January 28 is the National Flag Approval Day in Ukraine, the World Day of the Unemployed, the Discovery of Antarctica Day, the European Day of Personal Data Protection, the International Day of CO2 Emissions Reduction and the International LEGO Designer Day.
Day of approval of the State Flag of Ukraine
This is an important date for every Ukrainian, because it was on this day, January 28, 1992, that the blue-yellow flag officially became the state symbol of our country. This decision was adopted by a resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine after long discussions and a symbolic revival of national identity.
The blue-yellow flag, which symbolizes the unity of the sky and the wheat field, has deep historical roots. Its colors were used in the coats of arms and symbols of Ukrainian lands as early as the time of Kievan Rus, and later – during the days of the Cossack state. In modern history, the flag was first raised as a state symbol during the struggle for independence of the Ukrainian People’s Republic in 1917–1921.
The blue-yellow flag was raised for the first time in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on July 24, 1990, when the Kyiv City Council decided to hang the national flag over the city hall building.
Ukraine has an official holiday – the Day of the National Flag of Ukraine, which is celebrated on August 23, but January 28 remains a historically important date in the context of the approval of the flag as a state symbol.
World Unemployed Day
This day draws attention to the problems of people who are out of work and their challenges. It is an unofficial international holiday celebrated annually on January 28. It reminds society of the importance of social support, solidarity and creating conditions for employment.
In the modern world, unemployment remains one of the biggest social and economic problems. It affects not only the material situation of people, but also their psychological state, self-realization and social integration.
Interesting facts
The lowest level of unemployment in the world is recorded in Qatar – only 0.1%. The reason is an active economy focused on oil and gas, as well as a large number of foreign workers who come for contract work.
Zimbabwe has the highest unemployment rate in the world at over 90%. This was due to a deep economic crisis and hyperinflation, where people received wages that depreciated literally by the hour.
In the Middle Ages, unemployment was almost non-existent, because most people worked on the land or served feudal lords. At that time, “unemployed” was perceived rather as “lazy”.
During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the unemployment rate in the United States reached 25%. Then social programs were introduced, which later became the basis of the modern system of assistance to the unemployed.
There is an interesting project in Sweden: “Eternal Work”. One selected employee receives a salary simply for coming to work every day and pressing the button to turn on the lights. It is a social experiment that explores the role of work in people’s lives.
People who have lost their jobs tend to spend more time watching TV than those who are employed. But it was found that excessive viewing of news during unemployment worsens the psychological state.
The fastest way to reduce unemployment in the world was demonstrated in Singapore. The country made a bet on the development of high technologies and education, and in a few decades the unemployment rate dropped to a minimum level.
In South Korea, there is a tradition for young people who cannot find work – they go to the “unemployed cafe”. There, people discuss their problems, seek support and even create new business ideas.
Antarctica Discovery Day
This day is an important historical date that marked the discovery of the last of the six continents of the Earth. This event was made possible thanks to brave travelers who went on a risky expedition to the cold southern seas.
In 1820, after two years of difficult sailing on the sloops “Vostok” and “Mirny”, Russian sailors under the command of Fadei Bellinshausen and Mikhail Lazarev saw the shores of the unknown continent for the first time. Their expedition aimed to explore the southern latitudes, and although they did not land, it was the first official discovery of Antarctica. Almost simultaneously, British explorers led by Edward Bransfield also reached Antarctica. They came ashore on January 30, 1820, making them the first to set foot on this continent.
Interesting facts
Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth. The record temperature here was -89.2°C, recorded in 1983 at the Vostok station.
There are no permanent residents on the continent. Only temporarily, scientific stations receive researchers, whose number varies from 1 to 5 thousand people depending on the season.
About 70% of all fresh water reserves of the Earth are contained in the form of ice in Antarctica.
Antarctica’s ice and snow reflect up to 90% of sunlight, making it an important element of the global climate system.
Under the Antarctic glaciers lie lakes where unique forms of microscopic life exist. Lake Vostok, which is under a 4-kilometer layer of ice, is a vivid example.
Antarctica is a demilitarized zone. According to the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, the continent is used exclusively for scientific research, and any military actions are prohibited here.
European Day of Personal Data Protection
This day is a reminder of the importance of personal information security in today’s digital world, it was launched in 2006 by the Council of Europe to raise awareness among citizens about their rights to data protection and privacy.
This date was chosen in honor of the signing of the Council of Europe Convention No. 108 on the protection of individuals with regard to automated processing of personal data, which took place on January 28, 1981. It was the first international treaty that regulated the protection of personal data and became the basis for modern legislation such as the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in the EU.
Interesting facts
Introduced in 2018 in the European Union, GDPR has become the gold standard in data protection. It provides for serious fines for violations — up to 20 million euros or 4% of the company’s annual revenue.
GDPR guarantees EU citizens the right to request the removal of their personal data from companies’ databases. This right was formulated for the first time in European legal practice.
About 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are generated every day in the world, which makes it difficult to control their security.
According to research, most leaks of personal data occur through social platforms, where users often underestimate the importance of privacy.
In 2021, Amazon received the largest fine in history for violating the GDPR — 746 million euros. This sent a signal to other companies about the importance of complying with data protection regulations.
In the future, challenges to the protection of personal information will grow due to the active development of artificial intelligence, which can process huge amounts of data.
International CO2 Reduction Day
which is celebrated every year on January 28, is an important global initiative aimed at combating climate change and calling for the reduction of harmful carbon dioxide emissions. This date reminds us of the need for changes in attitudes towards the environment, the introduction of ecological technologies and the reduction of dependence on fossil fuels.
Interesting facts
The biggest “carbon polluters” are China, the US and India, which together generate more than 50% of all global emissions. At the same time, the EU is a leader among countries that are actively reducing emissions through the use of green energy.
