Nenad Bach, osnivač œCROWN-a (Croatian World Network) pokrenuo je akciju pomoću koje bi pomoć Hrvata iz iseljeništva stradalima u potresu, ali i inače pomoć Hrvata iz iseljeništva Domovini, trajno ostala zapisana, te pomoću koje bi svima bilo vidljivo koliko je tko i iz koje države uplatio. Bach smatra kako je hrvatsko iseljeništvo uvijek pomagalo i pomaže kad je najgore, bezuvjetno, od srca i velikodušno, a za uzvrat nikad nije tražilo ništa.
Petrinja and Sisak between the sounds of the earthquake and of classical music
In this article we provide photos and sounds commemorating the earthquake (6.2 degrees on the Richter scale) that by the end of 2020 struck the areas of the towns of Sisak and Petrinja south of Zagreb. The earthquake was felt as far as Italy and Austria. Both towns have already undergone a very slow and complex process of renovation in the period of two and a half decades after the Serbian agression on Croatia. We intersperse the presentation with photos showing its past and present. On the photo – Sisak Angels.
Elizabeth Peratrovich a native woman in Alaska and civil rights pioneer bearing Croatian second name
Elizabeth Peratrovich (1911-1958) was a native Tlingit woman and civil rights pioneer who, in 1945, was instrumental in getting the Alaska legislature to pass what historians cite as the first anti-discrimination law in America (pre-dating the Civil Rights Act by 19 years). In 1988, the state of Alaska designated Feb. 16 — the anniversary of the signing of the act — as a holiday honoring Elizabeth Peratrovich. Her second name of Peratrovich comes from her husband Roy Peratrovich. His father Ivan was born in Croatia on the island of Hvar, and arrived to California in 1860.
GoFundMe Campaign Launched To Assist With Croatian Earthquake Relief Efforts
We are monitoring the situation in Croatia following the devastating earthquake that struck near the towns of Petrinja and Sisak, and caused major damage and loss of life. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who died and are injured, all those impacted, as well as with the first responders and volunteers who continue their search and rescue operations. As global Croatian organizations, we stand united with our homeland. We call on all of our members and friends to join us.
Croatian female handball team winning bronze medal at EURO 2020 in Denmark
Near the end of Anno Domini 2020, Croatian Female Handball representation brought us a fantastic gift from Denmark, by winning bronze medal in the semifinals against the host country. Congratulations to the whole team for their efforts, as well as to the trainer and all the accompanying persons. The is the greatest success of Croatian female handball sport in history. On the photo Tea Pijević, amazing Croatian goalkeeper. Furthermore, Croatian medal is the greatest surprise of the tournament.
Croatia shining in 2020
I am sure that many of you, like me, have lived about ten lifetimes this year, the most chaotic, stressful, unpredictable and scary perhaps ever. But we are still here, hanging on, and hoping for better things. But 2020 was not such a disaster for everyone. In fact, if you take a step back from all the doom and gloom and try and look on the brighter side of life, there is an awful lot of positivity to celebrate, especially if you are Croatian. In an effort to balance the understandable depressive posts on the web, here is an ode of recognition to 25 things which made Croatia shine in the pandemic year of 2020. On the photo, an amazing cat-like Croatian island.
Branka Musulin 1917-1975 distinguished Croatian pianist
Branka Musulin, fantastic Croatian pianist, completed the Academy of Music of the University of Zagreb at the age of 19. She spent most of her pianistic life in Germany, and played under the baton of Hans Mueller-Kray, Willem Mengelberg, Hermann Abendroth, Franz Konwitschny, Karl Boehm, Georg Solti and Sergiu Celibidache. She had numerous pianist concerts throughout Europe, especially in her native Croatia and in Germany, as well as in Japan. Since 1958, she lectured at the Hochschule fuer Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Frankfurt am Main, first as Dozent and then as Professor. She should not be forgotten!
Maxo Vanka film to be made | American Sistine Chapel
Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka has the following mission: to conserve and protect for permanent public exhibition the nationally recognized Maxo Vanka Murals within St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, enabling the immigrant artist’s “gift to America” to serve as an enduring catalyst for community engagement and education, inspire social and cultural dialogue, celebrate diversity, and forge connections through reflections on the extraordinary American experience. Murals by Maxo Vanka are not just Croatian cultural heritage. Unique. One and only. The planned film should have been done 50 years ago.
MIRET ecological sneakers made with 97% natural materials
Hrvoje and Domagoj Boljar, from the town of Duga Resa near the city of Karlovac, Croatia: “We are industry insiders who have inherited a factory from our father in our 20s. We have manufactured sneakers for some of the most famous high-end brands in the world. We realised that the footwear industry is horrible to the environment. So we set out to use our manufacturing experience to really redesign shoes from bottom up and make them compatible with nature. Step into durable and comfy unisex sneakers and leave no toxic legacy to the next generations that will walk the Earth.”
Marina Jurica singing meteorologist lead commentator for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 2019
Marina Jurica graduated from UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) with two degrees: one in Meteorology and the other in Opera Performance. She is persuing both of her passions. She worked in Orlando, Florida, before becoming chief meteorologist at CBS47 in 2016. She was the first female chief meteorologist in the USA, and is still one of the few female chiefs. She appeared as professional opera singer in the Canadian tour of “Les Miserables” and debuted her own show “Seasons of Love” on Broadway in 2018. Her father is from the island of Lastovo, and mother from the city of Opatija, both in Croatia: “I am a first generation American, my ENTIRE family is Croatian. Growing up in a Croatian home and French immersion school, I became tri-lingual quickly.”. On the photo, Marina Jurica is with her son John.
