Editorial

Twenty years ago, the first issue of Diva International was distributed among internationals and diplomats in Geneva and New York. Since then, it has been at times a difficult path full of challenges, but as Friedrich Nietzsche once said that that which does not kill us makes us stronger. Now on this anniversary, we would like to think that we are emerging stronger from these twenty years of challenges.
L’esprit de Genève is and has been the editorial line, if one might put it in this way. The aim has always been to create understanding among people without taking any divisive political stand. Geneva is a place where we have the good fortune to meet people from all the different parts of the world, something that makes our lives richer.
Frank Sinatra put it this way (and it might be one of our mantras), “ If you don’t know the guy on the other side of the world, love him anyway because he’s just like you. He has the same dreams, the same hopes and fears. It’s one world, pal. We’re all neighbors.”
Looking back across the early days of Diva, we see a world that went from a still largely traditional society to a digital society, where the web and its innumerable applications have become part of our daily lives. Our phones have become our wallet, our PC, our photo-album — and the list can be extended longer and longer depending on the number of applications one has added. The phone has also become a terrible spy or, as some would put it more politically correct, a means of digital surveillance.

We have been lucky to be witnesses to many important events, conferences, peace negotiations, and, despite the current challenges and difficulties, we dare to have confidence in the future.

So, on this twentieth anniversary, we would first of all like to thank you for being here with us, trying to shape a world where information is free and accurate, impartial and dispassionate, and which strives to enable all to make their own judgements and form their own opinions.

This adventure would never be possible without all the contributors who stretch out their hand, so, let me briefly mention Evelina, Robert, Ita, Christian, Pierre, Jean-Michel, Djeneba, Katya, Peter, Annegret, Alex, and all the others. Diva would not be the same without you all.

Upon this final note we wish you all a wonderful fall and early winter season, and thank you once more.
Marit