THE VOICE OF INTERNATIONAL LITHUANIA
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Archive for February, 2011
Painted music of Čiurlionis
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Text: Indrė Lauciutė
“I see the entire world as a symphony, people – as music…and the most beautiful melodies are the distant Druskininkai…The steps insensibly turn to the street with plenty of aged trees and old houses. I feel like stopping at one house and pondering, leaning against the gates…” (M.K.Čiurlionis)
Few people in the world know of our Lithuanian national painter and composer, Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. Even today 100 years after his death. Was he less good than other painters or composers of that time? Probably not. He was, most likely, better than most of them. But he was not the son of a rich country or community. No one was there to help, support and promote him when he needed them most. No one, but he didn’t care. The only task he took care of was creating. I start to believe that the main reason that makes the world to turn is the reason of the people who just follow their heart. Really!
M.K.Čiurlionis is one of them, one of the artists I found for myself and who makes me inspired. I used to think that M.K.Čiurlionis is just one of these “must know” personalities. And, in fact, everyone knows the name of M.K. Čiurlionis in Lithuania. His painting and musical prodigy is a national pride, but there’s a difference in knowing and understanding. I’ll explain. Knowing that Čiurlionis is credited to be the most famous Lithuanian artist that ever walked the earth is different than understanding why he’s credited to be like this.
Čiurlionis “Creation of the World” cycle 5
Čiurlionis “Creation of the World” cycle 10
You don’t need to read about Čiurlionis to know him. It’s just better to look at his paintings or listen to his music. When I see Čiurlionis’ art, I feel like I'm in one of those surrealistic fantasy dreams I occasionally have. I could stare for hours at these paintings, especially at the one from the serious “Creation of the world”. This small world from the forest painted in velvet blue and bright cream white colours makes my mind to change. I see a symbol of faith, hope and sacrifice in it which sometimes is the last thing left to us. Čiurlionis is known for symbolism. All of his paintings take you to the fantastic land, cosmic journey, to the fairytale. It does not matter if it is the "The Zodiac" or "Sonata of the Summer", everything is out of this world that helps you to warm up inside.
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Čiurlionis “Sonata of the Summer” – Finale |
Čiurlionis “The Zodiac” – Sagittarius |
To me, art is one of the ways to understand life. What comes out of M.K.Čiurlionis’ works is pure experience pasted together on canvas; a glimpse of what one sees and feels, a rumble of something behind and beyond the image. His mind is his instrument as much as his brush. It seams that he’s playing with vision, intuition, motion, stillness. He can see the canvas as a window through which he can play with reality. That’s extraordinary.
M.K.Čiurlionis is also praised for the ability to depict music in his paintings by giving musical elements a visual form and imitating the rhythm and other components of the music. His music is catchy. The early preludes of Čiurlionis are attractive because of sincereness, the pure melody, temperance, complete form. You can feel that the music is full of harmony, constructive logic goes along with the graceful imagination, improvisation. His music is not for every day. At least this is what I feel listening to his music. It’s special. Čiurlionis painted the series of paintings, some of them to express the cycle or triptych, prelude and fugue or sonatas, divided into allegros, andantes, scherzos and finales. There’s always difficulty to find words for describing the music but it’s for such evenings when you’re longing for something and don’t know for what.
He composed over 250 pieces of music and created some 300 paintings. Most of his works are now housed in M.K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art in Kaunas, but there are some that you can enjoy watching in a small museum in Druskininkai where the artist used to live. You can feel the authentic environment the artist was surrounded by at the end of the 19th Century. I’d like to go there.
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Section Editor
INDRĖ LAUCIUTĖ
A graduate of Vilnius University in Lithuanian philology, as a professional writer I was working in publishing industry for three years – as a journalist writing articles in the daily Lithuanian newspaper “Respublika” and editing books in publishing company “Tyto Alba”. I currently work in Contemporary art association in Graz, Austria, dealing with international communication projects.
My approach and credo in working comes from Albert Einstein: “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”
Email: lauciute@gmail.com
GIEDRĖ AVARD
My name is Giedre. I'm a part of vilnews.com team. I'll be working on cultural section, which I find very interesting, since I'm artist myself. I have been studying and working with fine arts in Lithuania, Italy and US mostly. Recently I have been focused on teaching and organizing couple creativity and cultural projects.
Email: giedre.avard@VilNews.com
DAIVA TALIŪTĖ
Director of RIO Unlimited (a company planning and preparing events, concepts etc all over Lithuania), located in Vilnius. Lithuania, with a fantastic team of professionals, organizing events, shows, concerts, commercial and cultural events in this country.
I worked previously as an independent consultant in various TV projects, shows and events, now managing my own ‘events organizing company’. I always try to be on top of ‘what’s on, what are the latest hot news and what are the best leisure solutions of today’, I try to be everywhere and see everything myself, in order to make you as customer satisfied, and I have a nice team of professional people helping me. Give us the chance to organise also your party, your event or your professional programme in Lithuania!
Let’s not live to work, but live for life, full of joy and spiritual nourishment.
Please contact me if you need help to plan any kind of events or programme in Lithuania. I know the people, the hotels, the institutions and the artists that can help you create an unforgettable event with your friends or your team here in Lithuania!!
Web page: www.rio.lt
Email: daiva@rio.lt.
DONATAS KATKUS
Donatas Katkus (b.1942) is a famous Lithuanian violist, conductor, teacher, musicologist and a prominent personality in Lithuanian culture and art. In 1965 he graduated from the Lithuanian State Conservatoire (where he studied violin with Prof. J. Fledžinskas); in 1971 he was awarded PhD(Mus) at P. Tschaikovsky Conservatoire in Moscow (quartet class with Prof. A. Grigorian and V. Gvozdecki). In 1964 – 1969 he was the Head of the Orchestra Department at Ten-Grade Balys Dvarionas Music School, was a member of the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, later of the Composers’ Union Chamber Orchestra. Since 1968, he has been teaching at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre; Professor since 1995.
In 1965 Donatas Katkus organized the Vilnius Quartet and played with it until 1994. In 1969 (together with the Vilnius Quartet) and in 1971 he attended courses in Budapest held by A. Mihály. Together with the quartet he toured Europe, Africa, America and Asia, participated in international music festivals. In 1972 he won the First Prize at the Competition for String Quartets in Liége (Belgium). Donatas Katkus has performed as a soloist, edited and was the first to perform many opuses by Lithuanian composers for viola, string quartet or chamber quartet, among them compositions by O. Balakauskas, F. Bajoras, A. Rekašius, J. Širvinskas, B.Kutavičius, B. Borisovas and A. Šenderovas. Lithuanian composers have dedicated their opuses to D. Katkus (O. Balakauskas’s sonata Do nata for viola solo, 1982).
In 1995 – 1999 Donatas Katkus held summer master classes in Germany (Pomersfelden), later Finland and Spain. In 1994 he founded the St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra of Vilnius Municipality, which he still leads. Since 1996 he has been constantly touring abroad with this orchestra (Estonia, Finland, Germany, France, Sweden and Spain).
In 1995 Donatas Katkus started organizing the now traditional St. Christopher Summer Festival and is the art director of this event.
