Vo Uzupis (SP)

Flying home as I write up this blip, I think that's Denmark down there.

A gentle amble around Vilnius this morning found us in Uzupis for lunch. The guidebooks says that "?Uzupis" means ?on the other side of the river" as this area is on the Vilnia River. It is like a small separate island where the spirit of romance is alive, tolerance thrives, creative energy sparkles, inspiration wells up,the art is being created and taboo and stereotypes are broken. Moreover, everybody can be unique but not the lonely one, everybody can be supposed as an individuality and at the same time to be the part of the solid community."

Before independence in 1990 is was one of the most abandoned districts, without electricity, plumbing and hot water or street lights at night. In 1997 it declared itself a Republic of Freedom, voting a president and setting up an army of 12 people. The constitution as declared in todays blip

Constitution of the Republic of Uzupis.
1. Everyone has the right to live by the River Vilnel?, while the River Vilnel? has the right to flow by everyone.
2. Everyone has the right to hot water, heating in winter and a tiled roof.
3. Everyone has a right to die, but it is not a duty.
4. Everyone has the right to make mistakes.
5. Everyone has the right to individuality.
6. Everyone has the right to love.
7. Everyone has the right to be not loved, but not necessarily.
8. Everyone has the right not to be distinguished and famous.
9. Everyone has the right to be idle.
10. Everyone has the right to love and take care of a cat.
11. Everyone has the right to look after a dog till one or the other dies.
12. A dog has the right to be a dog.
13. A cat is not obliged to love its master, but it must help him in difficult times.
14. Everyone has the right to sometimes be unaware of his duties.
15. Everyone has the right to be in doubt, but this is not a duty.
16. Everyone has the right to be happy.
17. Everyone has the right to be unhappy.
18. Everyone has the right to be silent.
19. Everyone has the right to have faith.
20. No one has the right to use violence.
21. Everyone has the right to realize his negligibility and magnificence.
22. Everyone has the right to encroach upon eternity.
23. Everyone has the right to understand.
24. Everyone has the right to understand nothing.
25. Everyone has the right to be of various nationalities.
26. Everyone has the right to celebrate or not to celebrate his birthday.
27. Everyone shall remember his name.
28. Everyone may share what he possesses.
29. No-one can share what he does not possess.
30. Everyone has the right to have brothers, sisters and parents.
31. Everyone is capable of independence.
32. Everyone is responsible for his freedom.
33. Everyone has the right to cry.
34. Everyone has the right to be misunderstood.
35. No-one has the right to make another person guilty.
36. Everyone has the right to be personal.
37. Everyone has the right to have no rights.
38. Everyone has the right to not be afraid.
39. Do not defeat.
40. Do not fight back.
41. Do not surrender.

Apparently as this is a generous community you don't have to live here to be a citizen. My resistance to dog ownership now overcome I can claim citizenship.

Vo Uzupis !