17-19 Paul Hymans

Russia and the West explained...

2010-04-02T03:28:00.003+02:00

Russia's history is written in blood.

This isn't intended as an insult to the land of Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev, merely a statement of fact. Over the centuries it's been a brutal place. Whereas other nations make war on their neighbours, Russia specialises in slaughtering its own people. From the annihilation of the peasants under the Tsars to the tens of millions killed by the great dictator of the last century. Why is this?

In the largest country on earth, whole areas live in abject backwardness, untouched by the civilising hand of time, let alone television. We scoff at Russian alcoholism and take them for a nation of drunks. But this ignores a harsher truth. The Russian winter is so cold that there's no other way to keep warm. Cut off and freezing, what should the Russian masses resort to - mathematical theorems?

After the victory of the West in the Cold War, the Great Bear retreated to its wintry lair to lick its wounds. But a bear shamed isn't a bear tamed. So what stirs now in the dark forest of the Russian night?

One thing we know. Animals, like people, don't change. The bear born in the wild won't come knocking on the door one day, asking to sit by the fire like a domestic cat. The only means of entry he understands is the sort of force that leaves the door swinging on its hinges.

But force in the twenty-first century lacks subtlety. It's a big thing that can be spotted and squashed. And although animals don't change, they can be trained. What's needed are some new tricks. It seems that the Great Bear has learnt some.

For example, the new Great Bear understands sunshifting technology. If the sun is melting your butter, why move the butter? Why not the sun? If the Constitution prevents you from continuing in office, why move the Constitution? Why not the country? In the past, Great Bears pawed and mauled. You could hear them from miles away. This one is an altogether more dangerous beast.

The West can react in three ways to the tidal wave of Russian money flooding its shores. First, revulsion: "Where does this come from? Is that blood? Sorry - we only take American Express." Second, disdain, the old European way: "OK, you can come in, but you must stand at the back. And don't speak." And third, slavish acceptance; the West's actual choice. An avalanche of bankers, jewellers, estate agents and other purveyors of finery, all tripping over themselves to be of service. Why roar yourself hoarse, when all you need do is throw some meat into the arena? Then, you can watch previously virtuous animals make a spectacle of themselves.

Of course, the West had its oversized-collar wearers and dancers with champagne bottles before the Russians arrived. But how much more pendulous are the collars and heavy the bottles now that they're here? What else would you expect? If you're inclined to this behaviour, the arrival of a five-hundred-foot yacht packed with eighteen-year-old "producees" will have only one effect.

So where does this leave us? And what next? We don't know. But one thing we can be sure. The winter hibernation is over. The Great Bear is awake and he has a plan. History has taught us that once his paw's in the honey pot, he'll want to eat the hive.

Azerbaijan, the Eastern Partnership and the EU

2010-02-16T18:31:00.002+01:00

The European Union is open to any European country that fulfills the democratic, political and economic criteria for membership. These criteria, set by the European Council in 1993, and usually referred to as the Copenhagen Criteria, are the sole legal basis for the enlargement of the EU but, in practice, things are a bit more complicated than they may look, as the admission of new members requires the unanimous approval of all member states. From the political point of view, and seen from the EU perspective, in advance of each new enlargement, the EU needs to assess its capacity to absorb the new members and the ability of its institutions to continue to function properly. On the other hand, it is also important to state that the successive enlargements, that led the EU to increase from six to twenty-seven members, have strengthened democracy and made Europe more secure, and increased its potential for trade and economic growth.

By inviting ten more countries to join in 2004 and, then, Bulgaria and Romania in 2007, the EU put an end to the split in our continent, which, since the end of World War II, had separated the free world from the communist bloc. Turkey, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have been granted, in 2005, the status of candidate countries, and have started accession negotiations with the European Commission. Iceland and Serbia have recently applied for membership too, and other potential candidates include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.

As the EU expanded to 25 and then 27, the member states prepared a new treaty framework to ensure the enlarged EU was able to work efficiently and democratically; during this process, however, it became clear that many in the EU had a number of concerns about its final borders and even about its identity. The case of Turkey has emerged as the best example of this debate, with many questioning its geographical location, political history and even religious identity. In spite of the clear criteria and the principle of openness already stated, there are no easy answers to these questions, as each country views its geopolitical or economic interests differently: the Baltic states and Poland, for instance, advocate EU membership for Ukraine, and the possible entry of Turkey will certainly raise the question of the South Caucasus countries; on the other hand, the political situation in Belarus and the strategic location of Moldova still pose problems, and it seems that there is a consensus in that Russian membership would create unacceptable imbalances in the European Union, both politically and geographically.

The European Union has, therefore, two parallel policies for handling its relations with neighboring countries, depending on whether they are on the current list of potential candidates or not: stabilization and association agreements, which open up the possibility for a country to become a candidate for EU membership at the end of the negotiation process; and the neighborhood policy, under which the EU develops trade and cooperation agreements with non-member countries in the southern Mediterranean and the southern Caucasus, as well as with countries in eastern Europe whose future relationship with the EU remains unclear. The recently established Eastern Partnership falls under the latter.

Through the Eastern Partnership, the EU is indeed moving to strengthen ties with six countries to its east: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The plan calls for increased funding for these countries and offers them the prospect of free-trade agreements if they undertake political and economic reforms. This is due to the fact that these are, in one hand, transit countries for oil and gas to Europe but, on the other hand, all face important challenges to democracy and the rule of law. Last but not the least, the EU is also concerned about stability in the region, especially after the Russian invasion of Georgia in August 2008.

Shall the good intentions be carried on successfully, the Eastern Partnership will therefore promote democracy and good governance, strengthen energy security, promote sector reform and environment protection, encourage people to people contacts, support economic and social development and offer additional funding for projects to reduce social-economic imbalances and increase stability. Regardless of a future application for EU membership or not, I am convinced that Azerbaijan has a lot to benefit from the Eastern Partnership and the opportunities it brings along, and a role to play in its success.

EU relations with Azerbaijan are governed by the EU-Azerbaijan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, signed in 1996 and entered into force in 1999. Azerbaijan became part of the European Neighborhood Policy in 2004 and, on the basis of a Country Report published in March 2005, an Action Plan was discussed by the European Commission and the Azerbaijani Government and finally adopted in November 2006. The main EU-cooperation objectives, policy responses and priority fields can be found in the Country Strategy Paper 2007-2013 and in the National Indicative Programme, adopted in agreement with the Azerbaijani authorities and covering the period 2007-2010. These priorities include: support for democratic development and good governance; support for socio-economic reform, fight against poverty and administrative capacity building; and support for legislative and economic reforms in the transport, energy and environment sectors.

In the case of Azerbaijan, the area that has been inspiring more concerns among the EU players is, unfortunately, the one related to democratic development and good governance: governance issues, human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of press and of assembly, remain fundamental concerns and priorities with a view to contributing to Azerbaijan's further democratization. Public administration reform and improved public finance and tax management are also considered crucial to enhancing institutional capacity and improving the transparency and public accountability of state and administrative structures at all levels. Linked to this, further investment in judicial reform is required to pursue the objectives of guaranteeing the independence of the judiciary and ensuring the impartiality and effectiveness of prosecution. And all this should of course be accompanied by a promotion of citizens' rights and public participation in the political, economic and social spheres and leading to a greater participation by citizens in public life and in the control of institutional bodies and law enforcement agencies and services.

It must be underlined that all these objectives have been agreed upon by the Azerbaijani government, and not unilaterally imposed by the European Union. In one hand this gives hope for the success of its implementation, as these aims won't be possible to achieve without the commitment and the efforts of the Azerbaijani authorities; but on the other hand it also sets a standard to which the authorities need to be accountable for, and for the citizens ans civil society organizations to exercise their monitoring role.

At the inauguration of the recently established Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner stated that “the Eastern Partnership cooperation cannot be achieved without the representatives of grass-root organizations, trade unions, business and professional associations, NGOs, think-tanks, non-profit foundations, national and international networks – all the diverse actors of Civil Society”. But, maybe more importantly, she recognized that in many of the Eastern Partnership countries, and in order to be able to fulfill its role, civil society needs “more democracy, greater recognition and closer cooperation with the authorities of your countries; better legislative frameworks, more resources for their activities, easier people to people contacts and travel to the European Union”. This applies, certainly and at least, to Azerbaijan.

I would like to conclude as I started: the European Union is open to any European country that fulfills the democratic, political and economic criteria for membership. The road is surely long and winding, but getting to the destination depends, first and foremost, on the political will to undertake the journey. May I therefore wish you a safe trip! It is a worthy one!

(This article was originally written for the site euroaz.net)

Fatima and Josef

2010-01-30T01:18:00.002+01:00

It's crazy, Muslims and Christians can fight each other, trade, mourn, celebrate, live and die with each other, they're just not allowed to love each other. And if a couple do dare to love all the same, the answer is death. Arabs are more consistent on that point than in anything else.

The State of God

2010-01-29T00:35:00.002+01:00

What drives today's fanatics is a sense of divine mission that makes them the elect. It's the only drug that can enable young men who enjoy life to overcome the fear of death and despise life itself. The idea of going to Paradise is the most dangerous of all civilized inventions. That's where communism and religion meet, and the only difference is in defining its location. In this world, say the communists. No, in the next world, says religion. The Muslim fanatics try to synthesize the two. They want to set up the state of God here on earth, because they think that would solve all problems. Although it's the biggest problem of all in itself.

European Construction and Cultural Diversity

2010-01-18T23:00:00.002+01:00

What we usually refer to as the process of European integration, initiated in the years following World War II, is undoubtedly marked by the idea of cultural diversity. If we look at what is now the European Union, these differences can easily be found, for example, through linguistic diversity: 23 official and working languages, and a score of other formally recognized regional and minority languages. The coexistence of all these languages in the geographic space of the European Union is no more than a fact, but the recognition of 23 of these languages as official and working languages is not the only evidence of the value that the EU attaches to cultural diversity; the policies and programs to protect and promote the cultural heritage of Europe (literature, theater, visual arts, architecture, crafts, film, broadcasting, etc..) are many and these objectives have been, since 1992, set out in the Treaty of the European Union. Initiatives such as the European Capital of Culture, for example, are visible and popular ways of showing the pride that the European Union has in its cultural diversity; the Culture programme, with 400 million Euros for the period 2007-2013, is another. If we attempt to list the initiatives and programs through which the European Union exercises its competences so as to protect and promote cultural diversity, we should not fail to mention the European Union action in the field of audiovisual and media, neither the important component of cultural diversity included in the European Union programs of international cooperation and development aid, of which the Memorandum of Understanding between the European Commission and the CPLP is a good example. Cultural diversity and its role in European integration have always been celebrated by the European Movement and its members and partners through the commemoration of Europe Day (May 9), but the highest point of this celebration was, most likely, the declaration of 2008 as the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, under the motto "United in Diversity".

From the standpoint of political science, diversity is, without any doubt, one of the most interesting aspects of the European Union as a political, supranational institution. If we compare the European Union with the other global players, this is one difference that becomes immediately evident. In fact, both the United States of America or the Russian Federation, or even the emerging powers such as China and India, followed a different path that, in many respects, was marked by cultural homogenization and, for example, the adoption (or imposition) of a single language and the promotion (or invention) of a supposedly common identity and / or unity. This is indeed an issue that often arises in the European debate and one reason that is even more often invoked to explain the limitations or the inability of the European Union to speak at one voice and act in a more coherent way in the global context. I think, however, that this is not true and I would argue, moreover, that the respect and appreciation of its own diversity is an integral part of the European uniqueness and a sine qua non condition of its success. I will try to explain why.

The European Union was created, as stated above, after World War II, with the aim of ensuring peace, stability and prosperity in Europe. Those who had resisted totalitarianism, united under the European Movement, were determined to put an end to national antagonisms and create conditions for lasting peace. Inspired by the idea of Victor Hugo, who envisioned the "United States of Europe”, a handful of courageous statesmen laid the foundations for a new political organization based on common interests, the rule of law and the principle of equality of nations. Throughout its history, the European Union had, of course, to adapt its mission and its actions, but its fundamental principles were kept and even strengthened around this precarious balance between collective construction and individual identity, between European integration and national interests, between unity and diversity. The fall of the Berlin Wall, which twentieth anniversary has been recently celebrated, the reunification of Germany and the collapse of the Soviet empire reinforced that idea, and the enlargements of 2004 and 2007 confirmed the process of a construction based on the rejection of totalitarianism and authoritarianism, and on the respect and appreciation for cultural diversity. The further enlargements to Turkey and the Western Balkan countries – that I wish for a near future - will, hopefully, further and definitely strengthen this identity matrix.

The European Union was created to achieve the political goal of peace, but its economic fundamentals - the economic and social solidarity - were the ones granting it dynamism and success. European countries have long understood that to ensure their economic growth and be able to compete globally with other major economies, they have to work together. In this sense, the creation of the Single Market was decisive for the success of European companies; however, the European Union's success is mainly due to the fact that wide free competition has been counterbalanced by a policy of solidarity which has an European dimension too. Modern societies are increasingly complex and, despite the level of quality of life has been steadily improving, inequalities have been growing too; what makes the EU unique in the global context is precisely the fact that its member states act together to reduce them.

Nearly 60 years of European integration have clearly demonstrated that the EU is more than the sum of its parts; but the care and attention given to each of the parties has proved crucial to the success of the whole. To act together and speak at one voice is an asset; but to listen to each and every one of the voices strengthens the action of the whole. Unity is certainly a strength; but the European Union, by making diversity one of its core values, proves that integration does not necessarily have to be done at the expense of the different lifestyles, traditions and cultures of its peoples.

In conclusion, the thesis that I try to defend in this text is that the slogan "Unity in Diversity" is not just a nice idea that one can easily adhere to from the theoretical point of view; it is also a line of action with positive practical results and that, in my view, explains the success of the European integration process and should continue to be the basis for its future successes. Market forces and / or the unilateral action of one or another may indeed give good results in the short term; in the long-term, however, a shared vision of humankind and a social model supported by the vast majority of the citizens will certainly make the difference between a good intention and a successful project. I therefore believe that the higher we go in the appreciation of the cultural diversity in Europe, the more we will contribute to its unity and successful construction. It is also my belief that this principle applies to all levels, including the national, local and at all others in which human endeavors and the collective construction of reality should take into account that differences can never justify inequalities.

(this article was originally written in Portuguese for the upcoming issue of Juvenilia, the Portuguese National Youth Council magazine)

Salma and St John

2010-01-14T00:02:00.002+01:00

Salma loved John the Baptist with all her heart. She often went to look at the oil painting of the saint in the Catholic church, lit a candle, prayed devoutly and told him all her troubles. And she swore that everything she asked John the Baptist for was granted. But one wish of hers remained unfulfilled... Salma kept repeating her request, but in vain. She gave even more candles, but nothing happened. Selma reminded the saint first gently, then more and more forcefully, that she had already given nearly seventy candles for this one request and he hadn't heard her. The priest of the church sometimes had to wait a long time for her to finish her conversations with St John, and found it a nuisance... One day he had an idea: he got behind the picture and waited. Soon Salma came along and began explaining volubly that she was disappointed, because St John had failed her even though she had already given him seventy-eight candles. "This is my last", she said. "What exactly do you want?" Salma was alarmed, but she pulled herself together, explained her wish at length, and promised that if St John granted it she would give the church a hundred lira. "Why the church?" "Very well", said Salma, "then the hundred lira will be just for you." "But I don't want money", replied the priest behind the painting of St John. "What do you want? Candles? I could light you a hundred", offered Salma. "Oh, I hate candles", groaned the priest. "Would you like me to slaughter a sheep and distribute it to the poor?" "Those poor sheep, I can't stand the sight of blood." "Well, what do you want, then?" asked Salma, her nerves all on edge. "I want you to scrub the church three times a week for three months." "Oh yes? Scrub the church?" Salma snapped angrily. "I can do without that, thank you very much, but I'll tell you one thing: I'm not a bit surprised they chopped your head off, you old misery-guts!"

