TBS Storm
https://www.facebook.com/Tbilisi2013 Issue 1 Online version
There’s a storm coming, Mr. Wayne. where the EU is struggling to maintain and develop its inner order, one should not forget about the external partnerships the EU has with countries such as Georgia. Your committee topics are designed for both aspects, diving you into the core of the European issues the Member States The Storm was born. The Storm stands for a large are currently dealing with but also drawing your amount of pre-session work, which will eventually focus on areas, which are too often neglected culminate in the production of several media el- and forgotten but also deserve our full attention. ements. You are currently reading the first issue of the Storm in its paper form and you can ex- In this first issue of The Storm you will find a and hopefully enpect much more production by the Media Team. very diverse, interesting tertaining content that should give you differThus, the Storm in its essence is as unique as ent perspectives on everyday topics but also the 74th International Session of the EYP. Geor- some food for thought on more actual and relegia, as you might have figured it out is quite an vant happenings in the broader outside world. exceptional destination to travel to. It takes you nearly a day or even more to arrive, but Enjoy reading! once you are there you cannot imagine having been anywhere else for such a long time. With dedication, Georgia is fascinating and is designated to host Alex Narayanin the 74th International Session of the EYP. In times On September 21st at 01:11 am in Tirana, Albania; the idea of the The Storm emerged. Journalist Ilir Kola added his idea to the brainstorming of the newspaper name and incorporated “this way we can even be called the stormtroopers”.
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Contents
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Different perceptions
Page 4 - 6
EYP explanations
Page 7 - 9
Academic
Page 10 - 15
EYP fun
Page 16 - 19
Georgia
Page 20 - 21
Travelling
Page 22 - 25
Well meant is not enough Discussing whether ‘good’ stereotypes can exist A stereotype, according to the Oxford dictionary, is “a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a paritcular type of person or thing”. Generally, most stereotypes tend to convey a negative impression. After the Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crash-landed in San Francisco in July 2013 leaving two people dead and many injured, one of the most shared tweets was “of course the Korean plane crashed. Asians can’t drive, what makes them think they can
By Ilir Kola
be considered appropriate.
know them.
First of all, by stereotyping we are infering that a person has a range of characteristics and abilites which we assume all people of that group have. It does not matter whether these abilities are good or bad; by taking them for granted we are neglecting the fact that every person is unique.
The use of stereotypes is just a major tool we use to simplify our social world by reducing the amount of thinking we have to do when we meet a new person. It does not matter if we are referring to a negative or a positive quality; in the former we are leading to unnecessary prejudice while in the latter we are just setting the bar too high.
Secondly, by assuming that a group of people have certain
fly a plane?”. This is just one of positive qualities, we are putthe examples that shows how ting them under a lot of presunpleasant stereotypes can get. sure. By doing this we might restrain their ability to perform. However, there are other stereotypes which are considered Moreover, we should not forget to be “good”. For example, that some people, which are it is said that Afro Americans part of a certain group, might are good at sports, Asians are not have those positive qualigood at Maths or that the Swiss ties. This has two negative efare punctual. In fact, it is true fects: on the one hand they feel that the assumptions made by alone and not good enough, these stereotypes refer to pos- on the other hand we would itive features, but there are a be dissapointed by them a prilot of reasons why they cannot ori, whithout even getting to
On a more practical note, when you meet your fellow committee members try to avoid remarks based on racial stereotypes such as: Sweden: Why aren’t you blonde? Poland, Ukraine, Russia: Where is the vodka? Germany: You must be really efficient! Ireland: Why aren’t you a ginger and, moreover, why are you sober? Long story short: stereotypes are wrong! What is easy forgotten is that they are inapropriate even when they seem positive. 4
Pride in prejudice? Never judge a book by its cover
By Elisa Martinelli
world. Our judgement is led by common opinion or friends’ exSince prejudgement cannot be perience and we grow up thinkavoided by our brain, we have ing that some countries are to be to learn how to value person- avoided and that we should not al experience more than mere keep in contact with some culspeculations. Even if, for most tures and traditions so different people, forming an opinion be- to ours. But if this state of mind forehand can be considered does not change while we grow as a way to prevent them- up, prejudice will steer our acIt is our social nature that leads selves from ending up living a tions and we will miss so many us to create our own opinion on bad experience, it also hinders things that we will regret later. events and people before we us from making life changing Therefore, the trick is to alactually establish a relation with plans and meeting new friends. ways keep not only our eyes, them. Everyone experienced the Anytime we get introduced to but also and more imporstrong friendship with a person a new person, we immediately tantly our minds, wide open. we disliked in the very beginning have an opinion about him or or the delusion when our own her and start acting accordingly, Finally, what is EYP if not the expectations towards some- being wrong the majority of the greatest example that we can thing or someone are not met. time. On the one hand, it is true overcome these kinds of prejuThe shocking fact is that prej- that we have to listen to our gut, dices? For this reason, when you udice is a mental process we but on the other hand we can- arrive in Tbilisi, be open-minded cannot avoid; it is one of the abil- not really get to know anyone if and ready to meet new peoities evolution provided us with. we do not give them a chance ple and enjoy new cultures bePrejudice can be a deadly weap- to spend some time around us. cause everyone will always have something new to teach you. on if not wisely controlled. It is not only at the base of racism, Moreover, prejudices prevent us but also hinders individuals from from exploring some areas of the Since our childhood, we were told that we should not judge people by the colour of their skin, their beliefs or traditions. However, it does not matter how hard we try not to judge people around us; we always come up with a good or bad prejudice about almost everyone we meet.
