Article Type
Mellow Out at VinSpring 2012
National Session of EYP Ukraine 2 – 5 of March
Article Type The Journalist team of VinSpring 2012
Mellow Out = to cool off, chill out. Is often associated with hippies.
2 Mellow
Article Type
Table of Contents
P4 Editorial P5 Vinnytsya P7 The Truth Behind Climate Change P8 ITRE P9 LIBE P10 ENVI II P11 CULT P12 Do’s and Dont’s P13 Fairy Tale Party P16 Travel Stories P17 International Talk P18 HO Interview P20 ECON P21 AGRI P22 ENVI P23 AFET P24 Google Translate P25 Who’s who? P26 Ukraine Spring
Out 3
Article Type
Editorial Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, now that we have piqued your interest let us talk about connections of the natural sort. Some believe that we are all connected by something greater, beyond the great beyond. Although we might not be the most superstitious duo, we know that there is some truth in it. We live in different connected communities; at home we are sharing our lives with a different number of people, from just a few to few hundreds. We are connected through changing factors, from our regular circles to forced contacts. At this very moment we are all connected as one individual, we are breathing the same air, living the same moments and increasing our connections. At first we might seem to be a part. Us, the editors, who may or may not exist to you, dear delegates. Through our journalist we are connected, but still we have to admit that loneliness affects us as well. So we call upon you to act and enter our domain and receive free hugs.
4 Mellow
So how on earth do you spell “Vinnitsa”? Versions we have come across: • • • • • • • •
Vinnitsa Vinnitsia Vinnitsya Vinnytsia Winytsya Wynytsya Vinnidtsa Vinnytsya
Article on the City
Vinnytsya city of history and chocolate Welcome to Vinnytsya, by Max Nikolaichuk and Marianne Munz As Vinnytsya is the host city for this national selection, we thought you should be able to get to know the it a little better. After all, everyone knows that it is not that easy to form a sustainable opinion about the city during an EYP session. Most of you may think that you know the city pretty well already, but did you know that the largest fountain in Europe is actually located in Vinnytsya? Or that some middleaged men’s job is helping people to cross the street? Vinnytsya has been an important trade and political center since the fourteenth century. The town was a factor in the ongoing disputes between Lithuania, Tatars, Poland, Turkey, Cossacks and eventually Russia in the seventeenth century. Vinnytsya is a friendly city in the western part of Ukraine with a population of nearly 400 000 people. Here prepared are some facts that will help you amaze local people -There are three districts in Vinnytsya. One of them is named “Vishenka” which is translated as “cherry”. -The largest fountain in Europe is situated in Vinnytsya. It is also the 4th largest in the world. Incredibly beautiful, but sadly it only functions during the summertime. -Tram is the most popular transport in Vinnytsya. Unlike other trams in Ukraine that were manufactured in former Czechoslovakia, trams in Vinnytsya originate from Switzerland. The trans are pleasant and in good condition -There is a famous chocolate factory just outside the city center. If you are spending an extra day in Vinnytsya after the session, rumor has it that this factory is well worth the visit.
Vinnytsya is an innovative city. This is the place where local government regularly works to improve the city’s infrastructure and supports numerous youth projects. The city is developing rapidly and becoming more and more European. Even so, it has its own special qualities that you can rarely find someplace else. For example, some middle aged men actually have the job of helping people to cross the roads for a couple of hours in the middle of the day. Sightseeing in Vinnytsya can definitely be efficient and productive. There are several monasteries that are possible to visit if wanted. All of them are ancient and well reserved. In addition, for the especially interested people, there exist a museum with mammoth skeletons. The most famous local attraction is, ironically, Hitler’s headquarter “Werewolf”, only 8km outside of the city center, available for a visit for anyone interested of war times in Ukraine. Rich historical heritage together with current progressive city tendencies makes Vinnytsya attractive point of destination. With Europe’s largest fountain, Ukraine’s biggest chocolate factory and famous museums, the city offers you an entertainment of a high quality. In any case, it is a pity that tight schedules are an ordinary thing for an EYPer . One can hardly find any extra time for sightseeing during the session. So, if you by any chance have an extra day in Vinnytsya, we recommend that you check out some of the attractions the city has to offer. However, we can all try to keep our eyes opened all the time when we walk around this amazing city.