Cheating

2010-01-13T00:17:00.002+01:00

One day, Jesus and Muhammad were playing backgammon in heaven. When Jesus was losing and had reached the point where his last throw couldn't win the game even if it was two sixes, Muhammad scoffed at him. "Give up, lad!" he said. "Nothing can help you out of this fix!" But his broad grin froze when Jesus, smiling, threw the dice and they landed on the board - two sevens! Muhammad was furious. "You just listen to me," he spat. "That's no miracle, that's cheating!"

Don't just like.

2009-12-09T00:21:00.004+01:00

LIKE is watered-down love.
Like is mediocre.
Like is the wishy-washy emotion of the content.
Athletes don't do it for the like of a sport.
Artists don't suffer for the like of art.
There is no "I like NY" T-shirt.
And Romeo didn't just like Juliet.

LOVE. Now that's powerful stuff.

Love changes things.
Upsets things.
Conquers things.
Love is at the root of everything good that
has ever happened and will ever happen.

Love what you do.

(BlackBerry software may suck, but its advertisements are really good!)

Sooner or later, the clouds make way for the sunshine

2009-12-05T17:31:00.003+01:00

It isn't right to sit around and think about the awful things that get you down
You've gotta try to wear a smile no matter how hard it can be to do
I could make myself go crazy crying over times I've chased my broken dreams
but what is life without a dream and even i know dreams can still come true

Baku

2009-08-17T09:44:00.002+02:00

The natural borders of Europe consist in the north of the North Polar Sea, in the west of the Atlantic Ocean, and in the south of the Mediterranean. The eastern border of Europe goes through the Russian Empire, along the Ural mountains, through the Caspian Sea, and through Transcaucasia. Some scholars look on the area south of the Caucasian mountains as belonging to Asia, while others, in view of Transcaucasia's cultural evolution, believe that this country should be considered part of Europe. It can therefore be said, my children, that it is partly your responsibility as to whether our town should belong to progressive Europe or to reactionary Asia.

Liberty

2009-07-09T21:35:00.002+02:00

Boy Scout: "You shouldn't be doing that, Mr. Bunsen."

Clint Bunsen: "Well, I am a man who does things I shouldn't and that's why I'm happy. Maybe you'll figure this out someday, kid. Sin boldly. Don't let kindergarten ruin your life. Run in the halls."

Wedding season

2009-06-26T01:06:00.000+02:00

I am currently on my way to Romania, where, on Saturday, I will attend the wedding of one of my brothers. I guess I haven't fully realized it yet... my brother is getting married! Ten years ago, when I was getting married, my other brother was still a child; now he's about to finish his university studies. My sister was no more than a teenager; today she's a woman. And my brother, well, he's getting married! True, it was a different century back then. But, still, how come did time go by so fast? Amazing... The wedding is taking place in Cluj-Napoca, where my brother lives, and his fiancee grew-up. Apparently he got himself a nice life there. Big house, and cars and dog and everything. And now a wife. Soon there will be kids and I will finally become an uncle; I think I'll make up for a good uncle. There will be uncles attending the wedding too; not all of them though, because Romania is far away from Portugal. But my parents, and my sister, and my other brother will be there. And Francisco, of course. I don't remember when was the last time I was with my parents abroad, least with all the family. I think this will be fun. Nowadays, we don't get to see each others often. And being all together happens once every second year only, when Francisco spends Christmas with me. So, yeah, it will be fun for sure. Ten years ago, who would have said that one day I would be traveling from Brussels to Romania, alone, to attend my brother's wedding? No one, probably; not me, for sure. And yet, here I am: traveling from Brussels to Romania, alone, to attend my brother's wedding. Funny how life surprises us and changes our plans... Still, and to make it clear, I am not complaining. All in all, these surprises have been mostly nice and positive and my life today is much better than I could have planned it ten years ago. Of course, I made mistakes and did things I shouldn't have done. Of course I regret having done some of those things. But I came to accept the fact that mistakes are unavoidable elements of life, and that as long as we learn from them and don't repeat them (much), we can always grow stronger and happier. And happy I am! After the wedding, upon my return to Brussels, I will start with my new job at the European Movement International. My formal appointment took place last Saturday, at the Federal Assembly in Prague, and I must say I am very much looking forward to taking this new challenge up. But, what makes me really happy, in spite of the time difference and the distance, is a certain smile I know. A smile that works as the sunshine in the morning, and as the hand that rocks the cradle in the evening. A smile I don't get tired of and spend the days longing for. And a smile I hope to see reflecting back at me soon. Inch'allah!

European Elections

2009-06-16T13:08:00.001+02:00

European voters seem to have decided to punish the left, but I can't really understand why... I mean, I can understand that people are unhappy because of the crisis and so on, and therefore I understand that the socialist parties in Portugal, in Spain, in Hungary and, especially, in the United Kingdom are punished. But, then, why not punish the right-wing parties in Germany, France or Italy too? I also understand that, in many countries, people are unhappy also with other things and use their votes (or their non-votes) to show their protest. But then why not to protest against the ones who are the true responsible? Let's be honest, 21 out of the 27 member states in the European Union are ruled by right or centre-right parties or coalitions; the outgoing European Parliament had a overwhelming majority of centre-right and right wing members; the European Commission is dominated by the same parties. So, if people are unhappy and want to protest, be it with what's happening at the national or at the European levels, why voting again for the same side of the political spectrum? When we look at the results of the European elections it actually seems that people are overwhelmingly satisfied and voted for keeping the same protagonists and the status quo. So, the question remains, why punishing the left? The other thing that strikes me about yesterday's results is why did the voters decide to punish Europe. I mean, it is true that the centre-right won and that the EPP will remain the biggest group in the EP. And, let's be fair, the EPP is a broad supporter of European ideas. But we can't forget that, to the right of the EPP, a new political group of parties that deem the EPP to be too European may arise, next to a refreshed and increased set of far-right members and a UEN group that resists well. Europe is indeed one of the biggest losers of these elections: first and foremost, because its real issues were almost totally absent from the campaign and the debates that paved the way to last weekend; then, because of the record-low turnout; and, finally, because the euro-sceptic parties increased their representation in the EP and extended their presence in a big number of countries. But, why would so many voters from so many countries turn their backs to the European elections and/or give their support to islamophobic, racist and even some bluntly open fascist parties? There is disappointment for sure, fear about what the future will bring, a lack of understanding of the role of the EU combined with the idea that it didn't react much to the crisis and, of course, there is also a big disappointment in politics in general. But when I combine all these factors and try to understand what the solution could be, I come to the conclusion that the most important reason for the European voters to have punished Europe is the lack of a coherent political discourse that seriously promotes and supports the idea of Europe and brings it closer to the hearts and minds of the citizens. I guess this is what explains the success of the Green parties almost everywhere in Europe; but this is also what brings the EPP, the PSE and ALDE groupings together, in spite of the different results they obtained. Mainstream parties are the ones that have the main responsibility to look at these results and change direction; and I urge them to do it while they still can, because time is running and the extreme and demagogical parties seem to be the ones leading the course... Fear needs to be fought and hope needs to be brought back into the picture, as Obama did in the US... This needs to be done at the different national levels, of course, but also at the European: the EU has a role to play and it needs to play it well. Europe may not need its Obama, but it certainly needs a new beginning! I am signing up for it; what about you?

Observations from the balcony

2009-06-03T09:12:00.003+02:00

If the Belgian drivers don't stop at a crosswalk when a nice-looking young woman wearing summer clothes and pushing a pram is trying to cross the street, what hope is left for the rest of us ordinary people?...

The end is always a new beginning

2009-06-01T00:02:00.002+02:00

That's it! It's over: I am no longer the Secretary General of the European Youth Forum. I find it quite charming to write these words in Reykjavik, under a finally blue sky and with the sun shining even though the clock indicates 10pm. Symbolical, in one hand, that it happens in one of the most remote European countries, but also promising, since this country has announced that it wants to become the 28th EU Member State soon. Life does surprise us. And sometimes those surprises are good. I will spend the next few weeks resting, planning the future and hoping for more good surprises. The future starts now!

Texas on my mind

2009-05-24T22:57:00.001+02:00

In spite of the kind words, the nice gifts and the warm signs of affections, saying farewell wasn't easy and it felt nice to escape immediately after, far away from Brussels and from the European Youth Forum's environment. And going back to Texas was simply something I had to do: circumstances can force one to change their plans; but if one is sure and persistent enough, dreams end up coming true. Coming back to Brussels wasn't easy and coming back to the office wasn't easy either. But, at least, the sun has been greeting me from the early hours of the morning and that helps compensating the lack of sleep produced by the jet-lag and far too much thinking. I miss Texas, and I miss you... Before going back to the office for my last day behind the desk that I called my own for the last four years, and before one last trip to one last new country, I am now on my way to Portugal, where I will attend one last event organized by the Portuguese National Youth Council, in Braga. Ironic or not, four years ago, soon after being appointed Secretary General of the European Youth Forum, I was in Braga, attending another event; funny how life plays tricks on us... In just ten days, it will all be gone; by then, I will no longer be the Secretary General of the European Youth Forum and a new stage of my life will slowly start to disclose itself. And I am looking forward for it! Even if my mind will remain some thousands of miles away...

Farewell

2009-05-10T13:42:00.002+02:00

No matter how much I tried to prepare myself for this moment, the truth is that I stand here, in front of you, feeling as if caught by surprise... There's so much I would like to say to you, and yet, even though already written, the words don't come easy... so, please hang on with me... and I promise trying to be as short as I can... In two days it will be four years that I started working as SG of the YFJ. There are many ways to count four years... 48 months, 208 weeks, 1.461 days, 35.064 hours... 9 COMEM/GA, 25 Bureau Meetings, 13 CBMA Meetings, 8 FCC Meetings, too many events, 42 countries visited... 29 different Bureau Members, 52 different Secretariat colleagues, and more than 800 friends on Facebook... Let me start by apologizing. Apologizing for not having been able to work harder, for not having been able to deliver more results, for not having been able to be faster, more transparent or more successful. I gave my best, but I realize that sometimes it was not enough. Please forgive me for being strict, and for being tough and for the times I have been unfair. And please accept my apologies for the times I disappointed you; I swear it hurt me more than it did you. Let me also thank you, for these have been the happiest years of my life. For someone who believes in youth work and has a passion for international relations and the unity of Europe, working as SG of the YFJ is as good as it can get. I am grateful to all of you for the opportunity you have offered to me, and I tried to honor the trust you put on me. Because of endless hours of hard work and wonderful moments of huge fun, I will always remember the people who make this organization the best civil society platform in Europe. All of you have contributed, in a way or another, to my happiness, but allow me to refer to some people in particular. And I apologize in advance for the many of you that I won't be able to name, once again being unfair. Let me start with Renaldas. Back then, four years ago, many people, including some good friends, advised me against him and what his attitude towards me would be... Renaldas is today one of my dearest friends, and a person I admire for his intellectual abilities, for his hard-working capacities and, especially, for his amazingly big heart. And for his beautiful family, of course. He was my first President, and he will keep the number one forever. Bettina succeeded Renaldas as President, but she is a different case. She was one of the first enthusiasts of my application for the position of SG, which was surprisingly enough as she had never heard from or seen me before. Now that I think about it, that might actually explain it :) I don't know... What I know is that Bettina was a case of love at first sight and I hope she knows that I would go with or for her to the end of the World. Bettina is also the most brilliant politician I have ever met, and I wonder how long it will take for Austria to acknowledge how much it needs her. I have learned immensely from her and I love and respect her as I only love and respect a very small number of people alive. Serving under Renaldas and Bettina was a honor and a privilege, and the YFJ should always be proud of having had them as Presidents. Among all the other Bureau Members I have worked with, there is another one I need to refer to, and this is Jaakko. Jaakko is the funniest serious person I have worked with and, at the same time, the most serious funny one. The ability to combine the two is a rare one, and therefore must be protected. The fact that Jaakko never got the chance to run for President of the YFJ is one of those unfair outcomes of a very well-intentioned rule, but this gave him the possibility to teach us all a lesson of humbleness and dedication, and this is something for which this organization will always have to be grateful. We have disagreed many times, but I hope that Jaakko respects me half as much as I respect him; that much will be enough to make me very happy. Let me go on with another bunch of people who have made my times in the YFJ much better than I dared to expect: the Secretariat. Much has been said about the way I managed the Secretariat... mostly by people who are not and were never part of it. I hope I have been able, at least from time to time, to offer you a glimpse of how much I appreciate, respect and care about you. I did all I could to improve your working conditions, to preserve your dignity and to promote your expertise. I am sure I fell short on making you justice, but whatever you may think about me, you can be sure of at least one thing: I will always keep you in my heart. Among all of you, I can't help naming a few to whom, for one reason or another, I owe more than I will ever be able to pay. I can't help thinking that it is a bit ironic that, without any imposed plans or statistics, the four people I will refer to happen to be a gender-balanced group :) I will start with Pedro. I have known Pedro for more than 10 years and, over this period, we have done pretty much everything two guys can do while keeping their clothes on... He is like a brother to me, and I owe him a big chunk of the success I believe I had in managing this organization for the last four years. Pedro, let me thank you, on behalf of the European Youth Forum, for the great work you've done for its finances, and let me add, on my own behalf, how much privileged I feel for being able to call you my friend. Luiza... If I said I love Bettina, what can I say about Luiza? If my life in the YFJ would be compared to a day, Luiza would be best described as the morning glory. She not only is the most competent person I have ever had the opportunity to work with, but also my greatest defender and supporter: she never refused to stand up for me, even when she knew I was wrong; she never hid information from me, even when she knew it could be used against her; and she always injected me with extra motivation, even when I stopped believing in myself. On the top of everything, Luiza opened the doors of her house and family to me, and that's something only a parent can value enough. Luiza, you will always be my Little Princess and I hope you know you can count on me for whatever you wish. After Luiza came Klavdija. Very different style, but definitely the same quality. Klavdija is probably less of a strong character, but both as coordinator of the relations with the COE and as Head of Department, Klavdija has shown competence, dedication and expertise that keep amazing me and make me wonder if I deserve. If you don't pay attention, you might not realise it, but Klavdija is the soul and the brain behind most of the good work the YFJ produces; a treasure that needs to be cherished and that I will try to steal if I ever get the chance to. And, last but not the least, Mark. Mark is to be praised by most of the good things I have done, and I would have done even more of them if only I had listened more to him. Mark is one of the best persons I have ever met, one of the most professional and, at the same time, friendly and humble people I was offered to know, and this makes Antonia one of the luckiest persons in this room. I miss him terribly... Not so much the Assistant of the Secretary General – that one was well replaced by Jessica -, but especially the friend, the man and the role model. I would like him to be here today, but I know I will see him soon and that I will keep seeing him every time our lives will allow it, and that makes me very happy. Still in the Secretariat, there is a group of people who have one thing in common: they have endured me for the whole four years, and that makes them quite unique, not only in this context, but also in my life in general. Luc, Anne, Nicole, Agata, Ewoud. Thank you for everything! I wish you could stay for many more years in the YFJ! And Ewoud, let me tell you in particular: I know you will have to leave soon, and I am happy I won't have to deal with your replacement! Patricia, Pablo, Elizabeth, Alix, Maxime, Marta, Ante, Giuseppe, Vera, Julie and Letizia... Some of you have already gone, others will go soon, some will hopefully stay longer... You're all super good professionals, but, most of all, you're people I like much more than I will be able to express with words. I hope that now that I will be gone from the office we will meet even more often outside of it, for drinks, good laughs and pleasant moments. Marie-Aimée, Maarten, Marco, Inês, Dagmar, Sara, Antoine, Lena, Jessica, Estefanía, David, Daniel, Simon: thank you for everything you gave, and especially for everything you will still give to the YFJ and the new SG. Parting with the Secretariat will probably be the most difficult thing for me to do at the moment of leaving the YFJ. You have been my family for the last four years, and I will miss you as much as I miss my real family. I am proud of you and, if there's something positive I leave to my successor, this is it: a great team! And, finally, allow me to give you some advices :) as an old man leaving, I should probably have some words of wisdom to share with you... Dear Tine, you have a difficult mission ahead of you... I don't know if you will succeed, but one thing I know: you'll keep trying. Your term as a President needs to be taken as a marathon, and you're much better at it than any of us... with maybe the exception of Laura Cottey :) it's always tempting to make comparisons between you and the Bureau and your predecessors, but an old man like me knows that those comparisons are never fair. I have tried my best, over these last four months, to help you and guide you and show you the way, and I hope you know that I did it out of friendship and good will. I won't hide that I think that some things could be better if you have listened to me more :) but I also acknowledge that I am not an easy old man to deal with, and I know that you have to make your own way, sometimes crawling, sometimes stumbling and sometimes even falling. We all did that before becoming old men... But let me offer you one last advice: there are people around you, especially in the Secretariat, that can and are wiling to help you; use their help! Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of strength. I learned it myself the hardest way. The European Youth Forum has a tremendous potential, but it has a tremendous responsibility too. Not many organisations, and surely not many youth organisations, have the luxury of having 23 full-time staff members, reimbursements available for all the participants of so many activities, per diems and so many other things that we are so used to that we no longer even value enough. We are supposed to work for the interests and on behalf of people who very often don't have a job, can't travel at all and struggle with very little incomes. It won't be me making the demagogical calling for giving up on the luxuries, but we need to make sure that we never get distracted from the reasons why we are here, we do what we do and we say what we say. One day our times in the YFJ will come to an end and, when that day comes, we better be able to look back and feel proud of what we've achieved. Otherwise, all this will have been in vain and we will have deceived the millions of young people who give their best to make this world a little bit more livable. And that's something none of us should be ready or willing to forgive or even tolerate! After 19 years in the youth work field, it is time for me to say goodbye. As many of you already know, I will remain linked to the European civil society sector, as I will most probably be nominated SG of the European Movement International in about 6 weeks. I am very happy and looking forward for this new challenge, because it will allow me to keep working in a way I feel I can make a difference, and in a field I am passionate about. But I know I wouldn't have been given this opportunity if it wasn't for everything I learned throughout these 19 years of youth work and, in particular, over these last four years as SG of the YFJ. I therefore hope you can also share my happiness and that this appointment can somehow be seen as a small recognition of the skills provided by youth organisations through non formal education activities :) And, to conclude, and because I am not sure I was able to say anything clever today, let me borrow someone else's words and use them to wish each and everyone of you, from the bottom of my heart, all the best for your personal, political and professional future. I count on you to keep making the voices of young people heard, especially the ones of those who have less opportunities and suffer the most in this world we have inherited from our elders and have the responsibility to make better! Thank you for your patience, and may all your sweet dreams come true!

