World Food Allergy Awareness Day and World Food Allergy Day are celebrated on July 8. Also, on this day, in different centuries, events took place that influenced the development of civilizations, states, religions, geography and political systems — from ancient settlements to modern tragedies.
World Exposure Day
It is an informal international initiative that calls on governments to officially recognize the existence of an extraterrestrial presence and the influence of extraterrestrial intelligence on humanity. The event is celebrated every year on July 8 and is part of a wider movement for transparency and so-called “disclosure”, based on the belief that governments already have reliable information about UFOs and extraterrestrials, but are hiding it from the public.
The founder of the initiative is activist Steven Bassett, director of Paradigm Research Group (PRG), the only US-registered lobbyist that openly promotes the idea of government disclosure of the extraterrestrial phenomenon. Bassett believes that the cover-up has been going on since at least 1947 (since the Roswell incident) and that society has a right to know the truth about contact with other civilizations.
Activists of World Disclosure Day emphasize: it is not about sensationalism or fiction, but a deep transformation of social consciousness. According to them, the confirmation of an extraterrestrial presence will change the way we think about science, religion, politics and human nature. That is why they demand a public confession from governments, and a willingness from society to accept these changes as a new era of development.
The significance of this date is also enhanced by the fact that part of the information about UFOs has already begun to appear in the public domain. In particular, in the US, Congress held a series of hearings, and the Ministry of Defense created a special structure for the analysis of UAP. Despite this, no official recognition of the extraterrestrial origin of these objects was made.
Interesting facts
The idea for World Exposure Day was chosen to coincide with the date in 1947 when the Roswell Daily Record newspaper first reported the crash of a “flying saucer” near Roswell, New Mexico. This was the start of the most famous conspiracy theory about extraterrestrials in history.
Although the initiative does not have the support of governments or the UN, it is officially registered on the Internet: WorldDisclosureDay.org is calling on everyone to sign a symbolic petition in support of “disclosure”.
Stephen Bassett insists that the first country to officially recognize an extraterrestrial presence will gain a strategic advantage in world politics and moral leadership in a new phase of history.
In 2013, Bassett held the Citizen Hearing on Disclosure in Washington, D.C., a 5-day hearing in which former officials, military and pilots testified about UFO sightings before a panel of former congressmen styled as a government event.
In 2021, the US introduced a new UAP reporting form for pilots and the military, which made it easier to record unexplained objects in the air – previously such reports were avoided for fear of ridicule.
World Food Allergy Day
This day is designed to draw attention to a problem that affects all age groups and continues to grow worldwide. It is about the body’s reaction to popular products, as well as a serious medical, social and economic problem that can have fatal consequences.
A food allergy is the body’s immune response to certain proteins in foods that are normally safe for most people. Children are most often allergic to milk, eggs, peanuts, and adults are allergic to nuts, seafood, and some fruits. For some people, contact with even a microscopic amount of an allergen can cause anaphylactic shock, a condition that requires immediate medical attention.
Doctors emphasize that the cases of allergies, particularly severe ones, are increasing from year to year. Especially vulnerable are children under 5 years old, teenagers, people with concomitant diseases, as well as those who do not have access to high-quality diagnostics. Often, allergies are disguised as other conditions — digestive disorders, skin rashes, chronic fatigue — and remain undiagnosed for years.
Another important component is access to an epinephrine auto-injector (epipen), which can save lives in the event of a severe reaction. In many countries, its cost or lack of compensation from the state poses an additional threat to patients. That is why, within the framework of this day, the issue of availability of medicines, support for families and the implementation of standards in kindergartens, schools, and catering establishments are also raised.
Interesting facts
In 1999, the first documented case of death from a kiss was recorded in Canada: a girl with a severe peanut allergy died after kissing a boy who had just eaten a peanut cookie.
Studies have shown that the early introduction of potential allergens into complementary foods (for example, peanuts in the form of paste before a year) reduces the risk of developing allergies — this has changed international approaches to pediatric practice.
