Tbilisi --> Minsk

Wow, now we have new airline company operating flights to Minsk: Georgian Airways. Just few weeks ago it was really difficult to find some connections to Tbilisi during the week (as Russian Airoflot refused to operate flights to Tbilisi) and now we have new flights. In fact, it's really great:) Although we will see how it goes and what are the prices. If it's not very expensive I will fly to Gergia as soon as possible! :)))

What is a home equity loan?

It is a type of loan with which a homeowner can obtain loans in cash based on the present value of their property (minus the mortgage amount which is still left to be paid off). So if fact it means that you can get a loan based on your property situation. You can use home equity loan to pay for your expenses like home renovation and new design, higher education, in fact long-term investments. A home equity loan creates a lien against the borrower's house. I think it is really useful tool in US, but unfortunately in my country it is rather difficult to get.

This post is sponsored by PersonalHomeLoanMortgages.com

Interview with Cameron Diaz at Elle.fr

I found interesting interview with Cameron Diaz at Elle.fr. It rather funny one, she denies any relations with Jude Law;)

Salaries in different countries

While being in Ukraine I wanted to find out how is situation there after Orange Revolution. Despite people are optimistic, but changes are coming really slowly. First what I saw in the Lviv airport it was old soviet system of total control and humilation of people, annoing lines and strange questions. I talked to a taxi driver, who was really talkative and happy to tell about his town. That day he paid final sum for his taxi car, so he was really happy. But you know that in Lviv avarage salary is about 80 USD?! It's not a lot at all... Well, I know you can compare capital cities with towns in regions, but still for ex. in US they have much higher salaries and level of prices is lower than in Eastern Europe. How is it possible? I don't know...

Home brewing

BrewingKB.com is a home brewing forum where I found some interesting tips and very comprehensive home brewing glossary as well as many nice Home Brewing Recipes. Some people just drink beer without giving a thought how it was made, by who and where. But on this forum I think you will not find such people:) I've tasted nice beer in many countries (in Czech Republick, in Ukraine, in Poland, in Belarus, in Austria), but the one which I really liked I tasted in Lithuania. They produced it in the same place where it was served:)

Belarusians in Austria

I had a talk with my group mate today and I discovered that her husband is from Asmiany (in Belarus). I was trying to find it on Google maps, but there was no luck this time. Anyway, it's great that here you meet people who were in your country and who love somebody from your country :)

Prague is magic

I found very nice Virtual Map of Prague. I love this city and I am happy to see it again. There many nice photos there on the website, panoramic views, maps, live cameras... I think site is really useful for those who have never been to Prague and Czech Republic, as then you can have image of this city and this country. Enjoy!

The Holiday

This Holiday was for 'the Holiday'! I watched it today and now I am in love with a new actor:) This Jude Law! And I loved the story, although my friends said it was a fairytale, but I don't agree. Something like this really happens! I do believe in it ;)

On-line dating, eh?

Internet is making life fun, so now when you are lonely and you have nothing to do you can arrange a blind date with someone who is also in the same situation tonight. I've seen something like this before, but IamFreeTonight.com site seems to be different. They propose double dating, I guess it has nothing to do with group sexual relations, but just meeting new people:) So you can invite your friend and start search for singles for double and group dates. There is a tool 'Date Now' to arrange a date on a specific night and selecting a specific activity. What is good that membership is 100% Free to use all features.

I am back

back from our annual meeting of the network of multipliers. Well, YOUTH Program is over, so is our network for the moment. IN the Youth in Actions there will be some changes and a new call of multipliers where I might participate. I don't know really. Life is becoming more and more interesting:) Gonna go to cinema now ;)

If you have a digital camera you need this product!?

BLUBOX™ ambitiously says: If you have a digital camera you need this product. Hmm, lets have a look. Among good features I would like to mention: 1) diversity of vormats, in fact over 480 as they say, but I only use max 5 though. 2) hight compression rate - up to 95%, concequently you can store much more. At the same time it never alters or deletes your original image. So I guess there must be such an option included by default. 3) You can use 256-bit encryption technology to protect your files and privat information. 4) Sending files with BLUBOX is faster and easier.

To sum it up this software is useful for compressing and encrypting images and text. I have overall good impression about this software, so I think I will download the trial version to find out more and compare it with Picasa.

Eurovision 2007

Tomorrow the band or the singer who will represent Belarus at Eurovision in Helsinki will be announced. Among candidates there is Dzmitry Kaldun, Dyjana Hurskaja (what is she doing here???)... I really want to know the results. I am surprised that Ruslan Alechno is not in the list or Piotr Elfimau... List of songs and mp3 are here: http://www.tvr.by/eng/eurofest.asp?pr=finalists

Promotional Products Enhance your Brand Identity

I am totaly agree with the statement above. I do think that every firm should really think of trade show items, which can be used for promotion and brand recognition. You simply can't rely only on the quality on your services and goods, but you also have to remember about promotion. Like many firms which have good website forget to put the address on a corporate pen, for example. And it's serious mistake of the marketologies, in my opinion.

Also what is important is the use of promotional products. Once I got a USB memory card which was strange shaped (as on the picture) and with a logo of a brand. I still have, I still use it and I DO remember the name of the company:)

So, take of advantages of the promotional products and make people happy!

Between Moscow and Brussels

This was the title of the conference about Belarus today in National Bank of Austria. I'd expected to see slightly different speakers, because mainly it was just analysis of stats. Overall it was good, people were interested, but the most interesting part was innofficial of course. I had a chance to talk to one important person in our political life:) I will not write now who was it:)

Teaching In China project is looking for volunteers

Teaching in China program is run by a nonprofit charity. It places international volunteers in different humanitarian projects in non-western countries. This Teaching in China program places volunteers in schools in China in cities and villages. This information is useful first of all to native speakers of English as there is a need in them at the moment. Teachers must be over 18y.o. while the age of the students can be different. The length of the Teaching In China program is from one to 10 months. The summer term last two weeks, but the spring and fall terms last approximately four months.

The Teaching in China programs takes place in the city of Yantai on the northeast coast of China, as well as in rural villages in Mashan in south China. More detailed information can be found on the website.

What are the merits of different electoral systems?

