The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is observed on 27 October to raise awareness about the significance and preservation risks of audiovisual materials.
Audiovisual archives serve as powerful storytellers, capturing the lives, cultures and histories of people from all over the world. They represent a priceless heritage which is an affirmation of our collective memory and a valuable source of knowledge, reflecting the cultural, social, and linguistic diversity of our communities. These archives not only deepen our understanding of the past but also help us appreciate the world we share today.
Conserving this rich heritage and ensuring it remains accessible to the public and future generations is thus vital. Historically, information was preserved through photographs, sheet music and books. Modern technology has revolutionised this process, allowing us to now record and share important moments through sound and video using different apps. Platforms like music streaming services, video-sharing sites and social media act as modern-day archives, storing a wide variety of audiovisuals.
The EU utilises different platforms and depositories for storing and sharing audiovisual content. Among them, the Audiovisual Library of the European Commission functions as central deposit for audiovisual materials intended for external communication, produced or purchased by Commission services. The library is responsible for the management, preservation, and accessibility of the collective audiovisual memory of the European integration process, available in both English and French. Since 1948, the library has catalogued over 250 000 videos, 500 000 photos and 8 500 audio recordings, covering all major steps of EU history. The collection continues to grow and is accessible to the public via the Audiovisual Portal.
In addition, Europeana is a web portal that aggregates audiovisual materials from over 2000 different institutions across Europe. This includes libraries, museums, archives, galleries and others, offering its users a unique opportunity to access a diverse range of content online.
The EU is committed to safeguarding and enhancing Europe‘s cultural heritage through numerous policies and programmes. By preserving audiovisual heritage such as films, recordings, and photographs, we ensure that future generations can experience the richness of our shared past. Protecting audiovisual heritage is not just about safeguarding memories, but about keeping cultural diversity alive and accessible for all.
Dr. Abdinasir Abubakar outlined how the UN agency has been supporting Lebanon’s Ministry of Health, including following the wave of electronic device explosions this week.
Hundreds of pagers across the country simultaneously detonated on Tuesday, while walkie-talkies and even some solar panels blew up the following day. The attacks reportedly targeted the Hezbollah militant group, killing civilians, including children.
Speaking at the regular briefing for correspondents in New York, Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called for “maximum restraint” by all parties to the conflict.
“We are very concerned at the heightened escalation across the Blue Line including the deadly strike we saw in Beirut today”, he added.
“We also urge the parties to immediately return to the cessation of hostilities…The region is on the brink of a catastrophe.”
An ‘unprecedented’ crisis
Dr. Abukakar told UN News that as of Thursday evening, the Ministry of Health had recorded 37 deaths and more than 3,000 wounded.
WHO has been assisting Lebanon’s hospitals to prepare for mass casualty events given the unrest in the region.
He described the past few days as “unprecedented”, both for the country and the health system, “because in one time on September 17, from almost 3:30 up to 4 o’clock, almost 3,000 injured patients were rushed to hospitals, and the hospitals were not prepared enough, actually, to handle simultaneously that number of cases.”
Support and supplies
Following the explosions, WHO supported the Ministry of Health “to properly coordinate with the hospitals so at least there is a proper referral system,” he said.
“We work with the emergency operation rooms to ensure that there’s a proper coordination within the hospitals where patients can be referred from one hospital to another hospital.”
Teams also dispensed and distributed supplies hospitals would need to manage cases, in addition to supporting the Lebanese Red Cross with proper supplies and testing kits for blood transfusions.
WHO also provided other support, including for mental healthcare services for health workers, patients and families, and to allow essential health services to continue.
Crisis upon crisis
The crisis is the latest challenge for Lebanon, where the health system has been severely impacted in recent years.
Dr. Abubkar said first there was the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by the devastating August 2020 explosion at the port in the capital, Beirut. The blast killed more than 200 people and caused millions in damage.
Lebanon is also in the midst of financial turmoil, he added, and experiencing spillover from the war in Gaza which erupted last October after Hamas-led attacks on Israel. Many hospitals have been managing trauma-related cases due to cross-border violence.
“Before the recent event that happened on 17 September there were almost 2,700 wounded patients and also about 550 deaths due to the conflict,” he noted.
WHO is also scaling up operations in southern Lebanon, where mobile clinics operated by partners offer immunization services, primary healthcare and nutritional support to people displaced by the fighting.
Preparing for mass casualty events
Dr. Abubakar said WHO and Lebanon’s Ministry of Health have invested heavily in preparedness of hospitals and health facilities, including advance training on trauma management, which proved valuable following the wave of explosions earlier this week.
“We propositioned supplies. We did a number of simulation exercises for this kind of a mass casualty event. I think some of those hospitals, actually, were prepared in a sense where at least they should expect this kind of a mass casualty event,” he said.
He praised the health authorities for their “tremendous effort” on coordination, whereby hospitals that were overwhelmed or “saturated” could transfer patients to other locations.
“In total, over 100 hospitals have received wounded patients,” he said. “And you can imagine now, in a country as small as Lebanon, which has five million people, when there’s so much injured people to be received within a very short period, how the health system will feel.”
Support Lebanon now
Asked if he had any message, Dr. Abubakar underlined the need to respect international humanitarian law and to protect healthcare workers and civilians, as well as health facilities.
He also urged greater support for Lebanon, stressing the need for more resources to respond to the ongoing crisis “but also the worst-case scenario”.
“I’m appealing to the international community that we need more resources to help to support those who have been injured, those who have been affected, the displaced people, in the current conflict,” he said.
EU Green Initiative: Over €380 Million Fuels133 New LIFE Projects
Brussels, Europe — In a decisive step towards environmental sustainability, the European Commission has announced a significant investment of more than €380 million for133 new projects under the LIFE Programme for environment and climate action. This ambitious funding initiative represents more than half of the total investment requirements of €574 million for these projects, with the remainder sourced from a coalition of national, regional, and local governments, along with contributions from public-private partnerships, businesses, and civil society organizations.
These LIFE projects aim to contribute significantly to achieving the targets set out in the European Green Deal. Notably, these targets include the EU‘s overarching goal to become climate-neutral by2050 and to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by2030. The Commission emphasized that this investment will positively impact the environment, the economy, and the well-being of all Europeans.
The allocated funding encompasses various critical areas of focus within the LIFE programme, including:
Circular Economy and Quality of Life: With an allocation of €143 million, including a €74 million EU contribution,26 selected projects aim to enhance circular economic practices and improve life quality. Key initiatives include reducing water use and pollution while making strong cases for enhancing recycling efforts.
Nature and Biodiversity Projects: Close to €216 million has been earmarked for projects centered on nature and biodiversity, with €144.5 million coming from the EU. These projects focus on restoring vital ecosystems, including freshwater and marine environments, and enhancing the conservation of diverse species such as birds, insects, and mammals.
Climate Resilience and Mitigation: Approximately €110 million (with nearly €62 million from the EU) will bolster initiatives aimed at improving climate resilience, along with governance and information strategies.
Governance and Market Solutions: The projects also include €105 million (with a substantial €99 million EU contribution) targeted at governance solutions to hasten the transition towards clean energy.
One of the standout projects is LIFE GRAPhiREC, which aims to recycle graphite from battery waste in Italy, projected to generate €23.4 million in revenue while saving €25 million in production costs. Another notable initiative, LIFE POLITEX, will invest €5 million in Spain to lessen the environmental footprint of the fashion industry by converting textile waste back into new materials. From the Canary Islands, the DESALIFE project is set to enhance water resilience by producing fresh water from the Atlantic Ocean, with wave-powered buoys expected to pump an impressive1.7 billion liters of desalinated water ashore.
Additionally, LIFE4AquaticWarbler and LIFE AWOM are collaborative projects involving multiple countries—Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Lithuania, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, alongside international partners from Ukraine and Senegal—collectively focused on saving the rare aquatic warbler bird. The projects boast a combined budget of nearly €24 million in alignment with the EU Biodiversity Strategy for2030.
In the realm of climate resilience, the IMAGE LIFE and LIFE VINOSHIELD projects, with a budget of €6.8 million, aim to fortify iconic vineyards and cheese production in Spain, France, and Italy against extreme weather changes. These projects serve as crucial examples of how the agricultural sector can adapt to the looming threats of climate change.
