The Breeze

How did it all start

Welcome to our world

Celebrating European 9th of May Religion or festivals human rights violation?

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Editorial The papers that you are seeing in front of you are one of the products of the Media Team of 22nd Regional Session of EYP Serbia held in beautiful, hystorical Novi Sad. Whole media team worked very hard to provide you these papers, so we all hope that you will read it with joy and that you will be happy with content you are about to read here.

I strongly hope that this exact Media Team did its job and made sure that this is the session you will remember.

Sincirely, your editress Milica Simeunović Ediotor Milica Simeunović Video-Editor Lana Kugli Journalists Ivana Biga Iva Pilipović Dragana Janković Jelena Malidzan 2

Content

Editorial /2 Content /3 How did it all start /4 Celebrating 9th of May/ 6 Welcome to our world /8 EYP Dictionary /9 Religion or Human Rights violation?/10 European Festivals/12

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How did it all start It all started with Branko Vucnic, one of the eldest members of EYP Serbia. He is the one who made it all happen.

How did you find out about EYP?

And what was the most difficult thing when achieving that goal?

I found out about EYP from my brother Miodrag, my godmother Jovana, Gogo Šećibović and Helen Proković. They were our first delegates. I’m not even sure what the name of our state was back then.

What encouraged you to bring the European Youth Parliament to Serbia?

It might be a little too much to say that I brought EYP to Serbia, but the desire to be a part of a great self-organized group of young people with a clear vision is a big driving force in life. Sense of purpose and belonging that I felt in those moments were truly wonderful and created great memories. Apart from socializing, what pushed us forward was the desire to contribution to our constantly changing society even though we were “just kids”.

If we’re talking about the founding of EYP Serbia, then most certainly it was the situation in the country. You have to keep in mind that we founded EYP on May 17th 2006, when the direction in which our society was moving was still unclear. The environment lacked understanding, both from peers and adults.

That was just one of the difficulties, but as you can see, here we are today with so much accomplished!

Were there any moments when you thought about quitting?

Never. We had a great group of people and we all pushed and supported each other. When one of us would start with the pessimism and doubt in the story we would help him shake it off. On other occasion he would be the one helping others and so on.

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How much time did preparation of the first session of EYP Serbia take?

Back then, the team of nervous and inexperienced, but decisive students and high-school students needed two months of hard work and planning.

How did EYP help you form strong personality and build confidence to express critical opinion without fear?

People who were in EYP , created a really fantastic and stable environment for all new members of the “team”. Being surrounded by people who are better than you, but who are not proud or arrogant, who want to help, who want to share their knowledge and skills with you has a really soothing effect and influences every youngster who is absolutely confused, insecure and anxious.

By exchanging ideas, I learned to articulate and defend what I stand for. Performing in the General Assembly helped me learn something about public speech. Being an activist in EYP certainly contributed to my self-confidence, but also a constant need to improve myself.

How do you feel when someone mentions EYP to you?

What is the first thing you think of?

When someone mentions EYP to me a smile comes on its own, just like that. I can’t describe that instant feel of happiness. The first thing I think about is smearing toothpaste on doorknobs of delegates’ rooms at the regional session in Ohrid.

Iva Pilipović

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Celebrating 9th of May as Victory Day and Europe Day Victory Day marks the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Unionin the Second World War and also , on the other hand, Europe Day commemorates an event in 1950. when the France presented the proposal to help maintain peaceful relations between European countries.

1945

“The age-long struggle of the Slav nations... has ended in victory.

The eighth of May spelled Your courage has defeated the day when German troops the Nazis. The war is over.� throughout Europe finally laid The celebration of Victory Day down their arms: In Prague, continued during subsequent Germans surrendered to their Soviet antagonists, after they had years. The war became a topic of great importance.Many people lost more than 8,000 soldiers, attend parades and church and the Germans considerably services on May 8th each year more and so it contunued in to celebrate the end of World Oslo, Copenhagen, Karlshorst...

War II. The mood on WWII About 1 million Germans Victory Day is generally joyous attempted a mass evacuation to but people may also make time the West when the fighting in to remember family members Czechoslovakia ended, but were stopped by the Russians and taken or others who died during that period. In the past, World War captive.On May 9, the Soviets II veterans played an important would lose 600 more soldiers in Silesia before the Germans finally role in the celebrations but many of them are now older and some surrendered later that evening. are unable to perform a public It marked the end of a six-year role. war which left behind millions of dead. The Victory Day was not celebrated until the ninth in Moscow, with a radio broadcast salute from Stalin himself:

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1950

In 1950, the nations of Europe were still struggling to overcome the devastation brought by World War II, which had ended 5 years earlier.It was thought – correctly – that merging of economic interests would help raise standards of living and be the first step towards a more united Europe.

“The pooling of coal and steel production... will change the destinies of those regions which have long been devoted to the manufacture of munitions of war, of which they have been the most constant victims.”

At a speech in Paris in 1950, the French foreign minister, Robert Schuman, set out his idea for a new form of political cooperation in Europe, which would make war between Europe’s nations unthinkable.His vision was to create a European institution that would pool and manage coal and steel production. A treatycreating such a body was signed just under a year later.

This proposal, known as the ‘Schuman declaration’, is considered to be the act that created what is now known as the European Union.

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2014

Each year’s Europe Day has a different theme. The theme for 2014 is „Open Doors“ which means local EU offices in Europe are organising a variety of activities and events for all ages while EU institutions are opening their doors to the public.

Thousands of people are taking part in visits, debates, concerts and other events to mark the day and raise awareness about the EU. In various cities across Serbia there are exibitions under the name „Myths and prejudices – how we see Europe and how the Europe sees us“, European film festival as well as stands and debates about various aspects of Serbia’s EU accession and many other activities.

