One of the highlights of the fourth week of October is the anniversary of Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC), which celebrates 17 years on the 24th. A Brazilian reference in public communication, EBC brings content to Brazilians daily that helps foster the construction of citizenship . These are quality journalistic products, attractions with educational, inclusive, artistic, cultural, informative and scientific purposes, offered through the communication vehicles under its management: TV Brasil, Canal Gov, Agência Brasil, Agência Gov, Radioagência Nacional, Rádio Nacional , Rádio MEC and Canal Educação. EBC’s mission and achievements were highlighted in this special report by Agência Brasilpublished in 2022, on the occasion of the company’s 15th anniversary celebration. 
LGBTQIAPN+ rights
Taking advantage of the fact that the promotion of diversity and defense of human rights is one of EBC’s flagships, let’s talk about an important achievement of the LGBTQIAPN+ community. October 21st was the date on which transsexuality was no longer considered a disease, being excluded from the Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders of the North American Psychiatric Association and the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization (WHO). The topic gained prominence in programs TV Brasillike this October 2017 edition of Estação Plural.
Osteoporosis prevention
Today, October 20th, World Osteoporosis Day is celebrated. Established in 1997, the anniversary draws attention to the disease that develops silently and mainly affects women. The topic was covered in EBC vehicles, such as this 2022 report from National Radio and this other, published in 2023, in Brazil Agencywhich highlighted how late diagnosis in men hinders treatment.
Great Brazilian artists
Filmmaker Walter Hugo Khouri, one of the main exponents of cinema produced in the so-called Boca do Lixo, in São Paulo, was born on October 21st. Khouri has directed films criticizing the moral decadence of high society and existential dramas. His work was analyzed on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of his death, in 2013, in TV Brasil.
On October 22nd, Oswald de Andrade, one of the promoters of the 1922 Modern Art Week, held in São Paulo, passed away. In 2022, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of this iconic event, which forever transformed Brazilian artistic production, the program Art Club, from Rádio Nacional, addressed the importance of the work of the writer, essayist and playwright. The 60th anniversary of his death was also remembered in this edition of History Todayfrom Radioagência Nacional, which aired in 2014.
Singer and composer from São Paulo Walter Franco passed away on October 24th. A member of Vanguarda Paulista and popularly known by the nickname Maldito, Walter was one of the most active and creative composers of the 1970s. On the day of his death, in 2019, the Brazil Agency published this extensive report on his work, which goes from the beginning of his career, composing soundtracks for theater plays, until emerging in the festivals of the time with the songs “Não se burn um som”, “Cabeça” and “Canalha”. The 50th anniversary of the album “Ou não”, one of the most celebrated of his career, was a highlight of the program Vinyl Clubfrom Rádio Nacional, in 2023
Inventions that changed the history of humanity
On October 23rd, Aviator’s Day is celebrated in Brazil, in celebration of what can be considered one of the most important feats ever accomplished by a Brazilian. On this date, in 1906, Alberto Santos Dumont made the first flight in an airplane, piloting the 14 Bis, in Paris. The life and works of the father of aviation were widely explored by EBC vehicles. When the 14 Bis flight completed 115 years, in 2021, this report from Brazil Agency and this other one, from National Radio Agency. Santos Dumont was also honored in this 2017 edition of the program On the Trail of Historyfrom Rádio Nacional.
In addition to the airplane, another watershed invention in history was also created this week in October. Thomas Edison developed the incandescent electric light bulb on the 21st. He was not the first to work on this idea, but his model was the most successful and the first to have commercial reach. The American’s feat was told on the program History Todayfrom Rádio Nacional, in 2014.
To close the week, we cannot fail to mention the creation of the United Nations, on October 24th. The UN began in 1945, bringing together 51 nations. Today it already has 193 member states. The Organization works to maintain security and peace, promote human rights, support economic development and social progress, protect the environment and provide humanitarian aid in cases of famine, natural disasters and armed conflicts. The important role it played was explained in 2018 by Brazil Agency.