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developing
their
personality.
Delegate Archetypes The kind of people you will meet in every committee at an IS By Timothy Henry Charles Tamm Although every IS and every participant is unique, there are some delegate archetypes that fit most of the people you will meet at a session. Here is a quick overview of these 5 archetypes:
vidually during coffee breaks. When talking to them personally, they are more likely to openly express their ideas and opinions.
The Bull The polar opposite of a mouse. These deleThe Mouse gates are very eager to The shy delegate, who express their opinion is not really comfortable at every chance they expressing their opinion get, and they will dein a crowd. Although fend their stance fiercethe mouse takes a lot of ly. As the alphas in a notes, he or she will very group, they will most rarely actively take part likely try to be the leadin the discussions dur- er of the committee. ing Committee Work. > Pros > Pros - Every committee ben- They are a great coun- efits from a leader and terbalance for the over- bulls fit this role perfectly active bulls. ly. - As they do not ex- - Bulls bring a lot of idepress their own opinon as and opinions to disso much, they tend to cussions. listen and have a very > Cons good overview of what - Too many bulls in one has been said. room will eventually lead > Cons to a power struggle. - If there are too many - Bulls like to force their mice in a committee, opinion through, leadthe discussions will ing to a one-sided disgreatly suffer. cussion. - Good ideas can be > Tips left out of the resolution Do not be afraid to chaldue to inactivity. lenge a bull and express > Tips your own thoughts. Talk to a mouse indi-
The Hipster The hipster is usually a very stubborn delegate. He has his own vision of the resolution and it is completely different from the rest of the committee.
> Cons - All work and no fun makes the dedicated a dull delegate.
The Socialiser The socialiser is the heart of committee spirit. They have come > Pros to the session to party - Hipsters add a com- and enjoy themselves pletely new side to dis- among all these woncussions. derful people. They think > Cons of the best committee - Compromise is not a chants and dances, word that exists in their thus fortifying the unity vocabularies. As such, of the group. Expect a some decisions will be group hug from them. impossible to make, as the hipster will keep > Pros fighting even when the - Socialisers help to rest of the committee make a session more has agreed on a point. fun in order to balance the hard work and acaThe Dedicated demic side. - They know all the best The dedicated are the gossip and are often indelegates that keep the volved in it. academic side of the > Cons session superb. You - Due to their late night can recognise them by partying, they tend to their excellent academ- be late in the mornings ic preparation, excellent and very tired during knowledge of the EU the first hours of Comand its institutions and mittee Work active participation dur- > Tips ing Committee Work. Socialisers live for coffee breaks. After the > Pros first one, their produc- Everything stated tivity quickly rises. above. 6
A look behind the curtain Exploring the current working structure of the EYP By Christos Papadogeorgopoulos It is a common phenomenon among young alumni to wonder and ask what ‘lies behind the curtain’ or, literally speaking, how this organisation called the EYP works. The aim of this article is to provide an insightful answer to the latter question. The National Committees (NCs), 36 in number, will firstly be looked at in some depth. As a matter of fact, each NC has an elected board which is in charge of its activity. The NCs, in essence, promote the objectives of the EYP in their country. This is done through the organisation of events including Regional Sessions, National Selection Conferences, International Fora, International Sessions, trainings and weekends for its alumni.
cide upon proposals and recommendations. Three elected members are in charge of coordinating the BNC. It is important to note that as of September 1st, 2013 the BNC has an enhanced role, as it has become a co-legislator along with the Governing Body (GB).
