Tribune
Global Tribune Global is a collection of interviews with university students from continents around the world – Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, North America and Oceania. Its purpose is to give them a voice; to explore their thoughts and opinions on politics, religion and the world around them. As Irish college students, we are often unaware of what life is like for students in other countries. For instance, what an African student thinks about the developed world, what a Muslim student thinks about the status of women, and what an American student feels about her country’s role in international politics. The purpose of these interviews is to put ourselves in the shoes of students around the world, to reveal their hopes for their future, and their fears. Often, we receive only a limited perspective of far-off countries that is influenced by political and economic factors. But how often do we hear our peers from different countries speak for themselves about the state of their economies and political systems? What do these students want to accomplish in life? What these interviews ultimately show is that students around the world, whatever their cultural differences, all feel an intense pride in their country of birth and a vivid desire to make a difference.
International Student Supplement 1st April 2008
Alejandro Peru Describe your average day as a college student My university is one of the biggest ones in Peru. It is a Catholic university but there are a lot of different cultures mixed in together, with a lot of multicultural exchange. It is more developed than other universities around. It’s good because you don’t only learn from academic classes, you can learn a lot outside of class doing extracurricular activities. I like to socialise as there are many exchange students from other countries that I like to meet and talk to. There are plenty of restaurants and bars to hang out in with my friends in between lectures and in the evenings. Do you have any religious beliefs? I’m not very religious, I think the main reason for that are the subjects that I have studied since coming to university - they have made me more of a realist about life, death and religion.
Arthur Uzbekistan Describe your average day as a college student. My average day starts at 5:30 am. I read the news on the Internet for about an hour, then I do my physical training for fifteen minutes. Lectures start at 9 am. I arrive home in the evening to do all the tasks that were given to me and to read books on geopolitics, history or philosophy. On Sundays I go to the market and buy what we need for the next week. I do not crave designer labels, I just wear suitable clothes. In university, it is obligatory to wear a shirt, tie and trousers. The rest of the time I prefer jeans and t-shirts. Do you have any religious beliefs? I believe in God, but I’m not an adherent of any religion. Sometimes, like anyone else, I have problems and also my happy moments. In these instances I just ask God for help or thank him. I am tolerant of all other religions. Do you have any political affiliations? I don’t have any affiliations. But it doesn’t mean that I’m not interested in politics. I want to do my best to make a contribution to the future of my country and my children. So I’m going to make my political choices when I’m ready to do it. What is the burning issue of our time? The biggest problem is the recession of the American economy and the fact that many banks and financial companies have become bankrupt. The weak dollar negatively affects not only the stock exchanges, but also the currencies of other countries, for example, the Euro. This in turn brings an increase in the prices of export products on the world market. What is the
Name: Arthur Khakimov Bakirovich Date of birth: September 11th, 1987 Place of birth Uzbekistan College: The University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Tashkent Favourite book: The Gadfly, by Ethel Lilian Voynich Favourite meal: Plov, a Uzbek national dish made with rice, lamb and carrots Do you drink/smoke/take drugs? No Hobbies: Swimming, playing roles, learning languages
greatest ethical problem facing the world? The unequal dividing of the world’s wealth. According to the United Nations charter, every human has equal rights but where is the reality of this law? I feel that developed countries do not help enough and adequately to solve problems in the world. Many poor countries are in huge debt to First World countries and I think this is unethical on the part of the First World. For students in Dublin that don’t know a lot about your country and its people, how would you describe it to them? Uzbekistan is in Central Asia and is considered a bridge between European and Asian countries. Our country is fertile, that’s why we have huge harvest
of fruits, cereals, watermelons and cotton. In my country, the family unit is highly-regarded and considered the core of society. In a traditional Uzbek family there are usually three to five children. What is your perception of the countries of the developed/developing world in contrast to your own country? President Karimov has declared that our country will construct a market economy. I think that in the globalised world of today that it is important to co-operate with all other countries. The European Union should not be an exception to this principle. We have a lot to learn from developed countries, but developed countries also have a lot to learn from us. For instance, in the E.U there are clashes between different nationalities, but in our country more than 100 nationalities live in peace and harmony. What is your family life like? In my country it is difficult to get a good education, that’s why my mother has done her best to provide me with facilities to live and study in the capital. It is difficult to live far away from my native home but it does help me to become more self-sufficient. Where do you see yourself in twenty years? I hope that I will work somewhere abroad as a diplomat defending the national interests of my country. That’s why I’m really interested in the EU, where I would like to work as an ambassador. Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world? I don’t mind visiting anywhere in the world, but to live, I would prefer to stay somewhere in my country. Not necessarily in the big cities, but possibly my native town, Bukhara. I feel that the best way to live and bring up children is to do so in my motherland, the motherland of my ancestors.
