Josef Miker

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The portrait of an activist, originally from Slovakia but now from the Czech Republic who fights against hate.

What a destiny: His grandparents were shot by guardsmen, his parents met in a concentration camp. His father came from Velké Zalužice in Slovakia, where he owned huge plots of land on which a Roma settlement stood. His great-ancestor saved the life of his lord in the Battle of Slavkov, and he gave him extensive land in Slovakia for that.

Italy: What ????

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An article in the Italian press. It starts well, with the fact that Roma came to Italy as early as 1422, if not even earlier. But then it dives into the worst stereotypes: Machismo among men, girls being controlled by their brothers and fathers, little education, etc.

Once again, good intentions, little knowledge and understanding, and perpetuation of stereotypes.

Appleby and Horses

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The largest Horse Fair in the UK in Appleby starts on June 8th. This year, visitors are being asked whether things can be improved for the horses.

Slovakia: Festival

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A festival in a Roma settlement on June 9-11 at Šobov Estate in Banská Štiavnica (Slovakia).

The festival aims to unite people regardless of their nationality, religion, skin colour, education or anything else. The stage at Sídlisku Šobov will belong to Roma and non-Roma musicians. For example, Sendreiovci, Bez ladu a skladu, Barbora Botošová Band, Katarína Máliková and others will perform. Children’s creative workshops will also take place under the guidance of professional artists. Barriers will also be broken down at a football match between Roma and non-Roma artists or visitors.

Osman Balić

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Osman Balić, director of the YUROM centre and president of the Standing Conference of Roma citizens’ associations SKRUG Lliga Roma (Serbia), is speaking about interculturalism as a phenomenon in which we all live together. He tells about the importance for young Roma to preserve their traditions and language.

Darmstadt: Exhibition

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An exhibition about Sinti and Roma in Darmstadt, Germany.

Slovenia: Resettlement

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The case of Roma being re-settled to a new place with better conditions, but resulting in protests of the village close to which the new settlement is.

It is never good to resettle people, much better to better the conditions locally.

Poland and Roma Refugees

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Residents of the small city of Krasnystaw, Southeast of Lublin and close to the Ukrainian border, are complaining about Roma refugees who, according to them, are making the city unsafe. Upon closer reading, this boils down to petty theft of food, and small incidents.

The thefts indicate that they probably do not have enough money to survive otherwise, as Poland does not really provide much help to refugees.

Bosnia, Religion, and Education

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The journalist and activist Dalibor Tanić wrote an open letter to Minister Naida Hota-Muminović on the topic of a lesson on religious holidays found in the textbook “My environment” for the third grade of elementary school, authored by Zinaida Livnjak. The lesson cites Catholic, Orthodox, Muslim and Jewish religious holidays but also adds “Roma” Holidays!

Tanić says rightly that Đurđevdan and Aliđun/Ilindan are not religious holidays, but traditional ones. Roma religion does not exist. Roma, not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but throughout Europe are also Muslims, Catholics, and Orthodox.

Another case of ignorance on the part of the author and the authorities …

Slovenia and the Roma “Problem”

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Minister of the Interior Boštjan Poklukar met with the mayor of the municipality of Črnomelj Andrej Kavško. They mainly talked about the removal of the fence on the southern border, the reimbursement of costs due to the increased control of the state border and Roma issues. A few days ago, the minister also had a conversation with the mayors of Novomeje and Kočevo. Regarding the Roma problem, he emphasized the intensive work of the police in the local community, especially in preventive measures. At the same time, he also pointed out that the success and efficiency of the work depend not only on the police, but also on the activities of other services in the field of education, urban planning, social services and employment.

That sure will solve the issue …

Slovenia and the Yugoslav Nostalgia

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Two young women produced a podcast tackling the Yugoslav Nostalgia that seems to exist currently in Slovenia.

In the beginning, the two women touched on the government’s recent cancellation of the National Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Communism. Zala Klopčič explained why the day was celebrated on May 17. “17. May 1942 was the first day when the communists carried out the first mass killing of Slovenian civilians on our soil, namely, it happened south of Ljubljana in the vicinity of Igo. The partisans killed 53 members of the Roma community, including children, a woman in her eighth month of pregnancy,” she reminded, adding that even today these people are not properly buried, because certain influential people on the Slovenian political scene do not allow their burial.

Good that they mention this!

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