The GB is an international board that, as the name suggests, governs the EYP. It consists of seven members: six elected anually by the EYP alumni and one representative of the Schwarzkopf Foundation. Undoubtedly, the GB has a very significant role in the oranisation, as its responsibilities include the execution of the EYP’s policies, the conduction of strategy and the policy making. As of this July, the EYP has a new Executive The voice of all the afore- Director, namely Krista mentioned NCs is the Simberg from Finland. Board of National Committees (BNC). This is to Finally, it is worth mentionsay, it consists of all the ing that there are working National Committees and groups as well as counrepresentatives from each cils working with the GB. Committee meet twice a In detail, the EYP Acadyear to discuss and de- emy has been estab7
lished in 2010, marking the transformation of the EYP into a training based organisation with the task of increasing the quality of the EYP. Furthermore, following the Governance Reform Proposal of the Strategy Reform Group, two Councils were created in the beginning of 2013, whose functionality will be assesed by the Governing Body. The Academic Advisory Council (AAC) was formed in a try to enhance the academic quality of the EYP. Lastly, the Human Resource and Social Inclusion Council (HRSIC) was founded with several objectives, including harmonising Human Resource practices among NCs and tackling regional imbalance. If one ‘looks behind the curtain’, one can easily notice that the structure of the EYP is not a simple one. What is certain is that a lot of effort and many reforms have taken and continue to take place for the further development of this organisation.
Premiere for EYP Georgia Introducing the host of the 74th International Session, EYP Georgia By Christos Papadogeorgopoulos
It was the year 2008 and 17 International Sessions ago, when Georgia gained its membership in the EYP. Since then, a lot has happened, and by the time you are reading these lines a lot is about to happen. The EYP Georgia has, so far, organised 36 sessions in total, 7 of which are National Selection Conferences and 4 of which are International Forums.
If one looks carefully at the timeline of the Georgian National Committee (NC), one will notice the variety of events that have taken place throughout these years, ranging from Regional Sessions to International Trainings. As far as the trainings are concerned, 2012 was a significant year for EYP Georgia, since both the 2nd International Training on Session Management in Bakuriani and a local Training on Team Development proved fruitful for their participants.
What should be emphasised at this point is the fact that EYP Georgia’s alumni have tried and have achieved to extend their actions beyond predetermined margins. This is to say that the NC has often taken initiative to organise events for charity and also to present the organisation to a great number of people. A charity event was first organised on April 2011 and then on January 2013, when EYP alumni ensured needed things, such as clothing, stationary and medicine as well as a constructive time with the kids. The Day of Europe, which was also celebrated in Tbilisi, was special for EYP Georgia’s alumni as they worked hard in order to present the EYP to the people attending the event through visual footage and, more importantly, through discussion. As outlined in the beginning, a lot is about to happen as you reading these lines. In other words, the highlight of all the aforementioned events for EYP Georgia is the ongoing 74th International Session of the EYP in Tbilisi. Since 2012, the Head Organisers together with their team have been working hard and still are giving their best for this IS, and surely the fruits of the labour are about to be revealed. 8
The EYP, a project of the Schwarzkopf Foundation, is a non-partisan and indipendent project which started in 1987 in Fontainebleau. Currently, the EYP consist on the work of 36 National Committees and thousands of young people which organise about 200 events every year and are active on a voluntary basis. The structure of EYP sessions is similar and always follows the same methodology. First, the delegates are divided into committees and take part in Teambuilding. After that, they go through Committee Work, where they disscuss a current issue of European politics and compose a joint resolution regarding that issue. Finally, all the resolutions are presented and debated in the General Assembly, following the model of the European Parliament. The programme is also enriched by different social and cultural activities like Eurovillage or Euroconcert. All these activities take place in order to fulfill different aims. First of all, the EYP aims to raise awereness of European issues, encourage active European citizenship and motivate students to get engaged in European politics. This is why the EYP puts a lot of effort into the selection of the committee topics, so as to make them relevant and up to date.
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Another aim of the EYP is the promotion of international understanding, intercultural dialogue and diversity of ideas and practises. In order to reach this, the committees of all International Sessions and Fora have delegates from different countries and everyone’s ideas are taken into consideration. Apart from working in a group and creating bonds, the EYP also respects the individuals. This is why one of the aims of the organisation is to contribute to the personal skills development of European youth. With the variety of the offered positions, such as Delegate, Journalist and Chairperson, a person can gain new skills which can be usefull in other life experiences. Lastly, the EYP aims to provide a platform in which young people of Europe can express their own opinion, without reverting to role play. All the participants of the
session are free to share their ideas with each other, and their opinion is also passed to a higher level, since a resolution booklet of each International Session is submitted to the European Parliament. Today, the EYP is one of the largest European platforms for political debates, intercultural encounters and exchange of ideas among youg people in Europe. Feedback rounds conducted with session participants show that the EYP is succesfully achieving its aims. As a participant of an International Session stated in one of these feedback rounds, the EYP is “the best place for bringing together the youth from different backgrounds, all with the same purpouse – better society, better future”.
