Welcome to Copşa Mică, Romania, the most polluted city in all of Europe before Wall Fall (google it if you don't believe us!). Apologizes in advance: we didn't intend to be so "Speedy Gonzalez" on this ep, but some barrel-chested former miners -- the same irate cats who were summoned by the reconstituted post-Ceauşescu regime to clobber down on major Romanian student head during the dying days of the Romanian dictatorship in June 1990 -- and the station master were after us to get this one wrapped up STAT. But we think you get the picture though...we hope to see more of these former sooty belch towns closed down in China over the coming years.Welcome to Copşa Mică, Romania, the most polluted city in all of Europe before Wall... more
That's right, the non-profit Aeronautics and Cosmonautics Romanian Association (ARCA) are planning to get to the moon ... in a balloon.
Their plan is simple. Once the balloon is high enough, rockets hanging beneath the balloon will fire, propelling a tethered probe towards the moon.
Balloon-launched rockets (or "rockoons") were abandoned by the Americans in the 1950s because they blew off course in windy conditions.
Will the brave Romanians succeed? A test launch is due next month.That's right, the non-profit Aeronautics and Cosmonautics Romanian Association (ARCA)... more
China has already constructed several model futuristic cities -- green spaces of calm that offer an ecological residential experience which is popular amongst China's growing middle class. Yet none of these efforts have been entirely successful for a number of reasons. While we were walking through Bucharest, Romania's "Circus Park" the other day, we were pleasantly reminded of these ideal burgs as we breathed in the park's layout and unique looking structures. Thanks again for watching!China has already constructed several model futuristic cities -- green spaces of calm... more
Madonna got booed in Romania after lecturing the crowd about the level of discrimination in eastern Europe against gypsies.For instance, maybe they booed her because she talks to them like kindergartners.
Madonna said:“I’ve never been to Romania before and I am happy to be here. But I found out that there is a lot of discrimination against gypsies in Eastern Europe and that makes me very very sad, because we don’t believe in discrimination against anyone. We believe in freedom and equal rights for everyone, right? Gypsies, homosexuals, people who are different; everyone is equal and should be treated with respect, OK? Let’s not forget that.”
Despite what you may read on these other fly-by-night websites (like, say, uh… the Associated Press…)I don’t think it’s quite simple, normallyMadonna got booed in Romania after lecturing the crowd about the level of... more
BUCHAREST, Romania - At first, fans politely applauded the Roma performers sharing a stage with Madonna. Then the pop star condemned widespread discrimination against Roma, or Gypsies — and the cheers gave way to jeers.
The sharp mood change that swept the crowd of 60,000, who had packed a park for Wednesday night's concert, underscores how prejudice against Gypsies remains deeply entrenched across Eastern Europe.
Despite long-standing efforts to stamp out rampant bias, human rights advocates say Roma probably suffer more humiliation and endure more discrimination than any other people group on the continent.
Sometimes, it can be deadly: In neighboring Hungary, six Roma have been killed and several wounded in a recent series of apparently racially motivated attacks targeting small countryside villages predominantly settled by Gypsies.
"There is generally widespread resentment against Gypsies in Eastern Europe. They have historically been the underdog," Radu Motoc, an official with the Soros Foundation Romania, said Thursday.
Roma, or Gypsies, are a nomadic ethnic group believed to have their roots in the Indian subcontinent. They live mostly in southern and eastern Europe, but hundreds of thousands have migrated west over the past few decades in search of jobs and better living conditions.
Romania has the largest number of Roma in the region. Some say the population could be as high as 2 million, although official data put it at 500,000.
Until the 19th century, Romanian Gypsies were slaves, and they've gotten a mixed response ever since: While discrimination is widespread, many East Europeans are enthusiastic about Gypsy music and dance, which they embrace as part of the region's cultural heritage.
That explains why the Roma musicians and a dancer who had briefly joined Madonna onstage got enthusiastic applause. And it also may explain why some in the crowd turned on Madonna when she paused during the two-hour show — a stop on her worldwide "Sticky and Sweet" tour — to touch on their plight.
