Showing posts with label Audio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Audio. Show all posts
Friday, September 12, 2014
Sunday, September 07, 2014
LITERATUR: Sechs Generationen auf den Spuren der Vergangenheit. Von Esther Schneider - Über Nino Haratischwilis dritten Roman «Das achte Leben (Für Brilka)» (srf.ch)
(srf.ch) Opulenter Familienroman, Märchen und Geschichtslektion: Mit ihrem dritten Roman «Das achte Leben (Für Brilka)» schaut Nino Haratischwili in die Vergangenheit ihres Heimatlandes Georgien. Sie erzählt am Beispiel einer Familie, wie Krieg und Diktatur das Leben von sechs Generationen prägt.
Für die Autorin Nino Haratischwili ist das umfangreiche Familienepos «Das achte Leben (Für Brilka)» eine persönliche Auseinandersetzung mit ihrem Heimatland Georgien. Nino Haratischwili ist in einer Zeit aufgewachsen, die für Georgien schwierig war. Geboren Anfang der 80er-Jahre erlebte sie ein Land, das sich von der ehemaligen Sowjetunion löste und den Weg in die Unabhängigkeit suchte.
Die Ablösung von Russland brachte viel Leid über eine Bevölkerung, die schon traumatisiert war von den Revolutionswirren, den beiden Weltkriegen und dem Terror unter Stalin. Fast jede Familie in Georgien, so die Autorin, habe im Laufe des 20. Jahrhunderts Leid und Gewalt erfahren. Das laste noch heute auf den Menschen.
Die Suche nach Antworten
Dieses Erbe beschäftigt Nino Haratischwili seit Jahren, und sie ärgert sich darüber, dass die führenden Politiker des Landes sich nicht mit der Geschichte auseinandersetzen wollten. Sie glaubt, dass ein Land nur dann die Gegenwart anpacken kann, wenn es seine Vergangenheit aufgearbeitet hat.
Nino Haratischwili tut das nun auf ihre Art mit dem 1300 Seiten starken Roman «Das achte Leben (Für Brilka)». Ein Roman, für den sie lange in den Archiven Russlands recherchiert hat und der vieles zugleich ist: ein opulenter Familien- und Gesellschaftsroman, ein Panorama des 20. Jahrhunderts und eine Landesgeschichte von Georgien.
Der Teppich als Bild für die Familiengeschichte
«Du bist ein Faden, ich bin ein Faden, zusammen ergeben wir eine kleine Verzierung, mit vielen anderen Fäden zusammen ergeben wir ein Muster.» Das Teppichmuster als Metapher für die Verstrickungen, die sich aus der Geschichte ergeben.
Dieses Bild steht am Anfang des Romans. Da stellt uns die Erzählerin Niza ihre Urgrossmutter Stasia und ihre Nichte Brilka vor. Brilka ist der jüngste Spross der Familie, gerade mal zwölfJahre alt. Brilka haut aus Georgien ab in den Westen. Sie hat genug von der Vergangenheit, die auf der Familie lastet und über die niemand redet.
Die Urgrossmutter Stasia dagegen ist sozusagen die Hüterin der Familiengeschichte. Und diese Geschichte gibt sie weiter an ihre Urenkelin Niza. Niza, die auch unter dem Familienerbe leidet, schreibt die Geschichten auf. Sie will zum einen den Geheimnissen auf den Grund gehen und das Leid, das die Familie seit Jahrzehnten heimgesucht hat, benennen. Zum anderen will sie, dass ihre Nichte Brilka diese Last nicht mehr weiterschleppen muss.
Stürmische Zeiten
Nach diesem Prolog rollt die Autorin nun die Familiengeschichte auf. Sie macht das dramaturgisch geschickt: Sie widmet acht Familienmitgliedern je ein Buch im Buch. Sie beginnt im Jahr 1900 mit Stasias Geburt. Damals war die Welt noch im Lot. Stasia wird in die Familie eines wohlhabenden Schokoladefabrikanten hineingeboren. Sie wächst wohlbehütet auf und heiratet den Oberstleutnant Jaschi. Doch dann beginnt der Erste Weltkrieg, gefolgt von der russischen Revolution. Die Familie wird auseinandergerissen.
