Literary Evening on the Effects of Asbestos with Jasmina Jerant

Literary evening with Jasmina Jerant, author of the acclaimed book Primer: Anhovo.

On this Day of Culture, Jasmina Jerant, author of the acclaimed book Primer: Anhovo (Example: Anhovo), returns to the central Soča Valley to describe the global rise and fall of the miraculous building material - asbestos - in an engaging Slovenian case study. This book was first presented in the central Soča Valley in June at Deskle Cultural Centre, and then reprinted only a few months later. This Tuesday, on France Prešeren's birthday, 3 December, at 8 pm, it returns to the romantic village of Kanal ob Soči and its medieval Gothic House.

This time, the return to the middle Soča Valley, the site of the greatest tragedy of Slovenian modern history, will be particularly unique, as the author will be joined by Metoda Dodič Fikfak, a legend of Slovenian healthcare. More than three decades ago, she broke new ground in the fight against the asbestos industry, saving many lives in Slovenia. Together, they will shed light on waste, development and health crisis in Soča Valley and beyond.

The discussion will be moderated by the renowned journalist and editor Darja Groznik. Afterwards, the author will be signing books, also available for purchase.

Before and after the event, organised by the EKO Anhovo and Soča Valley Association with the support of Mladinska Knjiga Publishing House, a travelling cross-border exhibition Let's Talk about Asbestos will be on display at the neighbouring Riko Debenjak Gallery. The exhibition highlights the story of asbestos and the tragedy caused by this material in and around Monfalcone, Italy, which is less known in Slovenia. Among other things, the exhibition shows how two areas, Slovenian and Italian, share a common wound. Contamination, both in the past and today, knows no political boundaries. We share the same air and live by the same river.

BOOK CRITICS

"One of the best domestic factual books in decades. Essential reading for understanding time and place. A masterpiece!" Boštjan Videmšek, journalist, publicist, war reporter

"The story is shocking, the company's managers knew they were running a factory of death, but with the support of the state they made profits and still do. Rating: +++++." Bernard Nežmah, Mladina