Often people ask me what was it like to grow up in Soviet Union? What kind of childhood I had and how did it compare to the way they imagined it. They want to know the story behind the story. Winston Churchill coined the phrase "Iron Wall". Of course, there was a literal wall in…Read more Growing up in the Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors
Moral judgement
Our renewed attraction to “greatness”
One leader has promised to make "Russia Great Again", one businessman has vowed to make "America Great Again" and others in Europe and elsewhere are declaring the same. Then there are those of us who have never been so "great" and just want to keep our countries the way they are. Or keep our countries...…Read more Our renewed attraction to “greatness”
Looking at our compass to guide through the EU crisis
For sure I am no expert on the EU but I do know a thing or two. Firstly, most people, including myself, recognize that we are in a serious crisis. You hear it described as 'existential'. The question of 'to be or not to be'. Also, I know that any crisis and pressure - personal…Read more Looking at our compass to guide through the EU crisis
Cambodia and its complicated beauty
Have you ever unintentionally eavesdropped on someone's conversation? I could not help it since this guys was talking on Skype very loudly. He was calling random people in China and always introduced himself as someone traveling in Asia. "I am in Cambodia right now", he said. "It is a country between Thailand and Vietnam." I…Read more Cambodia and its complicated beauty
My nominee for Nobel Peace Prize 2015 is …
The laureate of Nobel Peace Prize will be revealed this Friday, October 9. As usual, the nominees are kept in secret and it will be a secret for next 50 years. So, we will not know who were the people and organizations to choose from. Having just visited Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway, I…Read more My nominee for Nobel Peace Prize 2015 is …
The suffering of ‘unwanted’ people
This week I returned to my current home in Thailand and to the news headlines about the human tragedy in the Andaman Sea. This tragedy has been going on for many years since I have lived here. The story of suffering starts in Burma (official name - Myanmar) and it affects the whole region of…Read more The suffering of ‘unwanted’ people
Walls that keep us ‘in’ or ‘out’
This week I was traveling on a long international flight. Usually my flying routine is sleep, eat and watch movies. The airline had a good selection, especially documentaries. So, I watched a short documentary about the fall of Berlin Wall in November of 1989. It brought back lots of memories and a flood of emotions.…Read more Walls that keep us ‘in’ or ‘out’
Don’t judge the book by its cover?
In Latvia we like to use another saying “Don’t judge a man by his hat.” It can have different meanings like do not think he is smart or important or trustworthy because he wears a nice hat. Or that a person is not what he wears. Or that we cannot know the hearts of people.…Read more Don’t judge the book by its cover?
peaceroads 