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19 March 2024
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VilNews section 5: SPEAKERS CORNER!

Good debate and response from readers has always been a very important part of VilNews. Section 5 here in the e-magazine is devoted to this purpose, and we encourage all our readers to share their views and comments on various topics having to do with Lithuania and Lithuanian matters around the world - be it commenting on our VilNews articles or otherwise.
Send your letters to 
editor@VilNews.com

Fri, 21st September, 2012 - Posted by - (1) Comment

FROM JUNE 2006

Lingering nomenklatura


Major General Jonas Kronkaitis was Lithuania’s Vice Minister of National
Defense and Commander of the country’s armed forces for the period 1999 –
2004. Vytautas Dudenas was a member of the Lithuanian Parliament in the
1990s and later Minister of Finance for the period 1999 – 2000.
Both are now retired.

“Many of our Lithuanian politicians, civil servants, judges, the court system and the prosecutor’s office are still the children of the old Soviet ‘nomenklatura’, and there is a great need for fresh blood and new thinking in order for Lithuania to catch up with Western Europe.”

This said Jonas Kronkaitis and Vytautas Dudenas in 2006. Are they right, also in 2012?

Read more...

Category : Archives / Speakers corner!

Wed, 15th August, 2012 - Posted by - (1) Comment

 

Where are the new ideas for Lithuania?
Are these the top 14
throughout history?

 

 

1200s

King Mindaugas’ grand idea was to found the Lithuanian State!

Lithuania’s only king is also credited with stopping the advance of the Tatars towards the Baltic Sea and Europe, establishing international recognition of Lithuania, and turning it towards Western civilization.

1300s

Grand Duke Gediminas’ idea was to found Vilnius as one of the World’s leading and tolerant cities

Gediminas was also the true founder of ‘The Grand Duchy of Lithuania’. He was a man of extraordinary knowledge and wisdom, offering free access into Lithuania to Europeans of every order and profession.

 

1400s

Vytautas the Great’s idea was to expand

‘The Grand Duchy of Lithuania’ to the Black Sea

Vytautas the Great was the Grand Duke expanding the Grand Duchy‘s frontiers from the Baltic Sea south to the Black Sea and thereby creating the by then largest country in Europe. The Grand Duchy was at its largest by the middle of the 15th Century.

 

1500s

Sigismund the Old’s idea was to connect Italy and Lithuania, with the help of Leonardo da Vinci!

When Lithuania’s Grand Duke, Sigismund the Old in 1518 married the Italian Princess Bona Sforza, this became an outstanding manifestation of the already strong relationship between Italy and Lithuania. The royal couple created together an Italian community within the court and Italian culture became the preoccupation of the Vilnius city elite.

 

1700s  
The Great Gaon’s idea was to develop the Jewish society that made Vilnius the intellectual cradle for Jews all around the world
The Great Gaon of Vilnius, Elijahu ben Solomon Zalman (1720-1797) was the greatest luminary not only among the many Talmudical scholars of the 17th and 18th centuries, but also for many later generations.

 

 

1875-1911

Čiurlionis’ idea was to describe Lithuania’s soul in his art and music

During his short life Lithuania’s national composer and painter,  Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, composed about 250 pieces of music and created about 300 paintings.  His works have had a profound influence on modern Lithuanian culture.

 

 

Description: image016

1918

Antanas Basanavičius’ grand idea was to reclaim independence for Lithuania

As a member of the Council of Lithuania he was a signer of the Act of Independence of Lithuania on the 16th of February 1918 (signed in the building at the picture to the left). Basanavičius is often given the unique informal honorific title of the "Patriarch of the Nation".

 

1918-1940

President Antanas Smetona had the idea of again making Lithuania a successful, remarkable nation

Smetona was undoubtedly Lithuania’s most important 

political figure between the two wars. He served as President from 1919 to 1920, and again from 1926 to 1940. Smetona was also one of the famous ideologists of nationalists in Lithuania. The country was truly flourishing under his presidency.

 

 

1945-1990

Lithuanians who were forced to leave their home country had the idea of keeping on fighting

The post World War II wave of Lithuanian immigrants experienced a surge of Lithuanian consciousness. They saw themselves as exiled communities and clung to their memory of two decades of freedom in Lithuania. They also made numerous efforts to support Lithuania’s freedom fight.

 

 

1945-1990

Lithuania had the idea to improve its infrastructure even during Soviet years

Despite huge post war difficulties, Lithuania managed to build around 450 km of four-lane motorways from Vilnius to Klaipėda and Panevėžys. Result? Lithuania got the best roads in East Europe! At the same time Klaipėda port was developed as a leading Baltic transport hub, connecting East and West..

 

1960-1990

Despite the oppression, Lithuanian experts had the idea to make Lithuania the Soviet Silicon Valley

Still today Lithuania is a world leading exporter of femtosecond lasers. Among the clients is NASA, using Lithuanian laser technology for analyses of minerals on Mars! A country of 3.2million people, Lithuania, has about 15 laser producers, employing about 300 laser specialists!

 

 

Description: http://www.info-regenten.de/regent/regent-d/pictures/lithuania-landsbergis.jpg

1988 – 1991

Professor Vytautas Landsbergis had the idea that his masses of unarmed Lithuanians could win over the mighty Soviet army
Hadn‘t it been for this peaceful fight by Landsbergis and his people for regained freedom against an occupation and a ruling the people of the Baltic States never wanted or agreed to, the map of Europe would most likely have looked very different today...

 

 

Description: https://vilnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/katkus.jpgDescription: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Sabonis_Lipofsky_(1_of_1).JPG/220px-Sabonis_Lipofsky_(1_of_1).JPG

1990 – 2010

Post Soviet Lithuania’s sport and culture had the idea to remain on world level

I let two of the most prominent figures within these fields represent the fantastic flora of ideas and pure guts sport and culture is playing for Lithuania; Music Professor Donatas Katkus (left) and former basketball player Arvydas Sabonis. Remarkable!!

 

 

2000 – 2010

The idea of Vilnius Mayor Arturas Zuokas’ was to build Lithuania’s Manhattan, the new office district

Vilnius’  Mayor, Arturas Zuokas, earned his place in Lithuania’s history with his energetic efforts to build a new skyscraper city within the city.

 

 

Description: http://www.balsas.lt/08/28/kubilius.jpgDescription: http://www.civis.lt/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/dalia_grybauskaite.jpg

2012 – 2020

President Dalia Grybauskaitė

Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius

 

Please let us know what are your ideas and visions for the future development of Lithuania.

 

NEW IDEAS, NEW SPIRIT IS VERY MUCH NEEDED!

 

Read more...

Category : Lithuania today / Speakers corner!

Mon, 23rd July, 2012 - Posted by - (0) Comment

New concept for seniors, planned in Vilnius

A new concept for senior apartments, with focus on warmth, dignity and joy. Custom apartments around an outdoor, enclosed patio - plus a large, common 'lobby' for food, reading, music, good talks, therapy, training and more.

This is what now might be develop in the outskirts of Vilnius, about 20 minutes drive from the Old Town and less than five minutes from the Le Meridien Hotel, with its beautiful pool, spa complex, and a great new 18-hole golf course.

The plan they have under consideration right now is to build an elegant senior complex on the site, for potential buyers both in this country and from abroad.

Quality and service will be very high, still at prices one can hardly dream of the United States, Western Europe or Australia.

The planned complex will consist of around 50 apartments and a large public centre-building that can best be compared with an international hotel lobby.

All apartments and common areas will be wheelchair accessible. The latest of 'welfare technology' will be installed, and there will be an extensive range of health care measures, safety, activities and a good, warm relationship with other seniors in similar circumstances.

If sufficient interest from potential buyers, the project is expected completed in 2014.

