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spectrum
MAGAZINE OF THE 73RD INTERNATIONAL SESSION OF EYP IN ZURICH, switzerland
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE
LEAD ARTICLE vertical farming
Interview Androulla Vassiliou
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
COMMITTEE ARTICLES
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EDITORIAL Z
urich 2013 has thus far exceeded our most colourful expectations of a summer session: Teambuilding under the sun, an Opening Ceremony in the beautiful Aula of the University of Zurich, and cosy evenings in the courtyard. Now that Committee Work is well underway, you are about to make some difficult decisions on issues which will remarkably shape the future of our own lives and of all those to follow. Oftentimes, we ponder upon the effect the decisions we make during an EYP event have and to what extent we can have a tangible societal or political impact. More than anything, we hope that the questions posed in Zurich not only make us aware of current issues, but also push us to contemplate the role we play in them ourselves. Many of the topics discussed under the environmental category touch upon the way you lead your life personally, for example by opting for traveling by train over taking a plane, becoming a vegetarian, or opening up to new ways of growing the food you consume. We encourage you to take a step further and take more from this event than just your completed resolution. Think about where you play into the larger scheme of constructing the future of our society. Question yourself and those around you. Being aware and informed means being ready to face shaping those great challenges ahead and, as Commissioner Vassiliou pointed out during the Opening Ceremony, investing in the future. Think things through during those remaining tough decisions of Committee Work and know that your suggestions may just alter the way some, and be they only two amongst 300 participants, approach everyday life.
LUCA OLUMETS FRANZISKA MAIER MARIE DROMEY MAIRI SĂ•ELSEPP eyp: the culture behind the name p. 4 -5 2
vertical farming i was green before it was cool
p. 10 - 11
p. 8
committee articles DEVE ENVI I ENVI II INTA ITRE
interview with a commissioner p. 24 - 25
cartoon iPhone fad p. 27
CONTENTS
p. 26 carnivorous culture p. 22 - 23 3
SPECTRUMfallacies
The culture Behind the Name
EYP
I The Hofstede model of organisational culture associates certain countries with given opposing characteristics. Manfredi Danielis and Juan Amaya use this model to better define that unique multinational culture that EYP possesses.
n 1980 Geert Hofstede proposed a series of cultural dimensions that describe the effects of a society’s culture on the values of its members. Each dimension presents two contrary opposing traits, such as that countries can be aligned on a scale according to their own cultural backgrounds.
Power distance
The extent by which less powerful members of the organisation accept and expect a power hierarchy. Low power distance More consultative and democratic. People relate to each other as if they were on the same level and interact with power on a regular basis. (Netherlands, Ireland, UK). High power distance More autocratic and paternalistic. People give a lot of value to the hierarchy and perceive that distances between levels should be maintained: (Italy, Romania, France). Power distance is an aspect that’s most treated within activities such as teambuilding. The objective in many problem solving games would be to reduce the internal natural hierarchy, between delegates within the committee. By interacting on the same level, every individual’s opinion is equally valued and valuable.
Individualism vs. Collectivism
The extent to which individuals are integrated into groups. Individualism An emphasis on individual rights and personal achievement. In this way, people are expected to care for themselves and think for themselves. (UK, USA, Switzerland) Collectivism An emphasis on acting as members of a lifelong and cohesive group, people are expected to interact and act following the decisions of the group. (Portugal, Italy, Greece). 4
SPECTRUMculture
Both of these stances are developed and incentivised throughout the whole session. For the ideal functioning of a team it’s essential to have a collective identity. At the same time, varied individual personal stances and ideas are more beneficial in the creation of debate, thus resulting in a conclusion that integrates multiple opinions.
Uncertainty avoidance
The extent to which a society tolerates uncertainty and ambiguity.
High
uncertainty
avoidance
Members try to cope with anxiety by minimizing uncertainty. They plan thoroughly in advance thus structuring and regulating every possible phenomenon. (Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium)
Low
uncertainty
avoidance
Members accept and feel comfortable in unstructured situations or try to have as little regulation as possible. They are more pragmatic and flexible to change. (Sweden, Norway, Netherlands) Uncertainty avoidance varies greatly according to the chairing style and the committee. Some go with the flow, improvise games and new activities, trusting that the situation will rectify itself accordingly while others will prefer to have a strictly scheduled distribution of
time in committee work in the hope of reducing stress.
Masculinity vs. Femininity The extent to which emotional roles traditionally associated to genders, is distributed within the population. Masculine Values competiveness, materialism, ambition and power and differentiates these values majorly between genders. (Germany, Hungary, Poland) Femininity Values relationships and quality of life and both men and women have the same values emphasising modesty and caring. (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) EYP probably possesses one of the most feminine cultures in respect to other organisations. Social convention tends to positively reinforce the acts of hugging and cuddling, both physical and emotional bonding, thus establishing a very non-judgmental atmosphere for the male participants.
Short term Give a great importance to the present valuing tradition, steadiness and the fulfilment of social obligations. (UK, France, Italy, Greece).
The fact that a session takes place during only a few days might equivocally give the impression that EYP is basically short-term orientated. The long-term aspects that this organisation develops can range from the development of personal abilities (in the fields of journalism, organisation or social awareness), to the simple formation of a more attractive CV. On practical grounds, the interrelation between different cultural backgrounds comes with the initial will to leave barriers behind. It is only after acknowledging that cultural difference leads to common enrichment that we are capable of understanding the importance of tolerance in a functional society. With organisations such as EYP, where such a mix of cultures comLong term orientation vs. ing together, it is fascinating to obshort term orientation The ex- serve how we not only develop an tent to which societies focus on the organisational objective, but a whole culture behind what we call being an time line. Long Term Give a great impor- EYPer. tance to the future thus encouraging saving, persistence and ability to adapt. (Finland, Sweden, Iceland) 5
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Think European, Climate change can be seen as unfair as those who suffer its consequences are often not those who caused it. Rebecca Smith looks at whether there is a way to make the burdens of mitigation and adaptation more equitable between countries.
