December 3 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities, International Pesticide Day, World Stunt Day, World Day of Silence and Silence, and SMS Birthday.
International Day of People with Disabilities
This day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1992, it aims to raise public awareness of the rights, dignity and well-being of people with disabilities, as well as draw attention to the problems they face in various areas of life.
The International Day of People with Disabilities reminds us how important it is to create conditions for equal access to education, work, medicine and social life. This day is an important step in overcoming barriers and forming a society that respects each of its members regardless of their physical or mental capabilities.
Interesting facts
The idea of creating the day arose as part of the United Nations Decade of Persons with Disabilities (1983–1992), which was dedicated to strengthening equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities.
Each year, this date has a separate theme that focuses on specific aspects of the lives of people with disabilities, such as inclusive education, employment or access to modern technologies.
According to the WHO, more than 1 billion people in the world (approximately 15% of the population) have some form of disability.
International Pesticide Day
This day was started in 1998 by the International Coalition of the same name. The date was not chosen by chance and has a tragic background: it was on this day in 1984 that a disaster occurred at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in the city of Bhopal, India. Then, a toxic leak of methyl isocyanate gas killed thousands of people and left a serious mark on the ecosystem and the health of the local population.
This day not only reminds of the danger posed by pesticides, but also emphasizes the need to find alternative, ecologically safe methods of farming. It unites the efforts of scientists, public activists and politicians in the fight for more responsible use of chemicals.
Interesting facts
The Bhopal disaster is considered the biggest industrial accident in human history. According to official data, more than 3,000 people died as a result of the explosion at the plant, but independent researchers claim that the real number of victims was 16,000 to 25,000.
After the tragedy, more than 600,000 people were exposed to toxic substances, and many of them still suffer from chronic diseases. The consequences of the disaster are still felt even decades later, because water and soil pollution in this region has not yet been eliminated.
The Union Carbide plant where the accident occurred was later bought by Dow Chemical. However, neither Union Carbide nor Dow Chemical took full responsibility for the consequences of the disaster, which caused a wave of international condemnation.
The incident in Bhopal became an impetus for strengthening international environmental regulation. In particular, the disaster drew attention to the dangers of pesticides and toxic chemicals used in industry and agriculture.
After this tragedy, many countries began to actively implement organic farming and initiatives to reduce the use of pesticides. The governments of a number of countries have strengthened control over the production and transportation of toxic substances.
World Trick Day
Every year on the first Tuesday of December, World Stunt Day is celebrated, a holiday that celebrates the skill, creativity and courage of people who defy the laws of physics and gravity. This day unites all those who are fond of trick throws, regardless of their complexity or scale, because behind each of them there is effort, perseverance and belief in one’s own abilities.
Trick shooters, known as trick shooters, demonstrate that limitations are often just an illusion, and that the ability to achieve the incredible lies in hard work and a desire to push the limits of what is possible. The masters of trick shots defy the laws of physics and gravity, proving that the only limits are in our minds. Whether it’s a precise basketball shot from an incredible distance, acrobatic stunts or complex manipulation of objects, each trick is a unique display of ingenuity.
Interesting facts
The idea of celebrating World Trick Shot Day came from a basketball team Harlem Globetrotters, who became world famous for her trick shots. It was they who initiated this holiday in order to popularize creativity in sports.
The Harlem Globetrotters set numerous stunt throw records, including the tallest throw of over 30 meters from the roof of a skyscraper.
Many trick throws seem incredible, but they are subject to the strict laws of physics. For example, the angle and force of the impact in calculations can become decisive for success.
World Stunt Day has become popular thanks to platforms like TikTok and YouTube where people post their stunt achievements. The most popular videos get millions of views.
Trick shots go beyond sports. They include acrobatic tricks, complex object manipulation, and even coordination challenges using everyday objects.
Day of world silence and silence
This is a unique holiday that calls people to stop for a moment in their daily activities and devote time to silence, reflection and inner peace. On this day, it is advised to speak less, avoid empty words, turn to prayer or meditation, think about the meaning of life, evaluate your actions and seek harmony with yourself and the world.
Silence is extremely important in today’s world where we are constantly faced with noise pollution, information overload and hustle and bustle. World Silence Day is an opportunity to restore inner balance, listen to yourself and nature, find answers to important questions and better understand your life path.
Actions instead of words. This day also calls for a more careful attitude to your actions, because sometimes silence speaks louder than any words. It is in moments of silence that many find inspiration, rethink their lives or open new horizons for self-development.
Interesting facts
Scientists have proven that even a few minutes of complete silence can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and improve brain function. Silence promotes the activation of areas of the brain responsible for memory and emotions.
The concept of silence as a tool for self-development exists in many cultures. For example, in Buddhism, meditation in silence is considered one of the key paths to enlightenment, and in Christianity, silence is associated with humility and prayer.
Great artists, writers and scientists often found their best ideas in silence. Albert Einstein said: “Silence is a source of great power.”
There are many places in the world where silence is symbolic. For example, a moment of silence is used to honor the memory of the fallen, showing how eloquent silence can be.
