AMURG. Romanian Cremation Association

Having in my mind the idea that in a very short time Amurg. Romanian Cremation Association will be a functional structure for sustaining and promoting cremation in Romania I put here a picture of the interwar application for accesion for anyone to become member of Cenusa. Romanian Cremation Society (1937). This is a very important piece of what means a history of cremation in Romania and a very strong argument for us to restore the tradition of the interwar romanian cremationists.

AMURG. Romanian Cremation Association

Last week I met my friend and partner Cosmin Bodrean. We talked a lot about our plans to develop cremation in Romania. Due to the financial crisis in Romania we believe now it's hard to open a crematorium in Transylvania and we will try to develop a stronger system to take the bodies of the transylvanian romanians who want to be cremated to the Sgezed crematorium in Hungary. This is the first practical step for promoting cremation here. On the other hand, the best ideological tool for sustaining and promoting cremation here is our association AMURG. Romanian Cremation Association. In very short time we can facilitate to you to become member of our association. At the very first sight I think we will have about 30 members at the beginning of our asociation. In my opinion this is a very good begining having on my mind the fact that in 1923 when Cenusa. Romanian Cremation Society was founded this had just 14 members!
So, if you are interested to promote and sustain cremation in Romania come with us into the fire, becoming member of AMURG. Romanian Cremation Association!

Proceedings of the Alcoholism: Historical and Social Issues, International Conference, first edition, Alba Iulia, Romania, 28-29 August 2009

Here is the first cover of the proceedings Alcoholism Conference 2009. Me and Tudor Rosu are the editors of these.

News

Vitan Barzesti Crematorium in Bucharest
My friend Alexandru Murad Mironov searching for Mihai Popovici's grave in Balaneanu cemetery in Bucharest together with me!
Mihai Popovici's obituary published in Romania Libera newspaper in 1968

1. I was gone for couple of days to Bucharest trying again to see the archive of Cenusa and Vitan Barzesti crematoria in Bucharest. Unfortunately, in spite of the Adela Frecateanu's efforts, one of the lawyers of ACCU, to help me *(many thanks for your kindness, Adela!), I didn't succed to done it. I think the reason they refused me again with it is not to hide some secrets but just the bureaucracy of the employers of ACCU. Anyway they promised will permit me to see all these archives at my next visit at ACCU . I believe that in maximum 3 weeks I will be gone again to Bucharest for it.
Also, I was to Balaneanu cemetery in Bucharest searching for the grave of Mihai Popovici, one of the most important romanian cremationists, together with my friend Alexandru Murad Mironov from University of Bucharest. Unfortunately, we didn't find this grave.
2 I'm working with professor Eric Venbrux from University of Nijmegen, the Netherlands and my friend Zdenek Nespor, from Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic for an application at a common project research with european funds. The topic of this research project is Cremations and Crematoria in 20th-21st century Europe: Between Western and Eastern European Issues of Cremation. My main problem is the fact is very hard to me to find others 5 researchers in Romania interested in cremation issues, exceepting myself!

The Proceedings of Alcoholism: Historical and Social Issues, International Conference, 2009

This is a picture of a hard drunk man from Alba Iulia taken by me 2 weeks ago. Location of this: bus station of Alba Iulia, Romania!

The Proceedings of Alcoholism: Historical and Social Issues, International Conference, 28-29 of August 2009, Alba Iulia, Romania will be published as supplement of Caietele de Antropologie Istorica (Journal of Historical Anthropology, semester journal edited by the Seminar of Historical Anthropology, "Babes-Boylai" University of Cluj Napoca, Romania, editor in chief prof. Toader Nicoara). This journal is indexed in International Database. Here is the link to this journal: http://hiphi.ubbcluj.ro/hiphi/CAI/numere.htm

The Contents Draft of the Proceedings of Alcoholism: Historical and Social Issues, International Conference, Alba Iulia, 28-29 of August 2009

CONTENTS
FACT OR FICTION? AN OUTLINE OF THE HISTORICAL
ANTHROPOLOGY OF ALCOHOLISM.... 9
Hasso SPODE
BETWEEN SUPPORT, LACK OF INTEREST AND MOCKERY. PUBLIC
PERCEPTION OF ALCOHOLISM AND ANTI-ALCOHOLISM IN SERBIA IN
THE FIRST HALF OF 20TH CENTURY........ 17
Petar ATANACKOVIĆ
THE COMPATIBILITY OF THE MINNESOTA MODEL OF ADDICTIONS
TREATMENT WITH THE ROMANIAN CULTURE.......25
Floyd FRANTZ
SOCIOCULTURAL ASPECTS: TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLISM IN A
MULTI-CULTURAL SOCIETY ...................... 31
Wilfried K. KOEHLER
INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY AND SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE
PREVENTION...........35
Patrick Dimitris AKRIVOS
ALCOHOLISM, A SOCIAL PHENOMENON IN THE ROMANIAN
TERRITORIES IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY.............. 41
Oana Mihaela TĂMAS
“100 grams for Victory!” or the dilemmas of collective memory in the Republic
of Moldova............ 51
Ludmila COJOCARI
„DRUGS OF THE WORKING CLASSES”. THE SUBSTITUES OF LEGAL
VODKA IN INTERWAR POLAND............59
Adrian ZANDBERG
ALCOHOLISM AND ITS IMPACT ON SOCIETY: INDIAN PERSPECTIVE 69
Naima KHATOON
ALCOHOL AND ALCOHOLISM IN WOMEN EVERYDAYS IN THE
ROMANIAN SPACE (1850-1940) ........ 79
Iulia Adina POP
ALCOHOLISM AS GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE IN THE TRANSYLVANIAN
GREEK-CATHOLIC COMMUNITY IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH
AND THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY..... 95
Monica MURESAN
TEMPERANCE AND ABSTINENCE IN TRANSYLVANIA AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY. THE CASE OF THE THEOLOGICAL
ASSOCIATION IN BLAJ...............107
Victor-Tudor ROSU
BACTERIAL INFECTIONS IN CHRONIC ALCOHOLIC PATIENTS......... 117
I. MARINCU, L. NEGRUŢIU, I. IACOBICIU, Ioana TODOR, A.M. NEGHINĂ,
M. CORNIANU, R. NEGHINĂ..........117
A SOCIAL STUDY OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IN ALBA COUNTY ... 125
Claudiu STEFANI
VITICULTURE IN ALBA COUNTY.............. 143
Adriana ŢUŢUIANU, Daniela Elena CUCUI, Adina GOSA
THE ANTI-ALCOHOLISM ACTION IN SOVIET MOLDOVA BEETWEN 1985-1987...........155
Virgiliu BÎRLĂDEANU
SEVERAL ACCOUNTS ON THE WORSHIP OF LIBER PATER-DIONYSUS
IN APULUM...... 161
Radu OTA
ANTI-ALCOHOLISM ACTIONS IN ROMANIA DURING THE INTER-WAR
PERIOD ........... 169
Marius ROTAR
“THE EVILS OF ARDENT SPIRITS”: QUAKERS AND TEMPERANCE IN
EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY AUSTRALIA ........................................... 177
Judy STOVE
SPIRITUALITY OF THE ADDICTION. ALCOHOL: A BLESSING OR A
CURSE? ........ 187
Fr. Iulian NEGRU
THE PHENOMENON OF ALCOHOLISM IN ADOLESCENCE. ASPECTS
CONCERNING THE DOMESTIC ETIOLOGICAL FACTORS AND THE
SPECIFIC OF THE ADOLESCENT’S PERSONALITY – THEORETICAL
FACTS...... 201
Anca ROZOREA, Cătălin IONESCU
PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION IN CHRONIC
ALCOHOLIC PATIENS ......... 213
I. MARINCU, L. NEGRUŢIU, I. IACOBICIU, Ioana TODOR, A.M. NEGHINĂ,
M. CORNIANU, R. NEGHINĂ
PSYCHOLOGYCAL MODELS OF ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE.................... 221
Ioana TODOR
“The Romanian People Are Inclined to Get Drunk”. Truncated Images: The
Romanians and Alcohol in Several Foreign Accounts of the 16th Century ..... 231
Octavian Tatar