When will this project be completed?
When will this project be completed? What provisions will there be for handicapped, when we grow older and unable to participate in sports or other activities?
Vytas
_________________________

Sounds like a great project
It sounds like a great project hope to hear more about it.
Irene
_________________________

I think something like that could be very welcome
Actually, I think that something like that could be very welcome. What it will need is an inexpensive and convenient form of transportation to and from Vilnius center and old town. So, I hope that the organizers will think about that. Today, it is quite expensive to get to Le Meridien Hotel and the hotel shuttle bus only goes as far as the White Bridge for some strange reason. Public bus is just to going to be acceptable for residents. A taxi ride costs over 100 lita round trip today and that will be much higher by the time this opens.

Without a convenient, affordable form of transport, residents will feel very isolated out there. With that problem solved, I could see a good interest in it.
Gene
_________________________

Many "seniors" prefer to not be alone. They are still active "seniors," and a place like this offers safety, security, a sense of community
Many "seniors" prefer to not be alone. They are still active "seniors," and a place like this offers safety, security, a sense of community, and if I were anywhere near retirement age, I would surely consider such a residence!!! Great Idea!!! :)
Jenifer 

Read more...

Category : Speakers corner!

Sat, 14th July, 2012 - Posted by - (1) Comment

Absolutely awesome little campaign bringing friendliness to Vilnius


Mark SPLINTER 

 
LGBT friendly Vilnius
Vilnius' spots that aren't afraid to declare they're LGBT friendly
By: LGBT friendly Vilnius 


Grant Gochin Is it safe for people to be out there? 

http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/565130_657271185_1878126519_q.jpg
Mark SPLINTER it's safe in the tourist areas, the sticker is about celebrating and advertising the friendliness that already exists. But even in the tourist areas a gay kiss causes a scandal and if some knucklehead sees it then you might get into some trouble. also there are some horrible violent comments on the internet, but that's inevitable.  


Rimas Pileika What is? Store, bar?  


Hannah Shipman Something positive for tolerance.  

http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/565130_657271185_1878126519_q.jpg
Mark SPLINTER so far, restaurants and bars are participating. Latest news - the council have invoked a law - You have to put the sticker on the inside of the door not the outside. This law doesn't seem to be enforced very strictly against other door stickers. Anyway they will just change the stickers to inside and that's all. 

http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/161099_543149041_978625920_q.jpg
Hannah Shipman Cafes and restaurants are displaying stickers to indicate that they are LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) friendly. It is refreshing to hear something positive on this subject rather than the tirades of Petras Gražulis.  

http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/565130_657271185_1878126519_q.jpg
Mark SPLINTER 
https://www.facebook.com/lgbtfriendlyvilnius

LGBT friendly Vilnius

LGBT FRIENDLY VILNIUS - spontaneous social cause aimed to make Vilnius a better place. ; ] 


Kenny Kaunas Sweet! DJs and a beer garden, perhaps?  

http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/275055_1009973024_1554790557_q.jpg
Grant Gochin It's a pity that people have to put up signs saying they are NOT homophobes.

Read more...

Category : Speakers corner!

Mon, 31st October, 2011 - Posted by - (1) Comment

Other responses to the 26 October comment from Mr. Januta

Alexander's avatar
FROM: Alexander (26 October)
Well said. I just wish those who write about Lithuanian-Jewish relations and blame all Lithuanians for the killing of Jews, would get their true facts before writing.

fdfdg's avatar
FROM: fdfdg (26 October)·
An outrageous pack of lies.
The Jews in Lithuania were murdered by ethnic Lithuanian volunteers. Lithuanians are still trying to hide this fact after 60 years, from themselves, their children and now they are attempting to impose this false history on the world at large. Dov Levin isn't positing double genocide, there is no equals sign there. "Double genocide" is not the name the Lithuanians give to their own policy of Holocaust obfuscation, but it's an accurate name. The number of Lithuanian perpetrators is in the tens of thousands, and those are just the active shooters. If you want to get into passive support for genocide, it's much higher. There was no specifically Lithuanian Waffen SS, because the Lithuanians created their own pro-Nazi formations before the Nazis got around to it, TDA, LAF etc etc. and these forces were involved in the Holocaust in Poland, Ukraine, Belarus and elsewhere, besides their native Lithuania. The author is obviously fooling himself into thinking it's possible some Lithuanians were fooled into it at German direction, but the LAF was a Lithuanian organization, not a German one, and their underground cells of ethnic Lithuanians inside Lithuania (LAF was pretending to be the government in exile in Berlin) got the orders from HQ: prepare to slaughter your Jewish neighbors as soon as Soviet-German hostilities break out. Didier Bertin's point concerning the supposed Soviet genocide of Lithuanians was not that some Lithuanians survived, it was that not only did the vast majority survive, their population actually increased during the supposed genocide. This is an outrageous pack of lies by another Lithuanian Holocaust obfuscator.

Richard Vitkauskas's avatar
FROM: Richard Vitkauskas (26 October)·
Excellent article Donatas. Many thanks

Mr. Januta’s response

Donatas Januta's avatar
FROM: Donatas Januta (27 October)·
Dina Porat, a respected Israeli historian estimated that the total number of Lithuanians, involved directly and indirectly, in the German organized killing of Jews was up to 15,000, i.e., about 0.5% of the population
For those who may want a little perspective on fdfdg’s preceding comment. He states that my article is “an outrageus pack of lies”, and specifically he then says: “The number of Lithuanian perpetrators is in the tens of thousands, and those are just the active shooters.” Dina Porat, a respected Israeli historian estimated that the total number of Lithuanians, involved directly and indirectly, in the German organized killing of Jews was up to 15,000, i.e., about 0.5% of the population. And Arunas Bubnys, another historian, has estimated that those directly involved, i.e., what fdfdg refers to as “the active shooters”, was somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000. But according to Mr. or Ms. fdfdg, both of these historians are just liars. Judge for yourselves the rest of fdfdg’s remarks.…

Read more...

Category : Litvak forum / Speakers corner!

Historians in the West don’t think that the Baltics and their people are important

Sat, 29th October, 2011 - Posted by - (0) Comment


Dominican Father David O’Rourke, one of the two priest producers of “Red Terror on the Amber Coast.” Father O’Rourke is director of The Tatra Project (www.tatraproject.org), which provides educational resources and media on life under the former Soviet Union.

I lived and worked on and off in Vilnius, from 2000 until about 2009.  Part of my work involved research in the film and photo archives that led to the documentary film, Red Terror on the Amber Coast.  I was the writer and producer.  I have only one point I want to make here, but I think it is important. 

From the  time that the Soviets first occupied the Baltics after the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact until the fall of the Soviet system, essentially all the information about life in the Baltic Republics came from the occupying governments – Soviet and Nazi.  Occupiers have their own agenda.   Telling the truth about what they were doing in the countries they occupied was not one of them.   To the contrary, both the Soviets and the Nazis were expert in producing self-promoting propaganda.  So I believe it is both naïve and foolish to look to news and information reports produced by either of these regimes about the occupation years  as though they were reliable.  My own view is that relatively little concerning life during these years is known today outside these countries and their several diasporas.  And very little is known because historians in the West don’t think that  the Baltics and their people are important enough to their own studies to worry about.   

David O'Rourke
California, USA.

Read more...

Category : Litvak forum / Speakers corner!

Our 2011 debate season has started!

We are in today’s issue of VilNews asking where the new ideas for Lithuania are. We have already received some answers and comments (see below) and would very much appreciate also your feedback and comments. Good debate is always healthy!  Send your comments or suggestions by e-mail to editor@vilnews.com

Oh dear, Lietuva! :-(

Apparently you have no vision; your President is being knocked for standing up to the USA; and your young people are leaving in droves for better job opportunities and education in foreign lands.

I have been visiting Lietuva since 2003, before you joined the EU. Previous to that I had contacts with Lithuanians who spent their holidays in England. In those eight years I have seen Lietuva changing, going places, advancing, taking its place in the modern world. At the same time, my country (Britain) has been going down the pan.

Clearly corruption in public life is a problem in Lietuva, as it is in Britain. The difference is that Lietuva impeaches its politicians, whereas we literally let ours get away with murder. It is virtually impossible to have corrupt politicians removed from the British Parliament. The new British Government has promised reforms to remedy this situation, but as recent events have shown that corruption is endemic at all levels in both our Houses of Parliament, the chance of a swift adoption of anti-corruption measures is unlikely.