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lthough it is important to have equity, we must acknowledge that we are in a global crisis. It is vital that we hold accountable those who have polluted in the past and recognise the struggles of those who suffer of pollution now. All recent climate change negotiations feature the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR). It allies the notion of the common heritage of mankind, the difference in countries’ contribution to environmental problems, and the difference in the capacity of countries to tackle these problems (1). CBDR is thus founded on the idea of equity. But which equity? Climate change is unfair for multiple reasons, which means there are multiple ways to make it more fair. The first principle of equity is focused on the fact that climate change is caused by human emissions into the atmosphere. Equity of emissions would allow all countries to emit the same amount of greenhouse gases. The idea behind this is that all countries should have an equal opportunity to reach a high standard of living, and emitting greenhouse gases is seen as necessary for development. The consequences of this would be disastrous, as the atmosphere does not have the capacity to intake so much greenhouse gases without dramatic effect (2). Further, this is built
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on assumption; that development can only occur along the path that European countries took. Can’t we find another way to develop that does not cause as many emissions? Why is there so little discussion about this? The second principle of equity examines the issue of whether we can have effective global action when countries have different environmental standards. The United States refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol because it put developing countries to a different standard than developed countries (3). For example, different standards of emission and production can be described as inequitable. This vision is very much oriented towards the present. The defence of this equity is quite appealing to developed countries, but completely disregards historical responsibilities. The third principle of equity is mainly focused on the manifestations of climate change. Equity of impacts is concerned with how each country, region, population, will be impacted by climate change. These impacts are highly varied, and still uncertain (4). What is certain is that the regions most impacted by climate change are the least able to respond to these impacts. Quite unfairly, they are also the least responsible, and in great majority in developing countries (5).
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Change Fairly Putting to side who caused what and who benefits from what, the future generation must also be considered. Intergenerational equity defends the right for each generation to a planet with the same resources and benefits as any other generation. Currently, this is undermined by climate change, as the future generation will likely have less natural resources, more climate extremes, and an atmosphere with less capacity to absorb whatever is put into it. These are only four of many different kinds of equity that are of relevance in fighting climate change. It is impossible and counter-productive to pursue all different forms of equities simultaneously, which means that whichever is chosen, some form of equity must be sacrificed. And even once a position on equity has been chosen, there remains the thorny question of how to apply it in legislation and policy. In particular, where does Europe fit in all of this? The EU falls easily into the category of having benefitted from high emissions to propel development, and having the ability to support less fortunate countries. There is currently a lack of proper legislation regarding climate change. The scientific reality of climate change, with many uncertainties and the long-term time scale, makes it very difficult to gather political support. What structures should the EU use? How can it make climate change actions binding? Which principles
of equity will it follow, and how will it apply it efficiently? Or perhaps, instead we should abandon the idea of a successful international agreement and put our hopes in localised, project-based approaches (6). (1) CISDL (2002). The Principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities: Origins and Scope. (2) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007). Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis, Summary for Policymakers. (3) Suraje Dessai (2001). The climate regime from The Hague to Marrakech: Saving or Sinking the Kyoto (4) Protocol? Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, Working Paper 12. (5) Chen, J. et al. (2011). Uncertainty of downscaling method in quantifying the impact of climate change on hydrology. Journal of Hydrology, Volume 401, Issues 3–4, Pages190–202. (6) O’Hara,P.A. (2009). Political economy of climate change, ecological destruction and uneven development, Ecological Economics, Volume 69, Issue 2, Pages 223-234. Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development – Financing (2013).
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SPECTRUMfallacies
I was Green
Before it was cool
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Environmentalist or immoral hypocrite? Karim Ben Hamda analyses the growing trend of “going green” and the agendas of those who choose to do so.
ore and more people are going green these days by buying electric cars or choosing to make changes in their diet. People becoming more aware of the benefits of leading an eco-friendly lifestyle which is of course a positive trend. However, the whole image that is being created by companies concerning living green makes one think that people are starting to find the fashion statement of going green more important than being concerned about the environmental and health benefits. For public listed companies, the image they portray to their customers is often just as important as the services that they provide. With the environment being extremely topical, companies naturally try to take advantage of this by adapting their marketing strategies. Car companies, such as Toyota, who have sold millions of hybrid and electric cars have made huge profits by doing just this. The way that such companies benefit from this kind of strategy is also thanks to a small part of their clientele, namely, celebrities, musicians and political figures. These public figures have followings who see them as role-
models. However, the companies whose primary agenda is to make as much profit as they can and not necessarily make the earth a better place. This type of consumer culture is something that can arguably be seen as immoral. On the other side of the ecofriendly spectrum; the young urbanites who rebel against large corporations. These so called non-conformists, also often colloquially referred to as “hipsters”, ride around large American and European cities on fixed-gear bikes, eat organic food and wear second-hand clothes. Once again, the choices these people make are environmentally friendly, but a certain level of hypocrisy can be detected; their chosen lifestyle may be one that wishes not to conform to the ideologies of large global companies, but they are nonetheless guilty when it comes to shaping themselves towards the desired image. In this regard they are not that much different than the companies they claim to oppose. At the end of the day we live in a world where vanity plays a huge role and the only people who can be seen as sincere are those who actually do good despite something being cool or not.
