Austrian media reported an act of vandalism committed against the main synagogue in the capital Vienna.
The identity of a 17-year-old girl who took part in the night of Friday to Saturday in removing the Israeli flag from the Jewish temple has now been established. The teenager has been detained, BTA informs.
Passers-by tried to arrest the three perpetrators, there was an exchange of blows, but they managed to escape.
A video shot by an eyewitness and shared on social media shows a man, apparently motivated by political motives, climbing on the shoulders of an accomplice and pulling down the flag placed above the synagogue door, while a girl standing next to them imitates a shooting with machine gun.
According to the police, before this act of vandalism, which took place at two o’clock in the morning, the suspects made anti-Semitic statements in establishments in the center of Vienna.
According to police, the teenager admitted to causing property damage, but denied the charges of incitement.
The girl stated that at the time of the act she was under the strong influence of alcohol, and she met the other two perpetrators of the act of vandalism shortly before the act and they motivated her to participate. The investigation of the case continues.
Vienna’s main synagogue is now under 24-hour security. Until now, the temple was guarded only during services.
Illustrative Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-covered-in-tallis-reading-a-holy-book-5976142/
Closed to the public for more than a decade, the stunning Zeyrek Çinili Hamam once again reveals its wonders to the world.
Located in Istanbul’s Zeyrek district, on the European side of the Bosphorus, adjacent to the historic Fatih district, the bathhouse was built in 1530 by Mimar Sinan – the chief architect of famous Ottoman sultans such as Suleiman the Magnificent.
“Chinili” means “covered with tiles” in Turkish, which highlights the most striking feature of the hammam’s interior design – it was once covered with thousands of bright blue nikk tiles.
Open for five centuries, serving the public mostly as a hammam but also briefly as a warehouse in the late 1700s, the hammam was in a state of disrepair until it closed in 2010.
Its walls are covered with mold and the tiles have almost disappeared. The hammam was temporarily opened in 2022 for the Istanbul Biennale, but now it’s about to take on a whole new life.
After 13 years of oblivion, Chinili Hammam welcomes guests again: first as an exhibition space, then, from March 2024, as a public bath with separate sections for men and women.
As well as getting a complete facelift, the hammam will also gain a space for contemporary art under the arches of the Byzantine cistern that once released water from its brass taps, a new museum that showcases the history of the building and a garden full of laurel plants, writes CNN.
This is the second major historic restoration by real estate company The Marmara Group, which bought the building in 2010.
Revealing the past
“When we bought the hammam, we didn’t know any of its history. But in Zeyrek, wherever you dig, you find something,” says Koza Yazgan, the project’s creative director.
“In the men’s section we found rectangular tiles, different from the regular hexagonal ones. They were on the wall and were inscribed with a poem in Farsi, each tile having a different verse. We translated them, studied them and found that they had been lost at some point – they were not where Sinan originally placed them,” he adds.
When the hammam was first built, the walls were covered with about 10,000 tiles, but only a few have survived. Some were lost, others stolen, and others damaged by fires and earthquakes. The tiles were even sold to foreign museums in the late 19th century – the Marmara Group has traced many of them to far-flung private collections and cultural institutions, including the V&A in London.
A team of archaeologists and historians at the hammam helps them identify exactly where their tiles originated. As for the mysterious Farsi tiles, Yazgan continues: “We decided not to leave them where we found them, but to display them in the museum.”
Designed by German firm Atelier Brüeckner, whose previous projects include the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the Louvre in Abu Dhabi, the Chinili Hammam Museum will display some of the many Roman, Ottoman and Byzantine artefacts discovered during the hammam’s restoration – from coins to unusual graffiti on foreign ships.
Visitors will be able to view an array of eclectic objects used by visitors to the bath in the past, including sparkling mother-of-pearl clogs called nalin.
An entire floor of the museum will be dedicated to the incredible iznik tiles – a futuristic augmented reality display will transport visitors to the bathhouse of Mimar Sinan’s time, covering the white walls in their full turquoise glow.
It’s an impressive attempt to reconstruct something long gone, but Yazgan sees it as necessary. “Given how the city has changed in the last 20 years, I think it’s more important than ever to protect these historic places. Otherwise, they will all be lost,” she says.
The timeless beauty
Although its multi-story wooden structures originally sprang up around the wealthy 12th-century monastery of Pantokrator, today Zeyrek is a working-class neighborhood.