In some countries, this day is supported as a social initiative: in schools, offices or even public places, people deliberately reduce the amount of talking to remind the importance of silence in communication.
Birthday SMS
SMS is a technology that has revolutionized the way the world communicates. On this day in 1992, the first text message was sent, ushering in a new era of mobile communication. Engineer Neil Papworth, working on a project for Vodafone, sent the first SMS from a computer to a colleague’s mobile phone. The message consisted of two words: “Merry Christmas”.
At first, SMS was not popular due to the limitations of mobile devices and the high cost of communication services. However, as technology has advanced and rates have come down, short text messages have become extremely popular. They quickly integrated into people’s daily lives, allowing for quick information exchange even in places where there was a weak mobile signal.
Over time, SMS transformed, became the basis for new ways of communication, such as messengers (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram), and changed the digital culture. Although today text messages are gradually giving way to Internet communication, SMS remains important for fast and reliable exchange of information, especially in the field of banking services, security confirmation or emergency messages.
Interesting facts
The traditional limit of 160 characters in SMS was set due to the technical limitations of mobile networks and keyboards at the time. This format later influenced the development of short messages in social networks.
In the early 2000s, billions of text messages were sent annually. In 2010, a record was set – more than 6 trillion SMS messages worldwide.
It is precisely because of the limitation of symbols in SMS that emojis and abbreviations appeared, which have become a part of modern digital communication
SMS is still used for important functions such as two-factor authentication or emergency alerts due to its availability even in the most remote locations.
Historical events on this day
1879 – Thomas Edison publicly demonstrated the operation of the incandescent lamp for the first time, which marked the beginning of the era of artificial lighting.
1910 – the first neon lamp was demonstrated in Paris, which later became a symbol of the urban style of the 20th century.
1920 – The Polish Sejm abolished the territorial separateness of Galicia. To designate the ethnic territory of Eastern Galicia, the term “Eastern Lesser Poland” was introduced, the words “Ukrainian”, “Ukrainian” disappeared from use, and instead “Rusyn”, “Russian” were introduced.
1932 – The resolution of the Council of People’s Commissars of the Ukrainian SSR prohibits trade in meat and livestock in regions of Ukraine that did not implement the meat procurement plan. This became one of the reasons for the Holodomor of 1933.
1967 – in South Africa, surgeon Christian Barnard performed the world’s first successful heart transplant.
1976 – the Moscow Bridge across the Dnipro River was put into operation in Kyiv.
1984 – in the city of Bhopal, India, one of the largest industrial disasters occurred: a toxic gas leak at a chemical plant killed more than 2,000 people, and another 20,000 lost their sight.
1989 – the head of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev and the President of the United States George Bush Sr. announced the end of the 2nd Cold War2.
1989 – a monument to Taras Shevchenko was opened in the Brazilian city of Prudentopolis.
1991 – The Republic of Hungary was the first to recognize the independence of Ukraine, and its embassy in Kyiv became the first foreign embassy in the country.
2010 – in Kyiv, at night, the police and the special unit “Berkut” dismantled a tent camp of protesters against the new Tax Code on Maidan Nezalezhnosti.
Grigory Skovoroda’s birthday
On December 3, 1722, Hryhoriy Savych Skovoroda was born in the small town of Chornukha in the Poltava region, an outstanding Ukrainian philosopher, poet, composer, singer and teacher. His personality combined the enlightening spirit of the “gallant century”, theological ideas and folk wisdom. Hryhoriy Skovoroda was born into a Cossack family, and on his mother’s side, which came from the Crimean-Tatar Khan Shan-Girey, he had Tatar roots.
Skovoroda’s philosophical ideas were formed not only through reading books, but also thanks to his “scientific travels”. He traveled in Europe – visited Hungary, Austria, Poland, Germany and Italy. During these travels, he studied languages, met scientists and ordinary people, immersed himself in the culture, life and traditions of different peoples. However, as he himself noted, he gained the most valuable knowledge in the prisons of the 18th century, where he eavesdropped on people’s conversations, their dreams and thoughts about life.
Hryhoriy Skovoroda also had teaching experience, although his approach to evaluating students was rather unusual. He divided the students into twelve categories, including “very dull”, “absolute stupidity” or, for the gifted, “very sharp” and “sharp animal”.
Although Skovoroda could have won the favor of Empress Catherine II, he chose the path of a traveler, abandoning life at court. In Soviet times, he was called a “peasant democrat” and a “fighter against tsarism.” Legends about his relationship with the empress testify to his independent spirit. Some sources say that Catherine invited him to St. Petersburg to discuss his philosophical ideas. When the empress asked why he did not bow to her, Skovoroda answered: “I didn’t want to see you, you wanted to look at me yourself. And how will you see me, if I bend twice in front of you?”.
Skovoroda avoided royal palaces and official service, preferring to travel to villages, estates, monasteries and fairs. He wrote his treatises and aphorisms in the open air, on the edges of forests, and his thoughts spread among the common people through kobzars and folk musicians.
