On March 18, the World Day of Social Work, the World Recycling Day and the Day of the Goddess of Fertility — Aphrodite are celebrated. Also, this day absorbed a number of important historical events that in different years changed the course of history of different peoples and entire continents.
International Day of Social Work
This professional holiday was founded by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and was first celebrated in 2007. Its goal is to draw public attention to the important and often invisible work of social workers who help people overcome life’s difficulties every day.
Social work is an activity aimed at supporting the most vulnerable categories of the population. Social workers help the elderly, people with disabilities, orphans, migrants, homeless people, and those who find themselves in difficult life circumstances. They not only solve household or legal issues, but also help restore faith in oneself, find one’s place in society.
Every year, this day is held under a new slogan, which reflects the main challenges for the social sphere and the emphasis in the work of specialists. Topics can relate to human rights, tackling inequality, the environment, child protection or mental health support.
In modern conditions, social work is gaining even more importance. Growing social tensions, military conflicts, economic instability all make the work of social services critical to maintaining social balance and helping those most in need.
Interesting facts
The profession of a social worker is considered one of the most emotionally exhausting, but at the same time the most humane in the world.
In many countries, social services are the first to face the consequences of crisis situations, from natural disasters to wars.
According to UN estimates, more than 3 billion people in the world need social support from time to time.
Every year, about a hundred countries of the world take part in actions for the World Day of Social Work – these are exhibitions, conferences, charitable initiatives and flash mobs.
The motto of 2024 was “A shared future through social action”, and in 2025 a theme related to the recovery of communities after crises is expected.
Social work is officially taught in more than 130 countries of the world as a separate specialty with many years of training.
The world’s oldest school of social work was founded in the USA in 1898.
World Recycling Day
This day was launched in 2018 on the initiative of the Global Recycling Foundation (Global Recycling Foundation) to draw the world’s attention to the importance of recycling waste to preserve the planet’s resources and protect the environment. The main idea of this day is a reminder that waste can be not just garbage, but a valuable resource. In today’s world, recycling has become one of the key areas of sustainable development, because natural resources are being depleted, and the amount of garbage is growing at a crazy pace. Paper, plastic, metal, glass, electronics — all this can get a second life, saving energy, water and resources.
An important focus of World Recycling Day is that recycling is recognized as the seventh most important resource alongside water, air, oil, natural gas, coal and minerals. It changes the way you look at garbage and makes you look at familiar things in a new way.
Every year, as part of this day, educational campaigns, eco-forums, cleaning of territories, competitions and projects are held in different countries, which teach people to sort waste and be responsible for consumption. More and more cities are introducing separate garbage collection systems, encouraging businesses to make ecological decisions, and consumers to make informed choices.
Interesting facts
According to UN estimates, humanity generates more than 2 billion tons of household waste every year, and only about 20% of it is officially recycled.
Recycling one ton of paper saves about 17 trees and saves 26,000 liters of water.
Aluminum cans can be recycled an infinite number of times, and their re-production requires 95% less energy than making them from ore.
Plastic remains the most problematic for recycling in the world: only about 9% of all plastic waste is actually recycled.
In Japan, more than 95% of aluminum cans and more than 80% of paper are recycled – the country is one of the world leaders in this field.
In 2023, the main theme of the World Recycling Day was dedicated to innovations in the field of “green” technologies and the circular economy.
The day of the goddess of fertility – Aphrodite
In ancient Greek mythology, Aphrodite is one of the most revered goddesses of Olympus, the embodiment of beauty, love, affection and fertility. She was the patroness of all living things, the personification of creation and procreation. It was to her that people made sacrifices with the hope of a rich harvest, happy marriages and the birth of children.
Holidays in honor of Aphrodite were held at different times of the year, depending on the region and local traditions. The most famous were the Aphrodisias, solemn rites and celebrations held in honor of the goddess. During these holidays, gifts were brought – flowers, incense, fruits, wine and honey, which symbolized fertility and prosperity.