Everything that happens, will happen today

2009-04-30T02:14:00.000+02:00

Yesterday, I went to see David Byrne's concert in Lisbon. It was part of his current Tour aimed at promoting his last album, done in cooperation with the British musician Brian Eno. Both Brian Eno and David Byrne have been constant references throughout my musical education, and I am big fan of the music they compose, interpret and produce. When this album came out, I ran to get it, hoping that it would be at least as good as their first collaboration some 20 years ago; and I was surprised to find out that it is actually even better. I tried to go to his concert in Antwerp, but it turned out not to be possible, and therefore I was very happy to find out that his concert in Lisbon was scheduled for one day when I was supposed to be in town for a meeting. Perfect coincidence! The concert was great and I really enjoyed being there. What I could not know at the time I decided to buy my ticket was that yesterday would be marked by another piece of good news... You know that job I wanted very much? Well... I got it! The good news came in by phone, quite early in the morning, on time to make for a very pleasant and happy day! I am still trying to realise the full extension of what it will mean for me, both in personal and in professional terms; but I am very happy, very excited and very much looking forward to embracing this new challenge. The process that led to this outcome taught me several important lessons, and I am confident that they will be useful in view of my future engagements and plans. However, the most important factor of success, the biggest asset I was able to mobilise, was the invaluable support I received from an absolutely amazing bunch of people that I am privileged enough to be able to call friends. They have not only promoted my achievements, but also encouraged me, helped me researching, offered alternative ideas, gave feedback, played the “devil's advocate”, proofread my written reflections and, most important of all, believed in me and, by doing so, strengthened my belief in myself. I owe them a lot, and I only wish to be able never to disappoint them. I know that they expect a lot from me, and I hope they also know that I will never spare efforts in trying to live up to their expectations. I am well aware of the difficulties ahead and of the hugeness of the challenge that lies in front of me, but my previous experiences have shown me that the combination of strong beliefs and hard work is a powerful one. And, when on the top of this, you have a group of friends such as mine around, you can't help thinking that everything will be just fine. Stay close!

Spring Dreams

2009-04-24T13:34:00.000+02:00

I've been traveling quite a lot lately. Last week I was in Cyprus, and now I am in Stockholm, already about to go back to Brussels. I will spend the weekend at home (don't remember when was the last time I did it), but on Monday will go to Lisbon and, then, on Thursday, back to Tbilisi. The meeting in Cyprus was my last (regular) Bureau meeting, and it was nice to have it close to the sea and under beautiful blue skies and shining sun. It was nice too that it was in Cyprus, which is a place I like and where many good friends live. But what was really good about the stay in Cyprus is that I learned that I was short listed for a second round of interviews for that famous job I want so much! That makes me very happy, and makes me want this job even more now! The other good news of the week, is that Spring seems to have arrived pretty much to every corner of Europe: Brussels has been boasting beautiful, sunny days in an impressive row, and even in Stockholm the sun is shining and people are smiling. All of this has put me in a very good mood, that only the problems with the YFJ email server have been able to interrupt for a short while... I have been smiling a lot too, and these last weeks as SG of the YFJ look less frightning than they used to, as career opportunities unveil, the sun shines and adorable people are around. And, on the top of everything, new travels are also on the horizon; those of the kind that make one dream and therefore add real value to one's life. Let it be!

Another voice over

2009-04-13T16:21:00.002+02:00

There have only been two women in my life. And I have never understood what they wanted from me. I remember the back and forth movement and, underneath, intentions that have to be deciphered to the best of my ability. The hand ready to caress ends up striking, the tongue ready to kiss ends up licking, the organ ready to penetrate ends up loving. But the brain meanwhile chooses its favourite thought and refuses with a thousand defences to face up to its reality. My life has been a more or less happy or painful succession of things and people. My mistake probably has been not to hold on to them. People has passed through me, over me, beside me, and then have left without me really knowing what I ought to do to make them stay. She too has passed, without any intention of ever staying. I can no longer understand how I could have believed otherwise for a single second. I have looked for her, wanted her, desired her, waited for her. I have given myself, have opened myself up as never before. She hasn't been able to say no, for she has never been the object of such intense interest. However, she has remained anchored to her own life, crippled by fear and powerless to escape. She has been the only one and will always be the only one, but I have to use what is left of my strength to stop her from putting me through this endless torture. I need to kill all hope, all desire, all longing for her. She has to be no more than a memory that I will drag around and which will eventually become so familiar that I can forget it from time to time.

Easter

2009-04-13T00:04:00.002+02:00

After Tallinn, it was time for exploring the North-West of France, and more precisely, Normandy. A quite long road-trip that brought me to several beautiful, historical and interesting places, of which the highlight was without any doubts the Mont Saint Michel. Magical, mysterious, almost mystical, the Mont Saint Michel is one of those places one must go to at least once. After a short stay in Brussels, the tour continued with Bulgaria (Sofia and Plovdiv), Istanbul and, then, some days off in Portugal, celebrating Easter at home with my son, parents, brothers and sister. In Bulgaria I attended my last meeting of the CBMA, and thus said goodbye to one more YFJ team. Bulgaria was one of the last countries joining the European Union, and was also the last EU Member State I visited; I am now ready for further enlargements! And, maybe symbolically, afterwards I went to Turkey and back to Istanbul. This amazing city, historical crossroad of cultures and former capital of diverse empires, was the perfect location for the Second Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations, and I am happy and proud to be able to say that we all have come a long way since that meeting in New York, almost three years ago: the Global Youth Movement for the Alliance of Civilizations is now a reality and will give visibility both to the tremendous work developed by so many young people and youth organizations all around the world, and to the aims and objectives of this initiative that tries to enhance dialogue among different. Wherever my future endeavors will bring me next, I hope be able to stay linked to this process: it has a huge potential of good, and I want to keep being part of it. And, as I said, then I went home. 4 short, yet intense days in Guimarães, with Francisco and all my family. Awesome! Now, on my way back to Brussels, and while reflecting on everything that happened since I left Brussels 10 days ago - the facts, the events and the thoughts that crossed my mind -, there are two ideas that pop up and I want to share. The first one emerged in Istanbul, while looking at the Bosporus off one of the Çiragam Palace windows: so far, I have been looking at the 31st of May as the end of something and the beginning of something else, and that's wrong. It doesn't make sense. My life has always been led by one simple idea: doing the right thing. Not the right thing as in a moment when one needs to take a certain decision; rather the right thing as in doing whatever one can do to help making the world a little bit better. I know it sounds pretentious and I apologize for it, and yet that's exactly what I always tried to do. Of course, I not always succeeded. And, of course, I took a lot of wrong decisions, wasted time and resources, did many things that made the world a little worse. But, in the back of my mind, there was always this idea: making a better world. Therefore, thinking about this in Istanbul, I realized that my life will only make sense if, after the 31st of May, I keep doing exactly the same. And therefore, I will. The second idea is a bit more personal and it has to do with the feelings I experienced being in Guimarães with my closest relatives: sometimes I feel lost, without a reference, and that makes me feel disengaged... like not caring if I am in the apartment I rent in Brussels or in a hotel room in Plovdiv, or if I will be staying in Brussels for some more years or moving to Monterrey in some months... well, I realized over the last few days that I have a home, and I have a family, and that they are my anchor, my constant. Life changes and will keep changing for sure, but Guimarães, my parents, my brothers and sister, my son and my old friends, they are my constant. And now I know that I will never feel lost again, because I have a place and people to go back to. So, all in all, and even though I would prefer to still be at home instead of being already approaching Brussels, I feel happy. And I feel much more confident about the future and what it will bring me. Easter is the time for joy and hope in the future, the time for celebrating the victory of life over death, the time for understanding that our lives depend on what we do with them, the time for realizing that history is something we make. This Easter I felt it again. And I know I owe it to you too. Thank you!

Voice Over

2009-04-10T18:06:00.002+02:00

Religious communities, political communities, ethnic communities, minority communities, a place where we find others who resemble us. In all societies, a need to conform. Innovation is a risk machine, use it cautiously, it isn't included in insurance contracts. You will not be covered for refusing to respect the prevailing way of life. Go out of your way to run yourself aground! What's the point, death lurks in the wings. Without surprises, no bad surprises; stay perched on the branch where your predecessors made their nest. Be careful: any shifting around could lead to a fall. Do as you please, but stay within the norms; you are being watched. Enemies of the unusual are united, but there are no half-measures for the ones who have escaped conventional thinking. Every day, hundreds of people avoid one another. Because of modesty, of cowardice, of incomprehension, of laziness, of fear, of pride. There is no button to push that would slow them down, for what is left behind must be, in theory, found ahead. Waste, the evil wrongs of a consumer society in which infinite choice is permitted and, once attained, bears the misleading designation of freedom. We glance at others as though they were shop windows. Man adores ease. He battles on to prove, wrongly, that he is right, he revels in empty words, loyalty, integrity, trust. Trust vanished a long time ago. People want things to run well, but things have no legs, they exist or they don't. People shut themselves away in ugly, rickety dwellings. At least they hold together, just dont get too close to the edge. Never has the cult of the goddess Security had such a following. If the agreement of tenses is a basic rule of language, agreement among human beings is as rare as a solar eclipse. Don't miss it. Assuming your senses have not be numbed. Most of the time, circumstances dictate everything else. There are no truths, only points of view. It is always the next note that reveals the accuracy of the one before it. You have to listen to a piece all the way to the end in order to appreciate its beauty. It's true that boundaries shift, ways of thinking evolve, but power relations continue to impose their laws. Today, in the West, women who wear the veil are a symbol of the absence of choice. The innocent pupil raises his hand: Sir, is television a form of submission? You've got it all mixed up. Human-rights advocates will howl: you have the choice. In a word, explain the difference between choice and freedom. Subtlety is the enemy of power. Stir up the concepts in a single pot, fodder to be served to the masses to fatten them up and keep them quiet. Choicefreedom - capitalism's hi-tech weapon. The mission of the saviour of the globe is to spread democracy in order to stimulate markets. Money does not guarantee happiness, but it helps. Make a note of that, it will come in handy later on. In the year 3000, statues of the kings of petrol, father and son, will be erected at the entrance to the capital of the world. All advertising posters will read: Organise your capital, Plan ahead. This is the quest for the Holy Grail of our time. Man will never be cured of his mortality.

60 countries

2009-03-24T22:01:00.001+01:00

Back to a heavy traveling agenda, I find myself having more time to read, to sleep and even to blog. After a couple of days in sunny and warm Lisbon, and a short stop-over in Brussels, I went to a cold and windy Vienna for an OSCE event and stayed for the weekend with Bettina. It's funny because over almost four years of being colleagues in the Bureau of the European Youth Forum, there were plenty of times when I and Bettina spent weekends together, a bit all around Europe but never in Vienna, where Bettina lives. Therefore, this weekend in Vienna was long-time due. And, as expected, I had a great time there. Apart from the time spent on updating each other on the gossips (past and present, ours and others'), having drinks and simply relaxing, on Saturday we even went to Bratislava and got a guided tour by Marcela, and met Alex, Christiane and Mourad for a nice and full-of-laughs evening out back in the city. Then, on Sunday, and after another great brunch prepared by Bettina, we wandered around the city centre, searching for the sunny sidewalk while taking a look at the palaces, churches and parks that make Vienna such an impressive place. We ended up at the Museum Quartier, where we met Alex and Christiane again, plus Anja and Ester. Vienna might not be exactly like St Gery, but you can also bump into friends and acquaintances there. And then, time to go back to Brussels, for another short yet welcomed stop-over, in anticipation of another trip. I am now on my way to a freezing and snowy Tallinn, via Riga. Will be attending a workshop on social and cultural shocks, organized by the Swedish Government; don't ask me why the Swedish Government is organizing a workshop in Tallinn, I wouldn't know. But I am glad that they are, as this will allow me to tick Estonia as the 60th country I have been to. So, after Slovakia and now Estonia, the only EU member state left off the list will be Bulgaria; and this I will do next week. In two weeks only I will visit three new countries; not bad. Not bad at all, really. And this makes me once again think of how lucky and privileged I have been, especially these last four years over which I have worked for the European Youth Forum. And of how much I will miss it. 68 days to go... Time flies...

Smells like spring...