I’m English (of Swedish decent) so cannot speak for America where clearly most emigrants went to escape Nazi and Soviet domination in the 1930s and 40s. I suspect much of the economic migration of recent years is directed towards Britain, which is obviously cheaper to get to, and will let Lithuanians and Poles in without hindrance, unlike the US and other European countries. 

Read more...

 

NEW DISCUSSION – FROM 8 MARCH 2011: 

 

63% of Lithuanian women are

 

victims of violence 

 

cid:image019.jpg@01CBDCD5.05AA9040

 

cid:image026.jpg@01CBDCD5.05AA9040

63.3 % of Lithuanian women have been victims of male physical or sexual violence or threats after their 16th birthday. This represents today such a severe problem for this country that, in my opinion, President Grybauskaite should personally get involved and take the necessary measures to turn around this devastating trend.

 

 

Grant Gochin 

Violence is a natural byproduct of a society where brown is red, justice is ideological, the Prosecutors office is a haven of thugs, and people with PhD's in history can't read or write.
A society that values swastika's and acquits Stankeras
 is a society of hate and violence. Where is any misunderstanding?

Ieva Vozbutaite Dear Grant, a man allowing himself such statements, should base them on facts. Otherwise - it is merely splashes of ignorance on your part. I am a member of this society and with full responsibility I tell you that we dont value swastica or anything of the sort. As in any democratic nation, freedoms of speech and religion are allowed, which I admit, sometimes end in individual acts that are condemned by many. Your generalizations are inaccurate to say the least and I would hope you would know better.

Ieva Vozbutaite And... Lets not forget that Lithuanian women are also the most educated in EU... Conclusion: still many problems to be solved (give us a break - we only have 20 years under our belt), but with potential like that - beware :)

Aage Myhre Dear Grant and Ieva, First of all, is it ok for you if I publish this discussion in tonight's edition of www.VilNews.com? GRANT: I agree with Ieva that you are too rancid in your comment. I understand why you feel a need to react against the authorities and courts here, as they too often do not make their decisions based on honesty and common sense but instead let own interests prevail. But you must also not condemn an entire country and people in such a black and white background.

Aage Myhre 

IEVA: I agree with you that Lithuania has a good basis for improvements. But I am also very disappointed that the young people, like you, have not taken over more of the governance of this country. You know as well as me that Lithuania will...

Ieva Vozbutaite Aage, you have my permission to publish my opinion. Also, I would like to draw your attention to what I think is misinterpretation of certain facts. 63% if you read the study have experienced violence AND/OR threat of such acts. it is, in my opinion, a little different then saying the first part and cutting the last... :)

Aage Myhre Might be... But if you read Dr. Giedrė Purvaneckienė's report at www.VilNews.com, i think you will agree with me that this is scary and deeply sad.

Ieva Vozbutaite Of course... and should not be tolerated...

Aage Myhre FYI, Ieva, Grant lives in California so it may take some time before we'll get his comments...

 

Ieva Vozbutaite March 8 at 1:53pm Report

Sending these links both to mr. Grant and Aage... Violence against women is a crime to be persecuted in all countries... I do hope that you both agree with me... 
http://www.saynotoviolence.org/join-say-no/violence-against-women-israel-men-are-breaking-cycle

http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_me/2011-01-07/201404611186.html

violence against women in Israel: Men are breaking the cycle | Say NO - UNiTE

www.saynotoviolence.org

By Irit HakimSafe World's Israel correspondent reporting from Tel Aviv.IN MEMORY OF THE VICTIMSIn 2010, Eighteen Israeli women were murdered by their spouses or family members. This is the highest number since 2004.Each murdered woman carried a world of wishes, hopes, aspirations, loves, and dreams

Share

 

Zilvinas Beliauskas The USA ambassador to Lithuania Anne Derse says that "even such countries like the US and Lithuania" are still encountering this problem" and "Lithuania today occupies leader's position for women's rights" - http://www.alfa.lt/straipsnis/10720168/?JAV.ambasadore..smurtas.pries.moteris..ne.kulturinis.dalykas..o.nusikaltimas=2011-03-08_10-51

 

Lithuania's State owned medical field is ineffective, tarnished by corruption

 
Audrius Simaitis

VilNews invites you to participate in a discussion about Lithuania's health care system.
Introduction by Audrius Simaitis,
Consultant Cardiologist at Royal Cornwall Hospital, UK.

One of the things that strikes one the most in Lithuania is the fact that management's mentality in the health care system has undergone little change since Soviet times. This is out of proportion in comparison with other fields like education and business.

Any outsider would immediately ask: why?
The answer most probably could be found comparing the State owned medical field with the predominantly private sector of odontology.

The State owned medical field is ineffective, tarnished by corruption. National and European surveys reveal the public in general is significantly dissatisfied. Physicians are happy neither with salary levels nor with working conditions. The emigration rates of the doctors are increasingly in worrying proportions.

Read more...

 

At least there was one

A number of years ago a friend in Vilnius, a well know musician, needed important surgery.  So his musical colleagues help a benefit concert to raise the funds for his "free" medical care..  And to everyone's astonishment, the surgeon refused any payment (the rest took theirs)  so at least there was one honest and honourable man.

David O’Rourke, USA

 

No mention of the rampant bribe-taking?

What, no mention of the rampant bribe-taking that goes on? That’s curious …

Gintautas Kaminskas, AUSTRALIA


National priorities for Lithuania - a Canadian`s perspective


Professor Vic Pakalnis

I had a wonderful trip to Vilnius this past summer and I came away with a view of Lithuania that was full of admiration and hope. It filled me with pride that my parents were born there and that my DNA is tied to that corner of the world.  

I have made a few observations of issues while I was there that I feel need to be addressed and discussed. While I am no expert on everything, I know mining, nuclear power, and the public service, so this is what I will share with you. Lithuania does not seem to have any natural resources; this is amazing to me, for all around Lithuania are countries with oil, minerals and industrial materials. Despite all of this, there is nothing major within Lithuanian borders. Either Lithuania is truly a barren place or you need some expertise in geological and mineral exploration.

We can help with this!

In Canada the largest mining show in the world happens in Toronto, Ontario. For instance, next week at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), the Lithuanian government could provide an incentive to mining developers, such as a tax break, and let them find the mineral wealth that likely exists in the land. The TMX (who operates our stock exchange) also finances over 70% of all mining deals in the world.

Canada can do good work with Lithuania, and I for one would love to see both our countries prosper.

Read more...

“You ask about new ideas for Lithuania? My only idea for all young people here is: Leave this country as fast as you can!


Aage Myhre, Editor.

She did not have much good to say about her homeland, the young woman who wrote to me yesterday. She is unfortunately one of very many who do not feel good about today's leaders or the administration, and she mentions specifically that she over the recent months was in regular contact with representatives of both the president and government, connected with her job, and that she came out from each of these meetings shaking her head. Another well-educated young professional in a good job that no longer sees great hope for the homeland.

Here as a bit more from what she wrote:

“Things here will not change in several generations.... Just look what is now happening with the municipal elections... Disgusting... I do not want to spend my best years waiting till those generations of leaders have changed... Yes, I want to help our people as much as I can... I have really tried, but... After some communication with our presidency lately, al I’m hearing and experiencing is how everybody is just looking for how to divide money between ministries and business holdings - no chance that life will be better here even in 10-15 years...Your article, your way of thinking - very good, but unfortunately utopian.... It should be done with this country as they do in the building industry - knock everything down (including media, that also in tight relation with the rulers), and then start from zero....

Lithuania has no VISION!


Jeff Lewis.

Lithuania has no VISION ! riddled with corrupt practice - offer to help and even friends take advantage, poor education standards , and poor quality of life. They leave to achieve a better qualification and job opportunity. Let each company linking with schools produce a common policy to address corrupt practice, energy conservation and its still icy underfoot in the countries capital...