I was a difficult question this time, it took me few hours to sort it out. So there you go:

The first-past-the-post system: the second ballot and the alternative vote. It is two round voting system used to elect a single winner. In the second ballot system the voter simply casts a single vote for her or his favorite candidate. In presidential elections, if no candidate receives an absolute majority of votes, then all candidates, except the two with the most votes, are eliminated, and a second round of voting occurs. For example it took place in France in 1995. In the alternative vote voters rank a list or group of candidates in order of preference. In other words (on the most common kind of ballot paper used) the voter writes a '1' beside their first choice, a '2' beside their second preference, and so on. In single-winner elections a preferential ballot paper can be redistributed according to the voter's expressed preference. Votes allocated to a candidate that is to be excluded from the election counting process are redistributed and allocated to the subsequent continuing candidate in order of the voter's indicated preference.

Strengths: easy to understand; executive strength; an aid to party unity; enhancement of the links between the citizens and legislators.

Proportional representation: the single transferable vote; the party list system and the additional member system.

The single transferable vote initially allocates an individual's vote to their most preferred candidate, and then subsequently transfers unneeded or unused votes after candidates are either elected or eliminated, according to the voter's stated preferences. To be elected a candidate has to secure a quota of votes. This system applies to legislative body elections.

The party list system is used in multiple-winner (elections to parliament for example). It ensures proportional representation. This system can be also part of the additional member system (some representatives are elected from geographic constituencies and others are elected under proportional representation from party lists). In these systems, parties make lists of candidates to be elected, and seats get allocated to each party in proportion to the number of votes the party receives. Voters may vote directly for the party, as in Israel, or they may vote for candidates and that vote will pool to the party, as in Turkey and Finland.

Advantages: minorities are fairly treated; parties are stimulated to cooperate what helps to avoid political extremes.

Liberal democracies use a variety of methods to elect candidates for public office. Both systems (the first-past-the-post system and proportional representation) are different, but both are used. For example, in Russia both methods are used in legislative process. The first system has many strong points while its weak points are eliminated in the second system. Still, both are not perfect.

Birthday cards

Last month many of my friends had a birthday and of course I wanted to send them nice cards. Nowaday, people prefer to send e-cards, so do I:)One of the possible options is American Greetings. What is good there? First there is nice collectionn of e-cards and invitations. Moreover they have a reminder service which helps to remember all birthdays of family and friends. For those who is really concerned about remembering everything there is desktop calendar available. E-cards service is really easy to use, you can choose some category for example (Family, Friends, Funny). They have free cards and paid cards there.

By the way, there are also many printable cards on the site which easy customizing and printing. So enjoy!

My favourite actor: Colin Firth

Today I was thinking: why do I like Colin Firth more that other actors? Well:) I just love his charactes in Pride and Prejudes, Love actually and Bridget Jones' Diaries. There are many other films, but these I like the most. And when he plays there is this self confidence and some mistery... I guess this attracts.

New communication facilities

He he he, I went to a web-site of LifeSize which helps to organise Video Conference and I was a bit shocked. At the firs moment I thought that somebody connected to my computer and wants to talk to me, although it was video Ad! It was so realistic that just hearing the sound in the other windows I've believed that there was someone on the other side! It's really good work of the marketologists, but also THE SOUND, it was great:)

In fact, video communication develops really fast and more people can use it at work. So I can stay at home and have a nice conversation with my boss/employee or with my client. However it's always nicer to drink a cup of coffee together, but while you are on different continents, for example...

I need new contact lenses

Every day in the evening I feel that I am tired (am I getting older?). But I guess it's just style of life which is really intenssive. For eyes it's the most difficult to adapt to short periods of sleep. And in the evenings (like tonight) I have to change my contact lenses to glasses. However, it's only because I am using my current contact lenses for over two months and I should change them soon. I am reading some reviews on-line now and I found that Soflens 38 are quite popular. They are generally prescribed as 2 to 4 weeks replacement, what is rather short period. I know it's better to use those which are for a short period, but it's easier with a long-term ones. And I all the time forget which ones I use, that's why I buy in the same place (they also give me 10% discount though):)

Spring Ball

I am trying to find the best dress the the spring ball in the DA. It's going to be fun, but only in case I can find sth really nice! At the moment I found this dress, it's from Dior sring 2007 collection. Well, I doubt I can efford to buy it, but I can order sth like it, eh? :)

Sms

It was a hard day today. It started at 8 when my friend woke me and I told her that we don't have class at 8.30 today. Then I turned off my alarm clock somehow (by miracle) and kept sleeping till 12.30 (maybe after previous post). BUT! I had French at 12! Hmm, no French today... SO, in fact I started my day from writting excuse to my French teacher (I have to keep reading le Monde then)...

Macroeconomics were not fun today, strange theories, strange models... I registered for an exam on 9th of Jan, so I can really relax during season holidays.

But finally, I am going home next week, my mom bough me ticket, so I have to wake up tomorrow morning to meet a train from Minsk at 5 am! Well...

I foung my mobile phone full of sms. If you expected words of love in it, then no! Actually, I didn't read them. The problem is that I am the first person in an adress book of one my mate and all the time he forgets to block his phone and puts it into pocket, he sends me lots of sms...

Just in time! Time to sleep well:)

I wish I could be a small child, so I could sleep is this nice bed. Just before going to sleep I went to the site with Children's bunk beds and I loved it so much that decided to write about it:) So, there is space for a dog, for playing games, for climbing, for jumping and of course for a child. It seems that it's a bed from child dream (by the way I should ask my god son what he thinks about it). And colores! Ahhh, I want such a bed, just for myself, I don't want to wait untill there will be some children around :)

Well, I did it!

I've just finished my presentation in French, so I can go to sleep finally. Uff, it's difficult to believe ;) So, guys, keep your finges crossed for me and hopefully I will wake up tomorrow and present my work;)

Learn English in England

It was my dream long time ago to learn English in UK (not in America, Australia or Ireland). That's why every time I see such a possibility I get interested in it. The reason to learn English in England, I guess it's obvious. Only there you can really learn English English and you have lots of possibilities to practice. The most important is to speak! The website Answer English - Practice English provides information about language school in London, which is quite interesting. Of course, there are different possibilities of English courses, but also this school organises social events. There you can communicate and again and again practice. They have also nice tests on-line which you can fill in and check what your knowledge. :) I've looked through the courses they provide to language learners and the list lookes really impressive: "English Language Cultural Experience", "Horse Riding Experience with English", "Aromatherapy & Massage Experience with English" (Hmm!), "Fashion Experience with English" (this one I would love to take)... Hey guys, just check out this site and you might find a nice course for you ;)

I got A-!

