The Innsight Student Magazine at the Department of Translation Studies University of Innsbruck, March-June 2015
Plastic? No thanks!
by Soultana Alexoudi
Everyone knows the situation of ling thousands of birds and ani - might also be fewer leftovers, as the world or if it would be better returning home after shopping, mals every year. This means that you do not have to buy more for them and for the environment you unpack everything and there toxic waste is also introduced than you actually need. Fortuna- to buy things from local farmer it is: a lot of plastic bags and into the food chain. It is also said tely there is going to be a store markets or from plastic-free plastic packaging. Sometimes, that some of the rubbish has like that in Innsbruck soon, which shops. things are even packed in three been there for over 50 years and is called “Liebe&Lose”. The shop layers of plastic. Is it not possible simply does not biodegrade. offers about 650 products such Tricks to avoid plastic in daily life to reduce plastic in packaging or That is the reason why re - as flour, rice, pasta, nuts, salads, to avoid it at all? It is difficult searchers have found items like tea and coffee, oil, bread, wine Even if there is no shop that sells when 80 per cent of stock sold in toothbrushes and cigarette and bear, vegan products, meat, unpacked products in every supermarkets is wrapped in plas- lighters in the stomachs of fish fish, make up and so on. town, everyone can follow some tic, but it definitely is possible. and seabirds. Furthermore it is steps to reduce their “plastic- And where does all that plastic believed that 90 per cent of the Although drafts like footprint”. go? Some of it is shipped so - rubbish floating around in the “Liebe&Lose” cannot measure 1. Always carry a reusable shop- mewhere to be recycled. But still ocean consists of plastic. In against the big players in the ping bag with you and do not most of it ends up as plastic pol- order to protect the animals and food industry, the founders want only use it for groceries but for all lution. As a result there are huge the environment we should start to show that there is a more eco- your purchases, for example for rubbish patches floating around thinking about making our pur - friendly way to sell food. clothing. in the oceans. So what can each chases elsewhere. 2. Make your purchases at a of us do to reduce plastic pollu- Plastic has become this popular local farmers market and buy tion? What are the consequen - Plastic-free shops as packaging material, because fresh and local products without ces for the nature and the it has proven to be the best op- plastic, as long as you remember animals and which steps can we A very creative idea is to make tion when it comes to delivering to bring your own container or follow to reduce plastic waste? your purchases in shops where a safe food supply. As the dis - bag. everything is sold without any tances between the food produ- 3. Check labels of personal care Plastic in the oceans packaging. That means that you cer and the consumer always products such as peelings and can bring your own boxes with grow, plastic helps to keep the other products, because they The largest mass of rubbish in you and only buy the amount you food fresh and it prevents leaks might contain tiny plastic ingre - the world was discovered by a really need. Therefore there are and spills during transportation. dients. sailor, Charles Moore, in 1997. two positive effects: you reduce But consumers should ask them- 4. Try to colour your hair with This mass is estimated to be 100 your plastic waste by bringing selves if they really need these henna products purchased wit - million tons of rubbish and is kil- your own container and there products from the other side of hout plastic packaging.
Page 1 Politics & Environment 5. These days clothes are made Conclusion This article is not meant to make I am not saying that everyone from synthetic materials, in other everyone banish any plastic ma - has to follow all the steps men - words: from plastic materials. Of course there are hundreds of terial from their life, it is rather tioned above, but I think it would Look for organic cotton when these tricks and steps one can meant to state the fact that be great for flora and fauna if we buying new clothes. follow to reduce plastic pollution, today’s community is producing could reduce the consumption of but sometimes people tend to too much plastic rubbish, where plastic. look more after themselves than it actually would be really easy to after our environment – even if it avoid plastic in some points in would not mean such a big effort. our lives. Eating fish without having concerns?
by Marina Höfler
There is no denying that too habitants. One main reason for balance of life in the oceans, reason it is no wonder that there many fish are caught and conse - overfishing is that fishing is allo - overfishing also affects the social are many species overfished. quently overfishing as a problem wed in 90% of these MPAs. No and economic life of coastal shows all its impacts. Moreover, or few property rights are also a communities, especially in Asia, Not only the catching of too we are living in a time where a main reason for overfishing. Fis - West and North Africa. According much fish is a problem, but also well-balanced diet is getting hermen have access without li - to Achim Steiner, director of the how the fish are harvested. The more and more important and mits to catch fish. However, there United Nations Environment Pro - methods of catching fish influ - fish is becoming a main part of are regulations and rules to limit gram, fishing is the main liveli - ence the basic function of the such a diet. For this reason we fishing capacity, but they are too hood for 2.6 billion people marine ecosystems in a negative are caught in a dilemma: Is it weak. This is especially a pro - around the world. Furthermore, way. For instance, marine spe - reasonable to still eat fish or shall blem in the high seas. There are more than 10 million local fishers cies which are caught unintentio - we give up consuming fish at all? only few international fishing re - lost their jobs and their basis of nally are called bycatch. gulations that are often not even life, because they had no longer Therefore a lot more species are Why is overfishing harmful? implemented or enforced. Also il - been able to compete with the caught than intended to. There legal fishing, which includes un - big fish industries. are also those marine species The term “overfishing” can be regulated and unreported which are returned to the sea defined as the catching of too fishing, causes overfishing, be - Overfishing is not just a problem after capture, where they nor - much adult fish. Overfishing is a cause it takes place in small to of modern times. In the early mally die. Because of their thro - form of overexploitation, be - large industrialised operations. 1800s the first overfishing took wing back to the sea these fish cause fish species are no longer place, when humans were sear - are called discards. able to replace themselves natu - According to the organisation ching and harvesting whales to rally. Humans harvest two to WWF (World Wild Fund for Na - use the blubber of the whales for What can be done to stop over - three times more fish than what ture) targeted fishing of top pre - their oil lamps. As a result of this fishing? the ocean can support. Overfis - dators (like sharks and tuna) searching, they reduced the hing appears in all kinds of water destroys marine communities, whale population dramatically. Due to the fact that overfishing bodies, for example rivers, lakes because the amount of those From that time on, overfishing has so many negative impacts and oceans; and there are diffe - smaller fish which are at the bot - has become a problem which on the environment, different or - rent reasons for catching too tom of the food chain increases. exists until today. ganisations all around the world, much fish. This also affects the rest of the such as Greenpeace and WWF, marine system, for instance the A scientific report of 2003 esti - are trying to stop overfishing. Only 1.6 % of the world’s oceans increased growth of algae. It has mated that the amount of fish WWF has been working for over are marine protected areas also been reported that many had been lowered to just ten per - ten years to save and help reco - (MPAs), in which human activity species are even extinct. Beside cent of the pre-industrial popula - ver Atlantic Bluefin tuna in the is restricted in order to protect these fatal consequences for the tion by industrial fishing. For this Mediterranean. The International
Page 2 Politics & Environment Commission for the Conserva - species can be found on the ries instead of fish from the other try also has its own eco labels. tion of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is webpage of Greenpeace. Accor - side of the world. In the UK, local the body which regulates the fis - ding to this list, customers fishers are using or developing Overfishing is not just a minor heries and most of its decisions should therefore try to avoid for sustainable fishing methods. problem, but it affects the whole have been influenced by WWF. example plaice, sole, European Concerning climate change, the marine system as well as a num - hake, tuna including Albacore, transport of seafood is also a ber of people in the world. Many Not only big companies can help Yellowtail, Bigeye and Bluefin. problem and poorer communi - international organisations reali - to stop overfishing, but also indi - Nevertheless there are those ties may need this sort of fish for sed overfishing as a problem viduals are able to keep some sorts of tuna which can be cho - their livelihood. Moreover, eco and have started to act. It is im - facts in mind, when it comes to sen without concerns. Here are labels are helpful for customers portant to face the fact that over - buying fish or seafood. Accor - two tips customers should keep to distinguish between fish fishing has many negative ding to a ranking realised by in mind, when it comes to buying which can be eaten without con - impacts and therefore everyone Greenpeace in January 2014, tuna: cerns, and fish which need to be should raise consciousness. As customers can only buy carps avoided. customers, we have the ability to without any concerns. Herring •Choose skipjack or yellowfin do few, but effective things to and African catfish can also be tuna. The only internationally used support stopping overfishing. If bought, but customers have to •They should be caught by rod- eco label for fish and shellfish is we only buy those kinds of fish, have a look, where these fish and-line. the Marine Stewardship Council which are not harmed, it is still were caught. Greenpeace pu - (MSC) standard, which was reasonable to enjoy eating fish blished a red list, on which the It is also recommendable to founded with WWF. The aim of without concerns. harmed fish species are shown. choose seafood that has been MSC is to identify sustainable The whole red list of harmed sourced from small local fishe - fisheries. However, every coun - Let us forgive them from our hearts! Why blaming the Greeks for everything is not historically fair by Lukas Piovesan
