Oldest Christian monastery in Iraq now a field of rubble

AP Photos

ARBIL, Iraq - The Associated Press

Iraq’s oldest Christian monastery has been destroyed by ISIL extremists after surviving assaults from nature and man for 1,400 years

The oldest Christian monastery in Iraq has been reduced to a field of rubble by jihadists from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
St. Elijah’s Monastery stood as a place of worship for 1,400 years, including most recently for U.S. troops. In earlier millennia, generations of monks tucked candles in the niches, prayed in the chapel, worshipped at the altar. The Greek letters chi and rho, representing the first two letters of Christ’s name, were carved near the entrance.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/oldest-christian-monastery-in-iraq-now-a-field-of-rubble.aspx?pageID=238&nID=94156&NewsCatID=375 

Ice sculptures promote Göbeklitepe at Davos

DAVOS – Anadolu Agency

To promote Göbeklitepe, ice sculptures of the ancient site are on display next to the Davos Congress Center

Southern province Şanlıurfa’s Göbeklitepe, recognized as the world’s oldest temple and “point zero of history,” is being promoted in Davos, where the 46th World Economic Forum is being held. 

The ice sculptures of Göbeklitepe, which are on display next to the Davos Congress Center, have found fans in state ministers, academics, top officials of the world leading companies, artists, sportsmen and NGO representatives. 

Located in the Örencik neighborhood 18 kilometers away from the city of Şanlıurfa, Göbeklitepe was first discovered in 1963 during surface surveys carried out by researchers from Istanbul and Chicago universities. 
Since 1995, the Şanlıurfa Museum and the German Archaeology Institute have been collaborating in the excavations. 

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ice-sculptures-promote-gobeklitepe-at-davos.aspx?pageID=238&nID=94162&NewsCatID=375 

New findings at Çatalhöyük

KONYA – Doğan News Agency

Archaeological excavations at the ancient settlement of Çatalhöyük continued in 2015, with a rare human face-like plaster head among the most exciting finds, according to excavation head Prof. Ian Hodder

Çatalhöyük, the 9,000-year-old settlement in the central Anatolian province of Konya’s Çumra district, once again amazed archaeologists with new findings in 2015, the most important of which was a rare human face-like plastered head. 

Çatalhöyük was discovered in 1958 by archaeologist James Mellaart and excavations were carried out between 1961 and 1963 and then again in 1965. 

After a long break, work at the site resumed in 1993 and has been carried out by Prof. Ian Hodder of Standford University. 
 

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/new-findings-at-catalhoyuk-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=94106&NewsCatID=375 

Urla winery reviving centuries-old tradition

The winery of Urla Şarapçılık has resurrected the Karaburun Peninsula’s long history of making wines that are sought far and wide

These are not the best times to be in the wine business in Turkey as the sector has been grappling with huge taxes and marketing obstacles. But those difficulties do not seem to have discouraged Can Ortabaş and his dedication for wine making.

“The Ionians planted [in 1000 B.C.], the Lydians worked the soil [in 550 B.C.], the Persians fertilized [in 350 B.C.], the Romans irrigated it [in 150 B.C.], the Byzantines pruned [in 750 A.D.], the Ottomans kept it alive [in A.D. 1650], and we turned it into a passion [in A.D. 2010];” according to the brochure of Urla Şarapçılık.
Note, however, that nothing is mentioned between the Ottomans and the present. 

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/urla-winery-reviving-centuries-old-tradition.aspx?pageID=238&nID=93012&NewsCatID=377 

Les Rendez-Vous de la Maison du Berger en 2016

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Voici quelques éléments du programme 2016 que nous vous dévoilons petit à petit...

Éleveurs et bergers sont en danger partout dans le monde. Cette année, la Maison du Berger porte son regard sur les peuples pastoraux menacés. Des montagnes des Alpes aux Cévennes, en passant par le Kurdistan, le Kirghizstan, l’Himalaya et même le Kenya… Soutenons-les !

 

Jeudi 28 janvier à 20h30 au cinéma le Club à Gap

Béliers de Grimur Hakonarson (2015 – 93')

Projection-rencontre 

Film primé au festival de Cannes. Dans une vallée isolée d’Islande, deux frères qui ne se parlent plus depuis quarante ans vont devoir s’unir pour sauver ce qu’ils ont de plus précieux : leurs béliers. Un film très émouvant à ne pas manquer ! Rencontre à la suite du film avec Guillaume Lebaudy, directeur de la Maison du Berger et avec Claudine Robert, libraire à Davagnier qui présentera le livre La Lettre à Helga de Bergsveinn Birgisson - Roman traduit de l’islandais par Catherine Eyjólfsson   http://maisonduberger.fr/

conférence solidaire sur la Syrie le 21 janvier 2016

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  jeudi 21 janvier à 20:30 - 22:00 Semaine prochaine ·

• pin	Cinéma Jean Marais, 59 Bd Carnot (face à la mairie) 78110 LE VESINET

une conférence solidaire par Annick LECLERC:

« la Syrie, de l’Antiquité à l’aube du XXIème siècle »

L’entrée sera libre ; les personnes qui souhaiteront apporter une aide pourront le faire au profit de 2 structures très efficaces : la petite association « Yalla ! Pour les Enfants » (qui procure un enseignement à 120 enfants déscolarisés réfugiés au Liban) et AAVS (groupe de médecins syriens travaillant depuis des années en France et apportant une aide médicale dans des zones en grand besoin).

En espérant que, grâce à vous, l’auditoire sera nombreux, et en vous souhaitant une année 2016 clémente !

Annick Leclerc

(Musée et Ecole du Louvre)

PS. Précision : les personnes venant par le RER A doivent descendre au Vésinet-Centre)

Municipality begins demolition at Istanbul’s historic Yedikule Gardens

DHA photo

Municipal teams began demolition activities in the historic Yedikule Gardens, a UNESCO-protected site near the Marmara shoreline along the Byzantine-era ramparts surrounding the old city of Istanbul, on Jan. 13, despite protests from locals.

As the demolition began in the gardens located in the Mevlanakapı neighborhood just outside the historic city walls, farmers protested the municipal workers, arguing they had been given until March to collect their products and vacate the premises.

The tensions between the farmers and the municipal police escalated around noon and the police used tear gas to disperse the farmers and protestors, while using shields to prevent the locals from entering the site.
İsmail Karaca, who cultivates a plot in the gardens, said the municipal teams acted despite earlier promises.

“We have been working here, in this 4,000 square meters of land, since 1992. I do not have any debts; I have paid my rent regularly. This morning the demolition teams started to destroy our gardens without showing any official documents to us. Our hoeing machines, which cost thousands of [Turkish] Liras, were left outside after the demolition. We have also been living here and now our home is destroyed and we were left out in the cold,” Karaca said.

The farmers said they had been given until March to vacate, even though the harvesting period ends in April, not March. “The demolition teams said they would continue their operations along the city walls,” they added.

Yedikule Gardens have long been at the center of controversy, as Istanbul’s Fatih Municipality had initiated a reconstruction project back in 2013 to convert it into a “park and green area.”

Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş had later announced that he rejected the plan in 2014.

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality council deputy group head Abubekir Taşyürek from the Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Jan. 13 announced the operation had nothing to do with the rejected project.

Speaking at a municipality council meeting, Taşyürek said the Jan. 13 demolition was aimed at demolishing the barracks which caused “visual pollution.” He also recalled that the farmers were informed three months ago about the demolition and they had been told to evacuate the barracks in the area.
hürriyet daily news