Thread:61Storm/@comment-29709319-20190401001525/@comment-29709319-20190601013429

National Themes For June 1: World Reef Awareness Day, National Olive Day, National Heimlich Maneuver Day, National Go Barefoot Day, National Nail Polish Day, National Say Something Nice Day, National Penpal Day, National Hazelnut Cake Day, National Black Bear Day, National Bubbly Day, National Prairie Day, and National Trails Day.

🐡World Reef Awareness Day is a call to action for consumers, businesses, and organizations to reflect on the delicate ecosystem of our ocean’s coral reefs. The day brings together the general public, influencers and opinion leaders to create active change through education and engagement. Coral reefs are living communities of colonial organism made of individual polyps that excrete a bone-like skeleton. This skeleton forms large rock-like structures that are homes for thousands of organisms. The health of a reef tells us a lot about the health of an ocean. Many fish and ocean animals rely on the protection of the healthy, living reef for spawning season. The reef provides more than protection; it also supplies a rich, thriving food chain. From plankton and algae to the largest sea creatures, the reef ecosystem is a significant life support system. The benefits of a healthy reef ecosystem go far beyond the ocean: ✨essential to the plant and fish-life, ✨contribute to a lively fishing industry, ✨protect beaches and coastlines from erosion, ✨acts as the oceans filter, ✨provide life-saving medicines and ✨possibly the one animal on the planet capable of consuming plastic. In recent years, our most productive reefs have been in decline due to coral bleaching. For example, the Great Barrier Reef decreased by 40 percent. It’s even worse along the Florida Keys and Caribbean, where decline is between 85 to 99 percent! According to Dr. Craig Downs, Executive Director of Haereticus Environmental Lab, about 90 percent of the reefs in the Caribbean have disappeared since 1980. What causes coral reefs to die off?✨Rising sea temperatures, ✨Industrial pollution, plastic pollution, sewage, ✨Chemical sunscreens and ✨Unmanaged, high-density tourism all threaten coral reefs. One easy step we can take to protect these precious resources is by wearing non-nano zinc oxide sunscreen. According to Dr. Craig Downs,”When ingredients are uncoated and nano-size (less than 100 nanometers in diameter), they can enter the cells of invertebrates and fish and cause tissue damage, stressing all these marine organisms. Your best bet is to go for non-nano zinc oxide larger than 150 nanometers. At that point, the acute toxicity drops off, and the impact to ecosystems is mitigated”. Raw Elements founded World Reef Awareness Day on June 1st to inform the world about the importance of our reefs and how we can protect them. Raw Elements USA®, a certified-natural sunscreen company that has pioneered the reef-safe movement with their non-nano zinc oxide based sunscreens, founded World Reef Awareness Day on June 1st in support of its focus on sustainability, responsibility, and education. The day was created to inform the world about the importance of our reefs and how we can protect them. World Reef Day is the largest educational activity Raw Elements has carried out to date, and is in line with their active awareness campaigns which include partnerships Aqua-Aston Hospitality, Hawaiian Airlines, Marriott and the Shore Hotel, their sponsorship of grassroots efforts of nonprofits and environmental groups, support of the Safe Sunscreen Coalition, as well as support for research and lobbying for the Sunscreen Ban Bill in Hawaii (which was signed into law in July 2018).

🍸National Olive Day! The olive is one of the world’s oldest fruits, it is part of a traditional meze/tapas culinary experience that brings families and friends around the table to share time together rather than in a kitchen. The olive branch is a symbol of peace, hope, love and friendship. Olives are used in many ways. We find them in cocktails and loaves of bread. We eat them whole as snacks, use them as toppings, include them on relish trays and even use them as a garnish for many foods. They are one of the most versatile foods we eat.

🎗National Heimlich Maneuver Day! Using abdominal thrusts to force air from the lungs to expel an object on which someone is choking is called the Heimlich Maneuver. Dr. Henry J. Heimlich created this life-saving procedure in 1974. The Heimlich Maneuver is also referred to as “Abdominal Thrusts”. Certified instructors teach the Heimlich Procedure, and these courses are available across the country. According to the American Red Cross “choking causes over 3,000 deaths per year.” Having the proper training and knowledge may help to save someone’s life.

👢National Go Barefoot Day! This day is an opportunity to kick off your shoes and run barefoot through the cool grass! More importantly, it is a day to help support a charity that provides millions of underprivileged children all around the world with shoes. National Go Barefoot Day was created by the people at Soles4Souls. The holiday got its start after the Tsunami disaster in 2004 to support those affected by the event. However, donations have continued to come in and over 19 million pairs of shoes have been donated worldwide since 2005.