“Over the last few decades, one years: hatred against foreigners was an essential part of Europe have helped it cope with the fi - country has accumulated a lot of and against those who pull the and that they could not drop it. nancial market crisis. debts. Looking back, many see strings in the financial sector has The term European Solidarity the former governments as a increased tremendously; many was not yet coined with the mea - These and several other measu - group belonging to a populist inhabitants have become desti - ning it has today but the creditors res sent the country repay its class which was able to deceive tute and have got next to nothing subconsciously knew the con - debt, that is to say 37.4 per cent nearly everyone inside and out - to eat; radicals won the last fede - cept of it; they allocated a debt of the original sum, in just seven side the country. The politicians ral election and many Europeans relief of 62.6 per cent of the years. It may be enlightening to spent a lot of money on arma - were not exultant at all about this country’s debt, which in 2008 point out that about seven years ment and on prestige projects fact for one government official corresponded to more than 24 have passed since the start of such as the Summer Olympic used a gesture that caused and billion €. the latest financial and debt cri - Games, which were held just a still causes ire across Europe ses. Just remember what has few years ago. and the whole world.” Furthermore, the creditors took happened in the last few years many other generous measures and you will know what could At that time, everyone was baf - Nearly no country has ever been in order to help the country re - have been possible if today’s po - fled by the sheer impressiveness immune to a high debt burden. gain its former stability, prospe - liticians and debtors had learned of the lavish Games; the people rity and strength: they restricted a little more from the past. were happy as long as the show This story may be all Greek to the maximum interest rate to five went on. They thought that they you, but it is not the country I per cent, which was comparati - By the way, it was Germany would benefit from the govern - want to describe. I would like to vely low and gave the debtor which was forgiven nearly two ment and as long as they got a write about another European country some financial leeway; thirds of its debt in 1953. In just job for their children if they ob - country. The story mentioned and they made the amount of a little more than six decades, liged to the currently ruling party, above is what a newspaper jour - debt repayment dependent on many Germans seem to have they were satisfied and bought nalist could have written about the prosperity of the export reve - forgotten which charitable mea - into the hollow lies of the govern - this country more than sixty nues by determining that the sures were included in an agree - ment. years ago. But what happened to country’s debt repayment should ment that became later known this country afterwards? not exceed a twentieth of its ex - as the London Agreement on Now, the country’s economy has port revenues. It may be clear to German External Debts. Obvio - been ailing for some years. The In 1953, the aforementioned everyone that it was beneficial to usly, it did not become known former governments’ promising huge debt of the country amoun - the country to pay more debts enough; I wonder if one out of economic results were based on ted to 38.8 billion of the currency back when more money was ten passers-by could tell one their deceptive propaganda ac - they had at that time. In 2008, earned abroad and to pay less what it consisted of. countancy and on the incurrence this sum corresponded to more when the export market shrank. of huge debts that went far bey - than 65 billion €, taking into ac - One result of this measure was Sadly enough, not even – and ond their limits. Even some other count the country’s rate of infla - that the debtor country became one might say unsurprisingly – European countries went into tion from 1953 to 2008. export-oriented for its govern - the German Christian democra - debt for this particular country. ment wanted to pay the debts tic conservative parties and their Thus, the country’s creditors met back as soon as possible. Even voters reacted to Greek’s indeb - The situation has compounded in despair. What could they do? today, the country’s sales in ex - tedness in a way that would be enormously over the last few They agreed that the country port market are considered to in agreement with their name.
Page 3 Politics & Environment
And yet one could assume that debts. Afterwards, the former When being in Germany, one try. I think they should roll up many of them, at least Ms Merkel debtor went to a man who was could easily get the distinct im - their sleeves instead of having whose father was a Lutheran indebted to him. But this man pression that all Greeks are lea - an itchy palm!” pastor, may have heard the follo - could not repay the sum, corres - ding an idle life. “They have wing story once in their lives: ponding to $5,000, and pleaded accumulated a tremendous Those Germans who get into a for an extension of payment. The amount of debts in the past and temper about “having to pay for A king wanted to get his money former debtor had no patience therefore deserve to atone for those who are always lounging back from those who owed it to and let him be thrown in the dun - their committed sins in the pre - about” would do well to show a him. One of his debtors, who geon. When the king heard sent and in the future. We, the in - little more mercy with the Greeks owed 10,000 talents, today cor - about this, he became very dustrious Germans, had do and their current economic pro - responding to $3 billion , to the angry with the man and handed scrimp and save in order to pay blems. They may have repres - king, was on the verge of being him over to the prison officers for their help with credit. And now sed the story but they have had sold as a slave. But he begged until he should repay all his debt. they are protesting against the similar problems in recent times. for an extension of payment and (cf. ESV, MT 18, 23-34) measures that are necessary in the king cancelled all of his order to restore this rotten coun -
Malala Yousafzai The girl who isn’t afraid to stand up for her rights by Ulrike Fliri
A fifteen-year-old girl shot by a July 1997 in Mingora in Pakis - described the difficult situation in far away from the capital city, Is - Taliban in 2012 just because she tan. She loves going to school her home town Mingora, which lamabad. wants go to school, won in 2014 and learn and dreamed of being is situated in the Swat Valley in as youngest person ever the a teacher or doctor when she the northwest of Pakistan. In her Malala loves her home town and Nobel Peace Prize. would be older. blog she criticized the radical Is - does not want more than going lamic Taliban and demanded to school and learn. When she It´s the story about Malala You - The Pakistani schoolgirl first that also girls have the chance to was born in 1997 it was a peace - safzai, a girl from Pakistan who came to public attention in 2009 be educated. ful place. became an icon all over the when she wrote a BBC diary world and is now symbol for about life under the Taliban rule. The Swat Valley was once called In 2007 the Taliban took power freedom and education. At that time Malala was 11 years “the Switzerland of Pakistan”. over the region. They prohibited old and was not allowed to go to It´s a mountainous place, cool in woman rights and destroyed Malala Yousafzai was born in school. In her online diary she summer, snowy in winter and not more than 400 schools in the Page 4 Politics & Environment valley, most of them providing was nominated by Archbishop education for girls. Desmond Tutu for the presti - gious International Children´s “When the Taliban came to Swat Peace Prize. they banned women from going to the market and they banned On October 9, 2012 Malala wal - shopping,” Malala told the BBC. ked out of school as usual to a small bus waiting for the stu - Malala was not afraid to speak dents to take them home. As out what many others did not they drove home two young men have the courage to say. Her pri - stopped the bus and asked who mary objection was to the Tali - Malala is. One Taliban went into ban´s prohibition of female the bus and shot Malala in the education. She expressed her head, badly wounding her. Two desire to return to school and other girls who were sitting next demanded same rights for all to Malala were also injured. people whether man or woman. Malala was airlifted first to mili - Malala´s father Ziauddin Yousaf - tary hospital in Peshawar and zai always supported Malala and then to Birmingham, where she tried to protect her as much as underwent multiple surgeries be - possible. He was himself an out - fore making a complete reco - spoken education activist and very. Malala had been kept in a runs a local private school for medically induced coma; when girls. Malala´s father encoura - she woke up she thanked God book, one pen can change the On October 10, 2014, Malala ged her to speak freely and learn for being alive. She received world”, she said in her speech. won the Nobel Peace Prize for everything she could. specialist treatment and had a ti - Malala received a standing ova - her struggle against suppression tanium plate fitted as well as an tion and is now an icon all over of children and woman and for That time Malalal´s family recei - implant in her skull to help the world. the right of all children to educa - ved death threats from the Tali - her hear. tion. At 17, Malala became the ban and was not safe in their The Taliban thought that the bul - youngest person ever to be home. Along with many locals, Since the shooting, Malala and lets would silence her, but they awarded the prestigious prize. Malala and her family went into her family continued to live in failed; Malala became more pu - exile from the Swat Valley. “We Birmingham. Due to this occur - blic attention and struggles even Malala now lives in Birmingham were refugees in our own coun - rence Malala was followed not more for woman rights and edu - with her family and goes to try”, so Malala in an interview. just in Pakistan but around the cation. “Nothing changed in my school there. But her desire is it Later that year Malala and her world. She continued her cam - life except this: weakness, fear to go back to her home town. family were able to return to Min - paign and showed that she and hopelessness died. She misses her friends and the gora. Malala continued to write would not be stopped by the bul - Strength, power and courage beautiful Swat Valley. The situa - for the online diary and took ad - lets. was born”, she said. tion in Pakistan is still too dange - vantage of the improved security rous for her. But she hopes to and went back to school. Only nine months after the shoo - Malala wrote also a book called return soon and one day she ting, on her 16th birthday, Malala I am Malala: The girl who stood wants to go into politics in Pakis - For many Pakistanis, Malala has gave a speech at the UN head - up for education and was shot tan. become a symbol of resistance quarters in New York. Her fa - by the Taliban, where she descri - to the Taliban. mous speech was broadcast bes her life in Pakistan, the around the world. shooting and her new life in Bir - In 2011 she received Pakistan´s mingham. National Youth Peace Prize, and “One child, one teacher, one Modern medicine and the pharmaceutical industry The dark side of our lifesavers by Matthias Widmann
Thanks to modern medicine, son & Johnson, the world’s big - Drug companies justify the high spent for research is much lower many of us are living longer lives gest pharmaceutical firm, made prices they charge by arguing than for example the amount of than ever before. But one thing revenues of over 70 billion $ in that their research and develop - money spent for marketing. So that has always concerned me the year 2014. The drugs they ment costs are huge. On ave - basically, all the ads about diffe - about modern medicine and the bring out can cost patients thou - rage, only three in 10 drugs rent drugs we can see on televi - pharmaceutical industry is that sands of dollars every year, de - launched are profitable, with one sion are the reason for the they often put profit before pa - pending on their disease, while of those going on to be a block - incredibly high prices. It is quite tients. the cost of manufacturing is only buster with $1billion-plus reve - obvious, that this hurts the pa - a tiny fraction of what the price nues a year. Many more do not tients the most. In my opinion The pharmaceutical firms make is. Why are these drugs so ex - even make it to market. But this every pharmaceutical company huge revenues every year. John - pensive then? is not true. The amount of money is making too much money in ex - Page 5 Lifestyle
alternatives. For example, some scientists are using synthetic skin to measure how drugs travel through the skin. Other scientists use human cell cultures to test how drugs work. They should do this way more often, as they were several reported cases where the drugs had different ef - fects on animals than on hu - mans. Another good point on this case is that there are also strict regulations in terms of how the animals have to be treated, but on the other hand there have been also many reports of badly treated animals during tests.
