PRAGUE (AP): After producing plenty of elephant dung and other manure for years, Prague Zoo has capitalized on its expertise by creating a new permanent exhibit on the world of animal excrement. It displays information and samples of everything from fossil turds, also known as coprolites, from extinct animals to the excrement of modern-day gorillas, lions, elephants, horses, turtles, wombats, camels, and other animals, all in various sizes, shapes, textures, and colors. Zoo director Miroslav Bobek, whose surname literally means “poop” in Czech, says he was inspired by American George Frandsen and his online museum. The exhibition coincides with the zoo’s publication of a new edition of the “Encyclopedia of Excrements.” The zoo has been selling elephant dung to gardeners as fertilizer for years.
Liberation Day is a national holiday celebrated in the Czech Republic on 8 May each year. This is the same date as the celebration known as V-E Day, VE Day or Victory in Europe Day that is celebrated across much of Europe. As the names suggest, the day signifies the victory of the Allied forces against the Axis forces at the end of World War II in 1945. In particular, the Czech Republic celebrates Liberation Day as the day its people were freed from Nazi rule. The day was originally celebrated on 9 May, but this was changed in 1989 to 8 May. Some people call the holiday Liberation from Fascism Day. On May 8, with Allied troops approaching from west and east, the Czechs negotiated a cease-fire with the Germans. The situation was now critical; the Czechs lacked the machinery and the weaponry to continue fighting the Germans, and the city’s Old Town was in flames. Part of the cease-fire was a guarantee, from the Germans, that the city would not be harmed further. The Czechs knew that, with help on the way, the cease-fire would be far more beneficial to them than it seemed on the surface. A previous...
Czech leaders marked the 74th anniversary of the Prague Uprising at the Czech Radio building on Sunday, a focal point of the uprising in which Czechs took up arms against the Nazis. On May 5 1945, Czech Radio or Český Rozhlas formally turned against the Nazi German government occupying the country and called on protesters to openly oppose Nazi rule. It began to broadcast in Czech for the first time in six years, and by noon, when it was clear that Czech Radio would be attacked and attempts would be made by the Germans to silence it, then the service began to call for help. It asked for military assistance from resistance fighters and any other Czechs that could prevent the liquidation of Czech Radio. Some 30,000 people answered the call to take up arms against the Germans. For the next four days, Prague saw fierce street fighting which left over 2,000 dead. German bombers flew in on May 7 and bombed the city, causing the destruction of most of the Old Town Hall; the centuries-old building was almost completely gutted and had to be torn down. The top of the tower was also destroyed, and the damage was caused to the famous Astronomical Clock. The Germans’...
Tesla is gradually expanding its presence in Europe and they are adding locations in the Czech Republic and Iceland. The automaker is already covering most of Europe, but there are still many smaller European auto markets where Tesla is not directly selling and servicing its vehicles — mainly in Eastern Europe. In the Czech Republic, there are already over 400 Tesla vehicles, most of them around Prague, according to the Ministry of Transport. Those Tesla owners had to buy and service their cars in other neighboring countries. Now, Tesla is now launching a service center in Prague and it will also use the location to deliver vehicles sold directly to costumers in the Czech Republic. Lidovky (LN) posted some pictures of the new Tesla service center. Tomáš Novotný, the service manager, told LN: “We have technicians from other European service centers who carry out training and basic repairs and servicing,” On its career website, Tesla is listing 3 service jobs currently available in Prague. Along with the new expansion in the Czech Republic, Tesla is also expanding in Iceland. The market is in a similar situation as the Czech Republic whereas they already have many owners who bought Tesla vehicles by importing them...
Prague’s annual Million Marihuana March takes place today, May 4, and starts at 12:30 pm at Karlovo náměstí. The march, which attracts thousands of people hand has several music trucks, will go through the city center and end up in Štvanice ostrov. There is a large program with live music, DJs and seminars on the island from 2:30 pm to 10 pm. The purpose behind the march is to encourage the legalization of marijuana for medical and recreational uses, and the draw attention to the what organizers call the absurdity of the current laws and the problems with prohibition. The event is hosted by Magazin Legalizace and Legalizace.cz. The event offers not only political discussion, lectures and interesting workshops, but also a rich program on several podiums, a non-profit sector and a program for children. Marihuana is legal for the treatment of certain medical conditions but possession of more than a small amount is still an offence. The law says possession of up to 15 grams of dry cannabis for personal use, or cultivation of up to five plants, is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to Kč 15,000, but fines are usually lower. Possession of larger amounts can lead to a jail sentence of one year. Trafficking...
Prague is tired of the level of litter being produced by the lively sector of society and pushing to clean it up. The Czech Republic’s capital is now testing a law to correct the trash problem, outlawing plastic cups at Rap & Pop music festivals. “I want to find in my responsibility all the possibilities for Prague to behave in a more environmentally friendly manner. Reducing disposable plastics is the most effective means of fighting for cleaner nature and oceans. I hope that Prague will not remain alone and inspire other organizers and operators,” Třeštíková said on the City Hall website. The ban on plastics will include more than just cups. No food or beverage can be sold with or in disposable plastics. It also includes a ban on plastic cutlery such as forks, spoons, and knives. While rap and pop music festivals are highlighted by blogs, this law will affect all genres. However, the most popular music genres are likely to be the most discussed by fans and also they ‘keywords’ to help push the ‘green’ idea. Beyond music, other artistic events will also have to adhere to the new law. No one can use plastics whether it be...
