Merry Wanderer of the Night [Search results for Cyprus] 

Currently the stables and part of the grounds of the Abbey are rented to a private person who runs a restaurant and holds large weddings and receptions within the grounds of the Abbey that continue late at night. This has been ongoing in excess of 20 years and it has not been duly regulated by the authorities.

There have been alterations and extensions to the historic buildings, which compromised the aesthetic and physical integrity of the historic look of the Abbey.

Currently the proprietor of the said restaurant is in the process of building a sewerage treatment plant approximately 15 meters away from the foundations of the Abbey, which is already precariously positioned.

There is visible erosion caused by weather conditions over the centuries and the Abbey itself has not had any restoration.

A huge crack has appeared on the western wall right above where the proprietor of the restaurant placed a generator. The supporting wall around the foundations collapsed in places. The other walls are also visibly in urgent need of repair.

A conscientious group of citizens has set up a Facebook group for raising awareness of this unacceptable use and neglect of Cyprus' national heritage by both the authorities and the proprietor of the restaurant.

The group has also set up an online petition (in Turkish) to submit to the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) parliament calling for the removal of the sewerage plant and to investigate the terms and conditions via which the lease has been granted.

Author: Fatma Kaya | Source: Balabayis'a Aritma Tesisi Yapilamaz [January 12, 2015]

Invited guests, Archbishop of Thyateira Gregorios and Great Britain, Baroness Maddock,  Lord Luce,  and Lord Turnberg were among a few of the many guests welcomed by Baroness Berridge.  Before a packed room she opened the presentation speaking about the link between religious freedoms and the destruction of cultural heritage.

Sponsor and co-coordinator Tasoula Hadjitofi presented two 12th century looted frescoes taken from the Monastery of Aspinthiotissa in the occupied area of Cyprus, Kyrenia which she repatriated on behalf of Walk of Truth. She spoke about the loss of freedom, identity and human indignity that occurs with war and destruction of cultural heritage.

Mrs. Hadjitofi stressed the importance of engaging global citizens in lending their support to create a world of Peace. From refugee to protector of cultural heritage she engaged the audience on the importance of unity in combating the mass destruction of cultural heritage taking place in Syria, Iraq and Cyprus.

Prof. Dr. Willy Bruggeman, Chairman of the Belgian Federal Police Council, and former Deputy Director of Europol spoke of the need to make destruction of cultural heritage as a crime against humanity.

Baron Serge Brammertz, Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia said, “It is imperative for international criminal tribunals to include destruction of cultural and religious heritage into their overall investigative strategies.

Professor Norman Palmer, a barrister practicing at 3 Stone Buildings, Lincoln’s Inn, London and a visiting professor of law at King’s College, spoke for the need for a sound legal approach should be complemented with diplomatic and other initiatives that help  us to restitute unlawfully removed cultural treasures.

The MP David Burrows, summarized the key points in a brilliant way and he and the Baroness will bring the findings to the House of Parliament and The House of Lords.

Author: Tasoula Hadjitofi | Source: Walk of Truth [December 17, 2014]

“The artifacts were discovered hidden in cheap vases during an inspection of a shipping container from Alexandria, Egypt, at the Port of Valencia on Spain’s Mediterranean coast,” said Director-General of Guardia Civil Arsenio Fernandez de Mesa.

The ancient Egyptian artifacts, with a total value of between 200,000 and 300,000 euros (U.S. $225,000-339,000), were recovered as part of a comprehensive crackdown launched by agents from European law enforcement authorities in 14 countries to prevent looting, theft and illicit trafficking of cultural artifacts.

The Spanish police showed the press 36 of the recovered Egyptian artifacts including “a majestic bust of Sekhmet, the ancient Egyptian warrior goddess, worth an estimated 100,000 euros ($125,000),” Spanish Police Captain Javier Morales was quoted as saying by news24.

Also among the most valuable recovered artifacts is a statue of Isis, ancient Egyptian goddess of magic, and a vase covered in hieroglyphics, said Morales.

“During the comprehensive operation, dubbed ‘Aureus,’ the agents carried out checks on 6,244 individuals, 8,222 vehicles, 27 vessels, as well as 2,352 inspections at antique and art dealers, auction houses and secondhand outlets. Checks were also stepped up at airports, land borders and ports in Europe,” according to Europol.

