Task 15a - Harmony Day

Task 15a - Harmony Day (Research)

There are a few things to cover regarding Harmony Day before the company can organize the event. To understand the basis of this, a few questions integral to this topic were researched and the findings are explored and defined in this blog.

1. What is Harmony Day? 

• Harmony Day is an Australian Government program that centers on the message that “Everyone belongs”, reinforcing the importance of inclusiveness to all Australians. Since 1999, thousands of Harmony Day events have been staged in childcare centers, schools, community groups, churches, businesses and federal, state and local government agencies across Australia.
• The day was introduced by the Howard Government to promote a singular and unifying notion of Australian-ness within multicultural policy. In 1998, Australian Prime Minister John Howard commissioned Eureka Research to begin an anti-racism study to "explore and understand the subtleties and nature of racism in the Australia of the late 1990s with a view to mounting an effective mass media and/or education anti-racism campaign". Among the conclusions of the study were that there was a need for an anti-racism campaign and a promotion of 'living in harmony'.
• Harmony Day, which is observed each year on March 21, celebrates diversity, aiming to foster inclusiveness, respect and the idea that people of all different cultures can make a valuable contribution to society. We all have something interesting and authentic to bring to the table.
• Harmony Day is a celebration of our cultural diversity – a day of cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home.

2. What is the "message “of Harmony Day? 

• The message of Harmony Day is social cohesion and racial harmony, and it is expressed through community participation, inclusiveness, celebrating diversity, respect and belonging.

3. What is the official colour for the day? 

• Harmony day is an important day because it gives Australians an opportunity to celebrate their successes as a culturally diverse society. Orange is the official Harmony Day colour and many people wear orange clothes or ribbons.

4. What does the colour stand for / why was this colour chosen? 

• Orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Week. Traditionally, orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect.
• The colour orange is taken as a symbol of a change in attitude from racism and discrimination to understanding, peace and harmony

5. What other important International day shares the day with Harmony day? What connection do these days have with each other?

• March 21 is Australia's Harmony Day, which celebrates the country's cultural diversity. It coincides with the United Nations' International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
• International day aims to remind people of racial discrimination’s negative consequences. It also encourages people to remember their obligation and determination to combat racial discrimination. Harmony day on the other hand promotes racial harmony and follows the same motto as international day; the aim to combat racial discrimination amongst the Australian diaspora