Portal talk:Belarus

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This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Portal:Belarus page.
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This talk page is for the Portal about Belarus. Ensure this portal's details are listed in the Portal directory. For discussion about Portals generally, please see the WikiProject on Portals.

Contents 1 Гура! 2 Łukašenka-style design 2.1 Belarusian Wikipedia (Беларуская Вікіпэдыя) 3 Featured picture 4 Our First Featured Article 5 BCOTW 6 Tools Template 7 Lithuanian discussion 8 Belarusian Award 9 My Project 10 Fact Checking 11 New header image 12 Eastern-European cooperation proposal 13 Portal namespace 14 page design 15 Belarusian notice board ? 16 History of Belarus 17 Belarusian user templates 18 Jagello 19 Help request 20 A minor concern 21 Portal:Weißrussland

[edit] Гура!

Hurray and ščyry dziakuj for creating this Wikiportal! :)

I am really willing to participate in work on Belarusian topics on the Wikipedia! Right now I am working on a new version of the article Belarusian rouble!--Czalex 21:42, 23 May 2005 (UTC)

Good job. I also like to thank you for the Belarusian name for the Hero of Belarus. Also, your quite welcome about the Wikiportal. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 22:17, 23 May 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Łukašenka-style design

Prepare to heavy criticism on the greeny Łukashist front page design ;) Most Belarusian internet users and wikipedians really do prefer the Symbols from earlier history. Maybe some dark-red colour would be a better idea than the ultragreen? White text on light green is a bit hard for eyes to read :( --Czalex 21:42, 23 May 2005 (UTC)

Ok, I will change that. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 22:17, 23 May 2005 (UTC)

It is finished Czalex, do you like it? Zscout370 (Sound Off) 22:34, 23 May 2005 (UTC)

Yes, now it's much better! The only problem is probably with the white-red-white flag, it's not well seen on white background even although there is a small grey border.

Also, maybe it would be worth leaving also Łukashist state symbols as the current symbols of Belarus (until we get rid of Łukašenka in Belarus ;) ), under Łukashist design I meant first of all the green panels that are gone now.--Czalex 04:56, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

I looked at the Belarusian Wikipedia, they used the white/red/white flag on their welcome page. Plus, I can put the symbols back up with no problem. If things get too bad, I will include both symbols. However, I just think it will be mainly the two of us for right now. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 05:04, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

I disagree with the use of the former flag and CoA. While it is indeed nicer looking, the greenish flag is currently the official flag of Belarus, so it should be used in the wikiportal, as it is in the Belarus article (the same applies to the Coat of Arms). Ausir 15:19, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

And that was why I even had the greeny borders and tables: so they can match perfectly with the Belarusian flag. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 15:30, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

And could you please contact the editors of the Belarussian Wikipedia (if you do not edit there yourself) and ask them to remove the former flag? As much as I dislike Lukashenko, using the old flag is pushing a POV, so it's better not to use any flag at all on the main page. Ausir 16:03, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

I do have an account there, but I do not edit. I will see, to what extent, is the former symbols used on there. As for here, here is my idea. Take the ornament patern on the Belarusian flag, and use that in the heading. No worries about any pciture copyright: I created the Flag of Belarus.png, so pretty much anyone can what they want with it. As for contacting them, I will see what I need to do to make it happen. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 16:10, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

I think it is a nice idea with no flag, but with the ornament instead (though it is claimed to be a burial (!) ornament). But please keep the w/r/w colour template! :)

About the usage of w/r/w flag in Belarusian Wikipedia: as Wikipedia is not a national (state/nation-oriented) project, but a language-related one, placing the w/r/w flag is IMHO not really POV. w/r/w is a symbol unofficially considered as own by most Belarusian language speakers (yes, 99% of Belarusian-speakers are opponents of Łukašenka) regardless from their country and citisenship (p.e. I am from Russia).--Czalex 17:33, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Belarusian Wikipedia (Беларуская Вікіпэдыя)

From the main page, be:Галоўная_старонка, appears the w/r/w triclor with the words Belarussian Wikipedia in the middle. In the be:Беларусь article there, the current symbols appear there (flag drawn by me, arms from the Commons). The only other instance of the w/r/w flag is at be:Бел-чырвона-белы сьцяг. This is the only article about a Belarusian flag, so wether or not it is POV pushing, I cannot make up that decision. I have to agree with Ausir: my country hates Lukashenko (though some might think I am a Lukashenko-apologist/supporter), but we have to be fair and accurate with our protrial on Belarus. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 16:23, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

W/R/W is inofficially prohibited by the Łukašenka regime, if you apear with that flag on the street, they will probably get you into jail. But as the ancient national flag it is still respected and loved by many Belarusians (I think, most of them except for communists and Łukashists).

