Transylvania Insights Nr. 7

TRANSYLVANIA INSIGHTS

Itallstartedwithatalkina historylessonbetweenthree peoplethathadtheambition togivethestudentstheability toexpressthemselvesandgive anewperspectiveonvarious topics.Thismagazinesfocuses oninternationalrelationships, politics,humanrights, interviewsandbookreviews. Thismagazineisentirely createdbyus,studentsandit issomethingthatwedowith pleasureandwithhappiness.

TechBubble:SimpleUnderstanding4 Japan’sResilientEconomyInAChangingWorld8 Blackrock:TheCompanyThatOwnsTheWorld12

36000Dead:ProofOfTheNeedForAnImmediateChange20

CyberneticWarfare24 Israeli-PalestinianConflict26 Ukraine,AShadowofChechenya32

CultureInNumber$40 Music:TheElixirOfCourage46

InteriorDesignInEurope48 HowFearAndPowerShapedAncientMythology50

ClimateChangeInRomania56

BehindTheTeacher:MsRosinaDeSausa60

TechBubble:SimpleUnderstanding4 Japan’sResilientEconomyInAChangingWorld8 Blackrock:TheCompanyThatOwnsTheWorld12

ECONOMY

TECHBUBBLE: SIMPLEUNDERSTADING

BiancaNedelcu

Abubbleisasituationinwhichahighamountofpeoplewanttoinvestinanew businessandtheypaymorethanwhatthesharesareactuallyworth.Whenit becomesclearthatthesharesareworthlessthanwhatpeoplepaidforthem,it canbesaidthatthebubblehasburst.

Influencedtomakevaluableinvestments

The1990swasaperiodofrapidtechnologicaladvancementandcomputers becameanessentialpartofahouseholdratherthanaluxury.Manypeoplewere eagertobuysharesinnewwebcompaniesbecausetheysawhowsuccessfuland populartheywere.However,thesecompaniesshowednoproofofprofitability.One exampleisNetscapewhichisaninternetcompanythatfreedistributedtheirown webbrowseranditbecametheindustrystandard.Becauseofitspopularity, Netscapewentpubliconthestockmarketandin1995itsopeningstockpriceof $28soaredto$75ontheirfirstdayoftrading.Thecompanywentpublicbefore beingprofitableandthesuccessofNetscape’sIPOattractedmorepeopleto capitaliseonthegrowingopportunity.Becauseofthedeclineininterestratesand anewacttolowercapitalgaintaxesintheUS,investorsnowhadmorecapitalto makespeculativeinvestmentswith.Moreandmorepeoplelookedtoinvestin otherinternetcompanieswhichbarelyshowedanyprofits.Thebusinesseswere focusedontheiradvertisingwhichwassupposedtobuildtheirmarketshareas fastaspossible,whilemakingthemunprofitable.In1999,therewere457IPOs, mostofwhichwere‘dot-comstocks’,ofwhich117doubledinpriceontheirfirst dayoftrading.Theenthusiasmofpriceincreasesmadeinvestorslessprecocious andaviciouscirclewascreated:aslongaspeopleboughtmorestocks,theprices keptonincreasing.Thebubbleburstwhen,afterthepeak,webcompaniesstarted panicsellingamongtheinvestorssowithinweeks,thestockmarkethadlost10% ofitsvalueandbythefallof2000mostinternetstockshaddeclinedinvalueby 75%.

Doeshistoryrepeatitself?

Thecurrentbubblethatstartedin2011isknowntobeoneofthebubbliestbubbles ofalltime.Asmallbutmightygroupofstart-upslaunchedtheirfirstIPOandraised 1billiondollarsinfunding.Thissuccessattractedmorenegligentinvestorsanda further45billionwasaddedtothehungryUSstart-ups.In2012Facebookwent publicanditcausedpeopletoalarm.Thecompanyhad4billiondollarsinrevenue, whichisalotbutcomparedtolargercorporationsitisachild’splay.Facebook’s IPOwasthehighestinAmericanhistoryandthecompanywasvaluedat$100 billion,whichindicatedthatthetechindustrywasgettingoutofcontrol.In2015 Uber’svaluewas$51billion,whichwasmorethanmanymajorairlineswhichwere operatingfordecades.

Mostimpressivewealthlosses

MarkZuckerberg,theownerofMetaPlatformsandtheco-founderofFacebook facedasignificantwealthlossof$71billionbecauseinvestorslostfaithin Facebook’spotentialasrevenueandprofitsdeclined.Theyhaddoubtsabout Zuckerberg’sfuturevisionsandMeta’ssaleswerereducedby4%,whileprofits halved.InvestorsweremainlyscepticalofMetafocusingonthevirtualreality metaverse.Peoplebelievedthatthegraphicsendedupnottoberepresentativeof

thepricethathasbeeninvestedinthem.Moreover, FacebookfacedcompetitionsuchasTikTokwhich increaseditsaudience.

ElonMusk,thechiefexecutiveofTeslaandTwitter hasbrokentheworldrecordforthebiggestpersonal wealthloss($182billion)becauseofTesla’sstock poorperformance.Teslastocklost65%ofitsvalue in2022andtheystartedthenewyearwitha12% dropinasingleday,afterdisappointingsalesfigures wereannounced.Thereweremanyreasonswhy Teslaturnedouttobeunsuccessfullately.Oneof themisthatthewholestockmarketdeclinedin2022 becauseoftheinflationandrisinginterestratesso manyautomakerssuffered.Furthermore,manymore carbrandsstarttointegratemoreeco-friendly productssoTesla’scompetitionisgrowing.Teslastill makesup65%ofUSelectricalvehiclessales,butthe percentageisdropping.Probablythemost importantfactorofTesla’slossisTwitter’stakeover. Muskwasknownasageniusandavisionary,rather thanasocialmediapersonalitywhoisposting provocativecommentsandembracesright-wing positions.Ithasbeenproveninaresearchthatfrom OctobertoNovember2022,Teslanetfavorability dropped20%amongDemocratsandrose4% amongRepublicanswhichcouldaffectsalessince liberalvotersaremorelikelytobuyelectrical vehicles.Muskhasalsohadtosellbillionsofdollars ofTeslasharestofundhisTwittertakeover,which hurtthestock.

AppleandAmazonexperiencedsignificantlossesas well.Applebecamethefirstcompanytoreachthe $3trillionmarketcapitalisationmilestoneasthere weremanysalesofcomputersandiPadsduringthe pandemic.However,Applemarketvaluedropped under$2trillionbecauseinvestorsworriedaboutthe slowingglobaleconomyandhighinflation.Amazon’s stockdropped51%in2022anditsmarketcaphas shrunkfrom$1.7trillionto$834billion.Thereasonis thesame:investorswereworriedaboutinflationand highinterestrates.Moreimportantly,thedropin salesfrightenedinvestorsbecausee-commercewas notaspopularasitwasduringthepandemic.

Avaluablelesson

Thecycleofthetechbubble:initially,anewand developedproductislaunchedanditgains popularityamonginvestorswhicharemorethan eagertopayahighpricebeingsurethathugeprofit willbemade,eventhoughthereisnoproofofthat. Then,investorsrealisethattheirinvestmentwasnot assmartandwhenthehypewearsoff,thereare actuallynosatisfyingsalesfiguresandthisiswhenit canbesaidthatthebubblehasburst.Professional andexperiencedinvestorssuchasWarrenBuffett havemadethesmartdecisionnottogetinvolvedin thetechbusinessasitisnotinhisareasofexpertise sohesimplydidnotbuythesestocksdespitethe worldgoingmadaboutinternetshares.Thisisa valuablelessontofollowandtoknowwhenyou shouldwatchfromoutside.

JAPAN'SRESILIENTECONOMY INACHANGINGWORLD

Intro

Japanisoneofthemostdevelopedcountriesinthe world.Ithasawell-educatedworkforceandahighly advancedsocialmarketeconomythatdoesnot usuallystrugglewithinflation.

Inflation,asweknowit,isaveryimportanttopicat themoment.Ourworldhassufferedsomedrastic eventsinthepastcoupleofyears,suchasCOVID-19 andmanyinternationalwars.Throughout,Japanhas withstooditstitleofoneofthemoststable economiesintheworldastheinflationinother countrieshasskyrocketed.WhyisJapanstickingout asasorethumb?Andwhyhasn’titsinflationreacted asdrasticallyastherestoftheworld?

Japanisonlyseeingaraiseinitsinflationnow.This delayisnotasurpriseastherearemanyknown factorsforwhythisishappening.

Japan'seconomyhasbeeninadeflationary environmentforthepast4decadesandonlynow hastheinflationraterisento4%.

InflationinJapanhasnotrisenthishighsincetheoil crisisinthe1970swhentheinflationrateroseto30%.

Thesenewchangeshaveimpactedthepopulation drasticallyasconsumersarenotusedtosuchprices. “Producerpriceshavealsoincreasedatamuch fasterratethanconsumerpricesforsometimeand nowcompaniesarepassingthesecoststo consumers,”theheadofJapanequityresearchat MacquarieGrouptoldBBC.Nowthegovernmenthas implementedharsherpricecontrolsinordertokeep inflationataminimum.

