Culture and Media

Zubin Mehta, renowned Indian conductor of western classical music — who commutes between the major music centers in Europe, the United States and Israel — remains emotionally attached to the country of his birth, particularly the diversity of its nature.
He conducted Europe’s first charity concert in Berlin to promote nature conservation in north-eastern Himalayan region.

Turkish Nobel Literature Prize winner Mr. Orhan Pamuk and several other international top authors are boycotting Sri Lanka’s upcoming literary Galle Festival, following an appeal done by Reporters Without Borders. “Authors who are going would legitimize Sri Lanka’s very poor freedom of expression record,” the group says.

Akwaaba, which means “welcome,” was the first word I came across upon my arrival in Ghana. Many people identify Africa with words that have negative connotations, such as poverty, conflict or disease. However, there is much more to this vast continent than such associations. This is what I learn during my one-year visit to Ghana. I found so much hope and potential there.

As the latest development of the worldwide phenomenon of Parks of Study and Reflection, the Park at Narhi, Madhubani, Bihar, India, is also dedicated to studying and reflecting about the Human Being, the condition, and the evolutionary possibilities that allow general progress toward the establishment of a humanized non-violent world that is without discrimination of any kind.

It’s been 25 years since the advent of the computer virus, and a lot has changed. The first PC virus – known as ©Brain – was created by two Pakistani software developers to prevent people pirating their programmes. Now experts believe that cyberwarfare is the threat of the future. The Netherlands is at the center of the fight against cybercrime.

On Sunday, the first ever Jewish ceremony confirming a same-sex marriage was held in the synagogue of the Liberale Joodse Gemeente (Liberal Jewish Community) in Amsterdam.
As of this week, Jewish same-sex couples can have their relationships confirmed in one of the community’s ten synagogues in a ceremony called Brit Ahava, a covenant of love.

*Has the target to promote peace and non-violence ‘gone to the dogs’ I was thinking on entering the Sunday-noisy Krispy Creme café situated in up-market Bonifacio High Street at Global City, Taguig, Manila. I was to meet Patricia Carrascoso of Pets for Peace & the Labrador Retriever Owner’s Club. I was in for an awakening!*

Recently Petur Gudjonsson has launched in Island his new book entitled “What Really Matters” and the complete edition was sold out in five days, distributed by Samkaup through supermarkets and shops. A second edition was printed and is also having a very good reception from the readers, while he is preparing the launching of two new books: “Moving on” and “Really?”.

It is a quite cold winter morning in Bihar’s Beur Central Jail, India. The jail inmates – all criminals including murderers, kidnappers and petty thieves – are ready to begin their task for the day: to learn English. The authorities decided that it’s time they brought about a positive change in the lives of the prisoners.

*It could be said that by respecting human diversity we stand together, united in our understanding that the differences in our landscape of formation is what makes life dynamic and interesting. Wouldn’t it be boring to think alike, to want to eat the same foods, go to the same places, to express ideas in the same way?*