On the picture the artist Titus Bovenberg.Exposition Los 7 años Peruanos y despues…(The 7 Peruvian years and what followed…) now showing in Patries van Dorst Gallery in Wassenaar.
Although his paintings are to be found in private collections in as many as 10 countries across the globe, Titus Bovenberg is still unknown as a painter in his native country, The Netherlands. The reason for this might be his eight-year stay in Peru where Titus kept himself occupied starting up a children’s aid project in the old Inca capital of Cusco. In order to earn the income needed to feed 500 children and offer them the medical attention and education needed on a daily basis Titus constructed two hotels and four restaurants. After returning to Holland 10 years ago, most of his time was absorbed by his activities as a business consultant and coach.
Despite despite all of these time consuming activities, Titus managed to produce an extensive collection of paintings. Many of his works are being sold all over the world through his Peruvian Gallery in Lima. Collectors in countries such as Peru, Honduras, Uruguay, USA, Australia, South Africa, Spain, Denmark, Germany and Holland obtained Titus work to enrich their collection.
Titus Bovenberg‘Although I dedicated a lot of my time to build commercial and non-commercial careers, making art always remained the most important thing to do in my life. At this moment I am working on a break through in Holland, hoping I will be able to dedicate the majority of my time to painting. My work is characterized as an ongoing search finding a balance between what I call ‘lujo’ and ‘salvaje’ which translates to ‘luxury’ and ‘rawness’ or ‘pureness’. I am definitely searching for beauty, sometimes even the unshamingly decorative, but in the meantime I want to feel a deep pure, rawness or wildness in my paintings. The moments I succeed in this, I feel more than proud. My paintings need to radiate force and should be overwhelming in a sense, and in the meantime I want them to feel intimate. More than once collectors have told me they felt my paintings slowly took hold of them, in the end becoming some kind of family member’.
Although most of Titus’ paintings are quite large in size (150 by 180 cm) they fit in almost every home, which is clearly shown in the beautyfull exposition in Gallery Patries van Dorst on the ‘Landgoed de Wittenburg’ in Wassenaar . The Gallery exposes 20 of Titus’ works in a setting of part gallery and part living space.
This special exposition could quickly bring change in Titus’ current status as a relatively unknown artist in Holland. As a part of the activities to promote the artist, Patries van Dorst Gallery organises special artist dinners with Titus talking about his background, earlier adventures and inspiration as an artist.
Exposition ‘Los 7 años Peruanos y despues… ‘ is open to the public untill the 28th of May 2015, Gallery Patries van Dorst, Landgoed de Wittenburg 3, 2344 BV Wassenaar. The Gallery can be visited every day of the week. If you would like to make an appointment, please call prior to your visit 0031-0650292150.
On the picture Stephan van der Meulen, H. E. Piragibe dos Santos Tarragô, Fabiola Soto and H. E. Eduaro Ibarrola – Nicolin.By C.A. Dailey.
On Sunday, April 19, His Excellency Piragibe dos Santos Tarragô, the Brazilian Ambassador to the Netherlands, warmly welcomed some sixty five guests to the Worldhotel Bel Air in celebration of the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) start of Leg 6 “Itajaí to Newport”. Ambassador Eduaro Ibarrola – Nicolin, of Mexico, and his wife were also present for the afternoon program.
With support from the Embassy of Brazil, the third and most recent event was again held at the Worldhotel Bel Air, the official sponsor for accommodation for this year’s 12th edition of the race, which was last held three years ago, in 2011-2012.
For a photo-album on the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) start of Leg 6 “Itajaí to Newport” ‘s celebration at Worldhotel Bel Air, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157651668410989/His Excellency Piragibe dos Santos Tarragô, Ambassador of Brazil.
This year, it is expected that all seven competing teams will be making the highly anticipated June overnight “pitstop” in the harbor of Scheveningen, before departing again on the final run of their grueling nine month long journey across four oceans. The race covers 38,739 nautical miles, to five continents and eleven countries, before finishing in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The hotel’s General Manager, Stephan van der Meulen, opened the presentation and introduced Ambassador dos Santos Tarragô, who briefly spoke about the Volvo Ocean Race’s visit to Itajaí. Remarking upon Brazil’s worldwide image as a “nation of sports,” he commented further that his country hosted the FIFA World Cup™ in 2014 and looks forward to welcoming international sports enthusiasts to the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
“Samba” dancers wearing glittery green and yellow feather costumes, Brazil’s predominant national colors, greeted guests upon entry. In addition to an exuberant performance by the samba dancers and the Legendairs, a Dutch eight-man street carnival drum squad; the program also featured light bites of Brazilian inspired culinary favorites served prior to the live “big screen” broadcast of the Leg 6 race start.
