On 13 October, Ukraine celebrates Trade Union Day, Artist’s Day, and the world celebrates Earth Science Week and International Skeptics Day.
Day of Trade Unions of Ukraine
This day is celebrated annually on the second Sunday of October and is an important holiday for all those who work to protect the rights and interests of workers. Trade unions play a key role in ensuring social justice, fair working conditions, protecting workers’ rights and improving living standards.
Interesting facts
The first trade unions appeared on the territory of modern Ukraine in the late 19th century. They actively fought for the rights of workers during the Industrial Revolution, including for shorter working hours, higher wages and better working conditions.
Today, there are more than 70 all-Ukrainian trade unions in Ukraine, representing the interests of millions of workers in various sectors, from industry to education and healthcare. The central organisation is the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine (FTU).
The rights and activities of trade unions are regulated by the Constitution of Ukraine, the Law of Ukraine ‘On Trade Unions, Their Rights and Guarantees of Activity’ and other regulations that provide a legal framework for the protection of employees.
Trade unions are actively involved in a tripartite dialogue with the government and employers, facilitating the conclusion of collective bargaining agreements and contracts that determine the level of social guarantees and working conditions for employees.
Thanks to the active work of trade unions, numerous social achievements have been made, including raising the minimum wage, introducing additional guarantees for working women and young people, and protecting workers during economic crises.
Day of the Artist of Ukraine
This day is celebrated annually on the second Sunday of October and is a holiday for all masters of fine arts who enrich the country’s cultural space with their work. It is a holiday not only for professional artists, but also for everyone who is involved in art, creating beauty and aesthetic impressions in various genres – from painting and graphics to sculpture and decorative arts.
The Day of the Artist was officially established by a decree of the President of Ukraine in 1998. Its purpose is to recognise the important role of artists in the development of national culture and spirituality, as well as to pay tribute to their contribution to the preservation and enhancement of the artistic heritage.
Interesting facts
The outstanding Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko was not only a writer but also a talented artist. He was recognised for his paintings, especially his portraits and historical paintings.
The self-taught artist, who is known for her skilful floral still lifes, became a symbol of Ukrainian folk art. Her work was highly praised by Pablo Picasso, who said: ‘If we had an artist of her calibre, we would make the world talk about her.’
Ukrainian artists played an important role in the world avant-garde in the early twentieth century. Kazymyr Malevych, the author of the famous Black Square, was born in Ukraine and formed his first creative ideas.
Contemporary Ukrainian art is developing rapidly, with artists creating works that reflect national and global issues, including war, social change and questions of identity. Many artists are working with new forms, including digital technologies.
Ukraine has a rich artistic heritage, preserved in numerous art schools, museums and galleries. Lviv, Kyiv, and Odesa art schools are well-known not only in Ukraine but also abroad.
Earth Science Week
This annual event was launched to spread knowledge about our planet and raise awareness of the importance of studying earth sciences. Starting from 13 October, events are held throughout the week to help people understand various aspects of geology, climatology, oceanography and other disciplines that study the Earth.
Interesting facts
Earth Science Week was launched by the American Geological Institute (AGI) in 1998 to encourage the public to learn about and appreciate the Earth. The initiative has spread around the world, drawing attention to environmental issues.
Each year, Earth Science Week is dedicated to a specific theme. In 2024, the main theme is ‘Earth for All: Challenges of Change’. It focuses on how climate change and natural resource management affect society.
Around 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, but only 2.5% of it is fresh water available for use. Earth Science Week helps to raise awareness of the importance of protecting water resources.
The Earth experiences around 50 major volcanic eruptions every year, and this week includes educational programmes about volcanic activity and its impact on climate and landscapes.
The Earth is constantly changing through natural processes. Over the past 500 million years, continents have been moving constantly, and this has shaped the planet’s current appearance.
The week includes a variety of activities, from expeditions to museums and science centres to online seminars and workshops for pupils and students.
International Skeptics Day
This unofficial holiday is dedicated to people who question conventional wisdom and check information for accuracy before drawing conclusions. Sceptics do not take things for granted, but strive for critical thinking, objectivity and a scientific approach to solving problems.
Interesting facts
The word ‘scepticism’ comes from the Greek word ‘skeptesthai’, which means ‘to examine’ or ‘to question’. Ancient Greek philosophers, such as Pyrrhon, believed that truth was unattainable and suggested avoiding final judgements.
Scepticism is an important part of the scientific method. Scientists often question new hypotheses before accepting them as true, which stimulates the development of knowledge and discovery.
Scepticism helps to avoid the influence of fake news, fraud and prejudice. Sceptics usually do not accept information on faith before checking its source and facts.
There have been many prominent sceptics in history, such as Carl Sagan, a famous astrophysicist and populariser of science who called for critical thinking and scientific analysis of phenomena.
Nowadays, sceptics often advocate rational discussion of topics such as alternative medicine, conspiracy theories, astrology and other issues that have no scientific evidence.
Historical events on this day
1999: Same-sex marriage was officially allowed in France. This was an important step in the struggle for the rights of the LGBT community and set a precedent for the further legalisation of such marriages in other countries.
1998: NATO issued an ultimatum to Yugoslavia, demanding the withdrawal of Yugoslav troops from Kosovo. This was the culmination of the conflict in the Balkans, which led to further military action and the intervention of the international community to resolve the crisis.
1987: For the first time in the world, military dolphins were used by the US Navy in the Persian Gulf for mine detection and other military tasks. This was a pioneering example of the use of animals in military operations, which is still relevant today.
1957: During the State Council in China, Mao Zedong said: ‘There is no need to read many books’, which reflected his political ideology on culture and education, influencing the future of China.
1944: During talks in Moscow, Joseph Stalin promised Winston Churchill that the USSR would declare war on Japan after defeating Germany, an important agreement in World War II.
1944: Soviet troops liberated Riga from German occupation, but effectively replaced it with Soviet occupation. This was part of the complex political and military situation in Europe during World War II.
1943: Italy officially declared war on Nazi Germany, which changed the course of the war and marked Italy’s transition to the side of the anti-Hitler coalition.
1941: German troops took control of the city of Kaluga, and Soviet troops were forced to surrender Zaporizhzhia under the onslaught of the German army, as part of the Nazi offensive during World War II.
1900: Sigmund Freud published his landmark work The Interpretation of Dreams, which became the foundation of psychoanalytic theory and influenced the understanding of human consciousness and the subconscious.
1894: The Ukrainian People’s Union was founded in Pennsylvania, which was an important milestone in the organisation of the Ukrainian diaspora in the United States and the protection of its rights and interests.
1884: Greenwich was officially approved as the zero meridian, which became the basis of the modern time and navigation system.
1875: The University of Chernivtsi was opened, becoming an important centre of education and science in Western Ukraine.
1860: The first photograph was taken from a balloon in the United States, an innovative achievement in photography and observation.
1792: Construction began on the White House, the residence of the US President, which has become one of the symbols of American democracy.
1675: Dutch physicist Christiaan Huygens patented the pocket watch and invented the spiral mechanism, which became important for navigation and the development of accurate time measurement.
1582: The Gregorian calendar was introduced in Italy and other Catholic countries, replacing the Julian calendar. This transition was an important reform of the calendar system, which is still used in many countries around the world.
1307: By order of King Philip IV of France, all Templars were arrested. This event gave rise to the superstition of the unlucky Friday, 13.
2016: Astronomers using 3D technologies and data from the Hubble telescope discovered that there are approximately 2 trillion galaxies in the observable universe – 10 times more than previously thought. This discovery has significantly expanded our understanding of the scale of the cosmos.