D. Katkus has recorded his unusually large and varied repertoire in 30 records and CDs together with the Vilnius Quartet, and around 20 CDs together with St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra.
Donatas Katkus is always bursting with new ideas; his activities cover various domains of culture: he has written around 300 articles on the aesthetics of music, interpretation theory, semiotics of music, the monograph Lithuanian Quartet (1971), scripts for musicals such as Vilnius Quartet (1982) and Violinist (1984, about R. Katilius); he has also starred in films, given lectures in Lithuania and abroad, participated in international conferences on aesthetics and musicology in Finland, Russia, Estonia, Germany and Poland; he has organized soirees-concerts of contemporary music.
Donatas Katkus is a member of the Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission (since 1996), president of the Lithuanian – Irish Society (since1998), vice president of SOS Kindersdorf, Lithuanian Society (since 1999), Representative of Lithuania in Television without Frontiers, a EU committee in Strasbourg (since 2001). He is also one of few performers – A member of the Lithuanian Composers’ Union.
For his commitment to Lithuanian culture Donatas Katkus was twice honoured with the National Prize of the Republic of Lithuania: in 1979 (as a member of the Vilnius Quartet) and in 2001.
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Section Editor
THOMAS CHEPAITIS
Thomas Chepaitis was born 5 June 1959 in Moscow to a family of professional translators of fiction, Nathalie Trauberg and Virgilijus Chepaitis. Attended secondary schools in Vilnius and Moscow, since 18 working in a film studio and as book collector. Studied in the small, prestigious Moscow Literature Institute, magister of literature. Freelancer essayist, reviewer, columnist and translator of fiction from English, Polish, French, Lithuanian, Russian and Byelorussian into Lithuanian, Russian and English. 1991-2007 writing for the newspapers "Dziennyk Balticki" (Gdansk, Poland), "Lietuvos Aidas" (Vilnius), "Hudson Times" (Hudson, NY, USA), "Inostranec" (Moscow). Wrote sketches, essays, translated for "Namas ir Ash", "Laiko Balsas", "Shiaures Atenai", "Istina i zhiznj" weeklies and magazines. Also graduated from New York Art and Trauma Institute in 2000, and has a certificate of professional poetry-therapist.
Since 1998 holds the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzhupis Republic. Has appointed around 260 ambassadors among people of many professions and nationalities with the aim "to unite the most remote places, people and things in the world, and help the world to be reborn again - through the smallest country possible:)". He is an author (together with Uzhupis president Romas Lileikis) of the popular Uzhupis Bill of Rights, and author of the coat of arms of Uzhupis. Organized around 20 Uzhupis presentation shows in Lithuania and abroad. As an artist (mix media, drawings) and photographer held 7 personal and took part in 7 collective exhibitions. Wrote 3 screenplays, 6 librettoes, translated 5 plays and 5 novels, a lot of stories and poems. T. Chepaitis is a winner (among 9000 people) of the big "Haiku for Vilnius" contest in 2009.
Thomas Ch. offers the following services: advertising in his newspaper "Uzhupis Herald" uzheroldas1615@yahoo.com , translations for legal, business, regulations and other fields, live and synchronic translations, screenplays, copyrighting uzupis.fafministry@gmail.com. The Uzhupis Republic Foreign Affairs Ministry provides a lot of other services, from bookbinding to Esperanto courses, from ceramics to the architectural projects, an so on and so on and so very very on:)
RASA MEKUŠKAITĖ
A young artist and designer who coordinates creativity projects with artists from Lithuania and foreign countries. She studied Costumes Design at the Vilnius Art Academy. Now she is a member of the alternative Užupis Art Inkubator in the ‘Republic of Užupis’. She works as fashion designer, personal stylist and consultant, as well as theatre’s costume designer, creating installations and artistically performances. Her fields of interests are from tribal art to modern culture, from folk songs to classical music, nature and human touch.
Email: rasa.mekuskaite@gmail.com
WYMAN BRENT
„Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity“ (Horace Mann). This is the motto that follows at the end of each email you will get from Wyman. Because this gentleman baptist, born and growing up under the Southern Californian sun, has dedicated his life to promoting tolerance and understanding. His enormous Project over the latest years has been to collect books about or written by Jews. His moitv is to help strengthen Jewish culture and to fight anti-Semitism, and he has now more than 5.000 bokks that he will use foro a Jewish library in Vilnius.
„I have gotten down on my knees underneath a hot sun to scrub a broken sink. I have lifted box after heavy box of books until my back was aching. I moved from sunny Southern California to a land where I have seen it snow as early as October and as late as April. I have spent countless hours and tens of thousands of dollars to collect and ship books, CDs, and DVDs. During my journey from California to Lithuania, I stopped along the way and bought more material for the library. There were stops in London, Budapest, and Krakow. Each time my luggage became heavier and heavier. All of this I have gladly done and will gladly do the rest of my life. What are you willing to do to? Nobody is asking you to get down on your hands and knees. Nobody is asking for you to spend your last dollar as I have done. What I am asking is, what will you do today for Jewish culture?“
Email: vilniusjewishlibrary@yahoo.com
KRISTINA SIRVINSKAITE
Psychologist, professional skydiver, public activist. Her interests focus on literature, spoken and written word, anthropological travelling, cultural diversity, environmental problems and their impact on human health and wellbeing.
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Section Editor
GIEDRĖ GABRIELĖ PALIUŠYTĖ
Travel guide, freelance translator, teacher of Modern Greek language.
Vilnews section ‘Travel Lithuania’ editor. Lived in Lithuanian and Greece. In 2009 obtained her Bachelor Degree in Lithuanian philology and Modern Greek language, at Vilnius University, Lithuania. Currently she is a MA student of English Studies at Vilnius University. Miscellaneous courses: Onassis Foundation scholarships at Universities in Greece and Cyprus and Erasmus scholarship for the academic year in Greece; Travel Specialist Course and Tourism Management training courses.
She has contributed to actualization of a number of international trainings concerned with non-formal education methods and their application to international communication, creation of audiovisual projects, preparation of articles, news coverages.
Contact Giedrė Gabrielė if you have a topic that would be of interest to our section, if you need a tour guide, help in carrying out projects or in some relevant information.
Web: www.VilNews.com
Email: giedre.paliusyte@VilNews.com
VILIJA TURIENE
Graduated from Vilnius University. Worked seven years AS Country Representative at Danish National Oil & Gas Company (DONG A/S), later with ‘Carlson Wagonlit Travel’, both giving valuable international work experience. Major part of life dedicated to incoming tourism development; in the beginning as a guide, later as a tourism agency manager for IN VIA TOURISM AGENCY, an incoming tourism agency that since 1993 also has engaged in promotional publishing on cultural and historical sites of Lithuania and other Baltic countries. Ms. Turiene is andling all ground tourism services for various kinds of Cultural tourism in Lithuania and the Baltics (it is not easy for a woman to start business in Lithuania, where, according to statistics, the general entrepreneurship level is not very high - one must simply be a bit adventurous). Since 2002 Ms. Turiene has been the the President of the Lithuanian Chapter of the International EWMD (European Women Management Development) network, aiming to enhance the awareness and knowledge of Lithuania whenever and wherever that should be possible. Web page : www.invia.lt Email : vilija@invia.lt
THOMAS DANIELSEN
Norwegian, MSc · International Management (M.A.) from ISM, Lithuania. Partner at BPT (Baltic Travel Partner) is a Norwegian owned and run Destination Management Company based in the Baltic States. The company is a full scale Baltic DMC with offices and employees in all three capitals; Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius. Serving a wide range of Travel Agents, Event Companies and clients from all over Europe. As Scandinavians they have especially been an attractive partner for Norwegian, Swedish and Danish partners, however, agents from many other European countries are using their services. Their focus is professionalism, attention to details, creativity, range of products/services and international understanding and experience.
