Drilling contracts with Crosco of Croatia
 

Press Release Source: Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd

Falcon Oil & Gas Provides Operations Update
Wednesday June 15, 3:49 pm ET


VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. (Vancouver: FO - News) announced today the acquisition of a second exploration license in Hungary and the signing of contracts for the drilling rigs and casing required to start the Hungarian drilling program. The assignment of the license is subject to Hungarian government approval. In addition, Falcon has also entered into a farm-in to earn interests in a coalbed methane property in Romania.

Second Hungarian License Assigned

On June 9, 2005, Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. ("Falcon") received the assignment of its second Hungarian oil and gas exploration license, through Falcon's wholly-owned Hungarian subsidiary, TXM Energy LLC ("TXM"). Falcon/TXM acquired the original Tisza license in January 2005 and has now acquired the Mako license.

"These licenses give us the right to undertake exploratory and drilling activities over a very large area," commented Falcon's President, CEO and Chairman, Marc A. Bruner. "We are extremely excited about moving forward with our development plans in Hungary." The Tisza License grants exploration and drilling rights over approximately 236,000 net acres, and the Mako License grants exploration and drilling rights over approximately 340,000 net acres, all of which are located in south central Hungary. Falcon plans to drill at least one well on each License in 2005, evaluate the results, and apply for further extensions of one or both Licenses. The Licenses both are currently scheduled to expire on December 31, 2005, prior to or after which time Falcon also would be entitled to apply for one or more production licenses covering areas where it establishes the likelihood of future commercial production.

Drilling Contracts Signed for Exploration Program in Hungary

On June 10, 2005, Falcon/TXM signed two drilling contracts with Crosco Drilling & Well Services Company, Ltd ("Crosco") of Croatia. The first contract is for a 4000 meter rig (~13,000 feet) to drill two shallow wells, with an option for a third shallow well. The second contract is for an 8000 meter rig (~26,000 feet) to drill a deep well on the Mako License, with an option for three additional deep wells. The two contracts provide for a total of three firm wells, with an option for Falcon/TXM to extend these contracts to a total of seven wells.

The contracts were awarded to Crosco, which is an international drilling contractor providing services in 23 countries. Mr. Bruner stated, "Falcon is pleased to have selected our rig contractor and to have signed these first two important drilling contracts with Crosco. We're impressed with the quality of Crosco's personnel and equipment. Depending on the results of our first test wells, we look forward to a long relationship with Crosco in Hungary." The first shallow well and first deep well will be commenced as soon as all government permits and other approvals have been obtained by Falcon/TXM, which is estimated to be sometime in the third quarter of this year.

Purchase of Drilling Pipe

In conjunction with the drilling program, Falcon has signed a $10 million (USD) purchase order and has made a down payment to Apex Tubulars of approximately $1 million (USD) for approximately 182,000 feet of various types and sizes of pipe, casing, and other materials. The purchase order provides that Falcon will receive the first delivery of casing as it moves forward with its drilling plans in Hungary, commencing in the third quarter of 2005. "These casing contracts are a key element of our drilling program," stated Allan D. Laird, Director of Falcon. "Premium casing is difficult to source right now and our operational people did an excellent job to keep our drilling program moving forward on schedule."

Farmout Agreement in Romania

On June 1, 2005, Falcon signed a Farmout Agreement (the "Agreement") on a coalbed methane property in the Jiu Valley of Romania, under which Falcon may earn a 75% interest in the property. This acquisition complements Falcon's operations in the neighboring country of Hungary and leverages the expertise of Falcon's engineering and geological staff in coalbed methane technology in the United States. Falcon will initially pay 100% of the costs to drill two coalbed methane earning wells, at an estimated cost of $1.5 million (USD), to earn a 75% working interest in the Jiu Valley property, with the right to opt out of the second well upon payment of a penalty. The prospect contains approximately 21,500 gross acres.

