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The next “Intercultural Embassy invites…” evening will take place on June 17th at 6 p.m. in the courtyard of British Council Latvia building, Blaumaņa Street 5a.
This time the guest of “Intercultural Embassy invites…” will be Julgī Stalte, Livonian and leader of the folk group “Skandinieki”. This ‘Intercultural Embassy’ will be special as it will also be a reunion of friends and neighbours of British Council Latvia to celebrate Līgo according to Livonian traditions. There will be a possibility to participate in games and sing Livonian songs thus exploring Livonian culture and traditions as well as diversity of Latvia. The welcoming Intercultural Ambassador will be artist Brigita Zakare who is a leader of the Livonian Union and a participant of British Council’s Project “Intercultural Navigators”.
The next “Intercultural Embassy invites…” evening will happen on May 13th at 6 p.m. at the British Council office.
This time ‘Intercultural Embassy’ guests will be Sundar Vaideeswaran, India born citizen of Latvia, lecturer in the School of Business Administration “Turība” and the president of the Latvian Cricket Federation, and artist Patricija Brekte. The topic of the evening will be “India and people”. The welcoming Intercultural Ambassador will be journalist Aija Brasliņa who is explorer of India culture, participant of British Council’s Project „Intercultural Navigators” and is currently working as “Reuters” contractor correspondent in Latvia.
In order to participate in the evening please apply online by filling online application form below. Application deadline is 12th of May 2010. Please note: the number of seats is limited!
The language of the evening will be Latvian.
Tea and coffee will be available during the evening, but you are welcome to take snacks or sandwiches with you.
Sundar Vaideeswaran is India born citizen of Latvia from year 2006. Sundar is a lecturer in the School of Business Administration “Turība”. Sundar specialises in Business English, Legal English and Professional Terminology. Sundar has acquired the certificate for teaching English for Special Purposes from the London Chamber of Trade and Commerce that only a selected number of teachers in Latvia possess. Sundar is also the president of the Latvian Cricket Federation. Sundar speaks fluent English, Latvian, Russian, Tamil and Hindi.
The next “Intercultural Embassy invites…” evening will be a part of “Creativity Week” which is a project organized by British Council Latvia and partners to involve wider audiences in different creative activities.
The “Intercultural Embassy invites” will happen on April 29th at 7.30 p.m. at the cinema “K.Suns”, Elizabetes street 83/85. As movies are a creative and dynamic way to look on the complex, globalized and diverse world, this time “Intercultural Embassy” invites you to watch the British film “Endgame”, a political drama about the final days of apartheid in South Africa. The movie is directed by Pete Travis and based upon the book “The Fall of the Apartheid” by Robert Harvey.
Before the film there will be introductory words from Liesma Ose, Human Rights and Social Cohesion program director of Soros Foundation Latvia and an expert on diversity issues, and George R. Steele, human rights activist. Both of them already have been guest speakers in the “Intercultural Embassy invites…” evenings. The welcoming Intercultural Ambassador will be Ilze Saleniece, British Council’s Project „Intercultural Navigators” Manager.
Entrance to the film is free!
The film will be screened in English with simultaneous translation in Latvian.
The British film “Endgame” is directed by Pete Travis from a script by Paula Milne. The film is based upon the book “The Fall of the Apartheid” by Robert Harvey. The film looks to the final days of apartheid in South Africa, focusing on secret talks held between the African National Congress and the National Party. The premiere of the film was in January 2009 at the Sundance Film Festival.
The main characters of the movie are Will Esterhuyse, professor of philosophy at Stellenbosch University (starring by William Hurt), Thabo Mbeki, director of information for the African National Congress (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Michael Young, director of communications for Consolidated Gold (Jonny Lee Miller) and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela (Clarke Peters).
Story of the film: in 1985 South Africa burns as the vile Apartheid regime crumbles. In the months leading up to this historic moment, a group of men hold secret talks to bring about peace and democracy to the nation. Under constant threat and fearful for their lives, a gathering of ANC ‘terrorists’ led by Thabo Mbeki and key Afrikaner representatives meet in a manor house in South East England.
Against all the odds, through volatile discussions, set backs and breakthroughs, the secret talks in Britain achieve a precious arena of frail trust between the two archenemies. While Mandela’s tense negotiations at Pollsmoor Prison and later in the heavily bugged warden’s villa at Victor Verster Prison prove fruitful, the courage of the unsung heroes at the crucial British talks begin to show results.
But will they live to see the peace they are striving so hard for? In the climate of the ‘war on terror’ we all now live in, this inspiring film based on Robert Harvey’s acclaimed book ‘The Fall of Apartheid’ has never had more relevance.