Website: www.btp.lt
Email: thomas@btp.lt
KAMILĖ JUNOKAITĖ
Born and still living in Kaunas. After graduating the Konas Jablonskis Gymnasium, studying at Kaunas University of Technology – having a bachelor degree in economics and a master degree later in marketing. Her final thesis for the master was called ‘The decisions of celebrity endorsers selection in advertisement creation’ and was the first one to announce this topic, still interested in this question. Since 2003 working as a manager at the incoming tour operator Baltic Saitas in Kaunas.
Web: www.balticsaitas.lt
Email: kamile@saitas.lt
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AAGE MYHRE
Aage Myhre is Norwegian, but has lived in Lithuania for almost 20 years. He holds a Norwegian M.Sc. of Civil Engineering (dept. of Architecture), and has 35 years of experience as a journalist. He has been actively involved in Lithuanian affairs since 1990 – within politics, business, new investments, media, architecture and general development of the country.
"Are you looking for a new home in Lithuania? Or maybe a new office? Or do you consider investing in real estate or other business here? Either way, you are welcome to write or call me. I can give you advice about quality, location, functionality etc., and I can help you with renovations or new construction regardless of type of building or property. My broad network of specialists in virtually every profession may also prove useful if you plan your business here. Lithuania is a country full of pitfalls, and I can probably help you avoid many of them. ."
Email: aage.myhre@VilNews.com
My architect web page is www.aam.lt
ARTHUR SIMONSEN
Norwegian. Property developer. Masters degree in Economics (Denmark) Has worked as a lecturer at Aalborg Economic School (Denmark) for 4 years. He then worked as a Manager in the purchasing division of Aalborg Shipyard and later as the Managing Director of "Realia Contractors Denmark A/S". Arthur Simonsen moved to Lithuania in 1999 after being asked to set up KOBA Real Estate Consulting in Lithuania (formerly an associated member of Cushman & Wakefield Healey & Baker). Two years later Arthur branched out into his own real estate developments. He has been involved in many development projects including a shopping centre, offices and numerous residential projects in Lithuania. If you want to contact him, please do so at arthur@m2invest.lt
His web page is www.m2invest.lt
RIINA AILIO
Finnish, Interior Designer. Owner of design/interior studio and shop 'Sortimenti' in Vilnius. Offers full range interior design services and products – lamps, textiles, curtains, blinds, bedspreads, tablecloths, decoration elements, accessories and much more for hotels, restaurants, offices and private homes.
E-mail: sortimenti@sortimenti.lt
Web page: www.sortimenti.lt
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KRISTA FAY
Krista Fay is the former curriculum coordinator for Sur La Table. In this position she created a nation wide cooking school curriculum for the largest group of privately held cooking schools in the country. Prior to this, she was the culinary program coordinator at Sur La Table's cooking school in Kirkland, Washington, where she had the opportunity to work with many nationally recognized chefs including: Alton Brown, Joanne Weir, Caprial Pence, Jerry Traunfeld, Sara Moulton, Rick Rodgers, Hugh Carpenter and Corey Schreiber. Krista has lived in Europe and the Middle East and has traveled extensively, studying food and cultures around the world.
Krista is a native of the Northwest (USA); she was born in Seattle and studied English Literature and drama at Whitman College. She is a passionate organic gardener, food anthropologist and for ten plus years a dedicated rower competing nationally with Martha's Moms, one of the nation’s premier women's rowing clubs.
Krista currently lives in Vilnius Lithuania with her husband Patrick.
Email: kkfay@aol.com
JOLITA SINICAITE
Master Degree in Business Administration from Vilnius University, Economy Faculty. Marketing courses in Sweden, special studies in Italy for the Lithuanian foreign ministry’s international trade division. Established an international trade company (Srl.) dealing with wholesales of shoes and intermediating with Italian business companies together with Italian partners, working in all Baltic regions. Then organised production of jewelry with Icelandic partners. New wholesales distribution centre of fruits and vegetables-distributing for all Baltic’s and Russia.AT&T Global Marketing representative for Baltic’s. Now working with business programs and opportunities in Lithuania for foreign investors, private development projects and Real Estate. Spending more and more time on ‘quality life’.Like to travel. All kind of sports. Dancing. Reading. Painting. Classical music. Arts. Architecture. Languages: Lithuanian, Russian, English, and Italian.
Web page : www.vilniusrentals.com Email: jolita@bluewin.ch
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REGINA RUDAITYTE
Professor of English Literature, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Philology for research and international relations; MA in English Language and Literature from Vilnius University; PhD in American Literature from Moscow M.V. Lomonosov University; MA in the Novel from the University of East Anglia (UK). Grants, Fellowships: The British Council Study Fellowship, University of East Anglia, UK; Research Grant at the Free University of Berlin, John F.Kennedy Institute for North American Studies; Administrative duties and expertise. Participates in the Socrates/ Erasmus academic exchange programme; Faculty Coordinator of the Socrates/Erasmus programme; Chairperson of the Doctoral Commission of Vilnius University; Chairperson of the Lithuanian Association of University Teachers of English; a board-member of ESSE (European Society for the Study of English); An editorial advisory board member of the International research journal EJES (European Journal of English Studies). If you want to contact her, please do so at reginarudaityte@hotmail.com
Her web page is www.vu.lt
VIRGINIJUS KUNDROTAS
Dean of Adizes Graduate School (USA) and Vice-President for Europe of Adizes Institute (USA). Doctor of Social Sciences (Education), Founding President of ISM University of Management and Economics, Lithuania, President of the Baltic Management Development Association (BMDA), Vice-president of Central and East European Management Development Association (CEEMAN); European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) Committee member; International Advisor to Emerald Group Publishing Limited (UK), Member of Editorial Board of Baltic Journal of Management (UK), member of International Scientific Committee of the EDUNIVERSAL Official selection of World Business Schools (France), Board member of Lithuanian Free Market Institute, Board member of Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education. He permanently chairs the International Expert teams on the evaluation of study programs in economics and business administration at Latvian universities and institutions of higher education, serves as expert of EPAS, CEEMAN, Lithuania Higher education Quality Evaluation centre. Dr. V. Kundrotas is a Founding President of Kauno Tauro Rotary club, member of Vilnius International Club, etc. If you want to contact him, please do so at virkun@ism.lt His web page is www.ism.lt
ULF HALLAN
Ulf Hallan was the founder and General Director of the North Norwegian Leadership Foundation (NNL) for 25 years. In 2006 Ulf Hallan established ELIN in Lithuania where he holds the position as president. Ulf Hallan has a wide experience in Leadership development programs. He has worked with companies like Statoil, DNBNord, Fokus Bank, as well as several companies in Lithuania. He has been engaged as a trainer in countries all over Europe, the USA, India, The Philippines and has been designing and conducting development programs for municipalities and The Norwegian Prosecuters office. He has also been a key-note speaker in international conferences and conventions.