Ivana Biga

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Welcome to our world Hu ge s p ski i h s lls d de n Love “ e i Im vel r f Work hard op ag e m ine m i t en e Play hard “ f i t L International experience Fun

team

Hard work

European identity

Regional Sessions

Making impactFacilitating

Personal growth

Active citizens Teambuilding

Chearfull Journalists

International sesssions Great videos Lack of sleep

Bulding self confidence Socializing United by diversity Newdeveloping tolerance Time management

Youth Academic experience 8

EYP Dictionary According to the official definition, EYP is one of the largest European platforms for intercultural encounters, political educational work and the exchange of ideas among young people. Like everything that we do, we have special way to define it and certain parts connected with it..

HO – most of the time invisible

person at the session, but the most important one Journo– a person who saves your session memories for life Chair – best buddy during your hard work at a session Orga – a session maid Delegate – a walking dead CW – papers, papers, post its, pens, markers, flip-charts, more papers Coffee – a tasteless necessity Sleep – an unknown phenomenon Problem – reason why we are here Solution – hopefully something we’ll come up with at the end of the session PED - Post EYP Depression “Imagine“- The Beatles- Common EYP anthem

EYP- Place that allows you

to be child and responsible grown up at the same time, place that gives you self confidence, develops tolerance and selfawareness, place that allows you to travel to whole europe and at the same time challange yourself academically and meet international youngsterst.

Iva Pilipović

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Religion or Human Rights Violation?

As some of you may not know, wearing Islamic scarfs or hijabs in public is punishable in France. The Islamic scarf controversy goes way back from 1989, when three female students were suspended from a school because they were refusing to remove their scarfs in class.

Now, a fine for wearing a scarf in public costs about 150 euros, and anyone convicted of forcing a woman to cover up pays 30 000 euros and spends one year in prison.

The attitudes about the veil prohibition are very different, even between the Muslim community. According to some Islamic feminist groups, wearing a scarf can symbolize a woman’s submission to men. Although some might believe that forbidding the hijab would limit freedom, it is misunderstood by feminists that hijab is not a choice, but a result of social pressures.

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„If we accept the headscarf, tomorrow we’ll accept women’s rights to work and vote being banned, and they will be seen just as a tool for reproduction and housework“.

In 2013, 86% of respondents in a poll were in favour for headscarfs and other religious and political symbols being prohibited in both private and public institutions for children. Also, according to that same survey, more than 30% do not want a law forbidding the veil in schools.

Even though some might consider the scarf as an indiscreet symbol of belonging to the Muslim community, which harms the unity and secularism of French Republic, that piece of fabric has thousands of years of history and tradition behind it. It’s a significant part of one culture and it cannot just disappear from the public places that easily.

There are still women staying of years and and it will true to their traditions and always stay rooted in our wearing the veil despite the hearts and minds. Being able law that threatens them with to choose weather we want a fine. In fact, there is one to wear our religious symbols male member of Islam community or not is the true key in France, who cares of freadom to me, as long more about human rights as it doesn’t harm anybody. than his own money, offers Still, dealing with this topic, to pay the fines of French I can’t take a certain side, Muslim women caught wearing because I have never lived in the full veil. He has begun France or have I truea campaign group called ly experienced „Hands off my Constitution“ and plans to raise one million Dragana Janković euros by selling some of the properties he owns in the Parisian suburbs. „One million sounds a lot, but to protect one’s liberty it’s not much, and I hope that others in this country who hold the constitution dear and want to protect our fundimental liberty will join me in fighting this law“, he says.

So as we see, there are a lot of fors and againts when taking this topic into consideration.

Both sides have made some valuable points. However, I still somehow believe that tradition is something that was being built for thousands 11

European Festivals Often being open-minded and creative types, travellers and backpackers seem to love their music – so what better way to combine your love for music, travel and partying than a European music festival? The summer was made for festivals so why plan your trip now and book a ticket to a top European music festival?

person jump,sing and enjoy, but also 28 stages with different kinds of music for everyone.

Atmosphere and youth spirit during festival are unforgettable and impossible to describe with words. Citizens of Novi Sad , town where the festival is held, are well known for their hospitality, and foreign visitors always feel like at home.

Tomorrowland, Belgium (18th– 20th July ,25th- 27th July) If you want an adventure this year is perfect for you.

– Quickly became one Come, feel the music, make of the most talked about and everlasting memories and be popular festivals in Europe, a prepared to come back next fairy tale themed electronic year. dance music event with over 400 DJs.

Exit, Serbia (10th-13th July

)- This year Exit festival was named the best one in Europe.

What makes this festival so special and wanted are not only the famous artists who perform and make every

The Isle of Wight festival

(12th – 15th June ) has enjoyed a long and colourful history. The event started in 1968 and in 1969 Bob Dylan performed in front of an estimated crowd of 200,000 people. The following year it was even better 12

when in excess of 600,000 people turned up to see the incredible (and now legendary) line-up which included the dream team of Jimi Hendrix, The Doors and The Who. The festival was revamped in 2002 and is now held at Seaclose Park near Newport.

The 2014 bands confirmed so far include Biffy Clyro, DJ Calvin Harris, Rudimental, The Passenger, The 1975, and The Waterboys.

Other great European Music Festivals in 2014th Primavera Sound, Barcelona (29th to 31st May) Sonar Festival, Barcelona (12th –14th June) Glastonbury, UK (25th – 29th June) Hurricane Festival, Germany (20th – 22nd June) While this isn’t an exhaustive list of every great European music festival, they all have something to offer, on top of mud, music and rain (or if you’re lucky, sun).

So pack your tent and enjoy!

Jelena Malidžan

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