Interview with the Headmaster: I: Mr. Selyov, what are your impressions of EYP being here in the school? S: It is a big pleasure to host international guests in our school, and we are always glad to have such guests. We admit that the work of EYP is based on the discussion of very important environmental and social questions, so it is a big pleasure that you are here in our school and our city of Vinnitsa. I: Mr. Selyov Vinnitsa is known in Ukraine as a progressive city. Vinnitsa can be seen as a role model – for example the number of dangerous marshrutkas was reduced and there are people in uniform, who help others cross the road safely. S: Oh yes, changes often happen in Vinnitsa. There is a special form of communication called “transparent” between the local government and our citizens. This system efficiently eliminates a long bureaucratic chain, so the problems are solved within a couple of days and not months. That makes the work of our City Council effective and known in other regions. I: There is a saying: ‘You haven’t been to Paris if you haven’t seen the Eiffel Tower.’ Can you recommend places that visitors of Vinnitsa should definitely see before leaving? S: First of all there is our fountain, which is among the top five fountains in the world and stands up to the the fountains of Abu Dhabi and Las Vegas. In fact it is a pity that the season of our fountain has not started yet. Also Vinnitsa is famous for its’ museum of the outstanding scientist and doctor Nikolay Pirogov. He was the inventor of the embalmment technology, and the first person who was embalmed. The body of Dr. Pirogov is in the museum and is a real relic of our city. Another point of interest is our water tower, used in pre-war times by firemen so they could immediately spot the place of the fire. It is the highest point of Vinnitsa from where you can see beautiful scenery. Additionally, one of the biggest Ukrainian confectionary factories ‘Roshen’ is located in Vinnitsa. If our guests have some time during their stay here, I highly recommend them to go for a free excursion to the factory where you will have the opportunity to see the production of candies and even try them. by Max Nikolaichuk & Fabian Sommer
Out 5
Competition
VinGuinnes Records Us, the journo team, are looking for the most special among the most special among you to become part of a the one and only: VinGuin Record Book. Are you the tallest among all? The one with the largest suitcase? Do you have a fancy trick you would like to show us?
THEN GO TO YOUR JOURNALIST AND LET THEM KNOW! We are looking for: • • • • •
The tallest delegate. The delegate with the biggest suitcase. The delegate who dresses the fanciest. The best hippie delegate. The best trick of the session.
The Winners of the VinGuinnes Records Competition will become part of the fabulous:
VINGUIN RECORD BOOK!
A special price will also go to: The committee who comes up with the most creative pose for a picture. Whomever can tell us for sure how to spell “Vinnits... Vinnitsy...” the place we are at now.
6 Mellow
Opinion Article
The truth behind climate change Ovie Utomakili takes a stand for our planet and incites us to clean up the mess we created and go green. The climate is changing. The Earth is warming up, and there is now an overwhelming scientific consensus that it is all really happening. Human-induction is clear, because most of our activities we engaged on a daily basis has constantly led to the depletion of the ozone layers that naturally protect earth from the harmfully rays of the sun. With global warming on the increase and species and their habitats on the decrease, chances for ecosystems to adapt naturally are diminishing. Yet, who could have thought that global warming might make our earth colder? Research has shown that air pollutants caused by the use of fossil fuels affects clouds so that they re-
flect more of the sun’s rays back into space. This leads to an effect known as global dimming; meaning that less and less heat and energy reaches the Earth. At first, it sounds like an ironic saviour to climate change problems. However, it is believed that global dimming caused the droughts in Ethiopia in the 1970’s and 80’s where millions died, because the oceans of the northern hemisphere were not warm enough to allow rain formation. Global dimming is also hiding the true power of global warming. When removing pollutants that cause global dimming without tackling the greenhouse gas emissions, rapid warming has been observed to happen. This in return has resulted in various hu-
man health and ecological disasters, as witnessed during the European heat wave in 2003, which saw the death of thousands of people. Due to global warming we have seen drastic changes in the climate. This goes from the heat wave that affected Moscow and some parts of Eastern Ukraine in summer 2010, to the abrupt change in the seasons in Europe. Here the majority of countries did not get snowfall during Christmas but after New Year’s Eve a harsh cold spell followed that swept across the continent killing over 150 Europeans. It is time to clean up the mess we created; it is time to go green. – OU
Out 7
ITRE – Committee Topic
The unknown energy source of Osmosis
As the world today is looking for alternative energy sources to nuclear power, it is essential to explore all options, Marianne Munz explains. The committee on ITRE is soon to begin the discussion on what kind of energy sources the European community can rely on in the future. There are many possibilities, such as water, sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat, and each country has different qualifications. However, I do believe that everyone will agree on the fact that Europe needs to rely less on nuclear power, in favour of saving the environment. Personally, I think Europe needs to aim for a European community totally based on renewable energy sources, because this is the best solution for the environment. On this occasion, I have researched deeper into an energy source that is under development, called osmotic power. Osmotic power is centred on saltwater and freshwater. When freshwater meets saltwater, for example in a river mouth, a natural phenomenon occurs, which is called osmosis. What actually happens is that a thin
membrane is created between the freshwater and the saltwater, and the molecules in the salt draws the freshwater through the membrane. This process releases a lot of pressure, and that can be turned into a renewable energy source in a power station. In 2009, the first osmotic power station opened in Norway, built by a Norwegian company, Statkraft. The station made an artificial membrane that works in the same way as a natural membrane does. Then the salt molecules draw the freshwater through the membrane, and the pressure created operates a turbine, which makes electricity. “Our power station in Norway is a prototype on how the station will look in a large scale,“ says Stein Erik Skilhagen, head of the osmotic power station in Norway.