Corruption is the major root of Lithuania's problems – an anti-corruption campaign is needed to foster a sense of national spirit


Gintautas Kaminskas,
Australia.

I have given a lot of thought to Lithuania's problems and have tried to figure out if there is on major root cause of most of Lithuania's problems.  The word/thought that keeps occurring to me is CORRUPTION.   I think that an anti-corruption campaign, if effective, would not only start to ensure that more litai or euros are spent the way they were supposed to be (and that more people start paying as much tax as they're supposed to be!) but it would have a unifying effect, fostering a sense of national spirit.  Lithuanians have rallied together in the past in the face of external threats.  Now they have to rally against the threat from within – corruption.

I have my own thoughts about how an anti-corruption campaign could be conducted, but I think it would be much better if Lithuanians in Lithuania would think about that and come up with a plan.  Here's a concrete suggestion for you:  why doesn't VilNews sponsor a function one day (or even two, weekend perhaps) at which such ideas could be 'brainstormed'?  Call it a seminar, or even a 'brainstorming session', whatever you want.  Corruption and how to eliminate or minimise it doesn't have to be the only topic.  Maybe the theme of the whole function could be a question something like "What does Lithuania really need right now?".  In my vision of such a thing, I would recommend that the findings or recommendations of the event should be written up and formally forwarded to both the Seimas and the President with a request for their reaction to it.  At the same time the media should play a major role in making the recommendations/ideas known to the public, to stimulate discussion.  It would be great if the media could then invite various people, either alone or in small groups (e.g. President, Prime Minister, other Ministers) to come and discuss these matters and to tell the public what they concretely plan to do about them.  It's democracy in action, holding politicians, etc. accountable for their positions to the public that pays their salaries.

Gintautas Kaminskas
Australia

 


Two good debates from 2010

To give you a better idea of the debates we've had in the previous year, we reproduce below two articles and the subsequent response to these received from our readers:

 

 

Arrogance, ignorance and

 

an airport comparison

 

Arrogance and ignorance are not particularly positive characteristics of anyone, and I understand it well if some of our VilNews' readers, who see that I use these words together with a picture of our Prime Minister, predict that I will now be criticising him. So let me hurry to say that these two words are meant for all questionable behaviours seen performed by our governing forces since 1990, not solely for Mr. Kubilius. Read more...

 

 

 

Andrius Kubilius, Lithuania's Prime Minister

 

LACK OF COMMON SENSE BY PEOPLE POSITIONED AND TASKED WITH LEADERSHIP

Thank you Mr. Myhre for this copy and mostly for your gallant effort in pointing to the lack of common sense by people positioned and tasked with leadership in very important matters. After decades of Communist style living it is possible that the population has not yet regained clarity, confidence and with it the will to keep self serving arrogance out of ranks of the Nation's leaders.  

Best regards,

Algirdas Vaitkus

Mission Viejo, California

 

I CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR COURAGE AND CLARITY

Dear Aage,

Bravo on an excellent issue. I congratulate you on your courage and clarity. Whether people agree or disagree with whatever point, I do hope many understand how much love, care and constructive friendship you are offering to your adopted country. Nothing can be better for a new democracy than a spirit of free civic debate and encouraging more and more local people to.... stay and debate!

Cheers

Dovid Katz

North Wales 

 

 

THE NECESSITY TO DEVELOP A CULTURE OF MUTUAL TRUST AND RESPECT

Dear Aage!

Could not resist myself writing you and congratulating you for very good article! Enjoyed reading it!

It illustrates perfectly the Adizes management methodology (ref. www.adizes.com), which I am working with currently. It talks about necessity to develop a culture of mutual trust and respect within any organization in order to be successful (could be business organization or country). And one of the important elements creating such culture is willingness to hear and understand other people and other opinions.

You just provided a perfect example about the lack of mutual trust and respect in Lithuanian society! Very well done!

Best regards,

Virginijus Kundrotas

Kaunas

 

 

ANOTHER WELL-WRITTEN AND INFORMATIVE ISSUE OF VILNEWS

Hello Aage,

Congratulations on another well-written and informative issue of VilNews. The issues addressed speak for themselves.

I would like to bring to your attention another issue that you might like to look into, i.e. the subject of Lithuanian artists abroad. There is currently an exhibit at Radvilu Rumai Museum focusing on Lithuanian artists abroad. One of the featured artists, Danute Nitecki, is local to the San Francisco Bay Area, http://www.ldm.lt/RRM/Dovana_nepriklausomai_Lietuvai.htm

Danute opened her home to the local Lithuanian community this Easter for a 4th year in a row. Her biggest concern these days is finding a long term home for her art. I would bet that her concern is common to other Lithuanian artists living abroad.

Do you think that this is something the national government might like to address, or would it be better to approach local municipalities, or private organizations.

Best regards,
Algis Ratnikas
San Francisco, USA

 

 

WE SHOULD BE GLAD THAT OUR LEADERS HAVE BEEN FINANCIALLY CONSERVATIVE

Hi,

I am new to your newsletter, but I find your observations thought provoking, which is always good, whether one agrees or not, as it provides a basis for growth. So much in circulation in today's media is just fluff with little meaning or value. 

One point in counterbalance. There is a lot of criticism of Lithuania's government, and while I agree that things could have been done better, we should be very, very glad that our leaders have been financially conservative, unlike the leadership of Vilnius, which has created huge debts for our children to pay, while goods and services were bought at inflated prices that helped cronies. 

People look to the fantasy of the US and think that government can spend freely. The US is truly living in a fantasy world that works so long as they can convince foreign countries to hoard US dollars and keep them off the domestic US market. This option is not available for Lithuania. The result, sooner or later, is super inflation like what existed in Germany around 1923 when the taxi drivers purposely drove their fares by a bak so they could adjust the rate by the latest mark value. I myself have a couple billion marks from that time. 

Iki,

Arturas Baranauskas

Vilnius

 

 

EASIER TO OBTAIN AN AUDIENCE WITH THE POPE,

THAN WITH A MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF LITHUANIA

Dear Mr. Myhre,

I enjoy your positive articles about Lithuania and send them to some 70 friends around the world. The less positive, I keep to myself.

You have lived long enough in Lithuania and must realize that many of the problems of the present day Lithuania are due to their reluctance to learn from the Western countries or accept advice from Lithuanians who lived and studied in the West. The relative success of Lithuania after World War I was largely due to the replacement of Russian educated officials by those who got their degrees in the West. My own father was the first Lithuanian with a degree in forestry from a Western university and introduced major reforms in the forest management, which survived even during the Communist occupation.

Alas, after 20 years of restoration of independence to paraphrase Kipling "The East is East, the West is West and the twain shall never (so far) meet". I spoke to a number of Lithuanians with degrees from top Western universities, who don't want to return to Lithuania - according to them, the "natives" know everything better.

I might add that for me it was easier to obtain an audience with the Pope, than with a Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lithuania.

Yours sincerely,

Ambassador Algirdas Zemaitis (ret.)

Vilnius – Rome

 

 

LISTEN TO SCANDINAVIAN ADVICE, NOT ARROGANTLY

ASSUMING THAT WE THE LITHUANIANS KNOW BEST

Hello Aage,

Hope you had a good Easter.  I have just read the latest edition of VilNews, thank you for another good job.  I agree with your editorial comments.  In particular: "Being a Norwegian, I believe Norway and the other Scandinavian countries would have been willing to stretch to great lengths to provide help and advice for the crisis–hit Lithuania and the two other Baltic States. But they had to be asked.  Our Lithuanian leaders should refrain from arrogance and avoid ignorance by seeking advice where good help and advice is to be found, domestically and internationally. Can they do that, there is every reason to foresee a bright future for this nation."

