This Wednesday marks the anniversary of the death of Jan Palach, the Charles University student who set himself on fire in a bid to rouse people from the apathy that had set into Czechoslovak society in the wake of the 1968 Soviet-led invasion. He succeeded, albeit briefly; his funeral was a mass outpouring of grief and anger, and Palach became — for many — an enduring symbol of resistance.

Czech artists Michaela Klakurková and Jan Žaloudek took to the Prague streets in January last year in search of discarded Christmas trees and — without seeking approval — replanted them in Kampa Park along the banks of the Vltava River. Now, their Second Chance/New Stage For Xmas Trees project has the blessing and support of the New Stage of Prague’s National Theater and has even taken root in Romania.

Over the course of its 160-year-long history, many thousands of Bohemian and Moravian immigrants settled in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which is now home to America’s National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. In Part I of her series on Czech and Slovak life and history in the United States — ‘Flood, Sweat and Tears’ — Rosie Johnston tours the city’s Czech Village quarter, once best known for its seedy goings-on.

The Czech Technical University in Prague (ČVUT) and state investment agency CzechInvest are both compiling databases of top scientists in an effort to spark interest abroad for international cooperation, with the latter concentrating on industry and research institutions. The ČVUT list has already been ordered by the US government and will be more extensive than previous efforts. CzechInvest’s list concentrates on industry and research institutions. But not all Czechs applaud the efforts.