|
Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category
Simon Maghakyan on 14 Feb 2008
According to The New York Times:
THIS may be one of the biggest chocolate weeks of the year, but a shortage of bonbons isn’t likely in these parts. There are at least 15 chocolate producers in the state, from tiny artisanal boutiques to companies that started small and grew over several generations.
One of the first chocolate makers was Peter Paul Halajian, an Armenian immigrant, who began making chocolates at home in the Naugatuck Valley in the early 20th century. In 1919 he started a wholesale candy business — the Peter Paul Manufacturing Company in New Haven — and soon was producing Mounds and Almond Joy. […]
Simon Maghakyan on 14 Feb 2008
According to Earthtimes.org, the faithful in Buenos Aires don’t have to travel to Jerusalem to see the history of the world’s largest religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In a Disneyland-style attraction park, the website says, visitors can see history and beliefs recreated in front of their eyes. Every 45 minutes, for example, the “resurrection” of Christ takes place in the park that has registered 3 million visitors since 1999.
Buenos Aires offers the first multireligious theme park in the world, advertised as an escape to Jerusalem in the age of Jesus Christ. Although Christianity plays the leading role, people of other faiths, including Muslims and Jews, would also get their money’s worth at Tierra Santa, unlike in purely Christian parks, its managers said. Inside the facility, there is a mosque, a Jewish temple and even a Mahatma Gandhi statue.
On a recent Saturday afternoon, although the weather forecast had predicted rain, the stands were full before a replica of Mount Golgotha. People looked up to the sky, waiting for a mechanical interpretation of a miracle. Eventually, an 18-metre-tall statue of Jesus rose slowly from the fake rock.
[…]
Its first day was timed for historical reasons. “We wanted Argentina to contribute something special to the 2,000th jubilee of the birth of Jesus,” said Maria Antonia Ferro, director and co-founder of Tierra Santa.
So far, 3 million people have visited the park.
“Apart from what visitors learn about culture and history, the park also has a very particular mysticism,” she said. “People come back because they find inner peace here.”
At the 7-hectare facility, built for 7 million dollars, there are now more than 30 replicas of historic places aimed at giving visitors a glimpse at everyday life in the Holy Land 2,000 years ago as well as representations of biblical scenes.
With the help of more than 500 life-sized figures and scores of actors and artists, the ancient world comes alive. Restaurants offer Armenian and Lebanese food, and visitors can buy little busts of Nefertiti as souvenirs.
“I have already been here several times,” said a woman named Carla, a Catholic with her two children and mother-in-law at the park. “We are very religious, and since we are not in a position to travel to Israel, this is a good alternative.”
Florencia, 20, just wanted “to enjoy the good weather” with her friends. She complained that religion is often put forward in boring ways.
“That is not the case here,” said the woman who defines herself as religious.
Although the park director described Tierra Santa as “a sort of Disneyland,” individual religions are supportive of the enterprise.
“Without the support of the [Catholic] Church, it would have been impossible to set up the park,” Ferro said.
There, children can experience biblical history under the guidance of lay preachers. Some even have their first communion at the park.
“Muslims pray here at the mosque, and the ‘Western Wall’ is an important place for Jews,” Ferro said.
Many place pieces of paper with their wishes in the wall’s cracks. Once a year, employees of the Israeli embassy pick up the notes and send them to Jerusalem to the real Western Wall, the last remaining wall of Jerusalem’s ancient temple, which was destroyed by the Roman Empire.
[…]
Simon Maghakyan on 12 Feb 2008
The first and last American Congressman who was a survivor of the Nazi Holocaust died at the age of 80. A champion of human rights Rep. Lantos will be remembered for his courage to speak the truth.
From the New York Times:
Representative Tom Lantos of California, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the only Holocaust survivor ever to serve in Congress, died on Monday. He was 80.
[…]
The congressman was known as a strong defender of human rights, an ardent supporter of Israel and an outspoken critic of Communism. He also worked for stronger protections for animals and the environment.
“Tom was a living reminder,” President Bush said in a statement Monday, “that we must never turn a blind eye to the suffering of the innocent at the hands of evil men.”
Mr. Bush called Mr. Lantos “a man of character and a champion of human rights,” and cited his role as a founder of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, created in 1983.
Mr. Lantos voted in 2002 to authorize the Bush administration to use force against Iraq. But as Foreign Affairs chairman he criticized the administration’s handling of the war and was a co-sponsor of a resolution last year opposing Mr. Bush’s buildup of troops.
