Yes, there was a referendum and Croats have been asked if they wish to join European union. As widely reported, 66% of those who voted said yes, we want to join EU. That first impression is implying that after almost a century Croatian people decided to leave behind memory of a traumatic 20th century union experiment in the south of Europe, as well as 20 years of independence, just to join the European union. Some will go that far and say, Croats will join the European union they were not part of since 1918, whatever the reasons.

But, once one looks closely at the numbers you will find out that only 44% of Croats voted on this referendum. 15% of all Croats were against and only 29% of all Croats were for joining the European Union.

What does, or does NOT think the majority, 56% of Croats?

Whatever the reason, how did majority of Croats forget what they were fighting for only 17 years after the aggression on Croatia and the War of independence ended, and had brought to them democracy and freedom to vote? How is possible that democratic vote became so unimportant to Croatian people after such a short time span or after they got the right to vote in 1990, after 72 years of one or another kind of a dictatorship, and why?

Roof of St. Marc, Zagreb, depicting the coats of arms of Croatia, Dalmatia, Savonia, and Zagreb

Should we look at the problem in the leadership, people who ran the country in the past 17 years since the War of independence ended?

Who are the people Croats are voting for in the past 17 years? By looking at their names, chances are slim to non when voting to find the name of a politician who hadn’t been in some kind of a political position during the communist era, no matter the party she or he is in now. Is it possible that Croats had enough of this people, their empty promises, failed attempts at job creation and corruption that reminds them of those old days prior to 1990 when those same people predominantly followed orders from Belgrade, communist doctrine and were running socialist economy, from 1945 until its final collapse in 1989.

Most important question that arises is – How did they succeed to get majority of Croats, who were for EU just two decades ago in such a large numbers, to, not only not to care about EU but, it looks like, they no longer care about future of Croatia as well, at least 56% of those old enough to vote but didn’t, and 15% who said NO to EU?

Are the Croatian politicians only ones to blame?

A lot happened since first democratic elections in the Spring of 1990 and 2012 referendum, in some instances of a great importance to the Croatian people. Croats may felt that EU, and in some cases rest of the World, have turned their back on them and have made unjust decisions, some of them very recently.

What external reasons got to 71% of Croats?

What decisions EU, World and International community have made in the past 22 years that majority of Croats may not like?

First and obvious one is arms embargo on Croatia during the War of independence while under aggression by one of the largest armies in Europe at the time.

Second could easily be, most recently, EU member Slovenia’s blockade of EU talks until Croatia puts aside the Law of the Sea Convention so through the arbitrage Slovenia gets a chance to get part of the northern Adriatic sea that otherwise they can’t get or does not belong to them in any way they put it.

Third one may be most important to the Croatian people. ICTY prosecution of defenders of Croatia that ended finally with a jail sentence in 2011 for Croatian top generals, as well statement that military action named Storm’95 (Oluja ’95), that finally ended 5 years of aggression and occupation of 35% of Croatian territory, where from around 400.000 Croatian people were forcefully expelled and 15.000 killed, is a “criminal enterprise“. This is the case, while, one can clearly see that action Storm’95 brought the peace to Croatia but also played an important part that brought the end to a 4 year long war against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Forth?

Let’s be realistic, who else on Earth would except this decision by ICTY as just by looking what enemy has done to Croatian people from 1990-95? Croatian army brought the freedom in 1995 to its land and people full 50 years after most of EU countries gained their freedom. All was done in a few days of a military action that has produced a minimal casualties on enemy side and without a need to attack the aggressor country or to bombarded it into a submission, as the rest of the world does in some cases, even in that region.

Closer look at democracy in action

Important decision is based on a democratic vote on referendum.
Most of those who voted got their way – something 56% of Croats can learn from.

But, question remains, 56% of population that did not vote plus 15% who voted NO are the large majority of eligible voters of population in this case, but, as it looks like, only 29% of population is enough to decide the future of a country, in democracy?

