Tag: History

Journalist

Dancing the cha-cha-cha 

All night long and early mornings too eyesonsuriname Amsterdam, June 16 2025–Uno, dos, três. One, two, three, Mercedes counts to the rhythm of a Cuban melody on her small portable radio. She teaches modern Cuban dance here in the first capital of Spanish Cuba, founded in 1589, now the number 2 city and the heart of…
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The Magic of Macondo 

and other stories from Latin and South America eyesonsuriname Amsterdam, June 13th 2025–While I sit quietly at lunch in the hotel somewhere in Northern Colombia, waiting for inspiration for a story about Venezuelan refugees who often cross from here to Aruba and Curaçao to escape the regime of first Hugo Chávez and now Mr. Maduro,…
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BRICS or the real question. A Podcast.

 Unity, Division, and the Global South’s Push for Change. Amsterdam, 10 june 2025– Tell me about BRICS.  What is BRICS?  A loose coalition of emerging economies, or a growing challenge to Western-led global governance?  We take a deep dive into the origins, goals, and internal dynamics of BRICS, the group that brings together Brazil, Russia, India, China,…
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Orson Welles in ‘ the Third Man ‘

In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed. But they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love, they had five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock. Orson Welles in ‘ the Third Man ‘

African, Indian, Javanese, Jewish, Chinese, Indigenous and European, German blood.

African, Indian, Javanese, Jewish, Chinese, Indigenous and European, German blood.

All In Berlin. Suriname, South America AntonJieSamFoek The scent of smoked piment hung heavy in the air, mingling with the sweet rot of mangoes, fallen way too late.  Old Ma Gertie stirred her pepperpot, the deep brown stew bubbling like a forgotten memory. Her hands, gnarled and darkened by a lifetime of sun and soil, moved with the practiced…
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Adiante Franszoon wood carving

Far away, yet Suriname is near

antonjiesamfoek© Washington DC / Amsterdam, December 29, 2022— He was born nearly 64 years ago in Dangogo on the Saramacca River. Of course reading and writing didn’t end up there in the woods then. But what would it be? Who wants to learn to read and write when you already have everything you could want…
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The Philosophic and Political Implications of Land Ownership Dispute Between First Settlers and Indigenous Peoples

The Philosophic and Political Implications of Land Ownership Dispute Between First Settlers and Indigenous Peoples

antonfoek Amsterdam, February 10th, 2025 – As the early settlers arrived on what is now the territory of the United States, they were met with vast landscapes that were already home to thriving indigenous communities. These native tribes, including various Indian nations and Aboriginal peoples, had lived in harmony with the land for millennia, guided…
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Politicians Inspired by Howard Zinn's Democratic Socialism

Politicians Inspired by Howard Zinn’s Democratic Socialism

antonfoek Amsterdam, February 10th, 2025 – Howard Zinn’s philosophy of democratic socialism has inspired a number of politicians around the world. These leaders have sought to implement policies that prioritize social welfare, economic equality, and democratic participation. Here are a few notable examples: 1. Bernie Sanders (United States) Bernie Sanders, a U.S. Senator from Vermont, has…
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Discovering Eltz Castle A Timeless Gem in Germany

Discovering Eltz Castle: A Timeless Gem in Germany

antonfoek A Family Legacy Through the Ages Amsterdam, February 6th, 2025 – Nestled in the lush hills of the Moselle Valley, Eltz Castle (Burg Eltz) stands as a striking emblem of medieval architecture and family heritage. Dating back to the 12th century, this enchanting castle has been owned by the same family for over 850…
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The Ethereon: Bridging Ancient Philosophy and Modern Technology

The Ethereon: Bridging Ancient Philosophy and Modern Technology

antonfoek Rediscovering the Fifth Element Elon Musk’s latest technological marvel, the Ethereon fighter jet, draws inspiration from an ancient concept that once fascinated Greek philosophers: the fifth element, known as “aether” or “ether.” Unlike the tangible elements of fire, water, earth, and air, aether was believed to be a mystical substance that filled the heavens…
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