Aphrodite in Greek mythology had not only divine beauty, but also a special power – she could influence human hearts, awaken love and desire, give life and wealth. According to legend, Aphrodite was born from sea foam, which symbolized her inseparable connection with nature, water, land and fertility.
Aphrodite was depicted as a young, beautiful woman, often among flowers, doves or near the sea. In ancient Greece, she was revered not only as the goddess of beauty, but primarily as the one who gives life and blesses the land for harvest.
Interesting facts
Aphrodite was often identified with other fertility goddesses of different cultures – Roman Venus, Phoenician Astarte, Eastern Ishtar.
In the ancient cities of Cyprus, where the cult of Aphrodite originated, she was revered as the main patroness of the harvest and procreation.
According to legends, spring and the first flowering in nature is the time of Aphrodite, when all living things blossom.
In ancient rituals, goddesses sacrificed doves, a symbol of purity, love and peace.
Aphrodite was also considered the patroness of gardens and vineyards, and her holidays often coincided with the beginning of agricultural work.
Historical events on this day
1241 year — a bloody battle takes place near Khmelnyk, near Krakow, in which the Polish army is defeated by the Golden Horde army. The victory of the Mongol-Tatars opens the way for them to further conquer Central Europe and becomes another evidence of the strength and cruelty of this conquering campaign.
1325 year — Tenochtitlan is founded on the site of modern Mexico City, a city destined to become the heart and capital of the mighty Aztec Empire. Built on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco, the city eventually became the political, religious and economic center of Mesoamerica.
1662 year — the first public transport appears in Paris — a large carriage designed for eight passengers. This is how the history of public transport in Europe begins, which will later become an integral part of the life of cities.
1839 year — the Chinese emperor decides to ban foreign trading companies from importing opium into China. This move becomes the starting point for the First Opium War with Great Britain, which sought to control the lucrative drug trade.
1892 year — The Governor General of Canada, Lord Stanley Preston, announces the creation of a trophy for the country’s best hockey team. Later, this trophy will become known throughout the world as the Stanley Cup – the main award of the National Hockey League.
1899 year – American astronomer William Henry Pickering discovers a new satellite of Saturn – Phoebe. Its discovery expands mankind’s knowledge of the solar system and emphasizes the greatness of the cosmos.
1890 year — Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany forces Chancellor Otto von Bismarck to resign. Thus ends the era of the “iron chancellor”, who united Germany and made it one of the most influential states in Europe.
1913 year — in Lviv they create a military society “Sichovi streltsi”. This organization will later become the basis of the formation of the Ukrainian Sich riflemen, a military formation that plays an important role in the struggle for Ukraine’s independence.
1913 year — in the Greek city of Thessaloniki, King George I is killed. This attempt on the ruler becomes a serious shock for Greece and an echo of the political instability of that time.
1932 year — the famous Harbor Bridge is opened in Sydney Bay. At the time of its opening, it becomes not only the main transport artery of the city, but also the widest bridge in the world – almost 49 meters wide.
1946 year — the World Bank, an international financial organization, begins to work in the US capital, which from that time will become one of the main tools of economic influence at the global level.
1962 year — the Evian Agreements are concluded between France and Algeria. According to these agreements, Algeria receives its long-awaited independence, and France ends a long colonial war.
1974 year — The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) ends the oil embargo against the USA, Europe and Japan. This decision marks the end of the first major oil crisis, which changed the economic policy of many countries.
1992 year — Microsoft presents the Windows 3.1 operating system, which opens a new era in the development of personal computers and graphical interfaces, making computers more accessible to the general public.
1992 year — the Parliament of Finland supports the decision on the country’s accession to the European Union, thereby determining the future direction of the country’s foreign policy and economic development.
1994 year — representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia sign the federal agreement in Washington. This agreement is an important step towards ending the bloody conflict in the Balkans.
2004 year — The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopts the Civil Procedure Code, which becomes a basic document in the sphere of justice and protection of civil rights in Ukraine.
2014 year — The Russian Federation annexes the Ukrainian Crimea, which becomes one of the loudest violations of international law in the 21st century and the beginning of a new escalation in the post-Soviet space.
