Tag Archives: Festival

France News Western Europe

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

In spite of some positive coverage due to the international Rroma day, this week’s French chronicle is not particularly nice. First, an intervention of the police in a Rroma camp near the prison of Loos in the North of France, an attempt to remove the Rroma from this camp; in the North, two families are expulsed; toilets are awaited in a camp near la Rochelle in the West of France; a new camping spot for travelers is installed near Paris in the bois de Vioncennes; near Paris, the arrival of Rroma is problematic; the Seine’s banks are being cleaned near a former Rroma camp; and news about a gang of thieves who stole tools near Dijon.

On a more positive note, a French Radio broadcasted for a day from a Rroma ghetto in Paris; and a positive action in the North of France!

News Western Europe

Another Movie …

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Another Movie …

A French Documentary movie entitled “Toto and his sisters” received the “grand prix” in the Anger Festival. It is unfortunate to say the least that it shows all stereotypes associated with Rroma without any analytical discourse: Rroma live in Ghettoes, deal with drugs, have lots of children (implied in this case), but without stating that this is not a Rroma thing, this is a poverty and social problem.

We are generally against those kind of documentaries, as they reinforce already strongly held stereotypes about us …

NOT GOOD!!!

France News Western Europe

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

Clearly, with the events in France, the “Rroma Problem” somehow faded in the background. Interestingly enough, the Rroma yes, the “Gens du Voyage” [Travellers], not. So here’s a short overview of the general news: In La Courneuve, where Rroma were expelled from their camp, expelled Rroma organised a dinner for the victims of the attacks in Paris; an article about the scholarisation of Rroma children; in Lyon, a demonstration for migrants was annulled following the attacks; in the north, Rroma have problems to get their skills recognised; Rroma are still squatting; in another place, the illegal camps are resolved – allegedly; in Beziers, in the South, an association against Racism is being asked to vacate their offices; in the West, in la Rochelle, health is more important than money, thanks God; some people are thinking about the causes for the attack; and finally, festivals and music in various place in France on Rroma.

News Western Europe

Young Rroma are proud of their identity

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During the second Rroma cultural festival in Dortmund, young Rroma took part in a round table aimed at reducing stereotypes. They spoke about their lives, and clearly, these do not conform to the stereotypes. This can be felt in the article, as the journalist has trouble accepting that this is the norm and not the exception.

The exceptions are the ones the press speak about all the time!

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Another Festival in Slovakia

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Another Festival in Slovakia

Another festival in Slovakia, in Banska Bystrica and Zvolen: The festival people from the house of Roma. This year, the festival focuses on the young generation with several workshops for youngsters from different countries.

News Eastern Europe

Sziget Festival

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Sziget Festival

The Sziget (Island) festival in Budapest is by now an institution. Several Rroma groups appear there, although the old “Rroma Tent” has been discontinued. Yesterday saw Gogol Bordello, but the program continues!

France News Western Europe

France: Expulsions, as usual … But also solidarity

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France: Expulsions, as usual … But also solidarity

In Hautbourdin, in France, the Mayor evacuated the local Rroma camp by dumping three truckloads of manure according to international press or mud, according to the French sources. The camp in the North of France was under evacuation order, nevertheless, the actions of the municipality go beyond decency and legality.

Volunteers and people showing solidarity went to the camp and plated crosses in the fresh mud.

Another camp was expulsed in Bron, in the Rhone region and another one in Henin-Beaumont, also in the North, while in the Grenoble region, they report on a large camp with an evangelical preacher.

Finally, in Sevran, a round table and a festival has been organised to explain who the Rroma in France truly are. The round table, held on the 17th, had a minister and several Rroma activists.

Germany News Western Europe

19.11.2014 Rome e.V awarded with integration medal

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The Cologne “Rome e.V.” association, under the direction of Simone Treis, which is committed to the integration and acceptance of Rroma in Germany, was awarded the integration medal of the Bundestag. The school “Amaro Kher”, founded by the association, especially supervises Rroma children from refugee camps. Despite the very positive work of the association, stereotypes about Rroma are also reproduced here, when speaking about alphabetisation coursers and migrants. 110,000 to 130,000 Rroma have been living in Germany for generations, can read and write and are integrated. This integrated, invisible Rroma are not mentioned here: “Simone Treis is chairman of “Rome e.V.”, which since 1986 is committed to fight antiziganism and discrimination against Sinti and Roma. Her projects include literacy classes, social counselling and intercultural festivals. The goal is a lived practice of integration, which includes the Sinti and Roma into the society and at the same time indorses them in preserving their traditions. Because, according to Treis, many of them have the option of either hiding their culture or to face hostility. […] At the ceremony, Volker Beck pointed to the continuing problem of antiziganism in Germany. Education is the foundation for a free and independent life, this is particularly true for marginalized minorities such as Sinti and Roma, he stated” (Iding 2014).

News Switzerland

26.09.2014 Public festival enables rapprochement between Rroma and Lausanne’s inhabitants

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Genier (2014) reports on a public festival that was held on the weekend of the 20th and 21st of September in Lausanne. On the initiative of the sociology professor Jean-Pierre Tabin and the organisation “Opre Rrom”, about half of the several hundred Rroma resident in Lausanne participated in the festivities, Genier states. There, they cooked and grilled for Gadje (non-Rroma), with the aim to enable a mutual approach: “Let’s get to know each other!” was the title of the event: “The objective of this event was to bring together Swiss and Roma, two population groups that have remained very separated in general. “This action was conceived to promote dialogue between the people of Lausanne and Roma”, explains Véra Tchérémissinoff, director of the organization Opre Rrom. “We wanted above all that this took place in a different context than the street.” Even if the action was mainly responded to by sympathizers of the various Roma organizations and their acquaintances, some curious people were attracted by the cheerful assembly, and stopped a moment to watch or to drink a glass.” Although through focusing on coloured costumes, music and dance, some stereotypes about the minority seem to have been confirmed, the attempt to bring the largely invisible Rroma together with the rest of the population remains very commendable. However, the distinction between Swiss and Rroma has to be made with caution, since many Rroma resident in Switzerland are Swiss or Lausanne citizens themselves.

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