Urrra, I got the results of my exam in Decision making process in EU. It's "A-" and I am soooooo happy, you just can't imagin. So, at the moment everything goes fine. I still have to prepare my presentation of Belarus in French, for tomorrow! :)

Internet users about EU

I keep reading Le Monde as I need to read in French, first. And then I like some news there, you can really find interesting facts. This time it published the results of on-line reasearch of public opinion in 5 countries of old Europe: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK. Only 1000 people answered the questions, what is not a lot number at all, as we are talking about Inet possibilities and 5 big countries, but anyway. we can concider the answers as the answers of young and educated people. what is not surprising people expect EU to solve certain domectic problems as well as to be Political union which is dealing with Culture, Mobility, Euro, Freedom of exchange. People are for Freedom, Democracy and Peace... Uhh, it really reminds me about my lectures of Political science... Many words, who knows the answer?

Picasso and other stuff:)

I went to Picasso exebition on Thursday. Painting of the last two years of his life were presented there. It's amazing that he was working being 90-92 y.o., and difference in age between him and his wife was 45 years! So, it is possible to understand then him and his works a bit more. Well, I think so far only Picasso is familiar for me more or less. I've been to Picasso museum in Malaga, where he was born (not sure about spelling, actually, hmm, changed one letter). Then I've been to Picasso museum in Paris while exposition was changing, so I didn't have a chance to see all his works there. And now Picasso in Vienna. I really liked this one, less than one in Malaga, but more that other one in Paris. But I've still been not sure that he had meant by all this works:)

Yesterday, I spent two hours on-line trying to find one his work which I really liked in Malaga, the name is sothing like "Nude in roses". This one is really nice, it looks like child drawing...

IKEA - the best

I can't stop myself from writting how much I like IKEA! I went there today and bought a new table as well as nice couple of elefants, and candles, and pillows... You know, all this stuff (eh, those Americans tought be to say 'stuff' all the time), which you don't really need, but which makes your life more comfortable and cosy:) Well, I'll better go to sleep, sweet dreams to all!

What is a political culture?

I got feedback for my last homework, I was told that it was better than previous ones:) Well, good! Although I don't think it was the best one. Anyway, here goes a bit about political culture (according to Ball:) and me):

Political culture is a way politics are accepted in a given country, meaning what it accepted in France cannot be accepted in Sweden for example. The most important that it is one of the many possible explanations of political behaviour and the decision made by political actors (individual voters or political élites).

Political culture is defined by variety of different factors, like socio-economic and cultural background, history, political socialisation… In some countries political culture is homogeneous while in others it may be divided according certain factor.

The easies way to analyze political culture is to analyze it within all possible contexts (time, place, conditions). I really liked all those examples mentioned by Ball, but I would like to look at Belarus once again. What kind of culture do we have? Is it a political culture? I would say that it is, it is a culture which was inherited from Soviet Union times. For example, if we look at so called “agencies of socialisation”, in SU educational programme of schoolchildren included an overt element of ‘moral education’ with stress on discipline, Soviet patriotism and proletarian internationalism, and dedication to the goals of the community, the state and the Communist party. Nowadays, in modern Belarus we have more or less the same: state ideology taught at all levels of educational system, state youth union, idealisation of THE president.

I think it is important to know what kind of political culture is in a given country, as I guess political culture plays also important role in the negotiation process on the international level as well as it influence decision making process.

Helpful stuff for cooking

You know, I am not the greatest fun of cooking... but I am doing it during last two days, as it's a long weekend and after all we need something to it, don't we? Well, I am not bad at cooking, though I can not do it often. However, nowadays cooking becomes enjoyable with new equipment which we can use! Like Magic Bullet Blender, for example which can do your job in seconds, the only thing you have to do is just to push the button:) So, I am not surprised that it's so popular in on-line stores.

By the way, we wanted to make nice souce yesterday (with our potatos pure and salad), but our blender in the kitchen refused to work:( in such moments you really feel, how useful it can be.

Google vs PayPal

I've read an interesting article at Le Monde. According to it, Google is running its own on-line payment system (since july 2006) and it want to propose it for on-line shops for free in 2007. The name of this system is Google Checkout, it's rival to PayPal of eBay group. At the moment PayPal is first among on-line payments. Well, we will see who wins ;)

What are the gift options?

I am looking for gifts to my family and friends now, as it's Christmas time. I really want to find something nice:) And I need a new camera, I might buy a new one soon as my photos are not good at the moment. By the way, all of them where rejected by IStockPhoto:( So I am a bit sad...

But back to gifts options. While thinking about gifts have a look at these scopes, it might be really fun. They have lots Telescopes, Microscopes, Spotting scopes, Digital Camera Scopes & Binoculars, Rifles Scopes, Red Dot Sights, Pocket Monoculars, binoculars, rangefinders, radar guns, sunglasses, goggles, flashlights etc. Wow! Hmm, one my neignbor showed my pics taken whith microscope, it was really imasing!

Youtube - a new aproach!

How could I live before without all these videos? I guess it lack of communication with things you are used to, like TV, radio, music, films... So, here at late night I can enjoy the best parts of my favorit films and clips, even japonise animation:) And I found new video performances of KVN teams (the best jokes), I found new singers I've never known about. It's exiting!

Are you playing Poker?

Few days ago one my friend told me that he went to casino here and played poker. He was wise to take only 10 euro with him, as he won 250, but then lost everything. So, is it a good game?

Well, to find out more you can try Free Poker on-line (and you dont' have to go anywhere). This site has some information on playing poker online. For example, you can read about "Winning Online Poker Tournaments", "Seven Errors in No Limit Texas Hold'em Tournaments" or "PokerSavvy's Texas Hold'em Guide"... I found it interesting to read article about the rules of Texas Hold'em. On the site there are links that allow you to get discounts on your new account. So, I guess it might be a good option for those who like it or those like me who want to try it once. As for me, I prefer to watch James Bond playing poker rather than myself doing it;) But on the other hand it nice to know the rules of the game :)

Waste of time?

I was really shoked today when I looked at my clock and realised that it was already 4 p.m. and I had done anything so far. Well, it is a weekend and I can relax, but on the other hand... I need to do really a lot during this weekend:)

Why some people use keylogger...

