ISHH Hamburg 2019 Magazine by Media Teams of EYP Germany

Hamburg 2019 Magazine.

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THE WAVES OF HAMBURG HAMBURG AS A CITY: RICH IN DIFFERENT WAYS THE TIDES OF HISTORY ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE HEAD ORGANISERS A PERFECT COINCIDENCE COMES TO A WORTHY END AN OFFICIAL Q&A

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Editorial. Dears, You never said forever, I never said enough. No matter how long sessions sometimes feel, all good things must come to an end. The session itself is nearing its conclusion, and if you pick up this magazine in the future and have half-forgotten all the things the 91st International Session of EYP in Hamburg entailed, let us tell you: You missed a lot. The next aboat 50ishh pages compile part of what we have been working on during these ten days of the session. The Media Team of ISHH19 has handcrafted the following pages to leave you with one last proper “Moin!”, as real Hamburgers say. The idea for the Media Team, when we applied to edit this session, was to be the team between. The glue holding everything together, helping everything maintain its shape. In this role, we usually do not occupy the main deck - seeing though how we will not get the chance to tell you much more, we want to make sure there is enough for you to read and enjoy.

You gave me your best, I gave you all the rest. Without you, these pages would have remained empty. You brought the session to life; with your involvement, your stories, and your laughter. Thank you for giving your best - We hope we were able to make sure that anything else was provided to you. Let this be a reminder to your time in Hamburg, whenever you need one. Remember to reflect, but also to react and take action - Fair winds, wherever your journey may take you! Sabrina & Tobias

Media Team of Hamburg 2019: Editors: Sabrina Ariana Mellerowic & Tobias Paul Satlow Editorial Assistants: Katarina Stefanović & Nikita Salukvadze Media Team Members: Eva Çupi Ioana Diac Carolina Sandeman Catarina Bustorff Zain Mumtaz

Stefana Grosu Dušan Janković Eike Plhak Simon Lenze Alessio Pollastrini

Vasiliki Theodosiou Emir Lise Artur Matos Donagh O’Callaghan

Illustrated by Artur Matos

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The Waves of Hamburg The smell of saltwater lingers in your nose as you spot the banks of the River Elbe on the horizon. You tighten your grip on the boat’s railings as your body adjusts to the gentle rhythm of the waves rolling against the starboard. With the vast expanse of the North Sea behind you, a breeze brushes softly across your face, fluttering your hair backwards. A background buzz of activity and excited chatter from your fellow delegates rings quietly in your ears. You are aboard the elegant Prinzessin Victoria Luise, assembled in 1900 in the shipyards of this very city. Your final destination? The 91st International Session of the European Youth Parliament in Hansestadt Hamburg (#ISHH19). But this is no ordinary, straightforward journey. Instead, you are on a trip down memory lane that not only tracks the story of ISHH19, but also the key turning points in the city’s history. The area of Hamburg was nothing but uninhabited land in the 9th century. Travelling Saxon hunter-gatherer groups slowly began settling down in the area and the foundations for

“But this is no ordinary, straightforward journey. Instead, you are on a trip down memory lane...”. 6

civilisation were laid. In much the same way, the session’s officials travelled from near and far to meet and begin their preparations for the event in the city. Without their crucial work, the session programme would lay bare and empty, providing no opportunity for the event’s participants to create beautiful memories. In 808AD, Emperor Charlemagne ordered for Hammaburg Castle to be built for defence purposes. In Old German, this name translates to ‘river bank fortress’ and the title for the city has stuck ever since. Almost 400 years later in 1189, Emperor Barbarossa signed a charter granting Hamburg free river and sea trade. The city was thusly opened up to the rest of the world, in the same vein how ISHH19 welcomed delegations from the length and breadth of Europe; from Ireland to Azerbaijan, from Norway to Spain. Since 1356, the citizens of Hamburg have been celebrating the Matthiae-Mahl, the meal of Saint Matthias, to mark the beginning of spring and the start of the fiscal year. Known as the world’s oldest banquet still being celebrated today, it isn’t too dissimilar from the Committee Dinners we enjoyed at the close of the weekend to mark the end teambuilding. Hamburg has the historic tradition of its citizens taking an active role in the city’s administration. Enshrined in the city code since the first constitution of 1410, a bürgerschaft consulted the city council in a republic-ishh system. Similarly, the three days of Committee Work gave delegates ample oppor-

tunity to learn and voice their opinions on the most pressing issues facing our continent, from EU-China relations to the ongoing automation of the job market. The bell of St. Michael‘s Church was strung high in 1762 and the echo of its magnificence can still be heard today. However, it was only in 1897 that the famous city hall Rathaus was bestowed on the city of Hamburg, finding its way on countless postcards a hundred years later. Brick by brick and tile by tile, Hamburg had started to form as we know it today, with its eclectic architecture distinguishing it from any other German city. To cherish its uniqueness, the organisers have taken to introducing all of us to it a bit more, the Cultural Programme. The Beatles strutted down the streets of Hamburg in the 1960s, their lyrics ringing through the city. “Oh, I believe in yesterday!” they would sing, their performances lighting up anyone that listened. Almost sixty years later, Hamburg still radiates the same hectic but creative energy, much the same way in which Euroconcert brings an exciting, innovative edge to the session.

tions, would not have been established here. The General Assembly isn’t all that different. Debating on what problems to tackle and what actions to take is an essential part of being a true change-maker. Sadly, all good things must end, and there always comes a time to set sail to different horizons. As the session’s close draws nearer, you will naturally find yourself remembering and reflecting on the events most impactful moments. Now it is time for you to react. Details inevitably fade with time, but the feelings of warmth you’ve experienced along the way will stay with you for longer. Hold on to these as you start your next voyage and never forget the impact you can have as a collective of passionate, driven young people on the future of Hamburg, Germany, and Europe as a whole.

It is always the contempt and ambitious that breed change. Hamburg became the seat of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in 2000, and seven years later, it became the seat of the World Future Council. Were it not for people that saw a wrong they wanted to make right, these institu-

By Ioana Diac & Dušan Janković ISHH_7

Rich in differ By Simon Lenze

ne of the first things I learned about Hamburg is that nowhere else in Germany will you find a higher density of millionaires than in this city. I was shocked that over 42.000 millionaires and at least 18 billionaires call Hamburg their home. Only a few streets separate them from a world that is far less glamorous and branded by struggles. The annual income in the poor districts of the city is less than 10% of the richest ones, where the average lies close to an incredible 170.000 Euros. There are at least 46.000 children living in poverty in Hamburg and the number of citizens applying for social services is constantly rising. For every sign of wealth, it seems there is also a sign of the problems people are fighting with. People living on the streets, begging for money, getting looked over or sent away from where they are trying to survive.