I do not want to say that the whole industry is just bad. There are many life-saving drugs co - ming out every year and we can credit them all to the pharmaceu - pense of patients that need the spent on development and re - panies have committed far worse tical industry. I wish that the way medicine. A person with cancer search. This leaves around 10 crimes than this. They are paying the industry is doing things has no other choice but to take years to make money before the doctors to prescribe their drugs changes, but the whole industry these overpriced drugs. The in - formula can be taken up by ge - or wrongly promote various seems to be a dead end in terms dustry also argues that the wider neric drug companies, which sell drugs. While in most of the of what can actually be done to value of the drug needs to be the medicines for a fraction of cases, many companies had to change something. Many people considered. Drugs do save the price. But many companies pay billions of fines, the rewards are aware of the corruption wit - money over the longer term, as do not give up so easily. were so great it almost did not hin the industry, yet no one is they cure patients who otherwise matter. To me it looks like phar - able to touch them, because of would need a surgery. While this There have been several reports maceutical companies are pus - the good results they make is true, just because you can on companies that paid generic hing it to the limits when it comes every year. The products they charge a high price for some - drug companies to delay the re - to legality, exactly because the bring out are undoubtedly neces - thing does not necessarily mean lease of their way cheaper pro - rewards are so great and that sary for many people to survive you should, especially when it duct. As the loss of sales at the just shows what kind of business these days, but the industry comes to health. big pharma companies far out - this is. should behave in a different way. weighs the revenue made by the Sadly however, I do not think that In my eyes, all the big pharma generics, this can be an at - Another thing that is also seen this is going to happen anytime companies are making points to tractive arrangement for both as something bad is the involve - in the near future. justify their prices. One problem parties. This is just another ment of animals in the testing they mention frequently is that example of how corrupted this and research of the pharma in - they only have a limited time in whole industry is. The eyes are dustry. The problem is what which they can make profit. Pa - always on the profit and the would be the alternative? I have tents for new drugs are usually actual patients that need medi - to give some credit to the phar - awarded for 20 years, but cine are not important. We do maceutical industry in this case, around 10 years of that time is not stop here though. Drug com - as they are currently looking for How can I get to space?
by Marian Kattnig
Somebody said we live a 100 already had a passenger list and years too late to explore earth and a waitlist, which gained interest of 100 years too early to explore 93k people. As PanAm got liqui - space. Will humanity be able to dated in 1991 these plans got make it into space; what is the dropped. history behind space tourism; who are the players and the Mars One As the first actual tourist in space mission? we know Dennis Tito, a money broker from Los Angeles, who left About 60% of all Americans want earth with a Russian Sojus-Shut - to travel to space, making space tle, which cost him estimated 20 travel a huge potential business. million Dollars. Dito got up on April This was already noticed by Pan 28th in 2001. One year later, Mark America in 1964, the company Shuttleworth would follow on April planned to send tourists into 25th in 2002, also with a Russian space by 2000. PanAm actually Sojus, also paying about 20 mil -
Page 6 Lifestyle
lion Dollars, probably a little serious injuries when the aircraft mans on Mars to 2035. All in all more, as he was not declared to broke apart in mid-air, shortly There is only one problem. Get - it takes about 6 billion US Dol - be in the required physical after being released by the mot - ting the astronauts back is not lars. But financing should not be shape. hership. part of the mission. They simply a problem, if you believe Bas The first female space tourist have to spend the rest of their Lansdorp, founder of the Mars was the Iranian Anousheh Ansari At the moment the only nation lives on Mars, bringing the One mission. He is planning to on September 18th in 2006. actively supporting, supplying people back is just too expen - sell the TV rights, like a Reality and ensuring the crew’s safety sive. Despite that fact, about TV show. The company also In 2004 The US House of Repre - on the ISS is Russia with its 200,000 people signed up for the takes donations and tries to sentatives tried to get easier ac - Sojus program. Meaning, that at mission in 2013, although this cover its costs with merchandise cess to space by granting faster the moment, there is no space number is heavily disputed be - articles. Also Lansdorp says the spaceship tests and setting stan - for tourists on the Russian spa - cause of Dr. Joseph Roche, one TV rights for the Olympics in dards for crew qualifications. The cecrafts. of the remaining 100 contenders London were sold for about 5 bil - law is still to be adopted by the for the four spots. He claims the lion Dollars and this project is be US Senate. As NASA retired The last tourist to visit the ISS actual number if initial applicants a lot more interesting. So what their Space Shuttle program, was Guy Laliberté in 2009, who was just short of 3000 people. he wants is some kind of a “Big- they made additional space for spent an estimated amount of 40 Brother-Space-Edition”, and all private providers. million Dollars. It looks like it is not too easy to this from a person from the Net - As there also is no current NASA be considered for the mission at herlands, the original founders of The market leader for Space mission to keep up contact with all, the necessary qualifications “Big-Brother”. Tourism is the Virginia rooted the ISS, real space tourism is for every astronaut are huge; so company “Space Adventures”, simply not possible at the mo - are the claimed characteristics of The whole Mars One program founded in 1998. Space Adven - ment, though there is a schedu - an astronaut (from www.mars- has been smiled at, even before tures is the only actual company led assignment from Sarah one.com). There are five key the first press conference. Critics that is able to send people to the Brightman, a British singer, who characteristics: Resiliency, mea - are saying that everything, be - International Space Station is trying to get on board of one of ning to bring a “Can do!” attitude, ginning from the time plans to (ISS), not by building their own this year’s ISS Expeditions. adaptability, curiosity, ability to the budged, is unrealistic. spaceship but by making con - trust and creativity/resourceful - tacts with the Sojus program. The most flashing space pro - ness. Every potential astronaut So all in all, space tourism is in gram at the moment is Mars hast got to be at least 18 years its beginnings, but without an Although Virgin Galactic never One. Mars One is a non-profit or - or older and has to pass medical actual time frame, there is a big made it into space, only into the ganisation based in the Nether - and physical requirements, mea - potential market and a lot of vi - sub-orbit, the New Mexico based lands, planning to be the first to ning no dependency on drugs, sionaries are spending a lot of company is getting more atten - send humans to Mars and estab - normal range of motion and money to achieve the goal of a tion by the media. The founder lishing a permanent colony functionality in all joints, a 100% holiday in space or to colonize and CEO Richard Branson is there. Mars One is trying to send visual acuity in both eyes; they Mars. But as always, there are better known as the founder of an unmanned lander mission by have to be free from any psy - setbacks and a lot of critics poin - the Virgin Empire and adventu - 2016, another unmanned lander chiatric disorders, maintain a ting out the ridicules of the whole rer. The company’s goal is ma - mission by 2018, including an certain fitness level, their blood mind-set of leaving earth for tra - king space tourism affordable for exploration to select the location pressure must not exceed vel reasons. The following years private persons, having about of the whole settlement. In 2020, 140/90 in a sitting position and will show if the settling of another 7,000 potential buyers. Branson a supply mission would launch, the standing height must be bet - planet is just wishful thinking or had initially suggested that he bringing a rover for the final lan - ween 157 and 190 cm. Mars maybe a reality. hoped to see a maiden flight by ding, a cargo mission launch in One accepts applicants from any the end of 2009, which has been 2022, containing two life-support country in the world, though the delayed and readjusted several units and two supply units. In official language will be English. times because of problems with 2023 the mission’s plans foresee the spaceships or the crash of the launch of four astronauts to Due to financing problems the the company’s SpaceShipTwo Mars, who will land in 2024 and initial plan has been modified se - craft in October 2014. One pilot meet the rover, launched in veral times, rescheduling the was killed and another suffered 2020. new actual landing date for hu - Pura vida: Why the Costa Ricans are the happiest people on earth by Alexandra Wastian
