Transylvania Insights Nr. 7

03/2023

TRANSYLVANIA INSIGHTS Edition 7

It all started with a talk in a history lesson between three people that had the ambition to give the students the ability to express themselves and give a new perspective on various topics. This magazines focuses on international relationships, politics, human rights, interviews and book reviews.

This magazine is entirely created by us, students and it is something that we do with pleasure and with happiness.

2 ECONOMY Tech Bubble: Simple Understanding Japan’s Resilient Economy In A Changing World Blackrock: The Company That Owns The World

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18 POLITICS 36 000 Dead: Proof Of The Need For An Immediate Change

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22 GEOPOLITICS Cybernetic Warfare Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Ukraine, A Shadow of Chechenya

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38 CULTURE Culture In Number$ Music: The Elixir Of Courage Interior Design In Europe How Fear And Power Shaped Ancient Mythology

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54 ENVIRONMENT Climate Change In Romania

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60 INTERVIEW Behind The Teacher: Ms Rosina De Sausa

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Tech Bubble: Simple Understanding Japan’s Resilient Economy In A Changing World Blackrock: The Company That Owns The World

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ECONOMY 2

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TECH BUBBLE:

SIMPLE UNDERSTADING Bianca Nedelcu

A bubble is a situation in which a high amount of people want to invest in a new business and they pay more than what the shares are actually worth. When it becomes clear that the shares are worth less than what people paid for them, it can be said that the bubble has burst.

Influenced to make valuable investments The 1990s was a period of rapid technological advancement and computers became an essential part of a household rather than a luxury. Many people were eager to buy shares in new web companies because they saw how successful and popular they were. However, these companies showed no proof of profitability. One example is Netscape which is an internet company that free distributed their own web browser and it became the industry standard. Because of its popularity, Netscape went public on the stock market and in 1995 its opening stock price of $28 soared to $75 on their first day of trading. The company went public before being profitable and the success of Netscape’s IPO attracted more people to capitalise on the growing opportunity. Because of the decline in interest rates and a new act to lower capital gain taxes in the US, investors now had more capital to make speculative investments with. More and more people looked to invest in other internet companies which barely showed any profits. The businesses were focused on their advertising which was supposed to build their market share as fast as possible, while making them unprofitable. In 1999, there were 457 IPOs, most of which were ‘dot-com stocks’ , of which 117 doubled in price on their first day of trading. The enthusiasm of price increases made investors less precocious and a vicious circle was created: as long as people bought more stocks, the prices kept on increasing. The bubble burst when, after the peak, web companies started panic selling among the investors so within weeks, the stock market had lost 10% of its value and by the fall of 2000 most internet stocks had declined in value by 75%.

Does history repeat itself?

The current bubble that started in 2011 is known to be one of the bubbliest bubbles of all time. A small but mighty group of start-ups launched their first IPO and raised 1 billion dollars in funding. This success attracted more negligent investors and a further 45 billion was added to the hungry US start-ups. In 2012 Facebook went public and it caused people to alarm. The company had 4 billion dollars in revenue, which is a lot but compared to larger corporations it is a child’s play. Facebook’s IPO was the highest in American history and the company was valued at $100 billion, which indicated that the tech industry was getting out of control. In 2015 Uber’s value was $51 billion, which was more than many major airlines which were operating for decades.

Most impressive wealth losses Mark Zuckerberg, the owner of Meta Platforms and the co-founder of Facebook faced a significant wealth loss of $71 billion because investors lost faith in Facebook’s potential as revenue and profits declined. They had doubts about Zuckerberg’s future visions and Meta’s sales were reduced by 4%, while profits halved. Investors were mainly sceptical of Meta focusing on the virtual reality metaverse. People believed that the graphics ended up not to be representative of

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the price that has been invested in them. Moreover, Facebook faced competition such as TikTok which increased its audience.

Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla and Twitter has broken the world record for the biggest personal wealth loss ($182 billion) because of Tesla’s stock poor performance. Tesla stock lost 65% of its value in 2022 and they started the new year with a 12% drop in a single day, after disappointing sales figures were announced. There were many reasons why Tesla turned out to be unsuccessful lately. One of them is that the whole stock market declined in 2022 because of the inflation and rising interest rates so many automakers suffered. Furthermore, many more car brands start to integrate more eco-friendly products so Tesla’s competition is growing. Tesla still makes up 65% of US electrical vehicles sales, but the percentage is dropping. Probably the most important factor of Tesla’s loss is Twitter’s takeover.

Musk was known as a genius and a visionary, rather than a social media personality who is posting provocative comments and embraces right-wing positions. It has been proven in a research that from October to November 2022, Tesla net favorability dropped 20% among Democrats and rose 4% among Republicans which could affect sales since liberal voters are more likely to buy electrical vehicles. Musk has also had to sell billions of dollars of Tesla shares to fund his Twitter takeover, which hurt the stock.

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Apple and Amazon experienced significant losses as well. Apple became the first company to reach the $3 trillion market capitalisation milestone as there were many sales of computers and iPads during the pandemic. However, Apple market value dropped under $2 trillion because investors worried about the slowing global economy and high inflation. Amazon’s stock dropped 51% in 2022 and its market cap has shrunk from $1.7 trillion to $834 billion. The reason is the same: investors were worried about inflation and high interest rates. More importantly, the drop in sales frightened investors because e-commerce was not as popular as it was during the pandemic.

A valuable lesson The cycle of the tech bubble: initially, a new and developed product is launched and it gains popularity among investors which are more than eager to pay a high price being sure that huge profit will be made, even though there is no proof of that.

Then, investors realise that their investment was not as smart and when the hype wears off, there are actually no satisfying sales figures and this is when it can be said that the bubble has burst. Professional and experienced investors such as Warren Buffett have made the smart decision not to get involved in the tech business as it is not in his areas of expertise so he simply did not buy these stocks despite the world going mad about internet shares. This is a valuable lesson to follow and to know when you should watch from outside.

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JAPAN'S RESILIENT ECONOMY IN A CHANGING WORLD Elena Miron

Intro Japan is one of the most developed countries in the world. It has a well-educated workforce and a highly advanced social market economy that does not usually struggle with inflation.

Inflation, as we know it, is a very important topic at the moment. Our world has suffered some drastic events in the past couple of years, such as COVID-19 and many international wars. Throughout, Japan has withstood its title of one of the most stable economies in the world as the inflation in other countries has skyrocketed. Why is Japan sticking out as a sore thumb? And why hasn’t its inflation reacted as drastically as the rest of the world?

Japan is only seeing a raise in its inflation now. This delay is not a surprise as there are many known factors for why this is happening.

Japan's economy has been in a deflationary environment for the past 4 decades and only now has the inflation rate risen to 4%.

Inflation in Japan has not risen this high since the oil crisis in the 1970s when the inflation rate rose to 30%.

These new changes have impacted the population drastically as consumers are not used to such prices.

“Producer prices have also increased at a much faster rate than consumer prices for some time and now companies are passing these costs to consumers,” the head of Japan equity research at Macquarie Group told BBC. Now the government has implemented harsher price controls in order to keep inflation at a minimum.