💅National Nail Polish Day provides us with every shade under the sun to get us primed for summer! From the French manicure to elaborate nail art, nail polish has come a long way since the bees’ wax and gum Arabic used by the Chinese around 3,000 B.C. National Nail Polish Day celebrates these durable lacquers and gels that last longer and provide variety. No longer the status symbol it once was, nail color now changes with the seasons, our styles and our moods. There is a shade or hue for every occasion. Vibrant reds, turquoise and plum make summer nails shine during beach parties and weekend barbecues. The understated style of pale pinks and beiges or a subtle moss help us look workweek chic. For those elegant evenings or when we want to make a statement, nail polish adds gold, silver and sparkle to even the most economic wardrobe. essie founded National Nail Polish Day on June 1 to celebrate the beginning of the nail-care season when everyone will be showing off their freshly painted nails! essie is the nail polish authority both at salons and in mass retailers. Essie is a nail polish brand.

🗣National Say Something Nice Day! The purpose of this holiday is to counteract bullying and the lack of civility and common courtesy that is growing among people in today’s world. Hopefully, the practice of saying something nice today will continue onto all tomorrows. Mayor Keith Summey of North Charleston, South Carolina proclaimed June 1 as Say Something Nice Day in 2006 in recognition of the communication efforts of specialist Dr. Mitch Carnell founder of the day. Carnell is also the author of Say Something Nice: Be a Lifter at Work. The South Baptist Convention and the Charleston-Atlantic Presbytery joined with Carnell to establish the day.

✍️National Pen Pal Day is a way to let your pen pals know how much they mean to you. The day is the perfect day to send special letters and gifts to your pen pals. A pen pal is someone with whom you correspond by writing letters, sharing personal events and many times have never even met. National Pen Pal Day was created by American pen-palist, Rosie Tholl, who has traveled around the world to meet some of her pen pals. She was also the co-coordinator of the Illinois Pen Pal Picnic Reunion and is co-found and co-coordinator for Pen Pals United.

🍰National Hazelnut Cake Day! Bake and enjoy one today!

🐻National Black Bear Day recognizes the most commonly found bear in North America. Also known as the American black bear, its scientific name is Ursus americanus. Despite their name, black bears can even come shades of cinnamon, blue/black, blue/grey and in rare instances, white. Found in 40 U.S. states and every Canadian province, the black bear’s enormous range is only beaten by one other four-legged mammal, the whitetail deer. According to North Carolina Black Bear Biologist, Colleen Olfenbuttel, coastal North Carolina has the largest black bears on the planet. The current world record and the previous world record came from North Carolina. She also points out the northeastern part of the state also has the world’s highest black bear densities. In North Carolina black bears have access to high protein crops and enjoy mild winters, which is why they are so many bears and grow to be so enormous there. When a black bear stands on its hind legs, it has the most human-like qualities. They have a prey instead of a predator mentality, so they aren’t interested in eating you or your pets. Because they are omnivores, bears eat plants and animals. They forage for berries, roots, and insects, but will also eat small mammals, fish, and carrion. If a bear has been fed human food, it will also help himself to your picnic leftovers or camping supplies. This is where they have earned a bad reputation, but that’s why we shouldn’t feed the bears!

🥂National Bubbly Day! Bubbly, or sparkling wine, reflects the excitement associated with memorable events. Effervescent bubbles combine with the appealing flavors and aromas ranging from citrus, apple and pear to toasted fruit, spices and nuts. Whether paired with a full meal or light appetizers, these wines satisfy the requirement for an unforgettable celebration. Different areas of the world create their own special brand of bubbly according to strict methods and select grapes which produce a sparkling wine unique to each region. Produced in the rolling hills of Spain, Cava fills a glass with bright citrus and fruit notes. Protected in Spain, this bubbly must meet stringent requirements to earn the name Cava. Using only the “Traditional Method” which requires a second fermentation in the bottle. While many people refer to bubbly as Champagne, to earn the name the wine must be made in the Champagne region of France with certain kinds of grapes and specific method. When celebrating with Champagne, enjoy the crisp flavors of apple or a nutty, sweet finish. Another sparkle on the bubbly scene takes us to Italy and Prosecco. Made primarily from the Glera grape, Prosecco celebrates refreshing floral and fruit notes. Freixenet Cava, known for its iconic black bottle, founded National Bubbly Day to celebrate the wine that makes celebrations extraordinary and worthy of the word! Since 1861 and for five generations, the Ferrer family continues to bring quality bubbly to your celebrations where ever you are in the world.

