Balkan Beats 25

Balkan Beats

A BIMONTHLY MAGAZINE BY THE VOLUNTEERS OF THE UNITED SOCIETIES OF BALKANS

#25

FREE PRESS

D euialogue golaiD

Editorial

golaiD The 25th EditionDeuialogue

by Eglė Puodžiūnaitė

Time is running fast and winter finally has come to Greece.

In many cultures time before Christmas is perceived as

a sacral moment that focuses on home, family and inner reflections.

sighted and eye vision impaired communities. Read more on page 18 – 21 by Mélissa Chicanaux, Tanya Anne Marion.

Agnieszka Trygart invites to explore a distinct communication of gesture language on page 22 – 23.

For this reason, Balkan beats autumn/winter edition is Have you heard anything about feminist movement in dedicated to dialogue.

Our volunteers focused on the path in different ways of communication. It can be transferred in many forms even without spoken words.

A blink of an eye, a hand gestures, a soft touch or sound

of rain possibly stronger than a thousand combinations of letters.

Experimental workshop ‘Blind Date’ concentrated

Brazil? If not, on page 43 – 47 Arianna Salant talks about strong women demonstrators, who made them protest and fight for their rights.

New years, greater plans, brighter visions, more diverse

conversations - welcome our new volunteers Agnieszka Trygar, Irene Cortés del Moral, Marleen Müts, Mélissa Chicanaux, Tanya Anne Marion, Arianna Salan, Martin Naništa, Umberto Zeverini and Wali Benia. I wish you the very best experience.

on raising awareness, erasing walls between

Balkan Beats, a part of Balkan Hotspot

Balkan Hotspot is the EVS (European Voluntary changes in the Balkan and Eastern European Service) project of “United Societies of Balkans”, region and under the need for the creation of a a NGO founded in Thessaloniki in 2008 by a team better social environment. of active young people.

Key areas of the organization’s activities concern The Balkans and Eastern Europe are geograph- the defense of human rights, the organization of ical regions with many cultural features which youth exchanges and training courses, which will offer a broad spectrum of actions and youth in- bring young people from Balkans and Europe tovolvement initiatives. The organization was cre- gether, the organization of local educational semated as a response to the pressure of constant inars and multimedia production.

United Societies of Balkans is a Non Governmental Organization, founded in Thessaloniki in 2008, by a team of active young people. The organization was created as a response to the pressure of constant changes in the Balkan and Eastern European region and under the need for the creation of a better social environment. Key areas of the organization’s activities concern the defense of human rights, the organization of youth exchanges and training courses, which will bring young people from Balkans and Europe together, the organization of local educational seminars and multimedia pro- duction(webradio, videos, documentaries).

Main goals of the organization • To promote the values of non formal le- aring,volunteering, active citizenship and democracy for the creation of a better future for European youth.

• To promote human rights, solidarity and respect for diversity.

• To build healthy cooperation bridges between countries of the Balkan area and that of Eastern Europe with the rest of Europe.

• To locate and multiply the special cultural attributes of our societies.

• The break down of prejudices and stereo- types between Balkan countries.

UNITED SOCIETIES OF BALKANS, NGO

Property of Balkan Beats The United Societies of Balkans, NGO, does not necessarily share the opinions expressed in Balkan Beats. It is illegal to reproduce any part of this publication without referring to the source.

www.balkanhotspot.org

This magazine is distributed free of charge.

9, Alamanas str., Agios Pavlos, Thessaloniki Tel./Fax: +30 2310 215 629 | www.usbngo.gr Cover © Laura Samuilytė, Eglė Puodžiūnaitė

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Contents

Contents Volunteer Life NGO ACTIVITY

04

Checking The Checkpoint VOICE TO VOLUNTEERS

08

SUSTAINABILITY

26

Struggle, soap and justice

31

The Perfect Autumn Getaway

Katerina Amvrazi

10

Kévin Casse USB NEWS

13

Promoting Inclusion for Migrants’ Empowerment STORY OF LUCK

15

About the importance of being an interpreter

Local Life

18

COMMUNICATION

A Blind Experience

22

TRAVEL

34

FESTIVALS

SUSTAINABILITY

50

New Applications

53

Waste management in Europe

56

Albania:

Art Against Fascism

37

Battle Of The Best Thessaloniki 2018

41

Gastronomical adventures

Out Of The Borders SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES

43

Raising voices for democracy

48

Bridges that divide

TRAVEL

58

SPORT

Via Dinarica

62

CINEMA

Have you seen the movie The Artist?

63

BOOKS

“Letter to a teacher” of Don Lorenzo Milani

Mix Fix

66

POETRY

Dialogue - not only words

Learning to look

24

68

Thessaloniki Exhibition

Sour Is Thy Faith

03

Volunteer Life NGO ACTIVITY

Checking The Checkpoint

by Filip Grác, Sacha Bogaers

Thess Checkpoint is a delightful and modern place in the centre of city, where people of

Thessaloniki have the chance to come and get tested for HIV and hepatitis B and C. It is reliable, confidential and free of charge. Apart from these services, Thess Checkpoint also provides to its visitors with a possibility to discuss any topics regarding the sexual health, sexual practices and sexually transmitted diseases in general. For this reason, we have decided to visit this place and interview its English speaking staff, AMALIA and VASILIS about Checkpoint and their jobs in it.

Amalia and Vasilis full of enthusiasm at the end of the working week ☺

© Filip Grác

How Checkpoint in Thessaloniki did come to be?

VASILIS: Well, I think that it is the collaboration

between Positive Voice and the AHF – Aids Healthcare Foundation. I think it is because of the need to provide information to people about sexual health, STDs, like HIV … and since then and even now sometimes … there is no organisation providing this specific thing, so there was a

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need to do that. Positive Voice was there to provide it and AHF just came in, they collaborated and here it is – Checkpoint. I think that similar projects exist in Europe, so they took the idea and they created something here six years ago, which was the start of the whole project. The first checkpoint was in Athens, six years ago.

NGO ACTIVITY

Volunteer Life

So the first impulse started from Athens?

adopted the same concept, to not just focus on MSM, but also on the broader audiences. So we AMALIA: Yes, it all started from Athens. It was in influenced them, in a way.

November 2012. There was a great demand for a community-based centre because in Athens What are your main goals of the focus was at first was on MSM (male hav- Checkpoint? ing sex with male). Here in Thessaloniki, about one year and a half later we had the thought to V: First, it is to address the HIV spread among address these services to wider audiences - to people in Greece. Let people know about safer all people no matter what, without taking into sexual practices, in a way that they can decide consideration the sexual orientation. Because if they want to take the risk or not. It is not us we thought here in Thessaloniki things would pointing at what is wrong or what is right. It is be more on a conservative basis let’s say. Peo- just, this is risky and this not risky, this is a bit ple were not so ready to accept such a thing. risky, take this information and then you decide, So, it was wise to address all. And then Athens as an adult, if you want to adopt that or not.

Amalia performing a check-up with a client in Thess Checkpoint

© Checkpoint promo photo

05

Volunteer Life NGO ACTIVITY

How many people on average do you have here in your facility to get tested?

A: On average it is around 25 people a day. On a

Has the number of HIV positive people stabilized in past few years or is it rather rising, or declining?

busy day, it could be even 40, if there are many V: It has been stabilized. Also, I would like to drop-ins. Usually our clients to come in the com- mention that one out of three people diagnosed in Greece has been diagnosed through the pany of other people for support. checkpoint.

How many HIV positive people are there in Greece nowadays?

What about the others?

A: According to the statistics from the Hellen- V:

Well others are usually diagnosed either through the hospitals or private labs. ic Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO), we can say that approximately around 16.700 people have been diagnosed. It is What do you think could be helpful for also interesting to mention that 82,8 per cent re- reduction of myths and prejudices that fers to men being HIV-positive (MSM or straight are being spread about HIV-positive …) About 4.000 of those diagnosed have already people? gotten sick with AIDS. About 10.000 people of those being diagnosed are under ART - anti-ret- A: Well, I believe that by just being there, that’s roviral treatment. And we have also got about a very good start. And that’s what we’ve been 2.700 people that have passed away, because of trying there. To BE THERE. For all. To make our the AIDS. In 2017, we had 628 new diagnoses. voices louder, to be visible, and to convince peoAlso, one out of three new diagnoses in Greece ple to make them feel comfortable with getting tested, and, you know, to create the whole noris nowadays done through Checkpoint. malisation process smooth.

V: I was thinking about, how you can spread

Condoms – one of the most effective protections from STDs

06

© Checkpoint promo photo

the word and minimise the stigma. First of all, it’s what Amalia said, if you’re here, you give the chance to people to come learn, and then they themselves spread the word to their friends, family and also to other people they know. Then we got education, we have to go into the schools, not specifically, just Checkpoint or Positive Voice. But everybody, like teachers, social workers, volunteers, etc. And spread the word, educate people about HIV and sexually transmitted infections, and also facilitate to minimising the stigma. The other thing is legally, we can fight for the legal rights of HIV positive people, or for any minority groups. And the last of the very important things is to break the strong bonds between being HIV positive and being something else, which for the community could be bad, like double stigma. HIV? Okay, this means gay; or, HIV,

NGO ACTIVITY

Contents

okay, this means drug user, et cetera. So if you break these chains, then it’s just the HIV. And if in 2010, by providing of my translation services.

And at that point I had the same knowledge as you learn about the HIV, then it’s nothing. most people still have, about HIV and AIDS (the A: It is a lack of awareness, lack of knowledge 80s, the fatal aftermath, etc.) So I was selected, that causes fear and prejudice. Knowing things to be part of the core of the team, and we began is very powerful, because then you are no longer here in Thessaloniki in 2014, so it’s almost five afraid. And each and every one of us can be an years for me now. ambassador, so as to spread the word and make V: As for me, I was interested in Checkpoint and it normal for all. sexual life personally and professionally, I’m a How did you guys become part of the psychologist. I used to live in UK. I did my master’s degree there, and my thesis was also about team? safer practices when using sexual apps, avoidA: Well, if I speak for myself. I am an English ing having sexual crimes, for example. And then teacher. I used to be a volunteer in Positive Voice; when I came here a job vacancy opened here at the association was established in 2009. I began Checkpoint, and I was so excited. So I applied. working with Positive Voice on a voluntary basis I did an interview here and I was the lucky guy.

Condoms - freedom and safety walking hand in hand

© Checkpoint promo photo

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Volunteer Life VOICE TO VOLUNTEERS

Katerina Amvrazi

by Cornea Claudia

Katerina Amvrazi from Greece did her EVS in Romania, in a small town called Mărășești. Her EVS was 7 months long and was the best experience of her life.

How and why did you choose your EVS project in Romania?

What is your impression about the country and your project?

I chose Romania because it is close to Greece I have a very good impression about Romania, it and I always wanted to visit this country. The project I chose because it involved working with kids, using non-formal education. I also wanted to go out of my comfort zone, and I wanted to travel, to meet new people, a new culture, it was a very good opportunity for me.

surprised me a lot. The people are very warm. We lived in a very small village, with local people and we were very close to them. For example, when I was going to the supermarket I was talking with students, parents, it was a really nice interaction.

Here in Thessaloniki, I don’t have this opportunity but in Romania and especially Mărășești, I feel like in my home, sometimes. Also, my coordinator and my mentor were very close to me. They are like my family.

How was your first day in Romania?

I remember… I was the first volunteer that ar-

rived. My mentor and my coordinator were waiting for me and they prepared many things, I felt very good. And after two more volunteers came.

This was my first night.

Was it difficult for you to adapt to a new country?

