the λ’/2 shades
Reaλity Uncovered
Editors Editorial Assistants Video Editor Journalists
Marianna Georgiadi (GR) Chrysanthi Koniou (GR) Dimitris Davris (GR) Katerina Stavri (CY/GR) Adi Grishaj (AL) Natasa Antalaki (GR) Nikos Avramidis (GR) Iker Bengoetxea de Tena (ES) Panagiotis Chatzistratis (GR) Athina Firtinidou (GR) Nikos Koukovinos (GR) Anastasia Ntracha (GR) Kostina Prifti (AL) Einar Stefansson (NO) Kalliopi Terzidou (GR)
About λ’ λ’ is more than a number in the Greek numerals. The letter λ has a hidden story which is up to you to discover. The λ national selection conference is more than an EYP session. It will include your personal story, which is up to you to discover as well. Looking beyond what you can see lays what you can conceive, experience and further explore. We invite you to treat the products of this Media Team in the same way; not just as articles but rather as food for thought. In this first issue, you can find theme- related articles, which will provide you with another viewpoint on the topics you are about to discuss during the next days. Take the chance to uncover reaλity and let this issue mark the beginning of your discovery.
Marianna & Chrysanthi
Contents
No one is alone
The European Minimum Wage Policy: Just a Hypothesis?
A way out of recession: The battle of the tactics
History and margin
Sexist salary?
“Generationa baby loosers
The humanity stigma
Uniqueness in Europe
A lost generation?
Crime and prejudice: the truth about immigrants
The hunger net
The rich, the hypocrite, and the sick
The art of demarginalization
Roma: A story of oppression, a story of shame
“(N)ever again�?
Uniqueness in Europe In modern societies, there still exist relics of inequality and mistreatment of people, which proves that we haven’t yet embraced the essence of uniqueness wholeheartedly. More specifically, LGBT rights are often ignored and violated by individuals, authorities, national and international laws. Political hate speeches, bullying in educational institutions, mistreatment in the employment sector and healthcare facilities, hate crimes for the sake of religion, exclusion from the family, law and social marginalization are few examples of the constant harassment of those people who chose to be genuine and true to themselves. One of the major problems of LGBT community is the absence of a common legal framework across Europe on their family and relationship rights. Currently, marriage as a legal institution on both opposite-sex and same-sex couples, is open in 5 countries within the European Union (the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Sweden and Portugal) while the registered partnership status is granted in only 14 countries (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden and the UK). These legislation gaps contribute to spouse problems concerning healthcare, family reunification and inheritance rights. Furthermore, a challenge that accompanies the right to marriage is the right of LGBT people to become parents through adoption, donor insemination and surrogacy due to the religious controversy in which the upbringing of a child requires heterosexual parents. Reaching the core of this social pathology, discrimination against the LGBT community is often rooted in societal norms and perceived roles that perpetuate gender inequalities. Therefore, a strong mentality swift combined with a firm political commitment to the principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination are necessary to adhere to the democratic spirit of the Union. Political leaders need to take a firm stance against homophobia and discrimination against LGBT and transgendered persons contributing in this way to a positive change in public attitudes and behaviour. Framing the issues under a broader umbrella such as human rights, diversity or democracy enables a more supportive context within which to bring forward LGBT issues in policy making. Moreover, it is important to emphasize the value of cooperative work through internal dialogue among public bodies, NGOs and academic institutions in order to eliminate discriminatory laws and criminalisation as well as end the death penalty for same-sex relations (currently applicable in 7 countries), an effort that has so far been supported by the European Union Agency of Fundamental Rights and the European Commission. However, the problem lies on the lack of EU’s relevant competence on the field since family law to its greatest extent is mainly an area of national competence. Thus, European institutes should focus their efforts at least towards awareness raising campaigns on LGBT rights. In the end it all comes to us, European citizens. Do we choose the prosperity of equality and democracy or the chaos of hatred and marginalisation?
