Highlights - September 2009

OUR NOTES: Boris Pahor celebrated the 96th anniversary

On August the 26th the ceremony to pay tribute to writer Boris Pahor upon his 96th birthday was held in the Linhart Hall of the Ljubljana Cankarjev dom. In honour of his high jubilee a collection of his five books was launched under the auspices of the publishing house »Cankarjeva založba« and »Mladinska knjiga«. Author Pahor, »Culprit of Ceremonies« said, he would be glad if the interest in the Slovenian minority outside the country was as keen as it was in him that night. Pahor`s narration, combined with the narration of editor Zdravko Duša, literary historian Tatjana Rojc and versatile cultural worker Evgen Bavčar, was punctuated by bursts of applause. At his request the last and the longest applause was dedicated to all those political prisoners, who did not return from the concentration camps.

INTERVIEW: Lučka Kajfež Bogataj, climatologists

Lučka Kajfež Bogataj, (full) professor of Biotechnical Faculty in Ljubljana, Chair of Agrometeorology, renowned and respected climatologist, has been dealing for many years with the problems in the field of climate change, which has recently raised more and more pressing issues. Until last year Mrs. Lučka Kajfež Bogataj participated in the International Committee of United Nations (IPCC) - The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change from Geneva /Mednarodni odbor za podnebne spremembe Združenih narodov s sedežem v Ženevi (IPCC); IPCC received the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2007. At the same time IPCC warned the general public that climate change has become a major global problem that concerns us all. »Unfortunately humans have never been creatures who would know how to deal with the nature sustainably. All of these myths about how human beings have been friendly to nature, none of them is true. Usually people use as many resources as they possibly can. In earlier days there was abundant nature and few people who could move from one place to another and start from scratch. Now this is no longer possible. The world is full and broached,« said among other Mrs. Kajfež Bogataj to our magazine.

THE TOPIC OF THE MONTH : The Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenes in the Neighbouring Countries and Abroad celebrates the 15th anniversary

The Government Office for Slovenes in the Neighbouring Countries and Abroad carries out tasks related to the Slovene minority in neighbouring countries, Slovene expatriates and migrant workers around the world. The Office maintains constant contact with Slovene minority and emigrant organisations, promoting their cultural, educational, economic and other relations with the home country, and organizing conferences, seminars, proposals, etc. By means of public requests for funding, the Office ensures financial support of the Republic of Slovenia to implement programmes and projects involving Slovenes outside the Republic of Slovenia. In the spirit of the upcoming 15th anniversary of the establishment of this institution we have prepared a short section of its operations in the last 15 years.

OUR PRESENTATION OF THE FELLOW COUNTRYMAN:

Vladimir Urbanc, Canada

In Montreal, the centre of the Canadian province Quebec, on the 1st September 2009 the Slovene Vladimir Urbanc of that town celebrated his 80th anniversary. A few years ago in this town he was known as the owner of a travel agency, interpreter, justice of the peace (J.P.), chief of the Slovenian Enquiry Office, organizer of some roaming Slovenian cultural groups, sports enthusiast and much more. By all means it should be noted, that he is still interested in sports, primarily in recreational tennis despitehis great age.

Bernard Mustar, Germany

Years are no obstacle. Where Bernard Mustar is, there is music, dance and joy. And of course his accordion and very likely Slovenian talk. Mr. Mustar was born 81 years ago in Germany. He says he is sincerely fond of the Slovenes and of our culture and music. It is music, and with it the accordion, that marked his life in the silver years.

SPORT: Primož Kozmus won Gold Medal at World Championship in Berlin

On August the 17th, in Berlin (Germany) Olympic Champion Primož Kozmus won the Gold Medal at the men's Hammer Throw (length of throw 80,84 m) at the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships. After last year`s Olympic Gold in Peking (Beijin) he was also crowned with the world championship title at the same time of the year and so he proved to become a champion the likes of which Slovene Athletics have not yet had. This is only the third medal for Slovenian athletes from previous world championships and it is the first Gold; Kozmus won the Silver in Osaka in 2007 and Gregor Cankar the Bronze in the long jump in 1999 in Seville, Spain.