Arts

A Book Review: The Living Goddess

Published September 23, 2022 | By Tim Reese

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The book is about the time, when God was worshipped as female in Europe and Asia Minor, between 7000 B.C.-3000 B.C., her violent suppression by male gods and its effects on today’s society. This book was Marija Gimbutas last work, it a synthesis of her work on the religion of the Living Goddess before and after patriarchal Europe. Marija Gimbutas was a professor of archaeology at UCLA and internationally known for her research into ‘Kurgan” and “Old Europe” culture. Her work showed that the Kugan culture was a Proto-Indo-European pastoral patriarchal warrior society that rode horse, built forts, worshipped male warrior gods and weapons. That expanded from the Russian steps into homelands of Old Europe and suppressed their culture with force. The Old Europeans were matriarchal agriculturists who lived without weapons, worshipped the Living Goddess and sanctified life and the earth. As the two cultures fused to form modern European society, women and the goddess were made subservient to males and their warrior gods. Yet Old European religion and customs remained a strong undercurrent that influenced the development of Western Civilization. This book will help you to recognize her symbols, learn their meaning and realizes that the goddess lives today. In today society the concept of Mother Earth, the cycle of life, the mother that gives birth to life, nourish it, receives its dead and lives in balance, is our inheritance from Old Europe.

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Cultural destruction in Ukraine by Russian forces will reverberate for years, UN rights expert warns

Published June 5, 2022 | By editor

UN News/Dina Neskorozhana The Andriyivska church in Dnipro, Kyiv, overlooks the historic Podil neighborhood.

“As in other conflicts, we currently witness the unfolding of suffering in Ukraine that does not seem to end and we cannot stop,” said Alexandra Xanthaki, Special Rapporteur on cultural rights.

“Self-identification is the paramount expression of these rights and all discussions, by States and in social media, should respect this.”

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Radio: The universal medium that leaves no one behind

Published February 20, 2022 | By editor

A ninth grade student follows her lessons on the radio in Mali.

In the age of new communication technologies and social media, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) recently announced the designation of new FM frequencies to expand radio’s reach in Africa.

To better understand this decision, and on the occasion of World Radio Day on 13 February, which is being celebrated under the theme “Radio and Trust”, UN News spoke to the ITU‘s Director of Radiocommunication, Mario Maniewicz, who began by explaining the medium’s importance in Africa. Continue reading →

Women building a sustainable future: The Mexican violinist who saved the Sierra Gorda

Published February 10, 2022 | By editor

Forty years ago, Martha Isabel Ruiz Corzo, known as Pati, left the Mexican city of Querétaro with her family in search of a simple rural life. Instead, she ended up leading and inspiring a group of some 17,000 local environmental activists, devoted to protecting the remote and beautiful Sierra Gorda.

In the early 1980s, Pati had a successful career in Querétaro, located about two hours north of Mexico City, as first violinist of the city’s orchestra, a soloist in two choirs, and a music teacher in a prestigious private school.

‘Simpler life’

She decided she wanted to lead a simpler life and moved her family to Sierra Gorda. This drastic change meant giving up urban comforts, living without electricity for five years, and developing a closer connection with nature.

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Story About Us: A Fashion Journey Creating Opportunities

Published January 1, 2022 | By editor

Sarajevo, 27 Dec 2021 – As the lights illuminated the stage to mark the start of the fashion show in Sarajevo, dozens of dreams took flight, warming the winter chill. One of them Zahra’s, a 25-year-old migrant from Iran.

“Story About Us” was a fashion show, but much more than just a fashion show. It marked the launch of a concept, a fashion label, and the proof that people on the move don’t need to hide in the shadows.

The gala 17 December show at Sarajevo City Hall, on the eve of International Migrants Day, showed migrants in a blaze of light and colour, and was the culmination of months of hard work and dedication.

Amina, a young Iranian model woman in the Fashion Corner in TRC Usivak, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Photo: Vanja Lisac

“I am incredibly happy and grateful for this opportunity to take part in developing a new brand. By the end of the year, we will have an exhibition of our works and a fashion show. I don’t know, for me this is still like a dream.”

So said Zahra.

“So far, I used to find ideas for my creations on the Internet, wishing that, one day, I would become a designer. It seems to me that this wish will be realized here, in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

Migrant models and migrant designers took to the catwalk to present works created in Migrant Centres across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

Melina, a young model in the Fashion Corner in TRC Usivak, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Photo: Vanja Lisac

“Everyone gave their contribution to present our collection in the best possible way. An entire world made up of emotions such as joy, sadness, happiness, tears, uncertainty. All of this is woven into the pores of the fabrics from which these garments are made,” said Aleksandra Lovrić, fashion designer and coordinator of the EU-backed International Organization for Migration (IOM) programme that made dreams real.

The story started in the migrant reception facilities as a well-being initiative for migrants. IOM established sewing corners for people to meaningfully spend their time during the pandemic, getting the chance to improve their sewing skills and to create reusable masks from recycled materials.

“Soon after the establishment, it was clear that we had something unique with much greater potential: creative migrants with a flair for fashion design and interest in showcasing their talents and learning about other cultures,” says Laura Lungarotti, IOM Chief of Mission in BiH and Sub-regional Coordinator for the Western Balkans.

“The sewing corners rapidly grew into something we could have hardly imagined: fashion studios.”

Melina, a young model in the Fashion Corner in TRC Usivak, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Photo: Vanja Lisac

Several local artists and renowned fashion designers enthusiastically joined the project, sharing their skills and experience with the migrants. “This project raised an extraordinary enthusiasm among the artistic community. The fashion corners have now turned into a space for cultural exchange, mutual learning, where migrants can express their creativity and collaborate with local artists, jointly leaving their mark in the community,” added Lungarotti.

The next step was to develop a brand: NO NATION FASHION. The brand aims to send the message that human mobility can offer development opportunities to both countries of origin, destination and transit, such as BiH. It celebrates diversity, a meeting of cultures, and abilities that know no borders. It combines the talent, creativity and skills of migrants and the expertise and cultural expressions of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s fashion designers.

Along with her wish to become a designer, Zahra and her family want to continue their lives in BiH. This fashion story is just one step on her path towards making this country a new home for her and her family.