Current Affairs August 2019 - Important Days

1 - World Breastfeeding Week 2019

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. The Women and Child Development Ministry of India also observed the World Breastfeeding Week with a focus on protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding with the theme “Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding”.

WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding starting within one hour after birth until a baby is 6 months old.

2 - 5^th National Handloom Day observed on August 7

The 5^th National Handloom Day was observed on August 7 to honor the handloom weavers and their contribution to the socio-economic development of the country. The events were organized at 16 NIFT Campuses and Weavers’ Service Centres in different States across the country.

Handloom Mela and exhibition, workshops, panel discussion were organized. 4^th All India Handloom Census report was released on the occasion and certificates were distributed to beneficiaries of various schemes.

3 - Nation observed 77^th anniversary of Quit India movement on August 8^th

The 77^th anniversary of the August Kranti Din, which is considered as one of the important milestones in the history of freedom struggle of India, was observed on 8^th August. On this date in 1942, Mahatma Gandhi gave a clarion call to end the British rule and launched the Quit India Movement at the session of the All-India Congress Committee in Mumbai.

After the failure of Cripps Mission, Gandhiji gave the call to Do or Die in his Quit India speech delivered at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Mumbai.

4 - 5^th National Handloom Day celebrations on August 7

The 5^th National Handloom Day was celebrated across the country on 7^th of August. The Day is observed annually on 7^th August to honour the handloom weavers in the country and also highlight India’s handloom industry. The day seeks to focus on the contribution of handloom to the socio economic development of the country and also increase the income of weavers.

The first National Handloom Day was observed in July 2015. The day commemorates the Swadeshi Movement which was launched on this day in 1905 in Calcutta Town Hall to protest against the partition of Bengal by the British Government.

5 - World Biofuel Day observed on 10^th August

The World Biofuel Day is observed annually on 10^th of August to create awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels and highlight various efforts made by Government in this sector. This year the theme of the World Biofuel Day is “Production of Biodiesel from Used Cooking Oil (UCO)”.

The National Policy on Biofuels, released by the Government of India in 2018, envisages production of biofuel from UCO. FSSAI is planning to release a sticker - RUCO viz., Repurpose Used Cooking Oil and a mobile app to facilitate the collection of UCO.

6 - International Day of The World's Indigenous People observed on 9 August

International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is observed annually on 9^th August. The date marks the day of the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.

The 2019 theme: “Indigenous Languages” focused on the current situation of indigenous languages around the world. The aim was to highlight the critical need to revitalize, preserve, and promote indigenous languages.

7 - Nagasaki Day observed on 9^th August

The Nagasaki Day is observed every year on 9^th of August because on this day US dropped atomic bomb, code named "Fat Man", on the Nagasaki city of Japan in 1945 during World War II. The first bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima. The devastation caused due to the bombing led Japan surrender in World War II.

The plane that carried the atomic bomb was a B-29 Superfortress, one of the most commonly produced aircrafts in the World War II. The plane was named Bockscar. This year was the 74^th anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing.

8 - India celebrated 73^rd Independence Day

India celebrated 73^rd Independence Day on 15^th August. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag at the ramparts of the historic Red Fort in Delhi and made the following key announcements −

PTI

'Jal Jeevan' mission to make drinking water available to all households on the cost of 3.5 lakh crore rupees.
Set up of Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, who will ensure synergy among the three Services and provide effective leadership to them
Invest Rs 100 lakh crore in modern infrastructure to make the country a 5 trillion dollar economy in the next five years

9 - International Youth Day

The United Nations’ (UN) International Youth Day is celebrated annually on August 12. The day recognizes the contribution of the world’s youth in enhancing global society. The theme for International Youth Day 2019 is “Transforming education”. It highlights efforts to make education more inclusive and accessible for all youth.

Public information activities were organized to promote awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth. India organized ‘Walk for life’ rally, skit presentation, poster making competitions, short filmmaking and debate competitions’ to educate youth about HIV.

10 - Birth anniversary of late Rajiv Gandhi celebrated

The birth anniversary of late Rajiv Gandhi is celebrated every year on 20^th August as Sadbhavana Diwas or Communal Harmony Day. This day is observed to encourage the national integration, peace, affection and communal harmony among the Indian people of all religions.

2019 marked the 75^th birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi. Rajiv Gandhiwas the youngest Prime Minister of the country at the age of 40 years. A Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber assassinated him in May 1991.

11 - World Humanitarian Day 2019

The World Humanitarian Day is observed every year on 19^th August to pay tribute to workers who risk their lives in humanitarian services and gather support for people affected by crises around the world. The theme of 2019 was ‘Women Humanitarians’ to honour the work of women in crises throughout the world and their undying contribution in making the world a better place.

On 19 August 2003, a terrorist attack hit the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad. Five years later, the General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 19 August as World Humanitarian Day.

12 - World Photography Day 2019

The World Photography Day is observed annually on August 19^th. The day is dedicated to the art, craft, science and history of photography. The day aims to inspire photographers across the globe to share a single photo with a simple purpose of sharing their world with the world.

The origin of the day lies in the invention of the Daguerrotype, a photographic process which was developed by Frenchmen Lois Daguerre and Joseph Nicephore Niepce in 1837.

13 - International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief

The first International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief was observed on 22^nd August.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) designated 22^nd August as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief following an unprecedented rise of violence against religious communities and people belonging to religious minorities. The Day comes right after the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, 21 August.

14 - International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism

The second International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism was observed on 21^st August. The day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2017 to honor the victims and survivors of terrorism.

This year, the day will focus on the resilience of victims and their families, how they have coped and what they have done to transform their experiences to aid healing and recovery as well as become stronger and more united against terrorism.

15 - International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition observed globally on 23^rd August

The International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is observed annually on August 23. The day offers the opportunity to honour and remember those who suffered and died at the hands of the brutal slavery system. The International Day also aims to raise awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice today.

This date also pays tribute to those who worked hard to abolish slave trade and slavery throughout the world.

16 - International Day Against Nuclear Tests observed on 29 August

The International Day against Nuclear Tests is observed annually on August 29. The day brings public awareness and education about the effects of global nuclear weapon tests and the need to prevent nuclear catastrophes to avert devastating effects on humankind, the environment and the planet.

The United Nations General Assembly declared 29 August as the International Day against Nuclear Tests by unanimously adopting resolution 64/35 on 2 December 2009. The Day was first celebrated in 2010.

17 - National Sports Day celebrated on August 29^th

August 29^th was observed as the National Sports Day. The Day is celebrated to mark the birthday of legendary hockey player Dhyan Chand, the hockey player who won gold medals in Olympics for India in the years 1928, 1932 and 1936. He scored over 400 goals in his career, from 1926 to 1948.

The most noted memorials for him is the Major Dhyan Chand Award, the highest award for lifetime achievement in sports and games in India, and the National Sports Day celebrations on his birthday.

18 - International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances

The International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances is observed annually on 30^th August. In December 2010, the UN officially declared that it would annually observe the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances on August 30 each year, starting from 2011.

The day is observed to create awarness on Enforced disappearance, mobilize political will and resources to address the concerns of Enforced disappearence and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. Enforced disappearance has become a global problem. It has frequently been used as a strategy to spread terror within the society.