Visit:
http://youthweek.magusine.net/
and take a glimpse on what happened during the "WebLab" of the European Youth Week 2008, Brussels event.
S.
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Monday, 22 September 2008
True or not???
Now that's really interesting!
Taken from http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-37657-266-09-39-901-20080919IPR37656-22-09-2008-2008-false/default_en.htm
Questions over the funding of the No campaign in Ireland on the Lisbon Treaty referendum
Raising a point of order, Co-President Daniel Cohn Bendit (Greens/EFA , DE) said: "Last weekend, the Irish press revealed that there possibly exists a link between the financers of the no-campaign in Ireland and the Pentagon as well as the CIA. This was a very interesting story and the explanation given was that Europe should not become too strong. I would ask the President to please clarify this matter and suggest that we also ask the Council as well as the Commission to inform us next time, because if this story turns out to be true it would be an interesting fact indeed, confirming what lies behind the €1.2 million which was used to finance the no-campaign in Ireland. I therefore would like to ask the President to please look into the matter so that we receive information and achieve transparency."
In response, EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering said: "I have been following this whole matter very attentively for some time. We do indeed need absolute transparency on this (matter) because this is exactly what those who are attacking us demand. However, they must of course comply with these standards themselves, i.e. they must provide total transparency on what funds this organisation.
We have learned from the Irish media - and I am quoting what we read in Ireland during the past week - that in the past Mr Ganley claimed that the donations come from ordinary citizens, and that they are small donations. According to the reports, he now has admitted that he himself has donated €200 000 of his personal assets to his organisation, and it has also been confirmed in the meantime that Mr Ganley has signed contracts with the Pentagon over the execution of military orders amounting to about 200 million - I believe - dollars. Other estimates are much higher. We must continue to follow this affair very closely. The facts must be put on the table. We cannot allow Europe to be harmed by people who demand transparency but do not provide it themselves.
I would like to emphasise my high regard for the Irish Minister of European Affairs, Dick Roche, who has made it his personal cause to shed light on this issue and I explicitly support him in his uncompromising approach. Ladies and gentlemen, I deduce from your applause that we stand on the side of those who strive for absolute transparency in all of these questions in order to keep Europe from suffering harm. "
Let's wait and see...
I didn't plan to bring this previously blogged issue forward, at least not before any update in the Irish referendum. Well, the update has arrived so here we are.
It's very interesting, for the world in general but for this blog as well, to see who has raised this issue within the European Parliament! If you look some articles before you'll see what I mean!
On hold.
S.
Taken from http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-37657-266-09-39-901-20080919IPR37656-22-09-2008-2008-false/default_en.htm
Questions over the funding of the No campaign in Ireland on the Lisbon Treaty referendum
Raising a point of order, Co-President Daniel Cohn Bendit (Greens/EFA , DE) said: "Last weekend, the Irish press revealed that there possibly exists a link between the financers of the no-campaign in Ireland and the Pentagon as well as the CIA. This was a very interesting story and the explanation given was that Europe should not become too strong. I would ask the President to please clarify this matter and suggest that we also ask the Council as well as the Commission to inform us next time, because if this story turns out to be true it would be an interesting fact indeed, confirming what lies behind the €1.2 million which was used to finance the no-campaign in Ireland. I therefore would like to ask the President to please look into the matter so that we receive information and achieve transparency."
In response, EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering said: "I have been following this whole matter very attentively for some time. We do indeed need absolute transparency on this (matter) because this is exactly what those who are attacking us demand. However, they must of course comply with these standards themselves, i.e. they must provide total transparency on what funds this organisation.
We have learned from the Irish media - and I am quoting what we read in Ireland during the past week - that in the past Mr Ganley claimed that the donations come from ordinary citizens, and that they are small donations. According to the reports, he now has admitted that he himself has donated €200 000 of his personal assets to his organisation, and it has also been confirmed in the meantime that Mr Ganley has signed contracts with the Pentagon over the execution of military orders amounting to about 200 million - I believe - dollars. Other estimates are much higher. We must continue to follow this affair very closely. The facts must be put on the table. We cannot allow Europe to be harmed by people who demand transparency but do not provide it themselves.
I would like to emphasise my high regard for the Irish Minister of European Affairs, Dick Roche, who has made it his personal cause to shed light on this issue and I explicitly support him in his uncompromising approach. Ladies and gentlemen, I deduce from your applause that we stand on the side of those who strive for absolute transparency in all of these questions in order to keep Europe from suffering harm. "
Let's wait and see...