Some countries require all flight attendants to be trained in anaphylaxis and have epipens on board, following a series of mid-air incidents where passengers did not have access to the help they needed.
In the USA and Great Britain, there are special schools that completely exclude allergens from the menu and create “peanut-free zones” for children with severe forms of allergy, in particular to peanuts – one of the most dangerous allergens.
Food allergy should not be confused with intolerance (for example, lactose): allergies involve the immune system and can lead to death, while intolerances only cause digestive upset.
One of the most intriguing findings is that having pets in early childhood can reduce the risk of developing allergies, including food allergies: contact with animal microbiome trains the child’s immune system.
In Japan, there is a concept of “school food as therapy” – a program of individual selection of school menus for children with allergies, with detailed monitoring of the composition and regular consultations with nutritionists.
Historical events on this day
52 to n. is. — This day is considered the tentative date of the foundation of Paris. At that time, there was a Gallic settlement of Lutetius on the island of Cite, which was later rebuilt by the Romans into a city that would become the capital of France and become one of the cultural centers of the world.
632 – Prophet Muhammad died in Medina, the founder of Islam, whom Muslims recognize as the last prophet. His death marked a turning point for the Muslim Ummah, ushering in the era of caliphates and political rivalry for leadership in the Islamic world.
1497 — A sea expedition led by Vasco da Gama set out from Lisbon, Portugal, with the aim of finding a way to India around Africa. This campaign marked the beginning of Europe’s direct maritime contacts with Asia and initiated the period of European expansion in the Indian Ocean.
1573 — The Edict of Boulogne was signed in France, ending the fourth religious war between Catholics and Huguenots. The document provided for certain concessions to Protestants, in particular the possibility of limited practice of faith, and became a step towards further religious reforms.
1654 — Yakov Barsimson, the first Jew to settle in North America, arrived in New Amsterdam, today’s New York. This was the beginning of the formation of the Jewish community in the future USA, which later became one of the largest in the world.
1796 — The first citizen’s passport signed by Secretary of State Timothy Pickering was issued in the USA. This document opened the stage of formalization of American citizenship and identity in the conditions of a young independent state.
1920 — The British colony of East Africa received a new official name — Kenya. It became a symbol of the imperial administrative reorganization, which determined the further fate of the region until independence in the middle of the 20th century.
1962 — A Douglas DC-8 passenger plane crashed in India near the city of Junnar. 94 people died. This tragedy went down in history as one of the most serious aviation disasters in the country at that time.
1980 — A Tu-154 plane crashed in the city of Alma-Ata (modern Almaty, Kazakhstan), killing 166 people. This is the largest plane crash in the history of Kazakhstan, which caused shock throughout the Soviet Union.
1994 — Kim Il-sung, the founder of the state and long-time leader, died in North Korea. After his death, the post of president was abolished, and his son Kim Jong Il led the country in a new status, which only strengthened the cult of dynastic power.
2022 — In Japan, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was killed during an election speech. His assassination was an unprecedented act of political violence in modern Japan and made a deep impression both inside and outside the country.
Birthday of the “father of emergency medical care”
On July 8, 1766, in the small French village of Beaudean, in a wealthy family, Dominique Jean Larray was born – a future military surgeon, baron of the Empire and a reformer whom history will call “the father of emergency medical care.” It all started quite mundanely: the young man diligently studied surgery, and he also diligently treated people. However, it was the personal drama that became the turning point that determined his fate and changed military medicine forever.
His youthful love – the daughter of a local rich man – had no chance of reciprocity. The girl’s father considered Larray a “beggar” and put forward a humiliating condition: the future bridegroom must have at least 100,000 francs in his account – an amount that is equal to more than a million dollars today. Instead of an adventure or a scam, Dominic decides to become a hero. He goes to war as an assistant regimental surgeon – hoping that fame and service will save his heart and change his situation.
