At 15:29 Washington DC time and 23:59 August 30, 2021, local time, the final C-17 plane lifted off from Afghanistan, ending nearly 20 years of occupation and war. The 16-days preceding saw over 123,000 civilians, diplomats, allies, and personnel evacuated, the largest extraction mobilization by air in history.

The US invaded Afghanistan on October 7, 2001. As of July 2022, the Taliban has regained control of the country and reversed most of the democratic, progressive policies and privileges adopted in the previous twenty years. Women have suffered disproportionately, losing access to work, school, and personal independence.

Poverty, starvation, and authoritarian rule have returned and are the norm.

Africa

Aug

College Colors Day, Ntl.: August 30

06:20 AM | -

A day to sport the colors of your favorite college or university, College Colors Day ushers in the new school year with campus pride. Annually on the Friday before Labor Day.

Africa

Aug

Frankenstein Day, Ntl. (1797): August 30

06:20 AM | -

Frankenstein, the story of a mad scientist who brings the dead back to life, only to discover that he has created a monster, continues to be one of our most popular and lasting horror stories. National Frankenstein Day celebrates its author Mary Shelley, born on August 30, 1797. "Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus" was the book's original title, and Shelly was just a teenager when she wrote Frankenstein. As if living a teenage dream, she ran away with the poet Percy Bysshe and gave birth to two children over the first two years. In 1816, the couple traveled to Switzerland and visited Lord Byron at Villa Diodati. While there, 18-year-old Mary started writing Frankenstein. The book was published in 1818 when she was 20 years old.

Africa

Aug

Grief Awareness Day, Ntl.: August 30

06:20 AM | -

Created in 2014 by Angie Cartwright annually on her mother's birthday, Grief Awareness Day encourages people to become familiar with the stages of grief. These are generally accepted to be four: Denial, Depression, Anger, and Acceptance. Some add a fifth, bargaining, occurs between the first three stages. Grieving takes time and can occur over any loss: loss of a person, a job, a lifestyle, for women--fertility with menopause. Even addicts go through a period of grief when they stop using their drug of choice. Grieving is a natural process everyone experiences. However, each of us grieves differently, and there is no expiration date on grief. It simply takes as long as it takes until finally, it reaches acceptance. Use National Grief Awareness Day to check in on those you know are grieving a loss and learn a little more about the process for yourself.

Africa

Aug

Holistic Pet Day, Ntl.: August 30

06:20 AM | -

National Holistic Pet Day emphasizes the positive impact holistic and natural treatments can have on promoting the quality and longevity of life for your pets. Lifestyle, diet and environment all contribute the health and welfare of one’s pet. This event was started by Coleen Paige in an effort to promote pet adoption, Ms. Paige has created over 17 pet holidays including this, National Cat Day, International Dog Day, and National Dress Up Your Pet Day.

Africa

Aug

Marshmallow Day, Toasted: August 30

06:20 AM | -

Toasted Marshmallow Day celebrates the camping-inspired dessert of toasted marshmallows. People can relive their camping experiences on this day by gathering firewood, sticking marshmallows on long sticks (or unwound wire hangers), and toasting over a campfire. Marshmallows get their name from a wetland marsh plant, the mallow plant. Initially, marshmallows were reserved for royalty and the wealthy in ancient Egypt, and today they are made of cornstarch from a process developed in the nineteenth century. Today, marshmallows are one of America's favorite sweets, with over 50% of purchases used over summer devoted to campfire roasts.

Africa

Aug

Santa Rosa de Lima, (PE): August 30

06:20 AM | -

August 30 is a national holiday in Peru, set aside to celebrate their patron saint, Rose of Lima. Born Isabel Flores De Oliva on April 20, 1586, she devoted her life to the poor and needy and died on August 24, 1617.

Africa

Aug

Victims of Enforced Disappearances, Intl. Day for: August 30

06:20 AM | -

Enforced disappearance, also referred to as rendition, is a strategy to spread terror within society. The insecurity generated by this practice is not limited to the close relatives of the disappeared but impacts their communities and society. Enforced disappearance is a global problem. Initially associated with military dictatorships, enforced disappearances occur in complex situations of internal conflict as a means of political repression. Of particular concern are: 1) Ongoing harassment of human rights defenders, victims' relatives, witnesses, and legal counsel dealing with cases of enforced disappearance. 2) States use it under the guise of counter-terrorism as an excuse for breaching obligations. On December 21, 2010, by its resolution 65/209, the UN General Assembly expressed deep concern about the increase in disappearances. The resolution focused on "the growing number of reports concerning harassment, ill-treatment, and intimidation of witnesses of disappearances or relatives of persons who have disappeared." The United Nations declared August 30 the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances beginning in 2011.

Africa

Aug

Victory Day, (TR)(1922): August 30

06:20 AM | -

Victory Day in Turkey marks the anniversary of August 30, 1922, when the nation achieved its independence; Victory Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Aug

Whale Shark Day, Intl.: August 30

06:20 AM | -

Whale sharks are the most prominent member of the shark family, growing to over 46 feet in length (14m+), which is why they are called whales. These gentle giants have tiny teeth, smaller than most people! They're not meat eaters; they eat plankton and tend to live in shallow water, not deep. Currently, the whale shark is under threat. Its fins and meat are delicacies in Asia, and a lack of regional enforcement of laws designed to protect them further endangers them. International Whale Shark Day seeks to raise awareness about the plight of these graceful and friendly creatures and increase the number of laws and bodies enforcing those laws internationally to protect them. International Whale Shark Day first ran in 2012.

Africa

Aug

American Adventures Month: August

06:20 AM | -

From Argentina to the tip Arctic Circle, America is a bounty of adventures. Whether you stay in your country, explore islands or dip into one of the other nations in the Western Hemisphere, you could spend your entire life exploring the Americas and still not see it all. American Adventures Month is about getting to know our hemisphere and making an adventure out of all you do.

Africa

Aug

Black August (1971): August

06:20 AM | -

Black August recognizes the contributions of living and past black freedom fighters, political prisoners, and black revolutionaries who challenge the status quo for equal rights. The month falls on the anniversary of the death of George Lester Jackson (September 23, 1941 – August 21, 1971). Jackson was a member of the Black Panther movement in the 1960s, a prison gang leader, a radical advocate for prisoner rights, and a murderer. He often used violence to make his points. Jackson died while holding and killing five hostages during an attempted prison escape at California's San Quentin prison. Jackson documented his time in Soledad Prison in the book "Soledad Brother: The Prison Letters of George Jackson," which brought him global attention.

Africa

Aug

Black Business Month: August

06:20 AM | -

Black Business Month honors the contributions of black-owned enterprises to the US economy. Each day focuses on a different business category.

Africa

Aug

Blueberry Month, Ntl. (CA): August

06:20 AM | -

The NABC and the Canadian Government recognize National Blueberry Month in August; the US version occurs in July. Celebrations of this month include family discounts at u-pick farms, recipe contests, promotions at supermarkets and farmer's markets, and blueberry festivals throughout the country.

Africa

Aug

Boomers Making a Difference Month: August

06:20 AM | -

Until the 21st Century, Baby Boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, were the largest generation the world had ever seen. They earned their name due to the 'baby boom' ensuing as soldiers worldwide returned home from WWII. Boomers are split into two groups: Premier baby boomers from 1945-1954 and secondary boomers from 1955-1964. Boomers Making a Difference Month, first run in 2010, highlights the contributions of the Baby Boomers to society.

Africa