All - Leep Calendar

1996 saw the birth of two news behemoths: FOX News and Al Jazeera. Though the same age, these two organizations couldn't be more different.

FOX News went live on October 7, 1996, and today, November 1, 1996, saw the premiere of Al Jazeera in Arabic. Both are influential. FOX News reaches approximately four million viewers per day internationally, with 50% of those in the US. Actual numbers will depend upon breaking news. FOX is the top-rated news station in the United States, but it can't come close to Al Jazeera's influence and reach internationally.

Al Jazeera News reaches approximately 80-100 million viewers daily, with 98% of those outside the US. CNN International, though accessible to nearly 400 million households worldwide, reaches about 25 million daily. FOX and CNN are the primary cable channels in the US and require a paid subscription. Al Jazeera is available on satellite and streaming devices for free.

Al Jazeera English launched as a 24-hour English language channel on November 15, 2006.

While a corporation owns FOX and focuses on emotion, shock entertainment, celebrities, partisanship, and a smidgen of news in its afternoon and early evening hours, Al Jazeera came out of the gate dedicated to classic journalism. Factual information that informs without sensationalism, partisanship, or sides. It succeeded and continues to garner accolades from academia, change-makers, and the realms of the informed for its no-apologetic approach to reality. As it has risen in prestige and its programming increasingly focuses on complex news topics such as poverty, human rights, economics, global politics, and the environment, it continues to gain viewership internationally.

Created and funded by the Qatari government, Al Jazeera does have one glaring bias. They rarely cover the tiny Middle East nation of two million people. However, the rest of the world, the other 221 countries and territories Al Jazeera covers, cover it more in-depth, with less bias, commercial-free, and with more variety than even the venerable BBC.

Outside of heavily the partisan United States, Al Jazeera is the go-to global news channel. The absence of commercials provides information-packed segments, news magazines, and documentaries. Its international staff is recruited from the best: The BBC, PBS, CNN, CBS, France24, and others.

Al Jazeera is one of the few international networks to cover in-depth Africa and the global South. It was one of the few international news companies to focus extensively on human stories of poverty and the housing crisis in the United States after the 2008 crash. It provided the most intensive coverage of the Arab Spring and the Saudi war on Yemen, getting it blocked in many countries, including Saudi Arabia, not for lying but for reporting the truth. As the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize proves, going to two journalists, Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Andreyevich Murato of Russia, it is far more dangerous to report the truth than propaganda.

Al Jazeera was a darling to US politicians for its clear-eyed reporting on Asia, including the Middle East—until the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. Truth and facts on the ground didn't meld well with the "War-rah! rah!" chants of the Bush Administration at the time, so the channel was branded a 'terrorist' channel, and the divided states of America fell in lock-step, nibbling on appropriate soundbites and ignoring anything that didn't support the narrative. A decade or more later, America would realize the Iraq and Afghan wars were founded on lies. Viewers of Al Jazeera during the early 2000s figured that out much earlier.

With its coverage lauded and increasingly recognized as superior, there was an attempt to launch Al Jazeera America in 2013. The channel could not overcome the stigma attached to it during the Bush years. It shuttered in 2016, but many innovative programs, including The Stream, TechKnow, and The Listening Post (must-see journalism for anyone in journalism), would find a place on Al Jazeera English.

Today, if you speak to most people who have traveled or lived outside of the United States for any length of time or who make a living on knowledge, global business, or diplomacy, you'll find Al Jazeera is a part of their trusted sources. Absent corporate sponsors, Al Jazeera is one of the few primary news sources in the world that rarely caves to politicians, corporations, special interests, or lobbyists. Yes, it does happen with coverage of Qatar. We're aware of at least one instance when lobbyists prevented a four-part documentary on the Israel Lobby from airing in the United States. Still, aside from isolated instances (no media is perfect), Edward R Murrow would be proud of what Al Jazeera has built and become.

Al Jazeera in Arabic means "The peninsula," so named for its host nation's geography.

Africa

Nov

All Saints' Day: November 1

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All Saints' Day begins at sundown on Halloween and continues for 30 hours. It is known by many names, including All Hallows, Day of All the Saints, Solemnity of All the Saints, or the Feast of Saints. All Saints' Day commemorates the saints who have reached beatification in the Roman Catholic Church. It is believed to have originated as the pagan celebration Samhain, or the Celtic festival of the dead.

Africa

Nov

Arbor Day, (WS): November 1

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With a focus on preservation and saving the island nation's rainforest, Arbor Day occurs on the first Friday of November in Samoa.

Africa

Nov

Author's Day, Ntl: November 1

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Created by the General Federation of Women's Clubs in 1929, National Author's Day became a part of the official US Department of Commerce's annual observation days in 1949. It is a celebration of the authors who bring us joy, wisdom, knowledge, and often a good laugh. Annually on the 1st of November.