2009-03-19T12:07:00.000+01:00

Sitting on the plane to Lisbon again, I don't even remember when was the last time I posted an entry. What I know is that I didn't feel like and/or wasn't able to doing it for quite a while. Changes need adjustment; adjustment needs time; time is a limited resource. And, of course, after such a long silence, there are good news and bad news to share. The 2008 accounts were closed with a positive financial result, the audit was conducted and no problems were found; David, the new Financial Director has finally arrived, took immediately over and I got my life back and a big relief. On the other hand, Jessica, my new Assistant, is getting better and better everyday and contributing to my ease of mind too. Together with Klavdija, Jessica and David brought back the sense of a management team, and I have to say that not only I enjoy it, but I am also convinced that my successor will inherit a great team of collaborators who will make her/his life easier. And that makes me happy and proud. But, the same way that my succession becomes an increasingly close reality, the end of my contract too: already had my last FCC meeting, will soon have my last CBMA meeting and, then, my last Bureau meeting... less than three months to go. The good news in that front is that I was shortlisted for interviews for that job I would really like to get; it is still a long shot, and I am sure that the competition will be fierce, but I am glad to get this chance and will try to make the best out of it. Getting this job would mean to prolong my stay in Brussels, but it would also mean a nice break of a couple of months in-between jobs, and I would really welcome the opportunity to enjoy a bit longer period of holidays this time. And, anyway, Brussels isn't as bad as it sometimes looks... I know that this statement will bring an ironic smile to the faces of many of you; but it's true and I really mean it. The weather is definitely not half as nice as Lisbon's; the city itself isn't half as beautiful as Lisbon; there are far too many things about Brussels that I hate or dread... but, at the end of the day, Brussels is also about the opportunities and especially about the people. And, on these matters, I have to admit that Brussels offers a lot of interesting and challenging opportunities, and that it is the home to many people I would miss very much if I would leave now. This doesn't mean that I have taken a definite decision or that I want to stay in Brussels; it rather means that, under certain conditions, I wouldn't mind staying. And that this job would definitely make me stay. This job and some people. Right now, however, I am going to enjoy another couple of days in Lisbon. You all know how much I enjoy these visits, as they allow to combine professional responsibilities with spending time with good friends and my beloved son. This time, the excitement is even higher as spring seems to be already fully installed in Lisbon, with a forecast of sunny days and maximum temperatures in the high twenties. Lisbon is always a beautiful city, but not many places in the world can beat the beauty of a sunny day in Lisbon, when the city is framed between the blue waters of the river and the blue skies above... hard to express by words, so I will try to take pictures and make it clearer for you. The program for today includes attending the Award ceremony of the North-South Prize at the Portuguese Parliament. This year the Prize will be awarded to Queen Rania of Jordan and former Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio, and therefore I guess that the ceremony (and the security around it) will be quite high-level. The ceremony will then be followed by an always pleasant dinner with a group of great friends who like good food and whiskey with lots of ice. Or ice with lots of whiskey. It depends. Tomorrow, after the meeting of the Executive Council of the North-South Centre, there will be time to spend with Francisco, and I can't wait for it! The truth is that, as I wrote above, there are also some bad news that I could share... but, who cares about bad news on a sunny day in Lisbon? I don't!

Des(s)ert thoughts

2009-02-24T12:03:00.000+01:00

It's been quite a while since my last entry, and even though it was nice to have some of you telling me that you miss reading my thoughts and encouraging me to get back to writing, it is also true that it feels weird... Many things happened over the last twenty days and they have made me think a lot. I have had some interesting conversations with people whose friendship I value a lot, including some about my writings and this blog. They made me think. And I spent so much time thinking about different things that I haven't had time to write. Not that I have time now... 2008 accounts need to be closed today and this still looks like a distant reality... On the other hand, after so much figures, I needed the comfort of words. Words have always comforted me... whatever format they may come, words spoken, read or written always make me feel better. Talking, reading, writing are and always have been some of my favorite activities. The fact that I haven't been writing much lately, it's also because I have dedicated more time to reading (I finally finished the book I was stuck with for more than one month, and have already started a new one), and especially to talking. But, as I said, I have mostly spent time thinking. I have been thinking about a lot of different topics, all of them related to me. Some are trivial, others are more fundamental. This time, if you don't mind, I will keep all of them for myself. It's not that I am ashamed or stopped trusting you; it's just that some of these thoughts are weird and I still need to figure out what they mean and to which outcomes they will lead. Just as an example, one of the weird topics in my current agenda is “my life as a dessert: pleasant opportunity or unbearable threat?”Hard one, isn't it? I guess you understand why I need some time... Anyway, in the meantime, I have kept trying to enjoy my present and planning for my future. Besides the time spent thinking and reading, I have watched quite a lot of movies (this year I even managed to watch the Oscars' winner before the award ceremony!), explored some interesting parts of Belgium (the Folon Foundation in La Hulpe, and the ruins of the Cistercian abbey in Villers-la-Ville) and even went to an Asobi Seksu's concert. And applied for a job. It is one I actually would very much like to get, and therefore feel a bit nervous about it... I appreciate the fingers crossed, thanks! In any case, if successful, this will be along procedure; if not successful, it might be much shorter though: always look at the bright side of life, right? This reminds me that I still have a job (less than 100 days remaining though!) and that I should probably get back to it. Take care, and don't forget to be happy!

Being happy with others

2009-02-04T03:18:00.003+01:00

In the plane to Lisbon, I finally managed to read some pages of the book I started already before the New Year's. I normally finish books very fast, unless, for some reason, I don't like them much. This time, however, the reason is different. I am enjoying the book a lot, but simply don't have time to read it. The truth is that I can't blame work only for this lack of time. Yes, indeed, I have been putting in quite a lot of working hours lately and, of course, it makes me tired in the evening and wanting to turn the lights off and sleep immediately, instead of reading some pages as I used to do before; but, on the other hand, it is also true that I have been experiencing a quite busy social life and, even though it takes time, I am very happy about it. Last week, for instance, I only had one free evening: on Tuesday i was at the neighbors, saying Mark farewell; on Wednesday I had Letizia at home for our Lost-watching evening; on Thursday I went to the Vaisbrodai residence for home-made pizza and poker; on Friday Maria arrived for the weekend and we had dinner at home with a bunch of good friends; and on Saturday it was time for dining out in the centre with Ante and Pedro, one mint daiquiri with Alix, another farewell party at Rafa's, and an all-night excursion to Canoa Quebrada. So, yes, I think I can blame my social life for the fact that I seem to be stuck with the exploding mangoes... but, of course, the book can wait. I love reading, but not even a very good book can beat the company of good friends. An intensive social life can be somehow tiring, but at least allows for good nights of sleep, and that's the best basis for a healthy condition. Fitter, happier, more productive... you know the drill. So, now I am in Lisbon. In a few hours I will have a meeting on a subject that passionates me: the relations between Africa and Europe. It feels kind of weird because, as the end of my term approaches, I can't help thinking that these are my last meetings as Secretary General of the YFJ, and these thoughts come along with some anticipated nostalgia... Someone I love told me yesterday that the readers of this blog must think that I should get a life, as it seems that I constantly write about my work; the thing is that my work is my life. Not in the common sense of having a job that doesn't make room for anything else; but in the more positive approach of being privileged enough to have a job that allows me to live my life the way I always dreamed it. I hope you don't actually think that I should get a life, because I love the one I have and the fact that you are part of it. Well, anyway, the meeting is in a few hours only; tonight I still had time for having dinner and spending time with good friends I always miss a lot. And, tomorrow, after the meeting, I will do the same with Francisco. I had a big smile on my face when I wrote this, and my fellow passengers must have wondered why... I guess it's because I am happy! Gonna sleep now; Lisbon is a beautiful place.

Change, again

2009-01-26T20:20:00.002+01:00

There are moments when, even without noticing, we take decisions that change our lives and the ones of others around us. Most of the times, at least in what concerns me, these moments come without previous warning and its consequences don't become immediately visible. Later, when I fully realise these moments, it's already too late to do something about them. Very often, when this happen, I wish I have taken a different decision or not taken a decision at all. But, there are also some occasions, rarer, when a certain decision, even though taken impulsively, changes my life in a way that makes me feel good and fulfilled; and when that happens, I can only be grateful and happy for having taken such decision. As I have been writing over the last few months, I am undergoing a period of change. A long and slow period of change, that started when Pedro announced that he would be leaving the YFJ in the beggining of October, and will be concluded when I will leave it myself, at the end of May. Identifying a period of change taking place over eight months isn't easy; but for me it is all very obvious, as I observe all the pieces slowly moving and taking their new positions in this dynamic picture. i can't see how the new picture looks yet, at least not the whole of it; but, in the same way I observed Pedro, Luiza, Bettina and now Mark moving on and getting ready to assume new positions, in the same way I observed Klavdija, Tine and others moving in the opposite direction, in the same way I have been observing people moving farther away and others getting closer to me, I see myself making choices, taking decisions and changing my own position in the picture. And I must admit that, so far, I like what I see: of course, I am not in control of everything, and change always includes some risks; but I am enjoying it, and I am looking forward to embracing the further changes to come! What about you? Can you sleep?

sLOVEnia

2009-01-19T06:16:00.003+01:00

I am sitting at the Ljubljana airport, waiting to board the flight that will bring me back to Brussels, after four exciting and pleasant days in the country that contains love. The reason why I came to Slovenia was the first 2009 YFJ Bureau meeting, which included a very active team-building session. We stayed in a cosy Scouts' house bordering the Bohinj lake with an astonishing view over the white and breathtaking landscape and, in-between huge loads of great food, we invested in getting to know each others' better. For this, we used inside simulation games, and open-air, high-intensity activities like sledging and hiking. The sledging part, done in the dark and using inflatable boats, was mostly fun; the hiking was a more serious and demanding exercise. For me, in particular, it was a test to my bad physical condition, my lack of familiarity with the climate conditions and the equipment, and my vertigo problem... but, with a little help from my friends, I managed. And was therefore able to enjoy completely new emotions, spectacular views and astonishing environments. And now, I can't wait for repeating the experience, over and over again! The rest of the meeting was also very nice and effective, and I am confident that Tine, Christoffer and the rest of the Bureau will do a good job over the next two years. Their openess and eagerness to learn, and the solidarity among the team, will show them the right way. But, at the sime time that some are starting their journey, others are ending theirs: this was Mark's last Bureau meeting, and it is difficult to express with words how much I am going to miss him... My stay in Slovenia concluded with a very nice evening in Ljubljana and with a promise: I will come back!

Snow, flat mates and vodka...

2009-01-12T18:12:00.003+01:00

Getting back to work after nice holidays isn't normally very easy. But the truth is that I came back so full of energy and motivation, that it actually felt nice to be back at work. And then, as my colleagues were slowly ending their holidays and resuming their work, it felt even better. And the snow that covered Brussels in white also helped. Anyway, the big news of the week is that now I have a flat mate. It will be for two months only, but it's still a big change. I got so used to live alone and have the flat all for myself, that it will be a challenge; on the other hand, it is nice to have someone around. And Adrian is a nice flat mate. On Saturday we gave a party to introduce him to my Brussels' friends. It was nice; except for the fact that I drank far too much and far too fast, and therefore spent the whole Sunday aching and trying to cope with a well-deserved and quite painful hangover. Some claim that I will never learn; I am still trying to convince myself that I will only grow wiser... In the meantime a new week has started, and my travels will start too. On Thursday morning I will fly to Ljubljana and will stay for some days in Slovenia. I am really looking forward to it!

2009

2009-01-04T23:36:00.004+01:00

After a short stay in Lisbon, spent with good friends who I always miss a lot, I headed northeast and spent the New Year's eve and day in Frankfurt am Main. Yeah, exactly, that Frankfurt after which the airport is named; that same Frankfurt I was never totally sure it actually existed. Well, it does. But I didn't quite figured out why... In spite of the location, I ended up having a great time there; surely not the traditional new year's celebration, but the strange restaurant, the weird circumstances, the special people, those awful Italian songs and the many drinks, ended up being a good combination that, all in all, made it for a great night. And the good company, of course; being in good company is always a decisive factor. The first day of the year was, obviously, a slow one and, the day after, we decided to go on a tour of the region: Hanau, Bad Homburg and Limburg on Friday, and Koenigswinter and Bad Honnef on Saturday. Using the charming yet freezing Dreifelden as a basecamp, exploring the region between the Main and the Rhein rivers was a memorable and trully unforgettable experience. Today, on my ride back to Brussels, I enjoyed the scenic Moesel valley and its vineyards and couldn't help thinking that I have seriously underestimated the beauty and attractiveness of this region so close to Brussels. And, on the other hand, that my touristic trips to Germany have always been fully satisfying experiences: the country is full of interesting places, the roads are great, the hotels and restaurants inexpensive, and the service is great. Should definitely go there more often! But now I am back in Brussels, a new year has started and I tomorrow will be my first working day in 2009. Less than five months to go, and to figure out what the future will be made of. In the meantine, allow me to wish you all a very happy New Year; may 2009 bring love, laughter, joy and prosperity to all of us and the rest of the world.

The monk and the knight

2008-12-29T12:41:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I traveled to Sobrado dos Monxes, a small village in Galicia (Spain), to pay a visit to a very good and old friend who has decided to join a monastery and eventually become a monk. He has been a priest for already more than ten years, which means that this step is one more taken on his search for a deeper and more meaningful spirituality or, otherwise put, on his personal search for God and for the others. I found him happy and fulfilled, and that made me happy too. For me, on the other hand, it is time to depart again: first, in a couple of hours, to Lisbon and, then, back to the cold and grey Central Europe. Having the feeling of being constantly departing, I can't help envying the people who manage to stay. Even if within the walls of a monastery.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T13:28:00.002+01:00

May the beauty of the season brighten up our lives and decorate our days with love, smiles and happiness!

Home for Christmas!

2008-12-23T11:49:00.002+01:00

The last working week of 2008 went fast. It started with one day in the office, working with the new Bureau colleagues, continued with two pleasant days spent with the Secretariat colleagues at the annual staff retreat, and finished with two more days in Vienna, attending a conference on Euro-Arab relations. Then I finally left Brussels and headed South, to Portugal. And now, here I am, in Guimarães, enjoying the sun and the warm weather, the nice Portuguese home-made food, and the company of my son and the rest of my family. And it feels great! Merry Christmas everyone!

You must be the change you wish to see in the world

2008-12-14T22:55:00.003+01:00

Bettina has quoted these words of Gandhi several times in her speeches. I enjoyed listening to her speeches, and in many occasions she made me feel proud of being her colleague and her friend.

But Gandhi also said that "genuine laughter is true eloquence and more effective than speech". This is why I prefer to remember Bettina for the many genuine laughters we had together, rather than for the brilliant speeches she made.

"No matter how insignificant the thing you have to do, do it as well as you can, give it as much of your care and attention as you would give to the thing you regard as most important. For it will be by those small things that you shall be judged". Bettina achieved great things as President of the European Youth Forum; but the greater lessons I learned from her are related to insignificant things, like love and friendship. And, for those, I will always be grateful.

Now that your life is going to change, Bettina, and that you will be making less speeches, please keep sharing the laughter and giving this insignificant friend the care and attention that only important things deserve.

