The Staircase
Issue I
24th Regional Session of EYP Serbia
Editorial The Staircase Day 1. With tremendous insecurity and dose of confusion we make our first step. Insecurity caused by confusion because of the picture that is everything but clear. Picture of people as lost as you are jumping around, singing silly songs, while level of your blurriness only raises. At that point, you have option to satisfy your curiosity and take a step forward in order to discover that mysterious world of EYP. At that point, you evolute from afraid to curious. You just made another step. And at that point you realize that all these teenagers in your surrounding are in bases the same but yet so different. You realize that we are all here hungry for debate, thirsty for change and seduced by main thing this organization is offering you - inexplicable experience. One more step. Day 2. Today, it is hardly to see a group surrounding you . Today you see a team that you are part of. Today you are initiator of that game that was silly yesterday and today you are not afraid to take as many steps as you wish. Suits, ties, shirt, dresses, strong coffees, resolutions, lack of sleep and final goodbye. Now turn around, take a look back, are you noticing how you cannot see beginning of that staircase? Are you noticing that you have taken so many steps forward that you were not even aware of making? But.. this is magic of these staircase, they do not have a number of stairs. You are the one defining it. And another magic of these staircase is that you hardly ever see end and that you hardly ever get tired. In this case endless is good, because knowledge and experience you have opportunity to gain is endless, and you can always count on more stairs as long as your shoes are made for walking. Welcome to journey in which you are the one choosing the direction and determining the destination.
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Content
Editoal.....................................................1 Content.....................................................2 Active or reactive..........................................3 Why are two wheels better than four.........................5 Are we ready................................................7 Like the bull in the china shop.............................9
Journalists
Milica Nektarijevic Anja Martinovic Milena Smigiv Milan Davidovic
Editorial assistant Ivana Biga Editor Milica Simeunovic
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Active or reactive? It is already a well known story, not only in Serbia, but in every society, that young people are not enough involved in socially beneficial activities in their local or regional community. This brings out a question: Who is responsible? Is it our school system, level of economic development, state regulation or young people themselves that are not interested enough in participating in community oriented actions. EU studies show that wealth and democratic stability in a country do not guarantee democratically engaged youth. In addition, young people’s positive attitudes towards participation and their citizenship values are often enhanced in relatively poorer countries with recent breaks in democracy. In spring of 2014. Serbia have faced with massive floods and severe weather conditions. As soon as the government has sent nation wide appeal for help, young people from 18 to 30 years old, from all parts of Serbia, were the majority that has immediately joined rescue teams. This is only one of the instances that has positively impressed the whole society and that has proved that youth are extremely willing to be engaged as active citizens and always ready to help. But does that mean that young people are going to help only when the situation becomes that extreme and when it is transmitted on every TV programme? The true problem is that we are not aware of how much are volounteers necessary in everyday life.
Even though there are so many organizations and sites that are offering full variety of volunteering actions in Serbia as well as abroad, that is not enough. One of organizations of that kind is ‘Volonteri Beograda’ that offers to people of all age to become active citizens. On their site there is an everyday updated list that covers a whole variety of volounteering actions. However, young people need guidance and support in recognizing the benefits of this kind of engagement. In 21st century where material parameters have become predominant it is important to promote range of different values of the volounteering concept to the young people in our society. Enhancing social and relationship skills, increasing self-confidence and providing career experience and useful job skills are only some of the examples of the benefits that volunteering can ensure to the youth that are willing to become active part of their community. In parallel with the growing number of volunteer organizations there is a significant increase of nonformal education institutions for young people. Non-formal education is about acknowledging the importance of education, learning and training which takes place outside
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recognized educational institutions. Unfortunately, those institutions are neither recognized by the formal education authorities nor very popular in their focus groups. But what benefits can the learning individual expect if our learning system start focusing on the process of formal recognition of non-formal and informal learning? Whether through the awarding of a full certification, a partial certification, a right of access to the higher education system or to any programme in the formal lifelong learning system or any recognised document (portfolio of competences, competence passport, etc) that has social value and is widely recognised so that they can benefit from it, now or later in life?
mass media, professional education and certification). The development process is in fact an educational process, or rather it should be viewed as such. Therefore government should not conceive economic and social development in the absence of education – both formal and non-formal. But the real question is: Can you envision the society where non-formal learning, taking place at home, at the workplace or elsewhere, be even more important, relevant and significant than the kind of learning that occurs in formal settings?
