During the holiday break we tried to limit postings to items that were related to the holidays or were 'time sensitive'. As a result, when we resumed posting on January 6th, we had a 'backlog' of articles to post. This means, of course, that this week's 'From the Editors' is longer than usual. Keep in mind though that we cannot cover every article in these weekly summaries. So be sure to browse back through the articles since we began the break on December 21st.
Our Features
For our feature this week Horst Cerni invites us to join in northern Germany's largest folk festival and fair in "Celebrations at the Dom". Horst explains the history of the fair which takes place three times a year in the St. Pauli district of Hamburg and adjacent to the "Green Bunker". You might also want to look back to two articles we posted earlier in which The Bunker appears: "Ruins (and a Bunker)" and "What is War For".
In case you missed our features during the break, please take a few minutes to check:
- "The Evolution of Lulu" by Myra Rudin posted on December 20th;
- "Song to the World" with the children of the Friends School in Ramallah posted on December 24th
- "Looking back at our features of 2024" posted on January 1st.
Our Columnists
In Part 1 of "Village Events΅ Ken Gibbs gives us a light-hearted story of a non-Cornish resident navigating life in a quirky village, including misadventures with bus stops, tech-challenged tourists, and solo sailing gone hilariously wrong. Despite a few broken ribs, whisky-fueled recovery, and an unexpected swim in the estuary, the author takes it all in stride with good humor and a reminder that life’s mishaps are best met with laughter and resilience. As a bonus, Ken shares an article about the sport of "Speedcubing"
Ramesh Shrestha in "Cultivating ignorance" argues that willful ignorance and over-reliance on technology are eroding critical thinking, empathy, and life skills among younger generations. He calls for better social education and stricter regulation of social media.
Nuzhat Shahzadi gives us two articles this week - "A Combo....Mixing Pink with Orange?" and "Snow All Day!" As a bonus, Nuzhat shares the parting prescription of the US Surgeon General - "more community". While he writes for the US population, his words should apply to most of the world.
Thoughts Shared
Mukesh Kapila offers us his thoughts on "How to repair a country like Syria" and "Many paths to justice - which will Syria choose?"
Kul Gautam offers "Remembering Jimmy Carter"
Augustine Veliath reflects on his birthday in "I am Epiphany born".
Baquer Namazi reflects on "Voices of peace, love, justice and compassion". In a separate post Baquer uses ChatGpt to explore "social capitalism" (?)
John Gilmartin on his early encounters of racial inequities in America and shares an article on how racial inequities carry over into retirement.
Horst Cerni comments on Trump's proposal to take over Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal and the implications for existing US territories like American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
End of Year Letters
One of the great pleasures of the end of year holidays is receiving letters from friends and colleagues in which they offer a 'catch-up' on personal and family news. If you sent out such a letter this year, be sure to share it with us. Here are the letters shared by:
Ines and Juan Aguilar
Mary Racelis
Tony and Wendy Kennedy
Geert and Joanna Cappelaere
Jim and Elayne Mayrides
Horst and Isabel Cerni
Articles You May Have Missed
21 December to 6 January
6 to 11 January
Mini Reunions and the 2025 XUNICEF Reunion
Oscar Fernandez and Myra Rudin met in NYC
Umberto and Alicia Cancellieri with Saad and Hoda Houry met in Geneva
Speaking of reunions, don't forget that the 2025 he annual XUNICEF Reunion will begin next month in the Philippines. If you are going, please be sure to share your stories and photos. The rest of us will be anxious for your news.
Film
In "The Last Face" our colleague Nigel Fisher has added a new title to his long career - "movie actor".
Events
UPGI has announced the launch of their book, "The Journey", commemorating the 75th Anniversary of UNICEF in India on January 18th. The Journey is a collection of memoirs of staff who have served in UNICEF India over the years.
Photos
Franziska Von Viettinghoff-Riesch takes us to Bethlehem for Orthodox Christmas 2020.
Fouad Kronfol offers us a view of Nuns Island on a snowy Boxing Day plus this year's 'Christmas cactus'
Books
Detlef Palm reviews "Trauma Proof" by our colleague Benjamin Perks
"The Prize" is reviewed by Fouad Kronfol
Poetry
Final poems by Refaat Alareer one year after he was killed in Gaza
"O' Gaza", a poem by Saeed A. Malik
Music
Glimpses of cello and Coldplay's "Paradise" along with lovely wishes for 2025 In "Souhaits de Bonne Année"
Umberto and Alicia Cancellieri with Saad and Hoda Houry met in Geneva
Speaking of reunions, don't forget that the 2025 he annual XUNICEF Reunion will begin next month in the Philippines. If you are going, please be sure to share your stories and photos. The rest of us will be anxious for your news.
Film
In "The Last Face" our colleague Nigel Fisher has added a new title to his long career - "movie actor".
Events
UPGI has announced the launch of their book, "The Journey", commemorating the 75th Anniversary of UNICEF in India on January 18th. The Journey is a collection of memoirs of staff who have served in UNICEF India over the years.
Photos
Franziska Von Viettinghoff-Riesch takes us to Bethlehem for Orthodox Christmas 2020.
Fouad Kronfol offers us a view of Nuns Island on a snowy Boxing Day plus this year's 'Christmas cactus'
Books
Detlef Palm reviews "Trauma Proof" by our colleague Benjamin Perks
"The Prize" is reviewed by Fouad Kronfol
Poetry
Final poems by Refaat Alareer one year after he was killed in Gaza
"O' Gaza", a poem by Saeed A. Malik
Music
Glimpses of cello and Coldplay's "Paradise" along with lovely wishes for 2025 In "Souhaits de Bonne Année"
Tom McDermott
Editor for this week
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