Most of Egypt’s major archaeological sites have been targeted for looting since the 2011 uprising toppled former president Hosni Mubarak. Thousands of ancient Egyptian artifacts, most of which were obtained from illicit digging activities, are now flooding the global markets, auction houses and electronic commerce websites.

In spite of the Egyptian government’s efforts to track smuggled artifacts inside Egypt and in auction houses abroad, the issue is still unsettled.

“During the past four years, Egypt has recovered over 1,600 artifacts and is currently working on other cases in many European countries,” Ministry of Antiquities’ Museums Sector head Ahmed Sharaf previously told The Cairo Post.

It is estimated that around $3 billion in Egyptian antiquities have been looted since the outbreak of the January 25 Revolution in 2011, according to the International Coalition to Protect Egyptian Antiquities, a U.S.-based initiative partnered with Egypt’s Antiquities Ministry.

Author: Rany Mostafa | Source: The Cairo Post [January 29, 2015]

SO sorry for the late posting. Blogger is usually good about scheduling posted things, but... Well. Le sigh.

Anyway, I'm so happy to welcome Marissa Meyer to the blog today! I absolutely loved Cinder (click for my review) and I'm absolutely thrilled to have Marissa here today sharing with us more of the History of the Lunars!

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It’s true that Cinder, my debut novel, is a take on the classic “Cinderella” story. And there are a lot of elements of the story that have survived—a girl oppressed by her stepmother, a fancy ball, a handsome prince.

But I also took a lot of creative license with the tale: Cinder is set in the far future, my main character is a cyborg, and there’s a deadly plague sweeping the planet.

And then there are the Lunars—an evolved society of humans that live on the moon and have powers of mind-control and manipulation.

Although the Lunars and their evil queen have existed in the story since its earliest draft, it took me awhile to figure out just who they were, how they came to live on the moon, and how they developed these creepy mind-control powers. But as I know many readers will be curious (just as I was curious!) about them, here is my abridged history of Luna.

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Centuries prior to the start of Cinder, the moon was colonized by a small group of researchers from many different countries in order to further space research and exploration. After about sixty years of existing as a jumbled colony of numerous Earthen countries and cultures, the colony was recognized as its own nation: Luna, a republic.

The first true Lunar was a man named Cyprus Blackburn. As a child, his DNA was damaged by the prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation from cosmic rays. This DNA damage developed into what is known as the Lunar gene, a mutation that enabled him to output and control bioelectricity in order to implant thoughts into other people’s heads. (Note: This is plausible in theory and some government agencies are even suspect of experimenting with bioelectricity for the purpose of brainwashing.)

Blackburn was able to use his unique gift to convince the people of Luna to elect him as leader and it wasn't long before he turned the republic into a monarchy. This is about the time that distrust began to spring up between the hitherto allied Earth and Luna, as Earthens grew suspicious of the ease with which Blackburn was able to change the country’s political structure.

For a few generations, the royal bloodline was the only bloodline that included the Lunar gene, but due to Luna’s miniscule population, the royal family’s notorious promiscuity and an abundance of illegitimate children, and the oppression of those without the gift, the Lunar gene became more common with each generation and eventually became dominant within the society.

Despite the growing mind-control powers of the lower classes, there persisted a common belief that Lunars would lose their gift if a person of royal bloodline wasn't on the throne. This superstition was encouraged by the royal family and royal scientists even proved its validity in multiple government-funded studies. Of course, any scientist who suggested otherwise was promptly executed.

Then, due to a process called hormesis, another genetic mutation began to develop within society as well: a mutation that resulted in one’s inability to output or receive electromagnetic stimulation from others. Lunars born with this mutation were called “shells,” a derogative term referring to how they were “empty” of the gift. As shells cannot be brainwashed or controlled, they became a target of abuse and hatred.

In the 108th year of the third era, a shell managed to infiltrate a royal party and murder the king and queen—leaving their two daughters, Channary and Levana, the only recognized descendents of the royal bloodline. As her first act as the new queen, Channary enacted the shell infanticide laws stating that any Lunars born as shells were to be promptly disposed of in order to protect the sanctity of their society. Three years later, Channary died.

And thus began the rule of Queen Levana, and the start of our tale…

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I hope this brief history of Lunars brings some elements of my futuristic world into focus, and that readers will enjoy discovering more about their world and culture as The Lunar Chronicles progresses.

Thanks so much for being a part of the blog tour, Ashley, and for letting me share some of my behind-the-scenes information!

Thank you Marissa! So very much! This is so fascinating!! I cannot wait for the rest of the series!!:)