Inside the EYP Explaining the structure of a session and the aims of our organisation By Ilir Kola
Mirroring the past, Darkening the future
The Syrian Civil War triggers an international outcry
What started out in Syria as peaceful protests inspired by earlier revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia, soon turned into the 21st century’s most violent civil war. The wave of social unrest has aggravated and killings started in April 2011. The situation culminated in August 2013 and triggered an international outcry when more than 1.000 people, including children, were killed by chemical weapons in Ghouta. For the past two years of war, more than 100.000 people have died and more than 1.5 million people have fled to neighbouring countries such as Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. The situation worsens day by day.
By Öykü Talı
The Syrian civil war has become more complicated than what has been going on in other countries of the region and it is far from being just the brave and peaceful rebels against the long-standing dictatorial Assad regime. Since Syria is home to many diverse religious and ethnic groups, sectarianism is regarded as one of the major issues of the war. Given that Syria is highly intertwined with its neighbours, both the Shia ruling minority and the Sunni majority have been supported by different neighbouring countries and thus, the situation has also become a conflict for the international community. 10
Although the UN investigators have already confirmed that chemical weapons have been used in Syria, it is still unclear whether the government or the opposition groups have used them. This key question has led to a possibility of a military intervention by the US, which is greatly opposed by the Assad regime allies. As permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and Russia have explicitly mentioned that they would veto any resolution authorising military strikes against Syria. No resolutions have passed from the UN so far and a consensus on the solution to the Syrian conflict could not be reached yet. On September 14, the US and Russia have agreed upon a framework for the removal and destruction of Syria’s stockpile of chemical weapons, which is to be completed within the first half of 2014. However, it is still uncertain whether Syria will fully comply with the framework or not. In case of any disagreement on the issue, the UN Security Council might still need to table a resolution to impose certain measures to Syria, which will undoubtedly escalate the tension in the international community. The future of Syria is obscured, as there is no sign of any interest by both sides to sign a peace treaty. As the killings continue and the refugee problem escalates, further political and social instability across the entire region is undeniable. However, the international community should refrain from taking any swift action that will aggravate the situation and essentially act upon the possibility of ceasefire.
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A very short introduction to the eurozone crisis
What is really going on out there in the eurzone?
The eurozone is currently not doing very well; that we all know. From what we hear in the news it is austerity measures here and austerity packages there, Spain and Portugal are experiencing sky rocketing unemployment rates and Greek politicians lied about something? Making the impossible possible, here is a brief overview of the eurozone crisis.
By Emilie Tilstam
When are where did the crisis start?
Although many would say that a looming European economic crisis could have been predicted a lot earlier, generally the crisis is said to have started in October 2009, when Greece’s finance minister revealed a black hole in his country’s budget. Greece admitted a debt amounting to 113%. It Background of the eurozone should be added that Greece was hit The euro was introduced in 1999, the hard by the 2008 financial crisis and criteria, however, for using the euro as a had ever since adopting the euro in currency were laid forth in the Maastricht 2001 struggled to meet the debt limits. Treaty that established the European Union, as it more or less is today, back in What happened next? 1992. These criteria included maintaining annual budget deficits that did not As there had never been any real conexceed 3 percent of the Gross Domestic sequences for not sticking to the Product (GDP) and ensuring that public Maastricht guidelines, many eurozone debt did not exceed 60 percent of GDP. countries never really did. Greece was The eurozone currently consists of 17 nevertheless granted a bailout of ₏100 Member States. 12
million in 2010, but soon it turned out that many eurozone countries were struggling to repay debts. Ireland, with a troublesome banking sector, would some months later be granted a bailout package as well, followed by Portugal in 2011. Spain had had a struggling economy since before the crisis with a housing bubble that now burst and Italy experienced a similar situation. Germany has been the nation shouldering most of the economic burden. Angela Merkel has, for better and for worse, fought for the preservation of the euro, but austerity measures required in return for bailouts have not received very warm welcomes, resulting in protests and riots in Greece and Cyprus for instance. What will happen now?
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The idea behind the eurozone was to benefit trade ties and strengthen national economies, yet now many euro-
zone countries are economically and consequently also socially weaker than ever. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Olli Rehn, Europe’s economic Commissioner, declared last month that the 17 nations using the euro had expanded collectively by 0.3 percent in the three months to June, but added that we are far from celebrating and the way back will be long and indeed, austere. However, if there is one lesson to be learned, it is the vitality of adhering to conditions you have approved, and for the future of the euro debts limits can never be exceeded again. For us young European citizens on the other hand it is important to remember that this is the fault of responsible politicians and that the population of these countries should not be held responsible.
