The Key Component to Genocide Prevention

The Armenian Genocide

101 Years
1915-2016

On April 24, 1915 the Turkish Government and the Ottoman empire committed a terrible criminal act against humanity, tried to wipe out a whole race and culture. They killed 1.5 Million Armenians, stole our precious landmarks, churches, lands, Mount Ararat, pulled the rug right under us. The blood, flesh, bones, decapitation, tears, fears, displacing people from their homes, families, with Armenians changing their Armenian names to something Turkish so that they will not be targeted and where they will feel protected from harms way. The Turkish Government still denies and lies about ever committing Genocide against the Armenians and also still fails to recognize.

We will prevail, Justice is timeless.

This is why it is imperative to spread Genocide awareness as much as we can so that history will never repeat itself again.

In 2015, we commemorated the centennial. 100 years have gone by and this year in 2016 is the 101st. After 100 years, we will still continue to spread Genocide prevention.

Recognize, Acknowledge, Awareness, Educate, Prevent.

Those are the key components to Genocide prevention.

Not just for the Armenians, but all those in the world who have had to unfortunately, deal with Genocide in other cultures, races.

We received a lot of Global recognition last year which was incredible with all the coverage, letting people know about us, being put on the map, and addressing this very important subject.

Let us utilize the same energy we had during the Armenian Genocide 100th Centennial in 2015 and bring that same drive into 2016, to be big in numbers once again during peace demonstrations, marches, vigils, and so much more.

The 100th Armenian Genocide Commemoration – 2015

The 100th Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide is just 6 and a half Months away. Annually on April 24, we gather together in Canada’s Capital Ottawa in the Province of Ontario and we commemorate the Armenian Genocide. The Turkish Ottoman empire and Government is responsible for murdering and massacre of 1.5 Million Armenian’s in 1915 as well as stealing our precious and beautiful land as well as Mount Ararat which will always be Armenia’s.

The Turkish Government to this very day still denies that they ever did commit a Genocide, which is why we need to spread the word as much as possible. 2015 will be the 100th Commemoration. Where ever you are and will be, however you will commemorate, it is important to come together with other Armenian’s and venture out in the public eye, and in public places to voice ourselves and make this a global recognition. Our efforts need to be taken out of our Armenian communities and churches and solely head to Embassies, Consulates, organize public marches in the metropolitan areas of your city where it is densely populated with visible signs, banners, and our Armenia Flag.

Canada Has recognized the Armenian Genocide and we thank Canada so much as other Countries as well who have recognized. It is only a matter of time until the world comes together to raise awareness and recognition, on not only the Armenian genocide, but all other genocides and terrible acts of humanity throughout the world.
We need to spread the word out to everyone. In Canada, we will be heading to Ottawa, Canada in front of the Canadian Parliament, followed by a march to the Turkish Embassy. April 24, 2015. Usually we begin at 12 noon until everyone arrives in Ottawa from buses from Ontario and Quebec from Cambridge, Toronto, Montreal, Laval, and abroad. For up to date information, bus departure times and other questions, please see your Local Canadian Armenian Community Centre Organization to obtain more information.
Also the information will be posted here as well once we get more news soon. In the meantime it is important to spread awareness as much as possible. Social Media is a huge way to raise awareness. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the 100th Centennial in Ottawa, please contact me. Also if you want to do your own research about the Armenian Genocide and what happened, You can Google, or search on Facebook, Twitter or wherever in social media.

I am on Instagram – Follow Me at Talin401

In the recent months I have joined Instagram. It is an app for iPhone/Android users or anyone with a smartphone can join and have access to it. It is a website where you take photos from your Camera Phone photo files, and you pick and choose what you want to post on Instagram. I have almost 100 photos posted on there right now, but it will be increasing. I am very picky on photos I choose to post on Instagram.

However, it is important to be very careful of what you post on there as well that will not cause bullying, discrimination or anything of that sort.

If you would like to Follow me on Instagram and I will automatically follow you back. As stated above My name is Talin401 on there.

You can keep in touch with family, friends, and others if you like to as well and see their photos too.

There is also an app called Instasize, of where you can get your whole picture to fit on instagram if it is too big. try it out.

You can also hashtag #hashtag your posts so that it can be posted globally to whoever has instagram. For example, if you post a picture of yourself in New York City or Boston or you are traveling somewhere, you can write #boston #newyorkcity #newyork #nyc #bostonma #travel #traveling – Stuff like that. Make sure that you hashtag your posts if you like to of what is in relative to the photo.