SPECTRUMdoping
When two Abstract
Concepts
Come together
Resulting from the ongoing European integration, globalisation, and previous experience with extremist nationalism we can observe the irreversible vanishing of the traditional concept of culture and ethnicity-based state formation. Zuzana Holakovská introduces an alternative theory and highlights the crucial role environmental sustainability will play.
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t was the British-Czech philosopher and social anthropologist Ernest Gellner who first introduced two famous theories of state creation. The first one is based on shared culture and ethnicity, thus a potential state is the outcome of a rather natural process. On the contrary, the voluntary theory claims that people form a political unit only when they reciprocally agree to be a part of it. Such a unit is then the product of human belief, shared values, loyalty and solidarity. Despite the fact that the European Union (EU) is a supranational organisation based on an international treaty, one can hardly deny the non-existence of a “European nation” in terms of citizens’ ethnicity. The collocation “European identity” is edging into common vocabulary. Such an identity, as a symbol for the European Union as a whole, is based on the execution and protection of certain values, in this case mainly democracy and peace. However, since 1972, when the first of a series of European Environmental Action Plans was introduced, the fight for a more prominent role for environmental protection was launched with environmental sustainability forming the core value of the EU. “If we don’t deal with environmental sustainability and climate change, it will be impossible to eliminate poverty”, says EU´s development commissioner Andris Piebalgs. The EU has some of the world’s highest environmental standards through safeguarding the health and wellbeing of its citizens. Compliance with EU´s directives is a requirement of entry to the Union. Some claim that the EU´s commitment to environmental protection en-
courages other countries to adopt similar measures, while others view it as a threat to growing economies. Overall the concept of European identity is based on overcoming our potential disagreement with having joined a supranational organisation despite the lack of our pers o n a l consent. W h a t forms the term is up to us. It used to be democracy that differentiated the United States from the rest of the world. Why not make environmental sustainability a pillar of European identity for the 21st century. The more abstract our identity is, the more we should fight to defend its existence. 9
SPECTRUMlead
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n the late 19th century development space became a serious problem for urban zones. A lack of free expansion area in the rising metropolises of the world needed to be dealt with, and fast. A certain George A. Fuller then came up with a solution: rather than building outwards, build upwards. Skyscrapers: a modern solution for a modern problem. By 2050, 80% of people will reside in urban areas, global population will have raised by nearly 3 billion and there will not be enough fertile land for sufficient production of fresh food to satisfy everyone‘s needs (1). What if, like the skyscraper, instead of looking for fertile land around us we created fertile land above us? Vertical farming was developed by Dr. Dickson Despommier, a professor at the Environmental Health Science Institute of Columbia University. The fundamental idea is to plant crops and food in transparent skyscrapers situated in cities all over the world, thus moving the agricultural production closer to the main consumption area. Greenhouse on top of greenhouse stretching up to the heavens is the proposed solution to the inevitable food crisis of the future. In theory, it would all be organic as herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers are all redundant in a vertical farm (2). As innovative as it may be, the idea of vertical farms does come with a price, and a rather high one. Building an agricultural skyscraper would require a big amount of capital for urban properties and also watering and lighting technology. The main artificial lighting equipment used to replace sunlight is the LED concept, which is still a developing technology, not yet fulfilling
the needs of synthetic farms in large quantities. Even if we take a more Pollyanna point of view and recognise the potential of both the necessary technologies for vertical farming and the concept itself, the project of urban farming is arguably too big to realise. The current agricultural infrastructure is based upon an understanding, which dates back to the Stone Age. As crops come from farms far from cities, the procession quarters have been built close to the production facilities. Moving the production to the city close to the consumers away from procession in order to cut transportation costs is contradictory in itself (3). Yet, these issues are usually tackled with a more idealistic approach. The idea being vertical farming is not only that of buildings with farms in it, but to create urban agricultural outlets to correspond to the needs of highly populated cities by bringing the whole procedure, from production to procession, into the city. Dr. Despommier wishes to meet the cities’ needs by forming a hub of production and procession in the urban areas (4). If vertical farming takes the whole infrastructure of farming and mass agriculture to the metropolises, humanity will be introduced to the notion of selfsufficient cities. The vertical farm may seem like a ‘science-fictionesque’ concept for the distant future, but it has already transcended to reality. In 2012, the Sky Green vertical farm was opened in Singapore, 20 miles away from the array of high-rise buildings already existing (5). As of yet, it has been a successful venture, but there is much more potential for further development of the con-
Vertical Farming Reach for the stars? Berkok Yüksel and Theodor Hall consider the advantages, disadvantages and potential of agricultural skyscrapers.
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SPECTRUMlead
cept. The Sky Green farm remains on a relatively small scale compared to the propositions by Dr. Dickson Despommier, whose suggestions stretch to massive agricultural skyscrapers in the heart of New York. Vertical farming could well represent the future of urban consumption, but it is yet to be fully realised as a concept. Whilst its advocators may be overly optimistic in their approach it is most certainly an idea that deserves further research and development. However, a requirement for its potential functionality is an overhaul of agricultural culture. An impending food crisis is inevitable and one can only hope innovative solutions like this could serve as safety nets in future. Faber est quisque fortunae suae- every man is the architect of his own fortune. We should shape our own future and be the literal architects of ideas reaching for the stars.
(1) The Vertical Farm „Manifesto“ Website http://www.verticalfarm.com/ (2)The Vertical Farm „Manifesto“ Website http://www.verticalfarm.com/ (3)Author N/A, 2010, The Economist http://www.economist.com/ node/17647627 (4)Author N/A, 2010, The Economist http://www.economist.com/ node/17647627 (5) An interview with Dr. Despommier http://www.youtube. com/watch?feature=player_ embedded&v=1clRcxZS52s
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SPECTRUMitre
Carbon tax: Our salvation?
