57 Issue | Zarb-e-Jamhoor e-Newspaper | 5-11 Feb, 2012

Waitangi Day - F e b 6 NEW ZEALAND, NIUE

Waitangi Day commemorates a significant day in the history of New Zealand. It is a public holiday held each year on 6 February to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, on that date in 1840.

History

The Treaty of Waitangi was signed on 6 February 1840, in a marquee erected in the grounds of James Busby's house (now known as the Treaty house) at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands. The Treaty made New Zealand a part of the British Empire, guaranteed Māori rights to their land and gave Māori the rights of British subjects. There are differences between the Māori and English language versions of the Treaty, and virtually since 1840 this has led to debate over exactly what was agreed to at Waitangi. Māori have generally seen the Treaty as a sacred pact, while for many years Pākehā (the Māori word for New Zealanders of predominantly European ancestry) ignored it. By the early twentieth century, however, some Pākehā were beginning to see the Treaty as their nation's founding document and a symbol of Britishhumanitarianism. Unlike Māori, Pākehā have generally not seen the Treaty as a document with binding power over the country and its inhabitants. In 1877 Chief Justice James Prendergast declared it to be a 'legal nullity', and it still has limited standing in New Zealand law.

Early celebrations:

The signing of the treaty was not commemorated until 1934. Prior to that date, most celebrations of New Zealand's founding as a colony were marked on 29 January, the date on which William Hobson arrived in the Bay of Islands. In 1932, Governor-General Lord Bledisloe and his wife had purchased and presented to the nation the run-down house of James Busby, where the treaty was signed. The Treaty house and grounds were made a public reserve, which was dedicated on 6 February 1934. This event is considered by some to be the first Waitangi Day, although celebrations were not yet held annually.

At the time, it was the most representative meeting of Māori ever held. Attendees included the Maori King and thousands of Pākehā. Some Māori may have also been commemorating the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of New Zealand, but there is little evidence of this.

In 1940, another major event was held at the grounds, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the treaty signing.

This was less well attended, partially because of the outbreak of World War II and partially because the government had recently offended the Māori King. However the event was still a success and helped raise the profile of the treaty.

Annual celebrations:

Annual commemorations of the treaty signing began in 1947. The 1947 event was a Royal New Zealand Navy ceremony centering on a flagpole which the Navy had paid to erect in the grounds. The ceremony was brief and featured no Māori. The following year, a Māori speaker was added to the line-up, and subsequent additions to the ceremony were made nearly every year. From 1952, the Governor General attended, and from 1958 the Prime Minister also attended, although not every year. From the mid-1950s, Traditional Maori Waitangi Day celebrations at Waitangi, Bay of a Māori cultural perform- Islands. ance was usually given as part of the ceremony. Many of these early features remain a part of Waitangi Day ceremonies, including a naval salute, the Māori cultural performance (now usually a ceremonial welcome), and speeches from a range of Māori and Pākehā dignitaries.

Public holiday:

Waitangi Day was proposed as a public holiday by the New Zealand Labour Party in their 1957 party manifesto.

After Labour won the election they were reluctant to create a new public holiday, so the Waitangi Day Act was passed in 1960 making it possible for a locality to substitute Waitangi Day as an alternative to an existing public holiday. In 1963, after a change in government, Waitangi Day was substituted forAuckland Anniversary Day as the provincial holiday in Northland.

New Zealand Day:

In 1971 the Labour shadow minister of Māori Affairs, Matiu Rata, introduced a private member's bill to make Waitangi Day a national holiday, to be called New Zealand Day. This was not passed into law. After the 1972 election of the third Labour government under Norman Kirk, it was announced that from 1974 Waitangi Day would be a national holiday known as New Zealand Day. The New Zealand Day Act 1973 was passed in 1973.

For Norman Kirk, the change was simply an acceptance that New Zealand was ready to move towards a broader concept of nationhood. Diplomatic posts had for some years marked the day, and it seemed timely in view of the country's increasing role on the international stage that the national day be known as New Zealand Day. At the 1974 celebrations, the Flag of New Zealand was flown for the first time at the top of the flagstaff at Waitangi, rather than the Union Flag, and a replica of the flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand was also flown.

The election of the third National government in 1975 led to the day being renamed Waitangi Day because the new Prime Minister, Robert Muldoon, did not like the name "New Zealand Day" and many Māori felt the new name debased the Treaty of Waitangi. Another Waitangi Day Act was passed in 1976 to change the name of the day back to Waitangi Day.

Controversy and protest Although this is New Zealand's national day, the commemoration has often been the focus of protest by Māori ac-

tivists and is often marred by controversy. From 1971, Waitangi and Waitangi Day became a focus of protest concerning treaty injustices, with Nga Tamatoa leading early protests. Activists initially called for greater recognition of the Treaty, but by the early 1980s, protest groups were more likely to argue that the treaty was a 'fraud' with which Pākehā had conned Māori out of their land. Attempts were made by groups including the Waitangi Action Committee to halt the celebrations. This led to major confrontations between police and protesters, sometimes resulting in dozens of arrests. When the treaty gained greater official recognition in the mid 1980s, emphasis switched back to calls to honour the treaty, and protesters generally returned to the aim of raising awareness of the treaty and what they saw as its neglect by the state.

Many people, both Māori and Pākehā, feel that the treaty itself is being overshadowed by media coverage of protests, especially where political leaders are involved or caught in the crossfire. In particular Ngapuhi, whose ancestors were the main treaty signatories at Waitangi, have often been antagonistic towards protesters and have sought to keep Waitangi Day as peaceful and uncontroversial as possible.

Some people have felt that Waitangi Day is too divisive to be a national day and have sought to replace it with Anzac Day or revive Dominion Day. Others, for example the United Future Party's Peter Dunne, have suggested that the name of the day be changed back to New Zealand Day. Others see these as moves to disregard the treaty. Some New Zealanders of neither Māori nor British ancestry view the day as being relevant only to those two groups.

Recent protests:

Several hundred protesters often gather at Waitangi. Although not part of the official celebrations, Māori separatist activists (they refer to themselves as Māori sovereignty activists) often attempt to fly the Māori separatist flag from the flagstaff. These protests are generally contained by the police, though a few arrests are normally made. Attempts at vandalism of the flagstaff are often an objective of these protests, carrying on a tradition that dates from the 19th century when Hone Heke chopped down the British flagstaff in nearby Russell. In 2004, protesters succeeded in flying the Māori separatist flag above the other flags on the flagstaff by flying it from the top of a nearby tree. Some commentators described this gesture as audacious and bold.

Because of the level of protest that had previously occurred at Waitangi, the previous Prime Minister Helen Clark did not attend in 2000. The official celebrations were shifted from Waitangi to Prime Minister Helen Clark being welcomed onto Wellington in 2001. Some Māori felt that this was an insult to them and to the Treaty. In 2003 and Hoani Waititi Marae, in West Auckland, Waitangi 2004, the anniversary was again officially com- Day 2006 memorated at the Treaty house at Waitangi. In 2004 Leader of the Opposition Don Brash was hit with mud as he entered the marae.

On 5 February 2009, the day before Waitangi Day, as current Prime Minister John Key was being escorted onto a marae, he was accosted by Wikitana and John Junior Popata, nephews of Maori Party MP Hone Harawira. Both admitted to assault and were sentenced to 100 hours of community service. In 2011 Wikitana and John again heckled Key as he entered the marae.

Celebrations At Waitangi:

Celebrations at Waitangi often commence the previous day, 5 February, at the Ngapuhi Te Tii marae, where political dignitaries are welcomed onto the marae and hear speeches from the local iwi. These speeches often deal with the issues of the day, and vigorous and robust debate occurs.

At dawn on Waitangi Day, the Royal New Zealand Navy raises the New Zealand Flag, Union Flag and White Ensign on the flagstaff in the treaty grounds. The ceremonies during the day generally include a church service and cultural displays such as dance and song. Several waka and a navy ship also re-enact the calling ashore of Governor Hobson to sign the treaty. The day closes with the flags being lowered by the Navy in a traditional ceremony.

Elsewhere in New Zealand:

In recent years, communities throughout New Zealand have been celebrating Waitangi Day in a variety of ways.

These often take the form of public concerts and festivals. Some marae use the day as an open day and an educational experience for their local communities, giving them the opportunity to experience Māori culture and protocol.

Other marae use the day as an opportunity to explain where they see Māori are and the way forward for Māori in New Zealand. Another popular way of celebrating the day is at concerts held around the country. Since the day is alsoBob Marley's birthday, reggae music is especially popular. Wellington has a long running "One Love" festival that celebrates peace and unity. Another such event is "Groove in the Park", held in the Auckland Domain before 2007 and at Western Springs subsequently. Celebrations are largely muted in comparison to those seen on the national days of most countries. There are no mass parades, nor truly widespread celebrations. As the day is a public holiday, and happens during the warmest part of the New Zealand summer, many people take the opportunity to spend the day at the beach - an important part of both the Māori and Pākehā cultures.