He is the Program Director for the Main Leadership Program in NNL which is running for 23 years. This program is still considered one of the best and most popular for top managers in Norway. Ulf Hallan has experienced through his life and strongly believes that the good leadership is the important feature to determine company’s success. He firmly stands that any leader who takes his job seriously will take time to work with following: Yourself, Your company’s future and Your own ideas of leadership. Ulf Hallan is a visiting professor in Dailes Academia (Cultural Management), in VPU and he has been a visiting professor in TVM for five years. He is also appointed Honorary Consul for Lithuania to Norway. Web page: www.elin.lt Email: ulf@elin.lt
OLGA MEDVEDEVA
Dr Olga Medvedeva studied philology and foreign languages at Moscow State University of Linguistics, where she obtained a PhD in English linguistics. She has worked in adult, vocational and higher education at various institutions and companies. She has been extensively involved in teaching materials and tests design ( co-author of several textbooks and distance learning programmes); she is an experienced teacher trainer. Since 2001 Olga Medvedeva has worked on several EU Socrates programme projects aimed at promoting linguistic and cultural diversity in Europe, introducing innovative teaching and learning methods, creating up-to-date learning tools. Her present interests include applied linguistics, semantics, intercultural communication and didactics. If you want to contact her, please do so at olga.medvedeva@VilNews.com Her web page is www.VilNews.com
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KEN-RUSSELL SLADE
Ken’s (Kęstutis Sladkevičius) paternal grandparents (Jonas Sladkevicius of Guronys--Zasliai, and Domincele/Dominyka Jozakeviciute/Jozukeviciute/Juozukeviciute of the Aukstaitija region), emigrated from their native Lithuania when they were teenagers, just prior to the outbreak of WWI. Their other family members remained in Lithuania. In the USA, the two met and were married in 1915.
Born in 1948, Ken became a professional musician by age 12, and soon thereafter an actor. In prep school, he began studying Latin and French, and writing and editing publications. He edited university journals throughout his decade-plus years of higher education in the Boston (MA/USA) area. He earned a B.S. in economics, an M.Ed., a C.R.E, and a Doctorate in Law; with advanced studies at Harvard, Princeton, and Vilnius universities. Before he began to practice law in 1979, he had been a producer of concerts, ballet, and grand opera.
In January 2004, Ken arrived in Lithuania, from Quebec (city; Canada) where he had lived for 13 years. More recently, he has retired as an attorney of trial law, in the courts of various states and many USA federal jurisdictions, including practice as a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States.
He is now engaged full-time in his life-long primary interest: writing -- usually about Lithuania, often text-editing (revising) LT-EN translations.
Email: kenmunications@gmail.com (or) english.lithuania@gmail.com
DAVID HOLLIDAY
Wg Cdr David Holliday joined the British Royal Air Force in 1961. He trained as a pilot and his first operational tour from 1964 to 1968 was spent flying Victor nuclear bombers carrying the American Blue Steel stand-off missile. His Cold War targets were in the Baltic States, Belarus and Ukraine. In 1968 the British nuclear deterrent was handed over to the Royal Navy and the Blue Steel fleet was disbanded. After a tour as a flying instructor David returned to Victors, but this time in the Air-to Air refuelling role, again as an instructor. This was followed by a tour in Moscow as an assistant Air Attaché (74-77). In 1979 he was posted to France to be the Strike Command liaison officer with the French Air Defence Command. The next ten years was spent in staff appointments in Human Intelligence. David’s last tour (92-94) was as the first British Defence Attaché in Vilnius after Lithuania regained its independence. He retired in 1994 and remained in Lithuania with his wife Migle, who he married in 1993.
Email : holliday@klaipeda.omnitel.net
JEFF LEWIS
Jeff spent his youth in Wales. Education included Science Technology (ST) qualifications supporting his Civil Service career starting with Royal Navy Supply & Transport Service (RNSTS) where duties including logistic support.
On promotion he joined the RN & US Navy nuclear submarine project with responsibilities in UK & US Navy in Washington and Charleston. Success brought secondment to Middle East projects. With his training and development skills was promoted to Human Resource Manager. He was later transferred to the Department for Education & Skills.
Jeff’s responsibilities included academic and vocational education including Information Communication Technology (ICT). Later he was promoted to Director of Business Education Partnership (BEP) developing the project for schools with Special Needs, colleges and Universities. He recruited corporate, utility, local companies and Chambers of Commerce into a successful partnership.
During this period he and Julia, his now ex-wife, had two sons Simon and Matthew of which he is very proud, both good at sport and progressing into professional careers. In 1997 Jeff transferred to the private sector and developed Management Information Systems Advisors & Associates (MISAA www.misaa.net). With associates known for quality solutions successfully contracted for work with both private and public sectors. Successfully applying for BCS membership a contract was also agreed to develop audit procedures for ECDL centres, resulting in 500+ accredited Government, Business and Education centres.
In 2002 MISAA prepared Latvia for entry into EU and in June 2004 agreed with UK Trade & Investment to manage a trade mission to present in all three Baltic States vocational education and UK business. In Leeds & Bradford Science and Technology were developed including Aviation & Space in Education. Klaipeda University Professors visited these and invited Jeff to present to the Rector and Board. This was followed by a series of meetings with Departments and organisations.
New projects include Faulkes Telescope Project, developing an ICT Strategy, a new BEP between Camira Fabrics Ltd (UK) and UAB in Ariogala, Lithuania & Kaunas Applied Art School, Vilnius International Club & Vilnews (E-zine). Jeff has now permanently moved to Vilnius.
Email: jeff.lewis@btconnect.com
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Finland in Klaipeda
Letter from Krister Castren, Finland’s Honorary Consul in Klaipeda
Krister Castren, painted by Žygimantas Augustinas.
http://www.augustinas.lt/ind_ang.html
The roots of the relationship between Finland and the Klaipeda region are hundreds of years old. The Baltic Sea, with its naval and fishery activities have been of mutual interest in the old ages and will probably be in the future as well. Even during the dark Soviet times, sometimes Finnish cargo was unloaded at the port of Klaipeda. Especially Aland Island, well known for its long maritime history, still being a big factor in the branch, had an exchange of captains and other crew with colleagues in Klaipeda. Part of that history will be found in the National Sea Museum in Klaipeda.
One of the symbols of the City is the sailing ship now standing with visible commercial sails in the river Dane. The origin of the ship is interesting. It was built in Turku, Finland after WW2 as part of the compensation for war damages to Soviet Union. It had dozens of sister ships of which only three are left, Klaipeda’s “Meridianas” being the best, but not in very good shape. Its history is well known having last served as a Soviet sailors’ training ship in Kaliningrad from where it was taken to Klaipeda and put in the river with the idea of preventing it from sinking. Although it is now in private hands, we hope that this old lady still has got another 60 years in her to decorate Klaipeda’s old town.