Diana Boogards, of “Diabo Sail Reporting” and the media manager responsible for reporting on the VOR in the Netherlands, spoke briefly and gave a synopsis of Leg 5 Auckland to Itajaí race. While explaining technical terms and elaborating upon some of the fine points of ocean racing sail culture specific to the Volvo Ocean Race and “Life at the Extreme,” she commented on the “match racing” which occurred at Point Nemo, the “oceanic pole of inaccessibility,” in the Southern Pacific Ocean.
Point Nemo, the location in the ocean that is furthest from land, is so remote that all six Leg 5 competing teams transported and dropped research buoys for NOAA to monitor ocean currents in the remotest ocean on earth! Also noteworthy was the 24-hour speed record set by Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing. Bogaards closed by informing the guests that VOR teams race “for the glory” as no prize money is awarded to the winning team.
Epco Ongering, responsible for all new “boating” and water sports initiatives for the Telegraaf Media Nederland group, also spoke briefly on the race and The Hague’s exciting “Volvo Ocean Race Festival” sponsored by the Dutch “Team Brunel” and planned for June 18, 19 and 20. Annelies Putman Cramer, of Fair Focus Communications, was among the guests invited to support the race, and the city’s Volvo Ocean Race festival. Some 300,000 supporters are estimated to have visited the VOR race village in Itajaí and the municipality of The Hague is expecting that the festival will attract a similar numbers of visitors to the city in June.
By Roy Lie Tjam.Rwandans commemorate the genocide against their people.
Kwibuka 21 commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi. It is an important occasion to pay tribute to the lives that were lost and to ensure genocide never occurs on our planet again.
For a photo album on the Walk to Remember Rwanda, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157652093148645/
Kwibuka means ‘to remember’ in Kinyarwanda, It describes the annual commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, in which more than one million Rwandans were killed.
Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga hosted the official Kwibuka 21 commemoration at the Carlton Ambassador Hotel in The Hague on April 11, 2015. A walk of remembrance was also part of the program.
By Roy Lie A Tjam
The Louman museum and the ongoing Glazenkoets (Royal glass coach) exposition were the setting for the exclusive gathering of the Residentie Orkest Business Circle. April 8 was the circle’s first meeting for 2015. Diplomat magazine along with some five other institutions were officially admitted to the Business Circle.
The Business Circle of the Residentie Orkest is a prominent network of executives and entrepreneurs of large- and medium seize business that recognizes the importance of the Residentie Orkest to The Hague, the International city of Justice and Peace. It therefore supports the orchestra. The circle regularly holds exclusive meetings.
For a photo album of the Residentie Orkest Business Circle event at Louman Museum, please click here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157651623846360/
Residentie Orkest also organizes exclusive events for the Business Circle such special concerts. On those occasions, members of the circle meet with the members of the Willem van Otterloo Circuit. The attractive artistic context of the Residentie Orkest and the comprehensive network consisting of: entrepreneurs, politicians, diplomats policymakers and expatriates, make an excellent networking match.
Sponsorship is essential to the Residentie Orkest in order to retaining its position at the top of the Dutch cultural life and for producing innovative programs that make a valuable contribution to society.
On the picture HM The Queen of Denmark.By Martin Kammandel and Duke Michael of Mecklenburg.
EU Member State, the Kingdom of Denmark, is on a festive mood as its monarch, Queen Margrethe II (b. 16 April 1940) celebrated her 75th birthday.
Margrethe II serves as Denmark’s Head of State. The Queen’s main duties are to represent the Danish Realm abroad, and to serve as an unifying figurehead at home. She receives ambassadors and awards honours. Constitutionally, Her Majesty remains also the Head of Government, however, in praxis he simply presides over the Council of State, where the acts of legislation which have been passed by parliament are signed into law by her. Moreover her royal prerogatives are de facto exercised by the Council of State, and by convention she must act upon ministerial advice on almost all political matters.