Elsewhere in the world:

In London, United Kingdom, which has one of the largest New Zealand expatriate populations, the occasion is celebrated by the Waitangi Day Ball, held by the New Zealand Society UK. The focus of the event is a celebration of New Zealand's unity and diversity as a nation. The Ball also hosts the annual UK New Zealander of the Year awards, cultural entertainment from London based Māori group Ngati Ranana and fine wine and cuisine from New Zealand.

Another tradition has arisen in recent years to celebrate Waitangi Day. On the closest Saturday to 6 February, Kiwis participate in a pub crawl using the London Underground's Circle Line. Although the stated aim is to consume one drink at each of the 27 stops, most participants stop at a handful of stations, usually beginning at Paddington and moving anti-clockwise towards Temple. At 4 p.m., a large-scale haka is performed at Parliament Square as Big Ben marks the hour. Participants wear costumes and sing songs such as "God Defend New Zealand", all of which is in stark contrast to the much more subdued observance of the day in New Zealand itself.

In many other countries with a New Zealand expatriate population, Waitangi Day is celebrated privately. The day is officially celebrated by all New Zealand embassies and High Commissions.

For Waitangi Day 2007, Air New Zealand commissioned a number of New Zealanders living in Los Angeles and Southern California to create a sand sculpture of a silver fern on the Santa Monica Beach creating a stir in the surrounding area.

At the Kingston Butter Factory in Kingston, Queensland, Australia, Te Korowai Aroha (Cloak of Love) Association have been holding Waitangi Day Celebrations since 2002, with an excess of 10,000 expats, Logan City Council representatives and Indigenous Australianscoming together to commemorate in a peaceful alcohol and drug free occasion.

On the Gold Coast, in Australia, where there is a large New Zealand expatriate population, Waitangi Day is celebrated by around 10,000 people at Carrara Stadium. Its called the "Waitangi Day and Pacific Islands Festival". It not only embraces Waitangi day, but Pacific Islander culture. In 2009, iconic Kiwi bands Herbs and Ardijah featured, as well as local singers and performers.

Chama Cha Mapinduzi Day TANZANIA - F e b 5

The Chama cha Mapinduzi (Party of the Revolution in Swahili) is the ruling political party of Tanzania.

History

The party was created February 5, 1977, under the leadership of Julius Nyerere as the merger of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU), the then ruling party in Tanganyika, and the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP), the then ruling party in Zanzibar.

TANU/CCM has dominated the politics of Tanzania since the independence of Tanganyika in 1962. Due to the merger with the ASP, from 1977 it has been also the ruling party in Zanzibar, though there its grip on power has been more contested by the Civic United Front(CUF). It was the only legal party until July 1, 1992, when amendments to the national Constitution and a number of laws permitting and regulating the formation and operations of more than one political party were enacted by the National Assembly or Bunge.

Día de la Constitución MEXICO - F e b 5

The Political Constitution of the United Mexican States (Spanish: Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos) is the current constitution of Mexico. It was drafted in Santiago de Querétaro, in the State of Querétaro, by a constitutional convention, during the Mexican Revolution. It was approved by the Constitutional Congress on February 5, 1917. It is the successor to the Constitution of 1857, and earlier Mexican constitutions.

The current Constitution of 1917 is the first such document in the world to set out social rights, serving as a model for the Weimar Constitution of 1919 and the Russian Constitution of 1918. Some of the most important provision are Articles 3, 27, and 123; these display profound changes in Mexican political philosophy that helped frame the political and social backdrop for Mexico in the twentieth century. Article 3 forbids the setting up of a list of prohibited books and establishes the bases for a free, mandatory, and lay education; article 27 led the foundation for land reforms; and article 123 was designed to empower the labor sector.

Articles 3, 5, 24, 27, and 130 were originally redacted with sections that restricted the power of theCatholic Church as a consequence of the support given by the Mexican Church's Hierarchy to the Dictator Victoriano Huerta. Attempts to enforce the articles strictly by President Plutarco Elías Calles in 1926 led to the civil war known as the Cristero War.

Presidents Day - F e b 5 Congo (Republic of)

The Democratic Republic of Congo or sometimes known as Congo Brazzaville celebrates February 5 as a yearly commemoration of President’s Day.

History

The President is considered as the highest ruling power of the Republic of Congo and has long been implemented since the Fundamental Law of 1960 which was the country’s first constitution. The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo holds several powers and capabilities; however it has been constantly varied over the years. In the past, the country has been ruled over with a shared power of a prime minister and the executive branch. Now it is under the sole dictatorship of the President of the State in which the president has the power to choose the prime minister.

This kind of constitution that Congo is implementing is based actually from the French structure. According to their 2006 constitution, the elected president should take the seat as the highest official of the country for a five-year term and renewable only once. And under the Democratic Republic of Congo, the election process must use a two-round system of voting which means that the elected president should always have the majority of the votes.

TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS AND ACTIVITIES

The celebration of the country’s President’s day is a nation-wide event where people of the nation gather together to hold special parades and activities dedicated to their head of state. It is also a perfect time for the people, especially the young generations to learn and appreciate the most vital lessons about the nation’s history, the president and its government.

Bob Marley Day JAMAICA - F e b 6

Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers (1963– 1981). Marley remains the most widely known and revered performer of reggae music, and is credited with helping spread both Jamaican music and the Rastafari movement to a worldwide audience.

Marley's music was heavily influenced by the social issues of his homeland, and he is considered to have given voice to the specific political and cultural nexus of Jamaica. His bestknown hits include "I Shot the Sheriff", "No Woman, No Cry", "Could You Be Loved", "Stir It Up", "Jamming", "Redemption Song", "One Love" and, "Three Little Birds", as well as the posthumous releases "Buffalo Soldier" and "Iron Lion Zion". The compilation album Legend(1984), released three years after his death, is reggae's best-selling album, going ten times Platinum which is also one Diamond in the U.S., and selling 25 million copies worldwide.

Early life and career

Bob Marley was born in the village of Nine Mile in Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica as Nesta Robert Marley. A Jamaican passport official would later swap his first and middle names. His father, Norval Sinclair Marley, was a white Jamaican of mixed and English descent whose family came from Essex, England. Norval was a captain in the Royal Marines, as well as a plantation overseer, when he married Cedella Booker, an Afro-Jamaican then 18 years old. Norval provided financial support for his wife and child, but seldom saw them, as he was often away on trips. In 1955, when Marley was 10 years old, his father died of a heart attack at age 70.Marley faced questions about his own racial identity throughout his life. He once reflected: I don't have prejudice against meself. My father was a white and my mother was black. Them call me halfcaste or whatever. Me don't dip on nobody's side. Me don't dip on the black man's side nor the white man's side. Me dip on God's side, the one who create me and cause me to come from black and white.

Bob Marley was born in the village of Nine Mile in Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica as Nesta Robert Marley. A Jamaican passport official would later swap his first and middle names. His father, Norval Sinclair Marley, was a white Jamaican of mixed and English descent whose family came from Essex, England. Norval was a captain in the Royal Marines, as well as a plantation overseer, when he married Cedella Booker, an AfroJamaican then 18 years old. Norval provided financial support for his wife and child, but seldom saw them, as he was often away on trips. In 1955, when Marley was 10 years old, his father died of a heart attack at age 70.Marley faced questions about his own racial identity throughout his life. He once reflected: I don't have prejudice against meself. My father was a white and my mother was black. Them call me halfcaste or whatever. Me don't dip on nobody's side. Me don't dip on the black man's side nor the white man's side. Me dip on God's side, the one who create me and cause me to come from black and white.

Personal life Religion:

Bob Marley performing in concert, circa 1980.

Bob Marley was a member of the Rastafari movement, whose culture was a key element in the development of reggae. Bob Marley became an ardent proponent of Rastafari, taking their music out of the socially deprived areas of Jamaica and onto the international music scene. He once gave the following response, which was typical, to a question put to him during a recorded interview: Interviewer: "Can you tell the people what it means being a Rastafarian?"

• Bob: "I would say to the people, Be still, and know that His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie • of Ethiopia is the Almighty. Now, the Bible seh so, Babylon newspaper seh so, and I and I the children seh so. Yunno?

So I don't see how much more reveal our people want. Wha' dem want? a white God, well God come black. True true."

Observant of the Rastafari practice Ital, a diet that shuns meat, Marley was a vegetarian. According to his biographers, he affiliated with the Twelve Tribes Mansion. He was in the denomination known as "Tribe of Joseph", because he was born in February (each of the twelve sects being composed of members born in a different month). He signified this in his album liner notes, quoting the portion from Genesis that includes Jacob's blessing to his son Joseph.

Marley was baptised by the Archbishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Kingston, Jamaica, on 4 November 1980.

Family:

Bob Marley had a number of children: three with his wife Rita, two adopted from Rita's previous relationships, and several others with different women. The Bob Marley official website acknowledges eleven children.

Those listed on the official site are: Sharon, born 23 November 1964, to Rita in previous relationship • Cedella born 23 August 1967, to Rita • David "Ziggy", born 17 October 1968, to Rita • Stephen, born 20 April 1972, to Rita • Robert "Robbie", born 16 May 1972, to Pat Williams • Rohan, born 19 May 1972, to Janet Hunt • Karen, born 1973 to Janet Bowen • Stephanie, born 17 August 1974; according to Cedella Booker she was the daughter of Rita and a • man called Ital with whom Rita had an affair; nonetheless she was acknowledged as Bob's daughter Julian, born 4 June 1975, to Lucy Pounder • Ky-Mani, born 26 February 1976, to Anita Belnavis • Damian, born 21 July 1978, to Cindy Breakspeare • Makeda was born on 30 May 1981, to Yvette Crichton, after Marley's death. Meredith Dixon's book lists her as Marley's child, but she is not listed as such on the Bob Marley official website.

Various websites, for example, also list Imani Carole, born 22 May 1963 to Cheryl Murray; but she does not appear on the official Bob Marley website.

Final years and death In July 1977, Marley was found to

have a type of malignant melanoma under the nail of one of his toes. Contrary to urban legend, this lesion was not primarily caused by an injury during a football match in that year, but was instead a symptom of the already existing cancer. Marley turned down doctors' advice to have his toe amputated, citing his religious beliefs. Despite his illness, he continued touring and was in the process of scheduling a world tour in 1980. The intention was for Inner Circle to be his opening act on the tour but after their lead singer Jacob Miller died in Jamaica in March 1980 after returning from a scouting mission in Brazil this was no longer mentioned.

The album Uprising was released in May 1980 (produced by Chris Blackwell), on which "Redemption Song" is particularly considered to be about Marley coming to terms with his mor- The Bob Marley House in Nine Mile is a home that he tality. The band completed a major tour shared with his mother during his youth of Europe, where they played their biggest concert, to a hundred thousand people in Milan. After the tour Marley went to America, where he performed two shows at Madison Square Garden as part of the Uprising Tour.

The final concert of Bob Marley's career was held September 23, 1980 at the Stanley Theater (now called The Benedum Center For The Performing Arts) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The audio recording of that concert is now available on CD, vinyl, and digital music services.

Shortly after, Marley's health deteriorated and he became very ill; the cancer had spread throughout his body. The rest of the tour was cancelled and Marley sought treatment at the Bavarian clinic of Josef Issels, where he received a controversial type of cancer therapy (Issels treatment) partly based on avoidance of certain foods, drinks, and other substances. After fighting the cancer without success for eight months, Marley boarded a plane for his home in Jamaica.

While flying home from Germany to Jamaica, Marley's vital functions worsened. After landing in Miami, Florida, he was taken to the hospital for immediate medical attention. He died at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami (now University of Miami Hospital) on the morning of May 11, 1981, at the age of 36. The spread of melanoma to his lungs and brain caused his death. His final words to his son Ziggy were "Money can't buy life". Marley received a state funeral in Jamaica on 21 May 1981, which combined elements of Ethiopian Orthodoxy and Rastafari tradition. He was buried in a chapel near his birthplace with his red Gibson Les Paul (some accounts say it was a Fender Stratocaster).

On 21 May 1981, Jamaican Prime Minister Edward Seaga delivered the final funeral eulogy to Marley, declaring: His voice was an omnipresent cry in our electronic world. His sharp features, majestic looks, and prancing style a vivid etching on the landscape of our minds. Bob Marley was never seen. He was an experience which left an indelible imprint with each encounter. Such a man cannot be erased from the mind. He is part of the collective consciousness of the nation.

Sami National Day - F e b 6

HUNGARY NEWS

The Sami National Day falls on February 6 as this date was when the first Sámi congress was held in 1917 in Trondheim, Norway. This congress was the first time that Norwegian and Swedish Sámi came together across their national borders to work together to find solutions for common problems.

In 1992, at the 15th Sámi Conference in Helsinki, a resolution was passed that Sámi National Day should be celebrated on February 6 to commemorate the 1st Sámi congress in 1917. Sami National Day is for all Sámi, regardless of where they live and on that day the Sámi flag should be flown and the Song of the Sami People is sung in the local Sámi language. The first time Sami National Day was celebrated was in 1993, when the International Year of Indigenous People was proclaimed open in Jokkmokk, Sweden by the United Nations.

Since then, celebrating the day has become increasingly popular. In Norway it is compulsory for municipal administrative buildings to fly the Norwegian flag, and optionally also the Sami flag, on February 6. Particularly notable is the celebration in Norway's capital Oslo, where the bells in the highest tower of Oslo City Hall play the Sámi soga lávlla as the flags go up. Some larger places have taken to arranging festivities also in the week around the Sami National Day. Through pure synchronicity, this date also happened to be when representatives of the Sámi of the Kola Peninsula used to gather annually, meeting with Russian bureucrats to debate and decide on issues of relevance to them. This organ, called the Koladak Sobbar, has been dubbed the 'first Sámi Parliament' by the researcher Johan Albert Kalstad. This did not influence the choice of the date as the Sámi People's Day, since the people present did not know about it - the Koladak Sobbar only existed during the late 19th century, and was only 'rediscovered' by Kalstad in the current Millennium.

Defence Minister Welcomes Military Attachés

FINLAND, NORWAY, SWEDEN

Independence Day GRENADA - F e b 7

Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. Grenada is located northwest of Trinidad and Tobago, northeast of Venezuela, and southwest of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Grenada is also known as the "Island of Spice" due to the production of nutmeg and macecrops of which Grenada is one of the world's largest exporters. Its size is 344 square kilometres (133 sq mi), with an estimated population of 110,000. Its capital is St. George's. The national bird of Grenada is the critically endangered Grenada Dove.

History

Pre-history and early European contacts:

Grenada was first sighted by Europeans in 1498 during the 3rd voyage of Columbus to the new world. At the time the indigenous Island Caribs (Kalinago) who lived there called it Camahogne. The Spaniards did not permanently settle on Camahogne. The English failed in their attempt at settlement in 1609.

French colony (1649–1763):

On March 17, 1649 a French expedition of 203 men from Martinique, led by Jacques du Parquet founded a permanent settlement on Grenada. Within months this led to conflict with the local islanders which lasted until 1654 when the Island was completely subjugated by the French. Those indigineous islanders who survived either left for neighbouring islands or retreated to remoter parts of Grenada where they were marginalised – the last distinct communities disappeared during the eighteenth century. Warfare did continue during the seventeenth century between the French on Grenada and the Caribs of present day Dominica and The capital St. George's.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The French named the new French colony La Grenade and the economy was initially based on sugar and indigo. The French established a capital known as Fort Royal (later St. George). To shelter from hurricanes the French navy would often take refuges in the capital's natural harbour, as no nearby French islands had a natural harbour to compare with that of Fort Royal. The British captured Grenada during the Seven Years' War in 1762.

British colony (1763–1950):

Grenada was formally ceded to Britain by the Treaty of Paris in 1763. The French re-captured the island during the American War of Independence, after Comte d'Estaing won the bloody land and naval Battle of Grenada in July 1779. However the island was restored to Britain with the Treaty of Versailles in 1783. Britain was hard pressed to overcome a pro-French revolt in 1795–1796 led by Julien Fedon. Nutmeg was introduced to Grenada in 1843 when a merchant ship called in on its way to England from the East Indies. The ship had a small quantity of nutmeg trees on board which they left in Grenada and this was the beginning of Grenada's nutmeg industry that now supplies nearly forty percent of the world's annual crop. In 1877 Grenada was made a Crown Colony. Theophilus A. Marryshow founded the Representative Government Association (RGA) in 1917 to agitate for a new and participative constitutional dispensation for the Grenadian people. Partly as a result of Marryshow`s lobbying the Wood Commission of 1921–1922 concluded that Grenada was ready for constitutional reform in the form of a 'modified' Crown Colony government. This modification granted Grenadians from 1925 the right to elect 5 of the 15 members of the Legislative Council, on a restricted property franchise enabling the wealthiest 4% of adult Grenadians to vote.

Towards independence (1950–1974):

In 1950 Eric Gairy founded the Grenada United Labour Party, initially as a trades union, which led the 1951 general strike for better working conditions, this sparked great unrest – so many buildings were set ablaze that the disturbances became known as the 'red sky' days – and the British authorities had to call in military reinforcements to help regain control of the situation. On October 10, 1951 Grenada held its first general elections on the basis of universal adult suffrage- Eric Gairy's Grenada United Labour Party won 6 of the 8 seats contested. From 1958 to 1962 Grenada was part of the Federation of the West Indies.