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As the European emission trading scheme (EU ETS) faces fundamental problems, Aida Grishaj explores the carbon tax scheme, what it has to offer and whether it can actually stabilise the market.
In ideal conditions emission trading and carbon tax would have the same impact since they are both alternatives to carbon pricing. (1) In reality however, particularly in the EU lately, ideal conditions are not to be found. The EU ETS, Europe’s flagship environmental policy created to boost innovation amongst European industries and lower carbon emissions, has not been much more than another example for insufficiency of a European project. The over-allocation of carbon allowances has lead to companies having more permits than they actually need and consequently to ridiculous carbon prices. EU officials blame the economic crisis, which has become a safe way out in delegating responsibilities for what has been poorly administered. A few days ago the European Parliament adopted a proposal of the European Commission known as “back-loading,” designed to postpone the auctioning of 900 million permits. (2) This proposal is thought to have a positive impact in the carbon price. However, many experts think it will not be enough to meet the goals the EU has set to tackle cli-
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mate change and global warming. It is estimated that the price of a carbon cap is to be set at 150€ a tonne (now at 6€ a tonne) in order for the EU to successfully meet the goals it has set for 2050 while still using the current system. (3) Meeting these goals is not only a vital environmental issue. Over the years the EU has tried to prove to the rest of the world that environmental policies do not clash with those aiming to support industrial development. When its main project in fighting climate change, which is at the same time the largest emission trading scheme in the world, is now facing collapse, Europe’s reputation as a global leader on environmental issues is at stake. In these circumstances the voices in favour of a centralised carbon tax in the EU are getting stronger. Whether the carbon tax would put an end to all these issues is however questionable. The idea of carbon tax is not new. Many countries in the EU, especially the Nordic ones, have already levied such a tax. There are many advantages of a carbon tax. Unlike cap and trade, which is widely dependent on economic and weather conditions, the tax sets a stable and predictable
carbon price. This can serve both the industries and the consumers, since it allows them to know the price from the start and plan accordingly. Furthermore, it will not only encourage the environmentally friendly behaviour of industries and companies, but also of many individuals, since the tax is not orientated exclusively on production, but also on consumption. The EU ETS covers less than 50% of the total greenhouse gas emissions of the EU, which means that many important sectors, such as agriculture, transport and housing are not covered. (4) A carbon tax would omit these flows. Introducing a carbon tax, despite the aforementioned and other not mentioned advantages, faces many difficulties, especially in these times of economic crisis. Taxation, without regards to its subjects, has always been a very sensitive issue within the EU. Reaching unanimity among the 28 Member States seems even more difficult now that the disparities have grown. While Sweden and Finland strongly support such a measure, Germany and Poland fear that these countries will be affected disproportionally. The UK and Ireland remain sceptical towards this and every other centralised EU tax. (5) Another problem is the fear of the damage such a tax would do to the European industries already under the strain of the economic crisis. Europe would be even less attractive for investments which
could be vital for many fragile peripheral economies of the EU at the moment. Levying such a tax could make moving the factories and production centres of European industries out of the EU even more appealing. This would not only cause further economic troubles, but would sharpen the environmental issues by increasing carbon leakage. The debate on the schemes does not focus on which is the best per se. It concerns much more the question on choosing the most adequate for meeting the goals of the EU while taking into account the economic circumstances. Rather than introducing a new environmental policy, the EU should maybe focus on restructuring and carefully managing the existing system.
1: Luca Taschini, Simon Dietz, Naomi Hicks (2013). The Guardian. Retrieved from: http:// www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jan/31/carbon-taxcap-and-trade 2: European Parliament (2013). Retrieved from: http://www.europarl. europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/ content/20130701IPR14761/ html/Parliament-backs-plannedtemporary-boost-to-CO2-permitprice 3: EurActiv (2010). Retrieved from http://www.euractiv.com/climateenvironment/yvo-de-boer-put150-tonne-price-news-516383 4: European Commission (2013). Retrieved from: http://ec.europa. eu/clima/policies/ets/ 5: EurActiv (2010). Retrieved from: http://www.euractiv.com/climateenvironment/eu-carbon-tax-proposal-delayed-news-495587
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SPECTRUMenviI
Final Hours of GDP – How to change the concept of progress Waltter Suominen gives some insight on his personal stand concerning the role of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as an indicator and sheds some light into what waits ahead in the near future.
