Sunday, February 25, 2018

This is the year 2018. Small countries like Bulgaria and Croatia are still suffering from a poor reputation. The longer they lack luster, the longer the economies will suffer a real move into growth and economic viability.

The international community needs to take a sincere look at the reasons these countries are still struggling when they are doing everything possible to move into modern relationships. There needs to be real change and growth and a promise of the future.

Russia and China cannot continue to flex their muscles and expect other countries much smaller to recover from eras of conflict. There needs to be global peace and non-proliferation. When these benchmarks are realized the movement for these smaller countries can be realized and any sins of the past gone forever.

International relations in the year 2018 has to include lifting up countries full of desire and economic opportunity. The countries that have committed to climate reform need to be among the first to receive recognition as countries seeking peace and better lives for their people. Climate reform has to take on a meaning that equates to economic growth.

Moody's is right. If a city hasn't prepared for the climate crisis and isn't very green; they don't deserve a good credit rating.

February 25, 2018
By Adam Wernick

The Trump administration (click here) may believe that climate change is a hoax invented by the Chinese, but Moody’s Investor Services is taking it quite seriously.
Moody’s, one of the main agencies that rate the ability of states and communities to pay back money borrowed in the form of bonds, is beginning to consider how well those jurisdictions are prepared for climate extremes and instability. It recently unveiled standards they plan to use to integrate climate risks into their ratings for bond issues.
Fixed-income expert Andrew Teras of Breckenridge Capital Advisors in Boston says this is just the beginning of a movement within credit rating agencies and financial advisors. “In many places across the country, a credit rating is an important thing,” Teras explains. "It allows cities to access the capital markets or borrow for infrastructure projects at a reasonable interest rate. The rating agencies are telling us that we are starting to move to a point where they may take action — that is, lower your credit rating — if you are not attuned to these risks. So, this could be pretty significant going forward.”...

If a trusted judge's book is about the country's policies, plagiarism can be a big deal.

February 22, 2018
By Mico Tatilovic

One of Croatia’s top judges (click here) is hitting back at the country’s national research ethics panel after having been found guilty of plagiarism. Miroslav Šeparović, president of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Croatia, announced last week that he has filed criminal complaints against all five members of the Committee on Ethics in Science and Higher Education (CESHE), after it concluded that Šeparović’s 2013 doctoral thesis about children’s rights in EU and Croatian law contained repeated instances of “incomplete and opaque citations” of other people’s work.

Šeparović confirmed to Science that he is suing the CESHE members—as a private citizen, not in his capacity of a judge—for misusing their positions and overstepping their jurisdiction, which his own court limited last year. “I am not happy for having to sue, but I have had no alternative,” says Šeparović, who says he seeks to “protect my right to honor and reputation.” Šeparović says he filed the charges on 28 November 2017, days after CESHE ruled against him, and decided to make them public last week after the committee’s unpublished report leaked to the press. Šeparović’s legal team has also called on the CESHE members to resign immediately....

Some travel locations are being viewed as "the last chance to experience due to the climate crisis."

25 February 2018
By Helen Zhao

Some bucket-list trips (click here) may be more about anticipating the destination's demise than yours.

Certain countries susceptible to climate change have seen a spike in travel interest over the past year, according to a new report from travel insurance comparison web site Squaremouth. People may be advancing their plans to see these places in all their current glory, they note.

The report is based on data Squaremouth collects when people input their destination and trip costs into the site to compare policies.

For example, interest in the Maldives — an island chain southwest of India that is fighting rising sea levels — jumped 68 percent from 2016 to 2017. In comparison, Squaremouth's 20 most-traveled destinations saw an average increase of 15 percent in the same time period.

Unfortunately, travel insurance doesn't cover climate change, said Carolyn Leckie, director of marketing for Squaremouth.

But other factors, such as the cost of the trip or the remoteness of the destination, could make it worth assessing travel insurance needs for these possible "last chance" trips.
September 9, 2018

Will the last person to leave Croatia (click here) please turn the lights out! Croatia is getting smaller, and no I don’t mean physically, it population is shrinking faster than a man’s private regions in a cold Adriatic Sea.