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II celebrated a dinner for foreign royal families and Denmark’s officials at the Christiansborg Palace on the occasion of the Majesty’s 75th birthday. On the Picture HM King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of The Netherlands.
Her reign’s motto is “Guds hjælp, folkets kærlighed, Danmarks styrke”, or in English “God’s help, the people’s love, Denmark’s strength”.
She belongs to Dano-German House Slesvig-Holsten-Sønderborg-Glücksborg (in German: Schleswig-Holstein-Sondenburg-Glücksbug), or simply “Glücksborg”, currently headed patrilineally since 1980 by His Highness Duke Christoph zu Schleswig-Holstein-Sondenburg-Glücksburg, who heads the foundation owning Glücksburg Castle located in the German Bundesland of Schleswig-Holstein.
Count Ingolf and Countess Sussie af Rosenborg. Joachim Adrian Pol foto.
Amongst all the festivities Her Majesty hosted a gala dinner on 15 April 2015 for “Official Denmark”; wherein she was accompanied by all adult members of the Royal House including her cousin HH Princess Elisabeth who is due to fête her 80th birthday on 8 May 2015. She was joined by the royal couples of Sweden, The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, HM The King of Norway, HRH The Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Iceland’s presidential couple, Mr Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson and Mrs Dorrit Moussaieff. Likewise present was her youngest sister, HM the former Queen of the Hellenes, Anna Maria and spouse King Konstantinos II, her first cousin HE Count Ingolf af Rosenborg and spouse Countess Sussie af Rosenborg. Count Ingolf also celebrated his 75th anniversary on 17 February 2015.
Portrait-of-HM-Queen-Portrait of HM Queen Margrethe II (At skabe billeder af billeder)National Museum of Denmark
Her Majesty’s Government headed by Prime Minister (statsminister) Helle Thorning-Schmidt was fully represented, and so were the autonomous governments of Greenland and the Faroe Islands by their respective premiers, Kim Kielsen and Kaj Leo Holm Johannesen.
The doyenne of the corps diplomatique accredited to Denmark attended the dinner at Christiansborg Palace, Benin’s Ambassador Arlette Dagnon Vignikin as were the ambassadors of France, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway and Iceland. The incumbent ambassador of Portugal to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Senhor Dom José de Bouza Serrano, served as ambassador to the Danish Court from 2005 to 2008.
Prime Minister (statsminister) Helle Thorning-Schmidt.
Several missions based in The Hague, including the embassies of Qatar led by HE Ambassador Khalid bin Fahad Al Khater, or New Zealand headed by HE Ambassador Janet Lowe are accredited also to Denmark. In Brussels, the Laotian mission to the Benelux countries is likewise accredited to Denmark with HE Ambassador Manorom Phonseya.
For more information:
Denmark’s National Museum; unveiling of “At skabe billede af billede” (“To create pictures from pictures”): http://natmus.dk/presse-og-nyheder#/pressreleases/h-m-dronningen-afsloerer-portraet-med-direkte-linje-til-harald-blaatand-1142579
Full programme for the festivities: http://kongehuset.dk/english/Menu/news/events-in-connection-with-her-majesty-the-queens-75th-birthday
Guest list for gala dinner hosted at Christiansborg Palace: http://kongehuset.dk/english/Menu/news/guest-list-for-gala-dinner-at-christiansborg-palace
The Queen’s allocution: http://kongehuset.dk/Menu/foto–video/video-hm-dronningens-tale-ved-gallataffel
Interview (in Danish) with Queen Margrethe II for Berlingske: www.b.dk/personlig-udvikling/eksklusivt-interview-med-dronningen-vi-skal-ikke-lade-os-kyse
Embassy of Qatar to The Netherlands and Denmark: www.embassyofqatar.nl/live/
Embassy of New Zealand to The Netherlands and Denmark: www.nzembassy.com/netherlands
Embassy of Laos to the Benelux countries, Denmark: www.ambalao.be
Thailand marked “Dynasty Day” on 6 April 2015 under the auspices of The Princess Royal’s 60th birthday celebration which is to be fêted all year long.Dynasty Day commemorates the beginning of regal rule by the Chakri Dynasty and the shift of Siam’s capital from Thonburi to Bangkok, founded by King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (or Rama I) on 6 April 1782. The day is a holiday in the Kingdom of Thailand.In founding the dynasty, King Rama I himself chose “Chakri” as both the name and emblem for the dynasty. The Chakri is composed of the discus (Chakra) and the trident (Trisula)), the celestial weapon of the god Narayana (an avatar of Vishnu) of whom the Thai sovereign is deemed to be an incarnation. Hence the name Chakri denotes the transcending force of divine strength and stability upon the physical realm.Current head of the house is His Majesty King Rama IX (Bhumibol Adulyadej) since 1946 (the world’s oldest reigning monarch). The heir apparent is His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. Seat for the Chakri Dynasty is The Grand Palace in Bangkok Thailand.The Chakri DynastySuccession to the Thai throne is laid down in the Palace Law of Succession, Buddhist Era 2467 (1924).Thai sovereigns from the Chakri Dynasty (all crowned under the divine name of Rama, and distinguished by their regnal number).
