March 8 – International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. Yet progress has slowed in many places across the world, so global action is needed to accelerate gender parity.
International Women’s Day (IWD) has been observed since 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. International Women’s Day is a collective day of global celebration and a call for gender parity. No one government, NGO, charity, corporation, academic institution, women’s network or media hub is solely responsible for International Women’s Day. Many organizations declare an annual IWD theme that supports their specific agenda or cause, and some of these are adopted more widely with relevance than others.
Sailing.Org – About International Women’s Day (8 March) – The sport of sailing is a typically a male dominated sport so seeing women wanting to be involved and succeeding at a high level is not only inspiring but also overdue.
Australia is one place which is leading the way in finding ways to increase the participation of women in sailing. In October 2012, Yachting Victoria (State Sporting Association for sailing in state of Victoria) formalised a committee named Women and Girls in Sailing. Its purpose continues to increase the participation of females in the sport.
Sources
Sailing.Org
InternationalWomensDay.Com
* Noteworthy
1702 – Queen Anne, the younger sister of Mary II, becomes Queen regnant of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
1775 – An anonymous writer, thought by some to be Thomas Paine, publishes “African Slavery in America”, the first article in the American colonies calling for the emancipation of slaves and the abolition of slavery.
1817 – The New York Stock Exchange is founded.
1862 – American Civil War: The Naval Battle of Hampton Roads begins.
1910 – French aviator Raymonde de Laroche becomes the first woman to receive a pilot’s license.
1917 – International Women’s Day protests in St. Petersburg mark the beginning of the February Revolution (February 23rd in the Julian calendar).
1957 – Egypt re-opens the Suez Canal after the Suez Crisis.
1971 – The Fight of the Century between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali commences. Frazier wins in 15 rounds via unanimous decision.
1974 – Charles de Gaulle Airport opens in Paris, France.