1700 TWh per year, which is half of EUs total power production. “Osmotic power is one of several possible contributors to the future energy sources in Europe. The most important now is that new technologies like osmotic power are given opportunities to be developed and be commercialised. I think we need all the technologies we have, if it is going to be possible to reach the EUs 2050-aim for renewable energy, and that we will have a European community with sustainable energy production,” claims Skilhagen. Personally, I believe in osmotic power, and I am sure it, together with other renewable energy sources, will be exceptionally good alternatives to nuclear power plants. – MM
Osmotic power is an energy source that Europe can definitely rely on in the future. It is estimated that the global potential of osmotic power is 1600-
Diagram of an Osmotic plant
8 Mellow
LIBE – Committee Topic
The greatest Crime of all
Mert Ozbilek joins Anonymous in the fight against ACTA, and explains why it is a bad solution for everyone. 1.9 million $. That is the price on downloading 24 songs “illegally” on Internet. Jammie Thomas-Rasset, a single mother with four children, was obliged to pay this unbelievable amount of money just a couple of weeks ago. In a world where a CEO who cons his own company, does not care about his employees or other businesses he works with can get away with paying almost nothing, how is it possible that one becomes a world-wide criminal for downloading a couple of songs? Is it just to do such a thing? There are two sides to everything and this case is no different. What effect will ACTA have on movie watchers and music listeners, the “customers” who do not pay for what they use? Well, this can cause a great obstacle for the intellectual development of people. As there seems to be an unlimited and free access to everything on In-
ternet, people have the benefit of doing whatever they like and can reach anything at nearly all times without paying. However, if this treaty concerning the copyrights of downloadable products passes, then people’s access will be limited. Of course every piece of art has a value of its own, but individuals cannot pay for every time they see, watch or listen to art. We live in a world where a huge percentage of the population can barely pay for their basic needs and if things such as art are not free, then people will start cutting down their expenses by becoming less associated with such things. As for the creators, they also risk to be damaged by ACTA. Internet is one of the key factors in determining the fashionable, the newest things in today’s world. Moreover, thanks to the easy and free access to almost everything, word spreads really fast. What will hap-
pen when this will not be free anymore? When you have to pay for each song or movie? A song will become popular in a slower way and it will never reach the great masses it does now. It will become harder for artists to become famous, as they will receive less interest. In the end, this treaty will damage not only Internet users, but also artists. So why do countries sign ACTA? Why are our “leaders” accepting it if it does nothing but damage everyone? What is the point of limiting freedom of speech, freedom of access to information or art? These questions are not answered and it is in my belief they can never be. It is up to everyone to show them what ACTA will lead to and that unless actions are made against it freedom will just become an ancient word for Internet users. – MO
Out 9
ENVI II – Committee Article
Environmental decadence – an opportunity? Sometimes even bad news can become a starting point to a new journey of success, Max Nikolaichuk tells us.
According to the EU rating, the dirtiest city in Europe is… Kiev. Despite the increasing number of different ecological projects, the amount of garbage produced remains unchanged. Furthermore, the typical citizen of the Ukrainian capital throws 100kg more litter than an average European does. For many of us this is quite depressing news, but it that really so? Is that the right way to react to the statement of these facts? Whatever we do in our lives, it is always important to make the right conclusions and to see the opportunities. The fact that Kiev is the dirtiest city in Europe tells us many things. First of all, it shows that the work of the whole waste disposal system and its stakeholders remains inef-
10 Mellow
ficient. Generally, garbage is carried to the suburbs, instead of being recycled. The amount of garbage is incredible but the number of recycling plants is too low and they can only cope with a certain type of waste. It is also worth mentioning that the Ukrainian waste disposal market turns out to be very attractive to both internal and external investments. As there are no key players on the market that could form particular influence on it, the level of competition within the market is low, and this gives a signal to all potential businesses and investors that they can enter the market easily. As we can see, the current situation is nothing but a promising opportunity for progressive minds and entrepreneur hearts to become influential players at the waste disposal pitch. Still,
there are no universal waste disposal plants, waste technologies and logistics require modernisation. We can expect that due to the forthcoming EURO 2012 Championship, much attention will be paid to this important issue by the government, which can stimulate investors to operate in the Ukrainian waste disposal system by offering them special economic benefits like tax discounts or subsidies. Yes, our capital has taken the lead in the chart, something that would hardly make anyone proud. But, let us just imagine what a bright example Ukraine may become if we manage to demonstrate a substantial and professional approach in dealing with this environmental issue. – MN
CULT – Committee Article
A warming education
With the earth trying to respond to the activities of humans with drastic climate change, Ovie Utomakili asks himself how can we help voice out the earth’s opinions to its inhabitants. Recent research hzzas shown that Ukraine is in the list of the top 20 countries that emit a high level of carbon dioxide. This is due to the numerous industrious activities mainly concentrated to the eastern part of Ukraine, and has dangerous effects on both the earth and people that live there. Deforestation is also a negative key element on global warming because plants play an important role in the carbon cycle. Plants process the CO2 in the air, and turn it into oxygen. Yet, there are not enough green plants left to balance the CO2 level in the environment; meaning the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere is greater than the amount processed by plants. Ukraine could educate its people about global warming through seminars in various regions of the country, where global experts would enlighten people on the threats that global warming poses to the Earth. For ex-
ample: rise in sea level, ice melting, tornadoes in places where they are normally very rare, excessive flooding, etc. Furthermore, a subject could be included in the curriculum of the students, educating them on what global warming is and what they could do to make a change. Or better, this information could be incorporated into an already existing subject. For example geography, because, as Goodstein says, “Young people are responsible for developing solutions to save our planet.” He also adds that students should engage with lawmakers, as it gives them a real voice, allowing them to learn about actual bills circulating in Congress, brainstorm new ideas and to share their innovative energy and business plans about preserving the earth. Another solution could consist in encouraging the initiatives of active individuals interested in solving global warming, and who are engaged in activities
reducing its effects. Publicly rewarding their efforts would also indirectly enlighten others about global warming. Furthermore, educational competition can also be seen as a way forward. People will have had to read thoroughly about the issue before the competition, and at the end of the day people will actually benefit from the knowledge as well as from prizes if they win the competition. Finally people can be educated through short films and documentaries. As the saying goes, “seeing is believing “, and the brain can retain images better than words written in articles or books and it is a more interesting way to educate people on the issue. Let us educate the people around us and go green. Because it is the only way we can save and preserve our earth for other generations to come. – OU.
