Tula Sankranti is one of the twelve Sankranti of the Hindu religion and includes social, cultural, and religious aspects. It is considered auspicious in Odisha (Orissa) and Karnataka states. PLEASE NOTE: We use the Indian civil calendar, the official holiday calendar in India. The Hindu faith has many calendars, each specific to different regions and tribes, with dates and celebrations marked by differing positions of the sun, moon, and stars. Names of months and holidays and the corresponding dates in the Gregorian Calendar may vary widely from one calendar to the next. Determine the proper calendar before attending local events.

Africa

Oct

Tzom Gedaliah (J): October 6

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Tzom Gedaliah is a Jewish observance celebrated on the second day of Rosh Hashanah in the month of Tisherj of the Hebrew calendar. Tzom Gedaliah acknowledges the killing of the governor of Judea at the time of the First Temple's destruction. A fast begins upon the appearance of stars in the sky. Prayers are recited throughout the day. PLEASE NOTE: All Hebrew calendar months begin and end at sundown. LEEP Calendar marks Jewish months starting on their first full day. Observant people of the faith will observe the beginning of the month at sunset the day prior.

Africa

Oct

U.S.-Mexico Border Health Month: October

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Each year a week in October is set aside in the United States, Canada, and Mexico to focus on health. Several cities, provinces, and states stagger their dates throughout the month with localized programs. See your local universities, hospitals, and clinics for participation in your local. It is a time for neighboring nations to celebrate their friendship and renew their partnership in creating a healthier and more prosperous future for their peoples and each other.

Africa

Oct

UNESCO Admits Palestine (2011): October 31

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Today marks the anniversary of UNESCO admitting Palestine as a member of the organization on October 31, 2011. With Palestine, UNESCO's membership to 193.

Africa

Oct

United Nations Day (1945): October 24

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United Nations Day marks the organization's establishment, via charter, on October 24, 1945. The day is a public holiday within many of its member states.

Africa

Oct

Unity Day to End Bullying: October 16

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Celebrate Unity Day, the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Month, is a simple one: wear and share the color orange to send a universal message that bullying is never acceptable behavior.

Africa

Oct

Urban Wildlife Week, Intl.: October 12-19

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CELEBRATING THE WILDS OF THE CITY

INTERNATIONAL URBAN WILDLIFE WEEK

International Urban Wildlife Week occurs during Urban October and began in Los Angeles in 2015. Its original focus was on P-22, the beloved wild cougar that roamed the hills and cities of the greater Los Angeles area. Unfortunately, P-22 had to be euthanized in early 2023, plunging the entire metropolis into mourning, with over 6,000 Angelinos attending his memorial service.

Despite it being one of the largest cities in the world, Los Angeles has a robust wildlife population, including coyotes, deer, golden eagles, rabbits, cougars, bobcats, raccoons, and even its flock of green parrots who have thrived in the city since they escaped a pet store fire in the early 1980s. In fact, all cities have wildlife, even yours (and not just rats). P-22's legacy continues with the now International Urban Wildlife Week by the National Wildlife Federation, which is supported by nature conservancies worldwide. It focuses on the necessity of wildlife zones, animal crossings over highways, green spaces, and clean-up rivers to encourage cohabitation.

For example, in 2019, Utrecht, Netherlands, started a trend in Europe by planting flowering plants atop its city bus stops to provide bees and pollinators with an environment. Other cities in Europe quickly followed suit. Additional examples include:

—China's sponge cities double as flood mitigation.

—Milan, Italy's plant-covered skyscrapers.

—MENA nations, including Tunisia and Saudi Arabia, use grey water (recycled water) for everything from gardens to toilets.

Urban wildlife projects create a more livable environment for people, plants, and animals. They preserve habitat, clean toxins from the air, reuse valuable resources, and provide defense against flooding, fires, and landslides. International Urban Wildlife Week is your opportunity to consider the nonhuman living entities around you and how best to ensure you both thrive.

Header image: Desert dove cares for her newly hatched chicks in a windowsill nest on the Saudi Aramco campus in Dhahran, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Photo LD Lewis

Africa

Oct

USS Cole (YE)(2000): October 12

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On October 12, 2000, the USS Cole, a Navy guided-missile destroyer (DDG-67), was hit by an Al Qaida terrorist attack while harboring and refueling in Aden, Yemen. Seventeen American sailors were killed in the attack, and thirty-nine were left injured. The USS Cole bombing was the deadliest strike against a United States Naval vessel in more than two decades. The last major attack against a peace-time US naval ship was the June 8, 1967 attack on the USS Liberty by the state of Israel. Thirty-four died, and 172 were wounded in that 75-minute unprovoked assault; it is covered in-depth in LEEP Calendar. By 2002, US Intelligence would link the attack on the USS Cole to the events of September 11, 2001. The mini-series "The Looming Tower" covers this in detail.

