21 October is Energy Saving Day, World Iodine Deficiency Day, Chatterbox Day, and Back to the Future Day.
On 21 October 1665, Ukrainian Cossacks led by Hetman Ivan Bryukhovetsky signed the so-called Moscow Articles, which defined new relations between Ukraine and Russia.
On 21 October 1833, the ‘King of Dynamite’ was born in Stockholm Alfred Nobel, who left the world a legacy in the form of one of the most prestigious prizes.
Energy Saving Day
This day aims to draw public attention to the importance of rational energy use and reducing energy consumption. It calls for a more responsible attitude to natural resources, encourages the use of new technologies to save energy and promotes strategies to reduce energy costs in the home, workplace and public sector.
Interesting facts
According to the International Energy Agency, a 1% annual reduction in energy consumption can lead to a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. This will help fight climate change and support sustainable development of the planet.
Using energy-efficient technologies and implementing simple solutions such as replacing light bulbs with LEDs, insulating buildings, installing meters and using solar energy can significantly reduce energy costs.
Fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, are the world’s main sources of energy, but their reserves are limited. In addition, their use leads to significant greenhouse gas emissions. Energy Saving Day is a reminder of the need to switch to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydro.
Simple solutions such as switching off lights in unoccupied rooms or using energy-efficient appliances can reduce energy consumption by 20-30%. This contributes not only to cost savings but also to resource conservation.
The development of innovative solutions, such as intelligent energy systems, smart homes and electric vehicles, is already changing the face of the global energy sector. The introduction of these technologies is one of the key aspects of sustainable development.
World Iodine Deficiency Day
This day is an important occasion to draw attention to a problem that remains relevant for many countries around the world. Iodine is one of the most important trace elements for human health. It is necessary for the normal functioning of the thyroid gland, which is responsible for metabolism and many other important processes in the body. Insufficient intake of iodine can lead to serious problems, such as developmental disorders in children, physical and mental retardation, an enlarged thyroid gland known as a goiter, and other disorders.
Interesting facts
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 1 billion people in the world live in iodine deficiency zones. This is especially true in Africa, Asia and some regions of Europe.
The most effective way to combat iodine deficiency is to iodise salt. It is a simple and cost-effective measure that helps to replenish iodine reserves in the body through daily nutrition. Many countries have already made salt iodisation mandatory.
It is especially important to monitor iodine levels during pregnancy. Iodine deficiency can lead to the birth of children with cognitive impairment and other health problems.
Iodine is found in foods such as sea fish, seafood, seaweed, dairy products, and eggs. Including these foods in the diet helps to avoid iodine deficiency.
According to UNICEF, about 30% of children worldwide suffer from iodine deficiency, which affects their intellectual development and overall health.
Chatterbox Day, or Chatterbox Day
This is an unofficial holiday dedicated to the art of light, casual conversation. It is a great opportunity for those who love to talk, discuss various topics or just have fun with friends or colleagues. Chit Chat Day emphasises the importance of communication in everyday life as a way to maintain social connections and create a positive atmosphere.
Interesting facts
Even though small talk may seem inconsequential, it plays an important role in building relationships. Small talk helps to create emotional connection, reduce tension and maintain a friendly atmosphere in companies and at work.
Small talk has been around since ancient times. In many cultures, small talk has been a part of social gatherings, helping people to feel part of a community.
Casual communication helps to reduce stress levels. Psychologists note that small talk allows you to switch from serious issues to lighter topics, which contributes to relaxation and emotional relief.
Small talk is not only fun, but also improves communication skills. This is a great opportunity to learn how to listen to the other person, keep the conversation going, and avoid awkward pauses.
Back to the Future Day.
This is the date when Marty McFly, the hero of Robert Zemeckis’ cult film series Back to the Future, made his famous time travel. In the second part of the trilogy, he travelled from 1985 to the future in a Delorean DMC-12, namely to 21 October 2015. It is noteworthy that the scriptwriters initially planned to use a refrigerator instead of a car for time travel, but later decided to choose a car, which became the film’s trademark.
This holiday began to be celebrated in 2015, when, according to the film, Marty McFly was supposed to be in the future. Fans of the franchise had the opportunity to compare how closely the film’s creators’ fantasies coincided with reality. And while many aspects remain fantastic, some things have become reality.
In the film, cars rise vertically and fly through the sky. In reality, although fully flying cars are not yet in mass use, some conceptual models already exist, and this is considered a promising direction for the development of transport.
In the film, the characters use various technologies to rejuvenate and maintain their health. In today’s world, rejuvenation technologies have also developed a lot – innovative methods in medicine and cosmetology help people look younger.