Out 11
Just for Fun
Do’s & Don’ts There are over a 100 EYP conferences every year, and each session is unique in its genre. However there are some things you have to do and some things you have to stay away from in every session. Here is a short list:
DO: DON’T: • Pay attention at all times, anything can happen anytime. • Attend all activities, games and discussions with everything you got, this is EYP and that is how it is supposed to be. • Always be in EYP spirit and do your best in making VinSpring 2012 a memorable session. • Socialise with other people. EYP is not all work, it is a great chance to meet new people. • Be punctual, so that you do not force others to wait for you. • Prepare for every activity and be organised so that you do not have an awkward moment where you do not understand what is going on. • HAVE FUN. That is the most important thing. • • • •
Miss the chance to sleep at night because you will need it during the session. Sleep during comittee work. EVER Be afraid of stating your own opinion on a topic. Offend people during discussions. You have to respect your fellow delegates and their ideas even though you may not like what you are hearing. • Be shy and put a distance between yourself and other participants. • Ever waste a second. There is always something to do during a session by Mert Ozbilek 12 Mellow
Coverage
Fairytales come true
Ovie Utomakili and Mert Ozbilek distilled the magical essence of the first VinSpring celebration in an equally magic article. The widely awaited event of the session: the Fairytale Party, took place yesterday night in the Hotel’s restaurant. After a tiring day during which the delegates arrived, had the chance to meet each other and do team building, this event was just what was needed. The party was a three-hour session of just dancing and having fun. From Snow White to Joker costumes, there was a lot to see there. It was like a page out of a children’s fairytale book. After everyone arrived at the “party room”, the committees had rehersals that culminated in a fun series of presentations. The party followed right after, and was definitely something to see. Royal princesses doing the “Party Rock Anthem” dance, superheroes twisting like Jagger and so much more.
Among the costumes, worth noting were Andriy Naahvust (HeadOrganiser) as the sheik from Abu Dhabi and the aladin costume of Louis Aerts (AGRI). Little red riding hood Olha Havrylyuk (AGRI) and the honey bee lady Tetiana Korniichuk (LIBE) also deserve a special mention. It was a fairy tale coming to life, and despite there being no prince charming, it still was a very magical experience that will for sure remain in the minds of all delegates.
Some may call it jumping like crazy or might say it was just just fooling around or it could have simply been dancing. One thing was for certain, though: people were having fun. No matter what role they had, whether they were delegates, journalists, chairs or organisers, it did not matter during the party. Everyone had fun and had some time to relax during the intense schedule of the session.
On one side of the room people formed a circle and danced along the songs that were played. One after another they would go into the circle and lead the dance with their creative moves. On the other side, something completely different would happen.
If it is true that magic only exists in fairty tales, then this must have been a fairly tale come true, as at the end of the party, the orgas annouced that there would be breakfast in bed the following morning. What better way to end a magic evening? –OU
Out 13
Article Type
14 Mellow
Article Type
Out 15
Travel Stories
The Path To Vinspring 2012 After getting selected for VinSpring 2012, there was only one thing left to do: Find a way to Ukraine. For some, it was just a plain simple trip. However a couple of participants experienced interesting things on the way. Here are some of their stories;
Tea Vulic (HR) and Hrvoje Vampovac (HR): Both the Croatian chairs in this session, Tea and Hrvoje decided to come to Ukraine going through Moscow. Nothing went wrong until their arrival. They landed on time, around 5 pm and their transfer to Kyiv was to leave at 6 pm. The plane left as planned, but Tea and Hrvoje were not on board. After landing in Moscow, they found out that the check-in for the transfer was closed and they could not board the plane. Luckily, their airline company understood the situation and gave them free seats for the next flight to Kyiv. But the biggest surprise was yet to come. One may call it pure luck, as Hrvoje was upgraded to business class, and had the chance to sit on a large comfortable leathery seat, and enjoy nice food and classy drinks. Tea, however, had to sit in a normal seat, not lucky enough to receive a similar treatment
16 Mellow
Fabian Sommer (AT): Fabian’s trip started in Vienna, Austria. Normally the trip to Kyiv via plane is rather simple and should take no more than two and a half hours. However, it took him 8 hours to get from Vienna to Kyiv. Instead of flying there directly, he chose to fly through Amsterdam first, and change the plane there. If you picture a map of Europe, you can understand how wrong that is. Moreover, it looks like he has not given up traveling this way. Rumour has it that on his way back to Vienna, he will not join the mainstream. He will go to Paris and from there to his beloved Austria. Also, Fabian belongs to those “lucky” people who loose their passports in foreign countries. During his only night in Kyiv, he “misplaced” his passport and despite some intense searching, had to leave for Vinnitsa without it. Luckily it was found in a restaurant by Julia Pustovoitova (ENVI II), an Ukrainian delegate, and was given back to him two days later.
