CfP “Chasing Eden: Nature, Health and the Politics of Environment”, Exeter

The Eden Project at the University of Exeter hosts a conference “Chasing Eden: nature, health and the politics of environment”, 4-5 September, 2008.

Oj Triglav, moj dom.

This year in August, a distinguished group of Slovene politicians, including prime minister Janez Janša and his girlfriend Urška (Od nékdej lepé so Ljubljanke slovele/al lepši od Urške bilo ni nobene) climbed Mount Triglav in order to render homage to Jakob Aljaž and celebrate his 80th anniversary of death. Aljaž is one of the Slovene myths I came across while practising for the izpit na visokem ravne (equal to the CPE, but not really) which I never took. Aljaž, born in 1845 in Zavrh pod Smarno Goro, was a Slovene priest, composer and passionate mountaineer. In 1895 he bought the top of the Triglav for a symbolic sum, took some fanti with him and erected a rocket-shaped metal tower on the peak of the holy mountain. This tiny little rocket-shape tower-thing became soon a symbol of the national struggle against the grim Austrians. Well, at least the story is constructed like this. And as we know, stories are more stable than even the sturdiest moutain hut. For more about the “male fantasy which became an object” see LANDschaft/LEIDEN/LEIDENschaft. Besides the tower the rebelling priest bequeathed to the Slovenes the song Oj Triglav, moj dom. Oh Triglav, my home….just have a look at the 50 Cent coin.

Oj Triglav, moj dom, kako si krasan,
kako me izvabljaš iz nizkih ravan
v poletni vročini na strme vrhe
da tam si spočije v samoti srce,
kjer potok izvira v skalovju hladan:
oj Triglav, moj dom, kako si krasan!

The male fantasy hasn’t lost any of its fascination.

BSA Conference “Social Worlds, Natural Worlds”

The British Sociological Association has been so kind to fit its annual conference to my PhD topic.” Social Worlds, Natural Worlds”, March 28-30, 2008, University of Warwick.

Conference “Civilizing Nature”, Washington D.C.

The German Historical Institute in Washington D.C. is hosting a conference Civilizing Nature: National Parks in Transnational Historical Perspective“, June 12-14. 

Slovenia – Legendarni videospot

Zivjo svet!

Dobrodošla/i/e to my weblog on  nature, society, identity in former Yugoslavia and whatever crosses my mind in the next three years of doktorirati. Former Yugoslavia, I am wondering how long this term will still be usable. Firou (Former Holy Roman Empire, Dutchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg).