Balaz Simonyi (Hungary)

Me and Development

The future is going to be very problematic, chaotic and dangerous for the planet Earth if the mankind can’t call a halt for it’s self-digestive, destrucitive economical-social expansion. For me development is a rational and sophisticated decreasing and reducing in productivity, consumption, overpopulation. Sounds like a paradoxon or a Bradbury-novel? We need self-control in everyday’s life, we should appreciate the nature resources. If we need „green” to survive, we must be „green”.

Me and Africa

Over the typical mass media stereotypes (black continent, starvation, civil war, slavery, hunting, luxury products, exotic places, etc.) I know Africa from one of my favorite writers, Ryszard Kapuscinski’s novels. This Polish travelling journalist spent half of his life in Africa. I deeply recommend his colorful, surprisingly intelligent and eye-opening books (Eben, The Other, etc) about graceful exploration of postcolonial Africa. He teaches us much about contemporary events and recent history in Africa. These books will be my guides during the East4South-project.

For me Africa is like India to Cristopher Columbus.  He wanted to find India, he discovered an  other  continent. I've never been in Africa.  I have an image about it, which was developed by my readings, my fantasies and mass media. But I'm sure the trip, the shooting, the adventure and experience is going to be total different than my expectations.  I’m very excited.

Me and Journalism

A complex activity. Searching a topic, photographing, writing, making a broad online or pressed publicity for it. Journalism particularly means to share something important, relevant or interesting infos or details connecting your micro- or macro-community filtered through in your personal aspects.