Conference, Newpaper, Famous Cremated Romanians (XXVIII)

1. A very important information for all the possible participants at the conference:
If your abstract will be accepted for a presentation at our conference and you will book your flights to Cluj Napoca and Sibiu airport is our task to collect you from these airports and going to Pensiunea Ramet. We used to do this for the foreign participants at the previous edition of our conference. Don't book your flights to Bucharest airport because it is impossible for us to collect you from there and you have to come to Ramet on your own using trains and buses.
2. Sunday the Romanian newspaper Adevarul published an interesting paper on some of the problems in the death system of Romania of nowadays. Here is the link http://www.adevarul.ro/actualitate/social/inmormantare-Bucuresti-biserica-preoti-gropari_0_195580739.html It's about the prohibited prices for a burial in Bucharest.

3. Famous Cremated Romanians

1939

Marin Nedeleanu - General of Romanian Army
1945
Alexandru Bujor - director of Sigurantei service Bucharest,police quaestor

1946

Marietta Horga - actress

Zelly Doncea - wife of the Romanian communism leader Constantin Doncea
Chrisanta M. Romnician - teacher at the famous college "Sf. Sava" from Bucharest
Dumitru G. Marinescu - general director of Mail Phone Telegraph Romania
Ioan Gh. Fortuneanu -member of Romanian Parliament, prefect of Mehedinti county
Ana Barbulescu - wife of Ilie Barbulescu, professor at University of Jassy, died in 1945 - I don't know if he was cremated or not...
Al. Gr. Ionescu - businessman
Boldur Gh. Simeaon - Phd. Economics
Leon Laserson - art collector
Theodor M. Bassarabeanu - lawyer, mayor of Focsani city
Traian Popovici - lawyer and mayor of Cernăuţi during World War II, known for saving 20,000 Jews of Bukovina from deportation, his ashes was buried in the cemetery of his native place (Colacu village in the North of Romania)

1968

Constantin Ticuta Pavelescu - major general of Romanian Army
Grigore Ghidionescu - composer
Paul I. Demetrescu - professor at University of Jassy
Modest Grigorcu - PhD. in economics and justice, he was sentenced some couple of years by jail for Romanian communists
Iorgu Istrate - adviser of Romanian Foreign Minister
1974
Niculita Teodoru -actor
Gheorghe Gogu Nicolescu - the founder of the first Romanian soccer club

Conference,Proceedings 2010 + Famous Cremated Romanians (XXVII)

1. Conference
Saturday I was to the Pensiunea Ramet for visit it and for a conversation with the owners of this guesthouse. As I wrote in the call for papers of the conference the registration fee is FREE at our conference. This mean all the meals and bed for 4 nights for any participant at our conference.
Please visit http://www.pensiunearamet.ro/Galerie/index.html to see some pictures of it. There is a very spectacular landscape over there due to the area mountains and Ramet monastery. Anyway we will take a dinner at the monastery.
2. Conference Proceedings 2010
These proceedings will be published as a supplement of Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Historica, the journal of History Department of "1 Decembrie 1918" University of Alba Iulia. This is a journal indexed by CEEOL.
3. Famous Cremated Romanians
1939
Victor Costin - professor at the University of Jassy and the promoter of projective geometry studies in Romania
Vasile I. Radu - journalist and writer
1940
Nicolae Portocala - General of Romanian Army
Gheorghe Moruzzi - General of Romanian Army - this is a very interested eccentric cremation case because according to the general Moruzzi's will his ashes was scattered at Ploiesti Hippodrom due to his love for horses racing.

Conference Proceedings 2010

It's very possible that the conference proceedings 2010 to be published as a supplement of the Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Historica, the journal of History Department of "1 Decembrie 1918" Univerity of Alba Iulia.
I preferred this solution because this journal is indexed in CEEOL (Central and Eastern European Online Library - http://www.ceeol.com/ ) . You can read on-line the abstracts of this journal: (http://www.ceeol.com/aspx/publicationdetails.aspx?publicationid=d336af08-1fad-404b-bae8-9e973073c369 ).
After a meeting of the editorial board of this journal they will give me the answer for my proposal on Monday but they already told me there is not any problem for them to accept it. In my opinion this is one of the best solutions to improve the quality and the scientific level of the conference proceedings 2010.

Call for Papers

The Call for Papers of Third International Conference on Dying and Death in 18th-21st Century Europe:Refiguring Death Rites in Europe, Alba Iulia (Râmet), Romania, 3 – 5 September 2010 is now indexed on http://www.h-net.org/announce/show.cgi?ID=173383 ; http://www.conferencealerts.com/seeconf.mv?q=ca1ms68a http://atlas-conferences.com/cgi-bin/calendar/d/fadw92 and also http://www.ru.nl/ct/english/call_for_papers/more_info/
Please visit these!
You are welcome at our conference!

Call for papers Dying and Death in 18th-21st century Europe:Refiguring Death Rites, Alba Iulia (Ramet), Romania, 3-5 of September 2010

Call for Papers: Third International Conference on Dying and Death in 18th-21st Century Europe:Refiguring Death Rites in Europe, Alba Iulia (Râmeţ), Romania, 3 – 5 September 2010.

On behalf of the Scientific and Organizing Committee, we are pleased to invite you to attend the third edition of Dying and Death in 18th-21st century Europe: Refiguring Death Rites in Europe, International Conference to be held between 3 – 5 of September 2010, in Alba Iulia (Râmeţ), Romania.

The organizers of this conference are: Romanian Association for Death Studies; The Refiguring Death Rites Research Group, Centre for Thanatology, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Ariodante Fabretti Foundation, Turin, Italy; Alba County Council, National Museum of Unification, Alba Iulia, Romania; “1 Decembrie 1918" University of Alba Iulia, Romania.

The aim of the conference is to bring together historians, sociologists, psychologists, and physicians from all over the Europe and to attract original papers on the following topics:

1. Cultural history of death
2. New ritualisations of death in the 21st century
3. Bereavement in modern and post-modern society
4. Suicide, euthanasia and the law
5. End of life and palliative care
6. Definitions of death in terms of biomedicine and otherwise
7. Commemorating the dead in space and time
8. Bodily disposal: implications of the shift from burial to cremation
9. Religion and the meaning of death



Scientific Committee:
Eric Venbrux (The Netherlands)
Tony Walter (UK)
Marina Sozzi (Italy)
Peter C. Jupp (UK)
Marius Rotar (Romania)
Victor Tudor Rosu (Romania)

Organizing Committee:
Marius Rotar
Victor Tudor Rosu
Corina Rotar
Liviu Zgarciu
Adriana Teodorescu

Authors should submit an abstract before April 25, 2010 at the following addresses: mrotar2000@yahoo.com; eric.venbrux@gmail.com or marina.sozzi@fastwebnet.it
Accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings.
The costs of accommodation will be covered by the organizers, except for the travel expenses that will have to be covered by the participants themselves.

