Vatican published 2009 version of what is apparently becoming a regular annual calendar “Pretty Padres”. First issue of Calendario Romano was published in 2004. In a spirit of time, they set up also Facebook and Myspace pages.
*source: Tert.am
*German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld and French Culture Minister Christine Albanel (source: Reuters, via Javno)
(Wikipedia) Rouben Mamoulian (October 8, 1897 – December 4, 1987) was an Armenian-American film and theatre director.
Revisit the glamour of Hollywood's Golden Age this Christmas with Hollywood's 'Golden Boy', Rouben Mamoulian. The centrepiece of the season is his sensual and stylish take on Robert Louis Stevenson's celebrated tale of terror Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, a searing study of desire and repression that features a stunning dual performance by Fredric March and ground-breaking special effects. Ever the showman, Mamoulian's varied career also took in Greta Garbo's 'comeback' in Queen Christina, Marlene Dietrich in The Song of Songs, Rita Hayworth in Blood and Sand and the sublime Silk Stockings starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse.
*photo – via Wikipedia (& Senses of Cinema); posters - Alternative Film Guide and BFI
*via PINK Armenia
The November 25 Women’s Platform’s exhibition to protest the violence against women, which was held in front of the Galatasaray High School at Taksim, Istanbul at noon time yesterday, was dispersed by the police resorting violence.
Sex And The City star Kim Cattrall posed semi-naked in a photo version of Titian's masterpiece Diana and Actaeon.
Guardian suggests Spot the difference. Photograph: Reuters/Tom Hunter/BBC/PA :)
Published by the Women’s Resource Centre:
Lara Aharonian, head of the Women’s Resource Centre 
Address: 34 Zarubyan Street, Yerevan, Armenia 
Regent street Christmas lights, London
Carnaby street, London
Report issued today by the Amnesty International (to be formally launched in Yerevan tomorrow) suggests that “more than a quarter of women in Armenia have faced physical violence at the hands of husbands or other family members. Many of these women have little choice but to remain in abusive situations as reporting violence is strongly stigmatized in Armenian society.” (see details below)
Women’s Resource Centre in Armenia organises march against violence against women on 25 November 2008. (below are selected photos from last year's event)
There will be round-table discussion on sexual violence against women in Armenia on 27 November. Also, thanks to the initiative and cooperation of the U.S. Embassy and other organisations, Armenia's first-ever walkathon to raise awareness about domestic violence issues in Armenia is being organized in connection with the "16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence," spanning from November 25, International Day Against Violence Against Women, to December 10, International Human Rights Day. Walkathon for a Violence-Free Future for Women is on Sunday, November 30, 2008.
There’s no pride in silence: domestic and sexual violence against women in Armenia
Amnesty International /12 November 2008/
Full report
National surveys suggest that more than a quarter of women in Armenia have faced physical violence at the hands of husbands or other family members. Many of these women have little choice but to remain in abusive situations as reporting violence is strongly stigmatized in Armenian society.
Violence in the family takes many forms, ranging from isolation and the withholding of economic necessities, to physical and sexual violence, and even murder, yet women have few options to escape situations in which they are at risk.
Violence in the family is not defined in law separately from other kinds of violence involving strangers, and abused women face powerful pressures not to report violence to the police. Strong family bonds are an integral aspect of Armenian culture and women who report violence are seen as threatening the family and are pressured to keep domestic violence a private “family matter”.
The social stigma associated with separation or divorce is worse than that associated with domestic violence. The pressure not to report rape is even more powerful and rape victims commonly encounter the attitude that they are to blame.
Women who try to report violence in the family often experience social isolation, as friends, relatives and neighbours reject them. This culture of preserving silence on violence extends to the police force.
Women often experience reluctance on the part of the police to get involved, and in some cases the police endorse the view that domestic violence is a "family matter".
Since 2002, a handful of shelters have been operating despite facing widespread criticism for their part in making domestic violence a public issue. These shelters, which are run by non-governmental organizations, are reliant on intermittent funding, and most of them have been forced to close or reduce their operations in recent years due to lack of funds.
While shelters are not a catch-all solution, they fulfil a crucial role in providing women who face violence with an initial, short-term step out of their situation. Establishing a network of shelters must be a key element in government strategies to address the issue of violence against women in Armenia.
The fact that some state officials now acknowledge that violence against women actually exists both signifies progress, but also the fact that there is a long way to go. Some positive steps have been taken towards addressing violence against women:
• A draft law criminalizing domestic violence is currently under discussion.
