The Intercontinental | Braga 2016: Euro-Ibero-American Youth Forum

The Intercontinental.

BY T H E B R AG A 2 0 1 6 M E D I A T E A M

E D I TO R I A L

Dear Participants, You hold in your hands the issue of the Media Team of Braga 2016.

As you may or may not know, for a long time there’s been an ongoing debate in the EYP about the role, the do’s and the don’ts of a Media Team.

What could we add to the Forum?

That was the question we’ve been asking ourselves for the past few months. As these became weeks, and as those became days we tried a delicate balancing act between enhancing your experience at the Forum and producing lasting content to serve as memories of our days together in the city.

We’ve tried to engage with you through a variety of projects during your breaks, meals and cultural moments; to faithfully portray your experience through photos and videos; and to help you unwind with our fresh blog content.

We’ve been working in smaller, specialised groups, hoping to have provided the necessary freedom for creativity to run free.

With creativity came the good, the great and sometimes, the weird that is so characteristic of the EYP. Above all, with it, came us, all of us, the real us. Strengths and weaknesses alike, great spurts of imagination, writer’s block and all.

In the end, the fun, the pain, the tiredness and the excitement made these days stand alone. As our own. And that cannot be ignored or underappreciated. We’re sure these have been some of the best days of our lives, and we hope it has been the same for you.

Watching you, though, dear delegates, has been our main source of inspiration. A meeting of curious, sharp young minds ran by dedicated volunteers, with the unique purpose of joining together Europe and Latin America. From the

first messages in our Facebook page from our dear Latin American EYP rookies, to the promise of friendly reunions, this event provided us with a beautifully honest canvas.

We hope we’ve made you laugh, we hope we’ve made you think and we hope we’ve made you feel.

Before, during and hopefully after. You certainly have done that for us. For that, we thank you.

Hoping to have served you well, Ever yours, Henrique & Joana

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S How to do EYP? Banter: How we combine work and play in the EYP The Theme To meat or not to meat Lost in translation Perspectives Short story The OIJ Saudade

BY MARÍA GRANERO DE LA ASUNCIÓN (ES)

Welcome to the exciting world of the EYP! Here you will find a visual help to ease the way through this organisation and help you go from stranger to expert EYPer!

BANTER: HOW WE COMBINE WORK AND PLAY IN THE EYP

BY MATTHEW GIBBONS (IE)

A group of 18-30 year olds stand outside a hostel at 1am waving their arms around, dancing and singing a song about jellyfish.

People standing in the apartment windows above look down on this ridiculous sight and ask themselves the question we all sometimes consider: why? What is it about EYP events that brings out our silly side? Unlike other youth organisations, the EYP places great emphasis on combining the important work that we do with games, songs and other traditionally childish fun. The stark contrast between serious political issues and light-hearted, often loud and boisterous moments is one of the hallmarks of our organisation.

This strange work/play relationship is obvious from the moment teambuilding begins. Be it screaming HADOUKEN at the top of your voice, trying to say your name with a mouth full of water or pretending to be a ninja, it's clear that these are not situations

"normal adults" usually find themselves in. But each of these "silly games" plays a crucial role in creating a productive atmosphere, developing team dynamics and forming close friendships in a short amount of time.

Games also contribute to our work during the more serious moments in Committee Work or General Assembly. When it comes to energisers, the clue is in the name; a burst of energy dancing, singing, jellyfishing which dissolve stress and return smiles to tired faces. Something as trivial as a game of Just Dance can really restore the atmosphere to a committee room, an atmosphere which is crucial for productive resolution-writing.

However, although these practical functions are certainly important, they don't truly capture why it is that we put such an emphasis on fun and games at EYP sessions. The Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw once said "We do not stop playing games

because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing".

As a youth organisation, we choose not to deny our immaturity, but to celebrate it. Our youth, our innocence, our inexperience, far from being reasons for shame, are central to the work of our organisation. Whether this childishness manifests as a spontaneous sing-along on a bus or a fresh perspective on an age old conflict, the point is that we do not suppress it. Regardless of how old we grow, from 18 to 30 and beyond, we need never stop playing; there's no age restriction on jellyfish songs.