Klara Sundlöf (SE): Klara is one of the few delegates who came from a foreign country and her trip, in this case, started in Copenhagen, Denmark. She was supposed to go to the airport by train and then leave for Kyiv with a direct flight. In this way the journey of Klara began. Her friend’s father was supposed to drive her and two of her friends to the train station. However, there was a misunderstanding causing their part of the Swedish delegation to end up in the wrong train station. They were fortunate enough to get to the correct station and catch their plane on time so the mistake did not delay their arrival to Ukraine. In the end, they finally landed in Kyiv and had no further problems during the rest of their trip.
DelegateArticle Interviews Type
International Talking It is always interesting to find out what foreigners think of Ukraine. Marianne Munz and Olga Popovych decided to find out and share with us how the delgates see the country.
At the Vinspring session most of the delegates are Ukrainian and they know their home country very well. Obviously, there is nothing strange for them in the Ukrainian way of living. On the other hand, foreigners, especially during their first visit, notice things that most of the Ukrainians do not and their observations are often surprising. In any case, it is always interesting to find out what other people think of Ukraine. At VinSpring there is a Swedish delegation, four Georgians and one Belgian delegate. They made a long way to Ukraine and definitely already have some stories to share. One of the delegates had a hard time getting in to Ukraine. Erekle Antadze (ENVI I) from Georgia was being questioned at the airport, because his visit was apparently a matter of national security. “They wanted to know what my mission here was and when I would return home. I asked if they could explain why I was being questioned, but they told me I was not allowed to ask questions.” Nevertheless, Erekle got his visa in the end and his first impression wasn’t ruined. He still considers Ukraine a really friendly country.
Traveling outside of Sweden for the third time in her life, Lina Södergren (ENVI I) found Ukraine as an interesting and different country. Her first impression was that it was a land filled with apartments. During her bus trip from the airport all of a sudden hundreds of huge buildings appeared out of nowhere, even though almost all the way there were only trees and fields. She also found the presence of the security enforcers and the police in public weird. However, there have been several shooting in the streets during the last couple of months in a Swedish city called Malmö, so Sweden could probably learn something from Ukraine. Louis Aerts (AGRI) from Belgium likes Ukraine so much that he keeps coming back. It is only his second time here, but he will surely return in the future. Why? Well, the answer is easy: Ukrainians are very sociable and their mentality makes everybody feel like at home. One thing that Louis finds extremely interesting is the way people pay in “marshrutka”: “People pass on money to the front and their change gets given back to them by 10-20 people”. There is nothing special in it for
Ukrainians, but Louis thinks that you would never try to do that in Belgium, as your money would just disappear. Except of all that, there are many amusing things in Ukraine, including marshrutkas and “soviet style” trains, and all foreigners agree how cheap everything is. Bardia Jamali (LIBE) from Sweden shared the opinions of the other international delegates, especially concerning Ukrainian people. However, he was more interested in the developing of the country, because Ukraine is a relatively new country. He was amazed how you can literally see history, while observing the surroundings. Rosanne Rabin Bozorg (ECON), also from Sweden, mentioned that people in public were holding their masks quite well and they did not smile or show any emotions to strangers. Still, she and Bardin agreed it is a totally different situation when you get to know a person. Every country is unique. Traditions, culture and the way of living are different. Nevertheless, the most important thing is that Ukraine welcomes – eventually – every visitors and traveller to this country would be a new and interesting experience.
Out 17
Head Organisers
PAPAS and MAMAS Olga Popovych and Fabian Sommer take a deeper insight on the head organisers and their way of taking care of their “baby” – VinSpring National Selection Conference.
If an EYP Session is like a small child, the head organisers are the loving parents who first give birth and then nurture their baby for months. The difference is that the tools of a good EYP session parent are not strollers, pacifiers, or bibs, but a cell phone, a watch, and nerves of steel. Thus the VinSpring parents, Violetta Kolisnichenko and Andriy Naavhust, are seldom seen without a cell phone pressed to their ear. As a matter of fact, you can hardly see them at all. Andriy and Violetta gave birth to the session about four months ago.
18 Mellow
It started out as a plan for a mini session. However, they were soon asked to organise a National Selection Conference instead. Naturally, after the initial surprise, Violetta could not refuse, and their journey to make VinSpring a reality started. Violetta is from Vinnitsa but has now moved to Kiev to study Chinese in a university there. When she is not listening to ABBA, her favourite band, she either is studying, doing EYP, or working part time at a children’s centre. She claims that stress is her biggest fear at the session. However, she remains calm
even when dozens of people run to her for aid. She loves her fellow organisers like a mother loves her children, and insists that her team is her most important accessory while organising – even outranking coffee. Her co-head organiser, Andriy, whom she describes as “hard working” and “a good leader,” is also from Vinnitsa. Though unlike Violetta he is not a fan of ABBA – he prefers country music. Despite the fact that he participated to only one EYP session as a delegate, he was not afraid of the challenge and made the decision to head–organ-
Interview
ise the session. The results of this decision we can see now. There are many reasons why he decided to organise an EYP session in Vinnitsa, but the most important one was that he wanted to introduce EYP to his hometown. Except for being so enthusiastic, he is also a real gentleman and refers to Violetta as a “generous” and “smart” person. Their relationship is completely professional, though, as he has a girlfriend and, not surprisingly, she is at this session. It is however up to you to find out who she is.
all grown up. You are holding the first session newspaper, checked in at the hotel, and are safe and healthy. This would all not have been possible without the tireless work of these two incredible individuals. Next time you see them, feel free to give them a hug and thank them for the session.