The Port of Hamburg shapes the city like an ominous gate to the sea made of cranes and containers. Whole parts of the city have been erased to make space for the enormous amounts of goods that are exchanged here every day. And like a mirrored reflection of the busy commerce at the port, other parts of the city have developed a flourishing counterculture. Squatted houses and autonomous centers shape an alternative scene that makes the political spectrum of Hamburg uniquely diverse. It is a paradoxical yet coherent city full of contrast.

rent ways But what makes the contrasts of living in Hamburg so extreme? How come there are so many millionaires but also so many inhabitants living in poverty? I tried finding answers to these questions by walking through the city on my own and with my eyes open. The best city in the world The first person I meet close to the main station is Justin. He is standing in front of a high street fashion store selling the Hinz & Kunzt magazine, a street newspaper that supports homeless people and those who are „in dire financial circumstances“ he tells me. He has been struggling to find a place to live for some time now. Sometimes he’s on the streets, sometimes he’s with friends. „But their apartments are too small for me to be in them for long“ he says. His friends have been telling him to move to East Germany, where it’s supposedly easier to find a home, but Justin doesn’t want to move out of Hamburg. „I wasn’t born here but my mum’s family has been in Hamburg for generations. I don’t want to go away. It might sound cheesy, but for me Hamburg really is the best city in the world. The people are friendly, so best don’t believe the cold North German stereotypes.“ He tells me that in Hamburg there is always something to do and that just last week one of his favourite bands played a surprise gig at a local festival. I ask him if I can take his picture and he tells me about how recently someone secretly photographed him and put the pictures online with insulting captions. But then he still agrees: „I need a new profiler for Tinder to be honest.“

Justin

Behind trees and fences My walk continues through Pöseldorf, a wealthy neighbourhood full of embassies, doctors’, lawyers’, and therapists’ offices. The list of former inhabitants of the streets right next to the outer Alster lake include the likes of Jil Sander, Wolfgang Joop and Karl Lagerfeld. In the 19th century the lavish properties used to stretch all the way to the edge of the lake, now they are interrupted by a street and guarded by large trees and fences. Many of the famous inhabitants moved to other places in fear of their safety and privacy. A guard asks me to not take any pictures of his employer’s mansion and there are several police cars patrolling along the street. I ask a policeman about the contrasts of Hamburg but he excuses himself since he is not from Hamburg and prefers not to answer any of my other questions. As I walk through the quiet streets and enjoy the view of the lake, I notice that many of the pompous old buildings are adjacent to construction sites of modern, minimalist residences. Even this established place that feels like it is from another time is not at all immune to the constant change of the city. Students of the close-by fashion and art schools are walking through the streets and parks, but there are no more obvious signs of the extreme wealth in this area, except maybe for a store of designer accessories for pets and some luxury restaurants and shops. On this day I unfortunately don’t get to interview one of the 42.000 millionaires of Hamburg and so I move on. The King of Pop The Sternschanze area seems as if someone flipped Pöseldorf on its head, even though they are connected by just two stops of the S-Bahn. Leaving the train station you can hear loud music playing, young and old people sitting outside cafés chatting away. The area is shaped by independent stores, graffiti, colourful outfits and a multitude of cultures living next to each other. This quarter has old buildings too, but years ago they were illegally taken over by the people of the neighbourhood who made them their own. Their behaviour was accepted at some point and now these buildings contribute to the overall alternative atmosphere of the place. While I’m on the lookout for the Rote Flora, a centre for autonomous leftists, (Continued on the following page)

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Schanzenviertel

Illustration of Claudio by Lina Lieshout (REGI)

I suddenly see a woman sitting on a dumpster, smiling at me and happily asking what I’m doing. She is holding a homemade fishing rod with a cup attached to it that has some coins and sweets in it. After I tell her that it’s my first time in Hamburg she gets excited and tells me all about how nice the Schanze is. „Hamburg is beautiful, everyone here is so creative! And you can just build something from scratch yourself“ she tells me. She reveals that her name is Cilia and that she’s a graphic designer, but that right now she is just fishing for some money on the streets. While we are talking, a 50-something-year old man with only a few teeth left in his smile appears next to me and compliments my shoes. Cilia introduces me to Claudio and tells me he is basically the king of this area and Michael Jackson’s younger brother. The King of Pop gives out high fives and hugs to passer-bys and seems to know everyone in his area. They start having the lunch that Claudio brought and offer me fruit which I exchange for a bit of cash. Cilia promises me that from now on nothing bad will ever happen to me in Hamburg and I believe her. I am so impressed by the encounter that I forget to take a picture, but I’m already walking into the next part of the city. Making sense of it It was an exhausting trip and I need some time to sort my thoughts. I went out with the idea that I could find the answer for why there are these extreme types of contrasts in Hamburg. But at the end of the day I am almost sure I do not need to know why. No one I talked to in Hamburg wanted to discuss the differences between the inhabitants. They would all rather spend their time explaining why it is their home and what connects them. The people I met were so strong and positive that I felt like I had gained a whole new perspective on how different our lives can be. I almost feel guilty for not being this open to new experiences in the past and promise myself to use this energy for the future. What I know for sure now is that Hamburg is open for everyone, no matter how different you might be.

The Tides of History Democracy, free market and freedom of speech are taken for granted these days. We are a generation which seems to have it all, but we rarely ask ourselves what it took to get here. Most of us go through life focusing on what is still to discover, but we often forget how much the past is a part of everything we do. The 91st International Session of the European Youth Parliament in Hamburg aims to bring European remembrance of historical events to the attention of its participants and support critical thinking by giving them a chance to understand the importance of history through the theme of the event. Moreover, the session marks important milestones for European citizens, such as the 30th anniversary of the fall of the “Iron Curtain” and the 15th anniversary of the Central and Eastern European enlargement of the EU. What is there to learn from such historical events? Is there a bigger picture forming in the crashing waves of time and why do we, young people, need to acknowledge the diversity of history? The fall of “the Iron Curtain” The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the collapse of the Soviet Union signalled the end of the post-second-World-War-era. The collapse of the three federal states in the 1990s — the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia — led to the creation of twenty-four new states in the region. The Council of Europe, the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation — began to expand rapidly, accepting former communist countries and their successor states as members. Consequently, NATO and the European Union also grew rapidly by successive enlargements to the East. After accepting the ambitious plan of the EU in December 1993 in Maastricht, the, back then, EU15 opted for a large and comprehensive eastern enlargement which was implemented less than 10 years (1 May 2004 for the first eight Central Eastern European countries, Bulgaria and Romania following in 2007).

Continued on the following page...

By Stefana Grosu

Some say that after 30 years of liberal democracies throughout Europe we are still faced with challenges that make us question whether history does us justice or not. From intolerance, populism, corruption, ignorance, and misconceptions regarding minorities to climate change, terrorism and the fragile state of data, Europe has never been so divided in its questionable unity. The fall of the Berlin Wall marked a new chapter for both East and West. For the Central and Eastern States, the end of the Warsaw Pact meant a return to Europe, but the finish line seemed still quite far away in 1989. At the same time, the West was already making the first steps towards the normalisation of European integration, but the Eastern-Western divide was still very present. Against all odds, most of us today can enjoy being a part of the European Union, the Schengen Area or NATO. What is also fascinating about the way history unravelled itself is how national borders have changed figuratively, not literally, enabling us to travel freely. If you were to find yourself in the East Germany of the 80s and speak about European integration, your words would seem like pure fiction or delusional. Needless to say, spreading these ideas at the time already constituted a crime and is a threat to your own safety. Without remembrance and reflection, the mistakes of the past are bound to keep repeating themselves. What is ignorance at best will be ominous indifference at worst. Show interest in the history that surrounds you and do not let yourself fall into a false sense of security. Now more than ever, we need to react.

Illustrated by Artur Matos ISHH_13

One-on-One with the Head Organisers Organising an International Session is usually a two-year commitment which requires a lot of work and has huge ramifications on the lives of those who decide to take on the challenge. During the time spent in Hamburg, you might have seen the culprits run around but never got the chance to talk to them. Who would know Kira Lange and Pascale Chehadeh than they themselves? Pascale: What is the first step in organising such a big event?

