On March 11, World Plumber Day, World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Cinema, and Tools Day are celebrated. Interesting and significant historical events took place on this day in different years.
World plumbing day
This is a professional holiday, which is designed to emphasize the importance of the work of plumbers in ensuring the comfortable and safe life of every person. After all, it is thanks to these specialists that we have access to clean water, well-functioning sewage systems and high-quality water supply, which is the basis of hygiene and health.
The idea of celebrating this day belongs to the World Plumbing Council, which is actively working to improve standards in the field of water supply and sanitation. The purpose of this day is to draw attention to the importance of clean water, proper sanitation and proper infrastructure, which directly affect people’s health. In many countries of the world, access to clean water is still a serious problem, and it is the correct design and installation of plumbing systems that help prevent the spread of diseases.
Interesting facts
The first plumbing systems appeared back in ancient Rome, where a complex network of aqueducts, aqueducts and sewers was created.
In the 19th century, it was the development of modern plumbing that helped significantly reduce the level of infectious diseases in cities.
According to the World Health Organization, every dollar invested in improving sanitation saves approximately five dollars in health care.
An estimated 2 billion people in the world still lack access to safe sanitation, making the plumbing profession essential to global development.
World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Cinema
This holiday is designed to promote cultural exchange, mutual understanding and dialogue between different peoples of the world, emphasizing the richness of Muslim culture and its contribution to the development of world art, science and humanitarian ideas.
Muslim culture is one of the oldest and richest in the world. It covers art, architecture, literature, music, cinema and philosophy that have been formed over the centuries. The Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Cinema is designed to destroy stereotypes, build bridges between people of different faiths and cultures, and emphasize common values such as respect, peace, tolerance and the pursuit of knowledge.
Cinema, as one of the most influential art forms, plays an important role in this process. It allows you to tell stories about the lives of Muslims in different parts of the world, their traditions, challenges and achievements. At the same time, it is a way to show the multifaceted nature of culture and help others understand it better.
Interesting facts
The Golden Age of Islam (VIII-XIII centuries) was a period of great scientific discoveries and cultural development: Muslim scientists made significant contributions to mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and philosophy.
There are more than 50 Muslim countries in the world, each with unique cultural traditions, arts and customs.
Muslim art is known for its intricate geometric designs, calligraphy and unique architecture, which can be seen, for example, in mosques and palaces.
In today’s world, the number of films that talk about Muslim culture and contribute to the development of intercultural dialogue is increasing. Many of them receive international awards.
One of the foundations of Islam is the desire for peace and good neighborliness, which is also reflected in cultural traditions and artistic projects.
Tools day
is celebrated every year on March 11. This holiday is dedicated to honoring various instruments used in various spheres of life – from musical to construction, from medical to scientific. Tools are an integral part of human development, because it is thanks to them that man was able to build, create, discover new things and improve the world around him.
This day is designed to emphasize the importance of tools in human life. From hammers to computers, tools make work easier, advance technology, art, science, medicine, and even music. They are a symbol of progress and creativity, because with the help of simple tools people created masterpieces, built cities and changed the course of history.
Interesting facts
The oldest tools used by humans were stone tools, made more than 2.5 million years ago.
In ancient Egypt, building tools such as wooden levels were used to create complex architectural structures, including the pyramids.
Some musical instruments, such as the flute, are more than 40,000 years old, making them one of the oldest artistic tools of mankind.
Modern technologies make it possible to create high-precision instruments capable of working at the micro level, in particular for performing complex surgical operations.
In some countries, special festivals are held dedicated to musical instruments, where ancient examples and modern innovations are showcased.
Historical events on this day
1669 – In Sicily, the largest eruption of the Etna volcano, according to historical data, began. This natural disaster lasted for about five months, causing serious destruction on the island. The eruption led to the death of many people, the destruction of settlements and a significant change in the landscape. The lava destroyed large areas of agricultural land, which became a serious challenge for the local population.