How Japan has kept its inflation so low, even during the pandemic Even so, the level of long-term inflation is far lower in Japan than in other advanced countries, one reason could be due to low household consumption.

Japan has also had negative interest rates for the past six years and normally this would encourage people to borrow and spend more money. Though this is not the case for Japan. Its ageing population, which makes up 30% of the population, is behind on spending. The older generations are saving more and spending less to make up for the fact that the return on their saving is negative. What also contributes to low inflation is state controls that limited price raises as well as its recovery from covid 19. Tokyo lifted restrictions on economic activity more gradually. This helped limit inflation by “delaying the post-pandemic increase in demand that many other countries have seen”, explains Yasumune Kano for Chatham House.

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Many studies also showed that inflation was kept to a minimum because of low wages, which leads to low domestic demand and also low prices. These studies have also shown that workers prefer job stability over higher pay, therefore trade unions are more focused on job security.

How it affects jobs and companies + more about the economy Despite small wages, this does not mean that wages in Japan have not increased. OECD data shows Japanese workers' wages have grown about 5% over a period of 30 years from 1990, during which U.S. pay rose 1.5 times and pay for South Koreans doubled.

A salary survey showed that 60% of respondents also said that they had become more concerned about job security in the face of a possible recession and rising prices. Although company employees are becoming more stability-oriented in their jobs, they will consider changing jobs if they cannot expect to receive a salary increase above the rate of inflation.

The new generation of Japanese workers entering the workforce have spent their entire lives with 2 things stuck on zero: inflation and interest rates. This new generation, must unlearn a constant and learn change.

For the past 30 years, companies in Japan have avoided raising prices and kept wage increases low, leading to a culture of low inflation expectations.

Even with a tight job market, trade unions have accepted this. However, due to the rising prices of commodities and energy, there is now a sense of change in Japan. With the newest members of the workforce, there is optimism that there will be a significant wage increase for the first time in decades.

Conclusion Japan's economy has been known for its low inflation for the past 4 decades. This has been attributed to various factors, including low household consumption, negative interest rates, and state controls on prices. In the face of the pandemic, Japan's recovery has been slow and gradual, which has helped to limit inflation. However, rising commodity and energy prices have led to a change in the culture of low inflation expectations. This has given rise to optimism that the new generation of workers will finally experience a significant wage increase after decades of low wage growth. As Japan moves forward, it must learn to embrace change and adapt to a new economic reality.

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BLACKROCK

THE COMPANY THAT OWNS THE WORLD Victor Pavel

“Whoever controls the money, controls the world.” - Henry Kissinger.

There is a high probability you have never heard of BlackRock. Founded in 1988, in less than three decades, this American financial firm would grow to become the closest anyone got to world domination, managing $10 trillion worth of assets, which equivalently is almost half of USA’ s 2022 GDP.

Emergence: Larry Fink, the founder of BlackRock, was born in an affluent Los Angeles family in 1952. In years to come, he would grow to be one of the most influential individuals in modern society with the help of his company. Before conducting businesses in the financial sector, Larry pursued a career in Politics. He eventually gained a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from UCLA. It didn’t take long for the young Larry to figure out that real power came from money and not just politics. This realisation led to a sudden turn in his life, shifting his focus to banking and real estate. With the help of his membership in Kappa Beta Phi, a secret society whose members consisted of Michael Bloomberg, the Goldman Sachs chairman, he was able to venture into the world of economics and finances. Larry started a career in the mortgage bond department at a New Yorkbased investment Bank. He helped develop Debt Securitization, which was a completely new concept

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at that time. This meant that any type of loan could be piled up, divided into smaller pieces, and sold to other investors.

It soon became apparent that he was a natural in this line of work, becoming one of the most successful employees and generating over $1 Billion during his time there. His risky trade methods were quite controversial initially, but no one dared to question his strategy after his huge success. Unfortunately for Larry, nothing good lasts forever, and luck runs out eventually. His risky methods later lost $100 million of the bank’s money in a few months. The financial disaster ruined his reputation and eventually banned him from the investment bank where he worked.

This course of events was the main force that drove Fink into founding BlackRock with his old connections from Kappa Beta Phi. In 1988 BlackRock was founded. During the first five years of BlackRock’s life, he increased the company's worth from $5 million to $8 Billion. During this time, a fight for the absolute control of BlackRock emerged between the co-Vfounders, leading to Larry forcing his partner to sell his shares for a quarter of a billion dollars. At this point, he realised that his dream of becoming world dominant was an actual possibility.

Larry Fink- BlackRock CEO

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Global Recession: While many companies went bankrupt and others sustained critical blows during the 2008 financial crisis due to the unawareness of the state of the market, Larry Fink was among a select few individuals that anticipated such an event. He was able to predict the crisis because he knew from the beginning that the foundation of the housing market, which included MBS (mortgage back securities) and CDOs (collateralized debt obligations), was precarious. Larry managed to shield BlackRock from this economic disaster because they focused on asset management. Moreover, this crisis turned out to be an excellent opportunity for him because he was the only one that knew how to solve the situation. This landed him a contract to manage the assets of many banks that suffered. Larry Fink was basically hired to manage Washington's bailout operation of Wall Street.

‘Coincidentally’ enough, Blackrock was one of the top shareholders of the very own banks he was hired to bail out, holding stakes with a combined value of $60 billion in the banks such as The Bank of America and JP Morgan&Chase in which Blackrock owns a 6% stake worth $30 billion alone. The FED reserve essentially gave Larry Fink the opportunity to become the most important man in the post2008 recession economy.

COVID-19 Pandemic The pandemic was perhaps the second worst recession of the 21’st century. For the first time in history the Federal Reserve bought a Corporate Debts ETF(capital infusion that acts as vital fuel for any business; in return, companies normally commit to reward investors by paying a coupon, or interest, on the bond) of companies such as Apple Inc. and Toyota. This basically meant that the government was bailing out corporations that had too much debt to withstand the pandemic. Who did they hire to manage this scheme? Blackrock. Just like during the 2008 bailout, there were conflicts of interests which “seemed no one had noticed” or turned a blind eye. Blackrock was again one of the main institutional shareholders of these companies they needed to bail.

Intangible magnitude During the first 5 years of Blackrock, Larry managed to increase the company’s worth by 160000% (from $5million to $8billion). In 2014 Blackrock managed assets worth approximately $4 trillion dollars, by 2021 they managed over $9 trillion. That is equivalent to 36% of the United States GDP in 2022. For comparison the Industrial Central Bank of China (ICBC) only had $3 trillion under management in 2014.

Aside from “owning a stake in everything”, in 2020 the Chinese government approved Blackrock to set up a mutual fund in China. This made Blackrock the first foreign asset manager for this type of action. Moreover Blackrock did not hold back on European investments in the finance, energy, oil and transportation sectors. Aside from these sectors this giant is also one of the top shareholders in most pharmaceutical companies such as Phiser and Merk, it also owns most of the mainstream media such as CNN, MSNBC(13%), Fox News(18%). These investments virtually gained Blackrock access to 90% of the world media.

