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Author: Henrry Collaguazo
Grulac meeting

Bolivia coordinated the GRULAC Netherlands meeting with Minister Hoekstra

The Embassy of the Plurinational State of Bolivia in the Netherlands, which is in charge of coordinating GRULAC this semester, facilitated the meeting of the representation of 22 Latin American and Caribbean countries with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Mr. Wopke Hoekstra.
To open the event, Ambassador Roberto Calzadilla pointed out that the new global context of post pandemic and geopolitical tensions at the global level calls for a rethinking and strengthening of relations between countries, a stronger focus and more significant efforts in friendly relations in a fair and equitable context.
The meeting addressed the foreign policy priorities of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the current and future political, economic and trade relations of the Netherlands with the Latin American and Caribbean region.
In his speech, Minister Hoekstra emphasized that “for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, multilateral cooperation is essential to achieve international objectives in a peaceful manner. Investing in the multilateral system means investing in global stability.
He also emphasized three areas for deepening relations: international law, climate change and stability.
The meeting included presentations from Costa Rica, Argentina and Panama that addressed important issues such as climate change, sustainable development, trade, culture, migration, among others, with the aim of fully developing and strengthening interactions so that relations reach their full potential.
All countries participating in this event have agreed to continue working together, both bilaterally and multilaterally, and to deepen the dialogue and cooperation ties with follow-up meetings on the issues addressed.

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09/09/2022 0
Choquehuanca

Living in Harmony With Life

As a zoÃķp, one of Het Nieuwe Instituut’s inspirations is the concept of vivir bien, ‘living well’, found in Indigenous communities in Central and South America. On 20 September, Director Aric Chen welcomes Bolivian historian, anthropologist, Aymara leader and Bolivian Vice President David Choquehuanca to explain what vivir bien means. Francien van Westrenen is the moderator for an event exploring living well, in harmony with all life.

Bolivia and Ecuador are among the countries playing a pioneering role in granting (legal) rights to other-than-human life. They are at the forefront of the international movement to recognise the rights of Nature and the Earth – a movement that has inspired the development of the zoÃķp model at the institute.

From anthropocentric to Pacha-centric

‘Living well,’ the literal translation of vivir bien, also known as suma qamaÃąa, sumaq kawsay, or buen vivir, is a world view shared by many Indigenous peoples in the Andean region. In their philosophy, they make no distinction between humans and other beings or elements that are part of the living entity of Pacha (Mother Earth). All are worthy of respect and should live in harmony.

The principles of living well together are included in the constitution of Bolivia, so that the living whole of planet, people, non-humans, time and space forms the guideline for all laws and regulations. The agricultural system of the country is also organised according to these principles. Supporting a jointly maintained, more-than-human commons, this agricultural approach provides all life with nourishment.

Date: 20/09/2022

Time: 17:30 – 18:30

Location: Het Nieuwe Instituut, Museumpark 25, 3015 CB Rotterdam

Tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.nl/e/tickets-vivir-bien-and-harmony-with-nature-talk-by-david-choquehuanca-407388228157

Source: https://hetnieuweinstituut.nl/en/living-harmony-life

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05/09/2022 0
EF2022_PROGRAMME_A4_page-0001

Bolivia participates in the Festival of Embassies

On Friday, September 2, the Embassy of the Plurinational State of Bolivia in the Netherlands will open its doors for you to get to know a little of its culture with the ritual offering to the Pachamama.

And on Saturday, Bolivia will present three Afro-Bolivian dances by the group Bolivia Minka: La Saya, the Tundiqui and the Caporales.

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30/08/2022 0
Festival 2

Inside look at embassies in The Hague: unique look at buildings you would never see

DEN HAAG – Embassies. They are those buildings that you normally just walk or cycle past. There is a flag hanging outside and with a bit of geographical knowledge, you might be able to identify it. Otherwise, the embassies in The Hague are closed strongholds, except during the Embassy Festival. During the Tour on Friday, September 2, you can look inside several embassies. A unique opportunity, because normally these buildings are closed to the public. Omroep West got a sneak preview of the festivities at the embassies of Estonia, Azerbaijan and Bolivia. We were treated to song, dance and coffee.

What began in 2012 as a small party with seven participating countries has now grown into a two-day festival with a number of embassies holding open house on Friday – and for which you do have to buy a ticket – and on Saturday at the Lange Voorhout in The Hague several stages and over fifty participating embassies. The latter is accessible free of charge.

For the embassies, participating in the festival is a way to present their country to the public in a beautiful way. We received a warm welcome at the various embassies. Stately chandeliers, mirrors on the wall and art on the wall. There are similarities in the decoration of the embassies.

Watch a preview of the Embassy Festival Tour here:

At the same time, each country very much shows its individuality. At the Embassy of Azerbaijan, there are many rugs hanging and lying around. ‘The Azerbaijani rug has been part of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity on the UNESCO list since 2010,’ Sabine Sadigl, our friendly guide, tells us. She will be showing people around the property on the Andries Bickerweg on Friday. ‘There will be snacks and drinks and I will teach people a few dance steps.’

Singing, dancing and coffee

At the Estonian Embassy, the focus this year is on singing. Because singing in Estonia is more than just performing a song in one’s own language. The country has numerous song festivals. ‘Singing reminds us of the song revolution, with which the Baltic States regained our independence from the Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War,’ explains Marje Pihlak of the Estonian Embassy.

Before Estonia gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, it was forbidden to sing in Estonian. A commandment that caused a lot of resistance and a lot of Estonian singing. In the garden of the embassy three ladies in traditional costume perform an Estonian song.

The Bolivian ambassador promises to show a special ritual with coca leaves during the open house. It is a ceremony for Pachamama or Mother Earth. The coca bush is considered a sacred plant by many Bolivians and is called “cultural heritage” in the 2009 Constitution. In addition, coffee is served at Nassau Square, of course from Bolivia.

Local specialties

If you didn’t get your hands on a ticket for the tour on Friday, you can stroll past over fifty embassy stalls on Saturday. You can go from Palestine to Chile in one step. You go from stall to stall and can taste local specialties, such as Romanian cozonaci, Filipino biko, Azerbaijani dolma, Vietnamese bÃĄnh mÃŽ, Georgian khachapuri and Austrian kÞrbiskernÃķl.

At some of the stalls, the ambassadors in person are enthusiastically selling the snacks and drinks. The festival is also very popular among the expats who come to The Hague from all over the country for this reunion.

View the entire program of the Embassy Festival here: https://embassyfestival.com/programme/

Source: https://www.omroepwest.nl/nieuws/4617168/binnenkijken-bij-ambassades-in-den-haag-uniek-kijkje-in-gebouwen-waar-je-nooit-komt

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30/08/2022 0
ofrenda

The Bolivian Embassy opens its doors for the Festival of Embassies

This Friday, September 2, you can visit the Bolivian embassy and learn a little of their culture with the ritual offering to the Pachamama and visit some of Bolivia’s tourist sites such as the Uyuni salt flat, the waters of the Silala, the Chiquitanía or the Madidi Park.
The Bolivian ambassador, Roberto Calzadilla, will show a special ritual, a ceremony to Pachamama or Mother Earth. In addition to explaining the cultural importance of the coca leaf which is considered a sacred plant by many Bolivians and is called “cultural heritage” in the Bolivian constitution of 2009.
This festival started in 2012 as a small festival with seven participating countries, now it has become a two-day festival with several embassies holding open days on Fridays, and on Saturday at the Lange Voorhout in The Hague with stages and more than half a hundred participating embassies.

 

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30/08/2022 0