Vilnius, Lithuania : Looking for the centre of Europe

What do an electric car, clandestine parties and a miracle stone have in common?

When the Internet Governance Forum met in September 2010 for their yearly conference, we quietly snuck out of the busy conference halls to meet with some people on the streets of Vilnius.

From an inventive kit that converts any old car into an electric vehicle, to youths that have converted an old Soviet ministry into a freedom house - we went looking for the initiative and entrepreneurship that puts Lithuanian people at the centre of Europe.

From global opportunity to local identity - this is what we found.

Next stop: We go to Germany to find out how big trucks and private planes put every entrepreneur at the centre of Europe.

[SuperTravianPlayer]

Sveiki!Brālis no Latvijas!
Nice video!Brother from Latvia!

[bored]

I'd like to visit Lithuania. Sounds interesting and looks fascinating. History, culture and a bright future.

[polishranger]

when i moved to canada 21yrs ago, the first book i bought was the webster's dictionary. at the beginning they were talking about origin of english, origin of indo european language and it was the first time i've learned about the uniqueness of lithuanian. i caught my interest since my family comes from lithuania. now tell me, how is that a problem?

[tadasbetneblinda]

Guys, rely on me, Vilnius is charming, clean, calm, cosy, picturesque... Lithuanians are welcome you here guys. Be sure you will be ok here. Just follow common rules as everywhere basically in the world so enjoy your time here

[malnaby]

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[Truthisahatecrime]

these are my people. As myliu Lietuva=)

[polishranger]

whatever? oh that's a great and balanced argument. i didn't see it that way but now i do. wow

[polishranger]

i have a lot of lithuanian blood in me and i'm not ashamed of it. you lithunians are trying to change your own past. it is impossible.

[Megarnst]

Reading national anthem? You should sing it from your memory!

[BeardedBamboo]

i have a rare disorder that renders my insensitiveivity from pain/or hurt

[Bukkawarnis]

Ir tikrai negalejot susirasti zmoniu, kurie neturetu tokio slykstaus acento? Koki jauna bybi mes ten matome? Ir kodel butent jis? Kas jis? Kodel jis?!

[polishranger]

why do you think i read it on wiki? you don't think balts and slavs came from the same source? most of us europeans came from india (i believe that) and we all spoke a common language. lithuanian has changed the least from that original language.

[nutria]

'We fought for our country for over 600 years'... Any examples of uprisings or any other form of fight against Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (or Poland itself)?

[BeardedBamboo]

open a Lithuanian history book for once

[vergilius]

Old Polish city -from bp Wincenty Kadlubek, Cardinal Olesnicki, Zawisza Czarny, Kopernik

[IQ]

0:42 "2002 na wszystkie dni Agni i Jacek" - typical Lithuanian language :)

[malnaby]

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[DomkiZ]

nu bet jau taip padeklamuot Tautinę Giesmę..

[dranikstyle]

the centre of Europa?? Polotsk is the centre of E

[polishranger]

he's not calling you slavic. slava means glory in most of slavic languages (chwala in polish slove or old spelling szlowe in lithuanian). slavs and balts have common ancestry. our ancestors spoke proto balto slavic language. then our langauges went separate ways. protect your langauge lithuanians, have a lot of children but try not to be dicks to those lithuanians who speak polish at home.