I have two comments to make on that.  First, I believe that even now it's not too late to ask the Scandinavian countries for help.  But you are exactly right: the Scandinavian countries would want in return a guarantee that whatever help they give will be used wisely, listen to Scandinavian advice, not arrogantly assuming that we the Lithuanians know best.  Closely linked to this is the second thing: no one wants to give help if they think it's going to be wasted corruptly.  Lithuanians need to be able to give the Scandinavian aid-givers a chance to supervise what is going on, the right to inspect and audit, to make sure that the aid is being used as agreed, and not to build the villas of mafiozai and corrupt politicians and public servants on land that they have misappropriated from public forests and lakefronts.

Which brings me back to my key theme (sorry if I'm repetitious):  Lithuania will not make much serious progress until bigger efforts are made to stamp out bribery and corruption.  

Best regards
Gintautas Kaminskas 
Wollongong, Australia

 

 

"DUMMHEIT UND STOLZ WACHSEN AUF EINEM HOLZ".

Dear Aage,

Thank you for the fine arrogance story.  Along the lines of your airport comparison, attached is another shameful blemish on the airport. I wholeheartedly agree that the airport is the first image of a country to the visitor. The dungeon like interior structure for processing the arriving passengers certainly doesn't leave much of an image.

I wrote a story in Draugas on robber like taxi fees from the airport to downtown Vilnius.  Also that the taxicabs are drenched with nicotine odor and loud blaring Russian radio music listened by mostly Russian speaking taxicab drivers, causing my daughter to ask whether we really have arrived in Lithuania. 

There is no cash pay-phone at the airport. To make even a local call one has to buy an expensive multiple call pay phone card, and how would a non-Lithuanian speaking visitor find out about that. Moreover, lack of an official non-commercial welcome and information center or booth to the arriving non-Lithuanian speaking foreigner is another striking example of not understanding the impact of an image that a foreign visitor receives. 

On arrogance. Several months ago I had arranged a visit between the minister of energy and a CEO of an important nuclear reactor manufacturer. The meeting was supposed to be for the benefit of the minister on information of what is forthcoming in the future, particularly in small reactors and the possibility of establishing a European affiliate of the company in Lithuania. 

The minister graciously extended an invitation to the CEO, but the minister's secretariat refused to extend even the slightest courtesy to this visit, such as picking up the visitor from the airport and transporting him to the meeting, setting up a meeting agenda, or even providing to the visitor's office the address of the ministry.  They claimed that this was just another sales visit, and the visitor should take care of everything on his own.  As a result the CEO canceled the meeting and eventually went to London. The European affiliate was established in the UK. Thus through such arrogance another opportunity was lost.   

There is a lot truth in the German proverb "Dummheit und Stolz wachsen auf einem Holz".

Best regards,

Stan Backaitis

Washington, USA

 

 

SENDING E-MAIL TO LITHUANIA IS LIKE

SENDING IT TO THE BLACK HOLE OF THE UNIVERSE

Dear Aage:

I wish to ad another bit of advise to your fine article on Ignorance.

Lithuania's business people and government officials are yet to learn the necessity of good communications. Without a two way communication there is no possibility for further contacts. One of the most frustrating experiences I had was in e-mail (before that it was in regular "snail mail") communications.  I would write and write but receive no reply (with only a few exceptions). 

When I was working, our management had a rule - "answer all letters received in not more than three days.  If there is no answer to be given, than at least acknowledge the receipt". 

One of my American colleagues, who was sincerely trying to help Lithuania, said "Sending e-mail to Lithuania is like sending it to the black hole of the universe.  Everything goes one way and nothing comes back".  No wander he is now disenchanted and helping others.

Vytautas Sliupas, P.E.

www.aukfoundation.org

Burlingame, California

 

 

LITHUANIA'S BUSINESS PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

ARE YET TO LEARN THE NECESSITY OF GOOD COMMUNICATIONS

Dear Aage:

I totally agree with Mr. Sliupas! [ref. his above letter]  I once sent an e-mail to a Lithuanian who responded eight months later! And that is just one example -- there have been numerous others.  Perhaps they just prefer face-to-face communication, but don't know how to communicate that to you :-).

Jennifer Lambert

USA

 

 

What can be done to improve Lithuania's

reputation to the rest of the world?

A reader who responded to our latest VilNews issue argues that we have begun to go in the footsteps of other Lithuanian media in describing Lithuania in a rather negative way. I can well understand such a reaction, but it must also be said that unfortunately there has been a relatively large number of cases and circumstances in this country that deserve to be described in quite critical terms, such as:
• Lithuania's economy and population, especially the weakest groups, are very hard hit by the economic crisis that has affected the world over the last couple of years, and one must be allowed to make critical remarks on how this country's authorities have acted in the handling of the crisis. It seems to me that Lithuania's government has been more concerned with finding their own solutions, trying to 'reinvent the wheel' rather than to learn from what other nations have made with regard to stimulus packages, lowered interest rates, etc. in these times of crisis, which in my view unnecessarily sets Lithuania several years back in time compared to many other countries.  Read more...


 

 

Dear Aage,

I am an American-Lithuanian born in the US. My father was a 'DP' after the war, my mother was born in the US. My wife is Lithuanian-American and our four children speak Lithuanian. We have been active in Lithuanian-American post WWII immigration, activities all our lives. We lived in Lithuania 1992 -95 when I was a consultant for the US Treasury there at the Bank of Lithuania. You did "stick your neck out" in making the comments you did but I, for one, agree with you wholeheartedly. I think many others, particularly those who have lived both in Lithuania and outside the country, also agree.

The trick is, what to do about it or, for those of us living outside, why should we be concerned? As life goes on, roots are deepened overseas and Lithuania turns its back on us or makes no effort to either woo back the Diaspora, attract tourists or foreign investment (are these all culturally linked?) an "ace up Lithuania's sleeve" will be lost forever. To be sure, internally generated progress over the last 20 years has been great and the cultural life, in Vilnius particularly, makes life here in Cleveland, or almost anywhere else I can afford to live, pretty dull. Lithuania, however, given its precarious geographic position and small population needs to be exceptional in how it organizes itself and how it takes advantage of every scrap of resource (particularly human) that it can.

Good luck to you Aage.

Rimas Aukstuolis, Cleveland (American-Lithuanian)

Vice President Structured Trade Finance, Fifth Third Bank

 

Dear Aage,

Your critical comments on, and wishes for, Lithuania in this issue are excellent. I agree with every word, and can only hope that more Lithuanians would take your very informed, friendly, and insightful message to heart!

Best wishes,

Mykolas J. Drunga, Kaunas (American-Lithuanian)

Broadcaster at Lithuanian State Radio

Hello and better year 2010!

I agree 100 % with you about the thesis you wrote in this issue of the journal. Things in reality are exactly as you clearly and straight have written. The reason why you often get critics is the limited knowledge of short-term "visitors", such as business consultants, diplomat crops, coming here for some years and then trying to make a picture from official Lithuanian sources or lousy press articles. I think especially you and partly me (14th year passing here) with our good touch with local population, business-life, some understanding of language and Scandinavian background, values, are looking around without coloured spectacles. Still, almost every day on, with one's private and business life meet corruption, centralization of business (Rubikon, VP etc) and pre-agreed tenders, cartels.

Lithuania has got a lot of very good opportunities to become one of the success stories in Europe for agriculture, tourism, ITservices, leading harbour country by the Baltic Sea etc. but the style must be changed as you say.

Thanks, Aage, for your brave and honest articles earlier, now and in the future. 

Krister Kastren, Klaipeda (Finnish)

Dear Aage,

Many thanks. That is a beautiful piece of writing and a well laid out story perfectly befitting the January 13th.  May I have permission to send this to the Lithuanian daily 'Draugas' for publication in Lithuanian and 'Bridges' for publication in English?

Best regards,

Stasys Backaitis, Washington dc (American-Lithuanian)

Dear Aage:

Many thanks for writing your Chronicle of Lithuania!

We, Lithuanians in diaspora or in Lithuania itself, should be very grateful and obliged to Great Friends of Lithuania like you!

