World Book Night

World Book Night on April 23 is a celebration of reading and books. 

Avid readers in the UK, Ireland, Germany and the USA are taking part, and thousands of books will be given away to spread the written word to local groups and communities.

Use the hashtag  #worldbooknight to connect on Twitter. 

http://www.worldbooknight.org

Super Moon

On 5 May, the moon will be full at the same time as it passes relatively close the earth, making it appear exceptionally bright as a result. Astronomers call this a perigee or Super Moon, in this case the largest and closest appearance until 2014, probably about a third brighter than average.

Extreme tides are likely around this time as a result of the proximity of the moon to earth.

Earth Hour 2012

Earth Hour is a world-wide initiative to raise awareness about the environment and climate change by switching off lights for an hour in the evening. This year, Earth Hour is on Saturday, March 31 and starts at 20:30 (8:30pm) local time.

Even astronauts on the Space Station will be doing their part, watching to see if there is any  noticeable change in the amount of light from earth visible from space. Astronaut André Kuipers will be taking photos and videos from space.

Earth Hour first started in 2007 as single-city initiative in Sydney, Australia,  and has now grown into a global movement to save energy and help the environment. Earth Hour 2011 was the world’s largest event so far with people, businesses and governments in 135 countries joining in, and organisers hope that up to 1.8 billion people will take part this year.

Orchid Show

Rare and exotic orchids from around the world on display at the Royal Horticultural Society Orchid Show, Horticultural Halls, Victoria, London.

International Women's Day

International Women's Day 2012 is celebrated with events around the world to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.

Organisations, governments, charities and women's groups choose different themes each year that reflect global and local gender issues.

"Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures" is the 2012 theme of the internationalwomensday.com website.

The United Nations declares 2012 theme is “Empower Rural Women – End Hunger and Poverty”.

The European Parliament's 2012 theme is "Equal pay for work of equal value".


internationalwomensday.com

Leap Year

2012 is a leap year and Wednesday 29th February is a leap day.

Once every four years, an extra day is added to the Gregorian Calendar to bring the solar year of 365 ¼ days into line with the calendar year of 365 days.

Traditionally, this is the one day of the year when a woman can ask a man to marry her.
One quaint old custom has it that if a man refuses a proposal, he must buy the woman a dress. Anyone adding to their wardrobe today?

Pink sky at night

Pin stripes of sky pink
Promise a fine tomorrow:
Is spring in the air?