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Carolina (English) No 194
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STUDENT'S E-MAIL NEWS FROM CZECH REPUBLIC
Faculty of Social Science of Charles University
Smetanovo nabr. 6
110 01 Prague 1
Czech Republic
e-mail: CAROLINA@cuni.cz
tel: (+42 2) 24810804, ext. 252, fax: (+42 2) 24810987
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 194, Friday, March 15, 1996.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (March 6-13)
Vaclav Havel Addresses Parliament
President Vaclav Havel invited politicians March 12 to make their
views clear on issues that cannot be dealt with before this summer's
elections (e.g., decentralization). He also expressed a wish that the
upcoming election campaigns be conducted politely. It was probably his
last speech to this Parliament.
The President congratulated the first Parliament of the independent
Czech Republic and thanked the members of Parliament for their work. He
also said, however, that Parliament had not finished many things, which
now remain as a challenge to future lawmakers. Havel named the reforms
of public administration and the country's remapping among the first
tasks awaiting the new Parliament. He also dedicated part of his speech
to the long-awaited Senate, saying that he would like it to be a group
of people that gain the trust of the nation. Havel also supports
opposition representation in parliamentary organs.
Havel was critical of the relations between Parliament and the
government, where cooperation was not always positive, and of
communication within the governing coalition. He said the state should
play a more effective role in economic policy.
In the part of his address dedicated to foreign policy, the
president warned against isolationism, whether the motive be
nationalistic or driven by an attempt at neutrality. The Czech daily MF
Dnes wrote March 13, "Havel avoided evaluation of specific problems
which could play roles in the election campaign, such as relations with
Germany and the situation in healthcare. His address was less specific
and controversial than his speech last year."
Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus refused to comment on the president's
address.
Radim Wolak/Andrea Snyder
Health Care Protests Continue
The Union of Health and Social Care (OSZSP) and the Independent
Union Organization of Central Healthcare Workers will join the strike
the Physicians' Union Club (LOK) called for March 25-26 (see Carolina
193). Union Chief Richard Falbr challenged other unions to participate
in the March 25 demonstrations. The Association of Czech Physicians, the
Professional Union and the Czech-Moravian Chamber of Labor Unions will
support the strike.
Nurses plan on working weekend hours during the strike. OSZSP
representatives emphasized independence from LOK. Opposed to LOK, which
demands 150 crowns per hour, OSZSP demands increasing tariff wages by
40 per cent and changes in health care financing.
Titanik, the first of the health care demonstrations, took place
March 11 in front of the Praha-Vysocany hospital. About 200 workers,
nearly half of the hospital's personnel, listened attentively to
speeches by Dr. David Rath, Milan Kubek (both from LOK), and OSZSP
Chairman Jiri Schlanger. Director of the Vysocany Hospital Josef Heller
was quoted in the Czech press as saying employees will have to either
make up the time (approximately half an hour) spent away from the
workplace, or suffer a reduction in pay.
Zora Kasikova/Andrea Snyder
Parliament Debates State Social Welfare Amendment
Members of Parliament are discussing an amendment to the State
Social Welfare Law, which went into effect January 1. Carolina 191 and
193 reported on several areas of the law that had been skimmed over. The
amendment would allow students attending certain schools abroad to
receive state support. In time, students studying abroad would have the
right to receive transportation money, just as their counterparts at
home do.
Minister of Education Ivan Pilip labeled a mistake the hole in the
new social welfare system that renders the parents of nearly 4,000
children studying abroad not eligible for state support. "We plan to
award these students scholarships for the transition period," said
Pilip.
When Carolina reached its deadline, the Ministry of Education had
still not confirmed the validity of the statement.
Michaela Vysoudilova/Andrea Snyder
Television and Radio Give More Time to Certain Political Parties
Prime Minister and Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Chairman Vaclav
Klaus has received six times more media space than his most significant
opponent, Milos Zeman of the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD).
Sociologists and employees of public opinion agencies are convinced
television presence markedly influences voters' decisions.
Representatives of public Czech Televion and of privately-owned TV
NOVA maintain they are trying with objective equilibrium to inform the
public.