2015 year — in the capital of Tunisia, armed militants attack the Bardo National Museum. This terrorist attack takes dozens of human lives and becomes one of the most tragic events in the history of Tunisia.
2022 year — fierce battles begin for the Azovstal plant in Mariupol. This confrontation becomes a symbol of the courage and indomitability of Ukrainian defenders during the full-scale war of Russia against Ukraine.
For the first time, the public defender was introduced to the court process
On March 18, 1963, one of the key events in the history of human rights protection in the criminal process took place in the USA. In Gideon v. Wainwright, the Supreme Court of the United States made a fateful decision: if a criminal defendant cannot afford a private attorney, he must be granted a public defender.
The essence of the case was that Clarence Gideon, accused of burglary, could not afford a lawyer and had to defend himself in court. He was sentenced to five years in prison. However, Gideon appealed to the Supreme Court, citing a violation of his constitutional rights. The court recognized that everyone, regardless of their financial status, has the right to legal protection, and required all state governments to provide free counsel to criminal defendants.
With this decision, the Supreme Court significantly expanded the Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the US Constitution. The Fifth Amendment guarantees due process, protection against double punishment for the same crime, the right not to testify against oneself, and other fundamental rights. The Sixth Amendment enshrines the accused’s right to a jury trial and qualified legal assistance.
The consequences of this precedent were felt immediately: in Florida alone, about two thousand prisoners were released after reviewing their cases. But the significance of this decision went far beyond the United States. It influenced the legal systems of many countries around the world, finally enshrining the principle according to which every detained or accused person has the right to a lawyer. And if he cannot pay for a lawyer, the state is obliged to provide him with free legal aid.
This principle, which is now the norm for all civilized countries, has deep historical roots. Back in the days of Ancient Rome, there was a concept of pro bono publico — “for the public good.” That was the name given to free legal aid for those who needed it. Even today, the right to defense is a fundamental component of a fair trial and one of the main indicators of the level of democracy and human rights in the state.
The world’s first human spacewalk
On March 18, 1965, an event took place that forever entered the history of mankind – the world’s first human spacewalk. This was accomplished by the Soviet cosmonaut Oleksiy Leonov during the flight of the Voskhod-2 ship, commanded by Pavlo Belyaev.
At 11:34:51, Leonov left the ship through a special flexible airlock chamber and found himself in airless outer space. It was at this moment that Pavlo Belyaev transmitted a historic message to Earth: “Man has entered outer space! Man went into outer space! Free-floating!” For the first time, humanity saw how a person broke away from a ship and found himself alone with the boundless space.
In total, Leonov spent 23 minutes and 41 seconds in space. However, the official count included 12 minutes and 9 seconds — the time from the appearance of the cosmonaut from the airlock chamber to his return. During these minutes, he managed to move away from the ship to a distance of up to five meters, perform the planned observations and experiments, and the very process of exit and return was broadcast to Earth thanks to the on-board television system. His work in outer space was watched by millions of television viewers.
However, returning to the lock chamber turned out to be no less difficult than the exit itself. In the vacuum, Leonov’s space suit swelled and significantly increased in size, due to which the cosmonaut had to literally squeeze back into the ship. There was almost no time to think, but despite the danger, he managed to return.
The flight lasted 1 day and 2 hours. However, according to Leonov himself, seven emergency situations occurred during the mission, three or four of which directly threatened the lives of the crew. Despite this, the crew successfully completed the flight program.
It returned to Earth on March 19 at 12:02:17. The transmitter of the launcher transmitted a signal in Morse code “VN, VN…” – “Everything is fine.” However, in reality, the landing turned out to be extremely difficult: the device landed in a snowy taiga 200 kilometers from Perm, far from populated areas. The cosmonauts spent two days in the forest until rescuers found them. This case of two nights in the taiga was later recognized as a serious failure of the search service.
This breakthrough of humanity into outer space was a huge achievement of its time. It is interesting that only two and a half months after Leonov’s flight, the American astronaut Edward White made a similar spacewalk, but Oleksii Leonov remained the first forever.