HowJapanhaskeptitsinflationsolow,evenduring thepandemic

Evenso,theleveloflong-terminflationisfarlowerin Japanthaninotheradvancedcountries,onereason couldbeduetolowhouseholdconsumption.

Japanhasalsohadnegativeinterestratesforthe pastsixyearsandnormallythiswouldencourage peopletoborrowandspendmoremoney.Though thisisnotthecaseforJapan.Itsageingpopulation, whichmakesup30%ofthepopulation,isbehindon spending.Theoldergenerationsaresavingmoreand spendinglesstomakeupforthefactthatthereturn ontheirsavingisnegative.Whatalsocontributesto lowinflationisstatecontrolsthatlimitedpriceraises aswellasitsrecoveryfromcovid19.Tokyolifted restrictionsoneconomicactivitymoregradually.This helpedlimitinflationby“delayingthepost-pandemic increaseindemandthatmanyothercountrieshave seen”,explainsYasumuneKanoforChathamHouse.

Manystudiesalsoshowedthatinflationwaskepttoa minimumbecauseoflowwages,whichleadstolow domesticdemandandalsolowprices.Thesestudies havealsoshownthatworkerspreferjobstabilityover higherpay,thereforetradeunionsaremorefocused onjobsecurity.

Howitaffectsjobsandcompanies+moreaboutthe economy

Despitesmallwages,thisdoesnotmeanthatwages inJapanhavenotincreased.OECDdatashows Japaneseworkers'wageshavegrownabout5%over aperiodof30yearsfrom1990,duringwhichU.S.pay rose1.5timesandpayforSouthKoreansdoubled.

Asalarysurveyshowedthat60%ofrespondentsalso saidthattheyhadbecomemoreconcernedabout jobsecurityinthefaceofapossiblerecessionand risingprices.Althoughcompanyemployeesare becomingmorestability-orientedintheirjobs,they willconsiderchangingjobsiftheycannotexpectto receiveasalaryincreaseabovetherateofinflation.

ThenewgenerationofJapaneseworkersentering theworkforcehavespenttheirentireliveswith2 thingsstuckonzero:inflationandinterestrates.This newgeneration,mustunlearnaconstantandlearn change.

Forthepast30years,companiesinJapanhave avoidedraisingpricesandkeptwageincreaseslow, leadingtoacultureoflowinflationexpectations. Evenwithatightjobmarket,tradeunionshave acceptedthis.However,duetotherisingpricesof commoditiesandenergy,thereisnowasenseof changeinJapan.Withthenewestmembersofthe workforce,thereisoptimismthattherewillbea significantwageincreaseforthefirsttimein decades.

Conclusion

Japan'seconomyhasbeenknownforitslowinflation forthepast4decades.Thishasbeenattributedto variousfactors,includinglowhousehold consumption,negativeinterestrates,andstate controlsonprices.Inthefaceofthepandemic, Japan'srecoveryhasbeenslowandgradual,which hashelpedtolimitinflation.However,rising commodityandenergypriceshaveledtoachange inthecultureoflowinflationexpectations.Thishas givenrisetooptimismthatthenewgenerationof workerswillfinallyexperienceasignificantwage increaseafterdecadesoflowwagegrowth.As Japanmovesforward,itmustlearntoembrace changeandadapttoaneweconomicreality.

BLACKROCK

THECOMPANYTHATOWNSTHEWORLD

Thereisahighprobabilityyouhaveneverheardof BlackRock.Foundedin1988,inlessthanthree decades,thisAmericanfinancialfirmwouldgrowto becometheclosestanyonegottoworlddomination, managing$10trillionworthofassets,which equivalentlyisalmosthalfofUSA’s2022GDP.

Emergence:

LarryFink,thefounderofBlackRock,wasborninan affluentLosAngelesfamilyin1952.Inyearstocome, hewouldgrowtobeoneofthemostinfluential individualsinmodernsocietywiththehelpofhis company.Beforeconductingbusinessesinthe financialsector,LarrypursuedacareerinPolitics.He eventuallygainedaBachelorofArtsdegreein politicalsciencefromUCLA.Itdidn’ttakelongforthe youngLarrytofigureoutthatrealpowercamefrom moneyandnotjustpolitics.Thisrealisationledtoa suddenturninhislife,shiftinghisfocustobanking andrealestate.Withthehelpofhismembershipin KappaBetaPhi,asecretsocietywhosemembers consistedofMichaelBloomberg,theGoldmanSachs chairman,hewasabletoventureintotheworldof economicsandfinances.Larrystartedacareerin themortgagebonddepartmentataNewYorkbasedinvestmentBank.HehelpeddevelopDebt Securitization,whichwasacompletelynewconcept

atthattime.Thismeantthatanytypeofloancould bepiledup,dividedintosmallerpieces,andsoldto otherinvestors.

Itsoonbecameapparentthathewasanaturalinthis lineofwork,becomingoneofthemostsuccessful employeesandgeneratingover$1Billionduringhis timethere.Hisriskytrademethodswerequite controversialinitially,butnoonedaredtoquestion hisstrategyafterhishugesuccess.Unfortunatelyfor Larry,nothinggoodlastsforever,andluckrunsout eventually.Hisriskymethodslaterlost$100millionof thebank’smoneyinafewmonths.Thefinancial disasterruinedhisreputationandeventuallybanned himfromtheinvestmentbankwhereheworked.

Thiscourseofeventswasthemainforcethatdrove FinkintofoundingBlackRockwithhisold connectionsfromKappaBetaPhi.In1988BlackRock wasfounded.Duringthefirstfiveyearsof BlackRock’slife,heincreasedthecompany'sworth from$5millionto$8Billion.Duringthistime,afight fortheabsolutecontrolofBlackRockemerged betweentheco-Vfounders,leadingtoLarryforcing hispartnertosellhissharesforaquarterofabillion dollars.Atthispoint,herealisedthathisdreamof becomingworlddominantwasanactualpossibility.

“Whoevercontrolsthemoney,controlstheworld.”-HenryKissinger.

VictorPavel

LarryFink-BlackRockCEO

GlobalRecession:

Whilemanycompanieswentbankruptandotherssustainedcriticalblowsduring the2008financialcrisisduetotheunawarenessofthestateofthemarket,Larry Finkwasamongaselectfewindividualsthatanticipatedsuchanevent.Hewas abletopredictthecrisisbecauseheknewfromthebeginningthatthefoundation ofthehousingmarket,whichincludedMBS(mortgagebacksecurities)andCDOs (collateralizeddebtobligations),wasprecarious.Larrymanagedtoshield BlackRockfromthiseconomicdisasterbecausetheyfocusedonasset management.Moreover,thiscrisisturnedouttobeanexcellentopportunityfor himbecausehewastheonlyonethatknewhowtosolvethesituation.Thislanded himacontracttomanagetheassetsofmanybanksthatsuffered.LarryFinkwas basicallyhiredtomanageWashington'sbailoutoperationofWallStreet. ‘Coincidentally’enough,Blackrockwasoneofthetopshareholdersofthevery ownbankshewashiredtobailout,holdingstakeswithacombinedvalueof$60 billioninthebankssuchasTheBankofAmericaandJPMorgan&Chaseinwhich Blackrockownsa6%stakeworth$30billionalone.TheFEDreserveessentially gaveLarryFinktheopportunitytobecomethemostimportantmaninthepost2008recessioneconomy.

COVID-19Pandemic

Thepandemicwasperhapsthesecondworstrecessionofthe21’stcentury.For thefirsttimeinhistorytheFederalReserveboughtaCorporateDebtsETF(capital infusionthatactsasvitalfuelforanybusiness;inreturn,companiesnormally committorewardinvestorsbypayingacoupon,orinterest,onthebond)of companiessuchasAppleInc.andToyota.Thisbasicallymeantthatthe governmentwasbailingoutcorporationsthathadtoomuchdebttowithstandthe pandemic.Whodidtheyhiretomanagethisscheme?Blackrock.Justlikeduring the2008bailout,therewereconflictsofinterestswhich“seemednoonehad noticed”orturnedablindeye.Blackrockwasagainoneofthemaininstitutional shareholdersofthesecompaniestheyneededtobail.

Intangiblemagnitude

Duringthefirst5yearsofBlackrock,Larrymanagedtoincreasethecompany’s worthby160000%(from$5millionto$8billion).In2014Blackrockmanagedassets worthapproximately$4trilliondollars,by2021theymanagedover$9trillion.That isequivalentto36%oftheUnitedStatesGDPin2022.Forcomparisonthe IndustrialCentralBankofChina(ICBC)onlyhad$3trillionundermanagementin 2014.

Asidefrom“owningastakeineverything”,in2020theChinesegovernment approvedBlackrocktosetupamutualfundinChina.ThismadeBlackrockthe firstforeignassetmanagerforthistypeofaction.MoreoverBlackrockdidnothold backonEuropeaninvestmentsinthefinance,energy,oilandtransportation sectors.Asidefromthesesectorsthisgiantisalsooneofthetopshareholdersin mostpharmaceuticalcompaniessuchasPhiserandMerk,italsoownsmostofthe mainstreammediasuchasCNN,MSNBC(13%),FoxNews(18%).Theseinvestments virtuallygainedBlackrockaccessto90%oftheworldmedia.

