International Men’s Day is November 19
WORLDWIDE OBSERVANCE OF INTERNATIONAL MEN’S DAY, THURSDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2009 BY MEN AND FATHERS, MEN’S GROUPS, FATHERHOOD ORGANIZATIONS, AND FATHERHOOD PRACTITIONERS.
AUSTRALIA – 6 NOVEMBER 2009 — Men and Fathers, Men’s Groups, Fatherhood Practitioners, and Fatherhood organizations throughout our global village will observe International Men’s Day on Thursday, 19 November 2009. Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Australia, India, United States, Singapore, United Kingdom, Malta, South Africa, Georgia, New Zealand, Moldova, Germany, Holland and Brazil are a sample of the nations around the globe that are planning activities on International Men’s Day 2009 which will honor the selfless sacrifices of men and celebrate men’s invaluable contributions to families, communities, and society.
International Men’s Day is a call for international collaboration to address the challenges and problems men face; improving gender relations between men and women; promoting gender equality; highlighting positive male role models – not just movie stars and athletes – but “everyday working class men who are living decent, honest lives”; and creating a safer and better world. Dr Jerome Teelucksingh, a University of West Indies History Lecturer, conceived and coordinated the first celebration of International Men’s Day in Trinidad and Tobago on 19 November 1999. Dr. Teelucksingh selected 19 November 1999 as the date for celebrating International Men’s Day because it coincided with his father’s birthday, whom he felt was an excellent male role model, and also because it was the day in which the football team in his country created a level of unity which crossed gender, religious and ethnic divisions.
When asked to comment on International Men’s Day, Dr Teelucksingh, the founder, said: “I realized there was no day for men… some have said that there is Father’s Day, but what about young boys, teenagers and men who are not fathers? The theme for the worldwide observance of International Men’s Day 2009 is ‘Positive Male Role Models’. The theme for the 2010 worldwide observation of International Men’s Day will be ‘Unity’.”
Uma Challa is the International Men’s Day Coordinator for India. She stated: “The inseparability of the male and female entities in the Universe is represented by Ardhanareeswara, who embodies both male & female in Indian culture. This representation indicates that while both the female and male forms have their own individual identities and strengths, they are still interdependent and complementary and, it is only by combining their individual strengths that they are able to create and nurture life in the Universe. International Women’s Day is celebrated the world over every year. We also need to have a celebration every year to recognize and honor men; our fathers, brothers, partners, sons, male friends and colleagues; for the numerous services they render and the innumerable sacrifices they make to ensure the health and well-being of the family and the society.”
Warwick Marsh from Australia’s Dads4Kids and the Global Coordinator for International Men’s Day shared his thoughts about the 19 November 2009 worldwide celebration of Men’s Day: “It is my hope that International Men’s Day will be the catalyst for men, Men’s Groups, Fatherhood Practitioners, fatherhood organizations, women, social entrepreneurs, church leaders, health care professionals and providers, legal professionals, legislators, law enforcement professionals, social services professionals and providers, educators, academic and religious institutions, and businesses to begin working together in the spirit of collaboration and with a ‘sense of oneness’ to create, share, and implement key ‘pieces of the puzzle’ to resolving the critical state of affairs of men’s health and to create resources and support services that effectively address the unique health and fathering needs of men. Every idea is important. Every voice must be heard. Together we can make a difference.”