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T
he welfare of a nation can scarcely be inferred from a measure of national income.” (1) These were the words of Simon Kuznets, the man who has greatly contributed to the development and the popularity of the measurement of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). GDP, the currently used indicator for development, has been greatly criticised for being ineffective. However, to what extent is GDP flawed? Also, can subjective terms such as “welfare”, “happiness” and “progress” accurately be used when measuring development? GDP is a simple measure of production and it is rather accurate. However, it is believed that a high GDP is a clear sign of a stronger economy and societal improvements, (2) although in reality this is hardly the case. High production can imply that markets are prosperous and that it is wise to produce more, however one country’s production is not an all-encompassing sign of welfare. GDP does not take into account the quality of life, general health, income equality and mobility on the social ladder are a few of the things that the GDP indicator fails to take into account. Production only counts in items with monetary value. One might argue that although welfare and other
non-monetary goods do not directly appear in the equation, GDP is correlated with other related factors. For instance, GDP correlates positively with life expectancy and negatively correlates with infant mortality and inequality. Since it is normal for a parent to grieve for the loss of a child, infant mortality can be seen as an indicator of happiness. (3) This might be seen as a valid argument, although it only deals with one aspect of the problem. Stating that GDP can be seen as an indicator of happiness only functions in very limited ways as there would need to be a clear correlation between money and happiness, i.e. the survival of a child. In this case, the money spent on state of the art equipment in a hospital indirectly affects the happiness of the parents. However, by default happiness is subjective and there are a number of different theories pertaining to measuring happiness. But should not economic indicators ensure that they judge all economies from a neutral perspective without favouring some based on similar cultures and ideals. Whilst happiness might thus not be the most favourable addition to measuring development, what GDP also lacks is the notion of sustainability. When a consumer decides to reuse a product or when a
SPECTRUMenviI factory decides to produce with a lower impact on the environment, this does not show in the graphs for development. GDP only reacts to the increase or the decrease of funds within an economy and not the progress as a whole, but as earlier stated it was never meant to. A possible solution would be to either add a coefficient that represents the sustainability of the production circulating within the economy. This would both encourage governments to oversee the increase of more sustainable development and production whilst actually positively affecting our general development towards sustainability. Ultimately, is it possible to have a universal indicator with differing subjective terms? What has been established so far by most governmental officers during platforms, such as the Beyond GDP Conference, is that there needs to be a change. (4) Current generally used indicators for development are one sided and leave out many crucial factors, however as most of these factors are fairly debatable and subjective, the most logical step would be to start incorporating the most tangible ones, i.e. sustainability and finally move towards the more controversial aspects of welfare and happiness. Though it is vital to remember that an alteration of measurements will have worldwide consequences as when what is measured is changed one will always have an effect on the direction of development itself.
1: Nic Marks, (2010), The Happy Planet Index, retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/nic_ marks_the_happy_planet_index.html. 2: Blayne Haggart, (200), The Gross Domestic Product and Alternative Economic and Social Indicators, retrieved from http://publications. gc.ca/Collection-R/LoPBdP/BP/prb0022-e. htm#D.%A0Weaknesses%20of%20GDP%20 as%20a%20Normative%20Measure(txt). 3: Nicholas Oulton, (2012), Hooray for GDP! GDP as a measure of wellbeing, retrieved from http://www.voxeu.org/article/defence-gdp-measure-wellbeing. 4: International Conference, (2007), Summary notes from the Beyond GDP conference Highlights from the presentation and the discussions, Retrieved from http://www.beyond-gdp.eu/download/bgdp-summary-notes.pdf. 15
SPECTRUMfallacies
Urban mining – not quite bringing a pickaxe to the city centre
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g e
SPECTRUMinta
What should be done with your iPhone after it has fallen on the ground and broken? Most people would stack it up somewhere out of sight, unknowing that this little gadget is richer in metals than any ore on Earth. This fact has succesfully been used for the concept of urban mining – an alternative for when the mines have run empty.
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he Earth weighs approximately 6 sextillion tonns (a 24-figure number in kilograms). More than half of it is made up from different metals and their compounds. Currently the overall production of metals adds up to several billion tonns every year and the mining rates are on the rise as demand is ever bigger. Due to being economically more feasible, the most easily accessible reserves are mined first, then continuing on to resources that are more expensive and difficult to obtain. With the current tempo we will run out of metals to mine in a few hundred years. Studies show that every year about 50 million tonns of e-waste is generated and this is only increasing. Old technologies give way to new ones and the old devices - considered obsolete - are either thrown away or stacked up. Only about half a quarter of it is recycled and even so only the most common components such as copper, gold, aluminium, and iron are extracted. Furthermore, only 1% of rare Earth elements (REEs) – the most vital and valuable ingredients for modern technology - is recycled. Due to issues with current methods of obtaining rare earth elements, many governments are looking to open new private mines. Surprisingly, it might not make
sense to open new mines per se. In landfills the concentration of REEs and other elements, is much higher than in the most profitable mine. It is estimated that there could be over 30 times more of these metals in e-waste than in the nature. Extracting these substances is called urban mining - a sustainable way of ensuring the flow of vital resources and properly disposing of waste. This might be the best alternative to mining as the mines will deplete at some point. Without urban mining we are left with a huge amount of old electronics which is essentially useless. Of course, preventing electronics being dumped into landfills in the first place would be cheaper and better for nature. However, there is a lack of awareness regarding recycling technology and proper infrastructure has not yet been developed. Not to mention that there are too few factories able to properly and efficiently recycle electronics. As many developed countries have not invested funds towards providing sufficient recycling opportunities, millions of tonns of e-waste is currently being shipped off to countries like India and China. The waste is then recycled for maximum profit without environmental consideration. Such behaviour has already resulted in accidents and damage to nature and the individuals working in the
factories. If more was invested towards ensuring safe recycling, this business could be very profitable and much less harmful for the environment than the mining and extracting of REEs, which involves strong acids and processing of radioactive ores. An aspect that makes recycling modern technology difficult is the design – the capacity for recycling is rarely taken into account during production. Extracting the important and dangerous compounds from a unit can be expensive and problematic. Very often incineration is used to get rid of unwanted substances, but doing this on a larger scale would have a serious impact on the environment. There is only finite resources in our exposal. As rich depositories are mined first, it will become more expensive both financally and energy-wise to obtain the materials we so desperately need. Currently, billions’ worth of metals are disposed of - this has a negative effect on the economy, industry and environment. If we want to retain the same standard of living for future generations, we need to shift our focus towards sustainability and urban mining as a simple concept. Do not create anything that cannot be easily made into something else and make sure everything you do not need, is made into something that someone else could use.
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SPECTRUMsigg
It’s a SIGG Life
We may take them for granted but the session water bottles have been with us at every step of our Zurich adventure. Journalists Conall O’Rourke, Manfredi Danielis, and Kaarle Olav Varkki, quickly interview a very hipster bottle, to gain insight into his secret and unique life.