Do you have any political affiliations? I don’t have any right now. I am studying political science but my major is related to non-profit organisations and development. What is the burning issue of our time? I think that inequality
Liz United States
is a big problem for the world. Mainly, it’s about how to relate the meaning of inequality with political systems. In a way, you could say that you need inequality to make things function but how you can reject someone because of race or religion? Nobody should ever be judged as inferior because of where they come from or what they believe in and I think it is so important that everyone has an equal chance of making
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something with their lives. Name: Alejandro Delmar Injoque Date of birth: 28th August 1986 Place of birth Peru College: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú Favourite book: Development as Freedom by Amartya Sen Favourite meal: A Peruvian fish salad called ceviche. Do you drink/smoke/take drugs? I drink moderately. I don’t smoke or Hobbies: Rugby
What is the greatest ethical problem facing the world? Both the lack of honesty from political leaders around the world and the lack of respect between differing religions for each other pose an ethical problem that the whole world should be concerned with. The leaders of nations should be role models for their people and should not be corrupted by power or greed. Too many politicians succumb to the lure of wealth and authority. For students in Dublin that don’t know a lot about your country and its people, how would you describe it to them? You learn something every day here; there are always things that will sur-
prise you. The people here are really friendly - we are a really welcoming country. We love to have fun and to enjoy life. What is your perception of the countries of the developed world/developing world in contrast to your own country? Peru is pretty much a developing country. But the term ‘developing’ doesn’t just refer to the Gross National Product of a country. There are a lot of different reasons why different countries are underdeveloped. What is your family life like? I have a big family and a lot of extended family members. We are all on holidays at the moment, so I’m spending some time here with everyone. In my family we have a lot of American traditions, such as celebrating Thanksgiving and Halloween. It’s nice to have occasions when the whole extended family can get together and catch up on things. Family is very important to everyone here in Peru. Where do you see yourself in twenty years? In a professional way, I see myself continuing with what I’m doing now in my involvement with non-profit organisations. I really like politics and I would like to make a lot of comparative investigations between Peru and other countries and perhaps be responsible for establishing a Peruvian non-profit organisation myself. Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world? I would like to live in Europe and in some parts of the United States. I like to travel but in the end, I will always return home to Peru.
Describe your average day in College. My day is a little busier than your average De Paul student because of my involvement with organisations. I get up at eight and try and get to the gym. It doesn’t always happen but I try. I’ll go to classes and then to the Student Government office and do some work there. Then back to class, then an afternoon meeting, back to class, and in the evening I usually have one or two meetings for the Student Government, our equivalent to the UCD Students’ Union. Sometimes I have volunteer for the De Paul Society, where we look after the elderly. It’s all go up until around eleven to be honest. It’s a long day. The one thing I’d say about the college is it lacks a sense of community, or school spirit. We don’t have a football team and for an American college that’s just not right. It would give us so much school spirit. We couldn’t have a football field here in the middle of Chicago though. We wear mainly designer labels; it’s a fashionable college. However, a lot of people wear De Paul logo sweaters that the athletic department hand out. De Paul is a Catholic University but there are students of all religions attending. There are many different bars and restaurants and places to go here, and things to do. As the weather gets warmer, there’s almost too much to do. Regardless of how busy things get I always make time for a social life. Every bar and restaurant have their own little personalities, like ‘the freshman bar’, ‘ the bar you don’t go to until you’re 21’. We have all these cute sandwich shops that stay open till four in the morning and that’s cool. Do you have any religious beliefs?
Name: Elizabeth Tracy Date of birth: April 5th, 1986 Place of birth United States of America College:
De Paul University, Chicago Favourite book: A Moveable Feast Ernest Hemmingway Favourite meal: Thai food Do you drink/smoke/take drugs? I drink, but don’t smoke or take any Hobbies: Reading, running, laughing, snow skiing, water skiing, being with friends Course: Political Science
I’m Catholic. On campus there are services that cater to Catholic students, such as services on Sunday night, instead of 10:30 in the morning. 9:30 at night is a lot more convenient for students. The priests speak to the students and associate with them. Do you have any political affiliations? I would call myself a passionate moderate that leans to the left, but I’m a huge supporter of Barack Obama. I think he’s going to change the world.