Finnish business activities in the Klaipeda region are not very remarkable. The most visible Finnish trade marks are, as everywhere in Lithuania, Neste Oil and of course the giant Nokia. The other Finnish giant, Fortum, is a minority share-holder of Klaipeda Energija and plans to make some huge investments in the energy production field in the near future. Kuusakoski, a recycler of metal waste, has its Lithuanian head office in Klaipeda. Another well known company holding its office here is Lemminkainen, having been working for years to improve the quality of Lithuanian roads.
But, Klaipeda is still on the waiting list to achieve Finnish investments and the reasons for that are partly pretty well known. The first question is how to reach the city in a reasonable amount of time. This means in modern business terms, one day. There are no flexible flight connections to the Palanga airport from Finland. The closest place to land is Kaunas, but first you must manage to drive to Tampere, 200 kilometers away from Helsinki and then there is another 220 km drive to Klaipeda. Or try your chances flying to Vilnius with a 300 kilometers drive one way to Klaipeda. Not so comfortable. It doesn’t matter how attractive the local objects are if you cannot check your investments in a reasonable time - Put your money elsewhere!
Also Klaipeda is really far for Finnish tourism. No scheduled ferries, even in summer time, to ease your 650 kilometers drive from Tallinn. The network and services of camping are still weak on the way down there and from what I have heard, the promotion of the extraordinary possibilities to have a Mediterranean type of beech holiday with a really low budget is not marketed enough to the Finnish consumers. Those Finns with a passion for sailing still are waiting for a chance to safely come to the Curonian Sea with their boats and find proper facilities for their needs.
In spite of the absence of Finns and their money in the Klaipeda region, the good reputation of Finland as one of the best countries in the world to live has made the youngsters of Klaipeda interested in the Finnish language. Every autumn more than twenty students start their studies of the language. Many of them have an opportunity to continue their studies in Finland supported by international student exchange programs. Those who return to Klaipeda, not finding their fortune in Finland, have tried to find a work place to use their knowledge. Unfortunately only a few have managed.
The exchange of cultural has been more successful than financial or educational have been. Many Finnish exhibitions have been erected in the art halls of Klaipeda. There have been Finnish sauna, flags and posters exhibitions just a few to mention. Scanorama, the Scandinavian film show, is presenting many Finnish movies. Musical and dancing groups are taking part in international events in Klaipeda. The traffic is not only one-way, artists from the Klaipeda region have had successful exhibitions in many Finnish cities.
Not only the students are interested in Finland but also the elderly Klaipeda inhabitants. In the 90s Klaipeda senior citizens created a Finnish-Lithuanian association to commemorate the friendship and cultural exchange between their home-ground and Finland. The oldest and best known Finn, Santa Claus, in Finnish “Joulupukki”, visited Klaipeda a few years ago with a huge audience never forgetting where Santa comes from – Finnish Lapland.
Krister Castren and his son Markus.
Krister Castrén
- Age 62 nat. Finnish, a son from 1st marriage, Markus 32
- Married now to Rita who is Lithuanian
- Moved to Lithuania in 1996
- Honorary Consul of Finland to Klaipeda region since 2003
- Owner of UAB Castrade, energy technology, construction projects, housing services
- Hobby, bird-watching since 1962
- Consulate located in Juodkrante, Neringa.
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Section Editor – Vilnius
ŽILVINAS BELIAUSKAS
Psychologist, cultureologist and freelance translator, Zilvinas is currently back in academic life as a lecturer of psychology at Mykolas Romeris University in Vilnius after twelve years of work as the director of the Information Center for Homecoming Lithuanians. It was a great opportunity him to get to know not only the World Lithuanian Community but also the attitude of state institutions towards the diaspora. Earlier work experiences of research fellow at the Lithuanian Institute of Culture and Arts, psychologist at the Lithuanian National Martynas Mažvydas Library and lecturer at Vilnius University were of great help when dealing with emigration and repatriation issues, maintaining ties with communities and organizations and communicating with a wide range of individuals with the most diverse requirements and interests. His social activities consist of pleasant things such as to coordinate the establishment process of the Vilnius Jewish Library and to work as the executive director of Vilnius International Club. VilNews is about to fill in the missing part in the trinity.
Email zilvinas.beliauskas@VilNews.com
Web page www.VilNews.com
Berkshire – United Kingdom
ANDRIUS UŽKALNIS
Photo: Liudas Masys
Andrius Užkalnis, aged 40 is a bestselling Lithuanian author and a journalist, known for his scathing social commentary and bittersweet travel writing and for his work for the Lithuanian national radio. Born in Kaunas, he has lived in Caversham, Berkshire, in the south of England, for the past 16 years. He hopes to return to Lithuania this summer for good, where he thinks the grass is greener, especially at the moment.
Email: Uzkalnis@gmail.com
Washington D.C. – USA
STAN BACKAITIS
Dr. Stan Backaitis. Degrees in engineering BSME in 1953, MSAE in 1955, and Ph.D in Biomechanics in 1978. Graduate of the U.S. Federal Management Institute. Served from 1953 to 1968 in various engineering positions at the Chrysler Corporation. From 1968 till 2007 at the U.S Dept of Transportation as Principal Engineer at the Office of Motor Vehicle Crashworthiness Standards. Author of over 80 technical papers, editor of five books on Human Biomechanics and two books on Accident Reconstruction Technologies
Registered professional engineer in the state of Michigan and Certified Product Safety manager. U.S. delegate to ISO U.S Advisory Group to technical committees TC22/SC 10 and 12, and their technical working groups. Chair of the Organizing Committee of the XII and XIV Lithuanian Symposium on Science and Creativity held in Chicago in 2002 and 2008. Currently in cooperative activities on technical matters with the Northwest University in Evanston, Il. and the Kaunas University of Technology (KTU).
Recipient of Secretary of Transportation and NHTSA Administration awards for superior achievement. Honorary Doctorate from the KTU. Recipient of two presidential medals for services promoting scientific progress in Lithuania. During 1992-2003 chair of the U.S. Advisory Board for the Faculty of Administration of the KTU. Member of the editorial board of a major science and technical journal published in Lithuania. U.S. member of the science prize committee for oversees Lithuanians at the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Lithuania.
Currently serving as vice president for academic affairs of the American-Lithuanian Community’s National Executive Council; member of the education committee of the World Lithuanian Community; council member of Lithuanian Research and Study Center in Chicago, member of US-Canada Baltic Studies Coalition, representative of the American Lithuanian Council at the Central and Eastern European Coalition in Washington, D.C., and group studies participant at the Brookings institution, the CATO institute, the School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of the John Hopkins university, and the Center for Baltic and Eastern European Studies at the Sodertorn un. In Stockholm, Sweden.
