Free Dance Workshops

Terror Tremours

Today I was walking with a client and on the way to his office my eye caught a glimpse of a TV. On the ticker I read the words Times Square and terrorist attack in close proximity. As soon as we entered the office I asked my host to excuse me while I fished out my phone and typed the words which had caught my attention in my phone’s search app. It turned out that the ticker did not refer to an event that had taken place but was a press release by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in which he said that the Boston Marathon bombing suspects planned to detonate the rest of their explosives in Times Square. Thank God this disaster was averted.

When I returned back to my office the first thing I did was to call up Wikipedia and after a few clicks I got to a page titled “List of terrorist incidents, January–June 2013” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_incidents,_January%E2%80%93June_2013. I was taken aback by the fact that between January and April of 2013 (we’re still 2 months short of June) there have been 70 incidents registered as being terrorist attacks. This made me think, although at the end I did not feel any wiser.

Those behind acts of terror will be successful when they instill a fear of others. Many true democracies have embroiled within them the right of their citizens to live a life that guarantees serenity irrespective of their physical appearance and their beliefs provided that their actions do not take away the serenity and like rights of others.

Do democracies mean a good life? No. Millions of Americans are today suffering because of the financial crisis that has pulled down many nations for the past 5 years. Today there are people for whom the basic necessities of live seem to be distancing themselves.

Do democracies mean that everything is all right all the time? No. We live in a society that is more litigious than ever before and issues such as the environment, spending on military and the right of privacy make life a constant battle to protect what one feels is paramount to their well-being and the well-being of the democracy they form part of.

A democracy is that thing which allows us to not fear having an opinion and not fear wanting to better ourselves. More importantly democracies hinder the process of labelling groups of people based on the colour of their skin or the deity they worship. Terror’s main aim is to hack away at this pillar.
It is not easy to tell someone who has lost a loved one or the victim who no longer has a limb that they must be democratic but by collectively holding their hand we can give them the strength and support they need during difficult times.

I am encouraged by the likes of Adrianne Haslet-Davis. The Boston terror attack destroyed nearly every bone and muscle in her left ankle and foot, and both had to be amputated.  Haslet-Davis, who is a dancer, insisted that the injury won't stop her from dancing again. In fact, she said she plans to run the Boston Marathon next year.

A Nation of Immigrants From Many, One

Malta's Neolithic Temples

First event - 4th May 2013 – Seminar - Malta's Neolithic Temples

Speakers as follows:

• Dr. David Trump : Temple Culture Origins
• Mr. Daniel Cilia : What we Lost, What we Have
• Dr. Reuben Grima : Distribution of the Neolithic Temples
• Prof. Alex Torpiano : Engineering of Malta’s Megalithic Monuments
• Prof. Frank Ventura : Temple Orientation
• Prof. Anthony Bonanno : Rituals.

Seminar Venue: Phoenicia Hotel Floriana Malta
Date: Saturday 4th May 2013
Time: 09.00 - 12.30 - Lunch Break - 13.30 - 17.00
Fees: includes full day of seminar lectures plus coffee break €15.
Lunch optional at €25

Second event - 5th May 2013 - Temples tour

A full-day bus tour of  different temple sites. Participants will be  briefed by Dr. Trump and can walk around  the principle Maltese temples.   Lunch will be at the Limestone heritage and   back at pick up point by early afternoon.  An invitation is being extended to all those wishing to visit the Archaeology Museum at the Auberge de Provence, Valletta with Dr. Trump after the bus tour.


Third event - 7th May 2013 - Hypogeum Visit

Dr. Trump has further offered to give FAA members guided tours of the Hypogeum underground temple. Since entry to the Hypogeum is limited to 10 persons per hour, we have reserved slots for one morning, for FAA members and guests.

To attend these outstanding three days events, email bookings@faa.org.mt or phone Corinne at 99429572

US Embassy Facility Management Officer visits Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary, Naxxar

On Friday, February 15, Facility Management Officer Michael McMahon visited Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary, Naxxar, to speak about U.S. Wildlife and National Parks.

The presentation was followed by comments and questions from the students.  Mr. McMahon donated American books to the school library and the Head of school, Ms. Mary Attard, thanked the U.S. Embassy for the books and the visit.

If your school is interested in having an officer from the U.S. Embassy speak to a class, please contact the US Embassy at USEmbMalta@state.gov.

Remembering John A Mizzi

This week Malta lost one of  its dedicated authors and journalists,  Mr John A Mizzi, who passed away at the age of 86.

Mizzi was known for his lifelong commitment towards journalism, both in Malta and also for leading newspapers and broacasting agencies in the United Kingdom and the United States.
At 15, in 1940 he was the youngest reporter from the front-line battle chronicling the day to day incidents of Malta under aerial siege in British publications.

In Malta he was news editor of the Times of Malta and frequently acting editor of both the Times of Malta and the Sunday Times of Malta. He was also correspondent for the London Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, Independent Television News, British United Press, Religious News Services and a contributor to various media in the United Kingdom and the United States.

He has compiled various television documentaries on the United States and several European countries, notably the Soviet Union, and collaborated in documentaries shown on the BBC and Granada.

He was also the leader of the St Aloyisus Scout Group. He was involved in the revival of scouting in Russia and holds the highest decoration of the Russian Union of Scouts, the Bronze Beaver. He holds other decorations such as the Silver Acorn.

Throughout his life he wrote various books, notably Gallipoli – The Malta Connection; Scouting in Malta, Operation Pedestal, Antonio Muscat Fenech, Ġurnalista Pijunier tal-Ilsien Malti and Massacre in Malta, together with a series of books entitled Malta at War. Full list of his publications can be found here: http://www.bdlbooks.com/search/most-popular.html?searchphrase=all&searchword=john+a+mizzi&view=search.

Photo source: https://www.wiseowlmalta.com/authors/johnmizzi.jpg

Throughout his life he received many awards, amongst which, Ġieħ ir-Repubblika.

SAS Malta would like to give condolences to his family.

Lincoln: The Legacy – special screening and discussion

Euro Media Forum in collaboration with Eden Cinemas and the US Embassy are organising a special screening and discussion that gives an insight into the highlights of Abraham's Lincoln political career. The film Lincoln directed and produced by Steven Spielberg is an American historical drama film that is based in part on Doris Kearns Goodwin's biography of Lincoln and covers the final four months of Lincoln's life. Lincoln was nominated for Seven Golden Globe Awards and twelve Academy Awards.

Speakers from the US Embassy in Malta Thomas M Schmidt and Nathan Austin will delve into the American and European socio-economic and political scenario during which Lincoln became President. The social, economic and political motivations to abolish slavery as well as the necessity of leading a country to war will also be discussed. The discussion will also reflect on Lincoln's influence on today's human rights legislation and leading politicians. Questions from members of the audience are welcome.

Lincoln's special screening will take place at Cinema 11 at Eden Cinemas on the 1st February 2013. The discussion follows the 5.30 p.m. screening. Tickets for the Lincoln special screening and discussion can be bought from www.edencinemas.com.mt.

Should participants need any more information please email euromediaforum@gmail.com
For further information log on the Euro Media Forum facebook page log on: http://www.facebook.com/groups/312352748854716/permalink/315603351862989/?ref=notif&notif_t=like#!/Euro.Media.Forum.