With all due respect, I believe your criticism is too mild though. Unfortunately, the "inconvenient truth" is that the Soviet communist nomenklatura has hijacked Lithuania's development in the last almost two decades and, consequently, our country has largely horribly wasted a truly impressive and immense political and economic capital of global good will, so excruciatingly hard earned by the Victims of the January 13th, 1991 brutal Soviet aggression and by the blood and brains of the legendary Lithuanian freedom fighters, world renowned anti-communist dissident movements, and political refugees in the West in the post-WW II years.

Wishing you all the best for 2010 and beyond, I remain

Yours sincerely,

Valdas Samonis, PhD, CPC (Canadian – Lithuanian)

The Web Professor of Global Management(SM)

Hi Aage.

Scary reading, but nevertheless correct, unfortunately.

Well and brave done!

Best regards,

Arthur Simonsen, Vilnius (Norwegian)

 

Responses to VilNews 7 January

 

Email 1 from Mr. Andrius Pauga, Consellor at the Embassy of Lithuania in Portugal:

Dear. Mr. Myhre,

Again and again, negative information prevails in your newsletter, as if nothing good happens in Lithuania (except road fatalities down). Even the Capital of Culture is described as a failure. I am very disappointed that you follow this bad tradition of Lithuanian media. Another thing: two Lithuanian ministers are criticised in the first article, many quotes of their critics, but no quote of any of the ministers. That's really partial.

 

Email 2 from Mr. Pauga:

Thank you for your answer. I fully agree with you that telling truth is of utmost importance. What I am very concern about is that Lithuanian media (perhaps 90 percent of it) for many years keeps trying to pre-select the truth, to manipulate with truth - not only by giving most of attention to negative facts, but also by constant devaluating and depreciating any positive facts or developments in our country. What we have as a result is a prevailing negativism and lack of patriotism among Lithuanians, and this is worse than any economic crisis. I am deeply convinced that the mission of mass media is to form our society in a positive way, to help our people to discover real values, to teach them how to love their country, to help them to understand finally that there is no better place in the world for Lithuanians (and maybe for some expatriates as well) than Lithuania.

I really hope that your newsletter, while being addressed more to international than local readers, will notice and discover all the colours of Lithuania, not only dark ones. I am looking forward to read next issues of it.

By the way, have you heard that, according to 2010 Quality of Life Index published by the "International Living" magazine (http://www1.internationalliving.com/qofl2010/), Lithuania is 21-st country among the best in the world, with better quality of life than most other countries of Central and Eastern Europe (and even ahead of some countries in Western Europe). Even if this is just one of ratings, it is a good example that many Lithuanians still don't understand they are blessed by having been born here. I wish you every success in your journalist work and all the happiness for your family.

Sincerely,

Andrius Pauga, Lisbon (Lithuanian)

Consellor at the Embassy of Lithuania in Portugal

 

Hi Aage,

My guess is that most of the people who have complained about the newsletter are probably people in the Lithuanian government.

Of course, they themselves are not angels when it comes to manipulating media, and the very fact they are complaining directly to you only shows that they are exerting pressure so that you fashion a message that justifies the institutional bullshit they tell themselves and that they want everyone else to buy into. This is a problem not just in Lithuania, but it is still a Lithuanian problem.

On this topic, two quotes bear remembering:

"Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state." Noam Chomsky, the famous MIT linguist.

"Political language -- and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists -- is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." George Orwell

Darius Ross, Vilnius (Canadian-Lithuanian)

Journalist

Dear Darius,
Believe me, I have not received a single negative comment or complaint from anyone in the government or from other Lithuanian politicians. If to be even more precise, I have not received any comments from that side, at all….
Aage

 

Dear Aage, 

Greetings and best wishes from Virginia.

Aage I think telling as you see it should be a good example to Lithuanian news media and political commentators. The Chronicle you wrote is excellent. You have done a great job and should be proud of it.  I tend to agree with Valdas Simonis, PhD that your criticism of things that are not right are too mild if anything.  I wish you continued success.

Jonas Kronkaitis, Virginia USA (American-Lithuanian)

Brigadier General, former Commander of Lithuania's Armed Forces

#

 

Dear Jonas and Valdas Simonis,
I cannot completely agree with you that my criticism has been too mild. I know very well that there are also among today's Lithuanian politicians individuals who really want to do their very utmost to contribute to better conditions and a more positive development for this country, so I have not wanted to be too harsh or drastic when I first decided to make my views known. I hope however that my comments and the ensuing debate may have some positive impact.
I also can not totally agree with you, Valdas, that the Soviet-inspired 'nomenclature' here has 'hijacked' Lithuania's development. It was rather the freedom movement Sajudis that 20 years ago was able to take over the ship from the Soviet nomenclature that until then had ruled Lithuania. Unfortunately, it soon turned out that the new crew was too young and inexperienced to get the ship on a steady course towards the west as the plan had been. This was further exacerbated when the new crew's intended pilot, Stasys Lozoraitis did not reach up when the Lithuanians in 1993 held its first presidential election, and then died so tragically just a year after. The Sajudis' barricade-captain who became famous when he gathered his people to quietly protests over the mighty Soviet power in 1991, quickly gained reputation for being too intellectual and artistic to be able to steer the ship, and even his own crew began gradually to mismatch in all directions.
As is well known, the winner of the election in 1993 was the former Communist leader Algirdas Brazauskas, who apparently let the ship continue its course towards the west, but now in a rather leisurely pace. The reduced speed gave the ship's former owners a good opportunity to come aboard to destroy all the old log books, and it also gave the new captain and his closest officers plenty of time to fill their pockets with different gems and precious stones from the many dinghies around that needed the mother ship's favour. A lot of the originally small vessels learned quickly how they could grow at the expense of other small boats, and they also learned how much they had to pay to the mother ship's officers to look the other way when the smaller vessels were robbed. 

The Sajudis crew who had represented so much of hope of a steady course and a better future for Lithuania in 1990-91 became older and disillusioned, with ever-new factions and officers. None of them succeeded in convincingly show their abilities to take over management of the ship, while the nomenclature crew on the other hand used the time well to take positions and places that they retain to this day. Still, the ship and the fleet around it proceeded slowly forwards, until finally also the nomenclature captain reached the age of retirement. None of his former top officers convinced as he had done.

Then came the year 2008, and the ship again got a captain and a crew with roots in the original Sajudis crew. Unfortunately for them, the wind had increased sharply exactly when they took over, and they have since been forced to fight a terrible storm that still has not settled. Many small boats, especially the oldest and weakest ones, have already capsized and disappeared in the waves, often because the mother ship has not provided them with fuel and provisions but rather has sought to rescue the mother ship.  Fortunately, there has during this time been more experienced larger vessels and fleets from Western countries nearby, and many ask themselves today why the new crew of the Lithuanian mother ship has not been much more willing to ask for help and supplies from these even when the number of small boats that capsized was tragically high. Meanwhile the old ship owners have taken advantage of the situation by seemingly reaching out a helping hand to many of those who already 20 years ago doubted whether Sajudis' route to the west was the best choice.
But the journey is not over, so maybe there is still hope for a steady course and an open attitude from the now one year old crew to learn from and seek help and assistance from more advanced ships and barges farther west and to work hard to develop leadership skills and attitudes that can make a true change to the better for the people of Lithuaniar?

 

13 January 1991 was a day of triumph for Sajudis, why not pick up the baton?
Aage

 

Dear Aage

I have found your article and the responses I have seen so far  quite fascinating.

At first I wondered why you had written it. Generally you are writing to an expat communtity and are we a force for change or does hope spring eternal?

But on reflection I can see the merit of such a discussion.

I have worked and lived here for only some 10 years, rathes less than you. Ten years ago I was hugely concerned that amongst the 3 Baltic States Lithuania was the most entrenched in its old ways and the most reluctant to change. But I still fought hard to preserve my firms's investment and continuing investment in Lithuania as one day "they would get it right".

Sadly 10 years on "they" have not and my initial fears have proved right. Yes, professional firms (such as my own former firm) have managed some reasonable growth and pretty marginal profitability but no where near the advancement that should have been possible. But the culture of political governance has changed very little if at all. And this has constrained the development of a proactive and sustainable business culture.

