World Elder Abuse Awareness Day- June 15

Abuse of older people is a serious issue for which awareness is very important.

The UN has declared that June 15 each year will be a day to raise awareness of the phenomenon of elder abuse and neglect, to prevent such incidents from happening.

Unfortunately, around 1 in 6 adults experience some form of abuse. Abuse rates may be higher for older people living in nursing homes, by caregivers, than in the community. Elder abuse can take various forms such as physical, psychological or emotional abuse, sexual and financial. It can also be the result of intentional or unintentional neglect.

Elder abuse can lead to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences.

Elder abuse is expected to increase as life expectancy increases in many countries and the elderly population increases.

The global population of people aged 60 and over will double, from 900 million in 2015 to about 2 billion in 2050.

How to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day?

There are several ways you can help mark this day and raise awareness of the sad phenomenon. You can volunteer in the frameworks for the elderly in your community.

Many seniors in the community live in solitude, and volunteering for an hour a week, talking over a cup of coffee or going on a short walk can contribute a lot to them and help them, and even find out if they are experiencing any distress like abuse or neglect.

Share the information about this day on social media, so that everyone is aware of the phenomenon and its importance, because it can happen to any adult, even to someone close to you and dear to you!

The people in the picture have nothing to do with the phenomenon

June 15 is also Nature Photography Day

World Blood Donor Day - June 14

Every year on June 14, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day.

The event, founded in 2004, is designed to raise awareness of the need for safe blood for its use and its blockages, and to thank blood donors for their life-saving contributions.

World Blood Donor Day is one of eight official public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO), along with World Health Day, World Tuberculosis Day, World Vaccination Week, World Malaria Day, World Tobacco Day, World Jaundice Day and World AIDS Day.

A blood donation is the taking of blood from a person to use it or its products until it is given to another person who needs it, through a blood transfusion. Blood transfusions help save millions of people every year. They help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions to live longer and a higher quality of life, and support complex medical and surgical procedures. They also play a vital and life-saving role in maternity care. They help lower death rates due to severe bleeding during and after childbirth.

In the blood donation process, a donor of 450 ml of blood + 3 test tubes is taken from the donor to check the type of blood and that the blood is not infected with AIDS, jaundice or syphilis.

In the process of blood transfusion, the blood or its components are transferred to the person who needs an increase in blood volume.

Many countries do not have a sufficient supply of safe blood, and blood services face the challenge of obtaining safe blood to use a sufficient amount. Adequate supply can only be guaranteed through regular donations by blood donors who do not receive payment. The goal of the World Health Organization is for all countries to receive all their blood supply from donors by 2020. In 2014, 60 countries had their own blood supply based on 99-100% volunteer blood donations, and in 73 countries are still largely dependent on donations Of family members.

World Blood Donor Day is celebrated every year on June 14, the birth date of Karl Landsteiner in 1868. Karl Landsteiner was a biologist and physician who developed the modern method of blood classification in 1900 of the ABO, based on identifying the presence of collapse factors in the name. In 1937 he discovered the factor RH (a protein component that if present in the blood the blood type is a plus and if not then a minus). He was born in Austria as a Jew but converted to Christianity at the age of 22. In 1930 he received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for developing the ABO blood classification method and in 1937 he received a prize for discovering the RH factor.

Why should you donate blood?

Already in ancient times bloodshed was a common medical treatment and was considered beneficial to health.

Today it is known that blood donation encourages the bone marrow to produce new blood cells at an increased rate, to compensate for the deficiencies caused by the blood donation. During the renewal of deficiencies the body creates cells that aim to provide the body with protection against viruses and bacteria, so a regular donation maintains a more resilient immune system. It has been found that people who donate blood regularly live on average five years longer than those who do not donate, because their immune system is stronger.

A person who donates blood regularly to stay alive after massive blood loss is higher than a non-donor, because his body is already "trained" in blood loss situations and knows how to fill in the gaps faster.

It was found that people who donated blood at least once a year showed better results in blood sugar tests. It has also been found that blood donation reduces the risk of heart disease.

National Kitchen Klutzes of America Day- June 13

June 13 is the day  that dedicated annualy to those of us who find it difficult to function in the kitchen (as cooks, not as eaters). For people who have left hands and utter incompetence when it comes to cooking, baking and food preparation.

When I look at my friends Facebook and Instagram pages, I see endless images of culinary creations. Impressive cakes, cupcakes, patties, pasta, bread and all the dishes in the world, of course, with very complicated receipes. It seems that everyone around knows how to cook and bake like a world-class chef. They are so successful and talented.