Two projects distinctly aimed at fostering a clean energy transition include LIFE DiVirtue, which employs virtual and augmented reality technologies in Bulgaria, Czechia, Greece, Croatia, and Romania to train construction professionals in delivering zero-emission building practices, and the ENERCOM FACILITY project, which will disburse almost €10 million to support emerging energy communities across Europe.
The LIFE Programme, which has been operational for32 years, has co-financed more than6,000 environmental and climate action projects across the EU and associated countries. The current allocation follows an increase in funding for the programme by almost60% for the period from2021 to2027, which now totals over €5.43 billion. The funds are managed by CINEA, the European Climate Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency.
As the EU forges ahead in its commitment to environmental sustainability, these new LIFE projects signify a critical investment in the future well-being of both the planet and its inhabitants.
Russian pop icon Alla Pugacheva was caught with $20 million worth of antiques. Among the ancient objects are works by Rembrandt and Leonardo da Vinci. The singer tried to transport them abroad. According to experts, Pugacheva’s collection includes museum exhibits from the XVI-XVII centuries, which can be put up for auction, where the price of just one of the paintings – Domenico Puligo’s “Madonna and Child with Two Angels” – starts at one million dollars, reported on 10 October “Komsomolskaya Pravda”.
Last year, when the star came to Russia, her representatives compiled an inventory of antique items. Documents include a 19th century French chandelier, a 19th century fruit stand, 16th-19th century sculptures and paintings. It was planned that all of them would be transported from Sheremetyevo airport, but the representatives of the star did not provide all the documents to the customs and they were refused transport.
In March of this year, the Russian Prosecutor’s Office asked the country’s Ministry of Justice to declare Alla Pugacheva a “foreign agent” after she criticized the war in Ukraine. At the beginning of the conflict in February 2022, Pugacheva and her husband Maxim Galkin flew to Israel, where the family owns an expensive estate. After Galkin publicly condemned the Russian special operation, he was declared a “foreign agent”, and Russian services began to investigate the singer on charges of discrediting the Russian army.
As a producer familiar with the situation told the KP.RU website: “Foreign agent Galkin came up with a hobby for himself – he built a castle, so he decided to stuff it with antiques, imagining himself a collector. He and his wife bought paintings, jewelry, doors, lamps, chests of drawers, etc. at auctions. Often at inflated prices. Often those that do not actually represent artistic value. Now experts who have studied the list of their collection say that there are no outstanding, museum works of art there. There are expensive old paintings, figurines, etc. There are a lot of them. For birthdays and anniversaries, friends gave them something for the collection. Pugacheva and Galkin* have a lot of things, chaotically bought at auctions at inflated prices for amateurs. Last year, they decided to export part of the collection. According to the law, it is forbidden to export from the country without special permits: firstly, antiques created more than a hundred years ago, secondly, items that are of significant value, classified as cultural heritage sites, and included in special registers. To export, it is necessary to order an examination and carry out customs declaration. All this was done in 2023, but customs rejected the collection – some of the ancient exhibits did not have the necessary export permits.” What did they want to export? Many works of painting, slightly fewer – works of decorative and applied art.
– Books in the amount of 118 pieces of modern editions by different authors.
– Seven sculptures. Among them – four sculptures from 1889, France, by Jean Baptiste Gustave Deloy. And three modern ones – “Seated Minotaur” (2022, Russia, E. Pylnikova), “Bull Hunt”, “Lion Hunt” (2018, Russia, A. Krasov and A. Kryukov).
– Two tables from Artem Stepanyan’s workshop, 2019. Materials – wood, gilding.
– A set of two fruit vases – bronchus, crystal, ornamental stones, gilding, silvering, blackening, casting, embossing, inlay, painting. 1840 – 1842, France.
– Two chandeliers. 19th century. France.
– A mirror in the Neo-Renaissance style (bronze, casting, embossing, engraving, gilding). Ferdinand Barbedienne factory, sculptors Albert Ernest Carrier-Belleuse and Louis-Constant Seven.
– Two consoles – “Triton” and “Pan” (wood, stone, carpentry, wood carving, stone carving, tinting, varnish). Mid-18th century, Italy, Venice.