Other information:

The Conference and participants’ accommodations will be at Pensiunea Râmeţ (http://www.pensiunearamet.ro/ ). Râmeţ is a commune located in Alba County, Romania. It has a population of 751. There are 30 km from Alba Iulia to Râmeţ. Also, Râmeţ monastery is one of the most famous Romanian orthodox monasteries. You can see some photos and read about it on http://www.romanian-monasteries.go.ro/alba/ramet.htm
If your abstract proposal will be accepted for a presentation please book your flights to Cluj Napoca airport or Sibiu airport.
For the previous editions of this conference please visit http://romaniandeathcremation.blogspot.com (tag: conference)

Famous Cremated Romanians (XXVI)

Lucian Grigorescu 's works. He was member of Romanian Academy, died in 1965 and cremated at Cenusa Crematorium in Bucharest.

1954

Mihai Moraru - member of Great National Assembly (the legislature of Communist Romania)
1956

Ion Calugaru - writer

Petru Niculescu - member of Great National Assembly

1958

Teodor Iordachescu - Minister of Construction
1969

Emanoil Vinea - deputy Minister of Finance

1960

Ion Silvan - architect

1966

Marcel Breslasu - poet, writer, he had Jewish origins

1970

Nicolae Deleanu - historian
Gheorghe Gheorghita - journalist

?

Mihai Dalea - ambassador in Soviet Union

Proceedings + Famous Cremated Romanians (XXV)

1. Proceedings of Dying and Death... International Conference, 2009

Yesterday I took from the Accent Publishing House the copies of the Dyind and Death Conference's Proceedings 2009 and next week I will send these to the participants and contributors of it.

2. Famous Cremated Romanians (XXV)

1938

Dimitrie Evolceanu - professor, PhD., literary critic

Titus Ionescu - lawyer, prefect of the Baia county

Emil F. Emilian - founder of Gazeta Sporturilor newpaper, journalist - he died in Czechoslovakia, but he was cremated at Cenusa Crematorium in Bucharest
Constantin Gh. Ratescu - President of the High of Justice and Cassation of Romania

1967
Barbu Dimitrescu - professor PhD. at the University of Bucharest

Gheorghe Scodihor - engineer, author of full of water development plans in Romania between 1951-1955

Leonte Parvulescu - lieutenant general of Romanian Army

I. Weinberg - PhD., musicologist

George Ionescu Baldovin - judge

Petre Dudcovschi - principal editor of Tineretului Publishing House

Jean Vornic - journalist

Ion Fatulescu - commander aviator

In 1938 following a plane crash occurred Lieutenant Colonel Waka Masakatsu, the military attache of the Embassy of Romania Japanese died. He was cremated at the Cenusa crematorium and urn ashes sent to Japan. You can see above a picture of his cremation ceremony occured at Cenusa Crematorium in Bucharest.

Conference + Famous Cremated Romanians (XXIV)

Marcel Chirnoaga 's work: Ressurection of the Dead. According to his will he was cremated in 2008 at the Vitan Barzesti crematorium in Buharest.

1. At the end of this week or latest at the very beginning of the next week the Call for Papers for Dying and Death in 18th-21st century Europe, International Conference will be available on this blog. Stay here for it!

2. Famous Cremated Romanians (XXIV)

1918

Lascar Viorel - painter. He died in 1918 being cremated in Germany but latter his ashes was buried at the Eternitatea Cemetery in Piatra Neamt.

1919

Mircea Zorileanu - pilot, one of the pionier of Romanian Aircraft. He died in 1919 at Genoa, Italy being cremated. In 1937 his urn became the foundation of a monument dedicated to his memory in Bucharest

1941

Aetiu Hogas - one of the children of famous romanain writer Calistrat Hogas

1996

Ion Pantazi - journalist. He died at Munich but his urn was buried at Ghencea Cemetery in Bucharest

Besides these persons there was an other very intersting case of the painter George Nasturel: he died very poor at the 96 age in United States. With the help of some orthodox romanian belivers from Los Angeles he was "saved" from cremation being inhumated!

Famous Cremated Romanians (XXIII) - 582!

One of the Ileana Radulescu's works. She was cremated at Cenusa Crematorium in Bucharest in 1984

1939
Miti Dumitrescu's team composed by: Miti Dumitrescu (lawyer), Ion Ionescu (student), Ovidiu Isaia (photographer), Ion Moldoveanu (student), Gheorghe Paraschivescu (student), Cezar Popescu (student), Mihai Stanciulescu (worker mechanic), Traian Popescu (student) and Ioan Vasiliu (illustrator). They were members of Iron Guard a far-right movement and political party during the interwar period and having also a ultra-nationalist, fascist and antisemitic character. Miti Dumitrescu's team is responsible by the assassination of Armand Calinescu, prime minister of Romania on 21 of September 1939. For this fact, they were executed and their bodies were cremated at Cenusa Crematorium in Bucharest. Also in 1939 others Iron Guard's member cremated at Cenusa Crematorium in Bucarest: Vasile Cristescu, Nicoleta Nicolescu and Victor Dragomirescu and others unidentified until today.

1942
Dimitre Motas - general of Romanian Army

1945
Fischer Hogl - killed during the first anti-communist manifestation at Bucharest on 8 November 1945. His body was cremated at Cenusa Crematorium in Bucharest. It's very important the fact that some dead of this manifestation were cremated, too but their identity remained unknown until today.

1952
Macavei Al Nicolae - employer of Siguranta Statului (the secret police) during the interwar period. He was killed embracing his daughter (4 years old!) by Securitate (the political police of Romanian Communist Party) in 1952. Their bodies were cremated at Cenusa Crematorium in Bucharest

?
Bucura Dumbrava - writer, alpinist
Emilian Cristea - alpinist

I have had until now on my list 582 names of famous cremated romanians!

Famous Cremated Romanians (XXII)

One of Aurel Acasandrei's works. Acasandrei was cremated in 2006 at Vitan Barzesti Crematorium in Bucharest.

1974

Nicolae Manolescu - General of Romanian Army

1977

Mihai Zapan - professor, PhD., Chemistry
Radu Rusescu - colonel-general of Romanian Army, the president of Red Cross Romania (1958-1961)
Ernest Rossi -consul Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mihai Cerchez - associate profesor, Mathematics

1984

Theodor Donciu - researcher
Adrian Secosan - painter

1986

Constantin C. Atanasiu - art critic

Aurel Malnasan -deputy foreign Minister, ambassador

Mircea Raianu - professor, writer

George Ceausu - General of Romanian Army

Ioan Teodor - PhD. , engineer, professor at Military Acamedy

1987

Adriana Dimopol - actress

Stelian Streja - journalist, son-in-law of Ilie Pintilie, one of the most important member of Romanian Communist Party durin interwar period

Constantin Duhaneanu - professor, PhD., Polytechnic

Silviu Teodor Dumitrescu - porfessor, PhD. , Polytechnic

Ioan Nistor - associate professor

Ilie Moisescu - major-general of Romanian Army

Gina Solomon - pianist

Tudor Ionescu Dorohoi - researcher, PhD.