It was his defense of human rights, though, that most clearly defined a Congressional career that lasted nearly three decades. That focus was an outgrowth of his experience during the Holocaust, in which much of his family, including his mother, perished.
Mr. Lantos, a Hungarian-born Jew who was 16 when the Nazis occupied his native country, once said his entire life had served as preparation for the chairmanship of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Though he held the post for little more than a year, the committee took a number of bold steps in that time, demanding, for instance, that the government of Japan apologize for wartime sex slavery by its military and declaring Turkey’s mass killing of Armenians in World War I an act of genocide, a move that angered the Bush administration and nearly provoked a confrontation with the Turkish government.
He was frequently critical of China, citing its record on human rights, and was arrested outside the Sudanese Embassy in Washington in 2006 during a protest against the mass killings in Darfur.
[…]
Simon Maghakyan on 05 Feb 2008
The list of websites hacked by Turkish groups has been diverse so far – Armenian news and history, Belgium’s Military website and a Vietnam Memorial Website.
But what has been thought to be the work of ultra-nationalist Turkish groups who vehemently deny the Armenian Genocide of WWI, now seems to have progressive or conservative (decide for yourself) tones too. A group that identifies itself as “Turkish cyber terrorists,” as of February 4, 2008, has hacked one of the free porn video giants – RedTube.com that has has attempted to be the “adult version” of YouTube.com.
Whether done by Turks or not, it is interesting to see hackers in “progressive action.” Although most people who are against porn do so on moral grounds, such as religion, many progressives and feminists are ardently against pornography by arguing that the latter is another method of objectifying and oppressing women.
Simon Maghakyan on 02 Feb 2008
Turkish-American Muhtar Kent will become the CEO of the Coca-Cola Company on July 1, 2008. The announcement and his previous work with Coca-Cola are listed at the company’s official website.
Mr. Kent, as quoted in the newsletter of a Turkish group in Colorado, has said it is his “desire is to see more Turkish people at the top levels of International Organizations.”
I wish Mr. Kent used the word “qualified Turkish individuals” instead of “Turkish people.”
When I heard a few years back that Coca-Cola had lobbied the U.S. Congress in 2000 not to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide as such reportedly arguing that the affirmation would hurt American companies in Turkey, I was quite confused. I certainly hope Mr. Kent won’t use his position to advance an ultra-nationalist agenda.
Simon Maghakyan on 18 Jan 2008
Another cartoon by Turkish-Norwegian designer Firuz Kutal about the upcoming commemoration of Hran’t Dink’s assassination in Istanbul.
Simon Maghakyan on 14 Jan 2008
On Sunday, Jan 20, 2008, there will be a Badarak and Hoki Hankist at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in NYC which will be followed by a madagh and then a presentation whose featured speaker will be Carla Garapedian, Director of “Screamers.”
Badarak will start at 10:30 a.m. at St Vartan Armenian Cathedral with madagh starting around 12:30 and the presentation to begin in Kavookjian Hall at 2 p.m.
The address for St. Vartan complex is 630 Second Avenue NY, NY 10016.
For further information please call 212.686.0710 and ask for Artur Petrosyan or Rachel Goshgarian.
Simon Maghakyan on 14 Jan 2008
This Saturday, January 19, 2008, is the first anniversary of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink’s assasination.
The main commemoration will take place in front of the Armenian newspaper Agos in Istanbul where Dink was shot to death.
We will gather in front of AGOS to commemorate our beloved friend, Hrant Dink.
Date: 19 Jan 2008
Time: 15.00 (3:00 p.m.)
Place: in front of AGOS Newspaper (Halaskargazi cad. Sebat apt 192 Harbiye, Istanbul)
Other commemorations in Turkey will be:
The works of Hrant Dink come into life with the voices of Memet Ali Alabora, Okan Bayulgen, Haluk Bilginer, Yetkin Dikinciler, Halil Ergun, Pakrat Estukyan, Arsen Gurzap, Banu Guven, Nejat Işler, Tuncel Kurtiz, Fikret Kuskan, Omer Madra, Lale Mansur, Meral Okay, Dolunay Soysert, Nur Surer, Cetin Tekindor, Deniz Turkali and Serra Yilmaz.
