160 years: I.L.Caragiale, stormy nights and lost letters...

Google has modified its logo today in honour of one of Romania's greatest literary icons, playwright Ion Luca Caragiale. On this very day, January 30, 2012, Romania commemorates 160 years since his birth. The logo presents a graphic picture of Caragiale with an envelope in one corner - an innuendo to one of his most famous plays, The lost letter (O scrisoare pierduta).

Though Caragiale earned his living variously as a journalist, translator, and prose writer (amongst others), he is best known for plays such as the aforementioned O scrisoare pierduta (1884), in which he satirised the vanity and smugness of the bourgeoisie. Caragiale enjoyed a few minor successes during his lifetime, but his work was often plagued by government censorship and legal woes, not to mention a generally tepid response from the public. By the middle of the twentieth century, however, critics had recognised him as a writer of great insight. Today, one looks back on the writings of Caragiale with huge admiration. His understanding of what made his compatriots tick is as true now - if not all the more so - as it was in the 19th century. It is uncontested - Ion Luca Caragiale was simply a genius.

(Photo source: Sonar) According to THIS site, Caragiale's family of Greek descent (Kefalonia - for more, see here) was well acquainted with the stage. He was discreet about his ethnic origin for the larger part of his life, says Wikipedia, but that, in parallel, his foreign roots came to the attention of his adversaries, who used them as arguments in various polemics. As Mihai Eminescu's relations with Caragiale degenerated into hostility (Caragiale had a love affair with Veronica Micle), the poet is known to have referred to his former friend as "that Greek swindler". Aware of such treatment, the writer considered all references to his lineage to be insults. On several occasions, he preferred to indicate that he was "of obscure birth". Perhaps this explains why so many of his characters have Greek names - or at least, names that have a suffix that can only come from Greek. 

His father, a lawyer, had been an actor for a time, and two of his uncles were managers of theatre troupes and very influential in the development of early Romanian theatre.  Born in the tiny village of Haimanale in Dambovita County, Caragiale went to school in the larger nearby city of Ploesti, and at sixteen moved to Bucharest. From 1868 to 1870, he studied acting, mime, and dramatic recitation under his uncle Costache, an established actor who ran the Bucharest Drama Conservatory, and in 1870 went to work with the other uncle as a prompter at the National Theatre. That same year, his studies were cut short when his father died, leaving Caragiale to provide for his mother and sister. Over the next thirty years, Caragiale - of whom it was said "made more reputation than money" - battled to feed his family. In addition, he became romantically involved with an unmarried young woman, Maria Constantinescu, who worked for the Bucharest Town Hall - in 1885, she gave birth to Mateiu, whom Caragiale recognized as his son and thus also supported. 

Caragiale had a creative variety of jobs, including tutor, journalist and copyist for the Prahova County Court House. His first literary successes came in 1873 with humorous stories in the Ghîmpele newspaper, followed by his much welcomed translation of a collection of poetry by Dominique-Alexandre Parodi in 1876. He then moved on to working as a freelance journalist, often writing theatre criticism for a number of publications including Romania libera and Convorbiri literare. Thus, says THIS site, before Caragiale had even established himself as a playwright, he was somewhat known, at least in Bucharest, for his literary flare. Through his work for Convorbiri literare, Caragiale became a recognised member of the literary circle, Junimea (youth) since the journal was their publication. He eventually became a leader of the group, but was forced out ten years later in the early 1880s due to his critical attitude.

By the late 1870s, Caragiale began writing the plays which cemented his reputation as an important playwright in Romania. In both plays and prose, he showed an incredible sense of the Romanian language, customs, and mannerisms, especially in the common person, and successfully used them for comedy and satire. Caragiale was highly observant of the human condition, particularly our tendency towards mistakes. He used what he saw and heard in his stories which generally focused on social conflicts and political corruption. The plays, especially, were full of fast-moving action and farce, employing solid characters with witty dialogue who usually failed in their goals.

(Photo source) In 1879, when he was twenty-seven, Caragiale saw the production of his first play, O noapte furtunoasa sau numaral 9 (A Stormy Night, or Number 9), which only had minor success. Though the play was later considered important, it was originally banned from performance and labeled immoral and unpatriotic. In A Stormy Night, or Number 9, the city man Dumitrache has entrusted his right-hand man Chiriac to spy on his wife, who he is convinced is having an affair. She is, as the audience discover - except that her lover is Chiriac himself. Meanwhile the wife's sister's lover goes to visit the sister, but because of an upside-down nine (which looks like a six) on the house number, ends up inside Dumitrache's house instead. He nearly gets himself killed by both Dumitrache and Chiriac before the sister identifies him, and her explanation convinces Dumitrache that his wife has remained faithful to him after all. See the marvellous O noapte furtunoasa from 1943 HERE with Stefan Iordanescu-Bruno and Alexandru Giugaru.

A second significant play from the same time period was also a satire, but more of a political comedy with similar elements of social commentary. Conul Leonida fata cu reaciunea (Mr. Leonida and the Reactionries; 1880) also featured a couple at its centre. The provincial man, Mr. Leonida, relates the story of the Romanian republic that existed for a brief three weeks, to his wife Efimita. A republican, he also tells her his ideas for a utopian society. Later that night, shots ring out. At first, Leonida believes that the revolution is taking place, and then, that the reactionaries are after him because of his ideas. Both assumptions are wrong, and he learns that the shots are coming from a Shrove Tuesday celebration.

Though Conul Leonida did not have the same controversial opening as A Stormy Night, when Caragiale originally wrote it, the play featured two main aristocratic characters. Theatre officials would not allow the play to be performed until he changed them for two provincials. This allowed the characters to be viewed as more farcical and satirical by the audience.

While Caragiale was gaining much notoriety as a playwright, he was also still holding other jobs to support his family. From 1881 to 1884, he served as an inspector of schools and was also the proprietor of a beer garden! Certainly, Caragiale was owner of a chequered resumé.

(Photo source) He reached the summit of his career in 1884 with The Lost Letter, considered a masterpiece. A comic satire about political corruption, petty ambitions, and incoherent demagogy, it explored the victory of a blackmailer in a provincial government election and was an instant hit with the public. The critic and politician Titu Maiorescu was pleased by its success, and believed that it was a sign of maturity in Romanian society, which, as he put it, was "starting to laugh" at the National Liberal rhetoric.

Stepan Tipatescu, a candidate for office in a small-town election, discovers that his opponent has obtained an old love letter that he wrote to somebody else's wife. In vain, Tipatescu tries to persuade the opponent, Catavencu, to give up the letter. But when the government announces its support for a third candidate, Tipatescu withdraws himself from the race and puts his support behind Catavencu. In the meantime, Catavencu manages to lose the letter which ends up in the hands of Zoe the town drunk - and Zoe is, in fact, none other than the woman to whom the letter had been originally written. By the end of the play, the opponents are reconciled, and the government's candidate wins. Caragiale's depiction of the events surrounding the election is sharply cynical, with most of the characters totally lacking in the charisma department. Despite, or perhaps because of this, the play has had a long and much-loved life, performed for many years. You can see the whole play HERE  in two parts, starring Grigore Vasiliu Birlic as Branzovenescu, Ion Fintesteanu as Farfuridi and Alexandru Giugaru as Trahanache from 1953. 

Even the names in Caragiale's works are cleverly significant: farfurie means plate and with the ending "idi" is certainly a name of Greek origin. Catavencu comes from catza, translated roughly as 'a royal pain in the neck', whilst Branzovenescu  is another irony... very few have normal names like Popescu (except, perhaps, Lefter Popescu - which means 'to be broke' - in Doua Lozuri). Caragiale makes fun of these provincial bourgeois who think so terribly highly of themselves.

During the same year, Caragiale's D-ale carnavalului, a lighter satire of suburban morals and amorous misadventures, was received with booing and hissing from members of the public - critics deemed it "immoral", due to its frank depiction of adultery gone unpunished. Maiorescu took his friend's side and published a paper entitled Comediile Domnului Caragiale that was highly critical of National Liberal cultural tenets. The paper played an essential rôle in reconciling the dramatist to the general public, says Wikipedia.

In 1889/1890, he wrote Napasta  (known as False Accusations, Injustice, and False Witness), a tragie-comedy more serious than his other works and often compared to Fydor Dostoyevsky's novel Crime and Punishment and Tolstoy's The Power of Darkness. The central character is a woman named Anca, a widow remarried to Dragomir, her husband's murderer. He was not convicted of the crime, and instead, the blame fell on his friend, Ion. The play focuses on Anca's revenge. Like his other plays, Napasta was controversial at the time and in 1901, Caragiale ended up in court over it, accused of plagiarism by a critic. He was eventually able to prove his innocence, but the toll of the scandal affected him deeply. In January 1889, he married Alexandrina, the daughter of architect Gaetano Burelly. She was a member of the Bucharest elite, which also served to improve Caragiale's social standing.

In 1904, he came by a long-disputed inheritance from an aunt and moved to Berlin. Caragiale had never been truly happy in Romania, partly because he felt unappreciated as a writer and partly because of his continual battles to support his wife and children.

(Photo source: Sarah In Romania) He died there in Berlin on July 9, 1912 from arteriosclerosis but was later re-interred in the Bellu Cemetery, Bucharest. Though Caragiale had a following in Romania during his lifetime, he had just as many critics. After his death, he became better recognised for his importance to Romanian drama. Fifty years after his death, he was given a week-long festival tribute in which his plays were performed.

Caragiale's plays seemed especially relevant to the people of Romania under Communist oppression in more ways than one. One can well visualise the ball the communist literary critics had analysing Caragiale's works - how well he ironised the rotten bourgeois class.... One cannot imagine their gagarita .. so much literature was twisted in political manipulation and Caragiale did not escape this, for his work fed the convictions of the working class that everything that had come before communism was putrid. In the 1980s, Caragiale's plays were banned until the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was executed in 1989.

According to Tudor Vianu, Caragiale's writings signify "the highest expression" of Romanian theatre, mirroring and complimenting the contribution that Mihai Eminescu had to Romanian-language poetry. Literary critic Pompiliu Constantinescu credited Caragiale's sense of irony with having corrected the tendencies of his day, and, through this, with helping create an urban literature.

It is impossible to give a 100% complete account of Ion Luca Caragiale's life, for he was also an excellent professor and very much involved in politics which was rarely (if ever) to his advantage - his political views are as present in his plays as the observations made of his compatriots - and in the end, they amount to one of the same. After all, everything in Romania eventually boils down to the same thing in the end - politics. To learn more, please see HERE, in greater detail.