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Behind the curtains Many people ask themselves who brought Larry Fink and Blackrock this amount of unprecedented success. The basis of success comes from a what rather than a who: Aladin, a network of 5000 computers which essentially combined form a super computer. Blackrock uses this computer to analyse and manage their clients' trades. It also monitors their portfolios 24/7 while it also performs risk analysis taking into account every possible scenario and also highlights any minor possible undesirable outcome or reason that might cause it.

This system is so powerful and widespread that several of the largest players in the investment industry make use of it. For Blackrock to be able to offer this service they have to be granted access to data from banks, insurance companies, pension funds and other financial institutions. This software essentially “has its eye” on $21 trillion or approximately 10% of all existing stocks and bonds. This had led many to call Blackrock the largest shadow bank in the world or even go as far as describing it as a shadow government.

Consequences and conclusion The main reason why most of us never heard of Blackrock, let alone Larry Fink, is because he understood from the beginning that his business and his way of conducting business would prevail best in the shadows. This is due to the fact that the actions undertaken by Blackrock are sometimes ethically condemning or even illegal such as using personal, sensitive information provided by the institutions for the Aladdin algorithm in order to fuel and keep this supercomputer reliable.

Recent investments in HIKVISION, which is a Chinese company that has been blacklisted by the US and other Western countries, also fall in the grey, shady area due to that company being infamous for their wide scale human rights abuse of privacy and personal data. Blackrock manages to keep all these actions to a certain level of secrecy due to it possessing large stakes in media companies. This means that these media companies need to have Blackrock’s approval to broadcast information, especially about themselves. Moreover Blackrock frequently finds itself in conflicts of interests due to it owning the majority shares in the most powerful and valuable companies around the World.

Blackrock’s immense influence has even become a possible threat to the Western democracies of the World, due to first of all being so well connected everywhere that they have become almost impossible to regulate, secondly because Blackrock is heavily investing and financing in authoritarian regimes such as China or Russia and rivals that directly oppose the democratic nations such as USA or other European countries.

Perhaps the biggest irony of them all is that Larry Fink personally wrote a letter to all companies that were managed by Blackrock to “contribute to the society or lose their support”. As he puts it “Society is demanding that companies, both public and private, serve a special purpose”. Larry decided to shift towards this western movement on one side of the world while also financing terror and rights violations on the other side.

Blackrock came closer in 34 years to what many empires strived for centuries to become over the course of history. Perhaps at this point, for Larry Fink, world domination is not a foreign concept. He has passed the point where he can be stopped with the help of his economical and political geniusness that allowed him to find and profit from once in a century opportunities such as the 2008 Global Recession and the Pandemic recession, TWICE.

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36 000 Dead: Proof Of The Need For An Immediate Change

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POLITICS 18

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36,000 DEAD: PROOF OF THE NEED FOR AN IMMEDIATE CHANGE Matei Grigorovici

The Kahramanmaras earthquake hit the Gaziantep region on Monday the 6th Fabruary at 4 A.M local time, the earthquake was measured at 7.8 on the Richter scale, the earthquake was the strongest to hit the region for 100 years. Thousands of buildings have collapsed and the death toll continues to climb as many have perished crushed by the weight of the building. Many have blamed architects and politicians for not respecting the building laws, aware that it is a seismic area.

The president of turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blamed the earthquake on fate but as elections are coming up in May, his position that he has been in for 20 years might be taken by someone else, some are blaming him for allowing new contractors to build chaotically and without following structure laws present in areas with seismic activity. Critics such as the CHP, being the opposing party said that “President Erdogan’s government has not prepared the country for earthquakes”, president Erdogan on the other hand said that “I cannot stomach people conducting negative campaigns for political interests” for reporters in an interview in the Hatay region near the epicentre of the quake.

The government of Turkey has been blamed further, after the earthquake in 1999 some 3.8 billion pounds were paid by mobile phone operators and radio stations, to make buildings resistant to earthquakes.

The money seems to have disappeared and no one can say where exactly it went. Many applications were made for an amnesty, said Pekín Giritlioglu of Istanbul University for BBC, who also said that there was a high intensity of illegal buildings in that area.

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Until now the government has tried to fix its mistakes by issuing 100 arrest warrants for contractors, architects and engineers connected to some of the tens of thousands of buildings that collapsed, a constructor was caught on the tenth trying to flee the country in istanbul airport. The constructor constructed a residence with 250 apartments, many of which collapsed during the quake.

In my opinion the government could be blamed for the thousands of deaths, the greediness of president Erdogan and his officials has led to hundreds of buildings collapsing which were not built according to the laws in that region. After the quake from 99 many funds were raised through taxes but it seems that the money that could have saved many people today has disappeared and it seems to lead to Erdogan and his government. The president tried to put the blame on fate and said that “Such things have always happened. It’s part of Destiny’s plan”, and although the earthquake was unavoidable the thousands of deaths could have been prevented.

Constructors are also to blame as instead of investing more to build safe buildings in a seismic area, they instead wanted more money and thus many families have to suffer. Some of the guilty constructors and architects have been caught but it is unclear how the government will treat them. In conclusion there were thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of people displaced, but could half or even more than these be prevented?

Earthquake Aftermath

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Cybernetic Warfare Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Ukraine, a Shadow of Chechenya

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GEOPOLITICS 22

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CYBERNETIC WARFARE Anais Popovici

Cybernetic warfare refers to the use of computer networks and digital technology to sabotage, damage, or destroy enemy systems and infrastructure. It is a relatively new form of warfare that has become increasingly prevalent in all aspects of modern society, including military operations, due to our increasing reliance on technology in recent years. This article discusses the nature of cybernetic warfare, its strengths and weaknesses, and the challenges it poses to governments, militaries, and citizens alike.

One of the defining characteristics of cybernetic warfare is that it is highly asymmetric. Unlike traditional forms of warfare that require large armies and expensive weapons, cybernetic attacks can be carried out by a small number of people using relatively cheap and readily available technology.

This could level the playing field and allow smaller, less resourced states and non-state actors to impede or undermine the military operations of more powerful states. Because networks are global in nature, cybernetic warfare can be conducted from anywhere in the World, making it difficult for governments and militaries to spot and respond to attacks.

Another important feature of cybernetic warfare is its high scalability. Unlike traditional forms of warfare, which are limited by the size and capabilities of the attacking force, cybernetic attacks can be carried out on a massive scale and affect millions of people, systems and infrastructure simultaneously. This can cause widespread chaos and can lead to physical damage and even loss of life. Despite these advantages, cybernetic warfare also has some drawbacks. One of the biggest challenges is the difficulty in attributing attacks to specific sources.

