A feature documentary on strays dogs in Romania I directed, now available on Vimeo, executive produced by Ovidiu Dunel-Stancu. In the first five days of release the film gained over 5,000 views from over 100 different countries and the number of viewers are still rising in their thousands. Romania is once again in a dilemma […]
Tag Archives: Romania
Romania is once again in a dilemma over whether to kill, save or adopt the millions of stray dogs that stalk its nation. Galvanized by the tragic and unnecessary death of a four-year old boy possibly by dogs loose on the street (although the truth is still murky), the movement to euthanize dogs has now […]
An English version of an article on the Rosia Montana mining project, Romanian version here: http://www.contributors.ro/editorial/ce-se-intampla-daca-protestatarii-castiga-impotriva-proiectului-minier-de-la-rosia-montana-se-duc-acasa-sau-raman-pe-strazi-inarmati-cu-sticle-de-plastic-si-pompe-de-bicicleta/ On 8 September, the protest in Bucharest against the multibillion-dollar Rosia Montana gold-mining project in Transylvania was reaching the city’s central business district of Piata Victoriei, home of the Government assembly. I raced to be at the head of […]
An English version of a comment piece published online in Romanian on Hotnews http://www.contributors.ro/editorial/rosia-montana-o-revolta-a-diferentelor-dintre-tineri-si-batrani/ This article gained over 7,000 visitors and more than 1,100 likes on Facebook. When I was in my 20s in London, protesting was the only way we could engage in the political process of our country. Yes it was fashionable to […]
A feature on the rise in HIV in Romania among drug users published in UK charity Drugscope’s magazine Druglink in March/April 2013 http://www.drugscope.org.uk/publications In Romania, following a switch from heroin to legal highs among injecting drug users, new cases of HIV have boomed By Michael Bird Cristi is dressed in a baseball cap, with holes […]
An analysis of the mendacity of the British press in its relations with Romania – for Hotnews/Contributors.ro, Romania’s top news website published in March 2013 – http://www.contributors.ro/editorial/30-million-romanian-and-bulgarians-criminals-will-invade-the-uk-on-1-january-2014-how-the-british-press-terrorises-its-country-with-a-fear-the-east/ 30 million Romanian and Bulgarian criminals will invade the UK on 1 January 2014: How the British press terrorises its country with a fear of the east Britain’s […]
An opinion piece for Hotnews/Contributors.ro, Romania’s top news website published in January 2013. This satirical comment was hugely popular, registering over 4,300 likes on Facebook and around 32,000 visitors, plus creating heated debates online – http://www.contributors.ro/editorial/an-open-invitation-to-all-romanians-and-bulgarians-please-come-to-the-uk/ An Open Invitation to all Romanians and Bulgarians – Please Come to the UK As a British citizen, I would […]
A feature showing how stray dogs are trained to help mentally disabled children communicate and empathise in Romania. Online at http://www.thediplomat.ro/articol.php?id=1644 New life for Bucharest strays in therapy for disabled Facing death after a near-fatal car accident, Romanian street dog Gigica is now playing in therapy sessions with mentally handicapped children Five-year old Costin is […]
A feature showing the prejudice against guide dogs in Bucharest. Published in ‘The Diplomat – Bucharest’ http://www.thediplomat.ro/articol.php?id=1645 Romania’s first guide dog shut out from city Golden Labrador Chloe helps blind city resident Gabi Nicolescu move around the streets of Bucharest – but shops, hotels, taxis and buses ban them from going further Around the blocks, […]
Charities are sterilising Bucharest’s tens of thousands of stray dogs, but first they must catch the crafty hounds in a fearless operation requiring a net, frankfurters and a blowpipe. A report first published in ‘The Diplomat – Bucharest’ in December 2010 In a red uniform, beard and pony-tail Ovidiu is running through the car […]
Michael Bird Writer & Journalist 