Pura vida is a Costa Rican idio - people. For example, they will matic expression, which stands always sit down next to you and for “pure life” and means to life start a conversation even your life without trouble or pro - though there might be 100 of blems. Costa Rica is the most unoccupied seats available. Fur - welcoming, open-minded and thermore, they have a positive helpful nation I have ever been attitude towards life. They really to. Everyone tries to help even live the “pura vida”. Not for not - tough, for example, they hardly hing are the Costa Ricans the speak any English or other fo - happiest people on earth! reign languages. They always try to show affinity to other The Cost Rican society varies a Page 7 Lifestyle lot. On one hand there are poor You can also find very young and just walk in and out of their and just enjoy their lives. people who live in corrugated- pregnant girls, who are neverthe - relatives’ houses whenever they World Championship 2014 - ex - iron huts under really bad condi - less happy to become a mother. want to. traordinary feeling tions and on the other hand there It seems to be no problem for the is the rich population whose Costa Rican population because Friendship Even though there might be a standard of living can be compa - they are really child-orientated gap and some distance between red to the European one. The so- and they warmly welcome all ba - The Costa Ricans know nearly the different societies, during the called “gringos”, Americans who bies. Another reason for this thin - all habitants of their city of birth World Championship 2014 in permanently live in Costa Rica, king is that abortion is strictly very well because the real social Brazil the Costa Ricans all were belong to the richest people in prohibited in Costa Rica. So they life happens on the street when one big family. While the Costa Costa Rica. have to adapt to this invariable they sit together in front of their Rican team was playing Due to the gap between the ri - fact. It might appear to us as a houses or play street soccer to - everyone was watching the chest and the poorest Costa Ri - big problem, but for the Costa Ri - gether. When there is anyone in match, at school, at work, at the cans there is a higher level of cans it doesn’t represent difficul - need nobody hesitates to help supermarket, everywhere. After crimes than in Europe. But there ties because of their attitude and so they are all kind of a big the match all celebrated the tri - is no need to panic because du - towards children and their family family. umph at the beach, nobody was ring the day it is really safe and it spirit. alone at home all went out and only gets dangerous in the eve - For them it doesn’t matter how There are the so-called, “amigos spent time together. Nothing else ning and during the night at de - many children they have and at del barrio”, who are very close mattered. serted places. Moreover, at this what age they give birth, be - friends, just like brothers and sis - time there is a high police pre - cause the family life in Costa ters, because they grow up to - When they lost in the quarterfi - sence to compensate the pro - Rica is different. Commonly, they gether in the same street. They nals you might think that all were blem. I also have to add that live together with their grandpa - know every single detail about very sad and that the whole at - Costa Rica is the safest country rents and because of that fact each other. These friendships mosphere was terrible but this in Latin America. there is always someone availa - last a whole life and they consi - presumption is completely ble to take care of the children. der themselves very lucky to wrong. Even tough the Costa Enough with general and super - On account of that teenage mo - have such close friends. Rican team was eliminated the ficial information about the social thers, for example, are able to fi - people continued being happy life in Costa Rica! As I had the nish school and start studying at Naturally, the Cost Ricans have because of the fact that their pleasure to live with a Costa university. also friends besides these “ami - team reached the quarterfinals. Rican family I will provide you gos del barrio”, for example, at At this point they really showed with a more interesting and spe - Most of the time when the Costa school. Actually, in most cases me how easy it can be and that cial insight into the society of the Ricans are at home they sit to - all classmates get on really well it is much more important to Central American nation. My gether, talk, eat and watch TV. All with each other because of their focus on the positive things in life focus will be on family life and in all, you can say that the centre open-minded and tolerant atti - and not to get stuck to the few friendship. of their social live is the living tude and of course because of unpleasant ones that we have to room. It’s like a meeting point for their sense of humour. Hardly do face. Family life the whole family. The Costa they take anything seriously, Rican living room isn’t compara - they make fun out of everything First of all you have to know that ble to what we understand as li - in Costa Rica the family gene - ving room. The living room is a rally consists of married parents quite big room that connects kit - and their three or four children. chen and entrance with each Normally the first child is born other. Normally it is open to the when the couple is at the age of street and only separated by fen - 25-30. Often the first-born boy is cing so that passers-by, who are named after the father, so it all well known by the way, can be could easily happen that the involved in the discussion if de - grandfather, father and son have sired. the same first name. In general, all family members have a really strong relationship Families with up to 10 children to each other. They also like to are also quiet normal for them. spend their free time together New generations and personal fulfilment: a dance teacher’s point of view
by Valentina Biondi
Despite her little build, her catlike to another one. From the mirror, and hip hop but over her artistic formation one can easily check glance is able to overawe even a her look does not miss a single path, she has studied also Ballet. out the website http://www.100ci - pushy muscle man. Rita is a mistake, since she carefully wat - After getting her degree, she re - tyballet.it/web/). charming woman, who I see wal - ches her dancers while she ceived a teaching qualification king rapidly through the gym, as shows them an exercise. and many years later, together Despite the fact that the dance soon as I come watching one of with a group of dance teachers house is being located in a small her dance lessons. She fixes the My interview partner is Rita she founded “100 City Ballet”, a town near Bologna, Italy, Rita posture of a pupil and right away Rambaldi, my former dance te - sports association for dance and has never lost confidence in this corrects a choreography’s step acher. She teaches modern jazz theatre studies (to get further in - project. She won many competi - Page 8 Lifestyle tions as a dancer, but she has her biggest successes as a cho - reographer.
In her 40s, she is still in perfect shape and dressed very up-to- date, so much that you can even confuse her with one of her girls. I greet her with a broad grin and she hugs me warmly while as - king me how it goes. The ex - treme tenderness and genuineness, in which she cares about all her pupils, definitely make her the right person who could give me an objective opi - nion about new generations and personal achievements. All that, with dance as a background.
She invites me kindly to sit in front of her on a mat of the gym and then our interview can finally start.