Behindthecurtains

ManypeopleaskthemselveswhobroughtLarryFinkandBlackrockthisamountof unprecedentedsuccess.Thebasisofsuccesscomesfromawhatratherthana who:Aladin,anetworkof5000computerswhichessentiallycombinedforma supercomputer.Blackrockusesthiscomputertoanalyseandmanagetheir clients'trades.Italsomonitorstheirportfolios24/7whileitalsoperformsrisk analysistakingintoaccounteverypossiblescenarioandalsohighlightsanyminor possibleundesirableoutcomeorreasonthatmightcauseit.

Thissystemissopowerfulandwidespreadthatseveralofthelargestplayersinthe investmentindustrymakeuseofit.ForBlackrocktobeabletoofferthisservice theyhavetobegrantedaccesstodatafrombanks,insurancecompanies, pensionfundsandotherfinancialinstitutions.Thissoftwareessentially“hasits eye”on$21trillionorapproximately10%ofallexistingstocksandbonds.Thishad ledmanytocallBlackrockthelargestshadowbankintheworldorevengoasfar asdescribingitasashadowgovernment.

Consequencesandconclusion

ThemainreasonwhymostofusneverheardofBlackrock,letaloneLarryFink,is becauseheunderstoodfromthebeginningthathisbusinessandhiswayof conductingbusinesswouldprevailbestintheshadows.Thisisduetothefactthat theactionsundertakenbyBlackrockaresometimesethicallycondemningoreven illegalsuchasusingpersonal,sensitiveinformationprovidedbytheinstitutionsfor theAladdinalgorithminordertofuelandkeepthissupercomputerreliable.

RecentinvestmentsinHIKVISION,whichisaChinesecompanythathasbeen blacklistedbytheUSandotherWesterncountries,alsofallinthegrey,shadyarea duetothatcompanybeinginfamousfortheirwidescalehumanrightsabuseof privacyandpersonaldata.Blackrockmanagestokeepalltheseactionstoa certainlevelofsecrecyduetoitpossessinglargestakesinmediacompanies.This meansthatthesemediacompaniesneedtohaveBlackrock’sapprovalto broadcastinformation,especiallyaboutthemselves.MoreoverBlackrock frequentlyfindsitselfinconflictsofinterestsduetoitowningthemajoritysharesin themostpowerfulandvaluablecompaniesaroundtheWorld.

Blackrock’simmenseinfluencehasevenbecomeapossiblethreattotheWestern democraciesoftheWorld,duetofirstofallbeingsowellconnectedeverywhere thattheyhavebecomealmostimpossibletoregulate,secondlybecause BlackrockisheavilyinvestingandfinancinginauthoritarianregimessuchasChina orRussiaandrivalsthatdirectlyopposethedemocraticnationssuchasUSAor otherEuropeancountries.

PerhapsthebiggestironyofthemallisthatLarryFinkpersonallywrotealetterto allcompaniesthatweremanagedbyBlackrockto“contributetothesocietyor losetheirsupport”.Asheputsit“Societyisdemandingthatcompanies,both publicandprivate,serveaspecialpurpose”.Larrydecidedtoshifttowardsthis westernmovementononesideoftheworldwhilealsofinancingterrorandrights violationsontheotherside.

Blackrockcamecloserin34yearstowhatmanyempiresstrivedforcenturiesto becomeoverthecourseofhistory.Perhapsatthispoint,forLarryFink,world dominationisnotaforeignconcept.Hehaspassedthepointwherehecanbe stoppedwiththehelpofhiseconomicalandpoliticalgeniusnessthatallowedhim tofindandprofitfromonceinacenturyopportunitiessuchasthe2008Global RecessionandthePandemicrecession,TWICE.

POLITICS

36,000DEAD: PROOFOFTHENEEDFORANIMMEDIATECHANGE

MateiGrigorovici

TheKahramanmarasearthquakehittheGaziantep regiononMondaythe6thFabruaryat4A.Mlocal time,theearthquakewasmeasuredat7.8onthe Richterscale,theearthquakewasthestrongesttohit theregionfor100years.Thousandsofbuildingshave collapsedandthedeathtollcontinuestoclimbas manyhaveperishedcrushedbytheweightofthe building.Manyhaveblamedarchitectsand politiciansfornotrespectingthebuildinglaws,aware thatitisaseismicarea.

ThepresidentofturkeyRecepTayyipErdoganhas blamedtheearthquakeonfatebutaselectionsare comingupinMay,hispositionthathehasbeeninfor 20yearsmightbetakenbysomeoneelse,someare blaminghimforallowingnewcontractorstobuild chaoticallyandwithoutfollowingstructurelaws presentinareaswithseismicactivity.Criticssuchas theCHP,beingtheopposingpartysaidthat “PresidentErdogan’sgovernmenthasnotprepared thecountryforearthquakes”,presidentErdoganon theotherhandsaidthat“Icannotstomachpeople conductingnegativecampaignsforpolitical interests”forreportersinaninterviewintheHatay regionneartheepicentreofthequake.

ThegovernmentofTurkeyhasbeenblamedfurther, aftertheearthquakein1999some3.8billionpounds werepaidbymobilephoneoperatorsandradio stations,tomakebuildingsresistanttoearthquakes. Themoneyseemstohavedisappearedandnoone cansaywhereexactlyitwent.Manyapplications weremadeforanamnesty,saidPekínGiritliogluof IstanbulUniversityforBBC,whoalsosaidthatthere wasahighintensityofillegalbuildingsinthatarea.

Untilnowthegovernmenthastriedtofixitsmistakes byissuing100arrestwarrantsforcontractors, architectsandengineersconnectedtosomeofthe tensofthousandsofbuildingsthatcollapsed,a constructorwascaughtonthetenthtryingtofleethe countryinistanbulairport.Theconstructor constructedaresidencewith250apartments,many ofwhichcollapsedduringthequake.

Inmyopinionthegovernmentcouldbeblamedfor thethousandsofdeaths,thegreedinessofpresident Erdoganandhisofficialshasledtohundredsof buildingscollapsingwhichwerenotbuiltaccordingto thelawsinthatregion.Afterthequakefrom99many fundswereraisedthroughtaxesbutitseemsthatthe moneythatcouldhavesavedmanypeopletoday hasdisappearedanditseemstoleadtoErdoganand hisgovernment.Thepresidenttriedtoputtheblame onfateandsaidthat“Suchthingshavealways happened.It’spartofDestiny’splan”,andalthough theearthquakewasunavoidablethethousandsof deathscouldhavebeenprevented.

Constructorsarealsotoblameasinsteadof investingmoretobuildsafebuildingsinaseismic area,theyinsteadwantedmoremoneyandthus manyfamilieshavetosuffer.Someoftheguilty constructorsandarchitectshavebeencaughtbutit isunclearhowthegovernmentwilltreatthem.In conclusiontherewerethousandsofdeathsand hundredsofthousandsofpeopledisplaced,but couldhalforevenmorethanthesebeprevented?

CyberneticWarfare24

Israeli-PalestinianConflict26

Ukraine,aShadowofChechenya32

GEOPOLITICS

CYBERNETIC WARFARE

Cyberneticwarfarereferstotheuseofcomputer networksanddigitaltechnologytosabotage, damage,ordestroyenemysystemsand infrastructure.Itisarelativelynewformofwarfare thathasbecomeincreasinglyprevalentinallaspects ofmodernsociety,includingmilitaryoperations,due toourincreasingrelianceontechnologyinrecent years.Thisarticlediscussesthenatureofcybernetic warfare,itsstrengthsandweaknesses,andthe challengesitposestogovernments,militaries,and citizensalike.

Oneofthedefiningcharacteristicsofcybernetic warfareisthatitishighlyasymmetric.Unlike traditionalformsofwarfarethatrequirelargearmies andexpensiveweapons,cyberneticattackscanbe carriedoutbyasmallnumberofpeopleusing relativelycheapandreadilyavailabletechnology. Thiscouldleveltheplayingfieldandallowsmaller, lessresourcedstatesandnon-stateactorstoimpede orunderminethemilitaryoperationsofmore powerfulstates.Becausenetworksareglobalin nature,cyberneticwarfarecanbeconductedfrom anywhereintheWorld,makingitdifficultfor governmentsandmilitariestospotandrespondto attacks.

Anotherimportantfeatureofcyberneticwarfareisits highscalability.Unliketraditionalformsofwarfare, whicharelimitedbythesizeandcapabilitiesofthe attackingforce,cyberneticattackscanbecarried outonamassivescaleandaffectmillionsofpeople, systemsandinfrastructuresimultaneously.Thiscan causewidespreadchaosandcanleadtophysical damageandevenlossoflife.Despitethese advantages,cyberneticwarfarealsohassome drawbacks.Oneofthebiggestchallengesisthe difficultyinattributingattackstospecificsources. Becausecomputernetworksarecomplexand interconnected,itcanbedifficulttoidentifywhois responsibleforaparticularattack,makingatargeted andeffectiveresponsedifficult.Additionally, cyberneticwarfarecanleadtounintended consequences.Forexample,acyberneticattack aimedatdisruptingaparticularsystemor infrastructurecanhaveunintendedconsequences

andcausewidespreaddamagetoothersystems connectedtoit.Anotherchallengeofcybernetic warfareisthedifficultyofdefendingagainstit.Unlike traditionalformsofwarfarethatcanbedefended withphysicalfortificationsandmilitaryforce, cyberneticattackscanbedifficulttodefendagainst astheyareoftenconductedthroughdigitalchannels thataredifficulttomonitorandcontrol.New technologiesandvulnerabilitiesareconstantlybeing discovered,whichcanmakeitdifficultfor governmentsandmilitariestokeepupwiththeeverevolvingthreatofcyberneticwarfare.

