Tuesday, May 25, 2004

Giro d'Italia in Istria II


Hi there,
yesterday 87-th Giro has left the Istria after 2 days… This was great event for promotion of Istria and it’s tourism. All big TV stations has sent Istrian postcards around the world, so people could see the beauty of our region.
Even some of my friends that watched Giro at Euro sport or RAI television, has said that they didn’t noticed in what a beautiful place they are living. The TV were filming from air, and commented every place(Rovinj, Pula, Porec…) by which the cycle caravan has passed. It was indeed great promotion, and maybe some persons that knew less about Croatia and Istria were left surprised by culture, heritage and natural beauty. Even the commentators were surprised to see roman arena in Pula, one of the most saved in the world.
You can see on our site some pictures from Giro 2004 in Istria, but what I truly hope, is that this rich cultural, historical and natural heritage would be saved, for us and future generation, and not devastated for sake of few.

Thursday, May 13, 2004

Who has copyright on images?


This is just one thought. I make a part of the team that runs portal on Istria, and recently we had few interesting situations. Manny photos on our site has been taken by Mr. Igor Drandić (already mentioned in previous posts) which runs an ecological organization eia. So, he found that one person used his photos in promotional campaigns, and when he called him, that person said that pictures was taken from internet, and that this is completely legal. Strange statement… (By the way, this person is some little politician, so this is in accordance with general opinion on them: take everything, pay nothing, and “I’ am important”).
Other example is when one online agency (commercial site) took our photos and put them on their site, without even mentioning us for reference. As we strive to provide good content on our site, probably there are many such a cases.
So, seams that we live in the world where everyone price his own work, and belittle other efforts. Some (or many) people that we call “successful” are not creative, positive, oriented to common good, are not leaders that leads others in better life: they know how to exploit people and their creative energy for their own scopes. Working for such persons, people doesn’t obtain own freedom, but are forced into exploitation. My consideration is that slavery was never ended, instead it only changed clothing.
We can say that we are free, but if we does not work for somebody(for most people without any chance to gain financial freedom in their lifetime), how should we survive? We are bound in circle of earning and spending… So you see: if we are bound, how can bee free? My opinion is that this is modern slavery. Consider for instance a big marts as “Mercatone”, “Getro”, “Mercator”, “Billa” … (to mention some present in Croatia): they work every day, even Sunday: Because of profit. They force their employees to work on Sundays for very small salary, by which they certainly cannot gain financial freedom. Are that people free to go where they want? Are that people free to quit their job (and if they quit, they’ll get similar one)? Can this people with this job, working on Sundays, become rich so satisfy some other needs out of simply food, habitation and clothing (ok, and cell phone and car… but this isn’t something extra)? Someone cannot even that. So what is difference? We are exploited today as we was in past.

The freedom comes inside


This is outside situation, from inside we really are free. We really can choose and influence who we will become, what we will do. But this strength must come from inside us. Manny will say that till someone don’t loose someone other want win. This simply is not truth. This concept is widely accepted in life and promoted by those who gains power by exploiting others creative and vital energy. The only thing that bind us are our fears, thoughts and desires. So, I will call again to develop self-confidence, self-appreciation and creativity: this would give us happy life, and if it’s Good’s will: the freedom.

So, who owns the images?


Finally let’s go back to the beginning. Who can own the air, who can own and pay sun and sea? If we take picture of them, we do it in seconds, but nature has deposit in their development bilions of years… If we take picture of a citty: hundred generations has put their entire lifetimes in it: untill all was built in way it’s today. Are we appreciating this enough? We think that we have right to use all this, in way we want, withouth thinking on gratitude and contributions. Nothing of this is ours. We are only using it and must be gratefull.
So in one photo that we take, our contribution is so small: smaller than a second compared to eons. But this contribution still exists, and it is right to be appreciated, appreciated by our selves an others!

Thursday, May 06, 2004

Are Croatians spiritual people?


Ok, I've been busy for a while, so there wasn’t much time for writing. This post is inspired by news that great Indian spiritual master known as Swamiji is coming to Croatia(not for first time, he has been here many times).

Swamiji said that people in Croatia are more and more looking for spiritual dimension, and that is the reason why he comes. But not only in Croatia, I’ve met people all around the world looking for some higher inspiration, peace and harmony. They are sick off common and everyday stress, and I think that this is the beginning. Beginning of change. This will continue with transformation: Transformation that we all have to undergo, as individuals and society.

Through history the mans consciousness was changing. It is still changing. For example, today for most civilized people crucify or burn someone would be unacceptable act. In the past that was acceptable, because of the level of consciousness in that time. Some habits has changed, and many today habits will change also.

Probably the people of tomorrow will understand that the race we are doing today, the battle for profit, power and wealth is nonsense, and will change their habits. Consider politicians for example. They should serve the people(as Jesus said) but they spend tons of money to win the elections and power. If they were good servant of people would they win elections without commercials? I think not, people in global would not vote for such person today, and people still consider that they have free will and choice, while are manipulated by medias, their own weaknesses and wishes. But this may change tomorrow, as people learn more about them selves and learn to distinguish positive from negative impacts, truth from lies and so on.

Habits, fears and desires of the people make possible to someone to rule over them, manipulate them, and use their energy. If people learn to develop self confidence, inner peace and happiness, than nobody can manipulate them, because they are free to choose: unconditioned by their own weaknesses. Such a person can act more rational and calm, and take better decisions.

This are some of the things that great spiritual masters as Swamiji, tries to teach people. But this is individual transformation, happiness, peace and self confidence can’t been bought as cellular phone: it is not so easy. Instead we must change and discover our potentials. Nothing more, nothing less: we can be guided but work and transformation can be done by our selves only.
Here is Croatian yoga in daily life site.