Der Beitrag Meeting Halfway, Europe at the Click of a Button erschien zuerst auf MH English.
]]>By Giulia Calvi / 25.08.2021
Online, there is a virtual meeting point between the communities of the European Union: the online magazine Meeting Halfway. One of its distinct features resides in the translation of articles into many different languages to overcome the physical and linguistic barriers, so that we can create a true “virtual space” of readers scattered across Europe. Milena is one of the newspaper’s Italian contributors (as well as a former member of The Password) and in the following interview, she explores the multicultural reality of MH with us.
How and where did the idea for Meeting Halfway come from?
Meeting Halfway began in 2012, upon the initiative of a group of budding, young journalists from all over Europe. The magazine quickly became a website where each article was translated into as many languages as possible. The original idea was to tell European stories in the broadest sense, and not just limited to the borders of the EU. I use the word “stories” because Meeting Halfway aims to write not only political and topical articles, but also and above all, stories about young Europeans, travel, traditions, gastronomy and much more.
What is your role in the newspaper?
I started in 2017 as a translator from English and German to Italian. Then, in early 2019, I joined the editorial team as head of social media. Today, MH is trying to reinvent itself; my role now is to develop internal communication and to try and involve as many contributors as possible (all of which are volunteers) from different languages and countries.
What does it mean to you to work as part of a multilingual and multicultural team? How does this influence your writing?
It is a great challenge, but also a great satisfaction. It is nice to start an online meeting and see names from all over Europe. For the articles, after a first revision of the original, we proceed with the translations; we are very lucky because we have very well trained and passionate translators. Generally, as soon as an article has a translation into at least three or four languages, including English, we publish it.
In which languages does Meeting Halfway translate? Are you looking to expand this number further?
Our website has more than 20 languages, from Croatian to Bulgarian, from Catalan to Macedonian. Unfortunately, we do not always have translators for all languages, but recently, we almost always manage to translate into about eight different languages, and this is already an excellent result. In addition, the number of languages is increasing, as in the case of Bulgarian, which does not yet have its own page, but already appears on our homepage. Personally, I regret not having translators for the Nordic languages, but at the same time it is a real success to have several from Eastern Europe.
Since Europe is now home to people from all over the world, have you ever thought about extending Meeting Halfway to other continents?
No, we never thought of that. In fact, we are looking at re-evaluating our slogan “Where Europe gets together”, to give a more precise and specific definition of what we want to communicate. Meeting Halfway aims to be a true meeting point for young Europeans, their stories, and ideas.
Where has the newspaper been most successful?
Although our social media profiles give special visibility to English translations, we are always surprised to see the newspaper’s success in Eastern Europe. We see this especially in the number of aspiring Russian, Belarussian and Ukrainian translators who contact us to join the editorial team.
How can you get involved with the editorial team?
It’s very simple, just send an email to [email protected]. We don’t ask for a CV, we are just an editorial team of young volunteers. However, we very much appreciate receiving a brief description of the candidate, to get to know what motivates them to join MH and, in the case of translators, their competencies in the languages in question. In addition, we are not only looking for editors and translators, but also aspiring social media directors, WordPress experts and illustrators.
In the profile of your authors and translators at the end of the articles, each explains what Europe is, in their opinion. What does Europe represent for Meeting Halfway?
That’s a question we’ve asked ourselves as well. In fact, in 2020, we decided to write an article summarising all our ideas on “what is Europe” and we published it on Europe Day, on 9th May, in an article entitled “Europe Day – what is Europe for us”. The article appeared partly in English and partly in multilingual form; you can find it here.
This article was previously published by The Password and is available here.
Der Beitrag Meeting Halfway, Europe at the Click of a Button erschien zuerst auf MH English.
]]>Der Beitrag Our Summer 2021 erschien zuerst auf MH English.
]]>Meeting Halfway team / 20.07.2021
1. What is your name and your nationality?
L: Lobke Maene, Belgian
J: Julia Mayer, German
A: Ana, Spanish
F: Filippo Zimmaro, Italian
2. How has the Covid-19 pandemic changed your life and daily habits? How is your life different from last winter?
L: I found a new job during the pandemic! I’ve been working there since January 2021.
