March 11 is World Plumbers Day, Certified Dietitian Nutritionist Day, Exposing Day, and No-Code Day. Over the centuries, this day has left a noticeable mark on world history — from religious decisions and military events to scientific demonstrations, political changes, and large-scale global crises.
World Plumbers Day
This day was initiated by the World Council of Plumbers in 2010 to honor the work of these people and draw attention to the importance of water supply and sanitation systems in everyday life. Proper plumbing provides access to clean water, wastewater disposal, and maintaining proper sanitary conditions in residential buildings, hospitals, schools, and enterprises.
Plumbers’ work is associated with the installation and maintenance of pipelines, water supply networks, heating, and sewage systems. The stable functioning of urban infrastructure and the safe use of water depend on their work. The day draws attention to the development of engineering systems, training of specialists and the need to modernize water networks in many countries.
Interesting facts
The word “plumbing” comes from the Latin sanitas – health. Historically, the development of water supply and sewage is directly related to the fight against epidemics of cholera, typhus and other infectious diseases in cities of the 19th century.
In ancient Rome, there were special craftsmen who serviced water pipes and fountains. Many pipes were made of lead, so such craftsmen were called plumbarius from the Latin word plumbum – lead. The modern English term plumber comes from this word.
In medieval Europe, craftsmen who worked with pipes, gutters and water tanks were members of the guilds of roofers and metal foundries. They made lead gutters, repaired water tanks in castles and monasteries and laid primitive water supply systems.
In the 19th century, the plumbing profession began to take shape as a separate specialty. The mass construction of sewers and water mains in cities in Europe and the USA created a need for a large number of craftsmen who could install pipes, install taps and maintain plumbing equipment.
In Britain, in 1886, one of the first professional organizations of plumbers was created – the Association of Plumbing Engineers. It developed standards for the installation of pipes and sanitary systems, since errors in the work of craftsmen often caused contamination of drinking water.
Historically, plumbers were considered quite prestigious craftsmen. The work required knowledge of metal, soldering pipes, drawing water supply systems and the ability to work underground in collectors.
In Kyiv, at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, plumbers serviced not only water supply, but also steam heating systems in multi-storey buildings. In many old tenement houses in Podil and Pechersk, pipelines installed over a hundred years ago have been partially preserved.
Ancient Rome had a complex water supply system with aqueducts, public fountains, and sewers. The large underground sewer system of the Cloaca Maxima has been operating for over two thousand years and is still partially in use.
In medieval Europe, after the decline of the Roman sewer systems, many cities did not have full-fledged drainage networks for centuries. Waste was often simply poured into the street, which caused unsanitary conditions and regular outbreaks of disease.
In London, the construction of modern sewage systems began after an event known as the “Great Stink” in 1858, when the smell from the polluted Thames became so strong that the work of Parliament virtually stopped.
In Kyiv, the first centralized water supply networks began to be built at the end of the 19th century. The city’s water supply system began operating in 1872, and a little later the first sections of the sewerage system began to appear.
In Ukraine, there are kilometers of underground collectors, some of which are several meters high and allow a person to move inside. The largest sewer tunnels are laid under large cities, in particular Kyiv and Kharkiv.
The first modern flush toilet with a cistern mechanism was created by the English inventor Thomas Crepper at the end of the 19th century, and his design became the basis for most modern systems.
In the world, more than two billion people still do not have access to safe sanitation systems, which is why water supply and sanitation problems remain one of the key ones for public health.
Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist Day
This day was initiated by professional organizations of nutritionists to draw attention to the role of qualified specialists in the field of dietetics and clinical nutrition. Certified dietitians work in hospitals, research institutions, educational institutions, and sports organizations, helping people adjust their diets to suit their health, age, and lifestyle.
Dietitians assess a person’s nutritional status, create personalized diets, and provide advice on preventing and treating diet-related diseases. Their work involves medical research, biochemistry, physiology, and public health. The profession requires specialized education, practical training, and professional certification.
Interesting Facts
The word “diet” comes from the ancient Greek word diaita, which meant a person’s way of life or mode of existence. In ancient medicine, this concept included not only food, but also sleep patterns, physical activity, and habits.
The first scientific studies of nutrition began to be actively conducted in the 19th century. It was then that German chemist Justus von Liebig studied the role of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in the human body and laid the foundations of modern nutrition science.
The profession of a dietitian as a separate specialty was formed at the beginning of the 20th century, when hospitals began hiring specialists to prepare therapeutic diets for patients with various diseases.
In 1917, the first official nutritionist training program associated with medical institutions was opened in the United States. It arose during World War I due to the need to control the nutrition of soldiers and wounded soldiers.
In medicine, there is a direction of clinical dietetics, where specialists work together with doctors and develop diets for people with diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, digestive problems, and other conditions.
In Soviet medicine, the system of therapeutic diets was standardized. The most famous was the system of “tables” of doctor Manuel Pevzner, which provided for different types of nutrition depending on the disease.
In Ukraine, dietetics is a medical specialty, and nutritionists work in hospitals, sanatoriums, sports centers, and scientific institutions. In recent years, nutrition consultations have become increasingly popular among athletes and people recovering from illnesses.
Modern dietitians often use body composition analysis, laboratory indicators, and digital applications for tracking nutrition to more accurately assess the body’s needs and adjust the diet.
Exposure Day
This is an unofficial date dedicated to the dissemination of verified information and countering myths, fake news, and pseudoscientific claims. The focus is on the importance of fact-checking, using reliable sources, and being responsible for information disseminated in the media and social networks.
The idea of such a day is related to the popularization of critical thinking. It reminds us of the need to analyze information, distinguish facts from assumptions, and verify dubious claims. Such initiatives have emerged in response to the rise of misinformation on the Internet, where false reports often spread faster than refutations.
Interesting facts
The term “debunk” appeared in the early 20th century in the United States. It was popularized by writer William Woodward in his 1923 book “Bunk,” where he described attempts to expose false or exaggerated stories.
One of the most famous historical examples of debunking a scientific myth was proving that the “canals on Mars” do not exist. In the late 19th century, some astronomers considered them evidence of civilization on the planet, but later studies showed that they were optical illusions during observations.
In the 20th century, a common myth was the claim that humans use only 10 percent of their brains. Neurobiologists have repeatedly refuted this idea, as studies show activity in different areas of the brain even during simple actions.
One of the oldest urban myths is the story of alligators in the sewers of New York. This legend originated in the 1930s and has been repeated in the media for decades, although no real evidence of its existence has ever been found.
During World War II, states actively used disinformation as an element of propaganda. After the war, the development of journalism and scientific methods of fact-checking became an important part of the fight against fake news.
In Ukraine, after 2014, several independent fact-checking projects appeared that check the statements of politicians and media reports. They analyze sources of information, statistics and official documents to determine the reliability of widespread claims.
Studies show that false news on social networks can spread faster than true news, because they often cause strong emotions – surprise, fear or indignation.
There is a separate direction in science dedicated to exposing pseudoscientific claims. Skeptical organizations and science popularizers regularly check claims about “miracle” medicines, astrological predictions, and other unconfirmed theories.
No-Code Day
This day is dedicated to the development of an approach to creating digital products without writing code. No-code tools make it possible to create websites, mobile applications, automate processes, and databases using visual editors, templates, and ready-made modules.
The spread of such platforms is associated with the growing need for the rapid creation of digital services. They are used by entrepreneurs, marketers, analysts, and other specialists who do not have professional programming training. No-code allows you to reduce development time, test ideas, and automate workflows without complex technical training.
Interesting facts
The idea of creating programs without writing code appeared much earlier than the term no-code itself. As early as the 1980s, some computer programs allowed users to create simple applications through graphical interfaces, where users interacted with menu items and forms instead of text code.
One of the early examples of this approach was database management systems and personal computer application designers in the 1990s, which allowed people to create internal business applications without deep programming knowledge.
The modern no-code movement began to develop actively around the mid-2010s, when platforms appeared that allowed them to create websites, mobile applications, and process automation through visual blocks and logic diagrams.
