Bialowieza forest in France

             It was a big pleasure and great experience to present our project “Bialowieza forest – European natural heritage” in Nantes, France last week. Besides the opportunity to explain the importance of the oldest forest in Europe and to show pictures of amazing nature and animals to the participants of the forum, we have received a great feedback! Radio of Nantes broadcasted the interview with me and my project partner last Friday and I hope people from Brittany discovered Bialowieza forest as their next tourist destination. Early next year we will confirm the project implementation and its form more precise: it will be an art installations inspired by Bialowieza and a workshop with an expert from Belarus in Warsaw. We will be grateful for any additional support!

   

What stays behind the International Women’s Day?

Nowadays this holidays does not symbolize the women’s fight for the equality and emancipation as it was in the beginning of the XX century. There were some virtually insane ways of celebrations, e.g. one old Soviet newspaper mentioned: “the women have celebrated the International Women’s Day by going on foot from Minsk to Bobruysk in gas masks”…

 In Europe women mostly feel enough equal and independent from men so should this holiday still exist? Yes, because what we need today is more women-leaders. Women who become a great inspiration for other women. There is no holiday that can empower and strengthen women. But one woman by her example can. And today my biggest inspiration is Nadiya Savchenko.

Nobody wants to wait until it comes to them

There are recent movements in Europe that make one think that peaceful times have passed. The countries that are not yet NATO members trying to become ones. Georgia and Montenegro are making steadfast steps towards the accession. Countries belonged to the North Atlantic Alliance are also trying to obtain more security. Poland, with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Witold Waszczykowski, has taken a strong position regarding its NATO membership role in the region. The substantial preparations for the NATO Summit in Warsaw show that many things has changed in Europe. And the tension is in the air.