Rama I (Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke) [1782-1809]
Rama II (Buddha Loetla Nabhalai) [ 1809 – 1824 ]
Rama III (Nangklao) [1824-1851]
Rama IV (Mongkut) [1851-1868]
Rama V (Chulalongkom) [1868-1910]
Rama VI (Vajiravudh) [1910-1925 ]
Rama VII (Prajahipok) [1925 – 1935]
Rama VIII (Ananda Mahidol) [1935-1946]
Rama IX (Bhumibol Adulyadei) [1946-today]
This year’s Dynasty Day was particularly meaningful because it was marked only a few days after the celebration on Thursday, 2 April 2015, for the 60th birthday of HRH The Princess Royal of Thailand, Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.Ordinary Thais wore purple; the colour representing Saturday, the day the princess was born back in 1955, flocked to Sala Sahathai Samakhom at The Grand Palace in Bangkok as well as other selected places in provinces around the kingdom to write birthday messages for the princess. Crowds also queued up at banks to exchange regular bills for special commemorative banknotes designed with the princess’ likeness by the Bank of Thailand. Leaders from all over the globe including US State Secretary of State, John Kerry, dispatched congratulatory messages to Her Royal Highness on the occasion of her 60th birthday.In Brussels, HE Ambassador Nopadol Gunavibool, Head of Mission at the Royal Thai Embassy to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg hosted a concert on Tuesday, 17 March 2015 to mark the Princess Royal’s joyous birthday, and fifth life circle in Thai Buddhist tradition.HRH Princess Sirindhorn partook at the investiture festivities for King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands in Amsterdam, 2013. She last visited the Benelux to attend the funeral of Dowager Queen Fabiola of Belgium on 12 December 2014, in Brussels. At the time she was accompanied by Ambassador Gunavibool and Military Attaché Colonel Perapol Songnuy.For more information:
Congratulatory message from US American Secretary of State John Kerry to HRH The Princess Royal: www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2015/04/240035.htm
Celebration of HRH The Princess Royal, Maha Chakri Sirindhorn:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGe-CAH7bnk
Mission of Thailand to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg: www2.thaiembassy.be/home/
On 21 April 2015, the OPCW will mark the centenary of the first large-scale use of chemical weapons with a commemorative meeting of its Member States in Ieper, Belgium.
This event will serve to honour the memory of all victims of chemical warfare over the past century, as well as to re-dedicate collective efforts to rid the world of chemical weapons. To this end, a Declaration will be issued by the States Parties also statements by the Director-General of the OPCW, the Belgian Defence Minister and the Mayor of Ieper, as well as on behalf of the UN Secretary-General and the OPCW’s Regional Groups.
The historic “Ieper Declaration”, which will be issued by the meeting, will also be posted at www.opcw.org.
“Amsterdam Spanish Film Festival” will screen carefully selected Spanish Spoken films.The selected films have been awarded at the most prestigious International Film Festivals
The audiovisual platform Sin Fin Cinema, in collaboration with the Spanish Embassy, will launch the “Amsterdam Spanish Film Festival” from 27 to 31 May 2015.
