On Cities for Life Day, which falls annually on November 30, we recognize the right of every human being to live. The day, observed by cities around the world, commemorates the first abolishment of the death penalty. The concept of the abolishment of capital punishment was first mentioned in a 1764 treatise written by Cesare Beccaria, in which he argued against the death penalty as punishment.
First Sunday of Advent
The First Sunday of Advent, the start of a four-week observation beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, takes place on December 3 this year. Derived from the Latin word for arrival — “adventus” — Advent is observed by Christian denominations worldwide to mark the start of the spiritual period of preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth on Christmas Day, and the beginning of a new Christian year.
Great Backyard Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a global event that is celebrated for four days in February each year. This year, the GBBC is from February 18 to 22. It is a free, enjoyable, and easy event that engages bird watchers from all walks of life in counting birds to create a real-time picture of bird populations. There are around 10,000 different species of birds worldwide. They range from big to small and monochrome to multiple colors, and can be found in every corner of the earth, including Antarctica.