American Views Abroad

 
The Russian news & information agency "RIA Novosti" has sponsored a project to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII called "Keinen Krieg! Kein Leid!", in English: "No War! No Suffering!" It is an especially charming project involving two children of Russian and German descent, Xenia-Luisa Maria Becker (8) and Nikita Charitonow (7). The two gifted children drew their vision of a world without war and misfortune, and these were then animated into two respective video spots seen in Berlin by hundreds of thousands of U-Bahn passengers. From the press release:

"The current relations between Russia and Germany stand as an example how two countries, once irreconcilable opponents in a devastating war, overcame the painful experiences and memories to begin a new future together on a common basis open to friendship and cooperation."
...
"RIA Novosti hopes that the light of goodness and tenderness shining from these films will reach the hearts of those who see them... Perhaps we will be reminded of the mistakes made in the past, and make a conscious decision not to repeat them."

The animations were shown in Berlin on the city projective screens and the monitors in the municipal transport from April 27th through May 7th. The animation project was conceived and realized by: Denis Ozirchenko and Alexander Shilov. What a wonderful present this was to the children, and to all of us. And thank you Xenia and Nikita for sharing your vision. You may find out more at the project's Website at www.keinkrieg.narod.ru. Because the site has been slow in responding we are hosting the videos (Windows Media Player) here at the American Views Abroad domain:

Xenia's Video
Nikita's Video

How do I know about all this living in Hamburg and not Berlin? Denis and Astrid, Xenia's parents, are old friends from my student days at Bielefeld University.
- posted by Fred @ 6:49 AM