Oko! Magazine Edition 8

N°8

May / June 2020 1

Contents 4

Puppies in Distress

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Adopting a Shelter Dog

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Dog Days Off

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Zuzana Wienerovรก

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Artist in the Spotlight Barbora Kล ivskรก

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Photo Reportage Mike Kรถppe

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Architect Jakub Tejkl

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Fashioning the Future with Hemp

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The Rise of Sourdough A Cultural Moment

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The Guide to a Perfect Starter

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Fasten your E-seatbelts

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The Houseplant Hobbyist

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Climate Catastrophe Knows No Borders

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Go For Zero

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The State of Bees

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MMA in the Czech Republic

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Comic

From the Editor So far, 2020 has proven to be a year of unexpected challenges. The situation in which we find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic is affecting us all on different levels, and we are still uncertain as to what the future will bring.

With that said, it’s always important to remind yourself to stay in the present and keep moving forward. Everybody is soldiering on, and it has been no different for Oko! and our team.

Lockdown has been a struggle, and we’ve had to make some changes, such as postponing regular features like the restaurant review. But this hasn’t held us back and we’re proud to say that our eighth edition is one of our best yet.

Despite many of us being stuck indoors, the arrival of spring won’t have escaped anyone’s notice. With the turn of the season comes new life, warmer days, and often a desire to reinvent oneself with new outfits, haircuts, and perhaps a washboard stomach. But it’s attitudes we are looking to change in this edition. COVID-19 has caused many people to question the way in which we treat animals and the environment, so in this edition we’ve set our focus on bees and apiaries, zero-waste lifestyles, and climate change in the Czech Republic.

Sticking with the animal theme, this instalment of Oko! includes a special on man’s best friend. We delve into the illegal dog trade, provide advice on adoption, and bring you a selection of recommended places to take your pooch on holiday – for when the time comes!

Edition eight also includes a variety of exciting interviews with artists, innovators, and thought leaders in the Czech Republic, as well as a look into how the world’s fastest-growing sport – MMA – is faring here.

The future looks bright for Oko! and depending on how the situation with the pandemic unfolds, we hope to go to print for all future editions. The e-version of this edition is available on our website, as are many other fantastic in-depth articles complemented by stunning visuals. If you like what we do, please share our online content with friends and family and let us know what you think of Oko! Until next time, Leigh Woods Editor-in-Chief

Photos by 1) Fabrizio Verrecchia 2) Studio Reasons

Puppies in Distress

Spotlight on Illegal Dog Breeding and Animal Abuse in the Czech Republic

By Jules Eisenchteter Puppy farms are not as harmless as they may sound. On the contrary, they embody shocking animal-rights abuse occurring in the heart of one of Europe’s most dog-loving nations.

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A hub for the illegal pet trade With at least tens of thousands of dogs smuggled to Western European markets every year at much cheaper prices than legally bred ones, the Czech Republic is at the frontline of animal rights activists’ fight against one of Europe’s most lucrative illegal trades. Although its illegality makes it hard to grasp the true extent of this booming industry, the country has been described as a European hub in the continent-wide black-market pet trade, with up to 70% of these dogs – generally breeds that are high demand – being shipped to countries like Germany, Belgium, France, and Spain.

“I’m afraid there are hundreds of these farms (mnozirna),” said Sebastian Šimon, an activist who takes care of dogs from both Moravia and Slovakia. Other estimates even venture into four-digit territory. Due to its geographic location, the Czech Republic has become a gateway for illegal dog breeders, who are mostly located in the country’s western border regions, as well as a transit zone for puppy farms in countries further east, including Slovakia and Romania.

“According to some unofficial estimates, hundreds of thousands of puppies are exported from the Czech Republic every year,” warned Tereza Plicka, chair of the organisation Hlas zvířat (Voice of Animals). And while the problem has been getting worse, even following the country’s EU accession in 2004, authorities still lack the necessary means to crack down on this trade. The Czech population, with an estimated two-thirds of households owning at least a dog or a cat, remains largely unaware of the extent of the problem.

Canine cruelty In such a dog-loving country, it’s difficult to picture the dreadful circumstances in which tens of thousands of dogs make their way to loving owners’ homes. Often packed together in people’s houses (basements, cellars, or old sheds) in the most unsanitary and inhumane conditions, dogs are deprived of basic healthcare. In many cases, they are stuffed with hormones resulting in excessive breeding, often with relatives and before reaching sexual maturity. In extreme cases, activists even discovered dogs’ vocal cords had been removed in order to prevent them from barking and attracting attention.

Biological and genetic deformities become commonplace and diseases are widespread, causing more than half the puppies to perish in transit to their foreign destination. Yet the trade remains outrageously profitable: while it may cost around €50 to breed a dog, breeders can easily earn anywhere between €500 and 1,000 per animal sold abroad (tax free, of course).

The entire industry appears to be run like a transnational mafia. But the Czech culprits at the heart of this booming enterprise are not what you might expect. “Puppy farms are usually operated by an elderly couple who realised early on that it can be a way to make easy money,” Plicka explained. “Usually, the man runs business matters (such as online ads, social media, email communication, or relations with smugglers) and the woman is directly in charge of the animals.”

Despite repeated calls by activists, illegal dog breeding has been allowed to prosper due to the lack of effective legislation to allow for the prosecution of breeders and negligible penalties that were not a deterrent. And while the underfunded State Veterinary Administration is allowed to conduct welfare checks, it may only enter private dwellings after having left a formal note. Needless to say, by the time inspectors come back, illegally bred dogs and puppies have been moved and hidden somewhere else.

With years of practice, breeders know all the tricks to avoid exposure: they regularly change their nicknames or telephone numbers on advertisement websites, and are often in cahoots with canine clubs or veterinarians, who provide them with forged papers (fake vaccination documents, for example) to cover their tracks.

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Microchips and personal responsibility However, the era of impunity might be coming to an end.

Last year, it became mandatory to inject an electronic ID microchip under a dog’s fur – although the absence of any central register makes it hard to act on – while breeding establishments with more than five female adults are also required to register with the authorities.

There’s more: a new amendment to the Criminal Code directly targeting puppy farms – “a major breakthrough” according to Hlas zvířat, who spearheaded the initiative and wrote the text – was signed into law in March, establishing the new criminal offense of “breeding animals in unsuitable conditions.” Animal abusers can now be sentenced to up to six years in prison (ten years in the most extreme cases of puppy breeding) , while law enforcement authorities were given extended powers of investigation. “This basically means the Czech Republic is about to have some of the strictest criminal penalties for animal abuse,” Plicka commented. Others, like Šimon, are not as optimistic, and described the most recent measures as a “PR stunt by the government.”

Photos by Julie Orlova

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A number of additional measures are under discussion in the country, including attempts to create a legal definition of puppy farms or to create a mandatory central register by 2022. But transnational trade of this magnitude can only truly be tackled at the EU level. “This has to be followed by the adoption of harmonised mandatory microchipping at the EU level with compulsory registration,” Plicka cautioned. Echoing this view, in February MEPs voted by an overwhelming majority in favour of a resolution calling for an EU-wide action plan to crack down on the illegal pet trade.

But while actions at the top are paramount and civil society needs to maintain pressure to address the roots of the problem, ordinary citizens also have a part to play, especially in a country like the Czech Republic. This responsibility starts with being aware that even with the best intentions, one can end up supporting organised criminal activity, but that criminals will be unable to prosper as soon as we stop turning a blind eye.

Photo: Sansa, 2 years old Adopted her in January 2010 from Psí štěstí Originally from Slovakia

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Adopting a Shelter Dog

By Claire Dognini

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Photos by Julie Orlova

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Dogs are the most incredible animals. Their ability to form beautiful, loving bonds with humans exceeds that of any other species on the planet. Still, there are far too many that end up in shelters, and a great many of these dogs have suffered terrible abuse such as starvation, lifelong isolation, forced breeding, physical violence, and abandonment.

Thankfully, animal shelters have strict guidelines and policies to ensure that dogs and other rescued animals are not subjected to cruelty by their new adopters.

By choosing to adopt a dog from a shelter, you are giving an innocent animal the chance to live the rest of his or her life in peace, happiness, and dignity. But before making the decision to adopt a shelter dog, you must appreciate that your new companion should not be chosen for its looks or the colour of its fur. Any shelter worth its salt would frown on those who treat an animal as a product that needs to live up to a certain standard.

To understand whether adopting a dog is right for you and your family, you must evaluate your lifestyle. Every household is unique and different breeds and personalities suit different types of homes. Some of the basic questions you need to ask yourself include: Do you want to adopt a puppy or an adult dog? How large is your property? Do you have enough time to provide adequate exercise? Can you afford planned and unexpected veterinary bills? Do you have children or other pets? Most shelters will conduct comprehensive screenings before allowing anyone to adopt a dog and a phone interview with these types of questions is usually the first phase.

Visiting a shelter for the first time can be a very emotional experience, so animal lovers should prepare themselves mentally beforehand. Don’t be surprised to leave with a tremendous amount of hurt and guilt, but keep in mind that you have the power and potential to change a dog’s life for the better forever. The pain of leaving others behind should not stop you from adopting.

Photo: Sisi, 10 months old Adopted in October 2019 from tlapky z Korfu Originally from Korfu, Greece

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Once you have arranged a visit to the shelter and are introduced to a suitable dog, be sure to ask questions such as: What is the dog’s background? What is its health status?

Does it have any behavioural issues? Does it have any particular likes or dislikes?

For those with children or other pets, you may be asked to bring them along to see how the shelter dog will react.

Often an amazing connection is formed almost immediately, but it is important to keep in mind that some dogs will have trust issues at first on account of ill treatment suffered in the past. Remember that this is not necessarily related to their character, so don’t give up!

Once you have come to a decision on the dog you wish to adopt, most shelters will carry out the next phases in the screening process, which include pre-adoption home visits and a temporary period (usually around three weeks) of the dog living with you in your home with some unannounced visits from shelter staff. While this may seem excessive, it is important to remind yourself that it is all for the protection and care of the dog, in addition to you and your family.

Many state shelters will only allow Czech citizens or holders of permanent residence to adopt, but as there are so many dogs looking for new homes in the Czech Republic, some do allow non-residents to adopt. You can find a list of all dog shelters in the Czech Republic along with their adoption policies at pesweb.cz.

Once the screening process has been successfully completed, you will have a furry, four-legged companion for life. It can take a few weeks or even months before you and your dog establish a strong bond which is usually formed on mutual understanding, trust, and respect. Above all, be patient and provide your pooch with consistent and gentle guidance. Ultimately, this will help them to transition into their new life without any great stress. Remember that there is a reason you have chosen each other.

Photo: Amelia, 2-6 years old Adopted in January 2020 from Handipet rescue in the Czech Republic Originally from Ukraine

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The first few days are important, so ideally plan to bring the dog home at a time when you have a few uninterrupted days off. This will help with adjusting and the dog will get to know its new home and establish what the new house rules are. Ask the shelter what the dog’s feeding schedule is and replicate it for the first few days to avoid gastric distress. In case you want to change the food, make sure you do so gradually over the span of a week.

