The 15th International Conference on the linguistics of the Romani language will take place on 13 and 14 September 2023, a biennial event that brings together all the specialists in this field and which is held for the first time in Italy.
Author Archives: Roma Foundation
Sinti Grave
Securing, preserving and renovating the Sinto grave in Osendorf, one of the very few such memorial in Germany, remains on the city of Halle (Saale)’s agenda. “This is clearly our goal – even if the city’s application for federal funding was rejected,” says Jane Unger, head of the culture department for the city of Halle (Saale). Financing options for the renovation are now being sought together with the state.
- Erhalt des Sinto-Grabmales in Osendorf bleibt Ziel der Stadt Halle / Informationen über seine Geschichte zum Tag des offenen Denkmals am Sonntag. In: Du bist Halle. 08.09.2023. https://dubisthalle.de/erhalt-des-sinto-grabmales-in-osendorf-bleibt-ziel-der-stadt-halle-informationen-ueber-seine-geschichte-zum-tag-des-offenen-denkmals-am-sonntag
Subotica: festival
On Tuesday, September 12, the Roma National Council and the City of Subotica are organizing the First Festival of Roma Music, the Roma Tambura and Brass Evening, on the City Square.
- „Tambura se sluša ušima, a čuje srcem“ – Romsko tamburaško i duvačko veče, 12. Septembra. In: Subotičke. 08.09.2023. https://suboticke.rs/vesti/tambura-se-slusa-usima-a-cuje-srcem-romsko-tamburasko-i-duvacko-vece-12-septembra/
Zdeněk Godla
The Czech Roma actor Zdeněk Godla has announced he will quit acting. He got into acting by accident: He worked as a public works worker in Chomutov, where the audition was taking place. He participated, won, and since then has been an actor who often appears in films and series. His most famous works include, for example, the character František from the series Most.
Apparently, he is also in financial trouble, something that may have to do with his current decision.
What to say …
An article about some Romane traditions, wrapped in lots of bad journalism. Yes, some of the facts such a whistling in a house are frowned upon (in this particular case, it is calling the devil), but all the thing around is just simply bad.
- Romka ostrzega przed tym zwyczajem. Tak można napytać sobie biedy. In: Onet. 08.09.2023. https://www.onet.pl/styl-zycia/onetkobieta/romka-ostrzega-przed-tym-zwyczajem-tak-mozna-napytac-sobie-biedy/3yww5h4,2b83378a
Roma Programs
After three decades of supporting the Roma, the Open Society Foundation allocated 100 million euros for the Roma Foundation for Europe, which is based in Brussels and is headed by Željko Jovanović. The commitment of 100 million euros to this Foundation was announced by Alexander Soros.
“With a new generation of exceptional Roma leaders setting strategy and funding priorities, I am confident that the new foundation will be a dynamic force—committed to realizing the full potential of Roma and overcoming the deep-rooted barriers they face.” We will do everything we can to support the foundation and its leadership in a mission that will benefit not only the Roma, but also Europe as a whole,” said Soros.
- Fondacija za otvoreno društvo opredelila 100 miliona evra za novu Romsku fondaciju za Evropu. In: JuGmedia. 08.09.2023. https://jugmedia.rs/fondacija-za-otvoreno-drustvo-opredelila-100-miliona-evra-za-novu-romsku-fondaciju-za-evropu/
Netflix “Infamia”
Is Zofia Jastrzębska, the star of the latest Netflix series in Poland palying a 17 years old Romni, herself a Romni?
The real question in this case is does it matter?
- Zofia Jastrzębska: Ludzie, którzy widzieli zwiastun “Infamii”, pytają mnie, czy faktycznie jestem Romką. In: Wysokie Obcasy. 08.09.2023. https://www.wysokieobcasy.pl/wysokie-obcasy/7,157211,30156076,zofia-jastrzebska-ludzie-ktorzy-widzieli-zwiastun-infamii.html?disableRedirects=true
Poland, Roma, and Netflix
“Infamia” has just debuted on Netflix. The series by Anna Maliszewska and Jakub Czekaj is, in many respects, a unique and very original production. Although it does not avoid minor mistakes and shortcomings, one can honestly admit that it is one of the most interesting Polish TV series in recent months, and maybe even years.