Dieses Schicksal widerfährt später auch ihren Kindern, vor allem während des Zweiten Weltkrieges und der Zeit der Stalindiktatur. Stasias Sohn macht Karriere in der kommunistischen Partei und lebt weit weg von Georgien und seiner Familie in Moskau. Die Tochter, liiert mit einem Dissidenten, flieht in den Westen. Das tragischste Schicksal aber trifft Stasias schöne Schwester. Ein berüchtigter Geheimdienstchef missbraucht sie und macht sie gewaltsam zu seiner Geliebten und bringt dadurch Unglück über die Familie.
Der Fluch der Schokolade
Überhaupt wird die Familie immer wieder von Unglück heimgesucht. Es ist, als würde ein Fluch auf ihr Lasten. Nino Haratischwili setzt in diesem Zusammenhang ein dramaturgisches Mittel ein. Der Fluch wird ausgelöst durch ein Geheimrezept der Familie für heisse Schokolade. Diese Schokolade zieht sich als Leitmotiv durch den ganzen Roman. Nino Haratischwili wollte dem Roman, der über weite Teile politisch ist, dadurch eine märchenhafte Note geben.
Auch wenn der Roman an gewissen Stellen etwas zu pathetisch geraten ist und da und dort Kürzungen vertragen hätte, ist Nino Haratischwili eine grossartige Erzählerin. Der Roman ist eine wunderbare Lektüre für alle, die Familiengeschichten lieben und einen Blick auf ein Land werfen möchten, das lange hinter dem Eisernen Vorhang verborgen war.
Sendung: «Das achte Leben (Für Brilka)» von Nino Haratischwili
Acht Frauen, acht Schicksale: Nino Haratischwili erzählt die Geschichte einer georgischen Familie über sechs Generationen.
Um 1900 ist die Welt für die Familie eines georgischen Schokoladefabrikanten noch in Ordnung. Kinder kommen zur Welt, man lebt im Wohlstand und träumt von einer goldenen Zukunft. Doch dann wird Georgien von Kriegen und Revolutionen heimgesucht. Ein Fluch legt sich über die Familie und bringt den Nachkommen der nächsten Generationen Trennung und Leid.
Die junge Autorin Nino Haratschwili legt mit ihrem Roman «Das achte Leben (Für Brilka)» ein opulentes Epos über eine Familie vor, die in stürmischen Zeiten zu überleben versucht. Ein Gesellschaftsroman, der einen Blick hinter den eisernen Vorhang gewährt, auf das Leben in dem Land südlich des Kaukasus. Die Autorin Nino Haratischwili ist mit ihrem Roman Gast in «52 Beste Bücher».
Buchhinweis:
Nino Haratischwili: «Das achte Leben (Für Brilka).» Frankfurter Verlagsanstalt, 2014.
Für die Autorin Nino Haratischwili ist das umfangreiche Familienepos «Das achte Leben (Für Brilka)» eine persönliche Auseinandersetzung mit ihrem Heimatland Georgien. Nino Haratischwili ist in einer Zeit aufgewachsen, die für Georgien schwierig war. Geboren Anfang der 80er-Jahre erlebte sie ein Land, das sich von der ehemaligen Sowjetunion löste und den Weg in die Unabhängigkeit suchte.
Die Ablösung von Russland brachte viel Leid über eine Bevölkerung, die schon traumatisiert war von den Revolutionswirren, den beiden Weltkriegen und dem Terror unter Stalin. Fast jede Familie in Georgien, so die Autorin, habe im Laufe des 20. Jahrhunderts Leid und Gewalt erfahren. Das laste noch heute auf den Menschen.
Die Suche nach Antworten
Dieses Erbe beschäftigt Nino Haratischwili seit Jahren, und sie ärgert sich darüber, dass die führenden Politiker des Landes sich nicht mit der Geschichte auseinandersetzen wollten. Sie glaubt, dass ein Land nur dann die Gegenwart anpacken kann, wenn es seine Vergangenheit aufgearbeitet hat.