What pushed you to pursue your passion in a full-time job? slave of their bodies in order to sensible leisure and educational those who do not like physical She smiles softly, “Dancing has be well endowed or gain suc - activity. activity? always been my passion. In my cess. As far as I am concerned, I artistic path as a dancer, I soon am one hundred percent invol - “Over here, complexes almost “Practising sports is fundamen - realised that I was closer to ved in my job. I must be a little do not exist since the atmo - tal, since it helps mind, growth transmitting my fascination for mum, General of the Army, phy - sphere in class is positive and and posture. If you hardly bear it, this discipline to the others, rat - siotherapist, stylist and very motivating. I am pro taking care I suggest at least some walks her than dancing merely for my - often psychologist… and that is of themselves and eating heal - without technological devices, in self. I could not describe the an additional noteworthy task! thy, but I allow some steps out of order to keep the contact bet - great fulfilment I feel, each time I Furthermore, I must continuously line of course! Any kind of extre - ween your body and soul.” see a choreography of mine keep myself up-to-date mism will lead nowhere. Howe - realized. So, if you ask me, my about the wide-ranging world of ver, I was told in my youth, in a As this interview proves, trust - personal nature is perfectly satis - dance.” cruel way by a rude teacher, that worthy educator can better de - fied.” I was too short to be a dancer, fine Rita’s demanding task. She Apart from dedication, dance but I have never backed down accompanies her pupils in their Such a close relationship with often requires specific physical and I realized personal small sa - growth and ambitions, sharing your pupils will undoubtedly have skills, which not everyone natu - tisfactions anyhow.” with them the enthusiasm for her allowed you to understand their rally has. Has this ever affected job, communicating her hopes hopes for the future. Do you see one of your pupils’ self-esteem? Of course she did that. Among and her expectations, in a virtu - them motivated to achieve their the several competitions she ous exchange of vibes. dreams or rather stumped from “Practicing dance at high level is took part in with her pupils and what they do not know yet? of course challenging. Every the projects she realised in her The key to personal success is dance style has his own de - local region, she participated nothing less than in our hands. “I, for one, have noticed that new mands, which must however be also in the TV show “Ballando The message launched by Rita generations are often confused selective. Of course, this con - con le stelle” (the Italian version is clear: a balanced lifestyle about their future. They are ab - cerns aspiring professional of the American “Dancing with combined with perseverance sorbed in too many interests, dancers.” the Stars”). and passion in what we do will therefore also who considers lead us to happiness and fulfil - dance as a state of life struggles After a while, she adds with shi - In your dance school, there are ment. Dancing allow us to re - to reach concrete aims. We are ning eyes, “As I see it, dancing is several male pupils. Is the preju - lease our creative energy and definitely talking about a genera - a primary need like eating, slee - dice that dance is only a femi - let the mind run wild, as a ne - tional issue, but fortunately there ping or speaking. This way of ex - nine activity gradually cessary break from our ever - are some exceptions!” pression has been deeply disappearing or is it still highly yday life. It is, nonetheless, only repressed in the western society, perceivable? one of the countless ways in Dedication: how much of it do so not everybody knows its be - which we can pursue our innate you need to make of your pas - nefits. I am therefore deeply con - With remarkable ease, she re - aptitude that calls for being sa - sion your profession? vinced that dance is made for plies, “Nowadays, modern dance tisfied. everyone, regardless of the level styles like breakin’ and hip hop “Currently there is a cutthroat he or she wants to reach.” are increasingly becoming more competition and most people just common in dance houses. In this take on the role of a dance te - “Cento City Ballet” is an amateur context one is accustomed to acher on certain occasions, dis - dance house and every family see male dancers.” regarding the pupil’s body can afford it. Many children and health, which I consider an es - kids can fulfil their passion for Is practising a sport that impor - sential aspect. Consequently, that discipline and make new tant in a kid’s growth and educa - more and more people become friends at the same time, in a tion? What would you suggest to
Page 9 Women Abortion – a question of life or death by Claudia Schaidreiter
Some things in life cannot actu - ally be discussed without having experienced them and under - going an abortion definitely is one of those issues that cause a lot of controversy among the people all over the world. There is no definitive answer to the question of how to proceed in the case of an unwanted pregnancy, but since a great number of women opt for abortion on a daily basis, the different aspects of the topic have to be explained in order to offer the affected women at least a bit of support in this life-turning choice.
I would like to state in advance that abortion by all means is the right option when the life of the mother is at stake, as there can - not be one life without the other. Additionally, as far as I am con - cerned, it is the right thing to do if the pregnancy is the result of a rape. Especially in this case, when the woman has had choice decision and at the end of the very young to take such a life- ted pregnancy at a young age taken away from her in this cruel day everybody has to sort this turning decision and the feelings when it would considerably inter - way, it is imperative that she out for him or herself. I for one and memories will later on repre - fere with their academic aspirati - have the choice of making an am of the opinion that life starts sent an enormous psychological ons. These factors are then abortion. at the moment of fertilization and weight for the women when they naturally enough of a greater that every part of the baby, all eventually come to the surface, and more imminent importance However, the great majority of that makes it human, is already the moment when they will be - for the decision than the complex women abort out of other rea - there right from the beginning come fully aware of the impact feelings raised by the pregnancy sons, but while it is certainly true and only has to develop. In re - this decision has had on their that the women are in addition that, for instance, economic diffi - sponse to those who do not con - emotional well-being. just yet incapable of perceiving culties are crucial for whether or sider it to be alive until after birth, to their full extent. not you want to bear the child, I would thus like to plant the As I have stated before, the rea - there are nowadays other possi - question of what precisely sons for aborting are often of a In conclusion, it can be said that bilities to be taken into account. changes in the course of preg - social and economic kind: Accor - every woman should already Adoption, for example, repre - nancy and where the difference ding to a survey carried out by have thought about their perso - sents a good alternative when lies between the invisible crea - the Guttmacher Institute in the nal opinion on abortion in case we consider how many couples ture in your womb and the visible United States, unintended preg - an unwanted pregnancy occurs would love to start a family. Na - baby in your arms. nancies increased 55% among because having to decide under turally, a woman inevitably bonds poor women and decreased pressure after it has happened is with the little creature in her body Furthermore, every abortion rai - 28% among well-off women bet - highly difficult and, considering during pregnancy, so, besides ses feelings and creates memo - ween 2000 and 2008. These the arguments given above, in being a valid option, it is certainly ries that will accompany every percentages stress the impor - my eyes a hardly solvable di - a painful prospect to give this li - woman who has decided on not tance financial reasons have in lemma. I also take the view that ving being away right after birth, having a baby for the rest of her this decision, in other words the once one has figured out one's even if you will stay in contact life. These feelings, neverthe - influence of economic motives point of view the attention accor - with your child later on. The less, are unfortunately very likely that may prevail over moral ded to contraceptive matters question is, however, if it is not to be suppressed in the heat of ones. Substantial factors favou - might rise in order to spare one - the better choice compared to the moment, that is in the first 12 ring abortions are, moreover, self this dilemma. depriving somebody of the weeks of pregnancy, which are educational matters given that chance to live? the limit up to which you can nowadays education lasts far Still, this multi-faceted issue re - abort. In other words, the period longer than in the past and going mains difficult to judge without This kind of question is based on of time in which this intervention to university and finding one's actually having to decide on it the premise, of course, that you can be carried out is very short true life's ambitions draws on a and, in the end, it is down to you already consider the “thing” in and therefore puts the woman lot of time. Accordingly, it is un - and your own deeply rooted prin - your body a living being and not under a considerable pressure in derstandable that the majority of ciples and beliefs what course of just something that only beco - her decision of which actions to women postpone the decision of action you take since you alone mes human in the course of ge - take. Additionally, 58% of women starting a family or having chil - have to live with the outcome. station. The answer to this in the U.S. who have abortions dren at all until later and proceed question is a critical factor in your are only in their 20s, which is to abortions in case of an unwan - Page 10 Women & Society The women of New York City A comparison of the TV shows, Sex and the City and Girls by Denise Plattner nah is a young up-and-coming writer who believes that her poe - try might depict the voice of her generation. She lives in a run- down flat in Brooklyn after her college graduation. Like most twenty-somethings, she is con - fronted with the weak job market and is forced to make her first steps in the working world as an unpaid intern. The TV show starts with Hannah being invited for dinner by her parents. At the first glance, it seems like a nor - mal family evening but soon the mood of the scene changes and her parents snub Hannah by tel - ling her that they are unwilling to take financial care of her any - more. The baby bird is tossed out of its warm cosy nest and the drama starts.
