Czech Republic
An Italian abroad in coronavirus times
The urgency of the moment is undoubtedly how to stop or at least slow down this epidemic and certainly not the time to dwell on obnoxious controversies or secondary issues. But it is impossible to stop the tumult of thoughts and observations that emerge in this situation. I live in… »
Czech Republic shifts to the right
The Czech Republic held parliamentary elections last weekend. Members of our DiEM25 local group (DSC) in České Budějovice recommended a vote for the Greens and Pirates, because these parties have been broadly supportive of DiEM25’s programme and activities in the Czech Republic for a long time (the Pirates signed on… »
The militarisation of society: Education for war in Czech Schools
In the Czech Republic, since 2013 there has been a Ministry of Defence programme known as POKOS: “Preparing citizens to defend the state”[i]. The main interest is to publicise the activities of the Army in different way. The Ministry’s website says: “discussions, lectures, seminars, practical exercises, exhibitions, thematic… »
Open letter to American soldiers from the Czech Republic
American military forces will cross the territory of the Czech Republic from May 27-30 in operation Saber Strike. The media are downplaying the event so as not to awaken the sensitivity in the Czech people that ended plans to build a US military base there in 2009. This crossing is… »
Militarization of children in the Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic soldiers have reportedly started touring elementary schools nationwide in an effort to introduce students to military life. Children from the age of 10 are being familiarized with and encouraged to play with machine guns. These terrifying images bring memories of totalitarian regimes, in which education about… »
Prague’s Peace Tram
Even if in the Czech Republic people aren’t breathing the same crazy fascist air that is present in Hungary, the refugee crisis is heavy and suffocating. Small parties are taking advantage of the situation to make racist declarations in order to obtain approval looking ahead to the next elections. On… »
Czech Humanists: if we are not careful we will find ourselves in the middle of a war zone
“Tanks? No, thanks” Statement by the Humanist Movement about the planned crossing of the US army across Czech Republic territory In a few days a large US army convoy will be crossing the Czech Republic. More than one hundred armored cars with several hundred American soldiers shall cross our country… »
Czechs demonstrate against US troop movements on their territory
In Prague’s Wenceslas Square some 1500 people demonstrated yesterday, Saturday 29th March, against Operation “Dragoon Ride” in which US army personnel and equipment are crossing Czech Republic territory starting today on the way to their German base. Speeches were given by several anti-war organisations, including the Communist Party and World… »
Czechs object to US military show of strength: “Tanks? No, thanks!”
Czech anti-war campaigners have launched a new campaign to focus opposition to the proposed procession of US military equipment through the country having completed military exercises in the Baltic as part of “Operation Atlantic Resolve”. The US is building up its military capacity by upgrading its hardware and increasing numbers… »
Summer solstice celebration in Pravikov, Czech Republic
Marking the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, friends from Central Europe and beyond gathered in the Park of Study and Reflection, Pravikov in the Czech Republic, today (21st June 2014) to inaugurate the new stainless steel monolith that marks the year in which this centre for the development of… »