Nino Haratischwili tut das nun auf ihre Art mit dem 1300 Seiten starken Roman «Das achte Leben (Für Brilka)». Ein Roman, für den sie lange in den Archiven Russlands recherchiert hat und der vieles zugleich ist: ein opulenter Familien- und Gesellschaftsroman, ein Panorama des 20. Jahrhunderts und eine Landesgeschichte von Georgien.
Der Teppich als Bild für die Familiengeschichte
«Du bist ein Faden, ich bin ein Faden, zusammen ergeben wir eine kleine Verzierung, mit vielen anderen Fäden zusammen ergeben wir ein Muster.» Das Teppichmuster als Metapher für die Verstrickungen, die sich aus der Geschichte ergeben.
Dieses Bild steht am Anfang des Romans. Da stellt uns die Erzählerin Niza ihre Urgrossmutter Stasia und ihre Nichte Brilka vor. Brilka ist der jüngste Spross der Familie, gerade mal zwölfJahre alt. Brilka haut aus Georgien ab in den Westen. Sie hat genug von der Vergangenheit, die auf der Familie lastet und über die niemand redet.
Die Urgrossmutter Stasia dagegen ist sozusagen die Hüterin der Familiengeschichte. Und diese Geschichte gibt sie weiter an ihre Urenkelin Niza. Niza, die auch unter dem Familienerbe leidet, schreibt die Geschichten auf. Sie will zum einen den Geheimnissen auf den Grund gehen und das Leid, das die Familie seit Jahrzehnten heimgesucht hat, benennen. Zum anderen will sie, dass ihre Nichte Brilka diese Last nicht mehr weiterschleppen muss.
Stürmische Zeiten
Nach diesem Prolog rollt die Autorin nun die Familiengeschichte auf. Sie macht das dramaturgisch geschickt: Sie widmet acht Familienmitgliedern je ein Buch im Buch. Sie beginnt im Jahr 1900 mit Stasias Geburt. Damals war die Welt noch im Lot. Stasia wird in die Familie eines wohlhabenden Schokoladefabrikanten hineingeboren. Sie wächst wohlbehütet auf und heiratet den Oberstleutnant Jaschi. Doch dann beginnt der Erste Weltkrieg, gefolgt von der russischen Revolution. Die Familie wird auseinandergerissen.
Dieses Schicksal widerfährt später auch ihren Kindern, vor allem während des Zweiten Weltkrieges und der Zeit der Stalindiktatur. Stasias Sohn macht Karriere in der kommunistischen Partei und lebt weit weg von Georgien und seiner Familie in Moskau. Die Tochter, liiert mit einem Dissidenten, flieht in den Westen. Das tragischste Schicksal aber trifft Stasias schöne Schwester. Ein berüchtigter Geheimdienstchef missbraucht sie und macht sie gewaltsam zu seiner Geliebten und bringt dadurch Unglück über die Familie.
Der Fluch der Schokolade
Überhaupt wird die Familie immer wieder von Unglück heimgesucht. Es ist, als würde ein Fluch auf ihr Lasten. Nino Haratischwili setzt in diesem Zusammenhang ein dramaturgisches Mittel ein. Der Fluch wird ausgelöst durch ein Geheimrezept der Familie für heisse Schokolade. Diese Schokolade zieht sich als Leitmotiv durch den ganzen Roman. Nino Haratischwili wollte dem Roman, der über weite Teile politisch ist, dadurch eine märchenhafte Note geben.
Auch wenn der Roman an gewissen Stellen etwas zu pathetisch geraten ist und da und dort Kürzungen vertragen hätte, ist Nino Haratischwili eine grossartige Erzählerin. Der Roman ist eine wunderbare Lektüre für alle, die Familiengeschichten lieben und einen Blick auf ein Land werfen möchten, das lange hinter dem Eisernen Vorhang verborgen war.
Sendung: «Das achte Leben (Für Brilka)» von Nino Haratischwili
Acht Frauen, acht Schicksale: Nino Haratischwili erzählt die Geschichte einer georgischen Familie über sechs Generationen.
