Press release Amsterdam, May 11th 2010
Jörgen Raymann says YES! Join ‘30th May National Tea Day For Connection, Togetherness, Joined Action!’
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‘30th May National Tea Day’ is a citizens initiative ‘For Connection, Togetherness, Joined Action!’ and is a plea for national contemplation. Citizens of the Netherlands are invited to actively seek connection with each other.
Drinking tea is a force
In almost all cultures around the world drinking tea is a ritual associated with ‘ a moment of connection’, ‘tranquility and relaxation’, ‘attention’, ‘togetherness’ , ‘focus’ and other values that indicate humanity, togetherness and sharing. Also in the Netherlands the ritual of drinking tea holds all the functions. Drinking tea is a force. Drinking tea is a symbol. It shows Connection, Togetherness, Joined Action!
Why National Tea Day?
On the one hand it seems like ‘polarization’ and ‘ fear for each other’ are ruling in our country. Almost everybody thinks he knows better than the average person, but nobody is actually listening to each other. On the other hand it seems like you cannot have a brotherly/sisterly cup of tea in the Netherlands without being labeled incompetent or seen as suspicious. Two extremes, forcing the question: What is left anno 2010 of our values Humanity, Togetherness and Connection?
Of course we have problems in the Netherlands. Covering up these problems won’t help, but neither will solutions created out of polarization help. But solutions created from connection always work. Connection implies sharing our problems and putting our energy together to solve them together, from Groningen to Zeeland (North to South). The citizens initiative ‘30th May National Tea Day For Connection, Togetherness, Joined Action!’ has been created to get attention for this connection.
Ambassadors
The action and the idea behind ‘30th May National Tea Day’ is publicly supported by The Landelijke Vereniging van Wereldwinkels, a Dutch organization of 400 Wereldwinkels (Fair Trade shops). ‘Like National Tea Day the Wereldwinkels upholds the value of human connection and cultures.’
The other ambassadors are people and/or organizations who support the idea behind ‘30th May National Tea Day For Connection, Togetherness, Joined Action!’ and promote this thought in their daily activities. As ambassador they like to contribute to the promotion of this initiative for national connection.
The initiative to start this citizen movement is taken by writer Usha Marhé.
Jörgen Raymann, stand-up comedian, television producer, and national symbol for connection
Frénk van der Linden, journalist and writer
Denise Jannah, international jazz singer
Suzanna Lubrano, international singer
Joke Tjalsma, actor
Frank Siddiqui, journalist, advisor culture & media
Bart Top, Media & Culture & Diversity
Faisal Mirza, We Are Staying Here
ZAMI, self organisation for black and migrant women
The people behind this initiative, and also the spokespersons:
Usha Marhé, initiative taker, writer: ushamarhe@gmail.com
René Romer, TransCity Diversity Marketing & Communications: rene@transcity.com
(Fair Trade Shops) De Landelijke Vereniging van Wereldwinkels, Danielle de Jong: 00-20-345-479250 or ddejong@wereldwinkels.nl
The logo in red and white on this website, has been created free of charge by Downtown Actiemaketing and can be reposted free of copyrights.
(With thanks to Sharon de Meneges for the English translation.)
