BROADCASTS.com

Published: July 12, 2014, 4:01 a.m.

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Hello and welcome to Holiday a Day, your daily dose of Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world.

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I am your host Jeffrey Johnson

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On July 12th 2014 we celebrate

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Independence Day for Independent and Sovereign Republic of Kiribati

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In 1979 Kiribati gained it\'s independence from Great Britain. An island nation in the south pacific straddling the equator it is also the furthest east of all the countries as it is next to the International Date line. \\xa0Actually prior to 1995 it straddled the IDL so that government offices could only work with other offices 4 days a week since it was the weekend in the eastern most part when the western part was Friday.

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Happy Independence Day Kiribati!

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We also celebrate

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Independence Day for the Democratic Republic of S\\xe3o Tom\\xe9 and Pr\\xedncipe

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In 1975 this small island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, near the equator, received it\'s independence from Portugal. It was one of the first African nations to embrace democratic reform in the 1990s. \\xa0Originally uninhabited till their discovery by Portuguese sailors, the islands first became an area to grow sugar and then as a stopping point for the international slave trade. It is now a self ruling nation with the descendants of those who were forced there against their will to work for the landowners now taking ownership of their country.

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Happy Independence Day S\\xe3o Tom\\xe9 and Pr\\xedncipe

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Fun side note, as S\\xe3o Tom\\xe9 and Pr\\xedncipe is in the Gulf of Guinea, which has the Prime Meridian going through it, and it near the equator and Kiribati straddling the equator and at one point the International Date Line, these two countries are almost exactly opposite each other on the globe.

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That is all I have for today but if I have missed anything or if you think I might miss a future holiday let me know at holidayaday@gmail.com or on twitter @holidayaday.

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And remember to have a great day because there is a holiday out there somewhere.

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