During the very first battle, he rushed to the front line and, under heavy fire, carried 40 wounded soldiers from the battlefield. He provided assistance to many people on the spot – bandaged, sometimes even operated. At that time, military statutes strictly prohibited the provision of medical care until the end of the battle. Larray broke these rules because he understood: for the wounded, every minute is crucial. And he was right – out of 40 wounded, 36 survived. This was an unprecedented record in field surgery, but he was put on guard duty for violating discipline.
It was then that he realized: a chance for life is not just a bandage, but an operational evacuation from the battlefield. Inspired by the speed of horse artillery maneuvers, Larray proposed a revolutionary idea: instead of guns, put special stretchers on carriages. This is how the design of the first “flying ambulance” was born – a combat ambulance capable of quickly evacuating the wounded to an improvised surgical station.
This experiment quickly proved its effectiveness and became part of the system of the entire French army. General Bonaparte considered this development to be his own advantage, because for the first time in history, the wounded returned to the ranks en masse. Fighters who survived and passed the baptism of fire became more experienced, more durable, more confident – and in this way increased the quality of the army.
Dominique Larray became not just a famous, but a legendary surgeon. He was respected even in the ranks of the enemy: Larray helped not only French soldiers, but also the wounded of the enemy. The commanders of the armies of other countries knew about this and often gave orders not to shoot at the “flying ambulances”. The Duke of Wellington once gave a direct order: “Let the Savior do his work.”
He has 25 military campaigns and 60 battles as the chief military surgeon of France. For his merits, he received the title of baron, but did not acquire wealth. However, his former future father-in-law changed his mind after learning about Larray’s close acquaintance with Napoleon, and agreed to marry his daughter.
It is symbolic that he received the cherished 100 thousand francs only before his death – according to the will of Napoleon himself from the island of St. Helena, in which the emperor wrote: “I leave one hundred thousand francs to Larray, the most honest man I have ever known.”
Dominique Jean Larray died on July 25, 1842 in Lyon, at the age of 76. He was buried at the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris, and since 1992 his ashes have rested in the Home of the Invalids next to other heroes of France. Napoleon’s words are engraved on the tombstone: “To Larry, the most honest man I’ve ever known.”
By the way, the first known system of emergency medical evacuation originated in the 6th century in Byzantium. It was described by Emperor Mauritius in the treatise “The Art of War”. Behind him, each squad of infantry was accompanied by horsemen who stayed behind. The wounded had to reach them independently or with the help of comrades, after which he was transferred to a horse and taken to the field medical tent. For each life saved, the rider received a gold coin. This system for the first time combined the key elements of what we now call “ambulance”: urgency, special transport, direct referral to doctors.
Conscription Act in the United States
On July 7, 1863, North Americans woke up to the sound of drums, but not festive, but military. In the midst of the Civil War in the USA, for the first time in the history of the country, the law on forced military conscription came into force. At first, the Northern government relied exclusively on volunteers, but the shortage of soldiers forced the authorities to resort to an unpopular decision – general mobilization.
The law stipulated that all men between the ages of 20 and 45 were required to go to the front and defend the Union. But there was one important detail – class. A person who did not want to serve could simply pay $300 or hire someone instead. At the current exchange rate, this is about 10-12 thousand dollars – in those days, such an amount allowed to buy a small house or a very fat pig. This is how the formula was born: “It’s not my war, it’s my money.”
As a result, the predictable happened: the rich paid off, and the poor were sent to the trenches. The result was mass riots—the largest anti-draft riots in American history. People took to the streets with slogans: “This is not a draft – this is a sale!”
Journalists of that time mocked:
“The United States has become the first country where a declaration of war automatically turns into a paid subscription. No ads, but with push notifications from artillery. When a price list appears in the army, society will most likely receive a bonus of uprisings, pogroms and a whole bunch of very uncomfortable questions.