🌾National Prairie Day! In North America, the prairies are at the heart of the continent. On this day we recognize one of the richest ecosystems on the face of the earth. A wide swath of central North America is comprised of flat grassland running from the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan down to Texas. Prairies are home to a wide variety of wildlife including prairie dogs, prairie chickens, buffalo, bison, elk, deer, rabbits, hawks, and foxes. Diverse native prairie plantings offer year-round food, shelter and nesting grounds for habitats. What took thousands of years to form approximately 170 million acres has been reduced in the last 150 years to 1 percent of habitat. Where once a vast and un-numbered variety of species thrived, the fertile soil now produces bumper crops of wheat, sorghum, flax, rye and oats. The result is the loss of complex established ecosystems that once supported precious native birds, pollinators, insects and other native wildlife—habitat loss contributing to extinctions. What remains is teeming with diverse flora and fauna species, many endangered of becoming extinct, with some still yet to be discovered and identified. Original tracts of undisturbed prairie serve as living ecological and native American cultural research stations. These models of precious ecosystems with genetic resources continue to be studied, their ecological worth and economic benefits yet to be realized. National Prairie Day is an opportunity to educate the public about preservation, conservation, and restoration opportunities as well as the history, wildlife and habitats of the prairie. To understand the prairie is to look beyond what often initially appears simple, to learn about each form of life that thrives within it, to comprehend complex systems we can learn from, to ensure our future. Measurable Interrelated Benefits of Prairie Include: ✨Water Quality and Quantity Protection: 🍃prairie can absorb up to seven inches of rain without runoff, 🍃prairie plants are adapted to drought, like having drought insurance, 🍃watershed protection, 🍃increase water infiltration and water yield, increase water supply by reducing erosion and reservoir sedimentation, 🍃increase water quality due to the lack of fertilizer, pesticide, and herbicide use, 🍃stormwater management prairie acts as a sponge that curbs soil erosion and flooding. ✨Soil Quality and Quantity Protection: 🍂prairie soil microbes can reduce the amount of synthetic chemicals used in agriculture, 🍂root systems of native prairie grasses firmly hold soil in place to prevent soil run-off, 🍂one acre of prairie can store well over one ton of carbon per acre per year, 🍂native prairie plants with roots up to 15 feet deep act as a sponge, absorbing up to seven inches of rain without flooding. ✨Birds, Native Pollinators, and Wildlife Protection: 🎍native bees are found to be 40 times more efficient pollinators than honey bees, 🎍pollinator services for adjacent farms provided by native pollinators, 🎍migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, waterbirds and songbirds, 🎍animals adapted to wide open spaces with few trees. ✨Energy Independence via Biofuels: 🌵prairie biomass can be harvested for renewable energy, creating natural gas. ✨North American Cultural and Natural Heritage Conservation: 🌿primitive skills education, 🌿Native American history, 🌿homesteading. ✨Plant Biodiversity Protection: 🍀management by grazing fire disturbance, 🍀prairie plantings can be considered a form of drought insurance as they are adapted to drought, grazing, and fire, 🍀forbs (native wildflowers) are of particular importance as food sources for native insects and wildlife, 🍀endangered plant species have yet to be studied for their medicinal potential, 🍀natural seed stores and propagation of endangered species.

👢National Trails Day recognizes all the incredible benefits federal, state and local trails provide for recreation and exposure nature. Events held throughout the United States help promote awareness of the wide variety of services the trails systems offer. National Trails Day encourages people to discover their local trials, become active concerning trail issues and share their excitement for the outdoors. While hiking may be the first activity to come to mind, trails offer so much more! Trails provide access to waterways for canoeing and paddle trips. Birders find excellent opportunities for birdwatching and those seeking to test their abilities to observe and study geolocation enjoy geocaching. Others learn land navigation or use the trails for biking. Each of the pursuits creates an opportunity to spend time outdoors and generate an excellent cardiovascular workout. National Trails Day is also an opportunity to thank the many volunteers, land agencies, trail developers, park employees, rangers for their help in developing and maintaining the trails.

I like watching documentaries on the coral reefs. Their such an amazing delicate ecosystem. No olives or bubbly please but I will take a slice of that hazelnut cake. I thought the Heimlich Maneuver had been around long than 1974. I go barefoot inside as long as my feet are not cold but I do not go outside barefoot. I can't believe all the colors and various textures nail polish comes in now days and all the designs they do with it, it's amazing. All of you are my pen pals. I try being nice every day. I would love to see a real black bear not just a picture of one. Not up nose to nose but a nice safe distance in a bear proof vehicle, well I want to be able to get away. I'll save the prairie and trails for state days.

The Mittens was one of the pics I cut but the Three Sisters I never saw. Definitely adding that one to the list.

MD, will be back in your area before long got any excellent suggestions?

Warm hugs!💕🐶🐶🌤