Luiza, or a certain sense of emptiness

2008-12-07T22:15:00.002+01:00

I was right to fear my return to work... Despite the fact that I only worked three days, I can assure you that I did more than the 35 hours I am supposed to work per week. And I can also assure you that I could have worked even more, should time and physical resistance allow... Of course, the fact that I was on holidays for the last two weeks, made items acumulate on my to-do list; naturally, the time of the year brings along the need to conclude some issues and initiate others, increasing the workload; but the main problem I face right now is related to an under-staffed team, especially in the finances' department: Pedro's replacement won't start before March, and Agata will soon leave on maternity leave. I had already missed Pedro's valuable contribution in the run-up to and during the General Assembly; but now, back to the normal daily routine, his absence is even more obvious and that frightens me. And, as if this was not enough, Friday was Luiza's last day at work... Klavdija will replace her as Head of Department, and I know that, work-wise, her absence won't be felt at all. But I will miss Luiza a lot, in a way that words can't possibly describe. Going back to the office knowing that neither Pedro nor Luiza work there anymore, doesn't seem right... And now that the trinity has been dismissed and the wonder trio won't be more than an old chapter in the YFJ history book, I can't help feeling abandoned and, therefore, alone... There is still a lot of great people working in the YFJ, and most of my colleagues are worth the respect and the admiration I have developed for them; but Pedro and Luiza were the two main pillars that sustained my leadership over these last three and a half years, and with their departures I will lack references. I wholeheartdly wish them the best, and I hope that we will manage to remain close friends, for I don't want to live without them. And, until my own turn to leave comes, in five months, I will work even harder, for I want to honour their legacy and make them proud of the YFJ they helped shaping. So long!

Que padre!

2008-12-03T07:07:00.002+01:00

Yeah, I am back in Brussels, still trying to adjust to CET, but my second week of holidays, spent in Monterrey, was really great. Sure, Monterrey isn't the typical Mexican holiday destination. It isn't massive as Mexico City; it hasn't beaches as Zipolite or Cancun, nor ruins as Teotihuacan, Palenque or Monte Alban; in Monterrey you can't immerse in the Mayan world as in Yucatan, nor snorkel like at Isla Mujeres or Cozumel. And yet, Monterrey is my favourite Mexican destination. I could say that it is because of its mix of modern and traditional, of the clichéd and the surreal, of the ancient and the brand-new. But it is simpler than that: I like Monterrey because I have great friends there. Great friends who treat me better than I deserve; and great friends who do great things in their personal lives. And, of course, because of the Mexican cuisine: from the more well-known tortillas, with beans and chillies, to the less obvious fish and seafood tacos, and the recently discovered tamales and nopales, tasted together with beer and tequila. And the best grilled rib-eye steaks ever! Monterrey's cuisine is a fusion of native and Spanish cuisines, with a scent of Texas' grandeur (visible in the size of the steaks, mainly); which means that I could easily get used to it, and become "grand" myself. I have left, but "a Monterrey lo llevo en el corazon"! And I will be back. On Saturday evening I took the bus back to Houston, and experienced once again the border-crossing in Laredo, this time taking the difficult direction. It was easier than I expected and I am still wondering how is it possible that I crossed from the US to Mexico and back and my passport doesn't hold any evidence of that... so much for border controls! The real adventure was still to come... my flight from Houston to Philadelphia was delayed for almost five hours, and I of course missed my connection to Brussels, had to stay overnight in Philly and travel the following day, via Frankfurt, to Brussels. I finally arrived here yesterday morning, 24 hours later than planned. Typical... So, now it is time to go back to work. A bit afraid of what I am going to find waiting for me, but also with the batteries recharged and new memories that I will keep close to my heart. Que les vaya bien!

Don't mess with Texas!

2008-11-23T22:37:00.002+01:00

Sitting up on the observation deck of the 750-feet-high Tower of the Americas, enjoying a breathtaking view over San Antonio and its surroundings, seemed to be the good timing to post an entry about this week spent in Texas. And if I have to put it in one word, that would be "awesome'! From the bright lights of Houston, to the live-music venues in Austin, and the mariachi beat in San Antonio, Texas is as diverse and interesting as huge! The Lone Star State, proud of its history of bravery and independent spirit, of which the Alamo is the most obvious symbol, is no longer the wild west, but is still attractive and worth discovering. Friendly folks everywhere one goes, long history, rich culture, nice climate, great cuisine... Awesome destination! Austin, the capital, where quality of life reigns supreme, is a mystic mix of social consciousness and capitalist development, with an attractive university campus (home of the Longhorns) and an amazing live-music scene: indie rock, jazz-funk, alternative country, punk ska, acoustic rhythms, latin sambas, tejano trumpets, world beat... you name it! San Antonio is most famous for the Alamo, visited by more than 3 million tourists per year; crowds come for the history (and the myth), but end up partying along the tree-shaded Riverwalk. The lively Tex-Mex culture, however, is well worth the commercial crap developed around the Alamo, David Crockett and characters alike. Houston, where my journey started almost one week ago, and will finish in another week from today, is a sprawl of concrete and highways. But it is a multi-cultural hodgepodge too, where it is easy to find great ethnic restaurants or shop in arts-and-antiques neighborhoods. Tomorrow I will cross the Rio Grande and go to Mexico, and back to Monterrey and good friends. It will be a very different week, but equally pleasant for sure. The snow in Brussels can wait :)

European Youth Capital

2008-11-17T01:10:00.003+01:00

Rotterdam was, at least for the last days, the true European Youth Capital, as the European Youth Forum's General Assembly took place in this famous Dutch city. 230 youth leaders, from all over the continent and representing young people from different cultural, economic and social backgrounds and diverse idelogical, political and religious beliefs, gathered to evaluate the work done in the last two years, plan the work for the next two, accept new members and elect new leaders. Tine Radinja was elected and will therefore become the first ever President of the European Youth Forum coming from South East Europe. I consider this to be a symbolical yet significant event, and besides being happy for the good friend, I am also glad for what it represents in terms of what the European Youth Forum stands for: an open and inclusive platform for the participation of young people in the shaping of Europe. Others will join Tine and make a new team which will take office on January 1st, 2009. Some were not elected, but deserve the same kindness and the same respect due to the winners. Lloyd, Tim and Zara, in spite of the choices made by the delegates, I am sure that we all appreciate your dedication and efforts, and I hope you can keep contributing in a different way. Especially for Lloyd, who due to his young age has still a long and prosperous future ahead of him, the example of Xenia might be useful to consider... In any case, the fact is that from the beginning of next year, I will have a new set of Bureau colleagues, and the time for me to move on will approach fast. Change is all around us, and we better be prepared for it. For now I will go back to holidays. Tomorrow I will fly first to Philadelphia and then to Houston. And will enjoy two weeks in Texas and Mexico. But, to be honest, I will miss my colleagues. This group of wonderful people who make my professional life substantially easier delivered once again a magnificent performance; and even though I would like to show them the true dimension of my appreciation, I am afraid that I will never fully succeed.

Obama

2008-11-17T00:53:00.003+01:00

Barack Obama won the US Presidential elections, and became the first Afro-American to acceed to the highest position of the country. Ever since, the famous "yes we can" became the most overquoted phrase in the history of modern politics. Some people, including some friends, think that the audacity of hope isn't more than that - hope; and that change is still to be achieved. It seems that Obama himself is somehow trying to lower the expectations by explaining that his victory is important, but no more than an opportunity to change that still needs to be seized. Well, I disagree. I think that Obama's victory is already in itself a very good expression of change. Not so much because of the colour of his skin, or the origins of his name, but rather because it was a victory made possible only by the belief that so many citizens, especially the younger ones, expressed through the most democratic way that exists: by exercising their right to vote. This belief, the belief that by voting one can change their life, is the real change brought by Obama. And I hope it will stay for long, and will spread throughout the world.

Time for change has come!

2008-11-05T05:04:00.005+01:00

Change can happen!
Thanks for making so many of us believe!

Auf Wiedersehen!

2008-11-02T23:17:00.002+01:00

I spent the better part of this week in Berlin. Karl Scheffler once said that "Berlin is a city damned to be forever changing, but never become". I went there for the first time in the summer of 1992, and I still remember that August morning's arrival to Ostbahnhof on a train from Prague, and the impressions caused by the remaining sections of the Wall and the once-designated "no man's land". I had witnessed, in front of the TV and with teenage excitement, the fall of the Wall less than three years earlier; being actually there, was like a dream that comes true. I have been in Berlin several times since that first visit. I have friends from Berlin, and friends who live in Berlin; friends who have told me the stories of the once divided city, and friends who made me discover the hopes of the newly re-established capital. I don't know if it will ever become; but I can confirm that it has been changing. And changing for good. Berlin's centre has been reinivigorated by the people, the companies, the galleries, the diplomats, the tourists and everyone else who moved there when Berlin once again became the capital of Germany in 1999. But Berlin wouldn't be as nice as it is if it wasn't for all the people who remained and kept coming back: the local artists and the international nomads... or, simply put, the Berliners. Them, who make the city "poor, but sexy", in the words of its Mayor. Berlin lies at the crossroads of European modern history: from Bismarck's German Reich, to Nazism and the already mentioned rise and fall of the Wall, in no other city Europe has been shaped to the same extent as in Berlin. And yet, Berlin is not about the past, but rather about the present, and about the future. I am sure that Berlin is going to keep changing, and I hope I can keep enjoying going there while it does. Because, as I have been saying, change is good; Berlin is there to prove it!

Interlude

2008-10-26T16:19:00.002+01:00

This was supposed to have been a calm week... And yet, it wasn't. I spent hours doing interviews, for three different positions in the YFJ Secretariat. And the saga isn't over yet... Plus, one of these sessions took place in Prague, which implied short, but very early flights on both Tuesday and Wednesday. And, to finish the week, Friday was spent at a very successful, but also very long event that prevented me from being at my desk, getting some office work done. Which means that, in order to still do what I was supposed to do this week, I had to cut on the sleeping hours and extend the working schedule. Result: I got sick... and therefore could not properly enjoy the free weekend... So, what's new? Nothing really... Except maybe the fact that winter has started and one of my apartment's heaters is broken. Or that in a couple of hours I will be flying to Berlin, where I plan to enjoy the next three days off. Life isn't that bad, is it?

Det var hyggeligt!

2008-10-19T20:15:00.001+02:00

After almost eight weeks of continued work, I took some days off and headed to Copenhagen. Good looks, brains, perfect proportions, a sunny disposition and a sense of humour are always a winning combination – and Copenhagen has it all! Plus, Copenhagen treats residents and visitors to a lifestyle that's hard to match: manageable scale, clean environment and abundant green space, efficient public transport, good food culture and beautiful urban design. And, of course, a well-spread commitment to cycling, which makes urban navigation swift and seamless, and allows everyone to fully enjoy the city. Copenhageners can be proud of their city, but they won't make a fuss about it; Danes in general are most likely to shut out the turmoil and troubles of the outside world and strive, instead, for a warm, intimate mood. That's what they refer to as «hygge» which, roughly translated, means cosy and snug. Hygge affects how Danes approach many aspects of their personal lives, from the design of their homes to their fondness for small cafés and restaurants. With its progressive policies, its widespread tolerance (gay marriage was legalised in 1989, just to give an example) and a liberal social-welfare system that works, Denmark might no longer be the big and powerful country it used to, but Copenhagen is, probably, the most liveable city in the world. In between the smørrebrød and the frikadeller, around a couple of beers and the nice (foreign) red wine, over the long walks under the sun, the visits to the surprising museums and the cosy evenings at home, this week spent in Copenhagen was not only very pleasant, but also very re-assuring. Change takes time and demands some efforts; but it is always easier to accommodate when in good company. Tak!

Council of Europe, Ukraine and vodka...

2008-10-13T00:58:00.002+02:00

This last week went fast... either because it was spent in Ukraine in a busy environment with lots of people around; or maybe because I wanted it so much to be over. On the other hand, when I look at the amount of things that happened this last week, it's hard to believe that only one week went by. Maybe it's just that vodka affects the perception of time... or maybe I should simply stop drinking vodka. The week has been so weird that even today, which was probably the last sunny Sunday until April 2009 and my first free day for a quite long time, was spent at the office... and one hour ago I was so tired that it seemed that I could sleep forever, and now seems that I can't sleep anymore... and I didn't even had vodka tonigth! Guess that I should stop writing and close the computer... maybe it will help. If not, Inspector Chen will. And tomorrow morning, a much nicer week will start! I am really looking forward for it!

Paris, Pedro et al.

2008-10-05T17:45:00.004+02:00

This week I was in France. First, in Strasbourg, dealing with Council of Europe issues and, then, in Paris, with Alliance of Civilizations'. I fundamentally like France. This is possibly the result of having close relatives living in France for a long time, who conveyed a positive message about the country, especially during my childhood. Or maybe the fact that I studied for many years at the Alliance Française, learned the language when I was still a kid, and traveled very often to the hexagon. Or even because of this romantic vision of France being the country of the "liberté, égalité, fraternité" motto, and of that other revolution that revealed "sous les pavés, la plage" and decreted that "il est interdit d'interdire". I am not totally sure why, but I know I like it. And, therefore, I like going to and being in France. In Strasbourg, I was surrounded by many good friends, some of whom I had not seen for a while. In Paris, I was alone. I like being in Strasbourg with friends. But I also like being in Paris, even if alone. Although I have many friends in Paris, I didn't have time to meet them, and yet I enjoyed being there. Paris alone is enough. Maybe because Paris alone is already a lot. Or maybe because Paris is my longest-lasting love. It would be difficult to explain in a few lines why I love Paris so much... I mean, I do love the more romantic Paris of Robert Doisneau's pictures; I do love its classic architecture and the celebrated café culture; but what I like the most about Paris is the fact that, under the leadership of Bertrand Delanoë, it has picked itself up and reclaimed again its place as a global city. Today, Paris feels less uptight! Just to give on example, seeing Parisians of all varieties whizzing around on the city's 20,000 Vélib' bikes (the world's biggest bike hire scheme), you sense a more playful, inventive city in the making. And that is great! For many years I regarded Paris as the perfect tourist destination; today I can imagine living there and even enjoying it. I will for sure consider it as a possible destination for when I finally decide or have to leave Brussels behind... The changes I have been referring to, slowly but steadly, are taking place. Today was Pedro's last day at the Youth Forum, and with his departure a small piece of me will also be leaving the organisation. He is one of my best and oldest friends, and I am going to miss him. And, more than I, the Youth Forum will miss him. Because there are no two Pedros, and he will be difficult to replace and forget. Personally, I feel priviliged for I know that even though I will lose the colleague, I will keep the friend. And friends like Pedro are not replaceable by any colleague. From tomorrow on, his desk will be empty, but the Youth Forum's life will still be busy. As the General Assembly approaches and future scenarios become clearer, changes will keep happening and I will keep enjoying them! The upcoming week will bring me back to Kiev; I hope it will rain less in there...

Fall

2008-09-28T16:15:00.003+02:00

After all the Mollina emotions, nothing better than a couple of days in Lisbon, spent with good and old friends and Francisco. It is easier said than done, but this year I did it. On Monday I traveled first to Madrid and then to Lisbon, where I was greeted by nice temperatures and warmly hosted by Sara and Zé and their twin little boys, in their beautiful apartment in the centre. It was really nice staying with them, because it felt like going back to one of these places that always feel warm and nice even if you don't use them for a long time. Sara and Zé are exactly like that: friends whose presence brings good memories back, and whose love feels as fresh and new as when it was first expressed, many years ago. It was nice staying with them because of the kids too; not only because they are a really nice pair of little boys, but also because as the main purpose of my visit was Francisco's birthday, it made sense to be with friends who have kids themselves. And on Tuesday, after sleeping, getting a haircut, having lunch with another good friend and wandering around Lisbon, I picked Francisco up at the kindergarden, went for a nice walk with him and, then, in the evening, accepted Sara and Zé's kind invitation to gather some other friends and more kids around a nice dinner and a chocolate cake topped by a 5-shaped candle. On Wednesday, the real B-day, Francisco arrived early in the morning and we spent the whole day together, playing and having fun as I imagine normal fathers and sons do. I hope that it was kind of a special day for him; for me it definitely was. Special and full of emotions. One day to remember that other one, five years ago, when, for the first time, I saw, heard and touched Francisco; but, also, one day to celebrate all the other times I saw, heard and enjoyed him. I wish I could express by words how much I love and miss this son of mine... I wish he knew it... and I hope one day he will... And then, suddenly as usual, we had to say goodbye and part... I stayed in Lisbon for a couple of hours more, time enough to visit the new place of another friend, Marcos, and his beautiful family. On Thursday I came back to Brussels and realised how long I had been away, first in Spain, and then in Portugal. Summer had already gone and autumn had arrived and was fully and comfortably installed. The warm temperatures of Lisbon seem very far away now; but, despite the cold, the days have been sunny, and you all know how much I love Brussels when it is sunny! Tomorrow, a new week will start, and I will be back on the road again: Strasbourg and Paris, for a fully French and busy week. A special week though: it will be Pedro's last in the European Youth Forum... Change, as I said, will be a permanent guest in this blog's next weeks' entries... and who doesn't like change?! I do!