There was a change for sure, but for me, it was

not difficult to adapt because I wanted this kind of challenge, I wanted to travel.

What was your project about and what did you do?

EVS moments

08

My project was about non-formal education.

We took care of Roma children. At the end of the project, we did activities for the children with spe-

VOICE TO VOLUNTEERS

Volunteer Life

Katerina playing with the kids

cial needs. Also, we worked once a week at the school. Furthermore, we made activities for the community, for example, once we tried to build kennels for the homeless dogs in Mărășești, in the end, we didn’t succeed because it required too many expenses. But I think it doesn’t matter, some activities happen and some not.

open-minded. I always want to try something new, to travel, really, EVS was my best experience.

Tell us the best moment of your EVS?

What are you doing now, after EVS?

Do you have any regrets?

I think we did many things, and I don’t think I have any regrets. I did everything, and I am very happy.

I have many beautiful memories in my mind. For Now I came back to my city, to Thessaloniki and example, when we arrived at school and we saw I am searching for my next travel. I just want to the children coming at us, hugging us with lots of visit my friends from my EVS. love. For me, it was the greatest moment. Also, travelling in Romania, we have visited many cities like Bucharest, Iasi, Cluj. Of course, we had so many parties, and it was perfect, these were the best moments.

How did the project change you?

It is true, an EVS project changes you completely, your life, your mind, everything. I come back here, in Greece as a different person. Now I feel like

Katerina in her EVS project

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Volunteer Life VOICE TO VOLUNTEERS

Kévin Casse

by Tanya Anne Mariont

Kévin is an ex-long-term volunteer at the Balkan Hotspot from France. After 3 years from his

EVS he shares with us the best of his experience.

This is the advice Kevin share with us “take full advantage of the adventure and every opportunity from the environment”.

How does your entourage respond?

I needed to take a break. My family situation was

complicated, and I had almost made a burnout.

My family and my friends understood my choice.

Did you have any apprehensions before you left?

I was 23 years old, and it was the first time I did an EVS. To be honest, I didn’t think about it so much, time past away so quickly.

How did your adaptation go? Was it difficult?

© Balkan Hotspot Archives

Why did you decide to do an EVS?

I had my bachelor’s degree in law, and I wanted

At first, it was a little bit difficult because I didn’t know any English words, I didn’t even know how to introduce myself. I was studying English 2 to 3 hours per day by myself, and I made progress afterwards. I spoke Spanish, and it used to help me sometimes.

to take a break. Then I enrolled in the sending association near my home. This project was offered to me and I immediately accepted.

Why did you choose this project?

My goal was to pass a journalism contest. This

project totally matched my expectations because I wanted to have a first experience in journalism. Additionally, I wanted to learn English.

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© Balkan Hotspot Archives

VOICE TO VOLUNTEERS

Volunteer Life

Have you reached your professional goals?

Before

© Balkan Hotspot Archives

You lived and worked with a lot of volunteers. How did you feel?

It

my EVS I was in a high-level sports school. During my volunteering, I combined my passion for the sport with journalism. I had a great chance to be introduced with various types of media that led to express my interest in sports through the articles for the magazine, the blog even live radio show. My actions were quite diversified, and I liked it.

How EVS experience impacted your

was great. Interculturality is a nice asset. life?

All the Volunteers were friendly and caring, we This project has changed my life; reports on refformed a big family. ugees, working with local associations that fight What’s your best memory? against children abuse..., I was sensitive to this cause. When I returned I changed my plans, and I have a lot of goods memories, impossible to I decided to continue my law studies. Currently, I choose. I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure; I work as a lawyer in the Association of Childhood travelled a lot. I’ve been around the Balkans, and Protection. I enjoy my work, most likely I can say I was in Turkey, Montenegro, also in the south of that I have found my path.

Greece.

What if it was to be done again?

© Balkan Hotspot Archives

If I have to do it again, I will do it without hesitation in the same way and with the same people. This adventure was intense, and if I have to give an advice to the new volunteers, it is to take full advantage of the adventure and seize every opportunity is offered by life. Do not hesitate to travel, discover the city and all the activities that are happening around you.

What was your impression about the city and locals?

The locals were welcoming, none of the volun-

teers had negative experiences. Life was not very expensive, so we were able to go out and discover the city without any problems. In add I took sports classes at the university, I was very well integrated. © Balkan Hotspot Archives

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Volunteer Life USB NEWS

© Vassia Voziki

12

USB NEWS

Volunteer Life

Promoting Inclusion for Migrants’ Empowerment

by Vassia Voziki

“Promoting Inclusion for Migrants’ Empowerment” is a Key Action (KA1) Youth Exchange that aims at providing the quality of youth work addressed to young migrants. It is well-known that human rights are under pressure in many places across the globe. Some peaceful projects are violently quashed whereas minorities are often excluded from decision making. All of those issues threaten the idea of an open society in which each of us can be free and participate equally.

With

a growing global population, combined with human conflict and environmental change, people are becoming refugees for more reasons than before. Some of the most important causes are persecution (religious, national, political, social, racial), war, gender/sexual orientation, hunger or even climate change.

may provide a “PIN-code”, the access-key to enter the host societies, having regard that they are trained and equipped with appropriate tools.

Additionally, the project “PIn for ME” had some

important objectives, such as improving the quality of the socio-educational encouragement In these terms, youth workers can play a crucial for young migrants through cooperation among role, since through non-formal activities, they youth organizations and youth workers. Also increasing the capacity/improving the strategies of youth workers and organizations, addressed to the young migrants’ support.

The exchange did stimulate young people on

© Vassia Voziki

this issue and brought them to it emotionally and cognitively. The project included three complementary activities: a training in Palermo, four study visits in Palermo, Le Mans, Liverpool, and Bremerhaven as well as a final seminar in Palermo. 12 participants (two per each country) from Italy, Spain, Greece, France, Germany and UK were the protagonists of this innovative mobility program. We participated in all phases of the project, supported by our organizations and we had the opportunity to acquire cross-cutting skills, useful in our personal and professional growth path in an increasingly complex and multicultural society where the phenomenon of migration is getting more and more apparent.

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Volunteer Life USB NEWS

Among

others, we really had the chance to improve our attitude towards confrontation, listening, intercultural exchange, interpersonal communication, developing a self-critical comportment. As a result, participating organizations, besides strengthening their operational capability and their European network, they received multiple advantages from the experience, skills and competences obtained by their participants to improve the quality of their work towards young migrants.

Our project did, therefore, encourage the ac-

quirement of different knowledge, skills and attitudes, which are useful to contribute to our personal growth. Young people were able to discover the importance of cultural difference, mutual understanding and peaceful exchange.

It was an efficient way to enhance the freedom of thought, diversity, potential and creativity of the participants, to make them active agents of social development and change. The project is both a moment of self-analysis, a moment of non-formal learning and a starting point for networking in order to stimulate future collaboration in the framework of Erasmus+ Programme and to create conditions for the development of long-term partnerships.

Š Vassia Voziki

Having in mind all the above, I feel grateful that USB gave me the unique chance to participate in this wonderful experience.

Thank you very much for your support and the

guidance you offered to the participants during the preparation of the program.

With love,

Vassia Voziki

Š Vassia Voziki

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STORY OF LUCK

Volunteer Life

About the importance of being an interpreter Jamil’s story

by Wali Benia

After a difficult period in his country (Afghanistan) Jamil decided to go to Greece to find a better life. He was living in Athens for one year with his elder brother. Then he moved to Thessaloniki. Now Jamil works as an interpreter in a local NGO since this year. With the refugee crisis, the role of the interpreter starts to be more and more important. In this case, the communication between human is essential. His story is a part of many and it is just a testimony for better understanding to this job.

Can you introduce you?

Can you describe your job?

Š Wali Benia

I am Jamil. I am 19 years old and I am from Af- Most of the time my job is to interpret between

ghanistan. I am living in Greece since November two people: the employee and the beneficiary in 2016, and now I am working as an interpreter. a refugee camp, here in Thessaloniki. I start to

15

Volunteer Life STORY OF LUCK

role is just to translate for them and avoid making any friendship.

Is it difficult for you to hear migrant stories every day?

Yes! But it is difficult for everyone in this world © Erwin Zareie

work during the morning and I usually finish at six or seven.

What do you think about the role of the interpreter?

The role of the interpreter is very important in this period because of the refugee crisis. And especially because it is a sensitive job. You have to try to talk with unknown people, to enter in their life and translate also difficult stories.

What else do you do in the campus?

It depends on our experience. We need many

abilities and skills to take care of the people we have in charge. The most important is languages because we must know how to translate without missing any words with the aim to be clear.

In your daily work do you feel the migrants need your help?

The interpreter role is the most important role in a camp or refugee place. He creates the relation and if it is not there the employees and the beneficiaries cannot pass their problems and request to each other.

Can you describe the relation you have with them?

The relation is simple. We can not make any re-

to listen to different and strange stories. It is my job and I have to do it, I can not escape or avoid.

“The current global estimate is that there were around 244 million international migrants in the world in 2015, which equates to 3.3 per cent of the global population.2 A first important point to note is that this is a very small minority of the global population, meaning that remaining within one’s country of birth overwhelmingly remains the norm. The great majority of people in the world do not migrate across borders; much larger numbers migrate within countries (an estimated 740 million internal migrants in 2009). That said, the increase in international migrants has been evident over time – both numerically and proportionally – and at a greater rate than had been anticipated by some.”

— ( According to the 2018 World migration report from the International Organisation for Migration (OIM) http://w w w.iom.int /wmr/world-migration-report-2018)

This quote to shows the importance of the role

of interpreter for the migration issue. Also this lation with the people in the camps because our infographic below.

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STORY OF LUCK

Volunteer Life

Source: UN DESA, 2017

How do you think we can improve the job?

We have many possibilities and solutions but

Do you have any future plan?

I have thousands of plans for my future but I

cannot explain all of them. However, I can tell the first point for me it is simply by providing you about one who is also my passion: painting.

I want to be an artist in the future. more interpreters.

Š Jamyl

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Local Life Communication

A Blind Experience

How do you feel blindfolded? by Mélissa Chicanaux, Tanya Anne Marion

The 8th - 9th of November 2018, Blind Date workshops took a place at the Center for Educa-

tion and Rehabilitation for the Blind, Thessaloniki and in the cultural centre Balkan Heart. The workshop aimed to open the minds and shape new approach about blind and impaired people through theatrical games, contact improvisations and dialogue. The exercises are situated on principal sensations that open an access to conscious empathy.

The “Blind Date Workshop” is a project creat-

ed thanks to the collaboration among Balkan Hotspot project, the Center for Education and Rehabilitation for the Blind Thessaloniki and the Lithuanian Association of Blind. Its aim was to build a bridge between the community of the blind and the youth in Thessaloniki, between the Greek and Lithuanian organisations working for visually impaired people and to organise future projects within the two countries.

Everything started from the initiative of Eglė

Puodžiūnaitė, volunteer in United Societies of Balkans and editor of this magazine.

“The idea was born a long time ago I was waiting for the right time, maybe positive circumstances.

Back in Lithuania, I had a chance to participate in some workshops and performances that have changed my personal approach in life. It is something that you cannot forget.

The idea was to gather impaired and sighted members of society and let them interact through theatrical games, dance, improvisations.

Blindness, like any other disability, is a taboo that has built walls of fear between communication.

So I focused on the message

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Eglė Puodžiūnaitė during the workshop

© Laura Samuilytė

to spread awareness, promote open-mindedness, demolish the boundaries. Almost every day I was in contact with the Lithuanian Association of Blind also with Irma, one of the facilitators. I used to remind myself of the fact that nobody wants to collaborate with strangers. Fortunately, Urania, my mentor and friend guided many steps of mine. Later, despite the language barrier I faced with warmth and hospitality of Greek people.”

