On February 28, Ukraine celebrates the Day of the Navigational Service of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Day of the Patrol and Post Service Workers, in addition to the International Anti-Bullying Day, the World Tailors Day and the World Rare Disease Day.
On this day, at different times, significant historical events took place that influenced the political, scientific and cultural development of the world.
Day of navigational service of aviation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
This is a professional holiday of military specialists who are responsible for navigation, flight accuracy and effectiveness of combat missions.
Pilots are the unsung heroes of aviation, because their work is overlooked by civilians, but it is critical to the success of missions. They calculate flight routes, take into account weather conditions, features of the terrain and airspace. In military aviation, their role is even more critical, since the safety of the crew and the performance of combat missions depend on their accuracy.
Interesting facts
Navigators appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, when aviation was just beginning to develop. Before the advent of modern navigation systems, they used the stars, maps, and even compasses to guide planes on the right route.
Despite the development of satellite navigation, navigators remain important specialists, because in conditions of radio-electronic warfare or equipment failure, they are the ones who can ensure flight accuracy.
Becoming a qualified navigator requires several years of training, studying meteorology, topography, atmospheric physics and working with various navigation systems. Modern military navigators learn to navigate without the use of satellite systems, so that in the event of their failure or being jammed by the enemy, they will be able to correctly guide the aircraft.
In difficult situations, navigators must quickly analyze data and make decisions on which the safety of the entire crew depends. A mistake of even a few seconds can lead to serious consequences.
Navigators must have a high level of spatial thinking, analytical skills and the ability to work under stressful conditions. That is why their training includes both theoretical and practical training in extreme situations.
Navigation service works not only in aviation. Military specialists in this field can coordinate drones, plan military operations in the air, and even work on the development of tactical maps.
Day of employees of the patrol and post service of Ukraine
This is a professional holiday of those who every day ensure order on the streets, protect public peace and respond to crimes. The Patrol Service (PSS) is important for the safety of citizens, because its employees are the first to arrive at the scene, detain offenders and help people in critical situations. They are on duty at any time of the year, day and night, ensuring law and order in the cities and villages of Ukraine.
The history of this service dates back to Soviet times, but after gaining independence, Ukraine began reforming the law enforcement system. In particular, in 2015, the patrol police became the new face of Ukrainian law enforcement, replacing the police and introducing modern approaches to law enforcement.
Employees of the patrol service perform a wide range of tasks – from traffic control to the fight against criminal offenses. They also participate in special security operations during mass events and respond to calls from citizens.
Interesting facts
Employees of the patrol service are most often in contact with citizens, therefore they are the ones who shape the image of the entire law enforcement system.
Policemen patrol the territory not only in cars, but also on bicycles, motorcycles, horses and even on foot. Some cities have special horse patrols to control order in parks and nature reserves.
Patrol officers work 24/7, alternating shifts, because crimes and offenses have no days off.
Patrolmen use cameras on their uniforms to capture all events, and they also have tablets for instant access to databases and document checks.
Some patrol officers specialize in chasing criminals by car, so they take additional extreme driving courses.
Patrolmen not only detain criminals, but also provide first aid to victims before the ambulance arrives.
International Anti-Bullying Day
This is an important date that draws attention to the problem of violence and aggression among children and adults. Bullying is not only physical abuse, but also verbal insults, social isolation, cyberbullying and other forms of psychological pressure.
The purpose of this day is to raise public awareness of the negative consequences of bullying and to remind about the importance of creating a safe environment in schools, at work and in social networks. Actions, lectures, flash mobs and events aimed at supporting victims of bullying and teaching methods of its prevention are held in different countries.
This problem receives special attention in educational institutions, because school bullying can leave a deep mark on a child’s life. In Ukraine, this topic became relevant after the adoption of the anti-bullying law, which obliges schools to develop anti-bullying strategies and treat each case responsibly.
Society is gradually realizing that bullying is not a “normal joke” or a “test of character”, but a serious problem that can lead to psychological trauma, low self-esteem and even suicidal thoughts. That is why on this day it is important not only to talk about the problem, but also to actively work on overcoming it.
Interesting facts
Although bullying is most talked about in the context of schools, it is also common among adults – at work, in the military, on sports teams, and even in families.
In today’s world, bullying has gone online. Insults, threats and humiliation on social media can have the same devastating effect as physical violence.
Research shows that when a bystander intervenes and stops the bullying, the aggression stops 57% of the time. That is why it is important to teach children and adults not to remain indifferent.
Children and adolescents who experience bullying are at higher risk of developing depression, anxiety disorders, and even PTSD in adulthood.
In many countries, in particular in Ukraine, bullying is recognized as an offense for which fines and other punishments are provided.
World tailors day
This is a professional celebration of craftsmen who create, repair and improve clothes. Its date is timed to the birthday of William Howe, the inventor who revolutionized the sewing industry by developing one of the first automated sewing machines.
The art of tailoring has a thousand-year history and plays an important role in culture and society. Since ancient times, tailors not only sewed clothes, but also defined fashion, created unique styles and reflected the spirit of the era in their products. Today, their work remains irreplaceable, because even in the age of mass production, professional tailoring is highly valued.
Modern tailors combine traditional techniques with the latest technologies, working both in large fashion houses and in small ateliers. They create stage costumes, wedding dresses, business suits and exclusive clothing to order, as well as repair and restore products.
Interesting facts
Before the advent of machine sewing, making clothes took many times longer. The first tailors could work on one suit for several weeks, and after Howe’s invention, the process was speeded up tenfold.
In medieval Europe, the art of tailoring was transmitted only within craft guilds. The tailors kept their methods secret because they gave them a competitive edge.
About 1,000 meters of thread are used to create one men’s suit using classical technology.
Despite the development of automated production, individual tailoring does not lose its relevance. Famous brands like Chanel or Dior still make many models by hand.
It was developed by the British inventor Thomas Saint, but it did not become popular due to the complexity of the design. It was William Howe in 1846 who proposed a working model that changed the industry.
Royal ateliers and fashion houses use threads with the addition of precious metals to create unique outfits.
Their work includes tailoring of theater costumes, flags, textile interior products and even clothing for animals.
World Rare Disease Day
Every year on the last day of February, World Rare Disease Day is celebrated – an important event that draws attention to people living with little-known, often incurable diseases.
Diseases that affect a small part of the population are considered rare. In the European Union, this category includes diseases that occur in one in 2,000 people. Despite their name, they are not that rare – there are more than 300 million people with such diagnoses in the world, and more than 7,000 different rare diseases are known.
The main problem is that most of these diseases are poorly understood, difficult to diagnose, and treatment either does not exist or is very expensive. On World Rare Disease Day, medical organizations, activists and patients hold events to raise awareness, support research and ensure access to treatment.
Interesting facts
About 80% of these diseases are caused by mutations in genes, which means they can be inherited or arise spontaneously.
Due to the low prevalence and lack of research, the average time to diagnosis for a rare disease can be 4 to 8 years.
Some diseases are so rare that there are only a few cases in the world. For example, Fields syndrome has been diagnosed in only a few people on the planet.
Almost 50% of people living with rare diseases are children, and many of these diseases appear at an early age.
Studying the genetic mechanisms of rare diseases contributes to the development of new treatments for more common diseases such as cancer or diabetes.
Medicines for the treatment of rare diseases are called orphan drugs. They are expensive and complex to develop, so they often cost hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
Zebra is a symbol of the fight against rare diseases. It is used as a symbol because there is a phrase in medicine: “When you hear hooves, think of horses, not zebras”, which means that doctors usually look for common diseases, not rare ones. But patients with such diseases are the “zebras” in the world of medicine.
Historical events on this day
202 BC there are. – Liu Bang officially becomes the first emperor of the Chinese Han dynasty. This marked the beginning of a powerful empire that lasted more than four centuries and defined many aspects of Chinese statehood.
1066 year – the grand opening of Westminster Abbey takes place. This landmark building not only became the religious center of England, but also the place of coronation of British monarchs.
1654 year – the Polish king Jan II Casimir issues a universal letter in which he calls on the Zaporozhian Cossacks to remain loyal to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This became one of the moments of tense relations between Ukraine and Poland in the 17th century.
1700 year – Sweden introduces its own calendar, which was valid until 1712. This short-lived reform was intended to simplify timekeeping, but the country eventually reverted to the Gregorian calendar.
1854 year – the establishment of the Republican Party of the USA. This political association played an important role in the struggle for the abolition of slavery and the formation of modern American politics.
1922 year – Great Britain ends its protectorate over Egypt, granting the country independence. Although Egypt remained under the influence of Britain for a long time, this step became key in its statehood.
1935 year – the first sample of nylon is created at the DuPont research center in the USA. This discovery later revolutionized the textile industry, allowing the production of strong and elastic fabrics.
1971 year – in Liechtenstein they officially confirm the ban on women voting in elections. This country remained one of the last in Europe where women’s suffrage was limited, and only two decades later the situation changed.
1984 year – Michael Jackson sets a record at the Grammy Awards by winning eight awards for his album Thriller. This achievement remains unmatched in the history of the music industry.
1986 year – in Stockholm, Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme is killed with two shots. His death shook the world, because Palme was known as a peacemaker and critic of the international policy of great powers.
1988 year – mass pogroms of the Armenian population begin in the city of Sumgait (Azerbaijan). These events became one of the prerequisites for the further escalation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.
2013 year – Pope Benedict XVI officially abdicates. This was unprecedented in the modern history of the Catholic Church, as pontiffs usually leave office only after death.
2022 year – Ukraine submits an official application for joining the European Union. This decision is taken against the background of the full-scale invasion of Russia, which became a turning point in the geopolitical history of the country.