On March 3, 1967 Grenada was granted full autonomy over its internal affairs as an Associated State. Herbert Blaize was the first Premier of the Associated State of Grenada fom March to August 1967. Eric Gairy served as Premier from August 1967 until February 1974.

Independence and revolution (1974–1983):

Independence was granted in 1974 under the leadership of the then Premier, Sir Eric Matthew Gairy, who became the first Prime Minister of Grenada.

Civil conflict gradually broke out between Eric Gairy’s government and some opposition parties including the New Jewel Movement (NJM). Gairy’s party won elections in 1976 but the opposition did not accept the result, accusing it of fraud. In 1979, the New Jewel Movement under Maurice Bishop launched a paramilitary attack on the government resulting in its overthrow.

The constitution was suspended and Bishop's "People's Revolutionary Government" ruled subsequently by decree.

Cuban doctors, teachers, and technicians were invited in to help develop health, literacy, and agriculture over the next few years. Agrarian reforms started by the Gairy government were continued and greatly expanded under the revolutionary government of Maurice Bishop.

Invasion of Grenada by the U.S. and OECS military (1983):

Some years later a dispute developed between Bishop and certain high-ranking members of the NJM. Though Bishop cooperated with Cuba and the USSR on various trade and foreign policy issues, he sought to maintain a "non-aligned" status. Bishop had been taking his time making Grenada wholly socialist, encouraging private-sector development in an attempt to make the island a popular tourist destination. Hardline Marxist party members, including Communist Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard, deemed Bishop insufficiently revolutionary and demanded that he either step down or enter into a power-sharing arrangement.

On October 19, 1983, Bernard Coard and his wife Phyllis, backed by the Grenadian Army, led a coup against the government of Maurice Bishop and placed Bishop under house arrest. These actions led to street demonstrations in various parts of the island. Bishop had enough support from the population that he was Members of the Eastern Caribbean Defence eventually freed after a demonstration in the capital. Force during the Invasion of Grenada When Bishop attempted to resume power, he was captured and executed by soldiers along with seven others, including government cabinet ministers. The Coard regime then put the island under martial law.

After the execution of Bishop, the People's Revolutionary Army formed a military government with General Hudson Austin as chairman. The army declared a four-day total curfew, during which (it said) anyone leaving their home without approval would be shot on sight.

The overthrow of a moderate government by one which was strongly pro-communist worried U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Particularly concerning was the presence of Cuban construction workers and military personnel who were building a 10,000-foot (3,000 m) airstrip on Grenada. Bishop had stated the purpose of the airstrip was to allow commercial jets to land, but U.S. military analysts argued that the only reason for constructing such a long and reinforced runway was so that it could be used by heavy military transport planes. The contractors, American and European companies, and the EEC, which provided partial funding, all claimed the airstrip did not have military capabilities.Reagan was worried that Cuba – under the direction of the Soviet Union – would use Grenada as a refueling stop for Cuban and Soviet airplanes loaded with weapons destined for Central American communist insurgents.

On October 25 combined forces from the United States and from the Regional Security System (RSS) based in Barbados invaded Grenada in an operation codenamed Operation Urgent Fury. The U.S. stated this was done at the behest of Dame Eugenia Charles, of Dominica. While the Governor-General, Sir Paul Scoon, later stated that he had also requested the invasion, it was highly criticised by head of state HM Queen Elizabeth II and the governments of Britain, Trinidad and Tobago and Canada. The United Nations General Assemblycondemned it as "a flagrant violation of international law" by a vote of 108 in favor to 9, with 27 abstentions. The United Nations Security Council considered a similar resolution, which failed to pass when vetoed by the United States.

After the invasion of the island nation, the pre-revolutionary Grenadian constitution came into operation once again.

Eighteen members of the PRG and the PRA (army) were arrested after the invasion on charges related to the murder of Maurice Bishop and seven others. The eighteen included the top political leadership of Grenada at the time of the execution as well as the entire military chain of command directly responsible for the operation that led to the executions. Fourteen were sentenced to death, one was found not guilty and three were sentenced to forty-five years in prison. The death sentences were eventually commuted to terms of imprisonment. Those in prison have become known as the Grenada 17.

Grenada since 1983:

When US troops withdrew from Grenada in December 1983 Nicholas Brathwaite of the National Democratic Congress was appointed Prime Minister of an interim administration by the Governor General Sir Paul Scoon until elections could be organized. The first democratic elections since 1976 were held in December 1984 and were won by the Grenada National Party under Herbert Blaize who served as Prime Minister until his death in December 1989.

Ben Jones succeeded Blaize as Prime Minister and served until the March 1990 election, which was won by the National Democratic Congress under Nicholas Brathwaite who returned as Prime Minister for a second time until he resigned in February 1995. He was succeeded as Prime Minister by George Brizan who served until the June 1995 election which was won by the New National Party under Keith Mitchell who went on to win the 1999 and 2003 elections and served as Prime Minister for a record 13 years until 2008.

In 2000–2002, much of the controversy of the late 1970s and early 1980s was once again brought into the public consciousness with the opening of the truth and reconciliation commission. The commission was chaired by a Roman Catholic priest, Father Mark Haynes, and was tasked with uncovering injustices arising from the PRA, Bishop’s regime, and before. It held a number of hearings around the country. Brother Robert Fanovich, head of Presentation Brothers’ College (PBC) in St. George’s tasked some of his senior students with conducting a research project into the era and specifically into the fact that Maurice Bishop’s body was never discovered. See Maurice Paterson's book, published before this event, called Big Sky Little Bullet. Paterson also uncovered that there was still a lot of resentment in Grenadian society resulting from the era, and a feeling that there were many injustices still unaddressed.

In 2004, after being hurricane-free for forty-nine years, the island was directly hit by Hurricane Ivan (September 7).

Ivan struck as a Category 3 hurricane and caused 90 percent of the homes to be damaged or destroyed. The following year, 2005, Hurricane Emily (July 14), a Category 1 hurricane at the time, struck the northern part of the island with 80-knot (150 km/h; 92 mph) winds, causing an estimated USD $110 million (EC$ 297 million) worth of damage. This was much less damage than Ivan had caused. Grenada recovered due to both domestic labor and financing from the world at large, and the work done by the New National Party Administration of Dr. Keith Mitchell and his team. By December 2005, 96% of all hotel rooms were to be open for business and to have been upgraded in facilities and strengthened to an improved building code. The agricultural industry and in particular the nutmeg industry suffered serious losses, but that event has begun changes in crop management and it is hoped that as new nutmeg trees gradually mature, the industry will return to its pre-Ivan position as a major supplier in the Western world.

In April 2007, Grenada jointly hosted (along with several other Caribbean nations) the 2007 Cricket World Cup. The island's then Prime Minister was at the time CARICOM Representative on cricket and was instrumental in having the World Cup Games brought to the region. After Hurricane Ivan, the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) paid for the new $40 million national stadium, and provided the aid of over 300 laborers to build and repair it. During the opening ceremony, the anthem of the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan) was accidentally played instead of the PRC's anthem, leading to the firing of top officials.

The 2008 election was won by the National Democratic Congress under Tillman Thomas.

AIDS Awareness Day US - F e b 7

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was founded by five national organizations funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1999 to provide capacity building assistance to Black communities and organizations. The initiative begin in 2000 with these five key organizations: Concerned Black Men, Inc. of Philadelphia; Health Watch Information and Promotion Services, Inc.; Jackson State University - Mississippi Urban Research Center; National Black Alcoholism and Addictions Council; and National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS. National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day has been and always will be a grass roots effort, that is shaped around the needs of those communities that work hard each and every year to make it a success. Each year, almost 20,000 Blacks in the United States test positive for HIV, that is an alarming amount if you multiply it times the last five years alone - that's 100,000 Blacks who are now living with HIV or may have died from AIDS related complications. It's time for us to do something different that inspires young and old, gay and straight, religious and non-religious, etc. to get on board with realizing the value and worth of Black life and acting accordingly.

February 7, 2012 marks the 12th year for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a national HIV testing and treatment community mobilization initiative targeted at Blacks in the United States and the Diaspora. There are four specific focal points: education, testing, involvement, and treatment. Educationally, the focus is to get Blacks educated about the basics of HIV/AIDS in their local communities. Testing is at the core of this initiative, as it is hoped that Blacks will mark February 7th of every year as their annual or biannual day to get tested for HIV. This is vital for those who are sexually active and those at high risk of contracting HIV. When it comes to community and organization leadership, getting Blacks involved to serve is another key focus. We need Black People from all walks of life, economic classes, literacy levels, shades and tones as well as communities (large and small) to get connected to the work happening on the ground in their local areas. And lastly, for those living with HIV or newly testing positive for the virus, getting them connected to treatment and care services becomes paramount. We have learned that you can't lead Black people towards HIV/AIDS education, prevention, testing, leadership or treatment unless you love them. And, we can't save Black people from an epidemic unless we serve Black people.

