Videos published below are made by Georgian soldiers during the recent Russian-Georgian conflict.

The idea of this post is not to take sides in this conflict. The idea is also not to provide propagandist pro and against arguments for either sides. If it is propaganda, then above anything, it is anti-war propaganda.

Pictures from Georgia

Distributing still warm bread




















One of the many refugee registration centers















Finally blankets arrived














One of the 600 refugee camps around Tbilisi

Estonian Volunteers in Georgia

Estonian volunteers have been in Georgia almost a week, and some of them are expected to get back to Estonia tomorrow.
Working mainly in the area around Thibilisi, they help to distribute humanitarian aid, but they also built basic facilities, such as showers, for example, in the refugee camp.

Few notes on practicalities in Georgia:
Working days the volunteers have are long and difficult. Amount of work is endless and temperature outside is around 30C, which does not make it easier to handle.
It is difficult to call out on mobile phones, but messages do go through. The Internet connection is very slow as well.
Georgians, very friendly and open people, appreciate any help they can get. They stop volunteers on the streets and thank them for coming. They like to chat and discuss the situation they are in.

And this in the end, politics aside, is what this is all about, to help and to listen a person who needs help.

Link to the blog of Estonian voluntary humanitarian-aid team in Georgia for photos.

Irish 'No'

Irish 'No' vote on the referendum to the Lisbon Treaty is going to be an actual issue for a while in the European Union, but will it be another 'crisis' for the EU, like many predict, most likely not.

Personally, I do not understand what exactly Irish were voting against. What were the exact aspects, points, they do not approve?
There were many negotiations on the Treaty itself, where Irish participated. They had the possibility to say what they like and what they don't. And they did, and their requests were taken into account.
Furthermore, claiming that the Treaty is not democratic and sustainable is fine, however, what are the suggestions to change that? Do they have any? If they do, why it was not said in the negotiation process?

Yes, unanimity voting replaced by majority voting on many issues by the Treaty is not the most democratic step. But what are the other solutions for 27 countries (only for now) to reach some common decision? And majority voting is still accepted norm on national level. It is very nice to be idealistic and want maximum benefits for ones country, but will the idealism work in practice?
At the same time, possibility given for the 1st time for a country to leave the EU is as democratic step as it can get. Another question is of course if anyone would ever use that.

EU needs a new Treaty. That one has been taken years of negotiations to work it out. Starting from the original EU Constitution, which was rejected by France and the Netherlands. All the existing Treaties are redundant and morally old. EU needs 'freshening up,' clearer, consolidated external policies, transparency and competitiveness.

On the other hand, I do not think that most of the Irish voters have even looked at the Lisbon Treaty, and clearly not read it. And this is understandable. How does the EU expect for an average voter to read 270 pages of consolidated 'reader friendly' document?
Political marketing is recently having tendencies of a 'product' being 'sold' like a washing powder. This one 'is better than another', without explanation... Maybe this really is not sufficient. Maybe the voters expect more than the attitude 'we know better what is good for you.' This of course rises the old complaint that the EU is an elitist organization, which does nothing to involve its citizens in the decision making process.
To be fair, EU is trying, and trying hard. Changes take time, but they are visible. The problem has been accepted and there is the wish to improve the current attitude and engage citizens more. If of course, these citizens actually want to be engaged... Ironically, the Lisbon Treaty lays few new ground rules also for that.

There are numerous speculations what will happen next with the Treaty. Many talk about 'crisis' for the EU. I personally do not think so. Irish did reject also Nice Treaty on the 1st referendum, but on the 2nd one, after they managed to get some perks out of the EU, the Treaty was accepted.
This is exactly what I think will happen this time. Lisbon Treaty is too important and has been too long process for the EU just to leave it. I do not want to say that the future of the EU will not happen without that Treaty, but almost.

Personally, I do not like few aspects of the new Treaty either (like not having permanent Estonian Commissioner, for example), from my 'nationalistic point of view,' but do I have better, cheaper and more efficient solutions to those- no, I don't.
And I want the EU to be less bureaucratic, actually functioning and beneficial institution. I do not want the EU to become only economic cooperation with no power, which opinions no one cares or balantly ignores, like the United Nations has become. I like balance in the World. And if accepting few blows on my national ego is the price, then in this case, I am willing to pay that.

* Photo from AFP