Vizita cuplului princiar in Marea Britanie

Luni 22 iunie, Londra.

Principesa Margareta impreuna cu Princepele Radu au inceput o vizita de doua zile si jumatate la Londra. Ocazie este data de vizita la Regina Elisabeta a II a Marii Britanii cit si intilnirilor cu membrii comunitatii romanesti si de afaceri din capitala britanica. Principele Radu fost invitat sa vorbeasca membrilor Asociatiei Romanian Business Club UK ( www.rbcuk.info/ )in data de 22 iunie 2009, unde a prezentat repere din gindirea sa politica, in perspectiva alegerilor prezidentiale din toamna.


In fata unui numar de reprezentanti ai organizatiei, tineri si influenti oameni de afaceri si specialisti in finante ocupând posturi de importanta in viata economica a Londrei, a prezentat proiectul de asezare a Institutiei Presedintelui României pe temeiul constitutional actual si proiectele pe care le are in vedere pentru ca acest lucru sa se intâmple, solid si durabil. Primele 100 de zile de Presedintie ar trebui sa cuprinda:
- organizarea Institutiei Presedintelui, cu sapte Departamente organizate in sensul dat de Constitutia României profilului de lucru al Presedintelui;
- inceperea proiectului de consolidare a profesionalismului in societatea româneasca, prin incurajarea si intarirea comunitatilor locale si cultivarea influentei benefice in societate a competentei din diferitele profesii;
- organizarea competenta si in conditii de excelenta a reprezentarii statale a României pe 5 ani, in Europa si in lume;
- sprijinirea directa si permanenta a milionelor de români care au resedinta temporara sau definitiva in afara României, in granitele Uniunii Europene.

Vizita a continuat la Parlamentul britanic si la Casa Lorzilor. In acelasi timp, Principesa Margareta a intâlnit un grup de personalitati britanice sustinatoare ale proiectelor Trustului Principesa Margareta a României din Marea Britanie.

La sfârsitul zilei, la sediul organizatiei Royal Overseas League, Principesa Margareta si Principele Radu , insotiti de ES dl Alexander Phillips Nixon au intâlnit un grup de oameni de cultura si afaceri britanici si români.

Profilul independent pe care Principele Radu l-a expus in legatura cu implicarea in viata politica a Romaniei a dezvaluit intentiile principiale de a se preocupa de problemele majore care framinta comunitatea romaneasca de acasa si de pretutindeni: profesionalizarea sistemului administrativ in paralel cu cel politic, dezvoltarea infrastructurii, problema rromilor, problema Basarabiei, problemele diasporei si nu in ultimul rind coruptia.

Ionela Flood

Patrimoniul cultural evreiesc din Romania

10 Iunie 2009, Londra




Patrimoniul cultural evreiesc din Romania, un eveniment unic si complex a fost oferit publicului, pe data de 10 iunie 2009 de catre Institutul Cultural Roman Londra, in parteneriat cu Mihai Eminescu Trust (MET) si cu sprijinul Fundatiei Spiro Ark din Londra.

Evenimentul a fost dedicat patrimoniului cultural evreiesc din Romania: Sinagogi din Romania, o expozitie de fotografii ale sinagogilor din sudul Transilvaniei, insotita de prezentari de Andrei Oisteanu, Julie Dawson si Letitia Cosnean, si de un concert live de muzica klezmer sustinut de ansamblul Kosmos.

Audienta numeroasa s-a aplecat cu interes asupra documentelor si imaginilor expuse in expozitia lui Christian Binder (http://www.pbase.com/binderch/synagogues), curator Julie Dawson. Multi au revazut piese arhitecturale ale copilariei petrecute in Romania, altii au intract in contact cu realitatea unui patrimoniu ramas in urma emigrarii in masa a poporului evreu din Romania.

Letitia Cosnean, architect al organizatiei MET in Sighisoara a prezentat procesul de restaurare a Sinagogii din Medias , proiect extrem de generos care doreste transformarea acesteia intr-un muzeu interactiv.

