“Divide│United: The Dawn of a New Europe”

The year 2009 marks the 20th Anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain. The Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs has organized a series of wide-ranging events during the year to honor this historic anniversary. The program entitled, “Divided │United: The Dawn of a New Europe,” aims at familiarizing young people in Europe and throughout the world with the historic significance of the enormous political transitions which took place in 1989 and the subsequent impact on world politics.

The Upper-Austrian capital of Linz is currently the 2009 “European Capital of Culture,” a prestigious title held by at least one European city every year since 1986. It shares the honor this year with Vilnius, Lithuania. Conceived by former Greek Minister for Culture Melina Mercouri, the purpose is to provide each EU country with the opportunity to select one of its cities and feature its cultural life and urban development.

Dr. Eva Nowotny was awarded the Grand Decoration of Honor in Silver with Star for Services to the Republic of Austria as a token of appreciation for her significant achievements during her distinguished diplomatic career as Ambassador to the United States, the United Kingdom and France. The award was presented by Secretary General Hans Kyrle on March 3rd, 2009, as part of a ceremony held at the Austrian Ministry for European and International Affairs in honor of her retirement from the Foreign Ministry.

The settlement of the first Austro-Hungarian émigrés in Pennsylvania marked the beginning of a long tradition of contributions to their adopted country and set a high standard for generations that followed. On February 27-28, 2009, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the University of Pittsburgh (Center of Russian and East European Studies) hosted an event that paid tribute to this close historical connection between Pittsburgh and Austria.

Forty-two years ago Josef Puehringer, a young man who had learned the traditional art of engraving glassware and crystal in his native Austria, was invited to come to the United States by Carson Pirie Scott & Company. Only two years later he founded his own engraving workshop in Chicago. Today his Wilmette, Illinois engraving and crystal company, The Crystal Cave, is considered one of the most modern and successful companies, employing the latest technology and attracting a large number of contracts and clients.

by Peter Pabisch

Skeptics call Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico the ‘devil’s kitchen’ because it was founded toward the end of World War II for the purpose of developing the atomic bomb. History has shown that the physicists were indeed so successful that the LANL still exists and has become one of the world-leading research centers for military and peaceful applications of nuclear power and productivity. It collaborates closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, and sends several LANL researchers to Austria’s capital on a regular basis.

by Peter Pabisch

Continuing the tradition of over half a century, the Santa Fe Opera (SFO) will offer five opera performances during the summer season of 2009, including one world premiere and several debuts and new productions. On Friday, July 3, the season will have its gala opening with Giuseppe Verdi’s, “La Traviata.” It will be performed eleven times throughout July and August, including the last performance which closes the season on Saturday, August 29.

Restaurant Nora, the first certified organic restaurant in the U.S. celebrates 30 years of existence

Native-born Austrian, Nora Pouillon, is a well-known restaurateur in Washington, D.C. and the owner of the first certified organic restaurant in the United States. Pouillon has been a strong advocate of the organic food movement and of sustainable living for the past 30 years. She has influenced others about the rewards of eating organic local nutritious food and created a close network of farmers who shared her beliefs and supplied her with their products.

“Of Consuls and Co-Nationals, Austria (-Hungary) and her Consulates in the United States of America 1820 – 1917,” written by the current Austrian Ambassador to Ethiopia Rudolf Agstner, was published in 2007. It offers a rare look at the little known relations between the Austrian Empire (referred to since the “Ausgleich” of 1867 as the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy) and the United States.