Ilie Stefanescu - architect

Constantin Frumuzache - architect

Astra Nandris Calugareanu - Ph.D, doctor, daughter of Dimitrie Calugareanu, member of Romanian Academy; in her case is essential the fact his father and his brother (Gheorghe Calugareanu) were cremated, too. I don't know anything about her mother (Maria Maxim Calugareanu)

Janeta Robu - lecturer

Logo RCA + RADS

Finally, at the suggestions of some friends and future members I choose the logo of Asociatia Romana de Studii asupra Mortii (Romanian Association for Death Studies) and also of Asociatia Cremationista Amurg (Amurg. Romanian Cremation Association).
Many thanks to Gabriel Ursut, my old friend, for his help with these. Gabriel Ursut is a real very talented painter, his works being focused on orthodox icons and so on! Please visit his website: http://www.ug.webgarden.ro/menu/icoane-ortodoxe

Famous Cremated Romanians (XXI)

One of the Lazar Ghelman's works

1888
Dora d'Istria (Elena Ghika) - Romanian writer and feminist, painter and alpinist. She died in France and, according to her wish, her ashes was put into the Florence cemetery "Trespiana"

1969
Victor Asquini - architect
Laura Vaian - writer

1971
Rodica Bondi - painter - in 1963 she painted herself poitrait but after this she was blind...
Serban Ignace - arhitect, PhD. associate professor
Alex. Colorian - poet, writer
Mircea Demetrescu, general of Romanian Army, Judge

1976
Mita Alexandru, professor, Romanian Academy for Economical Studies
Lazar Ghelman - painter
Vasile M. Ioachim - professor, Romanian Academy for Economical Studies

1978
Ludmila Farcas - associate professor, Polytechnic of Bucharest

1981
Sorin Aurel Victor Lepa - actor
Emil Grecescu -vice-admiral
Emil Samoila - journalist
Nicolea (Niky) Radulescu - lieutnant general of Romanian Army
Mihai Albu - major General of Romanian Army
Ileana Radulescu - painter
Dumitru Negrea - illustrator
Vasile Rusu Ciobanu - painter, writer

1983
Radu Stoichita - professor of Logic, University of Bucharest
Grigore Stefanescu Griguta - actor
Emil Nicolescu Nic - painter
Ion Maier - professor, Horticulture
George Mirodescu - general of Romanian Army
Eugen Dragulescu - general of Romanian Army, member of the french National Order of Legion of Order
Cornel Teodorini - general of Romanian Army

1982
Constantin Andreoiu - doctor, surgeon

1983
Alexandru Bondoc - editor in chief "Protectia muncii" journal

199?
Nicolae Radulescu Roegen - member of Romanian Academy

2002
Ion Zamfirescu - professor of Theater, Phd.

2006
Haukler Stefan -fencing coach - died and cremated at Budapest

Famous Cremated Romanians (XX) + Per Olof Ekstrom

One of the Paul Neagu's work (1938-2004)
Per Olof Ekstrom's masterpiece (1926-1981)
Famous Cremated Romanians (XX)
1946
Mihai Antonescu
Constantin Vasiliu
Gheorghe Alexianu
All of three men was the closest collaborators of Ion Antonescu, Marshall of Romania and also Prime Minister of Romania during the Second War World. They were executed after a trial on 1 June 1946 and their bodies cremated at Cenusa Crematorium in Bucharest
1977
Constantin Streia - writer
Iosif Drimus - professor, Phd. Chemistry, University of Bucharest
Thedor Munteanu - professor, PhD., Romanian Academy for Economical Studies
Dimitrie (Titel) Antonescu - major general, Romanian Army
1978
Rudner Valter - lecturer, Polytechnic of Bucharest
Nicolae Dionisie Mardan - journalist
1979
Victor Badescu - major general, Romanian Army
Aureliu Visan - major general, Romanian Army
1982
Marin Popescu Urlueri - doctor, professor, PhD.
Mircea Bratucu - doctor professor, PhD.
Ovidiu Dragnea - professor, PhD. , Polytechnic of Bucharest
Maximilian Schulmann - sculptor
Ernest Kahana - doctor
1983
Andrei Ciocoanescu - major general, Romanian Army
Petre Tartia - PhD. in law
1984
Ion Grapini - actor
2004
Paul Neagu - Romanian sculptor, painter, poet, larger-than-life character, journalist. He died at London in 2004 but his ashes was burial at the Timisoara cemetery, according with Paul Neagu's will *many thanks for this information to Iolanda Costide! Please visit http://www.paulneaguhyphen.com/ for reading more about Paul Neagu's works!

2. Per Olof Ekstrom
Per Olof Ekstrom (1926-1981) was a very important swedish writer. His masterpiece is the novel Sommardanser (1949) which became One Summer of Happiness movie (1951), the movie winner of Golden Berlin Bear, Berlin International Film Festival (1952). After a long illness Per Olof Ekstrom died in Romania in 1981, being cremated at Cenusa Crematorium in Bucharest.
The romanian poet Florenta Albu described this moment in his diary, entitled Zidul Martor. Also, Florenta Albu was cremated latter, but all the time when I'm thinking to Florenta Albu I'm so very impressed by one of the title of her book, namely Shade Burnt. This title was like a premonition of her own's cremation!

PS. I'm so glad for my list of Famous Cremated Romanians. I hardly worked on this always having into my mind some famous words of soviet writer Maxim Gorky: "There are only two forms of life: decay and combustion. Cowards one will choose the first one, brave and generous people on the second! "

Logo RCA + RADS

In this morning Gabriel Ursut, my friend sent to me his proposals for logo of Amurg. Romanian Cremation Association and Romanian Association for Death Studies (Asociatia Romana pentru Studii asupra Mortii). We will choice two of these today! Many thanks, my friend!
If you are interested in Gabriel Ursut's works please visit his website: http://www.ug.webgarden.ro/menu/icoane-ortodoxe

Crematoria and News

Cenusa Crematorium in Bucharest, but this crematorium is not functional now.

Durham Crematorium, UK, I visited this crematorium during DDD9 *a picture taken by my friend Meike Heeseels


This is a picture taken inside of a crematorium from Netherlands *also a picture thanks to my friend Mieke Heessels

2. The third edition of Dying and Death in 18th-21st century Europe, International Conference, will be organized by Romanian Association for Death Studies in collaboration with Refiguring Death Rites, Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Prof. Erik Venbrux accepted my proposal for this. I hope Marina Sozzi from Fondazione Fabretti, Turin, Italy will be one of the co-organizers of this conference. Very soon the call for papers for this conference will be available on this blog.

3. Also, very soon the logo of Amurg. Romanian Cremation Association and Romanian Association for Death Studies will be available thanks to my old friend Gabriel Ursut. Please visit his website: http://www.ug.webgarden.ro/menu/icoane-ortodoxe

Proceedings of Dying and Death in 18th-21st century Europe, International Conference, first edition, Alba Iulia, Romania, 5-7 September 2008 - Book

Excerpt

Proceedings of Dying and Death in 18th-21st Century Europe, International Conference, first edition, Alba Iulia, Romania, 5-7 of September 2008, Marius Rotar, Marina Sozzi (eds), Cluj Napoca: Accent, 2009, 298 pages - ISBN 978-973-8951-80-0

Dialogue and friendship

"Death has always been just a joke to me; life is my weakness"
Anthony Quinn (1915-2001)

