What's Happening Today?

World Creativity and Innovation Day. The United Nations designated 21 April as World Creativity and Innovation Day to raise awareness of the role of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human development. Many KIU students have come up with various innovations to make the world a better place to live in. We salute all those individuals on this particular day.

National Tree Planting Day (Kenya). The Kenyans are aware about the environmental situation in their country, that is why they annually participate in tree planting-related events. The tree seedlings are distributed among schools and children plant the trees. This teaches them to protect the environment and how to take care of trees. Very often Kenyans plant coconut and palm trees along the southeast border of their land, that is washed by the Indian Ocean.

Kenyans can also set aside this day to remember the late Prof. Wangari Maathai, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to protect the environment including championing the planting of one million trees in Kenya.

What Happened Today?

1. In 1836, Texas got independence from Mexico. Texans led by Sam Houston defeated the Mexicans at San Jacinto, assuring Texas' independence. The state later joined the USA.

2. In 1960, Brazil inaugurated its new capital, Brasilia, transferring the seat of national government from Rio de Janeiro.

3. In 1989, 100,000 students gathered at Beijing's Tiananmen Square to commemorate Hu Yaobang, the deposed reform-minded leader of the Chinese Communist Party and voice their discontent with China's authoritative communist government. This was the beginning of the mass demonstrations in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, prior to the Chinese Government declaring martial law in May of the same year which led to the June Massacres by Chinese troops killing hundreds of demonstrators and arresting thousands of protesters and other suspected dissidents.

Birthdays

1. 1926 – Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and 15 other Commonwealth realms.

2. 1979 – James McAvoy, Scottish actor.

Sources; Wikipedia, checkiday anyday.com & thepeoplehistory.com

Picture credit: Vogue Australia