The annual Fur-Free Friday protest occurs on the Friday following Thanksgiving, historically the busiest shopping day of the year. Protesters throughout the world stand in front of shops selling furs and animal pelts, attempting to educate and spread awareness to shoppers about the horrors of the fur industry. Each year, approximately 50 million animals raised on fur farms die for their pelts; this number does not include over a billion rabbits killed yearly.

Africa

Nov

Listening, National Day of : November 29

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Launched by Story Corps in 2008, the National Day of Listening persuades people to spend some time talking to families and friends and recording stories about their lives. People are encouraged to speak with their families instead of spending the Friday after Thanksgiving in stores.

Africa

Nov

Native American Heritage Day, Ntl.: November 29*

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National American Heritage Day celebrates the rich heritage and numerous contributions of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the nation. Created by the US Congress in 2009 and proclaimed annually through Presidential Proclamation, the day following Thanksgiving is intended to heighten support for tribal sovereignty, tribal self-determination, and prosperity for all Native Americans. It’s a highlighted day within Native American Heritage Month, November each year.

Africa

Nov

Palestine Receives Observer Status at UN (2012): November 29

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November 29 marks the anniversary of Palestine’s receipt of Observer Status within the United Nations as of 2012. Parts of Palestine since 1948 and the whole of Palestine since 1967 have been occupied by the nation state of Israel.

Africa

Nov

Random Acts of Kindness Friday: November 29

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Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Friday occurs on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. It's about taking the commercialism out of the day and focusing on the season's true spirit. Celebrants are encouraged to forego the shopping bag and instead look for ways to perform random acts of kindness for others. Dr. Chuck Wall, a professor at Bakersfield College, recalled hearing about "random, senseless acts of violence" on the news in 1993 and was inspired to assign his students the task of committing "one random act of senseless kindness" as homework. He has since copyrighted the phrase and created several events to promote the concept.

Africa

Nov

Solidarity Day with the Palestinian People, World (1947): November 29

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World Solidarity Day with the Palestinian People is a campaign started by the United Nations General Assembly in 1977 under the resolution 32/40. November 29 represents the 1947 anniversary when the UN General Assembly approved the Partition Resolution (Resolution 181 (II)), which states that there should be an Arab State and a Jewish State in Palestine. This event brings to light the plight of the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights to self-determination without interference from other nations. The event highlights the right to national independence and sovereignty and the right to return to homes vacated forcibly during war, at gunpoint, and through terrorism. On this day, the UN organizes an annual exhibit on the rights of the Palestinian people and a cultural show that depicts the rich heritage of Palestine. The UN also urges its member states to continue supporting this campaign. The Palestinian flag is raised in the UN headquarters and the Offices of the United Nations.

Africa

Nov

Square Dance Day: November 29

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Square Dance Day is the day to honor the square dance, a style of dance invented in England during the 1600s and imported to America, where it received its multicultural twist. Square dancing has been a part of Americana ever since.

Africa

Nov

You Are Welcome Day: November 29

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You are Welcome Day plays on the American holiday of Thanksgiving. Friday might be the polite response day of "You are welcome."

Africa

Nov

Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month (ASPCA): November

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November is the Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month. Senior pets over seven are often passed over in favor of kittens and puppies. But senior pets have a unique appeal as they tend to be calmer, trained, and exceptionally loving, making them ideal pets for the elderly or families with small children.

Senior pets include former rescue and police dogs, animals left homeless due to their owner's death, and animals surrendered due to economic conditions, housing, or moves. Some people will abandon or relinquish pets due to health issues, and pets like us often need extra attention as they age. This week is the perfect time to give a senior pet a second chance at life, a life he or she can celebrate with your family in a new forever home.

Africa

Nov

Adoption Month, Ntl.: November

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November is National Adoption Month, highlighting the tens of thousands of children waiting to be adopted. Supported by the Children's Bureau in partnership with the Child Welfare Information Gateway and AdoptUSKids, each year has a different focus, whether on older children, special needs, or siblings.

Throughout the month, prospective adoptive parents can access information on what to expect when adopting, hear personal stories, or watch webinars focusing on family adoption.

Each year, approximately 122,000 children in the United States are eligible for adoption, most of whom will wait an average of four years before finding a home. Half of these children live in group homes or non-family environments. Roughly eight percent "age out" of the foster system annually before they find homes. Traditionally, fewer than four percent of mothers voluntarily put up newborn babies for adoption. Children over eight have a one in four chance of being adopted, a likelihood that exponentially diminishes each proximate year.

Millions of people in the United States indeed want to adopt. The problem is that prospective parents compete for the same 18,000 healthy newborns annually or prefer children under five without issues. Because of this, tens of thousands of children over five, those with siblings or who have survived trauma, struggle with learning or physical disabilities and are overlooked. National Adoption Month seeks to highlight these fantastic children and help them find the homes they deserve.