Can you state your name, age, and something interesting about yourself ? Hello, my name is Walter Bawtle. I am 105 years old in bottle years, that’s about 9 days in delegate time. I only hold organic, fresh liquids, from sustainable sources, such as zero fat vegan soy milk. Why did you want to do this interview? Well, I started doing interviews before it was cool. I really think it’s important that people understand that sustainability, hydration, and large frame glasses are the key to the future survival of our species. Best and worst moment of the session? My favourite moment was delegate arrival; I got my first taste of fresh, healthy, Swiss water. It was just like a scene from Breakfast Club, you probably wouldn’t know it. It’s an 80’s indie film. Worst moment was when the delegates took me swimming with them to the lake; the ducks are not your friends!! Have you any session gossip? Actually, I am in an open, polyamorous relationship with a coffee mug and an empty coke can from the media room! We regularly exchange fluids but it’s nothing serious. Don’t get me wrong I like delegates, but sometimes it feels like they only want one thing from me, when all I want to do is talk, they are just thinking about how quickly they can get my top off.
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SPECTRUMombudsman
EYP OMBUDSMAN Recommendations There are many aspects of our organisation that could be classified as unfair and exclusive. In this issue, Rebecca Smith and Dirk Hofland assess the recommendation system and its subjective nature.
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e have previously discussed the apparent predisposition towards extroverts in EYP, leading us to the conclusion that certain character traits are being favoured over others. We ask this question because we are interested in what constitutes a ‘good EYPer’, and how this definition shapes our organisation. Obviously this question does not have a straightforward answer. However, there is a mechanism in EYP; the recommendation system, which is a subjective institution of significant importance to all partici-
pants and sessions. A clear benefit of participating in EYP is the opportunity for personal development. This typically relies the feedback received from your ‘feedbacking official’ - in this case your chairperson. Here, your chair will try and provide constructive feedback on your performance. Furthermore, the chair will also have the opportunity of recommending you for different role’s at future IS’s. These recommendations are a prerequisite for being considered by a selection panel of an IS. However, we believe this system to be inherently unfair. In a recently published analysis of the recommendation database one of the most significant, although highly debatable, conclusions was that the number of current recommendations is heavily skewed towards North and Western Europe. Although it could be argued that this is due to a discrepancy in the quality of participants from different regions, it most certainly indicates that the recommendation system in its current
capacity does not offer equal opportunities to all. There is no objective criteria for handing out recommendations, it is largely up to the discretion of your feedbacking official. The considerable influence on your future participation in EYP IS events is potentially a problem. It should furthermore be noted that it is sometimes up to the luck of the draw who turns out to be your feedbacking official. This arbitrary element further supports the notion that highly qualified participants are restricted from participating in future ISs due to chance. While the Governing Body is currently attempting to address this, as illustrated by the trial on external recommendations that was run at this , we should all work to see that the influence of individual visions on what constitutes a good EYPer does get in the way of equal opportunities.
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SPECTRUMenviII
“gmo?! More like GMoh-no!” With increasing pressure and money being pumped into the GM revolution, many governments are fed up with the constant barriers and public distrust they encounter daily. But what are the facts, and do they backup claims that GM Crops are the solution to world hunger?
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pon discovering my half written topic article my Granddad insisted on contributing his self-composed list of GM “facts”. He is one of those crazy vegans that insists on growing his own vegetables, subscribing to weekly farmer magazine, and lecturing the rest of us on “GM crops make men impotent”, “Animals that eat GM crops have mutated offspring”, and my personal favourite “Eating GM crops is worse than smoking”. While my granddads examples are extreme, the majority of consumers share similar misconceptions and fears. The term “Genetically Modified Organism” has evolved into a very negative buzzword that suggests a Frankenstein like scenario, with crazy scientists playing god in some shady laboratory in their basements. In reality, a genetically modified crop is simply one which has a new trait added as
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a result of changing its DNA. It is similar to selective breeding, where crops are cross bred to try and produce a desirable trait over several generations, but is much faster and allows specific traits to be transferred within one generation. Focusing on these misconceptions and fears, this article aims to present the facts about GM Crops, alongside the positive and negative viewpoints on the topic. Genetically modified crops were first grown commercially in 1996. In 2012, 170 million hectares of genetically modified crops were grown between 28 different countries. With China at the forefront of this revolution it has been suggested that many small sized Chinese farms have benefited from GM crops, despite arguments that GM Crop production is more suited to large scale farms. (1) In Africa, it has even been argued that traditional methods and skills are currently proving a much
better and sustainable approach to farming than GM crops, and their introduction at present could actually result in lower produce if they fail in the climate. (2)This has been seen in India, where mass suicide of farmers has been observed as a result of failed growth in GM cotton plants. (3) There are two main types of GM crops; herbicide tolerance and insect resistance, with some crops holding both traits. Insect-resistant crops mean lower pesticide use, and lower risk of chemicals leeching into water sources. These crops have resulted in a fall in pesticide use of roughly 443 million kilograms between 1996 and 2010. (4) Herbicide-tolerant crops reduce topsoil loss. No-till farming helps preserve the organic matter in the soil as well as reducing carbon-dioxide emissions from tillage. Other possible modifications include increasing photosynthesis in rice crops to help reduce CO2 levels,
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and also bioluminescent plants as an alternative to electric lighting. (4) GM crops are primarily used in animal feed and in biofuels and current EU legislation requires that GM food be labelled and traceable back to the producer. However this is not the case for dairy or meat products that have been grown eating GM feed. (5) While this legislation is slowly changing, and pressure is being put on individual member states to lower their policies against GM crops, it has been pointed out that the freedom of choice for farmers from developing countries has been restricted severely by the current EU policy. (6) Billions of dollars have been spent so far trying to change the stigma attached to GM crops. Despite this, countries like Kenya, Tanzania, India, Peru, Bolivia, and Costa Rica are all still avoiding or reducing their GM production and importation amid speculation over its long term benefits. (7) All in all, the GM debate is one that seems to continuously gravitate back to the same few points including fear of large corrupt
western companies, fear of adverse side effects from GM product consumption, or fear of unbalancing the ecosystem. From my research I believe that once we understand what “GM” means we see that the long run benefits outweigh the costs. Granted, for many developing countries at present, it’s neither commercially viable nor the cure for hunger but the desire for countries to block out all association with GM is, in my opinion; unfair and unjustified. By this stage, the argument should move past the pro vs anti debate and the senile ramblings of my granddad, and towards asking HOW we can facilitate the development, understanding, and induction of GM in Europe.
