Overseas / regional
1989: Tiananmen Square Massacre, Bejing
Today we remember the students who were killed in Tiananmen Square while protesting for democracy. For last year's anniversary, Hong Kong Catholics organised an exhibition so that younger generations may gain insight into what happened. Find our more here. Learn about the iconic image of a lone unarmed man confronting a row of tanks here.… Read More »1989: Tiananmen Square Massacre, Bejing
1945: Blessed Peter To Rot
On this day in 1945 Blessed Peter To Rot was martyred in Papua New Guinea. Find out more about his life here.
World Emoji Day
This day was created by Emojipedia to celebrate the use of emojis. An emoji is a small digital image or icon used to convey an idea or emotion. They are different from emoticons which use characters rather than images, for example the smiley face emoticon is :). Emojis are commonly used in text messages and… Read More »World Emoji Day
Migrant and Refugee Sunday
The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office's kit for Migrant and Refugee Sunday 2021 is now available: https://www.acmro.catholic.org.au/resources/migrant-refugee-kit The theme for this year is, Towards an ever wider 'we'. Migrant and Refugee Sunday is celebrated in Australia on the last Sunday in September. This brings the practice of the Church in Australia into line with… Read More »Migrant and Refugee Sunday
1988: Formation of Burma’s National League for Democracy by Aung San Suu Kyi
The Nobel Prize website explains that Peace Prze Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is "the daughter of the legendary liberation movement leader Aung San. Following studies abroad, she returned home in 1988. From then on, she led the opposition to the military junta that had ruled Burma since 1962. She was one of the founders… Read More »1988: Formation of Burma’s National League for Democracy by Aung San Suu Kyi
1989: Opening of the Berlin Wall
"On November 9, 1989, as the Cold War began to thaw across Eastern Europe, the spokesman for East Berlin’s Communist Party announced a change in his city’s relations with the West. Starting at midnight that day, he said, citizens of the GDR were free to cross the country’s borders. East and West Berliners flocked to… Read More »1989: Opening of the Berlin Wall
1995: Execution of nine Nigerian environmentalists and human rights activists
On this day in 1995, writer and human rights activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa was executed in Nigeria despite worldwide pleas for clemency. The country's military rulers ordered the execution of Mr Saro-Wiwa and eight other dissidents. BBC On This Day
1991: Dili Massacre, Timor-Leste: more than 271 people killed
On November 12, 1991, 271 unarmed and peaceful protesters were massacred by Indonesian troops at Santa Cruz Cemetery in Dili, the capital of Timor Leste. 250 people are still listed as missing. Timorese protesters attended Mass at Motael Church on the morning of the massacre to honour and remember Sebastião Gomes, a fellow protester, who had been killed by the Indonesian military on October 28. The protesters then walked two kilometres in procession to Santa Cruz Cemetery where they were met by an unprovoked assault… Read More »1991: Dili Massacre, Timor-Leste: more than 271 people killed