Date: 4 – 20 Jan 2008
Time: Tu-Wed-Th: 14.00-20.30, Fri-Sat-Su:14.00 – 22.00
Place: Apartment Project (Seh Bender Sok. No:4, Tunel, Beyoglu, Istanbul – across Babylon Night Club)
Speakers:
Aydin Engin, Bahri Belen, Tatyos Bebek, Yuksel Taskin
Music:
Dostlar Choir, Suren Asaduryan, Birol Topaloglu, Fadime Torun
Short Film:
Kirlangicin Yuvasi (Swallow’s Nest)
Date: 13 Jan 2008
Time: 19.00 – 22.00
Place: Yunus Emre Cultural Centre (Ataköy 9. Kisim, Bakirkoy, Istanbul)
With the participation of artists from Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Estonia and Turkey, including Basar Coskun’s work “White Beret”
Date: 19 Jan – 3 Feb 2008
Opening: 19 Jan 2008
Time: 20:00 – D2GG audio-visual performance
Place: KargART Kadıkoy (Caferaga Mah. Kadife Sok. No:16 Kadıkoy, Istanbul)
http://www.kargart.org
We will remember Hrant with songs and films.
Participants:
45’lik sarkilar, Aynur, Bartev, Bennu Yildirimlar, Birol Topaloglu, BGST Danscilari, Ciplak Ayaklar Kumpanyasi, Dostlar Korosu, Erkan Ogur, Hayko Cepkin, Ismail Hakki Demircioglu, Kardes Turkuler, Lale Mansur, Lusavoric Korosu, Mahir Gunsiray, Metin & Kemal Kahraman, Michael Ellison, Nisan Sirinyan, Sahakyan Korosu, Sayat Nova Korosu, Tiyatro Bogazici, Zeynep Tanbay…
Tickets can be obtained from Beyaz Adam Bookstores in Pangalti and Bakirkoy. (www.beyazadam.com)
Date: 19 Jan 2008
Time: 20.00
Place: Lutfi Kirdar Convention Center (Harbiye, Istanbul)
Date: 19 Jan – 9 Feb 2008
Place: Hafriyat Karakoy (Necatibey Cad. 79, Karakoy, Istanbul)
Date: 20 Jan 2008
Time: 13.00
Place: Balikli Armenian Cemetery, Silivrikapi, Istanbul
Ashura, the tenth day of the month of Moharrem of the Islamic calendar, bears significant meaning in three divine religions. Our ashura, however, is a condolence to “others” that has been wiped out through centuries. Ashura, as old as the history of the humanity, tells the stories of the people who had been scattered around, forcefully displaced in the name of creating a “homogenious” society in Anatolia and their languages, religions, the roads of exile and the songs of exiles by songs in 12 different languages.
Date: 22 Jan 2008
Time: 20.30
Place: Garaj Istanbul (Galatasaray, Istanbul)
http://www.garajistanbul.com
Three different stories on freedom of expression of people and cultures: Kamber Ates who cannot talk with his mother in his mother tongue; women who have to hide that they are Armenians even from their children and husbands; life of Roma people whose tragic stories of displacement are presented “totally different”…
Entrance is free
Date: 27 Jan 2008
Time: 17.00
Place: Getronagan Lisesinden Yetişenler Derneği, Prof. Celil Öker Sok. No:2, Harbiye, Istanbul
http://www.bgst.org/tb/pro.asp?id=15&bn=1
Commemorations outside of Turkey:
Speakers:
Erdal Doğan (Lawyer of the Malatya case); Mahmut Şakar (MAF-DAD); Prof. Dr. Norman Paech (Die Linke); Dr. Gerayer Koutcharian (Arbeitsgruppe Anerkennung e.V.)
Date: 17 Jan 2008
Time: 18.30
Place: Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (Franz-Mehring-Platz 1, 10243 Berlin)
In memory of Hrant Dink
Date:18 Jan – 1 Feb 2008
Place: Elele Cultural Centre (8 rue Martel, 75010 Paris)
http://elele.info
Av.Erdal Dogan, Hrant Dink’s lawyer
Selahattin Demirtas, DTP Group Deputy Chair
Masis Kurkcugil, Writer
Rober Koptas, Columnist of AGOS
Ozcan Temur, DEKOP-A Representative
Canan Topcu, Moderation
Date: 18 Jan 2008
Time: 18.00
Place: Westbahnhof (Kasseler Str. 7, 60486 Frankfurt
Wreath-laying ceremony in front of the Armenian Memorial Monuments. Following the ceremony, a solemn mass of requiem will take place.
Date: 19 Jan 2008
Time: 11.00
Place: Bicknell Park (850 Via San Clemente, Montebello Ca, 90640)
Hrant Dink tells the story of the Tuzla Armenian Orphanage.