Um 1900 ist die Welt für die Familie eines georgischen Schokoladefabrikanten noch in Ordnung. Kinder kommen zur Welt, man lebt im Wohlstand und träumt von einer goldenen Zukunft. Doch dann wird Georgien von Kriegen und Revolutionen heimgesucht. Ein Fluch legt sich über die Familie und bringt den Nachkommen der nächsten Generationen Trennung und Leid.
Die junge Autorin Nino Haratschwili legt mit ihrem Roman «Das achte Leben (Für Brilka)» ein opulentes Epos über eine Familie vor, die in stürmischen Zeiten zu überleben versucht. Ein Gesellschaftsroman, der einen Blick hinter den eisernen Vorhang gewährt, auf das Leben in dem Land südlich des Kaukasus. Die Autorin Nino Haratischwili ist mit ihrem Roman Gast in «52 Beste Bücher».
Buchhinweis:
Nino Haratischwili: «Das achte Leben (Für Brilka).» Frankfurter Verlagsanstalt, 2014.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
GLOBALIZATION: Gold mining's cultural cost. By Paul Rimple, Tbilisi (dw.de)
(dw.de) Civil society in the Republic of Georgia is up in arms about the government's decision to allow a mining company to excavate and destroy what many archaeologists contend is the oldest gold mine in the world.
Read also by Paul Rimple: Conservation
Ancient site pits locals against big business in Georgia [dw.de]
Plans by big business to destroy an ancient site south of the Georgian capital Tbilisi are causing anger among local protesters and international scientists. They say it's an ancient gold mine dating back 5,000 years.
The rolling plains of Georgia's Bolnisi region aren't just serene. They also represent one of the most significant areas worldwide for archeologists looking for ancient human remains.
In the tiny village of Dmanisi, a 1.8 million year-old human skull was recently discovered to the amazement of scientists. Nearby, a team of archeologists from the National Museum of Georgia and the German Mining Museum (DBM) unearthed Bronze Era caves.
But the area is also rich in minerals. One site, known as Sakdrisi, is even believed to be home to a 5,000-year-old gold mine. The area was part of a concession of land the Georgian government allotted for the exploration of minerals in 1994.
In 2006, Georgia's Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection added the ancient gold mine site to its list of protected cultural monuments. The archeological significance of the region had been a source of pride to the company that had the initial rights to mine the area. But that's now due to change. The Russian-owned company RMG bought the lease in 2012, and now plans to mine for gold.
The power of gold
RMG believes that rich gold deposits are directly under the ancient gold mine site and petitioned strongly for the government to lift Sakdrisi's protected status.
The Georgian Ministry of Culture formed a commission to study the site's status in May 2013. After one month of investigations, the commission ruled that no grounds exist to justify the protected status. In July 2013, the Ministry of Culture revoked its protected cultural heritage status.
The commission also held that the previous Georgian government had granted the protected status illegally, although they say they cannot find the 2006 documents that granted Sakdrisi permanent protection.
Thomas Stöllner, from DBM, challenged the commission's scientific qualifications though, requesting in an open letter that a new international committee be set up to test the site's archaeological signficance. So far the request has fallen on deaf ears.
Conflicts of interest
Gold exports are big business in Georgia. Sales of the precious metal overseas totalled 25.7 million euros ($35.5 million) in 2013, nearly 3 percent of the country's total export earnings.
RMG Commercial Director Solomon Tsabadze, a former Georgian Environment Ministry official, says the mining company provides 85 percent of the local budget through licensing fees and is the largest single employer in the region.
But civil society groups suspect collusion between the mining company and the government. Back in 1994 a Ministry of Environment official, Zurab Kutelia, issued the original mining permit for Sakdrisi. Today, he is the chairperson RMG's supervisory board and a company shareholder. On the other hand, other former mining company directors have become government officials too.
For Marine Mizandari, Georgia's former Deputy Minister of Culture, the ministry's decision to remove Sakdrisi from its list of protected sites is a serious setback.