— Eglė

Communication

Local Life

The workshops were divided in two days and it The workshop was hosted by three facilitators. offered different activities. The first day work-

Lina Puodžiūnienė, theatre teacher, mentor and projects manager for culture, Irma Jokštytė active member in Lithuanian Association of Blind, actress, radio reporter and Urania Rapti, psychologist, and mentor of the volunteers at United Societies of Balkans.

“The workshop was a revelation and a bridge between the worlds of the blind and the seeing and an opportunity for inspiration and motivation - Urania Rapti said The collaboration with the various people and institutions involved was very nice. Especially with Lina and Irma who directed all the activities.

The most vivid memory of this workshop was the atmosphere created by Lina and Irma. Though I was just supposed to translate, I felt a warm feeling of unity among the 3 of us, communicating as a well tuned orchestra as if it wasn’t the first time we had to work as a team.”

— Urania Rapti

shop was more based on the discovery of the senses. The second day workshop was more linked on development of the imagination. The experiment started with a guiding task. Every sighted person were blindfolded and paired with blind person. The aim is based on trust with a partner who was responsible to deliver sighted friend to the workshop space.

“The blind workshop was a unique experience. For a few hours we had the opportunity to connect with other people without the sense of sight. We experimented and discovered many new sensations in an environment full of human warmth.”

— Irene Cortés del Moral , Participant

“I did not expect it to be so complicated for me to live this time.

It allowed me to have a glimpse of what blind people can see and how they feel with their other senses.

I did not realize it before but touch is a much more developed sense when we do not see. The sensations are not the same, deeper, more intense. I did not doubt the ability of these people to perceive these sensations but I did not think it would be so intense and unexpected.

The activities we did were really allowed to discover a little more their “world”.”

— IJeanne, Participant

The three facilitators during the workshop at Balkan Heart © Melissa Chicanaux

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Local Life Communication

Participant outside the Blind School of Thessaloniki

© Melissa Chicanaux

The blind experience continued without a word,

in the background, with soft and smooth music that held participant to mystical world of experiences. For the game “Finger Dance” participants were asked to move random directions and paire with a new companion. During the dance couples were allowed to have a contact just with one finger. The attention were focused on the opponent, it’s movements, body language, personality, posture, and the message told through the moves. In the end, participants removed blindfolds to discover their partner.

Visually impaired people, or people having other

Participant experiencing the guiding task

20

© Melissa Chicanaux

kind of handicap, live a different life. They must often give an additional efforts to do simple tasks about everyday life, to find a job, to access at some places or even hobbies. Meeting them and experience their daily life it’s very rewarding in order to understand each other and to be able to put oneself in their place. That is what the blind date workshop has given to the participants.

Communication

© Laura Samuilytė

Two participants during the “Finger Dance” game

It was the occasion to imagine for one time, the difficulties a blind person may encounter, but mostly, the faculties that blind peoples develop (hearing, touch, taste, listening). In-

Local Life

deed, those senses are often forgot by most of us but, when rediscover them and when we learn to develop them, it may be a priceless treasure.

The participants during the first workshop at the Blind School of Thessaloniki

© Laura Samuilytė

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Local Life Communication

Dialogue - not only words

Discovering the sign language and the deaf world with Gregorios Petropoulos

by Agnieszka Trygart

In Greece, there are around 62,500 deaf people. Deaf people in the world range from 18 to 36 million. Gregorios Petropoulos is teacher of sign language from “Kosmos” school, a person who knows these problems perfectly.

Gregorios

Petropoulos wasn’t born deaf. He lost his hearing when he was seven years old because of medication side effects. He entered particular school for deaf and sign language, that opened a new world of communication for him. It improved him and changed his perception of the world as well as his mentality. Since he was born hearing, it’s easier for him to teach sign language to hearing students. He feels that he was born with a mission to teach sign language.

He loves it a lot and thinks that sign language is difficult but all people should learn how to use it, and he would like to spread it as much he can.

Gregorios’ children can communicate with him

in sign language and also with other people. He suggests that sign language should be 2nd language in greek school.

Healthy people don’t realise everyday obsta-

cles of people who can not hear. In society it is very little known about deaf-mute problems, also the closest to the deaf are struggling to understand the fact of not hearing and how it translates into their lives.

Gregorios thinks that the biggest problems of

deaf people in Greece are for example acquiring higher education, because only 3-4% of deaf people enter the University. There is no funding to have someone translating into sign language during lectures. The Associate of Deaf has courses for deaf people who want to study at University, but they have limited funds, they can offer only 25-30 hours of preparatory courses per person and that is not enough.

The biggest problem of deaf people in Thessa-

loniki has to do with public services, hospitals, police, because there are no “translators”. The same happens in public servants: according to the law there should be at least one person who can communicate with deaf people . In reality, it is hard to find these people in offices.

In Greece people understand each other by sign

“Kosmos”

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© Agnieszka Trygar

language but during traveling abroad it can be harder. Most of people like travelling, meeting new countries and culture, the same is with deaf

Communication

Local Life

others or special discrete signals for some words in order not to be understood by others watching. Deaf can use “personalized” symbols inside a specific group of people friends, classmates, colleagues and also use an alphabet in reverse order in order to hide their message like IRINI->INIRI. All groups develop personal or secret codes of communication that only this specific group can understand, as well as deaf people do.

Sign language is not a formal academic lan-

guage but a cluster of personalized gestures and signals that a person can evolve while practising, reading or studying. Deaf people that also belong in other social groups, they develop also a sign language relevant to other social characteristics that are not common inside the national or international language. For example, the LGBT community has a specific sign vocabulary. A Alphabet of the Greek sign language © Agnieszka Trygar deaf person with academic studies can develop people. At school we learn English, which helps a rich sign vocabulary, while a deaf 12 year old us in intercommunication abroad, but how is it elementary student uses a “childish” vocabulary. with deaf people, how they communicate with The more is sign language used in the different people from other countries? framework the more signals are learnt or used so Sign language is a linguistic code that borrows the vocabulary grows. “words structure” from different languages. For example sentence “I love you” is showing one’s “If all the hearing people that don’t heart. Also, the English (Latin) alphabet can be know sign language passe at least used. “We are signing the evolution of internation- once by our schools, they would be al sign language with phrases and words from all interested in learning it. Everyone the linguistic variety of Europe - Petropoulos said should be interested in learning - When children are learning greek sign language it. Everyone should be able to they are teached international gestures. Only elderly deaf people can’t communicate through in- acknowledge the different because ternational sign language. Also social media like everyone can make a difference by Facebook or Instagram and international events just deciding to learn sign language.

As a teacher, I’ve understood that all helping deaf to learn more and more”.

Sign language is very visible and everyone needs

sometimes a little bit privacy. When they don’t want to be heard by others or if they want to say things in confidentiality, what can deaf people do?

They can make smaller scale gestures or finger movement inside the palm to avoid be visible to

of us hearing or deaf have to open our mind and heart to the different to cultivate acceptance and solidarity in order all ideas can be expressed” — Gregorios Petropoulos

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Local Life Social and Political Issues

Thessaloniki Exhibition

Beyond the Dispute GR & MK – 1st of November 2018 by Cristian LUPU

Thursday, 1st of November 2018 at Thessaloniki City Hall took place the Exhibition “Beyond

the Dispute”, realised by two enthusiastic youth – Ivana from Republic of North Macedonia and George from Greece. They are both working for the European Youth Forum in Brussels after plenty of youth work development in their home countries.

“We have more than enough disputes. We need more beyond!”

— Olia K ., (participant)

The European Youth Forum funds the project through an annual staff grant, and it consists in three local exhibitions: 30th of October in Skopje, 1st of November in Thessaloniki – both of them with about 50-60 participants and 28th of November in Brussels as final exhibition that took place at EYF Brussels, enjoying the most

Thessaloniki exhibition

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audiences. All the content of the exhibits is also present on the project’s webpage – www.beyondthedispute.org. Thessaloniki Exhibition was available to the public for two weeks.

Basically, what have Ivana and George done?

They are well aware of the disputes that take place for more than 25 years between their countries, they met, and they saw that all of the conflicts are nothing more, but political ones and that actually people from those two countries can cooperate, create stories, be happy, implement projects, find love one in the other and even

© Cristian LUPU

Social and Political Issues

© Cristian LUPU

Thessaloniki exhibition

start a family. The idea is brilliant: let’s focus on the nice things happening, let’s see the full half of glass. So after a short presentation, on the web page you’ll find the heart of everything, an impressive collection of stories that connected people from the apparently “rival” countries.

At the moment there are present 11 stories in

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all camp activities and raising our expectations for the following year. In the end, we can hope that those children will forge a better future with their neighbours if they keep looking at the world through their hearts, as they do it now.”

The most amazing thing is that, even then the

project ended on 28th of November, the last opthe website, and most of them have also been tion at the stories section, “Share Your Story” will presented at the exhibitions in Skopje, Thessa- remain open and the collection of experiences loniki and Brussels. One of the stories is by Pa- will continue to grow. nagiotis Poulos, a physical education teacher who met in a summer children’s camp a woman who took the role of translator for the experience of the camp to be more effective. Due to a strong connection and a fantastic result of the camp, they both decided to organise this kind of camps again, but the second time in Greece instead of FYROM, since the towns were just a few kilometres away one of the other and separated only by the border. “The results were spectacular! The children played, had fun and enjoyed themselves together with their foreign peers, participating in Thessaloniki exhibition

© Cristian LUPU

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Local Life SUSTAINABILITY

Struggle, soap and justice Self-managed production, international solidarity and great challenges: the experience of Viome factory in Thessaloniki

by Jennifer Theil, Arianna Salan

Facing bankruptcy and unemployment the workers of Viome decided to take the lead for their

future. Viome is now a self-managed committee of workers, who refuse the negative consequences of the financial crisis and started to produce their own eco-friendly cleaning products. Jenny and Arianna visited them and discovered a story of courage, resistance and motivation.

We walk on a street in the industrial outskirts of

Thessaloniki, among trees and untamed bush. In the morning it is really quiet here and you can see the fog evaporating in the morning sun. After a short walk, we focus on our destination: Viome, the occupied factory. At first glance, one could imagine that the huge area is abandoned: the chimneys blow no smoke out, there are no machine sounds or chatting and laughing to be heard. But inside the factory, people are really busy this morning. From 7 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon usually, around 25 people work in there. Knowing so little about occupied factories, we ask Nicole and Spiros from Viome to tell us more about it and to share their stories with us.

They explain to us that until 2011 the factory was part of the Philkeram Johnson group, the first and biggest producer of tiles in Greece. The chemical industry Viome was its daughter company and produced complementary materials until the owners declared bankruptcy and the management stopped to pay the employees their salaries. “The workers of Viome refused the situation, they were “The real issue was to protect the machines and the materials inside the factory, not to allow the managers to sell off anything, and to establish a strong struggle. That means that you are inside the factory, you are here, you are not spread around. There is

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on strike because they were not getting any pay for some months, nor they had been dismissed.

This was transformed into an occupation of the place”, says Spiros. Occupying the factory was the last measure the workers could do, to prevent the company from selling the factory without paying back the huge debts it had accumulated towards

Barricades built to protect the factory area

both the employees and the state. Spiros told us that at the beginning the workers applied for their occupation in court to obtain legal protection, in order not to be forced out from the management.

the breach of the contract with the bosses and the restrictive measures against them, not to start selling everything: who is going to protect that? The workers themselves, so they were occupying the factory.”

