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Kuopiopolitan - Issue III
Kuopiopolitan - Issue III
KUOPIOPOLITAN
EDITORIAL POLITICS
Your Editors Konrad Staeger and Elsa Kuopio’10, what could happen next?
Horn af Rantzien say their farewell. Sara Juricic gives you an answer.
PAGE 2 PAGE 7
FAREWELL POLITICS
It’s time to say goodbye – Eoin O’Leary’s Katarina Warg meets our session Patron
article will leave you sobbing. Seppo Käärlainen and tells us his views.
PAGE 4 PAGE 9
LIFESTYLE POLITICS
Anni Marttinen analyses the statement What is multiculturalism? Why is it a
DQRXWÀWFDQPDNH problem? Nikolas Rawlins tries to clear
PAGE 5 the issue.
PAGE 10
MR. MAJARI
An interview with Jari Marjelund, Vice-
President of EYP Finland, by Kati Pärn.
PAGE 6
Editors
(OVD+RUQDI 5DQW]LHQ
Konrad Staeger
1
Dear Delegates,
By the time you read these lines, you With this Farewell Issue of our maga-
will not be Delegates of Kuopio’10 any- zine, the session officially also ends for
more. However, what you will remain us. We hope that you will leave Kuo-
in the future, are participants of the Eu- pio with memories just as fond as ours.
ropean Youth Parliament. We hope that Kuopio’10 forms the beginning of your
the first positive impression you had of own EYP story, of which today’s Clos-
EYP was reinforced over the last two ing Ceremony is not the end, but only
days. Hopefully, you will take your per- the end of the first chapter.
2
SOCIAL LIFE
Une Soirée
Kuopienne
Speed-dating and cross- ing with the opposite sex over a candle.
Every two minutes the gentlemen were
dressing, a typically Finn- asked to move one seat to their left and
ish evening in Kuopio. to start all over again with yet another
lady.
3
FAREWELL
4
LIFESTYLE
5
MR. MAJARI
I was a Rebel
Jari Marjelund, Vice-Presi- must be ginger and have a beard. I am who has a very nice body might think
not ginger and I cannot grow a beard. differently. I am in fact very confident
dent of EYP Finland, shares when it comes to my intellectual capa-
his wisdom and sarcasm. Whom did you sleep with to get the bilities, but I don’t know if I can win
position? Be honest. anything by staying in my body for
Oh, practically everyone. EYP Finland eternity.
has about 300 members, but there are
In Opening Ceremony, you might have 365 days in a year so I had to go for the Is there something you want to add to
wondered who the blond, short and Board members twice. the interview?
suited-up guy was. Jari “Majari” Mar- This is my third interview in two
jelund, wearing his characteristic and, Tell me the most embarrassing mo- months. I am an interesting person not
in particular, Majarifying glasses, de- ment of your life, one that you are only because of my position. But let me
livered a smart and important speech still ashamed of? see your questions, I will see if I can
enlightening us about the history of the The thing is, I am shameless. I have come up with something funnier. May
EYP as well as the importance of drink- done loads of funny stuff. For instance, I say something wise?
ing enough water. Jari was kind enough on my last day of high school I took
to spare for us some of his precious time part, naked, in a play and had my long Sure.
at 2 am for a not-so-serious interview. hair cut off on stage. I wasn’t a hippie - I I will quote Charlie Chaplin: “At the
was a rebel. end everything is a gag.” This is my phi-
What has been your role in this ses- losophy in life; I think it is vital that
sion? Do you recycle? everyone takes this quote in to mind. If
I am representing EYP Finland. Yes I do. Milk cartons, bottles and cans. you think about yourself from a cosmic
perspective, the universe does not give a
By hanging around? If you cloud switch souls with some- blab about you. The basis of intelligence
Giving the session institutional support one form EYP who would it be? is to fully understand your complete in-
and supervising that everything is go- If it were forever then it would be Chris significance to this universe. When you
ing well. Hall (GB), because he believes in God understand your place and realise that
and through changing souls with him I no one cares about you in the long run,
How come are you “only” the Vice- could actually live forever. this is when you can position yourself
President of EYP Finland? in society.
The President of EYP Finland dresses Would you want to live forever? Kati Pärn
better than I do. Also, the basic rules No that would be horrible, I mean, at
of EYP Finland say that the President least not in my human flesh. Someone
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POLITICS
7
LITERATURE
Shakespeare
in the EYP
The spirit of Shakespeare that, whilst he might be a house hold
name, many still do not know much
visits the European Youth about this thousand-year-old mummy.
Parliament in Kuopio. So to in order to tame this shrew and
to make things easier I decided to stick
to a quick introduction with a smooth
connection, in order not to have my
This, my final article, is about how love’s labour’s lost.
the immortal bard known as William
Shakespeare might have a connection So, to cut a long story short, the merry
with a youth organisation. So with Journalists of this session were the real
measure for measure I once more took bards of the day. These exceptionally
up my laptop, prepared my tea and talented writers of Kuopiopolitan were
thought to myself: “The game is afoot, the ones responsible for recording our
follow your spirit and upon this charge most treasured moments over the past
cry God, for Robert, Kuopio and EYP.” two days. This mid-autumn night’s
Here I must stop and wonder if anyone dream and tenacious team, lead by
understood that quotation was from the dynamic duo of Elsa and Konrad,
Henry the Fifth – anyone? conjured up striking articles with such
originality and innovation to make it
The works of William Shakespeare, seem as though the bard himself was
arguably the world’s best playwright watching over them.