I didn't plan to bring this previously blogged issue forward, at least not before any update in the Irish referendum. Well, the update has arrived so here we are.
It's very interesting, for the world in general but for this blog as well, to see who has raised this issue within the European Parliament! If you look some articles before you'll see what I mean!
On hold.
S.
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
In between 2 posts
I have just noticed that in between my two latest posts... there has been a war.
I didn't write anything about it...Maybe because I found it difficult to believe it happened. Maybe because I just wanted it finishes faster than my blogging reflexiveness can grasp. Maybe because I had nothing to say.
And still, I have nothing to say... I am kind of speechless when thinking wars still happen nowadays. Actually, it was the first time that something like that is so close to me; I had to cancel/postpone a training course in Georgia because of the post-war situation. But that's the least in my line of thinking and most of all, in the overall situation during and after the war.
What fears me the most is that I don't personally see an easy, fast and effective healing in the wound made in the body of the Caucasian mountains...
But I wish.
S.
I didn't write anything about it...Maybe because I found it difficult to believe it happened. Maybe because I just wanted it finishes faster than my blogging reflexiveness can grasp. Maybe because I had nothing to say.
And still, I have nothing to say... I am kind of speechless when thinking wars still happen nowadays. Actually, it was the first time that something like that is so close to me; I had to cancel/postpone a training course in Georgia because of the post-war situation. But that's the least in my line of thinking and most of all, in the overall situation during and after the war.
What fears me the most is that I don't personally see an easy, fast and effective healing in the wound made in the body of the Caucasian mountains...
But I wish.
S.
I have a dream...team
I have never imagined my self waking up so early on a Sunday morning to watch a basketball game. But it happened. Actually, I woke up much earlier than the game once I had to drive 2 and a 1/2 hours back home from a seaside place where a party took place the previous night. But this is another story.
The final of the Olympics. USA against Spain. The end of the game found me locked in my thoughts and emotions. It was far beyond a sports activity. It was dramatically more than just athletics. It had all these elements of an act that you see one and imagine thousands. Some (I repeat, just some) of the ingredients were: the ever changing leadership in the score, the come-backs of Spain (the moment you were thinking the match is lost they were finding the courage to come back), the fact that a 17 year old boy was playing against multi-millionaires (and multi - musclers!), the fear of losing the match in the faces of the US players, the way US players were celebrating each and every point (Spanish players were doing it as well, but it's not worth mentioning it in the flow of my unfolding thoughts...they do it anyway), the ever repeating proof and unfortunately, life principle, that the "strongs" always get the "extra little" support from related factors (the referees in this case)...and more.
The climax was at the end; a group of 11-12 black people, were celebrating the victory for a national team (most of them showing its flag in the crowd and kissing it) representing a country where their not so far in time ancestors have suffered some of the worst types of segregation and humiliation. Of course and fortunately for all humanity, this is history now and things have radically changed since then, but still this picture (added up to the fact that each of these players is paid in one year the same amount of money that all readers of this post will not get if they live 3 lifes working in hours as much as probably the grandparents of those players have been working daily) shook me a lot. And it came after all what happened and described in the previous paragraph.
I still haven't given an answer to my self to the question "why", but indeed it was a morning full of life; thoughts and emotions, images and words, love and hate, wondering and wandering, changing and evolving, eyes and ears stimulated... while not moving an inch away from my sofa! :)
Congratulations to both by the way. That's the basketball of the new millenium. I used to play basketball my self when I was young(er) so I am happy to see this sport evolving. Well done!
S.
The final of the Olympics. USA against Spain. The end of the game found me locked in my thoughts and emotions. It was far beyond a sports activity. It was dramatically more than just athletics. It had all these elements of an act that you see one and imagine thousands. Some (I repeat, just some) of the ingredients were: the ever changing leadership in the score, the come-backs of Spain (the moment you were thinking the match is lost they were finding the courage to come back), the fact that a 17 year old boy was playing against multi-millionaires (and multi - musclers!), the fear of losing the match in the faces of the US players, the way US players were celebrating each and every point (Spanish players were doing it as well, but it's not worth mentioning it in the flow of my unfolding thoughts...they do it anyway), the ever repeating proof and unfortunately, life principle, that the "strongs" always get the "extra little" support from related factors (the referees in this case)...and more.
