25.6% of Hungarians live in poverty. This is 2.46 Mio people. And not all Roma as there are roughly 800’000 Roma in that country and not all are poor. Roma are more likely than non-Roma to be poor.
– Quarter of population poor or at risk of social exclusion. The Budapest Business Journal. 04.12.2017. https://bbj.hu/economy/quarter-of-population-poor-or-at-risk-of-social-exclusion_142406 [link-preview url=”https://bbj.hu/economy/quarter-of-population-poor-or-at-risk-of-social-exclusion_142406″]
A reportage about a Buddhist school founded in a small village in Hungary with the aim of helping young Roma to get an education and gain a foothold in life.
A must see.
– Der zornige Buddha. In: ZDF. 21.11.2017. https://www.zdf.de/filme/das-kleine-fernsehspiel/der-zornige-buddha-100.html [link-preview url=”https://www.zdf.de/filme/das-kleine-fernsehspiel/der-zornige-buddha-100.html”]
The Hungarian Romni, Livia Jaroca who was recently elected as a vice-president of the European Parliament, recently gave an interview in the Hungarian Press. Well, she is indeed a member of Fidesz, a party that is not exactly known for its kind policies towards migrants (and Roma). In there, she states:
“We would like it if they [the refugees] would understand that we find it important that, after a rapid and effective integration, armed with European knowledge, they would be able to return to their own homelands.”
Seems that Hungary accepted around 1’000 refugees – very quietly indeed. But these words from the Fidesz Party are new.
– BEWARE, THE REFUGEES ARE COMING! IN: The Hungarian Spectrum. 20.11.2017. http://hungarianspectrum.org/2017/11/20/beware-the-refugees-are-coming/ [link-preview url=”http://hungarianspectrum.org/2017/11/20/beware-the-refugees-are-coming/”]
A Hungarian town is going to extreme means to get rid of its Roma: They pay them 1.5 Mio HUF, a huge sum (more than a year of net salary in the countryside) if they live town. The town seems to be awash in funds and happens to be the hometown of Minister of National Development Miklós Seszták.
– Kisvárda offers Roma families $5,650 to leave town. In: Budapest Beacon. 16.11.2017. https://budapestbeacon.com/kisvarda-offers-roma-residents-5650-to-leave-town/ [link-preview url=”https://budapestbeacon.com/kisvarda-offers-roma-residents-5650-to-leave-town/”]
Laszlo Bogdan, the Roma mayor of the village of Cserdi is in trouble. The mayor, and his policies have been cited numerous times as an example of what can be achieved in a mostly Roma village in Hungary.
Now, a bizarre attack story – he reported being attacked because of his willingness of taking in Syrian refugees – and an old condemnation dent his reputation.
– THE FAMOUS GYPSY POLITICIAN’S REPUTATION HAS BEEN TARNISHED. In: Hungarian Spectrum 05.11.2017. http://hungarianspectrum.org/2017/11/05/the-famous-gypsy-politicians-reputation-has-been-tarnished/ [link-preview url=”http://hungarianspectrum.org/2017/11/05/the-famous-gypsy-politicians-reputation-has-been-tarnished/”]
The Hungarian Minister (and Calvinist preacher) Zoltan Balog has made statements on Roma advocating segregation in schools and quite a few other ones. Here’s a long list.
– 10 things he really said: Zoltán Balog, Hungarian Minister for Human Resources. In: ERRC. 24.10.2017. http://www.errc.org/blog/10-things-he-really-said-zoltan-balog-hungarian-minister-for-human-resources/195 [link-preview url=”http://www.errc.org/blog/10-things-he-really-said-zoltan-balog-hungarian-minister-for-human-resources/195″]
Laszlo Bogdan, the mayor of Cserdi, a Roma village that has been often cited as an example in the press, was assaulted by a mob after having suggested he would welcome refugees in his village.
This shows how far the Orban propaganda against refugees and migrant has goen.
Bad!
– Locals assault and threaten to murder mayor who promised to welcome refugees in Roma village. In: The Hungarian Free Press. 19.10.2017. http://hungarianfreepress.com/2017/10/19/locals-assault-and-threaten-to-murder-mayor-who-promised-to-welcome-refugees-in-roma-village/ [link-preview url=”http://hungarianfreepress.com/2017/10/19/locals-assault-and-threaten-to-murder-mayor-who-promised-to-welcome-refugees-in-roma-village/”]
The director of the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC), Timea Junghaus, in an interview about herself, her work and about what ERIAC means to Roma.