My own personal sadness is that a true understanding of Caragiale can never belong to a non-Romanian. We can never truly grasp the depths of the characterisations, no matter how well we think we know the country, its history and its people. The language, names and jeux de mots need often lengthy explanations along with the mannerisms which require insight before we can either shake our heads at the irony of it all or burst out laughing at the utter silliness. Culturally, we cannot possess them unless we are specifically told (and even then, it can often seem like a mine-field) - the digs, parallels and references are so subtle, so innately brilliant. But the little of Caragiale I do know, the plays I have loved (my first baptisms were Bubico - see HERE with the incomparable Horatiu Malaele - and D-l Goe which had me crying with laughter. I even tried to translate it HERE), read, watched over the last decade are clearly written by a genius - of that, there is no doubt. Each one is a window in to Romanian society as real today as it was when written. The Romanian mentality has not changed. No other writer, at least to my knowledge, has ever been so completely accurate in the characterisation of his compatriots as Ion Luca Caragiale. Just imagine the plays he would have written had he been alive today... but then again, just pick up a copy of O scrisoare pierduta and it's all there in a nutshell.

Genius.

Romania's diaspora unite in solidarity 2

(Photo source: Sarah In Romania) Dozens from the Romanian diaspora assembled this afternoon on the corner of rue St.Dominique and avenue Bosquet in Paris's 7th arrondissement in solidarity with the protests in Romania, ongoing for more than two weeks. While many came to voice their disgust for the entire political class along with their highly legitimate discontentment with Romania's present government calling for president Basescu's resignation, others demonstrated in opposition to Rosia Montana Gold Corporation's mining project in parallel with protests in Bucharest and the Transylvanian village of Rosia Montana also taking place today.

RMGC (80% - Canadian firm Gabriel Resources, 20% - Romanian state) plans to use cyanide for the extraction of around 300 tons of gold in Rosia Montana, thought to be Europe's largest deposit. The project has drawn justifiable criticism from environmentalists, archaeologists, historians and organisations all over the world for the mine threatens the environment in every way (ecologically and medically), priceless Roman-era mining galleries and thus, Romanian heritage. For more detail on this scandalous project, see HERE and HERE. RMGC has already obtained a permit from the Romanian culture ministry but still needs agreement from the environment ministry for the digging to begin.

Whilst those in Romania yelled "Yes to Culture, No to Cyanide!" the protesters in Paris held up posters exclaiming "I don't want cyanide!" and "Go to Bucharest and stop the crime at Rosia Montana!"

Amongst those demonstrating against the project were Caroline D'Assay, the president of Pro-Patrimonio France, and Patrice Eyraud of Opération Villages Roumains (left).

Despite the cold, flags flew, folk-songs and "Desteapta-Te Romane" rang out accompanied by Eugen Leahu and his guitar, protesters danced the hora as much in solidarity as to keep warm and there was even a delicious box of chocolates circulating! Signs and banners of "Proud to be Romanian!", "Stop Corruption!" blended with the anti-government slogans and the opposition to RMGC to form a general protest all united in one single demand: DEMOCRACY!

Little did we know as we shouted, sang, danced and munched chocolate that the very intersection on which we found ourselves was a historic site for protests of Romanian dissidents and exiles in Paris. On page 43 of  'Au balcon de l'exil roumain à Paris', Sanda Stolojan recalls the corner of rue St Dominique / avenue Bosquet in early May, 1977:

".... We crowded into a building opposite the Embassy and up to the apartment of friends on the fifth floor. Maria Bratianu found herself a wig and a white cloak under which she hid an enormous megaphone. On the signal, we went down into the street shouting slogans. At that moment, a second group lead by Monica Lovinescu, megaphone on a shoulder-strap, joined us suddenly from a side street. Posters were raised with the inscriptions "Freedom for Romanians!" "Passports for every Romanian!" "Free Goma!"  The police left us alone for a few minutes, then broke us up. We had some French people amongst us: the writer Claude Mauriac (who got a punch on the nose) and the actress Brigitte Fossey - both very agitated. As for the press, Le Figaro refused to mention the "contestataires roumains", well reflecting the attitude of a certain prudent bourgeoisie faced with communist power in Romania. The left-wing press proved to be more obliging (Libération, le Quotidien, le Monde)."

It is overwhelming to think that today we stood exactly where Sanda Stolojan, Maria Bratianu and Monica Lovinescu had once stood, demanding democracy for Romania. The next time we assemble there to demand it once again, I know that we shall be united not only in our quest and knowledge that the Romanian people must assume responsibility for what is now and whatever will be, but also in deeply respectful thought for that day in early May, 1977.

My thanks to Madalina Alexe for finding p.43 of 'Au balcon de l'exil roumain à Paris' by Sanda Stolojan and for sharing her discovery.

If not now, when?

(Photo source: DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP/Getty Images) Romania's president incumbent, Traian Basescu, spoke on national television last night for the first time since protests began almost two weeks ago, in defense of his government's tough austerity measures. See speech HERE in Romanian.

The measures suffered in Romania have been immensely strict and, just for the record, Forbes Magazine reported earlier this week that the national GDP of both Hungary and Romania combined is about equal to that of Greece. "Brutal and unthinkable in a West European country" was the verdict on the two years of austerity from Andreas Treichl, the president of Austria's Erste Group, the largest foreign investor in the Romanian banking sector.

The BBC gives Romanian austerity as follows:

• 2011 budget deficit reported as 4.35% of GDP
• public sector pay cut by 25%
• VAT raised from 19% to 24% (only surpassed by Iceland, Hungary and Norway)

As an outsider looking in, we have been very much aware of the harsh conditions inflicted on the Greeks due to their own government's wheelings and dealings for decades, but very little, if anything, was reported by the international press up until the protests on those suffered by the Romanian people. I have been told that they simply accepted what needed to be done - and did it. They didn't have any choice in the matter. The Romanian people were obliged to get on with it and 'faire avec'. But then, it all became too much. The mamaliga exploded. This is, of course, a huge simplification.

In his 35-minute address to the nation, Mr Basescu acknowledged "some citizens have lost faith" but said the measures had pulled the country out of a recession, the Associated Press reported. 

"I know what needs to be done. We are where we should be. Romania has come out of a recession," he said.

He has a point. Today, there are other EU member states in a much worse situation economically than Romania finds itself today, but Romania was one of the first EU members to need a bailout in the current crisis – securing 20 billion euros ($28bn, £16.7bn) in May 2009, a year when its economy contracted 6.6%.

However, that 'some citizens have lost faith' is something of an understatement. If the press and the social networks are to be believed, a very large majority of the country has lost faith - and that can be seen right now with protests still continuing in Piata Universitatii despite a snowstorm that hit Bucharest this evening with winds of up to 70km an hour (so I'm told). It can be seen in the thousands who have taken to the streets across the entire country over the last 13 days. And it can also be seen in the Romanian diaspora, protesting in solidarity all over the world. If that is not proof of extremely determined, indignant (if not angry) people, then I don't know what is.

In the nationally televised speech delivered live from the presidential palace on the occasion of Cristian Diaconescu's swearing-in as the new Foreign Minister following Bachonschi's 'departure' a few days ago, Basescu said his government would continue to create more jobs and fight against corruption and tax evasion. If Romania is really going to fight corruption, surely those in power now will have to step down and certain members of the opposition (the majority, in fact) would be unable to take power. You know the saying - 'the fish rots from the head...' Of course, corruption is so deep-seated one is helpless in knowing where to begin, but those in power today are as guilty of it as anyone. As are some in the opposition. There is the quandry. They are both as bad as each other. Today, the US Ambassador to Romania, Mark H. Gitenstein, criticised the country's high-level corruption - not particularly helpful, since it's nothing particularly new...

Those calling for Traian Basescu's resignation continue to state that ANYONE would be better than him. Those hoping he stays say that this is truly not the case. And so far, there is nobody else.

Yesterday, about 2,000 teachers, nurses, retired army officers and trade unionist rallied outside the government's headquarters, according to Reuters:

"I want to regain my dignity, I want this dictatorship formed by president and prime minister to fall," said Otilia Dobrica, a kindergarten teacher and part-time secretary who earns around $420 a month.

"We can't take any more," nurse Adriana Vintila explained. "Four million Romanians have left to work abroad because they can no longer survive in their home country. I don't want to leave; it's the government that should go."

About 5,000 people rallied in Iasi, calling for early elections, whilst in Bucharest's Piata Victoriei, protesters shouted "Freedom, Early Elections!" during yesterday's anti-government rally.

“When I was the captain of a ship I never failed to bring my ship to port and I won’t fail to bring Romania to safe harbour,” Traian Basescu said during his address last night, according to the Romania Business Insider.  “The belief that the president no longer represents the people is false. The president’s obligation is to represent them continuously, as the president has been elected through direct vote.” In this case, he would have nothing to fear from a referendum - or at least, bringing the election closer. So far, however, he isn't prepared to give the go-ahead for either.

Boc has been seen to make some concessions, though. On Monday, he fired Teodor Baconschi, the Foreign Minister, after he called protesters "inept and violent slum dwellers," and compared them to the miners who took to the streets of Bucharest in the 1990s. Clearly, the government believed this would mollify the protesters, but they remain wholely unconvinced.

Romania has been transformed since the overthrow of the Communist dictatorship in 1989 and the sometimes violent instability that followed. The nouveau-riche jet-set of young Romanians fill trendy nightclubs and plush restaurants that have sprouted up in Bucharest, and shiny new SUVs cruise the capital’s boulevards. There are many who do not wish to lose what Romania has today - better, richer in comparison to the way things were. They say that Traian Basescu is not a dictator and that Romania is no longer a dictatorship - they lived in and survived one. They know. Today, they have an opposition in parliament and they can protest in the streets. That is proof that no dictatorship exists today.

And yet, those in favour of the opposition, or at least, those calling for the resignation of Traian Basescu, Emil Boc and the fall of the present government say the benefits of progress have been uneven: life is harsh in rural areas and in the capital. Seventy hospitals nationwide have been closed; education has taken a nose-dive; if one wants a decently-paid job then one must go abroad; pensions are insultingly low; salaries have been cut. Among the EU nations, only neighbouring Bulgaria is poorer. Laws are passed without going through parliament to suit those in power, eg. Rosia Montana. That is NOT democracy.

