Second Issue of Heartbeat. - European Forum Budweis 2012
Budweis
Second Issue
THE EDITORS
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CONTENT 18
Alex & Apples
6 Who’s who?
17 More than water
15 8
Who
are you?
Rap - a blessing?
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9 The Challenge
11 Nectar of Gods Elevator Operation Manual
Budweis
First Issue
Editorial.
You have shown your funky chicken, you went on a bear hunt, you have discussed Abigail‘s story and gave your best keeping the water in your committee bucket. At this point the teambuilding is over. Some of you might be sad about it, some of you might be really pumped for the committee work. Now is the time to share your knowledge about a topic that you have chosen because you care about it. To take your mind off the serious topic during the coffee or the lunch break, we have a couple of special treats for you. Can you figure out „Who is who“? on the pictures on page six and seven? Will you manage to get the challenge done on page nineteen in order to be allowed to go home? We are very curious for you to complete those tasks and hope you have fun reading the paper and watching the videos. Yours, Oona and Timm
Oona Kiiskinen - Editress (FI) Timm Brünjes - Editor (DE) Sebastian Gerbeth - Video Editor (DE) Theodor Hall - Video Editor (CH) Berkok Yüksel - Journalist (TR) Ognjen Mirkovic - Journalist (RS) Katerina Zejdlova - Journalist (CZ) Gonzalo Rodriguez - Journalist (ES) Tua Malmberg - Journalist (SE) Dmitry Vyskrebentsev - Journalist (RU) Lāra Reinfelds - Journalist (CH) Kensa Traore - Journalist (FR) Jan Janouch - Journalist (CZ)
WHO’S Chairs Team:
Press Team:
Session Chiller / Sort of Orga:
Chairs Team:
Chairs Team:
Press Team:
WHO?
By Kate Žejdlová
Press Team:
Press Team:
Delegate:
Delegate:
Delegate:
Chairs Team:
Budweis
Second Issue
Who are you? By Gonzalo Sola Rodríguez and Berkok Yüksel How much
time did yo
u spend w orking on th
e topic? a) I’ve been preparing fo e? m e h t n b r ) Topic? W it since I w sessio hat topic? as born. bout the a k c in ) h I t s th u e o re y a o topic for te What d ambuilding ? … bla labla ortant b p im ’s t I a) out it. ot care much ab b) I do n o o t w o ot kn c) I do n
?
Do you know the editors? a) No. b) No. c) No.
ent
d resi he P
t at is h W ou? to y
her. t o r . b er. big Obama O wn A op a) love /Sh I d ) o b eG c) th s? e session video th n o n io in p o What is your em. se I’m not in th au ec b em th e a) I don’t lik b) I like. c) I laugh. Are you cool?
a) Always. b) D uh. c) Not during ‘pas
oes E
d What
you an to e m P
Y
n. orizo life. h y y M m . a) sleep o broaden o N t ) b e chanc c) A Do you kno w the nam es of the o rganisers? a) Yes. b) Sure. c) Just the one who se nt me the email.
u eat What do yo
during the
day?
a) Coffee. te. e. b) Chocola s give to m a rg o e th r e c) W hatev r
arrio W k Tur
g?
o
e bl
th and
ikin nd V
the eet m u . if yo o rape g d e u th yo joy uld n o e , w pe at Wh esca t ’ n ca you f I a) ice. b) N die. c) I
s the orange’.
If you have mostly A’s: you are a chair! You are not boring at all and you are born to be smart casual.
If you have mostly B’s: you are a journo! Congratulations you are fun-tastic. But try to get some sleep every now and then. If you have mostly C’s: you are a delegate! Just lay back and enjoy the rest of the show, because you are special.
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Second Issue
Budweis
The Challenge Embracing the Olympic Games
By Ognjen Mirković
I
t is that time again. The best athletes of the world are assembling in London to participate in the oldest competition the world knows the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games were held for the first time in Olympia in 776 BC in honor of the Greek god Zeus. During the celebration of the games, an Olympic truce would be enacted so that the athletes could travel from their countries to the games in safety. The evolution of the Olympic movement in the 20th and 21st century has resulted in several changes to the Olympic Games. Some of these ad-
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justments include the creation of the Winter Olympics for ice and winter sports, the Paralympic Games for athletes with a physical disability and The Youth Olympic Games for teenage athletes. Currently over 13.000 athletes are competing in 33 sports and over 400 events. However, the concept of the Olympics is much more complex. It is not only a mere sports tournament in which an athlete is a representative of his country. The Olympics games are all about the challenges. The challenge to be better, to improve, to go further than any other man has gone before.
