Erkan posted news on this UN site
2006 LIST OF '10 STORIES THE WORLD SHOULD HEAR MORE ABOUT'
Concerned that some issues continue not to receive sustained media attention or slip off the radar screen, the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) has unveiled a new list of "Ten Stories the World Should Hear More About."
"The media and the UN share an interest in getting information about what is happening in our world to the public," says Shashi Tharoor, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information. "But journalists are often inundated with stories, all competing for their -- and the public's -- attention. Our aim is to make it easier for them to see that important issues do not fade from the headlines."
The initiative, first launched in 2004, is not meant to be representative of the Organization's agenda. As in previous years, the 2006 list covers a spectrum of issues and geographical regions, some of which draw on troubling humanitarian emergencies and conflict situations (such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nepal) while others focus on such vital areas as human rights (asylum law and child prisoners) and development (Liberia and water as a shared resource).
While the stories are enumerated from one to ten, their ranking is not a reflection of their relative significance. In this year's list, some stories focus on conflicts that may have been in the media spotlight - but highlight a perspective that does not usually get much play. Although DPI takes responsibility for the final list, it was arrived at following extensive consultation with UN departments, field offices and programmes.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
cafebabel.com
I knew I had found a good site, I just didn't realise quite how good and there seems to be so much more to excavate and explore on cafebabel.com
Their 'about' reads like this: Welcome to cafebabel.com, the first multilingual European current affairs magazine, designed for readers across borders. Cafebabel.com revolutionises European media through participatory journalism, providing a unique platform of expression for all citizens.
Café babel’s aim is to stimulate and develop European public opinion through two distinct but closely related missions. The online magazine – cafebabel.com – offers every week analyses of current affairs from a unique, European perspective. Secondly, at grassroots level café babel’s network, actively promotes this perspective through debates, conferences and other events organised in towns and cities across Europe.
Promises are kept when you go wandering and find yourself reading the autumn interviews with TV presenter Nikolina Dimitrova, film director Cédric Klapisch, ex-monk Thich Tri Luc, cultural attaché German Reyes and world federalist Lucio Levi enjoy brunch with café babel this autumn.
Their 'about' reads like this: Welcome to cafebabel.com, the first multilingual European current affairs magazine, designed for readers across borders. Cafebabel.com revolutionises European media through participatory journalism, providing a unique platform of expression for all citizens.
Café babel’s aim is to stimulate and develop European public opinion through two distinct but closely related missions. The online magazine – cafebabel.com – offers every week analyses of current affairs from a unique, European perspective. Secondly, at grassroots level café babel’s network, actively promotes this perspective through debates, conferences and other events organised in towns and cities across Europe.
Promises are kept when you go wandering and find yourself reading the autumn interviews with TV presenter Nikolina Dimitrova, film director Cédric Klapisch, ex-monk Thich Tri Luc, cultural attaché German Reyes and world federalist Lucio Levi enjoy brunch with café babel this autumn.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Mark Inglis, New Zealand Mountaineer
Mark Inglis has fulfilled his lifelong dream. By Derek Cheng and NZPA
Sir Edmund Hillary has joined the Prime Minister in praising the achievement of New Zealand climber Mark Inglis who last night became the first double amputee to conquer Mt Everest.
And Sir Edmund, who first conquered Everest, on May 29, 1953 with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, added his praise.
He told the Sydney Morning Herald it was "quite obviously a remarkable effort to actually climb Mt Everest with a couple of artificial legs".
He added: "And I have to admit that I admire his considerable effort ... he's done a pretty good job."
Mr Inglis' wife Anne confirmed her husband's achievement yesterday as she spoke to him briefly after he stood atop the 8850m mountain.
"He's incredible," Mrs Inglis said. "He's dreamed of this all his life, probably. He's over the moon.
"They didn't expect to be this early, they thought maybe mid to late May, so Mark will be stoked. I imagine they'll be having a few whiskies."