Done!

2008-09-21T19:34:00.002+02:00

Wow... it's done! Hard to believe that the week went so fast... and yet so much happened! That's the wonder of Mollina and the University on Youth and Development: it only lasts one week, but the changes it produces are so huge, that even though time seems to fly, when it's over it seems like one year has gone by! 300 young people from more than 90 countries from all around the world, selected by an alliance gathering more than 10 international youth platforms, attended 12 different events, and participated in several and diverse other activities in the CEULAJ. This means hundreds of hours of hard work in the meetings rooms, and almost as many hours of great fun here, there and everywhere, but especially at Paco's. For the ones of you who have never been to Paco's, the only thing I can say is that I can't really explain why we like it so much... I mean, it's exactly one of that kind of bars where I would never feel like coming in after taking a first look at it from the entrance door... and yet, it takes only one visit for the ones who have been there to understand exactly what I mean if I tell you that it is impossible not to feel at home after some minutes only. Paco's is the place. Be it for endless political discussions aimed at saving the world, for meaningless gossipping with no aim at all, for responsible (or not that much) rhum and other alcohol heavy consumption with various and diverse purposes, for loud table-football international tournaments promoting fair-play, or for romantic seduction games involving bilateral and multilateral international co-operation, and the establishment, development and consolidation of many alliances between several civilizations, Paco's is the place. And, at the end of the day, Paco's is a symbol of it all. A good university always has a nice bar, and the UYD has the best in the world. This might have been my last time here, at least in this context. And also because of that, this year's edition will be impossible to forget. As usual, I learned, I had fun, I met old friends, and made new ones. I arrived full of hopes and expectations, and they have all been confirmed and fulfilled. I will therefore leave with high levels of motivation, and with the deep believe in that the world can truly be changed into a better place for everyone. And, equally importantly, that there are many people wiling to assume this task. On an even more personal level, when I arrived here last week, I knew that this year's edition of the UYD would be one small step in the process of change that I am and will be undergoing over the next few months; I was not aware, however, of how much of a giant leap it could actually be.... and I feel fine!

Mollina

2008-09-14T17:49:00.002+02:00

After a couple of days in Brussels, focusing on the follow-up of last weekend's YFJ Bureau meeting, I traveled to Spain and spent three more days discussing Media relations with representatives of several YFJ Member Organisations. Parallel to the meeting, I had the opportunity to meet and spend time with some of the many friends I have in Madrid, and this was really nice. Not only because it is fantastic to have such good and old friends, but also because many of them had good reasons to celebrate and it was particularly nice to be able to share their satisfaction. On the top of everything, Madrid is a place that I always enjoy visiting and I couldn't help thinking that it would definitely be a place where I would like living and working at some point... Now, I am back in Mollina and at the CEULAJ. Tomorrow, this year's University on Youth and Development will start. Sitting in my room, taking a rest before it all starts, listening to the birds singing while participants are slowly arriving and filling with enthusiasm and expectations this place that will be theirs for the next week, I can't help thinking that this is probably the last time I will be around... and I feel a bit nostalgic, for this place has become an important part of my life and I know I will miss it... I guess that the next few months will be full of these moments, as the end of my term approaches and I need to start making decisions about my future. I don't feel sad though; I have been priviliged enough to have the opportunity to enjoy a meaningful life, doing things that I am passionate about, and meeting people I admire and love. There's nothing to be sad about, and plenty of reasons to be rather happy. So, let Mollina be once again invaded, let the University start, and let me enjoy, one more time, this unique and magical moment!

Rentrée

2008-09-07T23:09:00.002+02:00

Last Monday, September 1st, was not only the start of a new month, but also the end of the summer break, and the return back to school and work of many people all around Europe, and also in Belgium. It happened exactly the same to the European Union institutions: there was a special European Summit of Heads of State and Heads of Government to discuss the situation in Georgia (without any concrete results), and the European Parliament held, for the first time ever, a session in Brussels. So, in a way, it was a historical week (and in the other, it wasn't). I also went back to my jogging sessions, which, somehow, can also be seen as a historical event... my body hurt for two days, but now I feel fine and plan to keep running as regularly as possible. The work in the European Youth Forum also went back to cruising speed, and this weekend the Bureau met and started the preparations for the General Assembly in November. This means that several friends were in town, but also that soon the electoral campaign will start, new leaders will be elected, and a cycle will come to its end. The same thing will happen in the USA, where the two political parties held their conventions, confirmed their candidates and launched their campaigns. Here and there, everyone is talking about change; and it makes sense, because we all need change. At least from time to time. So, November will be time for changes, both at the European Youth Forum, and in the USA. And if everything goes well, I will be experiencing both. That roadtrip to the Grand Canyon might be just around the corner! And it was about time! For now, it will be Spain: first Madrid, and then Mollina. Paco's: here we come again!

Georgia forever

2008-08-31T21:25:00.002+02:00

I spent the best part of this week in Georgia. It was a short, yet intense trip. I had never been in a war scenario so shortly after the war took place. And this isn't a pleasant experience... First, I went to Gori, the birthplace of Josefh Stalin. Gori is located 76 km west of Tbilisi and, before the war, had a population of almost 50,000. It is the Georgian city closest to the South Ossetia breakaway region, less than 20km away from Tskhinvali. The city was under aerial attack by the Russian Air Force from the outset of the conflict, and many of its residential districts were hit by cluster bombs. As a consequence of these attacks, the Georgian military and most residents fled the city, which was then captured and occupied by Russian forces and South Ossetian separatist militia; the latter seem to be responsible for the looting, arson, kidnapping and other attacks against the remaining civilian population. The occupation forces withdrew from the city on August 22 and, four days later, when I visited it, the first residents were returning to what was left of their houses. It wasn't nice to see... I will always remember those faces, with eyes red of heavy and long crying... but also that family who insisted in that we stayed for lunch, even though they hardly had food for themselves and we ended up trying the Humanitarian Aid food, "from the people of America"... On the way back to Tbilisi, we stopped at Mtskheta, one of the oldest cities in Georgia, located some 20 km northeast of the capital, at the confluence of the Aragvi and Mt'k'vari rivers. The city, due to its monuments, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994; capital of the Georgian kingdom of Iberia since the 3rd century BC, it was the site of early Christian activity and the location where Christianity was proclaimed the state religion of Georgia in 317. The city still remains the headquarters of the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church, and there I had my first encounter with the deep religious devotion of the Georgian people. Back in Tbilisi we heard the news coming from Moscow: Russia had decided to recognise the independence of the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Between the disbelief and the black humour jokes, the rage and the humiliation felt by so many of the Georgian nationals were obvious... what can one say to cheer-up people who see their powerful neighbour invade, occupy and steal almost one third of their country? I still don't know... The following day, after a very successful and positive meeting with a good bunch of Georgian youth organisations, we went to visit one of the many places where the newly internally displaced persons are living... The place we visited was the old building of the Sports' Academy, a university building that has been abandoned some time ago. There were around 350 people there, mostly children and old persons. The conditions of the building are deplorable, and so were the conditions in which these people were living... without money or healthcare, without almost any food, without hardly any hope... people who have lost everything, who don't have anywhere to go back to, who will probably remain there for many weeks and months; and yet, almost totally abandoned by their own government and the international humanitarian aid... each and every one had a sad story to tell... and for the first time during my trip, I felt happy for not being able to understand Georgian... If it was not for these refugees' centres, Tbilisi would look like a normal city, as the lives of most of its more than one million inhabitants runs smoothly on the banks of the Mt'k'vari river. Founded in the 5th century and made into a capital in the 6th, located strategically at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, and lying along the historical Silk Road routes, Tbilisi is a city which story can be seen by its architecture, where the Haussmannized Rustaveli Avenue and downtown area are blended with the narrower streets of the medieval Narikala district. Despite being overwhelmingly Orthodox Christian, Tbilisi is one of the few places in the world where a synagogue and a mosque are located next to each other, and just some meters from one church. It was nearby that, together with some friends, I had my first introduction to the delicious Georgian cuisine; but until one experiences a full Georgian meal, complete with lengthy toasting ceremonies, one can't truthfully claim to have seen the real Georgia... That privilege was reserved to the last evening, and I will never forget how my hosting family made me feel like one of them. They made me promise to go back, and I intend to keep that promise! For now, I can only say "didi madloba", and reassure all my old and new Georgian friends, that they will never be alone. And me neither... for what I saw there will remain with me forever.

Still the Olympics... and Georgia again

2008-08-24T19:27:00.003+02:00

The 2008 Beijing Olympics are now officially closed, and the countdown to London 2012 can finally begin. The second week's highlights included the confirmation of Usain Bolt and Jamaica as the king and kingdom of human speed, as two other world records were broken; and a gold medal for Portugal! Nelson Evora, another Benfica's athlete, won the men's triple jump competition and made it possible for the Portuguese national anthem to be played at the Olympics, for the first time in the 21st century. With only two medals won, the Beijing Olympics were a bit disappointing for Portuguese people, but confirmed China as the number one world's superpower in sports; an anticipation of what will soon happen in economical and political terms too. I have to confess that I don't regret seeing the USA and Russia relegated to the second and third positions; neither in the medals' ranking, nor in the other terms... Tomorrow I will fly to Tbilisi; I would have preferred my first visit to Georgia to take place under different circumstances, but I am really looking forward to arriving and start bringing the Youth Forum's support to young people and youth organisations in there. I hesitated a lot before deciding to go there; not only because of obvious safety reasons, but especially because I was not sure of the real usefulness of this visit. The feedback I have been receiving from both friends in the youth organisations' field, and especially from people in Georgia reassured me though: they all seem to be happy about the Youth Forum's action, and looking forward for my arrival too. This is enough for me; if they are happy that I am coming, I will be happy to come. It will be a short, yet intense visit, and I promise to share my impressions afterwards. This will also be my first work-related trip after holidays, and it will mark the beggining of an extremely busy period which will only be over in mid-November. These are good news for this blog's readers though, because I am sure I will have a lot to tell you about. So, please do keep coming for more; I will do my best to make it worthy.

The Olympic Games, and Human Rights

2008-08-18T19:00:00.003+02:00

One week goes by very fast. Especially if it is the first week back at work after four weeks of holidays, and one has an inbox with more than 1.000 unread emails, lots of things to catch up with, a little brother visiting, the Olympic Games going on, and one war affecting dear friends. I wouldn't know where to start from, if I was to write about everything I did, observed or simply know that happened. Instead, let me just share with you some of the highlights of these last few days. Going back to work was nice, even though I would have preferred to stay on holidays for a few weeks longer; my little brother visited me, and it was cool having him around; the Olympic Games are taking a good bunch of my time and concentration, and I am impressed by the achievements of Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt and some other super-athletes alike, who challenge natural limits on behalf of the human race; I was expecting more medals to be won by Portuguese athletes, but am proud of Vanessa Fernandes who, apart from being Portuguese, defends the colours of the biggest sports club in the world: Benfica; after three years living in Brussels, I was finally able to admire the tapis de fleurs in the Grand Place, and eat a waffle; and, last but not the least, this week kept reminding me of the absurdity of war and its dramatic consequences, and the need to keep fighting for democracy, human rights and the rule of law, not only in far away places, but also here in Europe. And, also, that this so-called new international order sucks, and that the world, more than ever before, needs strong and respected international institutions capable of setting and imposing rules based on the equal rights of all individuals, peoples and states, and on international friendship and solidarity, aimed at achieving peace and development for all. Imperialism and colonialism should exist on history books only!

The right questions

2008-08-10T21:41:00.003+02:00

Changes are part of life, and I will be telling you about many changes in the weeks and months to come; and, unfortunately, war too. Europe, this beautiful continent where we live and use to consider the role-model for other regions in the world, is again at war... for many people, Georgia is just a name and another spot in the map; for me it means real people, many real and beautiful people that I appreciate and respect a lot. And, because of that, I can't simply produce a cold and very clever geo-strategic analysis of the sources of the conflict... I can only think of my friends whose cities are now being bombed and, because of them, and only because of them, I want it to stop, and I want it to stop now! As a magnet on my fridge states, "if war is the answer, then we are asking the wrong question". In Georgia, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Darfur, in Palestine, and in many other places all around the world, the time has come for us to ask the right questions! Let's dare asking them!

Holidays - The End

2008-08-10T21:24:00.002+02:00

28 days, 7.000km, 9 countries and many dives in several beaches later, my summer holidays are officialy over, and tomorrow I will be back to the office and to my normal professional life in Brussels. Contrary to what I thought, I don't feel sad. I actually feel very happy, because I had great holidays: one amazing week in the Algarve with Francisco; another relaxing week in Guimarães with my parents, my little brother and sister; and yet a third week, again by the sea, this time in Croatia, with good friends. The fourth week has been spent on the road, going from one place to the following, and apart from some episodes not worth writing about, these were also nice days. As a consequence of all this fun, I feel my batteries recharged, and I actually like to see that my skin can still absorb the sunrays and turn a bit darker! The nice memories of these past few weeks will help me facing the busy and difficult times ahead, and will remind me that there is more in life than just work!

Holidays II

2008-07-28T10:35:00.002+02:00

Voilà! Two weeks go fast, and it's time to leave Portugal and say goodbye to Francisco... Soon I will hit the road again: Lisbon first, then Carpentras, and finally Croatia, for some more days by the seaside with great friends around! Life is beautiful!

Holidays

2008-07-24T23:48:00.002+02:00

After a long journey linking Brussels and Lisbon, with intermediate stops in Paris and Burgos, I kept heading South and went to the Algarve, where I spent a wonderful week at the seaside with Francisco. Since Tuesday evening I have been relaxing at my parents', in Guimarães, and it has been equally awesome. So, don't expect much from this blog in the next few days. And feel happy for me :)

Herkus

2008-07-12T21:24:00.002+02:00

Today, at very early hours, this world has welcomed Neringa and Renaldas' son. 3.2kg and 50cm of happiness! The Vaisbrodas' family is happy, and I am happy for them! Long live the prince, and may he always be happy!

Success before holidays!