More information about the film: http://www.endgame-themovie.com/
The next “Intercultural Embassy invites…” evening will be dedicated to racism issues as part of the European Action Week Against Racism 2010 and will happen on March 25th at 6 p.m. at the British Council office. This time ‘Intercultural Embassy’ guest will be George R. Steele, USA born Human rights activist and a private conversational English teacher. George’s line of topic will be “What do I really know about “Racism”?”. The welcoming Intercultural Ambassador will be Edīte Millere, teacher from initiative “Mission Possible” (“Iespējamā Misija”) and participant of British Council’s Project „Intercultural Navigators”. Edīte arrives some days before the “Intercultural Embassy invites…” from Ghana where she is doing an EC project on Empowering Ghanaian youth organisations.
In order to participate in the evening please apply online by filling online application form below. Application deadline is 24th of March 2010. Please note: the number of seats is limited!
The language of the evening will be Latvian.
Tea and coffee will be available during the evening, but you are welcome to take snacks or sandwiches with you.
George R. Steele was born in 1959, in Cleveland, Ohio USA. Currently, he is a private conversational English teacher, human rights activist and father. During his time here in Latvia he has worked as a basketball coach at the “Valtera Basketbola Skola”, a project manager at “Lattelekom” and a customer service and business consultant for other enterprises. He has been involved in a Latvian men's choir for the last 11 seasons and participated in three Latvian Song and Dance Festivals, he has appeared in five Latvian produced motion pictures, and three Latvian dramatic stage productions.
Edīte Millere is currently taking part in short term project in Ghana within organisation frame of AFS – student exchange programmes. She is training local volunteers, doing feasibility studies as well as together with 8 European and Kenyan / S. African volunteers are trying to come up with suggestions how to make AFS Ghana even better and more effective partner within our international network.
The General assembly of the United Nations declared 21 March the "International Day for the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination". This day was implemented as a reaction to the murder of 70 anti-apartheid demonstrators in Sharpeville, South Africa, in 1960. Apartheid was a legal system of racial segregation enforced by the government of South Africa between 1948 and 1990.Therefore in the European-wide Action Week Against Racism, around 21st March, hundreds of grass-roots organisations from all over Europe join forces and come into action against racism, xenophobia, right-wing extremism and related discrimination.
The activities are coordinated by the Amsterdam based secretariat of UNITED for Intercultural Action - the European Network against Nationalism, Racism, Fascism and in Support of Migrants and Refugees.
ENJOY DIVERSITY
The next “Intercultural Embassy invites…” evening will happen on February 18th at 7 p.m. at the British Council office. This time ‘Intercultural Embassy’ guest will be Brigita Krūmiņa, headmaster of Japanese language and culture study "Gengo” and the author of the Japanese-Latvian kanji study dictionary. Brigita’s line of topic will be “Japan. Japanese and language education in Latvia”. The welcoming Intercultural Ambassador will be Uldis Leiterts, NGO activist, blogger, president of INDEX alumni association for ex-participants of Baltic-Japan exchange program and participant of the British Council’s project “Intercultural Navigators”.
In order to participate in the evening please apply online by filling online application form below. Application deadline is 17th of February 2010. Please note: the number of seats is limited!
The language of the evening will be Latvian.
Tea and coffee will be available during the evening, but you are welcome to take snacks or sandwiches with you.
More information about Brigita Krūmiņa
Brigita Krūmiņa has 20 years experience in Japanese language teaching, development of study materials, programs and dictionaries. She is one of key figures of the initiation of Japanese language education in Latvia, currently headmaster of "Gengo" - Japanese language and culture study in Riga. Previously she was headmaster of Japanese Language and culture high school and initiator of Japanese language study program in University of Latvia. Brigita Krūmiņa was a teacher of many now successful Japanese language specialists currently working in private or government structures in Latvia, Japan or other countries as well as author of the Japanese-Latvian kanji study dictionary. It was published in 2006-2007 after 8 years of groundbreaking work involving 48 language students.
"Gengo" is a private Japanese language and culture studio which was established in 1999 and is based on the teaching tradition and experience of a Japanese language and culture highschool (1993.-2000.) and evening school of Japanese language (1990.-1993.). The studio also works as publishing house and Japanese culture museum. "Gengo" is a Japanese word for "language".
