MetaFilter posts tagged with hungary

Announcement of the government of Canada

bdz — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:04:56 -0800

To deter abuse, Canada’s refugee system has changed.
People who have arrived with groundless claims for asylum are removed faster (then before).

The Government of Canada has started a billboard campaign in Miskolc, Hungary's third biggest city, to inform people about the changes of its immigration law. (Many who previously immigrated to Canada used to live in this city and its surrounding area.)

Also, two Global News reports from Canada:

The Outsiders. The harsh realities of being a Hungarian Roma refugee in Canada.

(Previously)

Roma in Hungary: A Hard Life

vac2003 — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 11:34:22 -0800

The status of Roma in Hungary has been brought into sharp focus with a controversial article [link in Hungarian] by prominent ruling-party FIDESZ member, Zsolt Bayer, in which he says, "a significant part of the Roma are unfit for co-existence. They are not fit to live among people. These Roma are animals and they behave like animals." The Guardian reports on the growing anger at the article, The Hungarian Spectrum, and well-known poet and translator of Hungarian literature George Szirtes weigh in with English translations of some of Bayer’s article. Many leading Hungarian politicians condemn the article. Nonetheless, discrimination against Roma is widespread and pervasive. Myths persist about the life of Roma. Violent attacks [PDF] against Roma have taken place and the far-right Jobbik party actively espouses an anti-Roma platform. In response many Roma have sought asylum in Canada.

For those wanting a sensitive, and accurate, account of life as a Roma in Hungary the prize-winning film, Just The Wind/Csak a szél, which has been nominated (unsuccessfully) as Hungary’s submission for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Oscars, is highly recommended.

The Frightening Hungarian Crackdown

Rustic Etruscan — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 07:06:24 -0800

"The new constitution 'recognizes the role of Christianity in preserving nationhood,' and art that is deemed blasphemous or 'anti-national' is now the target of a full-blown campaign of suppression."

"God, you owe me a life - a living baby."

the man of twists and turns — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 02:33:31 -0800

Dr. Gisella Perl was a gynecologist living in what is now Sighet, Rumania, when in 1944 she and her family were transported by the Nazis to the death camp at Auschwitz. There, she was forced to work under Joseph Mengele in the camp hospital. After seeing the horrors and abuse leading up to the murder of pregant women, she "decided that never again would there be a pregnant woman in Auschwitz." Gisella Perl: Angel and Abortionist in the Auschwitz Death Camp Dr. Perl was later moved to Bergen-Belsen, and survived the war - her family, except for a sister, did not. Dr. Perl emigrated to the United States and lived there for several years, before finally moving to Israel. Her memoir I Was A Doctor In Auschwitz was later turned into the made-for-tv-movie Out Of The Ashes(IMDB), starring Christine Lahti. It is available on youtube.

So I Pardoned an Axe Murderer

orrnyereg — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 21:12:47 -0800

In 2004, Gurgen Margaryan (from Armenia) and Ramil Safarov (from Azerbaijan) were in Budapest attending a NATO-sponsored language training. While Margaryan was sleeping, Safarov hacked him to death with an axe. Safarov, who never denied his culpability and stated he only committed the crime because Margaryan was Armenian, was sentenced to life in prison in 2006. Late last month, the Hungarian government led by Viktor Orban extradited Safarov to Azerbaijan with the understanding that he would continue his sentence there. When Safarov arrived in Baku he was promptly pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev and given a hero's welcome. The Armenian government is understandably furious and has broken off diplomatic relations with Hungary. Overwhelmed by bad press, the Hungarian Foreign Ministry's internal research department suggested this response: "Let's Dare to Be Stupid!". To wit, that no one in the Foreign Ministry had any expertise in the Caucasus region and didn't bother to get any assurances from the Azeris. The decision to extradite Safarov was being considered in tandem with negotiations for the Azeris to purchase 2-3 billion Euros'-worth of Hungarian government bonds. The purchase did not go through, however, because the relevant Azeri government agency could not purchase such a large amount of junk bonds. Armenia and Azerbaijan have a long-standing conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh, which began in 1988 and ended in a ceasefire in 1994. During the conflict approximately 800,000 Azeris from Armenia and Karabakh and 230,000 Armenians from Azerbaijan were displaced. Safarov's pardon and the possibility it raises for future conflict in the region has been criticized by NATO, the United States, and others. Hungarian Spectrum has been all over this, as you'll see from the links. The Contrarian Hungarian has more on the blowback against Hungary here and here. On Viktor Orban and Hungary--previously and previouslier.

