Article about "Couch Surfing" in a local newspaper from Uzice

Around July 2010 I went to Uzice and I was hosted by a couch surfer, Vesna. An article was made about couch surfing and referd us (aslo in the picture):

http://www.4shared.com/photo/buXAIKTb/Vecernje_novosti_-_Couch_surfi.html

Bernadette Oliveira Martins - SVE em Vranje, Sérvia

This video was made by Angelo González, when he came to Vranje to spend one full month in order to shoot different things for future documentary movies.
This video is a short "interview" where I am presenting in a very general view, the city and some aspects of my life in Vranje in the period of my European Voluntary Service (EVS).
Don't make fun of me ;-)

(In PORTUGUESE language only, without subtitles)

Youth Parliament Resolution - "Empowering Vranje's city through culture"

The following 4 posts are the resolutions that the young participants from Vranje's Youth Parliament project, developed inside 4 different Committees with 4 different topics (read the post "summary of Vranje's Youth Parliament - under label "Projects") and adopted in the General Assembly by simple majority of votes.

Topic - "Empowering Vranje's city through culture"

The Youth Parliament in Vranje,

Ever since 1878 when the city of Vranje was liberated from the Turkish ruling, not much attention was paid to the development of the culture. Now, it’s time for something to be done in order to make a change.

Ÿ  Aware that the development of culture is not one of the main priorities of the local government(not being fully aware of the importance of culture, a very small amount of money is invested in this area and it’s not properly divided).

Ÿ  Observing that the majority of the citizens of Vranje does not recognize the great significance of the continuous cultural improvement.

Ÿ   Alarmed by the fact that he lack of cultural and artistic spaces in Vranje do not allow talented young people to express their imagination and creativity without any judgement.

Ÿ  Worried about the fact that cultural institutions, historical and archaeological sights have very small number of visitors due to a very bad advertisement. As a result of this situation they are not able to improve their offer.

Ÿ  Deeply regretting that the local media do not seem to give enough space to cultural events which take place in our town. Because of that people are not enough informed.

A. Expresses its hope to increase awareness towards the government about importance of culture at local and national level.

B. Calls for education of young people about local history and culture.

C. Encouraging young people to express themselves.

D. Draw attention to activate young people as volunteers in cultural events and organisations. Affirming culture with young people by organising « week of culture », an event where amateur artists can show their creativity.

E. Requests greater involvement of media in organising and promoting cultural events.

1. Strongly condemns further desecration of cultural heritage.

2. Encourages people to show their talent without fear of judgement.

3. Express it’s hope to find places which are available for organising cultural events.

4. Calls for a more active promotion of culture events in the local media.

5. Recommends to organise lectures on culture and history of Vranje in the local schools.

Youth Parliament Resolution - "Sexual Education and LGBT"

Topic - "Sexual education and LGBT"

The Youth Parliament in Vranje,

- after carefully considering the situation of sexual education in Serbia

- having regard to the current Serbian law on education

- having regard to the situation of the LGBT population

A. coming to the conclusion that the Serbian society and especially Vranje’s citizens have difficulty in expecting the fact that the LGBT community exists

B. observing that Serbian citizens are still not awake and are educated old-fashionably and that the citizens of Vranje do not presently want to coexist with the LGBT population

C. recognising that most of the homophobes are exactly resident gays and do not express their real opinion and situation because they feel endangered

D. underlining the fact that increasing sexual diseases is happening mostly because there is not enough education among young people

E. agreeing that adolescents behave irresponsibly towards sexual matters without thinking about the consequences

F. deeply concerned about the lack of information at home and at school about sexual education

G. believing that when a problem happens the young people are usually frightened of being rejected

H. worried about the fact that sex without protection of people being HIV positive can lead to infect innocent people and is worried to see that they often don’t care

I. alarmed by the fact that children prematurely consent to sexual intercourse

J. agreeing that the main aims as European Youth Representatives are to make LGBT a more accepted term in Vranje and in Serbia in general, and to inform young people about sexual education,

1. draws attention that Serbian youth should be informed that nowadays sex carries numerous diseases and that some of them are still incurable, such as AIDS

2. urges the Serbian government to introduce new and modern school programmes involving sexual education in order to raise alertness to the problems of abortion and sexually transmissible diseases among other problems

3. calls the Serbian government to add one hour class about sexual education in order to inform primary school children about sex and its possible negative side-effects

4. further recommends that these sexual education classes should include the LGBT issue

5. urges the Serbian government to bring laws that forbid any violent behaviour during meetings such as Gay Pride and which are made especially towards the LGBT population

6. requests from the local government of Vranje to support the organisation of lectures about the LGBT issue in a public building of the city, where people can come and learn more about the topic

Youth Parliament Resolution - "From Yugoslavia to the European Union"

Topic - From Yugoslavia to the EU

The Youth Parliament in Vranje,

- having regard to the Stabilization and Association Agreement signed between Serbia and the European Union,

- having regard to other treaties and documents signed between Serbia and the European Union,

A. fully believing that Serbian people are not informed very well about the European Union, and referring to the fact that Serbian people have a negative attitude about the European Union,

B. aware of the bad economic situation in Serbia, we are deeply disturbed with low life standard and unemployment in the country,

C. bearing in mind that corruption and organized crime is widely spread all over Serbia,

D. further noting that independence of Kosovo is one of the main problems of Serbia becoming a member of the European Union,

E. desiring help from the European Union in catching Ratko Mladic and better cooperation with the Hague and other European Union member states,

F. having considered that many young people are leaving Serbia due to the fact that conditions of living in Serbia are bad,

G. alarmed by environment pollution we are deeply concerned about Serbia’s environment in the near future,

1. urges the government of Serbia to work on education of people, to give them more information about the European Union, to promote positive things about the European Union, using television, newspapers, and other means,

2. requests from the European Union to invest more in Serbian economy, in tourist attractions and infrastructure,

3. calls for the government of Serbia and for the European Union to improve life standards to fight crime, to improve law in Serbia, and to make the law stricter,

4. encourages an open dialogue with Albanians about the issue of Kosovo, and calls the European Union to support that dialogue,

5. requests from the European Union to support Serbia to catch Ratko Mladic,

6. draws attention that Serbia needs more investment which will bring more jobs,

7. recommends the European Union to invest more in Serbian environment, especially in Vranje,

8. encourages the protomotion of Serbia in Europe, especially of Serbian culture,

9. further recommends to both local and central government to support people who want to open their own businesses.