World Speech Day

World Speech Day takes place annually on 15 March, celebrating "speeches and speech making through live speaking events across the world". World Speech Day was launched at the Athens Democracy Forum in 2015;{{Cite web|url=https://www.vsotd.com/news/world-speech-day-launch-next-week|title="World Speech Day" to launch next week {{!}} Vital Speeches|website=www.vsotd.com|language=en|access-date=2017-09-22}} the first World Speech Day took place on 15 March 2016,{{cite web | author=Leith, Sam | date=March 14, 2016 | title=World Speech Day: The spoken word brings clarity of thought | website=Financial Times | url=https://www.ft.com/content/ae182e1e-e633-11e5-a09b-1f8b0d268c39 | ref={{sfnref | Financial Times}} | access-date=18 Oct 2017}} with memorable events in Athens,{{Cite web|url=http://politistika-d-ath.sch.gr/autosch/joomla15/index.php/enimeroseis/540-wsd2016|title=World Speech Day - Παγκόσμια ημέρα λόγου – Αθήνα "Σκέψεις για έναν καλύτερο κόσμο"|website=politistika-d-ath.sch.gr|language=el-gr|access-date=2017-09-22}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.acg.edu/web/touchbase-issue36/acg-a-partner-at-world-speech-day-2016/|title=ACG a Partner at World Speech Day 2016 –|website=www.acg.edu|date=2 December 2015 |language=en-US|access-date=2017-09-22}}{{Citation|last=EducationalTVGreece|title=WORLD SPEECH DAY- ATHENS - March 15/2016 (1:00 pm - 3:00 pm)|date=2016-03-15|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3_q9q2uRyk|access-date=2017-09-22}} Singapore,{{Cite web|url=https://weyeclinic.sg/world-speech-day-singapore-x-world-glaucoma-week/|title=World Speech Day Singapore x World Glaucoma Week 2017 {{!}} W Eye Clinic|website=weyeclinic.sg|date=15 March 2017 |access-date=2017-09-22}} Tawau{{cite web |title=First ever World Speech Day in Tawau |url=https://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/the-borneo-post-sabah/20160318/281745563501926 |publisher=The Borneo Post (Sabah) |access-date=23 March 2023 |language=en |date=18 Mar 2016 |via=PressReader}} and Moscow.

At World Speech Day 2017, there were in events in some 80 nations. These ranged from the Parliament Hall in Ulaan Baatar{{Cite web|url=http://mongolia.gogo.mn/r/151776|title=World Speech Day Mongolia on Mar 15|website=mongolia.gogo.mn|language=en|access-date=2017-09-22}} to a school classroom in Palestine, from the Ismaili Centre in Bangladesh{{Cite news|url=https://the.ismaili/world-speech-day|title=World Speech Day|date=2017-07-13|work=the.Ismaili|access-date=2017-09-22|language=en}} to the Oxford Union at Oxford University, from lecture theatres in Ibadan{{Cite news|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/artsbooks/225297-ibadan-prepares-world-speech-day-2017.html|title=Ibadan prepares for World speech Day 2017 - Premium Times Nigeria|date=2017-03-06|work=Premium Times Nigeria|access-date=2017-09-22|language=en-GB}} and Lagos to high schools and colleges across the USA.

Many events are broadcast on livestream TV, via WSD TV.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rings.tv/wsd2016/|title=World Speech Day 2016|website=www.rings.tv|access-date=2017-09-22}}

Anyone can make a speech on World Speech Day and anyone can host an event, by simply joining as a WSD member on the [http://www.worldspeechday.com/ site]. The goal is to reach out to unexpected voices everywhere.

The theme for World Speech Day is “Thoughts for a Better World”: speeches can change the world. Those changes can be in the life of an individual; or local, in the life of a village or community or school or social group; or they can be more ambitious, touching the life of a nation.