I’M ON A BOAT ANNA BORRELL
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ast night the delegates were treated to a wonderful ‘uniform’ themed party, which took place on the Bosphorus boat. The party was a true success, and a great way to mark the end of resolution writing. Doctors, chefs, prisoners, nurses and football players were
scattered across the boat, enjoying the beautiful views the Bosphorus offered. Dancing to the latest hits on the dance floor, or re-enacting the classic Titanic scene, delegates and officials made the most of this unique party location. It was clear that a lot of effort had been put into last night’s outfits. However, there were some stand-out group costumes: the nuns and the female UK delegation of beautiful rugby players.
The ladies, managed to look glamorous despite sporting traditionally unflattering attire! A quick mention must go to Cherif the Sheikh who conquered us all with his exotic Arabian accent and dance moves, remaining in character all night. The prize for the most random costume of the night would go to Goofy-the-chef, and his giant green hat. A curious combination of elements, resulting in a very original outfit. It was definitely a fun and energetic night for all. Now preparations must commence for the Farewell Party which will not disappoint.
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LET THE GAME
ALI MURAT GALI AND ALEX NOMPILAKIS
BEGIN! T
he pinnacle of every session is General Assembly (GA). Explaining GA may appear to be stating the obvious, but the experience at an IS contains myriad of elements which are different from a national session. From its fails to successes, this GA will be an unprecedented experience, but how to get the most out of it? GA can be long, and only has a few short breaks. Bringing what you think will be crucial for your survival is vital. This definitely includes large quantities of water to cool you down during the heated debates. But be careful not to spend your entire break in the large queues for the rest-rooms. Getting a good night’s sleep before GA is essential to provide you with sufficient energy to participate fully in the debates.
No matter how comfortable the seats are and how undetectable you feel in such a big venue, the risk of being spotted napping by the board or the distinguished guests would be humiliating and disrespectful. A way to tackle this issue is making the most of our Red Bull sponsors whenever possible. Although you have all been selected to come here and have debating experience, there is always room for improvement. Repeatedly asking “How are you going to implement this?” or “Where are you going to find the money?” can get tedious and make the debate inefficient. Do not worry; just enjoy the infinite funds of EYP. Aim for the perfect GA, but expect some mistakes. We foresee at least one delegate that will
trip on the way to the podium, spill coffee on someone, or forget their speech. Try to remain in high spirits and bear in mind you might be next in line. On a more serious note, to have the most fruitful GA, we encourage you to flick through the resolution booklet earlier and get at least a rudimentary knowledge of each topic. Always be ready to give a direct response or ask constructive questions to develop the discussion. Also, the topic article booklet distributed by the Press Team along with the first issue of ‘The Clash’, offers background information on the topics for debate. Ultimately you delegates make or break GA. As the main actors, it is up to you to make the last part of the session the best it can be.
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THECLASH
GREEK FOOD FOR THOUGHT
SABINA CRISAN
Thessaloniki: The National Theatre of Northern Greece charges food instead of money for tickets.
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olidarity strikes in the most unusual places. In reaction to its national financial crisis, Greece has founded an increasing number of self-help groups. One such group is in Thessaloniki, where food is being exchanged for the price of a theatre ticket. The imposing temple of culture, hosting the National Theatre of Northern Greece, is about to open its curtains for the next season of plays between March and April 2012. These plays will be performed by actors from the Social Theatreshop. The novelty is that, for five of
these representations, people will be able to pay for their tickets with food, which is later distributed between six charity and welfare organisations in the city. In a land where €10 for a ticket is considered too dear, this initiative is intended to ease the financial distress of the population through art. You can now see the plays in exchange for pasta, bread or potatoes. The artistic director, Giannis Rigas, explains the initiative: “(But) this isn’t charity, it’s a fair exchange: food for theatre. And it’s also a nice way to bring people back to the theatre: put it back
where it belongs, in the middle of the community.” He, like everyone else in this project, is a volunteer.