No-code is often confused with low-code. In low-code systems, some of the functions are created through graphical tools, but more complex features still require writing software code.
In the startup environment, no-code tools are used to create so-called MVPs — minimum viable products. This allows you to test a business idea without large programming costs.
Many large companies use no-code platforms for internal tasks, such as automating application processing, creating internal portals or data accounting systems.
In Ukraine, interest in no-code has grown significantly after the massive transition of business to digital services. Entrepreneurs and marketing specialists often use such tools to create websites, landing pages and automate client processes.
Some modern no-code platforms allow you to create full-fledged mobile applications, which after development can be published in official application stores without writing any programming code.
Historical events on this day
843 — Under the auspices of the Byzantine Empress Theodora II, the holiday “Triumph of Orthodoxy” was proclaimed in Constantinople, which symbolized the final restoration of the veneration of icons in the Christian church after a long period of iconoclasm. This decision ended many years of religious disputes in the Byzantine Empire and consolidated the tradition of icon veneration in Orthodoxy.
1387 — In Italy, the Battle of Castagnaro took place between the armies of Verona and Padua. The victory was won by the forces of Verona under the command of the famous condottiero Giovanni Acuto, which became one of the famous examples of the military art of mercenary commanders of the era of the Italian city-states.
1641 — In South America, the Battle of Mborora took place, during which the Guarani Indians, together with Jesuit missionaries, repulsed the Portuguese slave traders, Bandeirantes. This victory helped stop the mass abduction of the local population for slavery and strengthened the autonomy of missionary settlements.
1669 — One of the most powerful eruptions of the Etna volcano in recorded history began on the island of Sicily. Lava flows destroyed villages, fields, and fortifications for several months, and some of the lava even reached the city walls of Catania.
1702 — The first daily printed newspaper, The Daily Courant, began to be published in London. It consisted of only one page of news and became an important stage in the development of regular journalism.
1811 — The Luddite movement began among textile workers in the British city of Nottingham. Workers, afraid of losing their jobs due to the mechanization of production, began to destroy weaving machines and other factory equipment.
1878 — The phonograph, a device for recording and reproducing sound, was demonstrated to the French Academy of Sciences. Some scientists were skeptical of the invention and even called it a charlatan, although the technology later became the basis of sound recording.
1921 — The government of the Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic decided to buy back from the population objects of art, old books and other cultural values to replenish state museum collections.
1931 — The sale and import of the Bible was banned in the Soviet Union. This decision became part of the government’s large-scale anti-religious policy aimed at restricting the activities of churches and religious communities.
1938 — On the night of March 12, German troops entered the territory of the Austrian Republic. After that, the Anschluss was announced — the annexation of Austria to Nazi Germany, which became one of the important steps on the way to World War II.
1941 — US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Lend-Lease Act, which provided for the transfer of weapons, equipment, food, and strategic raw materials to the Allied powers for the fight against the Axis powers.
1985 — At the plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev was elected General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU. His rise to power later led to large-scale reforms known as perestroika.
1990 — The Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR adopted the Act of Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence at its first meeting. The document declared the republic’s withdrawal from the Soviet Union and began the process of restoring statehood.
1990 — A democratically elected government came to power in Chile, and General Augusto Pinochet resigned as president. This event marked the end of many years of military dictatorship in the country.
1997 — Ukraine and Moldova announced the creation of a customs union, which provided for the coordination of economic policy and the simplification of trade procedures between the two states.
2004 — A large-scale terrorist attack occurred in Madrid at a train station, as a result of which about 200 people died and hundreds were injured. The attack became one of the most tragic events in the modern history of Spain.
2010 — In Australia, the death penalty was finally abolished throughout the country. The corresponding law enshrined the ban on this type of punishment even in the legislation of individual states.
2011 — A powerful Tohoku earthquake with a magnitude of more than 9 occurred off the coast of Japan. The natural disaster caused a devastating tsunami and led to an accident at the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant.
2020 — The World Health Organization officially declared the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus disease a global pandemic, after which many countries introduced travel restrictions, quarantine measures, and other anti-epidemic actions.
