The United Nations General Assembly declared 2009 as the International Year of Natural Fibres, as well as the International Year of Astronomy.
The proposal for this international year originated in FAO at a joint meeting of the Intergovernmental Group on Hard Fibres and the Intergovernmental Group on Jute in 2004, and was endorsed by FAO Conference in 2005. It is one of many international observances declared for specific days, months and years.
The IYNF is intended to cover a wide range of natural fibres, of animal and vegetable origin, and with uses ranging from luxurious apparel to traditional and non-traditional industrial uses.
The IYNF is expected to raise the profile of natural fibres. Observance of the Year will be based on cooperation among producers all natural fibres and will emphasise the positive qualities of natural fibres.
Tentatively, the objectives of the International Year of Natural Fibres would be:
- to raise awareness and stimulate demand for natural fibres;
- to encourage appropriate policy responses from governments to the problems faced by natural fibre industries;
- to foster an effective and enduring international partnership among the various natural fibres industries; and
- to promote the efficiency and sustainability of the natural fibres industries.
Famous quotes containing the words year, natural and/or fibres:
“look the spangles
that sleep all the year in a dark box
dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,
the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,
put up your little arms
and i’ll give them all to you to hold”
—E.E. (Edward Estlin)
“Self-esteem creates natural highs. Knowing that you’re lovable helps you to love more. Knowing that you’re important helps you to make a difference to to others. Knowing that you are capable empowers you to create more. Knowing that you’re valuable and that you have a special place in the universe is a serene spiritual joy in itself.”
—Louise Hart (20th century)
“Our woods are sylvan, and their inhabitants woodmen and rustics; that is selvaggia, and the inhabitants are salvages. A civilized man, using the word in the ordinary sense, with his ideas and associations, must at length pine there, like a cultivated plant, which clasps its fibres about a crude and undissolved mass of peat.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)