His work included writing in “Russian, Latin and Hellenic languages”, although he sometimes used the “Little Russian dialect”. In his works, Skovoroda searched for God within man and taught this to others. He urged everyone to know himself through his people, as he himself wrote: “Everyone must find his people, and in the people himself.”
Skovoroda died on October 29, 1794 in the village of Ivanivka, Kharkiv province, in the house of the nobleman Andriy Kovalevskyi. Legend has it that, feeling the approach of death, he washed himself, put on clean clothes, lay down and died peacefully. On his grave he commanded to write: “The world was catching me, but it didn’t catch me.”
Skovoroda also made an indirect contribution to the creation of Kharkiv University. According to Grigory Danylevsky, many of the nobles who subscribed for an unprecedented amount of 618 thousand silver rubles to found the university in 1803 were his students or friends. Skovoroda left a bright mark in the history of Ukraine as a symbol of freedom of thought, inner search and philosophical rethinking of life.
Mykhailo Koshkin’s birthday
Mykhailo Ilyich Koshkin was born on December 3, 1898, an outstanding designer who headed the design bureau of the Kharkiv Tank Plant and created the legendary T-34 tank, which became one of the symbols of victory in World War II. His merits were recognized posthumously: in 1990, he received the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.
Mykhailo Koshkin was born in a poor family and received only primary education, completing three grades of school. He started working at the factory from the age of ten, where he was first an apprentice, and later, after eight years of work, he became the youngest workshop master.
In 1917, he was drafted into the army, where he fought on the Western Front until he was wounded. After treatment in the hospital, he was demobilized, but in 1918 he voluntarily returned to the army, where he continued his service during the Civil War.
After the war, Koshkin got the opportunity to study at the university. After completing his studies, he was sent to Kharkiv, where he headed the design bureau of tank construction. It was here that he created the first tank in the Soviet Union that worked exclusively on a track, the A-32.
Koshkin’s most significant achievement was the creation of the T-34 tank, which became the “weapon of victory.” This combat vehicle combined high maneuverability, strong armor with rational tilt angles and a powerful gun capable of destroying enemy armored vehicles from a long distance. At the same time, the T-34 was distinguished by its simplicity in production and maintenance, which ensured its reliability in the most difficult combat conditions.
Oxford University professor Norman Davis called the maneuvering T-34s “wolf packs” that left no chance to the bulky German “Tigers”. Even British Prime Minister Winston Churchill recognized the T-34 as one of the top three weapons of World War II, saying: “How this tank appeared, I absolutely do not understand.”
Unfortunately, the grave of Mykhailo Koshkin, located at the First City Cemetery in Kharkiv (now the Youth Park), has not been preserved. There are assumptions that it was destroyed during German bombings on the orders of Hitler, who considered Koshkin a personal enemy of the Reich. No initiative was put forward to restore it, although it could be a sign of respect for the man who created one of the symbols of pride of Kharkiv and the entire country. Mykhailo Koshkin left a bright mark in history thanks to his contribution to the creation of equipment that changed the course of the war and went down in history as an example of engineering genius.
Falsified election results in Ukraine
On December 3, 2004, the Supreme Court of Ukraine made a historic decision, recognizing the results of the second round of the presidential elections held on November 21, 2004 as falsified. According to the court’s decision, numerous violations were established that distorted the will of the voters by almost a million votes. The court decided to hold a repeat vote – the third round of elections scheduled for December 26, 2004.
This event took place against the background of mass protests, which went down in history as the “Orange Revolution”. The public demanded justice and fair elections, questioning the officially announced results, which, according to them, did not correspond to the real will of the Ukrainian people.
At that time, numerous discussions broke out around the campaign of the opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko. Detractors claimed that his election campaign was financed by external forces, including the US government. The press service of the US president officially stated that the United States spent about 65 million dollars “for the development of democracy” in Ukraine, clarifying that these funds were not directed specifically to support Yushchenko, but were used to support democratic processes in general.
In addition, the first President of Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk, accused London billionaire Boris Berezovsky of financing Yushchenko’s campaign. Berezovsky himself confirmed the authenticity of the documents on the transfer of 15 million dollars and stated that the total amount of his financial support reached 45 million dollars. According to him, it was “the most effective investment”. Journal investigation Forbes found that Berezovsky spent more than $70 million in support of the Orange Revolution, using both his Civil Liberties Fund and direct financing of structures associated with Yushchenko.
Regarding falsifications, there was talk of “dead souls” — non-existent voters who “voted” in the second round, their number exceeded 800,000. Other manipulations were also used, such as “carousels”. However, it is interesting that in the third round the number of registered voters increased from 36.5 million to 37.6 million, which raised new questions about “dead souls”.
Those guilty of large-scale falsifications were never brought to justice, which became another evidence of the imperfection of the system. The head of the Central Election Commission Yaroslav Davydovych noted that he cannot claim that all these violations were intentional, but the fact of their dishonesty is undeniable. The events of December 2004 became a turning point in Ukrainian history, demonstrating the strength of civil society and the desire for fair and transparent elections.