Following the successful project “The Spanish Film of the Month”, which started in October 2014 and lasted until March 2015, and aiming to deliver once more a true Spanish Cinema experience to well-known cinemas like Pathé or Eye Film Institute, twelve movies will be screened in four different sections: “Official Section”, “Spanish Cinema without Fear”, “Focus Latino”, and “With Love”, including films such as “Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados” by Fernando Trueba, “Paco de Lucía, La Búsqueda” by Curro Sánchez and the winner at the San Sebastian Film Festival, “Magical Girl”, by Carlos Vermut.
Some of these films will also be screened in other Dutch cities like The Hague and Utrecht. “Amsterdam Spanish Film Festival” seeks to respond to the growing interest of the Dutch audience in Spanish culture and cinema.
More information about the movies and the “Amsterdam Spanish Film Festival” can be found at the Website of Sin Fin Cinema.
For the first time in the Netherlands: Exhibition about sexual diversity in China. Secret Love, sexual diversity in China. An art exhibition in the Tropenmuseum from 2 May to 13 September 2015.
Secret Love, a contemporary art exhibition about the taboo surrounding lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and transgender (LGBTs) identities in China. Despite this taboo there have been positive changes in China regarding sexual diversity. What does this mean for LGBTs? You see the China of today where artists contribute to a growing awareness of the rights for LGBTs and embrace the struggle against prejudice. Love has no gender!
Secret Love, sexual diversity in China can be seen in the Tropenmuseum from 2 May.Open to discussionThis is the first contemporary art exhibition in the Netherlands about the taboo surrounding LGBTs in China. The Tropenmuseum’s Secret Love, sexual diversity in China exhibition comprises around 45 works by 10 renowned Chinese artists such as Ma Liuming, Gao Brothers, Li Xiaofeng and Chi Peng. The works explore subjects such as sexuality, desire and taboo. The exhibition emphasizes in particular the artists’ commitment to creating change. With their artworks they contribute to opening up the discussion about sexual diversity.TabooDuring the last ten years positive changes regarding sexual diversity have occurred in China. In 1997 homosexuality was decriminalized and since 2001 it is no longer seen as a mental illness. The Internet and a more open society have contributed to a greater awareness of sexual rights. Sexual diversity is now more openly spoken about. Exhibition from SwedenThe exhibition was originally curated by the National Museums of World Culture in Sweden and is now on show for the first time in the Netherlands. Curator Si Han says: “We have done extensive research in preparation for this exhibition. This is something that nobody has done before. You could say that this exhibition is a new chapter in Chinese artistic history.”Identity – who are you, to which group do you belong and what is your place in the world? – is a recurrent theme in the Tropenmuseum. This and the topicality of the subject make it particularly appropriate to bring this exhibition to the Tropenmuseum.
On the Picture Jozias van Aartsen, Mayor of The Hague during the opening ceremony.
At the Global Conference on Cyber Space the conference hosts, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Bert Koenders and the State Secretary of Security and Justice, Mr Klaas Dijkhoff together with Mr. Jozias van Aartzen Mayor of The Hague and more than 42 governments, intergovernmental organizations and companies, launched the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE) in The Hague.
‘The GFCE is a key initiative to give political momentum to global cyber capacity building, make available technical expertise as well as new funding to strengthen cyber security, help fight cybercrime, better protect our data and support e-governance. We should all benefit from the potential a free, open and secure internet has to offer. The GFCE is a pragmatic, action-oriented and flexible platform for policymakers, practitioners and experts from different countries and regions. Goal is to share experiences, identify gaps in global cyber capacities, and to complement existing efforts in capacity building.’
Minister Bert Koenders of Foreign Affairs emphasizes the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach in the GFCE initiative: ‘States can’t act on their own. They will have to rely on other stakeholders. It is vital to include different stakeholders in a debate that could prove to be the next key dilemma in international security.
‘The Netherlands has a lot to offer’, says minister Van der Steur of Security and Justice, ‘In the field of Cybersecurity and cybercrime we have good practices, tools and methods to share. Still we need to learn and improve. In the GFCE we will share our experiences and learn from participating nations and non-state actors. All will benefit from getting the knowledge and best-practices together in one platform. Cyberspace will get better with this initiative, paving the way for further international cooperation.’
