7 November marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence and Bullying in Education, World Responsible Tourism Day and International Medical Physics Day.
International Day for the Elimination of Violence and Bullying in Education
This day draws attention to one of the most acute problems of modern society – violence, which can manifest itself as psychological, physical, economic and cyberbullying, especially among young people.
The main goal of this day is to raise public awareness of the problem of violence and bullying among children and adolescents, to promote a safe and favourable learning environment where everyone can feel protected.
Interesting facts
With the spread of digital technologies, bullying has taken on a new format – cyberbullying. According to UNICEF, one in three children aged 13-15 worldwide has experienced online bullying. This has become especially relevant during the pandemic, when children spent much more time online.
Studies show that children who are victims of bullying are three times more likely to develop anxiety disorders, depression and low self-esteem, which can have long-term consequences for their lives.
According to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, almost one in two Ukrainian students has experienced violence at school, and most children have not sought help. Since 2019, Ukraine has had a law criminalising bullying, and several programmes have been implemented to prevent bullying.
Combating bullying requires the active involvement of teachers and parents. Many countries, including France and Finland, include specific training for teachers to teach them how to recognise the signs of bullying and intervene effectively to help create a safe environment for children.
Many countries around the world have successfully implemented programmes that help reduce violence in schools. For example, Norway has the Olweus programme, which helps teach children effective ways to deal with bullying. Similar initiatives exist in Australia, Canada, and Sweden, where children, parents, and teachers are involved in actively addressing the problem.
World Responsible Tourism Day
This day is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of a responsible approach to travel, preserving natural resources, respecting the cultural traditions of the local population and reducing the negative impact of tourism on the environment.
Responsible tourism involves minimal impact on the environment. This may include avoiding plastic, limiting the use of natural resources, and respecting flora and fauna. Tourists who strive to act responsibly support local traditions and respect the customs and social norms of the country they visit. This helps to avoid cultural conflicts and preserve the authenticity of local communities.
One of the aspects of responsible tourism is supporting small businesses, restaurants, hotels, and buying souvenirs created by local craftsmen. This helps the community to develop economically and create new jobs. Responsible travellers not only take care of architectural and historical sites, but also support their restoration by visiting museums and paying entrance fees that are used to maintain and develop these sites.
Interesting facts
In recent years, ecotourism, which is an important part of responsible tourism, has become one of the most popular destinations. More and more people want to visit environmentally friendly places, minimising their impact on nature.
In 2018, the Maldives banned single-use plastic, which significantly reduced the level of marine pollution. Similar initiatives are being introduced in many tourist regions, such as Bali, which already has a ban on plastic bags.
Many natural parks and reserves have implemented the Leave No Trace programme, which encourages tourists not to leave behind rubbish, not to harm nature and to respect ecosystems.
Responsible tourism stimulates the development of local economies by allowing tourists to directly support the economic growth of the region. Instead of large hotel chains, tourists choose local hostels, farm products, and authentic restaurants.
More and more people are realising the importance of a responsible approach to travel. According to research, about 73% of tourists are willing to pay more for a tour if it supports responsible practices.
International Day of Medical Physics
Every year on 7 November, the world celebrates International Medical Physics Day, which aims to raise awareness of the important role of medical physicists in the healthcare system. This day was not chosen by chance: it is dedicated to the birthday of Marie Curie, a prominent physicist who made a significant contribution to the development of radiology and medical physics.
Medical physics is a field that applies the principles of physics to the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. Medical physicists work with high-precision equipment, such as radiotherapy machines, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and ultrasound scanners, to ensure that procedures are accurate, effective, and safe. Nuclear medicine physicists use radioactive substances to diagnose and treat diseases such as cancer, ensuring the correct dose to avoid unwanted effects. Medical physicists control the quality of equipment, calibrate devices, and develop safety standards to minimise the risk to patients and medical staff.
Interesting facts
Marie Curie, in whose honour the date of the celebration was chosen, was the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize and the first person to receive it twice. Her research on radioactivity became the basis for modern medical physics.