GREECE SUBSIDISING PAEDOPHILIA? ALEX NOMPILAKIS
E
arlier this year the Greek Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance approved of a new law which would expand the officially state-recongnised dis-
This level consists of awards for medical assessment and higher financial assistance than some people who have received organ transplants or diabetics who
The proposal could create difficulties for disabled Greeks who are already facing benefit cuts due to the country’s financial crisis ability categories to include paedophilia, kleptomania, gambling, pyromania, fetishism, exhibitionism and voyeurism. The new categories range from fifteen to thirty five per cent in rankings for disability allowances. 5
require insulin shots on a daily basis. This caused uproar amongst officials and public opinion. The National Confederation of Disabled People characterised the action as “incomprehensive”.
More specifically, its leader, Yannis Vardakastanis, who is blind, warned that the proposal could create difficulties for disabled Greeks who are already facing benefit cuts due to the country’s financial crisis. Following immense public discontent and reaction, incumbent Minister Yorgos Koutroumanis was forced to stall the implementation of the regulation and establish a new Special Scientific Committee which is to adjust the law before bringing it back to Parliament for a vote.
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WAGING PEACE:
FIGHTING FANATICISM IN THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT
Any future peace attempt failing to deal with the issue of fanaticism will not get beyond the negotiation stage. A policy which fosters empathy at the grass-roots level amongst Israeli and Palestinian youth is needed.
CALEB MORELL
T
he Israel-Palestine conflict has been a feature of international politics since Israel’s recognition by the UN in 1947. Two wars, two intifadas, nearly thirty peace proposals and numerous negotiations later, it seems we are still far from a lasting solution. Finding a resolution for this conflict has proven to be extremely difficult and each side has legitimate aspirations. So far the focus has been on solving issues such as borders, security, refugees, settlements and Jerusalem. However, this approach has missed an underlying problem: fanaticism. Fanaticism manifests itself in the inability to compromise and intolerance of opposing views. It is fanaticism –not religion, politics or bureaucracy– which is the greatest threat to lasting peace in the Middle East. Future peace attempts failing to deal with this issue are unlikely to get beyond the negotiation table. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas’ current refusal to resume negotiations “until Israel halts all settlement construction and accepts the 1967 border lines” is a prime example of fanaticism and the inability to compromise. A similar approach is exhibited by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s objection to halting settlement building. These atti-
tudes demonstrate the stalemate which has marred the Middle East Peace Process for decades. The question of how to cure fanaticism remains. Past efforts to combat fanaticism have often erroneously nurtured it. To prevent this from reoccurring, future solutions need to try and foster the ‘good’ rather than remove the ‘bad’. This necessitates a policy which creates and maintains grass-roots empathy amongst the Israeli and Palestinian youth. By funding efforts to increase mutual understanding through youth exchange programmes,
EU Partnership for Peace Programme. That is, the provision economic support for local and international civil society alongside initiatives which promote peace and tolerance between Israeli and Palestinian youth and work to build confidence amongst them. Encouraging efforts which nurture empathy is the means to peace. This should help create large numbers of Israelis and Palestinians who are willing to see their two states peacefully co-exist, thereby creating the right atmosphere to reach a solution. Whether this be achieved
The Israeli-Palestinian struggle also provides an opportunity for young people to bring about change. inter-cultural dialogues, and sports camps, it is possible to prevent fanaticism taking hold of future generations. Recently we have seen Arab states be shaken to their core by youth-initiated demonstrations and democracy movements. The Israeli-Palestinian struggle also provides an opportunity for young people to bring about change. However, these local groups need educational support and funding. More organisations are also needed. Such groups should have similar goals to those of the
through the democratic process or in ways akin to the Arab Spring demonstrations, such action would force politicians and governments to recommence negotiations and hopefully find a lasting solution. It must be remembered that achieving peace is a long process. Whilst curing fanaticism amongst the Israelis and Palestinians may take generations, stability and peace are incentive enough.
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CHINA’S FREE WILL
THECLASH
SAGA ERIKSSON
Will China seek hegemony? It is often presumed that China will become the next superpower, but is this really the case?
