17 | April | 2015 | M'chelsMusings

Friday, the 17th of April, 2015 is the 107th day in 2015 and in the 16th calendar week.

General Events:

World Hemophilia Day
April 17, 2015 in the World

World Hemophilia Day is an international observance held on April 17, 2015 by the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH). It is an awareness day for hemophilia and other bleeding disorders, which also serves to raise funds and attract volunteers for the WFH. It was started in 1989 and is held annually; April 17 was chosen in honor of Frank Schnabel’s birthday. Frank Schnabel established the WFH in 1963.

Haemophilia is a group of hereditary genetic disorders that impair the body’s ability to control blood clotting or coagulation, which is used to stop bleeding when a blood vessel is broken. Haemophilia A is the most common form of the disorder, present in about 1 in 5,000 – 10,000 male births. Haemophilia B occurs in around 1 in about 20,000 – 34,000 male births.

The WFH is an international non-profit organization dedicated to improve the lives of people with hemophilia and other genetic bleeding disorders. It educates hemophiliacs and lobbies for improved medical treatment. 75 percent of people in the world with bleeding disorders do not receive adequate treatment. The WFH has member organizations in 113 countries and official recognition from the World Health Organization.

http://www.wfh.org/en/whd http://www.wfh.org/en/page.aspx?pid=492

Where is the event?
Worldwide

International Bat Appreciation Day
April 17, 2015 in the World

“Often overlooked, or even feared, bats are some of the most diverse, ecologically important and unique mammals on Earth,” stated Rob Mies, director, Organization for Bat Conservation. “Bats are a critical part of our environment. One bat alone can eat up to 5,000 insects in one night!”

insect control alone has been valued at $23 billion a year in savings to the agricultural industry. This reduction in pesticides not only saves costs but also prevents further negative effects on all of us. Bats are pollinators of hundreds of plants, some of which are exclusively pollinated by bats. Anyone who appreciates tequila should thank the Long-nosed bats.

There are nearly 1,300 kinds of bats worldwide, making up roughly a quarter of all mammalian species. Beyond their role in the environment, bats are involved in key industries including tourism, research and technology.

Over the years, bats have inspired advances in technology, particularly related to echolocation and sonar. Research has also led to the development of Draculin, anticoagulant using bat saliva to help stroke victims.

Bats are also dying off from the effects of climate change, the loss of habitat and the increased use of pesticides. Bat conservationists are extremely concerned that these threats combined may lead to the species’ extinction.

http://www.batconservation.org/bat-houses

Where is the event?
Worldwide

National Day of Silence
April 17, 2015 in the USA

The Day of Silence is the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s (GLSEN) annual day of action to protest the bullying and harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students and their supporters. Students take a day-long vow of silence to symbolically represent the silencing of LGBT students and their supporters.

The Day of Silence has been held each year in April since 1996. Created by then-student Maria Pulzetti, the first event was organized by students at the University of Virginia. Pulzetti explained: “I wanted to do something for BGLAD week that would impact many people at the school and that would be very visible…I knew that if we held panel discussions and events like that, the only people who would come would be the people who already were fairly aware.”[5]

In 2000 Gilliam, Chloe Palenchar, and GLSEN National Student Organizer Chris Tuttle developed the proposal for the day to become an official project of GLSEN. GLSEN developed its first-ever “student leadership team” as part of the Day of Silence.

http://www.dayofsilence.org/

Where is the event?
Nationwide USA

Evacuation Day in Syria
April 17, 2015 in Syria

Evacuation Day in Syria is celebrated on April 17, 2015. Evacuation Day (also called Independence Day) is Syria’s national day commemorating the evacuation of the last French soldier and Syria’s proclamation of full independence and the end of the French mandate of Syria on April 17, 1946.

Where is Evacuation Day in Syria?
Nationwide Syria

Historical Events on 17th April:

1397 – Geoffrey Chaucer tells the Canterbury Tales for the first time at the court of Richard II. Chaucer scholars have also identified this date (in 1387) as when the book’s pilgrimage to Canterbury starts.

1492 – Christopher Columbus signs contract with Spain to find Indies

1524 – Giovanni Verrazano, a Florentine navigator, discovers New York Bay

1797 – Sir Ralph Abercromby attacks San Juan, Puerto Rico in what would be one of the largest invasions to Spanish territories in America

1824 – Russia abandons all North American claims south of 54° 40’N

1875 – Snooker invented by Sir Neville Chamberlain

1924 – Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures & Louis B Mayer Co merged to form MGM

1930 – DuPont scientist Elmer K. Bolton invents neoprene using Julius Nieuwland’s divinyl acetylene

1932 – Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia ends slavery

1937 – Cartoon characters Daffy Duck, Elmer J Fudd & Petunia Pig, debut

1946 – Syria declares independence from French administration

1961 – 1,400 Cuban exiles land in Bay of Pigs in a doomed attempt to overthrow Castro

1969 – People’s Democracy activist Bernadette Devlin becomes the youngest woman Member of Parliament ever elected to Westminster at 21 years old