Falcon entered into the Agreement with Pannonian International, Ltd. ("Pannonian"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Galaxy Energy Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: GAXI - News), a company in which Marc A. Bruner is a "Control Person" within the meaning of the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Concession was originally issued to Pannonian in 2002. The assignment of the Concession from Pannonian to Falcon is subject to Romanian government approval, as well as other regulatory approvals. Pannonian will act as Falcon's contract operator on the Jiu Valley wells. The first well is scheduled to be commenced by June 25, 2005.

Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. is a British Columbia, Canada corporation, which is in the business of oil and gas exploration and production. It has operations in Hungary, Romania, and Canada.


Contact: Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.
Marc A. Bruner President, CEO and Chairman
Allan D. Laird Director
(303) 803-3646

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The TSX Venture Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the above-described transactions and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.


http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050615/law087.html?.v=32 

Croatia's Marin Cilic wins the French Open
 

Croatia's Marin Cilic shows his trophy after winning the Boys' final match of the French Open tennis tournament against Netherlands' Antal van der Duim, at the Roland Garros stadium, Sunday June 5, 2005 in Paris. ( AP Photo/Francois Mori)  AP - Jun 05 5:56 AM

Fifty random musings from Roland Garros
Posted: Sunday June 5, 2005 11:12PM; Updated: Monday June 6, 2005 9:53AM

Rafael Nadal's 24-match win streak is the longest by a male teenager in the Open era.
Bob Martin/SI

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Cleaning out the notebook from Roland Garros. Herewith, 50 scattered thoughts ...

1. Rafael Nadal showed as much mettle beating Mariano Puerta in the (surprisingly entertaining) French Open final as he did beating Roger Federer a round earlier. There's an inevitable letdown after beating the world's No.1; your nerves surface, you're off your game, the other guy is swinging away with reckless abandon, the crowd wants the underdog to win, the conditions are less than ideal. When you still find a way to grind out the win, it says a lot.

2. Justine (Allez cat) Henin-Hardenne, the women's champion, has now won four of the last seven majors she's entered. She staves off match points against poor Svetlana Kuznetsova in round four and then doesn't drop a set. In fact, her destruction of Mary Pierce in the final was her toughest match of the tournament.

3. Did we read right, Nadal is entered in the singles AND DOUBLES in Halle this week? Nadal on grass is an intriguing prospect, but boy has he played a lot of tennis heading into the tournament.

4. What's this we hear that Larry Brown has been furtively interviewing for Tony Roche's job?

5.The most feared weapon in women's tennis is Henin-Hardenne's guts. It is she -- and not Serena Williams or Maria Sharapova -- who now has the regal aura and intimidation factor good for a few games a set.

6. Answer: Igor Andreev. Question: Who was the last player to have beaten Nadal?

7. On his 25th birthday Marat Safin beat Federer in the Australian Open semifinals. On his 19th birthday, Nadal beat Federer in the French Open semifinals. Coincidence? Hildegard Vandromme of Brussels notes that Joachim Johansson has a birthday on July 1. Hmmm.

8. Federer has lost three matches all year and hasn't reached a Grand Slam final. Think he might fear Nadal a little? He is 1-2 against him with the one win coming on hard courts when he was two points from defeat.

9. Who says Americans can't play on clay? The Bryan Brothers reached the French Open final before wilting in the third set against Max Mirnyi and Jonas Bjorkman. The Bryans are a terrific team and a lot of fun to watch; but their record in finals is troubling at best.

10. Unseeded Marin Cilic of Croatia beat Antal Van de Duim to win the boys title. Agnes Szavay beat Raluca Olaru of Romania to win the girls championship.

11. Is there a more underrated tennis story than the success of Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suarez? After beating Cara Black and Liezel Huber in the final, they won their eighth Grand Slam title.