Inglis conquered Everest on two carbon-fibre artificial legs especially adapted for climbing.
He snapped one of them when he was at about 6400m while preparing to move up to Camp 2, which is at about 7500m.
He was able to fix it well enough to get to his climbing companions, and then rebuilt it with spare parts.
Helen Clark (New Zealand's Prime Minister) said today: "As a very amateur climber myself with two sound legs and having got to 6000m I can appreciate what an amazing achievement this is and I offer him my full congratulations."
And yahoo reported : Inglis was a mountain rescue guide when he and fellow climber Phil Doole had both legs amputated below the knee after suffering frostbite in 1982 when trapped in an ice cave for 14 days on Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest peak.
Since then, Inglis has taken on a number of challenges and succeeded -- ranging from legless mountaineer and ski guide to research scientist after earning an honours degree in human biochemistry. He is also a leading winemaker and cycling silver medallist at the Sydney Paralmypics.
Before leaving on his Everest expedition, Inglis told AFP the fact that he had lost both legs, and no one has ever scaled the world's highest peak with two artificial limbs, was of secondary importance.
"I'm not doing this to be the first double amputee -- if I am then it's the icing on the cake -- but it's more about I've been climbing most of my life and Everest is the achievement really.
"And it gives you the knowledge of empowerment to do other things."
Poetry as a cure for homesickness
Sometimes I have a need for New Zealand poetry or writing ... it takes me home.
I spoke with my niece Katie yesterday.
(If time passes while I'm not there, do the children really grow older?)
She wanted to know when I was coming home.
How do you explain to a child that you need to earn a multitude of permissions, fill out papers and pay strangers for signatures to 'enter' the country you've moved to; that the icing on the cake known as immigration is permission to work and earn money ... and that it's only then that you can fly home for a while.
Anyway, the poetry ...
Before and After
Before New Zealand
I did not know:
— that pigs have teeth
— that abalone has another name
— that there is a gumboot capital of the world
— that distance is a cruel deception
After New Zealand
I know:
— how to return a stranger's smile
— how to wrap my tongue around every syllable
— how to not be anonymous
— how to be a foreigner
Thanks Harvey
I spoke with my niece Katie yesterday.
(If time passes while I'm not there, do the children really grow older?)
She wanted to know when I was coming home.
How do you explain to a child that you need to earn a multitude of permissions, fill out papers and pay strangers for signatures to 'enter' the country you've moved to; that the icing on the cake known as immigration is permission to work and earn money ... and that it's only then that you can fly home for a while.
Anyway, the poetry ...
Before and After Before New Zealand
I did not know:
— that pigs have teeth
— that abalone has another name
— that there is a gumboot capital of the world
— that distance is a cruel deception
After New Zealand
I know:
— how to return a stranger's smile
— how to wrap my tongue around every syllable
— how to not be anonymous
— how to be a foreigner
Thanks Harvey
Monday, May 15, 2006
The Belgian Debate
And so the debate begins here in Belgium ... can the extreme right parties be held accountable for creating a climate of racism that led to the brutal shooting of 3 people last week.
Ask the immigrants...
I'm an immigrant and my blood pressure goes through the ceiling whenever another of their 'newspapers' appear uninvited in the letterbox.
Pam illustrates with her American self experiencing Austria's extreme right politics in the local newspaper ....
In a brief history, the other Belgian political parties had placed a cordon sanitaire around the extreme right party operating here, refusing to work with or support their extreme right politics in any way ... but the extreme right won 30% of the vote here in Antwerp in the last elections.
Freedom of speech is highly valued here in Belgium and when vlaams belang cross the line of law, they change their name and re-form.
The family of the young girl killed were shocked by the message of sympathy offered by the extreme-right Flemish Interest. The grandmother wrote a letter to regional Antwerp TV broadcaster ATV stressing the family does not want any condolences from the Flemish Interest party.
