TED Community » Plamen Chetelyazov

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Grunge & gonzo, emotions & impulses.

My TED Story

It was drizzling softly and continuously for days. The sun came with its fiery kisses and the life blossomed. I like when I lie on the wet grass of the hills. I like when the smell of spring is stronger than the smell of dog dung. Usually I stare aimlessly at the stars until the evening chill drinks the alcoholic intoxication of my burning body. Sometimes I remember the syringes scattered all around and the diseases that are lurking in their thirsty and cold needles. Another time I think of the kids who quite deliberately stick the cold needles in their veins, mixing the synthetic oblivion with their own blood. Right now however I am soaked and prostrated on the grass. It is slow, calm and beautiful. The huge moon is painting silver cobwebs on the grass, ivy and the trees. The birds`s song is mixed with the muted town rumble. And all my dreams are hidden from the vanity of others and mine own imperfection. Is it happiness or freedom? Whatever. It works.

Comments

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• A reply on Conversation: Is Western Europe indifferent to Bulgarian agony?

  Apr 17 2013: I can not even imagine what it is like in the world`s poorest countries. Or the nations engaged in war... Every day I try to learn about the conflicts and try to imagine what it is like to lose someone close to you because of a bullet, explosive, hunger… It literally strangulates my brain. As I said to Chad - real human beings are dying because of a primitive malice all over the earth and there is so much suffering! Trust me – I feel horrible about it, I am definitely not indifferent and I try to outline it in my writing and through the conversations with colleagues and friends.
  
  It is very difficult for Bulgaria to exercise influence on the life in Angola or Laos. But it is not so difficult for the European Union to exercise influence on the life in Bulgaria because our country is actual part of the union. That is why I asked “Is Western Europe indifferent” instead of “Is Western Civilization indifferent”. And you are wrong – in our case EU is obliged to respond and has the means. Not by sending money or army but by sending clear message of compassion and anxiety.
  
  I believe that it is impossible to become politically active in Bulgaria unless you are part of or dependent on the corrupt political status quo. It is not only me - that was one of the main reasons for the protest! Some of the demands were: no immunity for the members of the Bulgarian Parliament, limit of their mandates, recall of all former deputies, different voting system. The people here want radical change of the political system because the elections push in alleged new parties made of worn out politics in disrepute and we do not have real choice – the same faces under different colors and platforms over and over again.
  
  You say: “The same goes for any problem: the further away, the more ignorant I feel about it.” Do you feel that this is right? I don’t. I know it is true but I don’t feel it is right! And I must be much more active no matter that I am poor. And I will try. Everyone must!

• A reply on Conversation: Is Western Europe indifferent to Bulgarian agony?

  Apr 17 2013: Mr. Manderscheid,
  
  Bulgaria is a European Union (EU) member country. The EU institutions have the means and even the obligation to force the rulers of Bulgaria to grow up and play nice but they miss the willingness. Bulgarians do not know why Western Europe misses the willingness especially after the last fierce protest and its strangulation and vitiation. Bulgarian people clearly show that they don’t believe that “there is a democracy in Bulgaria” unlike the hypocritically statement of the spokeswoman of the European Commission. At the same time Bulgarian authorities clearly show that they don’t want democracy in Bulgaria and have the means to maintain the depraved status quo. Bulgarian people don’t need foreign money or foreign army but clear foreign messages of compassion.
  
  I have lived and worked in the US. Trust me – our labor markets have nothing in common. Not a thing! But otherwise you are right about many things.
  
  I can not even imagine what it is like in the world`s poorest countries. Or the nations engaged in war... What happened in Boston… They say one of the victims is just a 8 years old kid. Just a kid! Real human beings are dying of hunger and explosives, dying because of a primitive malice all over the earth. There is so much suffering in this world. And capitalism clearly shows that it is not only unable to inspire but actually is suppressing the emotional evolution of our civilization because in this system the money is at the same time the capital potential, the ultimate goal and the greatest might.
  
  Basically I would like people of all countries to influence their Governments to realize that the emotional recession is the real threat and that the emotional evolution is far more important than the technological progress.

• A comment on Conversation: Is Western Europe indifferent to Bulgarian agony?