"It has been brought to my attention ... that there is a lot of discrimination against Romanies and Gypsies in general in Eastern Europe," she said. "It made me feel very sad."
Thousands booed and jeered her.
A few cheered when she added: "We don't believe in discrimination ... we believe in freedom and equal rights for everyone." But she got more boos when she mentioned discrimination against homosexuals and others.
"I jeered her because it seemed false what she was telling us. What business does she have telling us these things?" said Ionut Dinu, 23.
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more at link...
What business does she have? The same freakin' business the entire world felt it had to tell America who to vote for during the election.
God...Europeans can be such hypocrites. Let alone the fact they are repeating history just a little to close to actual events...all this talk about how great it is America is moving forward with a BLACK President and Europe is moving backwards with how they treat people....proving, yet again, that they can't do as they claim is right.BUCHAREST, Romania - At first, fans politely applauded the Roma performers sharing a... more
This sounds like a case for Kindergarten Cop. Where's Arnie? Police were called to the nursery after the caretaker arrived to find the windows smashed and the place ransacked. They discovered all the toys were missing. After questioning neighbours about the incident, two boys admitted to the crime. Apparently a 5-year-old boy convinced his 13-year-old friend to help him break in to a nursery school and steal the toys.This sounds like a case for Kindergarten Cop. Where's Arnie? Police were called to the... more
Hackers have taken revenge on the music industry after Romania’s first convicted file-sharer was given a heavy fine. The industry said they had selected the individual at random, but hackers responded rather less randomly by causing the music industry website to blocked as malicious by both Google and Firefox.Hackers have taken revenge on the music industry after Romania’s first convicted... more
“Choices” is an inspiring and very creative animated short film by Anton Groves. The animation used thousands of cardboard cuts, which were combined using both stop-motion footage and digital animation. The 2 ½ minute short film was created for the charity organization “United Way” in Romania, and was a selection for the 2009 Cannes Lions Advertising Festival. “Choices” takes the viewer through the harrowing childhood and teenage years of one small girl, demonstrating the hazards that potentially lie in wait for those children whose life choices are a result of not actually having a choice.
Includes a number of colorful pictures, and the inspiring short animation, “Choices.”“Choices” is an inspiring and very creative animated short film by Anton Groves.... more
Two American filmmakers go to Transylvania to collect stories of vampires (strigoi in Romanian), werewolves and ghosts. They find that belief in these creatures still exist in the small villages of the Carpathian mountains. This pod showcases interviews with Romanian villagers who share their experiences about vampires.Two American filmmakers go to Transylvania to collect stories of vampires (strigoi in... more
Moldova's president has accused neighbouring Romania of stoking the protests that erupted into violence in the capital Chisinau on Tuesday.
Vladimir Voronin said the Romanian ambassador would no longer be welcome.
Thousands of young protesters thronged Chisinau, fighting police and ransacking parliament, in protest at the results of Sunday's election.
Official results gave the ruling Communists about 50% of the vote in the Romanian-speaking ex-Soviet republic.
International observers said the vote appeared to have been fair, though one told the BBC she had her doubts.
President Voronin, a Communist, was quoted by Russian agency Interfax saying: "We know that certain political forces in Romania are behind this unrest. The Romanian flags fixed on the government buildings in Chisinau attest to this."
Earlier he described the violence as "a coup d'etat".
Some of the protesters on Tuesday had called for the unification of Moldova with Romania, its bigger neighbour.
Russia's foreign ministry said there was a plot aimed at undermining "the sovereignty of Moldova".
Summoned on Twitter
UN chief Ban Ki-moon called for calm and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said violence against government buildings was "unacceptable".
The streets of Chisinau were quiet on Wednesday morning. Protesters had left the scene of the rioting on Tuesday night, and police retook control of parliament.
But opposition leaders said protests would continue.
Vlad Filat, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, called the demonstrations "a spontaneous action by protesting young people".