Steve Rukavina behind the story about Joe Biden President-Elect of the USA
On the photo from 2010, Steve Rukavina with Joe Biden, who was back then vicepresident of the USA, now President -Elect of the USA. Steve Rukavina has Croatian roots, and he visited the land of his parents 19 times. He is very active in the NFCACF (National Federation of Croatian Americans, Cultural Foundation), as well as in fostering closer ties between Croatia and the USA. NFCA has organized more than 250 meetings with the USA Ministry of Foreign Affairs and with American diplomats. On Nov. 2020, Steve Rukavina gave an interview to Croatian journal Veeernji list.
Artur R. Bagdasarov wrote a new monograph: Croatian Language – a View from Russia
Artur R. Bagdasarov, an Armenian scholar living in Moscow, expert in Croatian language, has published a new monograph: Hrvatski jezik. Pogled iz Rusije (Croatian Language – a View from Russia), Moscow 2020, 388 pp. The book is intended primarily for Russian readers willing to learn more about Croatian language. The book can be useful to anybody, from experts to amateurs. Dr. Bagdasarov is a recipient of a prestigious INA Award for his activities in popularizing Croatian culture internationally. Furthermore, he is an author of numerous articles published in various Croatian journals.
Rent A Local – Production for everyday people
Rent A Local is a new startup founded by Anđela Prnjak with the goal of helping foreigners with all their needs in Croatia. Prnjak was a producer with vast experience in high budget foreign video projects. After she lost her job because of Corona, she reinvented herself and founded a company that would be like “a production for everyday people”. They can help you organise a sailing trip, finding an apartment or a good location for your new business. Even searching a translator, mechanic, plumber or help you out with the paperwork. They will make your stay in Croatia less stressful.
Yoko Nishii's lecture about Croatia in the Toba High School in Japan 2020
The city of Toba in Japan has a high school attended by 169 students. Yoko Nishii, living in the city of Ise close to Toba, has delivered a lecture about Croatia, its history and culture, repeated for all six classes of the school (on 25th and 26th October, 2020). Yoko Nishii has prepared 150 beautiful slides dealing with Croatia. She is not only fluent in Croatian language, but as a pianist she visited almost every corner of Croatia: she had as many as 49 soloist concerts in 24 cities throughout the country.
Croatian soccer international matches in 1940 with Switzerland and in 1990 with the USA
Nenad Bach: Svaka čast ekipi kreativaca koji su ostvarili kako sam dogadjaj tako i ovaj film koji će ući u povijest, htjeli to neki ili ne. Svaka čast Nenad Petrić, Dado Komerički i Ivan Blažičko, izvrsno ste složili ovaj film, bez dinamičke rupe, sve teče kako treba, s puno emocija i činjenica. Ivan John Opačak, što za reći nego veliko HVALA, pokazali ste svoje sportske i ljudske kvalitete. Zadnja rečenica u filmu Mladena Vedriša, zapovjednika kriznog štaba u Zagrebu za vrijeme rata te predsjednika HNS-a 1990-1994 govori sve: “Ništa manje nije bio drugačiji odnos u ratu. Bila je to bitka Davida i Golijata koju smo u ratu dobili. Prema tome mi kao nacija imamo jedan snažan potencijal. Imamo snagu za presudne momente, imamo talent …” On the photo Troy Dayak, USA soccer player, who discovered his Croatian roots in 1990.
World Peace in One Hour at the United Nations
UN Chronicle: “Is Humanity able of achieving sustainable, everlasting peace? I say YES, and the time is NOW!” Musician, composer and peace activist Nenad Bach shares his ideas for achieving “World Peace in One Hour”: https://it.ly3kvgDkN. In 1984, the year he arrived in New York, the United Nations General Assembly, by resolution 39/11, adopted the Declaration of the Right of Peoples to Peace, in which United Nations Member States solemnly proclaimed that the peoples of our planet had a sacred right to peace.
Paul Bucha recipient of the Medal of Honor has Croatian roots
Paul “Buddy” Bucha was born on August 1, 1943, in Washington, D.C. He is of Croatian descent; his paternal grandfather immigrated to the United States from the Croatian town of Našice. He graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School in 1961. An all-American swimmer in high school, Bucha was offered athletic scholarships to several universities but turned them down and attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. After graduation he earned a Master of Business Administration at Stanford University before beginning his military career at Fort Campbell. Bucha was sent to Vietnam in 1967 as a captain and commander of Company D, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment.
Nenad Bach International Newsletter No. 57: Peace Maker
Protecting the existence of all species, sustaining life on Earth, exploring outer space, tackling disease and mortality, solving the pollution problem, coexisting with the environment, electing more women to leadership positions and creating real freedom that includes true private property: world peace is a prerequisite for all of these objectives. 25 years from Pavarotti and Friends in Modena, Italy. A Call for peace in Bosnia Herzegovina. 3 months after this concert, war ended. We partnered with Steve Rowe and Aerobic Table Tennis to produce instructional videos for PingPongParkinson.
Damjan Rodin 1910-1968 Croatian priest in Brasil founder of Vila Croacia in Rio de Janeiro
Damjan Rodin was one of the first Croatian priests to move to Brazil after the Second World War, where he organised the religious and community life of the ethnic Croatian community in Sao Paulo. In Rio de Janeiro he continued his important work for Croatians and Brazilians. He was born in the Šibenik hinterland (in the town of Prvić Luka on the island of Prvić) and moved to Brazil in 1947, working as parish priest in Sao Paulo. He raised a favela in Rio de Janeiro now known as Vila Croacia, part of the Senador Camara district.