The exodus that was forecast when Croatia became a full member of the European Union in July 2013 seems to be coming true. Droves and droves of people are leaving in search of a brighter future in richer EU members. Germany, Ireland and Sweden are the leading destinations for Croatian ex-pats. The devastating statistics show that since the last census in 2011, more than 200,000 people emigrated from Croatia, out of which 30 percent from Slavonia, or 70,000 people.

And to make matters worse, as if the figures weren’t bad enough already, the majority of people that are leaving are young, well-educated professionals, exactly the kind of people that Croatia needs to help build a stronger and healthier future. Young doctors, young businesspeople, entrepreneurs, scientists, dentists, teachers, lawyers have all been attracted to the brighter lights of Berlin and Dublin.

This exodus of the talented youth, tomorrow’s backbone, is a clear picture that that something has to be done, as opposed to the current strategy of burying our heads in the sand collectively and hoping for the best. Even the Croatian President came out this week to criticize the government for not doing enough to protect our tomorrow and to create employment opportunities....

Croatia's Pearl of the Adriatic has promise (click here)

This is real. There is a perfume named for a Croatian Park.

Those who fall in love (click here) with one of Croatia’s most visited national parks can now take away a lasting reminder – Plitvice perfume.

“DId you know that there are over 50 types of orchids in the Plitvice Lakes area, so many of which are in the beautiful jungle where people do not go? Did you know that there are over 1400 plant species and subspecies here? In addition to the eternal beauty of the lakes and waterfalls this was the inspiration to create a unique souvenir dedicated to the splendour of one of the most beautiful parks in the world – the Plitvice Lakes Perfume,” the creators said. 


With the new focus of the USA Interior Department, the perfume for sale would be "Eau de Petroleum."

Why isn't there a Croatia riviera?

Trade (click here) is significant for Croatia’s economy; the combined value of exports and imports equals 100 percent of GDP. The average applied tariff rate is 1.3 percent. In general, government policies do not significantly interfere with foreign investment. The banking sector is relatively well developed and open to competition, but the number of nonperforming loans has increased in recent years. Financial-sector privatization has progressed well.

It would seem as though Croatia has the greatest asset in their coastline. Why isn't tourism including the luxury of a beach retreat.

 Croatia tourism. (click here)             

Grid parity is a new way of measuring progress.

February 14, 2018
By Mike Scott

As the amount of renewable energy (click here) in global electricity networks continues to surge, a new question arises – when will renewables become the dominant source of energy?

A new report, the Lloyd’s Register 2018 Technology Radar, examines this issue and also looks at which technologies are likely to have the biggest impact in different countries and what are the key drivers and barriers to success.

A survey of 800 key industry figures found that China would be the first country to achieve grid parity, in 2022, followed by Spain and the United Arab Emirates two years later in 2024. This is the same year that Germany and the UK are expected to see grid parity for wind power, followed a year later by Denmark and the USA. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) said recently that clean energy sources will be cheaper than fossil fuels by 2020....

February 22, 2018
By Hina

Zagreb - The Croatian government (click here) on Thursday has adopted a plan for the use of funds from the sale of greenhouse gas emission allowances at auction in Croatia in 2020, projecting total revenue from trading in greenhouse gas emissions at 867.5 million Knua.

The plan was adopted to ensure proper and effective use of funding for the implementation of measures to alleviate climate change and adjust to it in accordance with the Air Protection Act.
Just to reflect on what our reality would be like with hydroelectric power dominating the world;

- if the USA had eliminated coal and replaced it with hydroelectric power, how much of the world would be facing drought now?

- would the focus on water have taken shape sooner?

- would the impetus to the Syrian war have occurred?

- would California be facing the fires it is today?

One has to realize the greed that occurred in the USA when greenhouse gases came into focus as a concern for Earth's viability.

If the USA sincerely lead on climate, would the plutocrats be undermining the morality of the USA today? Would 2007-8 have happened? What was the reaction of Wall Street since 1960 due to the rising concern of climate? What does that say about the USA?

It is time the USA return to morality as a focus to it's politics, not greed. It is long overdue.


