WORLD EVENTS in July

July 1 – Second Half of the Year Day. This is your chance to evaluate your year so far with your goals and objectives, as your New Year’s resolutions probably evaporated months ago. It’s a great opportunity to do some hard thinking (that’s ‘thinking’ not ‘drinking’) over your finances, your diet, your career and other aspects of your life that you might want to improve. Remember, it’s your current energy that determines your future.

July 2 – I Forgot Day. This day encourages people to apologise and make up for all the events and occasions they might have forgotten. Acknowledge your mistake and do something nice for those whose birthdays and anniversaries you missed.

July 5 – Compliment Your Mirror Day. Many people suffer silently from depression or lack of self-esteem. It’s easy to focus on the negatives in our life and ignore the many positive aspects. However, complimenting our mirrors isn’t just about how we look. We can do our best to look after our health and bodies, but they will always be the ones that we were dealt by our parents’ genes. If only my dad was George Clooney and not Grouch Marx. Anyway, it’s about acknowledging our inner strength and our inner beauty and remembering that your best friend is looking right back at you.

July 8 – International Chocolate Day. There appears to be four or five of these days scattered throughout the year which is fair enough. So, just indulge yourself with anything composed of chocolate.

July 11 – World Population Day. The population of the world did not reach 1 billion people until 1804. It reached 2 billion in 1927, 3 billion in 1960, 4 billion in 1974, 5 billion in 1987, 6 billion in 1999 and 7 billion in 2008. It is projected that we will reach 8 billion in 2024 and the population will continue to increase at a rate of 1.1% each year. Logic dictates that at some stage we will run out of food, water, habitable space and car parking at the MCG. Something has to give. This day is organised each year to remind us of this fact. July 12 should be Universal Depression Day.

July 12 – Teddy Bear’s Picnic Day. This is simply a day for parents to encourage creativity among their children by taking them out for a whimsical picnic with their teddy bears and other stuffed toys. However, be wary of any bananas in pyjamas that you see hanging about.

July 13 – Embrace Your Inner Geek Day. Geek: a usually intelligent person who is unfashionable or socially awkward. The word geek is a slang term originally used to describe eccentric or non-mainstream people. In current use, the word typically describes an enthusiast who is obsessed with a hobby or intellectual pursuit and can speak fluently on it for hours, boring everybody in the immediate vicinity. I’m not sure how this differs from a nerd. Anyway, we all have some secret hobby or obsession, so today you have carte blanche to bore all of your friends and workmates by describing it in complete and utterly painstaking detail.

July 14 – Bastille Day. This day marks the storming of the Bastille in Paris in 1789 which triggered the French Revolution. Although it eventually became a reign of terror, the initial declaration of freedom, equality and brotherhood is still pertinent in today’s world where our governing elite still believe that some people are more equal than others and are trying to legislate to make it so.

July 15 – World Youth Skills Day This is another United Nations initiative to generate greater awareness of the importance of technical and vocational training. The intent is to reduce unemployment among the youth across the globe. When I was young, this was phrased as, ‘Get a haircut and get a real job.’

July 18 – Nelson Mandela International Day. This is another United Nations Day and is in recognition of Nelson Mandela’s contribution to the culture of peace and freedom. For 67 years Nelson Mandela devoted his life to the service of humanity, as a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, an international peacemaker and the first democratically elected president of a free South Africa. You are asked (yes, you, no don’t look around, I’m talking to you), to devote 67 minutes of your time to helping others. That’s not asking too much is it?

July 20 – Space Exploration Day. There is a connection with World Population Day. As our population continues to expand, the overflow will need to go somewhere. Eventually, we will need to colonise other worlds and export our wonderful human culture to the rest of the universe. We will therefore need to continue exploring space and searching for human compatible planets. You can celebrate this day by organising a star gazing party. Be sure to rug up.

July 22 – Pi Approximation Day. This is a fun mathematical day to celebrate Pi. Why July 22 I hear you ask? Pi, which is the ratio of any circle’s circumference to its diameter, corresponds to the fraction 22/7. Do you get it now? Pi Day has been observed in many ways, including eating a pie, throwing pies, and discussing the significance of the number 22/7. Perhaps the Hot Bread shop could bake a special Pi pie to commemorate this.

July 27 – Take Your Pants for a Walk Day. Studies have shown that walking at a medium to fast pace regularly can have tremendous mental and physical health benefits. Walking not only helps burn calories but can also boost a person's mood and can help treat depression. It also reduces the risk of a variety of health problems including obesity, diabetes, and heart diseases. Here’s a tip for the unwary – try and wear your pants rather than just have them with you. It will avoid unnecessary court appearances.

July 30 – International Day of Friendship. Friendship Day was originally promoted by Joyce Hall, the founder of Hallmark cards in 1930, intended to be a day when people celebrated their friendships by sending cards. Perhaps I’m just a cynic but I sense an ulterior motive here. Besides, true friends don’t need to send a card; texts are much easier and far cheaper.

- John Kriesfeld