Increased concern of human beings about the environment in the few last decades has encouraged several organizations to fight and plan events in order to spread awareness about environment pollution and its consequences in life conditions and moreover in weather settings.
The Founding of World Meteorological Organization
Although, many people would believe that these concerns are from recent dates, one of the most important organizations related to this topic – The World Meteorological Organization – was founded in 1873 as the International Meteorological Organization during the International Meteorological Convention in Vienna. However, it was not ratified until 1950 by the WMO Convention on March 23th by the United Nations. A year later the organization had become the specialised agency for the UN for meteorology, operational hydrology and geophysical sciences. This organization was established with the purpose of instituting big meteorological stations networks to contribute towards the safety and efficiency of the shipping services as well as safety and welfare of people. Working worldwide on an international level, the WMO has worked continuously for the growth and development of the meteorological and operational hydrological research activities without boundaries limiting its scope of action.
Establishment of World Meteorological Day
Due to the importance of the main theme of the organization, the United Nations established March 23th as the World Meteorological Day to remember the fact of the official recognition of the WMO. This celebration has been officially celebrated for the first time in 1961 with different topics as main themes every single year since that first event.
Celebrating World Meteorological Day
In 2018, the theme taken as a principal topic is Understanding Clouds, with the event being based in Uganda. Many different activities are organised for the occasion, among them are several scientific and technical forums, conferences, exhibitions, symposiums, and debates related to the main subject.
Although, the celebration varies its location every single year; the day is feted worldwide with activities similar to those taken place in the principal location. In India, essay and composition competitions are held related to the World Meteorological Day. Also, in the headquarters of WMO, located in Geneva, discussions are held about its scope through history and the implementation of future events to mark this day among people who still have no clue about it.
Furthermore, many countries print postage stamps or special postage stamp cancellation to celebrate this day. Several awards are presented on this day to people and organizations involved in the Meteorological field. Among the prizes included in the celebration are: the International Meteorological Organization Prize, Professor Dr. Vilho Väisälä and the Nobert Gerbier-Mumm International Awards.
Since the environmental and nature concern has been growing into international level, the prominence of this celebration has been taken into consideration more and more among several countries; even though there are some big developed countries which deny the importance of this organization in recent years.
Besides the negative concern from very few countries, the WMO is established to continue generate possible solutions and plans to make the world a better place.