Tokyo 2020 Scrutinising the final decision of International Olympic Committee for the 2020 Olympics By Zeynep Ekinci
“The International Olympics Committee has the honour of announcing that the games of the thirty second olympiade in 2020 are awarded to the city of Tokio!” On September 7, 2013, this declaration of a member of the International Olympics Committee was welcomed extaticly by Japanese both in Buenos Aires and back in their home. At the same time, for Madrid and İstanbul, this announcement meant that their plans would not be necessary thereafter. Hosting the Olympics, albeit there exist a great deal of counterviews peculiarly posed by economis circles, has without doubt a prestigious importance. It is true that the officiation as a host city remains rather rewarding than profitable. Meanwhile, it charges a lot of responsibilities to the
traffic problem. The recent doping scandals, the ambigious political circumstances including Syria, and even the possibilty of a civil commotion, with the Gezi Tokyo, İstanbul and Madrid – park protests being a forerunner, none of these cities were cut must have been problematic. out for being an ideal host. During the presentations, Madrid In my humble regard, Tokyo mainly tried to clarify all apprehen- made a very clear and sincere sions regarding financial issues, presentation, starting by dismissfor it has been suffering in the after- ing the fears caused by risks of math of a grand economis crisis. Fukushima. The budget of 400 Both the Prime Minister Rajoy and bilion yens was impossible to committee members have stated disregard. Futhermore, the plans that they were capable of holding for the Olympic villages were the Olympics without any risks. said to be quite condensed, As for İstanbul there is too much practical and well-organised. to say. First off, the city is cur- The clean record of Japan for rently not ready to carry out such doping was also truly pointing an event succesfully, yet this is out the essential sportive spirit. unlikely to change in the next 7 Let us hope that the 2020 years. The chosen venues be- Olympics will rock and make ing far away from each other is sports “citius, altius, fortius”. such a burden considering the
host-to-be city, such as quality requirements to accomplish, including optimum infrastructure of the city, the sports law and ethics.
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East and West Towards deepened friendships By Emilie Tilstam
Set in the former Soviet state of Georgia, the 74th International Session of the European Youth Parliament will conveniently enough focus on the EU’s relationship with Eastern European and non-EU Member States. The European Union started out as a Western European peace pact but over the years it has become increasingly clear that the possibilities for what the EU can do as a union are endless. Offering EU membership for instance, has shown to be a good incentive to help European countries develop, and many are the partnerships and policies bridging the gap between the EU and the rest of Europe as well as the world. We have the Common Foreign and Security Policy working as the unified voice of EU diplomacy, the European Neighbourhood Policy aiming for deepened political associations and the Eastern Partnership fo15
cusing on the countries in Southern Caucasus to name a few. Despite the Eurocrisis, the EU is still an attractive community. “Takes action towards European Values” it says on EYP Georgias homepage. Nonetheless, we must not neglect the reciprocity implied in partnerships: There are many good values outside of Europe. However it would not be entirely truthful to say that EU relationships with non-EU countries have always been unproblematic. The European Economic Area (EEA) for instance, including Norway, Switzerland and Lichtenstein has been harshly criticised for giving too many benefits to countries that are reluctant to commit fully to the union as members. Although deepened ties are important and although the EU does indeed shoulder many responsibilities outside of its borders, many argue that there has to be some sort of balance and that the
EU remains a union that should always put its Member States first. And many are especially asking, where to draw the line for what is the union and for what is not? But returning back to ourselves and our session, we are young and we are here in this beautiful multiculturalism that few forums apart from an EYP International Session can offer. So savour it and take this chance to focus on the benefits of deepening ties and becoming more open. Yes, I did just make the session theme into a metaphor for every individual experience that will take place this week here in Tbilisi. Perhaps redefining the purpose and the limits of the EU would do wonders to combat the growing EU scepticism, not to mention EU ignorance. Perhaps it will not. What we can say with certainty is that a redefinition of limits will do wonders for you.
Building a team
The deeper meaning behind the silly games
Think back at your first EYP experience. Remember your surprised, shocked face when looking at people dancing around you, doing some woodoo magic and just being crazy. To reveal the truth, all the games we have played had a deeper meaning. In fact, every game has its own specific goal to achieve. The EYP teaches us how to bring strangers together and create a team in a short amount of time. It usually takes months or even years to get to know people. In the EYP, we use several methods, which make the committee turn into a safe area to express ourselves. Every committee here is full of diversity, starting with gender, personal qualities, nationalities
By Oleksandra Gipsh
and ending with your sense of humour, the music you prefer and the food you eat. A group of complete strangers is about to turn into a hard-working mechanism. This is where the magic begins. First of all, we go through this difficult period of getting to know all the strange names from different countries. Later on, we will already know our committee mates like “the guy who faced the grass” or “the girl, who always forgets names”. In an hour, we are sharing embarrassing facts about ourselves. In two hours, we are solving problems together. In three hours, we already know what our committee’s favourite energiser is.
