Dutchman in Pribanjci: 20 Reasons Croatia Best Place to Live
February 2, 2021 - Croatia best place to live? Really?!? One very contented Dutchman in Pribanjci thinks so, for 20 reasons and more.
One of the things I have really enjoyed over the last ten years with the Total Project has been getting to know people from all over the country, from all works of life, and with all kinds of interests. Croatia truly is a fascinating place to get to know up close once you get past the beaches and the Adriatic that is as far as many tourists get.
Because we write about a wide range of topics in English, we are often contacted by foreigners in rather obscure places, some of whom seem to be completely off the radar. Some of them I have gone on to meet and they have become friends, others I have yet to meet in person, but social media keeps us in touch.
There is a Dutchman in Karlovac County called Rene Pronk, who fits into the latter category. Rene has been living in rural Croatia for almost 8 years and is one bundle of positivity about life here. He is also an outstanding photogapher, and his wonderful depictions of life and scenes from rural Croatia and always a welcome sight in my feed as a brief respite from all the negativity that comes with running a news portal in Croatia.
And, as most of the articles online at the moment are tales of corona, earthquakes, economic unrest and protest, a nice little addition again from Rene today, and a timely reminder that perspective is an important thing.
And from the perspective of life as a Dutchman in rural Pribanjci, close to the Bosiljevo highway exit, life is very good indeed. So much so, in fact, that Rene came up with 20 - actually 21 - reasons why Croatia is the best place to live. How many of them do you agree with?
Croatia has such a great quality of life. The slow pace, the amazing landscapes, the generous people….just to name a few. I would like to share this top 20 of some great advantages of living in Croatia. Read more...
Puljak, Oreskovic Support Entrepreneurs' Protests, Calls for Citizens Support
ZAGREB, 2 February, 2021 - The co-presidents of the opposition Centre party, Marijana Puljak and Dalija Orešković, said on Tuesday they supported a protest announced for tomorrow by businesses closed due to coronavirus restrictions, calling on citizens to support them too and pressure the government.
"Entrepreneurs feel like second-class citizens and they only want equal rules for all," Puljak told the press.
She called on citizens to pressure the government into allowing bar and restaurant owners what shopping malls, petrol stations, bakeries and newsagents were allowed, saying they had a right to work.
Puljak said the government considered enterprise a sin and that it was spreading that climate in public.
She said Prime Minister Andrej Plenković had no working experience outside the HDZ party, "yet he is laughing at and belittling the entrepreneurs fighting for the abolishment of membership in the Croatian Chamber of Commerce."
Puljak and Orešković said COVID compensation should amount to 50% of last year's turnover and that VAT should be cut for all businesses that were not allowed to work.
Puljak said the government should find the money for that by cutting costs, reducing the number of counties, cities, municipalities, invented political functions and subsidies to state-owned loss-makers.
Orešković said they demanded that the government enable gym owners to live off their work.
She said legal certainty had disappeared because the COVID crisis and the state were managed without any scientific basis in the adoption of COVID measures. "We call on citizens... to join in the pressure which small and medium businesses are exerting and to demand that the government introduces clear rules that are equal for all."
Reporters asked her if yesterday's arrest of a Zagreb gym owner, who reopened his establishment despite a ban, was legal.
Orešković said the High Administrative Court yesterday delivered a ruling in the case of Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić "who, contrary to the law, received HRK 24 million in donations after the presidential campaign was over."
"What kind of state do we live in? Milan Bandić is fully exculpated from any responsibility, while a man who tried to open his own gym to live off his work is a big thief," she said, adding that such a state was not law-based.
Asked if that ruling actually killed off the Conflict of Interest Commission, Orešković said the Commission was killed off when the Constitutional Court handed down a verdict in the case of former HDZ president Tomislav Karamarko.
Since then, considering the strength and role it should have in a democracy, it is as if the Commission no longer exists, she added.
For more on the activities of the Glas Poduzetnika movement, follow the dedicated TCN section.
MIRET Eco Sneakers Win Sustainable Fashion Gold at 14th IDA Design Awards
February 2, 2021 - Fantastic recognition for a great Croatian product, as MIRET eco sneakers take sustainable fashion gold at the 2020 International Design Awards.
