Dept. of ethnologica, Okyeampoma, February 12, 2004 at 7:48:24 PM CET

Genocide Monument: media & murder

With regard to the story below(1)''TV: How many dead Africans needed for media attention?'', I suggest you come to the Völkerkundemuseum in München to see the Genocide Monument. This special exhibition, a sculpure installation, is treating the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Kofi Setorji, a Ghanaian artist, claims that his work is about very general aspects of the genesis and the processing of genocides and crimes agains humanity. Without falling into great accusations, he also touches the role of the media. Several of his objects point out at how media coverage is dependent on the alleged number of victims.

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Dept. of ethnologica, kerleone, February 11, 2004 at 10:28:33 AM CET

TV: How many dead africans needed for media attention?

This is something Zephyrin and me discussed many times: Why the media isn't interested in reporting about natural disasters in africa or huge accidents like sinking ferries in asia? Is there no interest? Aren't there pictures for TV? Is it too far away? Or is there a lack of commiseration for those victims? You may see this in connection with the debate in anthropology about the representation of the other. Today the german TV station "ARD" is sending a report exactly about this topic (23.00 Uhr). Read more about it in the Süddeutsche Zeitung (german).

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Dept. of ethnologica, kerleone, February 10, 2004 at 8:12:11 PM CET

US recruits canadian indians for war

It seems to be a old story, but it was new for me: Last year the US Army recruited indigenous people from reserves in canada by sending recruiters to them. For indians in difficult social situations the army seems to be a appreciated income and a chance for education. I wouldn't dare to call this scandalous, but it reminds me of the actions done by colonial missionaries or the unfair working conditions of caoutchouc collectors in the brazilian rainforests in the 19th century, as probably now again the problematic social situations of the indigenous people is exploited. A bad taste remains and the incertitude, how to ethically judge this. Read more (in german) at Telepolis.

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Dept. of ethnologica, praying mantis, January 11, 2004 at 3:44:35 PM CET

God's Adventures: A History of Mission

I stumbled over a very interesting series about long forgotten film documents made by missionaries in Asia, America and Africa. Broadcasted on BR (click and scroll down a bit for informations). I couldn't record it, though. Unfortunatelly I noticed it just today, so my post comes late for you readers missed the part about Asia already =) sorry. Hopefully they will run it again . . .

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Dept. of ethnologica, kerleone, December 9, 2003 at 12:23:07 PM CET

Cornell's Witchcraft Collection contains over 3,000 titles documenting the history of the Inquisition and the persecution of witchcraft. There are also some other interesting collections of scanned books, among them a agricultural collection. Via Netbib

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Dept. of ethnologica, kerleone, November 11, 2003 at 11:18:45 AM CET

Exploring Africa

Exploring Africa is an Exhibit of Maps and Travel Narratives. Unfortunately it's from 1997 and because of that the scanned pictures and maps are of very bad quality. Via Map Room

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Dept. of ethnologica, kerleone, November 5, 2003 at 10:52:11 AM CET

Inuit battle to shut US air base

"Inuit hunters are to ask Denmark's Supreme Court on Monday to close down one of America's most secretive and strategically important military bases", reports BBC.

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Dept. of ethnologica, kerleone, October 30, 2003 at 5:41:06 PM CET

Internet in Senegal

OSIRIS is a organization which is informing about internet development in Senegal, and which is also involved in this development. For example the had a recent article about internet trade with local products. More I wasn't able to figure out without speaking french. Via Afrique Web. I would really recommend that students speaking french and who are interested in Africa should take a look at this weblog regulary. We miss a lot of good news every week, because I can't speak french

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Dept. of ethnologica, kerleone, October 27, 2003 at 12:01:35 PM CET

India: The only other classic music

The swiss Neue Zürcher Zeitung is writing about the traditional indian music and argues that it's the only "art music" besides classic western music.

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Dept. of ethnologica, kerleone, October 23, 2003 at 5:34:28 PM CEST

Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies

By accident (if you want to know: I just was searching for the meaning of the spanish word zaramagullon, which is the Great Crested Grebe, in german "Haubentaucher), well; and doing this I stumbled over a interesting organisation: FAMSI. They describe theirself: "The Foundation (FAMSI) was created in 1993 to foster increased understanding of ancient Mesoamerican cultures. The Foundation aims to assist and promote qualified scholars who might otherwise be unable to undertake or complete their programs of research and synthesis. Projects in the following disciplines are urged to apply: anthropology, archaeology, art history, epigraphy, ethnography, ethnohistory, linguistics, and related fields. The Granting Department provides funds on an annual basis to support research projects that promise to make significant contributions to the understanding of ancient Mesoamerican cultures. Grant recipients are determined through an annual grant application competition."

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Dept. of ethnologica, warauduati, September 12, 2003 at 6:56:49 PM CEST

HaidaBucks defeats Starbucks !

Anyone knows the famous Starbucks Café. But did you also know that a great remaining Indian tribe in Northwest Canada - the Haida - lanced a café in the past under the name of "HaidaBucks" meaning nothing more than "Haida Nation Men". Starbucks started a David-vs.-Goliath-like jurisdiction fight about their brand, but as reported today in German newspapers, "Starbucks considers this matter closed" - finally! A great triumph for the Haida is complete, as they point it out on their own Homepage...

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Dept. of ethnologica, warauduati, September 12, 2003 at 6:40:03 PM CEST

Ibrahima Coulibaly in Cancún

Ibrahim Coulibaly is a cotton-framer from Mali and one of the African representatives at the WTO Conference in Cancún. The Süddeutsche Zeitung reports in an interesting and large article about his problematic situation within a steady growing globalized world.

For the latest update to the WTO Conference there's another part talking about the latest tragedy of another representative of farmers from South Corea who killed himself as protest in front of Cancún's Conference doors. As a result all NGOs where dismissed from the regular press conference!

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