The thick red line.

googly — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:49:22 -0800

October 14, 2010: A breach at a bauxite processing plant spilled a million cubic meters of red sludge across the countryside near Ajka, Hungary, killing nine people. Six months later, photographer Palíndromo Mészáros took photos of the disaster site, abandoned save for The Red Line. (via) More on the Ajka alumina plant accident. The red stain on the trees has resisted efforts to clean it off.

Not At Home

vac2003 — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:43:58 -0800

Hungarian mid-wife, Dr Ágnes Géreb, is headed for jail after nearly 18 months of house arrest, for 'neglient malpractice'. This follows her sentence being increased after an unsuccessful appeal. The Royal College of Midwives has called for her release and the BBC's Central European correspondant Nick Thorpe, whose five children were delivered by Dr Géreb, has written extensively on the case. More information is available at http://www.freeagnesgereb.com/.

ScHmITt hits the fan

vac2003 — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:53:50 -0800

An expert committee has found that the President of Hungary, Dr. Pál Schmitt, is not guilty of plagiarism, despite extensive parts of his doctoral thesis being copied from multiple sources. The fault, the committee claims, was not his, but that of his supervisors. The Contrarian Hungarian and The Hungarian Spectrum have detailed analysis of the allegations and the committee’s report, while the Urban Dictionary has coined a new term in honor of the scandal. Other European politicians have faced with similar claims recently with differing results.

This is why Jakob Ander won't hire you

shivohum — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:47:14 -0800

This is why I don't give you a job. Hungarian blogger Jakab Andor breaks down the numbers and explains why taxes and regulations make it highly unappealing for him to start a small business employing people in Hungary. He also argues that these same factors make women and older people particularly unappealing prospects. His comments generated quite a bit of controversy (warning: most comments in Hungarian), to which he responded with an offer.

Hungarian Democracy Under Threat

vac2003 — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:00:28 -0800

Previously. On 1 January Hungary's new Constitution came into effect which, amongst other things, entrenches the power of the current ruling party, FIDESZ, and enshrines social issues such as the right of the unborn child. Many so-called cardinal laws have been passed in Parliament which requires a 2/3 majority to change. The president of the EU, José Barroso wrote to the Hungarian Prime Minister, Victor Orbán, requesting a rethink of two such laws which impact the political independence to the Central Bank. This was rejected by the Hungarian government. Economically things are tough with Hungary requesting additional IMF assistance but they withdrew from informal talks, citing concern over the independence of the central bank. Hungary's debt was downgraded to junk status with rating agencies citing concerned at the relationship with the IMF. There is rising concern at government control over the media with journalists been dismissed after taking part in a hunger strike. The popular liberal radio station, Klubrádió, has been taken off the air by the government-controlled Media Council. Government controlled media even digitally-removed the image of a former top member of the judiciary. Poking fun [YouTube link, sub-titles in English] by some journalists at the current situation in Hungary also resulted in the banning of a popular internal portal from reporting on Parliament. International criticism is mounting: The Guardian cautions against the rising xenophobic, right-wing nationalism of Orbán, while The Washington Post laments the return of autocracy to Hungary. Paul Krugman of the New Times is likewise concerned at recent developments and Der Spiegel is very concerned at the growing power of the right-wing on cultural matters such as the appointment of the anti-semitic István Csurka as head of the National Theatre. Hilary Clinton is worried [PDF] at recent developments, as are US Congress members. In Hungary, protests are mounting too. Some MP's, including the former Prime Minister, Ferenc Gyurcsány were recently detained following large protests outside Parliament. Protests continue into the New Year. Those wishing to see what Victor Orbán thinks of international and domestic criticisms, check out his views in a recent interview. Apparently, he is still looking at things.

I Am a Tip-Top Starlet

hermitosis — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 09:34:39 -0800

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders attempt to read a poorly translated Hungarian interview with Madonna (allegedly re-retranslated for USA Today).

The Goulash Archipelago

Jasper Friendly Bear — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 20:33:30 -0800

Orbán's concept of moral renewal and economic rehabilitation for Hungary has several tenets: Those without work are to be given work; those who are already working should work more in the future, but without being paid more; in the interest of the country's "stability," those who hold political power today should be allowed to remain in office for as long as possible; and those who once had power and did not use it for the benefit of the people should now be punished.

