World Day for Cultural Diversity
- Guest Correspondent Essay: In Clash of Civilizations or Meeting of the Minds? Zeeshan Suhail provides an inside look into the recent Alliance of Civilizations Youth Forum
- Slideshow:
Culture and Development - Photo Gallery: Singing to Spread Awareness
- UNFPA State of the World Population Report 2008. Reaching Common Ground: Culture, Gender and Human Rights
- UNFPA Youth Report. Generation of Change: Young People and Culture
- UNESCO. The organization's work related to culture and development
- United Nations—Alliance of Civilizations Youth. A project to promote cross-cultural relations among diverse nations and communities
- UNDP Human Development Report 2004. Cultural Liberty in Today's Diverse World
May 21, 2009—May 21 is the World Day for Cultural Diversity, for Dialogue and Development. The day was created by UNESCO to help deepen our understanding of the value of cultural diversity and to foster greater tolerance and peace.
Culture can certainly play a very positive role in development. According to UNESCO:
"Development is not synonymous with economic growth alone. It is a means to achieve a more satisfactory intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual existence. As such, development is inseparable from culture."
Culture's impact on development can also be negative, though. Certain age-old traditions can violate human rights and impede social development.
Your Turn—Share Your Culture on Youthink!
How do you see culture playing a role in your country's development? What's your favorite thing about your country's culture? How do young people see culture differently than older people in your country?
Send Youthink! your photos, essays, or simply a comment or two.
Selected submissions will be published on Youthink! so you can share your culture with the Youthink! community.
For more information on the powerful role culture plays in our lives, check out the Learn More links.^ top