Because computer networks are complex and interconnected, it can be difficult to identify who is responsible for a particular attack, making a targeted and effective response difficult. Additionally, cybernetic warfare can lead to unintended consequences. For example, a cybernetic attack aimed at disrupting a particular system or infrastructure can have unintended consequences

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and cause widespread damage to other systems connected to it. Another challenge of cybernetic warfare is the difficulty of defending against it. Unlike traditional forms of warfare that can be defended with physical fortifications and military force, cybernetic attacks can be difficult to defend against as they are often conducted through digital channels that are difficult to monitor and control. New technologies and vulnerabilities are constantly being discovered, which can make it difficult for governments and militaries to keep up with the everevolving threat of cybernetic warfare.

Despite these challenges, governments and militaries are taking steps to respond to the threat of cyberwarfare. One approach is to invest in cybersecurity measures such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption techniques to protect against cybernetic attacks. Additionally, governments are working to improve international cooperation and information sharing to better respond to and prevent cybernetic attacks. These include creating a legal framework for cooperation, developing mechanisms for information sharing, and increasing investment in research and development to stay ahead of evolving threats.

Another approach to addressing the threat of cyberwarfare is to develop offensive capabilities. This includes developing the ability to launch its own cybernetic attacks to counter or respond to cybernetic attacks by other states or non-state actors. However, this approach calls into question the ethics and legality of using digital technologies to wage war, and could lead to an arms race in which countries compete to develop the most advanced and effective offensive capabilities. Because it is controversial.

In summary, cybernetic warfare is a complex and rapidly evolving threat that poses both opportunities and challenges for governments, militaries and citizens. Potentially levelling the playing field and giving smaller, lesser.

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ISRAELIPALESTINIAN CONFLICT Eli Heim

In October 2020, it was ruled by an Israeli court that Palestinian families living in a neighbourhood in Jerusalem will be evicted and their land handed over. In 2021 several Palestinian families were trying to put a stop to the legal battle around property ownership and displacements from their homes in Jerusalem. The Palestinians soon began to protest to protect themselves from the pending evictions.

To this day there is ongoing battle between the two, and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to end any time soon.

How did it start?

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is known to the world as one of the longest conflicts to have ever existed, beginning in the mid-2oth century when the United Nations adopted Resolution 181. It called for the partition of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states and a special international regime for Jerusalem .

Palestine had been governed by Great Britain since 1922 and since then Jewish immigration increased to the region and so, tension between Arabs and Jews had grown. In April 1948 exhaustion followed after the war and Britain introduced the issues in Palestine to the United Nation therefore resulting in the Resolution 181. The Jewish community considered it to be a legal basis to establish Israel, this was disapproved by the Arab community and almost immediately started violence between the two.

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Creation of the state of Israel On May 14, 1948, the state of Israel originated, starting the first Arab-Israeli war. The war ended in Israel’s victory and 750,000 Palestinians were relocated; the territory was then divided into three parts: the state of Israel, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Over the years tension had built up between Israel and Egypt, and Jordan and Syria. In view of The Suez Crisis and Israel's invasion of the Sinai Peninsula, Jordan, Egypt and Syria signed mutual defence pacts. After the 6-Day War Israel anticipatorily started, it had gained control over the West Bank, Golan Heights and the Gaza Strip.

Six years later, Egypt and Syria launched an attack in hopes to win back their lost territory; this did nothing more than open up negotiations for the lost territory which the two considered a win.

The Camp Davids accords The Camp Davids accords were signed by Israel prime minister and Egypt’s president on September 17, 1978; there it was stated that the Gaza and the West Bank would have a self-governing authority therefore mapping the way to Palestinian statehood.

The Israeli forces and civilians from the land acquired would withdraw.

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The Oslo Accords The First Intifada was a series of protests and riots that took place in Palestinian Territories as well as Israel that started on December 9, 1987. In the first year Israeli security forces had killed 311 Palestinians, of which 53 were minors and after 6 years the security forces killed an estimated 1,162-1,204 Palestinians; 100 Israeli civilians and IDF personnel were killed. The 1993 Oslo I Accords acted as a peacemaker and it set up the way for Palestinians to govern themselves in The West Bank and Gaza. In 1995, The Oslo II Accords expanded the first agreement, and stated that Israel should completely withdraw from cities and 450 towns.

The Second Intifada took place in 2000 due to the build up frustration of the Palestinians of Israel's military occupation that would last 5 years; in regards Israel built a barrier wall around the West Bank in 2002 regardless of opposition.

In 2013 The United States aimed to rescue the peace process. It was quickly made a mess due to The Palestinian Authority’s ruling party forming a unity government with Hamas in 2014.

Hamas was founded in 1987 following the first Intifada, it was labelled by the US as a foreign terrorist organisation. In 2014 hostilities in the Palestinian territory caused military confrontation in which Hamas fired almost 3 thousand rockets at Israel; Israel reciprocated with an offensive in Gaza. The battle ended with a cease-fire in late August, 2014. After more violent attacks, in 2015, Palestinian President declared that they will no longer follow the rules set by the Oslo Accords.

The Abraham Accords The Abraham Accords were a series of treaties normalising diplomatic relations between Israel, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco. The Accord acknowledged the need for peace in the Middle East and in five months these Arab states joined Egypt and Jordan in making peace with Israel.

Gaza City

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Iron Dome Missle Shield

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UKRAINE, A SHADOW OF CHECHENYA? Noel Fabian

Chechnya is located in the southeast of Russia, on the Caspian Sea and was conquered and annexed along with Degastan by the Russian Tsarist Empire in 1829. The majority of the people were Muslim and fiercely independent, with many failed attempts of gaining independence through the 19th and 20th centuries.

The First Chechen War After the dissolution of the USSR, many states encompassed by the former Soviet Union declared their independence. But unlike Ukraine, Georgia or Uzbekistan, Chechnya was not recognised as independent and was regarded as one of the republics within the Russian Federation.

Borris Yeltsin would not permit the succession of a state within territorial Russia.

In August 1991, a former Soviet Air Force general and Chechen politician, Dzhozkhar Dudayev created an anti-Russian autocratic state. Yeltsin feared that this uprising would promote a domino effect of independence movements by the many states within the Russian Federation. After failed attempts of

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funding Chechen opposition groups, a Russian invasion began on December 11, 1994.

With the largest military offensive since the 1979 invasion of Afghanistan, thousands of Russian conscripts and hundreds of tanks entered Chechen borders. They were met by the opposition but reached Grozny (the Chenchnyan capital) in a few weeks.

In Grozny, the rebel fighters demonstrated fierce opposition and killed thousands of Russian troops, mainly using guerilla tactics. Although the Russian troops’ morale was at an all-time low, they continued with the fighting and bombardment of the city until they seized the ruins of the capital in January 1995. The battle continued for almost two more years with two more attacks on Grozny and other rural areas, until a ceasefire was signed on 31 august 1996.

The war has left Grozny and other areas of Chechnya in ruins, with casualties on both sides, but the most horrific part of the war was the staggering amount of civilian deaths, between 30.000-100.000.

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The Second Chechen War After the first Chechen war, Chechnya has been independent of Russia for several years. Until the election of President Vladimir Putin and a series of bombings in Moscow. In august-september 1999 flat buildings in Moscow exploded which led to several hundred civilian deaths. The Kremlin has deemed the events as Chechen terrorist attacks led by Arab Islamists Emir al-Khattab and Abu Umar.