Recent publications
- Japanese – Latvian kanji study dictionary (2007), 3rd edition. Writing book;
- Japanese – Latvian kanji study dictionary (2006), 2 editions (~ 7000 signs)
- Latvian – Japanese dictionary (2000)
- K. Mijadzava, “Piena ceļa vilciena nakts" (1998)
Language skills
- Native tongue - Latvian, Russian
- Good - Japanese, English, German, French
- With dictionary - Slavic, Latin, Chinese, Korean texts
The next “Intercultural Embassy invites…” evening will happen on January 21st at 6 p.m. at the British Council office. This time ‘Intercultural Embassy’ guest will be Valdis Muktupāvels, professor of ethnomusicology and director of the Baltic Sea region master studies programme in the University of Latvia. Valdis’ line of the topic will be “Postmodern Baltic identity”. The welcoming ‘Intercultural Ambassador’ will be Dagnija Baltiņa, Secretary-General of the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO and participant of the British Council’s project “Intercultural Navigators”.
In order to participate in the evening please apply online by filling online application form below. Application deadline is 20th of January 2010. Please note: the number of seats is limited!
The language of the evening will be Latvian.
Tea and coffee will be available during the evening, but you are welcome to take snacks or sandwiches with you.
More information about Valdis Muktupāvels
Valdis Muktupāvels (born in Latvia, 1958) is a scholar, composer and musician. He has received his Doctor of Art degree in 1999 with the dissertation "Systematics of Latvian musical instruments". Valdis Muktupāvels is professor of ethnomusicology and director of the Baltic Sea Region studies at the University of Latvia. He has been guest professor in universities of Helsinki, Oslo (2009), Glasgow (2008), Edinburgh, Klaipėda (2007), Prague (2006), Greifswald (2006, 2005, 1998), Vytautas Magnus university in Kaunas (2004), and others.
Valdis Muktupāvels' field of expertise is Latvian and Baltic traditional and modern music culture – historical and social contexts, traditions and change, musical instruments, Baltic religion and identity issues. Six books and more than 30 articles should be mentioned as his publications, among them in such acknowledged editions as “The World of Music, The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music”, and Macmillan “Encyclopedia of Religion”.
Valdis Muktupāvels is one of key figures of modern folklore revival movement in Latvia, especially during the period of Soviet occupation, when Latvian cultural heritage was endangered, and has promoted preservation and dissemination of the heritage at home and abroad. He has contributed to the revival of traditional musical instruments – kokles (psaltery), bagpipe, and others. Since 1980s he has performed with his psaltery, bagpipe and singing – solo and in ensemble – in Europe, North America, India, Japan and Australia.
Valdis Muktupāvels is composer of choral, instrumental and film music, and he is renowned for his mystery ‘Nemus sonorum’ (2008), oratorio ‘Pontifex’ (2004), albums of traditional and modern psaltery ‘kokles’ (2002) and bagpipe (2000 in Latvia, 2002 in U.K.) music. Among the latest films with his music are “Litauen – grünes Herz Europas” (NDR, 2008), “Dina” (J. Podnieka studija, 2005), “Lettland: Wildnis zwischen Russland und Riga” (NDR, 2003).
Valdis Muktupāvels is awarded with the fifth class Order of Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (2001) and twice with the annual National Grand Prize in folklore (2003, 2005).
Selected recordings by Valdis Muktupāvels:
•“Vairas dziesmas” (2008). Lauska CD 21
•Valdis Muktupāvels. “Pārcēlājs”. (Pontifex) (2005). Latvijas Radio LRCD 047
•Valdis Muktupāvels. “Kokles” (2002). UPE CD 043
•“The bagpipes of Latvia” (2002). ARC Music Productions EUCD 1692
•Ensemble Rasa. “Lettonie: musiques des rites solaires.” Latvia: music of solar rites (1995). INEDIT W 260062
The next „Intercultural Embassy invites…” evening will happen on December 10th at 6 p.m. This time Intercultural Embassy guests will be Sergejs Timofejevs and Arturs Punte, authors of “Russian Poetry from Latvia” and editors of poetical multimedia project “Orbita”. Sergejs and Arturs will share their thoughts about the topic “Russian culture and its expressions in Latvia”. The welcoming Intercultural Ambassador will be Dmitrijs Zverevs, who is working in the Education, Youth and Sports Department of Riga City Council, activist of non-formal education and participant of the British Council’s project “Intercultural Navigators”.
In order to participate in the evening please apply online by filling online application form below. Application deadline is 9th of December 2009. Please note: the number of seats is limited!
The language of the evening will be Latvian and Russian.
Tea and coffee will be available during the evening, but you are welcome to take snacks or sandwiches with you.