– The Roma mobilize their own knowledge: this is a paradigm shift. Interview with Tímea Junghaus. In: Political Critique.org. 18.10.2017. http://politicalcritique.org/cee/hungary/2017/interview-timea-junghaus-budapest-international-centre-roma-culture-berlin-eriac-decolonization/ [link-preview url=”http://politicalcritique.org/cee/hungary/2017/interview-timea-junghaus-budapest-international-centre-roma-culture-berlin-eriac-decolonization/”]
The Roma Pride in Budapest was held a week ago.
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzcm3_ku6uM
– https://www.facebook.com/radiochiriklo/videos/1152590844873658/
– ROMA PRIDE DAY MARKED IN BUDAPEST. In: Budapest Daily News. 08.10.2017. https://dailynewshungary.com/roma-pride-day-marked-budapest/ [link-preview url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzcm3_ku6uM”]
The central European University launches a new program of Roma studies in Budapest.
– CEU launches Romani Studies Program. In: Budapest Business Journal. 03.10.2017. https://bbj.hu/culture/ceu-launches-romani-studies-program_139614 [link-preview url=”https://bbj.hu/culture/ceu-launches-romani-studies-program_139614″]
Not many news in France this week. In Gennevilliers, near Paris, a camp is being dismantled; in Champs sur Marne, the mayor clamours for a French-wide solution to the Roma “issue”; in the North, in Hénin-Beaumont, two camps were closed and the travellers are escorted out by the police; iN Grenoble, an association closes for lack of funds for Roma; and finally a bad stereotype – a Roma pimp arrested in Hungary for crimes (running a prostitution ring) in France.
– Quasi déserté, le bidonville rom de Gennevilliers en cours de démantèlement. In: Europe 1. 26.09.2017. http://www.europe1.fr/societe/quasi-deserte-le-bidonville-rom-de-gennevilliers-en-cours-de-demantelement-3446795
– Champs-sur-Marne réclame une prise en charge globale des Roms. In: Le Parisien. 26.09.2017. http://www.leparisien.fr/champs-sur-marne-77420/champs-sur-marne-reclame-une-prise-en-charge-globale-des-roms-26-09-2017-7288587.php
– La maire de Champs-sur-Marne veut aider les nomades à trouver une vie plus stable. In: Évasion. 27.09.2017. https://www.evasionfm.com/actualite-28349-la-maire-de-champs-sur-marne-veut-aider-les-nomades-a-trouver-une-vie-plus-stable.html
– Double évacuation de camps de Roms et de Monténégrins ce mardi, près de Sainte-Henriette. In: La Voix du Nord. 26.09.2017. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/223843/article/2017-09-26/double-evacuation-de-camps-de-roms-et-de-montenegrins-ce-mardi-pres-de-sainte
– Les nomades ont repris la route… sous surveillance de la police. In: La Voix du Nord. 27.09.2017. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/224538/article/2017-09-27/les-nomades-ont-repris-la-route-sous-surveillance-de-la-police
– met la clé sous la porte à cause d’une baisse drastique des subventions faire sans Roms Action. In: Le Dauphiné.30.09.2017. http://www.ledauphine.com/isere-sud/2017/09/30/met-la-cle-sous-la-porte-a-cause-d-une-baisse-drastique-des-subventions-faire-sans-roms-action
– Condamné à Lille pour proxénétisme, il est arrêté en Hongrie. In: La Voix du Nord. 26.09.2017. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/223694/article/2017-09-26/condamne-lille-pour-proxenetisme-il-est-arrete-en-hongrie [link-preview url=”https://www.evasionfm.com/actualite-28349-la-maire-de-champs-sur-marne-veut-aider-les-nomades-a-trouver-une-vie-plus-stable.html “]
István Kamarás, a Hungarian Roma who fled to Canada and came back to the country, is advocating the idea of an autonomous Roma province in North Eastern Hungary. His main argument is the current corruption among the distribution of the EU funds for Roma and the inefficiency of Roma politicians in Budapest.
Still, this is a dangerous idea.
– Referendum proposed on autonomous Roma province in Hungary. In: The Hungarian Free Press. 28.09.2017. http://hungarianfreepress.com/2017/09/28/referendum-proposed-on-autonomous-roma-province-in-hungary/ [link-preview url=”http://hungarianfreepress.com/2017/09/28/referendum-proposed-on-autonomous-roma-province-in-hungary/”]
A Hungarian Catholic Roma pilgrimage West of Budapest.
– Roma seek luck and love at Catholic shrine in Hungary. In: Reuters. 11.09.2017. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hungary-religion-roma/roma-seek-luck-and-love-at-catholic-shrine-in-hungary-idUSKCN1BM1GR [link-preview url=”https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hungary-religion-roma/roma-seek-luck-and-love-at-catholic-shrine-in-hungary-idUSKCN1BM1GR”]
The picture of a Romni in Slovakia signing a paper at the stand of the Kotleba Extreme Rightist party is shocking. This is unfortunately often the case that Roma are bought for a cigarette or some food and enticed to vote or support parties that want them eradicated. This also happens in Hungary.