What would you say is the burning issue of our time? In this post 9/11 world we live in with so many multi-national corporations and the Internet, so globalisation is prominent. The whole issue of the US and its invasion of the Middle East came from irresponsible trading. Globalisation is the biggest issue of our time, but you have to be so careful with how you go about it dealing with it. What is the greatest ethical problem facing the world? I suppose it would all be related, maybe how much countries should get involved in the problems of other countries in the world. For students in Dublin that don’t know a lot about your country and its people, how would you describe it to them? I think George Bush has ruined America’s reputation abroad. Luckily through my own travel and talking to people outside the country I think they see this too, and it doesn’t taint their view of America. I don’t think Hilary Clinton can repair that, I think she’ll make it worse and the same for John McCain. My perception of America when it comes to foreign policy is that we have good intentions. What is your perception of the countries of the developed/developing world in contrast to your own country? Many people outside of the US have a very negative view of the country, but there are also countries where people adore the States as representing a land of opportunity.
What is your family life like? It’s great, my dad is a lawyer, my little sisters are in high school, my brother is a wild child, he likes to just take off and do his own thing. My mam is a big Barack Obama supporter like me. Where do you see yourself in twenty years? I hope to have my PhD and be teaching in a University, and hopefully have a few kids. Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world? I like the United States.
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United States does not respect international law, and while many people of the world do not recognise this, I believe that it will become an even bigger problem in the future. What is the greatest ethical problem facing the world? The problem of free speech is an ethical dilemma at the moment. People should be allowed to express themselves and their beliefs but what if these beliefs provoke hatred and violence?
Aleksandar Serbia Describe your average day in College. We don’t have a uniform in college; we can wear what we want. There are some people who like brands but most people, like myself, it’s not important. For me, I think it’s more important that I look good to myself than to other people. I mostly socialise with others in my apartment in the evenings. I am not from Belgrade, but we do go out sometimes at night. Belgrade is a city famous for its rich night-life. I like to go and hear the famous DJs that play in Belgrade; my favourite is Paul Van Dyk.
Name:
Do you have any religious beliefs? I am not a member of any particular religion, but I’m not an atheist either. I am a believer, but it is in something
No
Aleksandar Maksimovi� Date of birth: July 16th, 198 Place of birth Tuzla in Bosnia and Herzegovina College: University of Belgrade The Damned Yard by Ivo Andric and Sidhartha by Hermann Hesse. Favourite meal: Sarma (cabbage with meat) Do you drink/smoke/take drugs? Hobbies: Football, and collecting postcards from around the world
personal, something special inside of me. I don’t go to Church and pray to God often but I do want to find a spiritual belief system for myself and for my home someday. However ninety percent of Serbia is Orthodox Christian. Do you have any political affiliations? I am studying Political Science but I haven’t really decided about my personal views. In Serbia, people are disappointed with our political leaders and the way they are running the country. I am a member of a political party but I am not a big fan of many Serbian politicians. What is the burning issue of our time? Possibly terrorism, and also the lack of respect for international law. The
Sandra
For students in Dublin that don’t know a lot about your country and its people, how would you describe it to them? We are a very religious country, full of good people. I say that not because I am Serbian but because of the many people from the EU that I meet here who tell me that the Serbian people know how to treat people very well. We may not have a lot of money but we know how to enjoy what we have. The best way to find out is to come to Serbia and talk to Serbian people and experience their relaxed way of life. What is your perception of the countries of the developed world/ developing world in contrast to your own country? I don’t respect the political system of the United States. I believe that they
Name: Date of birth:
Iceland
13th of August, 1983 Place of birth
Describe your average day as a college student. We start at about nine every morning, with different courses each day and we finish at two. In the afternoons, we’re meant to be studying obviously. We can wear whatever we like to college. Icelandic students particularly like the brands 66North and Cintamani, which do outdoor clothing. Just about everyone wears something from those brands, also TopShop, Zara and Warehouse are quite popular. Our college is very small, with only about 00 students, but we have a little place that we can meet up in, that sells food and beer. Holar University is in the middle
of the countryside, so there is nothing around it, but about half an hour away there is a village where we go sometimes at night.
Do you have any religious beliefs? Ninety percent of the population in Iceland is Protestant, but my family and I are not very religious. We go to mass at Christmas and that’s about it. Do you have any political affiliations? I vote but I am not a member of any political party. There’s a Students’ Union in our university but that’s really the only connection I have to politics at the moment.
