Can Europe Laugh at Itself?

Published on January 15, 2009 in Miscellaneous. 5 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

 Later Edit: Bulgarians insisted to have the squat toiled depiction of their country covered up, so now Bulgaria is a black cloth on the European map. Totally ridiculous and shows how patriotic intentions can have the reverse effect! Read more about it here.

Romania by Entropa

Romania as seen by Cerny’s Entropa

Bulgaria by Entropa

Bulgaria as seen by Cerny’s Entropa

If you’re in any way art-sensitive or art-educated, the shortest of visits to Prague will get you familiar with two very controversial Czech artists: David Cerny and Jan Saudek. As a photographer, the latter could not overpopulate the public space with his allegedly immoral creations. However, the former is well-known for his daring public displays, by painting for instance a Soviet tank in bright pink.

Cerny stroke back in glory this time, with a work titled Entropa, commissioned by the Czech EU Presidency, that’s currently displayed in the lobby of the European Council in Brussels. Supposedly a collage bringing together artistic visions of artists representing all 27 EU countries, in reality it is an exclusive work by Cerny that whole-heartedly mocks stereotypes European nations have of one another.

Thus, Italy is displayed as a football match between the North and the South, France as a big strike, Romania as a huge Dracula park and so on and forth. Bulgarians seem to have been the most offended, as Cerny envisioned their country as a Turkish toilet – reminding us all of the Ottoman yoke in the region. As a result, the Czech ambassador in Bulgaria was called up for official explanations.

Not surprisingly, Romanian newspapers are profoundly “offended” by this piece of art, which reminded me of the fuming controversy around the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York this summer. You can read more info here and here.

The international media seems to have a rather moderate stand on the issue, with BBC News simply telling the story behind Entropa and with the International Herald Tribune being equally objective.

Czech officials seem to be discontent with Cerny’s petite joke – namely doing the work all by himself, and not by working together with 26 other actors, but they don’t seem to pick at the content of the installation. Actions are pending, so I wonder if their broad mindedness will take into account the fact that 2009 is the official European Year of Innovation and Creativity…

Recomand Charity Gift!

Published on January 13, 2009 in Miscellaneous. 3 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

www.CharityGift.ro - ajuta cu un singur click

La capitolul responsabilitate sociala, 2009 a adus o supriza extraordinara, anume o initiativa pe care o salut din toata inima. Charity Gift este primul magazin online caritabil din Romania, menit sa sensibilize utilizatorii de Internet si amatorii de cumparaturi online cu privire la diferite cauze sociale. Mecanismul e simplu si eficient: cumperi un produs, o parte din banii dati de tine se duc spre un ONG care lucreaza pentru promovarea unei cauze in care crezi.

Cauze sunt destule: mediu, protectia animalelor, educatie-cercetare, minoritati, sanatate, cultura. Produsele sunt neasteptat de numeroase, de foarte buna calitate si trendy. Sa impacam si frivolitatea si responsabilitatea din noi! Bunaoara, cosmeticele (toate organice) prezente pe site apartin unui brand ceh – Manufaktura - de care m-am indragostit de cand l-am descoperit. Cartile sunt numeroase, produsele de birou sunt elegante si suficient de scortoase pentru cine prefera stilul, accesoriile sunt pur si simplu adorabile si per total lucrurile arata foarte fain.

Proiectul este sustinut de Balms & Asociatii, Hanson, Proiect 1000, Mai Mult Verde, Provobis, Fundatia Principesa Margareta a Romaniei si altii.

Mi-e clar ca o sa devin clienta a Charity Gift (nu sunt convinsa ca denumirea e cea mai potrivita). Am o singura nelamurire… Nu imi dau seama cum pot directiona achizitia mea spre o anumita cauza, parand ca diferite produse sunt in mod automat cuplate cu anumite cauze. Trebuie sa mai investighez aceasta chestiune tehnica…

2009 a inceput!

