Slow Food home | About us | Foundation | Editore | Sloweb | Press Office | Store     Sloweb     Home | Sloweek | Voices from the Slow world | Slow Talk | News | Watch & Listen             Thank you for Everything, Giani 23 Jun 10 - Sloweb We are saddened to hear of the sudden death of our friend Giani Banich. He was an important figure in Slow Food International and made a significant contribution to the development of our movement, particularly in his native Croatia. We are pleased to share a letter which his friend Marta Mancini wanted to dedicate to him. All of us in Slow Food support its sentiments. With his adventurous life, Giani seemed a character out of a picaresque novel. He was no saint and his many experiences did not spare him sorrow and grief. Yet he did not close himself off in cynicism or indifference, but retained traits of both a Peter Pan and a Robin Hood. He would switch between languages and identities with a knowing smile. A citizen of the world, he disliked borders but knew well the characteristics of different nationalities. Giani was able to see the deeper nature of people he met. Straightforward and big-hearted, he liked to be with ordinary men and women. He was direct, sincere and generous in his passions and friendships. Always enthusiastic about life, he was constantly thinking up new projects: creating protected marine areas and Slow Islands, opening a restaurant for tasting wild products or organizing events to promote ancient traditions. At Terra Madre 2010 he wanted to dedicate a space to herbs. His Slav persistence managed to overcome entrenched reluctance and bring what were regarded as oddball ideas to fruition, such as the herbarium in Switzerland. He could recognize beauty and aesthetic appeal, whether in a painting for an art gallery, an island or a pristine forest. He could identify almost with eyes closed the wild herbs and fruits, meadow and woodland flowers and trees of the countries he continually visited: Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, France. He accompanied us through the blackened ruins of the last European war to discover untouched natural and human wonders, still maintaining their authenticity and age-old traditions. Like a modern Don Quixote, imbued with a streak of craziness and driven by a lively imagination, he maintained a “pure” essence. He didn't hold back: he did all he could for the small producers of his area. His passion and belief in what he was doing were so strong that ideas poured out with the impatience of a child who can't wait to see their hopes materialize. When we met him he was keen to show us the Balkans and tell us stories involving his Istria. He was the person who introduced us to the old ladies of Ljubitovica and fishermen of Unije, the ancient olive trees and pristine mountains of Croatia. We will miss him greatly, his refreshing unpredictability, his eccentric habits (such as always keeping garlic in his pocket, so he could nibble some in the morning “to keep healthy”, or fasting every Monday to detox for 24 hours), his unconventional behavior, authenticity, generosity. Thank you for everything, Giani! Marta Mancini June 21, 2010   News archive from Terramadre News archive from Slowfood Foundation for Biodiversity News archive from University of Gastronomic Sciences News archive from Watch & Listen           News     United States - 01 Sep 10     Eataly in New York     The philosophy and campaigns promoted by Slow Food over the past twenty years to strengthen regional, tasty and sustainable food, and reconnect consumers with the origin of their food, have...           News archive     Brazil - 17 Aug 10     Gastromotiva     Terra Madre chef and Slow Food convivium empower disadvantaged youth to enter culinary careers ...     Russia - 16 Aug 10     Biodiversity Hangs in the Balance     Slow Food joins the protest against destruction of Europe’s largest repository of rare fruit ...     United Kingdom - 13 Aug 10     Food Justice     Slow Food UK praises social justice report’s call for action ...     Philippines - 10 Aug 10     Against the Grain     The Indigenous Taguibong people in the Philippines continue to practice the traditional rice threshing and milling methods of their ancestors ...     Georgia - 05 Aug 10     Meeting in the Birthplace of the Vine     First Terra Madre Georgia held with a focus on wine and small producers ...     Italy - 03 Aug 10     Strengthening the Indigenous Voice     Slow Food enters into a partnership to advocate for indigenous groups around the world ...     Archive previous news   Slow Food 2010 - All rights reserved - P.iva 91008360041 - Powered by Blulab