Month: August 2022

The Cannes Film Festival

This prestigious international film festival is held annually in Cannes, France. It takes place at the Palais des Festivals, and its most illustrious award is the Palme d’Or—meaning “Golden Palm”—for the best film. First held in 1946, the festival marked a resurgence for the film industry, which had been shattered by World War II, and became a meeting place for those interested in the art and influence of the movies. Why wasn’t the festival held in either 1948 or 1950? Discuss

Día de San Lorenzo

St. Lawrence of Rome (San Lorenzo) was a deacon under Pope Sixtus II in the third century. His feast day is August 10. As the patron saint of Zinacantán, Chiapas State, Mexico, San Lorenzo is honored with a five-day festival that takes place August 8-11 each year. The highlight is a procession, interrupted periodically by a dance performed by the Capitanes. Each dancer holds one foot out in front while hopping on the other foot for a time, then they shift so that the opposite foot is held out. Thousands attend the festival, which includes a huge open market and a fireworks display. Discuss

Herbert Hoover (1874)

Hoover rose to fame for his relief efforts during and after World War I, which included arranging the return of Americans stranded abroad and securing supplies for civilians of war-devastated Europe. Elected US president in 1928, his administration was dominated by the economic depression that followed the 1929 stock market crash. Believing the economy would regenerate spontaneously, he was reluctant to extend federal activities. What event spurred Hoover to order federal troops to the capital? Discuss

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a technique used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is thousands of years old and involves inserting fine metal needles into the skin at specially designated points along the 14 lines, or meridians, of the human body. Today, it is widely used in China in the treatment of headaches, ulcers, arthritis, and hypertension. It is also used as an anesthetic during childbirth and some types of surgery. To diagnose a patient, which body part does an acupuncturist examine? Discuss

Richard Nixon Resigns as US President (1974)

In June 1972, five burglars were arrested after breaking into the Democratic Party’s national headquarters at the Watergate Hotel complex in Washington, DC. The motive for the break-in remains unknown. Richard Nixon and his aides denied involvement in the scandal, but their cover-up unraveled, and Nixon resigned in order to avoid facing impeachment. His successor, Gerald Ford, issued him a pardon for any crimes he may have committed as president. What was the “Saturday Night Massacre”? Discuss

National Women's Day (South Africa)

On August 9, 1956, a protest march was held at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa. Approximately 20,000 women participated in a peaceful march to protest against policies that restricted the rights of African women. Every year on August 9, people gather at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront Amphitheatre in Cape Town to celebrate National Women’s Day. This day celebrates the contributions and achievements women have made to society and for women’s rights, and to acknowledge the difficulties and prejudices many women still face. Discuss

Adam von Trott zu Solz (1909)

Von Trott was a German lawyer and diplomat who opposed the Nazi regime and used his position to travel to the UK and US seeking support for the resistance. In order to better monitor Nazi activities and party information, von Trott joined the Nazi party. At the same time, he served as a foreign policy advisor to the Kreisau Circle, a clandestine group of intellectuals that worked to disrupt the Nazi regime. Von Trott was hanged in 1944 after being arrested for attempting to do what? Discuss