Every year, thanks to the work of medical physicists, millions of patients undergo radiotherapy, which allows them to effectively fight cancer.
Medical physics is one of the few fields where safety issues are so carefully regulated. This is due to the use of radioactive materials and radiation equipment that require precision and care.
Thanks to the development of medical physics, new methods are emerging, such as proton therapy, which allows for even more precise targeting of tumours, reducing side effects.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical physicists were involved in the development of disinfection and security methods in medical facilities, as well as in setting up devices to help diagnose complications from the virus.
Historical events on this day
1788 – Ukrainian Cossacks under the command of Anton Holovaty performed a significant military feat by conquering the Turkish fortress of Ochakiv. This was one of the key battles that influenced the further course of the war between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire, confirming the combat power of the Cossacks.
1917 – The October Revolution took place, which had a huge impact on the history and political landscape of the Russian Empire, including Ukraine. This event heralded a new era, beginning a phase of struggle between different political groups, including the Bolsheviks, who sought to assert their power.
1918 – the beginning of the third Bolshevik offensive in Ukraine to establish control. It was a difficult period in the country’s history when the Bolsheviks tried to extend their influence despite the resistance of the Ukrainian population fighting for independence.
1928 – The official opening of the Derzhprom building in Kharkiv, one of the first skyscrapers in Ukraine, standing 63 metres high. Derzhprom symbolised the rapid development of industry, scientific progress and architectural modernism. This building is still one of Kharkiv’s landmarks.
1938 – German diplomat Ernst von Rath was shot dead by Polish Jew Herschel Grinzpan in the German embassy in Paris. This act was a response to the persecution of the Jewish community, including his family, who were living in a Jewish refugee camp. This murder became the pretext for the tragic Kristallnacht in Germany.
1940 – The Ukrainian Canadian Committee (UCC) was founded in Canada, an organisation that united Ukrainians in Canada, promoting the protection of their rights and the development of national culture. The UCC played an important role in preserving Ukrainian identity in the diaspora.
1943 – The troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front gained control of the city of Fastiv, which is now a city of regional significance in the Kyiv region of Ukraine. This was an important victory in the struggle for the liberation of Ukraine from German occupation during World War II.
1967 – The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, which was an important step in the fight for gender equality. The document called on member states to eliminate discrimination against women in all aspects of life, marking the beginning of the global women’s rights movement.
2000 – George W. Bush became President of the United States, winning an election that was one of the most controversial and tense in the country’s history. His presidency covered a period of important global events, including the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks and military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
2017 – Fragments of tiny mammalian fossils similar to shrews were found in southern England, in the county of Dorset. Scientists believe that these creatures lived more than 145 million years ago, making them the oldest known mammals found to date. These findings help us understand the evolution of early mammals and their adaptation to different environments.
Adoption of the Third Universal
On 7 November 1917, the Ukrainian Central Rada adopted the Third Universal, which proclaimed the creation of the Ukrainian People’s Republic (UPR) as part of a federation of free nations. Formally, the Rada did not break federal ties with Russia, but declared democratic principles: freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, unions, strikes, and inviolability of person and home.
The Third Universal made important decisions, including:
- National autonomy for minorities. This provision became the basis of the policy of equality for different ethnic groups living in the territory of the Ukrainian People’s Republic. This approach ensured the right of minorities to cultural development, national traditions and recognition of their interests in society.
- Abolition of the right of private ownership of land. According to the Universal Law, land was recognised as the property of the entire nation without the right of redemption. It was a bold step that had a social purpose – to give all peasants equal rights to land, regardless of their wealth.
- Abolition of the death penalty. The Ukrainian Central Rada abolished the death penalty, which was an important act of humanism that supported general democratic principles.
- Establishment of an 8-hour working day: This decision was one of the demands of workers, which provided social guarantees and improved working conditions.