THE THEME PA R T 1 : P E O P L E

BY MATTHEW GIBBONS (IE)

One of the core aspects of the UN sustainable development goals is people: how individuals can promote, influence or be affected by sustainability measures. As such, the media team of Braga 2016 asked participants what their Sustainable Development Goals were for the Forum i.e. what little things they can do to promote sustainability throughout the Forum:

“Using only one cup at coffee breaks”

“Not eating meat”

“Keeping it clean”

AFONSO VIANA, DELEGATE – COIN

IMAN R SLAKA, VIDEO EDITOR

CATARINA SILVA, DELEGATE – CROR

“Using reusable materials instead of disposable ones”

“Using Google Docs for phrasing instead of flipcharts to save paper”

“Ensuring chargers are unplugged when not in use”

FRANCESCA D’AMICO, DELEGATE – LICI

ONUR CAN UÇARER, CHAIRPERSON – FIAD

JULIANA TEIXEIRA, JOURNALIST - IGGE

“Refilling my water bottle”

“Giving leftover food to shelters”

FRANCISCO BRANQUINHO, DELEGATE – CROR

THE ORGANISING TEAM

“Turning lights off whenever possible” PEDRO ANTÓNIO, DELEGATE - DEUR

THE THEME PA R T 2 : P L A N E T

BY BEATRIZ FANECA (PT)

The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power of Earth to produce subsistence for man.

– Thomas Malthus Throughout the history of the Human Species, the birth and mortality rates have always been able to balance each other out, and maintain a sustainable population growth rate. Unfortunately, over the last few centuries, Earth, our sustainable planet, has accumulated multiple adverse impacts.

Can you imagine seven billion people? Well, that is approximately the world population right now!

All these people need food, water, shelter and energy, putting additional pressure on the environment, the economy, and on infrastructures. In opposition to the popular 18th century European view that society was constantly improving, Thomas Robert Malthus addressed the limits of the planet, exploring the relationship between excessive population growth and natural resources.

Over the past centuries, population growth has occurred exponentially, rapidly exceeding the

“power of Earth to produce subsistence”. Improvements in living standards are inevitably undermined as human population growth outstripped food production, driving living standards back toward subsistence. The unprecedented shortfall of food in the face of spiralling population growth is dooming mankind to a ceaseless struggle for existence.

Famine, diseases, and war may eventually put a ceiling on the exponential growth in population. Pressures on food production, combined with threats such as global warming, make overpopulation an even more serious future threat.

Natural resources, on the other hand, increases arithmetically.

The supply of farmable land on Earth is limited, and improving its output is challenging.

Drought, geography, and population growth are placing extreme demands on our natural resources, which are critical for economic development, environmental sustainability, and human welfare. Natural resources take centre stage as the forces of overpopulation, and climate change continue to collide with the forces of global resource scarcity.

Increases in global temperature, sea level rise, ocean acidification

and other climate change impacts are seriously undermining the ability of all countries to achieve sustainable development.

Development depends on the sustainable management of our planet!

Our species rose during a period of great diversity. Unfortunately, overconsumption, waste production, pollution and consequential changes occurring at an unprecedented rate within the biosphere are threatening the planet’s diversity. Overcrowding has been a worldwide concern for centuries, as human populations continues to grow until they are too large to be nurtured by the food grown on available agricultural land.

Natural resources depletion and inaccessible energy shall exist no more. We have mapped the sustainable development road, and we now hold the future of our planet in our hands! A complete overhaul of the way the planet is managed is urgently needed if the challenges of global sustainability are to be met for seven billion people.

Just as we may be the last generation to have a chance of saving the planet.

THE THEME PA R T 3 : P R O S P E R I T Y

BY BEATRIZ FANECA (PT)

Drought, geography, and population growth are placing extreme demands on our natural resources. Overcrowding, climate change, and consequential changes occurring at an unprecedented rate are overwhelming our planet. The Global Crisis is dimming economic perspectives all over the world, and the supremacy of some developed countries prevails. International migratory flow has accelerated and diversified during the last decades, causing new cultures, traditions, customs, and modes of behaviour to spread into European societies.

Is the Age of Prosperity over?!

Prosperity /prˈmɒn(ə)lɒɡ/ n. 1 the condition of prospering; having good fortune. 2 a successful, flourishing, or thriving condition, esp. in financial respect. 3 economic state of growth with rising profits and full employment.