- “Infamia”: Nastolatka w świecie ogarniętym niepokojem, czyli jak trudno być Romką [recenzja]. In: Swiat Seriali. 07.09.2023. https://swiatseriali.interia.pl/newsy/seriale/infamia-1660/news-infamia-nastolatka-w-swiecie-ogarnietym-niepokojem-czyli-jak,nId,7009381#utm_source=paste&utm_medium=paste&utm_campaign=safari
Ukraine, Roma, and Education
In Ukraine, among the legal problems faced by Roma, education stands out as a separate topic. About 20% of the adult population of the Roma community have no education and have never attended school as reported by the Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights.
As usual, 20% of what …
“Among a number of legal, social, and economic problems, one of the key ones remains the issue of Roma access to education. The educational level of the Roma population in general remains extremely low. According to the latest research by Roma public organizations, about 20% of the adult population do not have any education and have never attended school,” the message reads.
- У омбудсмена назвали кількість ромів в Україні, які ніколи не відвідували школу. In: Don Patriot. 07.09.2023. https://donpatriot.news/article/u-ombudsmena-nazvali-kilkist-romiv-v-ukrayini-yaki-nikoli-ne-vidviduvali-shkolu
Ukraine, Roma, and Measles
Ukraine launched a renewed vaccination drive against measles, especially amongst Roma in the Uzhhorod region.
- В Ужгороді ромів щепитимуть від кору. In: Uzhhorod Rayon. 06.09.2023. https://uzhhorod.rayon.in.ua/news/630880-v-uzhgorodi-romiv-shchepitimut-vid-koru
Bulgaria and Elections
A Bulgarian mayor tried to move a polling station to a Roma neighbourhood. The attempt of the mayor of Gurkovo, Marian Tsonev, elected by the DPS, to move a polling station from the centre of the city to the Roma neighbourhood failed. Almost all other political forces rose up against him – BSP, GERB, PP, DB, “Vazrazhdane”, ITN and VMRO. They sent a complaint to the regional governor of Stara Zagora, Iva Radeva, who determined the order for the relocation of the section was not correct.
- Кмет на ДПС изгуби битката за преместена в ромски квартал секция. In: Sega. 06.09.2023. https://www.segabg.com/category-bulgaria/kmet-na-dps-izgubi-bitkata-za-premestena-romski-kvartal-sekciya
Roma Culture
Culture gives identity and a sense of belonging. Roma culture almost always implies diversity. DW tries to find answers to the question of what is the specificity of Roma culture.
- Romska kultura: identitet, otpor i ponos. In: Deutsche Welle. 06.09.2023. https://www.dw.com/sr/romska-kultura-identitet-otpor-i-ponos/a-66721349
Switzerland and Travellers – Basel
The canton Basel Land is opening a new temporary camping site.
- Baselland lässt Fahrende länger bleiben als Basel-Stadt. In: Nau.ch 05.09.2023. https://www.nau.ch/ort/basel/baselland-lasst-fahrende-langer-bleiben-als-basel-stadt-66592289
Switzerland and Travellers
A commentary in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung saying that local Yenishe and Sinti are literally suffering from the travelling foreign Roma who do not respect local rules.
One has to stress here that Switzerland is the only place where camping sites for travellers are de-facto segregated.
- Es braucht mehr Halteplätze für fahrende Roma – aber diese müssen sich auch stärker an hiesige Regeln halten. In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung. 06.09.2023. https://www.nzz.ch/meinung/fahrende-roma-es-braucht-mehr-halteplaetze-und-mehr-regeltreue-ld.1753793?reduced=true
Bavaria: Aiwanger and Nazism
A controversy has been brewing in Bavaria: Aiwanger, the leader of a party in current coalition in the Bavarian government, has been linked to a manifesto, written in the 1980’s that is definitively an apology of Nazism. His brother has in between claimed he is the author and Aiwanger has “apologised”, kind of.