Sergejs Timofejevs was born in Riga in year 1970; he graduated from the Faculty of Philology at the University of Latvia. His occupations span poetry, deejaying, copywriting and journalism. Timofejevs co-edits the “Orbīta” almanacs and multimedia titles. Jointly with Punte, he's responsible for organising the “Word in Motion” festival of poetic video.
Arturs Punte was born in Riga in year 1977; he went on to graduate from the Moscow Institute of Literature. Punte is a poet and works in advertising. In 2008 in collaboration with Sergejs Timofejevs they published the book “Russion Poetry from Latvia” in Russian, Latvian and English languages. He also edits the “Orbita” almanac and the www.orbita.lv website, makes multimedia works and sometimes VJ-joja.
Cultural union “Orbita” is the first poetical multimedia project in Russian. Five Latvian poets who are writing in Russian met and launched the new project “Orbita” in 1999. They arranged readings of their texts in clubs, theatres, squares and even from a little ship for the audience on the banks of the Daugava. Poetry was performed with musicians, DJ and video artists making it a musical event. The first Orbitas’ CD (year 2000) mixed authors’ texts with specially written electronic music from different artists from Riga. Projects of “Orbita” got multiple awards: Literature Award 2005, Award of Aleksandrs Čaks, best photo-exhibition of the year, MAP award for best book cover and others. For more information on “Orbita” and their projects (in Russian): www.orbita.lv
Information was based on an interview by Viestarts Gailitis that has been published in the daily newspaper “Diena” and reprinted electronically in: http://www.andrejsala.lv/148/1693/
The next „Intercultural Embassy invites…” evening will happen on November 12th at 6 p.m. This time Intercultural Embassy guest will be Dr. Hossam Abu Meri, Lebanese born citizen of Latvia and president of the Arabic Culture Center in Riga. Dr. Hossam’s line of topic will be “Door to the Arabic world”. The welcoming Intercultural Ambassador will be Arturs Slisans, among other interests being business consultant and explorer of different cultures and participant of British Council’s Project “Intercultural Navigators”.
In order to participate in the evening please apply online by filling online application form below. Application deadline is 11th of November 2009. Please note: the number of seats is limited!
The language of the evening will be Latvian.
Tea and coffee will be available during the evening, but you are welcome to take snacks or sandwiches with you.
Hossam Abu Meri came to Latvia in year 1993 as a student at the Medical Academy of Latvia. Currently he is a Ph.D. student in the University of Latvia in the field of gastroenterology.
After the events of 11th of September 2001, when anti-Arab sentiments arose and the stereotyping of Arabs increased, the idea of a Arabic Culture Center in Latvia was raised. He established the Arabic Culture Center (www.bakc.lv) in 2005, which is the first in the Baltic region. Within the Center he started to work on the integration of Arabs in Latvia through social and cultural activities.
Hossam is also a member of various associations such as Council of the Latvian national culture societies and the Latvian minorities’ council. He is founder and chairman of the Latvian Alumni Association of Lebanon and The Latvian-Lebanese Educational and Cultural club. In year 2007 he received Latvian citizenship, and was bestowed the position of honorary consul of the Republic of Lebanon in Latvia.
Hossam is interested in Latvia and considers himself a patriot of Latvia.
The next “Intercultural Embassy invites…” evening will happen on October 29th at 6 p.m. This time Intercultural Embassy guests will be Ms Ligita Davidova and Mr Sergejs Davidovs, experts on China issues, who both have worked for more than 4 years at the Embassy of Latvia in Beijing. Ligita and Sergejs will share their thoughts about the topic “Contemporary China: Interaction with Traditions and Western Culture”. The welcoming Intercultural Ambassador will be Oļģerts Tipāns, journalist and researcher and participant of British Council’s Project „Intercultural Navigators”.
In order to participate in the evening please apply online by filling online application form below. Application deadline is 28th of October 2009. Please note: the number of seats is limited!
The language of the evening will be Latvian.
Tea and coffee will be available during the evening, but you are welcome to take snacks or sandwiches with you.
Ms Ligita Davidova was among the first 11 students who enrolled into the newly established Sinology programme at the University of Latvia in the year 1993. She spent a study year in China, Shandong province in year 1996 - 1997. In 1999 Ligita received Bachelor Degree of Arts majoring in Sinology, and in 2001 received her Master degree of Arts majoring in Orientalistics. During years 2001 - 2003 Ligita briefly worked at the University of Latvia as teacher of hieroglyphics. Since 2002 Ligita has been working in various departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In May 2005 she was posted to the Embassy of Latvia in Beijing, where she spent more than 4 years in diplomatic work. Ligita is interested in the traditional Chinese martial art Tai chi qigong au and Chinese traditional music.