One of the most lucid protests against death as an event and personal reality is found in the autobiographical novel, A Man Finished written by Giovanni Papini and published in 1913, at the age of 31. Entitled as simple as Death, the essay gives a very suggestive description of the fundamental anxieties of the modern society and namely the fear of death. Death, a subject which invites reflection and analysis par excellence, through the many mutations it produces, is a particular subject matter, often wrongfully given a secondary place among the scientific research interests. For this reason in particular, death cannot be considered the prerogative of just one science, although some may take a special interest in the topic. We cannot describe, understand, explain or come up with solutions to the reality of death without the joint effort of History, Philosophy, Sociology, Psychology, Medicine or Literature. Thus, the idea on which this conference was based, and which we would like to become a regular event, was that of multidisciplinary and of an open dialogue between researchers who are fond of this subject and who come from various academic communities. At a first glance, a conference organized in Romania exclusively on dying and death does not seem to be such a special thing, if we are to consider the world developments on the subject. However, the conference Dying and Death in 18-21 Centuries Europe was the first scientific event of this kind ever organised in Romania. The idea of this event was born some time ago, through scientific and friendship relations. The conference was organized by the Iuliu Maniu Centre for Historical and Political Studies of ‘1 Decembrie 1918’ University of Alba Iulia, the National Unification Museum, Alba Iulia, Romania, Ariodante Fabretti Foundation, Turin, Italy and with the support of the Alba County Council, the Local Council of Alba Iulia and Alba Iulia County Direction for Culture, Cults and National Heritage. Other partners of this event were the Historical Anthropology Seminary of ‘Babeș Bolylai’ University of Cluj Napoca, the Alba County Hospital and One TV. The conference was attended by experts of world fame in the field, coming from Italy, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Poland, the Netherlands, the Republic of Moldova, France and Romania. Also, the Romanian National Research Council, CNCSIS, granted some of the funding through the type AT project, code 47 "Atitudini în faţa morţii; perspective asupra vieţii în România secolelor XIX-XXI” (Attitudes in front of Death; Perspectives on Life in Romania from the Nineteenth to the Twenty-First Centuries), project manager: Marius Rotar. There 10 were positive echoes to this event. The Romanian local and national media spoke of it, proving that the scope of the conference was achieved. This is the conference proceedings, containing most of the papers presented at the conference. Unfortunately, due to objective reasons, the papers by Glennys Howarth, Enrico Cazzaniga, Liana Don, and Nicolae Mihai were not included here. There were six conference sessions as the present volume reveals. Each of these papers was intended to be an original contribution to the topic of the conference, highlighting sensitive subjects, which called forth debates and polemics. Therefore, sensitive subjects for the Romanian society were considered, related to death, such as euthanasia, suicide and especially crematories. From this point of view, we believe that our intentions have been achieved and that the second edition of this conference, planned for the end of September 2009, will further the discussions and enlarge upon the subject. The members of the organizing team were Marina Sozzi, Marius Rotar, Corina
Rotar, Luca Prestia, Victor Tudor Roşu, Paul Nanu, Liviu Zgârciu and Rareş Diodiu. It is said that death, as an event, equalizes that which life differentiates and from this perspective, our intent is to continue and strengthen the dialogue and friendship that connect us. Likewise, it is said that poetry, as a situation, begins where it ends on paper. Thus, the image of death as reality offered by the Romanian poet Horia Furtună can be one of the symbols of this conference:

«Death is a slowly moving carriage,
Its wood creaks, its bones crack,
Its wheels grind,
It comes for all of us, one at a time!
For many years it has been passing by,
On dusty and stony roads
And it leaves slowly through mud,
on a causeway
To another realm.
At the sound of its axles, its bones
Doors are closed, and houses and gates
Children stop flying their kites
The sky erases its rainbows
The laundry is gathered,
Singing and playing stop
Mothers and grandmothers cry
The death carriage passes by again today
Dogs stop barking behind the gates
On the quiet street
Grow fears, frost and cowbane
Sunflowers bend to the ground
Doves are gone with the wind
The carriage with no horses, no driver, no whip
Comes here
It has arrived on our street
There is no face at the window
There is no creak
It stopped
So be it!
The much awaited ghost has arrived
My heart has stopped beating
I’m waiting!
At last
My light has set
I will also leave
From God’s will
On the road that my mother and father
have taken
…
I am ready!!!»

Marius Rotar, Marina Sozzi
Alba Iulia - Turin, 2 March 2009

A Happy New Year!

When I started this blog I strongly refused to make it as my diary . After 8 months of Romanian. Death. Cremation I'm proud by what became this blog: an easier way to keep in touch of death scholars in worldwide. This blog didn't represent just my contribution but a wider one of all the people who believed and sustained this project! Thank you very much! A Happy New Year for all of you!
I don't know if this picture is the proper one in order to express these lines from above but this photo is a very interesting one: one of the biggest problems of death system in Romania of nowadays is the crisis of burial places in urban area so this photo, taken in the Alba Iulia's cemetery, show us the real dimensions of this situation - a burial place between corns! Hallelujah!

One moment - three pictures at the Ceremony of Re-burial of Unknown Soldier at Bucharest (1923)

In 1923 it was organized a big ceremony for the eternal honor of the fallen Romanian soldier during the First World War. In the presence of the royal family of Romania the burial ceremony took place at Bucharest on 17th May 1923 and on the slab of the crypt were written: "Here lies at rest happily unto the Lord the Unknown Soldier, extinguished from life in the sacrifice for the unity of the Romanian people. On his bones lies the land of united Romania. 1916-1919".

Books

Finnaly, the website of Accent Publishing House is available on http://www.accentpublisher.ro/
Here You can find and buy on-line the Dying and Death in 18th-21srt century Europe, International Conference's proceedings 2008-2009; my book Moartea in Transilvania in secolul al XIX-lea (Death in 19th century Transylvania), second volume, 2007 - http://www.accentpublisher.ro/site/autori/?a=view:25# ; Victor Tudor Rosu's book, August Treboniu Laurian (1810-1891). Discurs istoric romantic - http://www.accentpublisher.ro/site/autori/?a=view:37 - and also Corina Rotar's books on evolutionary computation - http://www.accentpublisher.ro/site/autori/?a=view:27

One moment - four pictures at the death of Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej (1965)

4 photos from Scanteia- the official newspaper of Romanian Communist Party at the death and burial of Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej (1901-1965), communist leader of Romania (1948-1965), being succeeded by Nicolae Ceausescu.

One moment - two pictures at the death of Joseph Stalin

There are two pictures from Scanteia *Sparkle, the official newspaper of Romanian Communist Party at the death of Joseph Stalin (1878-1953).

Romanian Death Association for Death Studies

This is a provisional list of the persons interested to become founders of Romanian Association for Death Studies:

1. Marius Rotar, historian, PhD., "1 Decembrie 1918" University of Alba Iulia
2. Tudor Victor Rosu, historian, PhD., National Museum of Unification, Alba Iulia
3. Corina Rotar, computer scientist, PhD., "1 Decembrie 1918" University of Alba Iulia
4. Cosmin Bodrean, manager, "Sf. Gheorghe" Cemetery, Hunedoara
5. Cristina Bogdan, historian, PhD., University of Bucharest
6. Silvia Marin, historian, PhD., University of Bucharest
7. Nicu Mihai, historian, PhD., "C.S. Plopsor" Romanian Academy Institute, Craiova
8. Mihai Burlacu, sociologist, PhD. student, "Transylvania" University of Brasov
9. Adriana Teodorescu, PhD. student, "Babes-Boylai" University of Cluj Napoca
10. Corneliu Simut, theologian, PhD., "Emmanuel" University of Oradea
11. Florina Codreanu, PhD. student, "Babes-Boylai" University of Cluj Napoca
12. Gabriela Boiangiu, PhD., "C.S. Plopsor" Romanian Academy Institute, Craiova
13. Andi Mihalache, historian, Ph.D, "A.D. Xenopol", Romanian Academy Institute, Jassy
14. Carmen Alexandrache, Ph.D student, University of Galati

If you want to be between founders of this unique Association please send me a mail and a short CV at mrotar2000@yahoo.com
The main aim of Romanian Association for Death Studies is to develop and to improve the quality of death studies in our country. Also, we try to keep alive the flames of Dying and Death in 18th-21srt Century Europe, International Conference! This is the only conference on death in Romania and also in this part of Europe! For all of these and other 1000 unspoken reasons I do need you by our side!

A Short Portrait of a Romanian Cremationist

It's about Radu D. Rosetti (1874-1964) - poet, one of the best authors of epigrams in Romanian literature, a famous lawyer during the interwar period and also author of some travel books. According to George Calinescu, Radu D. Rosetti used, in the last years of his life, to sleep with the urn on his night table, expressing in this manner his adhesion to cremation. With Constantin I. Istrati, Grigore Trancu-Iasi, Mihai (Max) Popovici, C. Comanescu, V.I. Zorca and few others, too RADU D. ROSETTI had been one of the most important romanian cremationists. Unfortunately surfing on net I haven't found until now any picture of Radu D. Rosetti and for this reason I posted it.