Enjoy Instagram and keep in touch with me there as well that is if you like to.

99th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide to Take Place in Ottawa, Canada – April 24th, 2014

The 99th Anniversary on the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide is quickly approaching next month on April 24th, 2014. To Canadian-Armenian community and more, Lets make our attendance in Ottawa, Ontario Canada in front of the Parliament Hill, The March to The Turkish Embassy a successful one with thousands of people, Lets crowd and fill the park by the Turkish Embassy, lets make the march there a huge one. Lets stand tall, voice ourselves even louder.

We need to get out there in the public eye and raise awareness about the Armenian Genocide. Not just getting together in Armenian Community Centres to commemorate, but must take a stand outside Like of course Ottawa, Queens Park, and in front of the Media eyes, gain as much Television, Social Media Awareness, get these news casters to the scene, get us on Television, and make us well known. That is how we are going to let people know what happened. We have many Armenians in Media. Lets get this Rolling…. I have never seen our Ottawa commemorations air on our TV’s and Broadcasting Corporation Channels. Something must be done about that.

The Turkish Ottoman Empire Killed 1.5 Million Armenians, and tried to wipe us all off from the Earth on April 24, 1915, but could not succeed. They also stole our lands and our Mountain Ararat – Also Known as Mount Ararat.

Please make prior arrangements from now to attend the commemoration. It is important and something we all should participate in and do our best. Lets help each other and join each others hands and lets go to OTTAWA, CANADA. Canada’s Capital….

Please see your local Cambridge, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Laval and other Armenian communities to gain more information on Buses, and times, so on and so forth. Lets make this year a big number in attendance. We can do this.

My Motherland & Beautiful Armenia & Its History

Today, I am going to talk to you about My Motherland and Beautiful Armenia.  Armenia is located between Europe and Asia. We have an incredible history of people and things. Our Alphabet has 38 letters and it was invented by one of our great inventors Mesrob Mashtotz (MES-ROB, MASH-TOTZ). We have a library called Madenataran and our important books of history are kept there and a statue of our Mesrob Mashtotz is just outside. Our very first Pontiff/Pope of Armenia was St Gregory the Illuminator, in Armenian we say (Sourp Krikor Lousavorich). He was falsely imprisoned in a hole for 13 years under this church called Khor Virab (KHO-R VEERAB), and from this Church Monastery you can see the Mount Ararat which was once Armenia’s Property and I still think to this day it is still ours. It is where the Noah’s Arc came to rest. Mount Ararat was stolen from Armenia and it’s lands from the Turkish Government. in April 24, 1915, The Armenian Genocide happened and 1.5 Million Armenians were killed and massacred by the Turkish Ottoman Empire, and which they stole our lands and property. Since then we have commemorated and paid our respects to those brutally murdered in Armenian Communities around the world. In Armenia we have the Armenian Genocide Memorial, and its called Dzidzernagapert (D-ZID-ZER-NAGA-PERT). Every year on April 24th, All of Armenia’s Schools, Workplaces would be closed and everyone would go to the Memorial to place flowers all around the Eternal Flame which has never stopped. The Turkish government still fails to recognize their crimes against Armenia and its been an ongoing struggle for the Armenians, but we sure will not give up and we will continue to protest every year until justice is served for our people who’s lives we lost. I have friends whose families in the past have been through the Genocide. There are still Survivors to this day, but Very few left in the world. Armenia’s Capital city is Yerevan. It is located in the heart of Armenia.

Our Armenia flag has 3 colours, Red, Blue and Orange. Armenia has so many different types of produce and food. Armenia’s national fruit is the Apricot (Dziran) (D-ZEE-RAN), and as well as the Pomegranate. We also have the freshest Cherries, Grapes and Watermelons.  Armenia has a beautiful lake called Sevan. I remember going there a couple of times, to swim and take in the beauty of Armenia. We have incredible monasteries and churches such as St Etchmiadzin, St Mary, Haghardzin, St Hripsime, Garni, Geghard, Saghmosavank, and so much more. We have incredible Cafes, and restaurants, we have incredible fashion stores, Armenian Cognac and different types of Liquor Factories, Kotayk Beer, Coca Cola Bottles written in Armenian letters, Wonderful tasting Ice creams. Armenia is beyond rich in History.

