August 14, 2017
Romania celebrates Navy Day; Protests are held against a law on mandatory vaccination
Ştefan Stoica, 14.08.2017, 13:37
NAVY DAY — In Romania on Monday and Tuesday, over 200 religious, cultural and military ceremonies dedicated to Navy Day are being held. The events are held around the entire country, in all major cities. On Monday, in Constanta, the main port on the Black Sea, a military and religious ceremony was held in memory of navy heroes. On Tuesday, the Romanian military navy holds, for the first time, sea and air military exercises open to the public, attended by President Klaus Iohannis.
GAUDEAMUS — The 100th anniversary edition of the Gaudeamus Book Fair is being held in Mamaia, a major resort on the Black Sea. Representatives of the European Commission in Romania, are holding a debate on the future of the European Union. At the event, an exhibition marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Rome Treaty, the foundation of the Union. The Gaudeamus book fair, organized by Radio Romania, is open until Wednesday. Also this year, the national radio station celebrates 50 years since Radio Holidays started broadcasting for seaside resorts.
BUCHAREST — Around 200 people protested on Sunday in Bucharest against a bill introducing compulsory vaccination. In their view, the bill is illegal, abusive and unconstitutional. Many of the parents attending the protest claimed that their children have suffered adverse effects as a result of vaccination, which led them to refuse having their other children vaccinated. The Romanian government last week passed a bill on budgeting and organizing mass vaccination. According to the bill, parents can refuse in writing immunization for their children. The bill has to be voted in by Parliament, and is scheduled to come into effect by 1 January 2018. An epidemic of rubella has claimed 32 lives so far, with 8,500 cases of infection registered. Radio Romania has run a two week public information campaign on vaccination.
FOOTBALL — Romanian vice-champion football team, FCSB, formerly known as Steaua Bucharest in Lisbon on Tuesday take on Sporting. The fixture counts as the first leg of the play-off tie, played for the qualification in the Champions League’s group stage. The return leg in scheduled in Bucharest, in a week. If they fail to go through to the group stage of the Champions League, FCSB are entitled to a position in Europa League’s group stage. On home turf, titleholders Viitorul Constanta in the south-east on Thursday play their return leg of the Europa League, against Austrian contenders Red Bull Salzburg.
WEATHER — In Romania, temperatures have dropped back to normal for this time of the year, with maximums between 23 and 32 degrees Celsius. Skies are variable, with occasional showers and flash thunderstorms, as well as windy conditions in the southeast. In the last few days, the weather in Romania has been exceedingly hot, with a high heat index. In the west and southwest, the high heat alternated with thunderstorms and hail. The noon reading in Bucharest was 24 degrees Celsius.
BUCHAREST — In Izvoru Muresului, in the central Romanian county of Harghita, the 15th edition of the summer university for Romanians around the world is underway starting today. Taking part in the event are students and representatives of the cultural and political elite, ministers and MPs. This year’s theme is Romania and Romanians from around the world, where to, a century from the Great Union? Participants will hold debates on the rights and dramas of Romanians from historical communities around the country’s borders and the Balkans, living between unfulfilled promises and forceful assimilation. Debate topics will include priority issues such as preserving and acknowledging the national identity of Romanians living in the Covasna and Harghita central Romanian counties with a predominantly Hungarian-speaking population, as well as on the way state authorities deal with the problem, but also on the implications of the anniversary of the Great Union centennial.
