Since May 2001 the "Institut für Ethnologie" of the University of Heidelberg, Germany maintains an online-project which strives to become the central resource for social/cultural anthropologists and ethnographers in german-speaking Europe. The central goals of the project are: 1) Positioning topics of social/cultural anthropology in the media, 2) Ignite a closer working relationship of anthropological museums and institutes, and -- most important -- 3) Create a network of social/cultural anthropology in the german-speaking sphere. Hence the central website of the project is called ethnOnet (On the same page a collection of links to every institute and museum (in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) concerned with social/cultural anthropology is to be found. The main thrust to create the network envisioned stems from ethnOnet's database of german-speaking experts in social/cultural anthropology, which is still growing.

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Munich: The studentic 'workgroup film' of Munich's "Institut für Ethnologie und Afrikanistik" shows the film "Vergeef me – Forgive me" by filmmaker Cyrus Frisch from the Netherlands. Mr Frisch's film deals with the topic of 'watching people suffering in the media'. To make the audience aware of the acceptance of mediated cruelty, Frisch goes beyond the accepted means of filmmaking. He visits those who live at the fringe of society, looks upon them in empty factory-buildings or drags them on stage. The result is a disturbing hybrid consisting of documentary and reality-soap elements. In the end he tries to answer the questions concerning the ethics of his film, of making documentaries, and of the media in general. "Forgive Me" already was shown at numerous high-class filmfestivals and now can be seen at our institute (Room Nr. 1.05) on Tuesday the 19. November 2002 at 19:45h. Admission is free. The workgroup has contacted Mr Frisch and still hopes that it will be possible for him to be present!

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Peruvian divers have found pre-Inca stairways, ramps and walls beneath the waters of Lake Titicaca, but experts said on Wednesday the discoveries were not the remains of a legendary lost city., reports Reuters.

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The skeletons of colonialism may get a decent burial at last: Body parts trundled back from all corners of the globe and displayed like mere ornaments are among the exhibits most popular with visitors to British collections. James Morrison [The Independent] reports on moves to give other cultures' ancestors a more dignified end. Update:Link repaired.

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Bill Gates did spend 100 Million Dollars for the fight against AIDS in India, reports IPS. But the indians are skeptical, because they feel domineered by the americans. [Yes, even a 100 Million donation could have cultural implications.] Addendum by zephyrin: I just had a conversation with our institute's head who has read this story and gave an interpretation to me which at first glance seems rather cynical -- but it's grounded on his insight into indian society: The indians may feel to be dominated, because they fear that it's looked after by the Americans that the $100 million donation by Bill Gates really are put into the fight against AIDS. They themselves hope to channel the money into the construction industry or what they fancy. In this context domination means: People from outside India are bypassing the informal distribution-system inside India.

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