Hemispheres

For two days, 20 "Hemispheres" participants, the southern and the northern partners gathered to assess the first year of the program. If you want to know more about the exchanges, read the report ...1st_seminar_._the_report.pdf

Among the Hemispheres participants, some are artists and some are not supposed to be but nevertheless they have some skills on this huge field! Here you will find the production of one of them: Aurelija Ganusauskaitė from the first session of Hemispheres focused on the access to the land and food sovereignty. The exact title was: What makes your car move? When maize doesn't feed men but cars.

This video is an overview of what the participants thought about the training-action. And the apple you will see was a kind of “mascot” of this session!

Nine months ago, the Hemispheres training program was starting, gathering people from 7 european countries for 3 weeks of work together around a major issue of our time. What was expected, I guess, is that this dynamic exchange would last longer than these 3 weeks in Paris and, indeed, above all our main activities taking us so much time when back in our countries, we could keep an eye on the majority of us, following the different projects realised accross Europe, exchanging ideas, support of all kind, care, Love... You can imagine how happy I am to come back to the FIAP and see again some of my Brothers and Sisters, gathered in Paris another time to improve our work process.

Few days ago, exchange was still there. But this time, it brought me hard news. I learned that we will never get all together again, because one of us is gone. An Angel is gone.

On my side, I try to learn Life more and more. What I already know is that we cannot physically live eternaly, and we have to learn how to accept it. Not an easy thing... And because of that, we need to support each other. I guess the others will join me if I say that my thoughts are going to this Angel, Marina, to Sofia, who will be at her funeral, and to all of the close family. Let us join and bring them our support in this difficult moment.

But Life goes on and I couldn't finish this thoughts without speaking to you directly, Marina, because I know that your Spirit didn't just disappear. Nothing disappear, things just transform. You are with God now, and for that, i know that you are everywhere, starting with the depth of our Hearts.

So many times, you were worrying about us, just like a mother and her children. For that, some of us call you Mamarina. Now that you can have an eye on each of us, i am sure that you are in Peace. I know that you will stay by our side because we all understood one thing during our 3 weeks : We are Stronger when Together !

This is your Fucking Gandhi speaking, Rest in Peace Marina !

Jah bless

Law

Never, in all my life have i eaten so much rice. The fiap food leaves much to be desired. Why do restauraunts in Paris actually provide you with a microwave to heat up your cold food? I have never heard of this before. The fiap is not the only place i have encountered such a joke. This has bothered me, and seeing as we serve ourselfs then what are we paying for?

Its not all bad in Paris but i had expectations of a certain standard of food that was not fulfilled. Maybe i have to come back again to find this cousine capital of the western world, there are some nice cafes and little bars not far from the fiap to just go and relax but again not much by way of good food. i cant wait to eat somthing hot and fresh...

I cant wait to cook for my self.

What do you find important in the Hemispheres Program ?

I find very interesting to articulate theoric and practical sides of the issues of international solidarity. It’s very important to treat the realities of South through the look of grass roots activists, to deal with the causes and to be able to ask the specifics questions of the role of Medias.

You spoke about Southern countries realities, what is your vision on this topic?

The South situation is still strongly hurt by the relationships of international and local inequalities with a politic of huge domination against many populations from people having the power, which actually rimed with people having money. We can also see a reality of human hope in Southern Countries where citizens and people are struggling against this established order they haven’t chosen and where they have no voice. There is more actions in the South cause it’s a question of survival: they have to fight all days to be able to eat tomorrow, that’s why they are more involved in local citizen life.

Do you find this Hemispheres Program relevant?

This “training” opens a lot of doors about ways of acting aiming at sensitive and educate to the international solidarity. It’s like an experience tool box in which I could pick up for the realisation of actions I’ll implement in the international solidarity networks I take part. This project is all the more relevant cause participants come from all over Europe and so we are confronted to cultural and language differences. So many walls we have to accept and to go round to work together for the International Solidarity, from South to North and form East to West.

1 What is the most important thing that you kept in mind over the project?

M.S.T and the issue of agrarian reform in brazil.

2 What would your advice be to future participants of the hemispheres project?

Dont take it to serious and keep an open mind.

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Whats the most important thing you have kept in mind since the start?

The most important thing which I have keep in mind since the beginning of the training, inspired by Nunu and Cassia is that there is hope for humanity.

How do you think your project is going to change your community?

Because I am making a comic about my community Idon't think that the information will be new to that immediate community. However Ihope that the sider community, of Dublin and Ireland, will find it an interesting alternative perspective, on an issue they may know someting about but not a whole lot.
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Tadas Capanauskas +37067036011, email = tadascapanauskas@yahoo.com working hours: 00:00 24:00

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU KEEP IN MIND SINCE THE BEGINNING?

LUKE : The most important thing I have learnt from the beginning was what really happens when the media disguises the truth such as the MST.

ADIL: Je suis venu à la formation parce que je voulais découvrir plus sur ce qui se passe dans le monde. Bien entendu j'ai appris énormément de choses et le plus important que j'ai appris ici est une nouvelle énergie et une nouvelle méthodologie. Notamment grâce aux interventions de Nunu et Cassia, j'ai pris conscience que pour mener à bien certain projet, il était nécessaire de faire preuve de beaucoup de volonté et de force.

ADIL : ARE YOU HAPPY TO COME TO PARIS?

LUKE: Other than the going to see the Ireland vs France live in the stadium football match and being highly expensive yes, I'm happy. I met great people and one Terrorist, Karim. I discovered 666 with Tadas and learned many things but hopefully I'll be on the radio this week. Thanks to Basketball Henry, Ireland stays home cleaning the dishes.

LUKE: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT KARIM?

ADIL: I don’t understand every time this reaction in class because often he talks about an other thing. He's an activist member of the 666's group. he eats too much kebabs. More seriously it’s one very nice man: interesting, funny, living, very good drawer. He likes share and tells jokes.

ADIL: WOULD YOU DO THE HEMISPHERES PROJECT AGAIN?

LUKE: My answer is 50/50. I would love to do it again because it opened my eyes but then again I wouldn’t because it’s too intense.

Isabella: What is most inportant thing you keep in mind since the beginning?

Aleks: I'm trying to notice diversity of values and understand them. What makes people to change them and how? Where is line between different values and cooperation?

Isabella: What is the meening of "cooperation" for you?

Aleks:Cooperation needs shearing of some values, respect and tolerance between cooperators. There should be similar target for the activity, vision and plan to reach the result.