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I've just received news regarding yet more destruction planned in the name of 'progress' and Bucharest's 'traffic requirements' - this time, the 'reactivation' of the ring road around the City Centre affecting bd. Matei Basarab, cal. Calarasilor and str. Traian. The preserved area of cal. Calarasilor (between str Romulus and Int. Medeleni) was recently approved by C.T.U.A.T. for demolition. The road will pass over a 'destructured' (by which I guess they mean 'demolished') zone and some 17 houses, built 1860-1935. Next... [Lire la suite]

 Bucharest 2011: Urban Policies and Cultural Heritage Public Hearing in the European Parliament, hosted by MEP Monica Macovei (EPP - RO)  Date: 30 March, 2011 Time: 15h00 - 17h00 Location: European Parliament, Building Altiero Spirelli, Room A5E-3, 60 rue Wiertz, Brussels Four monuments and fifty historical buildings have already been demolished, 1,000 people evicted, entire historical neighbourhoods slated to disappear. This is part of the collateral damage to build a cross-city road. This hearing will discuss aspects... [Lire la suite]

I have just been forwarded this marvellously encouraging and supportive message by e-mail, originating from the Association Pro Patrimonio France, calling for a stop to the demolitions in no uncertain terms, bitterly condemning scandalous acts committed against patrimony and the people of Bucharest. A letter of protest has been sent to the Ambassador of Roumania in France, His Excellency Mr Bogdan Mazuru, and a detailed letter (see cited below) and dossier of the destruction to,... [Lire la suite]

(Photo: Aurelien Geldof) This evening, I received a very disturbing e-mail forwarding information re: future plans of the North-South Road to further tear through Bucharest. It concerns the zone of Pta Romana - Dacia - Cal. Victoriei - Polona - M. Eminescu amongst others and is so utterly horrifying that I just stared at it for a time, wondering what on earth I was supposed to do with it... Please do not ask me from whence this information came nor from whom. Just believe me when I tell you that it is a very reliable source that... [Lire la suite]

(Photo Source: Bad Politics) First off, the expulsions that have taken place in the Buzesti-Berzei area to make way for the Oprescu Highway are completely illegal. There is NO wiggle room for City Hall on this one. Article 578 of Law 202/2010 clearly prohibits expulsions between the winter months of Dec 1 through March 1. The expulsion orders for those that received them (and a few didn't but got bulldozed anyway) took place end of January. Sorry, Mr Oprescu. You are in contempt of the law and everybody knows it. Even me. Add the fact... [Lire la suite]

(Photo source: Libertatea) Tonight, I received an e-mail that made me feel the epitome of uselessness. 'What would you do if you were me?' I read. I could not answer. I couldn't think of anything constructive, except write and tell you about this terrible, needless suffrance caused by a mayor who considers money more important than the lives of his residents. I asked Teodor to tell me more and so he did. His story has also been in the Roumanian national press, for all the good it has done him so far... Teodor is a victim of... [Lire la suite]

On February 9th, a number of buildings were demolished on M. Vulcanescu, amongst them, numbers 68 and 68A located at Buzesti-Berzei, deliberately ignoring the request of 29th January by the CNMI that all demolitions cease until the Commission had clarified the future course of the project, particularly, the fate of several national monuments. Unheeded, Oprescu and his cronies ploughed on. And when I say ploughed, I mean ploughed. These demolitions were carried out illegally. No surprise there, but I thought I would begin this post... [Lire la suite]

NEWS FLASH!!! Latest news from Matache - Ultima Ora (translated by me so excuse any screw-ups) Breaking News: Hala Matache remains on the map! Ministry of Culture supports the cause! February 14, 2011 2:05 · · Evenimentul Zilei announces in an article published moments ago online that Representatives of the Ministry of Culture have said that the downgrading of the monument will not be approved.Whatever plans the City Hall may have, Hala Matache will remain on the list of historical monuments. The Special Committee for... [Lire la suite]

(Photo source: Mihaela Mihaila) 11am this morning saw 'Arta La Matache', a very unique demonstration opposing the demolition of Hala Matache, the historic indoor market (see post HERE dated 9th Feb) on str. Buzesti, central Bucharest. Gathered at Piata Matache, around 200 (the media stated around 70 whilst those at the demo reported approx. 200) Bucharest residents stood in silent protest, painting, drawing and taking photographs as the gendarmes looked on. In Roumania, the mayor must authorise a demonstration, but people showed up... [Lire la suite]

Yet another scandalous act of destruction seems about to take place in Bucharest and we are powerless to do anything to stop it unless we do so 'en masse'. At this rate there will soon be nothing left of the city to destroy. This time, it's the Matache Hall indoor market place (Hala Matache). Here's an article from Matthew Stoica I've translated below - please excuse any errors. I'm not a professional translator. Just a furious member of the public in love with a beautiful city being slowly but very surely slaughtered by the very... [Lire la suite]