Highlights – February 2009
An interview: Dr. Boris Jesih, State Secretary of the Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenes Abroad
»In old times it used to be more important, who the »ours« or »theirs« are, than who the Slovenes are. We have to stop depending upon the connection on the ideological origins and using this for acquirement the points in the domestic politics. For us all are »ours«! And for this reason they must become the Slovene bond of states, in which they live«, dr. Boris Jesih stressed in the interview among other.
Mr. Jesih, State Secretary of the Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenes Abroad, is known as the very good expert for minority problems, specially among the Slovenes in Austrian Carinthia and Styria. After his politological degree of Ljubljana`s FSPN (now FDV- Faculty of social sciences) he employed himself in 1980 in the Institute for the Nationality questions (INV), where he is superior scientific collaborator and member of the bord of directors. On the 22nd of November 2008 he was appointed State Secretary and with his work he helps dr. Boštjan Žekš, competent minister for the Slovenes abroad and over the world.
The topic of the month: The return of migrant workers from Germany to Slovenia
Barbara Medved Cvikl stimulated the reflection about this topic. During the Slovene world congress in Ljubljana she presented the results of her graduate theme, done in the chair of Geography (Faculty of arts) at professor Jernej Zupančič. She won the student Prešeren Award for this theme with the title The return of migrant workers from Germany to Slovenia.
Since in the middle of the 60`s the Slovene immigration has been one of the most numerical in Germany because of cultural and geographic nearness between two States, liberal migrant politics and many social historical factors such as the agrarian overpopulatin of Slovenia and the intensive development of German postwar industry. Therefore we are not surprised, that in the time of Slovene contemporary history (1990-2006) the dimension of returning immigrants from Germany is the most perceivable. Into the original regions the immigrant precious knowledges, experiences, capital, formal and informal migration networks arrive and with these migration networks they have important influence on social, economic and cultural development of the original regions.
A talk with the successful fellow countrywoman :Tanya Pliberšek, ministress for residential questions and woman`s problem
We found the name of Tanya Pliberšek, young descendant of the Slovenes from Sydney, on the official sides of Australian parliament and its Ministers. (Australian Federal Government Ministers – House of Representatives). Tanya Pliberšek, with university education, memberess of ALP, Australian Labour Party, and memberess of the Australian parliament for Sydney county (63 square kilometres), is ministress for residential questions and woman`s problem. »I wished to change some matters and I still try to improve them. Not only my children worry me but also I fight for the better life of the other children and of course for their mothers, specially when they are single mothers«, among other said Mrs. Plibersek about her work.
OUR NOTES : Conclusion of Seminar on Slovene language for the teachers from South America nad Australia
From 18th to 28th in January 2009 Laško and Ljubljana hosted the Seminar on Slovene language for the teachers, that teach Slovene and other subjects in the Slovene language in South America nad Australia. This time on Seminar 19 participants were present (among those present were 17 from Argentina, 1 from Brazil and 1 from Australia). The Seminar was financed by the Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenes Abroad and Ministry of Education and Sport. The National education Institute prepared the competent programme of the Seminar and its organization of the execution in Laško and Ljubljana. The Seminar concluded with a cultural performance, prepared by the teachers, that presented the new acquired proficiency and skills and the experiences of the people and Slovenia with a poem, play, declamation and photo projection. They made a strong emotional atmosphere, which touched all present to the heart. The participants and the participantins of the concluding performance were saluted by Mrs. Alenka Kovšca, State (female) Secretary of Ministry of Education and Sport and dr. Boris Jesih, State Secretary of the Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenes Abroad.