What is keylogger and how can I use it for myself. It is keylogging software that will allow you to record every key that has been typed on the computer. I am again feeling myself as in James Bond movie:) With a good keylogger you will know every keystroke that has been typed on your computer, regardless of the program it was typed in. If they were typing a password for a secret email account, you will know! Even if they are working in a word processing program, you will see every single keystroke that has been typed. Simply put, Spector Pro will record every single key that has been typed on the computer IF THEY TYPE IT, Spector Pro will record it! So, I am just wondering how many computers already have it. Should I stop using public PCs?

Well, as at the moment I am not working as a boss / a spy and I don't have teenage children to keep an eye on... But on the other hand knowing about all possibilities of the programme, I should really think about it.

Night life and Belarusians

So finaly we met some more Belarusians here! And we had really good evening:) First we went to a pub to get some beer and to talk about everything. Next, crazy idea came to go a club with membership as one of our friends had this possibility. So we did! Well, the most funny was to meet some top politicians there as well as crowd of same looking artificially blongd girls:) Well, I hope they will not came to me in nightmares.

P.S. I found a new source of inspiration and it seems to be working well so far, we will see how it goes! Keep fingers crossed for me ;)

Miller’s idea of interests; is there a “general interest”?

According to Miller “interests are those forces in society which actively resort to political means in order to improve or defend their position, one against another”. We can talk about different types of interests. Every one is living in the society and playing different roles, meaning that at family he is a father (or she is a mother), at work – a worker, at theater – a spectator… So in every case person is acting according to certain interests which are the most important in a concrete case. The individual is “a universe of interests” according to Miller.

On the other side, living in the society, people gather in groups according to their interests. But it is not only people who decide to gather together, but also certain unions (professional, associations, parities, clubs etc.) who are, while trying to attract as many as possible new “members of the team”, fulfilling particular interests of people. It is rather a complicated network of different interests where some are similar, others are opposite. So, one has to set some priorities for himself. In every case, in the situation where some person has to decide on the interest the personal interest will be given priority.

Therefore, interests in the society are “allowed to exist as separate entities is society, as long as they recognize their obligations to society at large”… While speaking about some “general interest”, Miller writes that it can exist, but there is no must for it to exist. “A common life creates common interests, which constitute, in sum, the general interest”. If a general interest exists, usually it exists during a short period and in specific difficult circumstances.

I really liked the phrase that “every national leader … says that he has the nation behind him”. It is so true. In Belarus people see it from TV every day, though nobody can really represent whole nation and all interests as it is just impossible, because where will be always whose who are not happy with present situation. Also it is true that politicians quite often first of all look for general interests, which are suitable for themselves and people around them.

Two more ideas should be mentioned here. It is supposed that law and order are some of general interests. But I totally agree with Miller, that very often law and order are decided by a group of people in order to protect their own interests. The brilliant example here can be new law in Belarus which was invented in September 2005 and implemented this year to stop growth of non-governmental sector. According to this law we are not allowed to have any non registered initiatives and to act from the name of non registered organization. In fact, it is against Belarusian constitution and all possible human freedoms, but it does exist, because it is in interest of group of people.

Second idea to be mentioned is about peace as a general idea. While peace is different in understanding of different people we can’t really say that it is a general idea. However, again in Belarus idea of “no more war” is really speculated as general idea. Though Belarus is not really an example of a country with ‘highly developed society where there is space for a great variety of interests’. It is rather an extreme case, unfortunately.

Common Myth and Urban Legend at Maxim

Maxim has just released their new Common Myth and Urban Legend Debunkkment Section that examines which ones are true and which are false. Well, let's have a look:) I liked this one: "The Catholic Church is the largest landowner in the world". Which is lie according to Maxim, though I would doubt it for certain coutries:) especially in Midieval ages ;) Next one is also good: "The Great Wall of China is the only man-made object you can see from space", of course it's not true as with Google Earth we can see even my house! Also the one with car issue was useful for me: "If you put your car in neutral going downhill, you’ll save gas", so now I now that it's better not to do it. If you want to know why, just have a look at Common Myths and decide for yourself:)

P.S. The last one for the desert: "If you mention the words “kill” and “president” in the same sentence over the phone, government computers will automatically record the conversation." Uff, it depents on the country again, I guess...

Tolerance

I thinking more often now about tolerance. Am I tolerant? Are people in my country tolerant. You might ask me why I pose such questions. The answer is quite simple, I've just realised that in some situations I am not qute tolerant (I am not speaking about toleration of people smoking neaby, though I can't really stand it, but anyway). In some situations my understanding of tolerance is quite different from understanding of other people from other parts of the world. Like, I think that tolerance has something to do with understanding (or trying to understand) and certain respect towards other people. It's not about applying their values for yourself. But some people consider torance to be equal to no jugement, no saying your own opinion about something you are not sure about... What should I do in cases when I am not 100% sure about my opinion, but I have one?! :)

BrainCast is a free message and memo service

Nowadays more a more new services are avaliable on-line. At the top of the list there are services which you can use in your everyday life, like BrainCast. Iy is a free message and memo service that allows you to record reminders for yourself on the go, and automatically delivers them to your PC at home for later use, what is really cute. There is also an on-line organizational system for storing your messages so you can access them from anywhere, although I am not quite sure how it can be used in real life. To start using it you simply add the BrainCast toll free number to your cell phone and you can use it from anywhere free of charge (though I guess only in US). To sum it up: BrainCast is intended to be used as a service to help store and organize audio notes from anywhere. So it can be really usefull for people who don't like writing down notes;)

The sorrows of Belarus: A government in exile, a country in a mess

THE Belarusian National Rada, or council, seems preposterously peripheral. Via a tenuous chain of succession and inheritance it represents a Belarusian state that was founded in 1918 and existed for barely a year. It has had no surviving counterparts since similar émigré outfits, such as the Ukrainian and Polish governments-in-exile, packed up in triumph at the end of the cold war. Its self-perpetuating 80-strong assembly meets every second year. Its five “secretariats” (ministries) have neither officials to command nor taxpayers’ money to spend. Its worldly goods amount to little more than a shabby letterhead, a shambolic website, and a devoted if somewhat secretive circle of adherents made up both of diehard old émigrés, and keen youngsters from the new diaspora.

The Rada's main achievement is to have survived at all through the decades during which Belarus was part of the Soviet Union; and it was wise enough to keep its distance from the post-Soviet regime in Minsk after 1991. Its ambition still is to wind itself up, but only when Belarus has a democratically elected and truly independent government.