Reykjavik, Iceland College: Holar University College Favourite book: Silent Kill by Icelandic author Arnaldur Indriðason Favourite meal: My mother’s boiled meatballs with boiled cabbage and swede Do you drink/smoke/take drugs? No, I am an angel Hobbies: Travelling around Iceland and the rest of the world, rock-climbing and other adventure activities Course: Rural Tourism
are trying to put the world under their hand, as we say here. But the rest of the world and the European Union are very interesting to me politically speaking. I would like Serbia to become part of the EU one day. What is your family life like? I live away from my family but Belgrade is only about 100km from Tuzla, where my family live so I often visit. We try to eat together but we are often too busy to do that regularly. But on the weekends, we sometimes go on picnics in the countryside together. I find spending time with my family very relaxing and it’s nice to get out of Belgrade every now and then. Where do you see yourself in twenty years? I would like to live and work in a Serbia that would hopefully have full membership in the European Union. I would like to devote my life to politics and to helping to represent my country abroad. I could see myself working in Brussels on behalf of the Serbian people to help to make the important changes that we really need. Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world? Serbia, or Brussels, depending on my career as a politician.
What is the burning issue of our time, the biggest problem facing the world? In Iceland, a lot of factories are being built at the moment, so a burning issue for us would be the problem of pollution. Our country has a reputation for being untouched, unspoilt and pure and we feel like industrial developers are trying to ruin that reputation. Obviously they have a point, because we need energy and electricity but I still feel like our natural resources are being exploited. What is the greatest ethical problem facing the world? It would be the same issue for me, I think. We have many factories already in Iceland and I think we have enough. The new factories are not being built for the benefit of the Icelandic people, but are owned by foreign companies who export all the natural resources out of Iceland. I would like to see Iceland remain pure and unspoiled and I think that’s the biggest ethical dilemma facing Iceland at the moment. Do we allow the
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Aditi India Describe your average day as a college student. Morning usually begin with fresh faces, enthusiastic responses. As the afternoon classes begin, one tends to feel a little worn out. After I am done with my classes, I work for various college societies. I reach home completely pooped, but since I like being busy, it suits me perfectly.
Name:
Do you have any religious beliefs? Broadly speaking I am a Hindu, but I respect all religions with equal fervor. I have a lot of friends who are Christians, Islamic, Sikh, and in a country like India, where there are people of so many religions, cults, beliefs living together, one learns to live harmoniously.
Favourite book:
Do you have any political affiliations? I am a centrist. My decisions depend on the circumstances, the problem, and the public interest. Ideologues repeat their slogans to the specific policy problem at hand. Conservatives shout “private good, public bad!” Liberals shout “public good, private bad!” However, centrists like me try to creatively solve problems and look at the good or bad of both.
Aditi Sharma Date of birth: November nd, 1988 Place of birth India College: Gargi College, Delhi University The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand Favourite meal: Chinese food Do you drink/smoke/take drugs? No Hobbies: Music (vocals), reading Course: Arts
greatest ethical problem facing the world? Terrorism. The strategy of terrorists is to commit acts of violence that draws the attention of the local populace, the govern-
What is the burning issue of our time, the biggest problem facing the world? Global warming and environmental degradation. If people are not sensitized to this problem now, then there won’t be any people left at all. The repercussions of this problem will be ten-fold in the future. The panic button has been pressed. One needs to work towards saving the environment for one’s own good. What is the
exploitation of our unspoilt landscape in order to create profit? I hope not.
For students in Dublin that don’t know a lot about your country and its people, how would you describe it to them? We are a very proud people in Iceland, being an island and all and having fought for our freedom. We are halfway between Europe and America so I think we have the best of both cultures. We have technology, a good health system, one of the best educational systems in the world, so we are an advanced nation. We welcome guests and pride ourselves on our hospitality to strangers. What is your perception of the countries of the developed world/ developing world in contrast to your own country? America has lost a sense of self, I think, nobody trusts anyone else and everybody sues each other. But I
think Europe has become a bit more like that recently. We don’t have an army in Iceland, and while I feel that the rest of the world is always focusing on war, we are kind of outside of that. I think it would be good if more countries would focus on living peacefully together rather than starting wars. What is your family life like? I live at the University now but when I go home to my family at weekends, we generally eat and talk together in the evenings, not every night but most. Where do you see yourself in twenty years? I would like to be in charge of a new national park that is being built in Iceland, which will be the biggest one in Europe. That would be my ideal job. Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world? Iceland, of course!