1811 – The Luddite movement began in Nottingham, England. It was a mass uprising of textile workers who opposed the introduction of new production machines. They feared that automation would lead to job cuts and loss of livelihoods. Members of the movement destroyed cars as symbols of change that threatened their way of life.
1878 – The phonograph, an innovative device for recording and reproducing sound invented by Thomas Edison, was demonstrated at the French Academy of Sciences. However, the academy was skeptical of this development, considering it a fraud. Only later did the world realize the importance of this invention for the development of sound recording and communication technologies.
1938 – On the night of March 12, German troops invaded the Republic of Austria. The next day, the “Anschluss” was announced – the annexation of Austria to Nazi Germany. This event became one of the important stages preceding the beginning of the Second World War and marked the beginning of the expansion of the Third Reich in Europe.
1941 – US President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Lend-Lease Act, which provided aid to the Allies in World War II. The law allowed the US to transfer weapons, equipment, food and strategic resources to countries that were fighting Nazi Germany, on conditions of partial or complete gratuity. This decision significantly influenced the course of the war, supporting the efforts of the anti-Hitler coalition.
1990 – A historic event took place in Chile: after the long-term rule of Augusto Pinochet, who left the post of president, the country returned to democracy. The arrival of a democratic government marked a new era in the country’s political history, laying the foundations for the restoration of civil liberties and democratic institutions.
1997 – Ukraine and Moldova announced the creation of a customs union. This step was aimed at deepening economic cooperation between the states, facilitating trade relations and simplifying customs procedures. The Union was intended to promote the development of bilateral trade and economic integration.
2010 – Australia became the last country to completely abolish the death penalty. This decision cemented the country’s desire to protect human rights and was in line with global trends of abandoning the highest degree of punishment.
2011 – The Great Tohoku earthquake of magnitude 9.0-9.1 occurred in Japan, one of the most powerful in the world. This disaster caused a tsunami that destroyed coastal cities and infrastructure, and caused an accident at the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant. Radiation contamination forced thousands of people to evacuate, and the event itself became a serious lesson for the world’s nuclear power industry.
The wedding of Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet
On March 11, 1302, in an ancient Franciscan monastery near the Italian city of Verona, according to legend, Romeo Montecchi and 13-year-old Juliet Capulet were secretly married. This story became world famous thanks to the tragedy of William Shakespeare, although its authenticity is still not confirmed. According to the plot, a young man and a girl from opposing families fell in love with each other, but their love ended in tragedy. Only over the bodies of their children did the Montague and Capulet families forget their long-standing enmity.
However, the Italian writer Luigi da Porto was the first to tell this story in his short story, who, according to his own words, heard it as an ancient legend during a conversation with friends. Whether this story had a real basis remains a mystery. At the beginning of the 20th century, Italian archaeologists drew attention to an abandoned medieval mansion in Verona, on the facade of which was the coat of arms of the Capello family. Due to the similarity of this name with Capulet, a new tourist legend appeared in the city – about “Juliet’s house” with the famous balcony from which, supposedly, Juliet spoke to Romeo.
Another popular site is the tomb at the Capuchin Monastery in Verona, where Juliet is said to be buried. This place has been visited by romantics since the 16th century, although the sarcophagus has been repeatedly opened and found to be empty. Nor are there any records of Romeo and Juliet’s betrothal or death in the monastery’s registers.
However, the legend lives on. Entrance to the balcony of the “Capulet house” will cost tourists 10 euros, and the sarcophagus in the monastery has uneven edges – over the centuries, visitors have chipped off pieces of marble in memory of the saddest love story in the world.
Napoleon Bonaparte’s visit to French soldiers infected with the plague
On March 11, 1799, during the Egyptian campaign, General Napoleon Bonaparte visited the infirmary in Jaffa, where hundreds of French soldiers were dying, infected with the plague after the capture and sack of the city. According to legend, he shook hands with every patient, risking his own life. In fact, Bonaparte really dared to enter the detachment to support the army and comfort the suffering. It is said that he even touched one of the patients, saying: “You see, it’s nothing to worry about,” and later, responding to objections regarding the danger of such an act, he declared: “It was my duty. I am the commander-in-chief.”