So now the session, their baby, is
Out 19
ECON – Committee Article
The Avtomagistral A comment on the economy of Ukraine, or how an adventurous trip brought Fabian Sommer and Martin Dite to ponder about the Ukrainian economy. “Bim, bang, boom, ahhhh,” that is the sound a marshrutka full of chairs, organisers, and journalists makes when it barrels down the road from Kiev to Vinnitsa. While many Ukrainians have gotten used to the potholes, random police controls, and lack of seatbelts, these are often a surprise to Western European visitors. Here, the difference in the development of Ukraine compared to many other countries is especially obvious. Yet, while our bus journey was an adventure and only slightly uncomfortable, Ukrainians suffer in their everyday lives because of the difficult economic situation. The fact that 63 Ukrainians died in the recent cold spell should be a wake-up call for the country. First and foremost, Ukraine needs to fight the shadow economy, especially corruption. With recent estimates stating that 40% of GDP is lost due to this sector, the problem becomes even clearer. Shadow economy is not only responsible for only deterring foreign investors, but the government also loses a large part of revenues, because it cannot tax the shadow economy. This issue is vital to Ukraine’s success at a point that, if necessary, independent outside organisations, such as the OECD or the UN, should be invited to monitor the success of the battle against the shadow economy. Additionally, Ukraine’s economy is currently very dependent on the agricultural sector. In order to diversify the economy, the government needs to invest more in the manufacturing and services sector. Here, an important step would be to modernise Soviet factories. Next to making them more efficient, it would also be a step towards a more eco-friendly Ukraine. Furthermore, investment in both the manufacturing and services sector could be raised by a more friendly tax code and improvements in infrastructure. As outsourcing is very popular with large European and American companies, Ukraine could make itself more attractive to such jobs. By making taxes lower than in the
20 Mellow
EU, for example, Europeans would have an incentive to invest in Ukraine. Simultaneously, a system to collect taxes effectively, modelled after the new measures adopted in Italy and Greece, should be implemented. I.A simplification of institutional procedures and bureaucracy also needs to occur, as the complexity of these discourages foreign investors. For example, upgrading the customs system could be expensive now, but save money in the long term by requiring fewer staff. Another issue that one will eventually be confronted to when talking about the Ukrainian economy is the omnipresence of Russia and its dominating regional influence. That is why the Ukrainian government’s efforts to distance themselves from their northern neighbour should be supported and why the E.U. should also work to improve their relationship with Ukraine. Providing Ukraine with a viable alternative trading partner, will give them more leverage when making policy decisions. While many people doubt Ukraine’s ability to come out of the economic rut that it is currently in, there are two main reasons why I believe that the country can succeed. First, the case of the Baltic countries shows that former Soviet countries have managed the transition from a planned economy to the free market. Second, the Orange Revolution and the recent protests concerning the arrests of Julia Timoshenko show that the Ukrainian people want change. Sooner or later, politicians will have to recognise their importance. With a successful implementation of these strategies, in the future, the lives of average Ukrainians would be drastically improved. In thirty years, the Ukrainian avtomagistral could even compete with the German Autobahn. This all depends on the government and their willingness to battle corruption and truly reform the economy.
AGRI – Committee article
Production of biomass energy fuels – a waste
Even if biomass energy and biomass fuels do have many environmental advantages, it should not come before the basic need for food among the people in the world, Marianne Munz argues. Biomass energy and biomass fuels are renewable energy sources many people believe will be a revolution within sustainable development. I am certainly not one of those people. The committee on AGRI will spend the next few days in VinSpring discussing the best way of implementing planting and harvesting of crops to turn into biomass energy and fuels. According to the environmental advantages, biomass energy and biomass fuels are just wonderful. However, it is important to remember that every fairy tale has a dark side. Ethically seen, is this process right to be done? Today, 925 million people in this world are undernourished. The production of biomass energy and fuels demands thousands of acres of land to grow biomass crops instead of food crops.
One acre of rapeseed will give 140kg seeds, of which 40% is oil. The oil is then processed to turn it into biomass fuel, making the final result is even less. In practice, this means that if 10% of fossil fuels are to be switched with biomass fuels, this will require sacrificing between 8 and 30% of all farmland in the world, according to an UN-study. That is approximately 6 million km2. People will not sacrifice that much farmland for a lousy 10% replacement of fossil fuels. It is simply not worth it. As I already mentioned, millions of people are living with hunger. Most of them are from developing countries, and the production of biomass energy and fuels makes food become more expensive. Planting rapeseed in Brazil has been discussed for a long time. Although this is not a developing coun-
try, it has been argued on whether it is right to sacrifice land to produce rapeseed for biomass fuels instead of food crops. I believe it is wrong. The government is only trying to please other, more powerful states, such as the US, and the inhabitants have to suffer. They are forced to plant biomass plants, and are not able to sell their crops on the market, nor grow food. For the people, no good comes out of this. A lot of money is being spent on developing the production of biomass energy and biomass fuels. What if that money was spent on developing new technologies for renewable energy? Then, hopefully, it might be possible to achieve new levels within sustainable development. – MM
Out 21
ENVI I – Committee Article
Ukraine’s nuclear addiction Fabian Sommer argues why the Ukrainian government’s Energy Strategy until 2030 is a joke and an insult to the intelligence of the Ukrainian people.