  Apr 16 2013: Prosecutor's investigation just finds out that the Bulgarian Police was wire-tapping illegally politicians, businessmen, active citizens and leaders of the protests. It seems that the data was destroyed in a hurry by high-standing police officers. Commentators speak about blackmailing and frightening.

• A comment on Conversation: Is Western Europe indifferent to Bulgarian agony?

  Apr 14 2013: LIVING AND DYING IN BULGARIA / EURONEWS:
  
  "One in five Bulgarians live in poverty earning less than the equivalent of 120 euros per month. One in three young Bulgarians can not find work while private companies have accumulated alarmingly high debts preventing growth. Electricity bills have soared. There have been street protests across the country demonstrating against low incomes and corruption forcing the government to resign. In the last three months six people have died after setting themselves on fire in public..."
  
  Watch the reportage here:
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XKZ5zOlDBsA#!

• A reply on Conversation: Is Western Europe indifferent to Bulgarian agony?

  Apr 7 2013: Capitalism doesn't cause an inferior and unfair treatment to the labor force in my my studies. It causes it in my life. Maybe there is no system better than capitalism but there definitely is a better form of government and it is called democracy. If you are interested, I recommend you to watch one of the current TED talks under the title of "We the people and the republic we must reclaim". Wishing you all the best!

• A reply on Conversation: Is Western Europe indifferent to Bulgarian agony?

  Apr 5 2013: Bulgarian governments tyrannize Bulgarians with inadequate and ridiculous Social policy that does not meet basic human needs. This however contributes to our strict Fiscal policy and so far we do not experience debt problems. We do not need financial aid - we need to uproot corruption in order to make real use of EU funds and attract foreign investors that will actually invest instead of plunder. We desperately need educated, honest and hard working politicians who will reform every single important area of social policy - welfare state, social security, unemployment insurance, environmental policy, pensions, health care, social housing, social care, child protection, social exclusion, education policy, crime and criminal justice. That is what the spokeswoman of the European Commission had to admit.
  
  I like your suggestion that the EU Administration can easily set up an agency bank in Bulgaria with a loan from the EU Central Bank to make small loans directly to Bulgarian individual small businesses without going through the government. The development of this idea will definitely help.
  
  I am not a specialist but I do not believe that fracking is safe. Our sole wealth is what’s left of our nature and tourism is the only allegedly successful branch here. And I say “what is left of our nature” because by means of corruption large areas of the cost and the forests were built-up without any adequate ecological evaluation.
  
  You say that “almost all the "rich countries" started thru the route of capitalism” but we do not have the time to evolve – we are small nation with only 6000000 people and as I said the census data confirmed that over the twenty-year period, emigration represented a 6% loss in the total population. High emigration levels were accompanied by low fertility rates, which contributed a further 12% loss.
  
  What we really need is an urgent and applicable surviving plan aiming at the important areas of social policy.

• A reply on Conversation: Is Western Europe indifferent to Bulgarian agony?

  Apr 4 2013: I really want to share your belief that social issues can actually set a nations course, I really do...
  TED is a great phenomenon indeed. Some of the talks are so inspiring! You are right - even if the authorities are careless there are still people who care and I was unfair.

• A reply on Conversation: Is Western Europe indifferent to Bulgarian agony?

  Apr 4 2013: There is a success story (so far) - last year the people of Bulgaria succeeded in their protest against the exploration by means of fracking technology. We are poor in oil and gas though. As far as I know we have some natural gas pockets near Black Sea but they are still unused and we buy from Russia.
  Otherwise I don't trust anonymity. I prefer to criticize the defects of the system with my true name and face. As I said: each person must show permanent intellectual and emotional resistance! Each one of us must take the individual responsibility in his own life and fight the defects of capitalism!

• A reply on Conversation: Is Western Europe indifferent to Bulgarian agony?

  Apr 4 2013: It is a great talk indeed!

• A reply on Conversation: Social Equality? So share the expenses of the wealthy, too.

  Apr 4 2013: I don't claim anything. I am just explaining the general theory of socialism and why it is not workable. My English is far from perfect but man - it seems to me that you definitely experience difficulties with your reading comprehension.