"Why are we called the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia, if we don't protect our monuments of culture?" she said to DW, adding that she believes she was dismissed from her post in the culture ministry for reasons related to Sakdrisi.
Citizens stand up
Mizandari is now at the forefront of the Public Committee to Save Sakdrisi, a coalition of civil society groups and students demanding that the Culture Ministry appoint a non-partisan group of international experts to re-evaluate Sakdrisi.
But her protest work is not yet getting results. At a recent meeting with university students on the issue, Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili reiterated the commission's controversial findings, saying there was no proof gold had ever been mined in Sakdrisi. He stressed that RMG has already invested heavily in the Georgian economy and that protecting Sakdrisi would jeopardize the jobs of 3,000 people.
RMG has now been given the green light to begin excavating, and activists and students have organized protests against the Culture Ministry's decision in Tbilisi and near the mine site. One of their chief complaints is their exclusion from the decision-making process.
"You can stop anybody on the street and every Georgian will tell you they are proud of their history and culture," said Avtandil Ioseliani, representing Unanimity, a local NGO coalition. "I don't know what the Culture Ministry is doing, but they are not answering the questions society has."
Although Sakdrisi has lost its cultural heritage protected status, it is still an archeological site, which prevents RMG from destroying it completely. The Culture Ministry has announced that it will appoint an independent group of archeological experts to monitor the mining work done.
But mining opponents fail to see the logic in the policy, since the mining process requires blasting and the destruction of the ancient tunnels, they say.
Nikoloz Antidze, from the National Agency for Cultural Heritage and Preservation of Georgia, recalls how archeological sites were ruined when BP laid an oil pipeline across the country in last 10 years.
"State interests often override archaeological interests all over the world, not just in Georgia," he told DW.
Read also by Paul Rimple: Conservation
Ancient site pits locals against big business in Georgia [dw.de]
Plans by big business to destroy an ancient site south of the Georgian capital Tbilisi are causing anger among local protesters and international scientists. They say it's an ancient gold mine dating back 5,000 years.
The rolling plains of Georgia's Bolnisi region aren't just serene. They also represent one of the most significant areas worldwide for archeologists looking for ancient human remains.
In the tiny village of Dmanisi, a 1.8 million year-old human skull was recently discovered to the amazement of scientists. Nearby, a team of archeologists from the National Museum of Georgia and the German Mining Museum (DBM) unearthed Bronze Era caves.
But the area is also rich in minerals. One site, known as Sakdrisi, is even believed to be home to a 5,000-year-old gold mine. The area was part of a concession of land the Georgian government allotted for the exploration of minerals in 1994.
In 2006, Georgia's Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection added the ancient gold mine site to its list of protected cultural monuments. The archeological significance of the region had been a source of pride to the company that had the initial rights to mine the area. But that's now due to change. The Russian-owned company RMG bought the lease in 2012, and now plans to mine for gold.
The power of gold
RMG believes that rich gold deposits are directly under the ancient gold mine site and petitioned strongly for the government to lift Sakdrisi's protected status.
The Georgian Ministry of Culture formed a commission to study the site's status in May 2013. After one month of investigations, the commission ruled that no grounds exist to justify the protected status. In July 2013, the Ministry of Culture revoked its protected cultural heritage status.
The commission also held that the previous Georgian government had granted the protected status illegally, although they say they cannot find the 2006 documents that granted Sakdrisi permanent protection.
Thomas Stöllner, from DBM, challenged the commission's scientific qualifications though, requesting in an open letter that a new international committee be set up to test the site's archaeological signficance. So far the request has fallen on deaf ears.
Conflicts of interest
Gold exports are big business in Georgia. Sales of the precious metal overseas totalled 25.7 million euros ($35.5 million) in 2013, nearly 3 percent of the country's total export earnings.
RMG Commercial Director Solomon Tsabadze, a former Georgian Environment Ministry official, says the mining company provides 85 percent of the local budget through licensing fees and is the largest single employer in the region.
