Month: May 2011

The "West Eastern Divan Orchestra" and three associations that look after torture and war survivors received the Bruno Kreisky Prize for services to human rights on Friday evening in the Musikverein.

 
Daniel Barenboim is one of the founders of the West Eastern Divan Orchestra.

“The musicians deserve it”
Conductor Daniel Barenboim received the award for founding the West Eastern Divan Orchestra. In 1999, together with the late Palestinian literary scholar Edward Said, he established an orchestra with young musicians from Israel, Palestine and various countries in the Middle East.

In his acceptance speech, Barenboim said in the Wiener Musikverein that a two-state solution within the borders of 1967 was the only conceivable option for the Middle East: "But the politics of the past few years have led to nothing but more hatred." You have to look at the price to say clearly: "I don't deserve it, but the musicians of the orchestra deserve it."

The orchestra has been based in Seville since 2002.

A concept for world culture
The orchestra was founded at the invitation of the Weimar Art Festival. First of all, an intercultural dialogue was made possible in a workshop for young musicians. The experience of working together on a common basis should be encouraged.
Barenboim and Said named the orchestra and the workshop after Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's collection of poems "West-Eastern Divan", a central work for the development of a concept of world culture. The orchestra's first appearances were in Weimar and Chicago. Relocated in 2002
to Seville, where it settled permanently.

Lots to do – also in Austria
In addition to the orchestra, three associations that look after survivors of torture and war also received awards: the psychosocial center ESRA and the associations ASPIS and HEMAYAT. Laudator Andre Heller was pleased that people were honored who "offer orientation in demon mazes, fear resolution and much more".

Help in "Orientation in Demon Mazes".

Foundation manager Oliver Rathkolb said that one should not believe "that we don't have enough to do in Austria to enforce human rights". Maria Lind from ASPIS described that Carinthia did not receive a cent in subsidies: "And today we are being awarded precisely for this work - that makes us proud."

ASPIS, an independent institution at the University of Klagenfurt, is dedicated to providing psychotherapeutic and psychosocial help for traumatized people. Particular attention is paid to today's victims of torture and survivors of Nazi terror.

Help for traumatized victims.

Long-standing commitment to people
The ESRA psychosocial center was honored for its social responsibility towards the survivors of Nazi persecution. For 17 years, the employees have been advising, accompanying and treating traumatized people free of charge. ESRA also offers help for survivors of Nazi persecution and their descendants, as well as for Jewish migrants and their families.

HEMAYAT was founded in Vienna in 1955. Translated, the name of the association means care and protection. In the meantime, the association has established itself as a center for medical, psychological and psychotherapeutic care for torture and war survivors.

First awarded in 1979
The Bruno Kreisky Prize for services to human rights is awarded at irregular intervals by a foundation. This was established on the occasion of Bruno Kreisky's 65th birthday in 1976 and endowed with 700,000 euros.

 
Prize for Bruno Kreisky's 65th birthday.

The prize was first awarded in 1979. Previous winners include Nelson Mandela, Benazir Bhutto and the former Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Franz König.

http://wien.orf.at/stories/516936/

For his commitment to reconciliation in the Middle East conflict, the Bruno Kreisky Prize for services to human rights was awarded to pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, which he and the Palestinian literary scholar Edward Said founded on May 20 at the Musikverein in Vienna awarded, which consists of young Israeli and Palestinian musicians. The three aid organizations ASPIS, ESRA and HEMAYAT, which are dedicated to caring for survivors of torture and war, are also honored.
The prize, worth 700,000 euros, was created in 1976 to mark the 65th birthday of the then Austrian Chancellor and is awarded at irregular intervals by a foundation. The eulogy for Maestro Barenboim was held by the President of the National Council, Barbara Prammer, and the artist André Heller addressed the aid organisations.

http://www.bka.gv.at/site/infodate__23.05.2011/7455/default.aspx?wai=true#id43665

Federal Chancellery Austria, Monday, May 23, 2011

Subtitle: Awarding of the 14th Bruno Kreisky Prize for services to human rights to ASPIS, ESRA, HEMAYAT, West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and Maestro Daniel Barenboim =

Vienna (OTS / SK) - President of the National Council Barbara Prammer emphasized the importance of political education in the fight for human rights at the presentation of the 14th Bruno Kreisky Prize for services to human rights on Friday evening. "Meanwhile, 20 percent in Austria want a strong leader instead of democracy," Prammer warned, referring to a study, emphasizing the value of tolerance and the need to know what intolerance and hate speech can lead to. According to Prammer, the award-winning organizations contributed to a harmonious coexistence with their work and set strong signs for tolerance and peace.

