Do you agree with the official Macedonian position towards the war against Iraq and with the way it was decided?   In the month of April, on the "Civic World web-sites, www.graganskisvet.org.mk and www.cicworld.org.mk, you can discuss about one of most popular questions on global level: the war against Iraq. However, we limit the question related to the war on local level ask for your opinion: Do you agree with the official Macedonian position for supporting USA and Great Britain in their action against Iraq? Shouldn't the authorities ask for the public opinion, or even organize a referendum? Do you consider that the citizens should have decided upon that question or no? We invite you to enter the discussion on this very important issue at the Forum on the Civic World web-sites. Please state your full name and surname and your NGO, if any. In order to start a quality debate we asked several people active in the civic sector in Macedonia this question. Here is their opinion:   Iskra Geshoska, Cultural Center "Tocka" The answer referring to the positioning in the "new war" that enters the sphere of hyper-realistic, seems to be really simple: clearly, without any doubt - a bid AGAINST the farce that does only happen on a certain theater scene, but in reality. AGAINST the destructive power of imperial infections and viruses, AGAINST the rhetoric of power which is a factory for producing illusion and goodness. Unfortunately, Macedonia is completely vague and undetermined. Once again, it shows its weakness, its inconsistency, indecisiveness, and finally, its irrelevancy. To be "for" or "against" any kind of situation, is a decision which asks for great wisdom, logical thinking and successiveness of acting. Assuming attitude, even if it is the wrong one, is not only a routine activity. Positioning requires complete responsibility and power to explain and defend the stands. We did not notice that with any official representative of our authorities. They are nested in a landscape of an alleged governing the situation. And in fact, what their decision implies is the complete incapability to be noted and heard. In our desire to be heard, we often forget that the world is ruled by a crowd and if everyone wants the priority of their vote, there will be a terrible political confusion whose horror can be already sensed in the cacophony of the debates for political correctness and political identity. The only relevant discourse is the discourse of fundamental releasing force that animates the desire for independence, the desire to speak freely and without the burden of the unjust domination. Our authorities, regardless of which political party they belong to, have never had ideological and strategic consistency. True example of complete epigone, servility and fear. What we lack is a creative and constructive resistance that would be involved in the creating the country's identity in relation to its citizens and the world. In assuming position regarding the war in Iraq, it was completely left out. Therefore, the whole position of Macedonia seems invalid and void.   Nikola Gelevski, Kontrapunkt  I don't like the Republic of Macedonia policy regarding the USA aggression against Iraq. However, I do not like the EU policy towards Macedonia, and in the wider sense, I do not like the selfishness and the nationalism hidden behind the veil of the false multiculturalism. But, that is another issue. The Americans still stick to Regan's thought, that God is always on the side of great battalions; ideologically close to the American long-term policy is Engel's' concept of violence which catalyses the economic development. However, there is an important moment n his concept whose importance will yet gain on popularity: "Where the one country's structure of power contradicts its economic development, the political power, together with its violent mechanisms, will be defeated. The American economic power is getting weaker in long terms. Until now, the wars have managed to revive the American indebted economy - however it cannot go on forever. Many serious analytics give the present world order up to 50 years existence. Not many dare to forecast what expects us in future. This situation is quite similar to one of the oldest political realizations which refers to the fact that the power cannot be measured with the welfare; too much welfare can undermine the power, and the rich are very dangerous for the power and development of the republics". Will the insatiable high-class in the USA, the pillar of oil and military-industrial complex, will destroy the empery on long-terms?       From the last month's debate   Do the actual women NGO strategies give results?   In the traditionally female month, March, on the "Civic World" sites www.graganskisvet.org.mk and www.civicworld.org.mk the question related to women NGO activities will be in the center of attention. We invite you for a discussion about the strategies that women NGOs carry out in Macedonia. Do they give the results wanted? Or, is it time to re-direct the activities for gaining more rights and equal treatment into a more modern direction, adjusted to the domestic needs? We invite you to enter the discussion on this interesting subject at the Forum on our web-sites. Please enter the discussion under your full name and surname and state the name of your NGO (if you are a member of any). In order to start a quality debate, we asked several people active in the civic sector in Macedonia this question. Here is their opinion:   Ana Stefanovska  This question can be answered with yes and no. That is, the strategies that have been applied until now and are still applied by the women NGOs have had a certain positive effect on women whose rights had been violated - in terms of raising their self-consciousness, their longing for emancipation and equal position with the man, their education, informing, etc. As far as the other segments are concerned, I personally do not think that there were some significant results accomplished. In this regard, I would mention the country, which has not yet built the awareness of gender equality, and also large part of the men who are not ready to give up their "position" and enable equal treatment to women (In this respect I would start from the home, all through the position at work), and finally - with women whose rights have not been violated. Let me make myself clearer - I have in mind the women who have accomplished certain level of emancipation and equality. Very often, many of these women think that the woman in Macedonia has legal rights and she should only use them, but they do not understand that it is not that simple (until one feels the pain him/herself). Therefore, I think that the women organizations' strategies should alter and adjust to these groups, as well.