The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM), the Party of the
Democratic Left (SDL) and the Association for the Republic-Republican
Party of Czechoslovakia are dissatisfied with the amount of time they
receive to present themselves on television and public radio. Republican
Chairman Miroslav Sladek has been using the word discrimination.
For example, KSCM had 118 minutes at its disposal, in comparison to
the ODS-Christian Democratic Party coalition, which had 20 times more,
at 2,414 minutes of broadcast time, based on a survey from the
A-Connect company, which monitors Czech Television, TV NOVA, Premiera TV
and Czech Radio 1 - Radiojournal.
David Vozdecky/Andrea Snyder
Interior Minister Jan Ruml Proposes Liquidation of Stepan's Communists
Interior Minister Jan Ruml submitted the government a plan to
propose the liquidation of the Party of Czechoslovak Communists (SCK) to
the Supreme Court. SCK Chairman Miroslav Stepan is a former communist
leader. The catalyst for the move was when the party campaign platform
was announced at the party conference as a continuation of the pre-1989
platform of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (see Carolina 192).
The governing coalition does not agree with Ruml's proposal. While
Education Minister Ivan Pilip (formerly of the Christian Democratic
Party, which is merging with the coalition leader, the Civic Democratic
Party) supports the liquidation, Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus (Civic
democratic chairman) recently said that he would not ban any parties,
that it is more fair not to vote for them.
A.W.Isar/Andrea Snyder
Klaus New Chairman of the Inter-ministry Committee Against Drugs
The Inter-ministry Committee Against Drugs voted Prime Minister
Vaclav Klaus their new chairman March 8. Klaus said the decision was
such so as to give the commission certain decision-making authority.
Four ministers will also be on the committee: Interior Minister Jan
Ruml, Justice Minister Jiri Novak, Health Minister Jan Strasky and
Education Minister Ivan Pilip.
The committee situation came to a head at the end of last year,
when the Government Office lead by Minister without Portfolio Igor
Nemec, the previous committee chairman, forced Pavel Bem to resign from
the position of General Secretary. Today, the activities of the
Committee Against Drugs are practically paralyzed.
Jitka Hejtmanova/Andrea Snyder
Drugs Discussed at Prague's Philosophical Faculty
A passionate debate on the "drug problem" in our society ensued in
the auditorium of Charles University's College of Humanities
(Filozoficka Fakulta). The main speakers were the Czech Social
Democratic Party Vice-Chairwoman and parliamentary deputy Petra Buzkova
and Jiri Pressl from the Drop-in Foundation.
Buzkova took a stand against Christian Democratic
Union-Czechoslovak People's Party deputy Pavel Severa's proposal to
prosecute for drug possesion, even of an amount designated for personal
use. The government rejected this proposal in January. Buzkova says the
law should be amended to apprehend more dealers and counteract abuse of
children in the drug trade. Pressl focused on the history of prevention
and aid to drug addicts. Most of the participants were students.
Jitka Hejtmanova/Andrea Snyder
Lowest Birth Rate in 200 Years
The number of children born in the Czech Republic in 1995 was the
lowest recorded in more than 200 years, according to preliminary data
published this week by the Czech Statistical Office. For the first time
in 200 years, less than 100,000 new Czechs arrived, which is almost
22,000 less than the number of Czechs who died in 1995.
Births totaled 96,097 and 117,913 Czechs died last year. Influenced
by the low birth rate, the nation's population decreased by 12,000, at
the end of the year reaching about 10.3 million. The overall low
population numbers were not even influenced by the fact that 10,000 more
people immigrated to the Czech Republic than emigrated from it.
In relation to the low birth rate, the opposition Czech Social
Democratic Party (CSSD) asked the government to assert a more vigorous
pro-population policy, seeing the problem mainly in the absence of "any
housing policy whatsoever." According to Labor and Social Affairs
Minister Jindrich Vodicka of the ruling Civic Democratic Party, the
process corresponds with the behavior of the younger generation, which
puts career first.
Lucie Chytrackova/Klara Schirova
FROM SLOVAKIA
Josef Zieleniec in Bratislava
During his official visit to Slovakia, Czech Foreign Affairs
Minister Josef Zieleniec met March 8 with President Michal Kovac,
Premier Vladimir Meciar and Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj
Schenk.
