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| October 2004 Newsletter | |
Forthcoming Events - October | |
Entrance Free | |
Fire destroys priceless collections in the Duchess Anna Amalia Library in Weimar | |
On that fateful September day, a huge fire engulfed the world famous Library in Weimar, destroying approximately 30.000 books from the 15th and 16th century, while another 40.000 books were damaged by the fire and/or by the water used for fighting the fire! The building dating from 1565 was also heavily damaged. Some of the damaged books are being transferred to the ZFB Zentrum für Bucherhaltung (Centre for Book Preservation) in Leipzig for drying. This Centre offers disaster management services. Large special freeze-dry chambers with low relative humidity are always kept available for emergency cases in order to preserve books damaged by water. The faster the wet documents are frozen, the lower is the risk of ink or colour running, of bindings being destroyed and of fungus and other bacteria developing. Once in these “freezers”, the water absorbed by the paper is frozen to ice and then by sublimation is extracted off directly as a gaseous phase. | |
| UNUSUAL MUSEUMS IN GERMANY!! | |
  The Museum of Spices You want to know what spices there are in the world? How they were and how they are processed? Then you will have to go to the only spice museum of this type in the world. As entrance ticket you will get a sample of spices! Once inside, you can smell, taste and touch all the spices. In an area of 350 square metres, there are more than 800 exhibits including historical tools and equipment from the last five centuries. In 2003, more than 120,000 persons visited this museum in Hamburg, which city is the third largest spice trading centre in the world.
The Chocolate Museum | |
| Joseph Busuttil Occupational Therapist, Member of the German-Maltese Circle Interviewed by Ingrid B. Kidder | |
 Joseph Busuttil has lived, studied, lectured and travelled in many countries of the world, yet always returns to his home country where he was born in the once small and isolated village of Attard. From early childhood he was obsessed by education which he made his lifelong hobby. And so he narrated to us his various professions and inclinations: After primary and secondary education, he started a career in the early sixties in the newsroom of the newly established Malta Television Station. He enjoyed the feel of current affairs, translated foreign news, became newsreader, night editor and journalist. “It was a very exciting time”, he said, “something like a connection to the world outside”. However, after about seven years, the enticement to change became stronger. The new challenge came suddenly as one of his aunts suffered from a stroke and required rehabilitation which was not available in Malta. This provided the impetus to occupational therapy. He won a scholarship to study the subject for three years in London, graduating with a Dip. O.T. (Diploma in Occupational Therapy). On his return to Malta, he was the first Maltese to develop treatment in the mental health field. “After eight years of pursuing and fulfilling this profession my batteries needed recharging”, was Joseph’s opening sentence to the new chapter of his life. So he returned to the UK to study for a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation at Southampton University. His aim was to acquaint himself with educational methods in order to start an Occupational Therapy School in Malta. And, indeed, in 1984 he set up this school, now forming part of the Institute of Health Care of the University of Malta. For five years he ran the new school as Coordinator. In addition to teaching himself, he also invited foreign lecturers and examiners.
During his stay in Jordan, the first Gulf War broke out and he had closest experience of the trauma spreading across the Arabic world which makes him shudder still. Joseph explained that of paramount importance to people and nations in these arid areas are the ‘three types of gold’ – the yellow gold i.e. gold as a precious metal, the white gold i.e. a synonym for the precious water, and the black gold i.e. crude oil – all three of these being commodities for which the individual as well as the community will fight. Returning to Malta in 1992 he resumed his work with the Department of Health where he is still Manager of Occupational Therapy Services. Beside his work, he pursues hobbies like cycling – which I found rather suicidal, though he meant merely: “Well the roads are not exactly user friendly for cyclists!” Another hobby is Vintage, Veteran and Classic Cars, driving a 1967 MG, and acting as Public Relations Officer of the Old Motors Club in Malta. Yet these activities does not mean he has become really complacent. During the years since his return he did not only travel extensively to distant countries like Kenya, Russia, Armenia and Georgia, but also accepted a number of advisory missions and lecturing calls in his special field of occupational therapy in, for example, Kuwait, USA, China and Germany. In Germany he even lectured from a German script which of course led me to inquire more about his German studies. Joseph began learning German at the GMC five years ago and will now start a course leading to the Zentrale Mittelstufen Prüfung. Under the auspices of the E.U. Leonardo Programme, he visited the Zentrum für Soziale Psychiatrie Rheinblick der Klinik Eichberg (Centre for social psychiatry of the Hospital in Eichberg), where for the first time he exercised his knowledge of the German language. Next to his professional involvement he tried to foster better understanding between rehabilitation in Malta and Germany with the aim of arranging placements of Maltese therapists in Germany for study purposes. Joseph Busuttil’s personal key note in his own words: “My philosophy is to be a constant learning and positive person. Even when working in hospitals one has got to look at the bright side and create an aura of positiveness”. | |
| Nachrichten aus der Sankt Barbara Gemeinde | |
In der zweiten Oktoberhälfte besuchen zwei berühmte Chöre, die Domsingknaben Limburg und die Domchöre von Fulda, Malta. Sie werden Konzerte geben und bei Messen auftreten: Domsingknaben Limburg: Domchöre Fulda Eintritt ist bei allen Veranstaltungen frei. | |
Ingrid Kidder | |
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Friday, 15th October 2004
Saturday, 16th October 2004
Monday, 25th October 2004 at 6.30p.m.
Before the 2nd September 2004, the Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek in Weimar was a much sought after research library for literature and cultural history specialising in the period of German literature between 1750 and 1850. The holdings comprised over 900,000 volumes amongst which was the world’s largest collection of Goethe’s Faust. The library, which is over 300 years old, contained the Rococo Hall, one of the most impressive library halls in Germany, which was first used in 1766 under the direction of the Duchess Anna Amalia herself. 
The Playing Cards Museum
As fate would have it, one of these foreign examiners informed him that Jordan was looking for a person to set up an Occupational Therapy College in Amman. He was accepted, and consequently in 1989 Joseph Busuttil was the first person to set up a College for Occupational Therapy in the Arab Middle East. This project received the support of the Jordanian Royal family in particular of Queen Nur. He pointed out that apart from his professional knowledge it was also his competence in Arabic which gained him this position which he held for the contractual three years. 
Congratulations to Mrs Ingrid Kidder who was bestowed with the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by Ambassador Mr Georg Merten on behalf of the Federal President during a reception given in Mrs Kidder’s honour at his residence in Lija. Mrs Kidder was awarded this high honour for her work in promoting cultural
exchanges between Germany and Norway, South Africa, Great Britain
and Malta.