ment, and the world to their cause. ‘One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter’ is a view terrorists themselves accept. One act of terrorism sends ripples all over the world. For students in Dublin that don’t know a lot about your country and its people, how would you describe it to them? India is a multilingual and secular country and incidentally, has the biggest film industry in the world. The Taj Mahal attracts huge amount of tourism round the year. In spite of all the cultural diversities, India stands united and strong. What is your perception of the countries of the western world/ developing world in contrast to your own country? Counties in the developed world are extremely independent in their expression of thought and deed. The media in the developed world almost works like an autonomous body and reveals the actual truth. Investigative journalism is encouraged. The quality of media staff is of a very high and respected in ranking, especially in countries like Japan, the UK, and the
United States. What is your family life like? We are a family of four. My father works in the public sector, in the National Oil Company of India and my mother teaches primary classes. We usually are a busy lot but come together in the evening, have an early dinner, sit together and talk about the day. We’re a very close knit family. Every weekend we watch movies together or spruce up the house, on my mother’s orders! Even though we lead very busy lives, we always take time out for each other. Where do you see yourself in twenty years? I’m interested in advertising and I feel I could do it justice to it because
writing is my strong point. I would also like to be a columnist for a newspaper and maybe later I’ll write a book. I feel strongly about a lot of social issues (women’s liberation, animal protection) and I would want to work for those as well. Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world? I would like to stay in India, even if I had the choice to be somewhere else. There are a lot of countries that I find very interesting and life abroad attracts everyone. There’s no doubt about that. However, home is home, and leaving my motherland would be a heart-breaking decision for me. I am too used to this place and I cannot imagine not being here.
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Describe your average day as a college student? Lectures happen in the morning and early afternoon for all students and then in the evening we would have special classes in music and dancing. We take music classes in order to make us open to the African culture. We play xylophones, drums, tympani and the flute. If we have spare time, I go to the library or for a meal, or even for a sleep- it all depends on my mood that day. We don’t have a uniform; we just have to look decent. There are no restrictions really. There are some people in the college from rich backgrounds who have had exposure to designer clothes, but for most brand-names are not a priority.
here in Africa. Floods affect African people’s livelihoods; famines affect people in developing countries. What is the greatest ethical problem facing the world? Indifference and greed are the biggest problems in all societies. For Africa and the rest of the world, north and south, it is a very big problem. If you go to the core of the policies that have been introduced in the developing countries, you find an underlying sense of greed. People who represent the developing countries fail to live up to expectations of their people. They use money that is meant to develop a sense of equality in society for their own personal benefit.
Do you have any religious beliefs? I am a Muslim by birth, and I practise it. Do you have any political affiliations? My orientation is pinned on liberalism. I believe firmly in social democracy. What is the burning issue of our time? I would go for global warming. The consequences of global warming have direct links with the poverty that we face
Nurideen Ghana Describe your average day as a college student. Usually I wake up in the morning at 5am then do my first prayer of the day. I have three to four days a week study at college. At 1pm I take a break for a while to do my second prayer and lunch. I talk to my friends in the evening about global matters Everyday I wear a cotton shirt and jeans to college. My favourite jeans are from Levis but my casual trousers are produced by a local factory. I wear local shoes but I have several collections from Buccheri. For formal events like presentations or examinations, I wear a national costume which is decorated by the art of Batik, a royal Javanese tradition. Do you have any religious beliefs? I am a Moslem, from a traditionalist group. Historically, Islam in Indonesia was an open religion and promoted tolerance and assimilation with a variety of cultural traditions. I was born a traditional Moslem and I believe that religion can be managed as a social instrument to empower society. The role of Islam in politics and society must be understood as social capital that contains universal values for good interaction within an Islamic environment. Do you have any political affiliations? I don’t have any affiliations to a political party as a member. During my as a BA student, I was a member of the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (PMII). What is the
burning issue of our time?
Name:
In my opinion, the biggest problems are global warming, as well as terrorism and poverty. I live in a country which has those three problems above. The world often identifies the idea of terrorism with the Islamic religion, and sometime doesn’t recognise the peaceful nature of the religion.
Muhammed Faishal Aminuddin
Place of birth
Q.5) What is the greatest ethical problem facing the world?