And so it goes on.
Ask the immigrants...
I'm an immigrant and my blood pressure goes through the ceiling whenever another of their 'newspapers' appear uninvited in the letterbox.
Pam illustrates with her American self experiencing Austria's extreme right politics in the local newspaper ....
In a brief history, the other Belgian political parties had placed a cordon sanitaire around the extreme right party operating here, refusing to work with or support their extreme right politics in any way ... but the extreme right won 30% of the vote here in Antwerp in the last elections.
Freedom of speech is highly valued here in Belgium and when vlaams belang cross the line of law, they change their name and re-form.
The family of the young girl killed were shocked by the message of sympathy offered by the extreme-right Flemish Interest. The grandmother wrote a letter to regional Antwerp TV broadcaster ATV stressing the family does not want any condolences from the Flemish Interest party.
And so it goes on.
The 41st Cat Parade, Ieper (Ypres)
Yesterday the Canucks came over to Antwerpen and spirited us off to the Ypres (Ieper) Cat Festival.Cat Festival you might wonder ...
Well I recently wrote of Ieper's cats but to recap: in the past, on the last day of the Annual Market in Ieper's Grote Markt there would be an excess of cats ... attracted by the mice attracted by the Market produce. Someone came up with the idea that the city jester should throw these excess cats to their death from the tower. Another story circulating says that Ieper burned its witches then threw their black cats from the bellfry ...
Whatever the truth is, it was a bloodthirsty practice that came to an end back in 1817 and the Cat Festival rose up out of the ashes, complete with the long parade. It should be noted that belltowers and a present day jester throwing toy cats from the belfry also feature in this special day; one that ends with the burning of witches ... The parade began with the business procession which was better than expected after viewing the many work vehicles lined up at parade headquarters. The businesses handed out sweets and had woven brass bands and cat-like kids in the spaces between the big trucks and new cars.
'Cats' rode 4-wheel motorbikes on 2 wheels, men breathed fire, a town cryer rode by on his horse advertising the witch burning and every now and again I turned my Canon EOS on the Belgians framed by their picturesque windows in the homes and businesses that lined the street of the festival ... to be developed at some later point. Meanwhile Gert took some good digital photographs so I'll illustrate using them.The giants were there ... but of course, this is Belgium and every village and city has it's own history of giants. To quote from a knowing source: The traditional procession of giants encompasses an original ensemble of festive rituals. The event essentially consists of a procession of huge effigies of giants and animals within the scope of popular manifestations and ritual representations.
These cultural expressions first appeared in the urban religious processions of sixteenth century western Europe and today still are emblems and provide a sense of identity to certain Belgian towns where they remain living traditions. These giants are large-scale models measuring up to nine metres in height and weighing up to 350 kilos. They represent mythical heroes or animals, historical or legendary characters. Each expression follows a precise ritual and the giant is often related to the history, legend or life of the town.
Tot ziens ...
Kim Hill, Being German, and National Radio, New Zealand ...
When I left New Zealand I gave up many things ... National Radio was one of those things. Last year a wistful online search offered up New Zealand National Radio on line. Not only that, they had archives.Kim Hill has been New Zealand's queen of interviews for some years and I discovered that they store her Saturday morning show online for a month.
This morning I read an email from an old friend and he mentioned one of Kim's more recent interviews ... Was listening to your beloved Kim the other day on National Radio - she was interviewing an ex-pat kiwi (Joanne Moar) who has lived in Germany for the past 11 years. She's been trying to gain permanent residency all that time and still hasn't managed it despite jumping through all their hoops. (Sounds like German bureaucracy is even more impressive than the Belgian equivalent)
One thing she has found annoying is that she doesn't blend in to her adopted country (even though she speaks flawless German) because she doesn't have a German childhood - when she's with her German mates and they're all laughing about a book they had to read at school, comparing where they went for their summer holidays, singing their favourite childhood songs, or swapping tales about the experiences their grandparents had in the war etc etc.