Life centers around the spice and meat markets, while the fruity aroma of homemade perde pilavı (chicken, grape and rice dish from Eastern Turkey) wafts from the restaurants.
Although part of the UNESCO-listed area of Istanbul, Zeyrek is nothing like the nearby Hagia Sophia district, home to Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. Foreign tourists are very rare here.
The streets of the neighborhood are very noisy, and the hammam with an area of more than 2,800 square meters offers a peaceful escape from them.
Kem göz (evil eye) hangs on the front door, ensuring that all malicious spirits stay out. Just as it would have been 500 years ago, the oak door is heavy and thick – only it’s so new it still has the smell of a sawmill.
After crossing the threshold, the visitor passes through three rooms – a typical process for all Turkish baths. The first is the “cold” one (or more precisely with room temperature), in which the guests relax. Resting on the sofas with hot coffee or tea is recommended.
Next is the hot room – a dry area in which the body acclimatizes to temperatures of about 30 degrees Celsius. The last room is the steam haaret, heated to 50 degrees Celsius.
“It’s a place of purification – both spiritually and physically. An hour’s escape from earthly things,” says Yazgan. Clothed attendants wash and massage their clients in this area.
Ottoman know-how and impeccable minimalism come together in Chinili Hammam to create the ultimate relaxation space.
The glass stars on the domed ceilings allow enough natural light to enter, but not to irritate the eyes. The original Ottoman details stimulate the mind, but do not disturb the atmosphere of tranquility.
The new life
Initially, while the hammam’s baths are still dry, Chinili will host a one-off contemporary art exhibition with special works dedicated to the themes of ruin, history and healing – three words that sum up the history of the place.
After the exhibition ends in March 2024, the baths will be filled with water and returned to their original function. Yazgan says the hammam will accurately replicate Ottoman bathing traditions.
Instead of Swedish massages and scented oils, there will be hot and humid rooms, various chiropractic treatments and bubble massages.
However, Yazgan highlights something that will set Cinili apart from traditional hammams in Turkey.
“Usually in hammams, the design of the men’s section is higher and more elaborate. They have more vaulted ceilings and tiles. But here there will be rotating days for each section so that everyone can enjoy the beauty of the bath, regardless of his gender.”
The microcosm of Istanbul
The Marmara Group believes that the newly restored hammam can completely change the neighborhood’s dynamics, using its underrated historical sites to turn Zeyrek into a cultural tourism destination.
“We plan to make a ‘Zeyrek map’ showing where hammam guests can visit other attractions in the area or dine in a historic space,” says Yazgan.
There are many sites to visit in the area: the Zeyrek Mosque, the monumental Roman Aqueduct of Valens and the Baroque Süleymaniye Mosque are within a 15-minute walk.
And while increasing visitor numbers may put the neighborhood at risk of over-tourism, the hammam has the potential to join Istanbul’s ever-expanding portfolio of notable cultural sites: where one can immerse oneself in the city’s cosmopolitan past, participating in an old ritual.
“With the museum, relaxation rooms and historical artifacts, the hammam is like a microcosm of Istanbul,” says Yazgan.
Last week, the G-7 members engaged in discussions regarding four proposed plans aimed at preventing the export of large Russian diamonds. The Western countries’ plan suggests that from January 1, 2024, the fate of Russian precious stones will face significant uncertainty.
The proposed bans range from mild restrictions to complete halts, highlighting the challenges associated with achieving a consensus on the matter. Reuters reports that coal bans have proven difficult to enforce for over a year, underscoring the complexity of implementing such measures.
The four proposals were put forth by Belgium, India, the French Group for the Jewelry Industry, and the World Diamond Council. They will be evaluated during a technical meeting of G-7 representatives, as confirmed by local residents close to the matter.
If implemented, such a ban would severely limit the export of Russian diamonds since the G-7 countries, including the US, Canada, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and France, account for 70% of the world’s diamond production.
Consequently, the ban would have a significant impact on the diamond trade, particularly because Russia is the largest producer of rough diamonds globally, holding a 30% market share.
Meanwhile, the foremost diamond producer, the state-owned company “Alrosa,” has been grappling with a diamond shortage for the past two months. Bloomberg reported in September that the company had reduced its supply of rough diamonds in an attempt to counter falling prices. However, there is hope that this downward trend will be reversed.