In august 1999, Islamist fighters from Chechnya infiltrated the Dagestan region, violating Russia’s borders. The Russian army responded with a military campaign that included a series of bombardings directed at civilians in the cities and villages of Chechnya. Alongside pro-Russian Chechen forces, they managed to seize Grozny once again in a winter siege that lasted from December 1999 to February 2000 and established direct rule over Chechnya in May 2000.

Although the Russians captured the capital, insurgencies were still being carried out by Chechen rebel fighters throughout the North Caucasus regions for several years, which resulted in many Russian casualties. The rebels were using guerilla tactics similar to the ones used in the First Chechen war, and the attacks lasted until 2017. Both sides have carried out attacks against civilians, with the result of over 160.000 people in total killed in the Second Chechen War. We can see now a similar war happening in Ukraine, but the ironic difference is that the Western world supported Russia during the first Chechen War for political interest in preserving the then president Boris Yeltsin in power.

Many Chechen fighters have joined Ukraine in the War, seeing the conflict as a way to continue the fight against Russia. Some of the groups started their involvement in the 2014 Donbass war. Although the number of rebel Chechen fighters has thinned significantly since the Chechen wars, many of them are still active in Ukraine.

The head of the Chechen republic, Ramzan Kadyrov who has close ties with Vladimir Putin has announced that their military will join Russia in the ongoing fight with Ukraine stating that Putin “took the right decision and we will carry out his orders under any circumstances." On March 3, The Times reported that a group of Chechen soldiers had been sent to Kyiv with the task of assassinating president Volodymyr Zelenskyy but they were unsuccessful. To this day, Razman is sending troops to fight against Ukraine. Kadyrov rules the Chechen Republic through fear and repression, being criticized by Human Rights organizations and being accused of several Crimes Against Humanity. He adopts a ”Macho Man” image, being frequently seen on social media boasting his wealth and appearing in army gear alongside his soldiers.

The motives for Russia's invading Ukraine have been very similar to the ones that led to the invasion of Chechnya, independence from the Russian state. And International Observers have noticed a number of similar tactics that were used in the First and Second Chechen Wars. We can only hope that Ukraine's faith will not be similar to Chechnya's.

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Secound Chechen war on Jan 23, 2000

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Culture In Number$ Music: The Elixir Of Courage Interior Design In Europe How Fear And Power Shaped Ancient Mythology

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Society, one might say that it’s what we see around us, the buildings, roads, people, and our heritage, that are things of this material world. We often hear that we shouldn’t run after material things in our lives, that money does not buy “Happiness”, and that it doesn’t heal the soul. I totally agree we are something more than mere animals running after our daily bread.

However, I would be a hypocrite to say that they don’t matter, or that we don’t base our paths in life, many times unconsciously, on the idea of that financial stability everyone earns after.

CULTURE IN NUMBER$ Ioan Pristavu

Autobahns, proper schools, quality universities, a few key points that we all philosophise about, arguing and debating with friends and colleagues how much the country could prosper, how different sectors of economy and state would flourish, and it’s true, they would. However, as many ideas and theories, we have and throw at these issues that spark up hope in elections and at the dinner table, the reality is that as other dire subjects, they are kinda a trap. Why do I say so?

Simple. They are issues already resolved.

Man has been on this earth for some time already, and as King Solomon beautifully says in the book of Ecclesiates in the Old Testament, Chapter 1, verses 9 and 10, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.”

It has been done before. One of the simplest and oldest methods of learning is through observation and understanding a certain model. We see it in the historic political landscape of Romania, a good example being the “Passoptist generation”, which went out as students in Western Europe, studied in its universities with centuries of heritage and brought back what they learned to implement it in their own home nations, obviously not to the letter, as a French system isn’t a perfect fit to a ”Byzantine” society.

Even though we have a solution, a method that worked, still we observe cracks in this idea. How come? In today's Post-Modern scene of reforms and fluidity in the perspectives that we hold, we observe a trend in which one might be inclined to keep coming up with “new solutions'', sometimes bringing lightly dusted theories out of the attic of modernity and hitting them up with a new layer of paint, but, once the first crisis hits, they crack.

Again, we look into our past, into what others have done and we see again that this trend of reinventing the wheel as some have called it comes in a particular scenario, one which many intellectuals and myself, not being close to one, have observed. The lack of culture.

The Oxford English dictionary defines culture as “art, music, literature, etc., thought of as a group”, a word that is quite flexible, that has other understandings too. When we talk about someone whom we admire, who has dedicated his or her life to academia or society we generally acclaim that “X is a man/ woman of culture”, yet, do we, as industrialist as it sounds, produce future citizens of culture?

To answer this question, one would inadvertently look towards the institutions that form, that carve the marble of one's brain into becoming such role models, to schools, universities, institutions, etc. Yet, many proverbially come out of these institutions disappointed, as either, they are met with today's passing trends, or with disinterest, hypocrisy or even fear, of what the future might bring.

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This is partially true, up to a point, due to the fact that in societies that are swept by rapid historical change by different eras, it is hard for the “roman cement” to harden properly. Transition in education comes through years, decades, and centuries, in which generations not tainted by ideology are left to form a system of learning based on the classics adapted to their nation's thought. But there was the word, Classic. Classic education. What is it? When we hear the term classic, the image of Paganini or Bach’s music comes to mind, of 18th-century European balls, of dukes and duchesses. This is just a spec of the power of the word. Classical education is what survived and came out victorious under the test of time and history. From ancient Greece, and Rome to Patristics, from the Scholastics to the French and Prussian school of thought, we see a red line that unites these thinkers and their “think tanks”, it is a tradition that even today it passed on, only at an alarmingly lower rate than usual. From philosophy to theology, history to literature, these are some classics that this red line unites as it brings man’s biggest queries onto the altar of knowledge.

Now, we think that today we have these subjects available to study at university, but in some schools, however, one might say it is merely out of form. The issue at hand is that we see a phenomenon that has pushed back their importance, that misplaces the spotlight on “new inventions” that promise fast salvation, and undermines the value of time and efficiency that the lessons of the classics teach us. Still, why are they so important to us? To better ourselves.

Johan Sebastian Bach, 1685-1750

Man is born with nothing, given a clean slate where the beauty of it is that we have the chance to refine ourselves, to go further than the mere animal instinct. This is where the classics enter the stage, as their time-tested quality forms and refine one's mind and soul, towards more. The benefits of refinement go not only to the mind, as they broaden our understanding of what surrounds us, conferring us a power that is unmatched in knowing and understanding, developing skills of discernment, judgement and insight, to one's grasp of existence, but also to our wallets. Yes, wallets.