Traian Basescu's speech, said Crin Antonescu, leader of PNL, was a sign that he was out of touch with reality and that he should resign, whilst Victor Ponta, the leader of PSD, told Agerpres that the speech said nothing at all and had no link whatsoever to do with what was happening in Romania.

Indeed, Romania finds itself today at a deeply messy and complex impasse. To choose between rotten apples and rotten pears is impossible and, until someone better comes along, until a new party surfaces (there are a few but none of them viable, I think) that is not filled with officers and informants of the securitate and yesterday's nomenclatura, I remain fearful for the future of the country of my heart. And yet, one is forced to be hopeful that true democracy will eventually be found. A title of a novel by Primo Levi comes to mind: If not now, when?

Point of View: "The difference between PSD and PDL is securitate officers."

Following a comment on yesterday's blogpost, Corina Grigorica answers the question:

"Why is it seen as shameful to make an alliance with PSD but not with a party that included Virgil Magreanu (PD)?"

Immediately after the revolution, the Romanian Communist Party (PCR) did an about turn and called itself FSN (The Front of National Salvation). At first, Iliescu, head of this formation, said they were going to organize free elections WITHOUT PARTICIPATING. At the same time, PNl and PNT (survivors of parties pre-communist who were almost all sentenced to jail and death) reappeared. After a month, Iliescu announced that FSN was a bona fide party and would participate in the elections. It was January 1990 and the biggest demonstration against Iliescu took place. The second day, he and all party members (now FSN instead of PCR) - especially those in factories - mobilized workers against the protesters, accusing them of  "Stealing the Revolution". There was violence on the streets and sinister slogans: "Death to intellectuals" and "We work, we don't think" (which was true and now would make me laugh if only those decerebrated workers along with securitate members hadn't brutalised people).

Glasove - Bulgaria
Demonstrators without a vision

The week-long protests in Romania against President Traian Băsescu and the government's austerity policy will come to nothing as long as they are based only on hatred and anger, writes the online paper Glasove: "At the start of the protest some observers spoke hopefully of revolution of civil society, even a 'new revolution'. The good news is that the people have gone out on the streets to show their dissatisfaction, and that they have stuck it out for so long in the cold. They have hope. But there's got to be more to a 'new revolution' than just be a change of government. ... It's silly to wait for the deus ex machina that will save the nation. The Romanians must take the fate of their country into their own hands, and produce a new leadership that will change the system. ... It's time the voice of reason drowned out the helpless cries of hatred and rejection." (19/01/2012)

Romania's diaspora unite in solidarity

(Photo source: Sarah In Romania) A demonstration took place in front of the Romanian Embassy, Paris today, in solidarity with the protests back home now well into their nineth day. 

The gathering, organised via social networks, was strictly apolitical, supported NO political party, organisation or alliance, and was entirely peaceful and good-humoured with Romanian flags brightening an otherwise drab Parisian day. About a hundred supporters of all ages quietly held up a variety of signs: 'Protestez Pasnic', 'Même au loin, je suis roumain!', 'Romania se trazeste! Suntem cu voi!', 'Iubesc Democratia!"....

Journalists from Antena 3 and Radio Romania International based in France mingled and interviewed; cameras clicked and cam-corders whirred. It was a great pleasure to be part of this friendly movement - to chat, share views, ideas, hopes and, of course, be surrounded by the language I love, miss and wish I spoke better. Passers-by came and went, wondering what it was all about. Without any specific political slogans, it was unclear as to quite what we were doing there. However, curiosity was piqued - and the event is to be repeated next weekend.

As with October's demonstration at Trocadero for "Nous sommes roumains aussi", the group Alianta Dreptei (a far-right organisation) has once again tried to jump on the band-wagon. Should you read anything (I'm not about to give a link and promote traffic to their site!!) from this group mentioning today's solidarity at the Embassy, PLEASE DISCOUNT IT (and leave a feisty comment!!)! It is inadmissible that they should, once again, twist a good and decent event carried out and organised with civic spirit to meet their own ends. Civic spirit is NOT political propaganda!! In addition, social networks this evening report that articles have appeared in certain "news" publications claiming that certain Romanian diaspora demonstrations have been ordered and orchestrated by political parties (this particular one focuses on Spain). I cannot speak for any other protests, but I repeat once again, hand on heart, that today's gathering here in Paris had absolutely NO political links, ZERO political interest and was purely and simply a showing of solidarity with a homeland in crisis.

On another note, Paris is not the only city to have seen a unification of support today. Romanians living abroad in Madrid, Berlin and Oslo, to name just a few, have been equally active. Whilst the international press seems to have lost interest in Piata Universitatii, Romania's diaspora is very much focused on what is happening at home. Plans for repeat demonstrations and gatherings across the globe with messages of both a social and political nature are far from over. Here in Paris, it certainly will not be the last. 

Romania solidara si în tara, si afara!

BRAVO!!

Protests in Bucharest: Between a rock and a hard place

(Photo source: L. Marica)

Day Eight and the protests continue across Romania more than ever. Dimitrie Cantemir was wrong - he undershot by five days. Protesters have not got fed up and they have certainly not gone home. Au contraire. They have multiplied in their thousands nationwide.

With every day that passes, I make a new discovery. My views and opinions seem rather kaleidoscopic: curving, merging, blending and changing. For me, at least, it has been a true learning curve (not always in the right direction!) on Romanian politics, the thought process (or sometimes absence of) and social issues I could really never have imagined. There are so many layers to this onion of a protest and a Romanian only by osmosis such as myself is unlikely to get to the crux of it all. However, I'm not sure that the average Romanian gets there either! People are in the streets with a whole bunch of agendas, but united by one call - the resignation of Basescu and Boc - an end to PDL's term. And for change, of course. BIG change.

(Photo source: Doza De Râs) Since the social networks have been full of articles and reports on the violence, police brutality and arrests, I'll begin with the protesters first. Brussels and The White House have been quick to condemn such violence and there are also several Facebook 'causes' calling for an end to them. These protests have seen three kinds of demonstrators. The first are those that simply want change. They are peaceful, decent demonstrators, appalled by conditions that have gone way too far and are seriously protesting for a cause whether it be for a change of government, Rosia Montana, pensions, health and education issues to name but a few, but always with a cry for democracy. Then, there are the football hooligan types out to destroy all and sundry for the hell of it, undermining everything the protest stands for, giving more clout to PDL even if they say they are protesting against that very party. They are undermining and discrediting the cause of this protest - no one seems to know where they came from, who sent them or who is urging them, but you can be sure that someone is. Members of the police force in civvies too have been reported as infiltrating the crowds and inciting violence. Rumours circulate connections with the KGB, Iliescu and heavens knows what. There is so much gossip, so many tales of underground workings, manipulation, blackmail etc - perhaps some are true. Such accusations come as no surprise, but enough about that. Finally, there is the 3rd kind: the sympathisers for the opposition.

This is an extremely complex and confusing situation for those of us who love Romania but do not understand her politics. I find it profoundly disturbing to be caught between a rock and a hard place. Why? Because I am so glad to see people out in the streets. I am so proud that the civil inertia has come to an end and people are reacting at last. It has taken 22 years but there has been an awakening of huge proportions which has lifted my heart to untold heights. However, much as I loathe Basescu and would dearly like to see the back of him, I loathe PSD even more. The complications begin here. Who exactly is the opposition? Wouldn't ANYONE be better than PDL, Basescu and the Boc government?

Sympathisers of the opposition give a resounding "YES!!!" to that question. In Romania, the main (and only) opposition to Basescu's party, PDL (Partidul Democrat-Liberal) is the partnership of PNL (Partidul National Liberal) + PSD (Partidul Social Democrat) known as USL. In short, PNL had no hope of ever overthrowing PDL alone - it wasn't nearly powerful enough - so it was agreed that the alliance be soulded for a year until Basescu, Udrea, Videanu etc were ousted. A kind of 'united we stand' understanding. Supporters of the opposition say that PDL have harmed Romania more than we can possibly imagine. They say they have stolen more than PSD ever did and, some add, they are pure evil. If Romania doesn't get rid of them the country will cease to exist.

 Many PNL-ists were and continue to be utterly mortified by this alliance, seeing it as a dreadful 'betrayal' - it was, however necessary it may have been. The PSD was once PCdR (Partidul Comunist din Romania) and change is slow in Romania... yesterday's nomenklatura is today's PSD. Today's liberal party has become a two headed monster, some would say. Iliescu, Nastase etc. are all members of this party however 'old' they may be considered. One can still have sway, even from the shadows. PNL-ists suffered a terrible blow for this alliance, perhaps because they felt they were going backwards instead of forwards or for having to deal with the very kinds of people they loathed. In the end, they had to accept mathematics in their quest to get rid of Basescu and his merry men.

There also exists a real fear of PDL, for within this party are hundreds of protected securitate officers. One knows this is true, but there is no available proof since the law states that names of informers can be published, but those of active officers cannot. Access to these files is denied. Andrei asked, "who is the most guilty in your opinion? The informer or the officer?" Perhaps both, but it was the securitate officers who gave the orders to beat, torture and kill. They were and continue to be a ruthless bunch. There are less informers in PSD. There, you will find more former party activists. They had no need to inform on anything. And they were privileged.

(Image source: Roumains solidaires avec la Roumanie) Tomorrow, there is a demonstration here in Paris to show solidarity for the protests in Romania. I shall go because I want to hear what people have to say. Paris's Romanian diaspora are a lively bunch of admirable young people going places, professionals making something of their lives. The FB page for the event can be found HERE. Please join the peaceful throng in front of the Romanian Embassy, rue St Dominique, 7ème if you are in Paris.

Despite my indecision, one thing is clear to me. For the last four years, laws have been introduced and applied by this present government without the necessary parliamentary debate. Romania does seem to me to be teetering on the brink of a dictatorship. Rosia Montana is a perfect example of things going ahead against the wishes of the people, without referendum and with a complete absence of consideration for the good of a nation and its future. Indeed the PNL+PSD marriage is only for a year. But then what? Divorce? Domestic violence? A happy ending? As far as I can see, no matter which way it goes, it doesn't look like a happy ending is on the cards....

My thanks to all those who have patiently tried to educate me on the complexities of Romanian politics and shared their views with me so kindly.

Violence in Bucharest: Part of Europe or back to dictatorship (if it ever left)?