• Police training programmes have been initiated to implement guidelines for police responsibilities in responding to domestic violence.
Amnesty International calls on the Armenian authorities to clearly and forcefully condemn violence against women. They must also take other urgent steps to change wider social attitudes to domestic and sexual violence. These should include, though not be restricted to, the following:
• Criminalizing domestic violence, facilitating its prevention and providing support to its victims and survivors;
• Ensuring that victims of domestic and sexual violence have access to the criminal justice system without facing pressure to withdraw their complaints;
• Raising awareness of family violence as a crime and a human rights violation.
Letters (1 November, Armenian Reporter)Significant attempts were made to get the others printed as well.
Vote "No" on Proposition 8 in California: The Armenian thing to do
Sir:
On November 4, Californians will be asked whether they want to insert within their state constitution a ban on marriage for a portion of the state's population. If passed, Proposition 8 will take away a fundamental right that the California Supreme Court confirmed in May of this year: the right of any person to marry another person of his or her choosing. No matter what you feel about gays or lesbians, it is wrong to deny a group of people a right that is so cherished by society. It is also unfair: On the one hand, gay people are sometimes accused of being promiscuous; on the other hand, when they want to form a committed, monogamous, long-lasting relationship, they are told that they cannot protect that relationship within the framework of civil marriage. And remember, the court's decision said nothing about whether churches or other religious institutions would have to recognize gay marriage. Prop. 8 has nothing to do with religion. It has nothing to do with gay marriage being "taught" to children in schools, which will not happen. And nobody is going to get sued over their personal views on homosexuality. All these are lies that the opponents of gay marriage are spreading to scare Californians into voting in favor of the marriage ban. In fact, the opponents of gay marriage have gone even as far as to call people who are in favor of gay marriage and tell them to vote "yes" (which is the wrong way to vote if you support equal marriage rights). As Armenians, haven't we experienced firsthand what it means to be discriminated against? As Armenians, shouldn't we be promoting equality and justice for all people, regardless of our personal views of those people? As Armenians, we should not judge other people who have done nothing wrong, and we certainly should not use our vote to discriminate against them. This has everything to do with fairness and justice. On November 4, please vote no on Proposition 8.
Very truly yours,
Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society of Los Angeles (GALAS)
“This past week has been full of highs and lows for LGBT Armenian Americans. [...]***
It is particularly disheartening that the heavily Armenian populated counties of Fresno and Los Angeles both voted to pass Prop 8 which seeks to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry.
As a sign of solidarity with our LGBT brothers and sisters in California and recognizing that LGBT rights are universal rights, AGLA NY will be participating in at least 2 Prop 8 protests in NYC this week: one in front of the Mormon Temple on the UWS this Wednesday; and the second at City Hall on Saturday.
Please join us as we make our voices heard to those who would challenge the rights of LGBT people to marry."
A Greek bishop sued a Greek LGBT activist and an HIV/AIDS charity for 1 million euro, after the latter denounced him for his homophobic hate speech.
She is the winner of the "biggest SOAD fan" contest, as reported by the SOAD blog: "In addition to the pogo mushroom tattoo on her wrist and the SOAD posters all over her room, she has the ENTIRE Serj Tankian poem "Misunderstood Rose" tattooed on the side of her body!"
AFP — Pop star Madonna said it was a shame the United States could put a black man in the White House but not allow same-sex marriage, rocking on her world tour with guests Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears.
On the same day that the US elected its first black president, history was made also in a small American town Silverton, Oregon, where residents elected the first openly transgender mayor in the United States.
The morning after Prop 8 was passed and banned same-sex marriage, the pride flag at Harvey Milk Plaza stood at half mast. (source: Jamison)
I hope these rumours are wrong. I do not have anything against Arame per se, but he is typical, unremarkable pop singer. Well, yes, Eurovision is pop, and not the best quality music, but there should be something more to get you win it. I am afraid, Arame is not a Eurovision winner, unless something magical happens... I wish previous rumours which I wrote about - Will SOAD or Serj Tankian represent Armenia at the Eurovision song contest 2009 in Moscow? - are true, although these talks died out subsequently. Serj Tankian would have been a sensational representation for Armenia and true potential winner. Oh, well, it’s Eurovision, and Armenia will not rock it in 2009. Or may be I am wrong.
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