The shift can be very stressful, depending on the dog, so wait one or two days before inviting visitors over and make sure the introduction happens in a calm and controlled fashion.

There are numerous websites and books available that can advise you on how to train your new dog. However, the most important ingredients in a successful relationship are love and trust. Establishing this bond takes time, care, attention, and of course a financial commitment.

Adopting a dog from a shelter isn’t for everyone. Do your research and make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. Rescue dogs often come with issues, but many happy adopters have regained the trust of an abused animal.

In fact, some have even gone on to adopt multiple rescue animals, knowing they have given them a second chance at life.

The term “man’s best friend” refers to our millenia-long history of close relations, loyalty, and companionship with dogs. It is an interspecies relationship that has stood the test of time; the bond between man and dog is one of the most incredible and heartfelt phenomena one can experience.

Congratulations on saving your dog’s life!

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Photo: Scotty, 5 years old Adopted her in May 2016 from Psí štěstí Originally from Slovakia

Based in the Czech Republic, Psí seniori v nouzi is a rescue and rehabilitation centre for dogs aged 7 and up. All of our dogs have traumatic pasts, whether being abused, abandoned, or outstaying their welcome at other shelters. In special cases, we also provide a temporary home for dogs whose owners are no longer able to care for them adequately.

All the dogs at Psí seniorři v nouzi receive excellent veterinary care and those with behavioural issues go through comprehensive training programs.

When our dogs are ready to be adopted, we take special care to ensure that they go to families who are able to offer them the kind of love and companionship that they deserve.

For more information visit: www.psiseniorivnouzi.cz

Dog Days Off The Best Places to Take Your Dog on Holiday

By Ro Daniels Prague is one of the most densely populated European cities – at least, as far as furry friends are concerned. In 2017 a whopping 80,000 dogs were registered in the city, and the combination of plentiful parks and relaxed attitudes toward canines mean that it’s a veritable haven for man’s best friend. Even so, Fido deserves a holiday just as much as the next person. Peeing on the same lamppost day in, day out can grind a dog down.

Photo by Janusz Maniak

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Photo by Cam Bowers Pet owners might be hesitant to take their animals on holiday with them – it’s often difficult to be sure whether your chosen destination will welcome your dog with the enthusiasm for which you might hope.

In the UK, for example, dogs in restaurants raise eyebrows, and there are entire areas of the French Alps which enforce a ban on pets. Here’s Oko!’s list of our favourite destinations for the pooch on leave.

As you might expect from a country that welcomes so many tourists from the Czech Republic, Croatia is one of the most dog-friendly holiday destinations in Europe. Oko!’s recommendation is Cirkevnica, a small coastal town in the northwest of the country, which boasts lush Mediterranean countryside and superb beaches. A nine-hour drive from Prague, this area was originally settled by the Romans, and its beauty has been attracting visitors for centuries. In more recent history, tourists came for its health benefits: the clean air, hearty food, and views of the Adriatic make it an ideal site for a fortifying getaway. For the practically minded, the area (colloquially known as the Croatian Riviera) has pebbly as well as sandy beaches. A trip to the former might save the interior of your car if your dog is a fan of building sandcastles.

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If you’re looking for a beach holiday, Croatia isn’t the only option. Northern Italy is fairly accessible from Central Europe (around a ten-hour drive), and its inhabitants are generally far more accepting of dogs than their southern counterparts. Indeed, beaches that don’t allow dogs are the exception rather than the rule in this part of the world. The town of Bibione, near Venice, offers quality accommodation a mere 500m from its kilometre-and-a-half long beach. A pine forest is located in the surrounding area, so your dog can spend some time chasing sticks if he gets sick of terrorising seagulls. Dogs who enjoy digging might be better suited to off-season Bibione, though – you don’t want to upset nearby sunbathers.

For those hoping to combine mountaineering with a spot of culture, Salzburg in central Austria won’t disappoint. The baroque town is set against a stunning mountain backdrop, and the outskirts of the city include alpine pastures and clear lakes. Dogs are not required to be on a lead on most local hiking trails, but keep a look out for signage: if you accidentally take your pet into the wrong area, you could face an eye-watering €360 fine.

The city, best known as Mozart’s birthplace, welcomes thousands of tourists a year, so its infrastructure is well-developed; between museums, hikes and concerts, you won’t run out of things to do. Dog-friendly hotels are fairly sparse, though, so check their policy before you book or take a tent and stay on one of the nearby campsites.

Mountaineering types will be disappointed to hear that dogs are not allowed to summit Mont Blanc, but this shouldn’t prevent you from attempting some of the other peaks in the French Alps. A rambling holiday in this area will require some preparation, since dogs are not permitted to enter Vanoise National Park, where many popular mountains are located. With creative route planning, however, you will still be able to hike up some 3,000m peaks. The region is known for its well-marked trails, which let you know whether you should keep your dog on the lead or not. Oko! recommends asking ahead about whether accommodation is dog-friendly, because camping in the shadow of the Alps can get chilly.

If you want to hike with your puppy, but don’t fancy driving all the way to France or Austria, why not take a trip to the Tatra Mountains? This mountain range, which forms a natural border between Poland and Slovakia, has been a popular tourist destination since the publication of Daniel Speer’s tales of adventure in the region in 1683. Slovakia’s Prešovský Kraj is particularly popular with tourists from the Czech Republic, but be aware that the trails on this side of the border are closed yearly from November until June. The Polish side is accessible year-round, but there are stricter rules for dogs – not wearing a lead and a muzzle can incur a fine.

You don’t have to leave the country to take your dog on its dream holiday, though! Povydří and its surrounding area, a natural-heritage site in Šumava, represents some of the country’s most breathtaking scenery. Clear streams wind between granite boulders and through deep canyons, and most of the area is verdant woodland – perfect for the dog who loves a dip after chasing sticks.

The local village of Srní, with its picturesque traditional cottages, boasts dog-friendly restaurants and accommodation.

Photo by Jan vT

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Finding a place to swim with your dog can be challenging, and most people are resigned to wild swimming if they want to join their pooch for a paddle. However, Pobotská Jezera, located a couple of kilometres north of Starý Boleslav, offers a dog-friendly swimming pool for anyone tired of swimming in the lake. The area also contains a campsite, golfclub, event space, onsite parking, and restaurant, so it’s the ideal place for a low-stress getaway.

Holidays are our time to relax, unwind, and make the most of the world around us – there’s no better way to do that than with man’s best friend. Just don’t forget poo bags.

Photo by Jeremy Perkins

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Dog Walks Prague If sitting on a glorious, sunny hillside in the company of your dog is your idea of paradise, then Dog Walks Prague by Karen O’Rourke is the book for you! It’s brimming with topics related to our special canine companions, along with tips on the best places to hike with man’s best friend in the Czech countryside.

Dog Walks Prague has been featured in a variety of science, nature, and dog magazines, and is available at www.dogwalksprague.blog and in selected stores.

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Zuzana Wienerová

The USA Is My Country, but Prague Is My Town

By Julie Orlova

I first met Zuzana Wienerová at a small screening of Fighter, a documentary about her husband, Jan, who was an RAF pilot, the only Holocaust survivor in his family, and a political prisoner of the communist regime in the 1950s. Zuzana emigrated to the United States with him in the 1960s. Throughout the 70s and 80s, when communism and socialism were prevalent in Czechoslovakia, Zuzana and Jan taught history and languages in schools across the USA and Germany, until they eventually returned to Prague, where they played a role in the rise of Václav Havel’s democracy.

At the documentary screening, while everyone admired her husband’s heroism and the complexity of their shared history, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by Zuzana’s vitality and grace. Entering the audience, she greeted each of her students by name and began conversing with them about their upcoming visit to a gallery. Against the backdrop of exhausted 20-year-olds tortured by long days and late nights of studying, Zuzana looked remarkably fresh and vigorous.

When I had the pleasure to meet her one week later, I couldn’t help but wonder: how does one foster and maintain such an easy and joyous attitude towards life?

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You grew up here in what was formerly known as Czechoslovakia. What is your earliest memory?

My earliest memory is sitting in the sidecar of my father’s motorcycle while travelling to the Šumava mountains to ski. My next memory is of the phone ringing in our apartment and watching my mother cry soon after picking it up. She carried me into the living room, opened her sewing box, and found little black velvet ribbons to put them in my little braids. My father had just died in a motorcycle accident. I was only four years old.

I was spoilt, being the only daughter with three brothers I admired and loved. I copied everything from them – I was skating and cycling. We loved nature and were hiking everywhere with our mother. I remember living on the farm in the summer, harvesting potatoes and feeding the geese.

What was it like growing up under the communist regime?

I was a rebellious teen. We girls dyed our tights red and were rebuked at school. I wasn’t in the svazák (Komunistický svaz mládeže, the Communist Youth Union), so I was watched at school. By that time I had already met Jan, who was renting a room in our apartment. He told us his life story, about the Holocaust and the people who were tortured and executed. I remember being reprimanded at school for dating a Jew and it made me so angry. I was lucky they didn’t throw me out of school.

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When did you leave Prague?

I was in the second year of the psychology programme at Charles University when I left Prague. Jan was invited by Eleanor Roosevelt, who was an acquaintance of his aunt, to teach at Windsor Mountain School in Lenox, Massachusetts. She thought it would be enriching for American students to have an educator from central-eastern Europe. We were interrogated, but eventually got permission to go just for one year. I was shocked when Jan suddenly told me that we weren’t going to be returning. I didn’t think I could leave my mother and my friends in Prague. Jan said I was free to return, but that he’d had enough. But I never thought about leaving him, I loved him too much.

How was the new start in America?

It was very hard. First of all, I was only 20 years old, I was away from my family and didn’t know Jan’s family too well. Jan’s love helped me get through it. A year later I started teaching Russian at school. I improvised a lot. I remember my first lesson was an hour and I was done after 20 minutes. Luckily, my students were only two years younger than me, so we grew to be friends.

I always had things to do. I worked at a friend’s B&B in the summer, at a nursery school, as a caterer. In 1975, the school where we taught closed and we moved to Arizona. Then later we moved to Germany to teach.

How did you adjust to starting from scratch again and again?

At first, you work a lot, it is a great distraction. Gradually I was becoming more adventurous. I was addicted to new people and environments, different rules and habits, and learning multiple languages. It was so enriching and after a while, I couldn’t imagine living in one place for my whole life. I enjoyed learning, discovering and experiencing.

What are your favourite memories from your time in the States?

America in the late 60s was an interesting time, politically and culturally. We would go to Washington to protest against the Vietnam War. We were a part of the hippie movement, wearing cowboy boots and putting flowers in our hair. Even in the winter we would visit the ocean at Cape Cod and Jan would carry our daughter Tanya around while she would play with his grey locks. We loved our life there.

Was it always a bed of roses with him?

Of course not. With the wild spirit came a terrible temper. Since the time we got married, I was financially dependent on him. My English wasn’t perfect, so I could only start teaching later on. And when I became more independent, I developed some friendships and we would go to the city because we shared a love of art and culture. Jan would get very upset and angry. One time he pulled off the tablecloth, yelling, “Why do you have to go again?!” and wouldn’t speak to me for a week.

