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Opening of the 5th Post-Yugoslav Peace Academy

The 5th Post-Yugoslav Peace Academy was opened today, July 23rd at the Franciscan Student Dormitory in Sarajevo.

Participants were greeted by the organizers of the Post-Yugoslav Peace Academy and instructors of this year's courses: Tonči Kuzmanić, instructor of "Politics, Power and Inequalities", Svjetlana Nedimović, instructor of "Role of Historical Truth in Conflict Transformation", and Jayne Docherty, instructor of "Strategic Peacebuilding".

One of the most interesting questions which will be discussed on the course "Politics, Power and Inequalities" is if violence is really the worst thing that can happen to us. _mg_2444_resize

The goal of the course "Role of Historical Truth in Conflict Transformation" is to "open the discussion about the ethical and political status of truth and to start a debate about the mechanisms of defining and disseminating historical truth"._mg_2449_resize

The course "Strategic Peacebuilding", held in English language, is going to deal with issues and dilemmas which occur in the process of peacebuilding in today's violent conflicts.

This year's courses will be attended by 55 participants from the former-Yugoslav region and beyond. The previous four Academy's have been attended by more than 200 participants.

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We would like to thank Mennonite Central Committee and the Balkan Trust for Democracy for financially supporting the Post-Yugoslav Peace Academy and activities of the Peace Academy Foundation.

Pictures: Branimir Prijak

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Ubleha for idiots

  • ACRONYMS (in general)

    One of the important criteria based on which the level of ublehahood is instantly determined. According to this criterion, there are the following levels: The first (highest) level: a person in his/her written communication does not write sentences containing more than 7 words, where at least 3 words are acronyms. For example: "See. Att. FYI. TBC. Send me your CV ASAP to prepare TOR." In normal language, these two sentences would go something like this: "Attached please find some fudge that is of no benefit to anybody but do keep it so you may show it in case we are happen to be asked if we considered it. You may doodle on it a little and write some comment if you can grab some time. Most likely, some jerks pulled it out of their asses as it has nothing to do with anything. By no means, if you do happen to read it, take it at face value. You are still on probation here although half a year has already passed . Write some good CV of yours and backdate it half a year ago and do try to make it compatible to what you have allegedly been doing for us over the past six months. As soon as I get it and find some time, I will rewrite it a bit and name it your job description –just to have it on hand, in case those spooks from above come by. Poselami amidžu (See) and tell him that “ that thing” is OK. " Obviously, the advantages of acronyms are unmistakeable. Time saving, confidentiality of data and transparent professionalism and perfection in technical language usage. Every layman simply has to be fascinated and has to give his/her moral approval for the high salary for the speakers in question.

from Ubleha for Idiots – An Absolutely non useful Guide for Civil Society Building and Project management for Locals and Internationals in BiH and Beyond by Nebojša Šavija-Valha and Ranko Milanovic-Blank, ALBUM No. 20, 2004, Sarajevo, translated by Marina Vasilj.