Understanding how one's surroundings function doesn’t only give insight into what century a Petrarca lived, or Zenon of Citium was, it also gives one an insight to how ones current economic system was started, to what line of thought a nation's leaders act on, to what new phenomenon is about to rise. These situations seem simple, however, all these small details form a whole, one which puts in its right position in society to form a formidable, efficient machine. To set an example, a generation of efficient, well-discerning, cultured leaders set on a dynamic foreign policy in a union of states can not only uplift the stake for their nation, but in doing so the standard of their society to rise to better levels, economically, culturally, socially, and so on.

Culture is a cure and supplement for society, not only for its leaders, but for each and one of us, as its fruits do not only limit themselves to our wallets, curriculum viatæ or institutions, but to one's way of life and perspective on how we position ourselves in it.

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MUSIC THE ELIXIR OF COURAGE

Briana Timari

Throughout the years, music has played an exceedingly important role in society. It has come in many forms as time passed by, but the essence remained the same.

For over 35.000 years, humans made various noises to communicate their fear or excitement. These noises, combined with some of the animal sounds they heard, such as birds chirping, may have inspired them to create music. When people first started using tools, such as pounding grains, they may have done so in a rhythm or a regular pattern.

One of the most difficult things for countries as well as for individuals is war.

Historical events have shown us that music is a form of disconnection for soldiers to cope with stress, traumas and with the issues that have been brought on by war.

The conventional wisdom says that music was first used by warriors during the World War l and World War ll, but in fact, for thousands of years, it had been present for a big part of anyone’s life.

First of all, certain types of music were created for soldiers to keep their will and motivation increased, so the chances of winning were substantial. The lyrics and rhythm were written in a way to strengthen a man’s heart, and to focus on the target. In the first World War, the songs were customarily upbeat, with the high pitched noise of the trumpets and beautiful piano ballads, usually with no words included. In the Second World War, due to technological improvements, songs were more complex, with various instruments and deeply touching lyrics. Popular singers of the era included Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and The Andrew Sisters, all Jazz legends.

Music has always shown a great form of appreciation for the people, especially during war times. Not only that it has encouraged mankind to keep going, but it was also a form of therapy. Music therapy predates earlier than World War 2.

Groups of musicians were playing in the hospitals full of injured people. Even though this movement was performed before the Second World War, it has developed and grown remarkably. Soldiers were able to overcome their “psychological scars” for the reason that they interacted with qualitative music.

Clearly, music had an enormous impact on the lives of the troops throughout the Second World War. Songs that were listened to by the soldiers on a regular basis were frequently used for medical purposes. These songs were a crucial part of a soldier's emotional health, because they created a powerful feeling and connection to the place they called home. A lot of them were subtle love songs that reminded men of their other half they left home, or of their family who was left in big pain after their departure. Every song has its own meaning, but at the same time they were all linked to oneanother. They expressed the whole that the war has dug in people’s souls, and the great feeling of suffering, but it also reminded them of the purpose of their fight, and who they could go back to after this immense chaos the war has provided is over.

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INTERIOR DESIGN IN EUROPE Ariana Rotaru

Interior design in Europe has a long and rich history, with a diverse range of styles and influences that have evolved over the centuries. From the grandeur of Baroque and Rococo to the clean lines of Modernism, European interior design has been shaped by political, cultural, and technological changes throughout history. In this essay, we will explore the evolution of interior design in Europe, from the Renaissance to the present day.

European interior design, as designers began to embrace a more streamlined and functional aesthetic. The Bauhaus school, which was founded in Germany in 1919, was at the forefront of this movement, emphasizing simplicity, functionality, and a focus on the essentials of design. The work of designers such as Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe helped to define the Modernist style, which became popular throughout Europe and beyond.

The Renaissance marked a significant turning point in European interior design, as a new interest in classical art and architecture sparked a renewed focus on elegance and proportion. Italian designers, such as Andrea Palladio and Filippo Brunelleschi, were at the forefront of this movement, which emphasized symmetry, balance, and a sense of harmony between interior and exterior spaces. This was a stark departure from the ornate and highly decorative styles of the Gothic and Medieval periods, and laid the groundwork for a new era of design that would continue to evolve over the next few centuries.

The post-war period brought about a new era of optimism and innovation in European interior design, as designers sought to create new, efficient spaces for a rapidly growing population.

The Baroque and Rococo periods, which followed the Renaissance, saw a return to opulence and luxury in interior design. These styles were marked by elaborate decoration, rich fabrics, and extravagant furnishings, and were often used to demonstrate the wealth and power of their owners.

The Palace of Versailles, the grandiose residence of the French monarchs, is perhaps the most famous example of Baroque and Rococo design in Europe, with its gilded ceilings, ornate chandeliers, and lavish tapestries.

The 19th century brought about significant changes in European interior design, as industrialization and mass production made it possible to create new materials and furnishings on a scale never before seen. The Arts and Crafts movement, which emerged in Britain in the late 1800s, sought to revive traditional craftsmanship and reject the massproduced goods that had become so popular. This movement, along with the emergence of Art Nouveau in France and Belgium, helped to usher in a new era of design that emphasized organic forms, natural materials, and a rejection of the excesses of the past.

This led to the emergence of new design movements, such as Scandinavian design, which emphasized simplicity, functionality, and the use of natural materials. The 1960s and 70s saw the rise of Pop Art and the incorporation of bright, bold colors and patterns into interior design, while the 80s and 90s brought about a renewed interest in luxury and glamour, with designers creating opulent, high-end spaces for a new generation of wealthy clients.

Today, European interior design continues to evolve and adapt to changing cultural and technological trends. Contemporary designers draw on a diverse range of influences, from traditional craftsmanship to cutting-edge technology, and strive to create spaces that are both beautiful and functional.

Sustainability and environmental consciousness have also become increasingly important considerations in modern interior design, as designers seek to create spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also environmentally responsible.

In conclusion, European interior design has a rich and varied history that has been shaped by political, cultural, and technological changes over the centuries. From the Renaissance to the present day, European designers have created some of the most iconic and influential styles in the world, leaving a lasting impact on the world of interior design. Today, European designers continue to innovate and push the boundaries of what is possible, creating spaces that are both functional and beautiful, and that reflect the values and aspirations of contemporary society.

The early 20th century saw a further shift in

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& FEAR POWER

Victoria Dicu

HOW FEAR AND POWER SHAPED ANCIENT MYTHOLOGY?

Greek Mythology Power of fear Throughout times people were kept in the dark and obedience through power.

Power to make people fearful, made dynasties change each other ruling over the ones without a voice. Fear has been one of the most powerful tools of control throughout History. Threats of public humiliation, financial ruin, and Divine punishment, whether real or imagined, have all been used to motivate or discourage actions. Even in our times, politicians, educators, parents, and religious leaders have all used fear to either encourage or discourage certain behaviours.

Through fear-instilling propaganda, oppressive governments have kept populations in line. Fear of change - the threat of an uncertain future - is one of the most common types of fear, used the most. With all this being said, there is hope. According to Christianity, one of the key elements in Jesus' work of salvation was proclaiming a God of compassion whose Spirit works against fear and assures human triumph in the future.

Fear is mostly used in direct connection with power and they complement each other. As Robert Wilson said “the primary quest for power is fear, and the desire for power is to eliminate fear.” There is a link between fear and the amount of power desired by people.