J: The coronavirus pandemic has changed my daily life a lot, especially in how I communicate and collaborate with others. At the end of 2020, I was completing the last semester of my studies. At the time, we knew that the semester would consist of virtual teaching only, so we were all quite disappointed, because we looked forward to seeing our fellow students and spending time with them in person. Although the teaching contact was limited, we got to know a lot of new and interesting software in this time and acquired new skills in using them. However, in the long run it’s strenuous to be in digital meetings for almost the entire day. Therefore, some of us suffered from the so-called phenomena of “Zoom fatigue”. After this virtual semester, I have really looked forward to starting work again in March this year. Since then, my in-person teaching contact (with masks) has increased and I really appreciate that. Regarding the improvement in the summer, I think it’s possible that more in-person teaching can take place. For instance, I took part in a political event in the beginning of July and was able to network in real life, which was very rewarding. I hope that life will continue in this way but also be respectful, considering how autumn was last year.
A: Of course, Covid has affected my daily routine in different ways since it all started. I used to take a nice walk everyday to work, where I teach music. Then, I started teaching remotely, which was a bit of a challenge, especially when considering the importance of having a real perception of my students’ development. Now, I have gone back to uni while I am doing an internship in a completely different field, international relations, with hybrid learning of both online and in-person teaching.
F: The Covid pandemic shocked me and pressed pause on my life, at the beginning, as for the majority of people. However, I have always liked to spend some time alone, so I found myself with a lot of time for reading, writing or just… thinking! Okay, after two months it was enough… Right now I think I am more reflective, but I don’t really know if this is because of Covid or because I am two years older and wiser!
3. How do you spend your time? Do you study, work or have particular hobbies?
L: I work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Belgium. More specifically, I am a Communication Officer at the Special Evaluation Office of the Belgian Development Cooperation. I’m also a freelance journalist/content creator.
J: As already mentioned, I studied and worked during the coronavirus pandemic. After a long period of time of studying online, starting work was a welcome change. I don’t really have any hobbies but during the pandemic, I have discovered new tools to collaborate and meet others virtually. Furthermore, I found location-independent online meetings very efficient and also environmentally friendly, and I hope that in the future some meetings will continue to be carried out virtually too.
A: At the moment, I work and study. I am learning more about my job, which is teaching and working in an office at a university. In that sense, Covid has given me the opportunity to learn more about something I was already trained to do and broaden my skills and career path.
F: I am currently doing an internship in Grenoble, France, for my masters in Physics. I usually use my (somewhat limited) free time to travel.
4. What about your summer plans? Will you travel or will you stay at home? What would be the destination of your dreams?
L: I am going on a trip to Milan and then a road trip in Greece.
J: I’ll spend three weeks travelling through Germany. Due to the current uncertainty and the volatility of the coronavirus pandemic alongside all the restrictions, I decided to stay in Germany. However, there are also great travel destinations in Germany, which offer a lot of variety. For example, I’ll spend some weeks in the mountains in Bavaria before I finish my vacation, spending time close to the border of France.
A: I am not entirely sure what I will do in summer, except that I will take some time off in August. If infection rates remain low, I might attempt to visit other friends in Europe, who I have not seen in almost two years! I think we must all be cautious as it is still not clear how new variants of the virus are developing and we cannot risk losing the standard of living we have gained during the last few months; after all the restrictions and efforts made to stop the virus from spreading.
F: Unfortunately, I think I will spend this summer trying to finish my final exams and then graduating in October. However, if I do not manage to get PhD funding I am planning a solo (or couple’s) trip to Russia, China and Japan for next year!
5. What are your plans for the future? Do you have any ambitions or hopes for next year?
L: I hope we can all go back to our normal lives! We also have to take a breath from time to time, and not rush each day. We should live our lives, but stop sometimes to reflect on where we are now.
J: I’m really hoping that the coronavirus pandemic will slow down for all of us. Even though it’s very likely that we’ll have to live with medical-grade masks and some restrictions for a few more years, I hope that the situation will relax and that normality will return. I wish everyone the best for the future!
A: I think we all wish for the pandemic to be over but, honestly, I just expect to get used to living with it under controlled conditions. I would like to develop the skills I have gained in the last year, and hopefully, feel safe to meet people abroad again. F: At the moment, I am really trying to understand myself and what I want to become. The temptation of a safe, and average job with a very good wage is strong, but there is also a strong voice that repeatedly says to me “go and follow your dreams!”. The only challenge is to understand what my dreams are (writing, teaching, or social engagement?), and what is the best way to achieve them!
Der Beitrag Our Summer 2021 erschien zuerst auf MH English.
]]>Der Beitrag Primary financier of the Rwandan genocide arrested erschien zuerst auf MH English.
]]>By Giulia Barjona / 26.05.2021
Félicien Kabuga had been on the run for 24 years by the time he was apprehended in France at the age of 84. Interpol and other international law enforcement agencies were on his tail. In 1997, the fugitive was indicted and declared under arrest, while the US offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture. So, why has catching Kabuga been so difficult?
Before the genocide, Tutsi and Hutu populations had coexisted for centuries. It was the fanaticism of certain people that created the conditions for the catastrophe to unfold.
At the time, Kabuga was one of the wealthiest men in the country. He operated tea export shops and companies, among other businesses. One of his children is also married to the former president’s daughter. He then founded two organizations through which he was able to lay the groundwork for the genocide. The first organization was the Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), which broadcasted messages of violence against the Tutsi minority. These programs were mostly transmitted in areas where this ethnic group lived. The massacres were carried out by the militia, the second organization financed by the accused, meaning that acts of violence stemming from Hutu populism were backed by Rwanda’s upper crust.
Despite the evidence linking Kabuga to the genocide, apprehending him proved to be a difficult task. His eleven children, as well as Kenyan authorities, assisted him in hiding in Kenya after fleeing Rwanda. Kabuga attempted but failed to travel to Switzerland a few years later. His attempt to flee then came to an end in France.
For the time being, his fate will be revealed only after legal proceedings. It could change Kabuga’s future if he decides to cooperate. Under the circumstances, though, it is unlikely that he will share information and plead guilty. However, more details may be necessary to better understand how the events of such global and human significance unfolded.
Although Félicien Kabuga was apprehended, two more people responsible for the genocide remain at large, one of whom is a member of the presidential guard and is currently being shielded by the South African government.
What was the public reaction to the news? Newspapers and the internet dedicated many articles and pages to the matter, with a focus on Kabuga’s arrest. On television and social media, though, the news went practically unnoticed, mainly because of how long ago the events took place. In the meantime, Rwanda has had the chance to rise and develop again. In Europe, on the other hand, any inattentive spectator might have already forgotten the television broadcasts from the ‘90s, and the news is not discussed in schools, either. Since the 20th century was so full of incidents, conflicts, and revolutions, certain details are sometimes left out of historical accounts. And Africa has been overlooked many times.
Moreover, Europe is averse to admitting responsibility for Africa’s political shortcomings, where cultures and politics of various nations have been destroyed as a result of colonization and ongoing military campaigns.
The combination of an aggressive military policy and a natural migration of populations create the circumstances for a nation where people and different cultures coexist, but without a strong and tolerant governmental stance.
As a result, we must ask ourselves what our role is and how we can improve Africa’s situation. Is it possible to reform an economy and political system that is so fragile?
The reality is that while a country like Rwanda has succeeded in restoring its system and politics, many other countries continue to struggle. Many nations are battling to “flourish” and achieve prosperity comparable to that of European powers, but there are still places where the economic condition is too dire, and reaching the entire population would be virtually impossible.
So we must also ask ourselves: do these countries need to become similar to ours? Is it not this kind of ideal that has made Africa such an unstable continent?
Der Beitrag Primary financier of the Rwandan genocide arrested erschien zuerst auf MH English.
]]>Der Beitrag Borgen: Rejection or Confirmation of Female Leadership Stereotypes? erschien zuerst auf MH English.
]]>By Elisa Rijntjes/ 10.05.2021
Female vs Male Stereotypes
What are some female stereotypes displayed in Borgen? One example is the scene when Nyborg’s advisor wants to keep working on her campaign but she says she has to pick up her children at a birthday party. To her advisor’s question whether she is taking her campaign seriously, she replies: “I don’t know if you have noticed me working 16 hours a day in this campaign. (…). The next hours were promised to my kids weeks ago.” This scene hints at the stereotype that it is difficult for women to combine both their career and family life. Another stereotype can be observed in the scenes in which Nyborg refuses to blackmail others in order to win the election, also seen as typically female. “How dirty do you think I play?” she says to her advisor; “I’d never forgive myself if this was how I came into office”.
