also in Italy is a great problem...

Dear Ljubomir, from the frescos of Florence and the opera houses of Milan, to the amphitheaters of Rome, Italy’s cultural heritage is ancient, broad, and deep. But despite having the greatest number of world heritage sites of any country, Italy invests very little in its culture with almost no endowments and bequests—only recession-crippled Greece invests less. Even the largest archaeological site in the country, Pompeii, with its famous snapshot of Roman life preserved in the ashes of a volcanic eruption, is suffering. UNESCO has threatened to remove it from the list of World Heritage Sites because of its wretched appearance and the European Union says it will withdraw subsidies unless it is refurbished.

Culture is a great economic wealth since It provides 5.4 percent of the GDP and employs 1.4 million people. Above all, it is an essential factor for any society that can be fair, united, free, and open just because it develops knowledge, fosters innovation and social inclusion, and, therefore, produces well-being. According to a Federculture report released earlier this month, over the last year state museums have lost about 10 percent of visitors, down from 40 million to 36 million people. Admission to concerts of classical music fell by 22.8 percent. 54 percent of Italians did not read a single book in a year. At the same time, investment in the sector was cut at a local level by municipalities by 11 percent. Even private sponsorship is falling: in 2012, it dropped by 9.6 percent, but since the start of the financial crisis in 2008, it has dropped by 42 percent. With 3,609 museums, 5,000 cultural sites, 46,025 architectural heritage sites, 12,609 libraries, 34,000 places of entertainment, and 49 UNESCO sites (two new UNESCO sites, Medici Villas and Mount Etna, were named a few weeks ago), Italy is unique for the richness of its heritage. But it is also one of the most backward countries in Europe in terms of investment in the sector.

Only a month ago, the European Institute of Statistics (Eurostat) relegated Italy to the second lowest rank (followed by Greece) for public spending on culture. The comparative study by Eurostat shows that Italy invests only 1.1 percent of its GDP in culture, compared to an EU average of 2.2 percent. Italy spends only 8.5 percent of public expense on education, compared to 10.9 percent in Europe. And, finally, the Italian brand is now outside the global top ten. The annual ranking of the 2012-2013 Country Brand Index measures the value of a brand-country in the world, we are penalized by the lack of policies structural reform for the development and employment, for the protection of artistic wealth and the environment. We fell from the 10th to 15th place among the countries where it would be worth living and investing.

Dear Ljubomir

Brazil has the potential to double the volume of donations and mobilize many billions of dollars - to finance charities and social projects, and humanitarian aid in disasters , according to a study by McKinsey .

There is no shortage of resources projects needy , deprived of basic , much less businesses and individuals interested in donating , as evidenced by the hundreds of initiatives to bring resources for disaster victims in Brazil such as floods .

The problem is how to bridge the gap between those who want to donate and need money , eg for Universities.

To reverse the situation , NGOs and fundraisers proposing a new regulatory framework based on priorities and cultural heritage .

They suggest tax breaks , a better selection of beneficiary entities and capacity of NGOs accountability to strengthen the " sales force " of its charitable projects .

The Brazil ranked as 76th in the nation ranking of 153 countries philanthropy foundation of British CAF ( Charities Aid Foundation ) , which , in addition to cash donations, including donations of time ( volunteer ) and helps strangers

The lack of stimulation blocks donations in Brazil

The United States is a young country compared to all of yours. Yet the Federal Government allots much funding to the preservation of historical monuments in the capital, Washington, District of Columbia. Throughout the country, State and municipal governments allot their own funds-- whose abundance varies with the wealth of the particular area-- to preserve local historical sites. Tax revenues at all levels sustain monumental heritage. Furthermore, there exist private, individual endowments to preserve historical colleges and universities. A short history, few monuments (as compared with yours), and economic wealth make the United States a model for preserving national tradition. There is a sense of national and local pride which underpins the generosity of funding.

Evgeny Evgenievich Slutsky

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugen_Slutsky

http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Slutsky.html

He finished high school in c. Zhytomyr (Ukraine, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhytomyr) and University (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taras_Shevchenko_National_University_of_Kyiv) in Kyiv and University of Technology, Munich (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technische_Universit%C3%A4t_M%C3%BCnchen) .

E.E.Slutsky worked (1913-1926) as the head of statistical classes in Kyiv Commercial Institute. (Kyiv Graduate Commercial Courses 1908: Kyiv Commercial Institute 1920: Kyiv National Economy Institute 1930 - http://kneu.edu.ua/en/. Today – Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman).

His first work on budget balance was done in 1910, published in Italian language: Slutsky, E. E. (1915). "Sulla teoria del bilancio del consumatore" and connected with Marginal utility theory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marginal_utility).

This E.E.Slutsky scientific work on budget balance and marginal utility theory is notable for the fact that it defines the problems and directions of the world future scientific research, the results of which Ukrainian scientist brought worldwide recognition.