Regardless of where we stand on sexual orientation, religious beliefs/values, age, income, education or otherwise; Black Life is worth saving and working for the betterment of our survival has to become our paramount objective and goal. "I believe the things that are wrong with Black communities, can be fixed by those things that are right with Black communities." says, LaMont "Montee" Evans, NBHAAD Annual Chairperson.

For 2012, the structure and dynamics of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was shattered as the support and resources dwindled causing many organizations to reconsider their commitment and ability to manage and direct the initiative as in the past. So, Healthy Black Communities, Inc. with its experience in overseeing the initiative and serving as the lead opted to incorporate it into its organization structure and continue mobilizing Black communities around HIV/AIDS. In addition, the organization is rebuilding the structure to develop a national planning body, regional planning bodies and local planning groups to assist with reigniting the fire within Black community stakeholders to make it a success.

Healthy Black Communities (HBC) will continue to serve as the lead organization, responsible for overseeing the initiative and coordinating communication via email, and regular mail; HBC develops the imagery of the initiative annually; designs and maintains the website; and ensures that orders and registrations are received and processed accordingly. HBC has been in this role since 2006 and CEO Evans led the initiative while serving as Executive Director of Concerned Black Men, Inc. of Philadelphia. February 7, 2012 will make the ninth year CEO Evans has overseen NBHAAD either overall or through national partnership.

This initiative has had an array of national spokespersons: congressional leaders, faith based leaders, entertainers, actors, actresses, authors, radio personalities, and the list goes on and on. Some of the most notable spokespersons have been: President Barack Obama during his term in the Illinois Senate, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Bishop TD Jakes, Radio Personality Tom Joyner, former NAACP President and CEO Kwesi Mfume, Congressman Elijah Cummings, Actor/Author Harper Hill, Screenwriter Patrik Ian Polk, and the list goes on.

We are now asking those who are concerned about HIV/AIDS in the Black community to step up and become a leader, a spokesperson, a local community organizer and help us raise the awareness of HIV/AIDS in Black communities, both domestically and internationally. Together, we can ensure that future generations will not have to bury as many or watch as many struggle with this epidemic.

Boy Scout Day US - F e b 8

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions. Since its founding in 1910 as part of the international Scout Movement, more than 110 million Americans have been members of the BSA. The BSA goal is to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and selfreliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership with community organizations. For younger members, the Scout method is part of the program to inculcate typical Scouting values such as trustworthiness, good citizenship, and outdoors skills, through a variety of activities such as camping, aquatics, and hiking.

The BSA is a constituent member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. The traditional Scouting divisions are Cub Scouting for boys ages 7 to 10½ years, Boy Scouting for boys ages 10 1/2 to 18 and Venturing for young men and women ages 14 (or 13 and have completed the 8th grade) through 21. Learning for Life is a nontraditional subsidiary that provides in-school and career education. The BSA operates traditional Scouting locally through units sponsored and operated by churches, clubs, civic associations, educational organizations and the like. Units are led entirely by volunteers who are supported by local councils using both paid professionals and volunteers.

The influence of Scouting on American society is frequently cited by both its advocates and critics. Critics have called the BSA's membership obligations unfair, resulting in litigation in various state and federal courts. However, the Supreme Court has affirmed that, as a private, expressive association, the BSA can set its own membership standards under the Constitutional right to freedom of association.

Culture Day SLOVENIA - F e b 8

The Prešeren Day, the full name being Prešeren Day, the Slovenian Cultural Holiday (Slovene: Prešernov dan, slovenski kulturni praznik), is a public holiday celebrated in Slovenia on 8 February. It is marking the anniversary of the death of the Slovene national poet France Prešeren on February 8, 1849.

The holiday was established to honor achievements in the Slovenian culture. The anniversary of Prešeren's death first became a prominent date during World War II in 1942, when the so-called "cultural silence" was imposed by the Liberation Front, banning all Slovene artists from further public appearances under occupation. It was first commemorated as a holiday in the partisan-liberated territory in 1944 and officially proclaimed a cultural holiday in 1945. It remained a public holiday during the era of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia within the SFR Yugoslavia and it was celebrated also by the Carinthian Slovenes and the Slovenes in Italy. It was marked with many cultural festivals and remembrances, with school excursions to culturally significant institutions.

In 1991, it was declared a work-free day. Many opposed this gesture, claiming it would bring the banalisation of a holiday designed to be dedicated to cultural events. As a result, December 3, the anniversary of the poet's birth, has also become widely celebrated as an alternative holiday. Today both days are almost equally celebrated, with no antagonism between the two, although only Prešeren Day in February is officially recognized as a national holiday.

On February 7, the eve of the holiday, the Prešeren Awards and the Prešeren Foundation Awards, the highest Slovenian recognitions for cultural achievements, are conferred.

Prešeren Day continues to be one of the most widely celebrated Slovene holidays. It is not only celebrated in Slovenia, but by the Slovene communities all around the world.

Feast of St. Maron LEBANON - F e b 9

St. Maron is a public holiday in Lebanon.

Lebanon celebrate St. Maron’s Feast Day on every 9th of February each year. St. Maron led a spiritual movement in Syria and Lebanon which sprung a different branch of Catholicism which is now called The Maronite Catholic Church. St. Maron gained loyal supporters during his time and still enjoys followers until today.

HISTORY

Maron, or St. Maron is a Christian missionary who lived around 350 – 410 AD. He established a Christian movement where he converted most of non-Christians in Lebanon and encouraged them to discover the Christian faith.

He spent most of life doing missionary both to Christians and non-Christians of his time. He was known in his performance of healing rituals, miracles, and taught non-believers to follow an ascetic way of life. Because of this, he attracted many people to follow his footstep and from there he established what we now call Maronite Catholic Church.

It was believed that St. Maron stayed in a mountain in Syria in a place called “Kefar-Nabo” where the movement started. The spread of Christianity in Lebanon is accounted to the works of Abraham of Cyrrhus, one of St. Maron’s disciples which is now known as the “Apostle of Lebanon.” Abraham of Cyrrhus began converting people of Lebanon into Christianity when he started introducing the Maron’s way of life. Through this discipline, he had successfully converted a great number of people in the country to become catholic and subsequently follow Maron’s teachings.

St. Maron became popular when he converted a temple in the mountain in Syria into a Christian Church that then laid the foundation for the spread of Christianity to Lebanon. His death in 410 did not end St. Maron’s missionary work. Just like Jesus Christ, his followers carried on the values and teachings of St. Maron and continued his preaching until today. So far, the Maronite Catholic Church has produced more than 20 saints where three or four of them are women.

TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS AND ACTIVITIES

During the holiday, government establishments are closed and only few private establishments are open as a sign of observance to this special day. Maronites celebrate The Feast of St. Maron in their respective churches with special luncheon services and various entertainment activities. During luncheon, traditional Lebanese food such as Tabbouleh, Kibbe Nayye, and salad with various are served but food are not limited the ones stated.

Kenkokukinen no Hi / National Foundation Day JAPAN - F e b 1 1

Film adaptation(s):

In February 2008, director Martin Scorsese announced his intention to produce a documentary movie on Marley.

The film was set to be released on 6 February 2010, on what would have been Marley's 65th birthday. Recently, however, Scorsese dropped out due to scheduling problems. He is being replaced by Jonathan Demme.

In March 2008, The Weinstein Company announced its plans to produce a biopic of Bob Marley, based on the book No Woman No Cry: My Life With Bob Marley by Rita Marley. Rudy Langlais will produce the script by Lizzie Borden and Rita Marley will be executive producer.

National Foundation Day (建国記念の日 kenkoku kinen-no-hi) is a national holiday in Japan celebrated annually on February 11. On this day, Japanese celebrate the founding of the nation and the imperial line by its legendary first emperor, Jimmu, who according to legend established his capital in Yamato in 660 BC.

HISTORY

The origin of National Foundation Day is New Year's Day in the traditional lunisolar calendar. On that day, the foundation of Japan by Emperor Jimmu was celebrated based onNihonshoki (日本書紀), which states that Emperor Jimmu ascended to the throne on the first day of the first month.

In the Meiji period, the Japanese government designated the day as a national holiday. This coincided with the switch from the lunisolar calendar to the Gregorian calendar in 1873. In 1872, when the holiday was originally proclaimed, it was January 29 of the Gregorian calendar, which corresponded to Lunar New Year of 1873. Contrary to the government's expectation, this led people to see the day as just Lunar New Year, instead of National Foundation Day. In response, the government moved the holiday to February 11 of the Gregorian calendar in 1873. The government stated that it corresponded to Emperor Jimmu's regnal day but did not publish the exact method of computation.

In its original form, the holiday was named Empire Day (紀元節,Kigensetsu). It is thought that the Meiji Emperor may have wanted to establish this holiday to bolster the legitimacy of the imperial family following the abolition of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The national holiday was supported by those who believed that focusing national attention on the emperor would serve a unifying purpose. Publicly linking his rule with the mythical first emperor, Jimmu, and thus Amaterasu, the Meiji Emperor declared himself the one, true ruler of Japan.