12. The incongruous team of Fabrice "The Magician" Santoro and Daniela Hantuchova won the mixed doubles, beating the ageless Martina Navratilova and Leander Paes in the finals.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/jon_wertheim/06/05/frenchopen.50.thoughts/?cnn=yes

HRVATSKA TREBA HRVATSKU BANKU

Bankarstvo je krvotok nacije i dok god njime ne kola domaci novac, Hrvatska lezi tesko bolesna i izranjavana. Oporavak je daleki san, treba prvo pruziti hitnu pomoc, rane strucno pregledati i sanirati te tek tada pripisati terapiju.
Bez gospodarstva i stvaranja novih vrijednosti samo smo neodgovorna, raspustena, rastrosna horda parazita ovisna o dobroj volji i toleranciji organiziranih drustava. Iako postoje i objektivni, globalni razlozi nase agonije, ponajvise smo joj upravo sami doprinijeli. Za izlazak iz kolapsa treba ponovo osvojiti olako izgubljenu infrastrukturu organizma zvanog Drzava - privredu, proizvodnju, upravu nad kljucnim resursima. Bez njih nacija jede samu sebe.
Ni jedna drzava nije neovisna dok ne ostvari financijsku samostalnost. Nas je bankarski sustav 96% u rukama stranaca i ismijava nazive svojih institucija. Dovukli smo Trojanskog konja a ne investitore. Cete inkasatora kriju se u konjskoj glavi i zaokupljene su gomilanjem nerealnih profita na stetu hrvatske nacije. Strpljivo cekaju prestanak nase zanesenosti njihovim novotarijama pa da, putem drazbi, krenu u preuzimanje teritorija – metar po metar. Kapital sustavno zaobilazi gospodarstvo i iznajmljuje se, uz visoke kamate, graðanima za podmirenje osnovnih troskova zivota (hrane, pica, rezija). Dobrano se zaraðuje na svim vrstama potrosnje – od socijalne do luksuzne. Nemoralna je to ponuda domacem stanovnistvu koje, zajedno s Drzavom, sve vise tone u siromastvo.
Zacarani krug duznika, jamaca i hipoteka stalno se prosiruje. Preuzeo je i mnostvo zdravih ali socijalno- osjetljivih pojedinaca i subjekata. Nije svatko sposoban zatvoriti oci pred patnjama sunarodnjaka. Samo bezobzirni dobro prosperiraju i namecu svoju neosjetljivost kao formulu za uspjesnost.
Quo vadis, Hrvatsko – domovinska i iseljena?!
Suoci se sa zbiljom i osnuj jaku poslovnu banku u svojem vlasnistvu. Domovina treba svjeza i zdrava sredstva „sa nacionalnim predznakom“ koja bi joj pomogla u hrvanju sa suptilnom financijskom agresijom zapada. To je jedini pravi, pametni odgovor na ovu vrstu kolonizacije. Treba pobijediti malodusje porazavanih i skupiti zdrave snage u oazama cvrstih, stabilnih uporista. Zaboravljajuci meðusobne svaðe i animozitete, udruzenom akcijom svih kojima je Hrvatska u srcu, otvoriti put vlastitog razvoja.
Porec, 3.6.2005.g.

Niko Soljak

HRVATSKI SVJETSKI SABOR

Just why are the British so interested in Gotovina?

For what it is worth, I sent this to the BBC newsnight
feedback page. Please distribute, publish etc as you
see fit.

Brian


Dear Newsnight

I was appalled by your item on Croatian General Ante
Gotovina (2 June). It was little more than MI6 and
Foreign Office spin. The public does not pay the
license fee for you to put out the FCO/MI6 line without
questioning it.

Just why are the British so interested in Gotovina?
Why did you fail to mention Britain's pro-Serb role
during the war in Croatia and Bosnia? Why did you not
mention that Operation Storm - for which Gotovina has
been charged over - defeated Milosevic and Karadzic,
angering many in the Foreign Office?

Why did you not point out the fact that Operation
Storm was controlled by the United States? Why did you
not mention that the charges against Gotovina have
been contradicted by prosecution witness evidence in
the Milosevic trial?

And why did you not point out, as reported in the
Observer, that British taxpayer's money has ended up
in a firm run by one of Radovan Karadzic's supporters?

No doubt these questions and points failed to appear
because it would have shone a very different light on
events. One rather more critical and truthful of
Foreign Office policy.

It would seem the Hutton report has had its effect. It
appears the BBC will now unquestioningly put out any
line from MI6 and the Foreign Office.