At the university (Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman) we have a E.E. Slutsky museum, but not the fund.

Oh, yes my institution uses many of endowments... But when I asked for economic help some years ago, they didn't answer me..

In a way, cultural heritage is part of the largest and fastest growing industries (tourism) and it proves to be a significant means of economic attraction. The national/regional attitude towards cultural heritage tourism development, where cultural heritage awareness is not yet fully developed, may show absence of potential for further development (economic and otherwise).

We are at very beginning of endowment tradition in Russia after Soviet era. In my university some endowment fund exists very short time and now it is very small.

@Ljubomir et al.,

Education in my country is one of the main agenda of the govt, and consumes the major part of our national budget. But there are also many private colleges, university colleges and universities.

I believe some of the philanthropists provided the land or the fund! About 5 years ago, I visited one such private college and got this info. Thanks.

Now many Russian young people look at Singapore universities witn huge interest and mind to study there.

Dear Ljubomir Jacic Sir,

The idea is quite meaningful and interesting. Happy to note that you people have already started some affirmative actions in the right direction. But in a country like India, it is difficult to implement such measures though they are pretty desirable ones.

With regards,

Dr. MANOJ P K, CUSAT, KERALA, INDIA.

Yes Ljubomir, cultural heritage of a nation is the heart of the nation. It is what differentiate the memory of a population from another in its arts, customs, architecture, building, literature, culinary ...etc skills. Nations must protect and conserve their cultural heritage, because it is not their own heritage but it is also a humanity memory heritage.

For example Mediterranean countries were the land of many human civilizations, unfortunately many cultural and historical buildings and material and immaterial products are neglected and sometimes destroyed.

In my country, conservation and restructuring of ancient buildings, monuments and museums is lacking. Many of them were destroyed by natural phenomena or by human neglect or incivilities. As well as colonial architectural buildings are neglected, and the new constructions do not follow any design or harmony or beauty

http://flaexia.blog.ru/170474403.html

Dear Ljubomir, my heart is in grief. if you want to destroy a nation, you should destroy a culture.There are a lot of unique cultural places. For ex, you can see the castle by Poltoratsky- it's in the Golden Ring- the splendid place, remembering Ekaterina, Pushkin...You see, there are a lot of unique historical masterpieces, which are in a devastating situation.I'm crying! If I have a lot of money...

@Irina, in addition to money, it's about responsibility for the past, all that is left is in this sense! Money in the hands of irresponsible can lead to even worse!

Ha2, @Patrick,

Happy to meet you here and see your very impressive results of global contacts in modern education activity. I mean your greeting in Russian. Best wishes to you.

@Valery, Parick et al., nowadays many young people even Malaysians want to go to study in Singapore. The fact is that the students perform!

Last November, I attended the int'l Conference on Science and Mathematics Education in Penang and met Dr. Berinderjeet KAUR. She spoke on 'Large scale international assessments of schooling' (TIMMS and PISA). Singapore is way ahead of Malaysia when it comes to Performance and building a science-literate community.

Malaysia has to 'transform' as our Prime Minister has said on many occasions; we are far behind in TIMMS, PISA...

New times, new possibilities, new ways for education activities.

The exhibition "bequests and gifts - Legacy as the cultural property of great importance", which National Library of Serbia celebrates Statehood Day, sends the message that one of the pillars of statehood, the basis of individual and national and collective identity, fostering a culture of memory and storage, protection and presentation national cultural heritage.

Cultural heritage in Russia is an object of state policy and is financed from the state budget. After almost twenty years of decline they observed the rebirth and development of the state support of theatres, libraries and museums now.

Dear Ljubomir,

Today there was a greatest event. I was awarded (and 15 researchers of our region) by a Khovansky medal "The Living Word" for the contribution to culture. The Foundation carries out research in the areas of comparative linguistics, social psychology, psycholinguistics, semiotics. Besides, they are able to award international researches in these fields. The motto of the Foundation is "The treasure of knowledge is invaluable, it also has the distribution, that the one who donate it doesn't loose it, moreover, a donating hire is also an acquisition with the growing level of public education grow those who donate it" You may participate, too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Khovansky_Foundation

My dear Irina, warm congratulations! I rejoice with you! I just have seen the information on Khovansky Foundation! I do share Your happiness!

Thank you, dear Ljubomir, it's the greatest cultural foundation of Khovansky (you see, it existed up to 1917, then it was closed and opened not long ago) -our one of the first philologist, philosopher , real believer. His first grammatic and heuristic methodology are productive. The representatives of this foundation presented books by Khovansky to us. The books are unique.15 human beings, nominators, were very happy, too. I know some of them, these creative persons are highly noble, hard-working, decent.I was glad that really enthusiastic researchers had been awarded by the medals.