– Pair of mahogany consoles with a Medici ring. Mid-19th century, Western Europe.
– Two table decorations. Pair of candelabra. 19th century. France.
– Picture frames. 8 pieces. 19th century, 20th century. Italy, Western Europe.
– Paintings. 21 pieces. The oldest canvas in this collection is dated in the inventory as follows – 1520s, Italy. Domenico Puligo “Madonna and Child with Two Angels”, wood, oil, 72.5 x 51.7 cm, in a frame 101.5 x 80.1 x 8 cm. At auctions, paintings by this Italian Renaissance artist were sold at an average price of 3 million rubles. The cost of this painting may be higher.
Illustration: Domenico Puligo, “Madonna and Child with Two Angels”
Parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UPC-MP) have taken over the largest Orthodox church in Cherkasy – the Mikhailovsky Cathedral, the greater part of which was transferred to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, reported UNIAN on 17th of October.
According to information, 18 thousand supporters of the Moscow church broke the entrance gate and entered the territory of the temple using tear gas. Around 09:00 the parishioners of the UOC took over the cathedral.
Also, from the video circulating on social networks, it can be seen that inside the temple, some people started using armatures from the pews against the camouflaged ones and pushed them out of the cathedral.
Subsequently, it became known that the police had arrived at the temple. Law enforcement officers reported that they are ensuring public order and documenting violations and identifying all participants in the incident.
The storming of the cathedral in Cherkasy
The Cherkasy priest Vladimir Ridney wrote on Facebook that the Cathedral of St. Michael in Cherkasy, which for a long time was under the control of the Moscow Patriarchate, is being transferred to the OCU.
He added that from now on the temple will always be open to military personnel because it has already become a garrison temple.
“Also, on the territory of the temple, a center for national-patriotic education, a Sunday school and the training of priests will be created… All parishioners who were and remain in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) are invited to pray in Garrison church in Ukrainian,” Ridney noted.
Illustrative Photo by Maria Charizani: https://www.pexels.com/photo/hand-holding-a-small-colorful-building-model-figurine-5994786/
European Union countries cannot generally ban the use of terms such as “schnitzel” or “sausage” for plant-based alternatives, the Court of Justice of the European Union (EU) ruled, DPA reported in early October.
Euroleaders with a call for the urgent return of illegal migrants to their places of birth
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France has issued a ban on the use of meat terms for vegetarian products, which has been challenged by several associations and food manufacturer Beyond Meat.
The Court of Justice of the EU indicated that member states can restrict the use of terms traditionally associated with meat products only if they define legal names for vegetable protein products.
The European Vegetarian Union (EVU), one of the claimants, said it was “very pleased” with the decision.
“By ensuring clarity in food labelling, we can promote plant-based alternatives and work towards environmental goals, as well as boost competitiveness and innovation in the EU,” said Rafael Pinto from the Vegetarian Union.
Organizers of the London Film Festival have pulled out of screening a documentary about far-right activity and funding in Britain and beyond due to “risks to safety and well-being”.
The documentary – “Undercover: Exposing the Far Right” – investigates far-right figures in the UK and Europe, as well as funding from the United States, using an undercover reporter and hidden cameras. The film was due to be screened at the festival in the British capital at the weekend and broadcast on Britain’s Channel 4 on Monday night.
The production comes just months after anti-immigrant riots erupted in parts of Britain, which officials blame on far-right agitators for inciting and igniting. The documentary follows the campaigns of the anti-extremism charity Hope not Hate, which investigates the far right in Britain and the money behind how “prejudice” is spread online.
Comments after the screening has stopped
“After exploring all possible options for screening this film at a public film festival, we have made the decision not to present UNDERCOVER: Exposing the Far Right at LFF,” said festival director Christy Matheson, who called the film “exceptional and one of the – the best documentaries I’ve seen this year”.
“However, festival workers have a right to feel safe and have their mental health and wellbeing respected in the workplace. I have taken into account the expert opinion of colleagues about the safety and welfare risks that the screening could have created for the audience and crew, and it served as the basis for our decision, which we did not take lightly,” she added.
