Im Denken moderner Mehrheitsgesellschaften gilt seit 150 Jahren die scheinbar unanfechtbare Gleichung: Volk = Nation = (Sprache) = Staat = Grenze(n). Als wir heute mehr ueber das Volk der Sorben erfahren haben, bekamen wir eines der Beispiele dafuer zu hoeren, dass diese Gleichung nichts Gegebenes ist und die vier Faktoren unabhaengig voneinander exisitieren: Diejenigen Sorben, die sich als solches definieren, fuehlen sich einem Volk (dem Sorbischen) zugehoerig, sprechen eine damit verbundene Sprache (Sorbisch), leben in keinem sorbischen, sondern im deutschen Staat und haben um das Territorium ihres Volkes und ihrer Sprache keine Staats-Grenze.

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So my Uncle used to say. I’m not so sure of the science behind that, but this dinosaur is very much alive! Its arms flail around scaring small children under the guidance of cyclists and campers until it reaches the centre of the village. It’s stomache opens up and regurgitates a hosts of black biodegradable balloons with messages tied to them praying for the village to be spared. They drift off into the distance as local Sorbian counter-polka animates us into dancing the traditional Sorbian circle dances we have just been taught. It’s a sunny Saturday afternoon, and we are…

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(PICTURES TO FOLLOW – INTERNET TOO SLOW!!) After 70 kilometres, we arrive in the little village of Niebendorf to stay with Christian, Ben, Lucia, Virginia in the gardens of Ventus e V. It is a group of fantastic people who are giving a few teenagers a chance to try an alternative psychiatric health treatment, living close to nature and lowering their medication. We had a wonderful sunset as we celebrated Katy’s birthday with an Austrian cherry cake cooked on the rocket stove with cherries from trees passed on the long day’s ride. Christian made us a little campfire with a…

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L’energia flueix com la vida, there’s just something in the air que j’ai jamais entendu; c’est l’amour, c’est la colere maybe is only the smile in the face. But it needs to be done com una ploma que bat les ales; pero nunca encuentra su sitio where to rest just for a bit. It’s the sun going down but not the feeling of being alive, feel the freedom in your fingers comme la lune et les étoiles. Let me be your flame again. Gemma Gelabert Gonzalo (català, español, english, français)

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We woke early for breakfast at 8pm, and then joined a tour of the campus. After the tour some people helped in the garden whilst others swam in the pool, or relaxed, before we met the community for an information exchange. After lunch, we cycled into town, just 2 km, to the local refugee project, Der Winkel, info cafe, a project also connected to the ZEGG. There we cooked with some people from the project, a traditional African feast, and listened to some of the stories from two brothers now living in Bal Belzig, who are fighting for asylum in…

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