But civil society groups suspect collusion between the mining company and the government. Back in 1994 a Ministry of Environment official, Zurab Kutelia, issued the original mining permit for Sakdrisi. Today, he is the chairperson RMG's supervisory board and a company shareholder. On the other hand, other former mining company directors have become government officials too.
For Marine Mizandari, Georgia's former Deputy Minister of Culture, the ministry's decision to remove Sakdrisi from its list of protected sites is a serious setback.
"Why are we called the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia, if we don't protect our monuments of culture?" she said to DW, adding that she believes she was dismissed from her post in the culture ministry for reasons related to Sakdrisi.
Citizens stand up
Mizandari is now at the forefront of the Public Committee to Save Sakdrisi, a coalition of civil society groups and students demanding that the Culture Ministry appoint a non-partisan group of international experts to re-evaluate Sakdrisi.
But her protest work is not yet getting results. At a recent meeting with university students on the issue, Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili reiterated the commission's controversial findings, saying there was no proof gold had ever been mined in Sakdrisi. He stressed that RMG has already invested heavily in the Georgian economy and that protecting Sakdrisi would jeopardize the jobs of 3,000 people.
RMG has now been given the green light to begin excavating, and activists and students have organized protests against the Culture Ministry's decision in Tbilisi and near the mine site. One of their chief complaints is their exclusion from the decision-making process.
"You can stop anybody on the street and every Georgian will tell you they are proud of their history and culture," said Avtandil Ioseliani, representing Unanimity, a local NGO coalition. "I don't know what the Culture Ministry is doing, but they are not answering the questions society has."
Although Sakdrisi has lost its cultural heritage protected status, it is still an archeological site, which prevents RMG from destroying it completely. The Culture Ministry has announced that it will appoint an independent group of archeological experts to monitor the mining work done.
But mining opponents fail to see the logic in the policy, since the mining process requires blasting and the destruction of the ancient tunnels, they say.
Nikoloz Antidze, from the National Agency for Cultural Heritage and Preservation of Georgia, recalls how archeological sites were ruined when BP laid an oil pipeline across the country in last 10 years.
"State interests often override archaeological interests all over the world, not just in Georgia," he told DW.
Friday, January 07, 2011
TRAVEL: Riding on the edge in Georgia (Tusheti) (guardian.co.uk)
Kevin Rushby faces his most hair-raising adventure yet on a horse ride with champion ex-jockey Richard Dunwoody in Georgia's Tusheti mountainsRead more about Kevin's adventure in tomorrow's Saturday Travel
Kevin Rushby
guardian.co.uk, Friday 7 January 2011 14.21 GMT
Audioslideshow >>>
Kevin Rushby
guardian.co.uk, Friday 7 January 2011 14.21 GMT
Audioslideshow >>>
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
AUDIO: An unexpected visit to an Azeri village wedding (frontlineclub.com)
By Onnik Krikorian and Arzu Geybullayeva
It was a dream come true. Despite knowing each other for several months online, the chances of meeting regional analyst and superstar blogger Arzu Geybullayeva seemed remote at best and unlikely at worst. As Arzu is based in Istanbul, Turkey, and Baku, Azerbaijan, it's not easy for someone based in Armenia with an Armenian surname to meet even virtual friends from the country's easterm neighbour in the South Caucasus.
Armenia and Azerbaijan still remain locked in negotiations to find a peaceful solution to the 20-year-old conflict over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. Rhetoric from the authorities in Baku remains as bellicose as ever and the situation is hardly ideal in Armenia or especially among ethnic Armenians in Karabakh itself. Meetings between those from either country on neutral ground are often frowned upon by the majority population in each.
But always expect the unexpected in the South Caucasus, and a meeting of youth activists inTelavi, Georgia, saw the unlikely happen. With myself presenting a module on new media for the meeting, Arzu was also present as a facilitator for the Azerbaijani delegation. Picking her up from Tbilisi International Airport on Sunday morning, the two hour journey to Telavi provided a wonderful opportunity to finally speak in person, but the best was yet to come.