Next, we should look at some male “leadership traits”. Surprisingly, these stereotypes are also displayed by Birgitte Nyborg. One key scene is when negotiations with the new leader of the Worker’s Party start. In similar scenes throughout the first two episodes, the person who sits at the head of the table or who determines the course of the negotiation is always a male politician. But in this scene, there is a significant change: it is Nyborg who sits at the head of the table, she interrupts the negotiations, she says her party will not support the deal, and she gets up to leave the room with her mentor. It is precisely this self-confidence which helps Nyborg to become prime minister.
The fact that Nyborg incorporates both male and female stereotypes made me think: Why should we be thinking about this in terms of female/male stereotypes as fixed categories at all? Why could male politicians not pick up their children from a birthday party, too? Why could a male politician not be resilient to blackmailing, too? Why should it be typical for men to sit at the head of the table and conduct the negotiations? Borgen defies the beliefs we (unconsciously) hold about these fixed categories.
There are three levels of perspective in Borgen which help us as the audience realise these biased assumptions. The first level is the character Nyborg herself. The second level are the people producing representations of Nyborg, e.g., the journalists interviewing her. This is also the reason why the TV1 channel in Borgen is crucial. The third level are the people seeing these representations, e.g., Nyborg herself, her family, the general public, etc. This strategy not only enables us, the audience, to adopt various points of view. It also presents a chance for alternative representations of these typically female and male leadership stereotypes, which we can understand precisely because we are confronted with several perspectives.
Coming back to our initial question, Borgen seems to be neither a confirmation nor a rejection of female leadership stereotypes but creates a new narrative. As one of the writers of Borgen, J.G. Gram said: “It takes some time for reality to change so it would be as easy for a woman as a man” in their career. Of course, it takes some time for reality to change. However, popular culture has, as with the three levels in Borgen, the potential to accelerate that.
Der Beitrag Borgen: Rejection or Confirmation of Female Leadership Stereotypes? erschien zuerst auf MH English.
]]>Der Beitrag A dish for everyone: fondue erschien zuerst auf MH English.
]]>By Alessandra Ivaldi / 14.04.2021
It is one of the most famous dishes in Swiss cuisine, but it can also be tasted in some regions of Northern Italy, as well as in France.
It is prepared by melting cheese (or rather a precise mix of different types of cheeses, as fondue specialists will tell you) in a special pot called a caquelon. The fondue must be eaten hot, which is why the caquelon is brought to the table, in the middle of the diners, and placed on top of a metal support at the base of which is a candle or a small stove, which keeps the melted cheese at the desired temperature for the duration of the meal.
In addition to the caquelon, a plate with pieces of bread will also be on the table. Diners use a fondue fork to pierce the bread and dip it into the melted cheese inside the caquelon. Once you have soaked your piece of bread sufficiently, all that remains is to enjoy your bite, taking care not to burn yourself on the hot cheese!
Chunks of garlic are often added to the caquelon to further enhance the taste of the fondue. Another popular trick is to add kirsch, a spirit made from distilling cherries, to the melted cheese.
As I have already said, to make the perfect fondue, you need to know the right types of cheese and how much of them to blend together. Of course, there are an infinite number of variations of this recipe, and especially in Switzerland…wherever you are, you find a fondue!
For example, in the canton of Fribourg we can enjoy a fondue fribourgeoise, prepared using Vacherin Fribourgeois, a local product, or the so-called moitié-moitié (“fondue half and half”). in which we find two types of cheese characteristic of French Switzerland, Gruyère and Vacherin Fribourgeois. In the neighbouring canton of Vaud, however, the cheese used is strictly Gruyère, which is in fact produced in this region, more precisely in the town of Gruyère, which is recommended not only to gourmets, but also to travel enthusiasts who will certainly find the local castle and medieval town very interesting.
But apart from the different types of cheese, what makes a fondue different from the others is also the possible additional ingredients: there are recipes that, in addition to cheese, also include tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers…
But the world of fondue always holds new surprises. In fact, over time, recipes have been invented that are very different from the classic fondue recipe I have just described. Did you know, for example, that the so-called Chinese fondue has nothing to do with cheese? It is a dish in which thin pieces of beef, lamb, pork and horse meat and vegetables are dipped into a caquelon full of broth… Add fish and seafood and you have a Mongolian fondue!