Director Havana Marking expressed his disappointment at the London Film Festival’s decision. “I understand the fear that people feel, but I am very disappointed that an alternative method of screening was not found. It is becoming increasingly difficult to make films like this and the loss of this audience is upsetting,” she noted.
Even if you’ve been to Ephesus before, be sure to do it again if you find yourself in the Izmir region of Turkey. The remains of the ancient city were discovered in 1863, and only 37% of it has been discovered and preserved today, but archaeologists continue to work and Ephesus reveals more and more of its ancient secrets.
Recently, Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a new interactive museum that will immerse you, with all your senses, in the thousand-year history of one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world.
Ephesus Experience won top honors in the Best Museum category at this year’s MONDO-DR Awards. The awards are among the most prestigious in the fields of technology, design and exhibitions in the world and this year they were presented in June in Las Vegas, USA.
The awards, organized by MONDO-DR magazine, were established in 2017 to honor the best installation projects in the world. Over time, the awards began to also celebrate achievements and best projects in the exhibition and hospitality sector, focusing on the design of exhibition venues, visitor experiences and technical installations. The Ephesus Experience Museum was awarded the prize, thanks to the high evaluation of an independent jury, which recognized the project as outstanding worldwide.
An immersive symphony
The Ephesus Experience is one of the first museums in the world to combine experiential museology with age-old storytelling. As one of the most intriguing destinations on Turkey‘s Aegean coast and one of the most significant ancient cities in the world, Ephesus attracts thousands of tourists every year. In addition to being known as one of the greatest port cities of its time, it was also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015. Using innovative technology, the Ephesus Experience museum gives visitors the opportunity to personally experience the daily life, trade, architecture and art of the city during these golden ages.
Developed by DEM Museums, the Ephesus Experience was designed by a large team including architects, curators, designers, artists, technology experts, historians and archaeologists from leading companies and academic institutions in Turkey and around the world. The museum immerses you in an unforgettable journey in which you walk the streets of Ephesus, peer into the secrets of the ancient world and touch everyday life in the past.
Ephesus has existed since the Neolithic, but gained importance during the Roman Empire as the capital of Asia Minor and a very important port. As the second most important city in the Roman Empire, it grew and flourished. Its population of about 250,000 people – metropolis in the context of ancient times, is mostly educated and wealthy, and its buildings are richly decorated and speak of the interests and well-being of its inhabitants.
Today, Ephesus is not on the seashore – the passing river for centuries brought sediment to the port and eventually clogged it. The city’s decline also coincided with disasters such as the plague and an earthquake in the 12th century. In the following years, the city continued to exist, only to be finally abandoned in the 15th century.
Landmarks in the ancient city include the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre, which has a capacity of 30,000 spectators; the ruins of the Temple of Artemis; The Gate of Mazeus and Mithridates; the temple of Hadrian and the terrace houses.
In ancient Ephesus, they worshiped the Mother Goddess, symbolizing fertility, who gradually acquired the image of the Hellenic goddess of hunting and nature, Artemis. In her honor, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was erected in Ephesus – the Temple of Artemis, of which only parts of columns remain, unfortunately.
One of the grandest and best-preserved buildings is the Library, which was also a university. It is the third largest library in the Greco-Roman world after Alexandria and Pergamon. Unlike the first two, however, here the library is amazingly preserved. And across from her is the brothel.
The two buildings were connected by a tunnel.
On the street in front, on the port side, probably the first advertisement of the place for carnal pleasures has been preserved – it guides sailors and all those who want to find love.
The public toilets, which were a place for active social life, have also been preserved. Dozens of sufficiently large holes are drilled in the stone “benches”, a channel with running water runs below. There was also a fountain with scented jets for freshness. The slaves had to warm the cold stone with their bare bottoms before their masters took their turn.
The recently opened terraced houses of Ephesus are also impressive. Three residential complexes have been preserved, only one is open to visitors. It consists of several residences on an area of 2500 sq.m. – on three terraces one above the other, directly opposite Hadrian’s Temple.
Remains of a private bath, a huge reception hall with painted walls and red and green marble cladding are preserved. The houses were built in 1st century, they were last inhabited in the 12th century.
The House of the Virgin Mary, in which the Virgin is said to have lived after the resurrection of Jesus, is very close.