With large parades and festivals, in its time, Kigensetsu was considered one of the four major holidays of Japan.

Given its reliance on Shinto mythology and its reinforcement of the Japanese nobility, Kigensetsu was abolished following World War II. Ironically, February 11 was also the day when General MacArthur approved the draft version of the model Constitution in 1946.

The commemorative holiday was re-established as National Foundation Day in 1966. Though stripped of most of its overt references to the Emperor, National Foundation Day was still a day for expressing patriotism and love of the nation in the 1950s.

Current practice In contrast with the events associated with earlier Kigensetsu, celebrations for National Foundation Day are relatively

muted. Customs include the raising of Japanese flags and reflection on the meaning of Japanese citizenship. The holiday is still relatively controversial however, and very overt expressions of nationalism or even patriotism are rare.

of the international community on several hotspots around the world.

Together with our allies, we have made huge progress in Afghanistan, and by joining forces with them we managed to protect the fragile peace in Kosovo too”, Csaba Hende said.

“The renewal of the Hungarian Defence Forces is under way. The biggest challenge remains for us to be able to execute our tasks by high standards with our scarce material

resources. Angreat other project is being implemented, namely the development and introduction of a new career model path and human resources stratIn egy. addition, we would like to strengthen the area of Hungarian defence industry, which has honorable traditions. We seeking are for partners this cooperation”.

Csaba Dr. H e n d e stressed that atHungary taches great value to the service of the atmilitary tachés accredto ited Budapest. “We will do our best to make sure that you can know Hungary as thoroughly as possible, so that you can inform our allies and friends the about transformation that is going on here”, the Defence Minister said.

In his speech, Croatian miliattaché tary Darko Col. the Kereša, doyen of the attachés out pointed that “in 2011, we witnessed those reforms that the HunDegarian fence Forces carried out to build a more effective new structure of national defence.

Today these processes are going on under special circumstances that we call financial crisis”, Col. Kereša said, adding that “these changes have made it entirely clear that Hungary is a provider of security, not only in the present but also in the future”. The doyen of the attachés concluded his speech by reminding the participants of those soldiers who discharge their duties far away from their homes and families, in the service of peace and stability.

Hungary's national airline ceases operations (Online February 03, 2012) BUDAPEST, Hungary – Hungary's national carrier ceased operations, grounded all its flights and stranded more than 7,000 passengers Friday, blaming what it called an "unsustainable" financial situation.

Malev, which had been selling tickets as late as Thursday, has debts of around $270 million and has been unable to find new investors.

The state-owned airline, which was established the year after the end of World War II, stopped all its flights at 6 a.m. on Friday. Malev is a member of the Oneworld airline alliance that also includes American Airlines and British Airways.

Managing Director Lorant Limburger said that in the past few days its partners suddenly lost trust in Malev and began demanding advance payments for their services.

"This accelerated the cash outflow to such an extent that by today the airline's situation has become unsustainable," Limburger said in a statement announcing the shutdown.

"We apologize to all our passengers."

Earlier this week, Malev began operating under what amounted to bankruptcy protection, and a receiver was appointed by the government to oversee the airline.

Company officials said the stoppage immediately affected some 7,200 passengers -- 3,500 in Hungary and over 3,700 abroad -- who had been expecting to board Malev flights on Friday.

Malev said it has contacted other airlines in search of help for the stranded travelers.

Malev's plight reflects difficulties being faced by several other European airlines in light of the debt crisis and a likely return to recession in the eurozone.

A spokesman for the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents some 240 major airlines, including Malev, is predicting a net loss for European carriers of $600 million this year, compared with an expected global net profit for airlines of $3.5 billion.

"There is a more pessimistic forecast if the eurozone crisis were to become a wider banking crisis," Chris Goater told The Associated Press.

A week ago, Spanish airline Spanair ceased operation because of lack of funds, canceling 220 flights and leaving 22,000 passengers stranded.

Spanair, whose hub was Barcelona airport, employed around 2,000 people and used the services of about 1,200 ground staff.

And Air Berlin, Germany's largest airline after Lufthansa, said in December that Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways would become its biggest shareholder through an issue of new shares worth nearly $96 million. Air Berlin has been suffering losses blamed on high fuel prices, a new German aviation tax and sagging demand for travel to northern Africa.

Cirrus Airlines, a much smaller German carrier, filed for bankruptcy pro-

tection at the end of January.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on state radio that two Malev planes were still abroad -- one in Tel Aviv, Israel, and one in Ireland. Those planes were not allowed to take off because of the airline's accumulated debts, Orban said.

Orban added that Malev faced the risk of having more of its 22 leased planes seized by creditors if it were to continue operations.

Malev said it would seek to quickly return its airplanes to the leasing company.

Last month, the European Union ordered Malev to repay nearly $400 million in illegal state subsidies received between 2007 and 2010. In 2010, Malev's losses reached $110 million.

"It is a painful thing. We tried to keep Malev on track as long as we could, but this is as far as we could go," Orban said, adding that he is still hopeful that new investors can be found, despite Europe's ongoing debt crisis. "I believe a restart is not impossible."

Malev was founded in 1946 and has 2,600 employees, many of whom will be laid off soon, the company said without providing precise figures.

After several failed privatization efforts over the past 20 years, the state now owns 95 percent of the company. A deal to sell a stake in Malev to China's Hainan Airlines fell through last year.

Russia's, Serbia's and Austria's companies explore oil in Hungary (Online February 03, 2012) A subsidiary of Russian giant Gazprom began exploring a new oil & gas field in southern Hungary this week in partnership with Austria's Rohoel Aufsuchungs (RAG), reports Bloomberg.

Serbian Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), controlled by the Russian company's oil arm, Gazprom Neft and RAG started work at the 2,255 square km field west of the city of Szeged in the Kiskunhalas region on January 31. Two drilling sites will be explored in 2012.

The pair is sharing anticipated costs of 10m this year, and hopes to begin

production in 2013, NIS said. The Serb company signed a partnership agreement in December, which will give NIS 50% of output from the field, for which RAG holds the license.

By combining skills, knowledge and experience in neighbouring exploration areas in Hungary and Serbia, the partnership will be beneficial for both companies and stimulate investment in exploration activities in Hungary, a Gazprom Neft press release claimed at the time of the deal.

Kirill Kravchenko, CEO of NIS, said, Partnership with RAG Hungary is another step in our strategy to actively

develop NISs business abroad. We are focused on exploration and production in the Pannonia basin area, and today there are several prospective projects in our portfolio in Hungary, Romania and Bosnia. Our strategic goal is not only to increase the volumes of hydrocarbon production but to grow our reserves and resource base. To achieve this we attract the best partners who are leaders in their industries. The partnership with RAG provides us with new experience, technologies and access to new regions.

Leading official of Hungarian extremist party accuses Jews of colonializing country (Online February 03, 2012) M á r t o n Gyöngyösi, deputy leader and foreign aff a i r s spokesman of Jobbik, the farright party with representation in the Hungarian parliament, openly has questioned the Holocaust, that claimed Jews were colonizing Hungary and that treatIsraeli ment of the Palestinians amounted to a "Nazi system".

In an interview with the Britsh weekly ‘Jewish Chronicle’, Gyöngyösi questioned whether Jews have “the right to talk about what happened during the Second World War".

Gyöngyösi - a member of parliament - questioned whether 400,000 Hungarian Jews really were killed or deported to the Nazi camps during the World War II. "It has become a fantastic business to jiggle around with the numbers," he told the newspaper.

Jobbik (which translates as Movement for a Better Hungary) currently holds 47 parliamentary seats and is the country’s third largest party. It is notorious for its homophobic, antiJewish and anti-Roma stance. An official in the Hungarian Foreign Ministry told the ‘Jewish Chronicle’: "We are very, very worried. The prime minister [Viktor Orban] could easily

fall in the coming months, taking the ruling party down with him, and Jobbik is well-placed to become the largest party in Parliament in an election."

In 2007, Jobbik leader Gabor Vona set up the paramilitary Hungarian Guard, a now-banned civil defense force which patrolled the streets and used insignia similar to the Arrow Cross, the Hungarian fascist movement that helped the Nazis murder many of the country's Jews. Jobbik is opposed to foreign investment and sees Israeli business as a threatening force inside the country. Referring to a speech made by Shimon Peres in 2007 in which the Israeli President celebrated the success of Israeli businessmen around the world, including Hungary, Gyöngyösi said: "Jews are looking to build outside of Israel. There is a kind of ex-

pansionism in their behavior.

If Peres is supporting colonisation, it is a natural reaction for people to feel that Jews are not w e l c o m e here." was Israel by founded "terrorists" and today ran a "Nazi system, on based racial hatred.