She feels on the outside despite feeling totally German in pretty much all other respects. So she's developed a website where you can download a German childhood complete with all those memories you'd expect.
At Becoming German you can either donate your own memories if you grew up in Germany or download one if you're an import. You just enter your details age, gender, interests, etc and the database selects an appropriate "genuine" childhood for you so you can feel part of things when all your mates are reminiscing about their early years etc.
Although you don't quite get that impression from the website, she said in the interview that it was largely a tongue-in-cheek swipe at the German bureaucracy as an outlet to her frustrations re getting permanent residency.Thought you might be interested.
I was, site duly noted ... and although that particular interview hasn't been archived I was delighted to find a 40 minute interview with one of my favourite New Zealand writers.
Jack Lasenby writes superb books for children, ones that the adult reader can enjoy whenever it's their turn to do the bedtime story stint in the evenings.
As a short story writer, Lasenby is unfailingly entertaining: Uncle Trev’s hilarious yarns about travelling asparagus beds, fast grass, and giant kauris with a view of the South Pole, from Uncle Trev (1991), Uncle Trev and the Great South Island Plan (1991) and Uncle Trev and the Treaty of Waitangi.
He's delicious.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
What Di Ate ...
For those who dare, I ate this last night.
Cecil said, There are two kinds of sweetbreads: stomach sweetbreads (also known as heart or belly sweetbreads), which are an animal's pancreas, and neck (AKA throat or gullet) sweetbreads, an animal's thymus gland. (The animal in question can be a hog or calf or just about any other large mammal, I gather.) They're called sweetbreads for the obvious reason that if you called them thymus glands or whatever you couldn't give the damn things away. The art of euphemism goes back a long way.
and, prized by gourmets throughout the world, sweetbreads are the thymus glands of veal, young beef, lamb and pork. There are two glands--an elongated lobe in the throat and a larger, rounder gland near the heart. These glands are connected by a tube, which is often removed before sweetbreads are marketed. The heart sweetbread is considered the more delectable (and is therefore more expensive) of the two because of its delicate flavor and firmer, creamy-smooth texture. Sweetbreads from milk-fed veal or young calves are considered the best.
Cecil said, There are two kinds of sweetbreads: stomach sweetbreads (also known as heart or belly sweetbreads), which are an animal's pancreas, and neck (AKA throat or gullet) sweetbreads, an animal's thymus gland. (The animal in question can be a hog or calf or just about any other large mammal, I gather.) They're called sweetbreads for the obvious reason that if you called them thymus glands or whatever you couldn't give the damn things away. The art of euphemism goes back a long way.
and, prized by gourmets throughout the world, sweetbreads are the thymus glands of veal, young beef, lamb and pork. There are two glands--an elongated lobe in the throat and a larger, rounder gland near the heart. These glands are connected by a tube, which is often removed before sweetbreads are marketed. The heart sweetbread is considered the more delectable (and is therefore more expensive) of the two because of its delicate flavor and firmer, creamy-smooth texture. Sweetbreads from milk-fed veal or young calves are considered the best.
A political test
Well, I beat Erkan and Mark to this test ... I found it on Lever's blog.
| You are a Social Liberal (70% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (25% permissive) You are best described as a:
Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test |
Turkey, Cheney, Gas and the EU
Erkan posted an interesting Guardian Unlimited article ... once you get past Cheney's latest ... highlighting a relatively unheralded goal of US foreign policy, to turn Turkey into a conduit for energy supplies that bypass the control of President Putin and the majority state-owned Russian gas giant Gazprom.
Yalim Eralp, an ex-ambassador now working for CNN Türk, says the scramble for energy is the new great game between China, Russia and the US - and we have chosen the EU, helping it to reduce its dependence on Russia. The US is determined, in this game, to push Russia into supplying its eastern neighbours, not Europe.
