In the same sense that there are many tribes who speak the same language but have vastly different cultures, there are tribes with totally different languages, but their cultures are very similar. I was born in Romania and my friend Roma was born in Russia. Romania and Russia look so alike culturally that it is quite eerie. The buildings, food, attitudes, even the babushkas. But the languages are vastly different.

For example we call this “traditional Romanian food” as “sarmale”:

My mother always makes it for all of the important Romanian holidays. If you search online for “Romanian national holiday” plus the word “food”, you’ll see this dish as the main one. So this is a Romanian dish!

Well that’s what I thought. Turns out that Roma knows this food very well and he calls it “Голубцы”. He says it might be Russian. But Wikipedia tells me that is a traditional food from the “Ottoman cuisine”.

But the fact is that this “sarmale” food is not a “thing”, but a “flavor of things”. Some “sarmale” are made with meat and rice, some just rice, some with cabbage leafs and some with grape leafs. Different condiments. Cooked differently. They differ today from tribe to tribe, and even within the same tribe.

So is this “sarmale” food Romanian? Russian? No. Nothing is.

Snippet from Culture Cancer - tromsite.com/2026/07/culture-c…

#food #culture #romania #russia #trom #tromsite #traditions

Snippet from Culture Cancer:

When Sasha had to take a course about protecting the marine environment in Catalonia, since she was working as a diver, all of the materials they were being provided were in Catalan. None in Spanish. Despite the fact that so many divers in this region are from outside of Catalonia and do not speak Catalan.

[Mind you Spanish is also an official language in Catalonia]

Actually half of the teachers for this course chose to only speak Catalan, despite a few students saying that they do not understand Catalan well, only Spanish.

One teacher asked if there is anyone who does not understand Catalan – Sasha and 3 others said they do not – and the teacher loudly, proudly and confidently said that is his right to speak Catalan and he will do so, albeit more slowly. As if you can slow-talk Korean to me, and I will get it, despite not understanding Korean.

The final exam was, of course, in Catalan only…

What is more important, enforcing your preferred language or protecting the environment? If that course was about protecting the environment, then that should be the most important, no?

I cannot imagine someone coming to Romania, where I am originally from, and I or others to refuse to speak a common language with them. To exclude and marginalize them. This is an awful situation that makes the marginalized ones hate on you and your language.

This situation in Catalonia made me think about Cancer. How cancer is basically normal cells going rogue. They work against the other cells and eventually the body. And we risk to do that among each other, which leads to a cancerous society that is going downhill.

But we cannot simply accuse some Catalans for being cunts with others. Cuntalans! Maybe we are the cunts, the outsiders?! Maybe there is a reason why they behave like that!

But the fact remains that the situation itself is cancerous. I’ve seen how “they” made me hate “them” and “their language” as a result of “their” attitude towards those who “do not speak Catalan”. And I am not the only one who feels like that. It makes us pinned against each other, just like cancerous cells damaging the body. It helps no one. If the body dies, all cells die. Even the cancer.

#catalonia #catala #catalan #spain #diving #tromsite #trom #language #discrimination

Snippet from Culture Cancer:

In fact I’ve been living in Catalonia for 15 years now and I noticed a concerning trend. At least from my own perspective. Despite people here knowing Spanish perfectly fine, at times they may only choose to speak Catalan with you, even when you try to speak Spanish with them.

When I was taking driving lessons and was in the car with other Catalan students, I would mention that I only understand Spanish and not Catalan. And yet they would only speak Catalan with themselves and the teacher. Marginalizing me. The teacher had to awkwardly translate from Catalan to Spanish for me, despite the fact that everyone in that car knew Spanish…So why not simply speak Spanish then!? For me is a no-brainer.

When you have to deal with the hospital here, they will always send you messages or print medical results or treatments into Catalan, despite you making them aware that you do not understand Catalan. A reminder that Spanish is also an official language in Catalonia.

It is so awkward to go into a shop, open the conversation in Spanish, and only be replied in Catalan. So they understand, but refuse to speak Spanish. By “they” I do not mean all, but a good chunk of the people I have interacted with. Granted I rarely interact with people. But still, this is something well known in Catalonia.

#catalonia #language #marginalization #culture #trom #tromsite #catalunia #catala #catalan #spain

Hello distant people from who knows what corners on this round giant rock!