Andrei Oisteanu, istoric si antropolog roman avind domeniile predilecte de studiu etnologia, antropologia culturala, istoria religiilor si a mentalitatilor a prezentat "Imaginea evreului in cultura romana, studiu de imagologie in context est-central european" ce constuituie primul studiu complet al modului in care evreii sunt reprezentati in mentalitatea si folclorul romanesti. Evenimentul a oferit deasemenea ocazia lansarii cartii Inventig the Jew. In paginile acesteia , Andrei Oisteanu urmareste evolutia stereotipurilor evreilor de la nivelul traditional romanesc si al altor culturi est-europene (legende, povesti, balade, colinde, anecdote, superstitii si reprezentari iconografice) pina la cultura mai "inalta" (literatura, eseu, articole din presa, literatura social politica) aratind cum motive ale "antisemitismului folkloric" au migrat in "antisemitismul intelectual".
Perspectiva comparativa subliniaza deasemenea cum imaginea evreilor difera de cea a altor "straini" cum ar fii maghiari, germani, rroma, turci, armeni si greci.
Diferenta de conceptie dintre "evreul imaginar" si "evreul real" este o distanta culturala care difera in timp si sptiu, aici fiind vazuta prim lupa antropologiei culturale. Stereotipul "evreului generic" nu este in mod exclusiv negativ si descrie portrete profesionale si fizice , morale si intelectuale, magice sau mitologice,sau imagini religioase. Andrei Oisteanu este profesor la Institutul de Istorie a Religiilor din Bucuresti si profesor asociat al Centrului de studii evreiesti din Universitatea Bucuresti.

Seara s-a incheiat cu un recital al ansamblului Kosmos , care propune o muzica originala lasand spatiu improvizatiei, combinind muzica clasica occidentala cu cea est europeana, tiganeasca, balcanica, klezmer si tango cu influente contemporane.


Ionela Flood
http://ionelaflood.blogspot.com

Results of 2009 European elections in the UK & Romania

Piersic a inflorit la Londra

6 iunie, Londra

Piersic a inflorit la Londra

5 Iunie 2009 a fost o seara de suflet la ICR Londra. Invitat al Ambasadei Romaniei la Londra, Florin Piersic soseste dupa o introducere scurta dar inspirata a Excelentei Sale Dl. Ambasador Ion Jinga. Domnia Sa a trecut in revista sirul lung de creatii in care actorul a dat viata unor caractere si personaje devenite modele de viata si istorie pentru multi dintre noi.



Sfirsitul de saptamina ne-a gasit pe multi dintre noi pregatiti de aceasta intilnire ,lasand in urma birourile si oboseala zilei, pregatiti pentru un show regal. Seara a inceput cu emotie de ambele parti ale scenei. Publicul pe de-o parte, frematind in asteptarea unui simbol al filmului si teatrului romanesc , iar Piersic, emotionat pentru aceasta reintilnire intima cu publicului romanesc londonez.
Timp de o ora ne-am destins cu umorul asezat si spumos al glumelor si bancurilor revarsate parca pentru fiecare dintre noi.
Seara si-a depanat apoi evocarile unor clipe de neuitat , petrecute in preajma marilor Maestri ai scenei romanesti . Chiar daca intimplarile s-au petrecut acum 10 sau 50 de ani , prospetimea prezentei si a intelepciunii lor ne-a cucerit cu fiecare nume: Calboreanu, Tanase, Caragiu, Pelea, Radulescu, Nichita, Sorescu, Calinescu. Memoria acestor mari actori a fost evocata cu o dragoste care trece dincolo de moarte ,in eternitate, daruindu-ne in acelasi timp de acolo pilde de prietenie, profesionalism si daruire. Seara ar fii putut incepe din nou daca timpul ar fii permis sa trecem in revista si selectia de filme in care zecile de personaje ne-au cucerit de-alungul vremii , dar am lasat acest rasfat al amintirii pentru alta data .

Cu fiecare poezie daruita audientei , fie ca a fost vorba de Pribeagu, Nichita , sau Paunescu , audienta si-a regasit cu emotie legatura cu sine, cu limba stramoseasca, prietenii , familia si dorul de tara. In acest punct Piersic ne-a revendicat ca fiind ai lui si are dreptate caci stim ca se va intoarce la noi, pentru a gusta impreuna din fructele coapte ale lui Piersic.

Ionela Flood
www.romanca.co.uk

Elemente de multiculturalism si interculturalism

Multilingvismul: o politica pentru unitatea cetatenilor europeni

Scris de Ionela Flood, Londra
Sâmbătă, 23 Mai 2009 04:47
Publicat in www.zonainterzisa.ro

Scoala Londoneza de Economie a prezentat marti 19 mai prelegerea sustinuta de Leonard Orban, Comisar European pentru Multilingvism, eveniment organizat in seria de lecturi realizate in parteneriat cu Fundatia Culturala Europeana. Multilingvism: o politica pentru unitatea cetatenilor europeni a fost titlul acestei prezentari a strategiei europene in acest domeniu.

Dezvoltarea acestei strategii a pornit de la analiza aspectelor culturale de integrare ale cetatenilor europenilor precum si cele de de competitivitate , educatie si de diversitate culturala.

Politica europeana pentru Multilingvism face referire la conditiile schimbatoare ale pietei fortei de munca la nivel global, european si regional, precum si la criteriile din domeniile serviciilor, drepturilor omului, solidaritatii , comunitatii si culturii.

Oportunitatea oferita de Anul european al creativitatii si inovarii 2009, aduce in actualitate posibilitatea dezvoltarii potentialului cetatenilor europeni prin 2 platforme ce vor fii lansate in acest an: dialogul intercultural si suport pentru sectorul de afaceri.

''Limbajul se constituie intr-o punte intre oameni si culturi si poate imbogatii schimbarile din viata cotidiana '' este mesajul pe care Comisarul European l-a lansat cu acesta ocazie.

Evenimentul a beneficiat de prezenta a numeroase personalitati din mediul academic si politic, generind o dezbatere pe tema prezentata in special in legatura cu fondurile disponibile pentru implementarea acestor platforme europene, dinamica competitivitatii din afaceri si a diversitatii lingvistice.

Ambasada Romaniei la Londra a oferit o receptiei in cadrul evenimentului la care au fost prezenti: dl Ambasador Ioan Jinga, membri ai Ambasadei Romaniei la Londra alaturi de un public numeros.

Cu aceasta ocazie Leonard Orban a reintilnit membri ai comunitatii romanesti de la Londra si a transmis mesajele de unitate in diversitate si promovare a valorilor culturale.

Societatea Romanca invitata in House of Commons din Marea Britanie

Scris de Ionela Flood, Marea Britanie
Joi, 26 Februarie 2009
publicat in www.zonainterzisa.ro


Societatea Romanca din Londra - Marea Britanie, a fost invitata recent sa ia parte intr-un proiect al carui scop este acela de a constientiza opinia publica asupra comunitatilor etnice mai putin vizibile in Marea Britanie. Aceasta participare in panelul de discutii a oferit un prilej potrivit pentru a atentiona din nou asupra efectelor negative generate in comunitatea romanesca de mentinerea restrictiilor pentru dreptul de munca al romanilor in Marea Britanie.

Proiectul "Studiul Comunitatii" a fost organizat de catre Runnymede Trust (www.runnymedetrust.org) pornind de la studiile de cercetare conduse in mod specific pentru fiecare dintre comunitatile etnice minoritare invitate sa participe la eveniment. In aceasta intilnire au fost invitati reprezentanti ai comunitatilor marocane, filipineze, nepaleze si tailandeze carora s-a alaturat si cea romaneasca.

Studiul de cercetare a fost pregatit de Andreea Torre , doctorand la London School of Economics, si e publicat pe:

http://www.runnymedetrust.org/uploads/file/LivingTransnationally-2008.pdf

Acest studiu isi concentreaza atentia pe migratia recenta a romanilor in Marea Britanie, de aceea concluziile studiului satisfac partial descifrarea mecanizmelor migratiei romanesti in Marea Britanie.

Comentariul din partea comunitatii romanesti a fost sustinut de catre Ionela Flood, Presedinta Societatii Romanca.

Parlamentarul britanic Meg Hillier, Deputat in Hackney, a prezidat aceasta intilnire ce a avut loc pe data de 10 February, 5-7pm in House of Common, Londra.