Despitethesechallenges,governmentsandmilitaries aretakingstepstorespondtothethreatof cyberwarfare.Oneapproachistoinvestin cybersecuritymeasuressuchasfirewalls,intrusion detectionsystems,andencryptiontechniquesto protectagainstcyberneticattacks.Additionally, governmentsareworkingtoimproveinternational cooperationandinformationsharingtobetter respondtoandpreventcyberneticattacks.These includecreatingalegalframeworkforcooperation, developingmechanismsforinformationsharing,and increasinginvestmentinresearchanddevelopment tostayaheadofevolvingthreats.

Anotherapproachtoaddressingthethreatof cyberwarfareistodevelopoffensivecapabilities.This includesdevelopingtheabilitytolaunchitsown cyberneticattackstocounterorrespondto cyberneticattacksbyotherstatesornon-state actors.However,thisapproachcallsintoquestionthe ethicsandlegalityofusingdigitaltechnologiesto wagewar,andcouldleadtoanarmsraceinwhich countriescompetetodevelopthemostadvanced andeffectiveoffensivecapabilities.Becauseitis controversial.

Insummary,cyberneticwarfareisacomplexand rapidlyevolvingthreatthatposesbothopportunities andchallengesforgovernments,militariesand citizens.Potentiallylevellingtheplayingfieldand givingsmaller,lesser.

AnaisPopovici

ISRAELIPALESTINIAN CONFLICT

InOctober2020,itwasruledbyanIsraelicourtthat Palestinianfamilieslivinginaneighbourhoodin Jerusalemwillbeevictedandtheirlandhanded over.In2021severalPalestinianfamiliesweretrying toputastoptothelegalbattlearoundproperty ownershipanddisplacementsfromtheirhomesin Jerusalem.ThePalestinianssoonbegantoprotest toprotectthemselvesfromthependingevictions.

Tothisdaythereisongoingbattlebetweenthetwo, anditdoesn’tseemlikeit’sgoingtoendanytime soon.

Howdiditstart?

TheIsraeli-Palestinianconflictisknowntotheworld asoneofthelongestconflictstohaveeverexisted, beginninginthemid-2othcenturywhentheUnited NationsadoptedResolution181.Itcalledforthe partitionofPalestineintoArabandJewishstates andaspecialinternationalregimeforJerusalem. PalestinehadbeengovernedbyGreatBritainsince 1922andsincethenJewishimmigrationincreasedto theregionandso,tensionbetweenArabsandJews hadgrown.InApril1948exhaustionfollowedafter thewarandBritainintroducedtheissuesinPalestine totheUnitedNationthereforeresultinginthe Resolution181.TheJewishcommunityconsideredit tobealegalbasistoestablishIsrael,thiswas disapprovedbytheArabcommunityandalmost immediatelystartedviolencebetweenthetwo.

CreationofthestateofIsrael

OnMay14,1948,thestateofIsraeloriginated, startingthefirstArab-Israeliwar.Thewarendedin Israel’svictoryand750,000Palestinianswere relocated;theterritorywasthendividedintothree parts:thestateofIsrael,theGazaStripandtheWest Bank.Overtheyearstensionhadbuiltupbetween IsraelandEgypt,andJordanandSyria.Inviewof TheSuezCrisisandIsrael'sinvasionoftheSinai Peninsula,Jordan,EgyptandSyriasignedmutual defencepacts.Afterthe6-DayWarIsrael anticipatorilystarted,ithadgainedcontroloverthe WestBank,GolanHeightsandtheGazaStrip.

Sixyearslater,EgyptandSyrialaunchedanattack inhopestowinbacktheirlostterritory;thisdid nothingmorethanopenupnegotiationsforthelost territorywhichthetwoconsideredawin.

TheCampDavidsaccords

TheCampDavidsaccordsweresignedbyIsrael primeministerandEgypt’spresidentonSeptember 17,1978;thereitwasstatedthattheGazaandthe WestBankwouldhaveaself-governingauthority thereforemappingthewaytoPalestinianstatehood. TheIsraeliforcesandciviliansfromtheland acquiredwouldwithdraw.

EliHeim

TheOsloAccords

TheFirstIntifadawasaseriesofprotestsandriotsthattookplaceinPalestinian TerritoriesaswellasIsraelthatstartedonDecember9,1987.InthefirstyearIsraeli securityforceshadkilled311Palestinians,ofwhich53wereminorsandafter6 yearsthesecurityforceskilledanestimated1,162-1,204Palestinians;100Israeli civiliansandIDFpersonnelwerekilled.The1993OsloIAccordsactedasa peacemakeranditsetupthewayforPalestinianstogovernthemselvesinThe WestBankandGaza.In1995,TheOsloIIAccordsexpandedthefirstagreement, andstatedthatIsraelshouldcompletelywithdrawfromcitiesand450towns.

TheSecondIntifadatookplacein2000duetothebuildupfrustrationofthe PalestiniansofIsrael'smilitaryoccupationthatwouldlast5years;inregardsIsrael builtabarrierwallaroundtheWestBankin2002regardlessofopposition.

In2013TheUnitedStatesaimedtorescuethepeaceprocess.Itwasquicklymade amessduetoThePalestinianAuthority’srulingpartyformingaunitygovernment withHamasin2014.

Hamaswasfoundedin1987followingthefirstIntifada,itwaslabelledbytheUSas aforeignterroristorganisation.In2014hostilitiesinthePalestinianterritorycaused militaryconfrontationinwhichHamasfiredalmost3thousandrocketsatIsrael; IsraelreciprocatedwithanoffensiveinGaza.Thebattleendedwithacease-firein lateAugust,2014.Aftermoreviolentattacks,in2015,PalestinianPresident declaredthattheywillnolongerfollowtherulessetbytheOsloAccords.

TheAbrahamAccords

TheAbrahamAccordswereaseriesoftreatiesnormalisingdiplomaticrelations betweenIsrael,UnitedArabEmirates,Bahrain,SudanandMorocco.TheAccord acknowledgedtheneedforpeaceintheMiddleEastandinfivemonthsthese ArabstatesjoinedEgyptandJordaninmakingpeacewithIsrael.

GazaCity

IronDomeMissleShield

UKRAINE,ASHADOW OFCHECHENYA?

NoelFabian

ChechnyaislocatedinthesoutheastofRussia,on theCaspianSeaandwasconqueredandannexed alongwithDegastanbytheRussianTsaristEmpirein 1829.ThemajorityofthepeoplewereMuslimand fiercelyindependent,withmanyfailedattemptsof gainingindependencethroughthe19thand20th centuries.

TheFirstChechenWar

AfterthedissolutionoftheUSSR,manystates encompassedbytheformerSovietUniondeclared theirindependence.ButunlikeUkraine,Georgiaor Uzbekistan,Chechnyawasnotrecognisedas independentandwasregardedasoneofthe republicswithintheRussianFederation.

BorrisYeltsinwouldnotpermitthesuccessionofa statewithinterritorialRussia.

InAugust1991,aformerSovietAirForcegeneraland Chechenpolitician,DzhozkharDudayevcreatedan anti-Russianautocraticstate.Yeltsinfearedthatthis uprisingwouldpromoteadominoeffectof independencemovementsbythemanystateswithin theRussianFederation.Afterfailedattemptsof

fundingChechenoppositiongroups,aRussian invasionbeganonDecember11,1994.

Withthelargestmilitaryoffensivesincethe1979 invasionofAfghanistan,thousandsofRussian conscriptsandhundredsoftanksenteredChechen borders.Theyweremetbytheoppositionbut reachedGrozny(theChenchnyancapital)inafew weeks.

InGrozny,therebelfightersdemonstratedfierce oppositionandkilledthousandsofRussiantroops, mainlyusingguerillatactics.AlthoughtheRussian troops’moralewasatanall-timelow,they continuedwiththefightingandbombardmentofthe cityuntiltheyseizedtheruinsofthecapitalin January1995.Thebattlecontinuedforalmosttwo moreyearswithtwomoreattacksonGroznyand otherruralareas,untilaceasefirewassignedon31 august1996.

ThewarhasleftGroznyandotherareasof Chechnyainruins,withcasualtiesonbothsides,but themosthorrificpartofthewarwasthestaggering amountofciviliandeaths,between30.000-100.000.

TheSecondChechenWar

AfterthefirstChechenwar,ChechnyahasbeenindependentofRussiaforseveral years.UntiltheelectionofPresidentVladimirPutinandaseriesofbombingsin Moscow.Inaugust-september1999flatbuildingsinMoscowexplodedwhichledto severalhundredciviliandeaths.TheKremlinhasdeemedtheeventsasChechen terroristattacksledbyArabIslamistsEmiral-KhattabandAbuUmar.