— Spiros from Viome

SUSTAINABILITY

Nicole is working for 2 years in the Chemistry lab for Viome.

Local Life

© Arianna Salan

© Arianna Salan

Soon after the occupation, worker unions and a

self-declared solidarity committee were discussing together what the following steps should be.

“There were daily meetings and assemblies with the union. There was a struggle to find a solution to reopen the factory, of course, there was no real discussion with the management. There were some discussions and negotiations with the government or political parties, but it was evident that a solution in that way would take too long, it would take years”, explains Spiros.

During their weekly meetings, the workers came

up with the decision not to go on with the same

production as before. They were trying to figure out which manufactures and which mode of production would fit their situation the best.

“Usually” clarifies Spiros, “it is good starting with a solidarity production: that means a different production, small-scale, to a different market.”

The idea came from outside of the Viome environment: in the above-mentioned solidarity committee other workers, political activists and other socially active people were also participating.

“There was a big discussion about starting again the production, about what to produce, because the raw materials of the previous production are costly and the construction sector is down-

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Local Life SUSTAINABILITY

Jenny: “What’s now being mixed?” Nicole: “Here we are producing a natural fabric softener based on vinegar, that’s what you’re smelling, and lavender essential oil. Like this, you have a natural fabric softener.”

© Arianna Salan

Besides the occupation of the factory and the

grading, tells Nicole while showing us around the factory’s spaces. “They decided for cleaning products, because first of all they can be moved easily, they can reach every family house. Like this you can both sell your product and promote the idea of self-management, peer-to-peer exchange, not dealing with big buyers; the second thing was to be more eco-friendly. They decided to produce natural products at first, and afterwards – two years now – we started to produce also ecological products from synthetic raw materials, but 100% biodegradable”.

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difficulties the workers were facing, the idea of self-management is an innovative answer to current working models. The workers of Viome didn’t want to keep the usual employer-employee setting and decided to adopt a cooperative model. “All the workers have equals rights” explains Spiros.

“Of course for many reasons, we have some elections, some appointed members, but all the decisions come from the assembly where everyone has the same right of voting and taking decisions, and the same obligations about applying the decisions.” The group sees clear advantages in the self-management of its work and production.

SUSTAINABILITY

Local Life

“I think it’s more modern, more effective way to manage the production. It’s not only about making the decisions, it is also about the matter of responsibility for the decision, and the result was achieved in a democratic way. It’s also good for the actual production, and the products themselves, because it’s a way of applying as a whole the workers controlled production, which is I think the most important safeguard to have social control of the production. You have the workers being responsible. We are not alienated from the actual product of our work, and we are proud of that.”

The motto of the self-managed team of Viome. © Arianna Salan

The

workers can trust the local community, which supports and defends their work. But also internationally Viome can count on a broad solidarity network, who also sells and distributes their products, as Nicole explains us: “There are a lot of small shops: cooperatives, organic, and vegan shops. And we also sell our products during various eco festivals, that are also something steady in Greece in many cities; other festivals like Direct Democracy festival or Be Fest in Athens, all kind of festivals that are close to social worker movement, or self-organized festivals. We are also exporting, probably 30% of our production or maybe more, mainly in Germany and France, but also to other countries like Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Italy, Spain.”

— Spiros from Viome

Still, it is difficult to be sure to have a stable market: “It’s a big network, and it’s hard to exploit it all. It’s not something steady and concrete, you must put a lot of effort in order to find another store or another social center and this store keeps on having your products”, says Nicole.

The workers of Viome keep up with their motivation and with being engaged in social challenges, besides the difficulties. In 2012 for example, they opened a social clinic in the factory’s area. Especially during the crisis, when the public health care faced chaos, people could come to Viome’s medical room to get a health check for free.

Also, here the typical hierarchical relationship between patient and doctor dissolves. In Viome’s social clinic, the person in the treat is an active

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Local Life SUSTAINABILITY

Refilling the eco-friendly detergent

part of the caring process, and not only passively following the doctor’s instructions; the approach to healthcare follows a more holistic view, involving a team of professionals, and considering different aspects of everyone’s life.

© Arianna Salan

for free.” Next appointment will be on 16th December, when there will be a local market without intermediaries: it will be possible to directly get in touch with the producers, meet them and buy their products.

Next to this, Viome organises events in the fac- Viome’s workers built up a lot for themselves tory, such as the CoopenAir Festival that took place in October. “It is also about using the factory for the community” explains Spiros, “for many other things that you can do: it was a political festival, but together with cultural activities. It was made and built up in the same way we are working” he adds. “The best thing we could do was to be with the other cooperatives, to organise, to give back to the society: so having a fest,

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and the community, but they are also aware of the great challenges of their situation and look realistically into the future. As Spiros says: “You can never be sure. We know that we are in a long struggle, with a big support from various movements. We receive solidarity and we are also part of this movement from which we receive solidarity. We intend to continue to do that as long as we can afford that.”

TRAVEL

Local Life

The Perfect Autumn Getaway

Thermal Springs in Loutra – Pozar (Λουτρά) by Dorottya Meszner

“Endless” summer in Greece has come to a halt, however, the various natural sights around

Thessaloniki have a lot to offer. Getaways are not only for the summer season. In fact, some places feel different in fall, inviting you to enjoy the fading rays of the sun, the view of colourful trees with their falling leaves and the feeling of chilly air on your skin. This fall, enjoy Greece’s best natural hot spring and indulge in relaxation.

Arriving

in Pozar, there is a wonderful view stretching around you: trees with the hundred colours of autumn are standing tall on the mountains around the road that leads to the small village. You can feel like catching nature at its greatest while staring at the cascade of both

cold and hot water along each other and fording among rocks, mountains towered upon you with the sun filtering through the trees. Standing below the waterfall or bathing in one of the hot watered “natural ponds” formed by rocks on the riverbed while adoring the beautiful scenery,

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Local Life TRAVEL

Loutra, also known as Pozar, is located in the district of Pella that is known as the ancient capgives you a unique experience of relaxation and ital of the Greek Kingdom of Macedonia and the wellness. birthplace of Alexander the Great. The beautiful village of Loutra has situated 110 km from Thessaloniki, making it perfect for a day-trip from the city into nature. Pozar is accessible by bus from Thessaloniki which takes you to a town nearby, called Aridaia, from where you can take a taxi to the thermal baths (easily noticeable by the view of water passing through the village). The water stream is originating from the riverbed of Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicolas), locally known as ‘Thermopotamos’ (meaning hot water).

The healing elements of thermal water, known as

thermalism, are recognised since Roman years.

The hot springs of Loutra, Pozar (with a temperature of 37° C) have various certified healing qualities, not only while bathing in them, but also drinking the water. The curative effects that the thermal water has on the body attracts people of all ages to relax and heal from all around Greece.

Initially, considering these effects the ‘magical’

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TRAVEL

Local Life

The area offers several other activities which

can be combined with the thermal baths within a day trip or can be part of a weekend vacation spent in the district of Pella. In the area, you can explore the first Cave Park of Greece with its 17 caves that were formed thousands of years ago, located around Pozar. Also, you can hit the Kaimaktsalan Mountain where you can go for a hike, go climbing or even skiing in winter in its skiing resort. If you wish to take a nice walk you can explore the Black Forest that is located nearby and is considered to be one of the most beautiful forests in Greece. The town of Edessa is only 30 km away from Pozar, where you can visit the biggest waterfall of Greece, called Karanos with a height of 70 metres.

However you decide, spend a few hours, take a day trip or a longer holiday in the area, it will be an amazing choice. Pozar, and its unique feature of hot springs flowing through of it, along with the impressive natural surroundings of the vilwater has (recommended for rheumatic and lage, will be the perfect destination for your getdermatological conditions), in the past the main away this autumn. group of visitors were older people who wished to have treatment. Nowadays, due to exploring fantastic scenery and the numerous ways to escape from the city, the small village became a favourable destination for younger visitors and couples as well.

You can enjoy the hot springs in many various

means as the area of Pozar has two spa centres with 48 individual baths, 6 indoor pools, 1 big size outdoor pool, hammams and jacuzzi. Furthermore, the waterfalls and natural ‘ponds’, shaped in the bank of the river and surrounded by rocks, as the hot stream is gushing through the village, give a unique experience of bathing, healing and admiring nature around you. The village of Pozar is a complex of spa facilities, swimming pools, fascinating nature, local shops and many cafes, bars and restaurants that provide opportunities for having a hot cup of tea, a nice coffee or a lovely dinner.

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Local Life Festivals

Art Against Fascism

Breaking walls movement and positive ideas by Eglė Puodžiūnaitė

Thursday 8 o’clock in the evening, I am climbing stairs in a dark corridor which supposedly

should lead me to TAKIM centre. In 2016 the centre was established by private initiatives to promote alternative lifestyle, a platform where people gather for open dialogue. I have met an active Antinazi Zone member and the main organiser of Art Against Fascism, Giannos Nikolaou (gr. Γιάννος Νικολάου), who promised to tell more about the fresh and revolutionary initiative either share his pacifist approach in life.

1

What is Art Against Fascism?

Art Against Fascism is like youth festival

on democratical discussion to openly debate the schedule, who is going to play and etc. We are trying not only to have an organisational team, but we are trying to involve artists into the campaign; not only to put posters on the walls but, also to discuss and invite other people to join the movement. We want to continue these meetings and actions after the festival.

to attract young school students, university students, basically any young person who wants to participate with any kind of art, music, drawings, sketches or short theatrical plays, like we had last year. Also, those who wish to express themselves through art towards anti-fascist, anti-racist direction. Art Against Fascism is the The event is hosted by Antinazi zone which is second time we organise one-day event. It focus an anti-fascist platform to get people active in the anti-fascist movement. The platform is like a front where everyone who wants to get active can join us to fight against the struggle.

2 How do you invite people to

participate in to your project?

There is an open call on the internet like Facebook

page, we distribute booklets and posters at the city centre, school, universities, and everybody are welcome to participate. Unfortunately, we don’t have information in the English language.

3 What is your role in the anti-fascist platform in Thessaloniki?

I am active as a member, I am taking part in

© Eglė Puodžiūnaitė

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demonstrations, various actions in anti-fascist information, we have a web page and a newspaper as well, it is a small one, but it’s enough.

We write anti-fascist articles, also political, en-

Festivals

Local Life

© Eglė Puodžiūnaitė

vironmental and some other. We are trying to be in Syria, refugee waves, people constantly are active and alert about fascist actions, all kind of coming to Greece. Of course, they don’t want to stay in Greece, because they don’t have any racist attacks, we need to prevent it. future, low salaries, people choose migration to western Europe countries with higher life conWhat is the current situation in ditions. But they stuck here because of the EU Greece? agreements, and the situation is going down I think it is a very complicated question and big rapidly. Thus, Greek majority think that refugees issue in Greek society. Because it is related with create problems because they don’t have jobs or emigration waves and of course with steady they have bad paid jobs. I think this is not true, measures from the current and previous gov- but racist speech from members of the parliaernment. I think Greek people, Greek society is ment and by some members especially from the not racist in their DNA, but when the economy previous government and of course the speechis not going well, keeps steady, the easiest way es from the politics of the European Union goes is to blame someone: immigrants, refugees. And that direction. So this is why people have a conI mean in general, especially now with the war servative opinion.

4

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Local Life Festivals

5 How do you think society can solve the problem?

On the one hand on the first refugee waves, we

saw many solidarity actions. Almost all over Greece, starting from the islands, close to the Turkey cost line, even in Thessaloniki and at borders with FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). So we had this another indication that people are not racist, they want to help.

