Poarta Secuiasca (Foto: Melinda Ligneres)
Date: 8/21/2009
Time: 8:00
This year's trip will be co-led by Princeton & Utrecht University students Theodor Brasoveanu and Cristina Apetrei, and is open to anyone committed to social justice, sustainable development and a clean environment. The plan is to have a small and cohesive group (~10 persons of college age) work on a focused, 1-week long volunteering project to improve the life of the inhabitants of Rosia Montana, Romania, by promoting cultural/ecological tourism and helping the locals market their traditions, as an alternative to an irresponsible strip-mining project initiated by a large Canadian company - with potential disastrous consequences for the region.
Participants are expected to cover their own travel & living expenses: round trip air- or train-fare to Romania + $250 travel & living costs for 8 days in Romania. We do expect to collaborate closely with several local NGOs.
Volunteer work may include marking hiking trails, convince regional tourism agents to invest in the area, encourage people to open bed & breakfasts, provide crash-courses in languages targeted at welcoming foreign tourists, make a movie clip to advertise the various opportunities for development. At the same time, students will be introduced to the various local traditions and the farmers' way of living and may choose to help their hosts on certain farming duties.
Here you can find some preliminary information. If you feel motivated & ready to help, we'd be happy to welcome you on our team!
* PBS documentary film: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/shows/romania
* Collaborating NGO Alburnus Maior NGO: http://rosiamontana.org/en/
* Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=106548536155
Contact: rssa[at]princeton[dot]edu
Date: 4/17/2009
Time: 8:30
Recent dramatic events in Moldova, undermining the country's chance to a democratic future, have called the attention of various students on the Princeton campus. We would like to publicly proclaim our solidarity with our persecuted brothers and call on everyone's help to raise awareness among their circle of friends and the University community.
1) A peaceful student protest is scheduled to take place on Friday, April 17th in front of the McCarter Theater on the Princeton campus at 8:30 am. Please join us with flags and other relevant props.
2) We have prepared a letter of protest and solidarity concerning the recent human rights violations in Moldova, addressed to UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon on the occasion of his upcoming visit to Princeton.
With kind regards,
The RSSA Board
Contact: rssa[at]princeton[dot]edu
URL: Click HERE for details about the visit of the UN Secretary to the Princeton campus.
Date: 4/9/2009
Time: 6:00
Professor Grigore Pop-Eleches (Department of Politics & Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs) will be this evening's special guest of the "Romanian Table". He will be offering his own perspective on the recent events in Moldova and comment on the prospects for a democratic future. We welcome anyone willing to take part in the discussion and dinner!
The weekly Romanian Table takes place every Thursday in Rockefeller Dining Hall, located in Madisson Hall, corner of Nassau & University Street: www.princeton.edu/~pumap/buildings/39.html
Contact: rssa[at]princeton[dot]edu
Date: 4/8/2009
Time: 8:00
An exciting group of jazz musicians will give a concert and a lecture on the Princeton University campus on Wednesday April 8. The project called "The Romanian-American Jazz Suite" is the fruit of a partnership between pianist Lucian Ban and soprano sax Sam Newsome, plus other gifted musicians who got together to present traditional Romanian music from a jazz perspective. The result is a particularly flavorful kind of musical fusion that transcends ordinary cultural boundaries.
The event will consist of an evening concert in Frist's Cafe Vivian at 8 pm, preceded by a workshop at 3 pm in the Music Department's McAlpin Auditorium on the influences of Romanian and Balkan music in jazz. Both events are FREE for the campus community members and their guests, thanks to our sponsors: Department of Music, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, Lewis Center for the Arts, Davis International Center, Frist Center Stage, USG and ODUS.
UPDATE: The concert is dedicated to fellow Romanians and Moldovans who currently suffer serious persecutions under the Communist regime in the Republic of Moldova.
Contact: rssa[at]princeton[dot]edu
Date: 3/2/2009
Time: 3:00
March 1st (Martisor in Romania /Martenitsa in Bulgaria) is a celebration of spring and renewal. People make red & white adorned bracelets or lucky charms, which they traditionally offer to their dear ones. Come and be part of this tradition, by designing your own lucky charm to offer or wear throughout the week. There will be a showcase of Romanian & Bulgarian craft-work, along with flavorful Eastern European food. Also, be prepared to join one of our horas (spinning circle dances). Total dizziness!
Time: Monday March 2nd from 3 to 6 pm
Location: Frist Campus Center, 1st floor gallery
Contact: rssa[at]princeton[dot]edu