2008-07-12T13:02:00.001+02:00

What a week! On Sunday, as planned, the afternoon was spent in Tervuren, celebrating Renaldas' birthday with nice friends, some food and drinks, and lots of sports! Tervuren's park is a really nice place, and it is a pity that the weather in this region of the world doesn't really allow to enjoy the grass by the ponds more often... On that same day I went to watch « In Bruges » at the movies, and liked it a lot. It was a good reconciliation with cinema, after the very disappointing experience with « The Happening »... Contrary to the latest Night Shyamalan's movie, « In Bruges » is a pleasant surprise, with great actors who deliver a great performance, on the basis of a simple, yet beautiful, clever, funny and sensitive story. The following day, as I have announced already on Saturday, I went back to Strasbourg to hunt signatures for the written declaration on devoting more attention to youth empowerment in EU policies. This time I went with a bigger team of very skilled hunters and the outcome was a huge success: not only we manage to get the 117 signatures that we were still lacking, but we did it even ahead of schedule! It was an unique moment of joy, and a quite rare one too. Achieving a goal is always pleasant, but it is even more so when you do it as a team and therefore can share and multiply the pleasure by and among the team members. Alix, especially, did a great job and deserves indeed all our respect and admiration! And so does Dagmar, not only for the signatures, but also for all the logistical preparations for the expeditions. And Ernest, Mark and Marketa who completed the team and contributed not only with signatures, but also with their good mood, which was an important source of inspiration! But this is not a 6-people success; this is the success of many young people and many youth organisations working together, and shows that when we believe, we plan and work hard and together, we can! Yes we can! Personally, this was the perfect way to conclude my last week at work before going on holidays. I am sure that I would leave for holidays in a slightly worse mood, if we wouldn't have done it; but we did it and, therefore, tomorrow I will leave Brussels behind and will head South, to this place that I still call home, where the sun shines, the temperatures are high, and the beach invites to relax and enjoy. And that's exactly what I plan to do for the next two weeks. With Francisco!

The World according to China

2008-07-06T13:36:00.003+02:00

There has been much discussion recently about how to 'manage the rise of China'. It gives us a sense of control and mastery, and of paternalistic superiority. With proper piloting and steady nerves on our part, the massive Chinese ship can be brought safely into harbor and put at anchor... But isn't it possible that China does not want to be integrated into a political and security system that it had no part in shaping? Might not China, like all rising powers of the past, including the United States, want to reshape the international system to suit its own purposes, commensurate with its new power?

Transitions

2008-07-06T12:42:00.002+02:00

Thursday started with a meeting with European Commission's Vice President Wallström and a pleasant exchange of views on how to increase the voters' turnout at the upcoming European elections, especially among young people, and the participation of young women in European politics; it continued with another meeting with representatives from EU countries' National Youth Councils, to discuss our vision on the future of youth policy in the EU and the next steps of structured dialogue between young people and the EU institutions; and finished with the annual Open Doors' reception at the YFJ offices, which was attended by many, many guests from YFJ Member Organisations, European institutions and other civil society partners, and therefore was a huge success. Friday was much less interesting, as it was spent at a weird meeting with the European Commission's Youth Unit in which, and despite of the fact that its main topic was "structured dialogue", dialogue was impossible due to the shortsighted vision and hard of hearing condition that affect many of these civil servants who seem to be convinced that both "citizens" and Member States' representatives are no less than totally unable to think for themselves and should therefore be grateful to be told what to think and do. It's difficult to remain a convinced European when you go through these experiences too often... anyway, as it happens to nightmares, the meeting eventually came to its end and I could then enjoy a nice evening out, celebrating Inês' birthday first and dancing through the night at Canoa Quebrada afterwards. The consequence was that yesterday was a slow, yet very nice day spent at home, and mostly in the sofa... Today, I will soon go out and enjoy the company of good friends and, hopefully, a bit of sunny weather too. Tomorrow will be time to go back to signatures' hunting in Strasbourg and, then, in one week, I will be finally gone for holidays! I am really looking forward for it!

What Does China Think?

2008-07-03T23:10:00.002+02:00

«The Rise of China is granted by nature. In the last 2,000 years China has enjoyed superpower status several times... Even as recently as 1820, just 20 years before the Opium War, China accounted for 30% of world GDP. This history of superpower status makes the Chinese people very proud of their country on the one hand, and on the other hand very sad about China's current international status. They believe China's decline to be a historical mistake which they should correct». Yan Xuentong, 'The Rise of China in Chinese Eyes'

Very few things that happen in our lifetime will be remembered after we are dead. But China's rise is different: like the rise and fall of Rome or the Soviet Empire, its after-effects will echo down the generations to come. So why is it that we know almost nothing about the thinkers in China who are shaping their country's future? What kind of country are they dreaming of? How do they see their influence in the world? We might know that half of the world's clothes and footwear have a 'Made in China' label and that our economies are inextricably linked with China's – but what do we know about China's experiments with democracy; about its anti-globalisation movement; about its plans to deal with America as its own influence grows across the globe?

If you find this exciting, as I and Renaldas do, then you should definitely read 'What Does China Think?', in which Mark Leonard provides a fascinating and unexpected perspective on the debates raging within China society today and shows us just how radically China's rise will change the nature of our world.

Culinary democracy

2008-07-02T22:43:00.002+02:00

Western democracy is like going to a restaurant and choosing whether you want a French, Italian or German chef who will decide on your behalf what is on the menu. With Chinese democracy we always have the same chef - the Communist Party - but we will increasingly get to choose which dishes he cooks.

Weekend in Cyprus

2008-07-01T22:50:00.003+02:00

After three more days of work in Brussels, interrupted by the semi-finals of the UEFA Euro 2008, on Friday I went to Cyprus. As it happened last year with Luiza and Razvan, Marios and Xenia chose the end of June to get married, were kind enough to invite me for their wedding, and I was privileged to be able to share this important moment of their lives. As it also happened last year in Romania, I used the opportunity to see friends and enjoy the local touristic attractions; in Cyprus, it basically means sea, sun and great food! And so the three days went fast, in between the beach in Larnaca, the wedding in Nicosia, and yet more beach in Limassol. The wedding itself was great: beautiful orthodox ceremony in the church, great party at the Hilton, and lots of happiness irradiating from both the beautiful bride and the elegant groom; and for the rest of the time, a lot of very nice moments spent with Nadia, Natasha, Christoforos, Maria and many others. This was my fourth visit to Cyprus, and it confirmed how much at home I feel in there: the sea and the sun help, of course; but it is the people, the good friends I have there, that really makes it special. Ευχαριστώ!

The only real problem with Cyprus is that it is quite far away: the flights are expensive and take quite a long time. Because of the distance and the schedules of the flights, I had to travel the whole night, arrived in Brussels at 8.30m and went directly to work... I managed to survive without making any big mistakes (or so I think), but I feel terribly tired. The weather in Brussels was really great today (one of the most beautiful days I have experienced since I moved here more than three years ago) and I was thinking of going out for a coffee or so and enjoy the nice evening out... but I fell asleep in the sofa instead, and now it is a bit too late for going out. I am sure that as soon as the lousy weather returns, the gray clouds conquer the sky and the rain beats the sun, I will regret it truly... and I am afraid that it will be sooner than any of us would like it to. Anyway, holidays are now approaching fast. And there, then, I am sure the sun will shine!

Itaca

2008-06-24T23:38:00.002+02:00

Més lluny, heu d'anar més lluny
dels arbres caiguts que ara us empresonen,
i quan els haureu guanyat
tingueu ben present no aturaar-vos.
Més lluny, sempre aneu més lluny,
més lluny de l'avui que ara us emcadena.
I quan sereu deslliurats
torneu a començar els nous passos.
Més lluny, sempre molt més lluny,
més lluny del demà que ara ja s'acosta.
I quan creieu que arribeu, sapigueu trobar noves sendes.

Some things should be taught at school

2008-06-23T23:09:00.003+02:00

"Todos los hombres sois considerablemente estúpidos. Hasta los más listos lo sois. Y no soporto eso. Detesto que se acuesten conmigo pensando en quién se acostó antes, o quién se acostará después."

Football, friends and caipirinhas!

2008-06-23T00:17:00.003+02:00

Portugal lost against Germany and is out of the UEFA Euro 2008. Croatia, the Netherlands and Italy too. Now, everything will be decided between Germany, Turkey, Russia and Spain. When it all started, two weeks ago, who would have said that these would be the four semi-finalists? I wouldn't. Actually, even just one week ago, my own guess included one out of these four teams only: Spain. Many people, including many of my friends, will say that this is somehow a denial of the beautiful game, as the teams that are generally considered to play better football don't win. This was already the case four years ago when Greece won. I have to say that I disagree. It is of course a pity that the best teams don't win - especially when one of them is the one I support -, but isn't exactly this the beauty of football? The fact that it is not an exact science, possible to predict? I think it is. And there's always something magical about « small » teams winning! Except in the case of Germany, of course...

But football, even when our teams lose, is always a good excuse for gathering friends around a TV set and, preferably, some nice food and many beers. From this point of view; the UEFA Euro 2008 is being a huge success! I've been spending lots of time with many dear friends, and that's really nice. Yesterday, saying farewell to Patricia was the excuse for another nice dinner and yet another excursion to Canoa Quebrada! And, as it happened last week, the party was all night long, and the sun was waiting for us at the exit, after many hours of samba, sweat and great caipirinhas! Today, when I woke-up, the caipirinhas' effects were still there... that, and the fact that I needed to do something that I would have preferred not to, prevented me from enjoying what I am sure was a nice barbecue at Waterloo. And, as if that was not enough, I managed to spoil the evening of someone I care a lot about... and that makes me feel bad... Of course, I didn't do it on purpose and I would give everything to undo it... but, as it is often the case, I only realise this when it is already too late... as another friend taught me once, experience is what allows us to recognise a mistake after making it again... so, no, I guess I will never learn and need to keep apologising instead...

One new week is about to start, and I can only hope it to be a better one. I trust it will.

Make it youthful

2008-06-19T00:24:00.003+02:00

I spent the last two days in Strasbourg, trying to convince Members of the European Parliament to sign a written declaration calling on the European Union institutions to listen to young people when developing policies that affect them, underline the cross sectoral nature of youth policy, and ensure genuine dialogue with young people and their organisations. A written declaration is a text on a matter falling within the European Union's sphere of activities, and is used by MEPs to launch or realunch a debate on a subject that comes within the EU's remit. If the declaration is signed by a majority of the MEPs, it is forwarded to the President and included in the minutes. If it is not signed by a majority of MEPs, the declaration lapse after three months. Submitted by five members from five different countries, and four different political groups, on April 21, this declaration needs to be signed by 393 MEPs before July 24, in order to be successful. When the week started and we arrived in Strasbourg, 200 MEPs had signed it; today there were 249 of them. Not bad, but maybe not good enough...

Running after the MEPs and trying to convince them of why they should sign the declaration or simply begging for them to do it, is not pleasant, not very efective and rather tiring. The European Parliament is a huge complex, the almost 800 MEPs sit in different buildings with several floors and many corridors, and the declaration needs to be signed at a certain place within certain periods of time. Some MEPs are nice and understanding, and they listen to you even when they don't support your ideas and therefore don't intend to sign the declaration; others try to be nice (and get rid of you fast) by promising that they will sign it, even though they will never do it; the worse ones, however, are those who deny their own basic status as representatives of the citizens, by refusing to even listen to you and doing it in rude terms. And if you're thinking os someone specific, I am sorry to inform that they can be found in all political groups and come from every country...

The exercise can be very frustrating, for these and many other reasons related to the EP and its procedures; but what is more frustrating for me is to see that this would be much easier if everyone would take their responsibilities seriously and put the necessary personal and organisational efforts needed to perform the tasks they took and, in some cases, even asked for. Soon we will know if this declaration will be signed by the majority of the MEPs or not. The aim is, of course, to achieve this majority and, therefore, it is obvious that the outcome will influence greatly the evaluation that will be done afterwards. But, regardless of the final result, I hope that the YFJ will be able to learn lessons from the process. Because, as it happens very often in people's and organisations' lives, the way can be more important than the final destination...

Europe à la carte

2008-06-15T16:36:00.006+02:00

Friday wasn't a very good day for the European Union. The results of the referendum in Ireland were announced and, together with them, a new institutional crisis... the only member state organising a referendum to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon said NO and we're once again back to where we were three years ago, after the referenda in France and the Netherlands... I hope that this time leaders understand that what the EU needs is clear, strong and trustworthy leadership, instead of plans B, C or D! What citizens want is delivery, instead of debate; and motivating projects of change, instead of business as usual. The problem is that people like Mr Barroso or Mr Pöttering will never understand that... and will always prefer the status quo that allowed them to obtain their positions, to a serious project of reform and progress.

On the other hand, the UEFA Euro 2008 keeps producing good news. Germany lost against Croatia, Italy wasn't able to beat Romania, and France was smashed by the Netherlands. I guess you can call it Robin Hood's complex, but I always enjoy seeing these big countries losing against smaller teams! And, anyway, looking at the quality of the footbal played, I think that it would be totally fair to see Portugal, Croatia, the Netherlands and Spain playing the semi-finals. Let's hope for justice to prevail, at least in the Europe of football!

I was supposed to travel to Brazzaville tomorrow. As the PYU Congress was postponed, I won't go to Congo after all... which makes me a bit sad, because I was really looking forward to it... anyway, I can use some rest and some time in Brussels, and plan to use it the best that I can. Last night I went for a very nice evening out with the gang, which started with a lot of spare ribs and continued with even more caipirinhas and samba! We had a lot of fun, and it reminded me of the fact that being in Brussels can also be nice. Therefore, I will stay without regrets and will start planning for the next weekend and, even more important, for summer holidays! First in Portugal and with Francisco and, then, in the first days of August, with whomever comes up with the best suggestions!

Friday 13th

2008-06-12T23:39:00.000+02:00

The day off in Oslo was very nice, and on Tuesday I even went for a run, which I hadn't done for almost one month and made me very happy. Yesterday was even better, as Portugal won its second match in the UEFA Euro 2008 and is therefore through the quarter finals. But today Brussels woke-up as if it was mid-December, really grey and wet, and it remained like that for most of the day... I know that this is a rainy place and that we need to accept it and get used to it... but the calendar says that summertime starts next week, and it is really frustrating to see that Brussels seems not to give a shit about it! As if the bad weather was not enough to put me in a bad mood, I spent the entire day running from one meeting to another... and, as if the cake still needed a cherry on its top, I found out, when leaving the office, that all my contacts had vanished from my cell phone... Someone will have to explain me what happened, and should be glad not to be anywhere close when I found out about this annoying fact... So, while my friends in Lisbon were partying and celebrating St Anthony's, I spent the entire evening copying all my contacts to my cell phone, once again... and now I will go to sleep, hoping that tomorrow will be a better day... although the calendar says that tomorrow will be the real Friday 13th...

Norwegian Summer

2008-06-09T00:25:00.003+02:00

Attending a Bureau Meeting isn't always easy... Remaining focused for so many hours in a row, discussing things when most of the times we already know the outcomes, based on papers that we already read, and taking decisions that will be implemented by others, isn't always funny... if on the top of all this, the meeting is taking place in a city where we are for the first time ever, the sun is shining over a deep blue sky, the temperature is more appropriate for spending the day by the seaside, and internet connection is not working, the motivation drops down to dangerously low levels... No further comments.

On the other hand, Oslo has been a really nice surprise and my stay here a really pleasant one. Oslo isn't a big city, and that's nice. Moreover, its geographical situation, bordering a fjord and built up from the seaside to the mountains, its several and quite big parks, its donwtown area with calm streets and cosy squares, its well-functioning network of public transports, its posh shops and restaurants, its interesting mix of cultures and races, and its attractive and beautiful people, make Oslo an almost perfect place to live in. For someone coming to visit from abroad, the outrageously high cost of life is certainly a downside, but with the sunny and warm weather that it offers these days, Oslo won a well-deserved place in the Top 5 of my favourite cities in Europe.