Africa

Nov

Community Day, World: November 1

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World Community Day aims to strengthen family ties by focusing on peace and justice worldwide. Organized by Church Women United, a Christian organization from the Reformed Church of America, World Community Day means that during this day, there is praise and worship that focus on the love of Jesus Christ for the community and the world.

Africa

Nov

D. Hamilton Jackson Memorial Day, (VI)(1915): November 1

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D. Hamilton Jackson was a civil rights advocate and educator in the Danish West Indies. Of African descent, he fought tirelessly for the right to free speech. On September 1, 1915, he achieved his dream by inauguring the island's first press. Independence Day is also called Liberty Day on the islands.

Africa

Nov

European Union Day (1993): November 1

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The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union comprising 27 member countries, primarily in Europe. Its origins trace back to the aftermath of World War II, with the idea of fostering cooperation and preventing future widespread conflict. The EU was first conceptualized in 1950, with the proposal of the Schuman Plan, by the French foreign minister, Robert Schuman, which led to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951, including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. In 1957, the Treaty of Rome was signed, forming the European Economic Community (EEC), with the same six countries, to create a common market and customs union. The EEC expanded to include Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom in 1973. Greece joined in 1981, followed by Spain and Portugal in 1986. In 1993, the Maastricht Treaty became effective, establishing the EU and setting the foundation for a single currency, the euro. The EU continued to expand, with Austria, Finland, and Sweden joining in 1995. In 2004, in the most significant single expansion, ten more countries joined the EU: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Romania and Bulgaria followed in 2007. The most recent addition was Croatia in 2013. The United Kingdom, in a historic move, exited the EU on January 31, 2020, in an event commonly known as "Brexit." As of August 2023, the EU's 27 member states are: Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden The EU continues to evolve, with its members working collaboratively on matters related to defense, asylum, and international trade. It represents one of the world's largest economic blocs and a unique regional cooperation and integration experiment.

Africa

Nov

Extra Mile Day: November 1

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Extra Mile Day celebrates our capacity to create unique and positive change in ourselves, our families, our organizations, and our communities when we "go the extra mile." It is a day to clap hard for those individuals and organizations who are "going the extra mile" in volunteerism and service to make a positive difference in the world.

Africa

Nov

Forgiveness and Happiness Day, Ntl.: November 1

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National Day of Forgiveness and Happiness is one of several days focusing on forgiveness, each sponsored by different groups. The best way to celebrate is to forgive someone you’ve been holding a grudge against, allowing both of you to get on with your life.

Africa

Nov

Independence Day, (AG)(1981): November 1

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Independence Day in Antigua and Barbuda marks the anniversary of November 1, 1981, when the islands achieved their independence from Britain. Independence Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Nov

Leopard Seal Day, World: November 1

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Leopard seals are one of the most unique creatures in the Antarctic ecosystem. They are second only to killer whales among Antarctica's top predators. Their flexible diet—ranging from krill, fish, and squid to penguins and young seals—helps them adapt to changing conditions. The species is not currently considered endangered. However, like many marine animals, leopard seals face threats related to human activities. Climate change is causing drastic shifts in the Antarctic ecosystem, which can affect the abundance and distribution of their prey. They can also be negatively impacted by pollution, entanglement in fishing gear, and other forms of human disturbance.

Africa

Nov

Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Awareness & Appreciation Day, Ntl: November 1

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Helping doctors and patients navigate the complexities of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and biotechnology, Medical Science Liaisons (MSL) help ensure the right tool is used to keep you healthy. National Medical Science Liaison Awareness & Appreciation Day was created to focus on the career and its contributions to health care.

Africa

Nov

Moon—New: November 1

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The New Moon occurs when the moon and the sun have the exact elliptical longitude. The moon is at its closest point to the sun in its orbit. From earth, we usually cannot see it. The New Moon is considered the first phase.

Africa

Nov

Pets, Cook For Your Pets Day, Ntl.: November 1

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International Cook for Your Pets Day is the day when pet owners indulge their pets with cooked meals instead of feeding them pet food straight from the can. Created by Tennille Tejeda, this event aims to focus attention on pet nutrition.

Africa

Nov

Prime Meridian Day (1884): November 1

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Prime Meridian Day marks the creation of modern time zones and longitude measurements at the International Meridian Conference in Washington, DC, in October 1884. November 1 is when the new measures went into effect. The prime meridian resulted in the creation of the Greenwich Meridian, marking zero degrees longitude. A prime meridian was necessary because of two things: for navigation and to unify timetables to create the 24 longitude-based time zones of the world. The earth travels and turns on its access at 15 degrees per hour, and each time zone in the world covers 15 degrees, counting forward from the Greenwich Meridian off the coast of Britain in the Atlantic. The International Date Line, which is different and located in the Pacific, affords three additional time zones. This is why some countries are at thirty rather than sixty-minute increments.

Africa