Ten minutes outside of Telavi was Karajala, a village Inhabited by anywhere between 8-10,000 ethnic Azeris in Georgia. As Arzu and I had often spoken about joint projects using traditional and new media to overcome the negative stereotypes of the other in play in Armenia and Azerbaijan, it provided us with the first of hopefully many projects along the same lines. What we weren't expecting, however, was to walk straight into an ethnic Azeri wedding.
An article accompanied by my photos on Karajala by Arzu Geybullayeva will soon be available on Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso while the both of us will blog more about the visit. Until then, an audio slideshow put hastily together late last night is below. The whole experience was indeed a dream come true. Although I've interviewed Arzu by Skype for Global Voices Online before, little could I have ever imagined that not only would we finally meet, but we'd also work together.
Hopefully, the first time will not be the last.
The full audio slideshow of images from Karajala is available at: frontlineclub.com
It was a dream come true. Despite knowing each other for several months online, the chances of meeting regional analyst and superstar blogger Arzu Geybullayeva seemed remote at best and unlikely at worst. As Arzu is based in Istanbul, Turkey, and Baku, Azerbaijan, it's not easy for someone based in Armenia with an Armenian surname to meet even virtual friends from the country's easterm neighbour in the South Caucasus.
Armenia and Azerbaijan still remain locked in negotiations to find a peaceful solution to the 20-year-old conflict over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. Rhetoric from the authorities in Baku remains as bellicose as ever and the situation is hardly ideal in Armenia or especially among ethnic Armenians in Karabakh itself. Meetings between those from either country on neutral ground are often frowned upon by the majority population in each.
But always expect the unexpected in the South Caucasus, and a meeting of youth activists inTelavi, Georgia, saw the unlikely happen. With myself presenting a module on new media for the meeting, Arzu was also present as a facilitator for the Azerbaijani delegation. Picking her up from Tbilisi International Airport on Sunday morning, the two hour journey to Telavi provided a wonderful opportunity to finally speak in person, but the best was yet to come.
Ten minutes outside of Telavi was Karajala, a village Inhabited by anywhere between 8-10,000 ethnic Azeris in Georgia. As Arzu and I had often spoken about joint projects using traditional and new media to overcome the negative stereotypes of the other in play in Armenia and Azerbaijan, it provided us with the first of hopefully many projects along the same lines. What we weren't expecting, however, was to walk straight into an ethnic Azeri wedding.
An article accompanied by my photos on Karajala by Arzu Geybullayeva will soon be available on Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso while the both of us will blog more about the visit. Until then, an audio slideshow put hastily together late last night is below. The whole experience was indeed a dream come true. Although I've interviewed Arzu by Skype for Global Voices Online before, little could I have ever imagined that not only would we finally meet, but we'd also work together.
Hopefully, the first time will not be the last.
The full audio slideshow of images from Karajala is available at: frontlineclub.com
Saturday, March 07, 2009
EXHIBITION: Child Welfare in Kutaisi and Georgia - Audio & Slideshow by onnik Krikorian (oneworld.am)
After undertaking some photographic work for the London-based Children’s Charity EveryChild in the Republic of Georgia in 2006, I visited the country’s second largest city of Kutaisi early the following year to further document social work and the reintegration of socially vulnerable children back into their biological families or with foster parents.
It’s been a long time in coming, and no doubt also frustrated by last year’s war with Russia over South Ossetia, but an exhibition of those images shot over seven days has started at various venues in Newport, the Welsh city twinned with Kutaisi. The exhibit is currently in the main foyer of the Newport Civic Centre and will be transferred to the city’s central library next week.
The photos will remain there until 27 March when they will then return to the Civic Center for exhibition in the Council Chamber in preparation for a visit to Newport by the British Ambassador to Georgia, Denis Keefe. The exhibition is being staged under the auspices of the Newport-Kutaisi Association who commissioned the work.
Friday, December 19, 2008
MEDIEN: Die Macht der Bilder (dw-world.de)
19.12.2008 - von Eleni Klotsikas
In den fünf Tagen des Kaukasus-Krieges lieferten internationale Medien täglich Berichte. Eine einwandfreie Berichterstattung war aber kaum möglich: Propaganda der georgischen und russischen Medien erschwerten die Arbeit.