As I said - no flag on the front page (but a white-red template) is IMO the best decision.--Czalex 17:38, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

You know, I actually like the current frontpage. How about leaving it as it is and concentrating on finding some Collaboration of the Week? :)--Czalex 17:42, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

Well, I was working on Belarusian articles related to their participation in the Olympic movement (see: Belarus_at_the_Olympics and Belarus Olympic Committee). Plus, I designed and created the Portal, so I am trying to make sure the design of the tables is ok with everyone. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 17:47, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Featured picture

I think a nice picture would be some painting of Napaleon Orda (there are some on Commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cities_in_Belarus )--Czalex 05:00, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

The Featured picture will only show a picture that is Belarus related and has passed consensus to become a featured picture. I will look for some of them myself later on. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 05:05, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Our First Featured Article

Hero of Belarus has been promoted to WP:FA as of 05:08, 24 May 2005 (UTC). I hope this is the first or many articles about Belarus to become great for our wonderful Wikipedia! Zscout370 (Sound Off) 05:08, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

Who are those living Heroes of Belarus? One of them must be Lukashenka himself, I guess ;-))) --83.148.73.150 17:49, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

Lukashenko is not one of the recepients of the title. From the article: "The only heroes that are currently living are Vital Kramko and Pavieł Maryjaŭ." Michajił Karčmit did receive his title in person, but died in 2004. The only real reference to Lukashenko that I made is that Lukashenko is the state official to issue and present the title. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 18:00, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

[edit] BCOTW

From now until whenever we see fit, the current Belarusian Collaboration Project is the article Belarusian ruble, the currency of Belarus. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 18:01, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

Great idea! I'll start with translating my article be:Беларускі рубель, but I'll need your help with correct English language as mine is far from ideal :/ --Czalex 20:09, 25 May 2005 (UTC)

I can do that. However, I will be out for the next few days, so do not expect me back until the 29th of May. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 21:03, 25 May 2005 (UTC)

I posted a draft of the article. Check the English language.

How about making it an other Featured Article?--Czalex 18:47, 28 May 2005 (UTC)

Zscout370, have you checked English language in Belarusian ruble?--Czalex 18:29, 1 Jun 2005 (UTC) :)

I am checking it now. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 18:56, 1 Jun 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Tools Template

If I get the time, or someone beats me to it, I will create a tools template. This will list the various stubs tags we can use for Belarusian articles, various tags on how to put images and audio. Or, if you think a template is not a good idea, then we can create a page full of tools and link it via the "Things you can do..." template. Suggestions? Zscout370 (Sound Off) 03:29, 26 May 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Lithuanian discussion

Controversal articles by mainly Lithuanian authors appear in last time: Eastern Vilnius region, Disputed territories of Baltic States.

I think articles about Etnic Belarusian territories as parts of other states, Vilenscyna and Bielastoccyna should be presented for the Wikipedia to be objective.--Czalex 20:24, 26 May 2005 (UTC)

The second article that is listed survived a VFD vote, mainly for the article title. If you wish to start those, go right ahead. Pretty much, if you got an article idea, be like Nike and Just Do It! Zscout370 (Sound Off) 20:27, 26 May 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Belarusian Award

With thanks to Halibutt, he created the Belarusian version of the Barnstar of National Merit. The details are below and can be used to award people, like Czalex, for work on Belarusian topics. The template is below. If you like to award the normal BoNM, which I am the creator of, that is fine too. Enjoy. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 23:30, 31 May 2005 (UTC)

Belarusian Barnstar of National Merit, a local variation of the Barnstar of National Merit
main • ribbon

[edit] My Project

Right now, my energy has been focused on this article: Awards_and_decorations_of_Belarus. I just wish for yall to look at it and make sure the English names of the orders/medals are correct. Thanks in advance. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 22:42, 4 Jun 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Fact Checking

For those who have time on their hands, I have one request: can someone find me the number of Belarusians killed on 9/11 please. I have found one website listing one, but I just want to be sure. Thanks. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 00:49, 5 Jun 2005 (UTC)

[edit] New header image

I would say we could keep the images for the header, unless you all consider them majorly POV-pushing. If that is the case, we can scrap them all together. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 8 July 2005 23:29 (UTC)

[edit] Eastern-European cooperation proposal

Crossposted to: Wikipedia talk:Polish Wikipedians' notice board, Wikipedia:Wikiportal/Russia/Russia-related Wikipedia notice board, Wikipedia talk:Wikiportal/Belarus, Wikipedia:Wikiportal/Ukraine/Ukraine-related Wikipedia notice board

I'd like to propose that Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Belarussian (and anybody else who wants to join, you will excuse me if I won't list everyone here, I tried to reach everybody on the Wikipedia:Regional notice boards) Wikipedians join forces and try together to promote some articles to FA, instead of (what seems to be more common, unfortunately) fighting over which name should go first and similar petty issues :>

In this spirit I invite you all to comment on Polish-Muscovy War (1605-1618), an article I (mostly, wiki being wiki) have written over the past few months. It can definetly benefit from introducing Russian/English spelling of some names/people that I added knowing only Polish spelling, adjusting my Polish POV and adding more info from Russian/other sources I have no access to. I believe this article is fairly comprehensive, and we can make it reach FA. In few days I will submit it to Peer Review, and if there are no disputes on PR/article's talk page I will submit it to FA in over a week.

