Balkans. Thessaloniki. Human Rights. Youth Participation.
The 8th of March, this year, means Easter day for the Orthodox church. But every year, since 1990, this day is marked as the International Romani Day, celebrating the Roma culture and calling for attention to issues related to this group of people. The date was created as a way to distinguish the first international meeting of Roma representatives, in 1971, and it was announced during the 4th World Romani Congress of the International Romani Union, in Poland.
On the 6th of February, Bord de L’eau hosted the first photographic exibition of Hande Yetkin: Dönüş/Return. The 22 year old photographer presented 10 beautiful black and white photos of two ballerinas around Thessaloniki. The project aimed to reveal what is invisible to naked eyes and minds:
«I will tell you a story that you cannot easily see on the surface, or that you have overlooked in the heart of the city»
Believing that fascism is still a big threat to the World, and Greece in particular, Antinazi Zone arose as an initiative to organize and coordinate actions against fascism, neo-Nazism and racism. As a result, this Saturday, Takim will receive the 1st Festival of Art Against Fascism in Thessaloniki, an event that brings together young people of city’s community.
The 27th of January is not like any other day. It is a day to remember all of those who suffered, in any way or form, in the Holocaust which occurred during the second quarter of the 20th century. It is globally known as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and was founded by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution, in November 2005, a few months after the commemorations of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the biggest and most notorious concentration camp, where an estimate of 1.1 million people were killed.
In 1999, the 25th of November was designated by the United Nations the «International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women».
Nowadays, on this date, campaigns are launched all over the world in order to raise awareness of this worldwide problem. Balkan Hotspot decided to join the cause and created a gallery of impactful images with some quite impressive messages and appeals. Take a look!
In Greece, the 17th of November is a remarkable date. It recalls the Athens Polytechnic Uprising, in 1973, against the Military Dictatorship (1967-1974) – also known as the Military Junta, or the Regime of the Coronels – that the country had been submitted to for over 6 years.
Nowadays, this date is a holiday for all schools and universities, being looked at with a high level of pride by Greek students.