The ministers evaluated their meeting positively, though their
declarations were very general. They said negotiations involved both
bilateral and international affairs, while Schenk said they did not
avoid the "question of the impact of talks with Russian Foreign Affairs
Minister Yevgeni Primakov."
Zieleniec labeled his hourlong talk with Meciar polite. Cooperation
in European integration processes was one theme during the meeting with
Kovac.
Zieleniec denied that negotiations concerned planning a future
summit of Czech and Slovak prime ministers or the posture of both
countries toward relations with Germany and Sudeten Germans.
According to the Slovak government's official communique, the visit
served an important function, and they accord it significant meaning.
Michal Kubal/Klara Schirova
ECONOMY/BUSINESS
February Unemployment Rate at 3.1 Per Cent
According to Labor and Social Affairs Minister Jindrich Vodicka,
the February unemployment rate was 3.1 per cent, which means 165,000
unemployed people. The lowest unemployment rate (0.3 per cent) is in
Prague, the highest in northern Bohemia (5.2 per cent) and northern
Moravia (5.1 per cent). Northern Bohemia is the only area where the
number of unemployed increased.
Zbynek Vicar/Katerina Zachovalova
Average 1995 Czech Salary 8,170 Crowns
The average 1995 salary in the Czech Republic reached 8,170 crowns,
according to preliminary data published this week. Compared to 1994,
this represents 17.8 per cent growth, or 8 per cent in real terms.
Zbynek Vicar/Katerina Zachovalova
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from March 15)
country currency
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 21.105
Belgium 100 BEF 89.904
Great Britain 1 GBP 41.444
Denmark 1 DKK 4.785
Finland 1 FIM 5.922
France 1 FRF 5.397
Ireland 1 IEP 42.711
Italy 1000 ITL 17.301
Japan 100 JPY 25.828
Canada 1 CAD 19.865
Luxemburg 100 LUF 89.904
Netherlands 1 NLG 16.513
Norway 1 NOK 4.245
New Zealand 1 NZD 18.796
Portugal 100 PTE 17.871
Austria 1 ATS 2.629
Greece 100 GRD 11.270
Slovakia 100 SKK 90.570
Germany 1 DEM 18.476
Spain 100 ESP 21.988
Sweden 1 SEK 4.009
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.917
USA 1 USD 27.196
ECU 1 XEU 34.181
SDR 1 XDR 39.821
CULTURE
John Lennon, Slightly Differently
Those who visit Prague's Miro Gallery before April 4 will have the
chance to uncover the internal sensitivity of John Lennon, as seen in
his drawings from the late 80's.
Lennon, famous foremost for his music with the Beatles, studied art
at the Liverpool Art Institute. His drawings are marked by a minimum of
lines, finished with color tints and a seeming randomness. They also
confirm the strong bonds to family, nature, efforts to stop wars and
return to basic human values. They emanate the peace of a spiritually
balanced and happy man. The impression of the exhibit are intensified by
the fact that Lennon died, in 1980, one year after creating most of
these works.
Lennon's widow Yoko Ono once said about the drawings: "John's
sketches are autobiographic, they were some kind of diary."
Jitka Motejzikova/Katerina Zachovalova
French Cinematography in Prague
Prague's Lucerna theater showed a series of 10 new French films,
from March 7-12. Those featured in the films included celebrities like
Emmanuelle Beart, Olivier Martinez, Juliette Binoche and Isabelle
Adjani.
The first film shown was the most expensive French movie yet made,
Hussar on the Roof (176 million French francs). Its author, Jean Paul
Rappaneau, said at a Prague press conference that this adaptation of
Stendahl fulfilled his dreams and wishes.
Michaela Vysoudilova, Darina Coufalova/Katerina Zachovalova
Best of 1995 Czech Sport Photography in National Museum
The 20th annual exhibit of the best 100 sports photographs of the
past year opened with a celebration in Prague's National Museum March 1.
The main award was taken home by Jiri Turek for his baseball
photography. "It is a paradox that I won. I do not really get to
photograph sport very often, which bothers me a little," Turek said.
