Happy Monday 👋

Did you know that around 16% of the human population has a disability that significantly affects their daily lives?

Disparities in healthcare are disproportionately affecting these individuals, leading to shorter lifespans and increased risk of developing detrimental health conditions… 

So, today, I’d like to share an event with you that raises awareness of the needs of the disabled community and promotes acceptance!

Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:

• Promoting disability inclusion ♿
• Creating a more sustainable farming industry without fertilizers 🌱
• How London Fashion Week is becoming more sustainable 👗
• And more… 💚

♿ Event of the Month: International Day of Acceptance

👉 Did you know that January 20 is International Day of Acceptance? This event was founded to promote inclusion for all people with disabilities and empower individuals with disabilities to share their experiences and self-advocate. 

1️⃣ The big picture: The roots of International Day of Acceptance can be traced back to the ideals of Annie Hopkins – the founder of 3E Love. She dedicated her life to spreading awareness of the importance of understanding and accepting diversity. The symbol of 3E Love consists of a wheelchair shaped like a heart to capture the essence of recognizing the value of every person and accepting people with disabilities. Unfortunately, Annie passed away on January 20, 2009, due to unexpected complications during a simple medical procedure. Her brother, Stevie Hopkins, founded the International Day of Acceptance shortly after her death to carry on her legacy and pay tribute to her life. Today, this awareness event promotes the participation of individuals and organizations to advocate for the inclusion and acceptance of people with disabilities.

2️⃣ Why is this important: Around the world, an estimated 1.3 billion people are living with a significant disability, defined as “a long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairment which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”. Having a disability is associated with twice the risk of developing other health conditions such as diabetes, depression, stroke asthma, and obesity. As a result, people with disabilities die on average 20 years younger than the general population. Furthermore, many of the poor health outcomes experienced by people with disabilities are caused by health inequalities driven by factors such as discrimination and unfair health system practices. 

3️⃣ How can you get involved: You can get involved in International Day of Acceptance by joining or hosting an event to raise awareness of the challenges faced by people with disabilities. Alternatively, you can spread awareness on your social media channels or, if you run a business, you can consider encouraging your employees to wear a symbol of acceptance on the day of the event or even invite a guest speaker with a disability to share their experiences and perspectives.

You can also consider donating to one or more charities that are providing support and advocating for people with disabilities:

• 9 Best Charities That Support People With Disabilities 
• 9 Best Charities That Support Neurodivergent People
• 9 Best Charities for Diversity and Inclusion
• 9 Best Charities for Disabled Adults
• 9 Best Charities for Disabled Children
• 9 Best Charities That Support Disabled Veterans

If you are looking for inspiration, you can find a wide range of charitable causes to support in our charity support blog.

📢 Three Good News

🌱 Researchers discover a biological mechanism to enhance the nutrient uptake of plants without the use of excessive fertilizer:

• A team of researchers at John Innes Center has discovered a mutation in a gene in the legume Medicago truncatula that modifies the signaling capacity of plants to enhance the mutual partnership with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi that supply the roots with phosphorus. 
• Currently, the production of most major crops requires nitrate and phosphate fertilizers which can be harmful for the environment. 
• According to the study, by utilizing natural mutual relationships between plant roots and soil microbes to enhance nutrient uptake, farmers could potentially reduce the use of potentially harmful inorganic fertilizers. 

🔌 US announces nearly $23 billion in loans to improve sustainable energy infrastructure:

• The US Energy Department’s loan office has announced $22.92 billion in conditional financing for energy utilities across 12 states. 
• The recipients of the financing include two utility subsidiaries of Detroit, Michigan-based DTE Energy Company, which received $8.8 billion to fund pipeline replacements to reduce gas leaks as well as the installation of renewable energy.
• The program guarantees loans to projects that replace energy infrastructure that has stopped operating or enables reductions in emissions causing global warming.

👗 London Fashion Week introduces new brand sustainability requirements:

• The British Fashion Council, in charge of London Fashion Week, is collaborating with Copenhagen Fashion Week to improve sustainability actions across the Nordic and British fashion markets.
• The fashion industry is currently responsible for around 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. The industry is also the second-largest consumer of water and more than 80% of textiles end up in landfills every year. 
• As part of the collaboration, the British Fashion Council will roll out a Sustainability Requirements Framework developed by Copenhagen Fashion Week in partnership with the development program NewGen and sponsored by Pull&Bear. 

🤝 Three More Important Awareness Events

🧑‍🏫 January 20, Elementary School Teacher Day:

• Children’s elementary school years are a pivotal time, shaping their minds and setting them up for personal and academic success.
• On this day, we recognize the significant responsibility placed on elementary school teachers and show appreciation for their dedication and hard work.

🫱🏾‍🫲 January 20, Martin Luther King Jr. Day:

• This US Federal holiday commemorates the life and contributions of influential civil-rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 
• It is a time to celebrate his achievements while also reflecting on the work still to be done for racial equality. 

⚡ January 20-26, Energy Saving Week:

• Energy Saving Week is an awareness event dedicated to conserving energy and making others aware of the best ways to cut down on their usage.
• The event particularly focuses on raising public awareness of making homes more energy efficient and getting the best deal from your energy supplier to save not just money, but also our natural planet. 

Related: You can discover all the 47 most important awareness events (for the month, days, weeks) in our awareness calendar for January 2025!

📜 These Days in History

🖤 January 20, 2009: Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the US, becoming the first African American to hold the office. 

🏀 January 20, 1892: The first official game of basketball was played in Springfield, Massachusetts, by YMCA students of the game’s inventor, James A. Naismith.

🏝️ January 20, 1778: British explorer James Cook became the first European to visit Hawaii after he landed at Waimea on Kauai island. 

💭 Quote of the Day

“If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.”

Barack Obama, former American president

Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society together!

Stay impactful 💚