It's an interesting article that should set European minds at rest regarding an influx of Turkish immigrants if and when they are allowed to join the EU.
It ends with, Damla Zeynep Gürel, an opposition MP saying, If we can increase our GDP and improve our democratic standards, I don't think people will go to Europe - unless they are invited. Business leaders detect a trend to homecoming by Turkish 'Gastarbeiter' from Germany and elsewhere ... and increasing investment from overseas Turks in their native country.
Cem Duna of Tusiad, the Turkish CBI, says, In 10 years Europe will need the dynamism of the Turkish economy, but my nightmare scenario is a successful conclusion to the accession talks ... and popular rejection in national referenda.
Yalim Eralp, an ex-ambassador now working for CNN Türk, says the scramble for energy is the new great game between China, Russia and the US - and we have chosen the EU, helping it to reduce its dependence on Russia. The US is determined, in this game, to push Russia into supplying its eastern neighbours, not Europe.
It's an interesting article that should set European minds at rest regarding an influx of Turkish immigrants if and when they are allowed to join the EU.
It ends with, Damla Zeynep Gürel, an opposition MP saying, If we can increase our GDP and improve our democratic standards, I don't think people will go to Europe - unless they are invited. Business leaders detect a trend to homecoming by Turkish 'Gastarbeiter' from Germany and elsewhere ... and increasing investment from overseas Turks in their native country.
Cem Duna of Tusiad, the Turkish CBI, says, In 10 years Europe will need the dynamism of the Turkish economy, but my nightmare scenario is a successful conclusion to the accession talks ... and popular rejection in national referenda.
Local Food
There's nothing like trying the food in your country of residence ... nothing quite like it
In Turkey, I attended a conference in Edirne. I went with two of my Turkish friends and we met up with my future boss and colleagues while there. They decided I should try the local delicacy ... another colleague had asked that we take some back to her because she loved it so much. Sounds good I thought to myself.
I admit it, I balked a little when they told me it was deep-fried lung, thinking 'Dear god, must I?' Off we wandered to the restaurant, with me psychologically dragging my heels.
I asked my friend if it wasn't a very big clue that you couldn't get this food anywhere else ... a big clue as in 'you shouldn't be eating this thing!'
She laughed.
The food arrived at the table, it looked tempting and smelt good. I poked at it with my fork and asked, 'This isn't liver is it?'
They talked among themselves and sure enough, 'lung and liver' are close enough and rarely used ... it was an offal mix up.
The dish was good, better than the liver I had eaten as a child back home in New Zealand.
Last night we attended a big dinner here in Belgium. The food was quite stunning, although I'm not sure I agree that duck steak should look so much like raw steak.
The entree was this delicate little round of whitish meat on a bed of exotic mushrooms, with a cream sauce surround.
The first mouthful was stunning if unrecognisable as any meat I had previously eaten.
Then I noticed the Belgians were watching me eat. It's never a good sign, not even back home.
They asked if I liked it.
I said, 'It's stunning, what is it?'
'Veal' was the laughing reply.
Halfway through, the smiles were making me suspicious again and I asked Gert to tell me more about the 'veal' I was eating.
Stunning news, it was some kind of animal gland ...
He couldn't find the translation for me which was probably good, as it was tasty.
He has a meeting this morning, he left before anyone else was awake and I wasn't alert enough to remember my question.
I'm still waiting on the translation.
A gland ... I'll let you know.
In Turkey, I attended a conference in Edirne. I went with two of my Turkish friends and we met up with my future boss and colleagues while there. They decided I should try the local delicacy ... another colleague had asked that we take some back to her because she loved it so much. Sounds good I thought to myself.
I admit it, I balked a little when they told me it was deep-fried lung, thinking 'Dear god, must I?' Off we wandered to the restaurant, with me psychologically dragging my heels.
I asked my friend if it wasn't a very big clue that you couldn't get this food anywhere else ... a big clue as in 'you shouldn't be eating this thing!'
