Texts
-
Circles and Lines of Stillness – 1st Part – (Kathy – Jaipur – December 2024) – Revisited version
French version below Jawahar Kala Kendra and the Indian Coffee House: A Cultural Oasis in Jaipur The Indian Coffee House (ICH) at Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK) in Jaipur provides a peaceful escape from the city’s constant rush. While Jaipur’s historical significance is undeniable, the city often leaves me feeling disillusioned. Its streets, chaotic and filthy, obscure the beauty of its cultural heritage, and the visible poverty and aggressive pace of life can be overwhelming. Yet, amidst this turmoil, JKK and its Indian Coffee House branch offer a calm refuge—a cultural haven where community and serenity come together. JKK: A Cultural and Sustainable Landmark Designed by the acclaimed architect Charles Correa and inaugurated in 1993, Jawahar Kala Kendra is…
-
Echoes of the Past, Sips of the Present ( Kathy – Jaipur – December 2024)
French version below Indian Coffee House in Jaipur Imagine this: instead of spending a week in Goa, I’m here in Jaipur, continuing my journey through the legendary Indian Coffee Houses. After walking through Jaipur’s dusty streets, I arrive at an ICH that leaves me speechless. I’ve never seen one so lifeless. https://g.co/kgs/Cysqfhf Just four customers. Can you believe it? The place looks rundown. Even the staff seem drained. The laminated menu is uninspiring, and the vibe is equally dull. But, as they say, don’t judge a book by its cover. I order a cold coffee with cream—it’s delicious—and start talking to the people around. Soon, the familiar joy of documenting…
-
Cooperatives Build Prosperity for All – #IYC2025 – 1st Part ( Kathy – Udaipur – November 2024)
French and Dutch versions below A Movement Rooted in Values The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) https://ica.coop/en/our-work/cooperative-mission defines a cooperative as: “An autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise”. At their core, cooperatives are more than just organisations—they’re communities driven by shared values like self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. These values are reflected in the ICA’s seven principles, which include voluntary membership, democratic control, economic participation, autonomy, education, cooperation among cooperatives, and concern for the community. Together, these principles empower members, foster inclusive decision-making, and drive sustainable development. I am a proud member of SmartCoop https://smart.coop/countries and this…
-
The Tale Of the United Sands – 2nd Part (Kathy – Abu Dhabi – November 2024)
French and Dutch versions below Part 2 : Shadows and Light in the Land of Dreams The United Arab Emirates was a place where wonders met realities less radiant. The desert, once silent and endless, had been transformed into a land of modernity, dreams, and ambition. The cities gleamed under the sun, full of skyscrapers and sparkling shopping centres, but beneath this shining surface, there were far more complex challenges than met the eye. The country, in its pursuit of a bright future, also battled against invisible shadows. While prosperity was evident, there were struggles to manage the fragile environment. Resources were scarce, and water, this precious treasure, was a…
-
The Tale of the United Sands- 1st Part (Kathy – Abu Dhabi – November 24)
French and Dutch versions below Part 1: A Vision of Unity in the Desert Once upon a time, across a vast, golden desert where the sands kissed the shimmering waters of the Gulf, there were seven proud and fiercely independent lands. Each was a sheikhdom, ruled by its own wise leader, bound together by shared culture but separated by the silent spaces of the desert. Life was tough under the blazing sun; families carved out their living from the sea and the scarce treasures of the earth—fishing, pearling, and trading along distant shores. They lived by nature’s rhythm, telling tales beneath the stars and dreaming of a brighter future. Yet,…
-
What’s More Precious? (Kathy- Brussels – Oct. 24)
English version below Quoi de plus précieux Que le temps merveilleux Que je te donne Que je reçois Quoi de plus gâché De ne pas s’ le partager De ne pas se rencontrer De ne pas se raconter S’ignorer Ignorer Qu’entre la vie et la mort Il a sombré Qu’entre la vie et la mort Il a sombré Quoi de plus précieux Que d’encore voir tes yeux Quoi de plus gâché Que ton sang qui s’est figé S’ignorer Ignorer Qu’entre la vie et la mort Il est tombé S’ignorer Ignorer Qu’entre la vie et la mort Il est tombé Dans son canapé Petite fille Il ne t’avait pas oubliée Petite…
-
This is not a soft (Kathy – Brussels – 1st Oct. 24)
Une journée dédiée A penser RSE RSE, tu dis S pour Sociale R pour Responsabilité E pour Entreprises Transition par toi Toi au centre Toi l’humain Toi au centre de l’économie La nique aux dollars La place au lien Le lien pour la force La force et le sens Le sens et le travail Le travail Le travail T’y sens-tu bien? Tes sens sont tiens? Ce sens t’y tiens? Un plan, un modèle Toi au centre Toi l’humain Toi au centre De l’économie sociale Economie sociale, tu dis? Tu crées Tu rêves Tu entreprends Un besoin? Tu l’entends. Tu le vois et le prends Dans tes bras Dans ta tête…
-
Agri per tutti (Kathy – Tuscany – July 2024) Part 2
English and French versions below I mestieri legati alla produzione alimentare sono fondamentali per la nostra sopravvivenza e il nostro benessere. Contrastando gli effetti nocivi dei grandi gruppi agricoli tossici e sostenendo le pratiche agricole sostenibili, possiamo proteggere il nostro ambiente, la nostra salute e il nostro futuro alimentare. C’è però un grande ostacolo: questi mestieri vitali, come quelli praticati da agricoltori, orticoltori, apicoltori, allevatori e viticoltori, sono minacciati dal predominio dell’agroindustria con i suoi impatti negativi significativi, dalla burocrazia pesante e dalle continue modifiche legislative imposte dall’Europa, che sembra preoccuparsi di tutto tranne che dell’ecologia e della vita. Le ultime elezioni ne sono una prova, no? Mi sembra cruciale…
-
Agri per tutti (Kathy – Tuscany – Italy -July 24) Part 1.
English and French versions below Daniela è molto più di una semplice amica geniale. Ci siamo conosciute più di 40 anni fa su una spiaggia isolata a Phuket, in Thailandia. La nostra amicizia è stata un dono della vita, ricca di connessioni sincere e ricordi vividi. Qualche settimana fa, sapendo quanto amo il mare, gli animali come mucche, maiali, cani, gatti, cavalli e i meravigliosi paesaggi della Toscana—sua terra natale—mi ha invitato a trascorrere una vacanza insieme. Abbiamo organizzato un soggiorno prolungato in una splendida fattoria che offre agriturismo. Sono affascinato dalle varie forme di lavoro che ci permettono di connetterci, trovare significato e realizzare i nostri sogni in armonia…
-
No Black Sunday, please. (Kathy-Brussels-June 24)
Tu crois que le jaune et le noir vont passer? Tu crois que le coq va triompher? Tu crois que les dés sont pipés? Tu crois que je suis démasquée? Tu crois que je suis un numéro classé? Tu crois que je vais voter pour toi? Tu crois que prendre la pose me séduira? Tu crois pouvoir te reposer? Tu crois au pouvoir? Tu crois aux poulettes aguicheuses sur leurs listes de putes? Tu crois à une carte de la Belgique envahie d’une marée brune? Divisée? Au rouge brodé, bridé, jugulé par des lacets lacérés? Tu crois qu’avoir l’air que tu prends, me fera respirer? Tu crois que ça me…