But on the other hand speaking in the European or global scale, I think these people have to be emerged with Greek society: children must attend public school, adults find a job. So they have to join the society like everybody else. And they can help actually to the Greek economy of course if they spread around all over the country.

And there are thousands of people in the camps, it looks like “concentration camps”. They can not survive out there. They have no future because nobody has a plan where to put them. So I think the solution would be to go to the cities, go to everywhere.

6 Do you think the situation is getting better? Are young people become more tolerant?

I would say the situation is stable; it is not good, I mean there are some aspects that we see in movements like here. However, because of the political situation, everything is fluent, I mean the mood can change in one month rapidly.

© Eglė Puodžiūnaitė

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Festivals

Local Life

Battle Of The Best Thessaloniki 2018

Get ready for Break-boy Battles, Experimental Battle, Street-dance Theatre awards, workshops, and parties!

by Laura Samuilytė

Some people have chosen to give everything for making a difference in their daily-life, city or even a country. Helping others to reach dreams meanwhile creating something big and meaningful. Thessaloniki can be proud of people like Apostolos (Tolis) Aristeidou and his family, friends who are sharing ideas and work – his group gives all of the energy and time to support active and creative citizens, while organizing International events for dancers, offering the opportunity to be seen by well-known people from outside the country.

About the festival:

One of the biggest Street Dance Festivals with

International guests for judging and running workshops, for already 14 years in a row- Battle Of The Best Thessaloniki. Taking place on Sunday 16th of December at the Ceremony Hall of Aristotle University. The main event is starting from 1 pm, going to finish about 10/11 pm, in Ceremony Hall of Aristotle University on Sunday the 16th of December. On Saturday (15th ) we are going to have workshops in dance schools, and a party at night in Ladadika, Wonder Wall (https:// www.facebook.com/WonderWallCafeBar/), (3 floors, different music), and on Friday (14th of December) 2nd part of Battles in 8ball Club.

Main event: two competitions with choreog-

raphies, one category without rules and limitations (can include all styles). Also, youth category - age until 17 years old. There will be no 1st or 2nd place- just three winning awards, best performances and no one will announce which was the last, with this hoping to let people express themselves more and have a balance with all the strict categories. Each group

“All the dancers know what a huge influence is done by being a part of a team and expressing yourself while growing up, which helps to become a way more confident personality. Dances unite us all, straight from childhood, when people are dancing in one group, they don’t care which one has more money or who looks better.

Dancing trains kids to care about others same as about ourselves. The power of friendship which you are building while working together is indescribable.”

— Apostolos ( Tolis) Aristeidou

Posters from “Ghetto Blaster” online shop office. www.ghettoblaster.gr © Laura Samuilytė

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Local Life Festivals

Zacc Milne from Ireland - Judge of “Battle of The Year” © Official organisers of the event.

Lady Cun Faya from Italy - Judge of “Battle of The Year” © Official organisers of the event.

can win 500 euros and some sponsorships with tising at the streets; everyone was starving to clothes and accessories. this kind of events, to connect with others, from areas of the city and from other cities.

Apostolos (Tolis) Aristeidou joined hip-hop cul- other Many people were coming to join them. With his ture when he was 14 years old. He was part of brother’s suggestion in 2001, they decided to a group called “warriors” about 10 years, they organise the first breaking battle. After a sucmade many concerts, videos in north Greece. cessful event, they have started a marathon of His brother Periklis Aristeidou, who is 4 years events every 3 or 4 months, only in Thessaloniki. younger - has been involved in hip-hop culture Later A. Tolis joined to the army, and apparenttoo, he was a graffiti writer and break-boy (this ly, one guy, who officially lives in Germany- Alex style of dancing is known better as BreakdancCharalampidis- came to Thessaloniki to open a ing or b-boying). When they were doing a party graffiti store, and to Athens- to create a first bator concerts, his brother would come with friends tle of the year. who were b-boys as well, and dancing inside the events, that’s how they were involved together. When A. (Tolis) Aristeidou finished army, with Back in 1997-1998, many teenagers were prac- this guy they made a battle of the year together (2003) but that time more than only for Greece

Hong 10 - Judge of “Battle of The Year” © Official organisers of the event.

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MG Martin from Slovakia - “Judge of “Battle of The Year” © Official organisers of the event.

Festivals

Local Life

Onel - Greek, who won a world championship of break dances in a battle of the last year.- Judge of “Battle of The Year” © Official organisers of the event.

- for Balkans. So what the winners in this years were - 2003,2004 – Bulgaria, 2005- Greece, 2006,2007- Bulgaria. From 2008 until now only Greeks are winning. Meanwhile, Bulgaria is still in the game, because the Bulgarian kids are powerful dancers, usually winners. “we are very proud of them, still well connected and about to see each other in the finals now in France.”-says A. (Tolis) Aristeidou.

ple, they started organising their live concerts by themselves because they realised that the promoters weren’t doing the best, so they started to take their own responsibility for everything.

Experience came with concerts which A. Tolis

organised with his group. Then they included the dance battles, later thought – it can be more creative, because they involve all the hip-hop culture, dancing, breaking, DJing, graffiti – it is good As they gained experience, they found out that a that more and more people are connected. lot of organisation skills were missing. For examAfter 5 years of doing The Battle of the year, they received 3 requests from groups of girls, who had nothing to do with break-dance or hip-hop, they simply wanted to perform in the event. The second year 6 groups came with the same question, it was a bit more intense with these many performances in between, but they still agreed. When they announced the battle of the year (2008)- 3 months before the event they received requests from 15 groups asking them to perform a special show at this event! It was more than all the participants of competition and battles. As the popularity of the event was growing, they came up with an idea – to include one more category of competition- street dance contest, so all these groups of interested people can compete and be part of it.

Nao (Kinetic art - Japan) - “Judge of “Battle of The Year” © Official organisers of the event.

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Local Life Festivals

There are some main events organised by “Ghet-

biggest attraction for dance lovers is a summer to Blaster” every year, which dancers have an camp in Chalkidiki “Armenistis Campus”. opportunity to be seen by International judges.

Starting from September with the battles, De- The best part of it is that some people already cember- “Battle of the year”. During summer- the succeed because of these events, and now continuing to develop their carriers abroad.

“It‘s stressful sometimes, online shop and events- not the most stable jobs, but at the end of the day I‘m very happy, all these small details, like knowing that I‘m 39 years old and still doing what I love, no one is telling me what to wear, how to act.

And it‘s not even about money, it‘s about this lifestyle which keeps me grateful and motivated.”

— A . Tolis Aristeidou sharing his thoughts about this lifestyle

The national dance competitions have already

brought success to many young and motivated people to gain international carrier.

WWW.BATTLEOFTHEBEST.GR Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/ battleofthebest?ref=bookmarks YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCkYGZZ3prvXpt8oM5ajHr9g

Tolis Aristeidou- organiser of Battle of the best story at his online shop “Ghetto Blaster”

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© Laura Samuilytė.

Food

Local Life

Gastronomical adventures

by Elena Fagogeni

Here in Greece when special events are occurring in our lives like birthdays, weddings, anni-

versaries we always celebrate them in the same way - eating! Family members, friends, gather and sit around a table, drink and eat while they are talking and celebrate wholeheartedly. Today, we are not going to talk about the famous places. We will talk about the small neighbourhood’s tavernas, which are made by people who love good food and enjoy their work.

© Elena Fagogeni

The decoration is old-style, reminding decades in which people seemed to be calm and less stressed. The menu is similar in every small taverna with some slight differences, based on few and tasty dishes to give attention to each detail, (while their cuisine is Greek with influences from the Middle East. ) The “ceremony” starts with © Elena Fagogeni Retsina (gr. Ρετσίνα) which is usually served Usually, people decide taverna according to with Coke or good red wine. where they live and which places are known to them. For example, in Thessaloniki, students We begin with the starters - baked bread with who live in the city centre prefer to visit the most olive oil and oregano, and salads like tzatziki famous places like Bit Bazar, Athonos or Ladadi- and tirokauteri (gr. τυροκαυτερή) are deliciouska. On the other side, people who are done with ly combined with the retsina. Also, baked eggtheir studies and don’t live at the centre of Thes- plants, French fries, Greek salad bougiourdi (gr. saloniki go to tavernas which are located in their μπουγιουρντί) a mix of tomato, cheese, hot pepper and olive oil and my personal favorite dish neighbourhood, next to their home. which is grilled cheese which is made by hard In this kind of tavernas usually, you can find peo- cheese like feta or kefaloturi, depending on your ple who are serving you with a huge smile and own choice, served with a slice of lemon for unknown “chefs” who cook with love. more taste.

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Local Life Food

© Elena Fagogeni

Later, follows the main dish which is in most of the cases meat. You can find dishes for vegetarians or vegans, but as it is expected there is a smaller variety for them compared to the meat lovers’ food. Vegetarians’ and vegans’ food usually consists of grilled vegetables like mushrooms, eggplants, zucchini and peppers while meat dishes are made with pork or chicken, like kebab, and souvlaki. If you want my suggestion,

even though I am vegetarian I would recommend you to try a plate full of different types of meat, in order to have a better and more completed opinion about cuisine. Last but not least, the dessert. How can a beautiful meal like that one end without dessert? Iit can be a kind of chocolate cake or greek yoghurt with homemade marmalade. And in most of tavernas they usually serve desserts without charge you, a thing that usually surprise foreigner customers.

There are many places to see the nightlife of Thessaloniki, where the students hang out, but if you want to find true love for the food and warm people with a good heart, then you should give them a try. It worth it!

Special thanks to taverna “Peri ladokollas o logos” for hosting us.

© Elena Fagogeni

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Social and Political Issues

Raising voices for democracy

Out Of The Borders

by Arianna Salant

Feminist movements in Brazil facing new great challenges

A great feminist march fired up Brazil at the end of September. The demonstrators were

protesting against the extremist positions of the now president Jair Bolsonaro. But the high value of the event is not obscured by the subsequent election of the contested candidate. With the help of Brazilian feminist lawyer and author Samantha Nagle, I will try to blink into the complex moment that her country is going through.

#EleNão demonstration against presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro in the city of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. 29 September 2018. © Luisa Medeiros

To the world’s eyes, Brazil feminist awareness

has recently reawakened, resulting into the great protest that, at the end of September 2018, gathered together thousands of hundreds of women and feminist supporters all around Brazil, and in many other cities around the world. The protesters were contesting the

misogynist, homophobic, racist, violent and discriminatory positions of the far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro, who was then elected beating at the second round his main opponent Fernando Haddad, from the longtime governing left-wing Workers’ Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores, PT).

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Out Of The Borders Social and Political Issues

It is possible to identify many similarities between The success of the protest, in terms of partic-

the current president of Brazil and US president Donald Trump, both in contents and style. For example, communication is a key feature in Bolsonaro’s success. Fake news were spread around during the election campaign, especially through Facebook and Whatsapp, giving simplistic arguments in his favour. His electors, even those that are not openly racist, misogynist or homophobic, have been ready to accept his intolerant positions in exchange for the promise of easy solutions against raising insecurity and corruption.