Membership of the GFCE is open to all countries, intergovernmental organizations and private companies who subscribe to the Hague Declaration on the GFCE. Civil society, the technical community, think tanks and academia will also be encouraged to be involved in the GFCE, contributing to the development of best practices, sharing of knowledge and advising on capacity building efforts.
Societies need to rapidly develop their capacity to take full advantage of cyberspace and to overcome evolving challenges in this field. GFCE-members can start or join specific Initiatives under the umbrella of the GFCE for capacity and expertise building. The four focus areas of the GFCE are: cybersecurity, cybercrime, data protection and e-governance. An annual high level meeting amongst members of the GFCE will evaluate progress made and discuss and formulate requirements as well as best practices in cyber capacity building.
The Administrative Unit of the GFCE will be situated in The Hague. It will provide the necessary administrative and logistical support to GFCE members. Furthermore, it will maintain an overview of ongoing GFCE Initiatives and circulate the results of Initiatives among the GFCE members.
The city of The Hague warmly supports the establishment of the GFCE, which further strengthens the role of The Hague as a central hub for cyber organizations.
“Samba” dancers wearing glittery green and yellow feather costumes, Brazil’s predominant national colors, greeted guests upon entry. In addition to an exuberant performance by the samba dancers and the Legendairs, a Dutch eight-man street carnival drum squad; the program also featured light bites of Brazilian inspired culinary favorites served prior to the live “big screen” broadcast of the Leg 6 race start.
Diana Boogards, of “Diabo Sail Reporting” and the media manager responsible for reporting on the VOR in the Netherlands, spoke briefly and gave a synopsis of Leg 5 Auckland to Itajaí race. While explaining technical terms and elaborating upon some of the fine points of ocean racing sail culture specific to the Volvo Ocean Race and “Life at the Extreme,” she commented on the “match racing” which occurred at Point Nemo, the “oceanic pole of inaccessibility,” in the Southern Pacific Ocean.
Point Nemo, the location in the ocean that is furthest from land, is so remote that all six Leg 5 competing teams transported and dropped research buoys for NOAA to monitor ocean currents in the remotest ocean on earth! Also noteworthy was the 24-hour speed record set by Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing. Bogaards closed by informing the guests that VOR teams race “for the glory” as no prize money is awarded to the winning team.
Epco Ongering, responsible for all new “boating” and water sports initiatives for the Telegraaf Media Nederland group, also spoke briefly on the race and The Hague’s exciting “Volvo Ocean Race Festival” sponsored by the Dutch “Team Brunel” and planned for June 18, 19 and 20. Annelies Putman Cramer, of Fair Focus Communications, was among the guests invited to support the race, and the city’s Volvo Ocean Race festival. Some 300,000 supporters are estimated to have visited the VOR race village in Itajaí and the municipality of The Hague is expecting that the festival will attract a similar numbers of visitors to the city in June.
“Samba” dancers wearing glittery green and yellow feather costumes, Brazil’s predominant national colors, greeted guests upon entry. In addition to an exuberant performance by the samba dancers and the Legendairs, a Dutch eight-man street carnival drum squad; the program also featured light bites of Brazilian inspired culinary favorites served prior to the live “big screen” broadcast of the Leg 6 race start.
Diana Boogards, of “Diabo Sail Reporting” and the media manager responsible for reporting on the VOR in the Netherlands, spoke briefly and gave a synopsis of Leg 5 Auckland to Itajaí race. While explaining technical terms and elaborating upon some of the fine points of ocean racing sail culture specific to the Volvo Ocean Race and “Life at the Extreme,” she commented on the “match racing” which occurred at Point Nemo, the “oceanic pole of inaccessibility,” in the Southern Pacific Ocean.
Point Nemo, the location in the ocean that is furthest from land, is so remote that all six Leg 5 competing teams transported and dropped research buoys for NOAA to monitor ocean currents in the remotest ocean on earth! Also noteworthy was the 24-hour speed record set by Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing. Bogaards closed by informing the guests that VOR teams race “for the glory” as no prize money is awarded to the winning team.
