27 February 2008

Belarusian realities

There is one thing I can not anderstand, in this country there are so many educated and interligent people, but it is still a dictatorship. Why?

Kazulin, the ex-candidate for the president post in 2006, the one who was sentenced to stay in jail for 5.5 years term, has just burried his wife. He was allowed to join his family only for 3 days and now despite the international and national calls to the "president" he has to return to jail. Is there any justice? Is there any court? Who are the judges?
Aliaksandr Kazulin (Kozulin), photo by Julia Darashkevich

Photo by NN.BY photographer Julia Darashkevich.

25 February 2008

Political prisoners

Meanwhile, some terrible things happen in Belarus. Two wellknown people died last weekend. One is the wife of Alaksand Kazulin (http://kozylin.com/), Kazulin was one of the candidates in the presidential elections 2006. Now he is imprisoned and not allowed to say good bye to his wife... It's really sad.

KP journalist was found dead in the forest, it's not clear what happened there. Few weeks ago there was another journalist found dead of the main "independent" info agency Belapan. For me, it's a bit weird. And of course it's really sad...

Lukashenka interview

Here is the "commercial" I was looking for. This interview was given by Lukashenka to Russian RIA Novosti and Russia Today. It's rather long (about 25 min), but I guess it's worth to see how propaganda works:) There you go:

16 February 2008

The ghosts of the WWII

Some people say that the WWII is over, others use it the speeches and ideological rhetoric. Both are wrong. It's is over, but it's impact is not. It still causes many deep unconscious difficulties in communication between nations (read states) and withing the nations. I remember how much I was surprised when people in Germany told me that they still feel guilty for the WWII and Hitler. Well, they should be aware what happened but people of my generation have nothing to do with it, they should be free from this gilt as it is not helping, it is an extra obstacle on the way of the intercultural dialogue.

I've just read in the news that a Nazi criminal was extradited from Canada to Italy, 60 years later... And I feed sad, sad that in the first place he could escape and sad because it is not changing anything now. Now he is an old man, who lived his life and to imprison him is probably the right thing to do, but it's just weird.

I saw a monument to the Soviet soldier in Vienna today. Every time I see it I think of those people who though they would liberate Europe, but instead they imprisoned themselves in the Soviet era for the rest of their lives. It's sad, it was not for nothing, but it was for so little appreciation. Nowadays, politicians in the EU and esp. in the countries who were on the other side tend to blame the Soviet for occupation of Europe, but they don't take into consideration those solders, each of them, who being a little part of the Soviet system still were human beings. My God, when I think of the 20th century, I am less enthusiastic about politicians. People have to remember that the world and human life are fragile and have to be appreciated...

04 February 2008

Boris Tadić - the president of Serbia

I've head a very wise idea today about the Serbian elections. One doesn't need any observers there since no side claims that the other side falcified the elections. And I have to agree with that. If everyone is happy, why outside observers would be needed. But then I have another question, how many people in Serbia are not happy about the outcome? and will Kosovo declare independence?
I was looking for Boris Tadić on YouTube and found this video:

01 February 2008

eBay

Why do I love eBay? It makes my days and it realises my dreams:))) Well, it's fun also, here is the last "pearl" I've read: "PHILIPS mini keychain digital camera. I am not sure how it works or if it does so I sell it as is." LOL!