Look at [Foreign Minister Av i g d o r ] Lieberman, he's no differto ent Goebbels. He is a pure Nazi", Gyöngyösi declared in the interview.

Meanwhile, the ‘Jewish Chronicle’ said Jobbik is seeking to cultivate a relationship with Iran. In January last year, Vona took the Iranian ambassador to the Hungarian town of Tiszavasvari, which he called "the capital of our movement". And in October, Jobbik hosted a large Iranian delegation to Hungary, at which Vona declared: "For Iran, Hungary is the gate to the West." Gyöngyösi told the Jewish newspaper that “Iran is in the center of a Middle East axis that Israel and the US want to subjugate and keep under their control. Iran is an extremely peaceful country and never started a war, unlike Israel which has declared wars on anything and everybody around it."

Analysts see Hungary deal with IMF/EU by April if political issues resolved (Online February 3, 2012) Hungary is likely to reach a stand-by agreement with the IMF and the EU by April, but resolving the issue of the judiciary is as important as the central bank act in terms of concluding the talks successfully, London-based emerging markets analysts said on Thursday.

Morgan Stanley said that its economists had visited Budapest earlier this week and had meetings with local authorities, the national bank (NBH), Hungarian analysts and international observers.

In a report presenting key findings of their talks, released to investors in London, they said that prior to their

trip, they thought the main obstacle to the official start of the negotiations was the issue of the legislation on the central bank.

While a compromise on the NBH Act seems fairly easy to reach, in our view, our trip has revealed that the judiciary issue is as important as the NBH Act”.

It is not clear how the judiciary issue will be addressed, and “the EU has not provided clear guidelines”.

However, once the two key issues are resolved, “then it seems that an agreement with the EU/IMF is well within reach … In fact, based on previous experience, two/three weeks

would be sufficient to announce a package”.

“We still assign around a two-thirds probability of a deal by April, although this is somewhat lower than before we visited Budapest”.

Assuming external risks are capped by a “sizeable” – EUR 15-20 billion – precautionary stand-by agreement, “we think that the NBH will be able to take back at least the recent 100bp of rate increases by the end of this year … We therefore see rates at 6 percent by end-2012″, Morgan Stanley’s London-based economists said.

Update on Changes in Personal Income Tax (Online February 1, 2012) The government has decided in summer 2010 after it had reviewed the system of domestic burden sharing, learned the opinions of stakeholders of the economy as well as surveyed the international experiences and trends in

taxation to radically transform the system of personal income taxes and gradually implement the flat-rate personal income tax in Hungary. In reto the aforementioned gard transformation several objectives have been identified which included

the simplification of the system of personal income taxation, the creation of balanced and proportionate social burden sharing, the reduction of tax burdens and the increase of the number of taxpayers.

With the mediation of the Government, an agreement among Hungarian Jewish communities has been arrived at in relation to the payment of perpetual annuities for 2012.

(Online February 1, 2012) With the mediation of the Government an agreement among Hungarian Jewish communities has been arrived at in relation to the system for payment of perpetual annuities for 2012.This is the culmination of months of negotiations.

According to the agreement, the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities (MAZSIHISZ) shall assign perpetuities for 2012 to other Jewish organisations listed as peers in the new Act on Churches. According to this, HUF 190 million will be paid to the Hungarian Autonomous Orthodox Jewish Community (MAOIH), and HUF 150 million will be paid to the United Hungarian Jewish Community (EMIH) from support resources for Jewish church communities. If in the future the Act on Churches recognises further Jewish communities, the parties agreed that the communities in the current agreement would

grant a certain percentage of their share to the newcomers. MAZSIHISZ would contribute 80% of this, and MAOIH and EMIH would contribute 12% and 8% respectively.

Since the agreements on church perpetuities signed in 1998 there have been relevant changes in the structure of national Jewish organisations.

This is also reflected in the new Act on Churches (which entered into force on 1 January 2012), as it lists two peer organisations in addition to MAZSIHISZ. Thus the Government regards these organisations as equals, and so all of them are entitled to perpetuities which up until now have only been due to MAZSIHISZ. The necessity of the negotiations on the changes was suggested by government commissioner Dr. András Levente Gál at the Jewish Community Round Table on 22 September 2011. On that occasion MAZSIHISZ – acknowledging the changed situa-

tion – made a recommendation on settling perpetuities, but there was no agreement on the title and method of payment. At the meeting on 14 December 2011 the parties agreed to give written reactions to the suggestions by 20 December – including to the Government’s delegate – so that the decision could be finalised as soon as possible.

The agreement signed today will be presented to the Hungarian Government and to the General Assembly of MAZSIHISZ for approval. Once it has been approved by the General Assembly of MAZSIHISZ and the Government, the agreement will enter into force.

The parties also agreed on restarting negotiations on the division of perpetuities in the event that the General Assembly of MAZSIHISZ does not adopt the agreement.

SEEMO Says State Has Appropriated Hungary's Media Landscape 1 VIENNA, Feb. 2012 – The 2010 overhaul of Hungary’s media laws set a dangerous precedent in Europe.

Instead of guaranteeing press freedom in a European Union member country, they seem to guarantee press freedom for the governing party at the expense of the right of the public to free information.

The Viennabased South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a subsidiary of the International Press Institute (IPI), expresses concern at the state appropriation of the Hungarian media landscape.

The Hungarian Media and Telecommunication Authority and its Media Council are controlled by the parliament in which the governing party, Fidesz, has a majority. Although the law prescribes a two-thirds majority of votes in parliament for the council members to be elected, all four members were nominated by Fidesz. The legal procedure was respected but Fidesz controls two thirds of parliament seats in the parliament and can easily choose its candidates. The political independence of the Chairperson of the Media Council is not guaranteed.

The Chairperson appoints, dismisses and remunerates the Director of the Programming Service Support and Property Management Fund. The Fund may be considered “the public service media company”, because it disposes over the employees, the property and the funding of the public service broadcasters Hungarian Television (MTV), Hungarian Radio, and Danube Television.

From 1 Jan. 2011 all assets and most of the staff of the three public service

media organisations – Hungarian Television (MTV), Hungarian Radio, and Danube Television – and the National News Agency (MTI) were allocated to the Media Support and Asset Management Fund (MTVA). The fund is solely supervised by the Media Council which controls all incomes and properties of the broadcasters.

The director of the fund and the supervisory board are appointed by the president of the media authority who in turn is appointed by the prime minister. This structure creates the possibility of direct governmental control and direct political influence over public service media.

The national news agency, MTI now operates as the single concentrated newsroom for public service television in Hungary. According to observers, MTI operates as a government service. Public media must buy news from MTI, which publishes its news online for free, and offers media service providers the ability to download and republish them.

An International Partnership Mission on Press Freedom to Hungary, which visited the country from 14-16 November, and in which SEEMO and IPI participated, concluded: “This leads to an unprecedented market

dominance and power of MTI, destroying the busimodel ness and viability of other agencies and is contrary to the European rules of fair competition.”

In other words, the state controls public broadcasters politically and economically, and the Media Council can prescribe the content, as well. In December 2011, liberal talk radio Klubradio had to renew its licence and lost its frequency to a less experienced broadcaster that offered mainly music programmes. The Media Council published the frequency tender and set out that the applicants should offer mainly music and not more than five minutes of news per hour. Klubradio was known for its talk shows.

The above-mentioned decisions generated street protests as well as a hunger strike by MTV journalists.

Further, although the Constitutional Court annulled certain parts of the controversial media law, some questionable regulations remained. This led a group of Hungarian media experts to write: “The Hungarian legal system is not capable to protect the principles of freedom of expression anymore.”

SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said: “I urge the international organisations to do everything they can in order to underscore that people in Hungary have the same right to information and professional public service as in the rest of Europe, and to guarantee that right.”

SEEMO and IPI will continue to closely monitor the media situation in Hungary and organise further regular visits to the country.

Hungary urges EU members to present their strategies for Roma integration (Online February 2, 2012) BUDAPEST, Hungary — A Hungarian official who oversees programs to aid the country’s Roma population is urging other European nations to fulfill earlier pledges to present strategies for integrating the minority group.

There are an estimated 10-12 million Roma, or Gypsies, in Europe — often its poorest and least educated citizens. The continent’s economic crisis is an opportunity to pay closer attention to the group, which also faces widespread discrimination, said Zoltan Balog, Hungary’s state secretary for social inclusion.

“The current economic crisis, while making it more difficult to spend money on Roma, also gives us additional incentives, because it is the most poor who become even poorer,” Balog told The Associated Press in an interview.

Hungary occupied the rotating, sixmonth presidency of the European Union Council during the first half of last year and made the adoption of a European framework for Roma integration one of its main priorities. The 27 EU countries vowed to submit their Roma plans by Dec. 31, 2011.

Spain and Italy, which have significant Roma populations, are among the five EU members who have so far failed to present at least a draft of their Roma integration strategies to the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm. The others are Sweden, Lithuania and Belgium.

