Compact archive October 13, 2006

British low-cost air carrier easyJet was awarded as the Most Environmentally-Friendly Air Carrier flying to or from the Czech international airport Ruzyne. This competition was organised by the Ruzyne airport together with the borough of Prague 6. Second place is hold by British Airways, third Swissair.

According to the Ruzyne airport head-manager Hana Cernochova: “Finishing in the top places in this competition is an indication for passengers of an airline’s reliability and precision. EasyJet’s performance was exceptional for the entire duration of the competition.”

The main criteria of the competition was to impulse the carriers to comply air corridors in order to minimise noise pollution in the surrounding of Ruzyne airport.

Czech Press Photo is a annual competition and afterwards an exhibition of photos made by professional photographers living in the Czech or Slovak Republic. The aim of Czech Press Photo is to motivate photographers to a more personal approach in the everyday stereotype.

Photos are evaluated in eight categories by the international jury. The pictures are judged on their journalistic value (i.e. information value, readiness, topicality) together with their aesthetic quality.

The winner of the year 2006 is Michal Cizek from the Agence France Presse with his picture What next? Negotiations of top politicians after the elections.

The exhibition of the awarded and other chosen pictures showing what happened last year will take place in Old Town Hall from 17th November 2006 to 30th January 2007.

Lovers of history and entertainment can connect two nice things in one day: to enjoy a journey on a historical steam train dating back to 1947 and have fun at the international festival of fencing, music and theater called Krivoklani taking place at the Castle Krivoklat.

The historical steam train leaves from Prague’s railway station Branik on 14th and 15th October at 8:58 (from metro station I.P. Pavlova take tram no. 16 at 8:09, stop Nadrazi Branik). It stops at Prague Vrsovice (9:20), Prague Smichov (9:29), Beroun (10:32); it arrives at Krivoklat at 11:15. The train consists of historical 3rd class wagons with wooden seats. The journey back start at 15:35, the arrival is at 18:04. Tickets are available at Prague railway station Branik.

The festival Krivoklati offers fencing tournaments, shows of medieval music, jugglers and the “presentation of executioner’s art”. The festival is accompanied by a medieval fair where you can try archery or buy delicious hot mead (medovina).

World famous comic legend Bryan Talbot comes to Prague to introduce his comic book Heart of Empire whose Czech version has been published recently. This British star will be also giving autographs in Kanzelsberger’s House of Books in Wenceslas Square 4 (Vaclavske namesti) tomorrow at 13:00.

Bryan Talbot was born in 1952. His first published illustrations appeared in the British Tolkien Society Magazine in 1969. The adventures of Talbot’s character Luthers Arkwright were published as the first British comics on the market dominated by Americans. Talbot won the prestigous Eagle Award for “Best New Comic” and “Favourite Character”.

Talbot’s visit will also open comic festival ‘KomiksFest! 2006’ – a festival whose aim is to introduce comic books, performances, exhibitions and chats to the wide public and show that this form of art can bear any content. The main programme of the festival starts on 21st October and ends on 29th October.

The tragical event that happened in New York last Wednesday should not happen in Prague, said the newspaper Prazsky denik. The accident when the plane crashed into the building is most unlikely in the Czech Republic’s capitol.

Flights over Prague and the Czech Republic are strictly monitored by control towers. There is an international airport whose radars cover the whole area of the capital. There are also several zones where flights over are prohibited. One of them is Prague Castle and its surrounding. Also no single-engine planes can fly over Prague. The risk that the only engine would stop functioning is too big.

In case that any plane would not react or refused to communicate with the tower, strict security measures would be taken. Fighter planes would start immediately and make the strange plane land or change its course.