MARCH 8th, WOMEN'S DAY: 5 FACTS & VOCABULARY

 

80th ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF AUSCHWITZ (+ HISTORY IDIOMS)

 Video BBC coverage of the memorial 27/1/2025:

IDIOMS RELATED WITH "HISTORY":

8-MARCH: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2022

Inspiring quotes about empowering women on their international day:

“To tell a woman everything she cannot do is to tell her what she can.” – A Spanish Prover

“The best protection any woman can have is courage.” – Elizabeth Cady Stanton

“Where there is a woman, there is magic.” – Ntozake Shange

“You were given this life because you are strong enough to live it.” – Ain Eineziz

“Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world.” – Hillary Clinton

“A girl should be two things: Who and what she wants.” – Coco Chanel

“She wasn’t looking for a knight. She was looking for a sword.” – Atticus Poetry

“There’s nothing a man can do that I can’t do better and in heels.” – Ginger Rogers

“Above all, be the heroine of your life. Not the victim.” – Nora Ephron

“She is a Dreamer, she is a believer, she is a doer, she is an achiever, and that she is “You”. Happy Women’s Day.”  – Hassan Saleem

“Life is tough, my darling, but so are you.” – Stephanie Bennett Henry

“A strong woman looks a challenge in the eye and gives it a wink.” – Gloria Steinem

“Your life isn’t yours if you constantly care what others think.” – Norm Kelly

“If you have a dream, make it a goal.” – Unknown

“Sometimes it’s the princess who kills the dragon and saves the prince.” – Samuel Lowe

“Little girls with dreams become women with vision.” – Unknown

“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.” – Katharine Hepburn

“She believed she could, so she did.” – R.S. Grey

“Sometimes it takes balls to be a woman.” – Elizabeth Cook

More inspiring and empowering quotes: HERE

 

"DEAR DAD, I'LL BE CALLED..."

4ºESO groups have been having tutorial sessions lately devoted to relationships between boys and girls. Here's the Norwegian shortfilm made by the Non Governmental Organization Care.no, which you could vision during one of the sessions, with an important message that concerns us all: erradicating violence against women. 

"Dear daddy, I will be born a girl, so please do everything you can so that won't stay the greatest danger of all"

Video "Dear Dad, I'll be called..."

WOMEN'S DAY 2018

No classes today because the Council of A Coruña decided to declare a holiday on the International Women's Day. But also it's a day of social protest all around the world as women have decided to go on strike and demonstrations for their rights.

We're celebrating this day, remembering previous posts on this blog for this day: WOMEN.

Here's also the link to the English version of Emma Clit's comic:

- "YOU SHOULD'VE ASKED"

Galician version of this post @ ArquivosDoTrasno

CONSENT (IT'S SIMPLE AS TEA)

On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and when there's lots of controversy about when a woman consents or accepts a relationship or not. Here's an awesome video that explains clearly what it is to consent.

Video:

ELLEN DEGENERES USES "FINDING DORY" TO OPPOSE TRUMP'S TRAVEL BAN

Ellen DeGeneres one again has found a good way to comment and oppose to Trump's travel ban. She said she didn't have much to say about politics, but she had a lot to say about "Finding Dory", so she used the film to do so.

In the USA, Ellen is the voice of the memorable but forgetful Australian fish, Dory, on her mission to find her parents, who are in America.
Tapescript:

"Now, of course Finding Dory is about a fish named Dory," 

 "And, Dory lives in Australia, and these are her parents, and they live in America. And I don’t know what religion they are, but her dad sounds a little Jewish -- doesn't matter."

"Dory arrives in America with her friends Marlin and Nemo," 

"She ends up at the Marine Life Institute behind a large wall. They all have to get over the wall and you won’t believe it, but that wall has almost no effect in keeping them out."

"Even though Dory gets into America, she ends up separated from her family, but the other animals help Dory," 

"Animals that don’t even need her. Animals that don’t even have anything in common with her. They help her, even though they’re completely different colors. Because that’s what you do when you see someone in need -- you help them."

Video:

THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Every December 10th is the International Human Rights Day celebrated throughout the world.

+ info: HUMAN RIGHTS DAY.

25th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FALL OF THE WALL

Two photos showing the difference in 25 years: upper photo 1989, lower one, the same place Brandemburg Gate, Berlin in 2014

25 years later, the 15km long siluette of the wall throughout Berlin is marked with thousands of illuminated balloons which have been lit this weekend to commemorate it.

Today marks another 25th anniversary celebration yet. It's also 25 years of the fall of the wall, the one which divided Berlin and Germany in two parts, and even the whole world. The wall built in 1961 was also known under the name of the Iron Curtain separating Europe from the communist Eastern side.

Links to more information:

- VISIT BERLIN.

- TIME.com.

- BBC News.

GREAT FRONT PAGE ON TODAY'S "THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY": HERE'S THE NEWS, NOT THE PROPAGANDA

Last Friday another Western citizen (the fourth) was killed by the Islamic State. Alan Henning, a taxi driver father-of-two, who had travelled to Syria to deliver aid, was beheaded in a video on Friday. On Saturday, many newspapers chose old images from him, rather than the ones from the video, in the orange jumpsuit, waiting to be killed. But today, "The Independent On Sunday" has nailed it with the front page we show. No publicity for the terrorists.

HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY!

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

On 10 December 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed “the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”. The theme of this year is ‘Celebrate Human Rights’ against abuse and violations of human values. Human rights provide a foundation for building a just and peaceful world. Every human being on the planet has the right to dignity, respect, and freedom – whatever their race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, wealth or other status. 