(3)Sreelata, M. (2012) Committee advises halt to Indioan Bt crop trials. http://www.scidev.net/ global/gm/news/committee-advises-halt-to-indian-bt-crop-trials-. html (4) Nina, F. (2013). GM crops: Facts and myths. http://forumblog. org/2013/02/gm-crops-factsand-myths/ (5)European Commission for Health and Consumers (2013) http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/ biotechnology/index_en.htm (6) Dutfield, G. (2007). Social and economic consequences of genetic use restriction technologies in developing countries. http://academia.edu/1434870/ Social_and_Economic_Consequences_of_Genetic_Use_Restriction_Technologies_in_Devel(1) Kirby, A. (2000). GM crops oping_Countries find friends in China. http:// (7) Vidal, J. (2013) Uk Govnews.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/na- ernment’s enthusiasm for GM ture/1778132.stm not matched in developing na(2)Belay, M. & Nyambura, R. tions. http://www.guardian.co.uk/ (2013). GM crops won’t help Af- global-development/povertyrican farmers. http://www.guard- matters/2013/jan/04/uk-governian.co.uk/global-development/ ment-enthusiasm-gm poverty-matters/2013/jun/24/ gm-crops-african-farmers
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SPECTRUMvegetarianism
Carnivorous Culture Theodor Hall, Dirk Hofland, Jonathan Piepers and Waltter Suominen each provide differing views vegetarianism.
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e live in a consumer society where one tends to forget the influence citizens hold over the market. Being a vegetarian can be a personal demonstration against problems related to animal rights, genetic modification, etc. Whatever the reason may be, this change of eating habits has an impact on the market. By choosing to boycott industrial unethical meat products it is already one less buyer and this can be the beginning of many. With having the determination to achieve change, change can be achieved. One might call it unnatural to stop eating meat, but for some it is a way to demonstrate for a better tomorrow. Being a vegetarian is the right thing to do any way you look at it. That said, I am an eager carnivore that loves nothing more than a welldone steak. Ecologically, environmentally, economically, socially and politically vegetarianism is a virtue (Note I did not say morally, I do not buy into the idea that eating flesh is necessarily wrong). However, for many vegetarians it is a serious problem to sustain their principles, due to a society that frankly discriminates against the herbivores therein. We mock their ideology, when
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in reality we should respect, praise and be inspired by their commitment to a cause. I would gladly convert to vegetarianism for ecological considerations. If you look at how much one can decrease his ecological footprint by abstaining from meat, turning vegetarian looks like a very sensible thing to do. Then again, becoming vegetarian is just one of many possible things that can be done. I strongly believe in vegetarianism as one of many aspects in a broader lifestyle with a minimised ecological impact. Sadly, I admit that I don’t have the courage to swear off all the deliciousness meat offers. The tagline is: I would, if I could‌ Being just a vegetarian can convincingly be compared to donating to charity. It does not have a significant impact, but does go a long way in buying off your guilt for spoiling the earth. Whereas the measures that will actually have a significant positive impact on the environment either stem from corporate or governmental institutions, it is my opinion that the impact on the environment of being a vegetarian is not a significant enough for me to give up eating meat. Also, I could not rip on vegetarians if I were one myself – perhaps a significantly more important argument.
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SPECTRUMinterview
Interview with a Commissioner The International Session of the Switzerland, Zurich, was graced with the presence of Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth. The inquisitive pair, Jonathan Piepers and Hugo Dürr took the opportunity to interview the inspirational lady to hear her thoughts on the session.
tional Session, what is your opinion on our activities in the EYP? I feel very inspired. Only by meeting people from different cultural, economical, social and linguistic backgrounds can one become informed. That is what it is all about. Informed decisions are of capital importance, as opposed to letting your life be determined by others.
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nder the burning glass roof of Universität Zürich, Kerstin Mathias declared the 73rd International Session open in the presence of Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou. Ms Vassiliou, previously European Commissioner for Health from February 2008 to end 2009, is currently Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism, Youth and Sport. Subsequent to the Commissioner’s speech during the Opening Ceremony, the Spectrum Media Team approached her for an interview.
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As Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism, Youth and Sport, how do you manage to cover such a broad spectrum of competences? I myself see a lot of interconnection between these seemingly rather disparate policy areas. But for me the common denominator, is youth. Young people are the epicentre of Europe, and are responsible for what will happen in the future. You, the youth, are the key.