He said the opposition had tried to prevent excesses, like the attacks on parliament, but said: "We are not scared of arrests or intimidation. The people do not want to live like this and want to live free and without fear."
Word of the demonstrations was spread by text message, via the internet, and on social networking tools.
"We sent messages on Twitter but didn't expect 15,000 people to join in. At the most we expected 1,000," Oleg Brega, of the activist group Hyde Park told the Associated Press news agency.
'Manipulation' suspected
Chisinau Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca, a member of the Liberal Party, said: "The elections were fraudulent, there was multiple voting."
The opposition have called for ballots to be recounted or the vote to be reheld - a request rejected so far by the government.
A report by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe on Sunday's vote gave a mostly positive assessment of the poll.
But a British member of the OSCE's observation team questioned that conclusion.
Baroness Emma Nicholson said she found it "difficult to endorse the very warm press statement" from the head of the OSCE.
"The problem was that it was an OSCE report, and in the OSCE are, of course, the Russians, and their view was quite different, quite substantially different, for example from my own," she told BBC News.
She said she and other observers had a "very, very strong feeling" that there had been some manipulation, "but we couldn't find any proof".
Moldova, sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine, is the poorest country in Europe, where the average wage is just under $250 (£168) a month.
The people speak Romanian and the country shares many cultural links with Romania. However it was annexed by the Soviet Union in World War II and gained independence in 1991.
There remains an unresolved conflict with the breakaway region of Trans-Dniester, which has run its own affairs, with Moscow's support, since the end of hostilities in a brief war in 1992.Protesters with Moldovan flag
Moldova's president has accused neighbouring Romania... more
"Protestors denouncing a Communist election victory in Moldova have seized the president's offices and broken into parliament.
About 10,000 demonstrators have massed for the second straight day in the capital Chisinau after the Communist Party led by veteran president Vladimir Voronin scored a big victory in a weekend parliamentary election.
Opposition leaders addressing a rally called for a new election.
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Most protestors were students who see no future if Communists keep their hold on the ex-Soviet state of 4m people.
Protestors threw rocks overwhelmed riot police protecting both the president's office and parliament and poured into both buildings through smashed window panes.
They put tables, chairs and papers onto a bonfire outside the parliament building....."(continues)"Protestors denouncing a Communist election victory in Moldova have seized the... more
Reports suggest Romania is set to decriminalise incest between consenting adults.
According to the government's new criminal code, people doing the dirty with members of their own family should be given psychiatric counselling instead.
Political legal adviser Dr Valerian Cioclei explained: "Not everything that is immoral has to be illegal.
"We cannot help these people by turning them into criminals and then punishing them."
Woah.Reports suggest Romania is set to decriminalise incest between consenting adults.... more
A Romanian man invited fellow villagers, relatives and friends to his home to mark his "future passing" to make sure everything went to plan.A Romanian man invited fellow villagers, relatives and friends to his home to mark his... more
Romania could receive about €20 billion as part of an International Monetary Fund-European Union rescue package, with negotiations due to start this week.
The funds, aimed at cushioning the impact of the economic crisis in EU's second poorest member state, was likely to be similar in size to the €20 billion Hungary signed up for in November, said an official familiar with the issue, according to the Financial Times.
The Romanian government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had reached agreement on the "broad quantitative parameters" of a support package during last week's visit of a Romanian government delegation to Washington, the official said.
The IMF confirmed that one of its teams was heading to Bucharest on Wednesday. EU and World Bank experts were also likely to follow, in order to finalise the details of the rescue package.Romania could receive about €20 billion as part of an International Monetary... more
A Romanian truck driver is in trouble after filming himself dancing behind the wheel while driving along a motorway.
In the clip, Iulian Breazu is seen singing and dancing wildly while standing on his seat - and steering with his feet.
