Not for nothing is Vjeran Piršić the foremost among environmental activist in Croatia. Without even trying, he can be quite persuasive. Soon after we met today in the center of Zagreb, I told him that I was not interested any longer in any sort of activity along the lines of our previous discussions about an environmental institute in Motovun, which I would head on account of my academic credentials. I explained that I was fed up with Croatia, which is far from friendly toward intellectuals of any description. I told him that I had even thought of leaving the country for good. He listened to me quite attentively. He agreed with everything I had to say. But I still ended up by proposing that I could help organize an occasional meeting of minds on environmental issues. And in Motovun, of all places. Fifteen to twenty clever people of all walks of life would meet for a day or two to talk about a broad environmental theme, such as water or migration, without any further agenda. Scientists, politicians, writers, activists, or engineers, they would not need to prepare for the meeting, either. A straightforward record of their discussion would be published a month or so later without any fanfare. The gathering would be far from the limelight. There would be no journalists with microphones or cameras. The only attraction would be the minds of the assembled participants. By the time we parted our ways, Vjeran looked rather happy. Small as it was, the first meeting of minds was quite successful.

Addendum (July 6, 2016)

And? What happened? Has there been any meeting of minds in Motovun or anyplace else ever since? To the best of my knowledge, there has been not a single one of this ilk. The main reason behind it is simple enough to fathom: no scientists, politicians, writers, activists, or engineers worthy of mention are interested any longer in meetings far from the limelight. Nowadays, nothing goes without microphones and cameras. As well as all the hoopla that journalists can come up with. The same holds for Vjeran Piršić, the foremost among environmental activists in Croatia to this day. The only mystery of the first meeting of minds in Zagreb five years ago is that he looked rather happy when we parted our ways. But chances are that I misinterpreted his feelings back then. Actually, it was only I who felt happy about our meeting. Meeting of minds, my ass.