Inaugust1999,IslamistfightersfromChechnyainfiltratedtheDagestanregion, violatingRussia’sborders.TheRussianarmyrespondedwithamilitarycampaign thatincludedaseriesofbombardingsdirectedatciviliansinthecitiesand villagesofChechnya.Alongsidepro-RussianChechenforces,theymanagedto seizeGroznyonceagaininawintersiegethatlastedfromDecember1999to February2000andestablisheddirectruleoverChechnyainMay2000.

AlthoughtheRussianscapturedthecapital,insurgencieswerestillbeingcarried outbyChechenrebelfightersthroughouttheNorthCaucasusregionsforseveral years,whichresultedinmanyRussiancasualties.Therebelswereusingguerilla tacticssimilartotheonesusedintheFirstChechenwar,andtheattackslasted until2017.Bothsideshavecarriedoutattacksagainstcivilians,withtheresultof over160.000peopleintotalkilledintheSecondChechenWar.

WecanseenowasimilarwarhappeninginUkraine,buttheironicdifferenceis thattheWesternworldsupportedRussiaduringthefirstChechenWarforpolitical interestinpreservingthethenpresidentBorisYeltsininpower.

ManyChechenfightershavejoinedUkraineintheWar,seeingtheconflictasa waytocontinuethefightagainstRussia.Someofthegroupsstartedtheir involvementinthe2014Donbasswar.AlthoughthenumberofrebelChechen fightershasthinnedsignificantlysincetheChechenwars,manyofthemarestill activeinUkraine.

TheheadoftheChechenrepublic,RamzanKadyrovwhohasclosetieswith VladimirPutinhasannouncedthattheirmilitarywilljoinRussiaintheongoing fightwithUkrainestatingthatPutin“tooktherightdecisionandwewillcarryout hisordersunderanycircumstances."OnMarch3,TheTimesreportedthata groupofChechensoldiershadbeensenttoKyivwiththetaskofassassinating presidentVolodymyrZelenskyybuttheywereunsuccessful.Tothisday,Razmanis sendingtroopstofightagainstUkraine.KadyrovrulestheChechenRepublic throughfearandrepression,beingcriticizedbyHumanRightsorganizationsand beingaccusedofseveralCrimesAgainstHumanity.Headoptsa”MachoMan” image,beingfrequentlyseenonsocialmediaboastinghiswealthandappearing inarmygearalongsidehissoldiers.

ThemotivesforRussia'sinvadingUkrainehavebeenverysimilartotheonesthat ledtotheinvasionofChechnya,independencefromtheRussianstate.And InternationalObservershavenoticedanumberofsimilartacticsthatwereusedin theFirstandSecondChechenWars.WecanonlyhopethatUkraine'sfaithwillnot besimilartoChechnya's.

CultureInNumber$40

Music:TheElixirOfCourage46

InteriorDesignInEurope48

HowFearAndPowerShapedAncientMythology50

CULTURE

CULTURE INNUMBER$

Society,onemightsaythatit’swhatweseearound us,thebuildings,roads,people,andourheritage,that arethingsofthismaterialworld.Weoftenhearthat weshouldn’trunaftermaterialthingsinourlives,that moneydoesnotbuy“Happiness”,andthatitdoesn’t healthesoul.Itotallyagreewearesomethingmore thanmereanimalsrunningafterourdailybread. However,Iwouldbeahypocritetosaythattheydon’t matter,orthatwedon’tbaseourpathsinlife,many timesunconsciously,ontheideaofthatfinancial stabilityeveryoneearnsafter.

Autobahns,properschools,qualityuniversities,afew keypointsthatweallphilosophiseabout,arguingand debatingwithfriendsandcolleagueshowmuchthe countrycouldprosper,howdifferentsectorsof economyandstatewouldflourish,andit’strue,they would.However,asmanyideasandtheories,wehave andthrowattheseissuesthatsparkuphopein electionsandatthedinnertable,therealityisthatas otherdiresubjects,theyarekindaatrap.WhydoI sayso?

Simple.Theyareissuesalreadyresolved.

Manhasbeenonthisearthforsometimealready, andasKingSolomonbeautifullysaysinthebookof EcclesiatesintheOldTestament,Chapter1,verses9 and10,“Whathasbeenwillbeagain,whathasbeen donewillbedoneagain;thereisnothingnewunder thesun.Isthereanythingofwhichonecansay, "Look!Thisissomethingnew"?Itwasherealready, longago;itwasherebeforeourtime.”

Ithasbeendonebefore.Oneofthesimplestand oldestmethodsoflearningisthroughobservation andunderstandingacertainmodel.Weseeitinthe historicpoliticallandscapeofRomania,agood examplebeingthe“Passoptistgeneration”,which wentoutasstudentsinWesternEurope,studiedinits universitieswithcenturiesofheritageandbrought backwhattheylearnedtoimplementitintheirown homenations,obviouslynottotheletter,asaFrench systemisn’taperfectfittoa”Byzantine”society.

Eventhoughwehaveasolution,amethodthat worked,stillweobservecracksinthisidea.How come?Intoday'sPost-Modernsceneofreformsand fluidityintheperspectivesthatwehold,weobservea trendinwhichonemightbeinclinedtokeepcoming upwith“newsolutions'',sometimesbringinglightly dustedtheoriesoutoftheatticofmodernityand hittingthemupwithanewlayerofpaint,but,once thefirstcrisishits,theycrack.

Again,welookintoourpast,intowhatothershave doneandweseeagainthatthistrendofreinventing thewheelassomehavecalleditcomesina particularscenario,onewhichmanyintellectualsand myself,notbeingclosetoone,haveobserved.The lackofculture.

TheOxfordEnglishdictionarydefinescultureas“art, music,literature,etc.,thoughtofasagroup”,aword thatisquiteflexible,thathasotherunderstandings too.Whenwetalkaboutsomeonewhomweadmire, whohasdedicatedhisorherlifetoacademiaor societywegenerallyacclaimthat“Xisaman/ womanofculture”,yet,dowe,asindustrialistasit sounds,producefuturecitizensofculture?

Toanswerthisquestion,onewouldinadvertentlylook towardstheinstitutionsthatform,thatcarvethe marbleofone'sbrainintobecomingsuchrole models,toschools,universities,institutions,etc.Yet, manyproverbiallycomeoutoftheseinstitutions disappointed,aseither,theyaremetwithtoday's passingtrends,orwithdisinterest,hypocrisyoreven fear,ofwhatthefuturemightbring.

IoanPristavu

Thisispartiallytrue,uptoapoint,duetothefactthatinsocietiesthatareswept byrapidhistoricalchangebydifferenteras,itishardforthe“romancement”to hardenproperly.Transitionineducationcomesthroughyears,decades,and centuries,inwhichgenerationsnottaintedbyideologyarelefttoformasystemof learningbasedontheclassicsadaptedtotheirnation'sthought.Buttherewasthe word,Classic.Classiceducation.Whatisit?Whenwehearthetermclassic,the imageofPaganiniorBach’smusiccomestomind,of18th-centuryEuropeanballs, ofdukesandduchesses.Thisisjustaspecofthepoweroftheword.Classical educationiswhatsurvivedandcameoutvictoriousunderthetestoftimeand history.FromancientGreece,andRometoPatristics,fromtheScholasticstothe FrenchandPrussianschoolofthought,weseearedlinethatunitesthesethinkers andtheir“thinktanks”,itisatraditionthateventodayitpassedon,onlyatan alarminglylowerratethanusual.Fromphilosophytotheology,historytoliterature, thesearesomeclassicsthatthisredlineunitesasitbringsman’sbiggestqueries ontothealtarofknowledge.

Now,wethinkthattodaywehavethesesubjectsavailabletostudyatuniversity, butinsomeschools,however,onemightsayitismerelyoutofform.Theissueat handisthatweseeaphenomenonthathaspushedbacktheirimportance,that misplacesthespotlighton“newinventions”thatpromisefastsalvation,and underminesthevalueoftimeandefficiencythatthelessonsoftheclassicsteach us.Still,whyaretheysoimportanttous?Tobetterourselves.

Manisbornwithnothing,givenacleanslatewherethebeautyofitisthatwehave thechancetorefineourselves,togofurtherthanthemereanimalinstinct.Thisis wheretheclassicsenterthestage,astheirtime-testedqualityformsandrefine one'smindandsoul,towardsmore.Thebenefitsofrefinementgonotonlytothe mind,astheybroadenourunderstandingofwhatsurroundsus,conferringusa powerthatisunmatchedinknowingandunderstanding,developingskillsof discernment,judgementandinsight,toone'sgraspofexistence,butalsotoour wallets.Yes,wallets.

Understandinghowone'ssurroundingsfunctiondoesn’tonlygiveinsightintowhat centuryaPetrarcalived,orZenonofCitiumwas,italsogivesoneaninsighttohow onescurrenteconomicsystemwasstarted,towhatlineofthoughtanation's leadersacton,towhatnewphenomenonisabouttorise.Thesesituationsseem simple,however,allthesesmalldetailsformawhole,onewhichputsinitsright positioninsocietytoformaformidable,efficientmachine.Tosetanexample,a generationofefficient,well-discerning,culturedleaderssetonadynamicforeign policyinaunionofstatescannotonlyupliftthestakefortheirnation,butindoing sothestandardoftheirsocietytorisetobetterlevels,economically,culturally, socially,andsoon.