Second place among the 21 participants went to Michal Dolezal, of the
CTK press agency and Vaclav Novak of the sensationalist daily Expres
took third. A special prize from Nikon was won by Martin Svoboda of
Soccer (Fotbal) magazine and the special Kodak company prize was taken
by Martin Ruzicka of MAFA. The exhibition is sponsored by the Club of
Sports Journalists' photography section.
Jakub Konecny/Katerina Zachovalova
SPORT
Three Silver Medals for Czechs in Stockholm
Three Czech athletes - Kasparkova, Suchovska and Dvorak - brought
silver medals from the European Indoor Athletic Championship in
Stockholm March 8-10. Sarka Kasparkova missed beating Bulgarian champion
Prandzehva by 4 centimeters/about 2 inches in the women's triple jump.
Decathlonist Tomas Dvorak led till the fifth round of the seven-round
indoor competition composed of decathlon events. Erika Suchovska was
second in the 200-meter dash, late by only .01 of a second. The
800-meter runner Ludmila Formanova and 1,500-meter runner Lukas Vydra
unexpectedly finished fourth in their events. On the other hand, the
sixth-place finish of pole vaulter and European record-holder Daniela
Bartova was a disappointment.
Karel Bartek/Milan Smid
Czech Junior Soccer Team Loses EC Quarterfinal in Spain
The Czech national junior soccer team lost its first game with
Spain in the quarterfinal of the European Soccer Junior Championship,
which is simultaneously a qualification for the soccer tournament in the
summer's Olympic Games in Atlanta. However, the Czech players performed
well in Granada and the 1-2 final score retains hope for the return
match in Prague.
Jiri Trunecka/Milan Smid
Jablonec and Slavia Still Undefeated in the Spring Soccer League
Results of the 19th round: Zizkov - Slavia 1-3, Cheb - Hradec
Kralove 0-2, Zlin - Olomouc 0-0, Plzen - Uherske Hradiste 1-1, Ceske
Budejovice - Brno 0-0. Jablonec Ostrava 3-0, Sparta - Drnovice 2-1,
Opava - Liberec postponed.
Standings after 19 rounds (6 matches still unplayed): 1. Slavia 40
(-1); 2. Jablonec 35; 3. Sparta 32; 4. Drnovice 32; 5. Olomouc 31 (-1);
6. Plzen 28; 7. Liberec 27 (-3); 8. Opava 27 (-1); 9. Zizkov 25 (-1);
10. Ceske Budejovice 25; 11. Cheb 24; 12. Banik Ostrava 19 (-1); 13.
Boby Brno 19 (-2); 14. Hradec Kralove 15; 15. Uherske Hradiste 13; 16.
Zlin 12 (-2).
David Sprincl/Milan Smid
1994 Champion in Hockey Extraleague Final
Last year's champion, Vsetin, needed only four games to beat Ceske
Budejovice and to became the first finalist of this year's hockey
extraleague. The second semifinal duel, Sparta - Litvinov, is still
undecided, at 2-2 in the best-of-seven series.
Results: Vsetin - Ceske Budejovice 4-0, 5-2, 3-2, 4-1 (4-0), Sparta
- Litvinov 4-1, 4-6, 1-4, 5-0 (2-2).
Jan Palicka/Milan Smid
WEATHER
Although it seemed that spring was on its way, the beginning of the
week brought a not very pleasant surprise. Lots of snow and a morning
temperature around minus 5 degrees Celsius/23 degrees Fahrenheit proved
that this year's long winter season continues. Because of the
intransigent Ice Queen, not only were many soccer games canceled, but
car accidents are also multiplying. Maybe only skiers and snowman makers
can appreciate this kind of weather.
Jan Palicka/Petra Sevcikova
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WHO'S WHO IN CAROLINA (Part Three)
I come from a family of all women. The last man to run away from us was
my grandpa, and we did not hear from him for 25 years. If you meet
Antonin Schira anywhere, let him at least read this message of mine.
I am a university student (Journalism, English, Spanish), 20 years old,
uninteresting measurements (but blonde!), I like to take photographs,
climb mountains and I am planning a trip to South America. So, grandpa,
am I not at least a little bit like you?