- Announcement of local government reform. The Universal provided for a reform of local government that allowed citizens to influence the political and social life of their region.
The power of the Central Rada was extended to 9 provinces: Kyiv, Podillia, Volyn, Chernihiv, Poltava, Kharkiv, Katerynoslav, Kherson, and Tavria (northern counties, excluding Crimea).
Interestingly, the nationalisation of land without the right of redemption and the autonomy of minorities remained the key provisions that enshrined the democratic principles of the Ukrainian People’s Republic and remained unchanged in all subsequent universals. These clauses reflected the desire for social equality and the rights of all citizens, regardless of their origin or property status, which laid the foundations for the future Ukrainian statehood.
The tragedy of the ship ‘Armenia’
On 7 November 1941, one of the most tragic events of the Second World War took place near Yalta. As a result of an attack by German aircraft, the motor ship Armenia sank. According to various estimates, the number of victims ranged from 4,500 to 10,000, making it the largest maritime disaster on the Black Sea in terms of death toll.
At the beginning of the war, the Armenia was converted into a sanitary transport vessel: the hull was painted white, red crosses were painted on the sides, and the flag of the International Red Cross flew above the ship, which was supposed to protect it from attacks. However, due to numerous attacks on ambulances, the command decided to install four 45mm cannons on the Armenia to provide at least minimal protection. Unfortunately, this made the Armenia a military target, and in the eyes of the German air force, it lost its status as a protected vessel.
On the morning of 7 November, the Armenia set sail from Yalta, carrying the wounded, medical personnel, refugees – everyone who could be accommodated. The number of passengers far exceeded the norm: there were doctors, nurses, the seriously wounded, and civilians seeking to escape the war.
At 11:25, the ship was attacked by a German Heinkel He-111 torpedo bomber.’ One of the torpedoes hit the Armenia, and the ship sank in just 4 minutes, leaving little chance of salvation. Only eight people managed to survive, picked up by a boat accompanying the ship.
Prior to the tragic sinking, Armenia had made 15 dangerous voyages, transporting about 16,000 people from Odesa, saving them from certain death. The captain and crew of the ship, contrary to the norms, tried to accommodate as many passengers as possible, even in their cabins, realising how important it was to save people.
‘The Armenia became a kind of mass grave, one of the largest maritime tragedies of the war. Attempts to find the remains of the ship have continued to this day. American experts took part in the search, and although some sources claim that the wreck has been found, the exact location of the wreck remains in doubt. This tragic event has become a symbol of the heroism and sacrifice of those who tried to save lives, even in the most dangerous conditions.
The end of the police era in Ukraine
7 November 2015 became a symbolic date in the modern history of Ukraine: on this day, the police officially ceased to exist. An entire era came to an end, with all its ambiguities, habits, shortcomings, and attempts at reform that failed.
The abandonment of the militia was a significant step on the path of reform: the outdated Soviet system of law enforcement gave way to the newly created National Police. The reforms initiated after the Revolution of Dignity aimed to change not only the form but also the content – to restore public trust, improve human rights protection, and, most importantly, introduce new standards of work.
First of all, it was a matter of symbolism. The very term ‘militia’ was associated with the Soviet past, where a policeman was more likely to follow orders than to care about the rights of citizens. Police, on the other hand, is a name common in European countries and implies service to society. This word, after all, emphasises a new approach: the police should be modern, open and professional.
What has changed
Recruitment. New approaches to recruitment were introduced, such as the well-known open competitions, which allowed new people, not connected with the previous system, to join the service.
Uniform and appearance. Police officers wore new, modern uniforms that more closely resembled the standards of European countries.
Emphasis on service to citizens. While the police were more often perceived as a punitive body, from the very first days the police tried to change their approach to protect, assist and respond to the needs of the population.
The militia, with all its specific features, is a thing of the past. And Ukraine has to move forward to make the police a real tool for protecting law and order, security and, most importantly, the trust of Ukrainians. Has this happened? Now society is giving its assessment.