Yours sincerely

Brian Gallagher
London
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/4530527.stm

Who dares to touch the Croatian Wall of Pain?

Dear friends,

Croatian leadership decided to demolish Croatian
Monument Wall of Pain in Selska Street in Zagreb.

I hope you know what that monument means to any Croat
in the World. It was built in the War as reminder to
the UN and whole World about Croatian missing and
killed people in Homeland War.

Please, arise your voice against that barbaric act of
Croatian leadership and help us to save the only
Croatian monument built of tears and blood of Croatian
mothers in black, who were praying and lighting
candles at that sad monument last 15 years.

Please, help us, Croatian patriots, to keep that
monument as a symbol of Croatian dignity and pride.

Please, send this news to all media and all our
friends around Globe.

This night, Croatian poor veterans, mothers and our
friends guarding that place against barbaric
communist's hate against anything Croatian.

Please, help us to keep that place sacred for
generations who will come.

Thank you in advance.

Tvrtko
 

Branitelji zaustavili rusenje Zida Boli

Grad Zagreb najprije udovicama poginulih u ratu organizirao odlazak na izlet, a onda pokusao skinuti zid boli. Naguravanjem s radnicama i dizalicama, Ivan Pandza iz HVIDRA-e s okupljenim je zenama, majkama i sestrama poginulih i nestalih sprijecio uklanjanje zida

ZAGREB – Zid boli vise ne stanuje na raskrizju Ilice i selske ulice, gdje je gotovo 12 godina podsjećao na poginule i nestale u Domovinskom ratu. Dogodilo se to iznenada, ekspresnim uklananjem brojnih opeka u organizaciji zagrebackih gradskih vlasti koje je pocelo jucer ujutro, a zaustavljeno je tek dolaskom celnih ljudi braniteljskih udruga koji su nakon rjesenja Âťkrizne situacijeÂŤ od preostalih opeka ponovo poceli graditi zid.
Dok su udovice boraca Domovinskoga rata jucer uzivale u suncu na Bjelolasici, na organiziranom izletu u aranzmanu gradskih vlasti, u zagrebackoj selskoj ulici zapocelo je uklanjanje zida boli sastavljenog od brojnih opeka od kojih svaka nosi po jedno ime zatocenih i nestalih hrvatskih branitelja i civila u Domovinskom ratu, od kojih se, prema neki podatcima, jos uvijek traga za 1.168 osoba. skupljanje opeka pocelo je već ranom zorom, oko 6 sati, kada su stavljene na palete i utovarivane u kamione. O događaju je od branitelja prvi saznao Ivan Pandza iz HVIDRA-e Grada zagreba.

Bandić parafirao odluku?

– cim su mi prijatelji dojavili da se nesto događa u selskoj, pozurio sam se i odmah pokusao sprijeciti micanje zida, svjedoci uznemireni Pandza, koji je u ratu ostao bez desne noge. Prema njegovoj prici, on se poceo naguravati s radnicima, i nakon sat vremena uspio ih je nagovoriti da prestanu utovarivati opeke u kamione, zbog cega je i promet selskom ulicom bio posebno reguliran, a sve uz prisutnost brojnih policijskih sluzbenika, onih uniformiranih i onih u civilu. Pri tome je Pandza mogao ostati i bez druge noge – na svoju je sreću uspio izbjeći nalet dizalice. Uskoro je dosla i dodatna potpora od dvadesetak građana, mahom zena koje su svoje najblize izgubile u ratu.
– Imena moga poginuloga brata i bratića su na tim ciglama. Ne dopustam da one zavrse betonirane na Mirogoju, ne smiju ići pod zemlju jer tako bi se i nasa poruka zakopala, vapila je zdenka Farkas iz centra ÂťApelÂŤ, jedna od idejnih zacetnika zida boli, autenticnog svjedocanstva o razmjerima stradavanja u Domovinskom ratu, koji je spontano nastao nakon sto su građani 25. rujna 1993. godine pozvani da stave prve cigle s imenima svojih najmilijih. Poslije toga, kaze Farkas, trazila je pismenu dozvolu od MORH-a i dobila je. Pismenu odluku o uklanjanju zida, koju je navodno potpisao dogradonacelnik Milan Bandić, danas nitko nije imao.