Published on January 4, 2009 in Miscellaneous. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

La multi ani tuturor pe 2009! M-am intors in Romania dupa o vacanta cat se poate de lenesa la Bruxelles si Paris. Cu prieteni buni si vechi, asa cum recomand tuturor. Cu filme, glume, somn si, de ce nu, un pic de iubire. :) Inca nu ma indur sa incep cu adevarat treaba, asa ca imi iau liber inca doua zile pentru a face o incursiune la Ruse, vizitand o alta veche si buna prietena.

Nu am avut foarte mult curaj sa ma gandesc la viitorul meu si la ce decizii trebuie sa iau cat de curand si prefer sa nu fac inca acest lucru, ci sa iau lucrurile pe bucatele. Deadline cu deadline. Si ce-o fi, o fi. 2009 a inceput frumos si sunt optimista ca il pot face sa continue la fel de frumos!

PS: Singurul lucru care ma intristeaza mult este vestea ca ceea ce a inceput ca una din numeroasele confruntari intr-un etern conflict precum cel dintre Israel si Palestina s-a transformat intr-un razboi in toata puterea cuvantului. In seara asta, armata israeliana a declansat ofensiva terestra in fasia Gaza. Sunt deja multe victime civile si vor mai fi. Sper ca, macar de data aceasta, Consiliul de Securitate al ONU sa actioneze ceva mai eficient si sper ca Uniunea Europeana sa se abtina de la declaratii formulate atat de unilateral – inteleg ca presedintia ceha tocmai a declarat ca atacurile din Gaza sunt exclusiv o “defensiva” in opinia UE…

Public Administration Reform Beats About the Bush

Published on December 26, 2008 in Miscellaneous. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , .

As all of you know by now, we have a new government in Romania. While it may be true that the politics behind it have been dirty at times, there are definitely some very valuable politicians in the new executive and let us all hope there will be enough political will for real actions to be implemented. One of these “real actions” people have been calling for is the radical reform of public administration. Mr. Emil Boc, the new Prime Minister, announced it will radically reform public administration, by limiting salaries and benefits for high-level civil servants, by cutting protocol spending and by putting a stop to the recruitment process in administration. Mr. Radu Berceanu, the Minister for Transport, fired 24 directors from the Ministry of Transport. Continue reading ‘Public Administration Reform Beats About the Bush’

1989. Impotriva uitarii

Published on December 22, 2008 in Miscellaneous. 3 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Voi merge maine la “Lumanari impotriva uitarii”. Si ii multumesc lui Dragos Bucurenci pentru acest demers. Va veti intreba de ce. Aveam 4 ani cand a avut loc revolutia. Aveam 4 ani, insa ma nascusem si traiam in Bucuresti. Asa cum spune si titlul reportajului din Jurnalul National, moartea a avut buletin de Bucuresti. Nu am nici pe departe amintirile lui Sorin Tudor, de exemplu. Sau ale mamei mele, pe care as indemna-o oricand sa le astearna pe hartie. Istoria m-a ocolit, si poate acest lucru este bun pentru ca am crescut fara poveri grele. Pe de alta parte, istoria nu i-a ocolit pe ai mei si nici pe mine, intr-o oarecare masura, atat de tare incat sa uit. Spre deosebire de mine, cei mai multi pustani de 20 si ceva de ani au uitat de mult. Sau nu au stiut niciodata. Continue reading ‘1989. Impotriva uitarii’

Limita neuronului informatic

Published on December 19, 2008 in Miscellaneous. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Un fel de anarhie de vineri. Am citit recent un entry pe blog-ul lui Seth Godin care m-a pus pe ganduri rau de tot (multumesc Sundance Kiddo pentru link)… Ideea de baza a articolului este ca omenirea a ajuns la saturatie informationala. Cel putin acea parte din omenire care isi petrece mai bine de 8 ore pe zi pe internet.

Ten years ago, you had a shot of at least being aware of everything that mattered. Five years ago, you had to be really selective about what you took in, but at least it was possible to know what you didn’t know. Today, it’s impossible. Today, you can’t even read every article on a thin slice of a thin topic.

