Liberation Day in Nicaragua marks the July 19, 1979, anniversary of the Sandinista's defeat of the Somoza dictatorship. Liberation Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Jul

Moth Week, Ntl.: July 19-27

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National Moth Week is an annual awareness campaign and fundraiser. Moths don't get the credit they are due because people think they are not as pretty as butterflies and are known to devour wool sweaters as they roam through the night. The header image disputes this. Moths are fascinating to watch, and with over 11,000 species, each is unique. Moths in their caterpillar form are food for many animals. Winged, they are essential to pollination, nectar collection, and seed distribution. The Malay archipelago hosts the largest moth in the world, which can be up to 60 square inches in size (152.4 square centimeters) with a wing span over a foot. The primary differentiator between a moth and a butterfly is its antennae. In moths, these are fat and look like feathers or small saws, and butterflies have smooth and thin antennae. Another difference? Butterflies usually fold their wings above them when at rest, and a moth will rest with its wings open and on full display. The header image is from Belize City's Museum of Belize exhibit on native insects and wildlife. It shows a variety of Central American moths: Photographer LD Lewis, founder of LEEP Calendar.

Africa

Jul

Robin Hood, Nottingham Archery Tournament and Festival (UK): July 19-20

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These events take the idea of a sister city to a new level. Concurrently, Sherwood, Oregon, and Nottingham, England, hold Robin Hood-themed festivals. In England, Nottingham Archery Tournament & Festival. In Oregon, step back into the 12th century with music, food, knights, and ladies for the Robin Hood Festival. Archers compete in both locations (across the pond), and attendees rejoice. The Sherwood Festival came about in 1956 due to a friendly challenge between the yeoman of Nottingham and the festival president in Sherwood. From the event champion's website: "In February 1956, the President of the Robin Hood Festival Association of Sherwood, Oregon, issued an archery challenge to the yeomen of Nottingham, England. The archers would come from the entire Northwestern part of the United States. To cement their bond with the people of Nottingham, England, Sherwood sent 50 redwood oak trees as a living memorial. In March 1956, England accepted the challenge and immediately started working out the details. The rounds would be a double American 810, and each round would be 90 arrows at the distance of 60, 50, and 40 yards and follow the FITA. equipment rules. In July 1956, a picture of the silver Tiffany bowl trophy donated by the Robin Hood Festival Association was sent to Nottingham, England, along with communication rules during the shoot. Both competitions occurred on the same day, but England was shooting eight hours later due to time differences. Thus went the first competition, and the mayor of Sherwood has sent a new challenge each year since."

Africa

Jul

Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day, Ntl.: July 19

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This event honors the acceptance of the Double Gold Award by the Maple River Winery in Casselton, North Dakota. The winery received the 2010 Indy International Wine Competition award for its Strawberry Rhubarb Wine. Local company National Day Calendar chose to create a celebration day in honor of their company neighbor's victory, ergo National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day.

Africa

Jul

Toss Away the "Could Haves" and "Should Haves" Day: July 19

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Toss Away the "Could have" and the "Should have" day falls on the third Saturday in July. Created by Martha J. Ross-Rodgers, an author and motivational speaker, this event is about letting go of the past and living in the present. Today, people write down their coulds and shoulds, dispatching each by throwing the written on paper in the trash.

Africa

Jul

Women's Dive Day: July 19

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Wherever you are in the world, and whatever your current situation, make plans to participate in the Annual PADI Women's Dive Day. It can be as simple as taking part virtually with PADI or, if your situation and local regulations allow, rally divers, to join you for a virtual or local event. Tag #padiwomen and #padiwomensdiveday so your adventures become part of the global conversation.

Africa

Jul

Woodie Wagon Day, Ntl.: July 19

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Woodies are a style of car that existed in the 1940s and 1950s. These vehicles had wood sides and doors associated with freedom, Americana, and surfing. Across the United States, woodie car clubs hold special events on Woodie Wagon Day. Check your local classifieds or clubs for festivities in your area. Always on the third Saturday of July.