Au fost invitati in special politicieni, factorii de decizie, functionari publici la nivel local si national, organizatii reprezentative si cercetatori, presa.

Scopul principal al intilnirii a fost acela de a atrage atentia asupra modului prin care cele 200 de etnii din Marea Britanie interactioneza in diversitatea etnica, si cum in acest proces de schimbare este necesar a se recunoaste cresterea diversitatii dintre si in interiorul fiecarei minoritati etnice.

Aceasta diversitate este in sine complexa , nu numai in termenii multimii de identitati , dar deasemenea si in termenii experientei si traiectoriei.

Ca urmare factorii de influenta ai migratiei si ai integrarii in societatre multicultural britanica sunt complexi si pot diferi de la loc la loc, de la grup la grup si de la individ la individ.

In concluzie sunt necesare de urgenta o legislatie si o politica activa pentru a intelege practica si complexitatatea factorilor care influenteaza migratia.

Aceasta participare in panelul de discutii a oferit un prilej potrivit pentru a atentiona din nou asupra efectelor negative generate in comunitatea romanesca de mentinerea restrictiilor pentru dreptul de munca al romanilor in Marea Britanie.

Ionela Flood

Community Studies-Living Transnationally

by Ionela Flood, 12 February 2009, London
Publish in www.romanca.co.uk


Romanca Society was invited to take part in a project aiming to rise awareness about the hidden communities in the UK .


The project was organised by Runnymede Trust ( www.runnymedetrust.org)with a starting point on specific academic research on each community.
The study for Romanian community was prepared by Andreea Torre's and published on http://www.runnymedetrust.org/uploads/file/LivingTransnationally-2008.pdf
Andreea Torre study was focusing in the most recent Romanian migration into UK, using a qualitative method.

Meg Hillier, MP for Hackney, chaired this event, taking place on 10 February, 5-7pm in the House of Common, London,UK.
The communities introduced in the seminar are chosen from over 200 ethnic minorities living in the multicultural British society. In this specific meeting were invited to take part Romanian, Moroccan, Thai, Nepalese and South African.

The audience consisted mainly of politicians and policy makers (national as well as local), civil servants, police, community organisation representatives and researchers. The main aim was to draw attention to the ways in which ethnic diversity in Britain is changing, and that a range of government policy agendas need to recognise the increasing diversity between and within minority ethnic groups. This diversity is in itself complex, not only in terms of a myriad of identities, but also in terms of experiences and trajectories. As a result, the the factors that influence migrants’ and BME socio-economic integration are composite and can differ from place to place, from group to group and from individual to individual. It follows, then, that there is an urgent need for policymakers and practitioners to better understand the complexity of factors that influence integration.

We had the chance to draw attention to the negative effects of work restrictions that are maintained this year for Romanians in UK.

I would like to give my thanks you to all that have supported this project and make it a success: Anreea Torre , Kjartan Sveinsson, Carmen Podgorean, Cristina Narcisa Nita,Bogdan Carpa Veche,Daniela Raileanu,Inno Brezeanu, Cristina Irimie, Istrate Marcel and to all our members of society that has inspired me.





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You can see the notes for the speech below:

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Ladies and Gentlemen,

Members of the House,

Dear Speakers and Guests,


I would like to express my thanks for being invited to speak on behalf of the Romanian community in the United Kingdom. We are just one of over 200 ethnic minorities currently living in the UK.

From the beginning, it is essential to note that historically, culturally and spiritually, Romania has always been part of the European family. As a result, Romanian citizens have been able to integrate into other European countries, and become a less visible ethnic community. Moreover, our Latin linguistic roots help us learn to speak English more easily.

The migration study, Living Transnationally that Andreea Torre presented at the beginning of the discussion focuses only on the recent aspects of the Romanian migration into the UK, but many of our ancestors have their gravestones in Hadrian’s Wall from the Roman invasion of Great Britain. Other traces of our forbears can be seen in the Column of Trajan, in Rome, as a testimony to their contribution to the wealth of the Roman Empire.

To see the whole picture of the last 2000 years of history, I have added a few geographic and historical notes of my own.

From being conquered by the Romans in 106 AD, Romania has gone through a long process of political maturity and finally gained its independence in 1877.