– Cigáni sa predajú aj za kus cigarety. In: Redakcia 1. 01.09.2017. https://redakcia1.blogspot.ch/2017/09/cigani-sa-predaju-aj-za-kus-cigarety.html [link-preview url=”https://redakcia1.blogspot.ch/2017/09/cigani-sa-predaju-aj-za-kus-cigarety.html”]
A long article on the Roma refugees from Hungary in Canada. This story covers the years between the 1990’s and 2000.
– Hungarian Roma refugees in Canada — The Roma fiasco (Part 1). In: The Hungarian Free Press. 24.08.2017. http://hungarianfreepress.com/2017/08/24/hungarian-roma-refugees-in-canada-the-roma-fiasco-part-1/ [link-preview url=”http://hungarianfreepress.com/2017/08/24/hungarian-roma-refugees-in-canada-the-roma-fiasco-part-1/”]
An idea is being floated in Hungary that only people paying taxes should be allowed to vote in elections. This is mainly directed at Hungarians outside of Hungary (many of whom acquired the Hungarian passport under Orban). The Deputy Prime Minister made a slip of the tongue while arguing against this idea referring to Roma – saying that very few of them actually work and pay taxes.
– Dog whistle racism from Hungary’s deputy prime minister. In: Hungarian Free Press. 21.08.2017. http://hungarianfreepress.com/2017/08/21/dog-whistle-racism-from-hungarys-deputy-prime-minister/ [link-preview url=”http://hungarianfreepress.com/2017/08/21/dog-whistle-racism-from-hungarys-deputy-prime-minister/”]
The festival that took place in Zvolen, Banska Bistrica and in nearby towns is ending this week end. Yesterday, a gala concert with Roma musicians from various countries was held in Sliač with musicians from Russia, Hungary, Czech republic and Slovakia.
– Galaprogramom dnes vrcholí multižánrové podujatie Ľudia z rodu Rómov. In: Dobre Noviny. 19.08.2017. http://www.dobrenoviny.sk/c/108437/galaprogramom-dnes-vrcholi-multizanrove-podujatie-ludia-z-rodu-romov [link-preview url=”http://www.dobrenoviny.sk/c/108437/galaprogramom-dnes-vrcholi-multizanrove-podujatie-ludia-z-rodu-romov”]
25 young Hungarian Roma will be travelling to Varna, Bulgaria, to attend the Phiren Amenca Network conference. They will meet Roma and Gadže from all over Europe to discuss a variety of topics regarding Roma.
– 25 young Roma to represent Hungary at Varna forum of Phiren Amenca. In: Politics.hu. 18.08.2017. http://www.politics.hu/20170818/25-young-roma-to-represent-hungary-at-varna-forum-of-phiren-amenca/ [link-preview url=”http://www.politics.hu/20170818/25-young-roma-to-represent-hungary-at-varna-forum-of-phiren-amenca/”]
The leader of the Jobbik partu, Gabor Vona, is asking the Orban Government to apologise to Roma for blocking any possibility of upward mobility. He is right in the statement, but Jobbik was associated with the Magyar Garda, a semi-military group which wanted to get rid of all Roma and Jews, a view shared by most of the Jobbik party.
– Jobbik leader calls on government to apologize to Roma community. In: Hungarian Free Press. 17.08.2017. http://hungarianfreepress.com/2017/08/17/jobbik-leader-calls-on-government-to-apologize-to-roma-community/ [link-preview url=”http://hungarianfreepress.com/2017/08/17/jobbik-leader-calls-on-government-to-apologize-to-roma-community/”]
A long article on Laszlo Bogdan, the mayor of the small village of Cserdi in the South Western part of the country. He has been fighting against unemployment and getting the people of the village, of which 75% are Roma to work. He did so with methods that are often controversial and authoritarian, and the work is mostly manual and in the agriculture. He is also very much against the Roma establishment and politicians, who, he says have pocketed millions from the EU without doing anything.
Can his model be expanded?
– LÁSZLÓ BOGDÁN IS STILL THE ROMA MIRACLE WORKER OF CSERDI. In: The Hungarian Spectrum. 16.08.2017. http://hungarianspectrum.org/2017/08/16/laszlo-bogdan-is-still-the-roma-miracle-worker-of-cserdi/ [link-preview url=”http://hungarianspectrum.org/2017/08/16/laszlo-bogdan-is-still-the-roma-miracle-worker-of-cserdi/”]
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