In 2010, France expelled more than 1,000 Roma immigrants, mostly to Romania and Bulgaria, and demol-

ished hundreds of illegal Roma shantytowns, calling it part of an overall crackdown on crime and illegal immigrants.

Balog said all of Europe should be involved in helping the Roma overcome poverty, discrimination and social exclusion.

“I hope there won’t be the need again for such a negatively sensational event as the expulsion of Roma from France for European countries to acknowledge that the Roma issue needs to be dealt with,” Balog said during the Wednesday interview.

“Some people tell me ‘There are no Roma in my country,’ to which I say ‘In the future, there could be.’”

Balog also highlighted Hungary’s efforts to assist Serbia, Montenegro and other Balkan countries, which are potential EU members and also have large Roma minorities.

Hungary’s Roma population is estimated at between 500,000 and 800,000 of its 10 million people.

While Roma, like all Hungarians, were guaranteed jobs under communism, the Roma unemployment rate today is several times the national average of roughly 11 percent. Many Roma depend on state welfare as their main source of income.

The Roma also are often used as scapegoats for Hungary’s social problems.

The unprecedented strength of Jobbik, a far-right party which won nearly 17 percent of the votes in the 2010 elections, has been partly attributed to its anti-Roma rhetoric and its links to now-illegal uniformed groups

which organized marches and patrols in rural areas to intimidate the local Roma.

Hungary faces a possible recession this year and may have to implement further austerity measures while seeking financial support from the EU and the International Monetary Fund.

That makes state aid to Roma a political minefield.

But Balog defended the integration programs, saying that they affect more than just the Roma.

“We are spending the money on integration programs for Hungarian citizens,” he said in his office, which was decorated with paintings by contemporary Hungarian Roma artists. “It’s just that we are making sure that if a program affects 100 people, there should be at least 20 Roma among them.”

In an effort to increase one of Europe’s lowest employment rates, Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government also has launched new public work schemes, aiming to get more people off welfare.

Balog said one of the aims was to ensure that Roma were taking part “at least proportionately” in economic and work programs by, for example, taking their community’s unemployment rate into consideration.

“The principle of ‘explicit but not exclusive’ has to be applied when dealing with Roma issues,” Balog added.

“This means that the deep poverty programs have to define where they reach the Roma, but the programs do not apply exclusively to them, but to all people in a similar situation.”

European Court hears Hungary-Slovakia dispute over Tokaj brand name (Online February 2, 2012) The European Court of Justice held a hearing on Thursday in connection with the use of Tokaj as a designation of origin of Slovak wines.

Hungary has asked the court to erase the related Slovak entry from "E-Bacchus", an electronic database containing a register of designations of origin and geographical indications protected in the EU. In a 2004 agreement, Hungary and Slovakia established that the Tokaj wine-growing area forms a cross-border region, and pledged to agree as

Legacy

Bob Marley was the Third World's first pop superstar. He was the man who introduced the world to the mystic power of reggae. He was a true rocker at heart, and as a songwriter, he brought the lyrical force of Bob Dylan, the personal charisma of John Lennon, and the essential vocal stylings of Smokey Robinson into one voice.

— Jann Wenner, at Marley’s 1994 posthumous introduction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame In 1999 Time magazine chose Bob Marley & The Wailers' Exodus as the greatest album of the 20th century. In 2001, he was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and a feature-length documentary about his life, Rebel Music, won various awards at theGrammys. With contributions from Rita, The Wailers, and Marley's lovers and children, it also tells much of the story in his own words. A statue was inaugurated, next to the national stadium on Arthur Wint Drive in Kingston to commemorate him. In 2006, the State of New York renamed a portion of Church Avenue from Remsen Avenue to East 98th Street in the East Flatbush section ofBrooklyn "Bob Marley Boulevard". In 2008, a statue of Marley was inaugurated in Banatski Sokolac, Serbia.

Internationally, Marley’s message also continues to reverberate amongst various indigenous communities. For instance, the Aboriginal people of Australia continue to burn a sacred flame to honor his memory in Sydney’s Victoria Park, while members of the Native American Hopi and Havasupai tribe revere his work. There are also many tributes to Bob Marley throughout India, including restaurants, hotels, and cultural festivals.

Marley has also evolved into a global symbol, which has been endlessly merchandised through a variety of mediums. In light of this, author Dave Thompson in his book Reggae and Caribbean Music, laments what he perceives to be the commercialized pacification of Marley's more militant edge, stating: Bob Marley ranks among both the most popular and the most misunderstood figures in modern culture ... That the machine has utterly emasculated Marley is beyond doubt. Gone from the public record is the ghetto kid who dreamed of Che Guevara and the Black Panthers, and pinned their posters up in the Wailers Soul Shack record store; who believed in freedom; and the fighting which it necessitated, and dressed the part on an early album sleeve; whose heroes were James Brown and Muhammad Ali; whose God was Ras Tafari and whose sacrament was marijuana. Instead, the Bob Marley who surveys his kingdom today is smiling benevolence, a shining sun, a waving palm tree, and a string of hits which tumble out of polite radio like candy from a gumball machine. Of course it has assured his immortality. But it has also demeaned him beyond recognition. Bob Marley was worth far more.

(Online February 2, 2012) The Ministry of Defence invited the military attachés accredto ited Budapest to the traditional New Year toast in Stefánia Palace on January 24.

Among others, the event was by attended Defence Minister Dr. Csaba Hende, Lajos Fodor, the MoD State Secretary for Public Administration, Gen. Dr. Tibor the Benkő, Chief of the MoD Defence Staff and several representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Hungarian Defence Forces.

In his speech, the Minister of D e f e n c e stressed that consethe quences of any movement in the world will reach soon everyone. For example, the series of last year’s events “Arab called spring” and the Fukushima nuclear disaster have changed our lives and the entire world – and the financial crisis had its impact as well.

“Last year you were able to witness a largescale building work within the defence sector Hungary. in With the enactment of the new Constitution and the new DeNational fence Act, the legal framework for national defence has been renewed from the foundations up”, the Minister said.

The National Public Service University – the new institution of officer cadet training – and the unified Military National Security Service have both been established, the volunteer reserve system has developed successfully and bureaucracy has been reduced radically.

Besides doing a lot of work here in Hungary, we have joined the efforts

soon as possible on uniform methods of production and quality control, as well as to specify the exact borders of the Slovak wine-growing region.

These issues, however, are still bones of contention between the two countries.

While uniform regulations are lacking, Hungary insists that the two areas should be considered as separate wine-growing regions so that wines marketed under the Tokaj label but failing to meet the strict Hungarian standards should not harm the brand of wines made in Hungary.

In the meantime, the Slovak entry has been changed to make an even more clear-cut reference to "Tokaj".

The European Commission’s representative attending the hearing argued that the EC was not legally obliged to consult with third states about the correctness of data issued by one of its member states.

The Slovak government also asked the court to reject the Hungarian plea.

It is not yet known when the court will make a decision.

Hungary Approves New Limits On Religions (Online February 2012) The Hungarian parliament has passed a law that will lower the number of officially recognized religions in the country from more than 300 to 14.

Religions that will maintain official recognition include the Roman Catholic, Evangelical, Reformed and Orthodox churches, plus Judaism.

Among the religions not recognized are Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism.

Faiths that have been operating in the country for at least 20 years or are at least 100 years old will have the opportunity to apply for recognition, but they will need approval from at least two-thirds of parliament in order to get state subsidies.

The new law, approved alongside a controversial new constitution, has been met by protests.

According to BosNewsLife, Pastor

Gabor Ivanyi, president of the Hungarian Evangelical Fellowship, said, “Those who voted for the law are not with us. This is called dictatorship.”

The International Business Times reported that Laszlo Majtenyi, a former head of the media authority, said, “The prime minister took an oath to defend the constitution, but instead he overthrew it.”

Heavy snow expected for Hungary this weekend (Online February 1, 2012) The National Meteorological Service is forecasting heavy snowfall and storms throughout Hungary from noon Friday, warning of accumulations of up to 50cm by Sunday evening.

The Service expects snowfall to begin in the south late Friday morning, reaching northern Hungary by early Saturday.

The snow is not expected to let up until Sunday morning in the west and later elsewhere in Hungary.

Eastern Hungary is expected to be hardest hit, with predictions of 3050cm of snow by Sunday night. Only 3-10cm is expected in the northwest, and 15-25cm in Budapest.

The very cold weather is set to continue for at least a week, with temperatures varying from –5C to –18C today. The coldest day will be Monday, with lows of –16C to –21C. The government is asking all organisations, institutions and churches to open any rooms where homeless

people might stay during the cold snap.

So far three people have died of exposure in Hungary. A man who disappeared in the outskirts of Mátészalka, east Hungary in early January was found dead, while a homeless man in Pécs also died. On Wednesday an elderly man froze to death on the terrace of his home in Szolnok.