William Penn Life, 2010 (45. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2010-12-01 / 12. szám
Magyar Matters WILLIAM PENN ASSOCIATION Cordially invites you to a reception at tke American Hungarian Foundation Friday, Decemker 17, from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Refreskments & appetizers will ke served.- Celebrate tke Christmas Season at tke AHF Festival of Frees. - Welcome Gergely Hajdú- Nemetk, AHF1 s new Executive Director. - Meet Will iam Penn Association’s local representatives. -Please RSVP to Dora McKinsey at 1-800-848-7366, ext.122. We look forward to seeing you at tke American Hungarian Foundation 300 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-1084. First red sludge lawsuit begins, more houses to be demolished DEVECSER, HUNGARY - The first compensation lawsuit in connection with the Oct. 4 toxic red sludge catastrophe began at the Municipal Court Nov. 21. Devecser resident József Konkoly is suing Magyar Aluminum (MAL) for nearly 20 million forints ($96,500) in compensation. Konkoly's house and its furnishings were destroyed by the torrent of sludge, and the building is now marked for demolition. He claims MAL is responsible for the damage. MAL lawyer György Ruttner argued that the company bears no legal responsibility because the spill was caused by extreme weather conditions. The plaintiff will have to prove that the damage was illegally caused by MAL, Ruttner added as he asked the court to reject Konkoly's lawsuit. Konkoly's lawyer Gábor Hidasi argued that the damage occurred not because the toxic sludge reservoir collapsed but because the sludge reached three villages, and MAL is responsible for failing to protect the villages. A total of 248 houses, rather than the expected 225, will have to be demolished in toxic sludge-hit Devecser, and 69 families have refused to accept an evaluation of their properties, according to government officials overseeing the coordination of reconstruction. The Regional Development Ministry also announced that agricultural producers, food processing employees and husbandry staff will be able to lay claim to one-time, non-refundable income-replacing subsidies. The total amount of funds available in the subsidy program is 35 million forints ($169,000), the Regional Development Ministry said. □ AHF presents Washington awards NEW BRUNSWICK. NJ - The American Hungarian Foundation recognized the contributions of three leading members of the American Hungarian community during its 48th Annual George Washington Awards Dinner. The black-tie affair was held Nov. 17 at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. The laureates for 2010 were: Peter C. Goldmark, Jr. Prior to joining the Environmental Defense Fund, where he directs the Climate and Air Program, Mr. Goldmark served as president of the Rockefeller Foundation, chairman and CEO of the International Herald Tribune, and executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Dr. László Gyugyi Retired in 2003 as technical director for Central Research and Development at the Westinghouse Science and Technology Center, Dr. Gyugyi is internationally recognized for his unrivaled private collection of Zsolnay ceramic art. Imre Pakh An international businessman, philanthropist and patron of Hungarian art and culture, Mr. Pakh and his wife, Nelly, have assembled the largest privately owned Munkácsy art collection, which also is touring Hungary and neighboring countries. In name and symbolism the George Washington Award was inspired by the statue of Washington erected in the City Park of Budapest in 1906. It was a gift from Hungarian immigrants living in America. For the immigrants the statue served as an expression of gratitude to the memory of George Washington and to their adopted country, while not forgetting the land of their birth. The George Washington Award of the American Hungarian Foundation honors persons whose eminent contributions are in the broad field of human knowledge, the arts, commerce, industry, the sciences, and understanding among men and nations. □ William Penn Life 0 December 2010 0 13 T