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We start in the morning with getting to know each other through name games, but in the evening we already have loads of inside jokes within the committee. Teambuilding games teach us how to think outside of the box and to open our mind for a new experience and discovering new personalities. Going through Teambuilding games, we are able to share our personal facts with people that we only met a few hours ago. After discovering oneself as the part of the group, all will immediately find a mate – a soul mate, music mate or even doing-crazy-things mate. Thanks to EYP games we have the guarantee that if we fall down there is always someone to catch us. If you feel feeble, there is always someone to offer you a strong hand. Teambuilding at sessions of the EYP is an essential element that is the first step towards one another. Imagine making friends at home as easily as in the EYP.
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The IS Decalogue 1. Be at the session. Simple, but tricky. In order to fully participate you need to be present at the whole session. This means arriving at the arrival time and leaving at the departure time. optional experience: Arrive before the session and leave after it is over. There is no need to rush anything, you know? 2. Meet and talk to as many people as you can. These connections are for a lifetime, trust my words. Sitting in your room and playing Angry birds is not an option. optional experience: Get at least 200 new facebook friends after the session, all officials included. 3. Enjoy Teambuilding. There are only a few days of the wonderful games, which were prepared especially for you. Do yourself a favour and have fun. optional experience: Burn 2.000 kcal during each single Teambuilding day. 4.Visit and taste all countries during the Eurovillage. Try putting the whole European continent into one room. Try to define a nation using clothes, songs, and a table surface. Eurovillage proves that this is possible. Eat, drink, sing, and chat until you forget what your country of origin is. optional experience: Pass the “Polish challenge”. 5. Work during Committee Work. Another tricky one. You can work and make the resolution good, but you can really work and make it outstanding. Which one shall it be? optional experience: Use up 10 pens.
10 things you must do while being at an EYP International Session By Łukasz Napiórkowski 6. Agree/Disagree with people. Voting is not allowed and you will have to persuade the others. optional experience: At the end of the session, kiss the person with whom you were arguing the most. 7. Deliver a speech during the General Assembly. This is the great moment you have been waiting for. Go out there and show how it is done. optional experience: Give more than one speech. 8. Perform during the Euroconcert. What might seem like a simple national song to you is something different and wonderful for us. We will clap for you, I promise. optional experience: Make the President cry. All types of tears count. 9. Read and get into the newspaper. Journalists are weird creatures and you need to get their attention somehow. You might get a nice picture or an interview, or could be caught in the video. optional experience: Get to the front page or appear in the newspaper more than once. 10. Enjoy the session and the people. You will have many reasons for a Post-Eyp-Depression. Return to EYP. optional experience: Fall in love during the session. 18
Tech Addicts Let us assume for a second that you are sitting alone in your house. Suddenly, the electricity is down, screens go black, you cannot switch the light on and the phone shows no range bars just like a rather common beginning of a zombie apocalypse scenario. I will not ask the question you are most likely expecting to see, especially after the use of ’zombie apocalypse’ - the question “What would you do?” is not the right one now; “How do you feel on your own?” is. From the very beginning of the human existence, technology’s goal was to aid mankind with activities and actions. What a fine aim it is to make something easier, faster and achievable to everybody. I bet this thought popped into the heads of Steve Jobs and the person, who invented the wheel, many times ( I would love to give credit, but the brilliant caveman or cavewoman remains unknown). Technology enables progress and gives new possibilities. Things that were impossible and unthinkable for your grandparents are quite affordable to you. A modern cell phone has more computer power than all of NASA back in 1969, when it placed two astronauts on the moon - this was not listed among your phone’s features, right? -, The progress of current and upcoming life-improving gadgets seems to be strongly connected with the development of humanity itself. This is future. 19
Do you feel useless when the power goes off? By Łukasz Napiórkowski
On the other hand, how long can you hold out before checking your phone while it is in your pocket? How many hours have you spent reading the news on social media portals? How good do you feel without a computer? How many times have you witnessed a situation in which people are sitting at one table with their heads down, checking facebook notifications? Smart phones, instead of being tools to help process and communicate information, have now become objects that entrap, control and divide the individual from themselves, other people and nature. According to one definition, 40 hours of internet usage a week makes you an internet addict. How about a little break, a month perhaps?
Concluding, technology is a great tool if it is used well, where you are the master. It should be liberating rather than enslaving; it should enhance your creativity rather than control you into a rigid thinking state. It should motivate you to obtain wisdom rather than leave you as a passive spectator of life. If it has been unable to achieve this, it has gone wrong.
