You are a piece of the puzzle of someone else’s life. You may never know where you fit, but others will fill the holes in their lives with pieces of you.
– Bonnie Arbon, author
There is an international observance day virtually every few days.
However, what is their purpose?
Some people use these as gimmicks and forget about them; others highlight these observance days for more considerate reasons.
There are many reasons why observance days are celebrated. I’ll share some of the most common ones with you.
Observance days can raise awareness of important issues, such as human rights, environmental protection, or public health. By raising awareness, we can educate people about issues and encourage them to take action.
Observance days can also be used to promote action on important issues. This can be done by encouraging people to donate to charities, volunteer their time, or contact their elected officials.
Another vital use can be celebrating achievements, such as signing a peace treaty or an independence day, such as Sarawak Day.
By observing these achievements, we can show appreciation for the progress and inspire others to continue working for change.
These observance days can also be used to build communities. We can strengthen our ties with our neighbours and create a more just and equitable world by coming together to celebrate or raise awareness of a common issue.
The specific purpose of an observance day will vary depending on the issue it is dedicated to.
However, all observance days share a common goal. Their main aim is to make the world a better place to live in.
Let’s explore some observance days that have made a difference in the world and see how we can continue to support them.
One such annual observance is the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day on May 8 to honour International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement founder Henry Dunant, born in 1828.
This day aims to broaden the public’s understanding of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and its work in providing humanitarian assistance to people in need.
It also serves as an opportunity to thank the millions of volunteers, who give their time and energy to help others in need and to reaffirm their commitment to humanitarian action,
To reinforce the movement, it is also a reminder to uphold the seven fundamental principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. These are humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
Another observance day is World Organ Donation Day, which is observed on August 13 to raise awareness about the impotence of organ donation and encourage people to become organ donors.
The day was first observed in 2005 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Society for Organ Donation and Transplantation (ISODT).
Organ donation is giving an organ or tissue to someone else who needs it to survive or improve their quality of life.
In Malaysia, 10,893 people are waiting for organ transplants. Unfortunately, only 2,921 have undergone transplants since 1997. This means that there is a great need for organ donors.
Currently, the following is the breakdown of the number of people awaiting transplants in Malaysia: 10,623 kidneys (adult), 240 kidneys (paediatric), 11 livers (adult), six livers (paediatric), 11 hearts, two heart and lungs.
Get an organ donor card. World Organ Donation Day is a day to acknowledge the importance of organ donation and encourage people to become organ donors.
By donating your organs, you can save or improve the lives of others.
Another important observance day coming up is on August 19, World Humanitarian Day.
The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008, five years after a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, that killed 22 humanitarian workers, including the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was also UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights.
This observance honours the work of humanitarian aid workers and remembers the hundreds who have lost their lives during their efforts to help others.
They give aid in the middle of war, conflict, famine, and natural disasters.
You don’t have to be a celebrity, have lots of money, or travel to a Third World country to be a humanitarian. All you need to do is lend a helping hand or donate money if you can afford it.
You can also help to promote observance days. Share information about observance days on social media. Use the hashtag, e.g. # WorldHumanitarianDay.
I am sure we are all leading busy lives at work and home. However, volunteering for two or three hours a week can make a big difference and significantly contribute.
In Sarawak, we should also have more observance days of our own to celebrate our communities and promote specific annual local causes and charities, such as Sarawak Unity Day, Sarawak Literature Day or Sarawak Rainforest Day.
Let us all work together in solidarity to become a force for good and take action to make Sarawak a better place.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