She laughed.
The food arrived at the table, it looked tempting and smelt good. I poked at it with my fork and asked, 'This isn't liver is it?'
They talked among themselves and sure enough, 'lung and liver' are close enough and rarely used ... it was an offal mix up.
The dish was good, better than the liver I had eaten as a child back home in New Zealand.
Last night we attended a big dinner here in Belgium. The food was quite stunning, although I'm not sure I agree that duck steak should look so much like raw steak.
The entree was this delicate little round of whitish meat on a bed of exotic mushrooms, with a cream sauce surround.
The first mouthful was stunning if unrecognisable as any meat I had previously eaten.
Then I noticed the Belgians were watching me eat. It's never a good sign, not even back home.
They asked if I liked it.
I said, 'It's stunning, what is it?'
'Veal' was the laughing reply.
Halfway through, the smiles were making me suspicious again and I asked Gert to tell me more about the 'veal' I was eating.
Stunning news, it was some kind of animal gland ...
He couldn't find the translation for me which was probably good, as it was tasty.
He has a meeting this morning, he left before anyone else was awake and I wasn't alert enough to remember my question.
I'm still waiting on the translation.
A gland ... I'll let you know.
This morning I read this piece about Thursday's racially motivated killings in Antwerp.
Van Themsche has since been identified as the nephew of Flemish Interest MP Frieda van Themsche. His father was also a member of the party. The extreme-right party is the successor of the Flemish Block which was convicted of racism in 2004.
A shocked Frieda Van Themsche described her brother's son as "someone who grew up in an atmosphere of anti-violence". She said he was not even given a toy gun..."
Racism is violence ...
Van Themsche has since been identified as the nephew of Flemish Interest MP Frieda van Themsche. His father was also a member of the party. The extreme-right party is the successor of the Flemish Block which was convicted of racism in 2004.
A shocked Frieda Van Themsche described her brother's son as "someone who grew up in an atmosphere of anti-violence". She said he was not even given a toy gun..."
Racism is violence ...
Friday, May 12, 2006
Wild Geese and 'Promises to Keep'
Martin introduced me to the Kiwi folkband Wild Geese and most particularly to their song titled 'Promises to Keep' ... it's the second song on this page, and is about the Featherston Military Camp, the last place New Zealand soldiers trained before being shipped out during WW1.
An extract:
You are all gone
And the flags no longer crack amid the cheers
It's been so long
And the memories are dulled by passing years
But here amongst these stony fields
Winter's weary shadow steals
And your voices linger on the breeze
An extract:
You are all gone
And the flags no longer crack amid the cheers
It's been so long
And the memories are dulled by passing years
But here amongst these stony fields
Winter's weary shadow steals
And your voices linger on the breeze
Neal, Amundsen-Scott, South Pole, Antarctica
There's this guy living and working down in Antartica ... and he's blogging about it.
Ever wondered?
Well, I've started reading his blog.
You get an idea about Neal when you read his introduction to self ... 'I used to just be a nerd, now I'm an action nerd.'
Ever wondered?
Well, I've started reading his blog.
You get an idea about Neal when you read his introduction to self ... 'I used to just be a nerd, now I'm an action nerd.'
A Slice of a Life in Kuwait
I loved this post by Ms Baker ...
She ends with this, Like everything human, there are positive and negative aspects of change and the natural course of societal or cultural evolution. But one thing is certain: evolve we will - for better or for worse - whether we like what we become or the direction we go in or not. It is the natural mechanism and momentum God created for our collective human lives, regardless of who we think ourselves to be at any point in time.
Allah yir7amich Um-Iflaan Al-Iflaany, my life-long neighbor. May God rest your soul
She ends with this, Like everything human, there are positive and negative aspects of change and the natural course of societal or cultural evolution. But one thing is certain: evolve we will - for better or for worse - whether we like what we become or the direction we go in or not. It is the natural mechanism and momentum God created for our collective human lives, regardless of who we think ourselves to be at any point in time.
