This is a worldwide essay competition in writing the best essay about the correct term to use in the future public debate regarding private money being illegally taken and transported into a big EU member state’s budget**. After the competition, a book featuring the 100 best essays will be published, along with unique and inspirational illustrations of the modern encounter between David and Goliath. More about the Book…

(I know, it's unusual. At first, I didn't believe that in the 21st century, in the heart of Europe, there could be a need for such a project. So, follow this project and participate, because it will enrich you, pleasantly surprise you, and, in the end – I believe – bring you joy!)

This competition's goal is to answer an important dilemma: How to name the above doings of the large EU member state and the state itself?

About the purpose of this competition:

• a) this competition is a pilot project and part of the broader public initiative for the repatriation of my money, as explained on this site.
• b) to encourage thinking about public morality and the ethical profile of large and powerful countries.
• c) by inviting people to write, evaluate, and read essays and by offering monetary prizes, to promote a culture of open public dialogue regarding current issues, such as the supremacy of the powerful over the weak, and about choosing proper public terms to explain them.
• d) the purpose and integrity of this competition would be compromised should the organizer act unethically during the event.

The competition is being organized as an introductory, pilot project for a future public debate between an individual, an ordinary EU citizen and one of the large EU member states. The reason behind this debate is that this large EU member state was involved in an unlawful confiscation of the individual's funds and has refused to return the money, and even has expressed no moral objections regarding the harm to human rights and no objections regarding the use of stolen private money in its state budget.

Essentially, the large EU member state, through its majority-owned company*, has unlawfully confiscated significant amounts of money in Croatia to the detriment of the Republic of Croatia and, the mentioned individual, Željko Markota.

The mentioned public debate represents a curious and somewhat unusual, but evidently necessary, test for citizens living in the mentioned EU member state as well as in other "Western" countries founded on shared values of humanistic heritage, human rights, public morality, as well as the roles of the state and parliamentary democracy.

An appropriate word or term is sought for the set of actions that the major EU member state either planned, approved, concealed, or a combination thereof, which resulted in the illegal confiscation of money in Croatia and the revenue to its the state budget. For this purpose, strong and direct terms such as: theft, robbery, seizure, plunder, and similar can be used. For the same action, softer and more nuanced terms can also be used such as: appropriation, unlawful/undue retention, unlawful seizure, unethical acquisition, immoral acquisition, clumsy acquisition, and similar.

The selection and subsequent public use of the best term for what a large EU member state has done is what I (Željko Markota) am currently attempting to resolve, as I consider it to be almost crucially important for the future public debate.

This essay writing competition is open to undergraduate, graduate or postgraduate college students worldwide, with a prize that will range from $ 1,000 to $ 5,000.

The criteria by which we will decide on the total amount of prize money are: total number of essays received (participation fees), total amount collected from the public (voting fees and donations), and total number of essay readings.

The evaluation of the submitted essays will be conducted in three rounds: In the first round, AI will grade all essays and eliminate inappropriate ones. In the second round, participants will evaluate each other's essays. In the third round, the public will vote for a certain number of top essays based on the ratings from the first and second round.

I would kindly ask all students to give a chance to this Contest and dedicate 10 to 15 minutes to read the content presented on this website.