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

I wish Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to all members of our team, the participants of our conferences, the collaborators, the contributors of the conferences' proceedings and, also to our friends from Italy, UK, The Netherlands, USA, Canada, Poland, Czech Republic, Russian Federation, Serbia, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Hungary, Republic of Moldova and of course Romania. For us 2009 was a good year and we hope to go on and to improve our actions in 2010!
Like a card for celebration of all of these we can see here a picture of Cenusa Crematorium in Bucharest in 1930. In spite of the fact the building of this crematorium wasn't finished Romanian cremationists of those times performed cremation inside of. This is for me and I hope for all of you a stronger impulse to work for improving all I started through this project. Thank you very much! Sarbatori fericite!

Proceedings of Dying and Death in 18th-21srt century Europe, International Conference, second edition, Alba Iulia, Romania, 25-27 September 2009

Famous Cremated Romanians (XIX)

1948
Maria Giurgea - one of the most talented actress from the interwar period; due to some problems when she considered herself humiliated Maria Giurgea gave up to play at 48 age.

2000 ?
Ion Herdan - an excellent translator of some very important works for Romanian culture

2007
Isidore Isou (Ioan Isidor Goldstein) - Romanian/French poet and artist, the founder of Lettrism cultural movement. He died in France and his ashes are kept in Pere Lachaise Cemetery

2008
Ana Voindrouh, the younger sister of Romanian singer Nadine. Ana committed suicide at 29 age and she was cremated at Vitan Barzesti crematorium in Bucharest

2009
Mircea Constantiniu - the twin brother of the famous Romanian singer Cornel Constantiniu. Mircea Constantiniu, working for many years like graphics arts artist, suffered by cancer, died in South Africa where he was cremated, too. It's very interesting the fact that Cornel Constantiuniu public declared he felt some burns in his stomach during the cremation of his brother!

Also, there are two very interesting cases of some cremated non-Romanians but connected to Romania:
1. Amita Bhose - Indian writer, teacher and translator: she died in Romania in 1992 being cremated at Cenusa Crematorium in Bucharest but living and teaching for a long time here *she was the best translation in begali language of the most important Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu - his family decided to keep her urn in Bucharest
2. Hajime Hori - Japanese business man, died in 2006, bled to death after a dog bit on a Bucharest street. Hori was cremated in the presence of his son at Vitan-Barzesti Crematorium in Bucharest and his urn transported in his native country. This case produced a big scandal in Romania regarding the situation and the danger of the "vagabond" dogs on the street of Bucharest *see the "famous" debate for the euthanasia of this type of dogs.

Three Short arguments for RADS

1. The poorness of palliative cares: Today romanian newspaper Evenimentul Zilei published a very interesting paper about the situation of palliative care and hospice services in Romania: http://www.evz.ro/articole/detalii-articol/879986/Ghid-de-comunicare-a-vestilor-proaste/
For example just 95% from Romanians suffered by cancer died in pains. This is a stupid situation and must be changed!
2. The crisis of the burial places in urban area in Romania and the alternative of cremation!
3. The improvement of the death studies in Romania!
Our future association will encoure very strong the debates on the the first two topics and on others, too trying to influence the public politics upon death system in Romania! For this aim we need you by our side!

RADS + Famous Cremated Romanians (XVIII)

1. Yesterday I received by post from the Romanian Minister of Justice the approval for the validity of name for Romanian Association for Death Studies *Asociatia Romana de Studii asupra Mortii. Although there are some steps from the legal point of view for the official opening of RADS the first one of this and the most important steps had made until now. As we decided at the conference any possible member of RADS must pay for her/his registration 50 RON. Until now 10 persons have expressed their wish to become member of RADS. So, I think in January 2010 we will be able to make the first official registrations for RADS. Meanwhile I will post here, in short time, my proposal for RADS rules waiting for your comments and suggestions to improve it.

2. It's very possible that some papers from the Proceedings of Alcoholism: Historical and Social Issues, International Conference, to be re-published into The Social History of Alcohol and Drugs: An Interdisciplinary Journal (SHAD)http://historyofalcoholanddrugs.typepad.com/alcohol_and_drugs_history/description.html . My friend, Dan Malleck proposed to me this and we must select some from the proceedings' papers and also to find an English co-editor for it.

3. Famous Cremated Romanians (XVIII):

2002

Ion Omescu - poet, he died in France, being cremated at Pere Lachaise Crematorium in Paris

2006

Gheorghe Moruju - professor, the modern "father" of fruit growing in Romania
Aurel Acasandrei - painter artist
Ion Capanu - professor at ASE, Bucharest
Paul Matei Mustata - mathematician, associative professor at University of Galati
Gheorghe Gyuri Kazar - art historian
Valentina Tariceanu - doctor
Constantin Cezar Serbu - professor at Polytechnic of Bucharest *Electronics
Mircea Herford - actor
Mircea Socolescu - doctor, Orthopedist
Toma Viorel - pilot
Alexandru Serafim - convicted by Romanian communists by jail and also the ex-mayor of Tr. Severin
Titi Dumitrescu - actor

2007

Florin Teodosiu - professor *landscape painting, his wife was also cremated in 2008
Florina Magureanu - chief editor, Radio Romania

2008

Ionescu Dumitru Ilie - druggist, PhD.
Rodica Sfintescu - writer
Ion Mitran - doctor, journalist
Susana Heitel - art historian, PhD.
Mircea Cojan - actor
Mircea Danciulescu - professor, journalist
Niculae (Nicolae) Noica - doctor, professor, member of Romanian Academy for Medical Sciences
George Ionescu - professor singing lesson at the Romanian Academy for Music, Bucharest and also general of Romanian Army

Proceedings of Alcoholism: Historical and Social Issues, International Conference, Alba Iulia, Romania, 28-29 August 2009

Proceedings of Alcoholism: Historical and Social Issues, International Conference, Alba Iulia, Romania, 28-29 August 2009, Victor Tudor Rosu, Marius Rotar (editors), Cluj Napoca, Accent, 2009
ABSTRACTS:

BETWEEN SUPPORT, LACK OF INTEREST AND MOCKERY. PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF ALCOHOLISM AND ANTI-ALCOHOLISM IN SERBIA IN THE FIRST HALF OF 20TH CENTURY
Petar ATANACKOVIĆ

ABSTRACT: End of 19th and beginning of 20th century was the time when problem of alcoholism became visible in the public in Serbia. Intensive public interest for the problem itself and the possible ways of its solutions was the confirmation of this fact. One of manifestations of this change was appearance of the anti-alcoholic (abstinence) societies, whose activities evoke different reactions from the State and wide public. Intention of this text is to show the scale of the problem of alcoholism, from the perspective of anti-alcoholic societies, and to show reactions of the public (press, other civil societies, institutions and citizens) on their activities. What was the perception of alcoholism, and what was the perception of activities of anti-alcoholic societies in 3 different socio-political contexts (in Serbia, Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia)? Whether the activities of abstinence societies visible in the media? How were reacting other civil societies and institutions, and how were reacting citizens (ordinary people) on those activities?
FACT OR FICTION?AN OUTLINE OF THE HISTORICAL ANTHROPOLOGY OF ALCOHOLOSM[1]
Hasso SPODE

ABSTRACT. Alcohol consumption has accompanied the human species since millennia, alcoholism, however, has not. The annals are well full of records of drunkards like the Spartan king Cleomenes who drank his wine in the “Scythian fashion”, i.e. unmixed, and who in a state of intoxication fell into his sword - like Alexander the Great or imperator Tiberius, a deterrent example of excess. Although the boundaries between permissible and impermissible, use and misuse (usus and abusus), were always assessed controversial, there was no doubt that frequent indulging oneself in wine or beer is a vice that may result in various diseases. Some authors even defined drunkenness as a temporary “wilful insanity”. However, nobody imagined the existence of a mental disease characterised by the necessity to drink. This notion is a result of the modern idea of man.

