September 1 is defined as Knowledge Day, World Alzheimer’s Awareness Day, and World Letter Writing Day.
On September 1, 2001, a new Criminal Code entered into force in Ukraine, replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment.
Knowledge Day
Knowledge Day is celebrated on September 1 in many countries of the world. This holiday marks the beginning of a new academic year, especially in schools and universities. Officially, the Day of Knowledge was established in 1980 in the Soviet Union, but the tradition of celebrating the beginning of the school year existed long before that. The choice of September 1 was due to the need to have a fixed date for the start of classes in schools after the summer vacation, when children returned to school. It is the day when schoolchildren, students and teachers meet after the summer, starting a new academic year. Knowledge Day also symbolizes the importance of education, science and continuous development.
Interesting facts
In many countries, the Day of Knowledge is accompanied by ceremonial processions where pupils and students meet their teachers and professors. In Ukraine, for example, this day is often called the “Holiday of the first bell”.
Usually, first graders come to school for the first time at a formal ceremony where they are welcomed by older students, parents and teachers. This creates a symbolic connection between generations of students.
The idea of celebrating the beginning of the school year dates back to the Middle Ages, when schooling began after the harvest and harvest.
World Alzheimer’s Awareness Day
World Alzheimer’s Day is celebrated to raise awareness of dementia, its effects and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. This holiday was founded in 1994 on the initiative of the International Alzheimer’s Association (ADI) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Interesting facts
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior. It was first described by the German doctor Alois Alzheimer in 1906.
The symbol of the disease is a purple ribbon, which is used to raise awareness and support research into the disease.
Numerous events and campaigns are organized around the world to support patients and their families, as well as to raise funds for Alzheimer’s research.
World Letter Writing Day
World Letter Writing Day encourages people to write a letter or postcard to loved ones, friends or even strangers. This day reminds us of the importance of handwritten letters as a means of personal communication and cultural heritage. The holiday arose from the initiative of public organizations and individual enthusiasts who sought to bring back the fashion for traditional correspondence. Modern technologies have significantly reduced the volume of traditional correspondence, and this holiday is designed to remind of its importance as a cultural phenomenon that has the ability to preserve emotions and memory.
Interesting facts
Letter writing is one of the oldest forms of communication that has a thousand-year history. The first letters were written on clay tablets in Mesopotamia around 2000 BC.
In the 19th and 20th century, correspondence was extremely popular, and many people spent hours writing letters. Letters were an important means of communication, exchange of news and feelings.
Today, in the age of digital technologies, writing handwritten letters has become a rarity. However, this day is a reminder of the value and warmth of personal communication.
Historical events on this day
1804 year — German astronomer Karl Ludwig Harding discovered the third known asteroid Juno, which became a significant discovery in the field of astronomy. Juno is a main belt asteroid, which at the time of its discovery was only the third known asteroid after Ceres and Pallas.
1819 year — Ivan Kotlyarevsky’s play “Natalka Poltavka” was performed on the stage of the Poltava Theater for the first time. This event became an important milestone in the history of Ukrainian drama, because “Natalka Poltavka” became the first Ukrainian comedy play, which is still popular.
1859 year — independently of each other, astronomers Richard Carrington and Richard Hodgson observed powerful flares on the Sun. This discovery was the first known scientific confirmation of solar activity, and today these flares are known as the “Carrington Event”.
1866 year — an important railway line on the Odesa-Balta section with a length of 257 versts (approximately 275 kilometers) was put into operation. The opening of this line contributed to the economic development of the region, as it provided an efficient connection between Odessa and the interior territories of Ukraine.
1898 year — the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI) was opened in Kyiv, which later became one of the leading technical universities of Ukraine. The institute was founded to provide training of engineers and scientists in various fields of technology.
1919 year — due to the tactical mistakes of the command under the leadership of General Anton Kravs, Kyiv was surrendered to the troops of General Bredov, which were part of the White Army of General Denikin. This became one of the tragic pages in the history of the Ukrainian struggle for independence.
1923 year — one of the largest and most destructive earthquakes in Japan took place — the Great Kanto Earthquake. It swept through Tokyo and Yokohama, destroying hundreds of thousands of buildings and killing more than 100,000 people.
1939 year — the German army invaded Poland, which was the beginning of the Second World War in Europe. This conflict lasted six years and became the largest and most destructive war in human history.
1964 year — the first large-format cinema “Ukraine” in Ukraine opened in Kyiv, which became an important event for the development of cinema in the country
1996 year — the national currency, the hryvnia, was officially introduced in Ukraine. This became an important step in the process of economic stabilization of the country after gaining independence
2014 year — during the war in eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian military was forced to leave the Luhansk airport after long and difficult battles with pro-Russian separatists and the Russian military. This became an important event in the context of the war, which continues to affect the situation in Ukraine.
September 1, 2001 a new Criminal Code came into force in Ukraine, replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment. This became an important event in the legal history of Ukraine, because the Criminal Code of the Ukrainian SSR of 1960, which was in effect before that, was no longer used.
The previous Criminal Code provided for the death penalty for 24 different crimes. In particular, these crimes included five types of premeditated murder committed under aggravating circumstances, as well as nineteen war crimes committed during war or in a combat environment.
In 1999 The Constitutional Court of Ukraine found all provisions of the Criminal Code of 1960, which provided for the death penalty, unconstitutional. This decision was justified by several important arguments:
The right to life. The Constitutional Court noted that taking a person’s life through the use of the death penalty by the state, even if it is provided for by law, is a violation of the inalienable right to life. This right is guaranteed by Article 27 of the Constitution of Ukraine, and any form of its cancellation does not comply with constitutional norms.
Constitutional restrictions. The court also indicated that the provision of the Criminal Code of Ukraine regarding the death penalty as a type of punishment is a limitation of the inalienable right to life, which is not provided for by the Constitution of Ukraine. This contradicts Article 64 of the Constitution, which stipulates that human rights and freedoms cannot be restricted unless such restrictions are provided for by the Constitution.
Punishment goals. It was noted that the death penalty does not meet the goals of punishment established in the Criminal Code. Its existence makes it impossible to correct a possible judicial error. In addition, it is not a means that definitely deters crime. This contradicts Articles 1 and 3 of the Constitution of Ukraine, according to which Ukraine is declared a state governed by the rule of law, where a person, his life and health, honor and dignity, inviolability and security are recognized as the highest social value.
The right to dignity. The court also emphasized that the death penalty is incompatible with the human right to dignity. This right is inextricably linked with the right to life. Both of these rights are inalienable and provide the opportunity to realize all other rights and freedoms of a person and a citizen. They cannot be limited or revoked. Therefore, the existence of the death penalty contradicts Article 28 of the Constitution of Ukraine, which states that “no one can be subjected to torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
