Slovenian diaspora

Disappearing, an award-winning documentary that sheds light on how the Slovenian language and culture have been disappearing from everyday life in Carinthia, Austria, is on show at Ljubljana's Kinodvor Cinema. The director Andrina Mračnikar believes the reason for the disappearing has been systematic discrimination for the past 100 years.

Franc Jožef Smrtnik, a member of the Slovenian ethnic minority in the Austrian province of Carinthia, made it to the 36-member state assembly in the 5 March local election. He ran for Team Kärnten. So far, Carinthian Slovenian Ana Blatnik from the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) has served as an assembly member.

Basovizza – Addressing a ceremony marking 95 years since the shooting of four Slovenian anti-fascist fighters in Basovizza, Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon said that righting of wrongs and harmony was something that was worth fighting for. He said that if united Europe will overcome the unusual challenges it was faced with.

Trieste – Slofest, a festival of Slovenian culture in Italy, kicked off in Trieste on Friday to bring three days of programme presenting all activities of the Slovenian community in Italy: culture, art, sports and creativity. Schools are particularly invited.

Basovizza – A ceremony for four victims of Fascism executed in September 1930, known among Slovenians as the Basovizza Heroes, was held at the memorial site on Sunday, with Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch saying that it was a reminder of how much misery and pain humans and authorities could cause if they let hatred and exclusion win.

Ljubljana – Boris Pahor, the internationally famous Slovenian writer from Trieste, celebrates his 108th birthday on Thursday. Throughout his life, Pahor has warned against totalitarian regimes, also in his novel Necropolis, where he describes his experiences in Nazi concentration camps. He has also received numerous honours and awards.