The date June 13 is dedicated to those transparent people, those who have nothing to be proud about. This is the day to remember that there are people among us who always spill too much salt or forget to spice, their cake will always rise and then get thin as plywood, they always put too much or too little water, always will burn them in the stew. So now embrace them and cherish them and tell them that it's OK not to know how to cook, and if they don't like to do it, they don't have to prove anything to anyone.

International Falafel Day- June 12

What is falafel?

Falafel is a street food that came from the Middle East.

Falafel is a deep-fried balls made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, or both.

The falafel is commonly served in a pita with salads, pickled vegetables, and tahini, or wrapped in a flatbread known as taboon. Falafel balls may also be eaten alone as a snack or served as part of a meze tray (assortment of appetizers). 

falafel in a pita

Falafel is a good replacement for meat because it contains legume, so if you're a vegetarian, you must try Falafel, you may love it. It's also healthy because it's eaten with vegetables salad and tahini.

Where the falafel come from?

The common theory about the origin of falafel is that it originated in Egypt, and possibly eaten by Copts as a replacement for meat during Lent. Later the dish migrated to northern countries of the Levant. Some researchers believe that falafel is even older, from the Pharaonic Egypt era.

Where can you eat a falafel? 

In the Middle East you will find it everywhere, in every street corner. In Europe and North America you can also find it in Middle Eastern and Jewish neighborhoods and restaurants.

Nutritional value of falafel - per 100 g (3.5 oz) 

Energy 1,393 kJ (333 kcal)
Carbohydrates 31.84 g
Fat 17.80 g
Protein 13.31 g
Vitamins:
Vitamin A 13 IU
Thiamine (B1) (13%) 0.146 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (14%) 0.166 mg
Niacin (B3) (7%) 1.044 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5) (6%) 0.292 mg
Vitamin B6 (10%) 0.125 mg
Folate (B9) (20%) 78 μg
Vitamin B12 (0%) 0.00 μg
Minerals:
Calcium (5%) 54 mg
Iron (26%) 3.42 mg
Magnesium (23%) 82 mg
Manganese (33%) 0.691 mg
Phosphorus (27%) 192 mg
Potassium (12%) 585 mg
Sodium (20%) 294 mg Zinc (16%) 1.50 mg
Other constituents:
Water 34.62 g 

 June 12 is also Dia dos Namorados

Brazil's Valentine's Day -Dia dos Namorados- 12 June

Dia dos Namorados (from Portuguese, which means: "Friends Day"), celebrated on June 12 in Brazil, near the day of St. Anthony's death on June 13. 



Like Valentine's Day, this day too is celebrated with gifts, romantic activities, decorations and celebrations. The term "Dia dos Namorados" is also used in other Portuguese-speaking countries.  
Antonius of Padua, also known as Saint Anthony, died on 13 June 1231 in Padua, Italy. Dia dos Namorados is celebrated on 12 June, on the eve of Saint Anthony's Day.
It is believed that Saint Anthony brings blessing to young couples for a happy and prosperous marriage.
Brazilian Valentine Day is celebrated with the exchange of gifts such as chocolate and flowers, nocturnal dates, home decoration and streets, and marches and carnivals of samba dancing and folk music.

Single women do a ritual called sympathy, which aims to help them find a husband or a good partner.
In Brazil, Valentine's Day is not celebrated because February 14 usually falls on the Brazilian carnival. Because Brazil does not celebrate Valentine's Day in February, many singles from the West love to be in Brazil on February 14 and stay away from the sticky romance that surrounds the rest of the world. American news sites have already announced that Brazil is the number one country to visit to celebrate the Valentine's Day.  

In other Portuguese-speaking countries, especially in Africa, Valentine's Day called "Dia dos Namorados" was celebrated on Valentine's Day in February.  
By coincidence, but right, the Dia dos Namorados are celebrating in the anniversary of the US Supreme Court's decision in 1967 to repeal the ban on interracial marriage across the United States.

Feliz Dia Dos Namorados greeting cards

June 12 is also Falafel Day

International Yarn Bombing Day- 11 June

Yarn Bombing Day is a day dedicated to the art of knitting clothes to inanimate objects on the street. This art is also called yarnbombing, yarn storming, guerrilla knitting, kniffiti, urban knitting and graffiti knitting, and really it is a kind of graffiti.

Knitting objects on the streets are public works that are not permanent (although there are those who have remained on the object for years). Unlike regular graffiti, they can be easily removed if needed. There are bars that dress the objects legally and are authorized to do so. Some, like many graffiti artists, do it secretly and dress up in the middle of the night without getting permission. Dressing public objects is illegal, but most communities do not seem to want to prosecute armed fighters with needles.