Favourite book:
The greatest ethical problem is the ideological campaign of US foreign policy politics. The war they have embarked upon has caused an economical depression. They believe that war is urgently needed to create world peace. In my opinion, their ideology has a strong relation to the growth of fundamentalism. Fundamentalism produces cruelty, intolerance and psychopathic and social distrust. For students in Dublin that don’t know a lot about your country and its people, how would you describe it to them? Indonesia is a Unitarian nation state and declared independence in 1945 from Dutch and Japanese colonialists. I come from the Java tribe. A cultural heritage passed
Date of birth: November 22nd, 1981 Indonesia College: Gadjah Mada University
Bumi Manusia and Anak Semua Bangsa by Pramoedya Ananta Toer Favourite meal: Tuna steak Do you drink/smoke/take drugs? I smoke sometimes Hobbies: Swimming, gardening Course: Political Science
on through generations offers a wealth of traditional arts and crafts. Batik, wooden carvings, weavings, silverworks and many other traditional skills produce exquisitely beautiful items. Indonesia’s multi-racial and multi-religious culture mean that festivals steeped in traditions are celebrated throughout the year. Frequently featured in these events are dances, wayang theatre and other performing arts.
What is your perception of the countries of the developed world / developing world in
For students in Dublin that don’t know a lot about your country and its people, how would you describe it to them? I would describe Ghana as being a very peaceful country. Most of the people are very hospitable, and notoriously religious. The Christians and Muslims of Ghana believe strongly in
contrast to your own country? The developing world and countries such as Indonesia need to learn from the Western world in many aspects, especially education and economy. Welfare and social justice systems can be managed by intercultural dialogue. I disagree with any economic system that leaves countries at the mercy of international agendas. What is your family life like? I come from a big family. My father is a District Functionary and my mother is a teacher. I meet my family only two days in a month because I live in another city about 350 km away. But when I come home, we usually have dinner or breakfast together. At night, I have a nice chat especially with my parents, about our family and how they’ve been when I was not around. Where do you see yourself in twenty years? I can see myself sitting equally with other people from different countries in the general assembly of the United Nations. I want to promote peace and find a final solution. I am just an ordinary person but I have a huge imagination and am always thinking about how our nation can become a great nation. Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world? There are wonderful international cities like Paris, London and Dublin. The Pyramids in Egypt, the Grand Canyon in the US and Fuji Mountain in Japan are wonderful places but I love my country. Although my country has problems with politics and economics, it’s a challenge to Indonesian youth to build a better country.
Muham
United St Indonesia
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Name: Mohammed Nurideen Date of birth: 15th of September, 1984 Place of birth Ghana College: University of Ghana Favourite book: Education Denied: Costs and Remedies by Katarina Tomasevski Favourite meal: Fufu, an African dish made from pounded yams Do you drink/smoke/take drugs? Not at all Hobbies: I like reading about politics, and I like football. Almost ninety percent of Ghanians like football Course: Political Science
fate, and that influences the way they live their lives. If you watched the last African Cup of Nations on BBC, you would realise that everywhere there are signposts and billboards about religion and Jesus. What is your perception of the countries of the developed world/ developing world in contrast to your own country? I view Europe as an institution that is ethical in the way that it practises politics. It is different from Ghana, because the rule of law that exists in Europe is still only developing here and in the rest of Africa. The culture of Europe is completely
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different from what we have in Africa. The way we bring people up and life in general is so different that it completely influences an African person’s conception of human rights. Africans believe that a child is supposed to support the family, to contribute towards the income of a family. Whereas from the perspective of European countries, where the law is firm and state support is strong, that would be considered to be child labour.
What is your family situation like? I live at the university because it is over 00 miles away from my hometown. When I am at home with my family, we meet in the evening to prepare the meal, but we don’t really eat together. In Europe, you have dining tables, but that is not the way here in Ghana. It is said that when you see the shadows, you come home and eat your food and go away again. I don’t ever remember having a television in my house, so that wouldn’t be part of my family life. Most of the time, when I wanted to watch TV, I had to go three houses away from my own, to the neighbours. Where do you see yourself in twenty years? I would like to give myself over entirely to politics in Africa. I believe that a lot of things have to be corrected in the way that development is practised in Africa. The entire spectrum of politics and development need to be changed. I would like to see myself at the centre of African development politics, in order to try to affect the way things are done in the future. Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world? Definitely Ghana.