The President of the National Council praised "the leitmotif of crossing national lines of conflict by means of mutual cultural debate and acceptance", which has been the focus of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and Maestro Daniel Barenboim since it was founded together with the late literary scholar Edward Said. "The ensemble of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, characterized by musical excellence, brings together young musicians from Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Tunisia and Andalusia," says Prammer. This contributes to mutual appreciation and recognition and promotes dialogue. The project is thus in the best tradition of Bruno Kreisky, who repeatedly endeavored to bring peace to the Middle East by means of initiatives for direct talks.

The "ASPIS" facility, which was also awarded, is an independent body at the University of Klagenfurt that offers help for people traumatized by the experience of violence, especially for survivors and victims of torture of Nazi terror, but also for younger displaced persons. The award winners emphasized the importance of "fighting against right-wing radicalism, racism and intolerance" and addressed their difficult situation in Carinthia, where they also received no subsidies. They also warned of the spread of right-wing extremist parties in Europe.

The association ESRA offers survivors of Nazi persecution and their descendants comprehensive help and supports Jewish migrants who have immigrated to Austria in the last few decades in their integration process. Over 1,500 people who survived the Holocaust and are still suffering from the long-term effects of the Shoah were treated. "Traumatized people need social recognition and acceptance," says David Vyssoki from ESRA. This recognition had to be won first.

HEMAYAT has established itself in Vienna as a center for medical, psychological and psychotherapeutic care for victims of torture and war survivors. The association tries to rebuild refugees in their country of exile. Terrible deportations often occur because traumatized people find it difficult to remember what they have experienced and those affected are not believed in the asylum procedure, said Friedrun Huemer, who spoke as a representative of the association. (close) pep/sv

Further inquiries: SPÖ federal organization, press service, Löwelstraße 18, 1014 Vienna, Tel.: 01/53427-275 http://www.spoe.at/online/page.php?P=100493

*** OTS ORIGINAL TEXT PRESS RELEASE UNDER THE EXCLUSIVE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ISSUE FOR CONTENT – WWW.OTS.AT ***
OTS0029 2011-05-21/12:08

A bridge builder for the Middle East
Barely has President Obama spoken out in Washington in favor of a Palestinian state and the establishment of the 1967 border lines, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promptly rejected, when one of the most renowned artists in the international concert scene is honored for his efforts to bring about peace in the Middle East conflict: Daniel Barenboim.

Midday Journal, 05/20/2011

(Susanna Dal Monte)
Barenboim is more committed to peace in the Middle East conflict than almost any other artist, has given concerts in the Palestinian territories, founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra of young Israeli and Arab musicians and campaigned for the highly controversial performance of Richard Wagner's works in Israel .

Not only does he make a guest appearance at the Musikverein in Vienna on Friday evening, he is also honored with the Bruno Kreisky Prize for services to human rights.

criticism of Israel's policies

At the beginning of the conversation, Barenboim was appalled that the Israeli prime minister immediately rejected Obama's speech without first analyzing it thoroughly. Netanyahu is harming not only Palestinians but also Israelis. In Israel there is a general lack of analytical skills "and as a Jew I can say that".

When it comes to the Middle East, Daniel Barenboim gets emotional: he doesn't want to wait for peace, he wants to go towards it and has been doing so for years.
Born in Buenos Aires of Russian, Argentinian, Spanish and Israeli descent, he is probably the only Israeli who has also held Palestinian citizenship since 2007.

What he is calling for is more international pressure against the Gaza blockade, because only an opening of the Gaza Strip will clear the way for an understanding, says Barenboim. But once again the signs are bad. In this context, Barenboim criticizes above all the most recent settlement construction: "Netanyahu is laughing his head off at Obama".

Alternative Thinking Laboratory

With the West Eastern Divan youth orchestra, which he founded together with the Palestinian-born literary scholar Edward Said and which is made up of Arab and Israeli musicians, Barenboim tries to teach tolerance on a small scale: "Bridges can only be built by people, not by politicians". .

