Dear World
We have World Hello Day – 21 November 2024
Anyone can participate in World Hello Day simply by greeting 10 people they encounter throughout the day – particularly strangers.
(1, 2)
This demonstrates the importance of personal communication for preserving peace. (1)
HISTORY
1973
World Hello Day was originally created by two University graduates as a direct response to the conflict between Egypt and Israel. They sent letters to world leaders to support the new Holiday and within the first year of their campaign, they had the support of 15 countries. (1,2)
Since then, World Hello Day has been observed by people in 180 countries. People around the world use this day as an opportunity to Express their concern for world peace.
Beginning with a Simple greeting on World Hello Day, their activities send a message to leaders, encouraging them to use Communication rather than force to settle conflicts. In the last 42 years they now have the support of an additional 165 countries. (1, 2)
History of the word “Hello”
1826
“Hello” with a different meaning
Hello as a word was initially used to attract attention and not as a word of greeting, according to the Oxford English Dictionary.
1877
“Hello” on the telephone
The use of Hello as a telephone greeting is credited to Thomas Edison as he expresses his surprise with a misheard ‘Hullo’.
1878
A firm greeting
The 1st published phone book by the District Telephone Company
It included strict “How To” sections and it authoritatively instructed users to begin their phone conversations with a “firm and cheery” Hello.
19th Century
The greeting was a social leveler
It was considered rude and unpolished to talk to anyone without being formally introduced. Hence, the use of “Hello” as a telephone greeting, readily became a social leveler. (2)
World Hello Day Activities
- Greet others enthusiastically
- Learn greetings in different languages
- Call friends from the past (2)
Dictionary
- An expression of greeting used on meeting a person or at the start of a telephone call.
- A call used to attract attention
- An expression of surprise
- An expression used to indicate that the speaker thinks his or her listener is naïve or slow to realise something. (3)
What if we simply greeted those that we encounter throughout our day and not just do it on a designated day?
What if saying Hello was a genuine way to start Connecting with other members of humanity, regardless of if they are our ‘type’ or not?
What if we have no Agenda about trying to make peace to a world that is in chaos and conflict?
What if we made sure we had Eye contact with another when we pass by them even if it is for one tiny moment?
What if we did not become enthusiastic to greet others but were simply being ourselves in that moment?
What if we made it a way of life to always stay connected to others and not just because we want to jump on the Hello day bandwagon for one day?
NOTE
We are told that 200 years ago the word Hello was NOT a greeting but used to get attention.
The author of this website has used this word on many posts to do exactly that – bring attention.
Hello
What is being presented here is very important and it is a Call to bring Attention – nothing more and nothing less.
What we have read tells us that this day has been created to get us communicating around the world and end the War and ‘preserve peace’.
After 79 years, are we aware that the HIGHEST number of countries are currently engaged in conflict since World War II?
And they have become more International with 92 countries involved in conflicts outside their borders. (4)
Hello – this is a wake up call right now !
GPI – The Global Peace Index 2024 (5)
The world is at a crossroads and without a concerted effort, there is a risk of a surge in major conflicts.
The rising number of minor conflicts increases the likelihood of more major conflicts in the future.
2023
$19.1 TRILLION – The global economic impact of violence increased to
$49.6 BILLION – expenditure on peacebuilding and peacekeeping
Most indicators of peacefulness deteriorated over the past 18 years
162,000 conflict related deaths recorded
Militarisation recorded its largest yearly deterioration since the inception of the GPI –
108 countries becoming more militarised.
110 million people are either refugees or internally displaced due to violent conflict.
16 countries now hosting over half a million refugees.
North America increases in violent crime and fear of violence. (4)
Hello
Do we need to wake up and take note of the numbers or are they just a bit too much to comprehend?
$19,100,000,000,000
19.1 trillion dollars is the global impact of violence last year.
Can we really afford to keep going on this trajectory?
$49,600,000,000
What on earth is that money going on, as peace building and peacekeeping are not reducing the Statistics?
What we do know is that most indicators of peacefulness have DETERIORATED over the past 18 years.
WHY are we not questioning this and demanding answers?
We are told we have more Wars with conflict now since World War II.
Where are we going if we have 108 countries becoming more militarised?
Where are we heading with a huge nation having an INCREASE in violent crime and a fear of violence?
Simple Living Global will once again publish their annual End of Year Report Card, which will present even more Statistics confirming the State of our World. There are hundreds of news links and research studies alerting us all to what is actually going on right now in our world.
It IS a BIG Fat HELLO – a Call for Attention.
Dear World
Our Hello conversations need to start Talking about what is going on in our World and brushing it to one side in favour of a better life or ‘it does not affect me or my close ones’ is not the way to go.
Any conflict and any dis-harmony created in this world by any one of us affects ALL of us, even if we would like to think otherwise.
References
(1) (n.d). World Hello Day. Retrieved November 9, 2024 from
https://worldhelloday.org/
(2) (2024). World Hello Day – November 21, 2024. National Today. Retrieved November 9, 2024 from
https://nationaltoday.com/world-hello-day/
(3) (n.d). Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved November 9, 2024 from
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/hello
(4) (2024). Highest Number of Countries Engaged in Conflict Since World War II. Vision of Humanity. Retrieved November 9, 2024 from
https://www.visionofhumanity.org/highest-number-of-countries-engaged-in-conflict-since-world-war-ii/
(5) (2024, June). Global Peace Index 2024: Measuring Peace in a Complex World. Institute for Economics & Peace. Retrieved November 14, 2024 from
https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-web.pdf