Author: Ketevan Natsvlichvili
The originators of the ABGEO blog have been promoting and initiating dialogue of unity and peace since 2007, with much success. We not only believe in the brighter future of the region, but also that we are the ones that have to create this future together. Many people all around the world regardless of their ethnicity strive every day to get closer to that unity. There are numerous organizations, events and online groups which are dedicated to giving Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia and its people a better future.
This is a new initiative for ABGEO, where our goal is to introduce the individuals, who strive to make a difference whether on small or big scale. Our goal is to recognize and unite these wonderful individuals and make them stronger with our support and gratitude. Often the hard work is not recognized, and/or it’s hard to find such individuals as they are scattered all over the world.
The idea sparked after we realized the amount of people who would like to get involved, but perhaps lack the leadership, resources or simply confidence. We hope that this initiative will inspire and motivate people to unite and bring us all closer to peace.
Hence, we will be seeking out and interviewing one individual per month. The interview will include questions starting from their favourite dish to their aspirations, challenges and lessons learned. We hope that you, our readers, will enjoy the visionaries that we have lined up for you.
But before we can go on we need your help! We invite you to suggest a person or an organization that you would like to hear more about, the more the better!
Onnik Krikorian - Great guy, really trying to change something regarding Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. He's done amazing job for Global Voices Online, and is totally in love with Georgia, wants to move here soon.
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/onewmphoto - his twitter
blogs: http://blog.oneworld.am http://www.globalvoicesonline.org http://frontlineclub.com/blogs/onnikkrikorian/
Perfect idea! it does not have alternative...
ReplyDeleteHi Ketevan,
ReplyDeleteI can also list some names. Right now one comes in my mind, Timur Catto. He is living in NY and teaching kids our Caucasian folk dance.
Why he deserves to be mentioned here? It's because he is teaching not only the dances from his country (As I recall it's Dagestan), but also other Caucasian dances. As far as I know he has no bias against any other Caucasian nation, no stereotypes, and in his concerts he often uses for example Georgian, Ossetian and etc. music and dance elements.
He loves our Caucasian folklore and listens and shares to all of us regardless our ethnicity. I believe that he is doing GREAT job. He is teaching kids LOVE to our shared culture and it's a biggest contribution to our future and peace.
My old interview with Timur you will find here:
http://khatia.blogspot.com/2009/03/little-caucasus-abroad.html
P.S. I will post here other names too as soon as I remember about them :)
Thanks for your suggestions everyone!!! Keep them coming :)
ReplyDeleteMichael Cecire, Giorgi Jakhaia
ReplyDeleteVery good idea!
ReplyDeleteYou can also email your suggestions and nomination to ketevan@abgeo.net ! First interview scheduled for January 2nd :)
ReplyDeletePaata http://www.flickr.com/photos/paata/
ReplyDeleteHans http://www.hansheinerbuhr.com/
Gogi Gvaxaria http://www.facebook.com/pages/giorgi-gogi-gvakharia/176974134578?ref=ts&v=wall
Keti Melua http://twitter.com/#!/katiemelua
...
It will be great if people from Abkhazia and Ossetia will nominate their candidates too.
Yes indeed , that is definatelly the idea
ReplyDeletedear Kote, you talk about Georgia and its breakaway parts ... for us there was no difficulty to find out the names of these parts.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy the initiative and getting to know many interesting people.
"There are numerous organizations, events and online groups which are dedicated to giving Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia and its people a better future"
ReplyDeleteIs it quoted from Putin? I know only country of Georgia and its breakaway parts.
Thomas Roth - a german jouralist with a focus on Russia, Georgia... He currently leads the ARD Studio in New York.
ReplyDelete@GoldenTent on twitter
ReplyDelete