Alrosa, which is currently vying with industry giant De Beers for the title of the world’s largest diamond producer, faces additional challenges due to American and British sanctions imposed following the commencement of the Russian War in Ukraine. Consequently, the company’s supplies have been impacted, leading to a redirection of shipments towards Asia.
As the G-7 continues to deliberate on the proposed bans, the fate of Russian diamonds remains uncertain. The outcome of the technical meeting will likely shed light on the future of the diamond trade and its potential implications for global markets.
The car company Ferrari has started accepting payments in crypto-wallets in the US for all its luxury sports cars, which it plans to ship in Europe as well, reports Reuters. It’s the company’s marketing and sales guide.
A large part of the companies are making chips that are away from cryptocurrencies, as the volatility of bitcoin and other tokens makes them impractical for trading.
The irregular regulation and the higher energy demand also limit the respect of the payment speed.
Among the companies affected is electric car maker Tesla, which in 2021 will begin accepting payments in bitcoin, before CEO Elon Musk said On this option, there are problems with the surrounding area.
Eco crypto
Ferrari UK’s chief mapping and transport desk has commented that the automaker has set out to reduce its carbon footprint by introducing new software and greater use of renewable sources.
Ferrara stated that the problem is in response to the demand from stores and dealers, so many of their clients have invested in crypto-wallets.
Although some cryptocurrencies that have grown in size have improved energy and efficiency, bitcoin is still criticized because its currency is energy-efficient.
It is not yet clear why the car is expected to be delivered by Ferrari through the ports.
Illustrative Photo by Vincenzo Malagoli: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-ferrari-rim-2922140/
The authorities in Vienna are wondering how to change his image
Behind two sets of heavy doors and a large steel partition, Monika Sommer, director of the House of Austrian History at Vienna’s Hofburg Palace, looks out at the country’s most controversial building: the so-called Hitler Balcony.
Here on March 15, 1938, Hitler addressed a jubilant crowd of 200,000 to announce his country’s entry into the “German Reich.” It marked the Anschluss or annexation of Austria, and the crowds below are seen today as evidence of Austria’s support for Nazi rule.
Access to the balcony was blocked for many years, but its place in Austrian politics and history was brought back to the fore after the youth wing of the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) used it in an election video.
The FPÖ, which was founded in the 1950s by former members of the Nazi party, is best known for the Ibiza affair, a corruption scandal that ousted its leader and forced it out of a coalition government that returned it to opposition. However, it is now leading the polls, winning around 27% of the vote, and has formed coalition governments with the centre-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) in three regions.
Under its leader Herbert Kickle, the FPÖ is believed to have moved further to the right and embraced radical elements. His affinity for Viktor Orbán’s politics in Hungary was dubbed the Hungarian-Austrian Empire by Politico.
In the FPÖ video, a narrator opposes “crime, mass migration, selfishness, globalization, sex madness, Islamization, population exchange.”
The video then shows young members looking up at the balcony. “We want a future,” says the narrator.
Today, the balcony is closed to the public, but Sommer is working to devise a new role for it and prevent groups like the FPÖ from using it in this way.
“It’s really this turning point in the video where they analyze the present and then focus on the future. Then they use the balcony shot. In the video, it means the times are changing. It’s eerie,” she commented.
The video marks a worrying turning point for Austria’s far right, said Stefan Benedik, the museum’s lead curator. He says that until now, Austrian politics has maintained a stable consensus on Holocaust commemoration, and in the past 30 years has taken a harder line, acknowledging its complicity in Nazi atrocities.
“This video is really key because it’s the first hint that the far right is leaving this consensus. They’re ready to implement this symbol, the balcony really replaces the whole theme of National Socialism in Austria.”
In response to the video, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has reportedly filed charges against the group.
In the House of Austrian History, visitors can vote on the future of the balcony. So far, ideas include memorial engravings and even a clothesline to be hung above the balcony, reminding visitors of Austria’s dirty laundry.
Since 1938, the only person to have given a speech from the balcony has been Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. “The balcony is nothing… Purification, change cannot come from the balcony. It must come from below,” he said in 1992. But as fewer and fewer Holocaust survivors remain to tell their stories, the symbolic power, that the balcony holds for the right could grow again, Sommer said.