Date: 19 Jan 2008
Time: 19.30
Place: The Unitarian Church (30 Cleary Avenue, Ottawa, Tel: 613-725-1066)
Vigil in front of the Turkish Consulate
Date: 19 Jan 2008
Time: 14.00 – 16.00
Place: Heerstraße 21, 14052 Berlin
Date: 19 Jan 2008
Time: 19.00 – 21.00
Place: Rathaus Schöneberg, John F. Kennedy-Platz, 10825 Berlin-Schöneberg
1) Prayers from the Canon of Westminster Abbey
2) Short speeches from friends
3) Reading on portion of Hrant’s work
4) Release of dove in memory of Hrant
Date: 19 Jan 2008
Time: 13.00
Place: at the Monument to the Innocents outside Westminster Abbey
We commemorate Hrant Dink to Defend Brotherhood, Peace and Living Together and to fight against Nationalism, Racism and War
Speakers:
Masis Kurkcugil, Founding member of ODP, writer
Rober Koptas, AGOS writer
Cinevision
Date: 19 Jan 2008
Time: 16.00
Place: Deutsch-Italienische Gesamtschule, Institut Italo Svevo (Gladbacher Wall 5, 50670 Köln)
Hrant Dink’s life in instances from his youth, family, political life, January 19th and after.
Date: 19 – 25 Jan 2008
Opening: 19 Jan 2008
Time: 17.00
Place: Paulkirche, Frankfurt
Date: 19 Jan 2008
Time: 14.00 – 16.00
Place: Berlin Kreuzberg (Kottbusser Tor)
[email protected]
Date: 20 Jan 2008
Time: 15.00
Place: 178 Berlin-Mitte, Berliner Dom, Am Lustgarten, Berlin
We commemorate Hrant Dink to Defend Brotherhood, Peace and Living Together and to fight against Nationalism, Racism and War
Speakers :
Ufuk Uras, ODP President, MP
Masis Kurkcugil, Writer
Rober Koptas, AGOS Newspaper
Aydin Engin, AGOS Newspaper Columnist
Cinevision
Grup Lilith: Songs from Anatolia
Date: 20 Jan 2008
Time: 15.30
Place: Werkstatt der Kulturen (Wissmannstraşe 32, 12049 Berlin U-Bhf. Hermannplatz)
Speeches, Music and documentary screening (Swallow’s Nest) to commemorate Hrant Dink.
Opening Remarks:
Simon Acilacoglu, President, Org.of Istanbul Armenians
Speakers:
Stephen Kurkjian, Pulitzer Prize Winning Investigative Reporter
Dr. Taner Akcam, Dept.of History, Uni. of Minnesota
Date: 25 Jan 2008
Time: 19.00
Place: Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America (3325 North Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, CA 91504)
http://www.oia.net/calendar/eventdetails.asp?e=337
1) Screening TV discussion programs of Hrant Dink
2) Evaluation of the cases and the situation in Turkey:
Fethiye cetin, Lawyer of the Dink family
Prof. Baskin Oran, lecturer, writer
Aris Nalci, Editor in Chief, AGOS
3) Round Table: What can the Armenians and Turks in France can do together and how?
Date: 26 Jan 2008
Time: 15.00 – 21.00
Place: Paris Greater Municipality
[email protected]
We commemorate Hrant Dink to Defend Brotherhood, Peace and Living Together and to fight against Nationalism, Racism and War
Speakers:
Masis Kurkcugil, Founding member of ODP, writer
Rober Koptas, AGOS writer
Cinevision
Date: 27 Jan 2008
Time: 14.00
Place: IBZ – Internationales Begegnungszentrum (Teutoburger Str. 106, 33607 Bielefeld)
The source for the above events is http://www.hranticinadaleticin.com/en/invite.html.
I would suspect that Hrant Dink’s commemoration in Armenia will take place at 3:00 p.m. at the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan on Saturday, January 19, 2008. And if no one has thought of organizing this yet I ask my fellow bloggers in Armenia to do so.
Simon Maghakyan on 01 Jan 2008
The Media Line remembers the assassinations of 2007 from Hrant Dink to Bhutto.
The year 2007 ended in the Middle East on a dramatic note, with the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader, Benazir Bhutto. Bhutto’s killing by a gunman last Thursday was no isolated assassination.
This year was marked by a number of political killings, which could shape the political future of the region and affect the rest of the world.
Simon Maghakyan on 31 Dec 2007
Happy New Year to all Blogian readers! May all of your dreams come true if they are universally good and don’t harm others.
Welcome, 2008!
« Previous Page — Next Page »
|
|
.jpg)