Im georgischen Fernsehen wechselten sich martialische Kriegsbilder, die wie im Videoclip zusammen geschnitten und mit Musik unterlegt sind, mit patriotischen Liebesbekundungen georgischer Prominenten an das eigene Land ab.
Auf russischen Sendern dagegen wurde der georgische Präsidenten Saakashvili diffamiert. Der Reporter im Fernsehen vergleicht den Politiker mit Hitler: In einen schwarz-weiß gefärbten Ausschnitt einer Rede von Saakashvili wird immer wieder das Bild von Hitler eingeblendet. Dann kommt ein Psychologe zu Wort, der die These wissenschaftlich unterstreichen will.
mehr >>>
Problematiken der Berichterstattung im Kauskasus-Krieg (19.12.2008/mp3-download)
In den fünf Tagen des Kaukasus-Krieges lieferten internationale Medien täglich Berichte. Eine einwandfreie Berichterstattung war aber kaum möglich: Propaganda der georgischen und russischen Medien erschwerten die Arbeit.
Im georgischen Fernsehen wechselten sich martialische Kriegsbilder, die wie im Videoclip zusammen geschnitten und mit Musik unterlegt sind, mit patriotischen Liebesbekundungen georgischer Prominenten an das eigene Land ab.
Auf russischen Sendern dagegen wurde der georgische Präsidenten Saakashvili diffamiert. Der Reporter im Fernsehen vergleicht den Politiker mit Hitler: In einen schwarz-weiß gefärbten Ausschnitt einer Rede von Saakashvili wird immer wieder das Bild von Hitler eingeblendet. Dann kommt ein Psychologe zu Wort, der die These wissenschaftlich unterstreichen will.
mehr >>>
Problematiken der Berichterstattung im Kauskasus-Krieg (19.12.2008/mp3-download)
Thursday, September 04, 2008
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 09-04-08 (pdf)
click on the headline
The Digest will be on hiatus for 10 days. I'm pretty sure that nothing will happen while it's away.--JK
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official statements, interviews, and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
The Digest will be on hiatus for 10 days. I'm pretty sure that nothing will happen while it's away.--JK
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official statements, interviews, and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 09-03-08 (pdf)
click on the headline
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official statements, interviews, and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official statements, interviews, and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 09-02-08 (pdf)
click on the headline
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official statements, interviews, and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official statements, interviews, and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 09-01-08 (pdf)
click on the headline
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official statements, interviews, and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official statements, interviews, and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
Friday, August 29, 2008
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 08-29-08 (pdf)
click on the headline
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official interviews, statements, and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official interviews, statements, and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
Thursday, August 28, 2008
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 08-28-08 (pdf)
click on the headline
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 08-27-08 (pdf)
click on the headline
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 08-26-08 (pdf)
click on the headline
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official statements, interviews, and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official statements, interviews, and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
Monday, August 25, 2008
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 08-25-08 (pdf)
click on the headline
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official interviews, statements, and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official interviews, statements, and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
Saturday, August 23, 2008
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 08-23-08 (pdf)
click on the headline
News current as of 10:00 Tbilisi time >>>
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official statements and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
News current as of 10:00 Tbilisi time >>>
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official statements and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
Friday, August 22, 2008
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 08-22-08 (pdf)
click on the headline
News current as of 10:00 Tbilisi time >>>
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official statements and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
News current as of 10:00 Tbilisi time >>>
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official statements and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
Thursday, August 21, 2008
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 08-21-08 (pdf)
click on the headline
News current as of 09:00 Tbilisi time >>>
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official statements, interviews, and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
News current as of 09:00 Tbilisi time >>>
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Official statements, interviews, and press conferences
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 08-20-08 (pdf)
click on the headline
News current as of 1000 Tbilisi time >>>
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Interviews, speeches, and official statements
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
News current as of 1000 Tbilisi time >>>
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)
Today's digest is in these sections:
Interviews, speeches, and official statements
Major news reports
Other news items
International response
Opinion and analysis
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
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