MIlena Smigic
Why should government recognize the benefits and political usefulness of the term non-formal education? Here is why - in majority of developed countries by the mid 1960s it was becoming clear that an education system based on public school system could not be sustained because of the direct costs to their economies. And then, search for ‘new’ educational techniques was on. Furthermore, it was becoming clear that the school was only one amongst many potential educative elements. And the concepts such as ‘the learning society’ have started to gain the value. At the same time a number of socialist countries initiated large programmes for changing the consciousness, skills and organizations of their populations. They typically used many of the forms that we now label as non-formal education (specialized training programmes, use of
‘Participation in civil society, community and political life, characterised by mutual respect and non-violence and in accordance with human rights and democracy.’ -Active citizenship, Hoskins
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Why are TWO wheels better than FOUR Today we surpassed our need for survival and we consume much more that we give back to nature. In 1986, Novi Sad was pronounced the cleanest city in the former Yugoslavian state. These days’ things have drastically changed. The air is polluted by excessive amounts of heavy metals, Carbon Dioxide and Monoxide, caused by land transport. Johan Strauss would have never composed the famous waltz “By the Beautiful Blue Danube”, if he’d seen the Danube in this ecological state. Regulations that are not carried out for water vehicles and the sewage from our city has turned this vast river into the “Brown Danube” river. The local authorities insist on washing yourself after swimming in the river, because they are aware of the pollution in the river, but are still letting people swim. Floating trash and exhaust leeks from boats are commonly seen. Littering is illegal, but not morally judged and paper is not the only material being thrown out. Illegal dump sites exist between “Novo Naselje” and the centre, on the “Fruška Gora” mountain and also on
the Petrovaradin side of Novi Sad just 200 meters from its centre. Every year on the 1st of May, Serbia celebrates work day, and traditionally the citizens go out in nature and have a barbeque. Because of the shear neglect and leftover trash at the event, “Gradsko zelenilo”, the city firm that is responsible for making sure the city is clean; have their work cut out for them. There are being blamed for most of the problems that Novi Sad is facing. The issue is that they are understaffed and out of their jurisdiction, therefore are looked down upon by other citizens. Paper bags are a luxury and rarely used. The plastic ones’ are cheaper, but this greatly affects our environment, because of the multiple types of pollution. Also the production of plastic causes pollution while in its production process, and its non fragmenting nature of the material, means that it will stay intact underground when it is disposed. Garbage disposal units are treated as punching bags, their removal is costing the city
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a lot of money, as it all proceeds the citizens are unhappy by the low amount of functional disposal units. The newly installed underground units, made somewhat resolved the issue of garbage cans being out in the open, but they are often vandalized. So the question is how do the city officials handle this issue? Well, there are several projects, most of them are not successful, due to bad implementation and not enough support from the bureaucrats. “Ekološki pokret“, Novi Sad, was formed in 1990 and is having multiple financial problems, which diminishes their effect. „Pokret Gorana“ is also having some trouble with the administration ,at the moment, but they are helping to increase awareness of the ecological problems. Project that is having some success is „NS Bike“. It represents a good initiative presented by the administration, but people in Novi Sad do not see this type of transport as attractive. The point of the project is to try to reduce the number of cars on the street. Even though there are 10 automated spots where you can rent the „NS Bike“, people rarely make use of this advantage and prefer the cosines of petrol powered vehicle. Habits are hard to change, but with people trying harder to keep the city cleaner, we one day might hope for an ecofriendly society. The point is that it is not the government that has to start the change; it is YOU that needs to change.
Milan Davidovic
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Are we Ready? What is the first thing you think of when you hear Amsterdam? Yes, mine was that as well. Dream city of almost every person in some period of their life.The city that is guided by the idea of liberty and decision about the matters of its own health, thus made contraversial for the same. Controversial topics have been always present among people, no matter was it 19th or 21st century. Yet, every topic eventually bacame an ordinary setting. Just remember that woman got first right to vote less then a 100 years ago, which was until then considered unthinkalbe; or the time when Marylin Monroe showed up and astonished everyone wearing litlle white skirt instead of long solemn one. Looking from today’s perspective,though our time is considered as liberal, it is clear that there are many unresolved problems and taboos. The one that is taking hold gradually more and more each day, is legalization of cannabis or commonly known marijuana.