SATURDAY

(Photo Adevarul) Thousands protested in the streets of Bucharest and other major cities throughout the country for the third day in a row against a project to reform healthcare and in support of Raed Arafat. Although the government publically withdrew the bill on Friday to privatise large parts of the health service, it failed to calm crowds who now call for Basescu's resignation and for early elections to be held.

The protest at Piata Universitatii became increasingly violent as the night progressed (live Antena3). Internet crashed this end and news trickled in frustratingly slowly via sms from friends both protesting at Pta Universitatii and watching on television at home. 

(Photo Adevarul) Approx. 19h30: "They arrested a man, his sister and mother," said one of the first, "he says the instigators were securitate." So, there was crowd-infiltration inciting violence and disorder to discredit the protesters - an old communist strategy that worked well 22 years ago - and as one can see, it's still being used today.

Another: "People must leave. The police will beat them. It is getting really bad."

"They are shouting for Basescu and his thieves to leave. Your friends in crowd must go home. It is so dangerous. Tell them!"

"Football fans from Steaua here...violent, aggressive. Maybe drunk. Make things more bad!"

A little later: "29 arrested, 12 in hospital. They should leave. No one is useful dead or hurt. More police coming. Orders are to evacuate Piata Uni at any price."

(Photo Adevarul) News such as this kept coming. Police arrived little by little until they were appearing at the piata in droves, by far outnumbering the protesters.

"Police threaten openly. Armed police will beat them and use gas. The people will be smashed. There are less than 1000 people. Its like 13-15 June". (ie, the myriade).

Ten minutes later: "They are beating the protesters. OMG!!! Beating them!!!! Like myriade. Its the same securitate!"

And as if things weren't bad enough already: "Order to beat them. More police coming. They have 30 seconds to leave piata!"

Then news that made my blood chill: "OMG! It started! People are screaming!"

(Photo Adevarul) "They are arresting as many as they can."

"Screams from a mother and child. Father arrested and beaten."

"I see a man standing on a window of the university."

"I am SO angry! Innocent people injured for another party/president to come and they will do the same thing........ It is a mascarade!"

The final message: "Pta Uni is empty now. Only police there. Protesters will be back tomorrow."

At last, internet was restored (what a day to lose it!!!). We gawped at the reports and interviews from Antena3, Pro-TV and Realitatea, completely shell-shocked.

This all began in protest of health reforms and developed into a national vote of no-confidence in 18 cities across the country. Tonight we witnessed unforgivable police brutality against the Romanian people. We listened to Basescu and Boc's deafening silence and a marked absence of the interior minister Traian Igas (since Sept 2010 - PDL). We heard women scream and we watched in horror as police beat and arrested protesters at random to clear the square. Sorin Iliesiu (once close to Basescu but today a self-declared and indignant opponent) asked support from Tismaneanu, Andrei Plesu, Rodica Culcer, Monica Macovei, Patapievici and Cristian Preda. Indeed, where were their voices (near Basescu, one would suppose)? Chants of 'Jos Basescu!' 'Demisia! Demisia! Demisia!' 'Nu va fie frica ca Basescu pica!' and 'Jos Dictatura!' echoed through the night.

This is horribly reminiscent of the 'lovilutie' of December 1989 without the fatal shootings, but it needs to be remembered that this is NOT a revolution. It is a protest - heated though it may be. There was absolutely no need for the cohorts of police except to intimidate. Was this an organised 'mis en scene' once more or was it a genuine protest that turned nasty. We know the securitate infiltrated the protesters. That has happened before and the pattern is clearly recognisable. The police first arrived in small numbers, and increased at night. This incited other protesters to join, encouraged by those already there via up-to-date news on the social networks (twitter and FB principally). The police (traffic, gendarmes, members of the special forces) pushed protesters onto the pavement provoking anger and an effort to block the boulevard. This was allowed for a while to give the false impression they were winning. The crowd were then pushed back. Meanwhile police were camping on the streets near Pita Universitatii. It's strange how gendarmes were reported to be injured by flying stones thrown by the protesters for they were all wearing helmets! This is also part of the plan, of course - partially to incite the crowd and partially to enrage the gendarmes, giving them motive to make arrests. It brings back horrible memories and makes one fearful of what is to come.

Arrests were made at random. Anyone would do, it seemed, including two journalists and a TV presenter. Passers-by were also loaded into vans - once again very reminiscent of June 13-15.

How is it possible that in a European country in 2012, protesters can be openly beaten and attacked by police without shame (see shocking photos HERE)? This is not Egypt, Tunisia or Syria (it shouldnt have happened there either) and innocent people arrested. There are laws of civil rights to be maintained. Romania is NO LONGER a dictatorship, apparently - at least, for those in the west looking in, it is not supposed to be. Indeed, elections should be brought forward. Basescu and Boc should indeed both resign providing there are better politicians to take their place. It's same meat, different gravy... Or perhaps not - today's PSD is yesterday's nomenklatura, after all. The very idea that the old communist party are waiting there in the wings to take over chills me. So...who else is there???

I fear for tomorrow. The protests will continue. I am split in two. On the one hand, the very image of the thousands in the streets reacting at last, awakening from the civil inertia that has plagued the country for so long has made me SO proud. A friend of mine rather wisely told me: "We are Latins (boiling blood, easy-living, funny and Carpe Diem) but Orthodox (like the slavs, contemplative). It's strange, but this combination shaped Romanians as a whole. Because we are Latins, we turn everything into a joke. Being Orthodox, we are very patient. This combination of Carpe Diem and Orthodox patience makes us appear apathetic.
Remember, too, that Romania is an Aquarius country and almost all our leaders have been Scorpios! So many contrary things! Foreigners compare us to Hungarians, Bulgarians, Czechs. We have nothing in common with them. We are an anomaly of history. We had the ugliest form of communism, the most brutal form of repression when communism came. Many thought they had broken our will. I don't think so, but I understand now that Romanians move at their own pace and are unpredictable." And yet, on the other hand, I am afraid. Perhaps it is that very unpredictability that makes me so fearful? Perhaps I am also afraid that it will not last. Or that whoever comes next will be even worse. The present government in situ has simply gone too far, stolen too much and become far too arrogant. But if they are replaced by PSD who stole far more and did a great deal more damage (but memories are short, it seems), the situation for Romania would be even more dreadful, in my opinion. It's wonderful to topple a government - but what happens next?

Dimitrie Cantemir said that Romanians are no good for more than 3 days. They get bored and go home. Add to that the very cold weather. Will this all be forgotten by Friday...?

In 22 years there has been little progress - in many cases, things have gone backwards instead of forwards - the health service and education spring immediately to mind. Romania's reputation in Europe today is more important than ever at a time of great economic hardship. Mr Basescu, your people are asking you to go. The chanting, I think, will grow ever louder, for they seem decided in their quest. Are we looking this evening at a Romanian spring? Or will the consequences cause eternal winter?

My thanks to Coricica Grigorica, Razvan M., RD, LC, MP and Florina

Down with the 'nu se poate' brigade!

(Photo source: Index) Bravo to Rumi Mestrovic who recently stood up to an offensive dose of 'nu se poate' in Zagreb... she was taking a photo of the first sunset of 2012 through a fence when a guard starting yelling abuse at her - threatening, menacing, way beyond offensive - apparently she couldn't take photos through a fence that wasn't her's. It wasn't allowed. Clearly he hoped to intimidate Rumi and her husband. Not so. He picked on the wrong person... Rumi Mestrovic, daughter-in-law of the sculptor Ivan Mestrovic, is not a person to be messed with. Having warned him that she would react to this outrageous attack, she then took his photo too, just for good measure, and gave the story to Index.hr, one of the widest-read news portals in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Index were delighted and published it even before news concerning Prime Minister Milanovic. That 'bourreau' of a guard is now nationally infamous not only for being a bullying yob but also for yelling abuse at ohhhh so the wrong lady!! Bravo Rumi! BRAVOOOOOOOOO! Down with 'nu se poate'! 

That was in Croatia, but how about Romania? Nobody who has lived in Romania, particularly in Bucharest, can say they have not met these upholders of 'nu se poate'. 'Nu se poate'? It is a national phrase meaning, 'it can't be done' or 'it's not allowed' and is usually a refusal based on 'I can't be bothered', 'I need to feel important by telling you no', or even, 'How much is it worth?'. Indeed, it was the first phrase I ever learned along with 'vai de mine' and 'nu mai pot'! If one stands one's ground and insists (as a westerner usually would), fairly often these bullies will back down for they know perfectly well they're being absurd. However, Romanians rarely argue back or stand up for themselves - decades of being trained to keep heads and eyes down leave their mark. They are saturated with abuse from these mitocani, small nobodies in positions of a little power - creations of the communist regime... Those who usually snarl 'nu se poate' are, in general, members of an 'underclass', a legacy from Ceausescu straight out of Orwell's '1984'. Robert Kaplan describes them in his magnificent book Balkan Ghosts as "badly urbanised peasants who, according to a local proverb, were neither 'horse nor donkey' - uprooted from villages where their ancestors had lived for decades or even centuries - away from every tradition they ever had - and moved to factory dormitories where everything was in short supply except alcohol and regime propaganda."

They, their off-shoots and descendants are also those who insult King Mihai of Romania, accusing him of betrayal and treason. Because King Carol died in 1959, King Mihai was always the immediate threat, and consequently, the communists began long ago to blame King Mihai for Carol's crimes, manipulating and falsifying history to suit their purposes. The shameful recent attacks made by president Traian Basescu are an echo from those days not as distant as one would like to believe, and a clear portrayal of the accuser's background. In addition, these 'nu se poate' are also often those responsible for destroying Romania's patrimony, her history and her architecture, too, supposedly in the name of 'progress' (but actually in the name of lining their pockets since that is all that truly matters to them) whilst leaving the hideous monstrosities constructed under communism alone.

Half-starved, frozen and/or often worked to death in many cases under Ceasescu, think of the miners from the Jiu Valley who bloodied the students in Piata Universitatii in June 1990. They, too, came from this 'societal substratum'. With the miners, says Kaplan, Iliescu demonstrated how, if you provide such men with just a little bit more food and self-confidence, they make a chillingly effective praetorian guard.... Today we see carbon-copies working in administration, government positions, or as security guards, perhaps in hospitals... nu se poate.

Travelling in my beloved Romania is rather like being thrown slap-bang into a Dostoievsky novel - blurred ignorance, the cunning of the smecheri and tigani, the sadness and despair of so many... but never was there such frustration as that caused by members of the 'nu se poate' brigade. Isn't it time that this particular legacy came to an end and Romania arrived in the 21st century? Isn't it time that 'nu se poate' became, 'Da se poate!' - it has been said elsewhere across the Atlantic, after all.