Jan taught you to be a fighter. Do you think you taught him any life lessons? Did you change him?

I think I taught him how to be a father and to love the children. His first marriage happened right after he came back from the frontline. They had children right away and he was not ready to be a father. It was difficult because he was still persecuted, so he felt that he didn’t succeed in that respect. But with our children, he made sure that he gave them all the time and love he could.

How did that period change you?

What was your first visit to Prague like?

When we were in Arizona teaching, my mother died. She was killed by a drunk driver. The first thing my Jan said was, “You go and teach. Don’t sit here and cry. You’ll have to do something to get away from this.” And I did.

After everything that Jan went through, he was so strong.

Nothing and nobody could do anything to him anymore.

Now he was putting it on me. I had to learn to be a fighter from him. I loved his wild spirit and his courage.

We tried to visit as soon as we got American citizenship in 1972. We thought they’d let us back if we had American passports, but they denied us entry in Washington. Consequently, we decided to go through Europe, so we went to France and then drove in our Jeep with the kids. In every capital, in every Czech embassy we asked for permission to enter. Paris, Luxembourg, Bonn, Vienna, Budapest. And we got all the way to the Black Sea and Sofia. There they saw our beautiful little Tanya, only a year and a half old, who spoke Czech and was singing. Perhap they didn’t have any instructions yet and they gave us the visa. Jan drove as fast as he could, all night and all day to our homeland to be reunited with family and friends.

But we successfully came to Prague and met with my family and friends. Our children had a very Czech summer together – going to the cottage in the mountains and mushroom hunting, hiking, making bonfires, and singing Czech songs. After that, we came almost every summer. And now it is vice versa, I spend the school semesters here in Prague and visit my children in America during the holidays.

Photos from Zuzana Wienerová’s personal archives

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You were right at the centre of the birth of democracy in the Czech Republic, right?

From Germany, we moved back to take part in Havel’s presidential campaign. We had a very special and interesting time, meeting wonderful people who had suffered during the communist occupation and who were ready to help establish the democratic system in Czechoslovakia. We spent a lot of time with our old friends who came back after having to emigrate. The surge of hope was so contagious and you could see it everywhere. It united people like no other occasion. It was an unique time. I think it was the first and last time that the people of this land felt so united. I was very moved, and I am so grateful that we could witness it all unfold from the frontrow. There is a photograph of Jan and Václav Havel on the balcony at Wenceslas Square at Občanské fórum (Civic forum, December 1989 – ed.), with hundreds of thousands of people below. While up there, Jan kind of hesitated and stepped back and Havel said: “You’re not afraid, are you? You’re a pilot, right?” But I think he was a little bit, because it was so high up.

And now you are a residential and cultural coordinator at ECES, Charles University.

That’s right. I am a kind of cultural guide for American students who come from all over the States and have never been to a great theatre or opera or never heard jazz live. Prague is a metropole, a cultural gem. I introduce my students to architecture from the 6th century to contemporary, Romanesque, Renaissance and Cubism, we listen to classical music at the Symphony Hall or to chamber music in churches. Then we go to a café where we discuss art. I encourage them not to focus only on the grand and historical art in the centre of Prague, but to take the subways and trams and go to the last station, see the horrendous Stalinist architecture and go to the pubs and parks where they will only hear Czech. I’ve been doing it since 1992, so I see some of my students coming back, settling here and having families. I feel that I have contributed to the development of their human values. In some ways, when you feel that you have touched one human being, you hope that they will touch many more.

How would your students describe you?

plate. Jan never cared about money. His passion was history, while mine was art. Our shared passion was our family, our love and shared interests which became the core of our life (sorry for being cheesy). So I would never trade it for anything else. The dorm that I live in now is in a lovely part of Prague near the castle, with Petrín, Ladronka, and Hvězda parks nearby. If anything gets broken I just make a call and it’s repaired for me right away. Besides, my place is very spacious and cosy. To be honest, renting an apartment in Prague would make my lifestyle unattainable. I could never travel and visit my friends in Provence and Amsterdam or London. So I’m not complaining at all. And I think it’s also nice for the students to know that there’s somebody that they can talk to and get mental support from at all times, especially now.

When I was teaching Czech at NYU, one of my students made a mistake and wrote “Můj učitelka je chutná” – “My teacher is delicious”. I think it shows that I didn’t teach her too well. I think I have a great connection with them since I live with them at the dorm. I sit with them at breakfast and I help to solve their problems, and we often spend the weekends together. I love what I’m doing and I think they can see that.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Tell us more about living in the dorm.

America is my country, but Prague is my town. When my friends ask me if I feel more American or Czech? To that, I say that I indeed feel more American. It’s because I went there when I was very young and I started my life journey right there. I had my children there, who consider themselves American, and I have my dear friends who I’ve known for half a century. So I am very grateful for the life I’ve had in the United States, but not being able to visit Prague often would be very painful. I’m very privileged and fortunate that I have the balance of living in this metropole, teaching, working, and being able to visit my family and my friends in America.

Oh, I enjoy living in the dorm, and I’ll tell you why. As I mentioned, I’m not much of a materialistic person. I’ve never had a dishwasher. My husband and I never made a lot of money. We always prioritized family, teaching and exploring new cultures. During our first six years together we lived in a student room which had two beds, two writing desks, a shower, and a little corner with a hot

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I would tell her “Go after your passion and love.” And I did it anyway, it was completely fulfilled. I wouldn’t change anything. The only thing is that I would have had more children. Now at the age of 75, which is my favourite age, looking at all my experiences, all the loving and inspiring people around me, life on two continents.

Where all the cool cats and dogs hangout!

Our aim is to provide sanctuary for dogs and cats finding themselves forgotten, homeless, injured, neglected, and in need of a “home before a home.” We rely solely on the generosity of the public.

Volunteers are welcome to come and walk our dogs, play with our cats, help socialise, walk, clean, make improvements, and share the love.

Founded by Jaq, a British expat living in the Czech Republic, and a group of dedicated friends and volunteers of different nationalities, Cool Critters is based in a countryside farmhouse an hour north of Prague. Love is the most important thing an abandoned animal needs.

Kadlín 21, Mšeno U Mělníka 277 35 +420 607 901 042‬ hello@coolcritters.org www.facebook.com/jaqscoolcritters

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Artist in the Spotlight Barbora Křivská

How an Artist’s Heart is Sewn

By Jacklyn Janeksela

Taking being multi-talented to a new level, Barbora Křivská works across the mediums of painting, glass blowing, and textile art. Her predilection for the arts started very early, as she recalls. “Even as a little girl, I used to enjoy making things. I was always busy cutting shapes out of paper, gluing, and carving.”

For Křivská, there was no mistaking where her life would lead. When asked how she became an artist, her response is simple and honest, “It was the only thing that I could do. I didn’t do very well at school.”

Born for an artist’s life, her vision quickly grew.

While she has the true heart of a painter, she made a bold decision when it came to learning a trade that would support her artistic endeavors while still having an artistic foundation. Her decision was one born of creativity and practicality. “Later I realised that what I wanted to do the most was to paint. When I was deciding what school to go to, I thought that studying painting would not be enough.

I needed to learn a trade. I could always paint. And so I applied for and eventually got accepted to the glass studio at the Academy of Arts.”

Some of Křivská’s idols include Henri Matisse, Louise Bourgeois, Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Francis Bacon. However, one of the biggest influences in her artistic career was one of her professors at the Academy of Arts. “Vladimir Kopecky is fantastic. Not just as an artist, but also as a person. He has always been kind to his students, he never stressed us, nor pushed us into anything. He is, however, a big personality, and so we listened to him and didn’t want to disappoint him.”

Inspired by a teacher with a go-with-the-flow attitude, it’s no wonder that Křivská found herself drawn to several areas of art, exploring each one with organic panache. Crossing artistic boundaries burgeons into transformation. “I quite like the fact that beside working with glass, I also paint and sew, which is quite liberating. Each discipline has its merits.”

Her ability to approach new projects in an innovative way speaks to her flexibility. Rather than escape challenges, she embraces them.

And she has a vision for each project, saying, “I imagine where the objects are going to be placed and who will be looking at them, so that they become part of and correspond with the surroundings.The interplay is important to me.”

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When the going gets tough, as it often does in any artistic field, Křivská perseveres.

“I try to move forward with every single new project, I do not want to freeze in one spot. I always want to move on.” It’s one thing to start a project, but another to finish.

Křivská is an artist of integrity, a highly coveted trait in any arena these days.

She adds, “For me what is most important is the actual process. I try not to waste time. I do not have a website. Maybe it is a shame, maybe I am losing contact with the outside world, but on the other hand I have more time to do my own work.” The words of a true artist. It’s refreshing that artists like Křivská still exist in an old-fashioned sphere, practicing the methods of the masters .

Her process also involves serious observation of nature and people in particular.

She studies light and interconnectedness, relationships between people and things.

There’s a psychology to the shadows between objects and between people that catches her eye. “Almost everything I do is abstract art, but it always has a concrete content – based on surroundings.”

Her art is about igniting emotions. Even as a witness to other people’s art, she feels a surge of energy flowing into and around her body, and “if somebody can feel the same with my art, then I have won.”

Křivská has found a rhythm to her multi-dimensional artistic lifestyle, “I oscillate amongst the different techniques, depending on the mood and the nature of the contracts. Each one of them has their pros and cons, and demand different input.”

And she is well aware of how each artistic expression manifests and exists within her body, stating that, “embroidery is contemplative, painting is a battle, and working in the glass factories is a long process – although with a fantastic result at the end.”

She’s had enough experience with each medium that she can fine-tune them into minimal descriptions.

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With a big studio in Prague, it’s quite easy for her to immerse herself in her art, unless she has a longing for glass blowing, which takes her to a glass factory occasionally.

She has acquired many utensils throughout the years that make painting and textile art interesting. There’s a sense that no matter what object or material she touches, we can expect an artistic result. “I like everything I work with,” Křivská says. We haven’t even mentioned that she works with wood, too.

Her childhood has more answers to her artistic path and gives us a stained glass Bohemian window into her first interactions with artistic splendour. Her artistic fire was first ignited by her architect father who took her on walking tours of Prague.

Moments of architectural delight were fleeting because she was very much aware that she liked to make things with her own hands, which was not possible in architecture.

When it comes to textile art, she describes how she enjoys working with fabric and thread. “Maybe it is part of being a woman.

One calms down during this type of work and thoughts just flow in one’s head. I tend to use old fabric that I unstitch and recycle. The object is full of memories that somebody has worn.”

About glass blowing, she remarks, “What is nice about glass is the time one spends imagining what the result is going to be. It has few limitations leading one where they might not have gone otherwise.”

When asked what lesson she would like to teach to all new artists finding their path and medium, she responds with, “Stay who you are. Be strict with yourself and continue to learn.” And she supports the belief that “the main strength of an individual is being humane,” which is evident not only in her art, but also in the way she perceives the entire world.

Photos from Barbora Křivská

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Photo Reportage Mike Köppe Colours of Prague

Prague is a city loved by the masses. Every year, up to ten million people flock to the Czech capital, making it the fourth most popular European city among travellers after London, Paris, and Rome.

The project’s activities are designed to connect people and foster dialogues where shared knowledge, thoughts, and experiences inspire participants to bring innovative ideas to the table.

The charming streets, rich history, and laid-back culture that draw in tourists are all perks of living here, but we who call this magnificent metropolis home see it for more than just its holiday-destination appeal.

Prague is also a city of great diversity, brimming with innovators, entrepreneurs, and progressive spirits.

But it doesn’t stop there. Colours of Prague and its partners also support Smiling Crocodile, a non-profit organisation which enables children with special needs in disadvantaged situations to enjoy life through various fun, educational programs and integration with the world around them.

Colours of Prague is a social-art project celebrating these people. They are the individuals that strive to make Prague and the wider community a more creative, visionary, and open-minded place through different initiatives.

Get inspired by reading the stories of some of those who are involved. Perhaps you will become one of them, because “it starts with you.

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You can find Colours of Prague at Facebook/coloursofprague Photos by Mike Köppe

Assem (Saudi Arabia)

Kraig (USA)

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April (USA)

Frank (New Zealand)

Dagmar (Czech Republic)

Zach (USA)

Architect Jakub Tejkl The Ayurveda Pavilion

Where Spirituality and Nature Meet Modern Technology

By Michal Capek

Jakub Tejkl studied architecture at the Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design in Prague before co-founding his first company in 2011 and then moving on to his current studio, Architektura1.

His Ayurveda Pavilion project at the Svatá Kateřina resort won the Czech Construction of the Year Award in 2019. It is a recent addition to the resort, which is located in the countryside between the towns of Pelhřimov and Telč. It is situated on the original location of the Svatá Kateřina spa, built over the course of the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Ayurveda Pavilion was designed in an ancient architectural style, using basic traits of form and shape, and built using natural materials.

The aim of the project is to bring visitors closer to a more natural way of life, but supported by modern technology. It is a fusion of the natural and modern worlds.

Photo by David Švehla

Mg.A. Jakub Tejkl Photo from architektura1.cz Ancient temples were built in regular forms with repeating elements and evenly spaced and sized layouts. In the Ayurveda Pavilion, we can see this in the evenly spaced columns on the exterior, and in the supports, which are further pronounced as they aren’t covered by elements such as ceilings or walls.

Another special characteristic of the pavilion is its layout.

A bird’s eye view of the structure allows you to see corridors forming the main route leading to individual relaxation rooms. This main route goes around the entire layout, forming a kind of circuit.

This allows guests to walk continuously and relax while meditating. This experience is further supported by the aforementioned elements – the columns and ceiling joists forming repeated patterns, making all areas look similar, which creates the effect of oneness or stillness. One of the pavilion’s most unique features is its curtains, which are designed in the form of teepee covers. On the one hand they are spaced evenly apart just like the wooden columns and stone supports; on the other, they can spread out and come together to form something like a cloak. However, they will most likely be used by guests to regulate the degree of their separation from the outside world.

These are all elements of Classical architecture. It was prevalent in both Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece.

Tejkl uses the associated methods, combining them with modern technologies in order to return some of the fundamental principles of architecture to our modern lives. He decided to do so because he believes that, more often than not, modern architecture lacks these principles or falls short of them. Today’s architecture does not need to be bound by any principles, thanks to modern technology. But Tejkl realised that without principles that have a positive effect on our soul and our being, there isn’t much use to progress in architecture.

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He mentioned that living areas today aren’t designed in a way that lifts the soul and relaxes the body and mind.

This was very important to the Greeks and Romans in establishing the Classical style.

Tejkl believes the spiritual effect of a building on humans is not really accounted for in modern architecture, where more emphasis is placed on cost-effectiveness while maximising the square footage for commercial purposes.

When it comes to the choice of materials, the focus has also been on finding and selecting the most economical options, such as plastic or other unnatural materials.

This is why the Ayurveda Pavilion and other Tejkl projects, such as the Jewish Museum in Prague and the Kostel v Doupovských horách (the church in the Doupov mountains) were designed to use natural materials and be more spiritual in nature, with wood more often, but sparsely, used as the main structural element.

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Buildings can provide many great opportunities for thresholds between the interior and exterior, bringing guests or residents closer to nature. Tejkl states that entrances to buildings should feel like a “pathway to home,” a journey from the outside world into the private world. This is a principle which is showcased in the Ayurveda Pavilion and one which he wants to bring into his future projects.

He plans to move on to more commercial projects, where he aims to retain the natural elements and the principles used in previous projects to give the buildings’ future residents the best of both worlds.

Photos by David Švehla, Lina Nemeth and Filip Šlapal

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Fashioning the Future with Hemp Oko!’s Guide to Sustainable Fashion Climate change is happening and we cannot ignore the world’s most pressing environmental issues any longer. While teenagers are appealing to politicians and scientists are on the hunt for beef alternatives, the fashion industry – the second-largest polluter after the fuel industry – has started encouraging sustainable and conscious consumption. In response to mounting pressure from environmental activists and non-profit organisations like Greenpeace and Peta, more and more brands are implementing eco-friendly strategies. They are adopting a more conscious approach to production, using fewer chemicals and even making garments out of recycled plastic. But the direction the fashion industry takes is ultimately down to the consumer.

Humanity is laying a trap for itself, destroying enormous areas of forest – the figurative lungs of our planet – to create more space for cotton plantations. Most of the clothing in our closets is the driving force behind this mass destruction. As people are becoming more aware of climate change, the pressure is on to find solutions – and the most obvious answer is to invest in fewer, more expensive, but ethically made clothing items that will last longer.

By Julie Orlova

To combat the problems that come with fast fashion, many designers have turned to hemp. Not only has it become a popular cotton alternative, but the fabric of choice in Europe. This includes the Czech Republic, where hemp clothing is produced locally, making it a more sustainable option.

Hemp’s comeback is not surprising considering its rich history. It was the earliest plant cultivated for textile fibre, with records of its use in textiles dating back as far as 8000 BC. Paper, clothing, rope, and oakum were all made out of hemp, making it the first example of human industry. Until the 1930s, 80% of garments were made from hemp textiles, grown all over the globe. In North America, where growing fossil-fuel-based companies, like newspaper moguls and the lumber industry, saw hemp as a threat to their business. The production of hemp was banned, and since then a wider audience has known it only for its medicinal uses or simply as “that thing that gets you high.” Now, as people are becoming more aware of the unsustainable nature of the fashion industry, hemp is once again set to become the fabric of the future.

Photo by Andi Rieger

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Why buy less?

Why buy smarter?

The mass production of clothes is a relatively new phenomenon – it only started in the 20th century. Before that, clothes were sewn to order and, with rare exceptions, were not replaced until they were worn out. Today, due to inexpensive brands promoting fast fashion, we buy clothes and throw them away in huge quantities every season. Between 2000 and 2014, the number of clothes purchased increased by an average of 60% annually. At the same time, a lot of natural resources (water, wood, and oil) are wasted on production and transportation. To make one cotton shirt, you need 2.5 thousands litres of water – the same amount can be used to make 19 cups of black coffee or two Margherita pizzas. If these numbers don’t faze you, try considering how many cotton shirts are sold every day (approximately 2.7 million) and how much water is poured into their production.

The British and Scandinavian trend of investing in high-quality clothing is gaining popularity worldwide. This means that we contribute less to the growth of production volumes and, as a result, save the Earth’s resources and reduce the amount of rubbish on the planet. Hemp is a favourite in this respect as well.

Meanwhile, hemp production puts less strain on the environment. Compared to cotton, hemp needs 50% less water and 95% less pesticide, fungicide, herbicide, and insecticide to grow. Besides, the European climate is ideal for the cultivation of industrial hemp (used for fabric production), thus avoiding unnecessary imports from distant countries. As if that is not enough, the hemp plant is one of the world’s best CO2 sinks; its remarkable growth rate puts it above any forest or industrial crop.

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T-shirts, towels, and shoes made from hemp are much more durable than the same items made from a mixture of polyester and cotton, which means they will serve you longer. As well as being made to last, hemp clothing is naturally antimicrobial, which helps your body and feet to stay fresh and odourless. Moreover, thanks to its thermoregulatory properties, hemp clothing will keep you cool during the summer and warmer in the winter.

Photo by Anastasia Shuraeva

Why buy ethically?

To buy or not to buy?

Ethical fashion involves not only the choice of quality materials but also the assurance of fair working conditions. After the 2013 tragedy at the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh, more people started asking themselves who was making their mass-market clothes. A total of 1,138 employees died when the eight-storey building collapsed due to unsafe conditions. And now, seven years later, the working conditions in many factories are still far from safe.

If you can afford to buy ethically made clothes, it could be argued that you have a moral obligation to do so.

Hemp (as we hope we have proven) is a great option.

It is sustainable, undemanding, and has many applications. Its biggest drawback is the stigma around marijuana, behind which the rich history and benefits of hemp get lost. To be clear: no, a hemp sock can’t get you stoned. There’s not enough THC in it (less than 0.3%), so no psychotropic or euphoric effects for the user or wearer.

The production of some synthetic fabrics is dangerous to human health. Polyester is made from petroleum, while cotton is heavily chemical. In some places, the people who make them get paid a measly $8 a week and have a high chance of getting a respiratory illness.

Brands with an ethical approach spend money on safe, durable materials in production, pay a decent salary, and provide all the necessary social benefits for their employees. All this, of course, is reflected in the final price.

So maybe it’s time to get high on the idea of being sustainable, reducing our carbon and water footprint, paying the retail industry the wages it deserves, and looking stylish while doing it. Hemp is the answer. Wear responsibly.

Photo by Rui Silvestre

Fewer chemicals are used in the production of hemp, which means a smaller impact on human health, as the people involved in production are exposed to fewer toxic chemicals. And since it’s indigenous to Europe, the production of hemp is inexpensive, so it won’t be as hard on your wallet as you might think. A pair of trainers will cost you around 1,700Kč, and a T-shirt goes for around 600Kč.

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The Rise of Sourdough A Cultural Moment

By Anna West

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The months-long lockdown has collectively thrust us back into our home kitchens, presenting opportunities as well as challenges for intrepid home cooks.

The recent run on supermarkets and the temporary interruption of certain global food-supply chains has led to some measure of food insecurity in the Czech Republic. Despite businesses reopening and lockdown measures loosening, the country is still reeling from the aftershock of more than two months of sustained economic contraction. With governments and citizens belt-tightening and our attention turned indoors for the near term, many home cooks are looking to tried-andtrue culinary methods for cooking inspiration.

Among the foods that have recently recaptured our attention – such as the humble bean – is sourdough bread. The advent of sourdough dates back to before Pliny the Elder described the bread-making method in his work Natural History. In fact, one of the oldest sourdough breads ever discovered dates back to 3700 BCE. Historians believe though that sourdough fermentation likely began with the emergence of agriculture several thousand years earlier.

While sourdough has been made for millennia, one of the reasons that the bread-making method has surged in popularity is due to the recent shortages of staples like yeast in supermarkets across the Czech Republic. Czech food blogger and gastro-journalist Dagmar Heřtová wrote in a recent iRozhlas article that since 2005, when the last Czech yeast factory closed, the country has become an importer of baker’s yeast.

Since bakers can no longer rely on markets to supply them with baker’s yeast, known as droždí in Czech, they have turned to sourdough as a means of baking bread at home.

The difference between sourdough bread and other breads that you might find in the supermarket lies in the source of the yeast. Most industrially made loaves are made using baker’s yeast, packaged live yeast fungi that have been dried into a powder. Bakers re-activate the yeast by adding room-temperature water, sugar, and flour. The chemical reaction that occurs from the yeast in the dough metabolising the starches and sugars is what ultimately gives rise to leavened

Photo by Annie Spratt

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bread.

Meanwhile, sourdough is made from the fermentation of dough using naturally existing wild yeasts and bacteria. The wild yeasts create sour acids in the loaf, giving sourdough bread its distinctive tangy flavour.

Sourdough yeast fungi are kept as “starter cultures,” a liquid medium of a fermented mixture of flour and water that is constantly kept alive. Often referred to as the mother yeast for its propagating qualities, a small part of the culture is used by the baker to create a new loaf.

Typically, the starter is fed flour and water 4-12 hours prior to being added to dough, creating an active leaven that grows in size and is then mixed with more flour and water to make a final dough.

A baker can create a sourdough starter on their own by capturing wild yeast that naturally exists in the air.

However, many bakers receive an active starter from someone they know. Often, like heirlooms, starters are passed down in a family. Because of the starters’ essential role in baking and the unique flavour imparted by different varieties of yeast, sourdough cultures can be a prized possession that bakeries hold on to as proprietary information. In fact, a library located 140 kilometres southeast of Brussels in Belgium houses the world’s most extensive collection of sourdough starters ever to be catalogued. The archive contains 125 special starters that showcase and preserve diverse varieties of yeast for future generations to study.

In the Czech Republic, where about 40 kilograms of bread is consumed per capita annually, one of the

Photo by Jonathan Pielmayer

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most-liked breads is the classic Czech sourdough loaf, the Šumava chléb. The traditional Šumava rye loaf is oval in shape and has a dark golden-brown crust and soft interior. It has a distinct sour taste with hints of caraway from the seeds often present in the bake. The bread, which has many variations, was popularized in the 1850s by Czech baker František Serafín Odkolek, the owner of the eponymous baking empire that emerged from a single mill on Prague’s Kampa Island.

Today the Šumava loaf can be found in virtually every bakery and supermarket in the country.

More recently, varieties of sourdough breads that are common abroad have made their way to the Czech market. In Prague, Icelanders David Arnórsson and Gudbjartur Gudbjartsson teamed up in 2018 to open the popular Artic Bakehouse. With two locations, on Újezd and Myslíkova, the bakery sells a signature sourdough bread called Artic Monk, as well as other Nordic baked goods that have become bestsellers among locals and tourists alike. The French-inspired Le Caveau bakery in Vinohrady also offers an alternative to rye-based sourdoughs.

If you want to make sourdough on your own and you do not have a friend or family member who can supply you with a starter, online markets exist for buying wild cultures. Some online stores even offer starters from as far away as San Francisco, widely regarded as the mecca of sourdough bread. Perhaps, if you are lucky, your favourite local bakery will part with a piece of their mother starter, giving you the start you need to bake your own.

Photo by Mae Mu

Authentic Italian Sourdough Bread 1kg 25g 15g

600/ 650 ml

Semola Rimacinata flour (can be bought at a speciality shop) Salt

Fresh yeast Water

Step 1: In a small bowl, crumble your yeast and add two or three tablespoons of water.

Let it sit for a few minutes or until you see small bubbles appear.

Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, add your flour and slowly mix in half of your water.

Introduce the yeast and continue mixing until you have used approximately 600ml of your water. Add in the salt before the dough combines. You can use the remaining water if your dough is a bit too dry.

TIP: Do not mix in the yeast and salt at the same time, or you risk killing the yeast.

Step 3: Once you have a smooth dough that stretches, but does not break, let it rest at room temperature for at least an hour. You can cover the bowl with a damp cloth to make sure the dough does not dry out.

Step 4: Preheat your oven to 230°C. Step 5: Once the dough has risen, take it out of the bowl and place it on a work surface.

Shape the bread into either one large or two smaller loaves.

Step 6: Rest your loaves on a baking tray for 30 minutes or until doubled in size.

Step 7: Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the crust is golden brown on top and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

TIP: For an extra-crunchy crust, fill a small ovenproof bowl with water and put it at the bottom of your oven during baking. This will increase the humidity inside your oven.

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Recipe from Piero Barone at Sesamo bakery Brno

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Fasten Your E-Seatbelts What You Need to Know About Online Safety & Privacy

By Dominik JeĹžek

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The term “cyber security” sounds so obscure and ominous, the vast majority of people just nod and switch off their brains. The same people then get surprised when hackers hijack their Instagram, steal money from their bank account, or leak their private conversations. The good news is that basic IT diligence protects you from 99% of cyber-attacks and does not require you to understand geeky tech talk. The even better news is that the biggest IT threat to you is you.

Think before you post As the old Chinese proverb goes, the faintest ink is more powerful than the strongest memory. You can burn paper and crush CDs, but can’t erase the ink-ternet. You may well decide to mark your Facebook photos as only viewable by your friends, but you never know when and where they repost them publicly. Not only that, the social media giant can reuse your content without being sued and, according to The Telegraph, even transfer or sub-license those to someone else. Don’t be so shocked. If you have a Facebook account, you agreed to this in its terms of service by clicking on the “Sign up” button.

Yes, Facebook can basically use all the photos you upload there how it sees fit. That’s why it assures the usage is “subject to your privacy and application settings,” but, then again, the company reserves the right to amend the terms at any time. If you want to see the truckload of data Facebook keeps about you, open their website and go to Settings/Your Facebook Information/Download your information. It’s a somewhat scary dozens-of-gigabytes reality check.

Despite their best efforts and regulation, such as GDPR in the EU, all online platforms can expose your personal data. Examples include the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018, the major Google+ security bug in the same year, or, to give you a local example, the popular dating site Libimseti.cz data leakage in 2008 where more than 1,100 girls saw their intimate password-protected pictures spreading over the Internet like a bad rash.

The Wenceslas Square Analogy Clearly, your online life is not fully in your hands and no amount of status updates with extensive copy-pasted declarations on your privacy rights protection will change that. Last Week Tonight's host John Oliver said it best: “Unfortunately, you might as well be posting this (a) picture of a sloth revealing a woman’s cleavage because it would grant you literally the same legal rights.”

While this all might seem a bit disheartening, don’t give up and set everything to publicly visible because now you think your privacy settings don’t matter. They actually do help a lot. Keeping your Facebook posts only to your friends gives you an initial level of protection and there are very useful features, such as timeline and tagging settings where you select the option that everyone needs your approval before tagging you on a photo. As for Google, doing the quick Security and Privacy Checkups in your account settings comes in handy as well.

My rule of thumb is to imagine the Internet as Wenceslas Square. Will I announce to everyone what I just had for breakfast or share a photo of me looking drunk from last night’s party? What about a stylish picture where you can see someone’s car number plate or a credit card number? Thinking of everything you share online as public, no matter your privacy settings, might save you some unwanted surprises and explanations in the future.

Photo by Markus Spiske

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Pass-worthy management

Ultrademonically mega cool

We’ve briefly run through how you can best protect yourself from yourself. Now it’s time to defend ourselves against hackers and scammers. The first line of defence is password management. There are articles galore with various suggestions on this subject. The more services you use, the more passwords you should have, but trying to remember all of them resembles playing Pexeso on “hell” difficulty level. Fortunately, there is something called a password manager to remember them for you.

To give you the full package, these apps also act as password generators. But if you’re still on the fence or just want to take matters into your own hands, no worries. You don’t need to be a cryptology guru to make up a strong password. Make it more than 12 characters long, mix them up, avoid common substitutions, and don’t use memorable keypaths. Easy, right?

The first go-to options, Chrome Password Manager and iCloud Keychain, run into two problems. First, you don’t want to have all your eggs in one basket, and second, they are far from being universal. You can also use your Facebook or Google account to log in on many websites.

Here, you still face the egg-basket and universality issues, plus you need to evaluate the websites’ demands upon logging in. Do some of them really need access to your Facebook friend list, interests, and birthday?

That’s why 1Password, Dashlane, LastPass, or their hardware alternatives are much better choices. You give them a password and they remember it for you, while offering superb protection from hackers. Even in the very improbable case of defeat, they usually have some tricks up their sleeves.

In 2015, hackers successfully broke into LastPass servers. Although they breached its security, they were unable to steal any information. That’s because LastPass users protect their passwords with one Master Password, which the company stores outside of its servers. This additional layer of protection prevented any harm to users.

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For instance, “mousefootballsorrylunch” is a great beginning. Due to its length and random word order, it is hard to crack and easy to remember. Just picture a mouse apologizing it can’t go play football with you because it is having lunch. See, you have already remembered it.

Since it has four random common words, it’s much harder to crack than, for example, “8Kslav!aprah&” which is relatively short and uses common substitution.

Although it looks counterintuitive, cybersecurity mathematics add up and you would be surprised how much safer the first option is. Now up the effort with capitalisation and some symbols and numbers, and you have the ultrademonically mega cool password “moUse^foOtball3soRry^luNch”.

You are understandably happy with your new password right until you realise how many online accounts you have. Then you read that security experts from a certain online company advise you to change it every month.

When you have 30 online accounts, it means making up 360 unique and strong passwords every year. That’s creativity and memory overload, but that’s not the only problem here.

Photo by Mnahel Abdul Hadi

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Photo by George Prentzas

Change = bad?

Here, Phishy, Phishy

First of all, hackers don’t wait for a month. If they gain access to your account, they’ll probably use it right away to cause damage. They also don’t hold on to it to snoop on you because it is not very profitable and nowadays hackers are mostly after profit. On top of that, changing your passwords regularly might actually lower your security because you are likely to start using weaker passwords and reusing them across multiple accounts.

2FA means you have to confirm the login with biometrics, such as a fingerprint or face scan, a one-time code sent to your phone number via text message, or an external security token. It is a bit of a pain, but improves your security exponentially.

Think about the danger of someone hacking your amazingbaking.com account where you only discuss recipes. You would, of course, change your password immediately after you found out the database had been stolen, but other than that, there’s not much sense in changing a password regularly on this site. If you’re not sure, you can check if your accounts have been compromised with various tools, such as Have I Been Pwned?, DeHashed, or Google Password Checkup.

Internet banking, e-mail or social media are a different story. Looking at the sensitivity of the data, password changes every 90 days makes more sense. But even the best of passwords can’t fully protect you.

I like to tell the story of my friend whose Instagram account was hijacked about three years ago. Years of photos lost, but no other harm done. She had to create a new one, which got hijacked after a few months.

Because the third time’s the charm, she gave it one last try, and no one has hacked her account since. Secret?

Two-factor authentication (2FA).

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As you may have already guessed, even this technology is not 100% hacker-proof. However, if you’re not a governmental organisation under a cyber-attack from the Chinese group APT20, chances are no one is going to hack your accounts in the foreseeable future if you use 2FA. That’s where social engineering, namely phishing, comes in.

Phishing is one of the most prevalent forms of cyber-attack. Instead of busting into your account with brute force, the attacker sends you an email or a text message appearing to be from your bank, an e-shop, a social media site, or an internet service provider and tries to trick you into providing your personal information.

It’s human nature to want the most value for as little effort as possible and I know that having your guard up all the time can be exhausting. But you only have yourself to blame if you clicked on the verification link in the email from googledocs@hxcb4.ru and entered your username and password into Facebook.

A bit of critical thinking goes a long way here. Is the sender’s email address trustworthy? Does the email contain typos or try to frighten you by claiming your account is under threat of being disabled unless you re-confirm your details? Does it use a generic greeting, such as “Dear customer”? Remember, it all boils down to your personal information. If the sender requests it, it is probably a phishing attempt.

Outdated systems and VPNs

One favour to ask

What also makes a hacker’s life much easier are outdated systems. If you read the article on smart homes in our previous edition, you’ll know how important it is to change your router password and install firmware updates. Some updates contain crucial security loophole fixes and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Checking that your antivirus is up to date is an excellent place to start.

Before you start installing 2FA apps, checking for updates, and exploring whether your passwords have been pwned, I have a favour to ask. Keeping yourself safe and secure online is sensible, but being considerate of the privacy of others is equally important. So, we are getting back to posting pictures online.

Like it or not, even Windows 7 and Android 7 are no longer supported. As time goes by, no software updates result in a gradually less secure operating system, which is more open to new types of viruses and cyber-attacks.

It took me years to leave Windows XP behind and now I have to part with a long-time friend in Windows 7. Life is indeed cruel. But kudos to the Microsoft engineers who added a feature in Windows 10 that makes it look like 7 in order to make the transition easier for us lovers of the older and smoother design.

The last piece in our online security jigsaw is a virtual private network (VPN). This keeps you safe in the vast e-seas of the Internet, especially when using public WiFi (which you really shouldn’t do unless super necessary). Not only does it encrypt your browsing data, it also masks your location, which repels most potential intruders. VPN does not make you anonymous on the Internet though, so don’t think about acting all tough online without consequences.

Although Google Street View blurs car number plates, try typing yours in Google Image Search. Since Google’s AI can recognise numbers and letters in a picture, if anyone has ever taken a picture where your number plate is clearly visible, chances are it will pop up as the top result in Image Search. While this is the perfect way of finding “stalkers,” it reminds us to be mindful when posting pictures with potentially sensitive information.

Number plates might not be such a big deal, but babies are – pictures of them have flooded social media. The urge to share one’s pride and excitement is perfectly understandable, but there is a good reason why some pictures should be printed instead and remain in private family photo albums to amuse visiting relatives. Imagine what your tiny ball of cuteness will say when they turn 15 and discover their baby photos online. Think before you post and think twice before you post pictures of your children. Their future selves will thank you.

If you decide to install a VPN, keep in mind that many free VPNs might collect and sell your data to third parties. After all, you get what you pay for. My personal favourite is VyprVPN with its strict no-logging feature and Chameleon protocol, but ExpressVPN, Surfshark, or TunnelBear will serve you well too.

Photo by Markus Spiske

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The Houseplant Hobbyist

By Benny Water

58 Photo by Bart Zimny

Trend or Lifestyle?

Photo by Priscilla du Preez

Someone with a keen eye might have noticed the increase in plant and flower shops popping up over the past few years, This is due to an increased demand not only for common houseplant species, but also hybrid and exotic species not previously seen in most people’s homes.

Are houseplants just more hype?

Do not be fooled as to who is behind this trend. It’s not the senior crowds usually associated with this slow-paced pastime. Instead, it is millennials who are the enthusiasts, turning their small urban living spaces into plant paradises.

“In our current social-economic climate, younger adults are delaying major milestones by years or even decades, yet try to find the need for human connection and nurture in some way,” said Seattle-based counsellor Lily Ewing in a Huffington Post article last year. Less needy than pets or children, plants still give people a sense of purpose and fulfillment through their slow but clearly visible growth process. There’s also the obvious benefit of not having the same restrictions laid down by landlords when moving apartments, and there is no need to find a trusted and expensive sitter if you want to go on holiday.

It is not uncommon to see flats filled with hundreds of different species accumulated in a relatively short time, each requiring specific care which has to be incorporated into the owner’s daily routine. In some cases, taking care of a plethora of plants requires giving up multiple hours a day.

You’d be wrong to think of this as out of the ordinary.

The houseplant hobbyist community has formed a large network on social media, where thousands of younger gardeners share tips and advice on how to care for their indoor jungles.

Trading groups, workshops, and conferences are just some of the events organised by collectors, who send saplings by mail to “friends” across the globe, all in search of the newest and rarest plant species.

The houseplant hobby might seem like the latest ploy to increase Instagram popularity with screen-obsessed young adults, but experts think that the new trend might stick around a little longer than people might think.

It seems easy to mock the younger generations for their funny obsession, but psychological studies have shown that caring for houseplants is an effective stress reducer and has a generally positive effect on people’s mood.

Not to mention that plants are natural air cleansers, as proven by a NASA experiment conducted in 1989.

So far the mental and health benefits of horticulture seem pretty good. And let’s not forget that the practice teaches us a skill that until recently was left underappreciated by younger generations more in touch with new technologies than the land that feeds them.

Seeing that the world housing crisis is not going away anytime soon, it’s likely that the next few generations (at least) will also find comfort and interest in greening up their homes. Some may keep their hobby to a few plants while others look to turn their homes into greenhouses or indoor forests!

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Climate Catastrophe Knows No Borders

How Global Climate Change Will Affect the Czech Republic

By Ro Daniels

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Photo by Bill Oxford

Photo by Markus Spiske

Climate change has been on people’s minds for decades, but interest in this topic has surged in the past five years as people are made increasingly aware of just how serious the situation is. The effects of climate change have become more tangible than ever before: Australian wildfires gained global attention at the start of the year and, closer to home, the Czech Republic has emerged from two blistering summers and mild winters – this unseasonable weather has had an enormous impact on the country’s agriculture. People in the Czech Republic and across the globe are looking for ways to mitigate the effects of the imminent climate catastrophe.

The teenage activist Greta Thunberg has become the figurehead of a youth-driven grassroots movement, intent on pressuring governments to uphold their responsibilities to younger generations. The movement most closely linked with Thunberg, Extinction Rebellion, has organised non-violent protests across the globe – the Czech chapter of Extinction Rebellion protested outside the energy supplier CEZ, in March.

Although Extinction Rebellion tends to focus on governing bodies’ moral duty to prevent climate catastrophe, almost every country on Earth is legally compelled to try and reduce emissions. Since it was negotiated in 2015, 194 countries and the European Union have signed the UN-backed Paris Climate Agreement, which aims to limit global warming. The agreement’s goal is to keep the Earth’s temperature rise below 2℃ relative to pre-industrial levels, ideally limiting it even further, to 1.5℃.

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Half a degree might not sound like a lot, but scientists predict that the difference will be extremely significant.

Although a 1.5℃ increase in global temperature would bring changes impacting human behaviour, a 2℃ increase would spell catastrophe for people across the globe – especially those in poorer countries, where infrastructure is less resilient to extreme weather. Climate activists warn that the effects of climate change can only be mitigated if countries take stringent measures to reduce their emissions, and far-reaching multinational action is more effective than single-country resolutions.

While low-lying coastal nations are likely to be directly affected by rising sea levels, climate is international.

Even the Czech Republic – landlocked and presumably safe from increased sea levels – has already been affected by climate change. Experts point to drought as the country’s greatest threat, as temperatures will rise but rainfall will remain largely stable. Indeed, the predictions suggest that the country will develop the perfect conditions for long-term droughts. Average temperatures will be particularly high in winter and spring, when Czech farmers normally want cool, wet conditions. Greenpeace has predicted that the annual number of tropical days (when the temperature exceeds 30℃) will increase from eight to around 30. These factors contribute to soil drying, hardening, and becoming more resistant to water.

Rainwater will likely flow over this dry crust instead of being absorbed into the earth, where roots need it.

Although the amount of annual precipitation will remain similar to its current level, the nature of rainfall will change unfavourably. Instead of light rain falling over several hours, which is ideal for agriculture, scientists expect torrential showers, lasting between ten minutes and an hour. Walkers might celebrate the prospect of getting the day’s rain over within just a few minutes, but this heavy rain is less likely to soak into the ground and nourish plants. To say that the future of Czech agriculture looks bleak is an understatement.

Climate scientists state that Prague and Brno will undergo the most severe temperature increases, but no area of the Czech Republic will escape considerable warming. The country’s two largest cities are expected to become hotter than other areas because of the “urban heat island” phenomenon, whereby urban areas, deprived of the countryside’s natural capacity to disperse heat, become the focal point for temperature increases.

Large cities aside, areas downwind of mountain ranges will experience significant droughts. Mountainous areas block clouds, creating a so-called shadow of dryness, which means less precipitation falls on the leeward side of mountains than in the surrounding regions. Chomutov, a south Bohemian town in the rain shadow of Krušné Hory, has already begun to suffer from water scarcity.

The nearby Kramencové Jezero, a popular weekend spot for Chomutov residents, is visibly shrinking – it is now a shocking 50cm shallower than it was five years ago.

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The town, however, has reacted proactively to its prolonged dry spell, and a four-point plan to mitigate the effects of drought was submitted to the municipal council last year. The authors of the plan have been praised for their creativity; rather than relying on traditional mitigation strategies, they sought to develop systems that improve people’s lives on a day-to-day level, as well as combating drought. Rainwater will be collected and reused, and architects will be encouraged to integrate grass walls and roofs in designs. A strip of grass and trees, known as a green bulwark, will be planted around the city. Proponents of the plan claim that this will not only encourage water absorption, but will create a community leisure area.

The proposal’s main goal is to protect the town’s greenery and to ensure that precious rainwater soaks into the ground, rather than being carried away by drainage systems straight away. Its secondary aims include working towards being carbon neutral in the hope that Chomutov, already adversely affected by global warming, will not contribute to similar situations elsewhere.

It’s a commendable attitude, but not one that’s shared throughout Czech society. Ahead of an EU climate meeting in November last year, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš seemed hesitant to make drastic changes to Czech energy use, saying he feared economic repercussions if EU countries are alone in honouring the Paris Agreement. He, in agreement with the Minister for Trade and Industry and the Minister for the Environment, said that the country would be unable to lower its emissions further without financial help from the EU, which would be best spent in developing clean energy sources, especially nuclear power. Referencing the fact that China remains the world’s largest polluter, Babiš insisted that the Czech Republic has fulfilled its obligations according to the Paris Agreement and the EU’s climate change policy.

This argument does not, however, stand up to scrutiny.

Greenpeace condemned Czech energy policy, naming it among the worst in Europe, and commentators widely criticised last year’s decision to continue mining coal in Bílina. The Czech Republic, far from moving towards cleaner sources of energy, seems to be growing more dependent on fossil fuels, which, as well as being widely considered the main cause of global warming, present a significant health risk to humans. A2larm reported in August 2019 that the microscopic dust particles released from burning coal kill thousands of people a year. The article goes further: Czech dependency on coal does, in no uncertain terms, pose a threat to the world.

Perhaps the picture isn’t as grim as it seems. Although Czech climate activists are disappointed by the state’s attitude to emissions, non-governmental bodies committed to encouraging sustainable development are being founded in response to the impending crisis.

Among them is Adapterra, which runs an annual competition to recognise individual activists who have

Photo by David Smrkovsky Sri Chinmoy Statue on the Kampa embankment during the Prague floods

implemented “inspiring projects” that will help the Czech Republic adapt to climate change. One of 2019’s winners, Martin Smetana, was praised for his efforts to bring biodiversity to his Moravian village. Smetana owned a large, barren field on the outskirts of the village.

Although the land was technically arable, it had been overfarmed and lay bare. As well as not contributing to a region’s biodiversity, land with nothing growing on it, absorbs water less well than grassy areas. Smetana split his land into sections and planted a variety of trees, grasses, and flowers, and now the former wasteland is a haven for wildlife, as well as a community meeting point.

Smetana might be working on a small scale, but he managed to transform an overfarmed patch of dirt into an acclaimed natural reserve. When government action does not seem forthcoming, it’s heartening to know that individuals have the power to improve their surroundings.

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Go For Zero

Zero Waste Is Not the Future, It Is the Present

By Julie Orlova

Photo by Laura Mitulla

Many corporations are now adopting sustainable strategies in their daily operations, setting out to decouple their growth from their environmental footprint while increasing positive social impact. But for industries like fast-moving consumer goods, there is still a long way to go, and consumers still have to take the matter of sustainable purchasing into their own hands.

The goal of zero waste requires action and responsibility to be taken at government, corporate, and consumer level. It is a set of principles focussed on eradicating waste at every stage of a product’s lifecycle so that no garbage is sent to landfills, incinerators, or the ocean.

The practice follows a holistic approach, ensuring that the management of materials, energy, land, and resources is sustainable.

The phrase “the customer is always right” was not created to make retail workers suffer - it is a reminder for big companies of who the real boss is. We as consumers tend to underestimate our power in deciding which products appear on our shelves. Many of us don’t realise that if we stop buying water in plastic bottles, it will stop being made. But by purchasing unsustainable products, we are effectively investing in companies that create waste.

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We have the power to choose products that cater not only to our needs, but also our values. The public can make a conscious choice not to support companies like Coca-Cola, who (according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment Spring 2019 report) found that the company produces over three million tonnes of plastic waste per year. And it’s not just the food and drink industry that’s acting unsustainably. Recently, a Danish TV documentary alleged that since 2013, H&M had been burning around 12 tonnes of unsold but perfectly usable clothing annually every year.

According to Zero Waste Česko, the average person in the Czech Republic creates three tonnes of waste every year. Work to reduce this is ongoing at all levels, from government to corporations to activist groups. The European Commission has proposed a ban on disposable straws, plastic-stemmed cotton buds, and other plastic products and big companies like IKEA, Tesco, and McDonald’s are also showing initiative in reducing the amounts of plastic waste they create.

65 Photo by Markus Spiske

Photo by Anna Oliinyk

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But as a consumer, a great way to act responsibly is by turning to your local producer. Consider purchasing groceries like fruit and vegetables at your nearest farmer’s market, buying meat from the neighbourhood butcher and ordering furniture from a local carpenter. Not only would this entail less waste in terms of packaging and transportation, but you’ll also be supporting smaller and more sustainable businesses.

Zero waste activists often think in terms of communities. Rarely does an individual change the attitudes of an entire country, so it’s important to first shift mindsets in smaller communities. With each member of that community making a change, the goal of a zero waste nation becomes more achievable.

In some parts of the world, political activism at a municipal level is slowly changing the way whole cities and regions are run. Flanders in Belgium is a great example of a community that has been steadily working towards zero waste. Since the local government issued the first Waste Decree in the 1980s, nearly 75% of residential waste is diverted from landfills, the highest in Europe. The amount of litter per person has fallen from 225kg a year to 150kg. This was made possible by a combination of door-to-door and drop-off waste collection services and the promotion of home composting. By 2010, approximately 34% of the Flemish population were composting at home, preventing around 100,000 tonnes of organic materials from going to waste.

Ljubljana made headlines in 2014 by becoming Europe’s first capital city to commit to a zero-waste goal. The Slovenian capital now recycles 61% of its municipal waste compared to 38% in the Czech Republic. Its success is even more remarkable given that the city only introduced waste separation in 2004.

Are you convinced that you have the power to make a difference through your actions? Would you like to know how to live more sustainably? There are five main pillars of the zero-waste lifestyle, known as the five R’s:

Refuse. Rmember that everything we consume creates the demand to make more. Refuse items that promote unnecessary waste, like plastic straws, coffee cup lids, and grocery bags. Say no to things like printed receipts, freebies from hotels, and utensils and sauce packages when you order takeaways.

Reduce. Cut down on your electricity, water usage, air travel, and petrol. Take shorter showers, invest in eco-friendlier light bulbs, and a low-flush toilet. Shopping from bulk bins is another great way to save money, since you don’t pay for packaging – you have to bring your own.

Reuse. Swap, borrow, and fix instead of buying new items. Use car shares and bike shares instead of buying a car, and use co-working spaces. Buy used items instead of shopping for new ones. Replace your disposable paper and plastic products with reusable alternatives such as cloth napkins and handkerchiefs, glass jars, and tote bags. Fertilise your houseplants with coffee water, nail clippings, and eggshells.

Recycle. Even though it is not a dependable solution to our waste problem, since it misleads us into thinking plastic and paper are harmless and easily reusable, it is still better than tossing something into the trash. So, before you do it learn how to do it right – wash your plastic pots, tins, and cupboard containers before turning them in; remember that broken dishes and cups don’t belong in the glass recycling bin; and bring your egg cartons to the egg seller at your farmer’s market (or use them to buy more eggs).

Rot. Start composting your organic waste. Drop off your compost at your local community garden (the map for the Czech Republic can be found at https://www.mapko.cz/) or start such an initiative in your community.

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Photo by Ian Van Landuyt

If you are looking for small ways to start, look for something close to your heart. Making little changes in areas you genuinely care about will make your motivation to live sustainably last longer. For example, if fashion is your passion, research local second-hand stores, visit clothing swap events (like the one at Prostor 39), or have a look at fashion brands that upcycle or use recycled materials.

Big animal lover? Support businesses that do not test on animals. Even though testing cosmetics on animals is banned in the EU, you still can’t be sure that your favourite moisturiser hasn’t come from somewhere that permits it. Keep in mind that “cosmetics” doesn’t include household products like wall paint or soap, drugs, or laundry detergent. If you are wondering how animal cruelty and zero waste are connected, the answer is sustainability. Squandering animal lives is just as bad as wasting other natural resources. According to PETA, 97% of animals are slaughtered after the experiments are done, in addition to animal testing contributing to air, water, and soil pollution; public health concerns; and biodiversity issues.

The biggest change we can all implement is related to food – its preparation, consumption, and transport. Take, for example, the latter: preparation is key. Hanging a tote bag by the front door so you don’t have to get a paper one at the store is a good idea, as is sticking a couple of reusable sacks into it to avoid putting your bananas into a single-use plastic bag. Speaking of bananas, collect the lonely ones – they are no worse than their brothers in the bunch, but they will most likely end up in the garbage pile if you don’t pick them up. And, if you can afford it, don’t buy pre-packaged greens, opt for those at a local market – no-waste and sustainable shopping at the same time.

Czech cities are great for implementing zero waste practices into your everyday life. Many people here are very passionate about reducing the piles of garbage they create. Take the aforementioned Zero-Waste Česko, which works to end unsustainable waste practices and provides a lot of resources for those who are interested in sustainable living. In Prague and other parts of the nation, there are plenty of zero-waste/no-packaging stores, like Country Life, Bezobalu, and more, which can be found on this map https://mapa.reduca.cz/.

Otoč Kelímek (“turn the cup”) is another great initiative that distributes colourful reusable coffee cups.

Customers in places like pop-up markets pay a deposit of 50Kc for the cup, which is used for drinking coffee, and all they have to do is return it later to get their money back. You’ll sleep a little easier at night knowing that one less single-use coffee cup ended up in the landfill or ocean.

Solving the world’s waste problems seems daunting and in some ways impossible. But every one of us has a choice – being a part of the problem or contributing to the solution. If we consumers change our way of living, shopping, and managing our waste, global corporations will have no choice but to follow suit. By starting your zero-waste journey today, you’ll be doing your part in ensuring a healthier environment, a cleaner home, and that for which we all strive for, a clearer conscience.

Sesamo Bakery, Italian Bread in Brno Sesamo Bakery is the first authentic Italian bakery and coffee shop in Brno, introducing fresh and original Italian recipes prepared by our Sicilian chef-baker, Piero Barone.

Our motto is tradition and excellence and we use only the highest-quality, freshest ingredients, most of which come directly from Italy.

Maestro Barone was born in Modica, a Sicilian town that is world-renowned for its chocolate and gastronomic culture. He has over 35 years of experience in establishing world-class bakeries in Italy, Prague, and London. As a result, Sesamo Bakery quickly became known among Brno residents as the place that offers the best Italian pastries, bread, sweets, and pizza in town.

The bakery is located in Brno’s Královo Pole district next to the RedHat office, and visitors can come and enjoy the Italian atmosphere with real Italian coffee, the city’s best croissants, pizza and homemade focaccia, fragrant bread, and many more tasty traditional specialities.

Most importantly, our delicious Italian food is always served with a smile. www.sesamobrno.cz Purkyňova 3091, 612 00 Brno-Královo Pole

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Flower boxes Bouquets for all occasions Free delivery in Prague

Daily Fresh Flowers!

Open from Monday to Friday 10 am to 5 pm www.tinakvetina.cz +420 728 568 196 Na Balkรกnฤ 56, Prague 3, 130 00 Prague www.instagram.com/tinakvetina

facebook.com/tinakvetina

Photo by Sandy Millar

The State of Bees

By Anna West

What Can Be Done To Protect Our Pollinators?

In the summers I spent in the Czech Republic with my grandparents, there was always an abundance of honey. My grandfather’s friend Franta was an amateur beekeeper and supplied us with jars of raw, unfiltered honey that he harvested from bees at his chata. In the mornings, jet-lagged and hungry, I would make my way to the dining table, where my grandmother had left me toasted housky, margarine, and Franta’s honey jar. Even now, I recall its amber colour and crystalline texture, like semi-dissolved sugar at the bottom of a coffee mug.

Beekeeping has a long tradition in the Czech Republic.

In fact, the Czech Beekeepers Association (Český svaz včelařů) was founded by the Habsburg empress Maria Theresa in 1776. Under her rule, beekeeping became a well-respected trade, as it provided widelyused products, such as beeswax for church candles.

Beekeepers even received tax exemptions. At the turn

of the 19th and 20th centuries, the Carniolan bee was introduced into the country, ushering in a new age of beekeeping. The Carniolan was easier to rear than the black bee, which had previously been the most common species. Today, in a country of over 10 million people, there are more than 50,000 beekeepers who maintain over half a million bee colonies. On average, beekeepers have ten bee colonies that they keep to make honey for themselves and for friends, as Franta did for my family.

Empress Maria Theresa was right to hold beekeeping in high regard. Besides producing honey and other products for our consumption, bees pollinate crops.

Today, beekeeping operations are critical to modern agriculture. Pollinators are responsible for one in every three bites of food we consume. Nevertheless, the world’s bee population is in decline. While reductions in colony numbers have been observed throughout

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Photo by Bianca Ackerman

history, in 2006 the rate of bee decline reached new proportions. The unexplained loss of bee colonies that came to be known as colony collapse disorder was first reported by a commercial beekeeper from Pennsylvania. By February 2007, some beekeeping operators in the United States suffered the loss of 50-90⁒ of their colonies, with European countries also reporting substantial losses. Beekeepers describe colony collapse disorder as a phenomenon whereby the majority of worker bees in a colony disappear from the hive, sometimes leaving behind a queen and a few nurse bees to care for the remaining immature bees.

Scientists attribute the decline of honeybees globally in part to the use of neonicotinoid chemicals, one of the most common insecticides in the world. Although no causal link has been established, neonicotinoids have been associated with atypical honeybee behaviour, inhibiting their ability to navigate and weakening their immune function. Impaired immunity leaves honeybees more susceptible to pre-existing pathogens. As such, citing the danger posed to bees, the European Union called for a temporary ban on neonicotinoid-based products on flowering plants in 2013 – a measure that resulted in a permanent ban in 2018.

In the Czech Republic, as elsewhere, bee populations have been affected. According to the Czech Statistical Office, the country’s honey production in 2018 was the lowest it had been in four years. Speaking to Czech Radio, Jana Machová, head of the Czech Beekeepers Association, cited drought as a likely cause for a drop in production. More recent data found that Czech honey

production for 2019 was about 15⁒ lower than in 2018.

According to the spokesman for the Czech State Veterinary Administration, Petr Majer, the administration investigated 26 cases of mass bee mortality, almost twice as many cases as the previous year. To help combat the environmental and pathogenic factors affecting bee populations, in January 2020, the State Agricultural Intervention Fund (SZIF) announced that beekeepers in the Czech Republic would receive over 64 million CZK (€1.2 million) in subsidies.

Government aid helps beekeepers protect their colonies.

While subsidies can attract some newcomers to the practice, many seek out beekeeping due to long-standing family traditions. Magda Zedková, who is a beekeeper and has seven bee colonies in the village of Křížová ve Slezsku in eastern Czech Republic, started her own apiary six years ago. She became involved in 2000 by helping her husband’s grandparents, who have kept bees all their life. For those interested in getting started, she recommends taking advantage of online resources.

“It is smart to read a book or online resources in order to have an idea of everything beekeeping consists of. You don’t need any license to become a beekeeper, but you apply to become a member of the Czech Bee Association. Member organizations are almost in every town or village,” she said.

Photo by Pixabay

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While books can help, for amateur beekeepers it is important to have a mentor. Zedková suggested finding a local beekeeper who would be willing to demonstrate the basics. Describing the process of undertaking beekeeping, Zedková said, “You have to decide what type of hive you want to use and what are all the necessary accessories and equipment you will need, like frames with wax sheets or forks and honey extractors. And of course protective gear – full body overall or just a veil, jacket, and gloves.

But most important is the spot where you want to keep your hives.” Because you want to provide bees with pollen year-round, Zedková explained that the location of the hives should be in close proximity to parks and a diverse variety of flowering plants if you are a city beekeeper, or in meadows near forests if in the countryside.

Once you determine a location, said Zedková, then you can start searching for a bee colony. “There are apiaries that sell them online or you can ask a beekeeper near you. You will get five to six frames with bees and a queen bee in a box, which you transfer to your installed hive. Then you just let them settle in.”

The extraction of honey from the hives happens in the beginning of June or July in the Czech Republic. After the harvest is over, when no more plants are blooming, beekeepers give their bees sugar so that the bees can prepare their stocks for winter. After extracting the honey, beekeepers also treat the beehives to prevent mite overgrowth.

If you are not a beekeeper or planning on becoming one, what else can you do to promote bee health? Another way to get involved is by protecting bee habitat. Urban sprawl has led to a decrease in green spaces and habitat fragmentation, making it harder for bees to forage for pollen. Growing a variety of plants that produce blooms throughout the year in a garden, or even on a balcony, will supply bees with pollen throughout the year. Also, buying locally-sold honey or beeswax products supports non-commercial beekeepers with smaller colonies. The website Najdi si včelaře can help locate a beekeeper selling honey near you.

Although the state of bee populations worldwide is deteriorating in the near term, thanks to government subsidies and a devoted league of beekeepers maintaining strong traditions, the outlook for Czech honeybees is optimistic.

One thing is still certain, bee health and human health are inextricably linked. Promoting pollinator health and supporting their stewards – beekeepers – remains ever more important for our communal wellbeing.

Photo by Anton Atanasov

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MMA in the Czech Republic

Slow to the Starting Line, but Making Great Strides

By Ethan Paki

Last year was huge for the mixed martial arts (MMA) scene in the Czech Republic. In February 2019, the world’s biggest MMA promotion, the UFC, brought its production to the nation for the first time ever, with local Czech fighter Lucie Pudilová competing on the event's main card. The past year has also seen the rise of other fighters, including Jiří Procházka in the RIZIN promotion and Makhmud Muradov in the UFC. The future looks bright for Czech MMA. What can we expect from our small country this year and who will be flying the flag for the Czech Republic on the international MMA scene?

Despite the rise of MMA stars in our corner of the world, such as Poland’s Joanna Jędrzejczyk and Slovakia’s Attila Végh, only recently have we seen Czech competitors in the sphere of combat sports shine under the bright lights of the international stage and at an elite level.

This is not to say that the country is without successful combat competitors in the past, however. Lukáš Konečný is probably the country's most decorated professional boxer, with a record of 51-5 (23 KOs). Konečný is a former Olympian, holds a plethora of European titles, and, in 2008, fought for the WBO light middleweight title.

Petr Vondráček is a former super heavyweight WKA (World Kickboxing Association) world champion and K1-Grand Prix competitor, while Lukáš Krpálek is an Olympic gold medallist in judo (+100kg division).

All are champions, and compete at the highest level in each of their respective fields, but MMA requires a mastery of many if not all of these practices to compete at the very top of the division. Boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wrestling and Muay Thai kickboxing are just some of many fighting disciplines that need to be mastered in order to reach the pedigree status held by some of the sport’s most recognised fighters, such as Jon “Bones” Jones, Amanda “The Lioness” Nunes and The Notorious Conor McGregor.

The world’s fastest-growing sport is becoming increasingly popular here and throughout the Czech Republic, a string of MMA gyms hoping to develop the next Georges St-Pierre or Israel Adesanya are opening up.

The Atom Gym in Plzeň, led by MMA coaches Jan Piontek and Petr Kníže, recently received the Best Organising Club award at the Czech MMA Association awards night.

In Brno, Jetsaam Gym, led by former wrestler and mixed martial artist Martin Karaivanov, has brought home 24 domestic and international titles in both kickboxing and MMA, including the RIZIN light heavyweight championship, won by resident fighter Jiří Procházka.

However, it is in Prague where the most gyms dedicated to MMA have surfaced. This includes the MMA Monster gym in Holešovice, led by Kníže, who as recently as 2018 competed in the Czech-Slovak XFN promotion.

Through this rise of specialist MMA gyms and the platform offered by local and national MMA promotions (such as the XFN and OKTAGON), we are now starting to see a number of talented Czech combatants reach the upper echelons of the sport.

Procházka captured his RIZIN light heavyweight title with a third-round knockout victory over Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal. Procházka defended his belt with a first round KO victory over Fabio Maldonado at RIZIN 19 and later repeated that feat against former UFC fighter C.B. Dollaway in Japan on New Year’s Eve. As a result, he is set to make his UFC debut later this year.

In the UFC women’s flyweight division is Příbram native Lucie Pudilová. Dubbed “‘The Bullet,” she has already made historical achievements in the sport by becoming the first-ever Czech female to compete in the UFC and being the sole home-nation representative at the first UFC event in Prague. Unfortunately, Pudilová is on a four-fight losing streak in the UFC, with her most recent loss coming against Justine Kish at UFC Fight Night 166 in late January.

Photo by Petr Kozlik

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Also carrying the torch for MMA in the Czech Republic is the Tajikistan-born Uzbek-Czech fighter Makhmud “Mach” Muradov. The Prague-based Muradov enjoyed a meteoric rise in 2019, including a 13-fight winning streak in the XFN and OKTAGON before making his UFC debut last September. His last fight resulted in a brutal knockout-of-the-year-candidate win against Trevor Smith, and his next bout is scheduled to take place in the United States against Karl “Baby K” Roberson later this year.

The future is bright for Muradov, who was endorsed by undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. in an August 2019 tweet naming him “the best MMA fighter in the world.” Following a meeting between the two in Prague, Muradov officially joined the “Money Team,” a stable of international fighters across all combat sports, including boxing and MMA. The Czech Republic may have arrived a little late to the party, but its MMA development is accelerating at a rapid pace. A benefit of the close historical relations between the Czech Republic and Slovakia is that local promotions such as OKTAGON and the XFN are thriving, with a plethora of talent from both nations able to shine.

Outside of the US, local and national promotions are sometimes hit-and-miss, but OKTAGON and XFN in particular have provided a high-quality platform for fighters aspiring to the lofty heights of major international promotions such as the ONE Championship, Bellator, and the UFC. In 2018, OKTAGON 10 set an attendance record at the O2 arena in Prague, while in July 2019, the promotion made international news with its stunning choice of outdoor venue at the Štvanice Tennis Arena. This was also Muradov’s last competitive fight for the national promotion.

If you’re new to the sport and interested in seeing the future stars of Czech mixed martial arts, then heading to OKTAGON, XFN, or the local Czech promotion IAF is a fantastic way to get up to speed.

We are only just seeing the birth of MMA here in the Czech Republic. For a nation of ten million people, the country has always punched above its weight on the international sports stage. Mixed martial arts appears to be no different, with the current crop of rising stars already reaching new heights and making waves in the world’s largest promotions, like the UFC. Muradov and Procházka seem the likeliest to achieve the most immediate success and potentially inspire a new generation of fighters to continue the sport’s evolution in the country; exciting times are ahead.

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Photo of Jiří Procházka 79 from www.jiridenisaprochazka.cz

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Illustrations by Adriana BendĹžalovĂĄ Instagram @ da.banjo

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