Klara Schirova
Behind a nonet of mountains and rivers lies the little town of Stod,
which will one day appear in history books because 18 years ago I was
born there. My name is Bara but they call me many things: Mother:
Baruskohowcomeyou'renotstudyingagainanddoingnothing whatwillbecomeofyou,
unluckychild; Father:Don'tbestupid,daughter; Sisters: Giveusthesweater
youditzanddon'tgiveusanyliporyou'llsee. We also have a dog, and he is
the best because he stays quiet. My friends think I am an animal and not
even the renowned high school in Klatovy helped me, so they call me
Puppy. Now I am trying to change by studying journalism, but it probably
won't do anything.
Barbora Spevakova
On the 26th of July, 1977, I had no idea how many funny and less funny
situations would be caused by my unusual first name Livia. I completed
high school in my birthplace of Prague. A large part of my life is
connected to an interest for North American Indians. My high school
project was done on the Iroquois, thanks to which I was accepted to my
major - ethnology - at the College of Humanities (Filozoficka Fakulta)
at Charles University. I am studying French and English. I like skiing
and have temporarily taken off from my favorite sport - riding horses.
I feel best in the forest. Na-ho.
Livia Savelkova
When I was six, the regulars at my parents' bar poured griotto on me,
without my father knowing, and my mother caringly touched my forehead
and said, "This girl is coming down with something." Then she gave me
bread spread with lard and covered with onions, tea from indestructible
pub glasses is the most marvelous tea in the world, the atmoshere of
pubs has captivated me since childhood, on the theater stages of Ceske
Budejovice and Pribram I preferred to play fallen women, I play a blues
on the piano and the conservatory is trying to make from my jazz singer
in a Harlem after-hours bar voice an operatic miracle. I took my credo
from my uncle, who works as a head librarian, has many university
degrees and mistresses and he looks like the little girl puppet Manicka:
"That which does not kill me strengthens me."
Marketa Skodova
I was born under the sign of Taurus in 1975 in Jindrichuv Hradec, one of
the most beautiful cities in the Czech Republic. Here I also caught the
scent of journalism for the first time. Before I succeeded in getting
accepted to journalism on my (believe it) third try, I managed to
complete two years at the University of Economics there and work up to
the position of chief editor of the social-cultural monthly magazine
Golden Rose. Because most of the magazine is feature articles, while
sport has almost no space, I decided to write for Carolina, specifically
sports. Otherwise I am quite normal. I listen to Aerosmith and
everything they put out. For the last two years I have been perfectly
happy (almost everybody says that perfect happiness does not exist, but
at 21 I don't believe everything). So that's probably everything
I didn't want to tell you. Love each other and read Carolina!
David Sprincl
Because my studies of English at the School of Education (Pedagogicka
Fakulta) of Charles University did not fulfill my wishes to harmonize my
studies at least a little bit with my boyfriend's profession, I have
found myself here at the age of 21. The only thing that causes me more
worries than school is taking care of my home, which we share with our
daugter Elsa. She, although she tries to eat with silverware and sleeps
in a crib, the first impression she gives is of a dog, specifically
a dachshund. I also have parents and a 15-year-old brother who goes to
high school, paints and plays tennis. I like small theaters and hate
Christmas.
Alice Ticha
I am still 18, I am one year ahead in everything and in any given group
usually the youngest. I live in a small town 40 km/25 miles away from
Prague, Benesov, and I am a commuter student. I am a Christian, half
a year ago I got married of my own volition and I consider my life's
occupation to be music. I compose, play piano and guitar, and produce my
music together with my wife - we both sing. I write for the musical
magazine Muzikus, something like the foreign magazines Sound Check,
Keyboards, Drums and Percussion and Guitar Player in one. Somehow I am
making my way through this school, journalism major, although I don't
see my future in journalism, except for the above-mentioned magazines
and similar periodicals. I would like to meet and play with many
musicians, most of all with Mike Oldfield.
Jaromir Vicari
WHO'S WHO translated by Petra Sevcikova
English version edited by Michael Bluhm
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