What is fear exactly? Is it favourable or unfavourable? What is the significance of fear? According to science, fear, at its most basic, is a physical and emotional reaction of mammals to some external stimulus. Sometimes the stimulus is obvious, such as a loud, unexpected crash in the middle of the night or an immediate threat to one’s life, yet the source of fear is often subconscious and difficult to pinpoint. Some aspects of fear are evolutionary, a hardwired set of autonomic responses that have been critical to our survival.

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In Greek Mythology Deimos and Phobos were the Gods of fear. They were two brothers and they were heavily worshipped in Sparta. Having their mother Aphrodite, the Goddess of love, the two brothers also symbolised the fear of loss; and with their father as Ares, the God of war, they would usually be found on the battlefield. Deimos and Phobos were particularly idolised in Sparta not only because of their aptitudes on the battlefield, but what they truly stand for. They were the pillars of consistency and discipline. When on the battlefield, one would sacrifice their life to honour their names, to feel that they died with Deimos or Phobos on their shoulder. Yes they died, but they died with pride and glory, and that was a true honour. Or was it not? An inquisitive mind would wonder: who exactly decided what each god stands for? What gods are the strongest and which should be worshipped? But most importantly, why were these gods needed?

Well, the answer is simple, ancient Greeks, and not only, used myths and legends to explain certain phenomenons, natural processes and would guide their lives according to the faith they entrusted the gods with. These myths can be traced back as long as 5000 years. However, a good description could be found 2300 BC as they appeared in the works of Homer and Hesiod.

A natural question would appear, does one really need to believe? And what to believe in? Well, it’s well known that belief creates resilience. It is the light at the end of the tunnel, the sight of relief after a stressful experience, and it is the hope that we are desperately searching for in this endless ordeal of stress and problems. Believing gives you the capacity to navigate through difficult times and face challenges. Like Tim Knit said “Belief doesn't just survive adversity, it gets stronger because of it”. In life there are always moments of uncertainty, moments of insecurity where nothing is clear. Belief empowers by offering undoubtful reasons even when reasons are not there.

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Fear of Power Marianne Williamson wrote, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” This is a very interesting notion, as it is the opposite we would normally expect. The feeling of power would bring us to a place of elation and confidence, and inadequacy to a place of despair and never ending fear. Why these two concepts collide with each other is because, both, to a great extent, leave us standing in the same place-feeling alone. The worst part being, there is no one to blame but yourself.

One might understand that inadequacy makes us feel less and alone, but how could power influence me in a negative way? After all, we go to school to train a more powerful mind, we go to the gym to build a powerful body. With this being said, it is very important to understand that power creates intense connections with the world around us until a certain point. If we gain just enough power to be in line with everyone else, we will feel like we belong, however, more power than measure separates us from the pack.

Examples of tremendous power beneath loneliness could be observed in the lives of two great men: Nikola Tesla and Albert Einstein. Einstein was simply smarter than everyone else as he reached revolutionary theories and discoveries, but was labelled as purely crazy. Nikola Tesla was one of the greatest visionaries of all time, and he helped turn reality into the modern times we live in today.

Fingers were pointed towards him, labelling him as mad, though he was simply alone.

Conclusion It is not the power of someone and fear of rest that influenced mythology, it is our fear of the unknown and the fear of power that influences our thoughts and view on life. Mythology played a big role as it is a common ground, a starting point of modern history.

A speck of light, a dime of hope we can believe in together. Mythology was a creation of the collective imagination that was needed by the whole “pack” in order to thrive and have a basic understanding of natural forces around them, and sometimes each other. It was us who backed it up in order to feel like we belong.

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Climate Change In Romania

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ENVIRONMENT 54

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CLIMATE CHANGE IN ROMANIA Maria Dejeu

What is climate change?

Climate change is a long-term change in the Earth's weather patterns and temperatures. These changes can be caused by natural factors, like the sun's heat and light, but since the 1800s, human activities like burning fossil fuels have been the foremost of climate change.

How does it affect us?

Climate change is happening globally, but it affects us locally. Some of the most visible impacts on our country are: Increased temperature: Romania is experiencing rising temperatures, which can result in heatwaves, droughts, and decreased soil moisture levels. These conditions can cause crop failures and damage to forests, leading to a decline in agricultural productivity.

Changing precipitation patterns: Changes in precipitation patterns can cause heavy rains, which can lead to flooding and landslides, resulting in damage to infrastructure and loss of life.

Impacts on biodiversity: Climate change can alter the distribution of species and reduce biodiversity in Romania's forests, grasslands, and other ecosystems.

Health impacts: Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can also impact human health, by increasing the incidence of heat-related illnesses and the spread of vector-borne diseases.

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Overall, the impacts of climate change are threatening the economic and social well-being of Romania and its people, and it is crucial that action is taken to address this issue.

The Oltenia Sahara A concrete case that is obviously the result of climate change would be in the south of Romania, which is slowly turning into a desert. Big areas could become, not long from now, landscapes worthy of North Africa, experts warn. Only in Dolj, over 100,000 hectares are undergoing desertification, an area known as the "Oltenia Sahara" - a triangle, on the map, between Craiova, Calafat and Corabia. And the specialists say that the dunes advance every year by a thousand hectares. The main cause of this rare phenomenon of desertification is the deforestation of the forest barriers, which stop the effects of aridity.

But if in 1970 forests covered 12% of the surface of Dolj county, now they occupy only 7%. And the numbers are decreasing.

The locals say that now the land is completely barren. No plant takes root in the sand of the "Sahara Oltenia", so people have given up investing their money in failed crops. Farmers who remained in the area reoriented themselves towards tropical crops.

"We grow African beans, sweet potatoes and peanuts in the Oltenia Sahara. The land is sandy in Dăbuleni and we will never be able to have rich harvests of corn or wheat. As the irrigation system will never be perfected again, we each have to manage as best we can. Before the Revolution, everything was irrigated in our area. Now, if you go to the fields, you won't see any trace of that system from the communist period", says a farmer.

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At the end of 2017, 400 volunteers planted 5,000 acacias on the sandy terrain of Dolj, but much more is needed if we are to save the area from turning into a fullblown desert. By the time the authorities take measures to stop the desert from growing, in Dolj, it has begun to take the form of a strip nearly 30 kilometres wide, which has spread over lands where there were orchards, vineyards and grain crops. Now, only in Dăbuleni can the famous melons be grown, and that's only because they prefer sandy lands. Specialists also say that, in the next 50 years, the fertile fields in southern Romania could be completely covered by sand.

First climate trial in Romania On Tuesday, 31st of January 2022, the NGO called Declic filed the documents for the first climate trial in Romania, suing the Romanian government for the lack of concrete plans when it comes to environmental protection.

Declic addressed the fact that the Government's inaction influences "the right to a life and the right to a private life, the right to property, the right to a decent living, the right to a healthy and sustainable environment, as well as the right to a future worthy of future generations. The state has the obligation to take measures to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for all citizens", states the action submitted to the Cluj Court of Appeal.