Cultureisacureandsupplementforsociety,notonlyforitsleaders,butforeach andoneofus,asitsfruitsdonotonlylimitthemselvestoourwallets,curriculum viatæorinstitutions,buttoone'swayoflifeandperspectiveonhowweposition ourselvesinit.

JohanSebastianBach,1685-1750

MUSIC THEELIXIROFCOURAGE

Throughouttheyears,musichasplayedanexceedinglyimportantroleinsociety.It hascomeinmanyformsastimepassedby,buttheessenceremainedthesame. Forover35.000years,humansmadevariousnoisestocommunicatetheirfearor excitement.Thesenoises,combinedwithsomeoftheanimalsoundstheyheard, suchasbirdschirping,mayhaveinspiredthemtocreatemusic.Whenpeoplefirst startedusingtools,suchaspoundinggrains,theymayhavedonesoinarhythmor aregularpattern.

Oneofthemostdifficultthingsforcountriesaswellasforindividualsiswar. Historicaleventshaveshownusthatmusicisaformofdisconnectionforsoldiers tocopewithstress,traumasandwiththeissuesthathavebeenbroughtonbywar. Theconventionalwisdomsaysthatmusicwasfirstusedbywarriorsduringthe WorldWarlandWorldWarll,butinfact,forthousandsofyears,ithadbeen presentforabigpartofanyone’slife.

Firstofall,certaintypesofmusicwerecreatedforsoldierstokeeptheirwilland motivationincreased,sothechancesofwinningweresubstantial.Thelyricsand rhythmwerewritteninawaytostrengthenaman’sheart,andtofocusonthe target.InthefirstWorldWar,thesongswerecustomarilyupbeat,withthehigh pitchednoiseofthetrumpetsandbeautifulpianoballads,usuallywithnowords included.IntheSecondWorldWar,duetotechnologicalimprovements,songs weremorecomplex,withvariousinstrumentsanddeeplytouchinglyrics.Popular singersoftheeraincludedFrankSinatra,EllaFitzgeraldandTheAndrewSisters,all Jazzlegends.

Musichasalwaysshownagreatformofappreciationforthepeople,especially duringwartimes.Notonlythatithasencouragedmankindtokeepgoing,butit wasalsoaformoftherapy.MusictherapypredatesearlierthanWorldWar2. Groupsofmusicianswereplayinginthehospitalsfullofinjuredpeople.Even thoughthismovementwasperformedbeforetheSecondWorldWar,ithas developedandgrownremarkably.Soldierswereabletoovercometheir “psychologicalscars”forthereasonthattheyinteractedwithqualitativemusic.

Clearly,musichadanenormousimpactonthelivesofthetroopsthroughoutthe SecondWorldWar.Songsthatwerelistenedtobythesoldiersonaregularbasis werefrequentlyusedformedicalpurposes.Thesesongswereacrucialpartofa soldier'semotionalhealth,becausetheycreatedapowerfulfeelingand connectiontotheplacetheycalledhome.Alotofthemweresubtlelovesongs thatremindedmenoftheirotherhalftheylefthome,oroftheirfamilywhowasleft inbigpainaftertheirdeparture.Everysonghasitsownmeaning,butatthesame timetheywerealllinkedtooneanother.Theyexpressedthewholethatthewarhas duginpeople’ssouls,andthegreatfeelingofsuffering,butitalsoremindedthem ofthepurposeoftheirfight,andwhotheycouldgobacktoafterthisimmense chaosthewarhasprovidedisover.

BrianaTimari

INTERIORDESIGN INEUROPE

InteriordesigninEuropehasalongandrichhistory, withadiverserangeofstylesandinfluencesthat haveevolvedoverthecenturies.Fromthegrandeur ofBaroqueandRococotothecleanlinesof Modernism,Europeaninteriordesignhasbeen shapedbypolitical,cultural,andtechnological changesthroughouthistory.Inthisessay,wewill exploretheevolutionofinteriordesigninEurope, fromtheRenaissancetothepresentday.

TheRenaissancemarkedasignificantturningpoint inEuropeaninteriordesign,asanewinterestin classicalartandarchitecturesparkedarenewed focusoneleganceandproportion.Italiandesigners, suchasAndreaPalladioandFilippoBrunelleschi, wereattheforefrontofthismovement,which emphasizedsymmetry,balance,andasenseof harmonybetweeninteriorandexteriorspaces.This wasastarkdeparturefromtheornateandhighly decorativestylesoftheGothicandMedieval periods,andlaidthegroundworkforaneweraof designthatwouldcontinuetoevolveoverthenext fewcenturies.

TheBaroqueandRococoperiods,whichfollowed theRenaissance,sawareturntoopulenceand luxuryininteriordesign.Thesestylesweremarked byelaboratedecoration,richfabrics,and extravagantfurnishings,andwereoftenusedto demonstratethewealthandpoweroftheirowners. ThePalaceofVersailles,thegrandioseresidenceof theFrenchmonarchs,isperhapsthemostfamous exampleofBaroqueandRococodesigninEurope, withitsgildedceilings,ornatechandeliers,andlavish tapestries.

The19thcenturybroughtaboutsignificantchanges inEuropeaninteriordesign,asindustrializationand massproductionmadeitpossibletocreatenew materialsandfurnishingsonascaleneverbefore seen.TheArtsandCraftsmovement,which emergedinBritaininthelate1800s,soughttorevive traditionalcraftsmanshipandrejectthemassproducedgoodsthathadbecomesopopular.This movement,alongwiththeemergenceofArt NouveauinFranceandBelgium,helpedtousherina neweraofdesignthatemphasizedorganicforms, naturalmaterials,andarejectionoftheexcessesof thepast.

Theearly20thcenturysawafurthershiftin

Europeaninteriordesign,asdesignersbeganto embraceamorestreamlinedandfunctional aesthetic.TheBauhausschool,whichwasfounded inGermanyin1919,wasattheforefrontofthis movement,emphasizingsimplicity,functionality,and afocusontheessentialsofdesign.Theworkof designerssuchasLeCorbusierandLudwigMiesvan derRohehelpedtodefinetheModerniststyle,which becamepopularthroughoutEuropeandbeyond.

Thepost-warperiodbroughtaboutaneweraof optimismandinnovationinEuropeaninteriordesign, asdesignerssoughttocreatenew,efficientspaces forarapidlygrowingpopulation.

Thisledtotheemergenceofnewdesign movements,suchasScandinaviandesign,which emphasizedsimplicity,functionality,andtheuseof naturalmaterials.The1960sand70ssawtheriseof PopArtandtheincorporationofbright,boldcolors andpatternsintointeriordesign,whilethe80sand 90sbroughtaboutarenewedinterestinluxuryand glamour,withdesignerscreatingopulent,high-end spacesforanewgenerationofwealthyclients.

Today,Europeaninteriordesigncontinuestoevolve andadapttochangingculturalandtechnological trends.Contemporarydesignersdrawonadiverse rangeofinfluences,fromtraditionalcraftsmanship tocutting-edgetechnology,andstrivetocreate spacesthatarebothbeautifulandfunctional. Sustainabilityandenvironmentalconsciousness havealsobecomeincreasinglyimportant considerationsinmoderninteriordesign,as designersseektocreatespacesthatarenotonly aestheticallypleasingbutalsoenvironmentally responsible.

Inconclusion,Europeaninteriordesignhasarich andvariedhistorythathasbeenshapedbypolitical, cultural,andtechnologicalchangesoverthe centuries.FromtheRenaissancetothepresentday, Europeandesignershavecreatedsomeofthemost iconicandinfluentialstylesintheworld,leavinga lastingimpactontheworldofinteriordesign.Today, Europeandesignerscontinuetoinnovateandpush theboundariesofwhatispossible,creatingspaces thatarebothfunctionalandbeautiful,andthat reflectthevaluesandaspirationsofcontemporary society.

FEAR & POWER

HOWFEARAND POWERSHAPED ANCIENT MYTHOLOGY?

Poweroffear

Throughouttimespeoplewerekeptinthedarkandobediencethroughpower. Powertomakepeoplefearful,madedynastieschangeeachotherrulingoverthe oneswithoutavoice.Fearhasbeenoneofthemostpowerfultoolsofcontrol throughoutHistory.Threatsofpublichumiliation,financialruin,andDivine punishment,whetherrealorimagined,haveallbeenusedtomotivateor discourageactions.Eveninourtimes,politicians,educators,parents,andreligious leadershaveallusedfeartoeitherencourageordiscouragecertainbehaviours. Throughfear-instillingpropaganda,oppressivegovernmentshavekept populationsinline.Fearofchange-thethreatofanuncertainfuture-isoneof themostcommontypesoffear,usedthemost.Withallthisbeingsaid,thereis hope.AccordingtoChristianity,oneofthekeyelementsinJesus'workofsalvation wasproclaimingaGodofcompassionwhoseSpiritworksagainstfearandassures humantriumphinthefuture.