Epco Ongering, responsible for all new “boating” and water sports initiatives for the Telegraaf Media Nederland group, also spoke briefly on the race and The Hague’s exciting “Volvo Ocean Race Festival” sponsored by the Dutch “Team Brunel” and planned for June 18, 19 and 20. Annelies Putman Cramer, of Fair Focus Communications, was among the guests invited to support the race, and the city’s Volvo Ocean Race festival. Some 300,000 supporters are estimated to have visited the VOR race village in Itajaí and the municipality of The Hague is expecting that the festival will attract a similar numbers of visitors to the city in June.
Kwibuka means ‘to remember’ in Kinyarwanda, It describes the annual commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, in which more than one million Rwandans were killed.
Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga hosted the official Kwibuka 21 commemoration at the Carlton Ambassador Hotel in The Hague on April 11, 2015. A walk of remembrance was also part of the program.
Kwibuka means ‘to remember’ in Kinyarwanda, It describes the annual commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, in which more than one million Rwandans were killed.
Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga hosted the official Kwibuka 21 commemoration at the Carlton Ambassador Hotel in The Hague on April 11, 2015. A walk of remembrance was also part of the program.
Residentie Orkest also organizes exclusive events for the Business Circle such special concerts. On those occasions, members of the circle meet with the members of the Willem van Otterloo Circuit. The attractive artistic context of the Residentie Orkest and the comprehensive network consisting of: entrepreneurs, politicians, diplomats policymakers and expatriates, make an excellent networking match.
Sponsorship is essential to the Residentie Orkest in order to retaining its position at the top of the Dutch cultural life and for producing innovative programs that make a valuable contribution to society.
Residentie Orkest also organizes exclusive events for the Business Circle such special concerts. On those occasions, members of the circle meet with the members of the Willem van Otterloo Circuit. The attractive artistic context of the Residentie Orkest and the comprehensive network consisting of: entrepreneurs, politicians, diplomats policymakers and expatriates, make an excellent networking match.
Sponsorship is essential to the Residentie Orkest in order to retaining its position at the top of the Dutch cultural life and for producing innovative programs that make a valuable contribution to society.
![Sexual-diversity_lead_120x180[1]](https://i0.wp.com/diplomatmagazine.eu/wp-content/uploads/Sexual-diversity_lead_120x1801.jpg?fit=120%2C180&ssl=1)
Open to discussion
This is the first contemporary art exhibition in the Netherlands about the taboo surrounding LGBTs in China. The Tropenmuseum’s Secret Love, sexual diversity in China exhibition comprises around 45 works by 10 renowned Chinese artists such as Ma Liuming, Gao Brothers, Li Xiaofeng and Chi Peng. The works explore subjects such as sexuality, desire and taboo. The exhibition emphasizes in particular the artists’ commitment to creating change. With their artworks they contribute to opening up the discussion about sexual diversity.
Taboo
During the last ten years positive changes regarding sexual diversity have occurred in China. In 1997 homosexuality was decriminalized and since 2001 it is no longer seen as a mental illness. The Internet and a more open society have contributed to a greater awareness of sexual rights. Sexual diversity is now more openly spoken about. 
Exhibition from Sweden
The exhibition was originally curated by the National Museums of World Culture in Sweden and is now on show for the first time in the Netherlands. Curator Si Han says: “We have done extensive research in preparation for this exhibition. This is something that nobody has done before. You could say that this exhibition is a new chapter in Chinese artistic history.”
Identity – who are you, to which group do you belong and what is your place in the world? – is a recurrent theme in the Tropenmuseum. This and the topicality of the subject make it particularly appropriate to bring this exhibition to the Tropenmuseum.
![Sexual-diversity_lead_120x180[1]](https://i0.wp.com/diplomatmagazine.eu/wp-content/uploads/Sexual-diversity_lead_120x1801.jpg?ssl=1)
Open to discussion
This is the first contemporary art exhibition in the Netherlands about the taboo surrounding LGBTs in China. The Tropenmuseum’s Secret Love, sexual diversity in China exhibition comprises around 45 works by 10 renowned Chinese artists such as Ma Liuming, Gao Brothers, Li Xiaofeng and Chi Peng. The works explore subjects such as sexuality, desire and taboo. The exhibition emphasizes in particular the artists’ commitment to creating change. With their artworks they contribute to opening up the discussion about sexual diversity.