Africa

Jul

9-9-9 Emergency Number Established (1937): July 1

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July 1, 1937, saw the world's first emergency telephone number deployed in London, covering a 12-mile radius from Oxford Circus. It would be another 31 years before the US would implement a similar system, 911, and even longer for other nations. The idea of 999 was first suggested in 1935 after five women died during a fire in Wimpole Street in London. Callers using 0 to dial the police could not get through as the switchboard was jammed. By the time people got through, it was too late. The first 999 calls came in on July 2, and the system fielded 1336 calls in its first week. TRAVEL TIP: If traveling internationally, always ask for that country's emergency number(s) when you go through customs and add them to your phone, or write it on a PostIt note and keep it in your passport. For example, in China, Japan, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia, it is 110, but in neighboring United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, it is 999. In Argentina, Canada, Jordan, Mexico, Palau, Panama, the Philippines, the United States, and Uruguay, it is 911. Travel to Australia and you'll need 000. Some countries get complicated. Take France, for example. In France, dial 17 for the police, 15 for an ambulance, and 18 for the fire department. It can get really confusing, and in the event of an emergency, you don't want to call the wrong number accidentally and waste precious seconds. You'll also want to keep your nation's embassy contact information for each country you visit. Should you get in trouble, your country's diplomatic services will be your second call after emergency services.

Africa

Jul

Alopecia Month for Women, Intl: July

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Alopecia is hair loss, and though it is annoying for men, it is devastating for women. International Alopecia Month for Women seeks to educate the public about this condition, remove the stigma and offer solutions for women and girls suffering from Alopecia.

Africa

Jul

Amazon Prime Day: July 8-11

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AMAZON PRIME DAY: A GLOBAL SHOPPING EXTRAVAGANZA Amazon Prime Day, an annual event organized by the e-commerce giant Amazon, has become one of the most anticipated shopping events worldwide. Launched in 2015 to commemorate Amazon's 20th anniversary, Prime Day aims to reward Amazon Prime members with exclusive deals and discounts while boosting the company's sales and subscription numbers. The actual date is announced approximately three weeks before the event. Amazon Prime Day seeks to accomplish several key objectives. Firstly, it aims to drive sales by offering significant discounts on various products, from electronics and home goods to fashion and groceries. Secondly, the event encourages more consumers to sign up for Amazon Prime, Amazon's subscription service, which provides benefits such as free shipping, access to streaming services, and special deals. By increasing its Prime membership base, Amazon enhances customer loyalty and generates recurring revenue. The popularity of Amazon Prime Day is due to several factors. The event's timing—usually held in mid-July—fills a traditional lull in the retail calendar, attracting shoppers with the promise of substantial savings before the new school year starts. The extensive range of discounted products also appeals to a broad audience, ensuring something for everyone. The limited-time nature of the deals creates a sense of urgency, prompting consumers to make purchases quickly. Furthermore, Amazon's extensive marketing efforts, including teasers and promotions leading up to the event, generate significant buzz and anticipation. Since its inception in 2015, Amazon Prime Day has grown exponentially, expanding to include participation from various countries worldwide. Each year, the event sets new records for sales and participation, reflecting its status as a major retail phenomenon. For Amazon, Prime Day boosts immediate sales, strengthens customer relationships, and drives long-term growth through increased Prime memberships. Prime Day is not unique. The Asia retail giant Alibaba started 11-11 sales during the otts. Each year, the single day generates tens of billions of dollars in sales and revenue for the retailer. The difference is that Alibaba's sales are open to everyone, whereas Amazon Prime requires a $ 139-a-year membership.

Africa

Jul

American Grown Flower Month: July

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Flowers grown in the United States support the farmers, small businesses, jobs, and the economy. In honor of the people and employment growers create, the US Senate designates July as "American Grown Flower Month." Consumers spend almost $27 billion yearly on floral products, including cut flowers, garden plants, bedding, and indoor plants. Thirty percent of households in the United States purchase fresh-cut flowers and greens from more than 16,000 florists and floral establishments each year. The five most popular grown flower varieties in the United States are tulips, Gerbera daisies, lilies, gladiolas, and irises.

Africa

Jul

Anti-boredom Month, Ntl.: July

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National Anti-Boredom Month is an unofficial observance in the United States designed to help parents keep children busy and engaged during their summer vacation. Most cities have a list of activities in which children and families can participate. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the YMCA, churches, synagogues, and temple and mosque groups offer wholesome activities for children to keep them engaged throughout the summer. Check with your local community centers for activities in your area. There is no sponsor for this month, and it is unknown how it came into existence.

Africa

Jul

Apartheid Wall, Month Against the (2004): July

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MONTH AGAINST THE APARTHEID WALL

On July 9, 2004, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion entitled Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Commonly referred to as the Apartheid Wall, it is illegal under international law. The Court was clear, demanding the wall be removed, Palestinian rights re-established, and it called upon the international community to enforce Israeli compliance. Nearly 20 years later, the wall continues to grow.
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Apartheid is a word associated with South Africa before 1992. However, the definition fits the parameters of Israeli law and conduct. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, B'Tselem, and dozens of global humanitarian organizations have concluded Israel is an apartheid state.

DEFINITION OF APARTHEID:

1. An official policy of racial segregation involving political, legal, and economic discrimination against one group of people by another due to their race, origin, faith, or other determining factors.
2. A policy or practice of separating or segregating groups.
3. The condition of being separated from others; segregation.
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The wall was first proposed in 1973 during the Yom Kippur War by Ariel Sharon (who ironically pretended to be against it in 2002). Its purpose is to create specific "facts on the ground" that would complement the annexation of land via the settlement projects instituted after the 6-Day War of 1967.

The actual planning of the wall began in 1978, nine years before the first Intifada (uprising) and fifteen years before the first suicide bomb. Security was never the objective. Annexation and disenfranchisement of the indigenous people were the goals. The wall and settlements made it impossible for a contiguous state for non-Jewish people in the Holy Land. The first public mention of the planned wall was in 1992 by Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. The wall consists of areas of fence and concrete.

The Apartheid Wall is four times longer than the Berlin Wall and up to 25 feet in height, with a large portion built on land not part of Israel. Construction on the wall began in 1994 following the Oslo Accords of September 1993, with 112 miles completed by late 2003. In contrast, the Berlin Wall was 12 feet high and 103 miles long.

In 2004, Israel's Wall was deemed illegal under international law. However, the state continues to build, expand, and confiscate land, destroying thousands of Palestinian homes, businesses, and agricultural properties. In addition to the wall, Israeli apartheid accelerates through a network of Jewish-only roads, Jewish-only colonies, unequal distribution of resources like water, checkpoints, permits, and a two-tiered legal system throughout the Occupied Territory.

Despite the court ruling, Israel has continued its pattern of injustice with impunity. The wall and its associated regime of colonial settlements continue to grow in Palestine, embodying a massive instrument of land annexation, the pillage of natural resources, and displacement.

In 2014, thirty organizations and coalitions came together to declare July the Month Against the Apartheid Wall. In 2018, the Israeli Knesset made apartheid official state policy by passing the Jewish Nation-state bill. This bill states Israel is home to its Jewish population exclusively. In June 2022, Israel dissolved its government, forcing the fifth election in four years to avoid ending its apartheid policies due to sunset at the end of the month. By dissolving the government, the apartheid laws can stay intact. Twitter: #StopImpunity

Africa

Jul

Baked Beans Month: July

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National Baked Beans Month is an unofficial observance month. The timing may be due to a favorite American picnic food: beans and franks. Beans, legumes, or pulses (dried edible seeds of legume plants) come in various shapes and colors, including brown, white, lima, pinto, black and blackened. Use this month to experiment with different types of beans. For example, try using cranberry beans instead of brown or pinto beans. Cranberry beans are prized for their creamy texture and nutlike taste. They are frequently used in northern Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese cuisines. Or go for the Adzuki, a bean often used in Asian cuisine. Beans are economical, protein-packed, and a great food staple. Once you learn how to cook beans, the options are endless. The Been Council has pictures and definitions of the most common types here: http://www.usdrybeans.com/resources/varieties.

Africa

Jul

Bereaved Parents Awareness Month, Intl: July

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Bereaved Parents Awareness Month supports bereaved parents. Often people don't know what to say to or do for grieving parents. Sometimes, they turn away and do nothing. We encourage people to return and reach out to bereaved parents and their families. Give them someone who will listen to them without advising them; a shoulder to cry on, and a hug when appropriate. Basically, be there for the bereaved.

Africa