That is a brave hope. Russia casts a long, dark shadow. Belarus relies heavily on Russia for trade and investment, for energy, and for security. A “union state” with a common currency, passport and constitution has been a declared aim of the two countries, at least until recently.

Democracy is even more endangered than statehood. The Belarusian president, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, dominates the media, courts, economy and officialdom. His opponents often end up in jail, and sometimes disappear entirely. A professor who opposed him in a rigged presidential election in March this year, Alyaksandr Kazulin, was arrested, imprisoned, and is now on hunger strike. From his prison cell, he appealed to the BNR for help.

At a meeting last year in Washington, DC, the Rada struck up friendly ties with leaders of the often quarrelsome Belarusian opposition. They share the hope that Russia and Belarus will fall out. It may happen.

Russia has helped Mr Lukashenka in the past with cheap gas, flattery, and strong diplomatic protection against Western criticism. In return, Mr Lukashenka's Belarus has sold Russian arms to dodgy customers, and has provided almost the sole living example of that rare breed, a happy and grateful Russian ally.

But now the deal is fraying. Plans for the two-country “union state” are on hold, for which each side blames the other. Russia wants to raise fourfold the price of the gas it sells to Belarus; it also wants to claw back the profits Belarus makes by refining cheap Russian crude oil and selling it on. That squeeze is partly a Russian tactic aimed at grabbing control of Belarus's energy industries. But it is also a slap at the irascible Mr Lukashenka, for being unwisely critical of his counterpart in the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin.

A Belarusian parliamentarian, Mikalay Charhinets, has accused Russia of waging an “economic war on Belarus”, and told Russia that it is putting at risk its military bases in the country. These are, chiefly, a vital naval radio station and an anti-missile radar. At a recent energy conference in Prague a Belarusian diplomat gave a remarkable speech in which he castigated Russia for unreliability and greed in its energy politics. Mr Lukashenka says he may impose customs barriers on Russian goods.

If Russia and Belarus do truly fall out, the future will be full of interesting possibilities. The Kremlin could topple Mr Lukashenka and seek the incorporation of Belarus into Russia. That would give the Belarusian National Rada a new if unwanted lease of life as the sole representative of an independent Belarus.

More trickily, Mr Lukashenka, until now an arch-pariah, might try to cosy up to the West. He is already putting out discreet feelers, saying that Belarus is “building a new foreign policy”. Given the opportunity, it may be difficult for the West to agree on whether to shun him or embrace him.

Whatever comes next, the veterans of the exiled Rada risk disappointment. But they do not risk boredom.

economist.com

Lifeknot launches Google gadgets

Now you can meet new friends with Lifeknot according to your interests and hobbies. As far as I understood you can find your perfect activity partner (?). When you click an activity you see profiles and pictures of people who enjoy that activity. With the new gadgets for Google you can add Lifeknot to your page or Google personalised page what can be helpful. Few more words about Lifeknot. Its members create activity profiles listing any of over 1,200 member-suggested activities: hiking, skiing, skinny dipping, buddhism, beekeeping... And it is free, you can sing in right now if you like to:)

Who are the most famost people from my country?

This question I was asked today by my friends from Academy. Well, Marc Chagall. Wasn't French? No, he was not! Who else? Tadeusz Kosciuszko! Hmm, ok. Next? Michael Douglas! His grand parents on his father side were from Belarus (from Homel)! Well, there are others:) A found a list for those who is interested at Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Belarusians

I really need some rest

Uff, with every day it's becoming more and more difficult to manage everything and also to have time to sleep. I am kinda exosted by now. Well, on the other side life is so exiting taht it is really worth of a certain effort. And I also keep trying to sell some of my pics:)

Political extremism in Austria

Austrian political stage with rise of a new form of authoritarian right-wing populism in the 1980d-1990s faces a phenomenon of more that one country in Europe. Under Haider's leadership, the FPÖ moved to the far right, reflecting Haider's nationalist, anti-immigration, and anti-EU views. Haider especially used populism to advance his interests. Thanks to Jörg Haider from 1986 (when Haider became the FPÖ's chairman) the party's share in elections rose from 5% in the 1986 elections to almost 27% in 1999.

There are several examples when Haider demonstrated that he had skills and luck. In 1986 after scandal with Kurt Waldheim, implicit anti-semitism appeared everywhere in the Austrian media. These events allowed Jörg Haider to emerge as the undisputed spokesman for the right-wing FPÖ grassroots. Despite the majority of the party elite supported this opponent Steger, Haiders won in a leadership poll with frighteningly neo-Nazi overtones.

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the collapse of Yugoslavia in 1991 substantially increased the flows of migrants arriving in Austria. Then the collapse of the Iron Curtain exposed the huge contrast in economic expectations between Eastern and Western Europe. Working class, who was faced with rising job insecurity, did not like the prospect of huge waves of immigration. Haider used this fear and launched a series of viciously anti-immigrant campaigns, thus hi pleased the SPÖ’s core working class electorates.

It is impossible to define if he is far right extremist or populist, some call him ‘godfather of the extreme right’ while a leading journal Der Standard in December’95 labeled him ‘a completely normal Nazy boy’.

No single figure, certainly from the opposition, has dominated the post-war Austrian political scene to the same extend. After reading about “a political star” Jörg Haider in the reader I made a small research about his present post. At the moment he is Governor of Carinthia (a region on the south of Austria) and I think it would be interesting to meet this person one day at a student class to ask him some questions.

P.S. I might be sleeping now as I can here nightingale right now, although we have the last days of autumn.

My first success as a photographer

Today I was accepted as a contributing photographer of iStockPhoto.com! Wow, I am really excited and I want to take thousands of photos now! Ready, steady, go!!! P.S. But for now I have to do my political science home work...

Bismarck politics

I am back from a class of Evolution of international systems in Europe. It was really interesting today to find out how the diplomacy worked in the second half of 18th century. So I am going to read more info about it in Russian sources:)

Being connected

I can't really stop myself from calling friends. And I guess it is normal. But then we are talking via Inet for 3 hours for example, not often though - once per two weeks:) And I call home everyday, so again and again I keep saying that Inet brings us freedom, it brings us connections and communication as well.

And I miss home, but Chrismas is really soon!