But the most popular fondue for children all over the world (and also for adults with a sweet tooth) is chocolate fondue, which is melted in a small pot similar to a caquelon but usually smaller, together with cream and a little brandy. Using fondue forks, diners dip pieces of freshly cut fruit or strawberries into the chocolate rather than bread.
This latter variant is particularly easy to cook, and the fondue pot and forks needed to prepare it are easy to find both in shops, at least in regions where the fondue tradition is widespread, and in various online shops.
Either way, whichever recipe you choose, fondue remains one of the most delicious dishes you can taste! What about you? Do you know other variations of this recipe?
Der Beitrag A dish for everyone: fondue erschien zuerst auf MH English.
]]>Der Beitrag Earthquakes in Iceland: seismic crisis of 2021? erschien zuerst auf MH English.
]]>By Fern D/ 8.04.2021
130 of them, to be exact. And the reason behind such a large number of volcanoes in Iceland is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which separates the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates underneath the country. As these plates diverge, magma rises to fill the new empty spaces and causes volcanic activity.
The most famous example of such recent activity in Iceland was the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in 2010, which caused major disruptions to international air travel when large volumes of volcanic ash were ejected into the air and threatened damage to aircraft engines.
Luckily on the ground, however, volcanic eruptions in Iceland rarely cause any damage to people or their homes. This is largely thanks to the early settlers in Iceland, who sensed danger from these menacing mountains and mostly avoided founding towns and villages in their close vicinity.
However, due to their unpredictable nature, fatalities and damage caused by these volcanoes cannot be completely avoided. In 1973, Heimaey, in the Westman islands, suddenly erupted in the middle of one cold winter night. Despite the residents evacuating as quickly as possible and using nearby sea water to divert the magma’s flow, nearly 400 homes were destroyed and one person lost their life.
More recently, threats of another volcanic eruption have gripped the attention of Iceland. Since February 2021, to the time of writing in March the same year, there have been over 40,000 earthquakes in the country. The small town of Grindavík in the Reykjanes peninsula has been bearing the brunt of the seismic activity due to its close proximity to Fagradalsfjall mountain, a volcano which the Icelandic Met Office (IMO) has declared could erupt at any moment (Update: Fagradalsfjall erupted at around 10pm (GMT) on 19th March).
Thankfully, most of the quakes have been unobtrusive to people outside the Reykjanes area, perhaps at most causing lampshades to shake or loose items to fall off shelves. However, there have also been several reaching a magnitude of 5.7 on the seismic scale. These stronger earthquakes are more troublesome, for example causing disturbances to Grindavík inhabitants’ sleep. The Icelandic government is now asking people to avoid visiting the mountain in case monitoring of the IMO is impeded, and to stay away from steep terrain where loose boulders and rocks could cause harm.
The impact of the eruption is expected to be minimal. Nevertheless, there is a swift and efficient evacuation plan in place for the people of Grindavík, which includes plans to keep boats at the ready in case roads should be cut off by magma flow. There are also no predictions that the eruption will disrupt international air travel: it will surely come as reassuring news to everyone that this is no Eyjafjallajökull – Part Two!
Update: Fagradalsfjall erupted at around 10pm (GMT) on 19th March. You can see the magma flow from the mountain here: https://www.ruv.is/frett/2021/03/20/
Der Beitrag Earthquakes in Iceland: seismic crisis of 2021? erschien zuerst auf MH English.
]]>Der Beitrag ‘Ode to Joy’ and the European Anthem erschien zuerst auf MH English.
]]>By Anna Alvarez Calleja/ 29.03.2021
For a start, the anthem of Europe and that of the European Union are the same song. The only difference lies within the official status of the anthem of the EU, which, as an international body with its own legislation, must respect the song as a symbol in any public act of representation. Because of this, an official version was made, recorded in 1972 and recognised as the official anthem in 1985, which can be listened to and downloaded in compliance with copyright regulations on the EU website. However, any institutional act in which Europe is represented as a continent (including countries that are not in the EU) can also use the anthem. But what is the anthem and why is an official version needed?
Traditionally, since the first meetings of European countries in the 1950s, a section of ‘Ode to Joy’ from the final movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 was played at political or commemorative events. Sometimes, instead of this, other pieces of European origin were played, for example a piece from the ‘Music for the Royal Fireworks’ by G. F. Handel. However, over the years, the Beethovian melody became the go-to. Therefore, once the EU was formed, and the time came to adopt an official anthem for it, it was decided that the main and best-known melody of Beethoven’s Ninth would play the role.