Photo: Giant crowds gathered on Heldeplatz to cheer Hitler as he delivered his Anschluss speech on March 15, 1938Image: akg-images/picture-alliance
UN Human Rights Office calls for meaningful reforms to guarantee right to peaceful protest, ensure inclusive dialogue in Peru
GENEVA (19 October 2023) – Peruvian authorities must undertake meaningful reforms to ensure the exercise of human rights in the context of demonstrations, continue accountability efforts, and enable a decentralized and inclusive national dialogue, states a UN Human Rights Office report published on Thursday.
The report analyses the conduct of security forces during nationwide protests, focusing on those that took place between December 2022 and March 2023. It concludes that Peruvian authorities unduly restricted demonstrators’ human rights.
Security forces used unnecessary and disproportionate force, including lethal force, outside of the circumstances permitted by international human rights standards, the report states. It also documents the use of less lethal weapons, incompatible with international standards, that resulted in protesters being seriously and, in some cases, fatally injured.
The UN Human Rights Office recorded that 50 people were killed and 821 injured in the context of protests from 7 December 2022 to 31 March 2023, allegedly by security forces. The Office also documented that 208 members of the security forces were injured.
Criminal investigations were opened against 241 people who took part in the demonstrations. Of these, at least 221 have since been closed due to lack of evidence. This includes 192 people who had been arrested in San Marcos University in Lima on 21 January.
“President Boluarte has failed unequivocally to call on security forces to respect protesters’ rights, even in the face of reports of excessive use of force and mass detention. The pervasive lack of accountability for police violence, and successive governments’ failure to reform the police to ensure respect for human rights, amounts to a blank check for abuse.
In April 2023, the authorities set up a dedicated team within the Public Prosecutor’s Office to investigate alleged crimes committed in the context of the protests. The Office is providing technical assistance to the team. The team has opened 45 case files covering all people killed, as well as people injured in the protests.
“Those responsible for human rights violations must be held accountable, through fair judicial proceedings,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said. “Accountability is paramount if we want to start healing wounds and creating trust in the institutions of the State. Victims should be provided with full reparation.”
The Government has provided economic support to victims and their families – some 266 people to date –identified with the support of the UN Human Rights Office.
From 19 to 31 July 2023, another wave of demonstrations took place across Peru, during which 64 protesters and 12 officers were injured. Indigenous communities were also subjected to multiple acts of discrimination and restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly, the report notes.
The report provides recommendations to promote structural changes and reforms to guarantee the right to peaceful assembly and ensure that any use of force must be compatible with international human rights law. The report also recommends strengthening internal accountability mechanisms, ensuring victim-centred, impartial and effective investigations, and addressing the deep-rooted and systemic problems of racism and discrimination against Indigenous Peoples and campesinos, who comprised the majority of the protesters.
“It is paramount that the grievances and concerns across the whole spectrum of the Peruvian society are addressed. An inclusive national dialogue is needed. This is the only way forward. Everyone needs to feel heard and represented in society to stop endless political and social crises,” Türk said. “I look forward to continued cooperation with the Peruvian authorities and society at large for these purposes.
Renowned actress Meryl Streep, winner of the prestigious 2023 Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts, recently celebrated a week-long series of events in Asturias, Spain. The award recognized Streep’s significant contributions to the arts and her illustrious career in film.
Meryl Streep’s warned about the perils of suppressing empath
Meryl Streep’s Acceptance Speech of the 2023 Arts Princess of Asturias Award
In a moving and deeply profound speech, Meryl Streep, one of the most celebrated actresses of our time, expressed her gratitude for being recognized for her contributions to the art of acting. During her speech she delves into the transformative power of her craft, emphasizing its ability to bridge gaps between people through shared emotions (See full transcript below).
Meryl Streep speaks about the actor’s ability to inhabit different characters, to live their experiences, and to bring their narratives to life in a manner that resonates with audiences. She discussed the critical role of empathy in acting, describing it as the essential element that connects her to her characters and ultimately to the audience.
Despite facing criticism for portraying characters far removed from her own experiences, Meryl Streep insisted that it’s an actor’s responsibility to depict lives that are different from their own, making them relatable to the audience. She warned about the perils of suppressing empathy in favour of self-preservation or ideology, suggesting that this has contributed to a distressing moment in history.
Referencing a play she worked on in college, The House of Bernard Alba, from Lorca, she underscores the cyclical nature of history and the importance of giving voice to the silenced, so that the living might learn. Meryl Streep concluded by urging everyone to extend the empathy experienced in the theatre into the real world, proposing it could serve as a radical form of diplomacy in our increasingly hostile world; and ended by emphasizing the importance of listening.