"Supporters of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán say he has a strict leadership style, while critics warn of the threat of forced political conformity, Jew-baiting and labor camps. Meanwhile, the European Union is saying nothing, apparently accepting the fact that a member state is getting out of control." [previously]

Hugo, Strange

benzenedream — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 02:31:26 -0800

Wherever you go, H u- g o- hip po- potamus

The nightmarish and psychedelic 1976 children's movie Hugo the Hippo features a score of hippos who save the port of Zanzibar from "cap-wearing sharks decked out with biker jewelry", only to be massacred by the Sultan's greenish advisor (voiced by Paul Lynde), leaving poor Hugo an orphan. The soundtrack [flash player] includes songs by Burl Ives (as the titular hungry hippo), Jimmy and Marie Osmond, and the Ken Williams Quartet. There is no official DVD release, but the Hugo fansite has some options for obtaining the movie, and it's available on Youtube [links above]. The story is based on a real Hugo the Hippo, who terrorized farmers near Dar es Salaam: "Game workers dug a 7-ft. pit along Hugo's dinner trail, lowered a big wooden crate into it, covered the top with branches, and baited it with three succulent pumpkins, Hugo's favorite dessert." Gyorgi Peluce, the color designer responsible for The Simpson's unique hues, is a Hugo alumnus from the Hungarian animation company PannóniaFilm. Previously on AskMe: 1, 2

Otto von Habsburg-Lothringen 1912-2011

dhens — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:40:15 -0800

Otto von Habsburg-Lothringen, son of Charles, last monarch of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, died on July 4 at the age of 98. Otto, seen here with his great-granduncle Franz Joseph (ruler of the Habsburg Domains 1848-1916), was hurried forward in the line of succession when his father's uncle, Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated by Serbian ationalists during a state visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the summer of 1914, starting World War I and ultimately ending the power of a dynasty which had ruled in Europe for 700 years, including, in the 1500s, large chunks of Europe (the vast overseas empires of Habsburg Spain [1516-1700] and Habsburg Portugal [1580-1640] are not on this map). While the Habsburg Empire is now seen as an "artificial" or "outdated" construction, which produced nationalist infighting (as recorded by Mark Twain in Harper's when he visited the "Austrian" parliament in the 1890s: Part I, Part II, Part III), more recent historians, such as Pieter Judson, are reconsidering the view of the Habsburg lands as a "prison of the peoples": listen to his podcast (49 minutes) on the subject. Some social science research has shown that Habsburg administration may have been more trustworthy, or at least perceived to be, than that of many of the surrounding polities: previously on the Blue. Otto himself lived an interesting life, not only as a witness to but as an actor in history. Near the end of World War I, his father "renounced participation" in the Austro-Hungarian government, and briefly tried to return to power in Hungary without much success, dying in exile when Otto was not yet 10. The Emperor-King Charles was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2004, for his attempts to broker peace in the Great War. Otto went on to live in exile around various parts of Western Europe, including Switzerland and Belgium (itself largely a former Habsburg domain), where he received a degree in law. He was bitterly opposed to Hitler and the annexation of Austria, leading the Nazis to name the potential (unnecessary) armed invasion of Austria "Case Otto." Otto, whose claim to the thrones of numerous lands occasionally made him persona non grata in same, later made a name for himself as a pan-Europeanist and member of the European Parliament from its founding in 1979 until 1999 (sitting as a member from the conservative Bavarian Christian Social Union). He was controversial, the Catholic prince apparently getting into fisticuffs with the ultra-Protestant Northern Irish MEP Ian Paisley in the chamber. He called for Europe to adopt mentions of God, while also calling for "interfaith" dialogue. The Habsburgs are still going strong, inspiring nostalgia, and Otto's nephew Lorenz is continuing the tradition of marrying well, in this case a woman who would be Queen.

Magyar Madness?

vac2003 — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 01:51:14 -0800

As Hungary takes over the Presidency of the European Union, a new media law also comes into effect that centralizes control of the media in ways many consider is anti-democratic. The central media authority can issue decrees and apply financial penalties to those media, including internet portals and blogs who for "politically unbalanced reporting". The first test for the new Authority is Ice T following the broadcast of his songs, "Warning" and "It's On". Local media responded with blank pages by way of protest. Many see this as the latest example in the increasing authoritarian and anti-democratic nature of the Orban-led FIDESZ government. They point to the privatization of pensions, the diminution of the powers of the Constitutional Court and the imposition of wind-fall taxes on multi-national companies, as examples of this trend. The Washington Post calls it the "Putinizantion of Hungary", while The Guardian laments "One-party rule" in Hungary. The German newspaper, Spiegel describes it as a "A Slow Poison Attacking Democracy" while quoting those who refer to Hungary as a "Führer state". Local critics include the prominent economist János Kornai. English readers can keep up to-date with developments at the Hungarian Spectrum blog and politics.hu. On the hand, some see Hungary as a World of Potentials (SLYT).

Bibliotheca Corviniana

Paragon — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:56:55 -0800

The library of King Matthias I of Hungary, the Bibliotheca Corviniana, was "the second greatest collection of books in Europe in the Renaissance period, after that of the Vatican." Destroyed following the 15th century Turkish invasion of Hungary (despite the efforts of Matthias' vassal Vlad III the Impaler), a few surviving codices have been digitized by the National Széchényi Library and the Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The Bibliotheca Corviniana Digitalis contains some beautiful and damaged books and scrolls, but even the covers have a grimoirish quality to them. The site is mostly in Hungarian and uses frames - click on "Corvinák" for the index, and on the yellow circles to see the scanned codices in their entirety.