Ponovno slaganje opeka

Verbalna prepucavanja pojacala su se dolaskom Miodraga Deme, nacelnika u gradskom Odjelu za branitelje. cim je u invalidskim kolicima stigao pred zid, oko njega se okupilo mnostvo. Dok je govorio kako podrzava odluku o preseljenu opeka na Mirogoj, bilo je dobacivanja da je svoja kolica ÂťprodaoÂŤ Bandiću.
Među okupljenima se nasla i ministrica pravosuđa Vesna skare Ozbolt, koja je na nase trazenja da javnosti uputi poruku nakon, cini se, konacnog odlaska zida, rekla: ÂťA sto da vam kazem? sve sam već reklaÂŤ, misleći pri tome, vjerojatno, na svoj prijedlog premjestanja spomenika na Trg pravde. Nesto kasnije na mjesto gdje se nekad zid boli nalazio, a gdje su ostali jos samo njegovi ostaci, stigla je i potpredsjednica Vlade Jadranka Kosor. Tom prilikom izjavila je da se jucer ujutro dogodila necuvena stvar te da nitko, osim onih koji su spomenik napravili, ne moze odlucivati o njegovoj sudbini.
Nakon sto je poslijepodne dosla odluka iz Gradskog poglavarstva da se zaustavi daljnje uklanjanje i sve Âťostavi na miruÂŤ, okupljeni su od preostalih opeka opet poceli slagati zid.
Ivor FUKA

Mesić: zid ugraditi u jedan monument

Na kraćoj tiskovnoj konferenciji u Gomirju predjednik stjepan Mesić je upitan da komentira uklanjanje zida boli u zagrebu te skori posjet srbiji. – smatram da je trebalo taj zid bola ugraditi u jedan monument – spomenik koji bi bio simbolika obrane Hrvatske, jer svaka ta cigla je neciji zivot. Mislim da će zid vrlo tesko opstati tako, na ulici, i u svakom slucaju treba traziti pravo rjesenje za njega, odgovorio je Mesić.
N. T.

http://www.novilist.hr/Default.asp?WcI=Rubrike&WcU=285D2863285E2863285A28582858285D286328962897289E286328632859285c285D285B285D286128632863286328592863V

zatim:

http://www.vecernji-list.hr/newsroom/news/croatia/303969/index.do

i:

http://www.vecernji-list.hr/newsroom/news/croatia/303673/index.do?_vl_backlink=/newsroom/news/croatia/303969/index.do

BARBARIZAM

Tvrtko

Voyage Through Europe: International Conference In Trieste

RIBA President George Ferguson joined representatives and delegates of other professional architectural organisations at a European and global level, taking part in a significant international conference in Trieste on 27 and 28 May: Voyage Through Europe: Architectural experiences, visions and realities.

The aim of the conference was to explore future work prospects and discuss professionals working outside their country of origin, as set out by European directives and policies. Key political and administrative figures discussed their future projects, amongst which three leading architects - Richard Rogers, Carlos Ferrater from Spain and Hrvoje Njiric fromCroatia - talked about their varied experiences in the countries in which they are active. A unique opportunity to compare different European realities, the conference opened up debate on the future of the architectural profession in all its ramifications.

The conference encouraged solidarity and thinking in the light of increased cross border activity, underlining the need to share knowledge on common issues such as professional practice, regulations, sustainability and education and training. The conference also illustrated the necessity of reaching a European consensus on the quantitative and qualitative standards of architectural education, including the promotion of Continuous Professional development programmes at all levels.

Taking into account the enlargement of the European Union, a revision of the working structures of the Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE) was finalised.

George Ferguson, President of the RIBA said: “It was a great European occasion in a very fine city, for which special thanks should go to RIBA member Luciano Lazzari - President of the local chapter and the driving force behind the conference. The Manifesto for Architecture raised considerable interest with several countries talking of emulating it. It was even suggested we should consider a European version. There was particular interest in the issue of Procurement of Projects and the notion of a smarter way of employing PPP or PFI to put design at the front of the process.â€?