It is about fighting, about not giving up when things are not looking so well and that is something we all face in our every day. Every day life presents us with challenges and it is up to us to decide how to response to those. So whether it is just getting out of bed and going to an early class or trying to overcome a heartbreaking scenario that just hit you, the challenge is there. The Olympics set an example for us and inspire us to respond to those challenges the best way possible.
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Budweis
Second Issue
Imagine all the people living ‘EYP’ By Berkok Yüksel Do you think that all the facts always have to be boring? Not necessarily! Let me show you the spirit of Budweis from a slightly different perspective…
T
he sunshine strikes through the curtains and meets your eyes. You wake up slightly numb. You hear voices in the kitchen, look at the clock: time for the first day of/at school. You get up, brush your teeth, take a shower and get dressed. Everything goes smoothly. Suddenly, while opening the fridge to get some milk for your daily bowl of cereal, you hear your family singing a familiar song. “…here we go with the big fat pony, early in the morning”. Shocked, you quietly finish your cereal and leave, after refusing to join your sister “front to front my baby!”. Meanwhile you think that because of the impact of EYP on new generations, it is not odd that your family knows the song. Finally you are in the school bus. Suddenly people start tapping their laps. There it is- the whole bus is on a bear hunt now! And while you are metaphorically climbing down the mountain to escape the bear, you arrive at school. As a last resort to find some sanity you run into the school and see all your fellow deleg- I mean fellow classmates, forming a circle. The
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school principle starts introducing each teacher and then everyone jumps around. A ‘Zulu Dance’ indeed. A few minutes later, sitting in the classroom just waiting for a long lecture of mathematics to start. The maths teacher walks in looking casual and simply asks: “Does anyone have a coin?”. Seconds later the whole class is
rolling on the floor, piling on the top of one another. Your teacher smiles contently. When everyone has a smile as big as the one of the teacher on their faces, the game is finished and the lesson about to start. Instead of a simple Q&A technique the teacher tries something different. Everyone writes down the possible solutions on a post-
it and sticks it on the board. Finally, after everyone has completed the task, the right solution is found and it is explained to every student in order to prevent a possible confusion. At last the bell rings and it is time for a break. You get out of the classroom and you see a table full of delicious small patisserie, coffee and tea. Oh yes, you heard me right: it is a coffee break time, a dream come true. You have a sip of your coffee and get something to eat. However, that is not all: a group of people surrounds you, takes positions and yells something which sounds like Japanese swear words. You do what anyone surrounded by ninjas would do: you become one yourself. Imagine living in a world where EYP is your life, not just a small section of it: a world where your usual day was like one above, filled with energisers, teambuilding games, CW instead of regular lessons and even Eurovillage. And of course the evening event, a party perhaps. You may say I am a dreamer, but I am not the only one. I suppose you are smiling right now. You should be. Because that is what EYP is all about.
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First Issue
Budweis
Elevator Operation Manual By Jan Janouch “Dveře se otvírají” - [Dvɛdrɛ se otvee-rayee] The elevator lady kindly informs you, that you are not particularly good looking. “Dveře se zavírají” - [Dvɛdrɛ se zævee-rayee] The elevator lady kindly informs you, that you are not particularly good looking. “Kabina jede nahoru” - [Kæbina yɛdɛ nahorʊ] The elevator lady kindly informs you, that you are not particularly good looking. “Kabina jede dolů” - [Kæbina yɛdɛ dolʊ] The elevator lady kindly informs you, that you are not particularly good looking.
0 Ground floor: you can exit the dorm from this floor. Please do not try to help the automatic door to open.
4 You want your breakfast croissant? This is the right floor. After 10PM expect a lot of noisy partying. Only the journos go there. Reason? Unknown.
1 There is no point on pressing this button. No one lives on that floor, also only really lazy people take an elevator only one floor.
6-10 Don’t be silly. <l> Not really a useful button: it is there only to prevent you from closing the door with your leg, head and/or foot.
2 The CJO floor containing the Editors’ cave and the orga hideout. Enter with caution: there is a swamp in the kitchen!
3 The place of peace, quiet hallways for sleep.
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1 0 This is not a button.
If you want some trouble with the Head-organiser, do not hesitate to press this button.
>l< In a hurry? Pressing this button will give you the feeling that you are saving some time. You are not.
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Budweis
Second Issue
EU, Russia and regional cooperation
By Dmitry Vyskrebentsev
Regional cooperation paves the way to prosperity for Russia and the EU.
N
owadays there is much talk about regional cooperation. Specifically this topic takes enormous significance in the face of the current economic crisis that the world is experiencing right now, with one of the epicentres in Europe. It is evident that regional cooperation is one of the essential elements of the socio-economic evolution. If we take a closer look we will see that regional cooperation is some kind of fusion of globalization and regionalization, which allows us to efficiently cooperate in political, economic, cultural spheres, maintain stability and provide sustainable development bearing in mind today’s challenges and threats. The EU serves as a perfect example about this phenomenon. It is a highly developed and unique integration, which is relatively successful in adapting to today’s frequently-changing conditions. The
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level of regional cooperation here is the highest in the world. It is embodied in various institutions at different levels. Active inter-regional cooperation within the united Europe influences the development of Europe’s structure as well as its foreign affairs.
The line between the EU’s foreign and domestic policy is slowly vanishing. The architects of the united Europe are elaborating a single development strategy of the intra-European area in close cooperation with the countries and regions that surround it. Thus, regional cooperation is one of the main pillars
of the EU’s evolution in a globalizing world. In order to evaluate the current situation, one has to take a look on both sides: on hand Russia has a lot to learn from the EU regarding its ability to cooperate and act as a truly single entity; on the other hand Russia is located in Europe. The so-called European course has traditionally been one of priority areas in foreign policy, where the EU-Russia relations are of the utmost importance. The EU has always been considered as one of key economic and political partners on the global stage. Russia and EU were the ones to stand up to the challenges of the XXI century. They are united by the idea of building a prosperous Europe with no border lines, a Europe that would be capable of solving any problem. But first they will have to start from today’s crisis.
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Second Issue
Budweis
Tea: The nectar of Gods We have all tasted it. We all think we know it. But do we actually know it?
A
warm cup of tea in the morning gives you a good start. Scientists have even found out that the main chemical in the tea called ‘theine’, being similar to ‘caffeine’ is also stronger than it. Thus, it would be appropriate to say that you should rather consume tea instead of coffee when it comes to galvanising yourself in an early EYP morning. Obviously tea has a significant role in our lives; however every culture has its own comprehension of the concept of ‘tea’. While the British prefer to drink their tea in a porcelain cup, perhaps mixed with milk and served with biscuits, the Turkish reckon it is more enjoyable to drink it in a small glass cup shaped as the torso of woman. While the British have certain ‘tea-times’, it is apparent that in Turkey every hour
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of the day hosts at least one cup of tea. Not only the time and manner of serv-
ing, but the purpose of drinking varies as well. While the average French
By Berkok Yüksel
drinks tea in the morning, his or her scope is to get the average warmth of the beverage mentioned. So, the French makes the tea wait to avoid the boiling temperature of 100 Celsius. Meanwhile in a tea shop in Istanbul, the shop owner serves his customer the tea, and the customer doesn’t hesitate to take a sip of it the moment it arrives on the table. I personally have practiced the art of tea-drinking for many years, and am almost able to drink it without any difficulties. Despite all the differences among the cultures, one thing is certain: tea makes you happy. And as the definition of ‘happiness’ changes from person to person, the definition of ‘tea’ changes from culture to culture, still the fact that it makes one happy does not change at all.
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Budweis
Second Issue
CZECH THIS OUT! Now, honestly. What did you know about the Czech Republic before you came to spend 9 days at this wonderful session? That the capital was Prague and they brewed good beer here? Here are some of the typical things about the Czechs you might like to know when attending a session.
By Kate Žejdlová Not being on time Czechs are not quite keen on being precise or punctual, therefore the meeting time 8 o’clock sharp means approximately 8:15, at least...
Food Though Czechs love food a lot, you might notice that for example the croissants for breakfast are not quite croissants in the French meaning. Also, the Czech ‘specialty’ are the school dinners. Almost every school has its own one and to be honest, army food is a five-star restaurant quality in comparison with some of those... Luckily, the one we eat in is not that case.
Trains The old rail cars and obsolete infrastructure is one of the very few things that can still give you the feeling of being back in the socialist period. And on top of that, the national rail carrier owns the majority of the transport and therefore is setting prices inadequate to the services provided.
Long Distances Since Czech EYPers also care about your health and want you to get some exercise on a fresh air, the venues are usually located quite far away from each other. As one delegate said, “That is when committee work becomes committee walk.”
Every nation has its rough edges as well as its bright sides and therefore every national EYP has its characteristic ‘stereotypes’ too. But you’d better bet that arriving to the heart of Europe and meeting all the amazing Czech people is something you are not going to regret - since during this week the heart of EYP is beating here in Budweis.
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Second Issue
Rap: Curse or blessing?
S
ome claim that rap can not be considered as real music. On the contrary, many are those who assert themselves as members of the hip-hop community, not only through a particular taste in music but also through a very distinct behaviour.
fight for survival. Can you imagine how it feels like not to be safe in your own neighbourhood? The everyday life is hard and alcoholism, education, money and criminality issues do not make it any easier. The society rejects you. As Grand Master Flash says, ‘it’s like a jungle sometimes’.
Why would people then be so attracted to this culture if it represented nothing but a bad music and déjà-vu? As you might have understood, it is actually a lot more to it than seems to.
Now how is it possible for people face so many difficulties without breaking down? Well, that is what original rap was all about: using music to make things easier. Using music as a peaceful means of expression, thanks to which people are actually heard. Using music to keep on fighting.
Picture the United States in the seventies, where the Vietnam War and Cultural Revolution are raging and ethnic minorities and the working classes start to claim their rights. Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, New York: these are the names of infamous American cities, whose reputation sadly happens to be far away from the reality. The truth is that behind all their prosperity, industrialisation and development, there are tremendous inequalities hiding: an unbridgeable gap separates the middle and upper classes from the lower ones where life is a permanent
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Considering the issues above it would be somehow difficult to blame rappers. Holding a grudge against some people for speaking up their mind is rather unfair indeed.On the other hand, it is true that things no longer are what they used to be. Nowadays, the rap culture is more of a business affair than an artistic act. For instance, wearing expensive shoes and diamond watches was not so popular for the Masters of Ceremony of the eighties, while there
Budweis
By Kensa Traoré
hardly is not one rapper of the 21st century performing without his ‘blingblings’. This music has become a symbol for over two generations. It reflects some kind of a perverted ‘American Dream’ and Self Made Man- myth, where money is everywhere to be found and whose kings come from the most unexpected social backgrounds. Not only is the essential spirit of rap left aside, but it has become is even literally opposed to the very first principles. Average commercial hip hop tunes of the past years have not been particularly creative and musically speaking well achieved. In addition to this, apart from being occasionally entertaining they often repeat the same topics: mostly about letting the world know how rich and popular one is. However, it is the same for everything: we tend to think that things are not as good nowadays as they used to be. However, despite its rough sides one could claim rap music to be tremendously rich and fulfilling if one looks for the right artists.
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Budweis
Second Issue
Some of us actually do not like it
By Tua Malmberg
I
n Olympic times as these, life gets better and brighter for so many: different sports, hundreds of them, everywhere. For many of us it is heaven on earth. But, for a few, it is a living hell. I suffer from a major social handicap. I detest sports. It is not just that I do not like them; I hate them. Even thinking about sports, any kind of sport, makes me shiver. My muscles tense, my heart starts beating faster and I feel nauseous. I was the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;big girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in gym class. I was heavier, taller and slower than everyone else, and I still am. The other children found my uncoordinated stomping around very funny.
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Whenever I would try to catch a ball, run very fast or throw longest my pathetic attempts were applauded by my peers. They thought I was being bad on purpose. Looking back I realise they were not being mean on purpose. But back then, ten years ago, their wellmeant tries at encouragement made me cringe, crawl into a shell and stop trying completely. I started to avoid balls thrown towards me, started to run slower and throw shorter. The thought of PE (physical education) class still makes me cringe. PE scarred me so deep it still prevents me from enjoying almost any kind of physical activity, except some certain
ones of course. Even just watching is impossible. This is very inconvenient, a major social handicap. Most people are able to bond with others over some kind of physical activity. Almost everyone has something to say about sports. When you do not, you inevitably get left out of groups and conversations. This is why physical education should not be compulsory for everyone to study at school, especially not for those who really hate it. This would give hundreds of people ability to enjoy the Olympics in the future as much as you probably do.
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Second Issue
Budweis
The Czech Republic, more than water By Gonzalo Sola Rodríguez
N
ot 10 or 20 liters, but 132 public as stated above, and depending Stella Artois, have their roots in the liters per capita is the con- on the region the methods vary greatly. ancient manners of Czech brewers. sumption of beer in the Hence it is important to know that On the other hand, Czech beer alCzech Republic each year. Czech beer is not the same in Pilsen, ways had an essential position in the As you can assume, this is the highest Prague, Brno or Budweis. economy of this country. In terms of consumption of beer per capita in the Regardless, there are also two beers employment, the production of beer world. That can be extremely surprising that can be enhanced over the rest. We throughout the Czech Republic brings when we keep in mind that for many are talking about Pilsen and Budweis’ 12,300 direct jobs and 32,000 indirect other countries famous for their beer, styles. Furthermore, these methods of ones. Besides, the Czech Republic, of like Belgium or England, the course, is in the top ten Where is the brewer, there is brewer’s helper, consumption per capita is countries exporting beer. There is also a small brewery, only 78 liters and 70 liters. As we could imagine, the We cannot understand Czech Republic is not Where beer is brewed people are well and happy, Czech history, its people or only visited for Kafka’s Let’s drink it until the small hours. its culture if we do not anastories or unforgettable lyze the importance of beer EYP sessions. The best And the morning will be coming, of this country. Thus, it would time to visit this country With the garlic for the breakfast, not be of any imprudence if is in May, taking advanwe call the Czech Republic tage of the Czech Beer Then dry toast added into the soup, the land of beer or, even betFestival. This beer fair Let us drink it, drink it, but not mention it. ter, the land of beers because transforms Prague into each region of this European a popular party where country has its own beer style. Since beer brewing have become a role mod- Czech beers are the main actors every the 12th century some Czech regions el for many other countries producing year during seventeen days in May. received the right to brew beer, and the beer. Pilsner and Budweiser, nowadays, Finally, to conclude here is a popular two cities most associated with Czech are universal beer styles. For this rea- Czech song/verse about beer for you. beer, Pilsen and Budweis, already had son, we can affirm that a lot of famous breweries a century later. There are beer brands from other countries, like many types of beers in the Czech Re- the Dutch Heineken or the Belgian
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Budweis
Second Issue
Alex and apples
I
f Alex were a tree, he would be an apple tree. This is not because he is particularly fond of apple trees but rather because he is very much into apples and likes apples in pretty much any way they come. In March 2009 Alex took part in his first EYP session, a French National Session. Having been brought up speaking French and German at home, while attending an International school where he learnt English, he had no problems with language in EYP. Lucky Alex was selected to participate at an International Session. Three sessions as a delegate were enough for Alex. After attending his second IS he decided that was it and never went back to being a delegate. According to him this has something to do with the fact that he might not have been the best of delegates, being very shy and always rather unprepared for his topics. But he feels like he has learnt a big deal from EYP. And not just on an academic level, he has also
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learnt a lot about himself and other people and these experiences have shaped his life. Many people in EYP have helped do this but there is one EYPer he particularly admires, Chris Hall, a British EYPer. They met for the first time at a Dutch National Session where Alex was a journalist and he considers him a great president and a fine guy. While he likes to try a new approach, he certainly takes inspiration from Chris and admires the way he acts in EYP. Alex, while French, now studies Politics and European Law in Passau and consequently lives in Germany and is also on the Board of EYP Germany. Since partaking in the Forum in Lake Constance last year, he has had a soft spot for summer sessions and it was clear to him that if he was to preside, he would like for it to be a summer session. And this particular session provides all the people involved with an amazing opportunity; taking part in a session that is longer than the summer IS. This gives everyone of us the chance
By Lāra Niamh Eckert Reinfelds
to challenge ourselves in many ways, get to know the people at this session properly, which is something you will not have the opportunity to very often and to learn a lot about many things. Of course you can’t always have great session experiences and though he is adamant about not regretting a single session he’s been to, he does admit that his experience as an organiser at the IS last summer in France was not ideal and very stressful. Nevertheless, it is a valuable experience and not one he would have wanted to miss out on. When asked whether he would prefer to be a pink shark with polka dots or a crocodile with butterfly wings, he chose the butterfly winged crocodile. Now what do you make of that… Alex hopes everybody at the session will have an open ear for everyone and that none of you will stop smiling. Enjoy yourselves and make the best out of this chance you are presented with.
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Second Issue
Budweis
You will never be allowed to go back home if you do not complete this. By Lāra Niamh Eckert Reinfelds and Tua Malmberg Dear delegates, To make this session a little bit more interesting for you we have compiled a list of tasks we want you all to complete before the end of the session. Each committee has to complete every one of the following tasks. To prove that a task has been completed a photo is to be taken by a member of the committee or the Media Team and said evidence is to be shown to a journo. Depending on how well the task has been completed you will receive points from 1 – 10. If you do not complete all the tasks you will not be allowed to go home. Enjoy.
1 Find someone from each committee to sing a song and get someone to film it
2 Take a picture with Dima the chair’s glasses
3 Pat Kryzstof (VP) on the head
4 Kiss an orga’s hand
5 Give Alex an apple
6 8
Gather everyone in your committee for a group hug
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Tickle a chair
Take a picture with a Journo
9 Give a Journo something sweet
10 Make fun of Jonathan for being a ginger
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