Is there a place in democracy for words like those made by Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vesna Pušić, who publicly said, few days before the referendum, “vote yes or there will be no retirement check next month”?

Let’s hope, lesson learned!

More photos from Croatia…

Time does not stand still

In an otherwise peaceful park,
flowers will grow,
kids will play,
but, even there,
one cycle bike pedal makes
will reveal more about the world we live in today.

Nothing changes on New Year’s day!

3D street art on the sidewalk in Old Port Montreal

After few minutes looking at it, taking photos and asking my model to step out of the hole, I realized how many people walk by, noticing it, but without realizing cool 3D effect, and stopping by only after hear and see us talking about it.

I like it, and, maybe this could be an avenue advertising industry can take, instead of the billboards high in the sky.

In urban environment this part of life cycle on Earth may go unnoticed but pollination is a vital reproductive process that is happening all around us. All kinds of plants blossom and all kinds of bees, birds and butterfly’s are continually prolonging survival of the spices.

If you ever wondered how this “secret” life looks like close up, film “Wings of Life” by filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg will be great introduction. Enjoy another great interview by TED…

The truth behind barb wire

Looking at the secret cables content, some times simultaneously disclosing information about western democratic governments and dictators around the globe, it comes as a surprise only to the most naive. The way dictators behave and rule with the iron fist over hundreds of millions of people around the world is nothing new. What may be new to some is financial and other aid they are getting from the western world while in the same time this same governments on the west are publicly condemning those dictators and under their rule widespread lack of freedom of speech, human rights abuses, treatment of political opposition, control of media etc.

And this is apparently just an icing on the cake.

It’s almost impossible to write something more on the subject that hasn’t been already said or hadn’t been written about by everyone involved. Also, it would be probably impossible to find anyone who did not comment more then once about Wikileaks in heated online debates.

Without further ado I list links containing written or video material, one I came across, featuring involved parties and others. This material is not always published by the mainstream media but by others on the web. I will continually update this post with links to new material related to Wikileaks.

Bookmarks on Wikileaks:

Mar. 12, 2011

“Corporate media smears WikiLeaks”
by Green Left

Feb. 11, 2011

Who is behind attacks on Wikileaks?
Video: EXPOSED: Attack on Wikileaks

Feb. 9, 2011

‎”Courage is contagious…”
Adapted from Micah L. Sifry’s new book, “WikiLeaks and the Age of Transparency”;
http://www.huffingtonpost.com…

Jan. 11, 2011

Looks like, we were waiting for too long on “Chinese democracy” – Guns N’ Roses album
- it finally came out in Europe & North America – at our doorsteps.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/wikileaks

Dec. 31, 2010

“8 Smears and Misconceptions About WikiLeaks Spread By the Media”
http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/149369

Dec. 18, 2010

Today’s media… with governments always the same story…
¡Viva WikiLeaks! SiCKO Was Not Banned in Cuba

Dec. 18, 2010

“Biden declared that “I don’t think there’s any damage” by Wikileaks”. Next day his mind has been changed…
Joe Biden v. Joe Biden on WikiLeaks

Dec. 16, 2010

03:15:11h long video – Washington – Lawmakers Discuss Constitutional Issues Raised by WikiLeaks…

Dec. 16, 2010

“Sweden has the HIGHEST per capita number of reported rapes in Europe. Number of rapes has quadrupled in the last 20 years.” – M.M.
Dear Government of Sweden…

Dec. 2010

An hour long doc. on Wikileaks. Swedish site – video no longer available…
http://bit.ly/icWbmD

Dec. 14, 2010

Bail Money for Julian Assange…

Dec. 13, 2010

Few interesting people among the top 10 and Julian Assange on the top: Readers’ Choice for TIME’s Person of the Year 2010
Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/12/13/…