Allah yir7amich Um-Iflaan Al-Iflaany, my life-long neighbor. May God rest your soul
Cafe Therapy - 1001 therapies for the fear of Europe
Erkan posted an interesting link to an exciting site titled 1001 therapies for the fear of Europe
This year, cafebabel.com launched Café Therapy – a series of online dossiers and discussions open to everybody aimed at helping understand the fears Europeans face in today’s society and discussing possible ways of overcoming them
In the past few years the Old Continent has become infected with fear. Faith in plans for a united Europe has waned dramatically. After France and Holland voted No to the European Constitution, cafebabel.com prescribed a course of “coffee” for Europeans: meetings and debates throughout Europe, both online, in the form of in-depth dossiers and offline through public discussions. Today, we will present you with the solutions which arose from these discussions, through articles and interventions, interviews and opinions. The essence of Café Therapy.
But the idea of multiculturalism is based primarily on tolerance. Yet this value must be integrated with new possibilities for immigrants, because, according to Aziz Senni, a French entrepreneur of Moroccan origin who was a guest at the discussion organised in Paris by cafebabel.com, “the only way to integrate young people from disadvantaged communities into French society is through work.” Senni is also the author of the book The Social Elevator is Out of Order . . . so I Took the Stairs and has suggested introducing measures of positive discrimination based not on race or religion, but where people live. The riots in the suburbs have left their mark.
The dossiers at the end of each small introduction are interesting ... these are the type of conversations Europe needs to be having.
This year, cafebabel.com launched Café Therapy – a series of online dossiers and discussions open to everybody aimed at helping understand the fears Europeans face in today’s society and discussing possible ways of overcoming them
In the past few years the Old Continent has become infected with fear. Faith in plans for a united Europe has waned dramatically. After France and Holland voted No to the European Constitution, cafebabel.com prescribed a course of “coffee” for Europeans: meetings and debates throughout Europe, both online, in the form of in-depth dossiers and offline through public discussions. Today, we will present you with the solutions which arose from these discussions, through articles and interventions, interviews and opinions. The essence of Café Therapy.
But the idea of multiculturalism is based primarily on tolerance. Yet this value must be integrated with new possibilities for immigrants, because, according to Aziz Senni, a French entrepreneur of Moroccan origin who was a guest at the discussion organised in Paris by cafebabel.com, “the only way to integrate young people from disadvantaged communities into French society is through work.” Senni is also the author of the book The Social Elevator is Out of Order . . . so I Took the Stairs and has suggested introducing measures of positive discrimination based not on race or religion, but where people live. The riots in the suburbs have left their mark.
The dossiers at the end of each small introduction are interesting ... these are the type of conversations Europe needs to be having.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
I have mentioned the newsletters that the Extreme Right of Antwerp regularly throw in our letterbox ... the ones with burning cars and 'Stop Immigratie' emblazoned on their coverpage.
It always takes a while to calm myself, and then a little more time to understand how their rhetoric that incites fear and hatred of 'the other' picked up 30% of the vote here in Antwerpen.
Racial violence has been on the increase in Belgium in recent weeks ... 4 African men beaten, a Moroccan man was found dead in the river here but today was the worst.
Expatica reports: Racism appears to be the motive of a street shooting in Antwerp in which a man shot and killed a black woman and a child on Thursday, the public prosecution office said.
A second woman, of Turkish origin, was critically injured in the shooting. A responding police officer shot and injured the fleeing culprit.
The woman who was killed was working as an au-pair. She was taking care of a Caucasian child, who was also killed in the shooting. Both died at the scene.
The arrested suspect was described by authorities as an 18-year-old skinhead with extreme-right sympathies.
Antwerp has it's very own version of the Extreme Right online ... Vlaams Belang .