When I saw Rumi's article this morning, my heart leapt for a moment. I thought how wonderful it would be if EVERY time this happened, it could be publically recorded, mediatised and that person loudly named and shamed - they deserve to be. With their nonchalance and attitude of 'merge si asa', their 'on s'en foutisme', these members of the 'nu se poate' brigade continue to hold Romania for ransom, dragging its people back into the time-warp from which the lovilutie of 1989 strove to free them, however much of a mis en scene it may have been both then and in retrospection. They are as much to blame as the corrupt government and the crooked officials - if not one of the same.

May 2012, the year of the dragon, also be the year for standing up to indifference and one's long collaboration of silence. Nu se poate? Only if you allow it....

La multi ani fericiti!

The moNUmenteUITATE project and the Unforgotten

Completely by chance just the other day, I fell upon the superb site of the moNUmenteUITATE project and can't imagine how I'd missed it. Of course, I had to find out more.

The moNUmenteUITATE team was very prompt in replying with the following text and photographs explaining their project and future events - thank you very much! Please click on the links and check out moNUmenteUITATE for yourself. It is terribly sad to witness such neglect, but the team tells me that in a couple of years, the general image won't be this tragic. "Times are changing for these castles," Irina tells me. "I can feel it." Let's hope she is right.

(Photo: Castle in Medieșul Aurit - Satu Mare)

'The moNUmenteUITATE project (NU UITATE= unforgotten) started in 2008 within the Faculty of Architecture of the ’Ion Mincu’ University of Architecture and Urbanism, in Bucharest, Romania. Its aim was to create an archive of images and information about the stately homes in Transylvania, Banat, Crișana și Maramureș.

More than 300 student volunteers contributed to the creation of this archive. After having identified these buildings and ensembles in the List of Historical Monuments, the students travelled the country in search of them. More than 350 such monuments were photographed and mapped in 4 campaigns, during 2008 and 2011.

(Photo: Castle in Ocna, Mures, Mures county)

These monuments bear witness to the habits of the past, illustrating social and territorial organization and the aristocrats living in these regions, from the 15th to the 20th century. Situated outside urban areas, on the land of nobility, the ensembles consisted of the nobleman's residence (a palace or an old castle), the annexes indispensable to the nobleman's court (kitchen, bakery, distillery, stables, servants' lodging, storage space), the park and/or garden (embellished with rare species of trees and plants, statues, greenhouses). Apart from their historical value, the stately homes of Transylvania, Banat, Crișana și Maramureș represent examples of laic architecture of Western European fashion, but interpreted in a local manner that adds to the picturesque ensemble. Thus, the forms and typologies vary with the region, the statute of the owner and his resources, the period in which the stately home was built, the dominant artistic movement and the conceptions of that period.

(Photo: Mansion in Coplean, Cluj County)

During the communist regime, these monuments were taken from their owners and their function shifted from private to public use. They were transformed into village-halls, schools, high-schools, medical institutions, psychiatric hospitals, tuberculosis hospitals, orphanages. But most often, stately homes were transformed into headquarters for the Agricultural Cooperatives for Production (C.A.P) or the Agricultural State Enterprises (I.A.S.).  In the last years, most of these monuments were returned to their former owners, frequently in very poor condition. Some of them have been restored and turned into beautiful landmarks that attract tourists, such as count Kalnoky’s mansion in Micloșoara, the Apafi manor in Mălâncrav or the Banffy castle in Bonțida which has become a heritage training centre. But apart from these few examples, there are many other monuments which remain hidden and forgotten.

(Photo: Brancovenesti Castle, Mures county)

The photographic material was organized by a small interdisciplinary team consisting of two students from the school of architecture, one art history student and one architect. Motivated by the lack of information available, they started documenting these monuments further and have been publishing articles on the project’s blog and in the Romanian newspapers.

The photographic material collected by the students was organized and stocked into a public digital archive which can be accessed HERE. In addition, the project was aimed at promoting these forgotten monuments through a series of events and exhibitions, such Street Delivery in 2008. In 2011, it has organized a second exhibition at Cărturești, in Bucharest, an exhibition which can also be seen in Brașov, Cluj and Timișoara. It can also be viewed online. You can also read about the history of the project (in Romanian) HERE.'

SOS!!! Str.Dionisie Lupu 70-72 in grave danger

Casa Miron Vlasto (Part 2/2) - A Short Visit by Silvia Colfescu

This beautiful house on str Franceza has suffered the greatest of humiliations - abuse to its interior, attacks to its facades, violence to its structure, and, most recently, two cases of arson. Who owns the land, one surely asks. The PMB.

For the history of this building, please see Silvia Colfescu's blog, 'Istorioare Bucurestene' for Casa Miron Vlasto Part 1 HERE. Knowing its past and its recent present makes what has happened to this house all the more repugnant. Doamna Colfescu has written several wonderful posts on the history of str Franceza, taking us on an adventure of discovery in a city that was once beautiful - a city of which one could once be proud - a city that, today, has fallen victim to greedy investors, ignorance, indecency and the real estate mafia.

Silvia Colfescu's most recent blogpost, Casa Miron Vlasto Part 2 - A Short Visit is the continuation of yet another example of houses currently weeping in Bucharest today, bludgeoned and maimed in the name of money in a world where pecuniary wealth and gain are worth more than heritage, history and architectural value. In translating it, apologies in advance for any injustice done to the original text, for this is a requiem to str Franceza, 30. Indeed, it is a requiem to all houses in the capital suffering from such criminal negligence and violations of legality and decency. All photographs featured in this post are the property of Silvia Colfescu.

Casa Miron Vlasto (Part 2/2) - A Short Visit

Fashionable

Commission of National Heritage a disgrace: Latest episode in the battle to save Aviatorilor/Kiseleff

(Photo source) The alarm has sounded once again in the latest episode of the epic battle to save Bulevard Aviatorilor and Soseaua Kiseleff. On 30th November, the National Commission for Historic Monuments had to decide, I'm told, whether:

Perhaps a little bit of background is required here:

Back in June-July, explains a friend of mine, the Order of Architects realised that under Oprescu's mandate the boulevards would not be safe, so they introduced a request to the Minister of Culture to list Aviatorilor-Kiseleff-Prezan. After the local Commission for Historic Monuments had unanimously approved historic monument status and the Ministry of Culture had issued an order to this effect, the next step was for the CNMI (national commission) to confirm it. Usually, the national commission rubberstamps the decision of the local commission, since they have more information on local heritage. However, Mr. Oprescu's tentacles were far-reaching, stretching as far as the 5 members who voted against and two who simply 'disappeared' in the second round of voting. These afore-mentioned tentacles also tickled the professional conscience (or lack of it) of the President of the Commission (whose name I have been asked not to print, but please go google and fill in the blanks).

Whatever happened? To start with, I'm told, the agenda was loaded in favour of Oprescu, financial private interests (the building companies that have City Hall budget at their disposal) + City Hall mafia, namely the directors of Directia de Infrastructura (Hreapca), Trafic (Dedu) and Chief Architect Patrascu - the
discussion regarding the projects was scheduled to arise before addressing the listing of the boulevards! That just about says it all, really... a bit like discussing a plaster cast before the leg is even broken. Eventually, the President of the Commission had to agree to discuss the listing first.

The first vote resulted in 6 in favour of the listing, 5 against and 3 abstentions, one of which was technical - the author of the historic study recommending the listing was obliged to abstain.

Since the vote was not what City Hall (Oprescu-Patrascu) either expected or wanted, it was repeated. The second time as mentioned above, two members vanished (nobody knows who and why nor where they went). Thus the second vote resulted in 6 for the historic listing, 5 against and one abstention - that of the creator of the study, as previously explained, who would have voted in favour of the listing since he recommended it. Patrascu, the lowest of the low and unarguably the worst Chief Architect that Bucharest has ever had, said that the vote meant there was no majority. He counted the abstention as a NO, despite the fact that the one obligatory abstention was from the very person who proposed the listing in the first place, and was thus unable to vote his 'for'. When a complaint was filed, the President of the Commission said that the Minister should decide because he would not recommend the listing. And this is the guy you pay to protect your heritage.....! For shame.

When it came to voting for or against the underpass projects, it is assumed that the two who disappeared in the second round of voting for the listing, reappeared and voted in favour. The President of the Commission said that the majority voted in favour but since the vote is secret, the President can basically do and say whatever he likes. This is the level of transparency within Romania's 'democracy' today...

At the beginning of this year, civil society officially asked the Minister of Culture to make deliberations made at the National Commission of Monuments transparent, just as they were before 2008 when Minister Iorgulescu issued a ministerial order to make them secret. Apparently, this was supposed to have put pressure on the integrity of the members. In this way, uniquely those with power and money (as always), can 'put pressure on the integrity' of members while civil society can only demonstrate in front of the Ministry to make its opinion known - and at that, only at particular times of the day and with the approval of the PMB... so much for democracy. They can of course also write letters and send petitions. Very useful I'm sure. In some cases, indeed, they may be effective. In most cases, however, they take far too long and I am not at all sure that they are ever even read. There have been many useless Culture Ministers in Romania - Iorgulescu, I am told, was one of the worst. How does Hunor measure up in comparison? Not much better, I'm sure. It is now up to him to approve or disapprove the listing and projects.

One can imagine the kind of behind-doors horse-trading taking place to make Oprescu's son rich (apparently the construction companies that will make millions out of these projects are closely linked to Oprescu's son) and obtain funds for Oprescu's re-election and PSD+PNL election campaign... All the more reason to fight ever harder that he NOT be re-elected as Mayor of Bucharest.

All the above is hearsay since no one wants to be quoted. I cannot prove any of it and cannot link to other sources because there aren't any. Neither can I name names right now, so please do fill in the blanks yourselves and should you comment below, I would be grateful if you would add them to your text... But it is all too true, I'm afraid. I know that you know it, too. The Commission of National Heritage is a disgrace, despite the presence of many decent and worthy professionals. The fact that the whole democratic process can be so easily scuppered at the behest of the construction mafia is shameful. 

Who is Nicusor Dan?

(Photo source) I've heard the question rather a lot these last few days, startling though this may seem to many (especially to Bucharesteans concerned about their city).