The motorcycling Grand Prix in Brno is likely to end after this year’s event without a long-term state financial contribution, South Moravia Regional Governor Bohumil Simek (ANO) said in a press release today in reaction to the 39-million-crown state subsidy rather than the requested 65 million. Speaking to Sport.cz, executive director and chairman of the board of directors of Automotodrom Brno Ivana Ulmanová says they’ve been blindsided after expecting the full amount to be funded. “I was thinking that there would be some kind of helpfulness. So, I have to say that it is utter despair, and those who have decided this way have hurt not only the finances of the Czech Republic but also South Moravia and motorsport. Dorna have said that unfortunately, the Czech Republic is one of the worst partners they have and that they are not even considering expanding the contract at this time, because the payment is unfortunately not what they imagined.” The news comes at the worst possible moment for Brno, with fierce competition among a series of countries to take a spot on the calendar. It could well play into the hands of new track Finland, though, with Brno’s August date the perfect time for them...
1st May is celebrated in Czech as “Svátek zamilovaných” (Love Day), known for couples, kissing under the tree in bloom. The tradition says that a girl should be kissed under a cherry blossom so she will stay beautiful all year round. Perhaps every Czech is able to recite at least a couple of verses from Máj (May), a famous poem written by the romantic poet Karel Hynek Mácha. The poem is a homage to the beauty of spring and tells the tragic love story of Vilém, a bandit, and Jarmila, the girl he loves. In the Czech Republic, the poem is continuously in print and often memorized and recited by children at school. Here you can read the first lines of the beautiful poem in English: Late evening, on the first of May— The twilit May—the time of love. Meltingly called the turtle-dove, Where rich and sweet pinewoods lay. Whispered of love the mosses frail, The flowering tree as sweetly lied, The rose’s fragrant sigh replied To love-songs of the nightingale. In shadowy woods the burnished lake Darkly complained a secret pain, By circling shores embraced again; And heaven’s clear sun leaned down to take A road astray in azure deeps,...
Do you plan to relocate to the Czech Republic but you don’t have much information about the Czech Labour Market yet? The recruitment agency Grafton Recruitment has collected some useful information about average wage, desired employee benefits or possibilities of opening bank accounts. The Czech economy is still developing according to a current forecast published by the Czech National Bank. Even though its last prognosis originally showed a higher number, the estimated growth of the Czech economy for this year should be about 2.9 percent. Also, an average exchange rate of the Czech crown will present about 25 crowns to 1 Euro and neither should its growth be halted next year, as its value should increase to 24.20 crowns to 1 Euro on average. Foreigners living and working in the Czech Republic account for more than half a million of the population and make up 10.7 percent of the overall employment rate, as reported by the Czech Statistical Office. They mostly seek jobs in the Finance or Accounting sectors, HR, Customer operations, IT or Technical support, Procurement, Logistics, and Sales. Average Salary and Attractive Benefits The Czech Statistical Office disclosed information about the average salary in the Czech Republic in...
Support for remaining in the EU stands at well over 80 percent in the majority of member states, a new continent-wide poll has found – with Britain’s political crisis apparently a poor advert for leaving. The survey by Kantar asked people how they would vote in an in-out referendum and found that Luxembourg (94 percent), Portugal (92 percent), Ireland (91 percent), and the Netherlands (91 percent) had the highest support for EU membership out of the 28 countries in the bloc. Apart from the UK, the highest level of support for leaving was in the Czech Republic, where 66 percent supported Remain and 34 percent Leave. Italy was close behind as the next most Eurosceptic country, with 72 percent Remain and 28 percent Leave. Austria and France were the third and fourth most Eurosceptic. It’s not surprising that Czech skepticism or opposition to the European Union is strongest amongst the unemployed and self-employed. Those living in small towns as opposed to the capital, Prague, and bigger cities are also more critical. And those with basic or elementary education are also more likely to be opposed. And a strong majority of Czechs believe they are being given an overly positive view of...
Kutná Hora, described by Czech Tourism as the city of silver, is deservedly attributed by its other name as the “national treasure”. This is to say that its wealth helped to ensure the boom of the Czech Kingdom. The centre of the city was included in the UNESCO world heritage list in 1995 thanks to its historical importance and architectural gems. Places To See: The Italian Court: the courthouses the town hall, minting exhibition and royal palace, as well as the audience hall and a Gothic chapel with murals in the style of art-nouveau. The visitors can choose a shorter or a longer tour, they can visit the Museum – Discovering the dark side of Kutná Hora, or the Museum of local legends and ghosts. It was not until the end of the 19th century that more extensive and costly reconstruction led by the architect Ludvík Lábler were implemented. Ossuary: the cemetery church is a two-floor building from the 14th century. The official tourism website stated that according to legend, clay which was brought by the monks from Jerusalem was scattered at the Sedlec cemetery in 1278, thus making the cemetery the oldest “holy field“ in Central Europe and a sought-after burial ground. The...
Czech wineries. Gastronomy and cocktails. Jazz and swing. Ladies in elegant hats and gloves, men accompanying them, both with glasses of rosé in their hands. This and much more at degustation festival named „Růžový máj” (Pink May) for the eight-time at Náplavka. The visitors can look forward to 29 Czech and Moravian winemakers as well as to wine-related gastronomical experience including grilled fishes and seafood, baguettes stuffed with meat and herbs, vegetarian and vegan specialties, fried potatoes spirals, different sorts of blue and aging cheeses, dried hams and many other delicacies. On top of that, you can listen to cymbal music played by Cimbalom music Trnka, HOT Sisters, Voila and Jull Dajen. The festival is going to be an extension of the Farmer´s market at Náplavka, which is taking place from 8 till 14:00. As usual, degustation at festival will be available only from special Czech made festival glasses. The degustation set is made up of a 0.35l glass made from Czech glass from Crystalex (in Nový Bor), a printed catalog with an overview of wineries and other information and a pen to make notes. You can buy this set at the festival for 100,- Kč. More on the festival site
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