LITHUANIAN FOOTPRINTS

IN THE WORLD SOILS

(and vice verse)

Aage Myhre

Dear VilNews Readers, 

If all goes as planned, we will once or twice per month over the year ahead (maybe years) take you on some phenomenally fascinating footprint journeys. The destinations are located around the globe, in all continents, as well as various places in Lithuania. 

The objective and goal for each journey will be to find footprints and traces of Lithuania - at different locations around the world - as well as traces of foreign influence, activities and peoples here in Lithuania. 

I think many of you will be astonished learning more about the huge variety of distinctive Lithuanian footprints existing in the soils of almost every corner of our world, as well as the many exceptionally interesting traces of other countries peoples and cultures here in Lithuania. 

Some of the footprints are centuries old and sometimes hard to spot after having been exposed to wind, weather and sometimes conscious or unconscious oblivion.  Others are clear, visible and significant even today. 

Common to all the prints is that they help to tell the story of a wonderfully fascinating nation and a people that during the past millennium have been through so unbelievably much, for better and worse.  Though the Lithuanian people are really not just one people but a facetted range of people from many very different nations and cultures. 

Lithuania is a nation where only about 50% of the population lives in the very country, while the other half is scattered throughout all corners of the earth. But those who live outside the country are of course as much Lithuanians as the present residents, and it is perhaps now time to combine the international and local Lithuania into a unique, powerful unification? Maybe is it now the right moment to start significant bridge-building, reconciliation and renewed cooperation? 

One side of the case is the human, cultural and historical aspect. Another aspect is that there are so many sharp minds out there that should all now, immediately, be invited to participate in restoring and developing a solid, united Lithuania. 

I hope VilNews can be of some help, not only to identify and describe footprints, but also in bridging some of the gaps.

Our objective is to provide a forum and a voice for the international Lithuania. Many of you are already active contributors to this multilateral task, and I hope this is just the beginning of a dialogue and a cooperation that can be further enhanced over the years to come.

Today I invite you to South Africa (see attachment), and I think it will amaze many of you to learn that there are so many extraordinary and outstanding Lithuanian footprints and stories to find there, so far away from the motherland, at the completely other side of the globe... 

Editor

* The production and release of our 'footprint issues’ will depend on how successful we will be in raising share capital for the planned JSC 'VilNews'. So far, the development looks rather good, but I will once again urge you all to consider investing in this planned media company. We are targeting a worldwide group of around 50 individuals, groups of individuals, organisations, and entities, each investing $2,000 as shareholders of the company. The shareholders will also be invited to function as a resource and response group for VilNews.

The whole point is that VilNews should represent a broad and solid group of Lithuanian related people and entities from all parts of our earth, so that we together can contribute to the improvement of our common, international Lithuanian nation on a broad and smart basis.

We are currently only interested in principle feedback, and expect no binding commitments before a detailed business plan is presented.

RESPONSE FROM ALGIS RATNIKAS IN CALIFORNIA

You may add me to your list of potential investors. I think that your Internet media idea is very timely, very exciting and could garner large support from the sizeable Lithuanian diasporas. An expanded VilNews project could include features from Lithuanians and notes on Lithuanian events from around the world. It could also promote contacts for travelers, cultural events and performances, and tie in to the activities of the widespread state diplomatic embassies.

There is great potential here. Good luck.

Algis Ratnikas

Timelines of History

California, USA