by Anastasia Ntracha
1
AIDS, or the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is a disease spectrum of the human immune system, caused by infection with the retrovirus HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). Since its discovery, AIDS has caused an estimated 36 million deaths worldwide, whereas approximately 35.3 million people are living with HIV globally. December 1st is the World’s AIDS Day and we hit the streets to find out what the youth believes about HIV and the marginalization of the people diagnosed with AIDS. Firstly, we asked them if they knew by which means the virus is transmitted and what it causes. Most of them remembered from school’s biology lessons that the virus is transmitted via sexual intercourse and exchange of body fluids, as well as through contact with infected blood. However, as far as the impact of the disease is concerned, few of them hadn’t realized the severity of the situation and that eventually the seropositives die as their immune system is no longer able to cope with seemingly harmless diseases. Therefore, they all agreed that continuous and better disseminated information and education on all aspects of AIDS, the virus transmission methods and preventive measures are a major necessity in order to alleviate misconceptions and reduce the percentages of HIV infected individuals. Iasonas suggested that parents should talk openly to their children about the dangers of unsafe sexual intercourse, while John stressed the importance of school education and information through the collaboration with local health institutions. Nikos proposed the better organization and promotion of TV shows related to health issues and Chryssa recognized the importance of consistent awareness raising campaigns through social media targeted to the youth. Later on, we asked them to imagine how the life of an HIV infected person can change from one day to another and what would their reaction be if a friend of theirs came out to be seropositive. They all identified marginalization as the new reality of these people combined with solitude, mistreatment, mocking, social exclusion due to fear and ignorance as well as denial of their employment rights. However, they all responded with great sensitivity that if someone close to them was an HIV carrier they would treat him kindly, with care and vcompassion in order to diminish his pain. In the end, we interviewed Athina, a medical student who participated in seminars that had as a primary target to alleviate discrimination and reduce HIV infections through information and sensibilisation. She told us that, thanks to those seminars, myths and taboos about the disease were disproven since they came in touch with a specialized psychologist in order to understand how the HIV carriers really feel against the social stigma. Furthermore, she and a couple of volunteers distributed leaflets in the buzzing city center about HIV/AIDS and they even offered free condoms and anonymous diagnosis tests. So the question is as follows; do you think it is fair to condemn carriers of HIV and AIDS patients in a marginalized life when they are already suffering? What happened to our humanity?
by Anastasia Ntracha and Natasa Antalaki
The humanity stigma
2
“Generation baby losers” This is the year; the year when my whole life will change; I am standing here, in front of this building, staring at those windows, thinking about all the rooms that have hosted my classes throughout the last four years of my studies. Yet I am standing here, without having any plans for the future. A future common for every university graduate, a future quite blurry, frustrating, even intimidating and barely hopeful. I have this very thought the last few months, that there is no future for me here, in my home country. I am wondering, what are the prospects of being employed in a country with 35% of youth unemployment rate? Will I need to lie about my education when applying for work, worried that I will be rejected for being overqualified? How can one feel safe, settle in and start a new chapter of life in such an unstable environment, where everything can change at any moment? And what if I find myself one day at the age of 30, living at home with my parents again? “Generation Baby Losers” is only one of the many names given to our generation; it refers to us, aged between 16 to 25 years old. We are among those hit worst by Europe’s debt crisis and the resulting austerity measures. Many young Southern Europeans, especially well-educated ones, with high skills and high ambitions, are left with a tough choice: facing a jobless future at home, or leaving everything behind in order to find work abroad. Most of my friends have already made this choice and fled to another European country, seeking for a brighter future. And it’s not just my friends; a lot of southern Europeans are packing their belongings and are migrating. These are qualified young people, who have desperately struggled to find a job with no success; young people to whom it eventually makes ample sense to seek jobs in thriving economies abroad. On the other hand, of course, such a “brain drain” of well-educated people could have serious repercussions for the Southern European countries. After all, how can a better future be built without inspiring and brilliant young minds to lay down the foundation? Seeing my country go through such a tough period makes me feel guilty, at the thought of abandoning it. My grandfather recently pointed to me an irony: while his generation was a generation of European war refugees, my generation is one of European economic refugees. In the light of all this evidence, I found it difficult to disagree. Leaving your country, the place where you were born and raised, your friends and relatives, your habits and the way of living and thinking is not just a tough, but more likely an unbearable and life-changing decision. However, if you give it a second thought, what are low-cost flights and Skype for?
by Natasa Antalaki
3
Sexist salary? Living in a society often referred to as equal makes one wonder what equality really is. Being greatly influenced by exogenous factors, people strongly believe that equality ranges only in terms of basic human rights such as respecting human life and behaving the same way to men and women, regardless of age, race and social status. However, this is only a small gobbet of the gender equality problem. When it comes to earning for a living, equality is being totally encroached not only by employers but also by the community in general. What is called a pay or wage gap is a phenomenon rooting back in time. However, as other inequities decrease, this unexplained pay gap remains unchanged. Economists from all over the world are trying to explain and track down this wrongdoing, but researches show that wage difference between men and women fluctuates through the past 30 years. Thinking deeper about the aforementioned employers, they are not the only ones to blame about that pay gap; unequal treatment of men and women regarding their salary is voted illegal yet it keeps happening. It is common in many countries for women to take up employment opportunities, contradictory to those of men. This is yet another issue to be resolved, as it seems that stereotypes suit best as an excuse; for example men and especially colored women, are mostly related to manual jobs and immigrant women are statistically paid less compared to the rest of the female population. This economic discrimination has a serious impact on women’s social life. Due to their lower salary payment compared to their male colleagues many women feel discouraged; hence they are not willing to take on higher education studies and more challenging job opportunities. As a matter of fact, all the above are “feeding” the perception of male domination as the main source of revenue in a family, something that makes women conjoint to domestically oriented activities. To conclude, living in an era of enhancing marginalization, tackling phenomena such as the pay gap is a priority if we want to develop an equal society. Drawing one by one every possible solution that will help solve this problem is nearly impossible in those lines. However the question that needs to be answered is clear: “Do you want to live in a society of injustice, or in one of equality amongst all?”
by Nikos Koukovinos
4
While looking back to world history we can observe that, to a great extent, societies are structured in the form of a pyramid; the so called social pyramid. At the bottom, one could usually finds the marginalised groups of each era, being women, the poor, or even slaves, depending upon the principles of each society. The margin is an everexisting phenomenon, rather than just a modern issue. In the midst of this situation, it has always been admirable when someone was able to break the glass ceiling and advance from a marginalized position, that the society placed them in, to a more respectable and prestigious group. Ludwig van Beethoven was one of those who did so. He was born a talented musician and was quickly acknowledged as a great pianist and composer. In his 30s, he began to lose his hearing, and became completely deaf by his death. As his hearing deteriorated, people argued that he was no longer qualified to conduct orchestras and perform, thus leaving him unemployed for the most part. However, Beethoven continued to compose and created some of his most memorable work during the time of his isolation. Martin Luther King jr. lived in times when African-American people faced extreme racism and marginalization. As a pastor, he devoted his entire life to eliminate segregation in the US, with the culmination being his famous “I have a dream� speech, aspiring equality among all. During his efforts, he faced violence, humiliation and brutality leading to his assassination in 1968. However, challenges never stopped him but rendered his dream stronger. Last but not least, we cannot forget Stephen Hawking; one of the greatest, if not the greatest, mind of modern history. Hawking suffered from a rare disease called ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) resulting to an entire body paralysis and forcing him to communicate through a speech-generating device. Hawking’s work is highly admirable among the scientific community and he has been awarded with several distinctions. When Hawking was diagnosed with this disease he was given only two years of life. Yet he managed to pull through his condition, ignoring marginalization and becoming a vital part of our society. Those three men are nothing but a small sample of a group of people who faced marginalization and pulled through, achieving something unique. What history can teach us about this phenomenon, is that marginalized people do not differ from those who belong to a higher community cast; after all, the top of the pyramid cannot exist without its base. Colored people, disabled people, and those excluded from the socially accepted norms should be given equal opportunities with everyone else. Ultimately, it is the diversity that makes a society equal, it is diversity that makes it strong, fair, united.
by Nikos Koukovinos and Athina Firtinidou
and margin 5
History
A way out of recession: The battle of the tactics Deflation, bailout plans, fiscal union, European Central Bank, austerity measures, interest rates, regulation… When it comes to European economy, these are words we listen to every single day, without paying much attention. However, if we take a step back, we realize that over the past years, Eurozone has faced a number of challenges. Since the crisis broke out in 2008, many policies have been enforced in an effort to face and resolve the ongoing problematic situation. In that effort, Germany remained economically the strongest country in the EU, forming policies and bailing other countries out. Supposing that Europe is a basketball team, Germany in the midst of the crisis was the ‘star player’, the Captain, always strong, though with a harsh approach to the rest of players. At some point, however, the Captain would get tired; his body would not take any more. Actually, this is what seems to be happening in the Eurozone’s team lately. In the third quarter of 2014 our team failed to deliver a great performance, as the Eurozone grew by just 0.6% at an annualized rate. Statistics show that the core countries are exhausted, especially Germany as it grew by 0.1% in the past few months. History shows that austerity measures can actually work; according to “The Economist”, Greece’s economy grew faster in recovery than any other Eurozone country’s; Spain and Ireland are recovering as well. Ironically enough, history shows that austerity alone is not enough to maintain the Union’s growth rate. Right now, many EU institutions, like the European Commission and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (O.E.C.D) believe it is time for growth and wish to create new opportunities. Jean Claude Juncker, the Commission’s president presented his growth initiative, which includes the investment of €315bn to spur growth. Hope is that the plan will mark a clean break from the austerity-led austerity measures that were implemented so far, and an ultimately increasing demand in the markets. Stimulating demand would push up prices, which could save the Eurozone from tipping into deflation. Mario Draghi, the ECB president pledged that the bank would do whatever necessary to stop inflation from turning to deflation and is ready to expand the money available for that purpose. On the other hand, upon the announcement of the plan, voices of the opposite opinion rose as well. Many argue that the Eurozone’s economic state today does not allow such an initiative. The existing capital is simply insufficient to raise this amount of money and it is “too much, too soon” for the still recovering, weak economy. Instead, a steady approach with austerity measures is deemed more appropriate. With many matches and even more important tournaments to come, the “European team” still is in a fragile stage and every step, every decision made by the “coach” matters. Will it be carefully structured defense or a full-on, risky attack?
by Athina Firtinidou
6
The european minimum wage policy: Just a hypothesis? Among the conquests of the labor field that have upgraded working conditions and secured the rights of the labor workers, is that of minimum wage. The term minimum wage does not stand for the lowest wage within an economy, but represents the level of payment under which no employment agreement is legal. Nevertheless, the economic stability that the minimum wage theoretically introduces cannot be found today. Financial crisis, mass dismissal of employees and harsh austerity measures, such as the legal enforcement of some memoranda of economic and financial policy, have alternated the working conditions and standards in the private and public sector. All these facts lead to the sad realization that employment relations are being undermined and that some of the basic workers’ rights are being breached. Austerity policies and the wage cuts mostly affect the middle and lower classes, resulting in the so-called “wage inequality”. As a result, the living conditions of the workers and in general, of people who mostly depend on wages close to the minimum, become poor. That’s why many speak today of a general impoverishment of the working population. Towards the direction of upgrading the social welfare system, fostering and promoting the idea of European integration, many support the introduction of a Common Minimum Wage Policy across the EU. One of the supporters is the current President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker who has publicly supported the introduction of a minimum social wage in each EU Member State, so that there is at least a “guaranteed minimum income” at each household. Indeed, a coordinated EU-wide wage policy would enhance the living standards of people earning the least thus reducing poverty, bringing social justice, reducing social exclusion and promoting balance in wealth distribution. However, one needs to be realistic and examine every existing aspect. Therefore, it should be noted that there are a lot of additional parameters and institutional obstacles to tackle. First of all, not all countries have the same institutional model for modifying their minimum wage, which means that regulations of the central government may not meet the agreements coming from collective bargaining of trade unions; adjusting the minimum wage means taking into consideration other factors, such as inner productivity and industrial relations. Discussing about a potential European Minimum Wage Policy and realizing the external effect of such a perspective, means looking to the future EU economic and social policy. Such a measure would set a whole new path which EU could take in order to reform its existing policies and gain the trust of its people.
by Panagiotis Chatzistratis
7
Writing on the idea of demarginalisation, we started pondering upon what the opposite – marginalisation – is. What does it actually mean, and who is working to put the de in front of it? The margins of society include different social groups that are disadvantaged or excluded because of their identity or background. In practice, the disadvantaged (and hence marginalised) groups include almost everyone: from drug addicts, religious and ethnic minorities to disabled people, and innumerable other less-resourced groups. However, as stated in the headline, no one is alone. It is rather self-explanatory that belonging to a group is advantageous for marginalised people, since the reason for their disadvantages is lack of resources. Organisations and institutions trying to improve the lives of the marginalised put better-resourced people to work on behalf of the margins; hence they speak with one voice that is stronger than the sum of all the individual members of the specific margin. No matter if a NGO, a movement, a foundation, an organisation or a large social group was deliberately constructed and formed because of a specific need; organizations and institutions in the field of protecting and reintegrating disadvantaged members of society constitute an institutionalised aid towards the marginalised. For example, an organisation that has achieved a lot concerning the promotion of social justice is the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The ILO has set its path towards the protection of labour rights and the upgrade of social standards. Today the ILO stands as a bridge between governments and employers’- workers’ organizations; through equal representation and healthy dialogue, everyone’s rights are promoted and progressed. Moreover, ILO seeks to ensure fundamental working principles and rights, social protection of the employees; it has adopted many conventions concerning forced labour, minimum wage law, migrant and domestic workers. All this could not have been achieved by individual workers; the progress is a result of the institutionalisation and organisation of the ILO. Organisations have a say in society and can be of great help to almost anyone who is in need. On one level, they can act as a professionalised unit on behalf of a large group, which in most cases wouldn’t be heard otherwise. On a smaller level they fulfil the social needs of the marginalised, providing a sense of belongingness and a setting in which they can feel comfortable and among equals. Fortunately, institutions and organisations working for better life conditions of marginalized groups in everyday life and in the grand scheme are everywhere around us, and they really do make a difference!
by Panagiotis Chatzistratis and Einar Stafansson
No one is alone
8
“(N)ever again”? Cruel as it is, racism, intolerance and discrimination exist, to a different extent, in practically every society. The reason for this situation could be attributed to xenophobia and prejudice caused by ignorance and lack of knowledge; yet one would assume that this should be a minor issue in the well-educated Western World. However, the opposite seems true; and it has been this way for centuries now. One group of people in particular, namely the Jewish community, has faced gruesome treatment and discrimination over the centuries. Starting from the ancient Greek and Roman periods, continuing with the religiously based discrimination in the Middle Ages, the so-called scientifically based racial inferiority of the Jews in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the Holocaust in World War II, to today’s hatred, Jewish population has continually been victim of hate speech, discrimination and racism. Today, every Jew is held responsible for the actions of a state, which they in many cases have no close relationship to, and certainly have no responsibility for. It becomes obvious that the actual problem is discrimination in general; discrimination due to biased presumptions and prejudices, based on lies, generalisations and lack of understanding. Discrimination against the Jewish community should be addressed in a wider context, and not as an isolated problem. An evident connection can be found between this issue and the trend of far-rightwing parties gaining power in numerous EU Member States. The reason for this growing support however, is not necessarily the fear of the increasing problem of anti-Semitism. The idea behind the foundation of the EU was to promote cooperation between European countries in order to increase diversity, understanding and tolerance and ultimately prevent another war. Yet, as Jonathan Sacks puts it in his article “Europe’s Alarming New Anti-Semitism” in The Wall Street Journal; “never again”, referring to the incidents of WWII, has become “ever again”.
by Einar Stefansson
9
Roma: A story of oppression, a story of shame The Roma people or Romani, also widely referred to as gypsies, are an ethnicity of Indian origin, living widespread all over Europe. It is estimated that around 12 million Roma are living in Europe, of whom some are Christians while others are Muslims. Since their arrival in Europe, around 13th Century AD, they have experienced extended discrimination like expulsion, slavery, and even ethnic cleansing - the genocide by the Nazis in WW II. According to the European Union Agency for Fundamental Human Rights, currently one third of the Roma community in Europe is unemployed and 90% of the population lives below the poverty line. Many continue to live in camps or caravans. The camps lack access to water, electricity and gas supply. Most of the Roma are uneducated and their children do not have access to schooling. These people face daily racism and are often viewed as criminals and ethnically inferior. Even at the 21st century, they are facing mass expulsion and deports, like the events of 2012 in France and Italy. This situation is undoubtedly against the fundamental principles that European society is built upon. Instead of protecting and helping, the individuals and the states of Europe are forcing Roma to the margin. Despite the fact that many Roma have managed to become well known artists, scientists or even Nobel prize winners, like the Danish Rom Dr. August Krogh, and that many have tried to draw public attention on their communities’ problems, there still exist unrealistic stereotypes about them; for example that all Roma people are criminals, that they choose to live as nomads without access to basic amenities and proper education. But how can one claim that they choose to live that way? When someone is unemployed and lives in poverty, how is it possible to make a living for one’s self and family? Living in camps with no hygiene standards is not their choice; it is the only way of life that most of them have even known. They find it normal not because they like it, but because that is the only way they know. They are uneducated because no one tried to teach them why education is important. The fact that these stereotypes still exist is a proof that we ourselves are ashamed of our attitude towards them. Some tend to believe that the moment we recognize and care about the Roma, it is the moment we feel less European and more hypocrites. It is the moment we accept the fact that we have betrayed our European principles, but in fact, it will be the moment that we will become more Europeans, and most importantly more humans.
by Nikos Avramidis
10
The art of demarginalization
Picasso’s “The Guernica”, Delacroix’s “Liberty Leading the People”, B. Brecht’s play “The Three penny opera”, George Orwell’s book “1984”. These are some very famous pieces of art, which although belong to different genres of art, all have one thing in common; all these masterpieces depict the margin in its many different forms. These are only some examples of the place the margin has in the field of art. From rebels and civilians that were tortured or killed by the ruling classes to beggars, gangs, immigrants and political prisoners, art has always found a source of creativity in the margin. The problems of “the unwanted”, supply the artistic creators with the necessary drama that touches the public’s most sensitive and gentle feelings. The depiction of the margin in art, even if it reproduces specific stereotypes, has undoubtedly contributed towards its demarginalization, or at least it rendered the public more sympathetic to margin. The art often works as a channel for the margin through which, the related problems, concerns and needs are revealed to the public. Together with the aesthetic beauty of a painting or the stunning performance of an actor, the public stops being detached and becomes part of these people’s lives. In this way, people cannot claim ignorance; they may eventually feel the need to help these people and to individually promote their inclusion to the rest of the society. The initial presumption of the social inclusion concept is a very artistic at one and undoubtedly, art’s general activity towards condemning the mainstream prejudice has had a leading role in the historical occurrences of our society’s marginalization. As a result of being different and opposing to society’s overall style of thinking and doing, art itself becomes a victim of the same crime it has been fighting against: marginalization. Times when an artist or a whole artistic genre has been neglected, fought or discriminated against cannot be counted. The reason for this is fairly simple; history stands as pure evidence of art’s impact in the development and radical change of political and social systems. In order for the controlling class of the society to permanently protect themselves from change or rebellion-related movements, initiated by art, the antidote was excluding from the society that part of art that triggered an unwanted reaction. Bearing in mind the importance and the impact that art as a phenomenon has had until now in the development of what we perceive as our human society, it seems crucially important for all to recognize this role, and to further contribute in the relevance of art in our lives.
by Nikos Avramidis and Kostina Prifti
11
The rich, the hypocrite, and the sick In 2014 Africa was confronted with a new challenge, called Ebola. It was in March 2014 when the first sign of Ebola appeared in the Western part of the continent, and since then, the virus has taken more than 5000 lives and threatened 15,000 more. However, when the first patient died outside Africa in October 2014 Ebola became a global issue. Ebola-virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a virus initially transmitted to humans by animals and it spreads among humans through direct contact of bodily fluids. The virus has been mostly present in Liberia, Sierra Leona, Guinea, Nigeria, the USA and Mali. The living and medical conditions of the Western African countries, in which EVD first started to spread, are the main reason why the disease is so difficult to be controlled or prevented. The countries face lack of doctors, hospitals, medicines and community engagement. The only thing they have for now is the disease. In order to facilitate the struggle of the aforementioned countries against the spread of EVD, several donations have been made by the EU, China, South Korea, Japan, USA etc. Besides the logistic and monetary donations by the countries, different organizations are sending doctors and healthcare staff to the infected African countries. It is hard to tell where every penny is going, because of the turbulent situation in the countries, but overall, donations mainly cover logistic facilities, used to contain the disease, medicine and transportation. Treating Africa in times of epidemic and infectious diseases that spread across the continent is the same as taking a forever-sick family member to the hospital only when the disease becomes infectious to the rest of the family. The current state of the African continent includes issues that show complete violation of human rights. Although this does not include every part of the continent, it is an issue that in any case cannot and shouldn’t be neglected, especially by the EU, characterized by many as ‘the avant-garde of the complete implementation of human rights in the world’. The best, and probably the only way that the EU can actually affect the current situation and make a difference in the development of the African continent is by focusing on tackling the issues on the long run and not simply trying to contain the rough consequences deriving from only curing the bleeding Africa while the rest of the family members get sick.
by Kostina Prifti
12
The hunger net The significance of internet is undoubted. As soon as we wake up we log in to Facebook; we go shopping sited in our couch. The word conveying the core value of the net is simplicity. However, do we at some point end up serving the network rather than ourselves? Internet is the largest market in the world that provides numerous opportunities for profit. That is why its expansion to even more regions, although costly, will prove rather profitable. European Commission calls out for satellite broadband with the argument that this will bridge the digital divide, or else way, the margin between modern technology societies and web illiteracy. William Kennard, US ambassador in the EU, in his speech to EU policymakers, stated: “Getting technology in the hands of all people is a fundamental human right”. Technology, and in general, the World Wide Web, may prove at the end of the day an important tool when it comes to safeguarding and expanding democracy. Having access to an international forum where we can instantly and without any obstacle post our point of view on any matter, interact with others and exchange opinions is probably one of the strongest weapons against oppression. Let’s take some time though to think of our everyday habits. When gathering with a group of friends, Facebook becomes the center of attention. After a while everyone starts to chat to our common chat-room rather than in person. Situations like this make me wonder: are we getting a bit too attached to the web? Is it really necessary to check-in, ensuring that other people know that we are having fun, to really have a nice time out? Frankly, there is a new margin emerging. This time it is not a digital divide; rather it is a separation between those who refuse or don’t use the internet as much as the modern trend allows us. We should consider the expansion of Internet as our privilege and as a progress of modern society. At the same time though we shouldn’t just savor the growth of the net but we should be alert in order to recognize and avoid the hidden dangers, maintaining a sense of reality. This is the only authenticity left in a world of globalization that leads us interact with each other in a way that we become homogenized and lose the grip of our original selves.
by Kalliopi Terzidou
13
Illegal immigrant. Two words that describe people who immigrate to European territory from third countries. However, this is not necessarily the right approach. Mr. Ktenidis, professor of European law in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki points out: “The phrase illegal immigrant is not reliable because it carries a negative message that isn’t fair to describe all these people. Migration includes multiple situations”. 33.3 million; this is the number of non-native citizens living in all the 28 EU Member States. About a third of them are immigrants within the EU. However, this number does not include the approximately 133,000 people who try to enter the European territory every year, illegally. Most illegal immigrants leave their home country with the hope of improving their quality of life, or in order to provide a brighter future for their children. In some extreme cases, they are forced to run away due to persecution, violence or misery. Such cases serve as a great excuse for asylum seekers to move in other countries. With the establishment of the Schengen Agreement, EU encourages internal migration; but is there solid legislation for non-EU citizens? Asylum seeking, although exploited by immigrants, is recognized as a fundamental human right that should be respected not only by the EU as a whole but by its member states separately. However these member states have no authoritative control over who enters the country leading to multiple consequences. This spate of immigrants is first of all costly. “Once they enter a member state, the government officials have to respect the rights for all asylum seekers, providing them with food and housing until it becomes clear whether their motivation for entering EU is legal or not”, Mr. Ktenidis says. In the case of legal immigrants, member states treat them individually. So, when does immigration become a problem of the EU? That is when immigrants travel from one member state to another. Can Greece, given the current financial state, offer to these people what they need? Let’s not forget that most of them come seeking better life and work conditions. There is one more repercussion. A few years ago, when unemployment rates were insignificant in most countries, many governments enthusiastically welcomed these immigrants, as low-skilled and cheap labour. But things changed quickly: economic situation got worse, unemployment increased and many middle-class families lost what they had for granted. Facing this situation, many political parties rapidly found who to blame: immigrants. Indignation was translated into votes, and these parties have recently gained huge electoral gains all over Europe. Immigration is such a complex issue that has become almost unsolvable and the best thing that can be done is to respect the human rights of all people.
by Kalliopi Terzidou and Iker Bengoetxea de Tena
Crime and prejudice: The truth about immigrants
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A lost generation? Today’s youth is considered to be the most skilled Europe has ever had, and in spite of that, many youngsters struggle to find a job. Youth unemployment rates in some of the EU Member States are outrageously elevated, to a large extend due to the negative attitude and psychological oppression of young adults, with certain Mediterranean countries scoring slightly over 50% on the psychological-barrier of employability. It is not exaggerating to say this may be a lost generation for Europe. Millions of young people, some even in their 30s, do not know what economic stability means, and as a consequence, they simply cannot undertake their own life project. The Middle-class, where their parents belong is shrinking, and although they have done everything they were told, they see no hope at all. Still, many are trying to find an alternative. More and more people arse travelling abroad hoping to find a job. Others are just ready to take on any job available, even if they are overqualified for it and most of the times paid miserable salaries. These people demand their leaders to solve the problematic situation they face; but with most of the European countries in huge debt, budgets keep being cut and thus there is no money left to set up a policy which could end this tragedy. Said that, it is not hard to understand why in some of the countries that were most severely hit by the recession, thousands of youngsters are tempted by populist or revolutionary movements as a way to destroy a system they feel is against them. These groups, which include far- right movements as well as communist parties, have recently gained popularity in regional, general and European elections in Greece, France, Italy and Spain. In northern European countries, however, the situation looks pretty different. Germany’s youth unemployment rate is around 7%, while none of the Scandinavian nations’ is over 10%. This gap is causing mistrust among the EU Member States while the weak economic recovery is not reaching everybody. Thus, the integration EU was always seeking for is under risk and citizens feel that institutions are only working for few. Tackling this problem is the greatest challenge of our generation. The issue is not restricted to youth unemployment and jobs: the future of Europe itself is at stake.
Iker Bengoetxea de Tena
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