The amount of times it was being played, along with the easy recognition of the melody by the European population were two main reasons it was chosen. But, taking into account the historical origin of the piece and its position in the cultural canon, certain considerations were made.
On one hand, Beethoven’s symphony presents its subject matter in reference to the poem ‘Ode to Joy’ written by F. Schiller in 1785 (38 years before the composition of the piece). The original poem talks about the idea of brotherhood between all human beings, with no specification as to their origin, which goes to say that it can be interpreted as a reference to all of humanity. Beethoven adopted Schiller’s poem with minor changes that continue to reflect this idea. But, on the other hand, the poem was originally written in German, by a German and set to music by another figure of German origin. For this reason, it was decided that the anthem should be purely instrumental, and an arrangement of the melody and its recording was commissioned from the (also German) grandmaster H. von Karajan.
The use of the song has raised other problems related to its meaning, especially in a political sense. The ‘Ode to Joy’, both with its original lyrics and modifications, has been used by various ideologies and even authoritarian regimes as a result of its easy identification. From Nazism in Germany to Communism in Russia or as the national anthem of countries where apartheid was common practice during post-colonialism. For this reason, the decision to make it the official anthem in the 80s was not easy. (For example, at the celebration of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the ‘Ode in Berlin’ by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra was conducted by Leonard Bernstein, with a substitution of the word “joy” for “freedom”. This interpretation of the Beethovenian version gave it a very charged meaning).
In addition, one of the ideas in favour of choosing Beethoven’s piece as the anthem, but also an argument against it, is the message that the symphony, particularly the 4th movement, has presented since its origin by the figure of Beethoven. On the one hand, it can be argued that Beethoven was one of the first composers, if not the first, to claim the role of artist-genius in the enlightened society of the early nineteenth century. This idea has been encouraged by the story of the “Beethoven myth”. On the other hand, Beethoven is not seen as such a transgressive figure, since, after all, his activity was mainly supported by the highest classes of society. All this means that the ‘Ode to Joy’ as a piece of music was considered revolutionary, but only from a conservative standpoint.
In any case, the European Anthem functions as a component of identity and aids the creation of community in all corners of the continent. Together with the flag, it represents respect among its members and helps to broadcast this idea beyond its borders. Although no assumption should be made about the identity relevance that the anthem may have for Europeans, it is very likely that its recognition is found in some corner of each of us, either directly or indirectly, whether through a party song or TV advert, in which the European spirit of Beethoven is brought forth.
REFERENCES:
Buch, E., & Miller, R. (2003). Beethoven’s Ninth: A political history. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press.
Fornäs, J. (2012). Anthem. Signifying europe (pp. 149-203). Bristol: Intellect.
Der Beitrag ‘Ode to Joy’ and the European Anthem erschien zuerst auf MH English.
]]>Der Beitrag Child brides and grooms: when marriage becomes a conviction erschien zuerst auf MH English.
]]>Di Alessandra Ivaldi / 24.03.2021
Child brides are forced into having weddings at a very young age, sometimes right after their first menstruation. Some are even promised to a man from the moment they are born. Forced marriage has tragic physical, psychological, and social implications for women.
For one thing, girls are denied the chance to make their own decisions about their lives and their bodies. In most cases, they give up studying, which can have serious consequences; a lack of education paves the way to a life of poverty and abuse.
Another risk for child brides is that of early pregnancy, often followed by more pregnancies shortly after. Studies have shown that girls under the age of 18 have a higher risk of dying during pregnancy than women between 20 and 29 years old. According to Unicef, early pregnancies cause every year about 70.000 deaths among girls aged 15 to 19.
At the same time, children born from early pregnancies are more likely to be born prematurely, putting them at risk for a lifetime of physical and cognitive disabilities, as well as premature death. But it is not just about early pregnancies; these young brides also face domestic violence daily.
But what about boys? Since early marriage mostly affects girls, little research has been done on boys, but it is known to have the same dangerous consequences. Recent studies have shown that around 115 million boys worldwide marry before coming of age. These very young grooms have to take on responsibilities for which they are not ready. To provide for their families, they are forced to abandon their studies and give up jobs and quality-of-life opportunities that come with a higher level of education.