It always takes a while to calm myself, and then a little more time to understand how their rhetoric that incites fear and hatred of 'the other' picked up 30% of the vote here in Antwerpen.
Racial violence has been on the increase in Belgium in recent weeks ... 4 African men beaten, a Moroccan man was found dead in the river here but today was the worst.
Expatica reports: Racism appears to be the motive of a street shooting in Antwerp in which a man shot and killed a black woman and a child on Thursday, the public prosecution office said.
A second woman, of Turkish origin, was critically injured in the shooting. A responding police officer shot and injured the fleeing culprit.
The woman who was killed was working as an au-pair. She was taking care of a Caucasian child, who was also killed in the shooting. Both died at the scene.
The arrested suspect was described by authorities as an 18-year-old skinhead with extreme-right sympathies.
Antwerp has it's very own version of the Extreme Right online ... Vlaams Belang .
Flat Stephanie In Belgium
I thought I would share my current project with you. I have a guest; the Flat Stephanie who arrived in the mail yesterday and I've been asked if I might show her around Antwerp, introducing her to Belgian society where ever possible.
So we've booked Flat Steph in at a local primary school where two Belgian classes will meet her. All kinds of other plans are being hatched by the hour.
Anyway, embracing the blogsphere I asked if I might create a blog as opposed to sending a parcel at the end of her visit ...
The school has said sure, so here's the new Flat Stephanie in Belgium blog for the third grade children over in American.
(Note: this is what happens when one reads Sal DTragia's Virtual Tapas Bar blog. )
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Dear Mr President by Pink
Alison just sent me a song she thought I might like. It's by Pink and is titled 'Dear Mr President'.
I guess there will be a storm over it ... the Bosnian fable says it all really.
I guess there will be a storm over it ... the Bosnian fable says it all really.
Immigration and Flat Stephanie's
A quieter day today ... I have a 4pm appointment with the government department who sent me the letter I posted a couple of days.
Yesterday I emailed both the government department and the city mayor, who had signed the letter. I was contacted this morning and have this appointment.
I've had to organise my papers and myself ... I lost confidence in my ability to organise my papers after recently being informed that my passport was not considered proof of identity ... I wonder what will happen today.
A mysterious contract is alluded to in the original letter, I think we're going to work on that ... the one between the immigrant with her shiny new residency permit (to be renewed every 6 months at first), and the Flemish government, I think.
I'll write some more when I understand ... it seems my university education hasn't withstood the test of immigration. There is still much I don't understand.
Meanwhile Flat Stephanie has just arrived from America. Sal recently asked for volunteer tour guides here , so I offered to show a little paper friend around Belgium and send the results back to the student.
Mmmm, if immigration doesn't get tired of me today, then I'll surely get thrown out of the country for wandering around Belgium with a life-size paper copy of an American 3rd grade student.
Actually Sal has a more informative post about 'Flat Stanley' here ...
Wish me luck.
Yesterday I emailed both the government department and the city mayor, who had signed the letter. I was contacted this morning and have this appointment.
I've had to organise my papers and myself ... I lost confidence in my ability to organise my papers after recently being informed that my passport was not considered proof of identity ... I wonder what will happen today.
A mysterious contract is alluded to in the original letter, I think we're going to work on that ... the one between the immigrant with her shiny new residency permit (to be renewed every 6 months at first), and the Flemish government, I think.
I'll write some more when I understand ... it seems my university education hasn't withstood the test of immigration. There is still much I don't understand.
Meanwhile Flat Stephanie has just arrived from America. Sal recently asked for volunteer tour guides here , so I offered to show a little paper friend around Belgium and send the results back to the student.
Mmmm, if immigration doesn't get tired of me today, then I'll surely get thrown out of the country for wandering around Belgium with a life-size paper copy of an American 3rd grade student.
Actually Sal has a more informative post about 'Flat Stanley' here ...
Wish me luck.
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