Aharon Israel Describe your average day as a college student. The Open University is a very unique university in the way that people can do what they want to do, to work and study when they want. I started college when I was serving in the Israeli army so was able to work my studies in around that. Then later on, when I started working as an auctioneer I had time to pursue my studies then too, so that’s the advantage of going to Open University. The dress code in our university is very informal and laid back. There aren’t many designer labels. We study in our spare time so our day does not revolve around college, and we also work mainly at home, so it’s not like a normal university in that way. My social life would be mainly with people I know outside of college. I would meet up with people from my High School normally. Societies and clubs aren’t that prevalent here at all. In the college it is mainly charities that operate in terms of extra-curricular activities. Do you have any religious beliefs? I am Jewish, because that’s what I grew up with, that’s my background. Do you have any political affiliations? No, I’m not listed with any party. I have my views though. If I were to lean towards something I would lean towards the peace camp, left political and right economy. I’m capitalist but for peace, two things that don’t always go together. What is the burning issue of our time? I would say tackling poverty. There are people living in dire circumstances but in the Western world,
Name: Aharon David Copperman Date of birth: April nd, 1977 Place of birth Actually Dublin (my parents returned to Israel when I was one year old) College: Open University of Israel Favourite book: Life and Death in Shanghai, by Nien Cheng. Favourite meal: Pizza Do you drink/smoke/take drugs? No Hobbies: Swimming, basketball, music Course History and Philosophy
most people have plentiful amounts of everything. The problems range from a lack of health and sanitary facilities, money of course, and problematic family situations. Trying to eradicate these problems should be a burning issue. Much more of the world should share the quality of life that those in the developed world have. What is the greatest ethical problem facing the world? In my eyes there are two big ethical problems facing the world and they are interconnected. The lack of understanding and sometimes even hatred between people and nations is the first. Our world is so amazing and unfortunately we spend so much energy defending ourselves against one another instead of pursuing things to our mutual benefit.
The lack of human rights in the wider sense is also a huge problem. Eleven million children die each year from malnutrition and diseases. So many people in the world live in dire circumstances lacking adequate sanitation, nutrition and education. The world’s wealth is not divided fairly. This should be rectified; the sooner, the better for us all.
For students in Dublin that don’t know a lot about your country and its people, how would you describe it to them? It’s amazing but it could be better. There’s much to improve but we have come a long way in the last 60 years, without a doubt. What is your perception of the countries of the developed world/ developing world in contrast to your own country? Very advanced in many ways, technologically and with human rights and things like that. However, I would say that sometimes I see the Western world as a bit lost. Not so much religiously, I’d say more in terms of spiritually. What is your family situation like? We are close, I have a little brother. I don’t live with my parents but we are all very close. Where do you see yourself in twenty years? My goal is to work in international relations through teaching, publishing, writing and lecturing. I would see myself working in a political organisation one day. Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world? I’d like to live where I grew up, in Israel, but I don’t want to spend all my life here. I wouldn’t want to die having lived in only one country; I want to see the world, especially seeing as I’m interested in international relations. I want to expand my horizons.
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International Student Supplement 1st April 2008
Describe your average day as a college student? We have three or four sessions of lessons and then I usually stay in the Students’ Union office because as the Vice-President of the Students’ Union here, I always have work to do. Usually I have classes in the morning and then I will stay at the Students’ Union until 8pm and then I return to my dormitory. We all just wear normal clothes in college; I don’t think people care what you wear here. As for socialising, I meet a lot of people in the Students’ Union and people usually come in to book facilities in college. Lots of people like to book the cultural square which is a courtyard outside the Students’ Union used for functions. I seldom go to the college bar but I am a part of the Drama Society. Do you have any religious beliefs? No, but for no particular reason, I just haven’t found one yet. Do you have any political affiliations? I am in general quite liberal. I am not a member of a particular political party. What is the burning issue of our time? I think people should be more tolerant of other people. I think we should appreciate the world’s diversity more. What is the greatest ethical problem facing the world? I am very concerned with the issue of fair trade. The Students’ Union here has been trying to promote fair trade on the campus this year. We had a fair trade festival just two weeks ago.
Maggie China
Sugeet
and to do away with our ego. The Hindu religion also encourages tolerance and ahimsa (non-violence).
India
Do you have any political affiliations? At the moment I have no political affiliations.