Arranged and hosted visits of the heads of Lithuania’s eight scientific institutes to the U.S. National Institutes Science and Technology, and the Southwest Research Institute on energy related issues. Conducts studies related to availability, transportation and use of energy sources for power generation. One energy study was presented at the Lithuania’s ministry of Energy in 2009 covering Lithuania’s power needs and alternatives in the future. In 2010 arranged an informational visit for Lithuania’s ambassador to the U.S, at the LNG port facility in Cove Point Maryland, which resulted in published articles both in U.S. and Lithuania’s Science Journals. Similarly, on studies and discussions with U.S small nuclear reactor developers, resulted in the publication of a series of articles in both American Lithuanian news media and in Lithuania’s technical journals on the prospect and merits of small nuclear reactors. Benefits of centralized LNG import were highlighted in memorandums to all of the Baltic countries’ governments and their embassy’s in the U.S.
Dedicated to 1) the preservation of Lithuanian language and heritage in the overseas diaspora, 2) by working through CEEC to influence the U.S. government and Congress to support and promote the evolution of democratic institutions and preservation of human rights, independence, and security in Central and Eastern European countries, and 3) facilitate connectivity and flow of knowledge in science and technologies between U.S and the Baltic countries in general and Lithuania in particular.
Email: BStasys@aol.com
California – USA
ALGIS RATNIKAS
“I was born in a refugee camp in Munich, Germany, in 1947, to Lithuanian parents. Our family emigrated to the USA in 1950 and I grew up in the Detroit area of Michigan. From 1965-1969 I attended the Univ. of Michigan and graduated with a BS in Zoology. I was then drafted into the US Army and spent a year in Colorado and a year in Germany. After military service I attended Wayne State Univ. in Detroit and completed a master’s program in Humanities. Following a few months of travel I settled in San Francisco, Ca. and began a career as a field service engineer for Becton Dickinson Corp. In 1995 I began a project dedicated to world history and in 1998 posted it to the World Wide Web. In 2005 I retired from BD in order to devote full time to my history project. I have been active in Lithuanian social activities throughout my life. Since 2004 I have served as the San Francisco Bay Area Lithuanian-American community treasurer. Over the years our community has hosted visits by former Pres. Adamkus, former PM Kirkilas, current PM Kubilius as well as numerous artists and musical performers. A more complete biography is posted on my web site: http://www.timelines.ws.” Email: aalgis@aol.com
Ohio – USA
INGRIDA BUBLYS
Ingrida Bublys, President of IB International Inc., shares 20 years in business development and company representation between the Baltic States and the US and lately has expanded business development to other surrounding countries. IB International represents a number of US companies in various industry sectors, while also representing and opening doors for a diverse range of Lithuanian companies In the US.
In May of 1992 organized the first Lithuanian products exposition in the USA at the “Business& Industry 2000” trade show at the IX Center, Cleveland, Ohio. Organizer of first IT Video conference between USA and Lithuanian IT companies in 2003.
Secured and established contacts for trade development for various Lithuanian, as well as US companies; has developed a strong network across diverse commercial and government interests.
Ingrida Bublys is an active member of various business organizations in the US and serves on various boards. She has been awarded “The Order of Grand Duke Vytautas the Great” by the Lithuanian government, the American Nationalities Movement’s “Eagle Award”, and the International Rotary Club of Cleveland’s “Paul Harris Fellow”.
Ingrida Bublys is the Honorary General Consul of the Republic of Lithuania for the states of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.
Email: ingrida.bublys@ibinternationalinc.com
Arizona – USA
RIMGAUDAS P. VIDZIUNAS
Roots are Pramedziava, Lithuania. Came to the USA in 1949. Visited Lithuania 1999, 2002.
BA History, University of Miami, Florida January 1970. Photographer for over 35 years. Follow him on Facebook "Photography by Rimgaudas". Currently residing Mesa, Arizona USA.
Email: rvidziunas@yahoo.com
Tennessee - USA
RUTA SEPETYS
Ruta Sepetys is the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee and currently lives in Tennessee. She is the author of Between Shades of Gray, the critically acclaimed novel about a Lithuanian family deported to Siberia in 1941. The book will soon be published in over twenty countries around the world, including Lithuania. For more information please visit: www.betweenshadesofgray.com
"A harrowing page-turner." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A horrifying account of the forcible relocation of countless Lithuanians... Sepetys' beautifully written and deeply felt novel deserves the widest possible readership."
- Booklist (starred review)
"This bitterly sad, fluidly written historical novel tackles a topic woefully underdiscussed in English-language fiction." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Email: ruta@sepetys.com
Colorado - USA
MARINA FARRELL
Marina grew up with stories about the Old World from her grandparents, both of whom emigrated from Lithuania to the U.S. shortly before World War I. Having visited several times since 1999, she has come to love Lithuania and all things Lithuanian. In addition to being web content developer and localization lead at a major eLearning corporation, she is web manager and contributor for the popular travel web zine, JustSayGo.com. Marina's personal projects include iLOVElithuania.com, an online community for Lithuanians, Lithuanian-Americans and all who love Lithuania. Her various travel writing and web development projects are listed at http://flavors.me/marinafarrelltravels.
Email: marinafarr@gmail.com
Ontario – Canada
VIC PAKALNIS
P.Eng., MBA, M.Eng., Kinross Professor in Mining and Sustainability, The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queen’s University, Kingston ,Ontario , Canada.
Vic Pakalnis earned a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Mining Engineering and a Master of Engineering Degree from McGill University in 1972 and 1976 respectively. In 1994, he obtained a Master of Business Administration from Queen’s University.
Prior to joining the Government of Ontario in 1978, he worked at Kerr Addison Mines, Inco Ltd , Iron Ore Company of Canada and Falconbridge Nickel Mines Ltd., At the later company , he served as their Senior Ground Control Engineer .
At the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Vic worked as the Provincial Director of Mining and Industrial Health and Safety and as Regional Director, Eastern Ontario, with corporate and program responsibilities for Health and Safety and Employment Standards. He was lead Operations Director for Human Resources and responsible for recruiting and training over 200 new inspectors. In 2007-8 he was appointed the Ontario Public Service Amethyst Fellow in Public Policy, School of Policy Studies at Queen’s University teaching courses in the MPA, MIR and Mining Engineering: policy implementation, project management, occupational health and safety. He has over 32 years of experience in public administration.
He is the author of a number of papers on subjects such as: mine safety, public policy, training and organizational design. He chaired the tri-partite Provincial inquiry into Health and Safety in the Pulp and Paper Industry. In 1995, he co-led the Early Wins Team within the Internal Administration Restructuring Project. This project was charged with reducing the cost of administration within the Ontario Public Service by $300M. He was one of the founding members and Chair of the Eastern Ontario Regional Directors’ Council and the Provincial Interministerial Council. In 2010, he was elected President of the 88,000 member Ontario Public Service Quarter Century Club – public servants active and retired with 25yrs or more of service . He has appeared on radio and television : CNN, BNN, CBC and CTV as a commentator on health and safety issues .