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he collapse of the Soviet Union shifted the political landscape of the world. Today that seems obvious, but at the time most international relations theorists did not know that one of the world’s superpowers was about to collapse. International relations theorists often struggle to make accurate predictions. Nonetheless their most recent forecast is a statement too often considered self-evident: China will become the next superpower. When looking at its economy, one could soundly argue that China is well on its way to becoming superpower. The Chinese economy continues to grow whilst the rest of the world is caught in the whirlwinds of a seemingly endless recession. Where western currencies are struggling, the Yuan remains strong - even if artificially so due to the fiscal policy of the Chinese government. Although China is one of the largest economies in the world its financial markets remain under-
US citizen owes $2,000 to China. Even though China itself receives aid, it invests large amounts of money in Africa. It has adopted a smart strategy when it comes to developing countries by buying vast areas of land and investing in Africa’s infrastructure. This can be contrasted to the West, who alternate between throwing money at African governments which lack the institutions to use the money efficiently, and attaching strict conditions to aid. Admittedly China has its political motives, yet it does
prised when someone does not. The current superpower, the US, feels the need to assert its dominance by spreading its ideology of democracy and liberty. At least superficially, its foreign policy is motivated by these ideals. Chinese culture differs from this fundamentally. They do not feel the need to prove themselves, they are already confident in their own superiority. I cannot see China taking a similar role to the US, simply because they do not feel the need to push their own political system on others. If other countries do not want to be like China it is They do not feel the need to prove themselves, they are their loss. Everyone expects China to already confident in their own superiority. take over from the US as the new superpower of the world, but not require human rights to be developed. The biggest problem respected as a criterion for receiv- the question of whether China is appears to be China’s lack of even willing to take up this role ing aid and investment. China openness to foreign investors, itself is not a democracy and thus is rarely asked. Perhaps the world which makes the Yuan an unatshould, in Derek Scissors’ words, it does not require others to be. tractive vehicle for international “not expect to crown a new trade. It should also be noted that In the West, we view democracy global leader but prepare for the as if it were chocolate: we expect the US owes large portions of absence of one”. everyone to like it, and are surdebt to China: on average every 7
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EUROPE EN TOUR 35 European Associations and Organisations 27 Member States over 250 people 1 Session “Bridging cultural divides” is not only our motto but also our goal, and what better way to explore this than travelling between Europe’s landmarks within the lines of The Clash
BEHIND THE SCENES TERESA STADLER AND SAGA ERIKSSON The grand design behind the Eurovision song contest and how voting is used to show alliances.
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need you”. The chorus of last year’s Eurovision winning song “Running scared” by Ell and Nikki, representing Azerbaijan. This means the contest this year will be held in Baku, in a country which only joined Eurovision a
ever, that does not stop political motives from affecting voting behind the scenes. The political landscape of Europe is reflected in who receives twelve points from whom. Even natives of winning coun-
On the surface we all love each other, behind the scenes it’s a political game of chess. year ago and is a new member of the EYP community. But how did we get here? How did a country like Azerbaijan come to win and hence host Eurovision? Voting in the contest is twofold, there are juries in all fortytwo participating countries and then there are votes from the public - of course voting for one’s own country is forbidden. How-
tries admit that perhaps their country’s performance was not the strongest in the competition. When reading out the performers for Romania, the UK, Germany and Finland, there were some strong reactions. Several members of the press team were not particularly proud of their representative. Countries vote
for several different reasons, but apparently talent is not always amongst them. It seems that most of the time neighbouring countries vote for each other, but this is not out of mere politeness. Underlying political and economic motifs lurk in the background. Take the case of Russia and the former Soviet countries, such as the Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia. United by a shared history, a similar language and culture, certain countries have stronger relationships with each other. With this historical and cultural heritage comes political baggage. Georgia, for example, is still very affected by Russian politics. Only a few years ago we saw these two countries 8
THECLASH
on the verge of war. The Eurovision is an opportunity to show solidarity in a more subtle way. Another example very close to us here is Cyprus, who interestingly enough gets votes from Greece, but not from Turkey. The political tensions are obvious and reveal themselves by voting for a singer rather than being discussed in public. The song contest is, without a doubt, a light-hearted and fun way to bring Europe together. But ultimately, it is a competition and very clearly illustrates where the allegiances of different Member States lie. On the surface we all love each other, but behind the scenes it’s a political game of chess. It is not only politics which 9
affects how countries vote, even though the EU is a free trade area and the Eurozone share a currency. Neighbouring countries tend to be economically interdependent. Finland performs a large portion of its trade with Russia, a non-EU country, but nonetheless highlights the role of economic relationships when it comes to voting. Another interesting observation is how immigrants tend to stay loyal to the countries of origin, an example being Romanian workers in Spain, and the Turkish population in Germany. If there truly is a conspiracy behind the Eurovision song contest voting procedure, we should be able to predict who is most likely to take home the title this year. Some sources have pre-
dicted those most likely to win in Baku are Sweden, Italy or Serbia. Sweden has made a bold political stand by taking the first steps to eradicate gender related pronouns ‘hon’ and ‘han’ and replace them with neutral ‘hen’ to create “Euphoria” as the title of their song implies. Italy and Serbia have until May to announce their political strategies to the general public.
