Roma update - Colum McCann; and Leafpile photo gallery, Ina Zoon

The author of the novel, "Zoli," Colum McCann - the novel based roughly on the life of a Slovakian Roma poet, Branislawa Wajs (see Gypsies, Roma, Romani, and "Zoli" wrote this current events opinion regarding the larger Gypsy issue and the European Union - ://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/10/opinion/edmcCann.php. The article is entitled, "Gypsies Put Europe To The Test: The Roma of Romania and Bulgaria." International Herald Tribune.

The issue is how Romania, Bulgaria, and other countries regarding the European Union, will deal with their minority populations.

Here is a good photo gallery of Roma, done by "Leafpile" - //www.leafpile.com/TravelLog/Romania/Roma/Roma.htm. We were not comfortable taking pictures of Roma, looks like our over-concern for people's sense of privacy was off base. Do look at these.

Further update, on the poor vs. progress. This is 3/3/08: Read "On the Margins: Roma and Public Services in Romania, Bulgaria, and Macedonia, With a Supplement on Housing in the Czech Republic," by Ina Zoon, Open Society Institute press 2001. Covers denials of health care, lack of adequate housing, and recommendations.