Check out the list of Today is Day dates from October 20th to 26th, 2024:
October 2024
20
Death of São Paulo novelist and musical composer Fred Jorge (30 years old) – participated in the Jovem Guarda Movement
Birth of the American philosopher and pedagogue John Dewey (165 years old) – he was recognized as one of the founders of the philosophical school of Pragmatism, a pioneer in functional psychology, and the main representative of the American progressive education movement
Birth of French poet Arthur Rimbaud (170 years old)
Birth of American composer Charles Ives (150 years old) – considered the main composer of the 20th century in the United States
Poet’s Day
Archivist’s Day – celebrated in Brazil to mark the date of founding of the Association of Brazilian Archivists, which was established on October 20, 1971 in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro
World Osteoporosis Day – international celebration that was established in 1996 by the British Osteoporosis Society and which, from 1997, was adopted by the International Osteoporosis Foundation
21
World Day to Fight the Pathologization of Transsexuality – mobile celebration (Saturday between October 17th and 23rd) of the community of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transvestites, Transsexuals, Transgenders and Sympathizers, which is related to the fight for the exclusion of the definition of transsexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, of the North American Psychiatric Association and the WHO International Classification of Diseases
Death of journalist, radio host, poet and writer from Rio de Janeiro Alziro Zarur (45 years old)
Birth of Rio de Janeiro footballer Albino Friaça (100 years old) – scorer of the only Brazilian goal in the 1950 World Cup final, in which Uruguay defeated Brazil 2-1, in Maracanã
Death of the merchant, shipowner, industrialist and banker from Rio Grande do Sul Irineu Evangelista de Sousa, the Viscount of Mauá (135 years old)
Death of French filmmaker François Truffaut (40 years old) – one of the founders of the cinematic movement known as Nouvelle Vague
Death of British writer Jack Kerouac (55 years old) – one of the leaders of the literary movement known as the beat generation
Birth of São Paulo filmmaker Walter Hugo Khouri (95 years old)
Birth of Acre singer and composer Osni Silva (105 years old)
Birth of Rio de Janeiro singer and actress Doris Monteiro (90 years old) – in 1949, she was revealed as a singer on the program “Papel Carbono”, by Renato Murce, on Radio Nacional in Rio de Janeiro
Opening of the Guggenheim Museum in New York (65 years) – architectural project by Frank Lloyd Wright, is a symbol of modernist architecture
Thomas Edison develops the electric light bulb (145 years)
Podcast Day
Religious leader José de Paiva Netto inaugurates the Temple of Good Will (35 years) – ecumenical and democratic space for spirituality, culture, art and history
22
Birth of French actress Sarah Bernhardt (180 years old) – considered by some to be “the most famous actress in history”
Death of writer, essayist and playwright from São Paulo Oswald de Andrade (70 years old) – one of the promoters of the Modern Art Week that took place in 1922 in São Paulo
Death of French classical music composer Nadia Boulanger (45 years old) – renowned music educator. She taught several important composers in the 20th century.
Jean-Paul Sartre refuses Nobel Prize for Literature (60 years old)
National Congress reopens 10 months after the promulgation of AI-5 (55 years)
23
Birth of Taiwanese filmmaker, producer and screenwriter Ang Lee (70 years old) – first person of Asian origin to win the Oscar for Best Director
Birth of journalist, writer, political activist and researcher from Pará Eneida de Moraes (120 years old) – she was the creator of the Pierrot ball in Rio de Janeiro and Belém
Brazilian men’s basketball team wins bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics (60 years)
Brazilian Air Force Day
Aviator’s Day – celebrated by Brazilians, according to Law No. 218 of July 4, 1936 of the then Republic of the United States of Brazil, to mark the date of what is considered, mainly by Brazilians, as the 1st Airplane Flight in the history of aviation world, and which was carried out in the French city of Paris on October 23, 1906 by the Brazilian inventor, Alberto Santos Dumont, as pilot of the “14 BIS”
24
Death of Rio de Janeiro singer and songwriter Adiléia Silva da Rocha, known as Dolores Duran (65 years old)
Death of singer and composer from São Paulo Walter Franco (05 years old) – member of Vanguarda Paulista
Death of Puerto Rican actor Raúl Juliá (30 years old)
Death of the medium, poet, lecturer, short story writer and educator from Rio Grande do Sul Adelaide Augusta Câmara, known as Aura Celeste (80 years old)
American economic crisis known as “The Great Depression” (95 years)
International Development Information Day – celebration established by the 27th session of the UN General Assembly in Resolution A/Res or NRES/3038 of December 19, 1972, with the aim of drawing the attention of global public opinion to development problems and the need to reinforce international cooperation to solve these problems every year
United Nations Day – international celebration that aims to mark the date of entry into force of the “Charter of the United Nations”, which came into force on October 24, 1945, with the ratification of the 5 countries of the United Nations Security Council UN, represented by the United States of America, France, the United Kingdom, the Republic of China (later replaced by the People’s Republic of China), and the then USSR (Socialist Union of Soviet Republics)
The collapse of an illegal landfill caused the death of 14 residents, including 12 children, of the Nova República favela, in Morumbi. An 80-meter-high ravine collapsed and buried 32 of the favela’s 120 shacks (35 years)
Manaus anniversary (355 years)
Creation of the Brazilian Communication Company – EBC, by Decree No. 6,246, of October 24, 2007 (17 years)
25
Anniversary of the Administrative Region of Samambaia – RA XII (30 years)
26
Death of musician Ayres de Andrade (50 years old) – program writer for Rádio MEC
Birth of politician and union leader Evo Morales (65 years old) – president of Bolivia between 2006 and 2019
Birth of the French architect living in Brazil Affonso Eduardo Reidy (115 years old) – considered one of the pioneers in the introduction of modern architecture in the country, being one of the great names in modern urbanism
Intersex Visibility Day
National Fight for the Free Pass Day – celebrated in Brazil to mark the date of entry for voting on a popular initiative bill for the free pass, to be approved on November 4, 2005 in the Chamber of Councilors of the Brazilian city of Florianópolis; seeks to deepen the debate on people’s right to come and go, on urban mobility in large cities and on a new transport model for Brazil, in addition to fighting for public transport outside the private sector, which guarantees universal access through free pass for all layers of the Brazilian population