It is always nice to see a Croatian success story growing stage by stage.
It is now over two years since I first came across two very cool brothers from Duga Resa, making an even cooler product - innovate eco-sneakers for their MIRET brand. Having been raised in the shoe industry, which produces over 20 billion shoes a year, Hrvoje and Domagoj Boljar wanted to produce a more sustainable product for the industry.
Progress has been gradual, but as we reported in a feature on the MIRET brothers a few weeks ago, MIRET has recently launched its new range of eco sneakers, 97% of which are made from natural products. Read more in With 20 BILLION New Shoes a Year, Meet MIRET's 97% Natural Eco Sneakers Collection.
And the word is getting out. I am thrilled for Hrvoje and Domagoj at their latest recognition, as MIRET eco sneakers won the Gold Award in the category of Sustainable Fashion at the 14th International IDA Awards - The International Design Awards 2020.
“This award is a wonderful recognition for the years Hrvoje has spent researching, testing and developing natural materials to create a truly ecological sneaker. We are especially pleased that we received recognition for our work in 2020, in which sustainable fashion is recognized as a global movement."
"Winning the gold award in this category gives us great encouragement to continue on our path and to be the leaders of the sustainability movement.” said Domagoj Boljar, co-founder of MIRET.
About IDA - The International Design Awards:
The IDA International Design Award exists to recognize and promote visionaries in design and discover new talents in the categories of architecture, interior design, product design, graphic design and fashion design.
IDA was founded in 2007 in the USA, and every year it promotes and awards the best designers around the world. IDA aims to promote and reward visionaries in the field of design and discovering new talents in the categories of architecture, interior design, product design, graphic design and fashion design.
More about MIRET from the IDA entry description:
We are MIRET and we have combined the strongest natural fibres to craft sneakers which are kind to your feet as much as they are kind to nature. Not only can they substitute synthetic materials, but in many ways they are far better than plastic. We are using 10 amazing plants: hemp, kenaf, linen, cork tree, wood, corn, jute, eucalyptus, rubber tree and New Zealand wool to craft our 97% ecological MIRET sneakers. We are industry insiders who have used our manufacturing expertise to redesigned sneakers from the bottom up, making them compatible with nature.
For the latest in Croatian excellence and innovation, check out the TCN Made in Croatia section.
Tokyo Olympics: Serbia and Australia Potential Croatia Basketball Rivals
February 2, 2021 - If the Croatia basketball team qualifies for the Tokyo Olympics this summer, they could face Serbia and Australia in Group B!
HRT reports that IF they manage to qualify for the Olympic Games at the tournament in Split, the Croatia basketball team will play in Group B in Tokyo together with Australia, Nigeria, and the winner of the qualifying tournament in Belgrade, where the Serbia national team is the biggest favorite. This news was announced after a draw was held at the International Basketball Federation in Mies, Switzerland.
Croatia, Tunisia, and Brazil will meet in the group stage of the qualifying tournament in Split in June, which crosses over with Germany, Russia, and Mexico. The Split tournament and the other three hosted by Belgrade, Kaunas, and Victoria in Canada are scheduled from June 29 to July 4, 2021. Only one winner qualifies from each tournament,
The competition format has changed in Tokyo, in both the men’s and women’s competition. Instead of how it was previously held, in which 12 national teams were divided into two groups of six, where the four best from the group stage continued to compete in the quarterfinals by a knockout system, the new system divides the teams into three groups of four.
The first two national teams from each of the three groups will advance to the quarterfinals and will be joined by the two best of the three third-placed teams. With this system, each match of the group stage becomes even more important, and to win an Olympic medal, it is now necessary to play six instead of the previous eight matches.
FIBA tried to distribute the quality among the groups evenly for this draw. Thus, in Group A, the US national team will fight for their fourth consecutive Olympic gold in Tokyo against France, Iran, and the winner of the qualifying tournament in Canada. The biggest favorites are Greece, along with Canada, the Czech Republic, and Turkey.
Group C boasts the current world champions and runners-up, Spain and Argentina, host Japan, and the winner of the qualifying tournament in Kaunas, where Lithuania is the biggest favorite. However, Slovenia is right up there if they have their strongest team.
The qualification process for the female basketball players has been completed. The draw has determined that South Korea, Serbia, Canada, and Spain will compete in Group A. Group B will consist of Nigeria, Japan, France, and the United States. Group C will include Australia, Puerto Rico, China, and Belgium.
The basketball competitions at the Tokyo Olympics will begin on July 25, two days after the grand opening, and will end on August 8, the last day of the Games.
Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament Group Draw:
Group A: Iran, France, USA, KT Winner (Victoria)
Group B: Australia, KT Winner (Split), KT Winner (Belgrade), Nigeria
Group C: Argentina, Japan, Spain, KT Winner (Kaunas)
Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Group Draw
Group A: South Korea, Serbia, Canada, Spain
Group B: Nigeria, Japan, France, USA
Group C: Australia, Puerto Rico, China, Belgium
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
Croatian Wetland Areas Mark 50th World Wetlands Day
February 2, 2021 – Today is the jubilee 50th World Wetlands Day. Croatia marks this year's theme "Wetlands and Water" in line with epidemiological measures, as many public institutions of Croatian wetland areas organize numerous online and offline activities.
On the occasion of World Wetlands Day, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development has pointed to a growing freshwater shortage crisis that poses a significant threat to humanity and the planet. This year's theme – Wetlands and water – pays special attention to wetlands as a freshwater source.
50 percent of wetlands lost in the last 50 years
Croatia has several wetlands: Nature Parks Kopački Rit, Lonjsko Polje, and Vrana Lake, the Special Reserve Crna Mlaka in Jastrebarsko, and the Lower Neretva River. Croatian wetland areas seek to encourage actions to restore wetlands and stop their loss by marking World Wetlands Day.
Crna Mlaka in Jastrebarsko / Public Institution Green Ring of the Zagreb County
On this day in 1971, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, Especially as Waterfowl Habitat, was signed in the Iranian city of Ramsar. The Convention, known as the Ramsar Convention, obliges each signatory country to the general conservation of wetlands on its territory and provides a framework for international cooperation in protecting and sustainable use of wetlands.
Croatia has been a signatory to the Ramsar Convention since 1991, and the above mentioned Croatian wetland areas are on the Ramsar Convention's list.
As a contribution to implementing the Ramsar Convention in Croatia, three relatively small areas within the Neretva delta were proclaimed as special reserves last year. The places named "Blue Eye and Lake Desna," "Neretva's Estuary," and "Kuti" have preserved, unique, and representative wetland habitats and characteristic species of particular importance for Croatia.
Neretva River / Copyright Romulić and Stojčić
Although wetland habitats represent one of the greatest values of biological and landscape diversity, since more than 40 percent of plant and animal species are associated with them, they are also the most endangered ecosystems in the world. In the last 50 years, 50 percent of all wetlands in the world have been lost.
Wetland areas as the best flood defense
Apart from being wet habitats for numerous plant and animal species, they are also crucial in adapting to climate change. Thus, wetland habitats are extremely important in flood defense, especially in Croatia.
Lowland rivers with moist habitats along their trough, into which they flow during high water levels, represent the best way to defend against floods. This is precisely how the flood defense system in Posavina was built. Thus, high waters of the Sava River flow into the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park floodplains, while Kopački Rit Nature Park "receives" high waters of the Drava and Danube, thereby changing their landscapes.
Lonjsko Polje Nature Park
The value of wetland habitats is also related to the restoration of groundwater supplies, the consolidation of shores, the retention of nutrients and sediments, and water purification. On World Wetlands Day, public institutions that manage protected areas in Croatia organize numerous activities.
Due to epidemiological measures, Lonjsko Polje Nature Park will not organize the traditional gathering "Future on the edge of the swamp" this year. However, the importance of water and wetlands will be discussed at a small event at the Public Institution headquarters in Krapje.
As part of this event, Matica Hrvatska's branch from Kutina will review the meetings "Future on the Edge of the Swamp" in the last 20 years. Employees of the Public Institution will participate in a workshop on the construction of roof platforms for white stork nests.
Village of Krapje / Lonjsko Polje Nature Park Boris Krstinić
In Northern Dalmatia, Vrana Lake Nature Park continues cooperation with the School of Applied Arts and Design in Zadar. Students will have virtual and field lectures on the topic of wetlands, their importance, and rich biodiversity, emphasizing birds. Students will create illustrations of different bird species presented in a virtual exhibition on the Park's website.
The traditional 9th "Bird Masquerade" will be organized for primary school students, and students from 1st to 4th grade of local primary schools will make masks of wetland birds. On February 6, free bird watching will be organized for all visitors.
The promotional video "Vrana Lake Nature Park: a place where birds always return" by the author Goran Šafarek will be shown for the first time:
Kopački Rit Nature Park traditionally celebrates World Wetlands Day in cooperation with Elementary School in Bilje. Second-grade students prepared artworks, literary ensembles, and a musical performance on the topic of Kopački Rit and its natural features. A lovely presentation of their work is also available online.
The Public Institution for the Management of Protected Nature Areas of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County conducts education on the importance of wetlands through an LED screen in Metković, where images with short educational texts about wetlands will be shown.
Kopački Rit Nature Park / Copyright Romulić and Stojčić
More than 70 Sinkholes in Petrinja Area After the Earthquake
ZAGREB, 2 February, 2021 - The aftershocks which keep rocking the Petrinja area are causing new damage, mainly sinkholes, and since they are close to family homes, some people could be evacuated to safe locations. There are now more than 70 sinkholes in Petrinja and surrounding area.
The head of the task force dealing with the aftermath of the 29 December earthquake, Tomo Medved, told Croatian Radio on Tuesday that the number of sinkholes in Kukuruzari Municipality had increased from 40 last week to more than 70.
He said that due to the opening of sinkholes, the task force was given certain recommendations from the Zagreb Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering based on which the task force would today adopt conclusions to evaluate the situation and possibly evacuate the people in danger.
Medved said many of the sinkholes were in the immediate vicinity of family homes and that experts were monitoring and analysing their expansion on a daily basis. "But this is now a really big number, large expansion, and we are faced with the challenge of finding a solution... so that the lives of the people living here are not in any danger."
Medved said filling up the sinkholes would have to wait because the ground was still shaking.
He went on to say that factory chimneys in Sisak which, due to the damage sustained in the tremors, posed a security threat, would be removed by authorised companies.
Medved underlined the importance of amending the law on post-earthquake reconstruction "so that we can deal with the damage even more intensively," because the Civil Protection Act was currently being applied in the areas affected by the 29 December quake.
He announced that housing containers would be set up in the settlement in Petrinja on Wednesday and said container housing settlements were being built in Sisak, Glina and Majur. "Works are under way on several locations so that... people can live in the immediate vicinity of their homes which were damaged in the earthquake."
For the latest from the Petrinja earthquake, follow the dedicated TCN section.
Croatian Scientist Ivan Đikić Granted €8m to Research Medicines against COVID
ZAGREB, 2 February, 2021 - The ministry of science in Germany's state Hessen has awarded Professors Ivan Đikić and Maike Windbergs from the Goethe University in Frankfurt a grant of €8 million for a research project, ENABLE, aimed at researching new medicines in the fight against COVID and bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
The ENABLE project involves the use of innovative technology in creating new medicines against inflammatory and infectious diseases, said Ivan Đikić, whose team has focused on researching COVID since the outbreak of the pandemic.
Thanks to team work and cooperation between researchers, Goethe University has been recognised as one of the most successful COVID-19 research centres in Germany.
"The project of researching co-infections with bacteria and coronaviruses is especially significant because little is known about this. Inflammatory processes are common for bacteria and viruses, however it is vital to find out more about acute changes in cytokine secretion and immunological reactions in patients simultaneously infected with coronavirus and various bacteria," Đikić, who is the project leader, underscored.
This generous financial support will enable Đikić's team to use modern technology, such as chemical trials and biological medicines, in the hope of discovering a new specific medicine against COVID and inflammatory processes in to numerous diseases such as tumours and cardiovascular diseases.
"Even though we already have developed vaccines that protect against the spread of the infection, it is still necessary to find medicines against COVID. That is particularly important for people who contract COVID-19 and develop serious symptoms," said Đikić.
For the latest news about coronavirus in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section.
High Administrative Court Quashes Fine for Bandić in Conflict of Interest Case
ZAGREB, 2 February, 2021 - High Administrative Court has quashed a 2017 decision by the Conflict of Interest Commission which fined Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić after his defence attorney paid bail with his own money and Bandić was also fined for receiving donations by citizens after the 2009 presidential election.
The commission fined Bandić with the maximum fine of HRK 40,000 for the bail paid by the lawyer and for donations received after the presidential election campaign was over.
The commission ruled that by receiving the donations amounting to more than HRK 24.7 million that he received in 2011 and 2012, Bandić was in violation of the Conflict of Interest Act. The commission underscored that Bandić had received donations of up to HRK 90,000 each from tens of donors, and this amount was more than the annual net income of some of those who paid those sums.
The commission also concluded then after Hanžeković's law firm deposited bail money in the amount of 15 million kuna, Bandić found himself in a relationship of dependence on Hanžeković.
The High Administrative Court among other things concluded that the commission had erred in concluding that the donations paid after the election were an (inadmissible) gift, and explained that the money concerned was used to settle subsequent costs for electioneering.
As far as Hanžeković's money is concerned, the court ruled that all citizens are equal before the law and that restricting an official "to receive bail money from anyone in criminal proceedings represents an unallowable restriction of their right to a defence."
Media outlets claim that the court's decision will have a drastic impact on the commission's powers in addition to some previous decisions that were quashed including cases against former Croatian Democratic Union leader Tomislav Karamarko who stepped down after the case against him but also in the for cases against a former economy minister Martina Dalić, Finance Minister Zdravko Marić and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.
For more news about Milan Bandic, follow the dedicated TCN section.
NGOs Hold Performance on 1st Anniversary of Large Protest against Bandić
ZAGREB, 2 February, 2021 - Several civil society associations held a performance on Monday in Zagreb's main square to mark the 1st anniversary of the large protest rally against Mayor Milan Bandić, and announced that similar performances would be conducted every ten days until the local election, due to be in late May.
The NGOs told the media that they wanted to recall the biggest ever protest rally held against the Zagreb mayor Bandić, which attracted more than 20,000 protesters.
With the emergence of COVID-19 and the earthquake that struck Zagreb on 22 March the performances were halted, however, now that the May local election is drawing closer they decided to once again relaunch the performances to call citizens to go to the polls particularly those who have until now abstained and to tell Bandić "enough is enough" and remove him from power.
The NGOs called out Bandić, who is under investigation by the USKOK office for suppression of corruption and organised crime, for his non-transparent work and alleged graft cases.
At the protest rally a year ago disgruntled protesters accused Bandić of corruption,and criticised him for his proposed urban and waste management plans and so on.
For more news about the Mayor of Zagreb, follow the dedicated TCN section on Milan Bandic.
Croatian Arms Dealer Takes Over Bosnian Explosives Factory for €5.5m
ZAGREB, 2 February, 2021 - The Bosnian stumbling company called Vitezit, specialised in manufacturing explosives, was sold on Monday to the Winsley Defence Group which is owned by Croatian arms trader, Zvonko Zubak, local media in Bosnia and Herzegovina reported.
The Municipal Court in Travnik today held a public auction for the sale of bankrupt Vitezit's core business and Zubak took over that factory, based in the town of Vitez, at a price of €5.5 million.
The Viteski web portal reported that the Winsley Defence Group, headquartered in Odžak (BiH), has now become the owner of parts of the company that produces nitroglycerin, plastic explosives along with testing ranges, machines, plants and warehouses as well as the company's other facilities.
Zubak's company acquired Vitezit after three previous auctions failed.
According to the web portal the new owner announced the relaunching of production within 18 months and that he would employ 500 workers and invest €65 million into the company that should be capable of producing 4,000 tonnes of gunpowder a year.
For more on business in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section.
For more information about Vitezit, check out the documentary below, a Ring around Vitezit, with English subtitles.