He builds bridges and receives awards for it all over the world. In Vienna he received the Bruno Kreisky Human Rights Prize for his commitment to reconciliation in the Middle East conflict is awarded.

The West Eastern Divan Orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim can be heard today at the Wiener Musikverein.

Other award winners

The other award winners are the psychosocial center Esra, the association Aspis and the association Hemayat.

The Esra psychosocial center is being honored for its social responsibility towards the survivors of National Socialist persecution.

Aspis, an independent institution at the University of Klagenfurt, has also taken up the cause of psychotherapeutic and psychosocial help for traumatized people, especially for victims of torture and survivors of Nazi terror.

The Hemayat association, founded in Vienna in 1995, has established itself as a center for medical, psychological and psychotherapeutic care for survivors of torture and war. "Hemayat" comes from the Arabic language area and means "care" and "protection".

Text version: Joseph Schimmer
20.05.2011
http://oe1.orf.at/artikel/277424

Friday
May 20th 2011
14:05
"On Dealing with Trauma Victims". Guest: Klaus Ottomeyer. Moderator: Rainer Rosenberg. Calls free of charge from all over Austria on 0800 22 69 79
Rainer Rosenberg's guest is Klaus Ottomeyer, Professor of Social Psychology in Klagenfurt and Head of the independent research and counseling center for trauma victims "Aspis".

He accepted the Bruno Kreisky Prize for services to human rights for Aspis in the Vienna Musikverein in the evening – together with four other prizewinners.

When dealing with traumatized people, says the social psychologist, we use two different standards: Victims of abuse and family violence, but also of major events such as natural disasters, receive professional and comprehensive therapeutic support in Europe, if they want it.

The often severely traumatized refugees and politically persecuted people, on the other hand, are grossly neglected and often even traumatized again.

In a new book, Klaus Ottomeyer formulates therapeutic and interpersonal standards for dealing with traumatized people, regardless of the place and type of traumatization.

http://oe1.orf.at/programm/275015

Photo © APA

Three associations dedicated to caring for survivors of torture and war, as well as the pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim with his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, are being honored this year with the Bruno Kreisky Prize for services to human rights. The other award winners are the psychosocial center ESRA, the association ASPIS and the association HEMAYAT.

The prizes will be handed over on Friday at the Musikverein in Vienna. The world-renowned pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim receives the Bruno Kreisky Prize for his commitment to reconciliation in the Middle East conflict. Barenboim therefore founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, consisting of young Israeli and Arab musicians, together with the literary scholar Edward Said, who was born in Palestine.
The ESRA psychosocial center is being honored for its social responsibility towards the survivors of National Socialist persecution. For the past 17 years, the center has been able to advise, accompany and treat traumatized people free of charge.
ASPIS, an independent institution at the University of Klagenfurt, has also taken up the cause of psychotherapeutic and psychosocial help for traumatized people, especially for victims of torture and survivors of Nazi terror.
The HEMAYAT association, founded in Vienna in 1995, has established itself as a center for medical, psychological and psychotherapeutic care for survivors of torture and war. "Hemayat" comes from the Arabic language area and means "care" and "protection".

The Bruno Kreisky Prize for services to human rights is awarded at irregular intervals by a foundation that was established on the occasion of the 65th birthday of the then Austrian Chancellor in 1976 and endowed with 700,000 euros.

Source: APA
http://www.kleinezeitung.at/nachrichten/politik/2746418/kreisky-preis-fuer-barenboim-opfer-vereine.story

News from Thursday, May 19th, 2011

The pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim is honored with the Bruno Kreisky Prize for services to human rights. Barenboim receives the award for his commitment to reconciliation in the Middle East conflict.

Together with the literary scholar Edward Said, who was born in Palestine, Barenboim founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, consisting of young Israeli and Arab musicians. Barenboim himself was born in Buenos Aires in 1942 to a Jewish family who had fled the pogroms in Tsarist Russia. Furthermore, three associations are honored that are dedicated to the care of torture and war survivors.