The last 100 years has taken Romania from a monarchy with King Carol the 1st of the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen to a pernicious communist regime that started in 1947 and ended with a popular revolution against Ceausescu in 1989 - and that would lead to the democratic government of the present day.

From the 1st January 2007 Romania has been one of the 27 countries that are part of EU. We are a country in the heart of new Europe.

On 18th of December 2008, the British authorities communicated the decision to maintain the restrictions applied to the Romanian and Bulgarian labour force on Great Britain’s labour market.
The access of skilled and highly-skilled Romanian and Bulgarian workers will be permitted only with the fulfilment of the criteria imposed by British regulations. The low-skilled workers will be granted access on the labour market only if they obtain work permits under the seasonal agricultural workers scheme (SAWS) or the sector-based scheme (SBS) for food processing. For 2009, the authorities have decided to supplement by 5000 the places for Bulgarians and Romanians admitted to work in agriculture (from 16,250 places to 21,250) and approved a quota of 3,500 places for the sector-based scheme for food processing.
It is estimated that some 10% of the Romanian population (around 2 million) currently work outside the country, the bulk of this migration occurring in the early part of this decade. Already, there are signs that this migration has a cyclical outlook. Some Romanians are coming back after having worked for a couple of years abroad. Others take only seasonal employment abroad.

For cultural, linguistic and community reasons, Romanian migrants have overwhelmingly preferred Mediterranean or geographically close countries – Italy (29%), Spain (22%) and Germany (13%) – to other parts of Europe. There have also been some outflows to North America. A Report by the European Commission on Immigration, released on the 18th November 2008, shows that the UK is the preferred destination for Polish, Slovak and Lithunian citizens, whilst Romanians have mostly chosen Spain and Italy.

For cultural, historic and geographical reasons, the UK is not, nor has it ever been, a primary migration destination for Romanians. This view is supported by a recent International Organisation for Migration (IOM) survey in Bulgaria and Romania which found that only 5 per cent of the Romanian population surveyed would consider working in the UK.

The issue of restricted freedom of movement of labour has gained disproportionate weight in the public conscience, casting a shadow over an otherwise excellent relationship between Romania and the UK.

Romanian citizens, including those that settled in the UK a long time ago and fully integrated into British society, are unhappy about the restrictions and displeased by the idea of different treatment compared to the one applied to A-8 nationals.

Every responsible nation gathers up and promotes its values from fields such as science, education, and culture. Currently, there are 2,500 Romanian students in the UK, joined by an impressive number of researchers, professors, doctors, artists and architects. A significant number of Romanian nationals are bringing their direct contribution to the good functioning of the public services in the UK. There are almost 600 Romanian doctors and nurses working in the British national healthcare system.


However, it is disappointing to see that most of the media coverage of the Romanian community is of a less positive nature. Romanians in the UK overwhelmingly tend to be young: more than 70% are aged 18 – 35. This demographic is generally recognised as making minor demands on health and education services.

The employment rate among the Romanians in the UK is of 94%, which is more than 10% higher than the employment rate among the A-8 workers, and around 20% higher than the employment rate among the British nationals. An overwhelming majority of the Romanian nationals have paid taxes and social contributions in the UK whereas an insignificant number have claimed any support from the UK public system. Restricting the access to the labour market may drive some Romanians into the ‘grey’ economy with negative consequences as the Andreea Torre study concludes.

The Romanian community in the UK has already organised itself around local churches of various religious persuasions: Christian Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and Baptists. Also, there are several Romanian associations working for the preservation of Romanian customs and traditions, just like our own organisation, together with a series of Romanian language newspapers.

Romania’s accession to the EU in January 2007 has benefits for both Romanian and British citizens, encouraging both cultural and economic exchanges.

There are over 3,000 British companies currently operating in Romania, with investment that total over 4 billion Euros.

Thus we the Romanca Society, strongly encourage the UK to support the successful integration of our nationals who have settled in the UK, in order that they may play a full part in the multicultural British society.