A week-long celebration of the Princess of Asturias Awards
The highlight of the week-long celebrations was an open dialogue between Meryl Streep and fellow actor Antonio Banderas, offering a unique insight into her award-winning career. This public meeting, moderated by Sandra Rotondo, a member of the Jury for the Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts, also included a Q&A session, providing attendees with the opportunity to interact with the celebrated actress at the Exhibition and Conference Centre in Oviedo.
As part of the “Awards Week”, Meryl Streep also connected with the local community. She met with teachers and students from secondary, baccalaureate and vocational training schools who had participated in the “Meryl’s Choices” activity, part of the “Taking the Floor” cultural programmes. This meeting was held at La Vega Arms Factory in Oviedo.
In addition, Meryl Streep interacted with students from the School of Dramatic Arts of the Principality of Asturias (ESAD). In her honour, the students performed scenes from Spanish plays at the ESAD centre in Gijón.
The Foundation also organized a series of tributes to Meryl Streep across different locations in Asturias. These included a film cycle showcasing Streep’s iconic films and a live concert by Donna and the Dynamos, a tribute to Meryl Streep’s role in Mamma Mia!
The “Awards Week” cultural programme, designed by the Foundation, included participation from the Princess of Asturias Laureates in activities leading up to the Awards Ceremony at the Campoamor Theatre.
Meryl Streep’s Ongoing Achievements of a Lifetime
Renowned actress Meryl Streep wins Princess of Asturias Arts Laureate 2023 2
Born in Summit (USA) on 22 June 1949, Mary Louise Streep, known as Meryl Streep, began her artistic studies at the age of twelve with singing lessons and added acting classes in high school. A graduate of Vassar College (1971) and the Yale School of Drama (1975), Meryl Streep began her career in New York theatres and performed in several Broadway productions, including the 1977 revival of Anton Chekhov’s drama The Cherry Orchard.
With three Oscars, eight Golden Globes, two BAFTAs and three Emmys, Meryl Streep is considered one of the greatest contemporary actresses of our time. Best known for her film roles, she has stood out for her characteristic versatility, which critics say is based on her extraordinary ability to play a wide variety of characters and to reproduce different accents.
Meryl Streep holds the all-time record for Oscar nominations (21) and Golden Globe nominations (32) and is one of only two living actresses to have won the Academy Award three times. The first time she won Best Supporting Actress for Kramer vs Kramer (1979), which also won her a Golden Globe in the same category.
In the early 1980s, she had her first leading roles, for which she was particularly well known: The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981), for which she received a BAFTA and a Golden Globe, an award she repeated with Sophie’s Choice (1982), for which she also won her second Oscar. Films such as S. Pollack’s Out of Africa (1985), Ironweed (1987) and Evil Angels (1988), for which she received an award at Cannes, are some of her best performances of the decade.
Her filmography with some of her most iconic characters includes The Bridges of Madison County (1995), Marvin’s Room (1996), The Hours (2002), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), The Doubt (2008) (an American Screen Actors Guild award-winning performance), the musical Mamma mia! (2008) and The Iron Lady (2011), in the role of Margaret Thatcher, which won her a Golden Globe and a BAFTA, as well as her third Oscar. Florence Foster Jenkins (2016), The Post (2017), Little Women (2019), Let Them All Talk (2020) and Don’t Look Up (2021) are some of her latest works.
Meryl Streep, a philanthropist and committed to the defence of women’s rights and gender equality, has been a member of the advisory board of the organisation Equality Now and in 2018 she participated in the documentary This Changes Everything, about gender discrimination in Hollywood.
A member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres de France, Meryl Streep has received numerous honorary awards including the César (France, 2003), the Donostia Award at the San Sebastian Film Festival (Spain, 2008), the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival (Germany, 2012), the Stanley Kubrick Britannia (UK, 2015) and the Cecil B. DeMille Award (USA, 2015). DeMille (USA, 2017), among others, and was awarded the 2010 National Medal of Arts and the 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Meryl Streep’s Acceptance’s Speech Transcript
Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, distinguished members of the Princess of Asturias Award Foundation. My esteemed colleagues. Ladies and gentlemen, amigos. I am so honoured to be here this evening to be included among these accomplished, generous talents in this beautiful hall which I feel if we listen, we can hear the echoes of the voices of many of our heroes of the 20th and this very young century.