Disgraceful and distasteful.
- Hier gibt es keine Persilscheine. In: TAZ. 04.09.2023. https://taz.de/Aiwanger-soll-KZ-Gedenkstaette-besuchen/!5955104/
- Aiwanger: Warum die SPD Söders Entscheidung scharf kritisiert. In: Vorwärts. 04.09.2023.https://vorwaerts.de/artikel/aiwanger-spd-soeders-entscheidung-scharf-kritisiert
- Der Zentralrat Deutscher Sinti und Roma befürchtet Verharmlosung der nationalsozialistischen Verbrechen. In: Lifepr. 04.09.2023. https://www.lifepr.de/inaktiv/zentralrat-deutscher-sinti-und-roma/der-zentralrat-deutscher-sinti-und-roma-befuerchtet-verharmlosung-der-nationalsozialistischen-verbrechen/boxid/959090
- https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10161305065719260&set=gm.7229849250378242&idorvanity=1967906449905908
Czech Extremists and Roma
Czech extremists, whose target are both Roma and Ukrainians, took advantage of the murder of a Rom in Bron in June and are systematically inciting Roma against Ukrainians, whose relations were not ideal even before the crime.
This is really bad.
- ČEŠKI EKSTREMISTI TRLJAJU RUKE: Huškanje Roma na Ukrajince. In: Lupiga. 04.09.2023. https://lupiga.com/vijesti/ceski-ekstremisti-trljaju-ruke-huskanje-roma-na-ukrajince
Bulgaria: Mass Fight
Another mass fight between two Roma families in Bulgaria, injring at least 4.
Bad.
- Екшън в Ботевград: Масов бой с дървени колове между две ромски фамилии вкара четирима в болница. In: Fakti. 04.09.2023. https://fakti.bg/bulgaria/812820-ekshan-v-botevgrad-masov-boi-s-darveni-kolove-mejdu-dve-romski-familii-vkara-chetirima-v-bolnica
Slovenia and Roma
Another article on the mayor’s initiative for changing the laws on social benefits clearly directed against the Roma minority without mentioning them.
There must be better solutions.
- Dolenjski župani skušajo romske otroke spraviti v osnovne šole, a so brez podpore ministra Mesca. Macedoni ima zanj vprašanje. In: Domovina. 04.09.2023. https://www.domovina.je/dolenjski-zupani-skusajo-romske-otroke-spraviti-v-osnovne-sole-a-so-brez-podpore-ministra-mesca-macedoni-ima-zanj-vprasanje
Croatia and Roma
A project, initiated by the Roma Resource Center from Darda, Croatia under the leadership of its president, Jovica Radosavljević, allowd several Roma children to go to the sea. Jovica points out that the Roma are often afraid of water, which was a challenge in convincing parents to allow their children to go to the sea. However, upon arriving at the shore, the children fell in love with the sea.
Nice touch, but a drop of water in the sea.
- Edukacija i more: Nezaboravno ljetovanje djece iz Darde uz Ljetnu školu ”Na more idem i ja”. In: SiB. 03.09.2023. https://sib.net.hr/lifestyle/ostalo-lifestyle/4383103/edukacija-i-more-nezaboravno-ljetovanje-djece-iz-darde-uz-ljetnu-skolu-na-more-idem-i-ja/#google_vignette
Slovakia, Elections, and Roma
Representative of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Roma communities, Ján Hero called for parties to remove billboards presenting Roma as antisocial. He also asked on social networks that political parties in the pre-election campaign should not abuse the poverty and difficult living conditions for Roma to present cheap populist solutions.
- Voľby 2023: Ján Hero vyzýva strany, aby odstránili bilbordy prezentujúce Rómov ako asociálov. In: Aktuality. 03.09.2023. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/gieuHnA/volby-2023-jan-hero-vyzyva-strany-aby-odstranili-bilbordy-prezentujuce-romov-ako-asocialov/
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