Mr Breazu, 23, from Sibiu, may lose his job and could face police charges if officers can work out where it was filmed.A Romanian truck driver is in trouble after filming himself dancing behind the wheel... more
A Romanian lorry driver could be facing charges after filming himself dancing behind the wheel while driving along a motorway! Lulian Breazu, 23, may lose his job and could face police charges if officers can work out where it was filmed.A Romanian lorry driver could be facing charges after filming himself dancing behind... more
Interessante video tratto dalla trasmissione televisiva della Rai Un mondo a colori che spiega molto bene il motivo che porta i delinquenti romeni a compiere i loro crimini in Italia e l'incapacità e l'inadeguatezza delle misure intraprese dal Ministero dell'Interno per affrontare il problema.Interessante video tratto dalla trasmissione televisiva della Rai Un mondo a colori... more
Non cito i numeri del Viminale sulle percentuali di stupri aggiudicatisi dagli italiani e dagli immigrati.
Dico invece che la scritta "olocausto rumeno" è dimostrazione di bieca e tragica ignoranza, non giustificata nemmeno dall'esasperazione, ed è una vergogna da respingere.
E' ovvio che la violenza deve essere prevenuta, perseguita e punita, senza sconti, dalla giustizia e che il rispetto per la donna, i bambini e le bambine innanzitutto, ma anche per ogni essere umano sono un valore fondamentale, un principio morale e una garanzia sociale e politica a cui ognuno deve essere educato e formato.
E' necessario tuttavia aggiungere un'altra constatazione.
Le immagini del corpo femminile anche adolescente sono comunemente e continuamente diffuse in televisione, sui giornali, al cinema, nella pubblicità ed ovunque senza disapprovazione, né imbarazzo, né freni e dimostrano che con ipocrisia si riprova la violenza solo formalmente, ma si educa male, anzi si diseduca. Dimostrano che le battaglie femministe sono andate per strade incomprensibili o si sono purtroppo perse qualcosa.
segue nel Pratico Blog http://pratico.splinder.comNon cito i numeri del Viminale sulle percentuali di stupri aggiudicatisi dagli... more
Il miracolo si è spezzato, il sogno è svanito. «Pensavamo di raggiungere l'Europa in sette anni», raccontano i romeni, in una Bucarest intristita. Ci credevano davvero: immaginavano gli stipendi, i consumi, il benessere di Francia e Germania; e la crescita del salari - il 20% nel 2008, quando trovare lavoro era facilissimo - aveva alimentato questa speranza. Molte, troppe famiglie avevano allora scelto di indebitarsi, di comprare oggi - case, auto, beni durevoli - per risparmiare domani, quando sarebbe stato più facile.Il miracolo si è spezzato, il sogno è svanito. «Pensavamo di raggiungere l'Europa... more
Una lettera firmata da 35 eurodeputati rumeni e indirizzata al premier Berlusconi mette di nuovo sotto accusa il governo italiano. Per gli eurodeputati appartenenti a forze politiche di sinistra ma anche di destra, lo stupro compiuto sabato a Roma su una minorenne da due cittadini di nazionalità rumena e altri episodi di violenza precedenti sarebbero stati strumentalizzati per alimentare un clima xenofobo e razzista.
Le nuove regole in discussione per i campi nomadi che prevedono controlli strettissimi all’entrata e il divieto di uscire da queste strutture dopo le 22 stanno contibuendo a scaldare ancor di piu il clima.
L’eurodeputato di Forze Italia Vito Bonsignore chiede a Bucarest di farsi carico dei delinquenti romeni condannati in Italia e che dovrebbero scontare la pena in patria. Per Marian Jean Marinescu, che a Strasburgo siede come Bonsignore tra i banchi del Partito popolare l’idea del suo collega è in contrasto con la legislazione comunitaria.
“Ogni paese – spiega Marinescu – deve rispettare le leggi europee in base alle quali un criminale deve scontare la pena nel paese dove ha commesso il reato e dove è stato condannato”
Nella lettera degli eurodeputati si chiede a Berlusconi di adottare misure per evitare discriminazioni nei confronti di una comunità come quella rumena che nella sua stragrande maggioranza è composta da cittadini onesti che si trovano in Italia per lavorareUna lettera firmata da 35 eurodeputati rumeni e indirizzata al premier Berlusconi... more