Shirts' colors

When you travel abroad you start to understand your own country better as you notice those things which seems to be 'normal' in your country (so you don't pay attention to it). While my trip to Georgia, for example, I was surprised to find out that men kees each other while greeting or saying good buy. Here in Austria, I found a new trend in men's cloths. They like to wear bright colors and even ping, which in Belarus is associated with girls:) But maybe it is just of lack of colors in men's fashion production in Belarus, who knows:)

Draniki

Yesterday we were COOKING! Wow, of course draniki. So, many of our friends from other countries had a change to taste. But the biggest part of it we had for ourself and at the end we were sooooo full and happy that it's even difficult to describe. To sup it up: our draniki are the best and everyone liked it!

Happy time!

It is fun to be back to studing:) Not anly because of lectures and new "stuff" you learn, but also because of new friends, new languages ;), new parties (as many as never before) and well, yes, everything is new. I just feel as a fish in water. :) All those chats and talks about nothing and about everything. I guess here I will become a photographer:) and maybe psycologist, and Russian language teacher and just myself.

Google vs Borat

I've just read an article about Borat being presented on YouTube before being shown in cinema. It was rather successful way to promote it as parts of this story were shown on YouTube (owned by Google). I will not concentrate on the article itself, but what is more interesting is the conclusion:
- YouTube works for on-line PR for "non mature audience"
- Google should make money with it
- Thanks to YouTube people know about Borat even in countries where it will not be in cinema

For me it's not surprising, although thanks to YouTube I knew in advance what kind of jokes to expect from Borat (so I was prepared). And I went to cinema despite YouTube and just thanks to excitement of my mates:), to have my own opinion:)

One more interesting fact. The article I've read in Le Monde (in FR) is from the Globalist and its author is from BELARUS! It's Evgeny Morozov who is also writting TOL blog about Belarus.

Being dependent

Yesterday I talked to a friend of mine who bought a new laptop. She was totally happy and she said: "I am not alone anymore, now the whole world is with me when I am connected to Internet". To a certain extend laptop brings freedom, freedom to be mobile, to be informed and to be connected. Exactly! To be connected, so much connected that one becomes dependent on all these technical developpments. And when I write "one" I mean myself as well and maybe even first of all:) Hmm, to prove that I am not an Inet addict I have to go away from my laptop. But can I? :)

Politics again

All my life I was trying to escape any kind of politics and now I am facing it allmost all the time, especially after reading some theory of politics. When people act, react, speak out, look... Scary, really it is a bit scary. You never know what next day will bring you or what will happend in the world and all those events are the results of somebody's "political" actions. Do we live in a political world? Yes, we do, but try to avoid it as I do;)

Belarusian politics

I am always a bit confused when people ask me about my country. It's not because I don't like it, it just because everytime I have to analise what people are interested in and what should I tell them. With my attitude towards life I prefer to see the bright side, although I am not living in a perfect world, so I have to admit certain things which I don't like or even hate. Should I tell people about our mentality, should I tell them about Chernobyl, should I tell about our troubles? Or I sould just tell about Golden Age of Belarusian history in the 16th century? How can I explain in few sentences the whole drama of my nation? The only thing I am respocible and I have to do is to behave as I want anyone from my country to act.

Cool GPS tracking!

I remember my first time when I saw how GPS worked I was amazed! We drove and saw on the map our way:) Then this year I've faced more practical use of GPS navigation in Helsinki, where it is used by all taxi drivers (I have a photo somewhere, so I can put it on-line later). When I came to Vienna, the firs thing I saw was a car with... Guess what? ... GPS navigation! Of course!

And now I found a web-site which helps people to track their car. You can see their demo of GPS Fleet Tracking on-line. It great that more and more services are supported by Google maps, although their are not avaliable for the whole world in details. Anyway, back to this device. When you click the blue "View Demo" Button you can play with the demo (note the 10 second refresh), you can see how certain car moves and where it is. You can zoom in out if you like, you can change map layout (satellite or just normal map; actually, I prefer a gibrid one:).

It is interesting to play with such a tool, but it is also quite usefull. When? For example you can track a car of your child to be sure that he/she is safe and still in the city:) Or you can track where is your employee which is supposed to be working right now. I just believe that in any case a person which is track in a car should be aware of it:)

Post office

He he he, my first experience at Austrian post office. First, they don't sell one envelope, you have to buy a set of envelopes:) And then! You can't buy one card (maybe you have only one friend, poor you, but still), no again there are nice (I guess) sets of cards for Christmas you can buy. Well, one can like such system, I don't really.

Time management

Do you notice how fast time flies? I do. Sometimes you just can't believe that 3 years passed since a certain event. Or that you are on the half way to your aim, so you really have to work hard now. Or that you missed all deadlines. Or that people you knew are not on this earth anymore... Well, some people say that today is the first day of the rest of your life, but one can also think that life is just now and just today, as yesterday is was our past and tomorrow it will be our future, if it will be. Well, this issue is rather philosophical and I will better just concentrate on my time-management:) Have a nice time!

Weekend and film

I am back from a new movie "Thank you for smoking". I was fun one, again about bid industries, lobbing, publicity and all this stuff. I would compare this film with "Devil wears Prada", as the last one is about a girl who changed herself in order to prove that she can do what everyone thinks she can not. This film is about a guy who can do what others can not, but he has to take a decision in a difficult situations. There are some parallels in both these films, and I thinks it's worth watching it:)

P.S. By the way, as one my friend notes, none from the actors smoked in the film.

Cooking!

Onion, oranges, rice, meat... Well, we are cooking some interesting Latin American meal:) ... Let you know later how it tastes:)

Photos arrived

From Belarus

I got my photos printed! WOW, I am really excited now:) One of my pics is all the time provoking questions. People say: What is this? And one girl compared it with view of Paris in Google Earth. There you go!

Light box as a tool for photographers

Web-site SuppliesNet.com proposes a nice Photographers & Scrapbookers Light Box. It catched my attention as I can use it to take photos of small objects in details (then it gives a background light). Of course it's possible to look through slides as well as negatives. Even working with digital photos (meaning that I don't really have slides) I take pictures of objects as well, as one my friend told me I am good whith close-ups:) So in certain situations it is really useful.

Politics vs Democracy

Is democracy the true form of politics? I totally agree with Mr. Crick that democracy is a concept which is “vague and imprecise”. He also regards politics as a “clear and practical idea”, first of all that is why democracy, as “the most promiscuous word in the world of public affairs”, is not equal to politics. “Democracy is best understood as one element in free government, not as characteristic of the whole system”. If in a certain state only democracy alone prevails as a result there will be anarchy (“the opportunity of demagogues to become despots”). Thus democracy in a positive way can be only “one form of politics, not something to be hoped for at every stage of a country’s development or in every circumstance”. Democracy is good as long as we try to avoid of “popular rhetoric”.