When greenhouse gases first became a concern, I fully expected hydroelectric power to replace coal almost immediately.

Greenhouse Gas Trends and Projections for Croatia (click here)

Croatia was among the countries with decreasing emissons between 2009 and 2010 (-1.6%). The total energy consumption in 2010 was 2.6 percent lower than in the previous year. This reduction is the results of decreased consumption of liquid fuels (14.9 percent) and imported electricity (11.8 percent). It is also due to increase in hydro power utilization (by 17.5 percent from the previous year) and larger consumption of fuel wood and other renewables. Due to decreasing of economic activity within 2009 and 2010, cement production was decreased by 23 and 26 percent, respectively. Whereas the ammonia production in 2010 was 17 percent higher in comparison to 2009 and nitric acid production was 29 percent higher as well in 2010 in comparison to 2009. The level of emissions from the latter sub‐sectors strongly depend on consumer’s demand for particular type of mineral fertilizer at the market.


Croatia has a very long coast.


If Croatia were 100 people

90 would be Croat
 4 would be Serb
 1 would be Bosniak
 5 would be other

Of that 100 the religious demographics are:

86 Catholic
  4 Orthodox
  2 Muslim
  4 Atheist
  4 Other

Croatia has 4.17 million people, with a per square kilometer density of 77 citizens.

Croatia is 56,594 square kilometers (21,851 square miles, slightly smaller than West Virginia) 

Given the size of Croatia, the landscape is considerably diverse and made up of fertile and mostly flat plains in the north, and low mountains and highlands along the coast. 

The Dinaric Alps and a few smaller mountain ranges (Velebit and Velika Kapela) slice through the country, with the highest point rising to 6,005 ft. (1,831m). 

Along the Dalmatian coast, as well as on most of Croatia's offshore islands, the land is hilly, rocky and steep. 

Natural water sources are numerous, and the country's biggest lake, Lake Vrana, extends over 12 sq. miles (30 sq. km). 

However, the Plitvice lakes are the most famous, and are composed of a group of 16 different small lakes connected by waterfalls. 

Europe's second largest river, the Danube, forms the far northeastern border with Serbia. Other major rivers include the Drava, Krka and Save.


Spoken language: Croatia

Currency: Kuna
It is Sunday Night

Zlata Stefanova, (click here for Facebook) from Rijeka, has been voted as the 2013 Most Sexiest Croatian, by portal Kult in their traditional annual awards.

Croatia National Anthem

Croatia 

"Lijepa nasa domovino,
Our Beautiful Homeland

Oj junacka zemljo mila,
This heroic country of mila,

Stare slave djedovino,
The old celebration of fathers

da bi vazda sretna bila!
to be happy forever!

Mila, kano si nam slavna,
Dear, you are famous to us,

Mila si nam ti jedina.
Dear you are our only one.

Mila kuda si nam ravna,
Dear we love your plains,

Mila, kuda si planina!
Dear, we love your mountains!


Teci Dravo, Savo teci,
Sava, Drava, keep on flowing

Nit' ti Dunav silu gubi,
Danube, do not lose your vigor,

Sinje more svijetu reci, 
Blue Sea to tell the world

Da svoj narod Hrvat ljubi
To love your people.


Dok mu njive sunce grije,
When his fields are kissed by sunshine,

Dok mu hrasce bura vije,
When his oaks are whipped by wild winds

Dok mu mrtve grobak krije,
When his dear one go to heaven,

Dok mu zivo srce bije!"
Still his heart beats for Croatia!

"#MeToo" is about social evolution at all levels.

The beauty of "The Sixties" movement when it came to feminism; defined itself as a movement that provided for all women and not just a chosen agenda.

Women from all walks of life and all identities were made part of the feminist movement. The reason women burned bras was not simply symbolism, but, a new sense of body image and spiritual strength.

If women are finding dating a burden, will they ever marry and/or will there ever be children with fathers included? Women have to define the virtue of dating and how that occurs. There has to be a sense of not just physical safety, but, emotional as well.