Lithuania is short of natural resources (apart from timber and fresh water). Its main potential economic resource is its people. And if properly lead by quality politicians, good business leaders  and a forward thinking educational system that could mean a lot. Lithuanians have a reputation as being hard working and diligent. But sadly their reputation as "ëntrepreneurs" is better known as thieves of one sort or another.

What is lacking is LEADERSHIP.

I speak of political leadership which cares for the development of the country rather than politicians' own wallets. (Just look at the energy crisis now facing the country. This was forseeable at least 10 years ago. Various solutions were proposed THEN but no action taken – probably because political leaders could not agree on how to share out the "goodies".)

I have spoken to many people (including my wife!) with strong political views (with which I may or not agree – but that is not the point). But when I say why don't you get diretly involved in politics? They wan't no part of it – the political system has no credibility.

In terms of business leadership of Lithuanian companies, with a very few exceptions, I see a serious lack of role models for the budding entrepreneur. The young people I speak to do not see any future in joining a Lithuanian company  as a route to developing a career. They would prefer to look overseas. And I also see the major shareholders of successful Lithuanian companies uprooting their investments away from Lithuania as they do not see their future potential as being encouraged here.

I am also concerned that the educational system is weak in terms of its business training . I come from the UK and was Treasurer of a significant university and on the Board of a major business school. We strived for good involvement of businesses from all spheres (banking to manufacturing, Japanese, German, even American) and generally achieved it. My attempts in Lithuania fell on deaf years.

So Aage, I generally agree with your sentiments and those of some of your respondents.

You are short on solutions as I think are most of us who care about Lithuania, especially in the short term. But the long term requires strong, ethical and transparent leaders in all aspects of political and business life. Where will we find them?

I would welcome any comments.

Good luck!

Hugh Tomas, Vilnius (British)

Former Senior Partner of PriceWaterhouseCoopers

Lithuania's way of treating their people living abroad (VilNews 13 January)

I am one of those Lithuanians whose family emigrated to the United States in the aftermath of World War II. My parents sent us to Lithuanian school every Saturday, so that we grew up reading, writing, and speaking the language fluently. This makes my trips to Lietuva so much more pleasant. I can relate to my cousins, I can make new friends, and I appreciate the history. On one of my visits to Lietuva, I noted that there is a definite prejudice against American-Lithuanians such as myself. You noted that the indigenous Lithuanian people need to appreciate what the diaspora has done in terms of raising support and goodwill worldwide. I wholeheartedly agree, and I appreciate your opinions.

Viso gero,

Jurate Burns, Destin Florida USA (American-Lithuanian)

Destin Library Director

Dear Jurate,

Sorry to hear, but as I said in my comment article;

'One of Lithuania's most prominent human resources is undoubtedly the country's large diasporas around the globe, groups of people and their descendants who left their mother country because of war, difficult economic conditions, political persecution, etc. These diaspora groups are in my view too little listened to or consulted from the Lithuanian authorities, which is very sad for a nation that so desperately needs all possible support and assistance from the hundreds of thousands who still have Lithuania in their hearts.'

Let's see what we can do to change this kind of attitude from authorities and common people here…

Aage



Good morning world – this is VilNews Lithuania!



VilNews is a brand new, online e-magazine that offers:

FRESH NEWS, BLOGS AND COMMENT ARTICLES FROM AND ABOUT LITHUANIA AND LITHUANIAN MATTERS AROUND THE GLOBE

 

It was in September 2001 – almost ten years ago – that our Vilnius International Club (VIC) held its very first meeting, in a Vilnius Old Town pub.

Not long after that we began publishing a bashful little newsletter for our members. It soon turned out that our writings achieved great popularity, even outside the borders of Lithuania, and in 2010 we experienced that our VilNews newsletter reached an audience of 10 000 - 15 000 readers for most of the weekly releases, reaching absolutely all corners of the world...

It was against this background that last autumn we decided to turn the newsletter into an online e-magazine. And here is the result!

We are proud to offer no less than 24 sections with an infinitely great variety of articles, comments, photos, online booking of hotels and travel, extensive news archives, and much, much more.

We are still in an early phase, so there will certainly be errors and omissions, but we will improve ...

We have been very pleased to see the amazingly great support that we have received from our readers, writers and contributors, from around the world, and this fact makes us confident that we will establish and continue to develop VilNews' position as the world's leading English-language e-publication from and about Lithuania! Our goal is to have a readership minimum of 100 000 persons worldwide by the end of 2011.

Please help us achieving exactly that by letting your friends and acquaintances know about VilNews.

Maybe you want to read some of our VilNews newsletter issues from 2010?

In such case, just click on the below images:



 

A cavalcade of VilNews 2010

(you get up the articles by clicking on the below front page images)

 

 

 

2010

CHRONICLE
OF
LITHUANIA

 


 

8 JAN

WOUNDS OF HOLOCAUST

 

 

13 JAN

LITHUANIA'S REPUTATION

 

 

18 JAN

VILNIUS CHANGES YOUR SOUL

 

 

22 JAN

NEW IDEAS
FOR
LITHUANIA?

 

 

26 JAN

NUCLEAR
FEAR

 

 

28 JAN

TIME
TO LEAVE?

 

 

1 FEB

LET'S BUILD A NEW TOWN!

 

 

3 FEB

THE TWO
BIG BENS

 

 

5 FEB

BUKIME
KARTU

 

 

8 FEB

A POLITCAL ERA DRAWS TO AN END

 

 

16 FEB

A LITHUANIAN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE

 

 

22 FEB

LITHUANIA'S GOOD / EVIL

 

 

25 FEB

LITHUANIA IS THE PLACE TO GO IN 2010!

 

 

1 MAR

CALIFORNIA LOVE LETTER

 

5 MAR

KAZIUKAS
FAIR

 

 

8 MAR

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

 

 

11 MAR

20 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

 

 

15 MAR

THE
HOLY GRAIL

 

 

21 MAR

CONNECTING PEOPLE

 

 

23 MAR

NAIVE
FOREIGNERS

 

 

25 MAR

SPRING IN LITHUANIA!

 

 

27 MAR

WOLLONGONG REFLECTIONS

 

 

1 APR

UZUPIS INDEPENDENCE DAY

 

 

3 APR

EASTER
MAGIC

 

 

4 APR

EASTER TRADITIONS

 

 

6 APR

ARROGANCE, IGNORANCE & AN AIRPORT...

 

 

8 APR

ECONOMIC CRISIS

 

12 APR

LITHUANIAN FOOTPRINTS

 

 

16 APR

LITHUANIAN SOUTH AFRICA

 

 

21 APR

VILNIUS ARCHITECTURE

 

26 APR

LOOK TO NORWAY!

 

 

3 MAY

FLOWER
POWER

 

 

9 MAY

LITHUANIA'S PARTISAN WAR

 

 

11 MAY

LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA?

 

 

14 MAY

BUKIME
KARTU

 

 

17 MAY

DO UNTO OTHERS

 

 

24 MAY

LITHUANIA –
A HAVEN OF TOLERANCE?

 

3 JUN

SOUND OF MUSIC!

 

5 JUN

TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!

 

 

7 JUN

THE VILLAGE VOICE

 

 

14 JUN

VERITAS ODIT MORAS

 

 

17 JUN

LETTERS
FROM KYRGYZSTAN

 

23 JUN

SU JONINĖM!

 

 

26 JUN

JEWISH CULTURE RETURNS

 

 

30 JUNE

THANK
YOU!

 

 

2010

CHRONICLE
OF
LITHUANIA

 

 

JANUARY - JUNE

2010

 

July – December 2010

 

 

10 JULY

MISS MARPLE

 

 

16 JULY

BATTLE OF GRUNWALD

 

 

19 JULY 

ECONOMY
AT A
TURNING POINT?