[1] This article is based upon my congress lecture “Sucht – Faktum oder Fiktion?” In: Karl-Friedrich Wessels et al. (eds.): Menschenbilder in der Medizin – Medizin in den Menschenbildern, Bielefeld 1999.
ALCOHOL AND ALCOHOLISM IN WOMEN EVERYDAYS IN THE ROMANIAN SPACE (1850-1940)
Iulia Adina POP

ABSTRACT. Recent research on the history of women in Romanian historiography has eliminated several preconceptions that history had assumed about behaviours considered to be far too contemporary to be discussed in connection with past societies. The collective representations of alcohol and its medical or social effects remained long subordinated to a masculine approach, given that the studies of the time either focus on the integrative and general treatment of the problem, or follow male case studies exclusively. Few specialists had taken into consideration female alcoholism prior to the end of the 19th century; therefore we tend to think that it were the applicable social norms that protected such behaviour by an excessive chastity imposed upon women. This does not mean however that women were not affected, directly or indirectly, by this flaw. Beginning with the second half of the 19th century, alcoholism raised ardent discussions among specialists of various fields, such as medicine or law, and it was also emphasized in moralizing or folkloric popular works. The identification of the effects it had on the everydays of women must be included into what we now call gender history, because, as many researchers of this phenomenon claim, alcoholism is one the oldest and most constant human manifestations.
VITICULTURE IN ALBA COUNTY
Adriana ŢUŢUIANU, Daniela Elena CUCUI, Adina GOŞA


ABSTRACT. On the territory of Alba County, tradition of cultivating vine and producing wine date from the Dacian and Roman period, fact proven by archaeological discoveries (Dacian pruning knives, funerary monuments or votive altars which are decorated with vines and bunches of grapes, stone beds from winepresses). Next, the study discusses: the attestation of vines (from donations, privileges or litigations documents); the viticulture tools as related to the agricultural inventory or as special tools; the process of traditional peasant vinification.
INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY AND SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE PREVENTION
Patrick Dimitris AKRIVOS


ABSTRACT. This article explores susbtance dependence prevention oppossed to substance dependnece education. It explores scientific research on the psychological-medical model of susbtance dependence and proposes prevention supported by research. Individual psychology offers a framework that support the medical model and at the same timeoofers comprehensive prevention strategies.


THE COMPATIBILITY OF THE MINNESOTA MODEL OF ADDICTIONS TREATMENT WITH THE ROMANIAN CULTURE

Floyd FRANTZ

ABSTRACT. Over the past 50 years research has shown that the Minnesota Model of addictions treatment is an effective method of treating alcoholism and drug addiction in the United States. It is based in medicine, psychology and the social sciences, but because it uses a clinical adaptation of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous is at its very heart a recovery program based in spirituality. Having used this program in Romania over the past 9 years, we have found it to be amendable to the Romanian culture and society. It greatest strength is its bio/psycho/social/spiritual approach with the support of the existing recovering community of Alcoholics Anonymous. It greatest weakness is the expense involved in having interdisciplinary teams, the necessity of training in a new paradigm, and generally the difficulty of introducing the disease concept of addictions to the society at large.
PSYCHOLOGYCAL MODELS OF ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
Ioana TODOR

ABSTRACT. In this paper are presented several of the most influential psychological models which attempt to explain the underlying mechanisms of alcohol dependence. According to the classical conditioning theory, stimuli or environmental conditions that are repeatedly associated with alcohol consumption become conditioned stimuli that trigger the urge to drink. From the classical behaviorist perspective, addiction is a learned behavior, being perpetuated by its consequences: positive reinforcements (e.g. expected states of relaxation, joy, euphoria etc.) or negative reinforcements (e.g. expected effects of alcohol on tension reduction, reduction of feelings of insecurity, anxiety etc). The social learning theory emphasizes the role of social factors and the role of cognitive mechanisms of self-regulation in the etiology of alcoholism. From the cognitive perspective, alcohol dependence is the result of complex interactions between predisposing factors (anxiety, depression, low self-esteem etc.), maintenance factors (particular personality patterns - e.g. borderline, dependent or antisocial - and environmental triggers - conflict, failure etc).
SPIRITUALITY OF THE ADDICTION. ALCOHOL: A BLESSING OR A CURSE?
Fr. Iulian NEGRU

ABSTRACT. Alcohol/Spiritus (lat.) is a material substance which has the same effect upon the brain as the psychological/spiritual causes: anger, sadness, fear, etc. “Drunkenness” is a consciously changed state of being. You can get it without alcohol. Non-alcoholic drunkenness could be worse than the alcoholic drunkenness. Alcohol is only one of the causes which can cause drunkenness. Alcohol addiction is only a symptom of the real problem. Addiction is a symptom of the spiritual emptiness and consequence of a lack of meaning in life. Alcohol addiction is a spiritual matter and therefore needs a spiritual approach. So, recovery means alcoholic drunkenness to be changed with divine drunkenness, to be dependent upon God, rather than drugs for a sense of wellness in being.


“THE EVILS OF ARDENT SPIRITS”: QUAKERS AND TEMPERANCE
IN EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY AUSTRALIA
Judy STOVE

ABSTRACT. It is often maintained that the nineteenth-century Temperance movement began as what is called an elitist push for the restriction of the lower-class pleasures such as spirit drinking. This paper takes the view that the anti-spirits movement, introduced to Australia in the 1830s by Quaker missionaries James Backhouse and George Washington Walker, may have had its genesis in the Quaker belief in each person’s internal moral compass. It will also have owed much to the well-known phenomenon of Quaker pragmatism.
SOCIOCULTURAL ASPECTS: TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLISM IN A MULTI-CULTURAL SOCIETY
Wilfried K. KOEHLER

ABSTRACT. The following study discusses different issues regarding the sources, the characteristics, and the treatment of alcoholism in Germany, from a multi-cultural perspective, concerning the population with a immigration background.

“100 grams for Victory!” or the dilemmas of collective memory in the Republic of Moldova

Ludmila COJOCARI

ABSTRACT. This study investigates the significance of the ritual of „100 grams of vodka for the Victory Day!” practiced in the Republic of Moldova at the initiative of communist authorities (2001-2009) in the context of commemoration of the „victory over fascism”. The collective consumption of alcohol in the symbolic perimeter of the „Victory Day” every time provokes different opinions and attitudes depending on the perception of this ritual in the context of cultural and, respectively, historical memory. The research analyzes the phenomenon of „100 grams of vodka for the Victory Day!” without missing the initiatives of the officials pointed towards the construction of their own ideological narrative of the WW II.