When I was a child., I began to learn a lot about my culture, heritage, history, Alphabet, to learn how to speak it, to read and write Armenian, my parents sent me to Armenian Saturday School. When I graduated grade 8 in 1999, and it was the first year from the Armenian Saturday school trip that we embarked on a trip to our Motherland Armenia on July 21st, 1999. We flew with Air Canada to Paris, France Charles De Gaule Airport, where we toured Paris for a good 10 hours, then we headed back to the Airport to take Armenian Airlines (Which is now Armavia) right to our Motherland Armenia. I will never forget the feeling when I landed on Armenia’s Soil. I kissed the ground and I felt so different being there. All around me are Armenian Letters, Armenian Speaking people, and everything I learned in school came right before my eyes. It was an incredible journey and experience of a lifetime and I will never forget it. At times when I was in Armenia, I felt very homesick with my first time taking a trip without my parents as beforehand all the traveling was done with my parents. My cousins also had come with me and it was a great experience. To this day, I still remember everything so fresh in my mind ,and everything was incredible. After Armenia, we took Armenian Airlines to Frankfurt Germany, where we were there for 6 hours. Then we flew Lufthansa back to Toronto, Canada where our families were waiting anxiously for us in the waiting area of the Airport.

I had arrived to Toronto, but my luggage was left behind in Germany. I had so many things and souvenirs I had packed in my luggage and I got so upset. About a few days later, my luggage was found and later brought back to Toronto on another flight. All my things were safe and nothing was broken thankfully because I had packed them very well and I had already become an experienced and good packer. I have kept my boarding passes, tickets and everything from my Armenia trip and I have created a Special Armenia box with everything in it. Later than I began to join Armenian clubs, youth committees and trying to do everything I can to keep my Heritage alive and to this day, I still do. I love being Armenian and I am a proud to be one. If you have the chance and if your making travel plans, make sure Armenia is on your list. In terms of getting a visitors Visa, you can get it right from Armenia’s Airport called Zvartnotz. You do not need any special vaccinations, shots to enter Armenia. It is very safe and clean. Armenia people are so friendly and helpful and they will accommodate your every need.. Visit Armenia. Its beautiful. for more information and if you want to know more, search the internet and you will find photos, history, background and so much more.

Shunoragalem (SHEN-ORA-GAL-EM) in Armenian means Thank you.

My First Time On An Airplane to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico At 9 Years Old

Lately, I have been thinking about all the traveling I have done in my life and one of the travels that clinged to me was my first ever flight to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with my family. I remember when I went on Royal Airlines and that Airline is no longer of service for quite sometime now. I have had interesting and incredible trips. At 9 years old I really could not understand a lot about Mexico and I just went there to have fun and as a kid, I would get all the free stuff because the hotel staff gave me gifts to take home, so I was really excited at the time. Now we went on this ferry boat to take us to an Island I am not sure how to spell it but we went to HULAPA or something like that and it took over 2-3 hours to sail there. Now I did something that I should not have done. I fell asleep in the hot sun on deck of the ferry boat for I think a good hour or more, and I slept on my stomach, so I woke up and my back and my legs were bright red like a tomato and I didn’t really think much of it until later that night after returning from the island.

So as soon as night time hit, my legs started to burn so much and I couldn’t bare the pain anymore, so My mother went and asked the waiter for some yogurt or cold milk to put on the burn, so I did that, but it was so red that it really hurt. So the remainder of the trip I was walking stiff and it ruined my vacation and i was afraid to bend my knees. It was so funny now that I think about it. It was quite an interesting trip for me as my first trip on a plane. It was a very fun trip, but now due to all the problems going on in Mexico with Canadian tourists, I don’t think Mexico will be on my travel list. It is awesome how traveling and the experiences you get out of them make you learn things and I learned to put SunScreen before sleeping in the sun and then prevent the burning later.  All in all I had a blast and I couldn’t stop talking about my trip to my teachers at school after returning and to my other family members.

I must say, I love to travel on airplanes and I love the adrenaline when the pilot of the plane accelerates and the plane goes super fast to prepare for take off. I love that part so much. I fell in love with Air travel because of that. Its so interesting. Since then I can’t even begin to count how many times I have been on a plane and several airline companies. To those traveling. I wish you a safe, enjoyable, happy flight.