The carbon footprint of an average person in developed countries is significantly higher than in developing countries. For example, a US citizen produces about 15 tons of CO2 per year, while the average African produces less than 1 ton.
One transatlantic flight per person can generate up to 1.6 tons of CO2, which is more than some people produce in an entire year. Because of this, the movement for “ecological tourism” and the reduction of air travel is gaining popularity.
One hectare of tropical forest can absorb up to 26 tons of CO2 per year. However, deforestation in regions such as the Amazon greatly reduces this natural mechanism for cleaning the atmosphere.
The use of solar and wind energy allows to reduce CO2 emissions by 70-90% compared to the use of coal or oil.
There are already projects of “carbon-neutral” cities in the world, for example, Masdar City in the United Arab Emirates. This city runs entirely on renewable energy and has a minimal carbon footprint.
Cutting back on meat consumption, switching to bicycles or public transport, using energy-saving light bulbs and reducing energy consumption at home can reduce your carbon footprint by 20-50%.
The birthday of the diesel engine
This holiday is an important milestone in the history of engineering and technology. It was on this day in 1897 that the German engineer Rudolf Diesel first successfully started an engine that worked on the principle of self-ignition of fuel. This breakthrough changed the transportation and energy industries, giving the world an efficient and economical engine.
Interesting facts
Rudolf Diesel developed the engine as an alternative to steam engines, which were inefficient. Its goal was to create a mechanism with a high efficiency (coefficient of useful action), which became the basis of the diesel engine.
The first diesel engine had an efficiency of about 26%, which significantly exceeded the performance of steam engines (about 10%). Modern diesel engines can achieve an efficiency of more than 50%.
The main innovation of the diesel engine is to use compression to self-ignite the fuel, without the need for spark plugs. This allows the use of less volatile fuels.
The first diesel engines were too bulky, so they were used for industrial machines and ships. Only in the 1920s, diesel engines began to be installed in cars.
Diesel fuel is obtained from oil. It is denser and has a higher energy density compared to gasoline, which provides greater economy.
Today, diesel engines are used in a wide variety of areas, from cars and trucks to locomotives, ships and even power plants.
Although diesel engines are economical, they emit more nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, creating a problem for the environment. This has led to emission cleaning technologies such as catalytic converters and AdBlue systems.
In today’s world, electric cars are increasingly replacing diesel engines. However, diesel remains irreplaceable in heavy machinery and long-distance transportation of goods.
International Designer Day “LEGO”
This day is dedicated to one of the most famous toys in the world. It was on this day in 1958 that the LEGO company patented the design of its brick, which became the basis for many sets and brought joy to millions of people.
Interesting facts
The patented brick has special protrusions and recesses that allow you to securely connect the parts. This ensured the strength of structures and unlimited opportunities for creativity.
The main feature of LEGO is that all elements released for more than 50 years are compatible with each other. For example, bricks, first produced in 1958, fit into modern sets without any problems, making LEGO not just a game, but a real constructor for all time.
The word “LEGO” comes from the Danish phrase “leg godt”, which means “play well”. Interestingly, in Latin it also translates as “I compose”.
It is estimated that there are more than 400 billion LEGO pieces in the world. This means that there are about 62 bricks for every inhabitant of the Earth.
The largest LEGO model, a Boeing 747 replica, consisted of more than 5 million parts and was built in 2021.
LEGO minifigures first appeared in 1978. Since then, more than 4 billion have been issued. This is more than the number of people on Earth in 1978.
LEGO is actively used in children’s education. Educational programs and special kits help develop imagination, spatial thinking and programming skills.
The LEGO company is working on creating eco-friendly bricks from biodegradable materials to make its products more environmentally friendly.
Thanks to films such as the “Lego Movie”, the brand became even more popular, turning the ordinary builder into a part of modern pop culture.
Historical events on this day
1855 – For the first time, a locomotive ran along the Panama Railroad from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, providing an important transport link between the oceans. This railway facilitated the development of international trade and accelerated the movement of people and goods.
1871 – After a four-month siege of Paris, the French capitulated in the war with Prussia. This event ended the Franco-Prussian War, which had a significant impact on the political map of Europe.
1920 – The Ivan Franko Ukrainian Drama Theater opened in Vinnytsia with Volodymyr Vinnichenko’s play “Sin”. Today it is the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater — one of the leading theaters in Ukraine.
1921 – In Paris, a symbolic monument to the Unknown Soldier was opened under the Arc de Triomphe. It became a symbol of honoring the memory of soldiers who died in the First World War.
1929 – The First Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists took place in Vienna, at which the creation of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) was announced. Yevhen Konovalts was elected its head. This event became important in the history of the national liberation movement of Ukraine.
1935 – Iceland became the first Western country to legalize medical abortion, which opened a new page in the history of women’s rights and the health care system.
1958 – The LEGO company patented the design of its legendary brick. The mounting system, patented that day, is still the basis for most LEGO sets.
1986 – 73 seconds after launch, the Challenger space shuttle exploded over Cape Canaveral. This tragedy, which was broadcast live, became one of the worst disasters in the history of space programs.
1992 – Ukraine officially established diplomatic relations with Italy, which was an important step in strengthening the international relations of the newly created state.
2002 – In the final of the Commonwealth Champions Cup, Dynamo Kyiv players defeated Moscow Spartak 4:3, achieving an important sporting victory.
2003 – The Presidents of Russia and Ukraine, Volodymyr Putin and Leonid Kuchma, signed the Agreement on the Ukrainian-Russian State Border, which was supposed to regulate relations between the two states.
2010 – The then President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, by his decree recognized the UPA soldiers as participants in the struggle for the independence of Ukraine in the 20th century, which was an important step for the restoration of historical justice.