BACTERIAL INFECTIONS IN CHRONIC ALCOHOLIC PATIENTS

I. MARINCU, L. NEGRUŢIU, I. IACOBICIU, Ioana TODOR, A.M. NEGHINĂ, M. CORNIANU, R. NEGHINĂ

ABSTRACT. The Objective is the study of prevalence and etiological spectrum of bacterial infections at a group of chronic alcoholic patients. Concerning the patiens and methods, the authors studied retrospectively 42 chronic alcoholic patients hospitalized in Clinic of Infectious Diseases Timisoara. The positive diagnostic was established by epidemiological elements, clinical-objective elements, associated with biological samples, and paraclinics results. The statistic data was processes with the help of Epi Info program. As results, out of 42 monitorized patients, 26 patients were diagnosticated with acute pneumonia, 18 patients with acute bronchitis, 15 patients with chronic bronchitis, 12 patients with acute tonsillitis, 8 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 18 patients with skin infections, 8 patients with erysipelas, 14 patients with urinary infections, 6 patients with acute meningitis, 16 patients with acute enterocolitis etc. Only for 32 patients the etiological agent was established. As conclusions, high prevalence of bacterial infections in chronic alcoholic patients require improving of prophylaxis measures and treatment.
PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION IN CHRONIC ALCOHOLIC PATIENS

I. MARINCU, L. NEGRUŢIU, I. IACOBICIU, Ioana TODOR, A.M. NEGHINĂ, M. CORNIANU, R. NEGHINĂ

ABSTRACT. Objectives: to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in an group of chronic alcoholic patients. Methods: the authors studied retrospectively 34 chronic alcoholic patients hospitalized. The positive diagnostic was established by epidemiological elements, clinical-objective elements, biological samples and paraclinics results. The determination of viral markers was effectuated using the ELISA method with Sanofi Pasteur tests. Results: out of 34 monitorized patients, 4 patients was diagnosticated with HCV infection. All 4 patients with Ab anti HCV presented risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection: 2 patients with history for blood transfusions, 2 with abdominal surgery, all patients with history for multiples stomatological treatments. Abdominal echographic ultrasound for all 4 patients with Ab anti HCV, hepatic steatosis, along hepatomegaly, splenomegaly was detected. The values of biological samples and histopathological examination results confirmed diagnostic of chronic hepatitis C and cirrhosis. Conclusions: the study of the prevalence of HCV infection in chronic alcoholic patients allows usage of the specific prophylaxis and therapeutic measures for the two diseases in these patients.

ALCOHOLISM AS GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE IN THE TRANSYLVANIAN GREEK-CATHOLIC COMMUNITY IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH AND THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY

Monica MUREŞAN

ABSTRACT. The Greek-Catholic community of Transylvania, by the evident approach to the strictness characteristic to Catholicism, outlined for itself a rigorous image and conduct in the modern age. It became very attentive in managing the moral problems of society. Thus, divorce, in the strict sense of the word, was not accepted, only the annulment of marriage, a process which could last several years because of the delay of ecclesiastic courts. Because of this reason the grounds referred to in order to obtain the permission to separate the more serious had to be, the greater the strictness was. During the whole period we studied, alcoholism represents one of the main grounds for divorce referred to both by women and men. In most cases alcoholism was accompanied by violence in the case of men and depravity in the case of women. Therefore a difference in attitude can be observed generated by the sex of the person blamed for this social vice: drunkard women were much more severely condemned than men with same problem.
ALCOHOLISM AND ITS IMPACT ON SOCIETY: INDIAN PERSPECTIVE

Naima KHATOON

ABSTRACT. The impact of alcohol use can have different implications for each community and policies and programmes need to be developed taking into account the local situation. Recognition of the consequences of Alcohol use on physical and mental health as well as socio-occupational life is a necessary step for initiating appropriate action to reduce the harm from alcohol use. In the absence of rational alcohol policies, and with the belief that alcohol revenues can be used for the development of the society, the problem has aggravated further. While revenues earned yield only short term gains. The present paper highlights the menace of Alcoholism related to above aspects with special reference to India.

ALCOHOLISM, A SOCIAL PHENOMENON IN THE ROMANIAN TERRITORIES IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY

Oana Mihaela Tămaş


ABSTRACT. The following paper wishes to bring forward the anti-alcoholism measures and strategies using a multiple discourse of the modern Romanian society. Within this frame the head poster for this actions (measures) are supported by public opinion which proves the most active. Beside society, we are discussing about a religious, medical and legal anti-alcoholism discourse. More than a multi-discourse, the paper wishes to present the campaign to educate and inform the population concerning the effects that alcohol has on the life of the nineteenth century Romanian. The focus is on the development (evolution) of alcohol from its initial use as a medicine, then as to reach an excess consumption, to a disease, a scourge, a phenomenon. Public opinion plays an important role in the campaign to educate and inform regarding anti-alcoholism.
The anti-alcoholism action in Soviet Moldova
beetwen 1985-1987

Virgiliu BÎRLĂDEANU

ABSTRACT. This study investigates the impact of the anti-alcoholism action, developed in the Soviet Union during the period 1985-87, on the social and economic development of the Soviet Moldova. The author argues, relaying on the investigations of the USSR experience in promoting the anti-alcoholism action, that this kind of administrative initiatives, without a socio-economic base and a multidimensional reform, were very close to compromise its finalities and destabilise the economic and social situation. In the Soviet Moldova the abuses of hierarchical administrative system produced a consistent decrease of vineyards, which consequences are still today visible in the Republic of Moldova.
DRUGS OF THE WORKING CLASSES”. THE SUBSTITUES OF LEGAL VODKA IN INTERWAR POLAND
Adrian ZANDBERG


ABSTRACT. This paper analyses how Polish consumers reacted to the policy of the alcohol monopoly in the interwar period. During the economic depression monopoly initially ignored the fall of real incomes.This policy translated into decreased legal consumption of alcohol. Large groups of consumers turned to illegal alternatives. This paper examines four major substitutes of legal vodka: illicit distillation, smuggle, consumption of denatured alcohol and ether drinking.
A SOCIAL STUDY OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IN ALBA COUNTY
Claudiu ŞTEFANI


ABSTRACT. The aim of the paper is to study the patterns of alcohol consumption and the prevalence of different types of drinking regarding population. For this, a household survey was carried out in a sample of 514 subjects in the Alba County. The results show that 73% of the sample used to drink alcohol and 27% were abstinents. Overall consumption was significantly related to gender (male), marital status (married) and material status. No significant differences were found regarding educational status, ethnicity and living conditions (town or village). The results also revelead that the main features of social patterns of alcohol consumption are: alcohol is integrated in the family life, it is associated to social and religous rituals; there is a social model of use which encorages moderation, beer and wine-based drinks; alcohol is not a part of the diet consumed regularly during meals, and the initiation of alcohol consumption relatively occurs early in life.
TEMPERANCE AND ABSTINENCE IN TRANSYLVANIA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY. THE CASE OF THE THEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION IN BLAJ
Victor-Tudor ROŞU


ABSTRACT. The issue of alcoholism in Romanian history during the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century has not been systematically analyzed. In a historiographic landscape that resembles a desert, the oasis comes from the remarkable research pursued by Marius Rotar, which has resulted in several important articles. The following article exhaustively analyzes the documents of The Temperance Reunion of Blaj, and to describe it in its historical context, emphasizing the structure, the actions, the members’ profile, the ideas and resources of anti-alcoholism at the time and other aspects that are characteristic of an anti-alcoholic reunion at the beginning of the 20th century.
ANTI-ALCOHOLISM ACTIONS IN ROMANIA DURING THE INTER-WAR PERIOD
Marius ROTAR


ABSTRACT. The present inquiry tries to analyze the topic of propaganda and multiple measures against alcoholism patterns during the interwar Romania. There are many historical sources regarding this and a survey of these seems to be a very complicate one. We can notice for those times that the existence of a multiple discourses on this topic is an expression of different adopted laws, actions of Romanian Orthodox Church, actions of ASTRA society and so on. The main consequence of the interwar romanian propaganda and due to the actions against alcoholism was the foundation in 1929 of „Temperanţa” League. This league tried to be the best tool in the „war” against alcoholism and in 1937 it became part of the Romanian Health Minister. On the other hand, during that period, the patterns of alcoholism became more and more a medicalized issue and the entire discourse against it tried to make the Romanian society more sensitive regarding the threat of a alcohol addiction.

Also, the influence of western patterns of those times (i.e. American laws of prohibition) had a strong echo in Romanian interwar society.