Once again, I invite your comments and edits, and hope this will be the first of many similar projects that proves we can work on together, to show our Eastern European history and culture to English-speaking world, most of whom unfortunately seem never to heard about Muscovy of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. If you like this initative. For now, I invite everybody to copy their replies to my talk page; if there is enough interest, perhaps we can create a serparate page to discuss it (Wikiproject:Eastern Europe or sth like this). --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus ^Talk 17:35, 29 July 2005 (UTC)

Count me in Piotrus. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 19:55, 29 July 2005 (UTC)

Great :) Who's next? :) --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus ^Talk 17:14, 30 July 2005 (UTC)

That's it from here: this portal got activie during it's creation but it is pretty much dead. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 18:43, 30 July 2005 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Eastern European Wikipedians' notice board has just been created. Please participate, edit anything there and add it to your watchlists if you think the idea is workable. --Irpen 22:55, August 17, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Portal namespace

The new Portal namespace is a reader oriented namespace rather than an extension of the Wikipedia namespace. It isn't intended that every WikiPortal will make it into the Portal namespace (see WP:PORTAL).

If this page is to remain in the Portal namespace, it will need to be adapted so that it is low maintenance and to be focused to the reader (who may be reading it on a mirror site). In particular, the Portal news will have to go (maybe to be replaced by a link to the Belarus WikiProject), the reference to "wikipedia" should be changed to a more general reference on how to contribute, and Collaboration of the Week should be transcluded in from somewhere (and preferably wouldn't appear as it needs too much updating), and the Portal information will have to go (perhaps over to the talk page).

If it's not to be reader-focused, the page should be moved to Wikipedia:Wikiportal/Belarus, jguk 06:27, 27 August 2005 (UTC)

I am creating a temp page at Portal:Belarus/Temp to fix the said problem. Since this portal is a one-man opperation, I do not mind fixing it. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 06:29, 27 August 2005 (UTC)

Good luck. Even more reason to keep it low (or zero) maintenance if it's a one-man effort, jguk 06:58, 27 August 2005 (UTC)

Thanks. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 17:22, 27 August 2005 (UTC)

Well, the absence of an edit option which would link to a Portal namespace is a concern here. I too would like to help out to address this problem. --Siva1979^{Talk to me} 19:36, 23 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] page design

I think smb should change or revert design of this portal. It looks very unpleasant now - too red, too hard... imho --Monkbel 06:44, 28 August 2005 (UTC)

The colors are fine now. But as for the new article announcement board, I will reword it. Portals are supposed to be read only now. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 14:17, 28 August 2005 (UTC)

Nv, it's fine. Zscout370 (Sound Off) 14:18, 28 August 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Belarusian notice board ?

Guys, is there something like Belarusian users' notice board ? I could not find it ... Or is this the place maybe ? --Wojsyl ^(talk) 22:11, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

There is no such notice board yet. You can use this place or Wikipedia:Eastern European Wikipedians' notice board. --Monkbel 12:39, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] History of Belarus

Input from other editors is needed to stop what increasingly looks like a revert war.--Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus ^Talk 16:52, 2 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Belarusian user templates

The first to go: Template:User Pahonia

{{User Pahonia}} --Czalex 08:51, 28 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Jagello

Naming discussion has a new approval poll, to discuss the matter of how to name the article currently at Władysław II Jagiełło. Interested editors are invited to participate, at Talk:Władysław II Jagiełło. Shilkanni 20:08, 25 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Help request

I am working on currency articles. Could some Belarusian expert help transliterating plurals of rubles in Belarusian in the infobox of Belarusian ruble? I'm trying to make it like Ukrainian hryvnia and Russian ruble. Thanks. --Chochopk 20:03, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] A minor concern

I wish to address a minor concern here. Notice that all the featured portals on Wikipedia are linked to a Portal namespace. But the edit links in the portal boxes link to a template namespace. For more information about this, please read this subsection. Isn't it better to standardize this on Wikipedia? --Siva1979^{Talk to me} 19:45, 23 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Portal:Weißrussland

Hello, I am the sysop of th german vision of the portal:Belarus, maybey the sysop of the english one, can connect me, to combine the 2 portals nearer then now.

You can also send mee a message, if you have any ideas of connecting the german portals about the diviedes states of the USSR, like the russian portal, or the portal moscow.

Therefore Please check User Manecke!

With greatings manecke!