How have you managed to balance a life of charity work and political career, whilst not losing track of your personal life? Honestly, it is not easy! Combining so many priorities all at once requires great planning and determination. My family even teases me for being so organised. You must have time management skills, and be committed; otherwise it will not work. I was never a grade-A student, but I was determined, and You spoke very passionately followed my passion, and so I about youth unemployment am where I am today. in your speech; how would you like to see the CommitBeing here at this Interna- tee on Employment and So-
SPECTRUMinterview an experience abroad? “No, it will only add to the existing scheme. The new initiative aims to give more youngsters the opportunity to enjoy a mobility experience by integrating internship and apprenticeship. We hope to see a 100% increase with this initiative, in the number of those who will take part in this programme to four million young people. Thus these people will gather work experience which is essential when entering the job market in these difficult times.” Will the Erasmus+ scheme then Could you give one piece of adreplace the classic Erasmus con- vice for delegates who have their cept for students searching for eyes set on following a path in cial Affairs discuss this issue? Yes, it is a terrible situation. I would like to see the committee differentiate between the two types of unemployed youths: those who dropped out of the formal education system and entered the job market early, and those who have a university degree, but end up with a degree mismatched to the current demands of the labour market. The recently launched Erasmus+ programme should address this issue.
Think European Be Visionary
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espite the fact that Opening ceremonies tend to be very similar at every session, delegates of the IS Zurich 2013 went through a unique experience in the University of Zurich. Kerstin Mathias, the President of the session, took part in changing the format of Opening ceremony speeches and took a step away from the commonly used, empty clichés by reminding the delegates of their imperfections. According to Kerstin, the delegates should strive for the right balance between confidence and awareness of the option of further development. Furthermore two of the delegates displayed their skills and confidence by raising their voice on the
politics? Get involved. Participate by means of reading, thinking, listening, and debating current issues with your friends. I very much agree with your session President: to rather speak and be wrong, than to remain silent and be right. This is a lot more valuable of an experience. You must begin with the grass roots, start with local politics, and then move up from there. Never lose touch with the basis, and stay rooted to the people.
Zuzana Holakovská reports from the Opening Ceremony of IS Zurich 2013.
stage. Anna Diehm from Germany showed her appreciation for international friendships and Sophie Silverstein from the Swiss delegation emphasised the importance of balancing patriotism and multicultural dialogue on a local, national and European level. The topic of active citizenship, especially from a young age, was often frequently mentioned along with the disconcerting issue of youth unemployment. A spark to the event were two musical intermezzos and a European anthem played live a string quartet. Overall, Opening Ceremony showed repeated instances of EYP being praised for its massive accomplishments and its benefits were constantly reinforced. 25
SPECTRUMopinion
iphone Fad After having experienced a 15 minute conversation at this session about whether the iPhone 4 is better than the 5, Lia Pachler critically reflects on the apparent need of possessing Apple‘s groundbreaking communication device.
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uring the past few years the number of people possessing an iPhone of any kind has increased significantly. Regardless of where you are, someone with an iPhone can be found easily. From the latest version of the iPhone 5 to the “dinosaur“version 3G, iPhones are wide-spread amongst on a global level. Teenagers in secondary school own iPhones, whereas our generation was revolutionised by a Nokia 3310. University students, who survive on cheap pasta everyday, own iPhones. Riding the tube to either high-income or low-income residential areas, the density of iPhones in people‘s hands does not differ a lot. Undoubtedly, some people go beyond rationality to obtain an iPhone. It is not uncommon that people addicted to Mac-products camp in front of Apple Stores to be amongst the first to experience Apple‘s newest version of the communication device. In the absurdest case, a 17-year-old desperate Chinese teenager sold his kidney for £2,000 to finally meet the ex-
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pense of an iPhone and an iPad. Now suffering from renal deficiency, one has to wonder what possessed this individual to undergo this illegal transplant operation. Also, people take out special loans, mainly short-term ones, to purchase an iPhone. Nonetheless, it is not worth all that money to purchase this overpraised device. The question still remains why people want Apple‘s phone so desperately. One of the reasons is that in addition to being an attractive smartphone, the iPhone is a symbol of a certain social status. Some people believe in showing off their wealth by being able to invest in an iPhone, because apparently it is the ultimate smartphone. It‘s the superiority complex that iPhone possessors are used to feeling.
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in addition to being an attractive smartphone, the iPhone is a symbol of a certain social status.
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Our generation has adopted the mentality that if you do not have an iPhone, then, well, you don‘t have an iPhone, as the famous commercial once stated. Society has become “brainwashed“ with the fact that the iPhone, and generally speaking Apple, is the ‘end all, be all“ of cell phones. Additionally, there are people who simply admire the design and the technology. Also, some users often don‘t know why they decided for the Apple version of a smartphone. All in all, people sacrifice too much to get an overrated and overpriced iPhone, but this whole iPhone fad will pass sometime, latest when everyone owns one.
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Reader’s Letters
In this section of the paper our delegates have the opportunity to send in their reactions and responses to the articles in the previous paper. If you have a comment, criticism, correction or anything else to say concerning our products, please do send it to zurichmediateam@gmail.com or hand it in to a journalist. Especially after having had the chance to listen to many negative arguments concerning a general introduction of Gender quota in European enterprises and politics at the Forum event, I am getting even more settled in my opinion of this not being the ultimate measure in order to achieve equality in the European labour market. I believe that one of the major aims will be to ensure more flexible parental leave conditions and a child care system that makes it possible for women to actually achieve both, a career and a safe and proper education for her children. This may be the key not only for making the European labour market equal, but also for giving all the ‘Power Ladies’ the possibility to show their academic skills and their ability to perform in top level positions.
I would like to reaffirm Aida Grishaj’s article about the mass hysteria over the security measures. While the number of privacy breaches does seem daunting, one must consider that with these security measures installed, the amount of terrorist attacks has sunk a lot.
Marko Dusic on ‘Dead or alive’
Nina Thomic on ‘Abolish the old boy’s culture’
Cartoon
Berkok Yüksel visualises Controversies on inclusivity in the EYP
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