The Bruno Kreisky Prize for services to human rights is awarded at irregular intervals by a foundation that was established on the occasion of the 65th birthday of the then Austrian Chancellor in 1976 and endowed with 700,000 euros. Previous winners include Nelson Mandela (South Africa), Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Brazil), the Nigerian environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Israeli publicist and peace activist Uri Avnery.

http://www.3sat.de/page/?source=/kulturzeit/news/154374/index.html

May 19, 2011 | 08:20 | vienna | |
http://www.salzburg.com/
SALZBURG NEWS

Three associations dedicated to caring for survivors of torture and war, as well as the pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim with his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, are being honored this year with the Bruno Kreisky Prize for services to human rights.
The other award winners are the psychosocial center ESRA, the association ASPIS and the association HEMAYAT.

The prizes will be handed over on Friday at the Musikverein in Vienna. The world-renowned pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim receives the Bruno Kreisky Prize for his commitment to reconciliation in the Middle East conflict. Barenboim therefore founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, consisting of young Israeli and Arab musicians, together with the literary scholar Edward Said, who was born in Palestine.
The ESRA psychosocial center is being honored for its social responsibility towards the survivors of National Socialist persecution. For the past 17 years, the center has been able to advise, accompany and treat traumatized people free of charge.
ASPIS, an independent institution at the University of Klagenfurt, has also taken up the cause of psychotherapeutic and psychosocial help for traumatized people, especially for victims of torture and survivors of Nazi terror.
The HEMAYAT association, founded in Vienna in 1995, has established itself as a center for medical, psychological and psychotherapeutic care for survivors of torture and war. "Hemayat" comes from the Arabic language area and means "care" and "protection".
The Bruno Kreisky Prize for services to human rights is awarded at irregular intervals by a foundation that was established on the occasion of the 65th birthday of the then Austrian Chancellor in 1976 and endowed with 700,000 euros.

© SN/SW

http://www.salzburg.com/nwas/?article=DMappe%2Fzdd8b*4wkjgpb8pdii*9c&img=&text=DText%2F-cx9n53%24-bn0r62hf23ksga&mode=&section=&channel=homepage&sort=%3Cp%3E

Thursday
May 19, 2011
21:00
"For you do not kill the spirit, you brothers and sisters".
dr Barbara Preitler - "Hemayat", one of the winners of the Bruno Kreisky Human Rights Prize 2011 in conversation with Michael Kerbler
The support center for torture and war survivors, Hemayat, received the Bruno Kreisky Human Rights Prize this year together with the Carinthian refugee aid organization ASPIS, the psychosocial center ESRA and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra founded by Daniel Barenboim. By the way: The word "Hemayat" comes from the Arabic language area and means "care" and "protection".

Barbara Preitler

in conversation with Michael Kerbler

Refugees in a police detention center in Vienna

The idea of founding a “Bruno Kreisky Prize for Services to Human Rights” came up before the former Federal Chancellor's 65th birthday. At that time, Bruno Kreisky refrained from gifts. A reason for the then Mayor of Vienna, Leopold Gratz, and the President of the Austrian Trade Union Federation, Anton Benya, to suggest a foundation and a human rights prize that should bear Kreisky's name.

At that time – in the mid-1970s – human rights violations in the dictatorships of Central and South America, the suppression of civil rights and freedoms in the communist states and in the apartheid system in southern Africa were the focus of attention. It is therefore not surprising that the first prizewinners included prominent personalities as well as organizations that worked for political prisoners and against politically motivated persecution. Cardinal Raúl Silva Henríquez of Chile, Issam Sartawi of Palestine, Arie Lova Eliav of Israel and Archbishop Miguel Obando y Bravo of Nicaragua were among the first recipients, along with Amnesty International and others.

The fact that Bruno Kreisky stood up for the politically persecuted is also rooted in his biography. He was imprisoned for 15 months by the Dollfuss regime in 1935 and for a further five months by the National Socialists in 1938 and finally driven into exile in Sweden, from where he only returned in 1951.

This year's winners include individuals and organizations who have made a valuable contribution to the care of refugees. In his last laudatory speech, which Bruno Kreisky was only able to send to the award winners in writing in 1986, he addressed the oppressors: "Anyone who has lived a relatively long life and has been able to measure many ups and downs knows that the gagged spirit rises. Let me close with the word of promise that has inspired many of us all our lives: For you do not kill the Spirit, you brothers and sisters.”
 
http://oe1.orf.at/programm/274927