A strong economic foundation, sustained, inclusive and sustainable, is fundamental for prosperity. Yet, more than a monetary matter, prosperity means…

• • • •

Personal Achievement Interpersonal Relationships Civic Contribution Tolerance

Our perception on prosperity and security is often a misconception.

A result of global instability! Challenges and opportunities appear uncertain. Security, prosperity and freedom seem to have faded.

“It is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realise your true potential [and perceive the real concept of Prosperity]” – Barack Obama Secure, prosperous and free, the Euro-Ibero-American Youth Forum participants dream of a respectful world, where human rights are honoured and human dignity thrives. Braga 2016, idealised to host justice, equality and

acceptance, respects ethnicities, cultures and rituals. Delegates and Officials were given equal opportunities! Now, it is in our hands bridging the gap between full potential and shared prosperity.

Each and every human being is worthy of a prosperous and rewarding life, including the millions who have been denied the chance to lead decent, dignified and rewarding lives and achieve their full human potential. During the Forum, we shall open our minds, and propose and debate sustainable ideas, which cope in symbioses with our harmonious nature.

TO M E AT O R N OT TO M E AT

BY JULIANA TEIXEIRA (PT)

Even though it is an incredibly underrated issue, the sustainable development of our planet is also deeply influenced by the eating habits and population diets. With 7.4 billion inhabitants, how can what we eat every single day not have consequences on the natural cycle of life, and therefore on the stability of our world?

When we challenge ourselves with the goal of creating a healthy and peaceful earth, we cannot focus exclusively on human beings. Justice and equality are not circumstances solely entitled to people: they are as crucial to nature's unravelling as they are to humans'. It is time for humans to stop seeing themselves as the center of the universe, as the most important beings on the planet, as the ones who can and should use their power to put themselves above everything else. To grow as a whole and to achieve the goals we set up for ourselves in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a huge change in our lifestyle is imperative.

Too many times have the economic interests of big companies been undermining animals' right to a dignified and righteous life. The meat consumption culture nowadays is largely exaggerated, since most people eat a greater portion than the adequate protein intake, which is, according to Dietary Reference Intake, only about 50 grams. This leads to a higher demand on meat and therefore stimulates meat overproduction. Large companies take advantage of the market and commit to the most profitable way of supplying meat. This means submitting their products to unbelievably cruel and needless suffering with the sole purpose of making the most money out of the least effort.

Furthermore, the meat culture also greatly contributes to climate change. According to the World Resources Institute (UN Food and Agriculture Organization), animal agriculture and meat consumption are significant contributors to global warm-

ing. Likewise, overconsumption, especially of red meat, causes severe health issues related to Alzheimer’s, Cardiovascular diseases, Colon Cancer, Diabetes, and E-Coli, according to Medical Daily.

Protein is essential to human living, however, it must be consumed moderately in order not to harm the population's health, protect the environment and give animals the chance to live and grow in the most natural way possible. If we want to believe in and work towards our planet's and our people's sustainable development, we cannot, in any way, keep neglecting this issue.

Times have changed, mentalities have too, and it is time for us to speak up about animals rights, in the same way that we do for human rights or the environment.

LO S T I N T R A N S L AT I O N

BY MATTHEW GIBBONS (IE)

It's funny how a phrase can make so much sense until you start to think about it; words which in your native language sound natural together suddenly end up weird and awkward when translated. Even if people are speaking the same language they can get confused if they use terms from their native countries.

For example, in Brazil, if someone wants you to go away they can tell you go grab some little coconuts, while in Portugal, although they speak the same language, Portuguese, they're more likely to demand you go wash the dog instead. Similarly, if a Portuguese person thought you were showing off, they could accuse you of trying to be a running mackerel.

The same linguistic mix-ups can happen between people from Spain and Argentina. A Spanish person might be very confused if their Argentinean teacher reprimanded them for sending fruit, when really it just means writing a lot of nothing to fill up space in an exam. Equally if an Argentinean called you a door handle, they're really just saying you're very excited!

Faced with all of these strange phrases, a German might say I think I spider a confusing way of saying I'm confused! But if you don't like confusing phrases, you shouldn't visit Georgia where a pregnant women is described as a woman with a heavy leg, or Greece where a heavy storm could

be described as raining chair legs!