In the film, drones perform various tasks, such as walking dogs. Today, drones are indeed used for many functions, from delivering goods to filming videos, but it has not yet become commonplace for drones to walk pets on a mass scale. The film also features ‘smart glasses’, which are analogous to modern virtual reality glasses and smart devices that integrate into everyday life.
In one of the film’s scenes, the characters use tablets and interactive screens. Today, such gadgets have long been an integral part of our lives.
In 2015, on the day of the Back to the Future Day celebration, Nike released a limited edition of automatic lacing sneakers. These sneakers were a reference to the ones Marty wore in the film, which aroused great interest among fans.
Historical events on this day
1056 – Introduction of the first letter in the Ostromyr Gospel
In 1056, Deacon Gregory completed the rewriting of the Ostromyr Gospel, the first dated manuscript on the territory of Kyivan Rus, which became a landmark event for Slavic writing. This manuscript is the oldest surviving book written in the Cyrillic alphabet and is an important part of Ukraine’s cultural heritage.
1520 – Discovery of the Strait of Magellan
During his expedition to India, the Portuguese navigator Fernand Magellan discovered and sailed through the strait between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, which would later be called the Strait of Magellan. This route became important for navigation and made the transition from one ocean to another much more convenient. It also facilitated the first circumnavigation of the world.
1596 – Conclusion of the Union of Brest
On this day, the Union of Brest was signed, which consolidated the union of some Orthodox bishops of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the Roman Catholic Church. The Union provided for the recognition of the supremacy of the Pope and, at the same time, the preservation of the Byzantine rite. This event was an important milestone in the history of religious relations in Eastern Europe.
1641 – Catholic uprising in Ulster
The uprising in the Irish province of Ulster led to the massacre of thousands of English and Scots living in the area. This event was part of the struggle for Irish independence and the ongoing conflict between Catholics and Protestants in the British Isles.
1805 – The Battle of Trafalgar
One of the most famous naval battles was the Battle of Trafalgar, where the British fleet under the command of Admiral Horatio Nelson defeated the Franco-Spanish squadron. The victory strengthened Britain’s dominance on the seas and marked a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars.
1879 – Thomas Edison tests the incandescent light bulb
On 21 October, American inventor Thomas Edison successfully tested his first incandescent lamp with a carbon filament. This invention was a revolutionary step in the development of electric lighting and changed the way of life of millions of people around the world.
1897 – Opening of the Black Sea Shipyard
On this day, the Black Sea Shipyard started operating in Mykolaiv, which later became one of the largest shipbuilding enterprises in Ukraine and the world. The plant played a key role in the construction of military and civilian ships for various countries.
1921 – Ordination of Metropolitan Vasyl (Lipkivsky)
Vasyl Lipkivsky was ordained Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC). His work became an important stage in the formation of the Ukrainian national church and the struggle for the independence of spiritual life.
1944 – The disappearance of the Rubicon in the Bermuda Triangle
The crew of the Cuban ship Rubicon mysteriously disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle, leaving numerous questions unanswered. This event became part of numerous mystical stories associated with this geographical area.
1950 – Occupation of Tibet by China
After the surrender of the Tibetan army, Chinese troops occupied Tibet as part of a conflict for control of the territory. Since then, Tibet has been under Chinese control, sparking a long-running international dispute and a movement for Tibetan independence.
1966 – Aberfan disaster in Wales
The tragedy occurred when a mass of coal sludge covered a school in the village of Aberfan, killing 116 children and 28 adults. The disaster shocked the whole of Britain and became one of the worst industrial accidents in the country’s history.
1991 – The first balloon flight over Mount Everest
On this day, the world’s first balloon flight over the highest point in the world, Everest, was made. It was an impressive feat in the history of aviation and human exploration.
1993 – Election of Patriarch Volodymyr (Romaniuk)
The All-Ukrainian Orthodox Council elected Volodymyr (Romaniuk) Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine, which was an important event for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate.
1995 – Election of Filaret as Patriarch of Kyiv
Two years after Volodymyr’s death, the Local Council elected Filaret (Denysenko) as the new Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine. Filaret played an important role in the development of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Signing of the so-called ‘Moscow Articles’
On 21 October 1665, Ukrainian Cossacks led by Hetman Ivan Bryukhovetsky signed the so-called Moscow Articles, which defined new relations between Ukraine and Russia. This treaty had serious consequences for the autonomy of the Hetmanate, significantly limiting its political rights.
Interestingly, when signing these articles, instead of the traditional phrase ‘faithful servant and subject’, Bryukhovetskyi wrote ‘Ivashka the serf’, which symbolised his even greater submission to Russian rule. This was an important gesture that emphasised full loyalty to the tsar, but at the same time was a sign of the Hetmanate’s gradual loss of independence.
