Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 9 February (BelTA) – Declaring 2018 the Year of Native Land will encourage every Belarusian to take a creative proactive approach and do the right thing for the hometown, village, or street, Nikolai Shchekin, Head of the Political and Economic Sociology Center at the Sociology Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB),

“This is a logical and timely decision, especially in the light of the country's emphasis on regional development. We must remember our roots and give back to our communities upon achieving some success in life. If you become a successful businessman, why not give back to your hometown or village? If you are a civil servant or a MP, you can help improve the quality of life. If you are a local resident you can lead by example and encourage your neighbors to tidy your community up or spruce it up. And so on. Therefore, the Year of Native Land will be an incentive to take a creative proactive approach and do the right thing for your hometown, village, or street,” Nikolai Shchekin said.

In a sense, this is a continuation of the recently enacted ordinances to liberalize entrepreneurship, promote employment and other legislation aimed at creating the conditions to nurture the nation of successful people who seek to work in their country and for its common good, Nikolai Shchekin believes. “All these contribute to the consolidation of the nation, each representative of which incorporates the traditional Belarusian traits of kindness, generosity, conscientiousness, peacefulnesses and where all members of the society are self-sufficient people, in charge of their destinies and decent citizens of their country. I think that true patriotism is when you love your place of birth and show this through deeds and not just words,” he said.