But social media and communication are also

ipation, showed once again that feminist instances can be converted into political acts, and can also serve as a point of reference for other movements, not only left-wing, not only political, but in a wider spectrum that also included center-right positions and broader civic societies instances. The transversal impact of the slogan, and of the struggles that it represents, has been clearly summed up by Brazilian journalist Eliane Brum by opposing the slogan #EleNão (Not Him) to #NósSim (Yes Us): the demonstration was not only a protest against a politician, it was rather the affirmation of a community identity, though varied and internally differentiated, but unified around values of inclusion, tolerance, and human rights defence. Beyond refusing a worldview in which people are not equal, a great part of the people showed to be ready to fight for those values of equality and inclusion.

crucial on the opposite side of society, where resistance movements are growing and coordinating. The #EleNão movement started as a simple hashtag from the Facebook page “Mulheres Unidas Contra Bolsonaro” (United Women Against Bolsonaro), gathering together women that have had enough of the sexist claims of the candidate. However, it was later able to grow and Feminist movements are actually nothing new organize the big march against Bolsonaro. in Brazil: they have a long tradition that dates back to the military dictatorship times (19641985) when feminists were fighting together «The #EleNão movement gained with democratic movements and the most momentum because of a lot of progressive fringe of the Catholic church, as hacking. Supporters of Bolsonaro Samantha has explained us. Their role became tried and succeeded in hacking the more institutional once the dictatorship was group, the creators’ emails and their over, and the new Constitution was elaborated. social media accounts, so there «Feminist movements were very much a part of was a kind of feminist backlash: the writing process. There wasn’t a lot of women a lot of women start to join the in the “Constituente”, only 26 that directly draftgroup even more. So the massive ed the text, but movements were overseeing the process. That was the moment where the femidemonstrations that we saw at the nist discourse entered into the political sphere». end of September gained a bigger However, she clarifies, they were not really able political dimension also thanks to this kind of political activism in social to enter into the formal instances of power in a dominant way. As a matter of facts, Brazil has media from the far right trying to a low rate of women participation to politics, silence them.» around 5%, both at a national and at a local lev— Brazilian lawyer Samantha Nagle el. «What is interesting», she highlights, «and emblematic of the complex and contradictory

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Social and Political Issues

Out Of The Borders

#EleNão demonstration against presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro in the city of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. 29 September 2018. © Luisa Medeiros

moment we are living, is that in this last election there was an increase: we gained 5% more women in the National Congress. This doesn’t mean that all of those women are feminists. Actually, most of them are very conservative, but some feminist candidate were elected, both in the National Congress and in State legislatures». She adds: «History is a pendulum, it goes back and forth, so sometimes feminist movements were able to advance some feminist instances, and in other times it was more difficult. We are entering a time where it is going to be more difficult to advance this kind of issues».

Complexity is undoubtedly a key feature of con-

temporary times, and current Brazil’s situation makes no exception to that. As Samantha notices, «it’s not right to say that Brazil is only conservative. Historically, Brazil is a very conservative country, but now it’s a very diverse country, politically speaking. I recently saw the result of a poll

made by [the newspaper] Folha de São Paulo, and it was very interesting, because it demystified the bias we have when we think about Bolsonaro’s electorate. When you hear Bolsonaro saying those things, you think that all his electorate thinks what he says and this is not true. Even though a lot of people voted for Bolsonaro, they are not all for a military dictatorship, they are not anti-LGBT rights, it is more complex than that».

It is important to consider that complexity, she affirms. «It is about priorities, and we have to be very careful when we think of “how women vote”, and “how black people vote”, because those are not a homogeneous group. A lot of thing factor in your vote, it depends a lot from where do you come from, what is your income, and other factors that are much more important to impact on how you see society and what are your priorities.

So, for example, a lot of women that live in favelas, that usually voted for PT, now switched their vote for Bolsonaro, because they are constantly

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Out Of The Borders Social and Political Issues

#EleNão demonstration against presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro in the city of Mossorò, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. 29 September 2018.

reminded of political violence every day. They are losing their sons and daughters in this war against drug, so if a candidate is telling you, in a very simplistic way, that he’s going to solve your problem, you feel safer, you think “I’m going to vote for that guy, even though I don’t agree with everything he’s saying, he will solve the most important problem for me, which is security”.

So it’s more complicated, we have to complexify Bolsonaro’s electorate. We have to take those millions of people’s opinion seriously. We also have to take Bolsonaro himself seriously, and we have to take what he says very seriously. We can win those people back, we have a big job to do».

© Luisa Medeiros

by demagogic and fear-mongering speeches, by politicians blaming weaker categories to conquer the favor of their potential electors, instead of supporting their positions with valid arguments. Emotional communication prevails over rational, fake news are used as a political weapon and social media often take the place of institutional channels. Democracy processes are threatened by the increase of intolerance, all around the world. On the other hand, our age is the most open ever in history. More and more people can speak their mind in the public space, and they are able to overcome distances, connect and share similar experiences through new communications technologies. There are many The situation in the country is emblematic of examples of resistance to that spread of intolertwo global trends. On the one hand, intolerant ance, also organized through informal channels, and discriminatory positions are gaining political social media, and word of mouth. legitimacy all around the world. In the public discourse, the audience is not surprised anymore What is happening in Brazil sums up perfectly by the use of rough and offensive language, both the problem and the potential solution.

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Social and Political Issues

«The next months are going to be very important for us, to see how Bolsonaro discourse is going to play into reality, how far is he going to go in terms of his policies» affirms Samantha. «My expectation is that there will be a feminist backlash against this government, and I really hope that in the next years we will have more women, and hopefully more feminist women, that will take office, that will participate in political institutions.

This is going to take more time, but the sticks are very high now. I hope that those vibrant movements that exist in Brazil, especially feminist movements that are well versed with social media like the #EleNão movement is, will be able to counter the also well versed far-right social media that determined this election. I think that the feminist movement will have to tackle that.

Through social media and participating directly to politics, I hope we will see the change in some years. This is wishful thinking, I really don’t know

Out Of The Borders

what is going to happen, but I’m taking a look back at history and at what women have done in times that were way more difficult than this one.

And women were never shy of taking a stand when it was necessary, so I really do think that women are going to do that again. They are already doing it».

No matter the outcome of the elections, #EleNão have showed the power of bottom-up communication. Dialogue is not always a pleasant activity: especially when decisions are at stake, being deaf to opinions that are different from one’s own can be tempting. But democracy needs that. As members of society, we have to be brave enough to engage in dialogue, even if we belong in different worldviews, even if is challenging and complex. It can be difficult and require effort, but it’s the only way to safeguard everyone’s rights.

#EleNão demonstration against presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro in the city of Mossorò, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. 29 September 2018.

© Luisa Medeiros

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Out Of The Borders Social and Political Issues

Bridges that divide

by Marta Martinovic

Political games in Balkans during past 25 years have caused divisions, discrimination and

problems. What changed since then and what is the situation on this territory after many years? al and multiethnic place in Bosnia & Herzegovina. The city is divided in the east and west, the side where Bosnians (Muslims) live and the side where Croatians (Christians) live. Almost everything is separated, there are two hospitals, separate utility companies, etc. Only the places like City Administration, Ministry of Internal Affairs and similar government institutions are common.

Old bridge Mostar with a note on the stone people not to forget the war time Source: https://pro.ba

During time, Balkan became famous by its tur-

bulent history. Many battles happened on this territory and have affected lots of places and people. Life was challenging, always obeying, people being punished for small mistakes, trying their whole life to fight for independence and justice. These were characteristics of most Balkan countries. Luckily, at one point, the countries united and they became a big and powerful force. United, they were invincible. But, the luck has come to an end, when Yugoslav wars started.

These

wars caused divisions, hate spreading everywhere, brother fighting against brother. The consequences are still visible today and are affecting the society, even though 20 years have passed. One of the places that was hit by these problems is Mostar. Mostar, also called “Divided city” after the end of the war. It is a multicultur-

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Although this represents a big problem for cit-

izens of Mostar, things have started to change in the past years. The period of consumerism forced the people to smile and be kind to each other for making a successful sale, because most of the people live and depend on commerce. Beside economy, there are some positive examples like Sports federation of the city of Mostar, that unites both sides through its events, as well as the exhibition “Divided Cities: Life at the frontier” and other similar organizations and events. People got sick of the divided life and they also rejected the proposal for separating the city in two municipalities. Older citizens want everything to be like it was before the wars. Youngsters don’t even know how it felt to be united. The old and young citizens are similarly interested in having contact with their peers from the other side. And although there is still a long way to go, this city is progressing, people are becoming more open minded and willing to make Mostar a better place for living.

Social and Political Issues

Unfortunately,

not all Balkan cities with this problem are equally ready to change. And one them is capital of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - Skopje. Another city famous by its beautiful Stone Bridge, that completely divides the place on Christian (Macedonian) side and Muslim (Albanian) side. The division is present and people are avoiding to have contact with each other, because of the divergency. In some parts of the city, people are even forbidden to go to. Kids are going in separated schools, young people are going out in different places and many of them have never had any contact with those “on the other side.� Young people are blam-

Stone bridge Skopje that divides muslim and cristian side

Out Of The Borders

ing government for not taking action as well as media for spreading hate among the nation. People of Skopje would also like to be involved in the decision-making processes and to have some common activities where they could meet and associate with each other.

Despite diversity, there are open minded people

who are willing to break the stereotypes and start a change. Citizens are aware that divided life is not a solution, they want to make brighter future for the next generations and create healthier society for living. Inter-religious and inter-ethnic tolerance is a guideline for a better life.

Source: https://steemit.com

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Out Of The Borders Sustainability

New Applications

by Mélissa Chicanaux

That help us consume better and boycott harmful products

Nowadays, conscious consumption is a primordial issue for each human being. To be able to

control your consumption, to be in better health, to be economic or take care of the planet. More and more people want to consume more consciously, but the society and former bad habits can make the task complicated. To make it more easy and accessible, many applications have seen the light lately in different countries everywhere in the world, especially in western countries.

Indeed, some social effects do not really encourage

YUCA: “To know unhealthy products us to make more sustainable and concious choices. for the health in the food to be in For example, packagings can often be misleading, better health and to boycott the most we are permanently prompted to consume more harmful products.”

and more (programmed obsolescence, updating models etc.) Recently in France, many applications With Yuca, while doing the shopping, the barsprung up to help consumers to be more responsi- code can be scanned to see the contents of the product. The app gives a note on 100 points, and ble. Here are some examples of the most used: then qualifies the product with a colour code, green for the proper foods and red for harmful.

90 JOURS (90 DAYS):“Understand the climate issues and have a positive This application helps people for decrypt the nutritional informations on the packaging of impact on the environment.” the product. Therefore, people know if the food This app is trying to help people to adopt as is too fatty, too salty or if it contains unhealthy many good habits in 90 days as possible. Hope- additives. This app is collaborative and very popfully lasting lifelong. They are proposed as small ular in France. So, people that are using “yuca”, challenges. For example, the first is to replace are also helping to improve the app. Other this some household products with a cheaper and type of apps also exist but are not working that environmentally product such as white vinegar. well because they are not so known.

Every day, a new challenge like this is suggested.

VINTED: “Allowing to buy or sell clothes of second hand. Fighting against overconsumption and promoting the circular economy.”

Example of challenges with explanations. The subject is how to identify the production conditions of eggs © 90 jours

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This app allows every user to sell and buy new or second hand clothes. For example, to sell a garment, the users are taking a picture of the clothes that they want to sell, then they put pictures online with a short description and define a price. The application is as simple as to post in Instagram. Once someone buys the garment, it can be delivered in several ways: by post, relay

Sustainability

Out Of The Borders

In addition to promoting responsible consumption, it also helps to pressure manufacturers by people not buying their products. In France, many movements like a boycott of product have emerged. It’s for one of the reason that use of Apps is having a positive impact.