“The abode of the Blessed Virgin Mary was not located in Ephesus itself, but three to four hours away. It stood on a height where several Christians from Judea had settled, among them holy women, her relatives. Between this height and Ephesus a small river flowed with many crooked curves.” This is the vision of the nun and clairvoyant Anne Catherine Emmerich, according to which the house was discovered in the 19th century.
In 1822, the Blessed Virgin appeared before her and described in detail the place where she lived until her Assumption. Everyone believed the nun unconditionally, because they knew that she had never left Germany. When pilgrims set out to verify the fortune teller’s words, in Turkey – in Ephesus, at the place indicated by Anne Catherine, they actually found a house that exactly matched the one described by the nun.
After the nun’s death, her visions were published in a book by Clemens Brentano. The Catholic Church has not ruled for or against the house’s authenticity, but has nevertheless maintained a steady stream of pilgrimages since its opening. Anne Catherine Emmerich was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 3, 2004.
The House of the Virgin is not by chance in Ephesus – the ancient city played a large role in early Christianity.
Tradition claims that Ephesus is the city where St. John the Apostle came with Mary after the resurrection of Christ. In the Gospel of St. John we read: “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near him [by the cross], he said to his mother: ‘Mother, behold your son!’ Then he said to the disciple: ‘Behold your mother!’ From that moment on, this disciple took the mother of Jesus into his own home” (19:25-27).
Next to the house of the Mother of God, a spring with healing water gushes out from under the ground. Around it is a wall where everyone can write their wish. Tie a handkerchief or ribbon to the specially placed grid and say out loud what you dream about.
In a phone call on Friday 18 October, President Ursula von der Leyen discussed with President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) the current geopolitical situation and ways to further strengthen EU-UAE relations.
President von der Leyen expressed her concerns about the rising tensions in the Middle East and the risk of further escalation. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to securing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and in Lebanon, and emphasized the need to protect all civilians.
President von der Leyen called once again for the release of all hostages and reaffirmed the continued support of the European Union to civilians in need, in particular through the delivery of humanitarian aid. The President of the UAE commended the European Union for the key role it plays in this regard.
Both sides emphasized the urgent need to prevent the conflict from escalating further, reaffirming their commitment to working with the international community toward a lasting peace based on a two-state solution. President von der Leyen expressed her appreciation for the UAE’s key role in promoting regional stability and for its support to the populations in Gaza and Lebanon.
Regarding EU-UAE relations, President von der Leyen reaffirmed the European Union’s interest in strengthening bilateral ties, in particular by boosting trade and investment relations.
The President also recalled her interest in advancing the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
Both parties welcomed the exchanges held during the inaugural EU-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Brussels on 16 October and they expressed their willingness to continue engaging in future meetings, including in this format.
Donatella Nazzi, from Libro Co Italia, delivering recognition L. Ron Hubbard Dianetics for its 75th Anniversary. Receiving, Mr. John Goodwin, President Author Services Inc
KINGNEWSWIRE / FRANKFURT / Four leading book distributors in Europe chose the Frankfurt Buchmesse to deliver their recognitions to the Best-selling book Dianetics from L. Ron Hubbard at the launch of celebrations for its 75th Anniversary and wide distribution since publication in May 9th 1950.
Dianetics was awarded at the Frankfurt Buchmesse in preparation of its 75th Anniversary, by Gazelle, Heureka, LibroCo Italia and Arnoia Distribución de Libros.
The 2024 Frankfurt Buchmesse could not have concluded more appropriately than with L. Ron Hubbard’s Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health being acknowledged “for positively and permanently transforming millions of lives over the past three quarters of a century” said a representative.
The book has been honored with four prestigious recognitions from distributors across Europe, as if marking the four cardinal points of the continent.
From the North, the UK acknowledges its continued inspiration; from the South, Italy celebrates its profound impact; from the East, Slovakia praises its enduring legacy; and from the West, Spain highlights its perennial bestseller status.
Mr. Marvin Blagsde, from Gazelle Book Services offering 75th Anniversary recognition for Dianetics. Received by Mr. David Hosttetler, President New Era Publications.