Crick’s understanding of the nature of political rule

If we speak about politics first we have to define what it is. According to BERNARD CRICK “politics can be defined as the activity by which differing interests within given unit of rule are conciliated by giving them a share in power in proportion to their importance to the welfare and the survival of the whole community”.

He also rise the importance to realize that for all mechanism to function there must be a kind of “consensus juris” or “a common good”, while in role of this common good we see “the process of practical reconciliation of the interests of the various … aggregates … which compose a state”. Then politics it is “an activity which must be carried on”, “one simply becomes more and more aware that one is involved in it as part of the human condition”.

What is really important to stress, politics can only exist as “a stable and possible method of rule” where there is some “settled order” as well as “tolerance and diversity” and where “it has been preceded by sovereignty”.

Actually, I was rather shocked by the words “whether one is powerful enough to ignore diplomacy”, as in my understanding it means that in fact you do not need any rules being powerful, consequently you do not need politics. Nevertheless, “the only political agreement to use political means”.

I did it:)

So I found a good map! There you go! Remarks to map: As happens all too often, the term "Grand Duchy of Litva, Rus', and Samogithia" has been inaccurately abbreviated on the map as the "Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL)." Refer to Belarus: At a Crossroads in History, Jan Zaprudnik (1993) for further discussion of the topic, "Grand Duchy of Litva, Rus', and Samogithia" and its being mis-quoted (often intentionally).

Charity projects

We've discussed charity issues recently, in fact, we've discussed different possibilities when you really can help people and you really feel that they need this help. On the one hand it is great, on the other hand you always have to take decision which charity project to support (as in the most cases you can not support all of them when you are young and not really rich:). And then there is a dilemma. And you just have to find the solution (or you can do nothing, but it's the worst case in my opinion). Could you judge which country is in the worst situation, which nation is in need of your support and which children will profit the most. I can't and I will just rely on intuition:)

Life and Internet technologies

Have you ever noticed that you are doing lots of thing on-line. You read news, you send messages, you chat through IMs, you blog, you search, you pay, you watch TV and you listen to Radio... Isn't it at bit shocking? When I talk to my mom over Internet she is excited every time as for her it's something what is really like magic, I guess. Although for me it is the best way to manage many things. I don't install dictionaries on my computer as I have them on-line, the only thing I need is Internet access.

Well, it's seems to be easy, but (again BUT) it's not. For example in Belarus only about 25% of population have access to Internet. In fact, it means that they are living in quite different world, they watch only state TV and listen only to state propaganda. That's really saaaad... In some cases (I just hope that not in most of the cases) people just do not care about something what is not directly linked to them. How can we change it? Should we do it? I don't know...

Politics and EU politics

When you read books about politics and policies for few weeks and then you summarise it and answer questions, I bet you will understand better politics and policy making issues. But (there is always BUT). Who can garantee that all politics will play the same rules? Are there any rules of game?

The fact is: I understand news about politics better now, but I still wonder if it will really help me to help other people in any way...

Real battle: history maps and country name

Well, I've realised that sometimes I really have to finght for the "TRUTH". In fact maybe it's just my own truth, but still I have to prove it again and again.

Yesterday which preparing for my French class I was reading Le Monde and again they misspelled the name of my country. Why can't they just start writing Le Bélarus, pourquoi pas? It really annoys, you know. I think I will write a letter to them, as well to French embassy in Minsk and to other sites which are providing information about Belarus:) So again I have to finght for the correct spelling of our name.

And back to history lectures. I promised to my teacher to find a good map of the Commonwealth (Polish Kindom with Grand Duchy of Lithuania adn Rus' - GDL) before the three partitions in 1772, 1791 and 1993 between Russia, Prussia and Austria. So I work hard on it, as it is not an easy task especially to find it in black and white colores with English names on it:)

P.S. While looking for a map I found a map of The introduction of the potato to Europe, but it's next story:)

Designer Handbags

I am still in Vienna without any handbag. That's why I am on the DarbyScott web-site, she is a designer of fine handbags and purses. Designer Handbags are just cute!

So few words about her: In 1994, designer and entrepreneur Darby Scott launched her debut collection of eveningwear and cocktail dresses. With the new millennium came a new line. In the fall of 2000, Darby Scott introduced her acclaimed collection of handbags, combining rich skins and opulent fabrics with semi-precious stones, natural shell, horn, bone and wood. Her clothing collection encompasses a full range of day to dinner, cocktail and evening.

Prior to founding Darby Scott in 1994, Darby was vice president of women's merchandising and design for the North American division of Aquascutum of London. This position followed nearly a decade of design experience at venerable international fashion houses including Karl Lagerfeld and Perry Ellis.

P.S. After the film Devil wears Prada it seams that it is really fun to try to understand all this fashion industry:)

Selling pics?

As I wrote before I am testing a new service where I can sell my photos. I just got an email from this service and I just hope that it will work out. So, my dear friends, please keep your fingers crossed for me as you always do! World of photography is waiting for me:)

Languages and international environment

These days laguage issue is becoming more and more vital. I have/love to speak English all the time, but I do want to improve my French as well. And to start to speak German and Czech.

But, to speak French I really have to make an effort and to motivate my French-speaking friends to do so. For example, today I was writting a biography of a guy who draws caricatures for Naša Niva newspaper.

With German it's even worse, I can't speak, so the only thing I have to do it's to learn words by heart. And I can't push myself to do it...

The only language which is easy for me at the moment is Czech! I just love it:)

Photography corner:)

Well, you know, that I do like to take pictures, it is just my passion:) At the moment I know a lot of different web sites which are quite good if you want to put on-line your photos or even to sell some (I am testing few these days). Two days ago I found a web-side which is printing your photos and you don't have to go to their office, you just wait at home (BUT! you need a credit card to pay in advance, you need to install they software which will calculate the final price of you order). Hmm, I really have to wait as I placed my order on Saturday and it has not arrived yet:(

So, back to the Photography Corner. It a new web site for me which aims to help photographers. I've already registered, so I might be able to tell you more about it later. At the moment I can write that they provide such services as: photo galleries, photography articles, forum (with member introductions!), photography resources (tutorials for example) and even so called "contest corner challenge" where you can see very interesting photos.