Carrie Bradshaw is a mid-thirty journalist, who has already made Sex and the City and Girls are Carrie Bradshaw is indeed one Brooklyn’s freshly graduated mil - herself a name in the world of TV shows which are on everybo - of those beautiful women with lennials, who live from hand to writers and columnists as a well- dy’s lips. Both are romantic co - perfect hair, who is always dres - mouth. paid sex-columnist. Her well- medies and deal with the topic of sed in a neat way and looks as - known column deals with the being a woman in New York City. tonishing while sipping her In comparison to the flamboyant “problems” of women in New Cosmopolitan and not dripping a localities of Sex and the city, the York and especially focuses on But if you want to see the Big drop of it on her dress. But why settings of Girls are almost som - the issues of dating as a modern, Apple but cannot afford a trip to would Carrie Bradshaw say bre. In addition, Hannah Hor - open-minded women living in the Jay-Z’s “concrete jungle where something untrue about herself? vath, the protagonist of Girls, Big Apple. dreams are made of”, you can The truth is; everyone loves a appears as if she has lost the Often Carrie Bradshaw refers to just watch one of plenty TV beautiful protagonist who at least control over her own life. In con - the lives of her female friends or shows, which will immediately seems to be as normal and as trast to Carrie Bradshaw, who her own in her column. Even take you to New York City wit - human as we are. seems to slide like a fairy, though she has a sarcastic way hout a lot of effort and money. twenty-something Hannah appe - to write about love and being sin - Between 1995 and 2015, more Between 1998 and 2004, Carrie ars like a bull in a china shop. gle in New York City, she is truly than a hundred TV shows used Bradshaw and her three hilarious Hannah Horvath struggles with a romantic. But does she really New York City as their setting female friends enlightened vie - punch of realistic problems - need to be romantic? Yes! Who and brought us into the lives of wers all over the world about the thanks to scriptwriter Lena Dun - wants to see some sarcastic the New York folk. But what is sparkling world of Manhattan’s ham. Hannah has a hard time woman who has already given the difference between all the upper-middle class. Well, they making a career after finishing up on love? other shows and Sex and the invited us to get a glimpse of university, has troubles with her City and Girls, and why are they their lives as well-off women and weight and suffers from the high From the first episode on, Carrie always compared to each other. their fantastic first world pro - expectations she has of herself. is besotted with a mysterious blems. Sex and the City clearly She is indeed a woman of “Ge - man, whom she calls Mr. Big. The TV Shows shows us how amazing life on neration Y” and deals with the During the six seasons of Sex the Upper-East-Side can be – at same problems as the viewers of and the City Carrie Bradshaw in - “I will never be the woman with least if you have enough money the show do. On the other hand, vites us to join her love journey the perfect hair who can wear to afford it. Carrie Bradshaw's biggest pro - with the handsome businessman white and not spill on it”, is one blem is if she can afford herself Mr. Big. Their love story is full of of the catchy and well-known Since 2012, HBO has been ai - one or two pairs of the newest ups and downs, of break-ups quotes from Carrie Bradshaw. As ring another show that focuses Manolo Blahniks – a problem and fresh starts, of blissful mour - you might know, Carrie Brads - on being a woman in New York which is not that common to ning and joyful memories. One haw, whom Sarah Jessica Par - City. most of us. might compare the relationship ker portrays, is the model-like of Carrie and Mr. Big with a protagonist of the popular HBO With the TV shows Girls, Lena The women of New York City bumpy flight to the Maldives, as TV shows Sex and the City. Dunham has created the oppo - “Girls” is written and created by after their long and exhausting site of the glamorous and fabu - twenty-eight-year-old Lena Dun - love journey they finally get to - Frankly, it is not even necessary lous Sex and the City world and ham, who also portrays the main gether and happily live together to watch closely to realize that has changed the scenery to character Hannah Horvath. Han - after... or at least until they di -
Page 11 Women & Society
vorce, which would have been a painted with realistic, shadowy piction of sex on TV-Shows. Eu - who focuses on making a career. more realistic end to their relati - moments. ropeans might not find it contro - onship. versial to see naked breasts on Sex and the City and Girls both The sex of New York women TV, but conservative America work with stereotypes. But as A frightening ride on a rollercoas - has not grown up yet - nudity on well as sex sells, also stereoty - ter would be an adequate des - While Sex and the City portrays American television has always pes sell well on TV and at the cription of Hannah Horvath’s how women should have sex in been a huge, controversial topic. end of the day, TV shows need love life with Adam Sackler. an idealistic manner, another While many channels do not dis - to have enough viewers to stay Adam Sackler is her at times time Girls shows some realistic play nudity, premium cable chan - alive. Therefore, it is not bad that boyfriend, who lives in Brooklyn sex scenes. Sex is not all about nels, like HBO, are known for they take advantage of stereoty - and tries to make a living as an looking astonishing in bed nor is their more open way of dealing pes. actor. Similar to the love story of it about how appreciatively you with human sexuality. the protagonist of Sex and the moan - sex is just sex. Girls Other observations on both Even though Sex and the City City Hannah is also confronted shows sex how everyone has shows and Girls share some ideas and with an unstable relationship. sex in a real world. And in a real have a similar structure, they are Just like Mr. Big, Adam fears the world, you have sex even though As mentioned before Carrie and different shows. You can see intimacy of a real relationship your blankets are not perfectly Hannah do not fight their ways Girls as the more modern and and has problems to open him - white. Sometimes you have sex alone through New York City. more feminist and more realistic self to Hannah. Does this story because you are totally wasted Both of them have three female version of Sex and the City but sound familiar? Well, both TV and not only drunken because of friends and sadly, all of them are maybe it isn’t the aim of Sex and shows were not very creative in love. stereotypical women. In both TV the City to be realistic – maybe finding a new love-life situation shows, you find one woman, Sex and the City wants to be like for their protagonists. But while Therefore, both TV shows not who is extremely attractive and a fairy tale. So why judge and not the good times of Carrie’s love only focus on the lives of women gets all the men she wants – a enjoy both shows? life seem to be painted with the living in the Big Apple and their real vamp. In addition, both brightest colours of the colour daily problems, but also deal with shows feature a naive and shy range, Hannah’s good times are the taboo of sex and the de - woman, as well as one woman, “Drops that create an ocean” – volun - teers in Adwa
by Matilde Paganini
Amici di Adwa is an Italian non- governmental organization, Since Amici di Adwa's headquar - whose aim is to do charity and to ters is in Cento, my hometown, I help the Ethiopian population. In think it is worth it to write about its mission volunteers and nuns such a virtuous project. I decided help the most vulnerable groups to interview Alice G., a member of society; they provide for local of the organisation. The 20-year- children education in schools, old girl started volunteering in from nursery to high school, and 2012 and from then on she has teach local women ways to res - become an activist both in the tore their dignity and to find a job main centre of the association in a centre for promotion. Both all and in Ethiopia. Her father has the schools and the centre were been already volunteering for the built thanks to fund-raising and to organisation for many years, and children sponsorships: nowa - his stories about the Salesian days there are more than 2,000 mission always made Alice cu - children and families who live rious. Thus, the interest for the with just one Euro a day, accor - African society and culture influ - ding to the official website enced her choice of university: www.amicidiadwa.org. Alice is today a student of Inter - national Cooperation and Deve - The mission was founded in lopment in Bologna. 1994, when Sister Laura Girotto was sent to Adwa by her order, Were there any problems with the Daughters of Mary Help of the creation of the mission? Christians. With the help of a small group of Salesian nuns, “It was hard at the beginning. they founded a mission in the When Sister Laura arrived in town of Adwa, Ethiopia; together, 1994 to Adwa there was nothing they started sponsoring children. but the ground. From that day on Their project was so successful the help of the volunteers and that many volunteers joined the whole community of sisters them and created the organisa - has been relevant. Today the tion. Mission is auto-sufficient; there Page 12 Society & Culture
are greenhouses and livestock to pian men did not respect nor lis - here in Italy and not in Ethiopia. have a goal that does not consist provide food and schools are en - ten to some white women, who I started to appreciate everything in changing the people. Ethio - tirely run by professional Ethio - conveyed to local women ideas I have got and to take nothing for pian teenagers are already wil - pian staff. Moreover, a hospital is of emancipation. granted. I was really touched by ling to live better and work hard currently under construction.” the fact that even though people to reach their aims. What the or - As a volunteer in Adwa, Alice have not enough food and live in ganisation does is to give them Has the association ever had is - was also one of the leaders of very tiny houses and despite ways to change their conditions. sues with the people it was wil - the community centre that the their several other problems, Thanks to the mission, many fa - ling to help? mission organises every sum - they are ready to share the little milies can survive, many children mer. They combine activities of they have with you. They make receive an education and many “At the beginning Ethiopian worship and games, so that chil - you feel like home; they make men and women get a job. women kept the Salesian Sisters dren and teenagers can be to - you feel a part of their family. In at great distance. They did not gether in a safe place. The italian Italy, society imposes on us a The mission is today considered understand what the goal of girl is one of the many volunteers hectic life, without giving us the by everybody as something ex - these nuns was; they started to who, every year, come from all time to delight in the little things; traordinary that gives chances to investigate. Then, one day, a over the world to experience and we often do not even have the create a better future. Sisters are woman went to Sister Laura and share this different reality. time to greet or to ask somebody well regarded and volunteers are asked to help her to deliver. how their day was.” loved by the population. But they Since that day, the women in You work closely with Ethiopian can still do more: the creation of Adwa and the Sisters establis - guys. Can you tell me what their Do you think your help was use - an