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Health & Fitness

Carpė Diem: It's International Women's Day

March is Women's History Month, and today is International Women's Day. Spread the word.

Happy International Women’s Day! Celebrated globally since the early 1900′s to salute women’s advancement, in Europe and other nations, men traditionally give flowers and gifts to their mothers, wives and daughters. In America? Not so much, but there's more going on.

In response to an earlier post at my website heralding March 2013 as the 26th annual Women’s History Month, some commenters noted that they’d never heard of it before. Don’t let this special month, or today, pass you by:

Follow @Women’sDay on Twitter with hashtag #womensday. Like International Women’s Day on Facebook.  Donate. Tell a woman you admire that you appreciate her. And while you’re at it, love yourself, too.

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Across the U.S. (and around the world), special events will be held online and off: conferences, rallies, networking parties, exhibits and more. In Washington, D.C., First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry will present the International Women of Courage Award to nine extraordinary women who’ve shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women’s rights and empowerment.

Unlike other commemorative occasions, International Women’s Day supports a variety of themes linked to a common message. This year, the broad IWD theme “The Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum” is reflected in a variations around the world, including:

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  • the United Nations (“A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women”)
  • Canada (Working Together: Engaging Men to End Violence against Women”)

Of course, many brands, such as DoveIBM and  Google, are also joining the celebration. That's a good thing, too.

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