The purpose of graffiti is usually to express social or political protest, marking territory, decoration, self-expression, publicity or vandalism, while the purpose of yarnbombing is usually the decoration and customization of sterile or cold public places, that is to add to the cold, industrial and monotonous color And life.

The history of the Yarn Bombing

It is believed that the origin of street knit art is in the United States, when Texas bars found a creative way to use the remains of their threads for objects, and since then it has spread throughout the world.

The move is attributed to Magda Saig, 37, of Houston, who says she got the idea for the first time in 2005, when she wrapped her woolen wool in her store handle.

Artist Bill Devonport created and exhibited crochet objects in Houston in the 1990's.

In 2008, Jafagirls, a group of street crochet artists, put a sweater on a tree in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and received international attention. They called their work Knit-Knot.

The movement went on from simple dressing of objects to "tailor-made stories." Lauren O'Farrell of London created her street art under the name Deadly Knitshade and thus founded the city's first knitting graffiti movement.

Although Yarn bombing was popular in urban places, Stephen Duneier, was the first to wear sweaters for trees, rocks and sculptures in the countryside, in Los Feders National Forest starting in 2012.

The Yarnabombers from Craft Club (Emma Curley, Helen Thomas, Gabi Atkins, Claire Whitehead and Rebecca Burton) became the Guinness World Record for the largest display of knitted items, with "Hacking" the children's hospice with 13,388 knitted items to make them happy at Christmas. They also knitted sweaters to their community mailboxes in Essex, England.

How to celebrate the Yarn Bombing day?

Well, if you already know how to knit, then begin to knit trees, benches, post boxes, fences and everything around you to make it colorful and more beautiful. If you do not know how to knit, you can sign up for a knitting course or join a begginers yarn bombing group.

Iced Tea Day- 10 June

Ice tea is not only refreshing on a hot summer day, it also has some great health benefits and can be enjoyed in many different flavors. 

June 10 is the ice tea day and this is an excellent excuse to enjoy this refreshing drink! Do not be afraid to add a little lemon or sugar to taste, or even ginger to help if you suffer from a sore throat. 

The Ice Tee can be bought in a bottle or can, mixed with various syrups such as lemon, raspberry, lime, passion fruit, peach, oranges, strawberries, cherries and more.

The oldest printed recipes of Ice Tee are dated to 1870. Two of the earliest cookbooks with cold tea recipes are the Buckeye Cookbook by Estel Woods Wilcox, first published in 1876, and the book Housekeeping in old Virginia by Marion Cabell Tyree, first published in 1877.

Iced tea receipe from the book "Housekeeping in Old Virginia" by Marion Cabell Tyree

Iced tea began to appear in the United States during the 1860s. In the early 1970s, it began showing up on hotels and stalls at train stations, mainly in the southern US, and his popularity gained momentum after being exhibited at a 1904 world's fair in St. Louis by Richard Blechynden.

The popularity of the ice tea in the United States led to the creation of sets of cutlery adapted to this beverage: Ice tea spoon is a spoon with a long handle, suitable for mixing sugar in the long glasses.

How to celebrate the cold tea day? 

Usually the 10th of June falls on a hot day, so the best way to celebrate the day is to drink cold tea refreshing in different flavors.

Donald Duck's birthday- June 9

Donald Duck made his debut on June 9, 1934, in Walt Disney's cartoon The Wise Little Hen.

In this cartoon, Donald and his friend Peter Pig fake stomach aches as an excuse for avoiding to help Mrs. Hen who is busy sowing seeds of maize. After Mrs. Hen finishes her toils unaided, they hope to get a treat but learn a painful lesson instead.

The Wise Little Hen video on Youtube (7.24 seconds)

Fun facts about Donald Duck:

Donald is a white feathered duck with orange-yellow legs and beak. His attire usually consists of a sailor shirt and cap, and a red tie.

The voice impersonating Donald Duck belonged at first to the voice actor Clarence Nash until his decease in 1985. Since then the voice actor Tony Anselmo has taken on the role.

Donald's family members include: Daisy Duck (Donald's girlfriend), Huey, Dewey, and Louie (Donald's three nephews), Scrooge McDuck and Professor Ludwig Von Drake (uncles).

Up to now 178 Donald Duck cartoons have been filmed, surpassing the number of Mickey Mouse cartoons.

Donald Duck suffers from a lack in anger control. Rage builds up inside him until he blows his top. He is short tempered and tends to run into trouble when fury gets the better of him.

When calm, Donald Duck generally loves leisure and tends to impassivity. His speech consists of shrieking, practically unintelligible utterances.

In 2004 a star in his name was embedded in the Hollywood Walk of Fame, adding him to the company of cartoon characters such as Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse.

Finland had boycotted Donald Duck for years-because he had no pants.

Donald Duck's coloring pages