Posted 7th June 2005

http://www.azobuild.com/news.asp?newsID=1055
 

Department of European Public Law at the University of Zagreb

Dear all,

I just received an email that noted that the Department of European Public Law at the University of Zagreb has announced its web page and mailing list service. If you are interested in the topic of European law, you may consider signing up to their unmoderated list server.

Department of European Public Law
http://eu.pravo.hr

Mailing list service
http://lists.topica.com/lists/ceusa/

best wishes
Sanja
 

Pobjeda znanja nad bogatstvom

Uspjeh mladih informatičara iz XV. gimnazije najveći je inozemni uspjeh neke hrvatske skole dosad, a jos ga većim čini to da su hrvatski učenici na tom ACSL-ovu natjecanju pobijedili američke ekipe s neusporedivo boljim uvjetima skolovanja i pripremanja
Sudeći prema uspjesima mladih informatičara iz zagrebačke XV. gimnazije, popularnog MIOC-a, koji su se s ACSL natjecanja u Americi vratili okićeni jednim zlatnim i dvama srebrnim odličjima, Hrvatska ne treba strahovati od manjka potencijala u razvoju suvremenih tehnologija. Na ACSL natjecanju (American Computer Science League), odrzanom od 25. do 28. svibnja u gradiću Emmausu (Pennsylvania, SAD), ekipa Senior osvojila je prvo mjesto, dok su ekipe Intermediate i Junior zasluzile srebrna odličja. Iako je Hrvatska, sa svoja tri tima od po pet učenika, uz Rumunjsku bila jedina europska drzava koja je sudjelovala na natjecanju, mladi informatičari nisu bili zastraseni konkurencijom s američkog kontinenta, sto je pridonijelo tom najvećem inozemnom uspjehu bilo koje hrvatske skole.
ÂťKad smo dosli, prije samog natjecanja, rekli smo da ćemo biti prvi, sto se i ostvarilo, iako smo se samo saliliÂŤ, prepričava Hrvoje Samija, vođa seniora. Da je konkurencija bila zaista jaka, svjedoči podatak da je svoje znanje u rjesavanju informatičkih zadataka na natjecanju odmjeravalo dvjestotinjak učenika iz 63 skole.
ÂťACSL je zapravo američko natjecanje, koje oni pokusavaju učiniti međunarodnim. Tako osim Kanade i Sjedinjenih Američkih Drzava, zasad sudjeluju jos Rumunjska i Hrvatska. MIOC već devet godina sudjeluje na natjecanju, a ove smo godine uspjeli nadmasiti čak i lanjski rezultat koji je također bio sjajanÂŤ, kaze profesor informatike Mladen Pregrad, koji je zajedno s profesoricom Gordanom Batchom, mentorski predvodio mlade informatičare.
Sustav ACSL-a je takav da prije samog finala učenici u skolama koje se prijave na natjecanje individualno rjesavaju trosatne testove i skupljaju bodove, koje potom njihovi profesori salju u Ameriku. Nakon četiri kruga prednatjecanja, formiraju se ekipe sastavljene od učenika koji su ostvarili najvise bodova. Sredisnje natjecanje sastoji se od dvaju dijelova – od trosatnog programiranja koje se radi grupno i od jednosatnog rjesavanja teorijskih zadataka iz 16 područja informatike, koji se rjesavaju individualno. Svaka grupa radi samostalno u zasebnoj učionici, u kojoj su sva potrebna pomagala. Iako vrlo zadovoljni organizacijom i tretmanom, posebno ističući fair play, nasi mladi informatičari ipak su imali zamjerku. Naime, kada su zatrazili da dobiju običnu kompjutorsku tipkovnicu, rečeno im je da je to nemoguće, jer bi tako bili u prednosti pred ostalima. ÂťTipke na laptopu su spojene, pa se znalo dogoditi da nam se cijeli kod izbrise kad bismo slučajno pritisnuli tipkuÂŤ, objasnjava Hrvoje Samija.