Personal, simt ca ma simt din ce in ce mai coplesita de informatia pe care o primesc. La birou primesc destul de des o tona de informatii interesante despre business, despre sectorul public, noi legi, noi schimbari, rapoarte care de care mai interesante. Rapoarte pentru care s-a muncit uneori si ani de zile si care te imbogatesc pentru ca iti arata practic unde te indrepti tu si unde se indreapta lumea din jurul tau. Am un reader destul de organizat pe care il citesc cel putin o data la doua zile. Dar de cele mai multe ori ajung sa citesc totul pe diagonala. Mama imi trimite stiri politice pe googledoc. As vrea sa citesc mai multe bloguri internationale (si pentru asta imi place Blogactiv), dar pur si simplu nu mai apuc sa fac asta. Alina ma tine la curent cu filmele si social issues, sunt abonata la diferite newslettere si grupuri si primesc zilnic stiri.

In mod paradoxal, simt uneori ca cele mai pline de miez si mai folositoare momente sunt acelea in care nu fac nimic din toate astea. Si in care stau la un pahar de vin cu un prieten si vorbesc. Impartasim idei, impartasim sentimente, discutam filosofii despre viata si despre noi.

Sunt curioasa unde o sa ajungem… Vom gasi noi si noi forme de rafinare si sintetizare a informatiei? Sau o vom da-o dracului de treaba (in mod artistic, evident) si vom reveni la micile placeri ale vietii, incercand sa ne rodam neuronii mai putin? 

S-a lansat TIGWeb

Published on December 18, 2008 in Miscellaneous. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

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Una dintre cele mai interesante retele sociale tematice tocmai s-a relansat intr-o varianta mult mai atragatoare din punct de vedere al design-ului si al organizarii informatiei. TakingITGlobal este o retea sociala ce reuneste sute de mii de tineri interesati de probleme globale din intreaga lume. Ce e mai interesant este ca TIG este una din putinele retele sociale tematice multilingve… Sunt implicata de ceva vreme in TIG (in varianta romana) si mi se pare ca sunt oportunitati extrem de interesante postate acolo si informatii cu adevarat valoroase. Iar acum arata si foarte cool :)

Think About It! – European Blogging Competition

Published on December 18, 2008 in Miscellaneous. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

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I’m very excited to be part of a very interesting blogging initiative launched by the European Journalism Center and the European Parliament. I found about “Think About It” from Daniel Antal, a fellow blogger whose entries on politics in Central and Eastern Europe from Blogactiv are really insightful. It’s basically a blogging competition where 3 bloggers selected from each EU member states meet together in Brusells and than blog regularly about the coming European elections. I’ll be visiting Brusells in January, hopefully meeting some interesting people and extending my network in the international blogosphere. Also, it would be great to know who the other 2 selected Romanian bloggers are…

2008: Honour Killings in Turkey

Published on December 10, 2008 in Miscellaneous. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

womeninthefrontlineYesterday, I attended one of the events of the campaign of combating violence against women launched by the United Nations Organization in Romania. I had written about the campaign at its inception, but it was only yesterday that I got to see two movies of the campaign. They were both part of a wider UN campaign titled “Women in the Frontline”, with Annie Lennox as front cover. The first of the films I saw explored one of the many forms of violence against women, namely human trafficking. Viewers were confronted with the bleak realities of Nepal, were thousands of women are smuggled overborder in Indian brothels, by their brothers, fathers or husbands, sold and turned into prostitutes, ostracized in their home communities, and all these happening sometimes to girls as young as 10 years of age. With incredible levels of poverty and virtually no way of feeding their children, women are simply trapped in a society that has found very few solutions to breaking the poverty cycle.