Carbon dioxide emissions are admittedly a large problem in Ukraine. However, because nuclear power puts Ukrainians in danger, it cannot be a long-term solution to the energy crisis. Yet in 2010 the Ukrainian government, in cooperation with the EU, decided to increase the production of nuclear power. Ukraine actually has many other ways of effectively reducing CO2 emissions to an acceptable level, while at the same time reducing its dependency on nuclear power. To find ways to reduce Ukraine’s CO2 emissions and its dependency on nuclear power, we first need to look back to Ukraine’s remarkable drop in CO2 emissions after the fall of Communism in 1991. According to the Carbon Dioxide Analysis Center, CO2 Emissions in 1992 were 3.39 metric tons per capita. By 2008 that figure dropped to 1.92 metric tons. That drop, while quite considerable, is also bittersweet – currently 50% of Ukraine’s energy production comes from nuclear power plants. Of course, the drop was not only achieved through the promotion of nuclear energy – another large factor was the modernisation of outdated Soviet factories. Steel production, one of the most carbon-intense processes, has been important to Ukraine’s economy since the 19th century, and many Soviet-era steel mills are still large polluters. The modernisation of factories, with strict controls, would lead to more efficient factories and thus the lowering of carbon dioxide emissions.
As previously mentioned, currently 50% of Ukraine’s electricity is produced through nuclear power plants. In order to meet its energy goals and lucratively export electricity to the EU, the government is now planning to increase that percentage. Through their plan, the lifetime of eleven existing nuclear reactors will be extended and twenty-two new ones will be constructed. This decision made by the Ukrainian government is crass and irrational.
22 Mellow
In 2010, only one month after the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant’s lifetime had been extended, small radioactive leaks were found and the reactor – which had been built in 1981 – had to be closed for repairs. Also, going back to 1986 and the horrors of the Chernobyl disaster, I personally believe that the Ukrainian people have suffered enough from the consequences of nuclear power. It is absolutely shocking to learn that due to Ukraine’s dependence on nuclear power, even the power plant of Chernobyl was not completely turned off until 2000. I shudder when I think of the workers that had to work at the contaminated site for fourteen years. Even today, looking at the recent disaster in Fukushima, we must keep in mind that nuclear disasters occur even in the “safest” nuclear power plants. There is only one-way to make it 100% sure that there will never be another nuclear disaster in Ukraine: shut all nuclear power plants down! While this may seem utopian and unrealistic to some, Ukraine is currently a net exporter of electricity, meaning it produces more electricity than it needs. Additionally, there are currently large amounts of untapped shale gas in Ukraine. Even though these gases are not CO2-neutral, they are a huge improvement over existing, dirty coal power plants. That is why shale gas could be temporarily used to produce enough energy to ease the transition from nuclear and coal power to truly sustainable forms of energy, such as solar, wind or hydrothermal energy. That way, with the smart use of shale gas as a temporary alternative, Ukraine will be able to shut down its nuclear power plants, while reducing – or at least maintaining - its current CO2 emissions. Together with the continued modernisation of polluting factories and the development of “green energy,” this can lead to a longterm reduction of CO2 emissions. At the same time, getting rid of nuclear power plants would be a courageous decision in order to secure the safety of the Ukrainian people for years to come. – FS
AFET – Committee Article
Syrian Crisis More than 5,000 people have died and not only protesters, but also members of Syria’s security forces, while fighting for freedom. For Olga Popovych, it’s time to take action.
Syria is a country of 21 million inhabitants with a large Sunni majority and significant minorities of Christians and Alawites. It’s a big country full of people, who seek justice and freedom. Inspired by the protests in Egypt and Tunisia, Syria started its own anti-governmental campaign. It all started in March 2011, when a group of teenagers were arrested for making a revolutionary slogan on the wall. After this event the protests spread all around the country and soon different opposition groups were formed. One of them is the Syrian National Council, whose main aim is to give “the necessary support for the revolution to progress and realise the aspirations of people for the overthrow of the regime, its symbols and its head”. Another example of such groups is the Free Syrian Army, whose main goal is to topple Bashar al-Assad – the president of Syria – by force.
