Monday, April 19, 2010

ANZAC Day

To most Australians, ANZAC Day is a very special day in the year. They celebrate it on 25 April each year. The letters stand for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

On ANZAC day, we show our thanks to the people who have fought for our country and did their best to keep it safe and protect us. These soldiers are called Diggers. The mothers and widows of ANZACs killed in the war received a medal. A star was added to the medal for each son or daughter killed .

On this special day we wave the Australian flag to show how proud we are. Also we lay flowers and wreaths at the bottom of a war memorial as a way of saying that we have remembered these brave people .

We shouldn't forget these brave people

Lest we forget

Friday, March 12, 2010

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

International Women's Day has been observed in the early 1900's , a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies .



Great unrest and critical debate was occuring amongst women . Women's oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change . Then in 1908 , 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours , better pay and voting rights .



In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America , the first National Women's Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February . Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last sunday of February until 1913 .



In 1910 , a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen . A women named Clara Zetkin ( Leader of the " Women's Office " for the Social Democratic Party in Germany )tabled the idea of an International Women's Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands . The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries , representing unions , socialist parties , working women's clubs , and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament , greeted Zetkin's suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women's Day was the result .



Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911 , International Women's Day (NSW) was honoured the first time in Austria , Denmark , Germany and Switzerland on 19 March . More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work , vote , be trained , to hold public office and end discrimination . However , less than a week later on 25 March , the tragic "Triangle Fire " in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women , most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants . This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labour legislation in the United States that became a focus of subsequent International Women's Day events. 1911 also saw women's "Bread and Roses" campaign .



On the eve of World War 1 campaigning for peace , Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last sunday of February 1913 . In 1913 following discussions , International Women's Day was transferred to 8 March and this day has remained the global date for International Women's Day ever since . In 1914 further women across Europe held rallies to campaign against the war and to express women's solidarity .



On the last sunday of February in 1917 , Russian women began a strike for " bread and peace " in response to the death over 2 million Russian soldiers in war . Opposed by political leaders the women continued to strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote . The date the women's strike commenced was sunday 23 February on the Julian calender then in use in Russia . This day on the Gregorian calender in use elsewhere was 8 March .



Since its birth in the socialist movement , International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike . For decades , IWD has grown from strength to strength annually . For many years , the United Nations has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts for Women's rights and participation in social , political and economic processes . 1975 was designated as "International Women's Day " by the United Nations . Women's organisations and governments around the world have also observed IWD annually on 8 March by holding large-scale events that honour women's advancement and while diligently reminding of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life .



IWD is now an official holiday in China , Armenia , Russia , Azerbaijan , Belarus , Bulgaria.... The tradition sees men honouring their mothers , wives , girlfriends , colleagues , etc with flowers and small gifts . In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother's Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers .



Annually on 8 March , thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achivements . A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies , business conference , government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets , theatric performances , fashion parades and more .



Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones . For example , on 8 March search engine and media giant Google some years even changes its logo on its global search pages . Year on year IWD is certainly increasing in status . The United States even designates the whole month of March as " Women's History Month ".



So make a difference , think globally and act locally. Make everyday International Women's Day . Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright , equal , safe and rewarding .

Monday, February 22, 2010

The TAFE library

The TAFE library is in building B . It opens at 9:00 am . In it , you can find all what you are searching for :''books , kits which include exercise's books , audio tapes and story books etc... Only TAFE students can borrow from it by using their TAFE card.


Joinging the library is very useful to improve your skills because it offers you so many things.

First of all , you can borrow up to 10 items . You can borrow 6 print items which include books and magasines for 2 weeks and 4 audio visual items which include CDs , audio cassettes and video tapes for 1 week . Even though , you can return books after_hours just by putting them in the chute . Also , you can renew the borrowing time just by ringing up the library .

You can also make photocopies or print from one of the library computers just by using your TAFE card and it costs only 20 cents . In addition , the TAFE library offers you a half price discount on everything for 1 year just by being member of the Student Association . It costs only 20$ per year .

That is not all they have , so many other services are provided . For example , they can help you in assignments , finding books or information...



For all these reasons , I see that is a good idea to join the TAFE library.

Monday, February 15, 2010

who i am?



My name is Pascale Aoun . I am 20 years old . I have 2 sisters and 1 brother . My brother lives here in Australia and I am so happy with this . I learned English in Lebanon for 1 year and a half . In 2009 , I got married to a lovely and handsome Lebaneese boy . After 8 nmonths I got the visa . I have been living in Australia from just 2 months and I am going to live here forever . I am so happy here , however I miss my family and all my friends in Lebanon . I hope 2 see them soon.