Africa

Oct

Vegetarian Day, World: October 1

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World Vegetarian Day was established as an annual celebration to promote vegetarianism's joy, compassion, and life-enhancing possibilities. The day was originated by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977 and endorsed by the International Vegetarian Union in 1978. October 1st is the official date; however, individuals may schedule their event on a nearby date instead if necessary.

Africa

Oct

Vegetarian Month: October

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October is the month to try a vegetarian lifestyle during Vegetarian Month. Throughout the month, restaurants and groceries feature the ingredients of a healthy, meatless diet. Look for specials, local cooking classes, food fairs, and a highlight on vegetarian dishes. It is sponsored annually by the Vegetarian Awareness Network.

Africa

Oct

Veterans' Health Week (AU): October 13-20

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Veterans have served Australia bravely, and attending to their health needs post-service is the focus of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans' Health Week focuses on the services available to our veterans and educating the public and their families about these resources.

Africa

Oct

Veterinary Technician Week, Ntl.: October 20-26

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First held in 1993, National Veterinary Technician Week (NVTW) allows veterinary nurses/technicians can focus favorable attention on their profession through a variety of activities. Veterinary Technician Week seeks to: • Educate the public about veterinary technicians and what we do; • Reinforce the value and professionalism of veterinary technicians; • Provide an opportunity for veterinary technicians to encourage one another for excellent work ethic and team building; • Acknowledge our quality relationship with veterinarians and other veterinary professionals.

Africa

Oct

Virus Appreciation Day: October 3

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There are two possibilities for this day: Biological and Technological. Biological: Virus Appreciation Day commemorates the Cowpox virus, which prevented people from contracting Small Pox when administered as a vaccination. In essence, one virus prevents another virus from living, replacing a deadly virus with one that is simply inconvenient. Smallpox was a deadly disease until Edward Jenner tested his theory in 1796 by infecting an eight-year-old boy with live cowpox virus, awaiting his recovery for over ten days, then infecting him with smallpox. The boy did not get sick. Smallpox was declared eradicated on May 3, 1980, by the United Nations. Over centuries it was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide. Why this date over the anniversary of the first successful inoculation (May 14, 1796), Jenner's birthday (May 17, 1749), or day of death (January 26, 1823), is unknown. We cannot source if this is the anniversary of publishing his findings either. ______________ Technological: Virus Appreciation Day evolved to educate people about protecting themselves from computer viruses. Anyone with a computer will have encountered a virus, Trojans, and malware at some point. These destructive codes spread via attachments, networks, emails, phishing sites, and creative technological appeals like ransomware. Once contracted, these malicious codes can destroy years of work, hijack personal information and make your life a living hell. For Norton's list of the eight most destructive viruses of all time, see https://uk.norton.com/norton-blog/2016/02/the_8_most_famousco.html. As with Cowpox/Smallpox, we cannot find a release date or anniversary of any kind tied to October 3 relating to technology viruses. The first computer virus was Creeper, released in 1971 by Bob Thomas at BBN Technologies (Raytheon). This worm infected ARPANET and altered the screen display; Creeper was a test program, unlike today's malicious code. ________________ How you acknowledge this date, biological or technological, is up to you.

Africa

Oct

Vodka Day, Ntl.: October 4

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"Voda" is Russian for water, and vodka is Russia's water of life. First distilled in homes during the 9th Century AD, the first commercial distillery began in 1174 AD, according to the Vyatka Chronicle. The Poles debate this, stating they first started making vodka in the eighth century AD. Proof exists of Polish vodka in the early 1000s AD when it was used as medicine. Once gunpowder was discovered, vodka contributed to its production as well. British diplomats brought vodka back to England during the Tudor era; by that time, it had become the national drink of Poland and Finland. Vodka was first exported as a commodity from Russia to Sweden in 1505. Around this time, flavoring vodka (to suss out impurities) became popular, and just about any flavor you can think of, from chicory to peppermint, was used. In the 18th century, charcoal was deployed for filtration; before this, it had been sand and silt.

Africa

Oct

Walk to School Day, Intl.: October 2

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International Walk to School Day in the United States draws more than 5,000 events across all 50 states. Walkers from the United States will join children and adults in 40 countries worldwide. Walk to School Day events work to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, concern for the environment, and building connections between families, schools, and the broader community.

Africa