The first record of cannabis use dates to 4000 B.C. when the herb was used as an anesthetic during surgery in Asia, and in following years proved its beneficial effect in relieving the symptoms of a number of serious diseases. Nowadays there are many countries that decriminalized or legalized medical marijuana, admiting its adventages. Besides that, marijuana was a part of the rituals of many ancient civilizations. Through years, marijuana had different uses and purposes, however in prohibiton time in the USA it became officialy illegal. Although cannabis extracts — marijuana, hashish and cannabis oil — are classified as narcotic drugs under both Schedules I and IV of the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, and adopted by all EU Member States within the Council Resolution on cannabis in 2004 that requests Member States to take measures to discourage personal use, each country behaves in its way. The measures adopted to control it at national level vary considerably, so in some of them possession of the small quantities of cannabis is decriminalized or tolerated, as well as legalized for medical purpses.The Ntherlands, Czech Republic, Portugal and Spain are the most popular “weed friendly” countries in Europe. For that reason their tourism is de-
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veloping successfuly, contributing to their economies a lot, and also to the social security. Amsterdam has constant increase in number of tourists, who are willing to experience all the magic that the city gives, and in that way helping Amsterdam to earn 400 million € annually form only coffeshop taxes. Furthermore, countries, such as Portugal, that have treted citizens dependet on drugs as patients in need of treatment, instead of criminals, have demonstrated extremly positive results in crime reduction, health improvment and overcoming dependence. It is interesting to note that in the Netherlands the age of first heroin use is the highest of Europe, which is explained by the relative tolerance concerning cannabis use. Overall, any kind of liberalizations attitudes and laws towards marijuana led to benefits.
Yet, the Criminal Law adopted in 2006, requires that any possession, consumption, production or sale of any kind of drugs will be imprisoned, doesn’t really satisfy the majority. According to many surveys conducted recently, the majority is determinate to legalize marijuana, and not only for medical purposes. “As long as you are being sensibly discreet and not offending anyone the police should leave you alone.”-Liberalism and legalization certainly carry with them huge responsibility and now it’s being questioned whether Serbia is ready for such a movement as decriminalization or even legalization of marijuana. Are we breaking the taboo and taking first steps in this revolution today, or is it just a blind story? Anja Martinovic
In recent years, Serbia has taken big steps in attempts to become a Member of EU, trying to accept many regulations and at the same time save its sovereignty and satisfies people.
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Like the bull in a china shop Serbia, with its many different cultures and religions, often being pitted directly one against another, poses a specific type of tolerance challenge. The debate about civil rights and liberties is often interpreted in a more liberal meaning than the citizens of this country are used to, more than once being in direct contrast with the fundamental belief system of the citizenry. Approaching this subject is being quite like a bull in a china shop, where the difficulty of placing an argument that will not insult someone is rivaled only by that of proposing a solution t h a t won’t make an ethnic or any other minority group feel threatened or endangered. Imagining a safe online environment is impossible without understanding the predispositions of that idea. There would have to be a basic tolerance between the participants of the online ´´service´´, there would have to exist a regulatory body empowered to sanction excesses, and, before any discussion about regu-
lating said environment, the citizens would have to be made aware of the fact that the anonymity of the internet does not provide an excuse for hate, insults or badgering. All these terms have to be met in order to obtain a solution to the problem that would have a plausible chance of succeeding. The first and third condition are governmental and educational issues, they would have to be solved over generations of human beings, especially the tolerance problem that runs so deep in the peoples of this country. Addressing the second issue, however, is a perfectly reasonable objective in this day and hour. While forming a body/agency/service that would be able to monitor content that users post online would be easy, the possibility of that agency actually doing its job is a whole different matter. The technology is quite available, the NSA for instance uses a very simple software across the world that pinpoints users that frequently use words like Allah, Terrorism etc. However the
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true problem, as with all laws in Serbia, is the will of the people to force the law upon themselves. Having not met the other conditions that might seem like an impossible mission, but if we examine the entirety of Serbian society we can see a pattern among all groups, ethnic, cultural or otherwise. The institution of a ´´leader´´ has been present among our compatriots since the founding of our society. So, we have many different groups that, being frank, hate each other, and consider their side of the story to be the truth, that they are right in their opinions and that the other side(in this case being everyone that doesn’t think like they do) is wrong. Thinking that is not a problem, but the public expression of said opinions poses a great threat to the fragile homeostasis of this nations society. So the problem is making someone that feels like expressing his/her political and cultural attitude is a birthright no matter how insulting it is to the other person to simply stop. The solution is, as we´ve already established, the ´´leader´´ that every group has. To be more specific, the exit from this maze of hate is making the leaders of every group come together with a dictionary and good will, so they can make a list of offensive words for members of each group and putting it on paper, and eventually in a program that would indicate which user used said words and at what time. Then the leaders would spread the word among their respective words and using their authority the mentality of the people would automatically change for the better. In essence, as with all things, the
solution to the problems of a specific society cannot be imposed from outside, but only by using the authentic traits of the same society.
Milica Nektarijevic
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