Dr. Nicusor Dan, 41, is founder of the association Salvati Bucurestiul and has been its president since its creation in 2008. He has worked at the prestigious Institute of Mathematics at the Romanian Academy, has a Ph.D in Mathematics and was a former top Olympiana Internationala de Matematica champion for two years running in 1987 and 1988. From 1992-5 he attended the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Paris (DEA in Mathematics, Paris XI), in 1998 got his Ph.D also in Mathematics (field of interest: Arakelov geometry) from the University of Paris XIII and has published three books in the mathematical domain.

Born in Fagaras, 250km from Bucharest, Nicusor Dan came to the capital as a student just before the revolution in 1989 and lived in Grozavesti. At that time, he said, he wasn't the least bit interested in architecture, never looked up and never paid any attention to facades. How things have changed! Nicusor Dan's first public protest took place in 2006 against a project by Videanu to destroy buildings opposite the Ateneul Român.

On str. Verona on Tuesday, Mr Dan announced his candidacy to run for Mayor of Bucharest as an independent and with a budget of zero euros. He told those who had come to his launch that he had no money for campaigning, but was supported by a number of NGOs. "I hope," he said, "that people will use social networks to convey my message." Unlike other politicians running for the position such as the incumbent, Sorin Oprescu, who claims to be independent but is in fact supported by both PSD and PNL (logistics and money for his campaign), Nicusor Dan really is utterly and genuinely independent - where on earth would a 'normal' person get the hundreds of thousands required for such campaigns? And to be fair, why on earth should they be obliged to? Why can't anyone stand for mayor if they care enough about their city to do so?

Nicusor Dan believes he has several advantages to help him get elected as Mayor of Bucharest: firstly, he is not a politician in any shape or form and secondly, he has a completely different message from other runners. He is ready for any debate with anyone at all - and this we have seen over and over again since he began Salvati Bucurestiul several years ago. Nicusor Dan is not afraid of calling a spade a spade. He is a supporter of legality and justice and is, frankly, a breath of fresh air to Bucharest where one is used to corrupt and underhanded politicians. Nicusor is none of the above. Quite the contrary - he is an honest, intelligent man with good sense and a modern vision. He truly CARES for Romania's capital - and he is a minority.

His programme will include:

- prioritising public transport, creating lanes dedicated to buses and trams, limiting parking downtown thus improving conditions of daily life for all Bucharesteans in many ways, along with the very air they breathe.

- a prevention programme for the effects of a potential earthquake: a development of a seismic hazard map and seismic vulnerability studies for buildings - studies provided FREE by City Hall.

- he will organise the lakes north of Bucharest and the surrounding regions as recreation areas. All illegal structures will be removed.

- He will introduce new blood to City Hall: a chief architect from a foreign capital (hallelujah! This is a wonderful point indeed!) and a director for the Legal Department from a large law firm. He wants to open competitions for positions in City Hall to attract young people who have studied at the best foreign universities. This, I think, will eliminate the current nepotism so very prevalent in City Hall (and politics as a whole).

When he was asked why he wanted to stand for City Hall, he had some excellent repliqués:

1) In 10 years, 4 billion euros has been spent on 30 subway lines. On landscaping alone, a billion dollars was spent - five times more than in Paris. Pure waste.

2) The National Arena cost tens of millions more than the stadium in Frankfurt which is almost identical.

3) In 20 years, only 13 buildings in Bucharest have been strengthened against seismic risk and half of what is being built in Bucharest today is illegal. The foundations of six ten-storey blocks, for example, have been built on riverbanks or landfill...

4) A city that fails to solve the problem of stray dogs dreams of organising the Olympic Games...? Despite a huge budget, investments for district heating have been insignificant and people have found themselves paying 23% more because of losses within the network. A city spending 10 billion euros in four years is beyond shameful.

5) Hundreds of millions of euros have been spent on infrastructure, but nothing has improved the traffic problem in the capital simply because bridges and other such structures were built without any consideration for the circulation system as a whole.

When you read the above, it is clear. This is a man who wants to make life easier in a busy, stressful capital of Europe. He wants to increase protection from earthquakes which means that you will be safer and your homes will too. He wants to save you the money you have been paying out on needless heating bills. He wants to give you an environment in which you can be proud - an environment which is less polluted, green and agreeable to the eye. He wants to stop illegal demolitions carried out on buildings of historical and architectural value and equally stop constructions on that land, thus protecting your rights as home owners and tenants in an atmosphere of potential real estate sharks - and he will have those responsible for such illegalities prosecuted. He wants to shorten your journeys to university and work by creating bus and tram lanes, increasing public transport and thus, enabling your trips to be less cramped and more agreeable.

This man is out to improve life in Bucharest in ways one cannot even imagine. And he means what he says. How can we know? Because it is clear! He is not a politician - he even says so himself. "yes, yes," you will say. "But they always lie and embellish." Yes, they do, but he doesn't. He isn't after money. He isn't after glory. You only have to look at him to know that. He says to you honestly - hey, I haven't got a penny, not even for a campaign. His idea of campaigning is on social networks. Does that sound like someone with political savvy to you? No! And THAT's what makes him different! That's how you know he will do what he says he will. Below you can find a heap of links with stories about Nicusor Dan standing up for the underdog, trying to protect a building being illegally demolished, dragging someone or other through the courts. This man's life's work is to protect and preserve.

He told ZF that if Oprescu is not condemned for the crimes of which he is accused by Salvati Bucuresti, he will renounce his Romanian citizenship. I am presuming that this will be because he would feel no longer able to live in a country that does not prosecute criminals because of who they are, rather than for what they have done. This goes against all Nicusor Dan's principals of justice and fairness. Does that sound like a good man to you? It sure does to me.

I have read and heard comments such as 'nu are sanse' ('he doesn't have a chance') said by people who also say, 'wouldn't it be nice!' Nice?!? It would be bloody marvellous!! And if everyone of you who says "nu are sansa" but thinks "o se fie grozav!" voted for him then he WOULD have a chance. He would have a HUGE chance! We are looking at a case of David and Goliath. I am putting my faith in David. He is exactly what Bucharest needs. he is exactly what YOU need. Bucharesteans want change. they are fed up to the eye-teeth. Well, here it is, handed to you on a PLATE!! The guy has nothing with which to mount a campaign. He isn't a politician. He is a doctor of mathematics - an intelligent, cultured man who CARES so profoundly that the fact he has no money isn't the least bit important. His vision is important. And he, unlike any other member of the PMB (or indeed the government itself), will keep his promises, for he makes them to you as a fellow student, a fellow citizen - one of 'us' - not one of 'them'.

A Bucharest with a Mayor who loves and protects it, defends your rights, cuts your spendings, will stand up for the individual and work his guts out to make your lives more agreeable...what is there NOT to vote for?!?

Cine e Nicusor Dan? That is Nicusor Dan.

For further reading, please see:

Articles by Nicusor Dan in Revista 22

Nicusor Dan takes up the cause at Berzei-Buzesti

Who can save historic Bucharest - Observator Cultural

Salvati Bucurestiul fights for the Capital - Revista 22

Mathematician fights Bucharest's cultural parricide - the Daily News

O noua golanie urbanistica - Revista 22

Yahoo news

"Piratul" Nicusor viseaza naufragiul lui Oprescu - Romania Libera

Stupefiant! Primaria Bucuresti a avizat demolarea unei biserici ridicata in anul 1700 - Napoca News

Demolarile de pe Buzesti-Berzei continua - Flux Imobiliar

For more, please keep googling or visit the two support pages on Facebook HERE and HERE.

Book offensive to Romanian women pending publication

Dear All,

I just received an e-mail from a friend of mine regarding a tasteless book on Amazon called '100 Ways To Please A Romanian Woman', written by a so-called ‘English gentleman’ named Dr. P.D. Fogerty, a primary school teacher who works in Bucharest and is married to a Romanian (maybe not for much longer).

Here are some of his ‘100 tips’, which he seems to think are ‘funny’:

Tip 4
Buy flowers
Buying flowers in Romanian is a really big thing. They have no money, food or economic prospects but the local flower shop never goes bust!

Tip 7:
Carry two wallets
This makes sure when some thieving Romanian robs you (expect it to happen at least twice) you can still cover the cost of a romantic meal, without borrowing from your new date!

Tip 15
Avoid single women in restaurants.
Don’t invite single women to your table at restaurants, as most will be prostitutes on the prowl.

Tip 17
Buy her friends books from abroad
Some reason, completely unknowns to mankind, Romanian women seem to be completely incapable of buying a book online for themselves

Tip 18
Be in gainful employment.
Have a job - preferably well paid as Romanian women, who get paid almost nothing become high maintenance at the drop of a hat.

And worse still, says my friend, the book currently has a 5-star rating, thanks to 2 reviews (by his friends?). If you wish to give your opinion, you can do so, here, here and here. We've just commented on each. Shame on Amazon for selling such tripe.

The very idea that Fogerty is apparently a 'Dr.' and TEACHES in Bucharest at a primary school makes it all the more worrying...

Nicusor Dan to run for Mayor of Bucharest! Hurrah!

(Photo source) Some very heartening news this evening: Nicusor Dan, the President of the association Salvati Bucurestiul, has declared that he will be running for Mayor in the 2012 elections as an independent and with a budget of zero lei (I love that bit!). Hurrah! The announcement will be made officially on the corners of str.s Pitar Mos and Verona on Tuesday at 12h. During a session at the Consiliului General al Municipiului Bucuresti today, he openly challenged Mayor Sorin Oprescu to a debate concerning Bucharest's development.

Please see the communiqué below:

'Nicusor Dan, presedintele Asociatiei Salvati Bucurestiul, isi lanseaza candidatura la functia de Primar General al Capitalei marti 29 noiembrie de la ora 12 la intersectia strazilor Arthur Verona si Pitar Mos, intr-o regie inedita.

In sedinta Consiliului General al Municipiului Bucuresti de azi, Nicusor Dan l-a provocat pe Sorin Oprescu la o dezbatere pe tema dezvoltarii Bucurestiului.

Nicusor Dan i-a oferit lui Sorin Oprescu volumul Practica judiciara. Protejarea patrimoniului si accesul la justitie al ONG-urilor editat de Asociatia Salvati Bucurestiul, volum care cuprinde si cateva hotarari ale in stantelor in procese castigate de Asociatie cu Primaria Capitalei.'

I have the right to vote for Mayor of Bucharest and I seriously wasn't going to bother. Everyone so far suggested hadn't moved me one iota, except in the direction of anger, incredulity or dread. Now however, as soon as the election date is released, I will book my flight.