Američki učenici s tim nemaju problema, jer u njihovoj skoli u Emmausu svaki učenik na satu informatike dobiva laptop na kojem samostalno radi.
Iako je MIOC tehnoloski najopremljenija skola u Hrvatskoj, koja svakih pet godina dobiva nove kompjutore u svoje tri informatičke učionice, vidljiva je razlika u odnosu prema skoli u Emmausu, u veličini i u opremljenosti.
Prema riječima učenika iz XV. gimnazije, skola u Emmausu pet je puta veća od MIOC-a, a svih 2500 učenika ide u jednu smjenu. Kada se uzme u obzir da razredi nemaju vise od dvadesetak učenika, mozete si predočiti koliko je učionica u zgradi. Skola ima tri sportske dvorane, nekoliko bazena, multimedijalne učionice s plazmama i banku u kojoj učenici imaju prigodu steći praktična znanja. U sve te blagodati ubraja se i petnaestak učionica s interaktivnim pločama, dok je MIOC prije dva mjeseca dobio prvu takvu ploču u Hrvatskoj!
ÂťInteraktivna ploča "pamti" sto se na njoj pise i salje sadrzaj kompjutoru. Tako profesor poslije cijelo predavanje moze spremiti i koristiti u daljnjem raduÂŤ, objasnio je načelo rada Melkior Ornik, vođa juniora.
Srednja skola u Emmausu nije specijalizirana, nego je opće namjene, pa se u njoj pored informatičara, skoluju i kuhari, odgajatelji i sl. U nastavnom je programu i mnostvo izbornih praktičnih predmeta.
Kao ključ svoga uspjeha, zagrebački gimnazijalci navode visoku motiviranost za pobjedu, kao i sloznost ekipe. ÂťAmerikanci su isto pametni, ali mi se vise trudimo i radimo. U nasoj ekipi bila je superatmosfera. Nije bilo vazno tko je koji zadatak rijesio, jer se na kraju ipak vrednujemo kao timÂŤ, objasnio je Bruno Kovačić. Svi su se slozili, da unatoč tome sto mozda nekim američkim timovima nije bilo drago sto su ekipe iz Europe bolje, podmetanja nije bilo.
Većinu troskova putovanja, koji su iznosili 20 tisuća dolara, podmirili su Ministarstvo znanosti, obrazovanja i sporta i Gradski ured za obrazovanje i sport. Ostatak je pokrilo pet hrvatskih poduzeća, novčano ili doniranjem slatkisa i majica.
ÂťImamo veliku pomoć Ministarstva, Grada Zagreba i drzave. Nista od svega toga ne bi bilo niti bez silnog zauzimanja nase ravnateljice Veronike Javor i, dakako, rada i upornosti cijelog tima - učenika i nastavnika informatikeÂŤ, rekao je profesor Pregrad.
Za uspjeh je, čini se, ipak presudan uporan rad i talent. Mladi informatičari svake subote rade s nastavnicima pet do sest skolskih sati. U vrijeme ÂťVjesnikovaÂŤ posjeta XV. gimnaziji, petorice od petnaest učenika s natjecanja, nije bilo. Oni su, naime, odmah po povratku u Zagreb započeli s pripremama za informatičarske olimpijske igre, koje će se potkraj kolovoza odrzati u Poljskoj. Natjecatelji s prijasnjih igara i međunarodnih natjecanja, kako kaze profesor Pregrad, danas su uspjesni studenti i poslovni ljudi, a dvoje zive u Americi i rade u Microsoftu, odnosno Googleu. Ipak, svi članovi ovogodisnjih timova, zeljeli bi nakon fakulteta ostati zivjeti i raditi u Hrvatskoj.
Ruzica Jakesević

http://www.vjesnik.hr/html/2005/06/06/Clanak.asp?r=pis&c=1  
 

The World Is The Stage

These school children are globe-trotting with their Indianised version of a fairytale.