Dec. 8, 2010

Financial Times – “WikiLeaks – not so dull, after all”…
http://blogs.ft.com/rachmanblog/2010/12/…

Dec. 6, 2010

“The lawless Wild West attacks WikiLeaks”
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/…

Dec. 4, 2010

Interesting solidarity among Paypal and Amazon users in the comment section…
http://www.readwriteweb.com/…

June 2, 2009

The 2009 Amnesty International human rights reporting award (New Media) goes to…
(guess who?)
http://amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=18227

Online portal is named AuroraMAX and it’s initiative between the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the University of Calgary, the City of Yellowknife and Astronomy North. AuroraMAX online observatory began streaming nightly broadcasts of Canada’s northern lights live over the Internet on the Sept. 20th 2010.

“In addition to nightly broadcasts of the aurora, AuroraMAX will help demystify the science behind the phenomenon, offer tips for seeing and photographing auroras, and highlight Canadian research on the Sun-Earth relationship. The website will also include an image gallery with still photos and movies from previous nights.” From official press release.

Live from the AuroraMAX Observatory…

Submit your short video and you could win a trip for two to Nahanni National Park Reserve in the Northwest Territories, plus other prices…

As majority of us Canadians live in cities or towns we all head in the “Wild” whenever we can, looking for weekend, holiday or vacation gateway.

Archive - Canadian forest in spring

If you had recorded your memories as moving pictures in one of Canadian national parks then Celebrate Parks in video Contest…

Featured on photos is festival held in 2010:

Access to the Festival is FREE and features among other activities inflatable structures, shows, music, singing, dancing, team games, different work shops, face painting, etc.

In 2010 Children’s festival was held on Park Jean Drapeau from Aug. 13 – 15, 9am-6pm.

Islands are one big park of nature named Parc Jean-Drapeau. Easiest access to the Islands would be via public transit and it’s metro – yellow line, stop Jean-Drapeau, or by car via Jacques Cartier bridge.

île Notre-Dame is in 1960s man made island.

On the Ile St. Helene is also Biosphere – environment museum, aquatic complex with swimming pool and La Ronde amusement park.

On Ile Notre-Dame is circuit Gilles Villeneuve were Canadian Grand prix is held, Olympic basin – rowing lake with stadium, Jean-Drapeau beach on Lac des Regates and Montreal casino. Parc Jean-Drapeau is part of pristine nature that Montrealers like to enjoy throughout the year. During summer months on the islands is also held number of open air concerts.

More about activities in and around Montreal…

Fill free to join us!

Full article on Ocean currents carrying oil along Atlantic coast…

Online Live feed of oil leak from depth of sea in the Gulf of Mexico what looks like work in progress live stream is from time to time switched off. One disaster on an oil platform and what followed is weeks of oil leak straight from Earth’s gut in to one of the richest with life seas of the world.

Photo © BP p.l.c. - Setting hard boom and absorbent boom materials

Oil leak and/or work on closing it at the depth of 5000 feet can be followed live on BP web site:

Live video…

By some, sooner or letter, that oil will eventually end up in the ocean, food chain and as far as we can imagine.

Oceans are giving life to this world that we are mercilessly destroying in last
100 + years, its air and land as well. When will some of us realize that all the gold of the world non of us can keep when time comes? When will we realize that gold will not buy us water or food when there is non left?

By destroying the nature to secure our personal wealth for generations to come we’re not helping anyone, including our children. We are just being selfish!

This is the only place we have! I believe someone already said, it’s worth saving it!

Not all of us had opportunity to witness it first hand so we turn to news showing us video and photo footage of the eruption. Beside those in the news, we came across, in our opinion, the best two video clips containing footage of Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption:

Video 1

by Enrique Pacheco – “Volcano eruption in Iceland“, recorded on March 26th 2010.

*****

Video 2

by Sean Stiegemeier – “Iceland, Eyjafjallajökull – May 1st and 2nd, 2010“.

*****