive change to the world’s mountains and highlands.

International Mountain Day was declared by the UN General Assembly and has been celebrated from 2003.

This decision results from the success of the UN International Year of Mountains in 2002, which increased global awareness of the importance of mountains, stimulated the establishment of national committees in 78 countries and strengthened alliances through promoting the creation of the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions, known as the Mountain Partnership.

The International Human Rights Day would be celebrated in all corners of the world on December 10. The annual event, which is being held for the 60th time this year, commemorates the day in 1948 when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. It was formally celebrated from 1950.

The UDHR lays down the basic guidelines for human rights that all human beings are entitled to.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) plays a leading role in coordinating the annual efforts made towards the observation of the day. It helps protect and promote human rights in all corners of the world. The OHCHR is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and is also present in over 40 countries.