However, for me as an European the second film showed yesterday – portraying the situation of women in Turkey – was the one that really had me going. Apparently, in South-Eastern Turkey women are still brutally killed by their closesest male relatives in the name of honour. Dressed in black, they are taken in remote places of the village, shot at or simply stoned to death by their fathers and brothers. Because of European Union pressures, Turkey has modified its penal code and increased sentences for crimes of honour to life imprisonment (until 2001, evoking the family’s honour was a circumstance that could reduce one’s conviction in front of the court). However, 40% of men in rural areas are still supporting honour killings, which indicates that legislative measures were not supplemented in any way by cultural and educational changes. I’ve always spoken not necessarily against Turkey’s accession in the European Union (I am not against enlargement per se), but I’ve always warned that Turkey still has unsettled issues that will remain unsettled for a long time. However, I was simply baffled by yesterday’s movie. Really now, how can the Turkish government pretend Turkey is a modern, 21st century Westernized country? And by this, please don’t understand less terrible phenomena occur in Western Europe…

Suprinzator, Bucurestii si migratia

Published on December 10, 2008 in Miscellaneous. 0 Comments

migrantcitiesDaca tot azi, 10 Decembrie, este Ziua Internationala a Drepturilor Omului, sunt fericita ca saptamana aceasta chiar am facut lucruri care sa imi aminteasca de acest eveniment. Luni de exemplu am moderat o dezbatere pe tema migratiei, la British Council, cu ocazia lansarii raportului Migrant Cities din cadrul proiectului Living Together. Living Together a fost programul regional al British Council de celebrare a dialogului intercultural, iar Migrant Cities a fost un raport de cercetare asupra felului in care arata vietile migrantilor din 9 orase din SE Europei si UK (printre care, evident, si Bucuresti). Alti invitati activi in panel au fost cei de la Oficiul Roman pentru Imigrari - actualmente singura institutie a guvernului roman care se ocupa holistic de toate problemele ce tin de azil, refugiati si straini in Romania. Ei au lansat de asemenea un studiu, “Perceptia romanilor asupra refugiatilor din Romania”. Cateva date interesante de la dezbatere:

  • In Romania traiesc aproximativ 55.000 de straini, dintre care sub 1000 de refugiati.
  • Publicul roman crede ca in Romania traiesc peste 1 milion de straini, dintre care 100.000 de refugiati (de unde bunul simt deduce ca romanul simte in continuare pericolul “din umbra” si ii exagereaza proportiile in consecinta)
  • In general strainii prezenti in Romania se simt bineveniti aici
  • S-ar putea face mult mai multe pentru integrarea refugiatilor – interviuri din zonele Romaniei in care traiesc cu precadere refugiati arata ca doar 15% dintre romani au intrat vreodata in contact cu un refugiat (ceea ce ne plaseaza la coada Europei in materie de dialog intercultural)
  • Printre masurile care s-ar putea lua pentru integrarea refugiatilor si strainilor sunt cursurile de limba (mai ales plasarea lor la ore accesibile refugiatilor si informarea acestora cu privire la caracterul lor gratuit), grile de conversie a calificarilor profesionale, diverse campanii de dialog intercultural
  • Adevarate drame personale au loc in cadrul migrantilor romani intorsi dupa o perioada de sedere in afara Romaniei, iar guvernul roman nu implementeaza deloc programe de reintegrare a acestora
  • Romania gazduieste in prezent la Timisoara primul centru de tranzit din Europa pentru evacuarea refugiatilor – adica un adapost de urgenta, care poate primi persoane a caror viata este pusa in pericol in tara de origine pentru o perioada de pana la 6 luni, pana la repatriere voluntara sau pana la stabilirea permanenta in alta tara
  • Conform celor spuse de Machiel Salomons, reprezentatul in Romania al Inaltului Comisariat ONU pentru Refugiati de doua zile Romania tocmai s-a alaturat (intr-un moment in care Uniunea Europeana devine din ce in ce mai fortificata) celor 17 state ale lumii care sunt centre permanente de stabilire a refugiatilor; in aceste conditii, sunt foarte curioasa cum va evolua dinamica migratiei in urmatorii 5 ani in Romania, si cum va evolua perceptia romanilor fata de straini…

Multumesc British Council pentru invitatia de a modera un dialog atat de interesant. Va recomand cu multa caldura sa cititi cele doua rapoarte. Sunt chiar suprinzatoare!