Video:

Galician version of this post @ ArquivosDoTrasno.

REMEMBERING MANDELA THROUGH HIS OWN WORDS

South Africa leader Nelson Mandela's death has impressed the world, though it was expected. He was a symbol of the fight for Human Rights, consensus and reconciliation of a whole country. We remember him through some of his quotes and speeches on video and also the trailer of the film "Invictus", based on his real life.

"Death is something inevitable. When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace. I believe I have made that effort and that is, therefore, why I will sleep for the eternity."

"One day I will be the first black president of South Africa." - 1952

"There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountain tops of our desires." - 21 September 1953. Presidential address to ANC conference, adapted from a statement by former Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru

"The struggle is my life. I will continue fighting for freedom until the end of my days." - 26 June 1961

"If I had my time over I would do the same again. So would any man who dares call himself a man." - November 1962. Mitigation speech after being convicted of inciting a strike and leaving the country illegally

"I have never regarded any man as my superior, either in my life outside or inside prison." - 12 July 1976. Letter written to commissioner of prisons while on Robben Island

"Only free men can negotiate; prisoners cannot enter into contracts." - 10 February 1985. Reply to an offer to release him if he renounced violence

"I cannot and will not give any undertaking at a time when I, and you, the people, are not free. Your freedom and mine cannot be separated." - 10 February 1985. Message from prison, read by his daughter to a rally in Soweto

"Friends, comrades and fellow South Africans, I greet you all in the name of peace, democracy and freedom for all. I stand here before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant of you, the people. Your tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it possible for me to be here today. I therefore place the remaining years of my life in your hands." - 11 February 1990. Speaking on his release from Robben Island from the balcony of Cape Town city hall

"Years of imprisonment could not stamp out our determination to be free. Years of intimidation and violence could not stop us. And we will not be stopped now." – 26 April 1994. Press conference

"My fellow South Africans, today we are entering a new era for our country and its people. Today we celebrate not the victory of a party, but a victory for all the people of South Africa." - 9 May 1994. Speech following his election to the presidency, Cape Town

"In South Africa, to be poor and black was normal, to be poor and white was a tragedy." - 1994, Long Walk to Freedom

"I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb."- 1994. Long Walk to Freedom

"Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people." - April 1998

"There will be life after Mandela. On my last day I want to know that those who remain behind will say: 'The man who lies here has done his duty for his country and his people.'" - 1999

Video "INVICTUS":

Video "MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM (2013):


More of his quotes here: THE GUARDIAN

Galician version of this post @ ArquivosDoTrasno.

INTERNATIONAL WOMAN'S DAY 2013: "A PROMISE IS A PROMISE: TIME FOR ACTION TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN"

Women's Day (IWD), originally called International Working Women's Day, is marked on March 8 every year. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and social achievements.

 International Women's Day was first observed as a popular event after 1977 when the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for women's rights and world peace.

The UN theme for International Women's Day 2013 is "A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women," while International Women's Day 2013 has declared the year's theme as The Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum.

MARTIN LUTHER KING'S DAY

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This date is a United States federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of King's birthday, January 15. 

Here are some links to webpages about Martin Luther King:

- MARTIN LUTHER KING'S WIKIPEDIA PAGE.

- RESOURCES & ACTIVITIES ABOUT MARTIN LUTHER KING.

- LUTHER KING'S NOBEL PRIZE LECTURE ORIGINAL HANDWRITING.

Video MARTIN LUTHER KING'S FREEDOM SPEECH "I HAVE A DREAM":

This year's Martin Luther King's Day was also the day of Barack Obama's second Presidency inauguration, whose speech you can listen to in this video:

 

MALALA

 

 

On a previous post, we talked about the 1st International Day of the Girl Child promoted by the United Nations. Last Tuesday, October 9th, a 14-year-old Pakistani activist, Malala Yousafzai was shot by Taliban militants, in Mingora, the Swat valley area, North of the country, precisely for defending female education and when she was coming back home on the school bus.

Malala came to public attention three years ago with a blog-diary for BBC Urdu. During months, she detailed the abuses by Taliban's prohibition of girl's education under the sharia law in the areas they control.

She's now slowly recovering from her serious injuries at a Peshawar hospital and she has been taken to the United Kingdom to continue her recovery in a hospital which treats children with severe injuries. We hope she recovers completely and that she won't become a martyr for girl's education. Our best wishe for, Malala!

Link: MALALA, PORTAIT OF THE GIRL BLOGGER (BBC).

 

Video of Malala (one year ago):

 

Galician version of this post @ Arquivos do Trasno.



1st INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD

Girls celebrate today, October 11th, their first international day as was declared by the United Nations at the end of 2011 to make visible the millions of girl children who live in a situation of vulnerability without access to education, condemning them to lifetime poverty. These girls are victims of abuse, slavery, lack of access to basic services and difficulties to attend school, play, enjoy and, in the end, be girls.

To conmemorate this day, different events will be held, such as the reading of a manifesto to promote a quality education for all the girls in the world and the lightening which will turn into pink iconic buildings throughout the world in support of girls' rights.

On the video below and joining the first celebration of this International Day of the Girl Child, the UN Executive Director, Michelle Bachelet, speaks to all the girls in the world.

Video International Day of the Girl Child: Michelle Bachelet:

Galician version of this post @ Arquivos do Trasno.