However if you're a lover of language and are enjoying this article a Hungarian might say you were as happy as a monkey is with its tail. You should be careful where you leave your monkeys though because in Belgium there comes a monkey out of the sleeve is a proverb meaning the truth always comes out eventually.

Although some of these phrases are pretty unconventional, each one says a little something about its society. We can learn a lot about people from how they speak – about their history, their culture, their opinions on monkeys and door handles. As they say in Ireland a country without a language is a country without a soul; some of our words may be weird, but they make us who we are.

PERSPECTIVES

BY BEATRIZ FANECA (PT)

An EYP event has many, many, facets. There are as many points of view as there are moments, teams, or committees. To help drive the point home, the Media Team has gathered different perspectives from the Media Team Night.

Media Team

Organisers

The plan was beautifully crafted, every video, and every photograph, every detail. A great concept enlightened our minds! TOCA, an old movie theatre mysteriously illuminated, invited us in, and unexpectedly it was ours. Everything we ever envisioned was there… An innovative Photo Booth, based on psychedelic projection, was created. A creativity booster inspired an Interactive Wall, where beautiful stories were yet to be composed. All around, Face Paints were holding the spirit of the Media Team Night. The screening room was ready to amaze each and every person present. There was only one thing missing, one important small thing, crucial and unique. Delegates!

As committed as possible, we are willing to work hard and take on challenges. Sleepless nights, weary legs, synchronised schedules, on a daily basis, is our life for over a week. Though, we also enjoy having fun, and honestly, the dancefloor, engaging and unpredictable, challenged us to dance. I would have gotten myself a Face Paint, however, that would have meant additional time in the shower. Precious time I, unfortunately, don’t have! Well, and by the way, it is time to leave, pack your things and let’s go!

Chairpersons Committee Work was long, fascinating, and heated.

Delegates learnt and developed, flourishing a very positive attitude towards working with people from various backgrounds to tackle complex questions.

The Chairpersons’ work was, nonetheless, yet to start. When in resolution type, we ensured that not the resolutions had a proper format, logic, coherence and of course, was factually correct. Tiredness floated around, nevertheless, together, under the General’s leadership, we fought exhaustion to come up with bullet-proofed resolutions. We’ll party another time!

Delegates Wow, just wow! This place is absolutely amazing, look at all the drawings and the variety of colours, TOCA has blown my mind away. The Media Team never ceases to surprise us, it is unbelievable. The lights went off, the projector was on, and soon two videos (OK, there might have been a small issue there), were screened. Many other surprises happened, too. I deserved an artistic Face Painting, from circles and triangles, to stripes and flowers, everyone had the chance to have one. The dancefloor was screaming my name, seducing me, so I danced, and I laughed. And incredibly everything was recorded.

Memories will remain alive…

S E L L I N G S O U P N E V E R F E LT S O G O O D : A S H O R T S TO R Y

BY BEATRIZ FANECA (PT)

Inspired by the Media Team Night, delegates got really creative. In turn, our journalist Beatriz Faneca (PT) went with the flow and produced this short story, about Coca-Cola, organised crime and friendship.

'I wish I had eaten that soup.' said Diego, a green-eyed Latino delegate. 'I thought for real that it was poisoned.'

'They used Coca-Cola instead of coconut.' stated a serene voice.

Leaving the building with confidence was Nerine, a strong and independent woman. Diego had known Nerine for quite a while, they would see on a regular basis, and have clandestine meetings.

'Hmm, the soup was good, though!' whispered Siebel.

Siebel was sitting behind Diego for over an hour, without a sound.

Besides being the youngest of the trio, Siebel was the most introvert. Remaining in silence most of the time.

Diego, audacious and intrepid, questioned. 'Shall we sell some of the soup?'

'Why not? Here is our opportunity to make some real money!'

Nerine replied pretentiously, dreaming already about a masterpiece plan.

'Maybe, we could sell it at school.'

Siebel added, insecure, scared of being caught with remnants of Coca-Cola soup.

'Well, honestly, I believe the black market would be way more profitable.' Nerine claimed, as if the head of a Coca-Cola cartel, courageous and reckless.