Mr Sergejs Davidovs graduated from the University of Latvia in 1998 majoring in Political Science. For 5 years Sergejs has been running food production unit in Kiev, Ukraine. After returning home in 2004 he took the position of Senior Desk Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In May 2005 Sergejs was posted to the Embassy of Latvia in China, Beijing, where he spent more than 4 years in diplomatic work.
The next “Intercultural Embassy invites…” evening will happen on 15th of October at 6 p.m. This time the guest will be Dr. paed. Liesma Ose, Human Rights and Social Cohesion program director in Soros Foundation Latvia, expert on diversity issues, author of several books and professor with teaching experience in USA, Denmark and Germany. Liesma will talk on “Immersion into the culture: how does it feels to be inside, how does it feels when you step out?”. The welcoming Intercultural Ambassador will be Edīte Millere, teacher from initiative “Mission Possible” (“Iespējamā Misija”) and participant of British Council’s Project „Intercultural Navigators”.
In order to participate in the evening please apply online by filling online application form below. Please note: the number of seats is limited!
The language of the evening will be Latvian.
Tea and coffee will be available during the evening, but you are welcome to take snacks or sandwiches with you.
Liesma Ose, Dr.paed. works at the Soros Foundation – Latvia, as Human Rights and Social Cohesion program director. Also, since 2009 she has the associate professor tenure at the Higher School of Social Work and Social Pedagogy ‘’Attīstība”, Riga, Latvia.
Liesma Ose has graduated from the University of Latvia, Department of History and Philosophy, with the specialty in Philosophy in 1987. She participated at post – diploma education program at the Smith Center for Social Research, University of Indiana, Bloomington, and USA in 1996. At that time she has become a member in APSA (American Political Science Association). Liesma Ose has received graduate degree (M.Paed.) in Education and School Management at the Riga Teacher training and management Academy in 1998. Doctoral degree in education was received after successful defense of dissertation in January 2007.
In between 2000 and 2004 Liesma Ose has served as the local consultant for the World Bank and Ministry of Education and Science joint project on the Development of Education System in Latvia.
Liesma Ose is author and researcher; she has published several books and research papers in education, social pedagogy, and social policy. Doctor Ose has taught as a visiting professor in Dominican University, River Forest, Illinois, and USA, as well as in Aarhus School of Social Work, Denmark, and Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Germany. Liesma Ose is USA Fulbright program fellow ( 2007).
For less formal self–definition: I am thinking and writing being, homo cognitus. Permanent refection on people, relationships and events makes my life rather harder then nicer. I am crazy about diversity in everything: I miss racial diversity in Riga’s boring pale face. Above all – I love, trust and respect people.
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Next evening “Intercultural Embassy invites…” will happen on 1st of October at 6 p.m. Guest of this time will be Robert Cottrell, interesting personality and owner of book shop “Robert’s Books” with his talk on “How to be a good foreigner?”. The welcoming Intercultural Ambassador will be Dace Melbārde, British Council Latvia Country Manager and also participant of British Council’s Project „Intercultural Navigators”.
In order to participate in the evening please apply online by filling online application form below. Application deadline is 29th of September 2009, 12 a.m. Please note: the number of seats is limited!
Tea and coffee will be available during the evening, but you are welcome to take with you snacks or sandwiches.
My name is Robert Cottrell. Or, in Latvia, Roberts Kotrels.
I was born in England. I live now in Riga, Latvia, where I have a second-hand-book shop, called Robert's Books. My wife, Solveiga, is a Latvian diplomat, and we have two children.
I am also the editor of a small website, The Browser.
Until recently I worked in print journalism as a staff writer variously for The Economist, the Financial Times, the Independent and the Far Eastern Economic Review. I also contributed to the New York Review of Books for ten years, mostly on Russian topics. My first foreign posting was to Hong Kong, in 1982. Since then, I have lived and worked in Japan, France, Belgium, Russia and America. I have come to think of Latvia as home.
In my print-journalism days the pieces I most enjoyed writing were the relatively relaxed ones done for The Economist's Christmas issues. Most of those are behind a pay barrier now—such as this one, about the art of conversation. But I see my profile of Santa Claus can still be had for nothing.
Likewise, most of my pieces for the New York Review of Books are behind a pay barrier; I see that only one of them, on Chechnya, has remained in the wild.
Diena ran a very nice feature about me when I opened the bookshop in May.
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