It also demands that the Romanian state take all the necessary measures in order to increase the share of renewables in the final energy consumption to 45% and to increase energy efficiency by 13% until the year 2030.

Declic’s actions were the following events after other similar trials in Europe. In France, Ireland and the Netherlands, the trials were won against the government and obtained the state’s obligation to assure effective ways in having climate neutrality.

Declic activists fighting for the environment

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Behind The Teacher: Ms Rosina De Sausa

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INTERVIEW 60

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BEHIND THE TEACHER: MS ROSINA DE SAUSA Nikhil Lisetti

How and when did you get interested in physics?

“I probably got interested in physics when I didn’t really know it was physics. It was probably when I was little and used to hang out with my dad and he taught me how to wire a plug, we used to watch Star Trek and Doctor Who, which were really cool. Since then, I always liked to build and fix things — I’m not always good at it but it is fun. I enjoyed building water transport systems with sand and plastic pipes and I always liked repairing household appliances, changing fuses and flags and fixing my bike when I had a puncture or some other problem. Another important event for me was seeing Halley's Comet as a child, and figuring out that I can see it again if I'm still alive in 2062. And then when I started to realise physics was a thing, it was very cool. I love all sciences as the aim of sciences is to help us understand more about the universe we live in and Physics is a very big part of that.”

School days and interest in science “Until high school, I didn’t really differentiate between the different sciences as I went to a European school and it had combined sciences and I have always loved biology and animals and all the living things, so my favourite subject was actually biology and my second favourite was physics, but about physics, I liked it because it is very logical, mathematical and you can know and figure things out and know that you have the right answer to something — however, I get a little anxious and freak out a little bit when the maths stops working. I did some astronomy in America (Arizona) when I was there for a year in the days when I was in college. However, when I went to University in the UK, I mostly did biology but I also did some elective physics classes. Learning about redshift and blueshift in astronomy, using physics to analyse biological molecules with spectrophotometry and gel electrophoresis. I am very interested in zoology but I didn't choose it in university as I hated cutting up dead things and I ended up specialising in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics and bioinformatics.”

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What are your hobbies or interests?

“I like painting, playing guitar and the ukulele. I like team sports and swimming. I mostly like outdoor activities and being out in nature”

Why did you choose teaching?

“I used to try and explain things to my little brother when I was young. When he didn’t understand his homework in science or mathematics, I would get very impatient and angry at him and I remember thinking to myself that I would never want to be a teacher as I would be very impatient and horrible.

Then, when I grew up, I had my own kids and had to develop an infinite amount of patience. It changed my whole life when I had my children as I saw these little people and they were so enthusiastic and curious about learning everything because I think that the moment that we were born or even earlier, we begin our amazing adventure of learning. That’s what our life is, it is this adventure of learning and when people are young, they have a lot of curiosity and they are very excited about it and it is really great to be around that and I never want to be away from that.”

What keeps you motivated to keep teaching?

“The students keep me motivated because I love when you guys ask me questions, especially when I don’t know the answer to it because then I will go and find out what that is and I will learn something new.

The students are super interesting and inspiring to talk to and that’s what makes my job so fun. Even if it is just in the hallway, and you stop me for something or if it is clubs or whatever the situation is, it is always really cool to be able to talk with you guys and learn from you as well.”

When do you feel annoyed or angry?

“Sometimes I do feel angry and I try not to let that show, probably occasionally I have shown it. The

reason that I feel angry is mostly if I feel like if my students are not engaged, not interested, not motivated and not progressing because as a teacher, you always want that to be happening and you always want them to enjoy in learning and if that is not happening, they’re just messing around and they are not progressing, that makes me mad. But, generally, I don’t get mad.”

Do you have certain values in Life and in teaching?

“I believe that every student needs to have a voice in the classroom and to be in an environment to have the opportunity to express themselves and to not be afraid to make mistakes and everyone should make progress and enjoy learning by the end of the lesson.

When I was little I remember not being a very fast runner, and experiencing the disappointment of being one of the last to be picked in sports activities.

As I got older I learned that speed is not the only factor in being good at sports. Although I wasn't very fast, I could keep running, or swimming, for a long time, and I realised that endurance is very important.

In team sports you may be good at aiming, timing, dodging, jumping, passing, reacting quickly, but whatever your skill, you are needed and make a difference in the team. This applies in life in general, and the two takeaways from this are: first, even if others are achieving things faster than you, your endurance and determination will get you there if you don't give up. And second, when you work in a team, each person is needed right where they are, your unique skills or characteristics are of value, and the team can achieve more with you in it than any member could on their own.”

What’s your opinion on the world?

“The world is an amazing place. It is always changing, which can be good or bad. There are changes that are bringing people closer together and making

people understand each other, but there is still the opposite thing happening.”

How do you feel when you think about the Universe as a whole?

“Sometimes it is quite overwhelming to think about it and I just think that we can aim to understand the universe and keep finding more about the universe and getting closer to the truth about all the aspects of the universe, but we also need to focus on ourselves opens our centre of influence — A come back down to the Earth.”

How do you feel if you take a look back at your life?

“I feel really happy about life. I am a positive person.

I’ve had things go wrong, but as a whole, I am very grateful and I’ve always had people around me who were very supportive and I am happy about that. I am happy where I got to, I’m happy I got to spend time and raise my family because that is very important and I really enjoy being with you guys and working with you guys.”

Is there something that you would like to do that you haven’t done yet? “ I would love to go scuba diving. I also want to learn more in the field of astrophysics.”

What would be your message to the future?

“Think about all your words and all your actions before you say them or do them because they can have a much greater impact than you imagine. Also remember that the world that we live in is something we have to take care of and that if we respect each other and respect our environment, that’s the way that progress happens without bad things getting in the way.”

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TEAM

11/2022

TRANSYLVANIA INSIGHTS

Transylvania Insights Edition 5

TRANSYLVANIA INSIGHTS Edition 4

Edition 6

Chief Editor

Ex-President Under Indictment

Victor Pavel

Energy prices Shock Europe Europe

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Korea: South, North and West Page: 12

Graphic Designer

El Salvador and The Bitcoin City

Razvan Muresan

Hong Kong: 3D printing could help save the coral reefs

The Afgan War

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G7: Conference in a moment of crisis

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What is the value of life?

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Writers Pavel Victor Dicu Victoria

The intricate story of Sorin Cîmpeanu's Plagiarism Page 6

Far Left vs Far Right Page 8

Ukraine - Russia conflict: The Dangers of Allowing History to Repeat Itself.

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Popovici Anais Rotaru Ariana Nedelcu Bianca Timari Briana Miron Elena Heim Eli Czikai-Fabian Noel Șerdean Irina Dejeu Maria Grigorovici Matei Lisetti Nikhil Anghel Radu Shaked Eckhaus Jonathan Filimon Lara Pavelescu Patricia Gîrbovan Maia Hermann Sara Pop Alex Costoiu Zăvăleanu Rareș Mureșan Răzvan Ghișa Octavian Pristavu Ioan

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