What are the reasons behind this phenomenon? Poverty and conflict situations that affect some countries around the world are, of course, two of the most important factors. In these circumstances, marrying off one’s daughter or son, regardless of their age, may be one of the few remaining options for sustaining a family. But that’s not the only reason for these marriages to happen: ancient traditions and matters of honour are still considered valid reasons to resort to this solution. Losing one’s virginity or getting pregnant out of wedlock, for example, would damage irreversibly the family’s honour and the girl herself, even if the cause was sexual abuse. Unfortunately, early marriage is often considered the only viable solution to avoid such consequences.
So, the question is, can we do something to stop this terrible practice? Luckily, we can. Many organisations around the world hold public awareness campaigns to persuade communities and families to abandon these harmful practices and allow girls to live a life worth living. In addition to awareness-raising programs, there are several efforts to promote the right to education for boys and girls, even in the poorest areas of the world. This is the best strategy for safeguarding these young lives against early marriages, as well as abuse, violence, and child labour.
For further information, go to: https://www.unicef.org/
Der Beitrag Child brides and grooms: when marriage becomes a conviction erschien zuerst auf MH English.
]]>Der Beitrag Intelligent machines force us to rethink our uniqueness erschien zuerst auf MH English.
]]>By Filippo Zimmaro / 10.03.2021
We are competing with a system that is too strong for us: an algorithm knows everything and, even if it misses something, it will learn from its mistakes and correct them. For me, inventing unusual behaviour again and again is impossible. The algorithm will manage to make me spend the maximum amount that I am willing to, thus guaranteeing the optimum profit for the company that uses said algorithm. There are no last minute flights, no system error, no misunderstandings or system flaws. If there were, they would be so infinitesimal that I would not even notice them. It is a game I am willing to play, but I will surely lose, as if sitting at a chess table opposite Stockfish level 9.
The managers at Easyjet have certainly not become any smarter, more lucid or brilliant, it is just the artificial intelligence that moves with such speed, constancy and accuracy that to compete with it would be like punching a rubber wall. This feeling of helplessness pervades me, I don’t know how to deal with it, my mind will not give in to the idea of succumbing to it and I would only cause more damage to myself.
What should we do, once we realise we cannot compete with machines any longer? Learn from them? Create many machines that compete with one another to guarantee a certain form of independence (if I cannot compete, perhaps a machine could)? To adapt ourselves chameleonically to the system created and ride on the amazing and unthinkable opportunities this offers, disregarding the methods by which it operates and the effects it generates, as influencers and more boorish populists do?
Also in order to avoid the flourishing of the latter two categories, we have a duty to organise the digital world, just as we have done over the centuries, in the real world. To organise clearly means to regulate, to define laws, but not only: this process necessarily implies agreeing on a set of values, an ethic in short. Moreover, the appearance of new entities with which to relate forces us to rethink our own identity in relation to these new agents, the machines. Artificial intelligence is depriving us increasingly of the primacy of learning, computation and reasoning, the pillars on which we have built our understanding of ourselves as unique beings. This very exceptionality of ours needs to be rethought.
For the philosopher Floridi, after the Copernican revolution (the Earth is not at the centre of the solar system), the Darwinian revolution (man is not unique in the animal kingdom) and the Freudian revolution (man does not have transparent control over his mind, we are living in a Fourth Revolution, headed by Alan Turing, which concerns man’s loss of the prerogative to be intelligent.
Perhaps the Fifth Revolution will be the Happy Revolution. After all, our exceptionalism lies not so much in our learning, the mechanism of which will become clear to us sooner or later, but in the hypercomplexity of the emotional sphere. The desire for well-being that Capitalism manages to satisfy so well will then become obsolete and we will try to replace it with the desire for happiness, for which another system will be needed. But these are just adolescent utopias, let us go back to the clash with the digital (which we have understood does not only concern grandma struggling with the Smart TV, but also the last of the Millennials). Organising the digital world, converging on the values that regulate its relations, understanding its new emerging entities (revenge porn, fake news, shit storms, what are they?), creating a universal digital Constitution (necessarily universal because it would make no sense to talk about locations in the digital world), regulating the new economies that are generated by it (are data a commodity or not?), it is hard, difficult, tiring work. Not doing so would mean accepting to live most of our time in a Wild West dominated by sheriffs and cowboys, groups of a few or very few, as we are doing now.