 

 

30 JULY

KLAIPEDA SEA FESTIVAL

 

 

9 AUG

TWO
GRUMPY
OLD MEN

 

 

16 AUG

JONAS SLIUPAS

 

 

30 AUG

SUMMER SUMMARY

 

 

10 SEP

INK OF THE SCHOLAR

 

 

15 SEP

INCREDIBLE INDIA!

 

 

21 SEP

VILNIUS INTERNATIONAL CLUB

 

 

24 SEP

VilNews

VILNEWS WILL BECOME AN
E-MAGZINE!

 

 

 

28 SEP

BACK TO
THE USSR!

 

 

11 OCT

 THE NEW WORLD ORDER

 

18 OCT

LITHUANIANS OF THE WORLD, UNITE

 

26 OCT

ALL SAINTS' DAY

 

 

3 NOV

THE SNAIL MAN

 

 

11 NOV

CRIME
&
DECAY

 

 

16 NOV

 

VilNews

 

VILNEWS
E-MAGAZINE UPDATE

 

 

22 NOV

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR

 

 

30 NOV

VILNEWS WRITERS

 

 

11 DEC

EXPATRIATES
IN LITHUANIA

 

 

12 DEC

HEALTH & WELLBEING

 

 

13 DEC

LITHUANIA IN THE WORLD

 

14 DEC

OFF THE BEATEN
TRACK

 

 

15 DEC

TRAVEL LITHUANIA!

 

 

16 DEC

LITVAK FORUM

 

 

17 DEC

IS THE ROUBLE RUSSIAN?

 

 

18 DEC

HOTELS & RESTAURANTS

 

 

19 DEC

LITHUANIA TODAY

 

 

20 DEC

FOOD, WINE AND MORE...

 

 

21 DEC

REAL ESTATE, CONSTRUCTION

 

 

22 DEC

CHRISTMAS IN SIBERIA

 

 

23 DEC

HISTORICAL LITHUANIA

 

 

31 DECEMBER

 

VilNews 2010

 

 

JULY – DECEMBER

2010


OPINIONS


Here you will find letters from people who have comments to our articles or to topics connected to this section of VilNews...

We would also be happy to receive letter from people who have suggestions for us about new articles, events, ideas and more...


    • Carol Luschas, Pennsylvania, USA

      New ideas for
      Lithuania?

      Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Lithuania has struggled to define itself. It turned its back to "Mother Russia" and looked toward the west becoming a member of NATO and later formed and economic union by joining the EU. Unfortunately, the "Baltic Brain Drain" is still occurring, as the youth have their sights set on the West seeking comfort of material wealth and goods accompanied with a lack of a moral compass, values or care and compassion for humanity. This is extremely dangerous and is causing Lithuania to collapse and fall behind.

      Now this small Baltic Republic must look towards itself to inspire a new generation to have a sense of national pride, spirit, and above all hope for the future. The country needs to believe that giving back is ultimately about serving others and having a positive impact on people's happiness, health and well-being.

      Read more...
      ...
A new European alliance?
Some time ago we raised the question about a potential new alliance between Russia, Poland, Germany and France. Below some of the comments we have received.


's avatar - Go to profile
Hermes Birkins·13 weeks ago
I came across your blog web site on the internet and check several of your earlier articles. Continue to maintain up the extremely great operate. I just additional up your RSS feed in order to my MSN Information Readers. Looking for toward reading through far more from you later on!?-

's avatar - Go to profile
garmin nuvi 255w review·10 weeks ago
Thanks i love your article about A new European alliance?

's avatar - Go to profile
beautiful widgets·8 weeks ago
I agree with your A new European alliance?, wonderful post.

's avatar - Go to profile
Curtis Doak·4 weeks ago
I love you because of your entire work on this website. It has been an push for me personally. I have handed this particular onto a buddy associated with mine.

's avatar - Go to profile
kahlua recipe·2 weeks ago
I really liked the way you presented this information. It nice to read good information like this rather than to waste your time doing nothing. Great Job! Thnkas for posting it!


Too long, information given by foreign representatives has been based either on official Lithuanian sources or yellow newspaper articles

(this is an opinion letter from last Setpember)

I liked very much that you made a summary of the "bad boys and girls". As we know, there is not any source for foreigners in Lithuania to follow those cases or even to be aware of them. This information is valuable in two ways - to show the world that there is some justice in Lithuania and to tell that black forces are still existing. Too long a time the information given by the foreign representatives has been based on either official Lithuanian sources or the (light) yellow newspapers articles. It is very important that you are taking those things into the light in a simplified form for everybody to read. Unfortunately this is only the top of an iceberg and there is still so much to take up and solve until even the most horrible cases are over.

Anyway, Aage, you are again doing something great. But I must admire your brave!

Regards
Krister Castren
Honorary Consul of Finland in Klaipeda


Lada letter from New Zealand

A friend of mine whose brother lives in Lithuania sent me a copy of your article Back to the USSR in Vilnews for 28th September 2010 which I read with interest. Regarding your comments on buying cars during Soviet times reminded me that when my father purchased his car in 1969 (and for many years after), it was not possible to buy a new car in New Zealand unless you had access to overseas funds, which meant that you had to be someone like a dairy farmer who was exporting...
Read more...
John lavas, New Zealand


This is what makes VilNews so worthy

Having been a regular reader of VilNews (thanks for including me in your mail list) for over a year, I feel it's high time I wrote a proper "thank-you" message.
I am truly amazed at how much a person can achieve if he has a passionate interest in what he is doing. Being quite a 'critical reader", I can not always agree with the way you present events and characters or interpret facts, but this is exactly the thing that makes VilNews so worthy. The good debate you advocate for is just what we need to combat indifference and kindle healthy interest in what is happening to us and the world around.
As a rule I try to abstain from breaking into people's private space, I mean forwarding lots of available e-reading stuff .... I have to confess: I've done it with VilNews!
Wishing good luck to you and your other initiatives.
Olga Medvedeva,
International project co-ordinator, Vilnius


Courage and clarity

Bravo on an excellent issue. I congratulate you on your courage and clarity. Whether people agree or disagree with whatever point, I do hope many understand how much love, care and constructive friendship you are offering to your adopted country. Nothing can be better for a new democracy than a spirit of free civic debate and encouraging more and more local people to.... stay and debate!
Professor Dovid Katz, North Wales


Good example to Lithuanian news media

I think telling as you see it should be a good example to Lithuanian news media and political commentators. The Chronicle you wrote is excellent. You have done a great job and should be proud of it.
Jonas Kronkaitis, former Commander in Chief of Lithuania's Armed Forces


I'm impressed

Thanks for the newsletter. It has renewed my interest in Lithuania at a time when I am more involved in other countries. Keep the good work going. I'm impressed.
Keith C. Smith, Former US Ambassador to Lithuania, Washington DC - USA



Bringing out different points of view

I very much enjoy reading VilNews and appreciate your efforts at bringing out different points of view and including viewpoints not normally considered by ethnic Lithuanian society such as non-Lithuanians living or working in Lithuania or other interested parties.
Rimantas Aukstuolis, Vice President, Fifth Third Bank, Cleveland, Ohio


Fascinating

Thank you so VERY much for sending on the VilNews... I found the text fascinating... hmmm... I would LOVE to receive more of the Lithuania newsletter, if possible.
Marcia Theriault, Canada




VilNews e-magazine is published in Vilnius, Lithuania. Editor-in-Chief: Mr. Aage Myhre. Inquires to the editorseditor@VilNews.com.
Code of Ethics: See Section 2 – about VilNewsVilNews  is not responsible for content on external links/web pages.
HOW TO ADVERTISE IN VILNEWS.
All content is copyrighted © 2011. UAB ‘VilNews’.

مبلمان اداری صندلی مدیریتی صندلی اداری میز اداری وبلاگدهی گن لاغری شکم بند لاغری تبلیغات کلیکی آموزش زبان انگلیسی پاراگلایدر ساخت وبلاگ خرید بلیط هواپیما پروتز سینه پروتز باسن پروتز لب میز تلویزیون