This is the very best news I've heard from Bucharest since...well....ever! I am thrilled at the prospect of having someone worth my vote and your's. I am delighted at the idea of voting for a potential mayor who will love and protect Bucharest, who will fight for her preservation against greedy investors and corruption and who is not afraid to drag law-breakers through the courts, no matter who they may be. I would be proud to put my cross next to his name, knowing with all my heart that it is the right choice. 

There is work to be done. Much work. But I am confident that at last, those of us who love Romania's capital can do something more than writing, yelling and wondering what on earth we are going to do to stop the terrible harm done to her history, architecture, patrimony and culture by those abusing their positions of power for so long. We can vote responsibly and truly believe in the man in whose hands we place our faith and the city of Bucharest. 

What a breath of fresh air! Wonderful, wonderful news! Tinem pumnii! The students of the Faculty of History are fighting for the future and sanity of the education system - and now, Nicusor Dan will run for Mayor of Bucharest. It's Christmas come early!

To support Nicusor Dan on Facebook, please see HERE.

"Is University producing citizens or idiots?" Protest at the Faculty of History

Dorel si cianura

(Photo source) I received the following e-mail yesterday concerning THIS article from EVZ (see below). Either Blanculescu (an incapable minister from Nastase's cabinet, 'completely illiterate but very obedient', I'm told) is an idiot, or he thinks that we are idiots (or both, as a third hypothesis). Why ask him anyway? What is he now? An ecologist? A scientist? A specialist in mining? No. But first, an intro for those who may be less familiar with the RMGC (Rosia Montana Gold Corporation) issue and the suicidal project for a beautiful, ancestral region of Romania.

Who or what is the RMGC? The company RAC Deva signed a deal with the controversial Romanian-Australian businessman Frank Timiş (a truly unscrupulous individual) to reprocess the tailings at Roșia Montană back in 1995. Eventually the mining licence for an area of 238,823 km² around Roşia Montană was transferred to the Roşia Montană Gold Corporation from Minvest Deva SA (successor to RAC Deva). RMGC today is owned 80% by the Toronto-listed company Gabriel Resources (Timis now has his finger in different pies), 19.3% by the Romanian government via Minvest, and 0.7% by local businessmen (Wikipedia).

It is common knowledge that RMGC has one of the dirtiest PR campaigns in Europe for media manipulation and let's not forget something we have known for a long time: the press is bought/paid in US$ by RMGC. The horrifying thing is the alarming number of gullible people who actually believe the rubbish both said and printed. As for the piffle about the project creating jobs, "the jobs created are around 300 for about 15 years," DG Reggio (EU) dixit. So what is Romania getting apart from a lot of cyanide? The investors will re-patriate all the profit and the refining will take place in countries with a cheaper labour force, such as the Ukraine.... So, in short, Romania will get nothing. Except, of course, for the toxic poisoning, cancers, leukaemias, birth defects, destroyed ecological balance and loss of one of the most beautiful regions in the country.

Please reread THIS post and follow the links should you have any questions about the effects of cyanide and mercury used in gold extraction - oh, and watch the video of the poisonous extraction in Peru, too, carried out by Newmont Mining who controls Gabriel Resources...

Have people really forgotten the terrible accident in Baia Mare in 2000 so quickly? Cyanide was spilled into the Somes River near Baia Mare by the gold-mining company Aurul, a joint-venture of the Australian company Esmeralda Exploration and the Romanian government. The polluted waters eventually reached the Tisza and then the Danube, killing large numbers of fish in both Hungary and Yugoslavia. The spill has been called the worst environmental disaster in Europe since Tchernobyl. Didn't that bring home the dangers of the cyanide leaching of gold?

Everybody knows - politicians, investors, scientists, physicians - the dangers of cyanide and mercury. There is little point even discussing it for it is a fact, a proven fact, repeated again and again by experts one with more impressive credentials than the last. What we should be discussing is how it ever came to pass that money meant more than lives, than culture, than civilisation. We should be discussing how people like Blanculescu (and he certainly is neither the first nor the last) allow themselves to manipulate thje public, using their entrepreneurial or political success to blind thought and common sense. We should be discussing how the Romanian government could ever sell the health and future of its people down the river. We should be discussing how it ever came to this in an EU country (soit-disant) in 2011.

There is NO question of the fatalities and suffering this project will bring both to ecology AND on a human scale. It is an abominable crime.

Visit the EVZ link to see the video of Blanculescu's interview. In the meantime, here's Vali:

OVR vote against current politics of discrimination, stigmatisation and repression in our country

(Photo source)

For Romanian, please scroll down.

On 12th November 2011, OVR's (Opération Villages Roumains) national meeting took place in Bourg en Bresse near Lyon in the presence of the presidents of OVR International and OVR Belgium. With over a hundred delegates from a variety of countries including France, Romania, Moldavia, Belgium and Switzerland, a motion was proposed and voted to sign a pact (see below), a citizen's pact, originating at the Ligue des Droits de l'Homme which, at this time of low morale particularly in Bucharest, I would like to share with you. It is to be sent to politicians in both France and Romania,the media, civil  society, etc. Perhaps it will soothe a little the despair so very prevalent I know many are feeling today for it never seems to end: a law passing to euthanase all stray dogs (despite the EUP passing a law for sterilisation and an end to mass killing), RMGC's evident corruption and illegalities not to mention its (well-known) manipulation of mediatic channels leading to purposeful misguidance and erroneous informing, constant illegal demolitions of patrimonial and historic monuments, illegal demolitions of buildings in protected areas, illegal demolitions of buildings of architectural value, low salaries, pitiful pensions, an appalling health system, a declining education system, protests only permitted if they have 'approval' from the PMB...the list goes on and on and on... You are not alone. What can I do but tell you that this is indeed the case. You are NOT alone! Romania still has friends who know full well what is happening. We know what kind of people are running the country and we know what happens to those who try to stand up to them. We know how little things have changed in the last 20 years. We know that oppression never ended. We do not live it day to day as you do, but, we know. Many know and are trying to do something to broadcast the fact, make a noise, make a difference however small it may seem. Signed by 49 organisations and associations including OVR who gathered to protest against discrimination, stigmatisation and repression, they are all amongst Romania's friends. For the Romanian translation of this post along with the following document (thank you, Mihaela!), please scroll down:

"Motion d’OVR Solidarités contre la politique actuelle de discrimination, de stigmatisation et de répression dans notre pays"

To visualise in (larger) pdf form, click HERE

To enlarge the above, please click HERE and scroll down.

Votul OVR împotriva politicii actuale de discriminare, stigmatizare si represiune din tara noastră

Pe 12 noiembrie 2011, la Bourg en Bresse, lângă Lyon, a avut loc reuniunea natională a organizatiei OVR (Opération Villages Roumains), în prezenta presedintilor OVR International si OVR Belgia si a peste o sută de delegati din diferite tări, inclusiv Franta, România, Moldova si Elvetia. S-a propus si s-a votat o motiune pentru semnarea unui pact cetătenesc (vezi mai jos), care îsi are originea în Liga Drepturilor Omului si pe care, dată fiind atmosfera de mare tristete din acest moment, mai ales în Bucuresti, as vrea să o împărtăsesc cu dvs. Prin asta sper să mai alin un pic disperarea care predomină astăzi, pe care stiu că o simtiti foarte multi dintre voi, si care nu pare să mai se termine: legea eutanasierii câinilor fără stăpân (în ciuda votării, de către Parlamentul European, a unei legi care impune sterilizarea si stoparea uciderii în masă), coruptia evidentă si actele ilegale ale organizatiei Rosia Montana Gold Corporation, pentru a nu mentiona si (binecunoscuta) manipulare pe care această organizatie o exercită asupra canalelor mass-media si care a dus la dezinformarea si inducerea în eroare premeditată a publicului; demolarea constantă si ilegală a monumentelor patrimoniale si istorice, demolările ilegale ale clădirilor din ariile protejate, demolările ilegale ale clădirilor cu valoare arhitecturală; salariile mici, pensiile de mizerie, un sistem al sănătătii înfiorător, un învătământ în cădere; proteste permise numai dacă ai „aprobare” de la „Primăria Municipiului Bucuresti”... si lista poate continua.

Nu sunteti singuri. Nu pot să fac altceva decât să vă spun că, efectiv, chiar asa stau lucrurile. NU sunteti singuri! România mai are încă prieteni care stiu foarte bine ce se întâmplă. Stim ce fel de oameni vă conduc tara si stim ce se întâmplă cu cei care încearcă să li se opună. Stim cât de putin s-au schimbat lucrurile în ultimii douăzeci de ani. Stim că opresiunea, de fapt, nu s-a terminat. Noi nu trăim această opresiune zi de zi, asa cum o faceti dvs., dar stim despre ea. Multi dintre noi stim acest lucru si încercăm să facem publice aceste fapte, să facem zgomot, să ajutăm, indiferent cât de putin ar părea.

Motiunea a fost semnată de 49 de organizatii si asociatii, inclusiv OVR, care s-a reunit pentru a protesta împotriva discriminării, stigmatizării si represiunii. Organizatia „Opération Villages Roumains” este unul din prietenii României:

Motiunea OVR de solidaritate împotriva politicii actuale de discriminare, stigmatizare si represiune din tara noastră

Pentru a vizualiza documentul în format mărit, apăsati AICI.

«Emigrarea comoriană si violenta», «delincventa si tinerii români»… Ploaia de exprimări amalgamate nu se mai opreste de câteva luni si constituie tot atâtea amenintări pentru societatea noastră, ale cărei valori sunt repuse în discutie de statul francez însusi.

Filierele organizatiei OVR au sesizat cu îngrijorare cuvintele prin care românii si rromii sunt stigmatizati, precum si atitudinea represivă care le-a însotit. Având în vedere istoria noastră asociativă, am fost scandalizati în primul rând de măsurile luate fată de aceste persoane, iar astăzi, denuntăm toate discursurile si actele statului francez, prin care sunt discriminate si stigmatizate categorii întregi de persoane si sunt reprimate libertătile fundamentale ale individului.

A afirma la cel mai înalt nivel al statului că «o infractiune din zece este comisă de minori români» (Claude Guéant, Ministrul afacerilor interne, septembrie 2011) înseamnă să condamni întreaga societate la o împărtire bazată pe tot felul de categorii.