It’s hard for me to imagine that I am here because I think sometimes that I have pretended to be an extraordinary woman all my life, that sometimes I’m mistaken for one.
But I am truly, truly grateful for this recognition of the art of acting, which is the work of my life and the essence of which remains very mysterious even to me. What is it that actors do, really? The actor’s shapeshifting, substanceless gift is what makes it hard to assess and measure what is worth to us, its value.
I know for me when I see a performance that speaks to me, particularly, I keep it in my heart for days or even decades. You know, when I feel that other person’s pain or their joy or or I laugh at their foolishness, I feel as if I’ve discovered something true and I feel more alive.
And I feel connected. But connected to what? To people. Other people. To have the experience of being someone else. So what does this magic connection? We know that empathy is the heart of the actor’s gift.
It’s the current that connects me and my actual pulse to a fictional character. And I can make her heart race, or I can quiet it in as a scene requires. And my nervous system, sympathetically wired to hers, carries that current out to you and to the woman sitting next to you and to her friend.
And in the live theatre, we can all feel as if we’re feeling it together. And it is easier to be emotionally connected to people who are like us. You know, it’s. But I’ve always been interested and pulled to understand that other counterintuitive instinct that we have to.
Understand strangers, people that are not like us, and the imaginative ability we have to follow the stories of people outside our tribe as if they were our own.
In my own work, I’ve been criticized, you know, for going too far afield from my own lived experience, from veering too far away from my own truth or my identity, all the accents, you know, the nationalities.
And I played a man once. But is it just a stunt to want to wrap my arms around the world, to want to wander and wonder and try to see through so many different coloured eyes and experiences?
I’m just a nice middle-class girl from New Jersey, so who am I to presume to wear the shoes of the first female Prime Minister of the UK? Or to imagine being a Polish Holocaust survivor, or an Italian housewife, or a rabbi, or the arbiter of the final arbiter of the fashion world? Because that’s not my.
Area of expertise. Honestly. A great Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso, said to imitate others is necessary. To imitate oneself is pathetic. And another great Spanish artist, Penelope Cruz, said, you cannot live your life looking at yourself from someone else’s point of view. That’s my bad Penelope imitation.
So, I persevere in spite of the critics because I think it is an actor’s job to trespass, to appropriate another’s life, to embody lives that are not like ours. The most important part of our job is to make each life accessible and felt to an audience, whether that audience is in a small theatre in Malaga or whether they’re watching via streaming media from all around the globe.
One rule that actors are taught in drama school is that you must never judge your character. The character you’re playing judging makes you sit outside. Her experience and the bargain you make when you climb into her shoes is to try to see the world through her eyes.
Let the audience judge you. Make your own best case on her behalf. We are all born with fellow feelings empathy, a porous, shared humanity.
Babies will cry just on seeing the tears of another. But as we grow up, we set about to tamp down those feelings, to suppress them, and to supplant them in favour of self-preservation or ideology. And we mistrust and we suspect the motives of other people that are not like us.
And so we arrive at this unhappy moment in history. When I was in college, I designed the costumes for Lorca’s great, timeless play The House of Bernarda Alba, and in it, one of the sisters, Martirio, says, history repeats itself. I can see that everything is a terrible repetition.
And Lorca wrote this impassioned play two months before his own murder, on the eve of another cataclysm that he could see from so high above that he had such a distance on events so close to his own throat, his extraordinary that he could express through martirio a wisdom that could not save him but serves as a warning to us. It is a gift to the world.
To act in such a play is to give a voice to the dead that the living can hear. It’s an actor’s privilege. The gift of empathy is something we all share. This mysterious ability to sit in a darkened theatre, strangers next to each other, and to feel the feelings of people that don’t look like us, don’t sound like us.
It’s one that we could all do well to take outside into the daylight. Empathy. Empathy may be a radical form of outreach and diplomacy in other theatres of endeavour. In our world, in our increasingly hostile and volatile world.
I hope we take to heart another lesson that every actor is taught. And that is it’s it’s all about listening. Thank you for listening. Thank you. And thank you for this. Thank you.
Photo credit: Casa Real (Spain) Princess of Asturias Awards 2023
Princess of Asturias delivered an inspiring speech at the Awards, emphasizing unity, collaboration, and service to others.