efficient hospital would in - hed a good relationship; this si - hopes and their projects for the ful? crease the life expectancies and tuation let the community get in future are? guarantee health to the popula - contact with the men of the so - “I think that what those people, tion. This all requires although ciety. [In fact] [a]t the start it was “Working with them I see how those children gave me is much many funds, commitment and very difficult for the nuns to un - strong their desire to learn is. more than what I gave to them. I time. I would like to conclude derstand the local culture, mainly They work hard to reach the best think my help was very little in with a quotation of what Alice because of the Ethiopian men, grades; they want to be admitted comparison to all the work that said: “Anyone can be a volun - who did not accept that their to university. They understood the Sisters and the volunteers teer. Logically, when you do it in women could be considered as that if they want things to change are doing everyday in Adwa. [… a place such as Adwa you can - human being with the same they have to be the ones who ] We [volunteers] are foreigners not expect to change the world in rights as men. Things are diffe - change them. Therefore, having and cannot do much. Even the short duration of your stay. rent today, but it takes time to higher education can be a step though the Mission is a great The Sisters always say: 'we are change a mentality.” further in the long way that leads help for the population, it is Et - like drops that, together, create a to a transformation.” hiopians who are the creators of big ocean. If these drops would Being women in a society where their own future; they are the one not be here, then the ocean “a woman is less important than What did you personally learn who must change Ethiopia and would not even exist.“ a donkey”, quoting Alice, created and gain from this experience? their own living conditions.” lots of obstacles to the projects “With this experience I unders - of the organisation at first. Ethio - tood how lucky I am to be born As Alice asserted, volunteers Trilingual society – gift or burden? by Laura Moroder
Multilingualism is an important res of my region, and at the and she is very aware of tradi - have a great interest in langua - theme when you live in an area same time to no one of them, tion. ges. That is probably the reason where there are three official has enabled me, throughout the Carola V., by contrast, who I've why, as you will notice, they all languages. This is the reality of years, to get a deep insight into chosen as a member of the Ita - came up with highly diplomatic South Tyrol, where three langua - the different mentalities of the re - lian-speaking population, grew answers. ges have official status: Italian, spective linguistic group, which up in a clearly Italian environ - German and Ladin, a minority are often strongly contrastive. ment. 1) As you know, there are three Romance language. This topic This is why I have decided to ask official languages which are spo - affects you even more when, like three people, one belonging to The last person whom I intervie - ken in South Tyrol: German, Ita - me, you were born in a Ladin en - the Italian-, one to the German- wed is Sofia S., representative of lian and Ladin. Would you define vironment, to Ladin parents, and one to the Ladin-speaking the Ladin-speaking group. She this reality rather as a gift or as grew up in Bolzano, where you population, a few questions grew up in Ortisei, Val Gardena, an obstacle for a positive evolu - visited German kindergarten, about trilingualism. I have inten - and she is an active promoter of tion of the population? Why? elementary and middle school tionally chosen people whom I the Ladin language, among and later went to an Italian high find representative for their cul - other things by writing for the K) I think that trilingualism is school. When you live in a multi - tural group: Ladin newspaper La Usc di La - a gift for us South Tyroleans. By lingual region you have to deal For the German representation, dins. growing up in a multilingual envi - with complex socio-cultural rea - I've chosen Katharina M., a 22- ronment it is easier to learn other lities and debates between the year-old girl who grew up in Bol - Surprisingly, the answers weren't languages because of the major different linguistic groups are ine - zano. Her parents are at all as biased as I had thought possibility to use them. This vitable. winemakers and they live in a ty - and hoped they would be. The helps to have better possibilities pical old farmhouse in the outs - reason for this could be that all on the employment market both Having the feeling to belong to kirts of Bolzano. Katharina is the interviewed people are in ge - at home and abroad. each of the three different cultu - also a member of the city's band neral very open-minded and Page 13 Society & Culture
The value of trilingualism de - jects are taught in Italian, the tion, protection and support. Ne - pends on how we use this 'gift', other half in German plus some S) Certainly it will be of ad - vertheless there are some by integrating ourselves in the teaching of the Ladin language. vantage for the population, but aspects that could be improved. other linguistic groups. Do you think that the introduction the problem is politics. In our de - The Ladin speaking population in of a "mixed school" (for example, mocratic system, the politicians Ampezzo and Fassa are still C) It is definitely a growth op - a German-Italian school in Bol - have to (or should) represent the fighting for more recognition and portunity for the population. It is zano) would be of advantage for opinions of the people. If the ma - protection. an enrichment: we exchange in - the population? jority of the population in South formation, traditions, ways of life, Tyrol is still against paritetic The conclusion of this interview customs and costumes. We K) It would be great if there schools, politicians won't change is that trilingualism seems to be widen our points of view and were mixed schools in Bolzano, anything. a merely positive characteristic come out from our own little too. Because of the separated of our region. All interviewed world, we begin to evaluate the schools, lots of South Tyrolean 3) Do you think that the Ladin people have a quite diplomatic views of the others and note their students have problems with language is given enough atten - and favourable opinion about the needs. As a result, the others their second language. A mixed tion in terms of legislative pro - linguistic situation in South Tyrol, begin to notice our needs and system would help them to build tection and recognition by the which I completely share. start to give value to our way of relationships with students be - representatives of the other lin - However, it is a fact that not thinking. At this point it is possi - longing to the other linguistic guistic groups? everybody has this kind of idea: ble to get into some kind of rela - group and give them more occa - many South-Tyrolians, whether tionship of reciprocal exchange sions to use their linguistic skills. K) Honestly, I don’t know ne - they belong to the Italian, Ger - and enrichment. Two Italian lessons a week aren't arly anything about South Tyrol’s man or Ladin linguistic group, enough to be well versed in the third official language, maybe are not satisfied with the reality S) I would define it as a gift second language. just because there is too little im - they live in; they feel forced to for the evolution of the popula - portance given to it. learn a language which they tion because more languages C) Multilingual schools can’t identify with and see the mean more cultural variety and should be a free choice. You can C) I think that Ladin was multiplicity of different cultures thus different ways of perceiving combine monolingual schools given considerable protection by on one and the same territory as the world. The more variation the with multilingual ones and leave implementing trilingualism in pu - an obstacle for an optimal evolu - more open is the mind. This the choice to the families. All in blic places in their valleys, tion of society: they perceive tri - open mind leads to acceptance all, I think that the introduction of through the retention of a repre - lingualism as a threat rather than of other socio-ethno-cultural a mixed school would be benefi - sentative of the Ladin language an enrichment. With this inter - groups and thus to a positive and cial both for the working sphere in the maximum provincial insti - view, I originally wanted to stress peaceful coexistence of the po - as well as for the cultural one: we tutions and the opportunity for this aspect, although, in the end, pulations. live in a reality which is different the Ladin population to appeal to its outcome is definitely more sa - from the rest of Italy and we the constitutional court against tisfying and certainly more con - 2) In Val Gardena there already should value it through a school provincial laws that bring into structive for a peaceful social exists the so called "paritetic" teaching that will provide the question the equality of the three coexistence. school system; that means a complete mastery for a working language groups. school in which the subjects are future with both languages, but taught in the three official also for the development of our S) In South Tyrol the Ladin languages: About half of the sub - personal culture. language is given enough atten -
Page 14 Society & Culture The stunning life of Gregory David Ro - berts
by Franziska Marxer
Gregory David Roberts was a his medical training, Roberts It was Khader who bailed him out about escaping again but heroin addict and imprisoned for used to help the sick and injured, of prison and introduced him to changed his mind. His inmates armed robbery in Australia in the he became the slum doctor and his mafia. The mafia was among were terrorists and today he early 80s. He escaped to India his hut became a clinic. The other things responsible for drug says that he knows more about where he started a new live in a people there gave him the name smuggling, diamond smuggling, terrorism than any expert he has Bombay slum. He established a Shantaram, which means man of money laundering and in control seen on television. Roberts was free health clinic there, joined the peace. Roberts learned to speak of the black markets. From then extradited to Australia where he mafia and was again imprisoned Hindi and Marathi. Bombay’s on Roberts worked for him on started writing his book `Shanta - in India and at some point he head criminal Khader offered to the passport and currency black ram`, in which he wrote about even was an actor in Bollywood. help him with medicine from the markets. After his good friend the seven years he spent in Today he is married to a princess black market as he appreciated Prabaker was killed he crushed Bombay. It took Roberts 13 and switches between Geneva Roberts work. After a while he and returned to heroin. When years to finish the book as the and Mumbai after completing his asked him to teach his nephew Khader found out he helped Ro - first two versions were destroyed prison sentence. Gregory David English and their relationship berts to quit drugs and asked by prison guards. Reviews com - Roberts is the author of the inter - grew stronger. Roberts was him to accompany him to Afgha - ment the book as ´an elegantly national bestseller ´Shantaram´ again arrested by the police and nistan as a gunman to fight in the written, page-turning blockbus - in which he tells his life story. was brought to a Bombay prison war against Russia. As he saw a ter…splendidly evoking an India where he was abused for father in Khader he accepted. few outsiders