Divya Kaeley

New Delhi, June 6: Puss in the Boots set to Rajasthani and Punjabi music, enacted by 11-16 year olds? The play The Cat Dances
Boom-Boom (Billi Nachi Thumak Thumak), to be performed by Ryan Children’s Theatre Group at the 20th International Theatre Festival in Herbe (Switzerland), obviously has a kindergarten theme. Not without a reason though, the school’s cultural and creative director, Utkarsh Marwah, assures us. ‘‘Why do you want to show the world that India is a third world country facing problems of electricity and water?... The play has a fun theme because it is to be showcased on a world stage amidst various other countries. So why not portray our country in a rich cultural light,’’ he replies. He recalls: ‘‘When we performed in Japan, a woman asked if we still traveled on elephants.’’

After the performance in Herbe on June 11, the 12 young actors will also put up the Hindi play (with an English narrative) at Professional Theatre an der Wilhelmshohe, Lingen (Germany) and the 45th International Children’s Festival, Croatia, this month. The theatre group has also performed in France, Pakistan and Morocco.

The Indianisation of the narrative is evident by the portrayal of characters in colorful Rajasthani costumes. The story canters around three brothers. While the first one gets a horse and the second a donkey, the youngest one gets a small black cat and so becomes the butt of ridicule by the others. ‘‘It’s about how this cat is a boon for her master, that it’s not the color and size but the confidence that matters,’’ says Marwah. The role of the cat is played by 11-year-old Akshaya Raman. Says his 14-year-old co-actor Lakshya Gupta: ‘‘I’d like to pursue acting as a
career and theatre at school level is a good beginning.’’


http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=132858
 

Kad nece drzava, mora pojedinac

30. svibnja 2005.
MARIO GALLERY
Kad neće drzava, mora pojedinac
Hrvatske zajednice diljem svijeta već godinama upozoravaju da bi Republika Hrvatska trebala otvoriti nekoliko kulturnih centara, posebno u Parizu i New Yorku. Dosad su međutim sve te molbe nailazile na gluhe usi duznosnika u nasim ministarstvima kulture i vanjskih poslova

"Nakon 15 godina čekanja da se nesto napravi po kulturnom pitanju od strane konzulata, odlučio sam sam napraviti galeriju i kulturni centar koji će prezentirati Hrvate i hrvatsku kulturu prema siroj američkoj javnosti."
Tako gospodin Mario Novak počinje svoju e-poruku upućenu Hrvatskom informativnom centru, s molbom da se obavijest o otvorenju Galerije Mario (Mario Gallery) objavi na nasem web portalu.
Hrvatske zajednice diljem svijeta već godinama upozoravaju da bi Republika Hrvatska trebala otvoriti nekoliko kulturnih centara, posebno u Parizu i New Yorku. Dosad su međutim sve te molbe nailazile na gluhe usi duznosnika u nasim ministarstvima kulture i vanjskih poslova.
Bio je doduse jedan pokusaj pjesnika Borisa Marune koji je, dolaskom na čelo Hrvatske matice iseljenika 2000. godine, navijestio kako će tu instituciju pretvoriti u "hrvatski Goethe institut", a diljem kugle zemaljske uz pomoć hrvatskih iseljeničkih zajednica pootvarati svu silu kulturnih centara. No godine su prolazile, Maruna osim pompoznih najava nije učinio nista (osim sto je sebi priskrbio veleposlaničko mjestu u Čileu na kraju Račanovog mandata), i tako je "hrvatski Goethe institut" nepovratno otisao u ropotarnicu povijesti.
Galerija Mario otvara se 12. srpnja u Long Island Cityu, NY. Vlasnik Mario Novak je dobro etabliran fotograf u New Yorku (www.MarioNovak.com i www.MarioGallery.com) pa u sklopu galerije vlastitih radova, poziva hrvatske slikare i druge umjetnike da mu se pridruze u promociji hrvatske kulture. Također poziva umjetnike iz Hrvatske da mu se jave i da zajedničkim snagama uspostave "most između Lijepe Nase i New Yorka, pa čak i sire".

http://www.hic.hr/hid-v-04.htm