The Serbian government today reversed an order to ban Charles Darwin's theory of evolution from schools, following widespread criticism from scientists, reports the BBC.
Well done. Another ray of sanity in the Balkans.
posted by Putnik @ 18:49
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Serbia is back in the news.
No, it's not the trial of Slobodan Milosevic that dominates the headlines in Belgrade, but a controversial decision to drop darwinism from the school curriculum!
Eduction Minister Ljiljana Colic has announced that in future Charles Darwin's theory of evolution would only be taught alongside creationism in Serbia, since the two theories "were equally dogmatic".
IHT reports that the move has shocked secular organisations and educators, who have argued that "the minister's ties to the Serbian Orthodox Church were threatening the rights of children and teachers".
posted by Putnik @ 10:52
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Associated Press reports today that seven thieves stole an entire 13-yard bridge near the southern Bosnian town of Mostar.
Over several days, the group dismantled the metal bridge built during the Austro-Hungarian empire 150 years ago, transported the parts to a local junk yard and sold them for around 140 euros.
While it all happened in a remote mountainous region, local villagers saw the thieves loading parts of the bridge into vans and alerted police last Friday. The seven men were arrested and are being held pending a decision by a prosecutor.
Hmm... No comment.
posted by Putnik @ 13:15
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In the summer of 1994, a few weeks after graduating from high school, I left Luxembourg to begin my studies in the UK. It was the start of a wonderful adventure that took me to Scotland, Hungary, England and eventually the Balkans.
Last January, my new job brought me back to Luxembourg for 18 months. Only a few weeks after my move, I found an invitation for a ten-year high school reunion in my email inbox.
My first thoughts were: "My dear! I will know hardly anyone there. There will be people from my school who I never liked in the first place (and vice-versa). Besides, it's been ten years since I've seen any of them. We all have our lives, we've spent more time apart then we ever did together. What kind of connection could possibly still be there?"
... And then I saw all the faces last night. I heard familiar names. It took a while for my brain to make connections with some, but eventually old memories returned, and the past seemed less distant for a few hours. It was emotional and fun; some people whom I hadn't thought of in years, I couldn't help but hug -- and somehow I was glad that I had met them again.
posted by Putnik @ 18:50
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Today is election day in Luxembourg. Casting your vote is compulsory in the Grand Duchy and most of its citizens take this duty very seriously. After all, the country still boasts the highest GDP per capita in the world - the more reason for voters to remind their rulers of the tiny nation's slogan of "Mir wëlle bleiwen wat mer sin" (We want to stay what we are).
The vote will decide on the compostion of the country's Parliament and pick six Luxembourgers to sit in the next European Parliament.
So far, the ruling CSV (Christian Social Party: catholic and centre-right) and the DP (Liberals: centre-left on social issues, but economically more right-wing) held 34 of the 50 seats in the national Assembly. Four opposition parties were represented in the last parliament: the LSAP (Socialists) with 13 seats, the populist ADR (7 seats), the Greens (5 seats), and the far Left (1 seat).
If the latest opinion polls are anything to go by, the Liberals are set to lose ground whilst their coalition partner will benefit from the unswerving popularity of Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker. Most political observers expect the current CSV-DP coalition to keep their parliamentary majority, but a poor result for the Liberals might well force Prime Minister Juncker to turn to the Socialists in his search for a coalition partner after the elections.
My polling station is in the grand sourroundings of the Municipal Palace. The place also doubles as the central collection point for the national vote. Built at the beginning of the last century, the imposing structure housed the European Coal and Steal Community in the 1950s and 1960s before reverting to its original purpose as a formal reception hall for the City Council.
posted by Putnik @ 14:38
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