Greatest Hungarian Iranologist

kliuless — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 07:28:09 -0800

Sándor Kégl, master of languages (via mr)

90 years from the streets of Budapest

madamjujujive — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 07:01:42 -0800

Fortepan is a collection of 4973 found amateur photos sourced mainly in Budapest. Pick a year and browse - photos are organized in chronological order from 1900 to 1990, accessible via a slider. "Users are encouraged to use, copy, send to friends, clip or paste the photos, which are free for they are not our property." (via Szanalmas, sometimes nsfw)

1989, revolution in Eastern Europe

Kattullus — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:49:20 -0800

The BBC World Service has put together a special report on the 1989 revolutions in Eastern Europe (they also have a simpler portal). There is a wealth of material, including TV reports on key events from the BBC archives, interviews, a map timeline, a report on Catholicism's role in the 1989 revolutions, a first-hand report of what it was like to gather news in East Germany during that time and much more.

Hungarian-Slovak relations are tense these days

vac2003 — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:22:39 -0800

First there was the State Language Act that many Hungarians and EU observers claim discriminates against the significant Hungarian minority in Slovakia. The Slovaks were predictably indigent. The issue isn't new though. Relations soured further when the Slovaks recently refused entry to the Hungarian President. Clearly, there is much history to overcome.

Gasparcolor

Kattullus — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:49:24 -0800

Colour on the Thames is a 7 minute film shot in 1935 using Gasparcolor, one of the many early forms of tinting black and white film. Beside Colour on the Thames, which provides a wonderful view of 1930's England, the only film made in Gasparcolor I could find online was Colour Flight by New Zealand artist Len Lye, an abstract cartoon set to instrumental 1930's pop music. The story of Gasparcolor is in itself interesting, for instance touching on Nazis, Hungary between the wars and early color animation.

RaDaK

tellurian — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:27:07 -0800

The manuscripts of David Kaufmann, Jewish scholar extraordinaire. Wonderful illuminations, inventive typography and even a little bit of naughtiness.

Sunday's Gloomy

empath — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 21:52:56 -0800

Hungary may be the gloomiest country on earth. Believed by its people to be suffering from a centuries long curse, it's most famous modern musical export is probably the "Hungarian Suicide Song" - Gloomy Sunday. Originally popularized by Billie Holiday in the US (with an upbeat ending tacked onto the original lyrics), it's been covered dozens of times since then. Links to a few of my favorites inside: Heather Nova Sarah McLaughlin Bjork Sarah Brightman Venetian Snares Ray Charles Elvis Costello Genesis (not the famous one) Kronos Quartet Angela Poka (in Hungarian) Happy Sunday, Everyone!

Russia stops all gas supply to Europe via Ukraine

b. — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:13:11 -0800

Newsfilter: It's that time of the year again, though now it seems to be more serious. Russia stopped all gas supply to Europe via Ukraine on Wednesday, January 7, 2009. The EU depends on Russia for about a quarter of its total gas supplies, some 80% of which is pumped through Ukraine. At least seventeen countries are affected, many of them severely as Russia is their primary or only source of gas. While similar disputes between Russia and Ukraine already happened before, this is the first time it starts to directly affect people in other countries. In Bulgaria central heating shuts down in several towns, many schools are closed. Some factories had to stop production in Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia. Bulgaria and Slovakia are considering restarting their old nuclear power plants to get the extra energy. EU has called in the heads of the Russian and Ukrainian gas companies for emergency talks in Brussels.

Do you know these children?

Asparagirl — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:32:10 -0800

Do you, or an older relative of yours, recognize any of these children? More than 70 children separated from their families during WWII, now all elderly men and women, are using the Internet to try to find some answers about their pasts, their families, and sometimes even their own names. They are soliciting help and suggestions in the comments sections on each story. Sadly typical story: "The infant was hungry and crying, so her mother asked for milk from a Polish couple that happened to be on the train station. The Polish man brought milk for the baby. Then the Jewish mother asked if they would want to take the baby as their own because she could not keep it. This couple did not have any children, so after some consideration, they agreed. They asked the Jewish mother who she was, but she told them that it was better for them and for the baby not to know who she was. She then gave her newborn baby girl, who was probably one month old, to the Polish couple. The Polish couple raised the girl as if she was their biological daughter and never told her how she had come into the family. The girl grew up, married and had a son. It is this son who wants to find his Jewish roots..."