I've tried to upload my photos as well. Well first try wasn't successful as my photos were to large (limit of the storage quota is about 10Mb only and per picture max 1Mb), so I was rather disappointed about this fact. Then I decided to upload small versions of my pics from the Net (from my Picasa albums), but my link was cut in the field where I was supposed to put it, I guess because it was too long... No words. Ok, I am patient when I want to be and I found another option, I deleted "http://" in the beginning of my link and then it fitted to the field provided. Wow, my picture is on the Photography corner now! I will keep exploring this site and I have some interesting info for you, I will let you know.

Take great pictures, guys!

Back to coffee aroma

Today at lunch we got a desert with a taste of coffee. It brought me back to my childhood when I was 5 years old. The first chewing gums I've seen in my life were with taste of coffee. I didn't drank coffee at that time, but I knew its taste. It is really amazing. Why coffee? Hmm... The funny thing is that my friends from other countries do not remember they first chewing gums, but I do:) It must have been an exciting taste for me if I do remember.

European legislation

Decision making policy in EU - this will be mainstream of my nightmares for the next few weeks:) Uff, it seems that I know much more about it now, but I really had to read lots of documents before I realised at least a little bit how it all works:) Consultation, co-operation, assent or co-decion procedure? Of course the last one:) Why? Look at this chart and you will understand everythin! ;)

Girls and boys!?!?

It's rather a difficult issue, isn't it? I have a brilliant example what happened with me tonight...

Imagine, party is over and people are saying good night. And one by one boys say "good night" to a guy who is sitting just on my right site and they ignore me:( Well, of course I can't get on with it. I speak out and we discuss it, we make jokes, they say "sorry" and it seems to be over, but I will see what will happend tommorrow. :)

Planning wedding?

He he he, those who will start reading this message from the title will ask me if I am going to marry:) Well, I'm going, one day:)

At the moment I am just observing different weddings. My counsin married in June this year and one my good friend is going to marry next summer (not mentioning those who married during last few years). Well I guess there will be number of few more:)

3 years ago when my friend was going to marry in USA I got a nice invitation and I thought that moment how cute it was. But In fact can you imagine how much of work it takes to write invitations to everyone? Well, it takes a bit of planning! My friend which I mentioned before is looking for her wedding dress since June, although her marriage will be in August next year! Is it a nightmare then or just wedding preparation? Uff!

I guess the most important is to marry and to be marry=happy the rest of life! So, maybe it's really a good idea to look for different wedding stuff now and not to be under stress just before wedding.:)

Have a nice day! And smile wider!

Book story

It's not the first time when I realise that everything you think about can come true. This is my recent example. I wanted to prove to our teacher of History that in the end of 18th century it wasn't the division of Poland, but of the Commonwealth of Both States (Polish Kindom and Grand Duchy of Lithuania).

So I was really trying to find some good maps and then I found out that there are two very good books about Belarusian history in English! Wow, I really wanted to find them, I went to Google Books section and typed: "Jan Zaprudnik", he is the author.

And... I found links to local libraries. Two books were availiable in some library: "Historical dictionary of Belarus" (published in 1998) and "BELARUS: At a Crossroads in History" (published in 1993). I went to our library and the codes of books were from our library! So I have both books now! And I can borrow it to my friends here who want to know more about our history!!!

On the ground

Do you usually pay attention what is just on the ground, just under your feet?

Quite often people run and forget that we live, not just exist. And if you go slower then you might notice many amazing things which life brings us. it's not just a nice picture on the way (by the way that white man was really funny), but it's something alse. Maybe then we can see some signs which are there just for us.

Let's keep trying to live:)

Can we keep our life private?

You know, I faced a new situation for me. I just reallised how much you can know about a person who is active on-line. Or even you don't have to be active, but you just participate in different events and then report from those events is on-line, so you are present there as well. Sometimes it's really fun, as you can find out about your new friends a lot even before they will tell you. BUT. If it concerns you, then you start to think what you want people to know about you and what you don't. Today I got a message from my friends that they discovered my blog although I have never told that I had one. So in a way it's great and fun, but on the other hand it a bit scary... :)

Film about Belarusian elections 2006

Yesterday we had so called "Russian speaking club" where American, Canadian and Austrian students speak Russian. I was as an "expert" there. It was really interesting:) After the meeting I presented this video to my friends, so they can understand better the situation in my country. (Video is in Russian)

What is Buzz?

Keeping in mind my previous I am still interested in Indernet mechanism of PR and Adverticement:) This time I met a new term for me, the "BUZZ". I googled it!

Emanuel Rosen: "I define buzz and explain why it's important. By "buzz" I refer to all the word of mouth about a brand. It's the aggregate of all person-to-person communication about a particular product, service, or company at any point in time. The following excerpt describes how I became interested in buzz and brings some statistics about the importance of word of mouth in different industries."

What is more interesting the same author tells that there are 10 industries which are "affected by Buzz":
1. Automotive
2. Consumer Electronics
3. High Tech
4. Entertainment
5. Fashion
6. Health Care
7. Publishing
8. Travel
9. Toy and Games
10. Consumer packaged goods

Well, it might be really true. I thing I made my first order through OTTO not because I was advertising it on our web-portal, but because my friend told me it could be cool:) There you go!

My first "lessons" of politics:)

From Halloween

This is quote from a reader I got for Political science:)

"Consider another human activity, almost as famous as politics - something which is again neither an implementation of principles nor a matter of pure expediency: sexuality. They are both activities in which the tacit understanding of presupposition often makes more formal proposition unnecessary; the sympathies that are a product of experience are better than the doctrines that are learnt from books. Sexuality, granted, is a more widespread activity than politics, but again the suspicion remains that the man who can live without either is either acting the beast or aping the god. Both have much the same character of necessity in essence and unpredictability in form. Both are activities which must be carried on if the community is to perpetuate itself at all, both serve this wider purpose, and yet both can become enjoyable ends in themselves for any one individual. Both activities can be repeated in an almost infinite variety of forms and different circumstances..."

Are you impressed? :) I am :D

"Give me Freedom" by "Krama"

Video clip to the song "Give me Freedom" by the band "Krama". Contains footage of police brutality in Minsk (Belarus) and also very nice views of Minsk from the air:). Nothing more to add...Just watch it!

Performers from Belarus

Traditional songs from Belarus and traditional costumes:)