Taboo
During the last ten years positive changes regarding sexual diversity have occurred in China. In 1997 homosexuality was decriminalized and since 2001 it is no longer seen as a mental illness. The Internet and a more open society have contributed to a greater awareness of sexual rights. Sexual diversity is now more openly spoken about. 
Exhibition from Sweden
The exhibition was originally curated by the National Museums of World Culture in Sweden and is now on show for the first time in the Netherlands. Curator Si Han says: “We have done extensive research in preparation for this exhibition. This is something that nobody has done before. You could say that this exhibition is a new chapter in Chinese artistic history.”
Identity – who are you, to which group do you belong and what is your place in the world? – is a recurrent theme in the Tropenmuseum. This and the topicality of the subject make it particularly appropriate to bring this exhibition to the Tropenmuseum.
Minister Bert Koenders of Foreign Affairs emphasizes the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach in the GFCE initiative: ‘States can’t act on their own. They will have to rely on other stakeholders. It is vital to include different stakeholders in a debate that could prove to be the next key dilemma in international security.
‘The Netherlands has a lot to offer’, says minister Van der Steur of Security and Justice, ‘In the field of Cybersecurity and cybercrime we have good practices, tools and methods to share. Still we need to learn and improve. In the GFCE we will share our experiences and learn from participating nations and non-state actors. All will benefit from getting the knowledge and best-practices together in one platform. Cyberspace will get better with this initiative, paving the way for further international cooperation.’
Membership of the GFCE is open to all countries, intergovernmental organizations and private companies who subscribe to the Hague Declaration on the GFCE. Civil society, the technical community, think tanks and academia will also be encouraged to be involved in the GFCE, contributing to the development of best practices, sharing of knowledge and advising on capacity building efforts.
Societies need to rapidly develop their capacity to take full advantage of cyberspace and to overcome evolving challenges in this field. GFCE-members can start or join specific Initiatives under the umbrella of the GFCE for capacity and expertise building. The four focus areas of the GFCE are: cybersecurity, cybercrime, data protection and e-governance. An annual high level meeting amongst members of the GFCE will evaluate progress made and discuss and formulate requirements as well as best practices in cyber capacity building.
The Administrative Unit of the GFCE will be situated in The Hague. It will provide the necessary administrative and logistical support to GFCE members. Furthermore, it will maintain an overview of ongoing GFCE Initiatives and circulate the results of Initiatives among the GFCE members.
The city of The Hague warmly supports the establishment of the GFCE, which further strengthens the role of The Hague as a central hub for cyber organizations.
Minister Bert Koenders of Foreign Affairs emphasizes the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach in the GFCE initiative: ‘States can’t act on their own. They will have to rely on other stakeholders. It is vital to include different stakeholders in a debate that could prove to be the next key dilemma in international security.
‘The Netherlands has a lot to offer’, says minister Van der Steur of Security and Justice, ‘In the field of Cybersecurity and cybercrime we have good practices, tools and methods to share. Still we need to learn and improve. In the GFCE we will share our experiences and learn from participating nations and non-state actors. All will benefit from getting the knowledge and best-practices together in one platform. Cyberspace will get better with this initiative, paving the way for further international cooperation.’
Membership of the GFCE is open to all countries, intergovernmental organizations and private companies who subscribe to the Hague Declaration on the GFCE. Civil society, the technical community, think tanks and academia will also be encouraged to be involved in the GFCE, contributing to the development of best practices, sharing of knowledge and advising on capacity building efforts.
Societies need to rapidly develop their capacity to take full advantage of cyberspace and to overcome evolving challenges in this field. GFCE-members can start or join specific Initiatives under the umbrella of the GFCE for capacity and expertise building. The four focus areas of the GFCE are: cybersecurity, cybercrime, data protection and e-governance. An annual high level meeting amongst members of the GFCE will evaluate progress made and discuss and formulate requirements as well as best practices in cyber capacity building.
The Administrative Unit of the GFCE will be situated in The Hague. It will provide the necessary administrative and logistical support to GFCE members. Furthermore, it will maintain an overview of ongoing GFCE Initiatives and circulate the results of Initiatives among the GFCE members.
The city of The Hague warmly supports the establishment of the GFCE, which further strengthens the role of The Hague as a central hub for cyber organizations.