What do all these people want and what have they achieved so far? The main demands include the fall of the regime, with the resignation of its president, release of political prisoners and protesters, end of killings and torture, end to the emergency law and – most important – transition to the free, pluralistic and democratic society. Unfortunately, so far there aren’t many positive changes. Bashar alAssad stated publicly that he refuses to step down and though he promised to make a few reforms, the only thing done were amnesties offered to some political prisoners. This is obviously not enough to satisfy the demands of protesters. There are two possible results: either the Assad regime will fall, or civil war will start. In both cases, the existing regime cannot survive. The situation in Syria is tough nowadays. People are fighting their way to
freedom, while trying not to get killed. The UN says that more than 5,000 people have died and not only protesters, but also members of Syria’s security forces. Something has to be done in order to stop the civil war that might start if no compromise is found. The biggest question now for other countries is to decide what actions to undertake. Should they remain silent and not interfere into Syria’s situation, or should they protect democratic rights of people and save them from being killed? In my opinion, while the situation in Syria doesn’t change, the world should not just stand and watch. Governments have to find a way to stop an arising war and try to find a solution peacefully. – OP
Out 23
Just For Fun
Google It Sometimes we trust too much to electronic translators. Often they do a very big favor for us, but do not forget to recheck the results of your “electronic friend’s” work. They can simply mislead you by displaying the wrong translation and moreover, they are completely useless if you want to translate the wordplay. Here are some common and uncommon examples that serve as the proof to this statement, brought to you by Max Nikolaichuk.
“Run, Forest, run”!!! «Беги, Форест, запустить»!
Be aware of deer running across the road Имейте в виду, оленей перебегая дорогу
I’ll take you for a ride Я обману Вас
Keep out! Road under construction Хранить! Дорога под строительство
It’s raining cats and dogs Льется кошками и собакамwи
Police line, Do not cross Полиция линия, не пересекаются
John meets Tom -Hey John -Hey Tom -I saw your wife yesterday -Indeed? -In bed.
A very promising artist, he does city scapes. А очень многообещающий художник, он делает город стволы колонны.
Джон встречает Тома: -Эй Джон -Эй Том -Вчера Я видел Вашу жену -Действительно? -В постели.
Do you have a lighter? У Вас есть более легкое?
Крути педали пока не дали Twist pedals yet haven’t given
And now, specially for you, Coldplay live on stage! И теперь, особенно для Вас, Coldplay живут на стадию!
“We will, we will rock you” «Мы будем, мы будем качать вы»
Watch out! Dog may bite you Напряженно ожидайте! Собака может укусить Вас
As you can see, it is worth being attentive when you decide to use electronic translators. Anyway, do not forget, they can be a good source of fun.
24 Mellow
Games
The Staring Game These are some of the heroes in the EYP world who work hard all day and all night in order to present a resolution filled with simple solutions to complicated problems. Each and every one of them has a unique superpower that she or he uses to help the committee get the best possible results. As it is said that the eyes are the window to the soul, your task is to recognise the chairs and delegates along with their superpowers. by Martin Díté
Name:
Quality:
Roksolana Pidlasa Dominic Degen Katya Baskenova Ievgen Afanasiev Julia Pustovoitova Bardia Jamali Denis Khmelevsky Téa Vulic
Humour Stands for Globalisation Spreads good mood Tolerance Is just awesome Knowledge of internationa politics Communicative Blue contact lenses
Out 25
9 About Ukraine
Ukrainian Spring
As harsh and unpredictable the Ukrainian spring can be, Ovie Utomakili is still able to find beauty and poetry in it.
Research has shown that Ukraine is one of the coldest countries not only in Europe, but also in the world. In most European countries, spring begins on the 1st of March. Unfortunately in Ukraine, spring begins in April. Spring is actually the shortest season in Ukraine because it lasts for only a couple of weeks before the blazing heat of summer kicks in. Spring in general is naturally characterised by lots of rain and springing of new plants. However in Ukraine, it is characterised by snow, extremely cold temperatures, frozen lakes and rivers, and flowerless trees. Some of the international officials and delegates were hoping to find spring at the VinSpring session, mainly because of the cold spell that swept across Europe some weeks ago. To their disappointment they were confronted with the Ukrainian
26 Mellow
spring, which some could not enjoy due to the fact that they packed for sun and warmth. But hope was restored when the committee work and other interesting activities began and warmed up the atmosphere.
Still, if you have the opportunity to finally meet spring in Ukraine it is actually very amazing and it has different effects in different regions of Ukraine. Kyiv is regarded as the city of chestnuts because of the beautiful perfumed chestnut trees’ blooms. Nevertheless the temperature is rather unpredictable as it might be 8 degrees in the morning, but by afternoon it can suddenly be as hot as 26 degrees and by evening it can drop again. Also, it rains often and that is why it is really advisable to have your jacket with you all the time because you never know what will come next.
Moreover, in Ukraine spring also welcomes a lot of interesting holidays to spend with your loved ones: international women’s day, Easter, etc. The atmosphere of love will not be forgotten either. As soon as the parks start blossoming again, you start seeing couples hanging around, and a sense of reawakening occurs as cafés set out pavement seating and hikers take the height of the Carpathian and Crimean mountains. In conclusion, despite the short spring of Ukraine, it is definitely a time to meet up with friends and also enjoy an unforgettable EYP national selection conference, discuss interesting topics and remember past events and also dream about the following ones. – OU
Sponsors
Out 27
Article Type
Brought to you by: Marianne Munz (NO) Fabian Sommer (AT) Martin Dite (CZ) Olga Popovych (UE) Ovie Utomakili (UE) Max Nikolaichuk (UE) Mert Ozbilek (TK(
28 Mellow