On October 20th, in the city of Oviedo inside the Campoamor Theatre, Princess Leonor of Asturias representing Spain gave an inspiring speech that deeply moved everyone. Her words expressed a sense of responsibility, modesty and unwavering dedication to serving others. Amidst the event known as the Princess of Asturias Awards 2023, her message shone brightly as a symbol of hope and urged people to take action highlighting the tremendous impact that both individuals and communities can make when working together.
“I understand very well and am aware of what my duty is and what my responsibilities entail,” the Princess of Asturias said, reflecting on her recent oath of service to Spain and her forthcoming commitment to the Constitution as she turns 18. Her words echoed the weight of her role, yet radiated an earnest understanding of the responsibility she carries.
Princess Leonor, the Honorary President of the Foundation, emphasized the importance of recognizing and appreciating the contributions of the award winners, individuals who dedicate their lives to improving society. “We can only achieve this with common goals and individual and collective effort,” she asserted, underscoring the imperative of unity and collaboration.
In her address, the Princess drew upon the remarkable contributions of the award recipients. She expressed admiration for Nuccio Ordine’s efforts to humanize humanity and defended the crucial role of education. She praised Meryl Streep’s transformative performances, highlighting the artist’s courage, freedom, and sensitivity. She lauded Hélène Carrère’s insightful analysis of contemporary history and Mary’s Meal’s tireless efforts to feed children in schools.
Photo credit: Casa Real (Spain) Princess of Asturias Awards 2023
The Princess’s speech was not just an acknowledgement of these achievements, but a reflection of how they inspired her own path. “On this stage today are people with whom I aspire to identify,” she confessed, expressing her admiration for the award winners’ commitment to their respective fields. She spoke highly of Murakami’s literary prowess, Kipchoge’s athletic determination, and the groundbreaking biological research of Gordon, Greenberg, and Bassler. She also recognized the critical work of the Medicines for Neglected Diseases Initiative.
She expressed her admiration for those who dedicate themselves to improving the world and promised to follow in their footsteps. “I would like to thank all our award winners, including those who have left us, for the light they shed on the challenges and the complexity of the world in which we live,” she said. She was thankful not to the award winners but also, to all those who inspire optimism and promote accountability.
Princess Leonor’s speech went beyond being a ceremonial address; it was a sincere testament to her dedication to serving others. It reflected her maturity. Served as an inspiration not only for her own generation but also for those yet to come. As she enters adulthood she carries an understanding of her responsibilities, a profound respect for those in service and an unwavering hope for a brighter future. Her words serve as a reminder that each one of us plays a part in shaping our world and act as a call, to service that resonates beyond the walls of the Campoamor Theatre.
Royal House
the Princess of Asturias presents the awards # Princess of Asturias Awards 2023
The first lorries entered the Gaza Strip from Egypt through the huge gate at the Rafah border crossing on Saturday. Tons of aid had been piling up for days waiting for passage to the Palestinian enclave, where the population lacks everything.
Humanitarian aid has finally entered the Gaza Strip after a fortnight of total siege. At mid-morning local time on Saturday 21 October, Egyptian television began broadcasting images of lorries coming from Egypt through the Rafah crossing, the only opening into the Palestinian enclave that is not in Israeli hands.
Twenty trucks convoy that passed through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt includes life-saving supplies provided by the Egyptian Red Crescent and the UN. 36 empty semi-trailers enter the terminal in the direction of Egypt from Palestinan side, in preparation for loading aid. Hamas confirmed also on Saturday morning the entry of a convoy of twenty vehicles carrying medical aid and food from Egypt.
“I am confident that this delivery will be the start of a sustainable effort to provide essential supplies – including food, water, medicine and fuel – to the people of Gaza, in a safe, dependable, unconditional and unimpeded manner,” Mr. Griffiths said in a statement published on his official account on X, formerly Twitter.
Tonnes of aid have been piling up for days waiting for a crossing into the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave. Some 175 full lorries are massed at Rafah awaiting the opening of the crossing point. The 2.4 million Gazans, half of them children, have been surviving without water, electricity or fuel since Israel imposed a “total siege” following the Hamas attack on 7 October and the outbreak of war.
Technically, the aid is first inventoried by the Egyptian Red Crescent, which then hands over its papers to UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, which is responsible for distributing aid in the Gaza Strip.