– known for such works as King Lear,
Macbeth and Hamlet, – have left a per- And now, with resolute strife, or what
manent impression on later theater and you will, our team is making their final
literature. His plays have been translat- tales on our grand journey, our curtain
ed into every major living language and comes down on the Regional Session of
are performed more often than those of Kuopio in the non-Scandinavian coun-
any other playwright. try of Finland. Hopefully to the faithful
reader this did not seem like a comedy
Though we are all aware of the profound of errors, but as a tempest ending. All’s
effects Shakespeare has had on modern well that ends well and so, as a passionate
culture – on educational values, mod- pilgrim to this winter’s tale, I shall re-
ern literature, language and theatre – I cite from a sonnet out of one of Shake-
am fairly certain not many can under- speare’s plays “A great while ago our tale
stand Shakespearean language – the began, but that is one our tale is done
way he utilised certain words or the and we’ll strive to please you every day”.
sense of his humor. It is possible, that
my earlier comments are just much ado Nikolas Rawlins
about nothing, but I would still wager
8
POLITICS
A Patron’s Visit
Kuopio’10 was priviliged with Committee Work, Mr. Kääriäinen tions, listened attentively and tried to
came to visit the session. After having a challenge the Delegates’ views and help
to have their patron Seppo cup of coffee with the members of the them to develop their thoughts. These
Käärlainen visit the session Board, he joined the Committee Work discussions were very helpful and con-
of our Delegates. Already on advance tained many inputs for the Delegates.
during Committee Work. he had expressed the wish to visit the
Committee on Foregin Affairs since he Mr. Kääriäinen hopefully enjoyed the
is particularly interested in their topic. time he spent at the session and we
Seppo Kääriäinen, the second speaker are happy to announce that asked for
of the Finnish Parliament, is the patron Upon arrival in the Committee room a copy of the Resolution Booklet. He
of this Regional Session of the EYP in he picked up a few post-its with prob- expressed his appreciation for the EYP,
Kuopio. He has not only honoured lems and solutions from the floor and what the organisation stands for as well
the session with his patronage but has started discussing the ideas with the as the Delegates’ impressive work. He
also shown a big interest in the session Delegates. The topic is very complex also announced that he will be writing
and the EYP in general. He is himself and as Mr. Kääriäinen stated; a solution a column about his experience of the
originally from the region and therefore to this problem would consequently European Youth Parliament and the
particularly pleased that the session is solve several other problems and if the national organisation’s work.
taking place in eastern Finland. Delegates would manage to invent a
solution they should be awarded the
Yesterday, when the Delegates were busy Nobel Prize. He also posed many ques- Katarina Warg
9
POLITICS
Rest in Peace,
Multiculturalism?
As EYP grows, so does co- It describes the change our world is Muslim immigrants into German soci-
taking towards globalization, when in- ety have failed despite great effort in the
operation and respect be- teraction between cultures is more and past decades.
tween its participants. The more common – today, that interac-
tion is a normal part of our daily lives. Although there seems to be a general
same does not seem to ap- It takes place as you get on a train for mistrust toward certain ethnic groups
ply just as well to the Euro- work, when you meet your best friend and immigrants, the relentless march of
in school or when you buy a kebab meal globalization is not slowing down. Be-
pean Union, where strong for lunch. As I am writing this article I sides, generalization about the opinions
doubts concerning multi- am surrounded by people from differ- of some 500 million people is rather
ent ethnic backgrounds socializing and redundant as opinions vary as much as
culturalism are currently enjoying each other’s company. It is a the amount of spots on a cheetah. I dare
being raised. rather interesting experience when peo- say there are just as many, if not more,
ple from Ireland, Croatia and Belgium people who prefer multiculturalism to
are sitting at the same table having a going against it. The advances it has,
“Multiculturalism is dead”, said Ger- conversation about beer. In addition, such as the learning possibilities and the
man chancellor Angela Merkel, when being half-English or half-Bulgarian or general feeling of camaraderie and uni-
she recently addressed her fellow party a quarter Egyptian or even having three ty, outweigh the negative sides. As we
members. The attempts of building a nationalities is more common than be- go about our daily activities, be it go-
multicultural society in Germany had ing a 100 per cent “pure”. ing to Karate tryouts or shopping, the
“utterly failed”, Merkel said. Mean- diversity of cultures is always present.
while, in France, President Sarkozy de- Recently, the negative aspects of multi- While writing this article I couldn’t
creed that the ethnic and undocument- culturalism have prevailed in European help but marvel at how a person from
ed Roma minority are to be deported politics and media. The question of im- on of the Scandinavian countries, Fin-
from the country. These comments migrants and refugees has caused an up- land and Estonia could have an easy
are examples of recent outpourings of roar of opinions both for and against. discussion on how to better their as-
strong anti-immigrant feeling among Reaching consensus on the topic seems signments. A person from France, who
mainstream European politicians – to be something of a seesaw with the is also half-Chinese, is helping a girl
they are an example of the issues multi- public opinion. Nationalist parties have from Croatia on English grammar. Like
culturalism may entail. gained foothold in the parliaments of it or not, multiculturalism is here to
Sweden, Holland and France, and there stay. It is your choice whether you want
Multiculturalism is steadily and rapidly has been rising demands for closing the to complain about it or embrace it.
becoming a household term in Europe. borders for refugees and setting stricter
It is a term often used when speaking of laws on immigration. Going back to
the diversity between different cultures. Germany, the attempts to assimilate Nikolas Rawlins
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