Această orchestrare a clivajelor, de către stat, preluată de unele mijloace de comunicare în masă si desfăsurată pe fondul crizei economice s-a tradus printr-o serie de acuzatii si de măsuri pe care le condamnăm si noi, la rândul nostru: expulzarea copiilor scolarizati, întocmirea de fise pentru persoanele particulare, evacuarea brutală a taberelor de nomazi, etc.

 Nu vom permite ca săracii, străinii, cei exclusi din viata societătii etc. să servească drept material de sacrificiu pe altarul austeritătii bugetare! Nu vrem ca greutătile economice grave prin care trece Europa să dea apă la moară politicilor populiste, amenintând astfel valorile noastre comune. Libertatea, egalitatea, fraternitatea, laicitatea si solidaritatea trebuie să continue să constituie reperele principale ale societătii noastre, adunând laolaltă pe toti cei care o formează, indiferent de origine, opinie sau religie.

 Istoria ne-a arătat că orice criză economică este întotdeauna urmată de alaiul ei de xenofobie, care aruncă pe umerii minoritătilor răspunderea greutătilor cu care se confruntă societatea. Crahul bursier din 1929 a constituit, astfel, fermentul unei cresteri a rasismului până la cele mai rele atrocităti, în secolul trecut. Tramvaiul parizian rechizitionat pentru a evacua o tabără de rromi în vara anului 2011 nu vă evocă niste imagini dureroase, despre care toti credeam că au rămas în trecut? Iar lectura ziarelor publicate recent peste tot în Europa, pline de cuvinte acuzatoare si de dispret la adresa poporului grec ar trebui, de asemenea, să ne pună pe gânduri.

 Noi, membrii si simpatizantii organizatiei OVR, reuniti astăzi în cadrul celei de-a 22-a întruniri nationale a OVR-Solidaritate (fostă OVR Franta), rămânem fideli apărării dreptului popoarelor de a-si alege mediul politic, economic, social si, în acest sens, suntem semnatarii Pactului pentru Drepturi si Cetătenie, din septembrie 2010.

 Din acest motiv, în ce priveste politica statului francez, sustinem următoarele:

-         Ne opunem tuturor afirmatiilor si actiunilor reprezentantilor statului francez care nu au alt scop decât divizarea societătii noastre.

-         Cerem respectarea drepturilor fiecărui om, indiferent de origine, fizionomie, credintă, sau mod de viată.

-         Cerem sistarea imediată a discursurilor si măsurilor discriminatorii, stigmatizante si represive vizavi de persoana umană pe baza apartenentei sale - reale sau presupuse - la un grup de persoane, indiferent care ar fi acesta.

For more on OVR, see HERE (in Romanian) and HERE (in French).

Translations English-Romanian and French-Romanian by Mihaela Mihaila - with many, many thanks.

Forget about tourism! Mining is the answer! Ra!

Wow. This is one of the BEST articles I have read on the Rosia Montana issue. Congratulations to the journalist Andreea-Elena Serban, writing for Café Babel. Please read it attentively - there are things going on that some of us had no idea about. Cemeteries and churches abandoned, historic monuments left to fall to bits, 7km of Roman galleries demolished - all bought by RMGC - despite the declaration of a mono-industrial zone deemed ILLEGAL (but this is a word we are hearing so much recently it has almost become like water off a duck's back). What about the Minister of Culture, you will ask if you come from a civilised country where patrimony is respected. Well... he played a game for a while (Hungarians have reason to be against this as it affects them, too) of trying to get RM onto the UNESCO heritage list, but recently changed his mind. Why should he protect it when he has protected NOTHING during his term in Bucharest. He is a sad apology for a cultural minister, more interested these days in economic and health issues than actually saving anything at all.

My thanks to Rocky's Dad for forwarding it to me:

How a Romanian Gold Rush is like unprotected sex

Comori în paragină - TVR

(Photo source) A wonderful initiative - congratulations to Camelia Csiki and her team at TVR. 30,000 monuments are in danger in Romania today. Yes, 30,000... it's worse than sad. It's criminal. Perhaps these short documentaries will bring a little awareness, cause a stab of consciousness, catalyse some kind of indignance. Let's hope so.

Below, you will find the episodes as they are broadcast along with the write-up from the TVR.ro site. Please click on each episode-title hyperlink to see the programme if you missed it. Bravo, TVR!

Ep.1: Comori în paragină - Hotel Marna:

Patrimoniul României, de la ariile protejate până la monumentele istorice sau casele memoriale, este într-o stare jalnică. România este unul dintre cele mai indolente state din Europa în ceea ce priveşte interesul pentru patrimoniul cultural: sute de clădiri-monument sunt abandonate de autorităţi sau proprietari.

Terenurile de sub ele sunt tranzacţionate de speculatorii imobiliari veroşi. Zilnic, istoria noastră este ştearsă cu buldozerul. Promisiunile legate de conservarea şi restaurarea patrimoniului rămân doar vorbe în vânt.

Telejurnalul TVR vă prezintă povestea acestor monumente aflate în pericol de dispariţie. Este doar un semnal de alarmă, care ar putea opri pierderea acestor comori.

Ep. 2: Comori în paragină - Turnul Eiffel de România:

Ştiati că o parte din turnul Eiffel din Paris s-a turnat în România? Ei bine, o parte din componente şi fonta necesară s-au produs la Furnalul de la Govâjdia, primul furnal cu flux continuu din Europa, al doilea din lume vremea respectivă.

În urmă cu două sute de ani, când a fost dat în folosinţă, avea tehnologie de ultimă oră. Astăzi, primul furnal modern din România, monument istoric de arhitectură industrială, este lăsat în paragină.

Bijuteria arhitecturală se încăpăţânează însă să rămână în picioare, aşteptând parcă pe cineva care să o salveze.

Ep. 3: Comori în paragină - Comoara ruginită din Valea Vinului:

Casa scriitorilor de la Valea Vinului este una dintre zecile de mii de comori ale României pe cale de dispariţie. Nu este monument istoric, dar ar putea fi datorită încărcăturii ei culturale şi istorice.

Aici şi-au scris bucaţi din opere nume celebre ca Lucian Blaga sau Mihail Sadoveanu. Ansamblul format din două pavilioane asteaptă în paragina ca statul să-i hotărască soarta.

Ep. 4: Comoara din Roman - o comoară în paragină:

Casa în care s-a născut marele dirijor Sergiu Celibidache, aflată în centrul oraşului Roman, se poate prăbuşi în orice clipă.

Monument istoric construit în urmă cu 200 ani, casa a fost revendicată de moştenitorii dirijorului.

Odată câştigată, au lăsat-o să se năruie.

Primarul a înţeles că poate face din ea o oază de cultură locală, aşa că vrea să cumpere acest monument istoric şi să-l restaureze.

Ep. 5: Comori în paragină: Hala Matache – demolată din interior

Hala Matache, monument istoric considerat unul dintre simbolurile comerciale ale Capitalei, este din nou în pericol.

Oficial, va fi salvată! Ministerul Culturii a anunţat încă din vară că va păstra hala exact pe acelaşi loc şi o va restaura.

Neoficial însă, Hala Matache este demolată din interior, de hoţi.

Ce vezi la faţa locului este şocant! Poliţia locală păzeşte furtul halei.

Ep. 6: Comori în paragină la Sibiu: Casa lui Samuel von Brukenthal şi casa lui George Bariţiu

Casa baronului Samuel von Brukenthal, de lângă Sibiu, este într-o stare avansată de degradare.

Imobilul se află pe lista monumentelor istorice şi este proprietate privată de patru ani.

Aceeaşi soartă deplorabilă o împărtăşesc încă aproape 100 de clădiri de patrimoniu din centrul Sibiului, între care şi casa în care a locuit George Bariţiu.

Ep. 7: Comori în paragină: Monument ruină, fără vinovaţi

Unul dintre cele mai frumoase conace din Moldova riscă să dispară, din cauza nepăsării autorităţilor locale şi a proprietarilor.

Acum doi ani, cei mai renumiţi arhitecţi români vorbeau despre acest monument ca fiind cel mai bun exemplu de curte boierească din Moldova.

Ep. 8: Comori in paragina: Oradea, oraşul palatelor, are nevoie de restaurare

Oradea ar putea fi denumit oraşul palatelor. Monumentele istorice sunt comparabile, ca stil şi eleganţă, cu palatele din marile capitale europene.

Cele din Oradea au însă nevoie urgentă de restaurare. Strălucitor altădată, centrul istoric al urbei se transformă, pe zi ce trece, într-o ruină. Autorităţile se plâng că nu sunt bani, şi că legislaţia nu îi ajută. Ultimele tentative de restaurare s-au înpotmolit în dispute locale şi judeţene.

Oradea este un oraş a cărui identitate arhitecturală este dată de clădirile din centrul vechi, edificate la sfârşitul secolului al XIX-lea şi începutul celui următor. Frumuseţea zonei centrale a oraşului se datorează, în bună măsură, arhitecţilor şi comercianţilor evrei. Potrivit statisticilor vremii, înainte de 1944, când au fost deportaţi în lagărele naziste, în oraşul de pe Crişul Repede trăiau peste 30.000 de evrei. Amprenta acestora a rămas vie în arhitectura oraşului. Mai multe palate ridicate în stil secession, dar şi numeroase alte clădiri, altădată strălucitoare, construite în mare parte de evrei, sunt din păcate astăzi într-o avansată stare de degradare.

Autorităţile locale sunt conştiente că, o dată reabilitate, palatele orădene dar şi alte monumente de patrimoniu - ar atrage mai mulţi turişti. De aceea, Primăria Capitalei se laudă că lucrează la un regulament local, care să introducă o soluţie legală de a reabilita aceste monumente.

Salvează şi tu o comoară în paragină din cele peste 30.000 din România. Asteptăm povestea monumentului pe care vrei să îl salvezi aici.

Ep. 9: Comori în paragină: Biserica evanghelică din Vermeş 

Un monument din secolul al XV-lea riscă să dispară. Bisericii evanghelice din Vermeş, Bistriţa-Năsăud, îi vin de hac timpul şi indiferenta autorităţilor din secolul XXI.

Deşi este monument de clasa A, Ministerul Culturii îl ignoră, iar Parohia Ortodoxă, care a primit monumentul prin donaţie în urmă cu 20 de ani, susţine că este prea săracă să îl poată salva. Gata să se prăbuşească, biserica încă îşi păstrează frumusetea şi măreţia.

Ep. 10: Comori în paragină: Azilul Elena Doamna