International Men’s
Day was first promoted by former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev
and was supported by the United Nations in Vienna. The day has been
celebrated since 1999 in various countries on different Dates. In 2007
the Indian Men and Fathers Movement
began a campaign to build consensus for the celebration of International
Men’s Day on November 19th. Australian men are encouraging other
nations to join with them on November 19th in celebrating the contribution
men make to those around them, their family and friends, their workplace
and the community, nations and the world.
For Australia the 19th November is a very significant day as it marks
the sinking of the HMAS Sydney in the Second World War. The day commemorates
the largest loss of life in battle on any one day in the second World
War, with the death of 645 men off the coast of Western Australia. That
is why the theme for this year’s celebrations in Australia is
“honour and sacrifice”. Men in times of war are routinely
called upon to make that sacrifice, whereas women do it if they happen
to feel like it.
The ability to sacrifice your needs on behalf of others is fundamental
to manhood, as is honour. Men make sacrifices everyday in their place
of work, in their role as husbands and fathers, for their families,
for their friends, for their communities and for their nation. International
Men’s Day is an opportunity for people of goodwill everywhere
to appreciate and celebrate the men in their lives and the contribution
they make to society for the greater good of all.