Kira: The very first step is to write a bid to host an International Session and submit it to the Governing Body of EYP. In order to write

such an application, you need to have a few things already set, for example when the session is meant to take place, some ideas about the venues and funding but at that point, you obviously still have room for adjustments. You don’t really need to have HOs yet, for example in our case, EYP DE opened a call for HOs at the same time because they wanted to host an International Session, we applied and got selected, so we started working along with the board to write the bid. What is HOing like during the session? Pascale: We have been here a bit longer and the first few days were mostly just preparing for other participants’ arrivals, setting up the organisers’ room. After that, we are trying to help where we can, we try to keep the big picture in mind, what needs to be done when and where. Of course, our organisers are allocated to different clusters and on top of tasks, but we try to see what the connection between different tasks could be. Also, we need to coordinate

By Alessio Pollastrini & Eva Çupi

things with the other stakeholders, referring to the other teams at the session or to the International Office, and see eventually how to change or adapt our job to the needs of the participants and of the event itself. For example, on Saturday we had prepared a single breakfast shift but we soon realised it was not working so that needed a fix quickly. What is working with the ISHH19 organising team like? Kira: it is very complicated to cooperate within such a big team, we have 27 organisers in our team. We are very diverse, both in terms of experience and personalities, and what we are trying is to put all the resources we have together to get the best experience out of this for all participants. How do you think the organisers would describe you? Pascale: This is a tough question, it is very difficult to know what image you give to other people. I would like to believe that our team thinks we care about them. We always ask how they are and if we can help out with something and we are quite present which I think it’s good for the organisers to see, as we are not just ruling over them, but actively part of the team. Also, I think we are quite organised. Especially Kira - she is super organised and I know I can always rely on her. I am the one who goes around asking how things are going; in this way, we can say we complement each other quite well. What has been the hardest part of the session you had to deal with so far? Kira: Finding venues for our activities was a real struggle because there are no school holidays, so it was very tough to find places which could host all of us but I am very glad that in the end, it worked out so well for the whole session now.

How do you measure the success of the session? Pascale: The success of this session can probably not be measured here but rather in the future, when people look back at the session and think about the connections they made, or friendships they established. For me, it is more about their personal growth at the session rather than them being active because if they want to be active citizens they can do so regardless of Hamburg or any other session. What do you think didn’t go well and you wish you could have changed? Kira: Well there are some things that we had to change during the session, often because we underestimated the size needed for all the participants at some point but other than that the session has been running pretty smoothly. What do you think makes ISHH19 unique? Pascale: Definitely the city of Hamburg and the theme afternoon we decided to organise here. It was something new for this kind of session, but we have only received good feedback until now and we are very glad because we have heard that this might also be implemented in future sessions. However, overall I strongly believe that it‘s the people who make ISHH19 unique. How did HOing impact your non-EYP life? Kira: The preparation for this session took two years. We had already worked on a session together before when we head organised together in 2015 but this time the event was much bigger. It obviously had a huge impact on our lives. Taking on such a big commitment sometimes implies leaving some things behind but I am glad I was given this opportunity.

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and

WITH ANDREA STAGNI MORISI

By Eike Plhak 16

A PERFECT COINCIDENCE COMES TO A WORTHY END He is one of the most interesting people of this session to By the early 2010s, chairing had changed drastically. Topic Overspeak to. Endowed with so much experience and knowl- views were now common and some more attention was put on academic knowledge. Furthermore, trainings for different aspects edge, he is able to provide an insight that only few can.

of EYP became more commonplace, a trend that is continuing to this day.

Writing an article about the president of an IS - Somewhat of a daunting task. What angle to take? Sure, it is interesting and impressive to hear stories but do they lend them- Presiding an IS, and then? selves for a proper image of Andrea’s personality? Sometimes you have to be forced to your own happiness “I was forced” is Andrea’s explanation for how he came to EYP. He spoke French, which was back then a requirement for participation at International Sessions. A passionate EYP teacher made Andrea join and in 2004, he and his school applied for their first session. Andrea was selected and in autumn 2005 went to the 50th IS in Bari, Italy. An experience that shaped his way in EYP.

How a new kind of chair was born Soon after his first experiences as a delegate, Andrea aspired go further and try his hand at the, to him logical, next role: chairing. It was different from today’s system though. He does not want to reveal how he himself chaired exactly, but he is letting on how chairs used to be less academic and that the main reason to chair was much less to pass on actual academic knowledge, but to allow for better, what can euphemistically described as “interpersonal exchange scheduled at the seam of the daily programme”. “A chairs-team like the one in ISHH19 would have not been possible in 2005” he emphasises, talking about the array of different personalities represented at this session. Introverts and extroverts, laid-back and active, late-workers and early risers: everyone has a place here. Faced with the question of how so many different people are able to get along quite well throughout the course of a session, even though it is a throng of adolescents

For Andrea, presiding an IS was never a clear, obvious goal, for the longest time, he was not sure whether he wanted to or would ever do it, even though in his close to 15 year journey within EYP, the opportunity has presented itself he admits. Taking on this role does come with quite a bit of responsibility as well and should not be taken lightly. Being the flagships they are, ISs entail a lot of under deck work that is not visible to the outside. Andrea, being the perfectionist he flaunts, made sure that he feels fully ready for the task. It was important to him from the outset that he is able to fully commit to the task for the duration of the project, from selection and pre-session training, to the event itself and the evaluation for its participants. Currently it is commonplace that after having presided an IS, said person is not to assume an active, participative role in future ISs. Andrea is looking at this circumstance also rather practical. He wants to continue to teach and help future teams learn from and with him. The IS in Milano, Italy, next year holds a special place in his heart still: “This IS is very special to me. The last italian IS was my IS as a delegate and I want to be part of the one in Milan too.” It can thusly be expected that the saying “the condemned live longer” stands, the same way Andrea stands behind the idea of EYP.

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An Official Q&A: Drop Official’s e When starting out in EYP plenty of things are a mystery. Even though being a delegate gives you some insight into the workings of the complex world that is EYP, it does not fill in all the blanks. We are naturally curious people, especially when we have not done something before or do not fully know how something works. During sessions, the officials‘ team works for the delegates who observe and wonder what goes on behind the scenes. Although both are attending the session, moments for true conversation can be scarce, leaving the delegates‘ questions to go unanswered. To avoid losing out on these moments, delegates had the opportunity to have their questions answered by a member of each officials‘ team. In this article Media Team Member Zain Mumtaz (SE) is interviewed by Arnoud Wijdeveled (NL); Organiser Valerija Mihailova (DE) questioned by Manuel Arbona (ES), and Chairperson Jonas Weider (DE) asked by Catarina Alves (PT).

Media Team: Arnoud Wijdeveld: What was the hardest part of preparing for this session? Zain Mumtaz: The hardest part for me would be actually coming up with a Media Team Project that fits within the theme of the session. It’s always a bit harder to come up with an idea alone, so by brainstorming together with the other Media Team Members we were able to have some great ideas. It is as they say: Two brains are better than one!

A.W: Was photography already a hobby for you or did you start it through EYP? Z.M: Photography was already my hobby, especially since I’m a big Instagram fan and want to share my work. However, I would definitely say I learned more about techniques of taking good photos from the EYPers that I met at different sessions. So I went from choosing random Instagram filters to now being able to edit my own pictures in Lightroom and mix in filters I have made myself.

A.W: What is your favourite style of photography? Z.M: People, fashion and action. I love to take photos where there is a bit more movement in the picture than just someone standing. It livens picture, fills it with emotions, and makes it more exciting.

A.W: What‘s the most important thing you’ve learned as an official during EYP sessions? Z.M: I think it’s just amazing to see how all EYPers from all over come together in one place with similar interests and enrich each other. These encounters make me want to visit their country, many of which I would otherwise not have thought about.

pping the curtain to the experience. Organising Team: Manuel Arbona: How can you make a session different, original and attractive? Valerija Mihailova: I think every session is different, original and maybe even special since there are usually different people and a new environment at every session. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also nice to engage with people you already know, meet new people, and get to know foreign cultures.

M.A: Which is the most challenging aspect about organising a session and how can you solve it? V.M: The most challenging aspect of being an organiser is probably that you have to make sure that everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s wishes are taken care of. There are so many different groups of participants who all want different things from us it makes it hard to continuously satisfy everyone. This is also why we are such a big organising team - everyone can focus on something different and guarantee that needs are being met.

M.A: What do you enjoy the most about being an organiser? V.M: What I enjoy most about being an organiser is that we make a session out of nothing. Not just the organisers, but also the other teams as well. It really would not be possible without all of us. I think we are all organising the session and it is nice to see how it comes together. In the end, you helped in making this possible and it is nice to see what a group of young people who are still in school or university can do when given the resources.

M.A: What three adjectives describe the perfect organiser? V.M: I do not think there is such a thing as the perfect organiser we are a team for a reason, so everyone can stay attentive and keep an eye on everything, from different perspectives. That is also why we have different departments, for example, evening and cultural programme will focus mainly on this aspect of the session, so they do not have to worry about other issues too much. As for the adjectives, I would say organisers are, or have to be, dedicated to, interested in and passionate about what they are doing.

Continued on the following page... ISHH_19

Chairs Team: Catarina Alves: What is the best way to solve issues regarding communication and well-being between delegates? Jonas Weider: I think both, issues in terms of communication as well as well-being, are best solved through openly talking about them. However, the way to approach them is different. When it comes to communication, I believe it is necessary to mediate between both parties and try to figure out what exactly is inhibiting communication. Concerning well-being, it is important to talk to each person individually and make sure not to push anybody into a situation they feel uncomfortable in. C.A: What advice would you give to a future chair? J.W: My number one tip to any future chair is to simply turn the future into the present. When you get to a session, you have a full day of training on how to chair in EYP, specifically catered to your experience level. Thus I think instead of questioning if you are ready, just apply to a session and you will be provided with all the knowledge you need! In terms of applying, I recommend to ask your previous chairs or other experienced EYPers to have a look at your first application, it can really help out.

By Carolina Sandeman

RE MEM BER Illustrated by Katarina StefanoviÄ&#x2021; ISHH_21

Back in the Days... How do we document history and systemic changes in EYP? As there are no history books about us yet, why not start by collecting the stories and the experiences of those who held the same roles as us in the past? More than 30 years of development can not be summarised in a single article, we therefore selected a few personal anecdotes from Sophie, Anya, Jeroen, Louis and Sabrina which help trace the direction our organisation has taken.

Back in the days..., … French was still an official language of EYP, which meant that participants could make points during GA in both English and French.This lead to Delegates having to respond to an Attack Speech or a Round of Debate held in a language that they did not speak. Furthermore, IS resolutions had to be translated in a complex process that involved a mysterious platoon of volunteer French-speaking translators. Even though French is not used anymore in the past few years the spirit of multicultural exchange and multilingualism is still very much alive. … Delegates arrived at sessions having received nothing more than an introductory email from their Chairperson. It was only later that position papers, and the now standard Topic Overviews, were introduced. At the same time, officials now receive extensive pre-session training online and in real life which improves the overall level of preparation.

… The composition of the officials’ team was different. Several committees were co-chaired by Presidents and Vice-Presidents together with a member of the Chairsteam. Delegates perceived this as there being a “ghost Chair” for their committee, as they were responsible for more than one committee. Today, session boards hold the role of support and coordination of the Chairsteam and float between committees. On a different note, Editors were not considered members of the session leadership. They were part of the Chairsteam but instead of chairing a committee composed of Delegates, they chaired the Media Team. Nowadays, Editors share the responsibility of leading the Officials’ team and shaping the sessions’ vision. ... ISs were less accessible to most of the active members across the network. A recommendation was required to apply to an IS and these could only be given by someone who themselves participated in an IS as an official in the past. Your skills were not as important as your network. Moreover, it was mandatory for future Chairpersons to have been a Media Team Member (MTM) at a previous IS. Participation fees for IS-Delegates were much higher in the past and there

Insights provided by: Sophie Hall (CH), started in 2011, last session in 2016, Chair of the Governing Body in 2015-16 Dan Griņevičs (LV), started in 2011, Vice-President IS Vilnius 2018 Sabrina Ariana Mellerowic (DE), started in 2012, Editor IS Hamburg 2019 Anya Suprunenko (UA), started in 2007, last session in 2012, Member of the Governing Body 2015-16, employee at the International Office of EYP Jeroen Decuyper and Louis Olbrechts (BE), started in 2011, high-school teachers 22

were no increments based on national GDP. The efforts undertaken to make EYP more inclusive and more diverse have made it possible for those less privileged and those from remote areas to partake as well. â&#x20AC;Ś Media Teams once had a purely entertainment focused role. It was not uncommon to only realised who the MTMs were when they would start enthusiastic dances in the middle of the session. A paradigm shift lead to Media Teams refocusing on academics. From then on, they were mainly occupied producing well-researched articles and informative papers. Today, MTMs aspire to achieve a balance between fun and academics. Media Teams add value to the standard session procedure by facilitating the engagement of Delegates with the complex academic session topics. In terms of external relations and communications, social media did not yet exist when our organisation was created and media materials were therefore shared through session websites. Facebook already was a revolution. With new technologies, Media Teams could also start creating session videos that sought to summarise the highlights of the event and get participantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tears flowing at the end of the ses-

sion. Media Teams are in general more skilled in terms of editing and graphic design and attentive to aesthetics. Despite the many changes, it is interesting to realise that the core of what we do remains the same for the last 30 years. This methodology used to spark impassionated discussions and exchange different perspectives has been built around the three main session elements - Team Building, Committee Work and General Assembly - since the beginning.

By Catarina Bustorff

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By Donagh Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Callaghan & Vasiliki Theodosiou ISHH_25

By Donagh Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Callaghan & Vasiliki Theodosiou

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RE CT FLE

Illustrated by Katarina StefanoviÄ&#x2021; ISHH_31

The Personal Development Memoires “The person I was when I started with EYP is a completely different one compared to who I am now“ - Dennis, Member of the EYP Governing Body. Personal development is one of the buzzwords that often gets thrown around in everyday conversations without much reflection of what the term really means to us as individuals. Asking ourselves how our lives would have taken a completely different turn had it not been for our first session with EYP. Even realising how much this organisation has ingrained itself into our everyday lifestyles - would we be traveling to new countries, cities and regions if it was not for an EYP session? Here in Hamburg, we are all in a state of continual personal development, no matter whether we are a Delegate, an Organiser, a Chairperson, or part of the Media Team. For many of us, EYP has been a platform where we constantly challenge ourselves to raise the bar, striving for ever new goals, raising the bar as we move along. Equally, it has been a platform actively encouraging the sharing of acquired knowledge to facilitate others’ personal development too. It is this collective mindset that makes this organisation unique for many of us.

Janne, a 26 year old from Belgium is now a freelance media consultant for the International Office of EYP after starting EYP in 2009. She participated in sessions mainly as a Media Team Member, an experience through which she developed a passion for photography. EYP initially allowed her to learn media skills from her fellow team members but she became more confident over time and began leading her own workshops.

Just like Janne, our very own Editor, Sabrina, was inspired to buy her first DSLR camera after witnessing the work of the Media Team in action at her first National Selection Conference as a Delegate. Sabrina consequently taught herself photography, videography and graphic design whilst also augmenting her experience as a Chairperson. These skills enable her to calmly steer a media ship as an Editor who facilitates the personal growth of her Media Team Members, pushing them to challenge themselves and witnessing how their initial “hopes come true and their fears go away” throughout the course of an EYP session. 32

Dennis from the International Office and Emily from INTA both spoke to us about how EYP enabled them to overcome their initial fear of public speaking, as well as being more open-minded when interacting with people from different backgrounds. Similarly, several of the teachers told us that one of the biggest things that they see in their students that attended sessions is the way long-lasting friendships are formed at and maintained after sessions, with people from across Europe the students would otherwise never have met.

Reihane the Organiser describes the way in which she was able to improve her time management skills given her exposure to working within the large organising team of ISHH19. She has perfected the ability to juggle multiple tasks at the same time and been left surprised by the way in which all the pieces of the organisational puzzle are able to come together once the ship that is ISHH19 sets sail with the participantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; arrival and everything goes into full swing.

Ultimately, a common theme all our interviewees touched upon was EYPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impact on their cultural awareness. Many mentioned how the sessions they participated in abroad helped them develop their perception of intercultural dialogue and awareness of current political or societal affairs locally, nationally, and globally. After all, EYP facilitates the coming together of young minds from all over Europe and our strength lies in our diversity. Whilst this may be easy to overlook as we go back to our everyday lives and the sessionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s memories slowly begin to fade away, it is paramount to hold on to this thought as you remember, reflect, and react on your individual experience of ISHH19.

By Ioana Diac & Zain Mumtaz

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Mistakes: We a Mistakes can be an incredibly useful tool for learning if one invests the time and energy to analyse what happened. While you may not enjoy the mistake itself, the experience overall does not need to be a purely negative one. In fact, taking the time to reflect upon mistakes and thinking about what you could do differently gives you a quality-focused process you can tap into when you end up in a difficult situation. Fixing the mistake is important but knowing how to react in the future is even more so...

I used to be very stubborn, I thought I knew everything and hardly listened to anyone. It was my way, and now reflecting on it was not even a real way. Now I realise how people were pushing me out when we would be tasked with working together due to that. Today I am more open-minded and have put my ego aside. Life is more than just impressing others.

Gossiping is fun, I have always loved it and most of the time it is just plain fun talking about others. However much fun it might be, fun also has its limit. Now, reflecting on it, I know I hurt some people by spreading fake gossip on them. Sometimes we do not realise how toxic your fun can be to people around you.

I used to have a hard time coming to terms with anything that I could have done wrong or even taking critical feedback. I would always have some backup excuse to blame someone else for my mistakes. I have been working on this by first acknowledging a mistake was made and trying to own up to my actions. I am now more open to criticism which has allowed me to work on developing myself.

all make them Ad-lib, there have plenty of times when I was not prepared properly, which usually made it everything harder. Once I came unprepared to an EYP session and I had no idea what my committee was talking about, I felt ashamed for not being able to contribute.

One thing that I usually forget is not reserving enough time for myself. I have always had the fear of being alone. I kept myself busy around people. It is a very simple mistake that can easily go unnoticed. At some time, I noticed there was a lack of “me time” and being alone is not bad, it is important to give yourself some peace and quiet time.

Self-esteem, I used to care a lot about what others thought and said about me. I put their needs first to make them happy instead of thinking about my well-being. It took quite some time to comprehend, but today I always think about what I want then what others think about me. This enabled me to feel well with who I am, more importantly, I can truly be myself.

Mistakes can come in all shapes and sizes, have impacts that can be seismic or more minimal and offer us roadmaps and checkpoints for your path to improvement. Don’t be afraid to embrace them. “We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience.” — John Dewey By Zain Mumtaz & Donagh O’Callaghan ISHH_35

Home Hamburg. A Portuguese, a Turk and a German walk down a street in Hamburg. While this might sound like the start of a joke full of prejudice and stereotypes, it is instead a scene that shaped the Hamburgâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;19 International Session experience.

A project by Emir Lise, Artur Matos & Eike Plhak 36

Hamburg is a city home to more than one and a half million people - a group of people far from homogeneity, both ethnically and culturally. Over 650.000 people living in Hamburg have a foreign family-background helping create a diverse, yet peaceful community at the same time. Scene: Steindamm, a lively street close to the main train station in central Hamburg. The smell of Kebab, the sound of an Indian market crier advertising his fresh fruits to an Arab family and the chatter of hundreds of people going by their daily business engulfs the streets. These are the first of many audible, olfactory and visual stimuli one is confronted with upon entering. As we walked the streets, amazed by the scenery, the multicultural flair raised an important question: “What made Hamburg so successful in being diverse?” To find an answer to our question, defining what it felt like walking down the street in this type of environment proved not easy. Interestingly, we realised the actual definition of diversity came up short on reflecting on our experience. In the Cambridge Dictionary, diversity is referred to as “the condition or fact of being different or varied.” Yet, this explanation failed to encompass our understanding of diversity and what being in Hamburg felt like. Queensborough Community College made a more accurate explanation: The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment.

Prevention and Deradicalisation Advice Network gathers civil and governmental institutions to counter religiously-motivated extremism and anti-Muslim feeling, as well as develop and implement preventive measures on discrimination.

It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.

Continued on the following page... ISHH_37

The community is diverse, not because it was home for people from many different backgrounds, but because of how they are enjoying each others’ presence and cherish society by living interconnected socially and occupational lives. Yet, we were hesitant about how we should approach an individual in this multicultural community. Should we talk to them in German as we are in Hamburg? Should we pose questions in Turkish right away when we the sign of the shop is in Turkish? Or should we try to talk English so every single one of us understands as well? Overcoming our doubts and hesitations, we talked to four different people. Their stories did not exactly answer the question on our mind, however, they led us to a far bigger realisation: Hamburg as a city helped migrants cope with their financial problems, which is a frequent motivation to migrate, through family subsidies, allowances, government aids, job openings and protecting employee rights.

However, the integration process cannot be completed by only establishing financial stability. The fundamental reason for Hamburg’s unity in diversity was not that the city offered opportunities and help for people from less fortunate backgrounds. Hamburg, as a city, a society, and a shelter, took immigrants for what they are: human beings. Measures, such as the Prevention and Deradicalisation Advice Network project in Hamburg help ensure an unbiased community for migrants to live. Hamburg understood that new arrivals are just like any of the other people living there for longer - a person trying to find answers to the question of life, solutions to their problems and a place to call home. As it is seemingly that simple, one has to wonder whether other cities are unwilling or unable to use Hamburg’s fairway? Is it that hard to first and foremost accept that we are all human before judging each other’s stories and looks?

Diversity starts with a common ground: Being human

Reading beyond the headlines By

H sili

ki T

ow many times have you lied today? Pretended you had work to do when in reality you simply wanted to avoid a conversation? Faked a dead phone battery when you simply did not want to answer to the messages. Lying and avoidance are an inseparable part of human behaviour and therefore it is only natural that they are incorporated into media.

osi

One prime example is Social Media and the way that people twist reality for their online friends and maybe even to themselves by having a marvellous online presence that does not reflect reality. The deception does not stop there. All media let individuals reflect on the information provided but do no invite critical questioning. Self-said, the media we consume have an impact on daily life as well as on the way individuals participate in society. Lamed for deceiving and wrongly shaping the public opinion is a rising trend in recent. Looking at the United States two years ago during the presidential elections, media proved to be a deciding factor. Statistics show that at least 15 percent of Americans named media as their “most important’’ source of election news (Lee, 2019). Moreover, reports argue that the volatility of the US stock market is heavily, and often negatively, influenced by the twitter behaviour of its current head of state (Franck, 2019). It is quite obvious that the media with which people interact can strongly influence their behaviour not only in elections but their mindset overall. Simply reading this article, you, as the reader are confronted with information that will influence you while at the same time being possibly inaccurate. Therefore, the next time you encounter a fancy headline tries to stay sharp and put on your critical thinking cap in order to analyse the information provided. When someone tries to convince you of something, it might be helpful to think about what might be motivating that person. Not everyone out there has bad intentions, but a healthy amount of scepticism is better than blind trust. Franck,T. 2019. On days when President Trump tweets a lot, the stock market falls, investment bank finds. Lee,I. 2019. Social media’s contribution to political misperceptions in U.S. Presidential elections.

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The morning sun rays are hitting our faces while we walk onto the Landungsbrücken. An old man is gently playing his accordion, his sea-and-sun-tanned skin and his long beard making him the perfect addition to the scenery that could not be any more “Norddeutsch”. The sun only just came up and most of the city as well as the session participants of ISHH19 are still in their warm beds, comfortably resting. The day started with a message at 6:14 in the morning: “Are you awake?” After another too-short night, we set sail to journey to the Fischmarkt.

“Everything changes, but the fish stays the same”

By Eva Çupi & Eike Plhak

Is there a reason to wake up early on a Sunday morning when you do not have to? There is a very good one if you are in Hamburg and it has been so for the last 300 years. While we believed it was early when we first woke up at 6:30, we changed our minds when we learned that during summer days the trade starts at 5 am, which is almost 2 hours before the sun rises in this northern German city.

6:40

At the Altona Harbour. We missed the ‘blue hour’ view of the port, but we got to witness several amazing shades of red and yellow. A mandatory photo session of the sky, the boats and the birds was in order.

6:55 Even though it is called a ‘fish market’, you can find almost everything

here. While we walk past the shops, the scent of freshly baked ‘Franzbrötchen’, a local speciality made out of yeast dough with cinnamon creeps into our noses. In other spots, it is the salty oceanic smell of fish.

7:05 The market is not as empty as you would expect considering the early hour. Visitors, but also the locals are quickly filling the hallways of the market and the vendors have already set up their trucks and started loudly proclaiming their trade offers. The job of pitchman has gotten some media attention over the years, with TV programmes taking interest in what and how they work. We take this opportunity and interview some of the fish salesmen, despite them being very busy and in a rush.

7:15 Aale Dieter started working in the market 61 years ago and his trad-

ing game is still strong. He comes to the market every Sunday and prepares everything, but he is also working as a music entertainer for the rest of the week, going to different places and therefore always on the move. When we asked him what makes him unique and special, he was very humble about it and told us that it was not up to him to say that, rather to his clients. We also inquired whether his job changed through the years and what is different now. He makes a joke about the market growing bigger and people are enjoying spending their time at the fish market. It seems though as if Aale is not too enthusiastic about how many people are visiting the market now, but not going there to buy things.

HISTORY & FACTS Since already 1703 every Sunday the Altonaer Fischmarkt provides the locals with fresh fish. The market was part of the conflict between the cities of Hamburg and Altona which used to be two separate cities fighting over the dominance at the Elbe water mouth. By putting the market right in front of the Hamburg city gates, the city of Altona planned to divert some of Hamburg’s trade activities away from its rival. Through its century-long history, the market continued to grow and also other products such as fruits started to be sold. Today you can still get fish, but also clothes and Hamburg-themed souvenirs. It is especially famous for its market criers. This tourist attraction has about a million visitors every year with a peak of 70.000 on some summer mornings.

7:35

On the way back we notice the ‘Fisch Jahnke’ truck, which we had seen before on Youtube and in documentaries. The owner has been working there for 30 years and has managed to profit properly from the job. However, he mentions that it is getting harder and harder to have people buy the products. That is why he additionally works as a mason. When we ask him to say something about what it takes to do this job, he says that it is nothing special, but being friendly and sociable while not afraid to talk to people is key. We take a portrait picture of him, thank him and leave.

7:45

As we are getting close to the end of the market hallway, we see drunk people on the streets, still dancing to the music playing in their heads and saying ‘Prost’. These ones did not wake up early, instead, they come to the fish market directly from the nearby ‘Reeperbahn’, where parties take place almost every night.

8:00 We are now heading back to the hostel realising that getting up took a toll on us. We get into a bus with locals commuting to work and are happy about the prospect of another few minutes of sleep before we join our committees for the day. Close to the hostel, we encounter path with the first committees going to the Team Building venue. Sometimes it takes a lot to get up early, but in this case, we feel that our efforts were repaid sevenfold.

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Learning Styles Have you ever wondered why that picture you saw in first grade is still stuck in your mind? Try and ask your friend if he or she still remembers that particular one. This is due to the fact that your minds prefer different learning styles. The most common learning styles are visual, aural, verbal and kinesthetic ones, respectively based on the use of pictures, music, and sounds, words and the sense of touch. There is a combination that works best for every single one of us, however, most of us tend to have a dominant style. Studies show that each style uses different parts of the brain to represent experiences and the more we get them to interact, the more things we get to memorise. At EYP sessions we do our best to combine all of them, for example through the creation of interactive academic pieces that help participants visualise a specific topic in a variety of ways, including written topic overviews, infographic videos, podcasts, EYP is perceived by its members as the perfect environment to get to know yourself, your limits, and how to excel even more. Getting to know how your mind works is something that participants will keep forever and will concretely help them in everyday life. What is your learning style? How do you deal with it? What tricks do you use to memorise certain information? “I would probably say I have a practical memory, so what helps most with memorising something, is to write it down. By creating mind maps and diagrams on my own I can develop a sort of muscle memory, which helps me reproduce the same things afterwards in other contexts.” (Malvina Constantinou, REGI) “I like pretending I am a teacher and that I am teaching myself a new concept. This helps me fix difficult concepts in my mind.” (Ana and Ioannis, ECON) “I know for sure I have a visual memory. When it comes to memorising a speech, what I do is, read it out loud in front of the mirror and look at myself, the intonation, the body language, the facial expressions. That enables me to just think back at this while I am actually delivering it from the podium.” (Asia, Organising team)

By Alessio Pollastrini

Theme Afternoon

By Catarina Bustorff & Carolina Sandeman At the panel discussion, participants were given the opportunity to interact with experts. The topics in focus were “To what extent do history and remembrance influence our social and political actions? Can we, and do we learn from history?” and “How can and should insights gained from history influence today’s politics and society?”. They were were left with the importance of learning how to cultivate the different sides of stories, as there is always more than one side to history.

Mr. Keup Jedo shared his experience of moving with his family to East-Berlin during communist times and the experience that it entailed. He tried to escape with a oneway ticket to Hungary, an approach ending in his arrest and torture. He emphasised the need for young people to appreciate the democratic free system more.

Mr. Eisenlorhk shared his stories from when he was active in an oppositional movement in the GDR at the young age of 14 and how he almost was arrested by the secret police in the process. He explained his family background and his motifs as well as sharing original pictures with the Delegates.

The poster exhibitions had two different topics. The first one was about the power of emotions and the second related to the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall and German unification.

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Energising Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Energy Is the EU able to find an energy framework which is stable and applicable in all Member States and do we have enough time to react to current challenges? What kind of future do we see for Europe? Do we have national energy strategies which can lead to conflicts or is there an EU wide energy strategy with consensus at its core? These are just some of the questions which were primed for debate with Friedrich Schulte, the expert for the ITRE Committee.

for this topic, by talking about how renewable energy was implemented until now. Mr Schulte then invited them to find answers to these complex questions.

Mr Schulte is the head of innogy SE Corporate Technology. innogy SE is one of Germany’s leading energy companies, with a revenue of around €43 billion (2017), more than 42,000 employees and activities in 15 countries across Europe. EYP’s partner organisation innogy Foundation for Energy and Society (innogy Stiftung für Energie und Gesellschaft) helped us to engage an expert from the innogy SE. EYP and innogy foundation cooperate in the frame of the “Power Shifts’s – Reflecting Europe’s Energy project” educating young people about energy through the events across Europe. “I call it a new world that we are facing today, we have a very competitive environment. We have a change in the market, a change in the structure. The questions we are facing now are: What do we have to prepare or what is important to know when it comes to the transition to new technologies?” Dealing with a topic that focuses on technological innovations in the energy sector, the delegates were able to gain insights from someone who is regularly involved in science education and has worked in the energy sector for over 20 years. The discussion with Mr Schulte provided delegates with the chance to reflect upon the complexity of their topic and broaden their understanding of how to facilitate the transition to a more sustainable Europe for the future. Moreover, they took a more in-depth approach into what it means to adapt the energy market to all kinds of customers and how to create new technologies while supporting the already existing ones. The expert expressed his personal and honest opinion regarding the current issues and engaged in an open dialogue with the committee, giving everyone a chance to bring their personal input to the conversation. The delegates were engaged in debating about how this transition towards the energy market of the future is occurring in their homelands, the feasibility of controversial solutions, and even possible scenarios for a future Europe. What also caught their attention was the timeline the expert provided

Amidst the wealth of questions and stakeholders, it should come as no surprise that a one-size-fits-all solution is far from realistic. Reflecting on the fragmented energy market and Member States’ different stance on energy-related issues, it was Mr Schulte who pointed out that not only companies and countries are part of the equation, but the individual is also one of the denominators.

“To facilitate equality among all the different types of options consumers have, we need a targeted market because in many cases we implement the wrong system for the wrong people.” It is only fair to acknowledge how impactful a Q&A-session with an expert, still working in the field, was for the delegates. Not only is he an important figure in the energy sector of Europe, but acquiring input from a person who deals with these issues on a daily basis is crucial to the participants understanding of the topic. Sharing his experience and outlook on the current reality is was a unique opportunity for everyone involved. Chances such as this one empower young people through the exchange of knowledge, allowing them to take matters in their own hands and shape a future where solutions are built through communication.

By Stefana Grosu ISHH_45

PROTECTING CIVIL LIBERTIES THROUGH DEMOCRACY BY EMIR LISE

“Suppose the election was declared free and fair and those elected are racists, fascist, separatists who are publicly opposed to peace and reintegration. That is the dilemma” - the American diplomat Richard Holbrooke said

, addressing a critical problem about democracy and the fundamental rights of humans at 96’ elections in Bosnia: This dilemma was not only applicable to former Yugoslavia, but is evident in today’s world. Illiberal democracy is a new phenomenon in international politics with populist regimes undermining the citizen‘s fundamental rights and freedoms and crossing their constitutional limits. Examples range from Peru with Alan García Pérez to Slovakia with Robert Kaliňak, from Turkey with Tayyip Erdoğan to Hungary with Viktor Orbán. Yet, it is bewildering how societies vote for such regimes detrimental to the voter themselves. Putting the history of liberal democracy under the microscope aids in comprehending how democracy led to civil illiberalty in some cases. The term liberal democracy appeared in Europe in the 18th century during the Age of Enlightenment. Most European regimes were monarchies at the time, empowering both monarchs and aristocrats, since it was believed that democracy was against human nature. Traditional monarchies opposed the idea of “equally created humans” greatly, seeing these liberal tendencies as an extreme viewpoint and a rather dangerous threat to stability. Ancient England had fostered the basis of such ideas early on with the Magna Carta. A crucial 46

step towards the shaping events of the Age of Enlightenment with the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. Reflecting on the growth of liberal democracy, the process is neither liberal nor democratic, violence accompanying it along the way, yet civil liberties are now enshrined in constitutions all across the globe. In all their liberties, many modern democracies have continued some of the irony present since their onset, posing restrictions on what is acceptable, disallowing expressions considered anti-democratic, begging the question how free speech truly is. There is a dilemma about protecting civil liberties through democracy but it is not necessarily about the regimes in place, but about the fundamentals of democracy. Thus, the solution does not lie with the type of democracy, but it lies with the stakeholders of democracy: The voters and the society. Raising political awareness and active participation is one of the key solutions. There will always be either a party or a regime seeking to exploit democracy, however, it is society’s responsibility to safeguard its liberties, which requires to be active and aware of the political agenda on both national and international level.

RE ACT

Illustrated by Katarina StefanoviÄ&#x2021; ISHH_47

Staying involved in EYP EYP might seem quite complex and intimidating at first. The jargon is quite baffling; there are so many different types of sessions and official roles. For the brave, there are also National Committees (NCs), International Office (IO), and Governing Body (GB). To not have curiosity kill the cat, and to help you contemplate your future in this organisation, ISHH19 assembled two veterans that have significantly impacted their respective National Committees.

There is a lot to gain from staying involved in EYP. If things are still confusing to you, and you are not sure what official role to try next, consider taking the quiz linked to the QR-code.

What has your EYP journey been like? Klara Birchley: My first encounter with EYP was a one-day session in Poland, after which I stayed a delegate for a long time. I knew I wanted to stay involved with EYP, so I started trying out different roles, and at some point, I applied to be a regional coordinator within my NC. This experience made me want to continue with NC work, and after a couple of years of work on the board, I became the President of EYP Poland. Ilija Jerković: I started EYP in 2014, at a Regional Session in Belgrade, and I have mostly chaired and organised since. After gaining some experience as an official, I decided I wanted to get involved with my NC. I was the president of EYP Serbia in the 2016/2017 term, and then the president of the Advisory board the following year. As of recently, I have really been involved with international governance, and how the organisation is managed through the Board of National Committees.

and project managing within EYP Serbia. It is both rewarding and nerve-racking being legally and mentally responsible for the work of your NC.

What does EYP still have in store for you? Do you already have concrete plans? Klara Birchley: My future involvement with EYP is very clear. Although I won’t be as active as I was before, I am currently head-organising the 93rd International Session of EYP in Warsaw next summer. All my efforts within EYP will be focused on making it come to fruition. Ilija Jerković: For the next twelve months, I will be volunteering at the IO in Berlin. I will mainly be working with the people organising International Sessions. Do you have any advice for the delegates at ISHH19? Klara Birchley: Don’t be afraid to try different roles. EYP has a lot to

What do you consider your biggest achievement in offer and it would be a waste not to give them a try. You can learn a lot if you dare to leave your comfort zone, whether it be at sessions EYP thus far? Klara Birchley: In terms of the NC work, I would have to say being the president of my NC. It was a very demanding role, but it was also very rewarding being the head of a non-governmental organisation at a young age. Regarding sessions, it was editing the 87th International Session in Vilnius in 2018. As somebody who did more media in EYP before becoming interested in chairing, this experience was definitely the cherry on the cake. It was a full circle being in charge of a media team of that size for that amount of time. Ilija Jerković: Well, it was probably pulling through my term as the NC president. I am also proud of my work in the field of finances

or the vast variety of trainings we offer.

Ilija Jerković: Just make sure you take care of yourself and the people around you in the process of attending sessions. If it makes you feel good, try and contribute to the development of your NCs, as the experience will definitely enrich you both personally and professionally.

By Dušan Janković ISHH_49

The Climate Generation The pulsing rhythm reverberated through our bodies as we cheerfully march to the beat of the drum band. Students, working professionals, retired people, parents, and children turned up in the streets of Hamburg to demand an urgent change to governmentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; climate policy. The pulsing rhythm reverberated through our bodies as we cheerfully march to the beat of the drum band. Students, working professionals, retired people, parents, and children turned up in the streets of Hamburg to demand an urgent change to governmentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; climate policy.

On Friday September 20th 2019, the Fridays For Future student movement called on people to take part in a series of international strikes and protests that called upon governments around the world to demand urgent action against climate change. The strike happened three days before the United Nations Climate Summit whose target was to advance climate action for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

A range of political ideologies are represented at the strike, an incredibly empowering scenery fueled by cross-party support for a common goal. Being such a critical cause which not only affects the whole of humanity but all life on our planet, the atmosphere of the protest strikes a perfect balance between the seriousness of our political requests and the joy we take from collective solidarity. More than 100,000 people filled the Hamburgian streets demanding that governments and private sector leaders take urgent action to address the climate crisis. Their chants echo the words of the world’s leading climate scientists that our buffer time to limit the negative impact of human activity on the environment is running out. Since pre-industrial times, the global average temperature has been rising at an ever-increasing rate. Any increase above the 1.5°C mark risks significantly worsening the living conditions of hundreds of millions of people, with more frequent droughts, floods and extreme heat. A radical reduction of our greenhouse gas emissions is no longer a choice, but a necessity. Hamburg was not the only city to be submerged by a tsunami of impassioned young people. From all across Germany to South Africa, Japan to Mexico, over four million people took part in local strikes in what is said to be the largest global climate protest yet. Leonardo DiCaprio and other well-respected world figures urged fans and supporters to take action against the lack of a global response to climate change. Many might wonder “Why was Friday’s march so important? Why did young people from across the world gather to demand climate action?” Other than the comeback of the Fridays for Future movement after high school students’ summer break, this massive demonstration opened a week of Global Climate Strike in light of the United Nations Climate Summit.

The extraordinary Summit called by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres brings together governments, private sector stakeholders, civil society, local authorities and other international organisations. They are asked to come to New York with concrete and realistic plans to increase their national targets and contributions to achieve the COP21 Paris Agreement.

A key figure in the global youth movement is the 16-year-old Swedish schoolgirl turned full-time environmental activist, Greta Thunberg. Barely over a year ago she decided to act on her concerns about climate change. She started out as a lone figure in front of the Swedish parliament, holding a plain cardboard sign spelling the now globally recognised call to action of ‘Skolstrejk för Klimatet’ (i.e. School Strike for Climate). She has since travelled across the world, speaking at a variety of flagship events such as the 2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference, reaching all audiences from political leaders to school students. Ever environmentally conscious, Thunberg tries her best to keep the carbon emissions of her journeys to a minimum; yet her 15day sailing trip to New York for the United Nations Summit caused some controversy. Despite being aboard a state of the art, carbon-free racing yacht, she was criticised by some for the emissions associated with flights others had to take to bring the yacht back to Europe. Remember, we too have a stake in this. Reflect on the new insights you have gained, on topics, you may have never otherwise encountered. React, after all, we are the climate generation.

The Fridays for Future movement is an international organisation of school students who take time off from classes to demand action to prevent further global warming and climate change. It is currently estimated that around four million young people are active in this movement.

The Paris Agreement is signed by more than 170 countries who committed themselves to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and limiting the global temperature increase to below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the year 2100.

By Ioana Diac & Catarina Bustorff ISHH_51

Planet B? - There is no such thing Put really plain and simple, this is the issue we, all of us, are facing right now. We have an immense impact on the environment. Ever since humans started walking on this planet, we shaped it, made it our own, not satisfied with simply accepting the established conditions. We domesticated animals, created new crops and transformed countless ecosystems. These changes helped us increase our standard of living and make our modern lifestyle possible. The current expansion of western living standards to other areas around the globe exceed what the planet is able to handle: We are making parts of our planet almost uninhabitable. We are, whether we want to accept it or not, responsible for the climate crisis. Everyone will feel the ramifications. For some parts of the world this will not be as detrimental as for others. In Europe, predictions see more weather extremes, water

Getting there Already before the start of a session we usually increase our ecological footprint by one size. Have you ever considered taking your time and refraining from cramming yourself into an airplane? Extra advantage of desisting include a road trip by train or bus and visiting your (EYP) friends on your way to your final destination? In doing so, you can save up to 20 times the amount of CO2 emissions. Take your time and stop making it about the fastest way to get to your destination, instead make the trip the goal. If this is not a possibility for you, consider the possibility to compensate for the CO2 emissions.

Team Building & Committee Work In Team Building we should be looking to continue our efforts. Do we need a new flipchart now? Is reusing the paper feasible? Should we separate waste and take a few minutes to walk to the recycling bin? Also the longest and most arduous journeys are undertaken one small step at a time. As for Committee Work, the same rules apply.

scarcity in certain areas, and sea-level rise on the horizon in our lifetime still. You should never forget that you are not alone on this planet and about 7.53 billion other earthlings also want to live peacefully and prosperous. A number that does not yet include the billions of animals sharing this planet with us. Modern lifestyles around the world rely on living off the earthsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; reserves that were built up over millions of years. A well-known circumstance, but not one that makes people reflect on their behaviour enough to trigger change. The European Earth overshoot day is the 10th of May. We need to be more sustainable - there is no questioning this. What can we, especially at EYP sessions do to decrease our negative impact on the planet?

“If everybody in the world lived like the average EU resident, we would have used up nature’s budget for the year by the 10 May, and would need 2.8 planets.” - Global Footprint Network.

One of these initiatives to compensate CO2 is “atmosfair”. Their mission is to offer an opportunity to offset carbon by” developing and financing renewable energies in over 15 countries worldwide”.

Lunch, Coffee Break, Dinner For lunch and other meals going vegan would have the best effect, but also by just going vegetarian you can half your greenhouse gas emissions already. Beyond that one should always consider how much food is actually necessary to minimise food waste. If there are leftovers they can and should be donated to a food bank. Even more waste can be avoided by not using plastic or paper plates and cutlery, but taking reusable plates. And for ISHH19 especially, don’t forget to bring your cup!

General Assembly While the materials you use in GA are rather limited and do not leave much room for reduction, there is a different aspect one could focus on: your clothing. In general, people rarely ask where their clothing is coming from? What are the working standards in its country of origin? What is the impact on the environment there? Do not get any funny ideas now and throw away your clothes because of their production standards. Use them - for as long as you can and for your next trip to a shopping mall think: What clothes do I really need? Could I get this second hand? Do I only get it for the sake of having it or do I really need it.

Yes, there are worse offenders out there adding to the climate crisis, but if we join forces and change our behaviour than we can truly say: “We are unstoppable another world is possible” By Eike Plhak ISHH_53

Piece of Hamburg. Print media is dead they told us, we should take good care of the environment they told us - and yet, we insisted on a session magazine. To us, the session magazine is a piece of ISHH19 to take home with you. We do not expect you to read all of the paper right away. We made it a lengthy read on purpose, so everyone is able to fill some time reading up on the session. Why is there no article yet here? Did we forget to implement something in the design file, was something misprinted? We hope not. This page is for you. During ISHH19, the memories you made, the interactions you had and the friends you spent time with are unique to you. In the same vein, should the magazine not also be yours and exclusive to you? Now is your chance - you can fill this page in any way you want. Do it yourself or let the people around you help out - there are no boundaries to your imagination.

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Venue Partners

STADTTEILSCHULE HAMBURG-MITTE

Main Partners Gefรถrdert mit Mitteln der Bundesstiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-Diktatur

Initiators

The Schwarzkopf Foundation is the international umbrella organisation of the European Youth Parliament (EYP). EYP Germany is a National Committee in the EYP network.