World Press Freedom Day 3rd May

What is World Press Freedom day?

It dates back to a 1993 resolution from the United Nations.which sought to promote press freedom.

The 3rd of May was chosen to honour the Declaration of Windhoek a statement of press freedom principles put together by African newspaper journalists in 1991.


Why is it necessary? 

The state of press freedom worldwide.2020
The annual ranking from
Reporters without Frontiers ranks 180 countries according to the level of freedom accorded to journalists. This year it recorded growing obstacles for journalists.

Committee to Protect Journalists- has listings of
journalists killed in 2020
Most censored countries
and news on the impact of the virus.

IFEX has reports on censorship of . It is also monitoring the impact of Covid19 on press freedom worldwide

The Media Institute of South Africa monitors media freedoms in Africa

UNESCO
In addition to news and events there are also materials relating to cov-19

World Book Day - some free academic resources on the power of reading.

23rd April is World Book day

Read the UN statement and links to resources it has created for the lockdown period

according to the Reading Agency's most recent survey more people are reading in self isolation

How much do people normally read in the UK?

in 2014 the Book Trusts survey of 1500 adults found

early a fifth (18%) never read physical books, and 71% never read e-books.

How does this compare with elsewhere?

In the USA the Pew Center conducts a regular annual survey on who doesnt read.

27% recorded not reading a book in the last year. Higher figures recorded for poorer and hispanic adults.

On a global scale UNESCO records literacy statistics


However reading does have the power to change lives. in 2018 Demos published a report called a society of readers. which summarised research on a variety of factors including well being and social mobility.

The National Literacy Trust has conducted a number of surveys on the link between reading and positive mental well-being

Children who are the most engaged with literacy are three times more likely to have higher levels of mental wellbeing than children who are the least engaged (39.4% vs 11.8%) The Reading Agency also conducted a 2015 literature review on reading for empowerment and wellbeing

Chocolate some fun and academic links

Just for Easter!

some fun and academic links

How much chocolate do we eat?

According to a 2020 poll of the Uk public by the British Heart foundation in January 2020.
"The average Brit will consume 7,560 chocolate bars, 2,268 slices of chocolate cake and 8,316 chocolate biscuits in a lifetime"

However According to Statista Switzerland was the nation which consumed the most chocolate in 2019
For more scientific studies try the ONS which has a Family food survey . In 2017 it has a graph on expenditure on different types of food it maps purchases by income and region.

The National Diet and Nutrition survey provides details of food intake and calories.


Favourite chocolate bars!

The Heart Foundation survey found Snickers was the favourite brand
Campaign live has revealed the success of its marketing campaigns

It was first made in 1930 and originally marketed as Marathon in the Uk. The manufacturers website archive has some details of changes. this original ad from 1990 (found on youtube) talks about the new change!

Maundy thursday - what happens worldwide?

Today is Maundy Thursday. 

It is the Christian holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter. It commemorates the Washing of the Feet (Maundy)
Maundy is the name of the Christian rite of footwashing,
In the UK special coins are usually distributed by the monarch. The Royal Mint has details on the coins which are the value of the monarch's age! The official Royal Family website has details of the service and some old video clips including one from 1952

What happens in other parts of the world?

In Malta Holy Thursday is known as Ħamis ix-Xirka (Communion Thursday) and there is a tradition of visiting 7 churches. In Germany a special dish is eaten called Gründonnerstagssuppe — a green soup made of spinach, parsley, green onions, cucumber and dill. Green foods specifically are eaten because the word green is associated with grief or weeping.
In Brazil Hooded penitents attend the "Procession of the Torches" during Holy Week in Cidade de Goias, Brazil

World Autism Awareness day - why is it important?

This week charities are calling for awareness of Autism 

Autism uk  quotes the figures that "There are around 700,000 people on the autism spectrum in the UK – that's more than 1 in 100"

 however awareness and understanding of autism  is needed because in 2019 Autism UK found that only 16% of autistic adults  were in paid employment

In 2014 research by the LSE found that this  led to a total loss to the UK economy of £32 billion per year in treatment, lost earnings, care and support for children and adults with autism.one of the most costly conditions  impacting the economy. More information on LSE researchonline

This 2019 systematic review also reviewed the evidence that informal caregivers suffered poorer mental health and stigma

other children's charities in different countries have done studies which shows higher evidence of bullying linked with autism

To locate high quality research  try the National Autistic Society Its library catalogue indexes books, reports and journal articles. It also provides free access to Autism update its listing of items added toi the Library catalogue recently.