Applications like this in Greece

Many applications exist in Greece to order food, Example of some products with their colour code

© Yuca

parcel or by hand delivery if the buyer lives in the same city. This way is also the most ecologic.

find a taxi, to know the better place for going out, etc. Unfortunately, there are no Apps in Greece to help people make better choices either for health or the environment. According to the website “Ekathimerini” an application has been launched by an environment protection group (MedSOS) to limit the use of plastic, named “Return to tap” but it is hard to find. From this point of view, there is in Greece interest to make improvements.

This is just an example of some of the Apps, but a lot similar exist to help people make better choices and adopt a right attitude. Not only are these applications beneficial for health but they also help to save money and encourage people Meanwhile, even if there are no apps at the moto consume less. ment in Greece, there can always be found web-

Example of some garment sold

© Vinted

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Out Of The Borders Sustainability

Homepage of the website https://www.greenamerica.org/

sites in English like https://www.eating-better. org/ or https://www.greenamerica.org/ for help people to be to be more responsible and find tips on how to make more sustainable decisions.

© Greenamerica

Every person who wants to improve their habits

can do it step by step. A lot of websites, Facebook pages or Apps exist that are also not mentioned in this article. Everyone can find something useful for themselves.

There are also Apps in English like “Open food Last but not least, if you know this kind of ap-

facts” https://gr.openfoodfacts.org/ or “Oroeco” plications in Greece, don’t hesitate to share with other people! Let the collaboration start now. https://www.oroeco.com/.

Homepage of https://www.oroeco.com/

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© Oroeco

Sustainability

Out Of The Borders

Waste management in Europe

by Sacha Bogaers

Where to go from here?

As societies grow wealthier and people consume more, people buy more products, and in that way also produce more waste. In 2016, each person in the European Union produced an average of 480kg of waste. Single-use products have become popular, but now we are facing a turning point. Our seas are becoming more and more polluted with various kinds of discarded items, and many countries are struggling to process the trash that we are producing on a daily basis. This article explores recent developments of municipal waste management in the European Union (EU) and discusses where we can go from here.

Early warning report

In September this year, the European Commission released a report looking at the waste management of all EU member states. They released an “early warning” to the 14 countries, among which Greece, at greatest risk of missing the EU’s 2020 recycling target for municipal waste. Households are the main producers of municipal waste. We call it municipal because municipalities have the re-

Municipal waste generation in the EU in 2016

sponsibility to take care of this type of waste.

According to the European Commission, municipal waste only makes up about 10% of the total waste generated in the EU. However, it is one of the most complex types of waste to manage, because it is made up from a wide variety of materials and produced by many individuals. By making different choices in our daily lives, we can influence the production of this type of garbage.

© Eurostat

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Out Of The Borders Sustainability

Recent developments

The

According to Eurostat, an average of 480 kg

of municipal waste was generated per person in the EU in 2016. Of this waste, 30% was recycled, 27% burned, 25% put into landfills and 17% composted. The differences between member states are substantial. In Germany, for example, recycling and composting together made up 66% of waste management, while in Greece, this number was only 17%.

In 2016, 82% of Greek municipal waste ended up in landfills. The early warning report concluded that Greece’s struggles with waste management were mainly caused by an absence of necessary infrastructure needed for source separation of recyclables; the public’s low level of awareness; and a lack of financial initiatives.

European Union can change the way we deal with waste through legislation – changing the laws. At the end of October, the European Parliament voted to ban various single-use plastic products across the EU to stop pollution of the oceans. The list of banned items includes plastic cutlery and plates, cotton buds, straws, drink stirrers and balloon sticks. Together, these products make up over 70% of litter in the sea. From 2021, they will be banned all over the EU. The European Parliament chose these products because there are alternatives available, and it is, therefore, possible to choose other options. However, for many items, alternatives are not available, especially when it comes to single-use packaging for food. For these items, the law proposal calls for a reduction of at last 25% by 2025. This law proposal is

The waste hierarchy depicts what is the ideal way of dealing with waste

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© European Commission

Sustainability

Out Of The Borders

also create new jobs: if the countries in the EU recycled 70% of their waste, it could create at least half a million new jobs across Europe.

There are two more ways to deal with waste

The life-cycle approach focuses on reducing environmental impact at all stages © European Commission

a large step towards a more sustainable society. However, just changing the laws is not enough, because, in many countries, frameworks to deal with the existing waste are not sufficient. We still have a lot of work to do, and more things to change in order to sustain our lives and our planet.

Goals

To strive for a more sustainable society, the

EU is using the idea of the ‘waste hierarchy’.

This is a list of ways to deal with waste, from most to least preferable. Prevention is on top: this means we should prevent the production of waste and think critically of how to reduce this production. In the second place, there is re-using: this can include, for example, fixing old refrigerators, but also reusing clothes and furniture. In third place, there is recycling: using the waste in replacement for other materials. This uses less raw materials and also saves energy. According to the European Commission, an increase in the recycling can

that are less desirable. In the fourth position is ‘other recovery’, which most often means that companies burn waste. Burning waste generates energy. We use this energy to produce electricity and heating for buildings.

Although generating energy in this way can be useful, it is not the most efficient way of managing used materials. Recycling or re-using, when possible, is more desirable. Finally, the least desirable way of managing waste, but also the most common one in many European countries, is the disposal of waste into landfills. In an ideal situation, we would focus more on the top of the pyramid, and we would manage more waste in a sustainable way. This is what the European Union is trying to accomplish.

What now?

Although recycling is on the rise, the amount of waste we produce in the EU is still increasing. We need to strive for a society that focuses on sustainability in order to make this planet more livable for all beings. The European Commission proposes the ‘life-cycle approach’, which “involves looking at all stages of a product’s life to find out where improvements can be made to reduce environmental impacts and use of resources” (page 6). This means that we look at every step of the process in the life-cycle of a product, as is depicted in the picture. In order to create a truly sustainable society, we need to change the way we think about resources and consumption.

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Out Of The Borders travel

Albania:

by Marleen Müts

Travelling the land of eagles

Albania in autumn is an experience to have. Driving on the narrow and bumpy mountain

roads, it is full of moments to remember, finding yourself constantly gasping at the colorful mountain views, counting the endless amount of bunkers around the country, watching the sun setting behind the mountain top and not being able to turn your eyes away from the sky full of stars at night. But this all is just the facade of this magical country.

places dedicated to her and phrases of her around the country. And this kind of warmness three million of the estimated population of sevand generosity is also showing in the people of en to ten million Albanians. Referring to their Albania at every step. complicated past, a glimpse of the other Albanians around the world can also be felt in Tirana, Albanian people are sticking together, also keepthe capital of Albania. There can be found cafes ing in mind their past and traditions, as well their and restaurants named by every bigger city in national flags can be seen fluttering everywhere. the world. One example of the many Albanians The national and ethnic symbol of Albania is an living abroad was also Mother Teresa, who was eagle. The eagle appears in a stone carving datborn in Skopje, Macedonia. There can be found ing from 1190. The eagle represents as a symbol of freedom and heroism, and Albanians often refer to themselves as the “Sons of the Eagle.”

Between these mountains, there are living only

The terms Albania and Albanian are exonyms.

They call themselves Shqiptar, their language Shqip, and their country Shqipëria. These words are likely derived from the adverb Shqipp (clearly) based on Latin excipere as well as the meaning of the word shqipe (eagle) in Albanian language.

Considering not only the language, but different approaches of communicating, it can get a bit confusing at times. For example, Albanians nod their head to say no, and when they shake their head they mean yes.

It feels like a good ground to have misunder-

standings and conflicts with the locals. It is the opposite. The welcoming feeling is felt all around the country. Albanian people like to socialise, they have a tradition called the xhiro - evening walk, where people go for a walk in the “Sons of the Eagle”

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© Marleen Müts

travel

Out Of The Borders

evening on the main road. People on the streets, small cosy shops or cafes are greeting people around them as well as the ones walking by with a warm smile.

It has not always been easy for Albanian people to live in their country in the past and the struggles of history has not been forgotten. Despite that, it has been very successful building up a nation and country that is welcoming and warm. That country is full of colours not only in autumn. It is dotted with colourful houses and interesting architecture, nature and helpful people, beautiful traditional clothing, fulfilling foods and great drinks. All this makes Albania a fantastic destination for a break of the fast pace of everyday life.

Ohrid lake in autumn

© Marleen Müts

Mountain roads of Albania © Marleen Müts

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Out Of The Borders SPORT

Via Dinarica

The Hiker’s dream

by Martin Naništa

Over 1200 kilometers long route that traces the spine of the Dinaric Alps through the Balkan Peninsula. The real hidden gem, which awaits, to be discovered by the world.

weaves through the outstanding limestone karst fields, high mountains, steep valleys, dense beech forest, shimmering Alpine lakes, and the Tara River Canyon (Europe’s deepest). The trail itself is then divided into 3 colour options - White, Blue and Green.

White Trail is the main trail along the entire

length of the Via Dinarica that follows the natural flow of the highest peaks of the Dinaric Alps.

Logo © viadinarica.com The white trail includes all of the highest peaks in each country. Although there are a plenty of Idea activities along this head trail, such as mountain biking and rafting, its main function remains hikThe Via Dinarica brings together Slovenia, Croa- ing. tia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Albania (FYROM joining in the fu- The Blue Trail veers towards the coastline and ture). It consists from a combination of old shep- the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic Sea. The herd paths, strategic war routes, already exist- mountains may be smaller in this part but no ing trails, and the new connections. The course less attractive and challenging. It includes some

White Trail

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© outdooractive.com

SPORT

Out Of The Borders

to refer to the Valbona River, which in turn flows through the valley bearing its name, and a small village in the valley, as well the general area informally. It is located in the Tropoja District of Northern Albania. This area, bordering Kosovo to The Green Trail is exactly that, green carpet of the northeast, and Montenegro to the northwest. conifer forests that meander through some of A wild, high, mountainous region inhabited by the lower mountains of the Dinaric Alps. The strong and fiercely independent people.

Green Trail is made for two-wheeled trailblazers with hundreds of kilometres of well-maintained Theth is a beautiful village in northern Albania’s bike trails. Hiking and walking, coupled with the Shkodra region. Set among the peak of the Shala abundant wildlife of this eastern front, make it a Mountains, Theth is an extremely isolated area that is often inaccessible in the winter months. great option for soft adventure.

Theth National Park is blessed with jaw-dropGreen and Blue Trails are still under develop- ping beauty and offers hikers a paradise all to ment (mainly build by the volunteers), so we fo- themselves. cus our attention only on the main one. of the best coastal and hinterland hiking in Europe always accompanied by the fresh smell of medicinal herbs and the breeze of the Mediterranean.

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BaH)

Highlights of the White Trail

Sutjeska

National Park has been coined the ‘Yosemite of the Balkans’ with good reason.

Albania The park is home to the country’s highest peaks Valbona and Theth are the main destinations and a rich population of wildlife. It is, however, on the Via Dinarica in Albania. “Valbona” is used best known for the Perućica Primeval Forest

Theth meadows

© thecollegetourist.com

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Croatia

Its hinterland mountain ranges, like Biokovo and

Velebit, are some of the regions most attractive – not so much for their searing heights but for the challenging trails, diverse eco-systems, rustic traditional villages and superb views. This part of Croatia truly is ‘the Mediterranean as it once was.’ The white trail, signifying the highest peaks of the Dinaric chain, extends to or from Tjentiste War Memorial in Sutjeska National park © atlasobscura.com Mt. Velebit that towers over the Adriatic Sea and separates the coastal lands from the Lika hinterlands. All of Mt. Velebit is a nature park but two (one of two remaining in Europe) and for its his- regions have been designated as national parks: torical significance. This is where Tito’s Parti- Northern Velebit and Paklenica to the south. sans broke through the Nazis in a decisive battle during World War II. The monument in the Tjen- Montenegro tište Valley is a pilgrimage for many nostalgic The Prokletije National Park takes the crown for former Yugoslavs. being the wildest, roughest and toughest in Black Prenj Mountain is not the highest in the country, Mountain country. It forms the natural border with it is known to hikers as the mother of all moun- both Albania and Kosovo in northern Montenegro. tains in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its jagged Many of the fabulous peaks of the Prokletije are peaks and daunting climbs have earned it the the most accessible from Plav and Gusinje, the nickname of ‘Herzegovina’s Himalaya’. Hiking two main settlements within the park. Durmitor here is challenging and good navigational skills NP is Montenegro’s most visited and arguably the are necessary. most beautiful of it’s five national parks.

Nature park Velebit

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© Aleksandar Gospić

SPORT

Out Of The Borders

Slovenia

the mountains of Northern Albania to those of Southern France on foot. Slovenia also has an incredible network of more than 9,000 underground caves (Postojna and Skocjan) that have formed from sinkholes and underground rivers creating formations in the porous limestone of the giant karst field that lies beneath Slovenia’s fields and forests, which are fascinating to explore.

It is one of the most forested countries in the world, with 60% of its land covered in trees. It’s also home to the tail end of the western Alps and it is where the Dinaric Alps begin – in the town of Predjamski Grad, the Via Dinarica links with the Via Alpina hiking trail, connecting two worldclass mega trails that for the first time in history make it possible for trekkers to journey from

The Via Dinarica is both a cultural corridor and a historic, collaborative initiative among Balkan adventure tourism companies determined to shine an overdue light on this beautiful, misunderstood, and underappreciated corner of southeastern Europe. For travellers, the Via Dinarica offers amazing track adventure. For this complicated region, the trail offers hope.

Prokletije National Park

Predjamski grad

© antenam.net

© Elma Okic

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Out Of The Borders Cinema

Have you seen the movie The Artist?

The mystery of a silent movie saying a lot

by Irene Cortés del Moral

A good soundtrack composed by Ludovic Bource, two talented actors and the black and

white style are enough to honour the silent films. The Artist (France, 2011) is a clear example of how communication is not just a matter of words. And throughout the film is not pronounced a single syllable. However, Michel Hazanavicius (director of the film) manages to make us feel and understand the story of George Valentin (played by Frenchman Jean Dujardin).

The protagonist, George, is a famous silent film

actor of the 1920s. However, his life takes a dramatic turn when the concept of film with sound appears in American theaters. In a fit of pride, he refuses to adapt to this new filmographic modality and gradually finds himself in ruins. In parallel, a young dancer named Peppy Miller (played

by Bérénice Bejo) becomes a famous actress of the moment. When George’s career comes down, Peppy’s career goes up.

Regarding the communication of the film, the im-

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story. The faces and looks of the characters serve as a compass to understand the course of events.

In just 1:40 hour of feature film can be experienced different sensations and empathize with the misery of the main actor. Audience suffers with him and his situation can be distressful.

People identify with his tired miranda, typical of a personal failure, understand his sad and soulless body posture when he does not have the energy to continue. All these and many more situations without the actor opening his mouth even once.

portance is obvious and the indispensable thing that supposes the “non-verbal”. In fact, in an ordinary conversation, 55% of this communication comes from body language. The remaining 45% is composed of 7% verbal and 38% tonality. This non-verbal communication involves gestures, postures, clothing, hairstyle, facial expression, etc. Throughout the film the attention is focused on the characters, the soundtrack is the accompaniment of the

So, when was the last time we stopped to think about what communication means to us? How much do we transmit to others in our day to day without realizing it? People should start evaluating what they communicate to others and how they communicate it. The years will pass and even no one will be interested in silent movies anymore, but the meaning of a look, a hug or a smile will remain equally powerful forever.

Frenchman Jean Dujardin in a clip from The Artist © Film The Artist (France, 2011)

The protagonists of the film, George Valentin and Peppy Miller © Film The Artist (France, 2011)

books

Out Of The Borders

“Letter to a teacher” of Don Lorenzo Milani

know how to express yourself and be able to understand the others are the first steps to human equality by Umberto Zeverini

In 1954 in a community of about twenty farmhouses called Barbiana in the hills of the Mugello region, in Tuscany, the priory Don Lorenzo Milani founded a school with a revolutionary way of teaching. The aim was to give the possibility of being teached to the children of the factory workers and of the peasants in a world that was rejecting them. “Letter to a teacher” reports directly the experiences of Don Milani’s eight students as the authors of the letters in the book.

It is a strong accusation against the educational system of the time, a model of the present and future pedagogy and witness of the importance of dialogue. province of Florence. From the beginning he tried to approach the young people as involving 1923 in Florence. He was ordained priest in 1947 them in the activities of the parish. Soon he unand after that he was sent for his first tasks to derstood that there was a lack of instruction in San Donato di Calenzano, a small village in the everyday life at work for example. For this reason he organized his first school for the factory workers and the peasants, which became popular. In 1954, because of some disagreements he had with the Curia of Florence (that considered him as an inconvenient member of the community), he was sent to Barbiana, a small village in the middle of nothing.

Don Lorenzo Milani was born on the 27th of May

“Dear Miss, You won’t remember me or my name. You have failed so many of us. On the other hand I often had thoughts about you, and the other teachers, and about that institution which you call ‘school’ and about the boys that you fail. You fail us right out into the fields and factories and then you forget us.”

— extract from “Letter to a teacher”

“Letter to a teacher” edited by Michele Gesualdi, Foundation Don Lorenzo Milani

© amazon.it

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Out Of The Borders books

“Life was hard up there too. [...] But there a boy who had no background, [...] was made to feel like the favorite.

He would be treated the way you teachers treat the best student in the class. It seemed as if the school was meant just for him. Until he could be made to understand, the others would not continue.”

In Barbiana, Don Milani started a night school for the working people. These classes attracted a lot of workers who saw it a possibility to cultivate their interests or just to continue their studies. Soon he understood that most of the children left the school after being discouraged from the classic educational system and were in need of education. That is why the priest founded the school of Barbiana, trying to group all the kids — extract from “Letter to a teacher” scattered in the fields. At first, he gathered about ten boys, that later became twenty. With a timetable of eight hours work, seven days a week, he was teaching them different subjects but also He gave up the classic Italian method of teachdiscussing about the problems that were affect- ing entirely. Don Milani went against passive method of learning, when teacher is talking and ing the children directly. audience is listening in silence, underlining the In this school there was no register, no grades, no importance of establishing a dialogue in the one could fail. The slogan was “I care,” centered class, highlighting the different mindsets, abilion the strength of the word and on the faith that ties and interests. Some of them learned quickeveryone owns. Don Milani wanted to make clear ly but others required more time. Therefore as that going to classes is more than just receiving he moved all his focus to the students and their a paper afterwards. The students were from all personalities, he understood their need of havages and the older ones were the teachers for ing someone who believed in them. This is the the younger students. In this environment, eight reason why Don Lorenzo Milani is a revolutionary students decided to write this letter as a person- and a pioneer of the modern educational system al project. in Italy.

Don Milani with some of his students

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© firenzetoday.it

books

“Once a big professor held forth[...].

He was talking without looking at us.

A university professor of education doesn’t have to look at schoolboys.

He knows them by heart, the way we know our multiplication tables.

Finally he left, and Lucio, who has thirty-six cows in the barn at home, said, ‘School will always be better than cow shit.”

— extract from “Letter to a teacher”

“Letter to a teacher” is the concrete result of

Lesson outdoors in Barbiana

Out Of The Borders

© www.teatro.it

“Two years ago, when I was in the first magistrate, you used to make me feel shy. As a matter of fact, shyness has been with me all my life. [...] At first I thought it was some kind of sickness of mine or maybe of my family. My mother is the kind that gets timid in front of a telegram form. My father listens and notices, but is not a talker. Later on I thought shyness was a disease of mountain people. The farmers on the flat lands seemed surer of themselves.

To say nothing of the workers in town. Now I have observed that the workers let “daddy’s boys” grab all the jobs[...]. So they too are like us. And the shyness of the poor is an older mystery. I myself, in the midst of it, can’t explain it. Perhaps it is neither a form of cowardice nor of heroism. It may just be lack of arrogance.”

Don Milani’s work in the school of Barbiana with the young people there. In this book students shared their personal experiences about living in the world that didn’t give them the possibility to express ideas, cultivate a passion or gain new skills. They were shown that there is a solution, in their case the school of Barbiana. They proved that with the right system everything is possible.

They wanted to highlight the fact - even though destiny made you born, for example, in a family of peasants it doesn’t mean that your path is determined likewise people from the higher classes — extract from “Letter to a teacher” aren’t more clever than you. Through this book the students of Don Milani also want to send a message to parents all over the world, claiming how important it is to trust their children, let Letter to a teacher was published on May 1967, them experience the world, empower them to one month before the death of Don Lorenzo Miraise their heads and stand up for their ideas. lani on the 26th of June 1967.

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Mix Fix Poetry

Learning to look

by Irene Cortés del Moral

Today I learned to look

Yes, yes: to “look” When was the last time we stopped and decided to do it?

Noisy

Many worries A lot of content for so little space Hollow matter that immobilizes the senses

What would happen if for a moment we stopped seeing to start looking?

Close your eyes and let yourself go Trust in the unknown

The idea scares It makes us nervous Shrinks the soul.

This thought bristles the skin And everything goes too slow.

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Poetry

Mix Fix

Little by little something springs from the

darkness.

We feel an intrinsic tingle It climbs through fear.

And a smile blossoms that explodes in laughter.

We listen with the heart We feel the warm heartbeat of others The infinite doubt remains mute And it gives way to the sensations that one day we left as orphans Those that we abandoned when we started to run too much.

Seeing is useful It is common and even mundane Learning to look is the real challenge Nothing material is needed Not even eyes Only a heart capable of accepting the gift of knowing how to look.

Because there’s no more blind, that the one that doesn’t want to look.

67

Mix Fix Poetry

Sour Is Thy Faith

by Filip Grác

My poor brothers

Sour is thy faith Stay among the others Until it’s too late

Hide up in the tree stay safe and free

do not fall a victim

do not fall at all do not fall a victim remember, when they picked him !?

with violent hands

they cut him in half they made him empty

suffering and torment

with refreshing enjoyment they drank all of his sour sour tears

poor yellow yellow lemon now he is in heaven …

— (dedicated to all USB (ex)volunteers) ☺

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Poetry

Mix Fix

by Clement Lebrun

This is not a poem This is not about Love This is not about Fear Neither about me Neither about you But, you just here to remember!

That then we think about each other, You don’t need to talk, You don’t need word, The most important is that we think of each other

— BB - 18 October 2018

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Arianna Salan | 28 years old

Staying in Greece for 10 months until August 2019

Staying in Greece for 10 months until July 2019

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Staying in Greece for 10 months until July 2019

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Guests

Agnieszka Trygar | 25 years old

Wali Benia | 24 years old Clement Lebrun

Dorottya Meszner

Jennifer Thail

General Directors: Editors: Aristodimos Paraschou Eglė Puodžiūnaitė Christian Cibba Marleen Müts Graphic Designer: Alexandros Tagaridis Find us: www.balkanhotspot.org Usb_ngo.gr

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Staying in Greece for 6 months until April 2019

Favourite topics are culture (literature, cinema, music), sports and street culture The volunteers responsible for this publication are hosted in Greece in the framework of the European ERASMUS+ Programme, European Voluntary Service. This project has been funded with support from the European Commision. This publication [communication] reflects the views of only of the author, and the Commision can not be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.