Fearismostlyusedindirectconnectionwithpowerandtheycomplementeach other.AsRobertWilsonsaid“theprimaryquestforpowerisfear,andthedesirefor poweristoeliminatefear.”Thereisalinkbetweenfearandtheamountofpower desiredbypeople.

Whatisfearexactly?Isitfavourableorunfavourable?Whatisthesignificanceof fear?Accordingtoscience,fear,atitsmostbasic,isaphysicalandemotional reactionofmammalstosomeexternalstimulus.Sometimesthestimulusis obvious,suchasaloud,unexpectedcrashinthemiddleofthenightoran immediatethreattoone’slife,yetthesourceoffearisoftensubconsciousand difficulttopinpoint.Someaspectsoffearareevolutionary,ahardwiredsetof autonomicresponsesthathavebeencriticaltooursurvival.

GreekMythology

InGreekMythologyDeimosandPhobosweretheGodsoffear.Theyweretwo brothersandtheywereheavilyworshippedinSparta.Havingtheirmother Aphrodite,theGoddessoflove,thetwobrothersalsosymbolisedthefearofloss; andwiththeirfatherasAres,theGodofwar,theywouldusuallybefoundonthe battlefield.DeimosandPhoboswereparticularlyidolisedinSpartanotonly becauseoftheiraptitudesonthebattlefield,butwhattheytrulystandfor.They werethepillarsofconsistencyanddiscipline.Whenonthebattlefield,onewould sacrificetheirlifetohonourtheirnames,tofeelthattheydiedwithDeimosor Phobosontheirshoulder.Yestheydied,buttheydiedwithprideandglory,and thatwasatruehonour.Orwasitnot?Aninquisitivemindwouldwonder:who exactlydecidedwhateachgodstandsfor?Whatgodsarethestrongestand whichshouldbeworshipped?Butmostimportantly,whywerethesegodsneeded?

Well,theanswerissimple,ancientGreeks,andnotonly,usedmythsandlegends toexplaincertainphenomenons,naturalprocessesandwouldguidetheirlives accordingtothefaiththeyentrustedthegodswith.Thesemythscanbetraced backaslongas5000years.However,agooddescriptioncouldbefound2300BC astheyappearedintheworksofHomerandHesiod.

Anaturalquestionwouldappear,doesonereallyneedtobelieve?Andwhatto believein?Well,it’swellknownthatbeliefcreatesresilience.Itisthelightatthe endofthetunnel,thesightofreliefafterastressfulexperience,anditisthehope thatwearedesperatelysearchingforinthisendlessordealofstressand problems.Believinggivesyouthecapacitytonavigatethroughdifficulttimesand facechallenges.LikeTimKnitsaid“Beliefdoesn'tjustsurviveadversity,itgets strongerbecauseofit”.Inlifetherearealwaysmomentsofuncertainty,moments ofinsecuritywherenothingisclear.Beliefempowersbyofferingundoubtful reasonsevenwhenreasonsarenotthere.

VictoriaDicu

FearofPower

MarianneWilliamsonwrote,“Ourdeepestfearisnot thatweareinadequate.Ourdeepestfearisthatwe arepowerfulbeyondmeasure.”Thisisavery interestingnotion,asitistheoppositewewould normallyexpect.Thefeelingofpowerwouldbringus toaplaceofelationandconfidence,and inadequacytoaplaceofdespairandneverending fear.Whythesetwoconceptscollidewitheach otherisbecause,both,toagreatextent,leaveus standinginthesameplace-feelingalone.Theworst partbeing,thereisnoonetoblamebutyourself. Onemightunderstandthatinadequacymakesus feellessandalone,buthowcouldpowerinfluence meinanegativeway?Afterall,wegotoschoolto trainamorepowerfulmind,wegotothegymto buildapowerfulbody.Withthisbeingsaid,itisvery importanttounderstandthatpowercreatesintense connectionswiththeworldaroundusuntilacertain point.Ifwegainjustenoughpowertobeinlinewith everyoneelse,wewillfeellikewebelong,however, morepowerthanmeasureseparatesusfromthe pack.

Examplesoftremendouspowerbeneathloneliness couldbeobservedinthelivesoftwogreatmen:

NikolaTeslaandAlbertEinstein.Einsteinwassimply smarterthaneveryoneelseashereached revolutionarytheoriesanddiscoveries,butwas labelledaspurelycrazy.NikolaTeslawasoneofthe greatestvisionariesofalltime,andhehelpedturn realityintothemoderntimesweliveintoday. Fingerswerepointedtowardshim,labellinghimas mad,thoughhewassimplyalone.

Conclusion

Itisnotthepowerofsomeoneandfearofrestthat influencedmythology,itisourfearoftheunknown andthefearofpowerthatinfluencesourthoughts andviewonlife.Mythologyplayedabigroleasitisa commonground,astartingpointofmodernhistory. Aspeckoflight,adimeofhopewecanbelievein together.Mythologywasacreationofthecollective imaginationthatwasneededbythewhole“pack”in ordertothriveandhaveabasicunderstandingof naturalforcesaroundthem,andsometimeseach other.Itwasuswhobackeditupinordertofeellike webelong.

ENVIRONMENT

CLIMATECHANGEIN ROMANIA MariaDejeu

Whatisclimatechange?

Climatechangeisalong-termchangeintheEarth's weatherpatternsandtemperatures.Thesechanges canbecausedbynaturalfactors,likethesun'sheat andlight,butsincethe1800s,humanactivitieslike burningfossilfuelshavebeentheforemostof climatechange.

Howdoesitaffectus?

Climatechangeishappeningglobally,butitaffects uslocally.Someofthemostvisibleimpactsonour countryare:

Increasedtemperature:Romaniaisexperiencing risingtemperatures,whichcanresultinheatwaves, droughts,anddecreasedsoilmoisturelevels.These conditionscancausecropfailuresanddamageto forests,leadingtoadeclineinagricultural productivity.

Changingprecipitationpatterns:Changesin precipitationpatternscancauseheavyrains,which canleadtofloodingandlandslides,resultingin damagetoinfrastructureandlossoflife.

Impactsonbiodiversity:Climatechangecanalterthe distributionofspeciesandreducebiodiversityin Romania'sforests,grasslands,andotherecosystems.

Healthimpacts:Changesintemperatureand precipitationpatternscanalsoimpacthumanhealth, byincreasingtheincidenceofheat-relatedillnesses andthespreadofvector-bornediseases.

Overall,theimpactsofclimatechangeare threateningtheeconomicandsocialwell-beingof Romaniaanditspeople,anditiscrucialthatactionis takentoaddressthisissue.

TheOlteniaSahara

Aconcretecasethatisobviouslytheresultof climatechangewouldbeinthesouthofRomania, whichisslowlyturningintoadesert.Bigareascould become,notlongfromnow,landscapesworthyof NorthAfrica,expertswarn.OnlyinDolj,over100,000 hectaresareundergoingdesertification,anarea knownasthe"OlteniaSahara"-atriangle,onthe map,betweenCraiova,CalafatandCorabia.Andthe specialistssaythatthedunesadvanceeveryyearby athousandhectares.Themaincauseofthisrare phenomenonofdesertificationisthedeforestationof theforestbarriers,whichstoptheeffectsofaridity. Butifin1970forestscovered12%ofthesurfaceof Doljcounty,nowtheyoccupyonly7%.Andthe numbersaredecreasing.

Thelocalssaythatnowthelandiscompletely barren.Noplanttakesrootinthesandofthe"Sahara Oltenia",sopeoplehavegivenupinvestingtheir moneyinfailedcrops.Farmerswhoremainedinthe areareorientedthemselvestowardstropicalcrops. "WegrowAfricanbeans,sweetpotatoesandpeanuts intheOlteniaSahara.ThelandissandyinDăbuleni andwewillneverbeabletohaverichharvestsof cornorwheat.Astheirrigationsystemwillneverbe perfectedagain,weeachhavetomanageasbest wecan.BeforetheRevolution,everythingwas irrigatedinourarea.Now,ifyougotothefields,you won'tseeanytraceofthatsystemfromthe communistperiod",saysafarmer.

Attheendof2017,400volunteersplanted5,000acaciasonthesandyterrainof Dolj,butmuchmoreisneededifwearetosavetheareafromturningintoafullblowndesert.Bythetimetheauthoritiestakemeasurestostopthedesertfrom growing,inDolj,ithasbeguntotaketheformofastripnearly30kilometreswide, whichhasspreadoverlandswheretherewereorchards,vineyardsandgrain crops.Now,onlyinDăbulenicanthefamousmelonsbegrown,andthat'sonly becausetheyprefersandylands.Specialistsalsosaythat,inthenext50years,the fertilefieldsinsouthernRomaniacouldbecompletelycoveredbysand.

FirstclimatetrialinRomania

OnTuesday,31stofJanuary2022,theNGOcalledDeclicfiledthedocumentsfor thefirstclimatetrialinRomania,suingtheRomaniangovernmentforthelackof concreteplanswhenitcomestoenvironmentalprotection.

DeclicaddressedthefactthattheGovernment'sinactioninfluences"therighttoa lifeandtherighttoaprivatelife,therighttoproperty,therighttoadecentliving, therighttoahealthyandsustainableenvironment,aswellastherighttoafuture worthyoffuturegenerations.Thestatehastheobligationtotakemeasuresto ensureahealthyandsustainablefutureforallcitizens",statestheactionsubmitted totheClujCourtofAppeal.

ItalsodemandsthattheRomanianstatetakeallthenecessarymeasuresinorder toincreasetheshareofrenewablesinthefinalenergyconsumptionto45%andto increaseenergyefficiencyby13%untiltheyear2030.

Declic’sactionswerethefollowingeventsafterothersimilartrialsinEurope.In France,IrelandandtheNetherlands,thetrialswerewonagainstthegovernment andobtainedthestate’sobligationtoassureeffectivewaysinhavingclimate neutrality.

Declicactivistsfightingfortheenvironment

INTERVIEW

BEHINDTHETEACHER: MSROSINADESAUSA

Howandwhendidyougetinterestedin physics?

“IprobablygotinterestedinphysicswhenIdidn’t reallyknowitwasphysics.ItwasprobablywhenIwas littleandusedtohangoutwithmydadandhe taughtmehowtowireaplug,weusedtowatchStar TrekandDoctorWho,whichwerereallycool.Since then,Ialwayslikedtobuildandfixthings—I’mnot alwaysgoodatitbutitisfun.Ienjoyedbuildingwater transportsystemswithsandandplasticpipesandI alwayslikedrepairinghouseholdappliances, changingfusesandflagsandfixingmybikewhenI hadapunctureorsomeotherproblem.Another importanteventformewasseeingHalley'sCometas achild,andfiguringoutthatIcanseeitagainifI'm stillalivein2062.AndthenwhenIstartedtorealise physicswasathing,itwasverycool.Iloveall sciencesastheaimofsciencesistohelpus understandmoreabouttheuniverseweliveinand Physicsisaverybigpartofthat.”

Schooldaysandinterestinscience

“Untilhighschool,Ididn’treallydifferentiatebetween thedifferentsciencesasIwenttoaEuropeanschool andithadcombinedsciencesandIhavealways lovedbiologyandanimalsandallthelivingthings,so myfavouritesubjectwasactuallybiologyandmy secondfavouritewasphysics,butaboutphysics,I likeditbecauseitisverylogical,mathematicaland youcanknowandfigurethingsoutandknowthat youhavetherightanswertosomething—however,I getalittleanxiousandfreakoutalittlebitwhenthe mathsstopsworking.Ididsomeastronomyin America(Arizona)whenIwasthereforayearinthe dayswhenIwasincollege.However,whenIwentto UniversityintheUK,ImostlydidbiologybutIalsodid someelectivephysicsclasses.Learningabout redshiftandblueshiftinastronomy,usingphysicsto analysebiologicalmoleculeswithspectrophotometry andgelelectrophoresis.Iamveryinterestedin zoologybutIdidn'tchooseitinuniversityasIhated cuttingupdeadthingsandIendedupspecialisingin molecularbiology,biochemistry,geneticsand bioinformatics.”

Whatareyourhobbiesorinterests?

“Ilikepainting,playingguitarandtheukulele.Ilike teamsportsandswimming.Imostlylikeoutdoor activitiesandbeingoutinnature”

Whydidyouchooseteaching?

“Iusedtotryandexplainthingstomylittlebrother whenIwasyoung.Whenhedidn’tunderstandhis homeworkinscienceormathematics,Iwouldget veryimpatientandangryathimandIremember thinkingtomyselfthatIwouldneverwanttobea teacherasIwouldbeveryimpatientandhorrible. Then,whenIgrewup,Ihadmyownkidsandhadto developaninfiniteamountofpatience.Itchanged mywholelifewhenIhadmychildrenasIsawthese littlepeopleandtheyweresoenthusiasticand curiousaboutlearningeverythingbecauseIthink thatthemomentthatwewerebornorevenearlier, webeginouramazingadventureoflearning.That’s whatourlifeis,itisthisadventureoflearningand whenpeopleareyoung,theyhavealotofcuriosity andtheyareveryexcitedaboutitanditisreally greattobearoundthatandIneverwanttobeaway fromthat.”

Whatkeepsyoumotivatedtokeepteaching?

“ThestudentskeepmemotivatedbecauseIlove whenyouguysaskmequestions,especiallywhenI don’tknowtheanswertoitbecausethenIwillgoand findoutwhatthatisandIwilllearnsomethingnew. Thestudentsaresuperinterestingandinspiringto talktoandthat’swhatmakesmyjobsofun.Evenifit isjustinthehallway,andyoustopmeforsomething orifitisclubsorwhateverthesituationis,itisalways reallycooltobeabletotalkwithyouguysandlearn fromyouaswell.”

Whendoyoufeelannoyedorangry?

“SometimesIdofeelangryandItrynottoletthat show,probablyoccasionallyIhaveshownit.The

reasonthatIfeelangryismostlyifIfeellikeifmy studentsarenotengaged,notinterested,not motivatedandnotprogressingbecauseasateacher, youalwayswantthattobehappeningandyou alwayswantthemtoenjoyinlearningandifthatis nothappening,they’rejustmessingaroundandthey arenotprogressing,thatmakesmemad.But, generally,Idon’tgetmad.”

DoyouhavecertainvaluesinLifeandin teaching?

“Ibelievethateverystudentneedstohaveavoicein theclassroomandtobeinanenvironmenttohave theopportunitytoexpressthemselvesandtonotbe afraidtomakemistakesandeveryoneshouldmake progressandenjoylearningbytheendofthelesson. WhenIwaslittleIremembernotbeingaveryfast runner,andexperiencingthedisappointmentof beingoneofthelasttobepickedinsportsactivities. AsIgotolderIlearnedthatspeedisnottheonly factorinbeinggoodatsports.AlthoughIwasn'tvery fast,Icouldkeeprunning,orswimming,foralong time,andIrealisedthatenduranceisveryimportant. Inteamsportsyoumaybegoodataiming,timing, dodging,jumping,passing,reactingquickly,but whateveryourskill,youareneededandmakea differenceintheteam.Thisappliesinlifeingeneral, andthetwotakeawaysfromthisare:first,evenif othersareachievingthingsfasterthanyou,your enduranceanddeterminationwillgetyouthereifyou don'tgiveup.Andsecond,whenyouworkinateam, eachpersonisneededrightwheretheyare,your uniqueskillsorcharacteristicsareofvalue,andthe teamcanachievemorewithyouinitthanany membercouldontheirown.”

What’syouropinionontheworld?

“Theworldisanamazingplace.Itisalwayschanging, whichcanbegoodorbad.Therearechangesthat arebringingpeopleclosertogetherandmaking

peopleunderstandeachother,butthereisstillthe oppositethinghappening.”

Howdoyoufeelwhenyouthinkaboutthe Universeasawhole?

“Sometimesitisquiteoverwhelmingtothinkaboutit andIjustthinkthatwecanaimtounderstandthe universeandkeepfindingmoreabouttheuniverse andgettingclosertothetruthaboutalltheaspects oftheuniverse,butwealsoneedtofocuson ourselvesopensourcentreofinfluence—Acome backdowntotheEarth.”

Howdoyoufeelifyoutakealookbackatyourlife?

“Ifeelreallyhappyaboutlife.Iamapositiveperson. I’vehadthingsgowrong,butasawhole,Iamvery gratefulandI’vealwayshadpeoplearoundmewho wereverysupportiveandIamhappyaboutthat.Iam happywhereIgotto,I’mhappyIgottospendtime andraisemyfamilybecausethatisveryimportant andIreallyenjoybeingwithyouguysandworking withyouguys.”

Istheresomethingthatyouwouldliketodothat youhaven’tdoneyet?

“Iwouldlovetogoscubadiving.Ialsowanttolearn moreinthefieldofastrophysics.”

Whatwouldbeyourmessagetothefuture?

“Thinkaboutallyourwordsandallyouractions beforeyousaythemordothembecausetheycan haveamuchgreaterimpactthanyouimagine.Also rememberthattheworldthatweliveinissomething wehavetotakecareofandthatifwerespecteach otherandrespectourenvironment,that’stheway thatprogresshappenswithoutbadthingsgettingin theway.”

NikhilLisetti

ChiefEditor

VictorPavel

GraphicDesigner

RazvanMuresan

Writers

PavelVictor

DicuVictoria

PopoviciAnais

RotaruAriana

NedelcuBianca

TimariBriana

MironElena

HeimEli

Czikai-FabianNoel

ȘerdeanIrina

DejeuMaria

GrigoroviciMatei

LisettiNikhil

AnghelRadu

ShakedEckhaus

JonathanFilimon

LaraPavelescu

PatriciaGîrbovan

MaiaHermann

SaraPop

AlexCostoiu

ZăvăleanuRareș

MureșanRăzvan

GhișaOctavian

PristavuIoan

EditorialAddressandContact:

Str.Baisoara2A,Cluj-Napoca,400445

Tel.0264418990

TeacherSupervisor:

VladCiurdarISSN2784-1286ISSN-L2784-1286

Sponsors

AbsolutPrint