Conflict is heating up in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains over the Saxon and Bohemian Switzerland national parks. Some want to protect nature, while others want to enjoy it for their own gain and profit from it. Our author is involved as a volunteer ranger and is following the culture war with mixed feelings.
Peggy Lohse
first published by Jádu under the title Streit im Sandsteinparadies
Grass is green and football is a way out of the periphery. A report from a place characterised by major and minor historical events, by oppression and a lack of understanding, where life forces its way through the cracks in the concrete and pushes beyond the city limits, extending its feelers into the district and throughout the Czech Republic.
Bára Bažantová
first published by Jádu under the title Fotbalový klub ve vyloučené lokalitě: Zaříkávadlo jménem Mongaguá
New music is in the air in Kyiv - not only on the radio and on stage, but also on the streets and in the subway. Ukrainian culture returns to people in the most difficult times to support, unite and help them find themselves and a new identity.
Yulia Surkova, Oleksii Filippov
first published by Jádu under the title Саундтреки війни - Зцілення музикою
This text explores the roller skating community Ahojwrld in Bratislava, describing how members found and connected through skating, often after feeling disconnected or searching for their place. The text highlights that for many, especially LGBTI+ and marginalised groups, skating is not only a sport but also a form of activism, self-realisation and building a safe space where they can be themselves.
by Michaela Nagyidaiová
first published in Kapitál under the title Aktivizmus na štyroch kolieskach. Ako sa buduje feministická korčuliarska komunita
This text can be seen as an attempt to proactively help shape the meaning of history. "A look back at an issue of revue Prostor on the „history of the present“ penned by film essayist Jan Gogola Jr., director of films such as Excursion, or the History of the Present (2015) and Prison of History (2023). According to him, the world "does not belong to us, but it is we who belong to the world."
by Jan Gogola ml.
first published by revue Prostor under the title Vibrující dlaždice textu
The text discusses personal memories of an unhealthy relationship with food, which emerged in adolescence under the influence of the cultural trend "heroin chic" and the pressure to be thin. The author connects these experiences to the traumatic legacy of the Holodomor and the Soviet era in Ukraine, which influenced previous generations' attitudes towards food. She explains how deprivation and fear of hunger shaped eating habits and how this influence was felt in younger generations despite greater affluence.
by Anna Siedykh
first published in Kapitál under the title Za mamičku, za otecka: Ako politika vplýva na nezdravý vzťah k jedlu
Some people believe that there is no life outside of so-called civilisation. But it does exist, sometimes it is more complicated and brings with it a number of challenges, but it does not disappear. The inhabitants of Orbita know this from their own experience. Somewhere in the forests of Ukraine, the ghost town, abandoned after the Chernobyl disaster, has found new hope through the war.
by Yulia Surkova, Oleksii Filippov
first published by JÁDU under the title Загублена Орбіта
Glimmers are micro-moments of joy and calm that help cope with everyday stress and restore a sense of safety. How do they work, why are they important for mental health, and how can they be found?
by Julia Dem
first published by NARVAMUS under the title Триггеры наоборот: что такое глиммеры и чем они полезны?
The text considers the perception of neurological differences such as autism and ADHD in the context of capitalism, arguing that the pressure for efficiency and uniformity in society pathologises neurodivergent conditions.
by Matúš Lupták
first published by Kapitál under the title Som človek alebo stroj?
This interview explores the realities of war, its environmental consequences, and the societal shifts in Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict. It highlights the personal journey of a Ukrainian woman engaged in activism and military service, emphasizing the role of culture, identity, and resilience in times of war. The narrative also addresses the broader struggle of post-colonial nations resisting imperial aggression.
by Olena Apczel, Nataliya Parshchyk
first published by Kultura Liberalna under the title Poezja i kule, plastik w okopach
In July 2022, Prisca Pascalina crossed the border between Lithuania and Belarus because she was facing death in her native Cameroon. After two years and several court hearings, she was granted asylum in Lithuania. Prisca is now starting her life as a transgender black refugee. In a society that is often hostile to her.
Julija Stankevičiūtė
first published by NARA under the title Kamerūne Priscai grėsė mirtis. Ar Lietuva taps jos naujais namais?