Ionela Flood,

Romanca Society
www.romanca.co.uk

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Free movement of Romanian workers in the UK after 1 January 2007

Open Letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair 15 October 2006

Dear Prime Minister Tony Blair,

Free movement of Romanian workers in the UK after 1 January 2007

The Romanian community in the UK welcomes the consistent support that you and your Government have granted to Romania’s preparations for accession to the EU. We urge you to continue to follow your policies and beliefs and take the decision to open UK’s labour market to Romanian citizens once Romania becomes full member of the EU in January 2007.

We are writing to you on behalf of thousands of taxpayers of Romanian origin, who have contributed to the astounding economic success that Britain has experienced under your leadership. Moreover, the members of our community have always taken an active role in the development of the British-Romanian economic, political and social links and they will continue to consolidate these links in the future.
We are deeply concerned about the denigrating campaign of the past weeks in the British media that does significant harm to the true image of Romania. The numbers of Romanians who intend to come to work in the UK after 1 January 2007 have been highly exaggerated. After all, Romania has a booming economy and is already experiencing a shortage of labour. These trends, coupled with the economic incentives that will be created by EU entry and structural funds, are conducive to job creation and higher salaries. Consequently, the incentives for Romanians to work abroad will be significantly diminished.

We believe that our arguments in favour of opening up the British labour market to Romanians deserve consideration. Firstly, we believe that allowing free movement of Romanian workers into the UK will contribute to economic growth in both countries. Secondly, this decision will prevent and drastically reduce incentives for illegal labour and exploitation. And last but not least, it will further enrich the relationship between Romania and Great Britain as NATO allies and EU partners.

It is a fact that the growing British economy needs an inflow of labour to cover a variety of sectors in the labour market. Studies have already proven the positive effect of the influx of workers from A8 countries to the British economy. The same studies have downplayed the alleged negative effects of Romanian immigrants on the British social welfare system. According to the British law, workers coming from the A2 countries would not be entitled to social benefits after 1 January 2007. Moreover, the typical Romanian immigrant is mainly young and single, therefore, it is unlikely that he/she would overburden the UK education and health system - as it has been alleged.

As you recently stated in the opening of the TUC conference the immigrants from the A8 countries ‘have helped and not been burden’. We strongly believe that this will remain true if Romanians gain access to the UK labour market after they join the EU.
In the light of these arguments, we urge you once more to grant Romanians free access to the British labour market beginning with 1 January 2007 and thus, give us the chance to contribute to the cultural richness and diversity of Great Britain, whom we respect and take as an example.

Yours faithfully,


Mrs. Ionela Flood
Romanca Society
www.romanca.co.uk

Mrs. Anne-Marie Visoianu
Romanian Christian Orthodox Parish ‘St. Makarios the Great’

Mr. Victor Craciun
Liga Culturala pentru Unitatea Romanilor de Pretutindeni

Mrs. Simona Tatulescu-Cighir
Mr. Corneliu Tatulescu-Cighir
London Resources Ltd(Romanian Community Business Growth Link)

Mr. Adrian Cherciu
Romani Online Ltd - www.Romani-Online.co.uk

Mr. Razvan Novacovschi
Oxford Romanian Cultural Society

Dr. Tudor Toma
Societatea medicala Romana din UK

Mrs. Anne Marie Martin
Bel Management Ltd.

Mrs. Cristina Irimie,
Mr. Inno Brezeanu,
Romani in UK – “ Roman in UK “ publication, www.romani.co.uk

Mrs Sorana Parvulescu
Romanian LSE SU Society

Mr. Daniel Furculesteanu
Romani in UK
Olympia Handball Club
The Romanian Students' Society - University of Westminster

Mrs. Anda Anastasescu
LONDON SCHUBERT PLAYERS TRUST

Mr. Serban Cantacuzino
Pro Patrimonio

ARHIVA

BUN VENIT!

Preocuparile mele pentru domeniul dezvoltarii comunitatii s-au dezvoltat trecind prin administratie locala, educatie , management de proiect, managementului cultural si o munca voluntara in proiecte diverse.

Daca sunteti pasionati de aceleasi domenii imi face placere sa impartasesc aceste opinii cu Dvs. Sper ca acest demers sa fie constructiv si reciproc.

Astept parerile si contributiile Dvs.

Ionela Flood