From Zuckerberg, Page and Bezos, we cannot expect foresight, responsibility and putting the common good before the pursuit of profit. Not because as successful entrepreneurs they are necessarily capitalist steeped in evil, as a certain rhetoric is used to show us, but simply because they are faced with totally new ethical choices, for which no one has been educated or prepared (was it right to exile Trump from all social media?).
Take-home message? Organising the digital world is ultimately one of the most important challenges facing the 21st century community, along with the fight against inequality and global warming.
This article is also available on Filippo Zimmaro’s blog.
Der Beitrag Intelligent machines force us to rethink our uniqueness erschien zuerst auf MH English.
]]>Der Beitrag Exercise: A question of health or a social duty? erschien zuerst auf MH English.
]]>By Giulia Barjona / 26.02.2021
Today, as in the past, body shape conveys an image of us to ourselves and others. Does the reflection in the mirror represent a truth, or an anthropomorphic form of perfection that needs to be achieved?
First and foremost, it is important to acknowledge that the importance of exercise and its positive influence on health was already emphasised in Ancient Greece. In fact, the Olympic games were invented by the Greeks. The idea of perfection and beauty of the body is linked to the history of sport and mental health. As Juvenal said: ‘mens sana in corpore sano’. Exercising helps with managing anxiety, and thus helps us to think rationally. In this context, team sports can be seen as a good opportunity to learn how to cope with social anxiety by working with others, as a group. A shared goal creates symbiosis and encourages trust between the members of the group.
Activities requiring a great deal of muscular effort and endurance are another test of the extent of our willpower. When the heart is pumping rapidly and our muscles hurt, it becomes very hard not to succumb to fatigue. Dedicating oneself to running, for example, with the ultimate goal of completing a marathon, requires work and constant effort that can only be fueled by passion. The body also changes with training: the skeleton is strengthened and the heart rate adapts to the new situation.
Furthermore, a sedentary lifestyle is one of the best ways to develop otherwise avoidable diseases. In other words, exercise offers the possibility of protecting oneself against thrombosis, and it lowers blood pressure. In fact, the heart becomes more powerful and sends blood throughout the whole body, helping oxygen circulation.
A person with physical problems can enjoy looking at themselves in the mirror. There are only a few types of activities that are not recommended for people with illnesses or disabilities. However, this depends on the disease and the source of the symptom. Paralympic sports are a particularly good example: there are a wide range of activities practised. The benefits for physical and mental health are obvious.
However, the majority of people have a stereotypical image of exercise in their head. This cliché moves away from what sport really is about; it idealises the reality of being physically active and forms unrealistic expectations regarding body image and the opinion of others. This distortion of exercising and the ambition of wanting to look or be the incarnation of this stereotype of beauty is dangerous in itself.
First of all, exaggeration is never good, not even in the world of sports. Children that exercise too much can stop growing; the excessive level of effort prevents the necessary energy from being distributed in their bodies.
Furthermore, the adolescents’ bodily development is not the only thing that suffers. Grades are likely to be low. Academic progress is sidelined as the children dream about athletic careers unattainable for most. In some sports, the end of studies corresponds to retirement: a career in rhythmic gymnastics or another agonistic career starts at the age of 8 and ends at around 25-30. This is the same age many peers finish their masters’ degrees. The new generation, with its big dreams of glory, will be utterly disappointed and end up without good grades in their baccalaureate.
Additionally, exercising, taking part in competitions and training takes time and money. In this case, you have to choose between family and the activity you are passionate about, between saving money and spending it all on your passion. The same felt towards oneself and society outweighs stepping back and risking failure.
Moreover, this feeling of happiness and having to be beautiful is still being forced upon us through advertisements. On the one hand, the bodies of the models shown on TV are a far cry from reality. On the other hand, cities are lined with ad posters for affordable gyms, open almost 24/7.
Finally, physical exercise has always been recommended by the WHO. There is a PE class in every school, and the possibility to partake in sports after class. However, exercising does not necessarily mean we are doing good for our body. Could it be useful to create a PE class that offers the opportunity to both get to know and change our body while also giving it the respect it deserves?
Der Beitrag Exercise: A question of health or a social duty? erschien zuerst auf MH English.
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