The climax was at the end; a group of 11-12 black people, were celebrating the victory for a national team (most of them showing its flag in the crowd and kissing it) representing a country where their not so far in time ancestors have suffered some of the worst types of segregation and humiliation. Of course and fortunately for all humanity, this is history now and things have radically changed since then, but still this picture (added up to the fact that each of these players is paid in one year the same amount of money that all readers of this post will not get if they live 3 lifes working in hours as much as probably the grandparents of those players have been working daily) shook me a lot. And it came after all what happened and described in the previous paragraph.
I still haven't given an answer to my self to the question "why", but indeed it was a morning full of life; thoughts and emotions, images and words, love and hate, wondering and wandering, changing and evolving, eyes and ears stimulated... while not moving an inch away from my sofa! :)
Congratulations to both by the way. That's the basketball of the new millenium. I used to play basketball my self when I was young(er) so I am happy to see this sport evolving. Well done!
S.
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Future
Stopping my holidays temporarily for DJing in a place 2 hours driving away from my tent was not so desirable but it proved to be an interesting experience.First of all, it was great fun. People dancing, lucid moon, iodine smell from the sea, cold beer, twisted beats and more.
Fortunately, the darkness of the night, covered the disgust that images like the one on the left was causing the moment you were letting your eyesight to enjoy the sea view (in the daylight).
Tones of garbage over tones of garbage...on the beach of the camping site for university students of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
In an age that action for the support of the environmental resuscitation is needed more than ever, the future doctors, mechanics, lawyers, teachers...(nothing against the professions and to those that possess and practice them with respect) have decided that an act of faith to this end (or maybe the best their brains can think) was to create a dump in a place that offers them invaluable relaxing moments and healthy living...and also hosts them the next day, amongst plastic bottles, cans, food left-overs...Quality in life.
Shitheads...
S.
Monday, 23 June 2008
That's what sports is all about
Spain won over Italy last night in a match that didn't satisfy me but still I feel the "football bliss" of the Saturday night's match during which two of my favorite teams kept me away from the beach bar for 2 hours...which is anyway not the easiest thing in the world to be done!
But I am far from being a sports' reporter. I just know that the Italian guy being interviewed by a Greek channel, made me stop my lunch and try not to become so emotionally charged when he said "Italy lost and that sorrows me...but my girlfriend is happy - and he smoothly drugs her closer to him so the camera catches her - because she is Spanish...and I am happy she is happy!!!" Even the most distant dualities - like sorrow and happiness - collide creatively...and generate life...when people meet.
S.
But I am far from being a sports' reporter. I just know that the Italian guy being interviewed by a Greek channel, made me stop my lunch and try not to become so emotionally charged when he said "Italy lost and that sorrows me...but my girlfriend is happy - and he smoothly drugs her closer to him so the camera catches her - because she is Spanish...and I am happy she is happy!!!" Even the most distant dualities - like sorrow and happiness - collide creatively...and generate life...when people meet.
S.
What's next?
In the following web links you can find things very much related to the previous article.
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/ec/101346.pdf
http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_245_en.pdf
The former is about the Presidency Conclusions of the recent Council and the latter regards a survey that was conducted in Ireland after the referendum for the Lisbon Treaty.
Although the Lisbon Treaty was on the top of the Agenda, the "real" discussion was actually postponed for the October Council. Logically, so to say. It was too early to act and EU's modest, gradual and meticulous approach to things is the prevalent operational attitude so far, although admittedly (and logically) people tend to condemn this approach. Call it not brave enough, for the time being, this is the way it is.
Results of the survey will make us all think and this is precisely the reason why I have included this web link here. Lack of information and protection of the Irish identity were the main reasons for voting "No". Reasonable reasons? I am still wondering.
S.
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/ec/101346.pdf
http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_245_en.pdf
The former is about the Presidency Conclusions of the recent Council and the latter regards a survey that was conducted in Ireland after the referendum for the Lisbon Treaty.
Although the Lisbon Treaty was on the top of the Agenda, the "real" discussion was actually postponed for the October Council. Logically, so to say. It was too early to act and EU's modest, gradual and meticulous approach to things is the prevalent operational attitude so far, although admittedly (and logically) people tend to condemn this approach. Call it not brave enough, for the time being, this is the way it is.
Results of the survey will make us all think and this is precisely the reason why I have included this web link here. Lack of information and protection of the Irish identity were the main reasons for voting "No". Reasonable reasons? I am still wondering.
S.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)