Bridging values from East to West A portrait of Georgia, host country of the 74th International Session of the EYP Georgia, a small country between Western Asia and Eastern Europe. The unique republic that manages to connect the distinctive Mediterranian and Asian cultures as well as European values, fervent souls and progressive mentality. Do we actually know how diverse this “pearl” on the coast of the Black Sea is? Famous for its hospitality, nature, cuisine and culture, which are mainly East-oriented, Georgia proves to be a rapidly developing country with European views and with clear intentions in its future. In the past ten years, Georgia has proved to be a country that has overcome its Soviet past, implemented reforms, fought corruption and set a clear vector of development, aiming at meeting the Western standarts. Well-known now as a fast reformer, Georgia managed to implement var-
ious changes in almost all spheres of life, from economics to human development. Since 2003, the country that was on the verge of declaring a failed state, turned into the number one economic reformer according to the World Bank, and managed to rise from the 112th to the 9h in its “Ease of Doing Business” rankings for 2012. Moreover, the former so-called “mafia capital of Eurasia” has completely transformed its police force and it is now trusted by more than 84% of the Georgian population, according to the International Republican Institute. In recent surveys, Georgia was considered less corrupt than many EU Member States. In addition to pursuing a liberal economic agenda that has fostered economic growth and reduced unemployment, the government has extensively reformed the fields of education, health care, social assistance, cultural development,
By Oleksii Prylipka sport development, and environmental protection. Nevertheless, even after choosing such a pro-western direction, Georgia remains true to its culture and traditions. The hospitality of Georgians is famous far outside of its borders. The country that moves ahead of the highly developed ones, welcomes you with astonishing buildings, cosy streets, and a cuisine that makes you come back again and again. Wine, Khinkali, Khachapuri, Kharcho, Plov, Ecclesiastical art, choirs and dancers, mesmerizing music, contemporary buildings and ancient churches, Black Sea and Caucasus Mountains. Georgians are lucky to live in a country with such a rich and unique culture, strong political system and friendly mentality, while the rest of the world has an opportunity to explore its unique mix of Eastern and Western values. 20
A warm place Getting to know Tbilisi, host city of the 74th International Session of the EYP
Having served as a crossroads between Asia and Europe, Tbilisi has been the designated capital of the Caucasus region for almost 1.500 years. Its strong identity was shaped not only as a result of its unique culture but also by the historical – and mostly mythological – stories that have been told throughout ages. Tbilisi serves as a home to various ethnic groups and has gone through 29 sieges in its history. However, it rose from its ashes every time and has preserved its cohesive and diverse architecture of both medieval and Soviet structure. Its ancient fortress and churches, tiny and old style balconies and winding streets in the old town create a mystic and welcoming ambience which embraces the wandering guests. This makes Georgia an excellent destination to truly experience cultural diversity. ‘Tbilisi’ is derived from the 21
old Georgian word ‘Tpili’ meaning ‘a warm place’. The city owes its name to its numerous sulphuric hot springs. Beyond its literary meaning, it is indeed ‘a warm place’ where all guests are hosted by highly hospitable Georgians and thus, feel very much at home. To feel the true sense of the city and appreciate its beauty, one should start wandering around by climbing up Mount Mtatsminda, from which the entire panorama of Tbilisi can be seen. The mountain also hosts the most ancient monument of Tbilisi, the crumbling ruins of the ancient Narikala fortress, which is known as the heart and soul of the antique city. Near the fortress lies the National Botanic Garden of Georgia, which has a scenic waterfall, a tiny bridge across the river as well as a great collection of blooming plants.
If you want to walk away from the old town and get some taste of the modern, 21st century Tbilisi, Rustaveli Avenue is the place to go. It is named in honour of the Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli and is one of the most visited and lively spots of the city with lots of cafés, restaurants, galleries, museums and shops as well as governmental buildings. Last but not least, the Georgian wine, with more than 500 varieties of grape, is indeed very promising. If you were ever interested in Georgian culture and, more specifically, Tbilisi, you would be lucky enough to be generously welcomed by any Georgian. You would probably be served a glass full of exquisite homemade wine, followed by the grape vodka shots, namely Chacha, later in the evening.
By Öykü Talı
The route becomes the destination
There is not a best way of travelling except the one that really suits us
Even though EYP is mostly about debating and discussing new ideas, it actually offers us another great opportunity. We can travel through Europe and explore cities and countries we would rarely consider as destinations for our future studies or holidays. As soon as we are certain that we are going to attend a new EYP event, the hardest part of the pre-session organisation starts: sending the travel details to the organisers, which means having to come up with the best travel plan for ourselves. We eagerly open Skyscanner and look for a flight that suits our needs, especially money-wise. Unfortunately, most of the time the word ‘cheaper’ does not go with ‘comfortable’; but after having given it a serious
By Elisa Martinelli
thought, we decide that a cheaper flight is always the best option. We have just saved some money for the next session! If flights are still too expensive for us, we must give up the quickest way of travelling and check trains and busses; we end up organising our perfect journey through at least two different countries if we want to get to our destination in time After a few weeks, the day of the departure has finally arrived. Since we are still sleepy, before leaving for our journey we check dozens of times if we have our passport and our tickets with us. It would be a great misfortune to discover we have left them at home only when it is too late. With our bags full of Committee Work preparation documents, formal clothes 22
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and our precious laptop, we hit the airport or the station in the early hours of the morning. After all, the cheapest and most adventurous trips always start at 5 a.m.
is that we never lose enthusiasm. Telling the truth, most of the best trips a person can have in a lifetime are the most complicated and random ones.