Today, after years of not being able to create anything new for TROM, I am releasing a new project: TROM Articles. See tromsite.com/articles/

Same as TROM Books, but in a different format. Makes more sense to have these pieces of content in this web-format rather than a PDF like the books were.

I am starting with an article about this project: TROM Articles.

But the main release is a massive article called Culture Cancer that I've been working on for the past year. This is an in-depth article about why groups of people hate other groups of people, and why culture can become cancerous. From Israel and Gaza, to Nazis and racism, I dissect this complex topic in a very simple to understand way.

I learned so much while doing this article. I learned to not hate even on those that are absolute monsters, because you get to learn where their hatred comes from. I learned how to communicate better with others and try to solve conflicts, even between friends, partners, family. I learned about the complex situation in Gaza or why the Nazis were such monsters. I learned about what cultures are and why variety is something to celebrate not differentiate. Learned about immigration or where racism comes from. What makes someone a terrorist? Or a white nationalist? Why are people putting themselves into groups and they hate on other groups of people?

A lot to unpack for such a complex topic, so I hope you get to learn a lot too. The article is full of links/sources, videos, documentaries, a course about culture, and even a quiz.

It makes us saner, smarter and more relaxed if we are educated. This is why I want TROM Articles to be a valuable place for that.

At times we may write smaller articles, but from time to time I want us to dissect important topics like the one above, or AI, or how we see the world, science, so much to learn about!

I am going through a lot recently, so I need a bit of time to be able to create new content. But I love doing this. Actually without it, I feel like I will collapse into a black hole. We may reboot TROMcast too, to discuss this topic. I may create videos as well. Let's see. I will let you know if/when these will happen.

I also feel forced to mention that it would help me so much if there would be more people supporting TROM financially. We ask for 5€ donations a month if possible. I feel sick even mentioning this, but since recently I was abandoned by my best friend, my partner with whom I was a team with and helped each other in all ways, then facing the world alone, physically, mentally and financially, has become a big fight for me now. I am asking for real donations not like "if you donate you get this". Everyone is treated equally and asked for a small and equal amount of money.

I hope I can make it, in all ways. Or at least in some ways. I have a lot to say and do. I want to create a Trade-Free Event and open the doors for more collaboration with TROM. Let's see where this goes.

Thank you for still being interested in this project that I hope will become a lot more relevant now with the new TROM Articles release!

PS: I know many people use mobile phones to "eat content". But I cannot guarantee these big articles are properly formatted for such tiny screens. Quite impossible the way I design them. So please, if you can, use a bigger device.

Inside the Dangerous Mission Saving Griffon Vultures - videos.trom.tf/w/gMh9BmARwHtnv…

Really great small documentary done by @Dima ! Imagine that this is done by just 1 guy. All of the filming, editing, everything. So impressive that it makes it incompatible with our Trade Based Society since he will have to stop doing these long form videos because he cannot sustain this.

Imagine that...

Someone like Dima cannot continue to volunteer and do these important videos because he gets no support from this society. This is why we cannot have a saner world. This society is not built for humans, for us to be relaxed and taken care of, so we can do important stuff. No, this society is built for humans to be machines who create a lot of stuff. Sell, buy, consume. Trade.

At least my example with TROM and my struggles, and Dima's example, are a direct proof that this society is a primitive one.

Kudos to you Dima for doing this for so long and I look forward to the next remaining episodes. Maybe a miracle will happen and you can get some support to continue!

#nature #naturepreservation #vultures #slovenia #volunteerin #bbta #TradeRuinsEverything

Be Brave To Act

2026-07-04 04:30:27

Inside the Dangerous Mission Saving Griffon Vultures

I joined Griffon Vultures conservation expedition in Serbia. Together with Bord Of Prey Conservation Foundation we went to the largest Griffon Vulture colony which is located in Uvac Nature Reserve.

Birds Of Prey Protection Foundation - vulture.org.rs

Become a member of Be Brave To Act:
patreon.com/BeBraveToAct

Donate via paypal : paypal.com/donate?hosted_butto…

Thanks to my Patreons :
Cherry Summerfield
Steve Potts
Matthias Crommelinck
Eric Forsmark
Max Bo
Jesse Ludwig
RANDI

#NatureDocumentary #WildlifeConservation #FieldExpedition