Weekly review no. 60
13.12.2024
Interview with Hejtman from Ústí
The new Hejtman of the Ústecký kraj (Ústí district), Richard Brabec, spoke about his goals and prospects in an interview with the daily newspaper Deník.
In terms of content, he focused on two topics: Firstly, he wants to channel six to seven billion euros from the EU's Just Transition Funds into the district to support economic transformation and reduce the gap with other regions. He considers his district, together with Karlovarský kraj (Karlovy Vary district), to be the least developed in the Czech Republic, while the Moravian-Silesian district (around Ostrava), which is also often counted among the laggards, would be on a much better path in his opinion, partly due to its successful universities.
The second important issue for him is the so-called excluded districts, where socially disadvantaged people - often Roma - are concentrated and live in undignified conditions. There are many property owners there who make a fortune by housing poor people in completely run-down houses because their rent is paid directly to them by the state. Brabec wants to put an end to this and is pushing for legal changes in Prague. In his opinion, residential buildings for the poor are better off in municipal hands, which is quite a remarkable statement for an ANO politician. He also took the opportunity to strongly oppose the initiative of a senator from the bourgeois ODS party, who proposed throwing homeless people into prison.
With regard to his personal perspective, he left it somewhat unclear whether he will remain Hejtman for more than a year. He will run again in the parliamentary elections in the fall of 2025 and may vacate his seat in Ústí if he wins the mandate. It should be noted that he came into this role unplanned after the previous candidate dropped out due to corruption investigations a few weeks before this year's district elections. He may have just quickly pulled the potatoes out of the fire for the ANO.
Ham instead of beer in Litoměřice
The site of the former town brewery in the middle of Litoměřice is prominently located - right next to the castle - and is probably best known for its striking chimney. Brewing had been carried out here since 1720 (including a beer called Kalich), but production had to be discontinued in 2002. The town then acquired the site and renovated part of it with subsidies in order to lease it to a new brewing company. However, its activities were not a success and it had to withdraw.
Now a local producer of high-quality ham and other sausage products, PRŠUTÉRIE Chovaneček (note the nicely Czechized Italian), has taken over the site and will move in with production as early as January. The next part to be renovated for this purpose was officially opened today. For the city, this is a further step towards upgrading and revitalizing this district, which is located right between the famous market square and the castle, two important tourist highlights. A lot has already been done at Tyršovo náměstí, and next year it will be the turn of the interior of the brewery site.
Few women in science
The position of women in science is worse in the Czech Republic than in any other EU country. This was reported by Landesecho, citing a report by the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic based on data from 2005 to 2022. According to the report, the overall proportion of Czech women at the top of university and research institutions in 2022 was 13.5 percent. In the entire field (i.e. not just the top positions), the proportion of women was 28.7 percent.
Female scientists believe that women in the Czech Republic have to work much harder to achieve the same positions as their male colleagues. Although the number of female doctoral students in the Czech Republic is increasing, there is still a lack of women in higher positions. The differences are already noticeable in the education of young people, as technical and scientific fields continue to be promoted as careers for men.
Old Fugauer wanted
The village of Fugau (Czech: Fukov) was located directly on the Bohemian-Saxon border in the Schluckenauer Zipfel, or more precisely in the Fugauer Zipfel, a protrusion on a protrusion of the border, between Taubenheim and Neusalza-Spremberg. The railroad line from Dresden to Zittau runs around 1 km across Czech territory here (see map).
In 1945, the village had 145 houses and around 800 inhabitants. After the Second World War, the German inhabitants were expelled and the village was completely demolished by 1960. In contrast to Vorderzinnwald, for example, there are hardly any traces of the former settlement here.
The initiative "Světlo pro Fukov" (Light for Fugov) would like to commemorate the fact that the village completely disappeared from the map 65 years ago with a number of events next year. On the one hand, there will be a happening on site in September, and on the other, an exhibition will be organized.
On the one hand, they are looking for contemporary witnesses who lived in Fugau and whose memories they would like to record. On the other hand, the organizers are looking for photos or other objects for their exhibition.
Anyone who is a contemporary witness or knows contemporary witnesses or can help with photos and objects is cordially invited to contact the initiative by email at zaniklaobecfukov@gmail.com or by telephone on +420 732 745 571.
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