The main provisions of the Moscow Articles:
- Ban on diplomatic relations. The Hetman was forbidden to enter into diplomatic contacts with foreign countries. This significantly limited the foreign policy activities of the Hetmanate.
- Control over the election of the Hetman. The election of the Hetman was now to take place only with the permission of the tsar and in the presence of Russian ambassadors. This provision reduced the autonomy of the Cossack state.
- Increase of the tsarist troops. The number of Russian military garrisons on the territory of Ukraine increased, and some towns, such as Lokhvytsia and Romny, were designated for the maintenance of Cossack artillery.
- Subordination of the Kyiv Metropolis to Moscow. According to the articles, the Kyiv Metropolitanate was subordinated to the Moscow Patriarchate, which affected Ukraine’s church independence.
- Economic restrictions. All taxes, fees from mills, honey tribute, profits from foreign merchants, and income from taverns (which could only sell vodka) went to the tsar’s state treasury.
One of the interesting details was that while signing the articles, Bryukhovetskyi simultaneously asked the tsar for personal estates near Moscow, which showed his desire to receive personal privileges in exchange for submission. The tsar granted Bryukhovetskyi a boyar’s rank and gave him estates.
Other officers who signed the agreement also received titles of nobility. However, after returning to Ukraine, Bryukhovetskyi’s authority plummeted. His excessive dependence on Moscow, as well as the constant tightening of control by the tsarist authorities, caused discontent among the Cossacks. As a result, in 1668, Bryukhovetskyi was assassinated.
A year later, the new hetman, Demian Mnohohohrishnyi, secured the signing of the Hlukhiv Articles, which restored some of the autonomy of the Hetmanate and provided more rights for the Zaporozhian Army’s internal governance within the Russian Empire.
Alfred Nobel’s birthday
21 October 1833, the ‘King of Dynamite’ was born in Stockholm Alfred Nobel, a famous Swedish inventor and entrepreneur who made a significant contribution to various fields of science. Although Nobel received more than 355 patents in the fields of medicine, metallurgy, chemistry and biology, it was the invention of an effective explosive based on nitroglycerin – dynamite – that brought him worldwide fame and enormous wealth.
Nobel was initially convinced that his invention would be a means of achieving peace. He believed that such a powerful tool, capable of destroying an entire regiment with a single explosion, would make wars so destructive that humanity would abandon them. However, the reality turned out to be quite different – dynamite only increased the scale of cruelty on the battlefields. The further development of explosive technologies has confirmed that inventions created for the purpose of deterrence often contribute to even more bloody conflicts. In the future, this will evolve into nuclear deterrence, which will become a modern tool for peacekeeping.
Alfred Nobel was a rather reserved man who preferred solitude. He did not drink alcohol, did not smoke, did not gamble and was fluent in five languages. In his youth, Alfred even thought about a career as a writer, but a meeting with a Danish woman, Anna Desry, in St Petersburg changed his life. His admiration for her was so strong that after she married another man, Nobel made a promise to himself to become the most famous inventor in the world to make her regret it. This personal experience must have left a deep emotional mark, and that is why the Nobel Prize does not include mathematics, a science that Nobel’s rival, Franz Lemarz, was fond of.
By the end of his life, Alfred Nobel owned about a hundred factories in twenty countries and amassed a huge fortune. Without a wife and children, in 1895 he signed his last will and testament, in which he donated 31 million Swedish kronor to establish the Nobel Foundation. The foundation was to pay annual prizes to those who had made the greatest contributions in five fields: physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and the peace movement. A sixth category, economics, was added in 1968.
Nobel’s quotes are interesting:
- “War is the nightmare of nightmares, it is the worst crime. I would like to invent a substance or a machine of such destructive power that any war would become impossible.”
- ‘America is not for me. The desire to squeeze profit out of everything, this pedantry, overshadows the joy of communicating with people, violates the sense of respect for them.’
- “There are two things I will never lend – money and plans. But if someone agrees to give me a little of their friendship, I will accept it with gratitude.”
- “A good reputation is more important than a clean shirt. You can wash your shirt, but you can never wash your reputation.”
Nobel died in 1896, and his will was first executed in 1901, when the first prizes were paid out. One of the first winners was Wilhelm Roentgen for the invention of the X-ray machine. It is important to note that the Nobel Prize cannot be awarded posthumously and is not awarded if the committee does not find a worthy candidate. The award ceremony takes place every year on 10 December, the day of Alfred Nobel’s death.
Alfred Nobel left the world not only powerful explosives, but also a legacy in the form of one of the most prestigious prizes that recognises outstanding achievements of mankind in science, literature and the struggle for peace.