WILL A POST-ROE WORLD MAKE MORE BABIES AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION?

With the fall of Dobbs and Roe, the rise of forced birthing, intrusive monitoring of women's health, and the near criminalization of actions and pregnancy complications in several states, the logic is more babies will be available for adoption. Historically, that isn't the case. As single parenting and opportunities for women have increased in acceptability, less than ten percent of women denied the ability to exercise choice consider adoption. They'll either take matters into their own hands or keep a healthy child.

This article in The Atlantic, written nine months before the Supreme Court decision ending a woman's right to choose in several states, focuses on the ups and downs of adoption:

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/10/adopt-baby-cost-process-hard/620258/.

Africa

Nov

AIDS Awareness Month: November

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Each November, the Pharmacists Planning Service. Inc (PPSI) hosts AIDS Awareness Month to educate consumers, patients, students, and professionals about tactics and tools to prevent the spreading of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. PPSI makes a host of tools available on their site for a small fee to allow participants to participate in this month-long campaign. PPSInc.org

Africa

Nov

ALPHA-1 Awareness Month (AU): November

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RAISING AWARENESS OF A DEADLY GENETIC DISEASE

ALPHA-1 AWARENESS MONTH

ALPHA-1 Awareness Month seeks to raise awareness about Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) and encourage people to get tested early if the disease runs in their family.

AATD is a genetic disorder that affects the production of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), a protein primarily made in the liver. AAT helps protect the lungs from damage caused by inflammation and infection. When someone has AATD, their body produces too little protein or an abnormal form that cannot function properly. This deficiency can lead to lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema and, in some cases, liver disease.

WHO IS AT RISK OF AATD?

AATD is an inherited condition, meaning individuals inherit defective genes from their parents. To develop the disorder, a person must inherit two faulty copies of the AAT gene (one from each parent). People with one defective gene copy are carriers and may have mild or no symptoms but can pass the gene to their children.

AATD is most commonly seen in people of European ancestry, especially Northern European descendants. Individuals with a family history of lung or liver diseases may also be at higher risk.

There is currently no cure for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. However, early diagnosis and appropriate management can help slow the progression of the disease and reduce complications. Treatments focus on managing symptoms, preventing further lung damage, and improving the quality of life.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF AATD?

The symptoms of AATD can vary widely depending on whether the lungs or liver are primarily affected:

—Lung Symptoms:

Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Chronic cough, Frequent respiratory infections, Fatigue

In severe cases, development of emphysema at a younger age (often before 40), even without smoking

—Liver Symptoms:

Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), Abdominal swelling, Fatigue, Enlarged liver, Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), and liver failure in some cases.

Some individuals with AATD may develop liver problems in childhood (e.g., neonatal jaundice) or later in adulthood.

TREATMENT

Treatment for AATD depends on the severity and the organs affected, primarily focusing on managing symptoms and preventing further damage:

—Lung-related treatments:

a) Bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids to help open airways and reduce inflammation
b) Oxygen therapy for those with severe lung disease
c) Pulmonary rehabilitation programs that include exercise and breathing techniques
d) Augmentation therapy, patients receive infusions of alpha-1 antitrypsin protein derived from donor blood plasma. In some cases, this can slow the progression of lung disease.

—Liver-related treatments:

a) Regular monitoring for liver function
b) Liver transplantation in severe cases of cirrhosis or liver failure

—Lifestyle changes:

a) Smoking cessation is crucial, as smoking worsens lung damage in people with AATD.
b) Avoiding exposure to lung irritants, such as dust or chemical fumes, is also essential.
c) Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, good nutrition, and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption.

Early diagnosis and treatment can help manage the disease and improve long-term outcomes. Testing for AATD is recommended for anyone with early-onset emphysema, unexplained liver disease, or a family history of AATD.

Africa

Nov

Alzheimer's Disease and Awareness Month, Ntl.: November

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November is National Alzheimer’s Disease and Awareness Month. This public awareness campaign seeks to inform people about the disease and how to care for those living with it. As proclaimed by then President Ronald Reagan in 1983, people are encouraged to wear purple-colored shirts to show solidarity.

Africa

Nov

American Heritage Month: November

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In 1993, AHEF partnered with Houston ISD to initiate and celebrate the first American Heritage Month (AHM). American Heritage Month supports the teaching and understanding of the founding history, philosophy, documents, and principles of the United States of America.

Africa

Nov

American Indian Heritage Month, Ntl.: November

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November is National American Indian Heritage Month, a time to learn about the people who inhabited this land well before colonization and continue as part of our national identity.

On August 3, 1990, this became a national observance when President George H. W. Bush declared November National American Indian Heritage Month. Native Americans use this time to share their culture, history, and traditions and to air their concerns on the local issues that affect them. Its first sponsor was Pale Moon Rose, a Cherokee-Seneca native and the founder of the American Indian Heritage Foundation. Federal agencies provide information about Native American history, culture, and issues to employees during this time.

Africa