Vic is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario , the Society of Mining Engineers , the Canadian Institute for Mining and Metallurgy and the Institute of Public Administration of Canada. He serves on the Boards of the Radiation Safety Institute of Canada and Minerva Canada which promotes the introduction of occupational health and safety in schools of business and engineering. He is also the immediate past Chair of the Canadian Public Sector Quality Association. In 2007 he received the prestigious Amethyst Award for excellence in public service.
In 2009 Vic was appointed Kinross Professor in Mining and Sustainability at the Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario. He teaches undergraduate and graduate level courses in the faculty of engineering and applied science. His research interest are in occupational health and safety, public policy, and First Nations access to mining engineering .
Email: vic.pakalnis@mine.queensu.ca
Paihia - New Zealand
VIRGINIA SHIMKUTE
Was born in Siauliai, Northern Lithuania, in 1959 to a family of a teacher (mother) and a drama theatre actor (father). Siblings – one brother, professional musician (cello being main instrument). Finished school in 1977 and left for Vilnius to study – Mathematics. Returned to Siauliai and was working until got married and eventually moved with family to Vilnius. Had two daughters-one living in South Africa now, (20), studying pharmacy, and other (27) settled in the US. Brother with family also lives permanently in USA.
Virginia moved to South Africa in 1993, when apartheid there was falling apart, having its first democratic election in 1994. Lived in South Africa for 16 years, 7 in Johannesburg and 9 years in Port Elizabeth, working for big corporate companies - administration and IT. In Feb 2009 came to New Zealand and currently living in Paihia, Bay of Islands-popular tourist destination. Changed carrier to something very different – owns and runs a sandwich and salad bar in town. Met Lithuanians there only on 2 occasions (a pleasant surprise). Trying to settle down and make NZ home but missing Lithuania , family on friends. Therefore interested in this VilNews link (“no matter where one lives and for how long –roots are in our beloved home country –Lithuania”).
Email: vshimkute@yahoo.com
Adelaide – Australia
BARBARA RAPAPORT
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Barbara Rapaport was born in Lithuania but left the country with her parents in 1989. She has an extensive experience living and working in Australia, Israel and Poland. She holds a Bachelor Degree of Banking and International Finance from Flinders University, and a Masters Degree of Project Management from Adelaide University. She held various roles in international trade and finance environments and her interests cover international relations & trade, globalization, social justice and welfare as well as the regional development. Barbara also holds the position of Strategy Analyst within the South Australian State Government (PIRSA). She is a Board Member for the Regional Development Australia Metropolitan Adelaide. She speaks and communicates in English, Hebrew, Russian, Polish and basic Lithuanian. Email: portrapa@gmail.com
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Johannesburg – South Africa
JADVYGA KAZLAUSKIENE
Jadvyga Kazlauskiene emigrated from Lithuania to South Africa in 1995. The first five years she worked in the restaurant business. Since year 2000 she has worked as a real estate agent, 11 years at Wendy Machanik Properties and since the start of 2011 at Huizemark Properties in Johannesburg. She has since 2007 been Director of the Lithuanian Community residing in South Africa (‘Lietuviu Bendruomone Gyvenanti Pietu Afrikos Respublikoje’).
Jadvyga studied at Academy of Drama in Vilnius ’82 – ’85, and graduated from the Academy of Drama ’85 as ‘Play Producer’. In South Africa she has been studying property, residential business.
Graduated NQF4 in Real Estate. Email: Jadvyga@huizemark.com
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One of the most anticipated events for all cinema lovers who reside in Lithuania – the Kino Pavasaris (Cinema Spring) film festival - for the 16th time proved that spring in Vilnius comes along with the cinema. The theme of the event has been named ‘spectacular and without clichés’ – such a promising way to say goodbye to retiring winter.
This year’s Festival program presented 130 new films from all over the world, including screamers of 2010, which competed for the prestigious Palme d’Or or Golden Bear awards, such as Of Gods and Men, Poetry and Certified Copy, just to name a few. During the latter 2 weeks of March some of them were introduced to Vilnius viewers at the Forum Cinemas, Pasaka and Skalvija movie theatres, located in different parts of Lithuanian capital.
The Film Festival was divided into several sections. There were 54 films shown in a “Horizons” program, 11 films were introduced in the Eastern and Central European section entitled “New Europe – New Names”, and also 9 documentaries. Furthermore, there were also 37 Lithuanian films, among them 13 Lithuanian premieres, so local cinema was also honored.
During the official closing ceremony an international jury, presided by Macedonian film director and screenwriter Milcho Manchevski, announced the winner of the section “New Europe – New Names” to be a film by Romanian director Bogdan George Apetri „Outbound“ (Periferic). While the CICAE jury (International Experimental and Art Film Theatres Confederation) decided that the best film to fit into European independent film theatres is the film „On the path“ by Bosnian director Jasmila Zbanic. Canadian drama “Incendies” by Denis Villeneuve gained the title of the “Audience’s Favorite”. And finally, the best Lithuanian movie of the year, chosen also by the audience, was „Knygnešys“(Book smuggler) by Jonas Trukanas.
The 16th Kino Pavasaris film festival also launched a series of events and educational projects, such as the meeting of the organizers of Eastern and Central European film festivals and an opportunity for school students from all over Lithuania to take part in the scenario competition and make their own Unless they can complete the sentence I would leave this out.
This year’s Kino Pavasaris film festival happened to be enormously popular with the audience. Therefore the organizers decided to prolong the screenings for one more week, so people got one more chance to see the movies which they didn’t had the opportunity to see yet.
Founded in 1995 the Kino Pavasaris film festival originally was held in the legendary movie theater “Lietuva”, which is now closed. Right from the beginning the festival was considered to be an ambitious project and promising event to all those who are interested in widely recognized discussable independent cinema.
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OPINIONS
Have your say. Send to:
editor@VilNews.com
Ph. D., Chicago
A wave of unity sweeps the international Lithuanian community on March 11th every year as Lithuanians celebrated the anniversary of the Lithuanian Parliament's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. However, the sense of national unity engendered by the celebration could be short-lived.
Human beings have a strong tendency to overgeneralize and succumb to stereotypical us-them distinctions that can shatter even the strongest bonds. We need only search the internet to find examples of divisive thinking at work:
- "Those who fled Lithuania during World II were cowards -- and now they come back, flaunt their wealth, and tell us 'true Lithuanians' how to live."
- "Lithuanians who work abroad have abandoned their homeland and should be deprived of their Lithuanian citizenship."
In Lithuania Christmas Eve is a family event and the New Year's Eve a great party with friends!
Lithuanian say "Kaip sutiksi naujus metus, taip juos ir praleisi" (the way you'll meet the new year is the way you will spend it). So everyone is trying to spend New Year's Eve with friend and have as much fun as possible.
Lithuanian New Year's traditions are very similar to those in other countries, and actually were similar since many years ago. Also, the traditional Lithuanian New Years Eve party was very similar to other big celebrations throughout the year.
The New Year's Eve table is quite similar to the Christmas Eve table, but without straws under the tablecloth, and now including meat dishes. A tradition that definitely hasn't changes is that everybody is trying not to fell asleep before midnight. It was said that if you oversleep the midnight point you will be lazy all the upcoming year. People were also trying to get up early on the first day of the new year, because waking up late also meant a very lazy and unfortunate year.