In this regards, Marvin Blagsden, Managing Director of Gazelle Book Services, presented a commemorative plaque recognizing “the extraordinary legacy” of L. Ron Hubbard, which “continues to inspire and guide people worldwide, making a lasting impact on personal development and well-being.”
Going down south in Europe, Donatella Nazzi, Manager of Libro Co Italia, recognized L. Ron Hubbard’s “remarkable contribution to literature and human knowledge,” adding, “We are very pleased to distribute Dianetics. We have many interesting ideas for next year’s celebration of your anniversary, and I’m sure we can do a great job together.”
In crossing to Slovakia in eastern Europe, Heureka granted Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health by L. Ron Hubbard the award “Finalist Product of the Year 2023 in the Category of Books” and flying to the western Europe in Spain, Arnoia Distribución de Libros S.A., a Galician business group at the forefront of book distribution in Spain and abroad for over 30 years, joined in with another award “to congratulate L. Ron Hubbard for his vast and extraordinary body of published works in honor of the 75th anniversary of his perennial bestseller Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.”
L. Ron Hubbard’s Legacy: One of the Most Enduring and Widely Read Authors in Literary History
Book and lectures library on Dianetics & Scientology, by World Record Guiness author L. Ron Hubbard
His writing career, which spanned more than half a century, established him as a leading light in American fiction and as the author of over 35 million words of nonfiction—the most comprehensive exploration of the human mind and spirit, providing a unique pathway to total spiritual freedom.
Guiness World Records of author L. Ron Hubbard
Recognized as one of the top 20 bestselling authors of all time, Hubbard’s works have been translated into 114 languages, with more than 325 million copies in circulation, including over 3,000 recorded lectures and approximately 5,000 writings.
In testament to the magnitude of his literary legacy, he holds four Guinness World Records: for most published author, most translated author, the author with the most audiobook titles, and for the single most translated non-religious work.
Dianetics,Time-Tested Technology: Just as Relevant in 2024 as in 1950.
Published on May 9, 1950, a forerunner of Scientology, Dianetics was proclaimed by the national columnist Walter Winchell in a telling prediction, “There is something new coming up in April called Dianetics. A new science which works with the invariability of physical science in the field of the human mind. From all indications it will prove to be as revolutionary for humanity as the first caveman’s discovery and utilization of fire.”
If Winchell’s statement was bold, it was nonetheless accurate, for with Dianetics came the first definitive explanation of human thinking and behavior. Here, too, “was the first means to resolve problems of the human mind, including unreasonable fears, upsets, insecurities and psychosomatic ills of every description” said one of the fans.
At the core of such problems lay what L. Ron Hubbard termed the “reactive mind” and defined as that “portion of a person’s mind which is entirely stimulus-response, which is not under his volitional control and which exerts force and the power of command over his awareness, purposes, thoughts, body and actions.”
“That the mind still recorded perceptions during moments of partial or full unconsciousness was dimly known. But how the engram impacted physiologically, how it acted upon thinking and behavior—this was entirely new” says one of the readers,In short, here lay a mind, as Mr. Hubbard so powerfully phrased it, “which makes a man suppress his hopes, which holds his apathies, which gives him irresolution when he should act, and kills him before he has begun to live.”
Dianetics and L Ron Hubbard books stand at Frankfurt Buchmesse 2024
“As word of Dianetics spread, general response was considerable: more than fifty thousand copies were acquired by the general public immediately off the press, while bookstores struggled to keep it on shelves. As its experienced workability grew, public response grew even more dramatic” said Ivan Arjona-Pelado, European representative for the Church of Scientology.
“Dianetics—Taking U.S. by Storm” and “Fastest Growing Movement in America” read newspaper headlines through the summer of 1950. “While by the end of the year, some 750 Dianetics groups had spontaneously mushroomed from coast to coast and six cities boasted research foundations to help facilitate Mr. Hubbard’s advancement of the subject” continued Arjona-Pelado.
Over the years, Dianetics has become an international phenomenon, with more than 22 million copies in circulation, translated into 50 languages, and distributed in 175 countries worldwide.
“As a perennial bestseller, Dianetics is indisputably the most widely read and influential book on the human mind” concluded Arjona-Pelado.