This “first convoy must not be the last”, was the UN’s immediate response, calling for a “sustained effort to provide essential goods”, and in particular “fuel” to the people of Gaza, “in a secure, unconditional and unimpeded manner”. From Cairo, where he is taking part in an international “peace” summit without a senior American leader, UN boss Antonio Guterres followed up by calling for a “humanitarian ceasefire” to “put an end to the nightmare”. “The people of Gaza need much more, a massive delivery of aid is necessary”, he added. The United Nations estimates that the Gazans need at least 100 lorries a day. Even before the war, 60% of Gazans were dependent on international food aid.
According to the Egyptian media, the food and medical aid delivered does not include fuel. Antonio Guterres said on Friday that it was “essential to have fuel” on the Palestinian side to be able to distribute aid to Gazans. It is these fuel shipments that are of greatest concern to Israel, which has imposed a strict blockade on the Gaza Strip for 16 years, particularly on goods that could be used to manufacture weapons or explosives. For the UN boss, the aid trucks “are a lifeline, the difference between life and death for many Gazans”.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) also announced that medical supplies from the agency had crossed the border “but the needs are far higher.”
Posting on X, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed the need for safe passage of additional convoys, protection of all humanitarian workers, and sustained access for health aid.
In a statement, WHO said that hospitals inside Gaza have already reached breaking point due to shortages and depletion of medicines and medical supplies, which are a “lifeline” for injured persons or those battling chronic and other illnesses.
Photo ONU/Eskinder DebebeL’aide humanitaire est bloquée près du poste frontière de Rafah, en Égypte, depuis le 14 octobre 2023.
Their Majesties The King and Queen of Spain, accompanied by Their Royal Highnesses The Princess of Asturias and Infanta Sofía, presided over the Princess of Asturias Foundation 2023 Awards Ceremony, held at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Sofía.
The ceremony is considered one of the most important cultural events on the international agenda, and it is designed to distinguish the scientific, technical, cultural, social, and humanitarian work carried out by individuals, institutions, groups of individuals, or institutions in the international arena.
The awards are given in eight categories: Arts, Literature, Social Sciences, Communication and Humanities, Scientific and Technical Research, International Cooperation, Concord, and Sports.
The Princess of Asturias Awards Ceremony is the main activity carried out by the Princess of Asturias Foundation, a private non-profit institution whose objectives are to contribute to the exaltation and promotion of all scientific, cultural, and humanistic values that are universal heritage and to consolidate the links between the Principality of Asturias and the title traditionally held by the heirs to the Crown of Spain.
His Majesty the King has been Honorary President of the Foundation since its creation in 1980, and following his proclamation as King of Spain on 19 June 2014, Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias holds the Honorary Presidency of this institution.
The 2023 edition of the Princess of Asturias Awards ceremony was attended by several distinguished guests, including the President of the Congress of Deputies, Meritxell Batet; the President of the Senate, Pedro Rollán; the President of the Constitutional Court, Cándido Conde-Pumpido; the President of the General Council of the Judiciary, Vicente Guilarte; the First Vice-President of the Government and Acting Minister for Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, Nadia Calviño; the Acting Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas; the Acting Minister for Culture and Sport, Miquel Iceta; and the Director of the Princess of Asturias Foundation, Teresa Sanjurjo.
Princess of Asturias Award for Communication and Humanities: Nuccio Ordine.
Princess of Asturias Award for International Cooperation: Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative.
Princess of Asturias Award for Sports: Eliud Kipchoge.
Princess of Asturias Award for Scientific Research: Jeffrey Gordon, E. Peter Greenberg, and Bonnie L. Bassler.
Princess of Asturias Award for Social Sciences: Hélène Carrére d’Encausse.
Princess of Asturias Award for Concord: Mary’s Meals.
Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts: Meryl Streep.
Princess of Asturias Award for Literature: Haruki Murakami.
The winners were presented with their awards by His Majesty the King and Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias. The ceremony was concluded with a speech by His Majesty the King, who praised the laureates for their constant and fruitful work to improve the lives of others, to help and protect the weakest, to elevate culture, and to be a guiding light. He stressed the importance of strengthening what unites us and learning from the laureates’ voices.
The Princess of Asturias Awards Ceremony is an important cultural event that recognizes the achievements of individuals and institutions in various fields. The winners of the 2023 edition of the awards have made significant contributions to their respective fields, and their work serves as an inspiration to others.
