China,
The art of the kite of CAO Xueqin was recently elected “most beautiful book of China and of the world 2006”.
It is the third time that this book gains the honorary title, thanks inter alia to its traditional making industry and its specifically Chinese binding.
Organized by the Germany Foundation of the art book, this event, which includes the most beautiful books annually, counted this year 636 books coming from 34 countries. The art of the kite of CAO Xueqin divides his title with 13 other foreign books.
This book contains drawings of CAO Xueqin representing all types of kites, of his making. Their making is detailed at the rhythm of the verse and the rhymes.
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Guyane, April 15, 2006
President distributes kites to less fortunate children
‘A little light into their Easter’ is how President Bharrat Jagdeo described his gesture of distributing kites to the less privileged children of several communities. The Head of State began at ‘Tiger Bay’ and continued the distribution at Sophia. Children received kites.
“We can’t give all the children, but it is a symbolic gesture with respect to the less fortunate who can’t afford kites for the holidays so that they too can have a chance to have fun like other children,” the President said.
One thousand kites were distributed as part of what has now become an annual gesture of the President.
While Easter is highly regarded as a religious occasion to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Guyanese also celebrate in grand style by converging at the beaches, seawalls, parks and other open areas for kite flying. Monday, April 17 would be no different as they would turn out in their numbers to fly kites. |
Manu Bertin arrived: “An extraordinary adventure”.
Since 26 April last of the Archipelago of the Canaries for a crossing of the Atlantic in kite surfing, after three weeks of sea, Manu Bertin arrived this morning at Pointe à Pitre to Guadeloupe
Standing, sitting, sleeping, while being tractor drawn by a wing of kite seemed the good compromise for Manu Bertin. Three machines were going to answer his wishes: the kite surfing, the Kit Cat and the dinghy (cochise).
“I am very happy, I lived a formidable adventure. With the five members of crew of the catamaran of assistance “Bays of the World” on the human level also they were fabulous".
More : bravo Manu ! |
Crossing of the Atlantic on OceanKite
Anne Quéméré launched Saturday March 25, 2006 in Douarnenez (Finistere) her new machine (oceankite) intended to cross the Atlantic next June and July. It is about a 5,5 meters length float on 2,15 meters broad which will be propelled by a wing of kite of 8, 12 or 16 m2.
The first tests appeared conclusive according to the single-handed sailor. The departure crossing of the Atlantic is scheduled for mid-June in New York. The crossing should last between 5 to 6 weeks. The craft is on board a ship to New York in anticipation of the June crossing.
More : Anne Quéméré |
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Montana, USA
This is one in a series on kites displayed at Billings Logan Airport during a three-year exhibit commemorating the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
“The Day the Horses Arrived” by Terry Zee Lee, Billings
April 7, 1805, letter to President Jefferson by Captain Lewis:
“The circumstances of the Snake Indians possessing large quantities of horses, is much in our favor, as by means of horses, the transportation of our baggage will be rendered easy and expeditiously overland, from the Missouri to the Columbia.”
Terry Zee Lee says, “Native American legends tell how the Great Spirit gave horses to the Indian people.”
This 8-foot turquoise rokakku, built by Steve Ferrell and painted by Terry Zee Lee, shows horses coming down to earth, pouring out of the sky. “I used acrylics, oil paint, black and gold glitter, and gold, silver and copper leaf, and wonder how many of these materials will stay on when it is flown. It was a challenge to figure out how to represent the horses, since they were such an integral part of the journey, and I had great fun actually painting the kite |
Pakistan, Kite killers
This story has been imperceptible in the Western media. For one year, it has been completely illegal to fly a kite in Pakistan, except during the two weeks of the Basant festival, in the province of Pendjab.
Has the Taliban seized the power in Islamabad? No! It is to avoid kite fighting that Pakistan decided to prohibit the practice of one of the most popular leisures in all of South Asia.
The contraveners fall under the rule of the antiterrorist laws. With thousands of them were recently stopped from kite fighting in Pakistan under the terms of these laws. This wave of arrests intervened a few days from the annual festival of Basing, close to Lahore, which greets the arrival of spring.
“The metal lines used by many kite flyers are known to cut and destroy power-lines as well as cutting throats of spectators. The weekend of Basant is famous for its electric line cuts and many kite accidents throughout the city”. The majority of the victims are children. Last year, two children were electrocuted when the metal string touched some electric cables. |
China,
The « Sky-bound Baiyun Dragon»
A kite in the shape of the Chinese dragon with a total length of 2600 meters has flown successfully in its first trial fly at the site of the Baiyun International Kite Fair in Guiyang, capital city of Guizhou Province.
The kite, named “Sky-bound Baiyun Dragon”, is 130 meters longer than the world's existing longest kite record and doubles the length of the one at the Guinness World Record. It was designed and manufactured by Li Hongbing, Director of the China Kite Art & Craft Museum, with the help of his assistants.
On the day of the trial fly, many kite lovers thronged the site and watched with great interest. It took two and half hours and the efforts of more than several dozen people for the kite to be launched into the sky.
According to Li Hongbing, the dragon kite has more than 1000 joints and more joints could be added to extend the length, therefore it is hopeful the kite may retain its title as the world longest one.
The Organizing Committee of the Baiyun International Kite Fair is reportedly to have filed an application for the kite’s entry into the Guinness World Record. |
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