Describe your average day at college. The day starts with my alarm clock ringing at 7am and then a splash and dash to my college for lectures which commence at 8am. I have lunch then I rush back to college at 2 pm for afternoon classes and get free around five. The evenings are mostly utilized for co-curricular activities and sports. Some students here are into sports like soccer and cricket and others into co-curricular activities like debating and other literary societies. Around 9 pm I am free and we have our dinner and gossip about our day. I return to my hostel around 9.40pm and then I do some assignments. If we have no assignments and exams are not round the corner we go out for a stroll or watch a movie or just discuss different issues. I don’t really wear brand labels except for Reebok, Nike, and Levi’s. I just try to wear what looks good on me. Do you have any religious beliefs? I believe in Hinduism. The Hindu Philosophy focuses on the theory of Karma and the Transmigration of Soul. The religion teaches us that we are always after material gains and
Name: Sugeet, from India Date of birth: November 6th, 1986 Place of birth India College: Manipal University, India Favourite book: Not into reading Favourite meal: Favourite meal: Butter chicken with naan bread ( The spicy Indian curry) Do you drink/smoke/take drugs? No, because ‘Those who drink to drown their sorrows should know that sorrow knows how to swim.’ Hobbies: Sleeping , net-surfing
that if we keep running after material gain, we lose our true sense of ourselves. We should look for eternal happiness only via the divine connection of worship. We should try to be content
What is the burning issue of our time? The burning issues facing the world today are terrorism and war which are germinating in the heads of the citizens of the world like hydras, and spreading their tentacles everywhere. They are eating away at the foundations of nations and we see red bloodshed everywhere - we are killing each other for our selfish greed. What is the greatest ethical problem facing the world? I am perturbed by environmental degradation and issues like global warming and pollution. It is not fair that we use up the world’s resources for monetary gain. For students in Dublin that don’t know a lot about your country and its people, how would you describe it to them? India is a great country with a rich cultural diversity and heritage. People are warm, friendly and pride themselves on their sense of hospitality. You need to come to India to experience its vibrancy and charisma.
ies, Catholic churches and Englishstyle cafes.
Name: 劉明蕙 (Maggie Lau) Date of birth: 30 August 1987 th
Place of birth Hong Kong College:
(
香港中文大學學生會 Chinese University of Hong Kong) Favourite book: Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus Favourite meal: Fruit Do you drink/smoke/take drugs? I drink, but I don’t smoke or take drugs Hobbies: Theatre, film and books
We brought fair trade groups to our campus and we produced some material and sold fair trade goods in order to introduce them to fair trade. I think it turned out really well and a lot of students said they are more aware of the positive benefits about fair trade now as a result.
For students in Dublin that don’t know a lot about your country and its people, how would you describe it to them? Hong Kong was a British colony until 1997, when it became part of China again, so it has retained many links with the West. I think in general Hong Kong people are happy with the diversity of the city. It’s funny because while you still have many elements of Chinese culture in Hong Kong, like Chinese and Buddhist shops, you’ll also find theatres showing American mov-
What is your perception of the countries of the developed world/ developing world in contrast to your own country? No matter where in the world you are, one longs for peace, happiness and basic amenities. Although we are privileged to get most modern amenities and lead our lives comfortably, it is not the same scenario throughout the world People are dying of starvation; the developed nations should further assist the underdeveloped countries so that there is prosperity everywhere. I feel that little has been done in this regard. What is your family situation like? My parents live and work in Delhi, India’s capital city. I love to stay with my parents but my university is located in Manipal which is around
What is your perception of the countries of the developd world/ developing world in contrast to your own country? Every country has different cultures and I try to appreciate every part of the world for their uniqueness. Every country has something to add, a different perspective on life and I would like to learn from them all. What is your family life like? My family is a small core family, there are only four people including me, my dad, my mom and my brother, and we usually we go shopping together. We eat together every night when I’m at home but I live in a dormitory so seldom make it home for dinner. Where do you see yourself in twenty years? I would like to try out different occupations but ultimately to work as a teacher. I think to be a teacher would be brilliant because it enables one to teach students about one’s knowledge and experience. I would like to teach teenagers mainly, probably Middle School or Junior High School. Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world? I actually love Hong Kong but another place I would like to live in would be England. It’s a different kind of lifestyle and atmosphere. The pace of life in general is slower and the buildings are shorter. Sometime I think there are too many high-rise buildings in Hong Kong.
2200km away from Delhi. I get a chance to stay with my family for a couple of months during the summer and winter. I relish every second that I spend with my family. I also have an elder brother who is married and lives in Bangalore. Q.9) Where do you see yourself in twenty years? It’s difficult to think about where I will be twenty years down the line. Like everyone, I suppose I would like to be successful in all my endeavors. Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world? I feel that travel and experience are education within themselves, so I will always want to visit new countries and learn about different cultures. But I think I would prefer to live in India as my permanent residence.