Siebel would never dare to argue Nerine, even though Diego prevented a heated situation instan-

taneously. 'We’d better hurry, because once the Committee on Organised Crime tackles the soft drinks related problems, you will not be able to sell it anymore.' «'Not so fast!'» said Snoop Dogg, as he walked into the room. At that point, letters, words, and sentences, made more sense than ever.

Siebel was as concentrated and active as he had never been, Nerine and Diego progressively twitchy.

They started partying hard, dancing and singing, or not… All of a sudden, the Coca-Cola began to wear off. Energy levels were down, their hearts were beating faster and faster, breaths were difficult, and that is when they realised that the General Assembly would take place the following day.

T H E O I J : T H E I B E R O -A M E R I C A N EYP?

BY MAGNUS BERG SLETFJERDING (NO)

If you have enjoyed this experience, you can always find ways to stay envolved. For Europeans, it may be pretty straightforward, but what about the Latin American Delegates? The International Youth Organism for Ibero-America (OIJ) might just be the answer.

So, you have all experienced the laughter, the tears, and the hard work that comes in an EYP session. The moments cherished and the friendships you forged will hopefully follow you for the rest of your lives, and spur you on to wish for more. If you live in an European country, the process is relatively simple – contact EYP in your country and mention this forum, and you are bound to have some connections after this eveny.

However, for those that live in Latin America, EYP is sadly unavailable. Where the European Youth Parliament exists in Europe, Latin America has the OIJ

The OIJ is a publicly funded organization that organizes events for youth in 21 countries in the Ibero-American sphere of influence, with the mission to promote the participation of youth in government and social progress. The OIJ has its HQ in Madrid, Spain, and has been running since its inception in 1992.

(in Spanish/Portuguese) and clicking on your country’s flag. If you need an evaluation or a letter of recommendation to enter your country’s branch, ask your chairpersons (or journalists) – the OIJ and the EYP have cooperated for this event and in other occasions.

In October of this year, the OIJ will host a Summit in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, which can be of great interest to any EYPer that would like to continue involvement.

The easiest way to start your involvement in the OIJ is to contact OIJ in your own country, by going to the website www.oij.org

Links to follow: www.oij.org – OIJ’s official page forosnacionales.org - page explaining OIJ’s National Fora.

– the International Organism of Youth for Iberoamerica (Organismo Internacional de Juventud para Iberoamérica).

S A U DA D E

BY MATTHEW GIBBONS (IE)

For a long time I have searched for the right word to describe that curious mixture of emotions that bubbles to the surface after an EYP session. People talk about PED (post-EYP depression) but, at least for me, that term doesn't truly capture this strange combination of nostalgia, longing, and countless other complicated and obscure emotions. Upon arriving in Portugal, when I least expected it, the word I had been seeking found me: Saudade.

Saudade is one of those mysterious words which is almost impossible to define in English. It describes a feeling of lingering, melancholic nostalgia – missing something that you may never see again. It expresses the longing after parting with dear friends, when remembering a perfect moment, when wondering when, if ever, we will feel that way again.

However, saudade is not exclusively sad; with it comes the gentle joy of recalling such a wonderful moment, of remem-

bering such wonderful people. It is an emotional grey area – where missing, reliving and appreciating the past merge into one. As the Portuguese writer Manuel de Melo put it: "Saudade is a pleasure you suffer, an ailment you enjoy".

EYP sessions are strange places.

We pack so much into a few days – so much enthusiasm, so much emotion, so many individual yet indefinable moments ¬– that sometimes the immediate aftermath can feel like a vacuum. It is during this post-session silence that we encounter saudade; That bittersweet sensation of missing those we have left behind while cherishing the time we spent with them.

Yet, while we may feel in these moments that we have reached an end, that our time has come and gone, we must accept that this is a false reality. For in reminiscing we open our minds to the possibility that the future, as uncertain as it is, holds even more beautiful treasures.

Because in EYP the voyage never truly ends. Though our boats may go their separate ways, we remain sailing under the same sky. To recapture that atmosphere, that magic that we loved about Braga 2016 takes nothing more than a group of young people who are engaged with their society, who are willing to challenge themselves and those around them.

So when you feel this sweet sadness, this saudade, use it as a motivation. When you look back on your time in Braga, always remind yourself to remain enthusiastic, open and just a little bit silly. Take what you've learned and use it wisely. The past is yours to remember; the future is yours to make.

WITH THE SUPPORT OF: