Alan Johnston, who was released from captivity yesterday, has been awarded an award by Amnesty International for his reports from Gaza over the past 3 years up until the day he was kidnapped. The award was received on Alan's behalf by his father. Amnesty awards these prizes to journalists who highlight human rights abuses.
The Winter Olympics in 2014 will be held at Sochi (Russian: Сочи) a Black Sea resort just north of the Georgian border. The place beat the Austrian city of Salzburg and the Korean town Pyeongchang.
Above map (courtesy Google Maps) shows the location. It has some strange connotations for me. Although I've never visited Russia, I am familiar with the name. Back in the days of the Cold War, I would listen to programs from East Germany which would give weather reports for resorts in the "Socialist Abroad" - excuse the poor translation out of the German "Sozialistisches Ausland". Sochi featured among them, alongside places like Zakopane in southern Poland. In those heady days, when East Germany was headed up by Erich Honecker, and the USSR was ruled by the iron fist of communism (already crumbling under Michael Gorbatchov), deserving workers would go on holiday to the "Socialist Abroad". Oh, the good ole days, eh. Have a more up to date look at Sochi through the page on Wikipedia. It is worth noting that Greenpeace has objected to the Winter Olympics being held at Sochi, because several events are being held in nature reserves.
Well.... I can understand Greenpeace complaining if events will be held in Nature Reserves. However I reserve judgement until I read up on it a bit more. I will be back to catch up some more on this news Guido. Thanks for the information. Jeanie
ReplyDeletehi hun maybe you can help me,I have left messages on magic smokes site,but no answer as yet.I had deleted my last blog about 3 months ago but it still appears on my list on my hometown area.Although the url is now missing,I cant seem to start up another one,as every time i try i get a'blogs unavailable' message,ive turned off pop up blocker and windows firewall but now im stuck,know anyone who can help? Thanx zoe xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteThank you for this and the graphic with the rings. I worked (volunteer work) at the Olympics in the LA region of California, in 1984. I loved it, of course:) My daughter was trying to figure out if it was 3 rings on top and 2 below, or vice versa. I remembered them as you have them here, but hadn't yet done a search, or pulled out my items, to verify. Interesting location that'll be. I hope it's a good one.
ReplyDeleteThank you, as always, for the information.
ReplyDeleteJohn.
Thanks for the information on the location, I was wondering where exactly it was. I am always interested in the Olymics, one of my favorites events. In 2010 it will be just north of us in Vancouver, Cananda. I bet the place in Russia won't have to worry about bringing in fake snow. Later, Joni in the PNW
ReplyDeleteOooh thanks for this... I had no idea where it was in Russia! LOL
ReplyDeletebe well,
Dawn
http://journals.aol.com/princesssaurora/CarpeDiem/
Such good news that Alan was released after the troubles of the past few days.
ReplyDeletebella xx