know´. He says Roberts was born in Melbourne months. The prison was in very The two of them journeyed that the 933 pages long book is in 1952. When he got divorced in bad condition -lack of nourish - through Pakistan in to the moun - fiction to calm down critics even 1976 and lost custody for his ment, bad sanitation and over - tains of Afghanistan along with though most of the events told in daughter, who was 3 years old at crowding. some other men. Roberts wor - the book really happened. He that time, he turned to heroin. ked again as a medic in a gue - also changed all names of the This led him to armed robbery for Roberts was beaten by the over - rilla camp. characters. which he was sentenced in seers for hours and they also 1978. The media named Roberts made him starve. This happened When Khader was killed in Af - Roberts completed his prison `the gentleman bandit` as he did because of a feud he had had ghanistan the whole operation sentence, is now working on a all 24 robberies with a fake plas - with a women that owned a stew shambled. The troops decided to sequel of the book and Johnny tic gun and always apologized. after trying to rescue one of her make a break for Pakistan and Depp will soon release a movie He was sentenced to 19 years in prostitutes. This time in his life eventually Roberts returned to about his story. Today he is mar - the HM Prison Pentridge in Aust - Roberts describes with the Bombay. He then worked as an ried to a princess, who got her ralia but escaped after three words “It took me a long time and entertainer in Bombay's Bolly - title because she had married years. With the help of an inmate most of the world to learn what I wood movie industry and had into a royal family but then divor - he was able to climb across the know about love and fate and the small acting parts in several mo - ced, together they live in Geneva front wall of the prison at noon. choices we make, but the heart vies. At last two of his friends de - and spend a few months in After a short stay in New Zea - of it came to me in an instant, cided to go to Sri Lanka to fight Mumbai every year. He is also in land Roberts went on to Bom - while I was chained to a wall and in another ´holy war´ and Ro - contact with his daughter again, bay, now called Mumbai, where being tortured.” But during his berts accepted their offer to who still lives in Australia, and he eventually felt free again. time in Bombay he did not only come along. In the meantime In - will dedicate his sequel to her. Starting a new Life get to know men, he also met terpol found out about his true Roberts lives a drug free, heal - Karla. She was a foreigner in identity. thy, vegan life and does a lot of In Bombay Roberts got to know India herself and after a while charity. Even though he is not ex - an Indian guide named Praba - they started a little love affair but Shantaram pecting to live many more years ker, who took him on a tour their lives separated after a few due to the tough life he has had, through the city and became a years. In 1990 Roberts was caught by he tries to make the world a bet - dear friend to him. It was also the police while smuggling drugs ter place and has many plans for Prabaker who arranged for him Bombay Mafia to Germany and was brought to the future. to have a hut in his slum. Due to prison in Frankfurt. He thought
Page 15 Society & Culture Chef Jamie Oli - ver – controver - sial entrepreneur or social activist
by Elias Lanbach
Since his first TV appearance in During that time, he got in touch at improving the quality of food When I was living on 10 pounds a BBC documentary about the with the Italian cuisine for the in British schools. Despite the a week for food, I didn’t need a River Cafe Fulham, Jamie Oliver first time and also got to know huge success of this campaign, hug. I needed a fiver, just to has probably become the most his mentor Gennaro Contaldo. there were those, who argued have a little more to eat.” popular, influential and best- His extraordinary career started, that students should be able to known TV chef across the whole or more precisely, it rather was choose between healthy food The “food empire” globe. Jamie Oliver has always started thanks to a lucky coinci - and junk food. However, this cri - dedicated himself to teaching dence. tical view was rather groundless Furthermore, Jamie Oliver is people how to cook and how to and fizzled out quickly. seen by many as a controversial eat healthier. The BBC was shooting a docu - entrepreneur, whose main goal mentary about a Christmas din - Teaching the poor is it to pile up as much money as His newest approach that is cur - ner in the River Cafe located in possible – at the expense of all rently floating the media is a pe - Fulham. Young Jamie Oliver ap - Another big and still current con - the people watching him on the tition, which aims at providing peared in the aforesaid docu - troversial issue is Jamie Oliver’s screen, who believe in his ad - food education for every child mentary and was noticed by the attempt of encouraging poor vice or see him as a role model worldwide. This initiative has renowned British television sta - people to rely on supposedly when it comes to establishing on reached more than 1.5 million tion. He must have made quite cheap food. Of course, this ap - the one hand an authentic per - supporters so far. Apart from an impression since the BBC im - proach seems very reasonable, sonality and on the other hand a that, Jamie Oliver's “food em - mediately made him an invalu - but according to statements successful business and admire pire“ has grown to a multi-million able offer, namely a TV show. printed in the Independent his apparent ability to combine profit enterprise and has made The Naked Chef debuted in “Jamie Oliver has created a pu - both. The shy boy who first ap - him one of the richest men in the 1999 and paved the way for Ja - blicity storm in the run-up to his peared in a BBC documentary UK. mie’s further career. The follo - new television show Save With has transformed into a famous wing cookbook became a #1 Jamie by bashing the food choi - TV chef. Early years and first experiences bestseller in the United Kingdom ces of some of Britain’s poorest and he even got invited to cook families.” In an interview with He is often referred to as being Jamie Oliver gained his first coo - for the former UK Prime Minister The Radio Times, he promoted an Oliver Twist – who contra - king experience through working Tony Blair. In 2002, Jamie Oliver his new book and series and re - dictorily owns a company worth in his parents’ family business, a switched employers. Jamies Kit - ferred to a “mum and kids eating millions with estimated earnings pub called The Cricketers in Cla - chen went on air on Channel 4, chips and cheese out of contai - of 150 million pounds per year. vering. Suffering from dyslexia, followed by Jamie’s Italian Es - ners, and behind them is a mas - According to the Sunday Times Jamie Oliver has was never a cape in 2005. Jamie Oliver even sive TV.” Rich List, Jamie Oliver’s enter - good pupil. He had troubles got awarded an MBE (Most Ex - prise value adds up to about 400 when it came to following class cellent Order of the British Em - This statement however, offen - million US Dollars. If these facts and he even had to attend clas - pire). ded lots of people and caused are taken into consideration, it ses for students with special reactions like, “He underestima - comes as no surprise that a needs. Today, he claims that he Criticism and controversies tes the costs and has an unrea - large amount of people disap - has always been enthusiastic listic view of poverty”. Even Jack prove of this rich guy, “who has about creating something with Although considered a genius by Monroe, a fellow cookery writer no right to tell them how to his own hands. After finishing his a loyal and global fan commu - and poverty campaigner, who spend their money”, as one of GCSE, he went to Westminster nity, there are also critical voices actually highly appreciates Ja - the Independent voices claims. Kingsway College. concerning some of his actions. mie’s initiatives, comments on For instance, he was widely cri - this issue: “Jamie Oliver sup - Charity and campaigning Professional advancement and ticized by animal rights groups ports damaging myths that poor career for slaughtering a fully conscious people are only poor because Jamie Oliver has been raising lamb on a TV show. Moreover, they spend their money on the money for charitable projects Jamie Olivers Oliver’s first job he set off a controversial discus - wrong things, rather than being and campaigns for many years. was a pastry chef. He worked for sion about his school dinners constrained by time, equipment, Moreover, he initiated a large va - Antonia Carluccio back then. campaign, which initially aimed knowledge or practicalities. riety of campaigns in favor of so - Page 16 Society & Culture
cial and food-based issues. One tial step with regard to future ge - althier and happier lives. The pe - make a difference in the world. of the most famous campaigns nerations. If children learn about tition will call on all G20 coun - And of course, his success, was the one already mentioned how to eat healthy at an early tries. He himself says about his money and creativity give him above. There is talk of the cam - age, the prospect of them main - campaign: “My wish is to create his backing as to be able to paign to ban unhealthy food in taining this way of living or even a strong and sustainable move - freely develop his ideas and visi - British schools and to get chil - teaching it to their own children ment to educate every child ons. dren to eat nutritious food ins - might contribute to creating a he - about food, inspire families to tead. He was accompanied by a althier society in general. cook again and empower people After all Jamie Oliver is more camera team for several months. everywhere to fight obesity.” than a brilliant cook – he perso - Jamie Oliver’s latest project is nifies a controversial entrepre - All this was then chronicled in Food Revolution Day 2015, a Entrepeneur and social activist neur and an admirable social the TV show Jamie’s School Din - worldwide campaign to make activist. Naturally, some of the ners. This successful attempt to practical food education a part of Jamie made the fight for a healt - narrow-minded Jon Does of this combat the junk-food culture in school curricula. The fact that hier society, food-awareness and world cannot cope with a perso - fact did change something for diet-related diseases were con - the fight against poor nutrition nality like this. And the overall the better. Not only did Oliver stantly rising alarmed the chef and obesity his life’s work. Ha - annoying fact that this guy is bring this issue into the political and therefore he brought this ving become a very influential even rich as hell raises the sta - focus, but also rose children’s campaign into being. Jamie be - celebrity, Jamie soon realized kes. But maybe it is exactly his and parents’ awareness when it lieves that children who are edu - that he had to be equal to his big mouth and his also his spe - comes to a healthy and balanced cated about food, will develop image and ideals that he ought cial charisma that brought him diet. This however, is an essen - basic skills they need to lead he - to take responsibility and try to that far.
Authors: Soultana Alexoudi, Valentina Biondi, Ulrike Fliri, Marina Höfler, Marian Kattnig, Elias Lanbach, Franziska Marxer, Laura Moroder, Matilde Paganini, Lukas Piovesan, Denise Plattner, Claudia Schaidreiter, Alexandra Wastian, Matthias Widmann
Layout & editing: Katharina Walter
The editor is not responsible for the opinions of the correspondents.
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