However, it doesn’t matter how carefully we have planned our trip, a lip of faith can change everything. Our train can be cancelled or our flight can have such a delay that we are almost sure we are going to miss our connection. Even so, keep in mind that what distinguishes EYPers from other people
For this reason, if you are the most organised person on Earth, enjoy your trip to Georgia, and if you are the adventurous type of traveller, make the best out of every single unexpected turn your journey may take. Either way, I am sure I will see you safe and sound in Tbilisi.
Getting to Sakartvelo Do it your way
Today, transport to Georgia is provided by means of rail, road, shipping and air travel. Georgia is situated at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe; it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. Positioned in the Caucasus and on the coast of the Black Sea, Georgia is a key country through which energy imports to the European Union from the neighbouring Azerbaijan pass. Traditionally, the country was located on an important north-south trade route between European Russia, the Near East and Turkey. To save time, you can travel by air and check the planes that are arriving directly to Tbilisi International Airport. You can ease your travelling to Georgia choosing many other airways that will bring you
By Oleksandra Gipsh
directly to Tbilisi Airport choosing an airline that serves your country. The Airport in Tbilisi is cooperating with KLM, Belavia, Turkish Airlines and many others, thus you can take a direct flight from Brussels, Istanbul, Kiev, Moscow, Munich, Riga, Rome, and many more.
gia by choosing train, bus or even get there by car. On the other hand, you can take advantage of the geographical situation of the country and get there by ship. There are direct ship voyages from Ukraine (Kerch and Odessa) to Georgia (Tbilisi and Batumi). The one that arrives directly to Tbilisi is departing from Kerch (Crimea, Ukraine) and arriving to Tbilisi after exciting 16-20 hours sea trip and overcoming 1.048 kilometres enjoying the Black Sea. So if you have time and are ready for a unique, marvellous experience, you definitely should try travelling to Georgia via marine transport.
Moreover, Wizzair opened a new direction to Kutaisi, Georgia. It is a city situated just 221 kilometres west of Tbilisi. It is Georgia’s second largest city, legislative capital and the capital of the western region of Imerety. The Kutaisi railway station has a direct connection with Tbilisi Central, so choosing Wizzair airlines you will have a chance to ex- All in all, everyone can find plore Georgian Railways. Direct their own way to get to Tbiliflights via low coast airlines are si. Which one did you choose? from Poland (Katowice, Warsaw), Ukraine (Kyiv, Donetsk, Lviv and Kharkiv) and Lithuania (Vilnius). If you are suffering from aerophobia, you can always get to Geor24
The pest of tired EYPers An insight into the causes and remedies of jet lag
At a session, every Delegate, Journalist, Organiser and Chairperson is expected to be at their highest level of productivity, while enjoying the session at its fullest. All of this is achieved at the expense of sleep. Unfortunately for many, a lack of sleep is not the only culprit that hinders their capability. Those coming to a session from the other end of Europe (or even Eurasia, should you be from Russia) will have to combat the side effects of jet lag. The human body is coordinated by a series of biological processes. Many of these operate in a 24hour cycle – the circadian clock. This clock regulates everything from when you have the fastest reaction time and muscle strength to when your body temperature is the lowest and when you experience the deepest sleep. While
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By Timothy Henry Charles Tamm
this is really useful in everyday life, it does pose a problem when travelling great distances east or west. Even though you can very easily adjust your wristwatch a few hours back or forward, this is not the case for your inner clock. For every time zone you cross, it takes your body about an entire day to catch up with the new rhythm. This, however, poses a huge problem when your organism starts to dictate that the best time to sleep is at 11 A.M. during Committee Work! There are many things you can try so as to prevent or cure this awful side effect of travelling. The first and possibly the most effective way is to shift your routine before the trip. If travelling west, start waking up and going to sleep a bit earlier every day and if travelling east, do the opposite.
This will force your circadian cycle to coincide with the destinations time zone. To further help this process along, you should use light therapy. Daylight is one of the biggest indicators your body uses to sync up its clock with what is actually going on. The same logic applies to this as before: If travelling west, expose yourself to bright light early in the morning, but if you are heading east, try to avoid bright light until noon. Once you are at your destination, there is little you can do. Getting as much sleep as possible on the day you arrive and flying to the location a day or two earlier will help to combat the fatigue. Even though this can be tough, a true EYPer will have no problems coping with it.
Supported by the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia.
Initiated by:
All activities of the European Youth Parliament are under the patronage of the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe
The European Youth Parliament receives support from the European Commission’s Youth in Action for its continuous activities.