If #MeToo is taking on the challenge of defining dating, then it is part of the social paradigm shift to the basic needs of women and their world. I welcome a world for women that prevents drug aphrodisiacs administered by men and provides for an understanding that leads women into social interaction where they feel safe and welcome.

Women frequently believe they have to relinquish female values to enter a bar or social situation where men are present. Somehow, being attracted to men means giving up 'being a woman." There is a song that comes to mind; "Only the Good Die Young" by Billy Joel. I love his music, but, there is a line in that song that rings of the surrender of women; "You Catholic girls start much too late." That isn't the only one; "Sister Christian" by Night Ranger carries the same moaning by men to have sex.

So, if women that date and like to enter a bar where men are looking for women and don't feel safe and welcome, they won't participate. Men are missing out on some really great women in social situations if women don't feel safe and welcome. That is probably true of the LGBTQ community. "Being sexy" is not an automatic statement of "Let's have sex." Do people dance in clubs anymore? Well, "the dance" is more than knowing the steps, it is about making an impression and having the feeling last.

Spending large amounts of money is not going to impress if a woman can't connect. Men in the USA don't understand women. They really don't. Men believe if they are hyper-masculine that is "an automatic in" with a woman. NOT!

And, put the whips and chains away, too. That level of intimacy occurs after a couple feels comfortable with fantasy.

I welcome all women to the discussion as it occurs at #MeToo. Let's get this right this time. Men are waiting to be themselves and not a commercial version of masculinity. Times wasting.

Kindly remember, women do not have to participate socially anymore. They don't 'need a man' to survive in the world. No different than in "The Sixties" when women claimed a space to allow a change in the social paradigm; it brought men to a new freedom and definition as well.

Ladies, please proceed.

February 25, 2018
By Ray Routhier

Lauren Kennedy (click here) has come to view dating as something of a burden – something she’s not sure is worth the bother right now.

The University of Southern Maine senior is disturbed by some of the dialogue on social media about the #MeToo movement, where critics personally attack women who have gone public with accusations of assault or harassment.

“The reason I haven’t been dating lately is because of all of this,” said Kennedy, 24, of Portland, pointing to a lack of respect for women, fostered by public figures, including the president, who have been accused of harassment....         

Sanction relief should begin immediately if the USA is the only peace partner abstaining from the meetings.

The North Korean people should know the global community is very interested in peace on the Korean peninsula. That won't occur if Trump is determined to foment war.

The politics in the USA Republican Party has brought very adverse conditions in the USA, including the death of many young people. This must change as well as seeking peace and non-proliferation. The USA must be an active partner with regional allies, otherwise what kind of ally are we?

Hate and war can no longer be a political party platform. These issues must end.

There was a time when the USA sought leadership in elections, but, today the elections are based in plutocratic wealth, including the gun industry and racial politics.

I cannot be proud of a country that wants war over peace and internal strife before life. We were a great country for all the right reasons, but, today "Make America Great Again," only means having more weapons as a definition of strength. Strength is not about killing, it is not about guns, it is about peace and the ability to achieve it. Making America Great Again is about solving the country's problems, not making them worse.

The USA needs to be at the peace table with South Korea while they lead the region into peace. I would fully expect Japan to be part of the regional peace decisions as well.

February 25, 2018
By Hyung-Jin Kim and Kim Tong-Hyung

Pyeongchang, South Korea – A North Korean envoy (click here) making a rare visit to South Korea said Sunday that his country was willing to open talks with the United States, a rare step toward diplomacy between enemies after a year of North Korean missile and nuclear tests and direct threats of war from both Pyongyang and Washington.

Kim Yong Chol, who Seoul believes masterminded two attacks in 2010 that killed 50 South Koreans, was in South Korea for the end of the Olympics. He said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wanted to improve ties with Washington and had “ample intentions of holding talks” with its rival, according to the South’s presidential office.

He made the remarks during a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who is eager to engage the North after one of the most hostile periods in recent years on the Korean Peninsula.

Moon, who was invited during the opening ceremonies to Pyongyang for a summit with Kim Jong Un, also said that Washington and Pyongyang should quickly meet to “fundamentally solve” the standoff on the Korean Peninsula....