Ukraine, a country which has intrigued me to no end… and it was they who were the primary target of Soviet propaganda since they were the biggest country, the biggest population outside of Russian territory to have to submit to the Soviet Union. Because of this fact, the USSR rightly saw them as the biggest threat and as such, tried to rob the people of their identity. For years Ukrainian art and Literature were destroyed in an attempt to wipe out their heritage… Thankfully, the Ukraine, through all its problems, today stands on its own two feet. It’s an enigmatic country much like its former northern rulers, and similarly with great potential, great mystery, deep pain as well as overwhelming beauty. For a long time it had been hidden in shadow, behind an iron curtain, under the Soviet fist and within its own insecurities. To the north and central region lies a very physical scar on the country, a very real stain if you will. Over a quarter of a century on from that day in April in 1986 and a large patch of land still lies predominantly vacant, save a few citizens on the outskirts who have no alternative but to stay and grind out a dangerous living. The nuclear effects of Chernobyl will live on for many more generations. Experts estimate that it will be some 20 000 years before the area at the core of the disaster will recover, to be liveable again… Deep within that desolate region known as the ‘Zone of alienation’ is the ghost city of Prypyat… - One commentator even went so far as to call it a Soviet Union time capsule. A year or two ago the Ukraine opened up sections of the area to tourists to learn about (and from) the disaster. From these images it’s easy to see why it spawned a Hollywood horror film (Chernobyl Diaries - click for the trailer). Sad though that LA got the rights for this film – if they’d wanted it done properly, it should have been placed in European hands, perhaps even a Ukraine/Russia collaboration (that would have been scary on so many levels, whilst also doing the story more justice). Prypyat, before '86: Sources: www.buzzfeed.com - 50 pictures of Chernobyl... www.thehuffingtonpost.com - Touring Chernobyl www.villageofjoy.com/chernobyl-today-a-creepy-story-told-in-pictures/
1 Comment
In the thorns and the cross-hairs: Liberation movements – strange thing about them – labelled outlaws, terrorists, revolutionaries, enemies of the state…. Ideals change, men change, so do politics and thence, perhaps most of all, people… people are the most fickle. “I choose God before man” – Rev. Beyers Naude People are complex, forever in a struggle to find out who we are, what we’re here for. And so now, in the modern quest for globalization – although it has been an idea for quite some time now, since the inception of colonialism – making the world one country, seeking integration, unity, solidarity, love and all that good stuff, in a world getting ever ‘smaller’ – are we not discarding ourselves? We constantly (without reward) seem to be seeking answers in each other. I made an earlier post about heritage, and remembering where we all came from; to not discard our past and to preserve our culture, yet this means to oppose the concept on globalization on some level. Of course a part of the concept of the global village is to accept each and all equally, flaws and imperfections included, and unite under the banner of humanity. However, as is very easy to surmise and gather when looking at the world today; things are becoming ever more superficial, run by capitalistic ideas and motives. Thankfully, certainly from my perspective, the larger portion of society is waking up to see that ideals are not as black and white as they assumed it was – there was never the simple ‘good guy bad guy’ complex in world politics – we were just led to side with certain nations over others, when in fact guilt can be laid equally on all sides. Propaganda. Humanity. Opinion. Belief. Strange hey? Although it is our differences that make us unique – through all the beauty – it is those same differences that has been the cause for so much conflict. Many would support the idea of maintaining traditions – the good ones at least – to retain some notes of cultures from all corners of the globe, for it is that which weaves such a colorful and diverse tapestry. As we move headlong and with gaining momentum into an uncertain future, we should always reflect, remember, pause and breathe new and perhaps better life into one of the few certainties of this life – our past. To briefly shed the complexities and distractions of today. I had such a moment a few weeks back while visiting Freedom Park in Pretoria. The center piece of the park is the wall of names (S'khumbuto - meaning, among other things "place of remembrance") with all those who died in the eight major conflicts that shaped the nation, with particular emphasis on honoring those who died in the name of peace, human rights and the freedom and liberation of South Africa. Those conflicts are:
In total, up until 1994, the nation of South Africa had been at war for over 500 years. However, it’s not just about recognizing those souls, but also laying them to rest. Something which should be mimicked in every country, in some way, is the concept of Isivivane (derived from the word “viva” – in this instance carrying the meaning of “commitment to solidarity”, “unity of purpose” and “coming together”) – the place of healing and rest. This is the symbolic burial ground for all those who died. Isivivane is crucial to Freedom park, built to enhance awareness and inspire commemoration. Arriving at the site, one is required to remove your shoes as a sign of respect. This was also the site where a host of religious leaders held ceremonies and rituals to lay to rest those fallen heroes. No matter your belief, it is hard not to be moved by this experience which is concluded (after receiving an in depth explanation as to the relevance and meaning of the surrounds) by washing your hands and face in a rock pool of fresh water. Everything here holds some meaning; even the type of trees planted, and the method for entering and exiting (through separate pathways). The actual burial ground – some would liken it to the tombstone of the site – is the ring of boulders. In addition to the two boulders denoting National government and the International community, there are 9 other boulders from the 9 provinces in South Africa, all with Historical significance. For example, the boulder from the Limpopo province is from a site once ruled by one of the earliest kingdoms on the sub-continent who traded gold with India and Egypt. The boulder from the Western Cape is from the Table Mountain range – one of the oldest mountains in the world. The biggest rock is from Mpumalanga province, a piece of green Verdite from the recorded 3.5 million year old Barberton Green-stone belt (yes, one side of the rock really does have a green hue to it). If you ever get the chance, I recommend visiting this rich place, to get away from our usual everyday ebb and flow. For those unable to visit the park, feel free to visit the website at Freedom Park.
An unconscious truth Is the past scary? It seems so because many of the peoples of today want to leave the past in the past… It’s all about the here and now, and of course what comes tomorrow. We live in equally depressing and exciting times; the technological age mixed in with global warming, mixed with the Olympics (yes that happened this year) and the recession BLAH BLAH… it all becomes noise after a while, the same ol’ stories, very much a la comedian Tommy Tiernan’s (@tomedian) classic take on the current debt crisis: Okay calm down, take a breath. What my current utterances actually refer to is “heritage” --- OH NO you di’nt --- yes I did, I said it, the “H” word. It’s one the youths of today scoff at, with a wave of the hand, squinting at you “you mean like, Nelson Mandela? - Or tribesman, right? The bush people… no boet, isn’t that something for Heritage day?” – That one public holiday in the year, and most don’t know what it actually means, it’s true significance anyway. And yet we practice it everyday, heritage that is. I suppose most would have expected me to post this closer to that day (24 Sep – for those keeping score) but that would contradict what I’ve just mentioned. Anyway… imagine this; cast your mind to a world minus all that came before us. Imagine each generation went about tearing down whatever the generations before them had created. Where would we be? – most pertinent to that though is; who would we be? The concept of culture would be dead. The word would be foreign to our ears, and since language itself is something we carry from generations past, would we not be communicating in strange, rudimentary and different ways: clicks and sign language, each person with his own take on it… --- Quote: --- The History Boys (2006, IMDB) "Tom Irwin: Um, Rudge... Mrs. Lintott: Now. How do you define history Mr. Rudge? Rudge: Can I speak freely, Miss? Without being hit? Mrs. Lintott: I will protect you. Rudge: How do I define history? It's just one f****n' thing after another. [raucous laughter from the other students, but the interview board is appalled]" I imagine quite a confusing world. Or perhaps just a basic one. And so, we need what came before, because without it, we’d be nowhere nice, transported back to mumbling cavemen – Neanderthals. And yet, even in our evolution and progression, we never cease to find ways to complicate our lives more and more… what a strange bunch we are. However, stepping away from your generic and immediate associations with the term heritage, let’s take a quick look at heritage on a grand human scale; Globalization, which could very well be counterproductive in the quest to preserve our heritage, has yielded UNESCO – and thence… world heritage sites. Here, take a look; can you imagine a world without them? And yes, though many are natural wonders, provided by mother earth herself, we humans do just so happen to have an uncanny knack for destroying things, don’t we? This: just to make you think a little harder, especially on a Monday… We forged new ways, continue to invent new things, because we are pioneers, searchers, adventurers... it's part of who we are - but so is our past, even if we're not always aware of it. All photos from National Geographic. Visit the site to see all the other interesting and beautiful World Heritage sites!
|
[Banner illustration by Joel Kanar]
WRITING
|