THECLASH
THE CLASH NOURA BERROUBA Turkish membership offers the EU an opportunity to revitalise itself and ensure the EU remains relevant.
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he argument about whether Turkey should join the European Union has raged for over 45 years. In 1963 Turkey signed an Association Agreement, thereby taking its first steps towards an accession to the EU. On the 14th of April 1987 Turkey officially sent in their application for membership, and the actual negotiations started in October 2005. The road has been a long one and does not seem to take Turkey closer to the end goal of EU membership. It is almost as if someone is adding bricks to the road Turkey is walking. Too big, too poor and too
Muslim. A rather extreme argument against Turkish membership. Yet, religious discrimination should not have a role on the political agenda. Neither should the fear that power politics would shift should Turkey join the EU. It is time to realise the reciprocal advantages of this candidacy. Turkey can play a significant geopolitical role. The country is strategically placed between the Middle East, Europe and Central Asia. Turkey serves as a protecting wall between two conflicting parts of the world. Furthermore, it has the capacity to bridge the distance between the Islam states and Christian Europe. If this were not enough, Turkey is experiencing a growth which rivals that of any other European country. Whilst much of Europe experiences an economic crisis, the Turkish economy is developing as never before. As the food queues were increasing on Greece’s streets, the Turkish income per capita doubled in only nine years. The issue of Western Europe’s ageing population is also a factor to be considered. Youth is seen as the force behind development. In Turkey, fifty per cent of the population is under thirty years old. A statistic which could help to rejuvenate the EU. Today, the EU relies on Rus-
sian energy supplies. With Turkey as a Member State, Russia’s oil monopoly would come to an end. Other than the benefits of the Nabucco pipeline operating from 2013 onwards, Turkey would be a transit route for oil and energy supplies from the Middle East and central Asia. This could help bypass the political problems affiliated with Russia’s current dominance. One of the arguments against Turkish accession is fear it would bring new defence and security issues into the EU. Turkey has, however, acted as a defender of European interests since the Cold War. European and Turkish troops have cooperated in several missions, including many in Afghanistan. Turkey is also at the
It is time to realise the reciprocal advantages of this candidacy. front line in the war on terrorism, demonstrating the existence of shared security goals. Turkey has great credence as a prospective Member State, once all required chapters of the Acquis Communautaire have been adopted.
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THECLASH
An economic and cultural gain or a threat to political stability? Should Turkey be granted accession to the European Union?
DISAPPROVA DISAPPROVAL O
ULRICH JOHANNES VOLKER Human rights violations, cultural rifts and the proximity to conflicts: Turkey is endangering Europe‘s international capacity.
ver the last decade the European Union has expanded at a rapid rate. Given the failure of some current member states to live up to their obligations of membership, now does not seem an appropriate time to consider Turkish membership. The accession of Turkey, a predominantly Asian country with high inequality and instability, would only serve to exacerbate the EU’s current problems. A project which arose from war and destruction, the EU has international respect and importance as a common voice for the promotion of peaceful democracy. The accession of Turkey would endanger this by bringing several conflicts and areas of tension inside the EU. Moreover, there is the underlying question of whether Turkey is even in ‘Europe’. Many consider this potential Member State a bridge too far. The various struggles and sources of tension in the Middle East are likely to be brought within the EU’s borders should Turkey become a member. With a background of fatal instability and injustice in Syria, current issues concerning Iran, the Kurdish conflict at the border with Iraq, and the continual issues over Israeli-Palestinian peace, it is difficult to see why the EU would
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want to bring such difficult issues into its defence and security remit. In addition, the Turkish government has still not recognised the autonomy of Cyprus, an EU Member State. Unless this issue is resolved, it is seemingly impossible for Turkey to join the EU. Despite its secular constitution, the Turkish government frequently failed to protect the most essential human rights. Society in the rural areas of Eastern Turkey is still dominated by the conventions of radical Islam: women are discriminated against in education, work and family life. Furthermore there is the issue of honour killings. With the torture of security forces, writers and journalists imprisoned for political reasons, the Turkish state is far from complying with the standards of human rights and the rule of law necessary for EU membership. With divisions within the country between the European metropolis of Istanbul and the underdeveloped rural Turkey, the majority of the Turkish population is afraid of the EU. They view it as a threat to their social and religious conventions and heritage. Also, the well-established structure of the EU itself would be overthrown. With a popula-
tion of seventy million, Turkey would gain a dominant stand in European institutions. This and the clash of political influences with Germany, France or Britain could threaten the EU’s effective decision making capabilities. For now, European integration must be realised by creating unity in the minds of its citizens. The EU should look to resolving the problems within its border before expanding and bringing in other complex issues. An accession of Turkey would not only display a questionable extension of ‘Europe‘, but would also endanger the political stability and peace within the Union.
THECLASH
A TALE OF TWO SECOND GENERATION
IMMIGRANTS MONIKA GHOSH AND SARA RINALDI
An in-depth look at differing perspectives on the integration of second generation immigrants in Italy and the UK.
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mmigration, integration and second generation immigrants are words thrown around with a lack lustre approach across Europe. It seems these ideas have lost any sort of true meaning, and have become stock phrases which are simply brushed over and replaced with prejudices based upon generalisations and stereotypes. It is true that these stereotypes are often backed up by the behaviour of the majority of these second generation immigrants; hanging out in big groups, aggressively approaching women, and intimidatingly loitering on corners. But what about those
called “exceptions to the rule�, in the sense that they are educated, respectful and in some respects have shed their immigrant label. They have assumed the identity of their host country nationals, while balancing this with a completely separate cultural home life. This article will discuss the second generation Indian population in the UK and the second generation Gypsy population in Italy. It aims to highlight the extreme views and open racism towards these two groups, whilst equally defending those who have taken used their initiative and
A problem created when these differing worlds collide is that it forces integrated young people, or at least those who are trying to integrate themselves, to choose one over the other second generation immigrants who have in fact made the effort to integrate and assimilate the culture of their host country? These integrated young people, who are simply born of immigrant parents, suffer on a daily basis from the prejudices around them directed at those second generation immigrants who fit the stereotype. They could be
resources to integrate fully into a society so removed from that of their parents’ generation. In the UK, a difficulty faced by young Indian people is living under the strict rules of their parents, often highly religious but always very conservative in regards to socialising with the opposite sex. When outside the family home, they are immersed
in a completely westernised view of these ideas- one where sex before marriage is often accepted as the norm and arguing with your parents, an everyday occurrence. Whereas in a typical Indian household, answering back is simply taboo. A problem created when these differing worlds collide is that it forces integrated young people, or at least those who are trying to integrate themselves, to choose one over the other. This often leads to secrecy, distrust and isolation from the people in one of the worlds. Either, a resentment forms towards the family, regarding the social aspect of the migrant culture, or a sense of embarrassment ensues when in the real world with natives. It is impossible to solve this issue unless an understanding can be reached between both sides, where both cultures are assimilated into an Indo-British union. Although in the UK this union can be achieved in tolerant areas, the story for the Gypsy population in Italy is a very different one. Let us take a case study of Mirko, a 22 year old gypsy from a site in Siena who now works as a painter. Three years ago he was 12
THECLASH the typical Italian stereotype of a Gypsy: fighting, stealing and drug dealing. He became involved with an Italian girl, Laura, who asked him to change his ways. Over their eighteen month relationship she forced him to choose the Italian way of life and reject his Gypsy roots. The problem with this approach is that by suppressing this part of his heritage and blood, he was forced to distance himself and his relationship from those in his community. At the end of their relationship, however, Mirko chose to return to his roots, passionate, physical and very much misunderstood. Laura was also forced to keep this rela-
13
tionship a secret from her family and friends, all of whom would have been highly sceptical about him despite his good intentions and suppression of his Gypsy lifestyle. This case study demonstrates the dangers of two very separate ways of life merging in a country which is simply not ready to compromise. The constant battle against prejudices, although justified by a large majority of Gypsies, were the only obstacle Mirko was unable to overcome. These prejudices are the reason why he, and so many other, cannot successfully integrate and find a balance between their origins and their current situation.
It must be stressed that this article deals with minorities of second generation immigrants, the ones which strive to overcome stereotypes and make a good name for others of their origin. The vast majority, unfortunately, fit the stereotype and justify the prejudices, thereby ruining the chances of people like Mirko from truly becoming a part of the society within the country in which they live.
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A RECIPE FOR DISASTER JURI
MONIKA GHOSH
Pineapples and freaky body-parts, the perfect ingredients for a pre-GA snack
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hen writing a committee article it is easy to fall into the trap of writing the obvious. Originality is something we strive for, otherwise the following could occur: [Committee] began and
His body is like Alice’s wonderland, but more the Johnny Depp version than the Disney one soon they were all familiar with each other through teambuilding. [Game] was hilarious when
[name] fell over. During committee work [name] had a strong opinion about [topic] but luckily he/she was open minded and found a compromise. [Committee] are truly amazing, and I’m sure they will succeed in GA. The basic framework of a committee is the same, as shown above. However, it is the people within a committee which make it different. You could compare each member to an ingredient, with teambuilding and committee work the recipe, GA the main course and each chair the chef.
The analogy may be contrived but when asked about their favourite moments at the session, JURI answered: Coffee Breaks Lunch Dinner So, as food was a major concern for them, it seemed only right to find a food-y way to describe them. Therefore, to create your perfect JURI meal:
First take a few kilos of obscenely fast-talking-tonguetwisting Vasco, add my fellow London-born-Indian Nikita, stir thoroughly with a spoon full of Joune (for no other reason than it sort of rhymes...) and fold in a good helping of Hanna (again... at least it’s alliterative). Pour the mixture over a base of Marko, as it’s the only way to keep her quiet, and sprinkle a pinch of Margaux for a French twist. Beat in three ounces of Evelin and a pinch of Pepe, then roll out until smooth. Spread Kinga thickly, layering a good dollop of Dunja and Eirini on top. Finally, finish with a dehydrated piece of Federico (as he hasn’t managed to find an acceptable coffee yet) add a slice of pineapple and serve. For that extra kick serve with a side of Love, he certainly adds a certain je ne sais quoi to this meal. Why? Because he can add something rather extraordinary to the mix. With his contortionist tricks, he was the talking point of our committee dinner. His body is like Alice’s wonderland, but more the Johnny Depp version than the Disney one.
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THECLASH
A NUCLEAR RECIPE FOR LOVE SEDE
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ed by the Aphrodite of this session, mademoiselle Veronica Gleizer, the children of mummy and daddy went smoothly through their days of puberty. The parents’ main task: spread the love. Committee dinner proved an ideal opportunity to interrogate our children and we found out that a large number had already explored the playground of love. As Francesco, Charlotte, Ilir and Nick already have a special person in their home countries, they spared Cupid a couple of arrows. Stella, the main celebrity of
CHARIF VAN ZETTEN
the committee and always in the spotlight, approaches love from a rather royal perspective. She has three Greeks waiting for her at home with grapes and wine. Even the open relationship status is represented in this committee by Zabeth from France. In light of the session theme a rather special love story was discovered when Simonida told us about her personal life. At her nationals in Belgrade, Serbia, she went with other EYP-ers to a seemingly random bar. This bar turned out to be a classic case of serendipity, when Simonida met
Name: Mihai, also known as ‘Papi’ Profile: Tall and very athletic. A great mind and a six-pack that would make Arnold Schwarzenegger jealous. Looking for: A hot stylish girl, preferably a natural blonde with blue eyes. She does not necessarily have to be Swedish or Norwegian.
James from the UK who was travelling across the Balkans. Whether you believe in love at first sight or not, these love birds have been together ever since. Travelling each month to visit each other, they are a living example of cultural divides being bridged. There is more to the love story of SEDE. There are still some singletons amongst the committee, so there is still plenty of work left for Aphrodite and Cupid. This means two of our children are now looking for a potential partner.
Name: Violetta Profile: A dark blonde Ukrainian beauty with angelic features. Very enthusiastic and a wonderful smile. Looking for: A real man who is adventurous, ready to have fun 24/7 and up for crazy adventures. Good looking men are always welcome.
SEDE may appear a threatening committee at first sight, given their radioactive and destructive topic. However, if you enter their circle of trust you will be overwhelmed by the amount of love they actually spread. On that note, my SEDE slogan is “Make love not war”. 15
THECLASH
DO YOU AGRI-EE? SABINA CRISAN
Bonding over words of wisdom.
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hat makes a group dynamic? How can thirteen different people come together and present a united response on a topic? Some believe in the power of body-language, and bond over teambuilding. Others are more comfortable dancing on a hummer. Some believe that by opening up, they become vulnerable. I believe in the power of words. I feel that no matter which
alities behind them, not much. When faced with a question like this, seemingly without an answer, you can learn more about yourself. As such, each member of the committee had to pick out a word that would best describe them.
power to face the crowd alone, can fall and rise thus being victorious. “Geweldig” (amazing) - a modern version of Rapunzel, who wanted to let her hair grow as long as possible to rescue the drowning people from the sea.
Their words may be curious, weird, bright, spontaneous or risky, but AGRI has taught me how diversity can be unifying. They have shown that by opening They proved that opening up shines a light on your own up, your own perspective is chalperspective of things. lenged, that asking an uncomfortable question can help create the key, or return through a door the best group dynamic. language we use, the power of If I were to pick a word it to reminisce. speech can unite us. This led me would be “attraversiamo”. It “Dobri” - This means ‘kind’ to wonder whether the Commitmeans to cross over. With AGRI tee on Agriculture were using the in Russian. In a world with so many words, I find the incredible, we can cross over any bridge – dictionary to communicate. whether they span countries, simple and honest approach to What do “giraffe”, “elephant”, cities or minds… future gracefully disarming. “the sun” or “amazing” have in “Seagull” - inspired by the common? Besides great person“My word is door” - Why? Because they shut out the past and leave the future open. You can lock them and throw away
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THECLASH
COGITO ERGO SUM? BRAM VAN MELDERT AND ALI MURAT GALI
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hilosophers frequently explore the idea of free will. Progressively, our society has found a widespread consensus in the belief that we are aware of the decisions we make. We discern society’s restrictions on individual’s free will, but otherwise we consider ourselves autonomous. Who is this ‘we’? We think of ourselves as an integrated entity and do not recognise the differences between our consciousness and that which is behind it. In the past few decades, developments in neuroscience have allowed us to explore this subject. Recent research by various neuroscientists has distorted our notion of free will. Through the use of brain scanners it has been discovered that our actions are in three steps, the final one being actual conduction. A second before, our conscious mind realises what we are going to do. This is believed to be the moment of decision making. However, the first step, which is when our brain actually makes the decision, occurs approximately seven seconds earlier. This means seven seconds before we are even aware of making a choice, our brains have already decided. This idea faces criticism on the grounds of this theory’s plausibility. The technical deficiency is the first and major concern, the precision and accuracy of measurements are relative to the experiment. Thus, more advanced
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technology is a prerequisite to confirm these results. There is a bigger conflict between the philosophers and neuroscientists. The former believe the experimental decisions cannot stand for the complexity of decisions in real life. These disagreements are further reinforced by the nonconformity of the definition of free will. The concept of free will was, and is, interpreted in countless ways, ranging from a non-physical soul directing the motives, to conscious decision taking. The conflict is exacerbated by a lack of understanding
between the different viewpoints. One scientist has said: “We’re going to hammer on each other until we really understand the other person’s point of view, and convince one or other of us that we’re wrong”. A profound and mutually accepted opinion on the existence and meaning of free will is unlikely to be achieved in the near future. However, most scientists already consider free will to be an illusion. More tangible questions still need to be considered: How will our understanding of free will impact our society and the way we look at life?
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HIPSTERS
ANNA BORRELL AND SARA RINALDI Before we start dating I need to know if you’re into Pete Doherty
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kinny jeans, American Apparel shirt, trendy scarf. Lennon walks nonchalantly into a Starbucks, orders a coffee without looking at the waiter whilst texting on his iPhone. He sits into a sofa, takes out his Macbook Air and starts typing. An hour and a half later he’s still there, now holding a frappuccino in his hands. He’s writing the script for his first independent (low budget, of course) movie, a remake of Pulp Fiction set in ancient Greece. He calls the waiter and orders, “Can I have a bacon sandwich please?” Pauses. “Oh, but just make it without the bacon, I’m not in the mood for protein today, I have to write, you know?”. The waiter, a bit stunned, brings him the sandwich. Once he’s finished eating Lennon takes out his Polaroid from his vintage leather bag and starts taking pictures of ashtrays.
In doing so, something horrible happens: a guy with his exact same American Apparel shirt walks in. Panic. He freezes, drops his camera and tries to avoid eye contact. He pretends not to care. But, really, he’s mortified. “I bought that shirt during my road trip across California, it was a limited edition” The thought of being mainstream makes him feel nauseous. His hands are shaking, he’s sweating and he considers taking off his shirt. He suddenly feels the urge to post on twitter: “ I just can’t stand hipsters, they’re so predictable”. Lennon storms out of Starbucks and whatsapps his friend Lola, a twenty two years old fashion designer. Lennon starts riding his bike and quickly gets to an art gallery, where he meets Lola and her friends. It’s the opening night of a Chris Gallagher exhibition. Strawberry Martinis and Cham-
pagne are being served all night long. No food of course. Lola takes off her black, thickrimmed glasses to look closer at the painting in front of her. She stares at it. After a long, deep reflection with a lots of frowning, she comments:“ Dots and stripes are so 2008”. After a while Lennon and Lola go outside to smoke. A random guy approaches them and asks them for a lighter.
Hipster is a term frequently used to describe a subculture of young, recently settled, urban middle-class adults and older teenagers. The term originated in the 1940’s, when young, rebellious, white males began copying the jazz lifestyle of black musicians. Today the term describes those who can be characterised by non-mainstream fashion and an alternative lifestyle without rules. As this term spreads, ´hipsterism´ has started to blend with mainstream culture. This creates a paradox with the definition of the movement, leading to criticism. Labelling a hipster as such is one of the worst things you could do to him, as he wants to be regarded as a separate individual, but despite his efforts, he is conforming to a cultural trend. 18
THECLASH
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BRAM VAN MELDERT, CHARIF VAN ZETTEN AND MONIKA GHOSH The continuing story of an unfortunate girl, determined not to have any fun. I’m not an unreasonable person, all I need is a dry place to sleep and warm food in my stomach and I’m fine. There are only a few things which get on my nerves and for some reason this session is full of them. I just can’t understand why they keep happening to me. It’s really not that difficult to avoid them. For example, why do you have to take your laptop out at security in the airport and then put it back in when everything was so perfectly packed? It has to be one of the most annoying things ever. On another note, after a whole day of demanding committee work I quickly run to the reception to check Facebook. I’m not the only one. I go and sit next to a fellow delegate who is chatting intensely, tweeting like a madman, and simultaneously checking his emails. All I get is an exclamation mark over my Wi-Fi symbol which basically says “better luck next time”! Whilst wrestling with the internet, I reach into my back pocket only to find it smeared with something less than savoury – probably from one of those ducks. Energisers are bearable, but if rolling on the ground means my Armani jeans get ruined that is just not okay. Also, how can chairs and journos expect us to jump around and do energisers when there is always so much food around? When weighed down by fifty kilos of Turkish delicacies, a belly swollen to the size of my head, how can I possibly be expected to do anything except hop into a hammock and take a nap in the sun? Complaining is simply in my nature. Whether for legitimate reasons or not, I can always find something which annoys me. Perfection is simply a subjective concept, what makes others happy usually just winds me up. It’s clear that my so-called ‘first world problems’ might cause me an unreasonable amount of annoyance, but how bothered should I actually be about them? Obviously, my problems are real issues, there’s no doubt about that. However, are they in any way comparable to those faced by less privileged people across the world? Note to self: man up. Jamie Lenge 19