During the New Year celebration people were dancing, singing, playing games and doing magic to guess the future. People didn't drink much of alcohol, especially was that the case for women.
Here are some advices from elders:
- During the New Year, be very nice and listen to relatives - what you are during New Year Eve, you will be throughout the year.
- During to the New Year Eve, try not to fall, because if this happens, next year you will be unhappy.
- If in the start of the New Year, the first news are good - then the year will be successful. If not - the year will be problematic.
* If New Year's night is cold and starry - look forward to a good summer!
* If the during New Year Eve trees are covered with frost - then it will be a good year. If it is wet weather on New Year's Eve, one can expect a year where many will die and dangerous epidemics occur.
* If the first day of the new year is snowy - the upcoming year will see many young people die. If the night is snowy - mostly old people will die.
* If the New Year time is cold - then Easter will be warm.
* If during New Year there are a lot of birds in your homestead - then all year around there will be many guests and the year will be fun.
Christmas greetings
from Vilnius
and epic battle for the
future
Philosopher, political theorist, historian of
ideas, social analyst, and political
commentator
Ukraine was and continues to be perceived by the EU political class as a sort of grey zone with its immense potential and possibilities for the future, yet deeply embedded and trapped in No Man's Land with all of its troubled past, post-Soviet traumas, ambiguities, insecurities, corruption, social divisions, and despair. Why worry for what has yet to emerge as a new actor of world history in terms of nation-building, European identity, and deeper commitments to transparency and free market economy?
Right? Wrong. No matter how troubled Ukraine's economic and political reality could be, the country has already passed the point of no return. Even if Vladimir Putin retains his leverage of power to blackmail Ukraine and the West in terms of Ukraine's zero chances to accede to NATO due to the problems of territorial integrity, occupation and annexation of Crimea, and mayhem or a frozen conflict in the Donbas region, Ukraine will never return to Russia's zone of influence. It could be deprived of the chances to join NATO or the EU in the coming years or decades, yet there are no forces on earth to make present Ukraine part of the Eurasia project fostered by Putin.
want to learn about the
new, scary propaganda
war between Russia,
The West and the
Baltic States!
believe their government
is corrupt
students say no to
bribes for doctors
During Soviet times, government was administered for the people in control, not for the local population, court decisions were decreed, they were not the administration of justice, and academia was the domain of ideologues. 25 years of freedom and openness should have put those bad experiences behind Lithuania, but that is not so.
Today, it is a matter of expectation that court pronouncements will be governed by ideological dictates. Few, if any Lithuanians expect real justice to be effected. For foreign companies, doing business in Lithuania is almost impossible in a situation where business people do not expect rule of law, so, surely Government would be a refuge of competence?
Lithuanian Government has not emerged from Soviet styles. In an attempt to devolve power, Lithuania has created a myriad of fiefdoms of power, each speaking in the name of the Government, each its own centralized power base of ideology.
Chepstow, Wales
Doesn't that sound suspiciously like Lithuania? Ah, but I didn't mention the mountains of Snowdonia, which would give the game away.
I'm talking about Wales, that part of the UK which Lithuanians used to call "Valija", but later named "Velsas" (why?). Wales, the nation which has welcomed two Lithuanian heads of state to its shores - firstly Professor Vytautas Landsbergis, who has paid several visits and, more recently, President Dalia Grybauskaitė who attended the 2014 NATO summit which was held in Newport, South Wales.
ENGLISH VERSION OF THE
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS.
Although Lithuanian activities have thinned over the decades as that postwar generation died out, the Lithuanian Martyrs' parish hall is crowded with many, many hundreds of visitors who come to the Lithuanian cemetery for All Souls' Day. Similarly, the Franciscan parish has standing room only for Christmas Eve mass.
Although I am firmly embedded in the literary culture of Canada, my themes are usually Lithuanian, and I'll be in Kaunas and Vilnius in mid-November 2015 to give talks about the Lithuanian translations of my novels and short stories, which I write in English.
If you have the Lithuanian language, come by to one of the talks listed in the links below. And if you don't, you can read more about my work at
www.anatanassileika.com
http://www.vdu.lt/lt/rasytojas-antanas-sileika-pristatys-savo-kuryba/ https://leu.lt/lt/lf/lf_naujienos/kvieciame-i-rasytojo-59hc.html
"My love and best wishes to all. As long as VilNews exists, there is hope for the future,"" she writes.
Irena Veisaite means very much for our publication, and we do hereby thank her for the support and wise commitment she always shows.
You can read our interview with her
Facing a new reality
Dear readers of VilNews,
For a number of years, the EU and Russia had assumed the existence of a strategic partnership, based on the convergence of values, economic integration and increasingly open markets and a modernisation agenda for society.
Our agenda was positive and ambitious. We looked at Russia as a country ready to converge with "European values", a country likely to embrace both the basic principles of democratic government and a liberal concept of the world order. It was believed this would bring our relations to a new level, covering the whole spectrum of the EU's strategic relationship with Russia.
The likelihood of Putin
invading Lithuania
.jpg "lithuania today")
Founding Director at Summer Literary Seminars
Are all Lithuanian energy
problems now resolved?
Lithuania as a country does not have significant energy resources. Energy consuming infrastructure after WWII was small and totally supported by energy imports from Russia.
First nuclear reactor begins power generation at Ignalina in 1983, the second reactor in 1987. Iganlina generates enough electricity to cover Lithuania's needs and about 50%.for export. As, prerequisite for membership in EU, Ignalina ceases all nuclear power generation in 2009
The Klaipėda Sea terminal begins Russia's oil export operations in 1959 and imports in 1994.
Mazeikiu Nafta (current ORLEAN Lietuva) begins operation of oil refinery in 1980.
Have Lithuanian ties across
the Baltic Sea become
stronger in recent years?
The two decades that have passed since regaining Lithuania's independence can be described as a "building boom". From the wreckage of a captive Soviet republic, a generation of Lithuanians have built a modern European state, and are now helping construct a Nordic-Baltic community replete with institutions intended to promote political coordination and foster a trans-Baltic regional identity. Indeed, a "Nordic-Baltic community" - I will explain later in my text the meaning of this catch-phrase.
Since the restoration of Lithuania's independence 25 years ago, we have continuously felt a strong support from Nordic countries. Nordics in particular were among the countries supporting Lithuania's and Baltic States' striving towards independence. Take example of Iceland, country which recognized Lithuania in February of 1991, well in advance of other countries. Yet another example - Swedish Ambassador was the first ambassador accredited to Lithuania in 1991. The other countries followed suit. When we restored our statehood, Nordic Countries became champions in promoting Baltic integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions. To large degree thanks Nordic Countries, massive transformations occurred in Lithuania since then, Lithuania became fully-fledged member of the EU and NATO, and we joined the Eurozone on 1 January 2015.
Have you heard about the
South African "Pencil Test"?
But that is exactly what happened to me when I came back from South Africa. I will tell you how.
VilNews e-magazine is published in Vilnius, Lithuania. Editor-in-Chief: Mr. Aage Myhre. Inquires to the editors: editor@VilNews.com.
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