Napoleon suggested that the chief physician give the most difficult patients an increased dose of opium to ease their suffering. The doctor refused, even after Bonaparte’s words: “I would poison my own son, if only to spare him such torment.” This moment was recorded as an example of Napoleon’s determination.
Napoleon made several famous quotes during the Egyptian campaign, including:
“Soldiers are numbers that solve political problems.”
“You can do anything with bayonets except sit on them.”
“Even a ram can have a lion’s heart if it finds itself among lions.”
However, there are also dark pages of this history. After the capture of Jaffa, French troops destroyed almost all civilians, justifying it as revenge for the execution of two French ambassadors. In addition, about 3,000 captured Ottoman soldiers along with the governor of the city were executed – Napoleon did not want to provide them with food and security.
However, he did not order to immortalize these bloody events, but the scene in the infirmary. Court painter Antoine-Jean Gros created a famous painting in which Napoleon stands by the Moorish gallery and touches the sores of one of the soldiers, while an officer nearby turns away, covering his nose. In the foreground are depicted the sick and suffering, many of whom are lying naked on the ground. To the left, a Syrian with a servant distributes bread, and behind two men carry a body on a bier. Today, this painting is kept in the Louvre, remaining not only a symbol of the feat, but also an artistic testimony of a complex and controversial history.
Adoption of the Lend-Lease Law in the USA
On March 11, 1941, the US Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act, which allowed the transfer of weapons, machinery, food, medical equipment, oil and other resources to the Allies during World War II. This decision actually brought the US closer to direct participation in the war. Initially, the program covered the British Empire and China, and from November 1941, the Soviet Union. By the end of the war, almost all US allies had joined Lend-Lease.
The Soviet Union received $9.4 billion in aid, of which 41% was military equipment. Including transportation costs, the total amount reached 11.3 billion dollars. The US supplied 11.7% of aircraft, 17.6% of armored vehicles, 163% of cars, 240% of locomotives, and more than a third of all aviation fuel. The amount of food made it possible to provide a 10-million-strong army for three years.
After the war, the Soviet Union agreed to pay only $170 million of the originally proposed $2.6 billion. The final repayment of the debt was agreed in 1972, and the payments were completed only on August 21, 2006 by Russia.
It is interesting that at the same time American corporations, in particular Standard Oil, actively cooperated with Germany. They supplied the Nazis with oil, gasoline, tungsten, synthetic rubber and car parts. American oil, which was formally supplied to “neutral” Spain, was actually used by the Wehrmacht. Often, German submarines refueled with this oil directly from Spanish tankers, after which they attacked American transports on lend-lease for the USSR. War is war, but business continued.
Official announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a turning point in world history that changed lifestyles, economies, health care systems, and social interactions around the world.
COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, began to spread from the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019. By the time the pandemic was declared, the virus had already infected hundreds of thousands of people in more than 100 countries. WHO has determined that the scale and speed of the spread of the disease constitute a global threat that requires immediate and coordinated action at the international level.
The declaration of a pandemic was an acknowledgment that the virus was spreading uncontrollably around the world and was not confined to certain regions. This decision prompted governments to impose strict quarantine measures, travel restrictions, closing borders, educational institutions and businesses, as well as to actively develop vaccines and search for effective treatments.
The COVID-19 pandemic has become not only a test for health care systems, but also a challenge for the global economy, education, culture and social relations. It has caused millions of victims, changed the way we work, communicate and travel, and has fueled a global debate about the importance of scientific research, innovation and mutual support.
By the end of 2020, several vaccines against COVID-19 had been developed, an unprecedented rapid scientific advance.
The pandemic has accelerated the development of remote work, online education and digital technologies.
More than half of the world’s population for a certain period felt the effects of restrictive measures, including lockdowns.