Jason Thompson from Australia and the Global Promotions Coordinator for International Men’s Day made the following comment: “International Men’s Day is a day to celebrate all positive examples of men and boys, those people we can look up to and ultimately emulate such as school prefects, academic achievers, political leaders, champions of the environment, and those more humble males who on a daily basis clean our streets, build our houses, fix our cars, police our streets, care for children, and dedicate themselves to others. Blogs, forums and resources are found on the internationalmensday.com website, available for your use. Please download logos and posters for your event. I would like to take this opportunity to ask individuals and organizations who have an event planned or are in the process of planning an event for International Men’s Day to contact me with the details so that we can publicize your efforts. I can be reached by email at: hippolytus_101@yahoo.com.au ”
Diane A Sears, the International Men’s Day Coordinator for the United States of America offered the following statement about the 19 November 2009 worldwide observance of International Men’s Day: “I share Warwick Marsh’s sentiment that we all have key ‘pieces of the puzzle’ to addressing and resolving the unique parenting and health issues of Men from all Walks of Life throughout our global village. We must work together as a team. International Men’s Day provides us with a great opportunity ‘to begin to work together in a ‘spirit of collaboration’ and a ‘sense of oneness’ . . . to share our ideas, form strategic alliances, and create and implement resources and support services that will strengthen fathers from all walks of life throughout our global village. Strong fathers create and sustain efficiently functioning family units. Efficiently functioning family units positively shape the minds and souls of our children – our future – our bridge to the future. After all, isn’t it really about our children?”
For more information about the observance of International Men’s Day on 19 November 2009, visit International Men’s Day website at www.InternationalMensday.com.
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Stumble It!
This article incorrectly stated that the 1st International Men’s Day was observed in 1999. Actually the 1st such observation was held in Kansas City in 1994. Several months ago, Jason Thompson, a founder of the current effort asked me for the history of the gathering, which I sent him together with documentation. Evidently, the promoters of the current effort aren’t interested in what went before them. That has been a continuing mindset that has cursed our “movement” and rendered it ineffective for decades.
Richard Doyle is correct. Jason has listed full credits to the Kansas City International Mens Day start up in February 1994 on the Wikipeadia site. INternational mens day goes back even further than 1994.
Calls for an International Men’s Day have been noted since at least the 1960’s when it was reported that “Many men have been agitating privately to make Feb 23 International Men’s Day, the equivalent of March 8, which is International Women’s day”[10] In the early 1990’s organizations in Kansas USA[11], Europe[12] and Australia[13] held small events under the inspiration and invitation of Professor Thomas Oaster who directed the Missouri Center for Men’s Studies at the University of Missouri Kansas.[14] Oaster successfully organized these events in 1994, but his following attempt in 1995 was poorly attended and he ceased plans to continue the event in subsequent years.[15] Whilst the Australians also ceased to observe the event again until November 19 2003, only the Maltese Association for Men’s Rights[16] continued to observe the event each year in February. As the only remaining country still observing the earlier celebration, the Maltese AMR Committee voted in 2009 to shift the date of thier observation to November 19 in synchrony with all other countries celebrating on a single date.[17]
Although what we can say with confidence is that the November 19 observance of International Mens Day which has know taken off world wide thanks in particul;ar to our brothers in India was started by Jerome Teeelucksingh in Trinidad in 1999. It is so important to recognise those who have gone before. We all stand on each others shoulders and we must all work together to support on another. Thank you Richard for your comments and setting the record straight.
Richard,
I’m surprised you didnt bother to take the time or make an effort to read the webpages better. The web resources on IMD clearly say that “Citizens in Trinidad and Tobago were the first to observe IMD on the 19th November, 1999″ and “International Men’s Day began on November 19th 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago”. This is indeed correct. The failed Kansas event you refer to was celebrated in a different year 1994-95, and a different month (February).
Moreover, the Kansas event is clearly mentioned on the Wikipedia website in the IMD entry, and also on the global IMD webpages (for instance see here: http://www.internationalmensday.com/international/malta and here: http://www.internationalmensday.com/international/australia )
I hasten to add that the Kansas event only lasted 2 years. Whilst the single remaining country Malta did continue to celebrate IMD, they shifted the date of thier celebration to November 19 in line with the Caribbean initiated tradition).
To say that current promoters have no interest in what went before is also rediculous. While myself and others may be interested in the history of that (eventually) failed Kansas attempt, it is enough to simply mention it in passing and then focus on the current living tradition of IMD.
Further, I am not the “founder” of the current effort. Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh of Trinidad and Tobago is the founder. My interest, while enthusiastic is as a cheerleader of the event only.
I recommend you read up about it a little more thorougly.
Cheers
Jason Thompson
Support international men’s day Global Website dedicated to extending celebrate IMD
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