Yesterday evening, after an almost burned steak eaten at high speed in a nice terrasse, some of us ran to the other side of the city to watch the second half of the inaugural match of Portugal in the UEFA Euro 2008, against Turkey. It wasn't easy to find a place to watch the match, but the place we found was full and, based on the reaction of the crowd to the goals scored by the Portuguese team, it was full of Portugal's supporters. It's kind of flattering to feel this kind of support so far away from home and, of course, it was nice to see Portugal winning! I hope the trend will be kept over the next few weeks!

In a couple of hours the meeting will be finally closed. Then, I will be able to enjoy the nice weather, the sun and, hopefully, the sea. I hope to be able to enjoy the company of my colleagues in a slightly more relaxed environment too. I feel kind of sad when I see that the inter-personal relations are harmed by our work-related discussions. For a group who was offered such a wonderful starting point, it is quite disappointing to see how much we eroded this capital of respect and trust among us. I take my part of the responsibility for this, of course, and I am not proud of it, for sure. On the contrary, I feel very frustrated about it. I have given a lot to the Youth Forum these years, and my conscience is light in this sense; on the other hand, I think that I could still give a lot more over the year to come, but, unfortunately, I have the feeling that the needed motivation is lacking. Motivation is a two-ways-track though: if this lack of motivation can be explained by personal and internal circunstances, some of its sources are obviously external too... and part of the frustration is due to the fact that I feel a bit alone in this reflection. As a good friend would put it, soon will be time for a new challenge for me too... God knows how much I am looking forward for it!

Earth Attacks!

2008-06-05T23:20:00.002+02:00

Cities & Eyes 5

2008-06-05T21:58:00.002+02:00

When you have forded the river, when you have crossed the mountain pass, you suddenly find before you the city of Moriana, its alabaster gates transparent in the sunlight, its coral columns supporting pediments encrusted with serpentine, its villas all of glass like aquariums where the shadows of dancing girls with silvery scales swim beneath the medusa-shaped chandeliers. If this is not your first journey, you already know that cities like this have an obverse: you have only to walk a semi-circle and you will come into view of Moriana's hidden face, an expanse of rusting sheet metal, sackcloths, planks bristling with spikes, pipes black with soot, piles of tins, behind walls with fading signs, frames of staved-in straw chairs, ropes good only for hanging oneself from a rotten beam. From one part to the other, the city seems to continue, in perspective, multiplying its repertory of images: but instead it has no thickness, it consists only of a face and an obverse, like a sheet of paper, with a figure on either side, which can neither be separated nor look at each other.

Misplaced

2008-06-03T23:49:00.001+02:00

Here I am, once again back in Brussels. The weather was nice when I landed, but now it has rained and the streets are all wet. Anyway, not even the nice weather would have been able to change my mood tonight... I wanted to have stayed longer in Lisbon! Everytime I go back, I get reminded of how much I like it and enjoy being in there... The weather was nice and that helps, of course; but spending time with my son, and actually tasting the flavour of being part of his normal daily life, beats everything else! And then, there are also my friends, so many of them; the jacaranda trees blossoming; the narrow cobblestone streets; the views over the river; the Bairro Alto and its restaurants and bars; the nice food and the cheap drinks... and even the Rock in Rio festival! Lisbon is the most beautiful city in the whole world, and the one I will always give priority to when chosing where to live next. But now I am back, and tomorrow will be back in the office and to the hundreds of things on my « to do » list... then, on Friday, I will go to Oslo, for the Bureau meeting. It will be my first time ever in Norway, and I am really looking forward to it. Next month I will be back to Lisbon and Portugal, for real holidays! The countdown starts now!

Invisible Cities

2008-05-30T21:31:00.000+02:00

Yesterday I started reading Calvino's « Invisible Cities ». As the title says, it is about cities. Not really invisible, but not fully real either. And about many other things too and, especially, about the human nature. Marco Polo is the narrator and, throughout the beautiful poem-like novel, describes many and different cities to the ageing Kublai Khan. All these cities have women's names and they all have human nature. I don't know if Lisbon is a woman's name in any presently or previously existing language, but I don't have any doubt that it has human nature... The Lisbon I know and I dream of isn't totally real either, but it is visible; so visible, that I can see it even when I close my eyes and simply let my imagination fly. Tonight, I don't need to close my eyes to see Lisbon; tonight, it is actually more visible if I keep my eyes wide open. That's what I'll do: I will turn off the laptop, stand up, step outside and enjoy the nice and warm evening. With nice friends, nice food, nice wine and, hopefully, nice music!

The future is ours to see

2008-05-27T22:49:00.001+02:00

I just came back to Brussels, after five days in Portugal. Five days of rain, sometimes heavy, and temperatures close to the ones I have experienced when I was there for Christmas... But, also, five days spent with people I love and who love me; five days of great (and lots of) food; and five days off work, even though that didn't make them less busy... Five days back at home are always too few, like, anyway, any number of days are always too few. But this time, after such a long absence, it was even worse... I didn't want to be back yet! There are so many things that I wanted to do and I could not or didn't have the time to... The good thing is that I will be back on Friday! And, this time, I will be heading South, to Lisbon, which means that I will be able to see my son! But, being back to Brussels, is also nice. It isn't raining, the temperatures are quite high, and there is a lot of interesting work awaiting for me... and, fortunately, a lot of good friends too! In one year time, I will be spending my last days at the European Youth Forum... I don't know if that means that I will be organising my return to Portugal, the move to another job in Brussels or elsewhere, or simply looking for a new job. In any case, I will be facing a new challenge. I know that in one year time many things change and, therefore, I am trying not to make very strict plans; but I know that, somehow, I must start thinking of what I will do next. These five days in Portugal showed me that I could probably be back, find a job there and keep being happy; but they also showed me that prolonging my stay in Brussels wouldn't be impossible either. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that I always thought that going back to Portugal would mean being closer to my son, while staying in Brussels (or elsewhere) would mean being far away from him. Today, I am not that sure any longer... staying in Brussels doesn't necessarily mean being away from my son, and going back to Portugal doesn't necessarily mean being close to him either... The truth is that these five days in Portugal reminded me of a very simple fact: the future is what we make of it. It is about time for me to start making my future!

Back to Portugal

2008-05-24T02:16:00.000+02:00

142 days after I left, yesterday I returned to Portugal. I had never been away for such a long time before, and I hope not to brake this record ever again. The welcome I got wasn't exactly the warmest possible: it was raining heavily in Porto and there was no one waiting for me at the airport... when I got to the hotel, in Vila Nova de Gaia, the participants of the event I am attending had left for dinner and, having to chose between watching the Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals on television and going to the movies, I decided for the latter. I went to one of these typical Portuguese shopping centres, had dinner and bought myself an entrance for the Indiana Jones' premiere. While I was strolling around the shopping centre awaiting for the session to start, I had my first evening's positive surprise: I bumped into my parents! Just like that, without previous notice, there they were, enjoying the holiday's rainy evening, under the protection of the shopping centre's ceilings. What a small and predictable country Portugal is... The second surprise was the movie itself: either I lost my cinematography analytical capacity, or the movie is really good! Super-entertaining, funny, fast and, all in all, very well done: absolutely able to live up to the standards set by the Indiana Jones' series when it comes to adventure movies! Full marks! Today, the show has been of a different sort: attending the YEPP Chairmen's Conference can be a challenge for someone who is more used to be on the other side of the political barricades... but, as it had already been the case in Stockholm last year, I enjoy it. Apart from the professional side of it (all Member Organisations deserve the same attention from the Secretary General, right?), the truth is that YEPP is made up of a lot of people that I have come to respect and trully appreciate. Furthermore, today's seminar was on a very interesting topic (The Future of Europe) and counted with very good speakers, allowing for pleasant and useful debates. This morning I skipped the visit to the Port Wine cellars and, in the afternoon, the Douro River boat trip; but now I am looking forward for the dinner and an enjoyable evening with my European centre-right friends.

Innovating

2008-05-21T00:05:00.002+02:00

Waking-up earlier to go for a morning run was something that I hadn't done for a long time... but I did it today, and it felt good! Going to a concert on a Saturday evening is something I don't do enough... but I did it last Saturday, and it was great! Hosting a karaoke competition at my place is something I had never done before... but I did it last Sunday, and it was lots of fun! Leaving the office earlier in order to go to the movies in the evening is something I should do more often... but I did it today, and I am happy about it! Going to Portugal is something that I haven't done this year yet... but I will do it this Thursday, and I just can't think of anything else!

The Pursuit of Happiness

2008-05-17T16:07:00.002+02:00

Fun, friends and fantastic music and books and food. If I would have to prescribe a treatment for someone in the pursuit of happiness, this is how it would look like. Fortunately I have been having plenty of these lately. Well, maybe having plenty of food is not that good… but for the rest, the more the better! Being busy at work helps not to think too much about other things ; but what really helps to boost one’s mood and allows to move on is to be surrounded by nice friends and having lots of fun ! I am lucky enough to have many friends who are more than nice and are always ready to support me when I most need them, and this past week many of them have been there for me, filling the emptiness and fighting the loneliness. And I am really grateful to all of them! On the other hand, and because there are still some moments when friends can’t be there taking care of me, reading a good book and/or listening to great music always helps. These last few days, this role has been played by Eduardo Mendoza’s « La ciudad de los prodigios » and music from The Envelopes, Monade, Chris Bathgate, Catpower and Maria João. And Vampire Weekend, whose concert I’ll be attending tonight, with a small group of friends. And, tomorrow afternoon, my neighbours will have to be tolerant, because it will be me and my friends singing... So, as many people have told me these last few days, life goes on. And, with a little help from my friends, the pursuit of happiness too.

Syros

2008-05-14T23:49:00.001+02:00

And, by the way, Syros is great!

Changes

2008-05-14T23:42:00.002+02:00

The end is always sad. Always empty. Always difficult to understand, difficult to accept, difficult to swallow. And yet, the end is always a new beginning… On the other hand, and at least to me, it always comes as a surprise. Don’t know if it is because I am blind or because I pretend to be blind, or simply because I am not lucky. But the surprising aspect doesn’t make it easier. And, this time, it came by phone and from far away. It should make it softer, and yet it doesn’t… What I hate the most in these occasions is the quietness that follows… this quietness that keeps us awake when we should be sleeping, and keeps us thinking of what could have been done differently when we should be moving ahead. And I also hate the loneliness… the loneliness that wears us out and makes us feel lost, like if we had just woke-up from a dream. It is commonly accepted that it is easier to leave than to be left behind; although I am not sure that this is right, the true is that I can’t avoid the feeling that there were other options… that I could have changed, if needed. Fortunately, or unfortunately, now it is time to prove that I can do it, that I can change. And that’s exactly what I’ll do. Once I manage to get myself together again.

Summer in the city!

2008-05-08T20:59:00.000+02:00

Since I came back from Barcelona on Monday, the weather in Brussels has been so nice that it is actually hard to believe that this is still the same city known for its grey skies and permanent rainy days. Temperatures in the top twenties, blue skies, sun shining, people smiling and having lunch in the parks. Brussels gets to be nice! And yesterday I was in Paris and it was exactly the same thing! It brings memories of the long spring Lisbon days… and makes me wonder why I decided to go to Syros, in Greece, for the weekend… I mean, it’s not that I am not happy for finally going there and get to spend some time visiting a place where I have never been, enjoying the company of people I like; it’s just that the initial plan was to escape from the rainy old Brussels and not to skip the amazingly nice weather of the upcoming long weekend… Anyway, the truth is that after a short but intense working week, I will now head south, to the islands. If I survive the long flights and especially the boat-trips, I promise to bring some nice pictures and share them with you; otherwise, enjoy the sunny weekend!

Carpe Diem

2008-05-06T20:40:00.002+02:00

Voilà, as my Flemish friends would say… One more week has gone by and so many things have happened, mostly in Barcelona. One more COMEM – short for Council of Members, one of millions of acronyms we learn throughout our Youth Forum’s life – took place and was successfully accomplished, a new opportunity for interesting political debates to take place, for important feedback on my daily work to be given and, equally important, for pleasant re-encounters with good old friends and refreshing discoveries of new ones. My list of friends on Facebook always increases a lot during and/or after a COMEM and that is a good sign, I think. But the most valuable sign for me is rather the fact of feeling well, in spite of the tiredness, when the meeting comes to its end, and being able to see the same mix of relief and happiness on the faces of my Secretariat and Bureau colleagues. This time I am especially happy for my Italian friends, who, after many years of hard work, have now attained the full membership status in the European Youth Forum for their National Youth Council ; for my Ukrainian friends who, after many years of internal fights, managed to take back their well-deserved place among the other European nations which are part of the European Youth Forum ; for my Bureau colleague and good friend Tine Radinja, who was finally given a fair chance of exposing and defending the result of his dedication and hard work in the field of Training and, in the process, gave everyone a good lesson of humbleness ; and for our President and dearest friend Bettina Schwarzmayr, who, as usual, successfully led the members through a busy and difficult agenda and received a more than deserved long applause at the end of the last COMEM of her presidential term. But, of course, I am also happy for my Catalan friends, who proved once again that one doesn’t need to be big or important to be a great host; and, last but not the least, for my amazingly competent colleagues, who, once again, made my life easy and simple, by optimally performing their tasks and being always there for anything that was needed. Special thanks to Klavdija, Mark and Pedro who, by now, understand all my facial expressions and take care of my needs and wishes even before I manage to say the words, but also to all the others who compensate their lack of experience and/or responsibilities with a tremendously generous good will, professionalism and dedication to their work. In more or less six months, the present cycle will come to its end, with the election of a new Bureau and the approval of a new Work Plan. For me, it will also be time to start focusing on the handover and looking for a new job. I don’t know if it will be easy or difficult to find one, but I don’t have any doubts that it will be almost impossible to find one in which I will meet so many wonderful people, do so many meaningful things and get so much pleasure from what I do. I always knew it, but it’s becoming ever clearer: I will miss the European Youth Forum a lot. But, in the meantime and as there is still one year to go, I will keep doing my best to enjoy my job, my colleagues, my friends and, as it happened today, the Brussels’ sun!

Time flies

2008-04-29T19:02:00.000+02:00

It’s been more than week since my last entry and this is something that hasn’t happened for a while. It’s not like if there was nothing to write about; quite the opposite, actually. First, on Tuesday, an old and very dear friend came for professional reasons (what else?!) to Brussels and stayed at my place, which means that we were able to spend some time together and talk about many different issues. It is funny and weird at the same time to see how reassuring it is to talk with old friends. Maybe it’s because they know you well or simply because you don’t even question their loyalty towards you, or something else. The fact is that it is deeply reassuring and makes you feel much better. I hope that he and others will keep coming regularly. Then, she came too. Not so much for professional reasons, but rather because of me. Even though I had to work during part of her stay, it was really nice. We haven’t met for quite a while and we missed each other. And, therefore, it was nice to spend these days together. On the top of everything, and I don’t know if this is just a coincidence, the sun shone during most of her stay. And we celebrated the other Easter, and cooked together, and ate together and met friends, and walked and watched movies, and it was really nice. Now that she left, and that the rain and the grey skies came back to Brussels, it is difficult to think of something else other than when we will meet again. And it seems too far away… Over the last few days I didn’t read much, but tonight I will finish the autobiography of J. G. Ballard, because tomorrow, for my return to Barcelona, I want to start with “La ciudad de los prodigios”. I think it makes sense.

Surprise

2008-04-21T20:29:00.002+02:00

As planned, on Saturday I went to Spain. More precisely to Valencia. Vicente turned 40-years-old and Eva organised a surprise party for him, managing to gather tens of friends coming from many different places in Spain and even from abroad. The party started already without Vicente, because even though his birthday provided the excuse, the truth is that many people had not meet for a long time and appreciated the gathering. You know how it works: big smiles, life updates, old stories remembered and many people praising Vicente and Eva's idea. In the evening, when we were all already gathered in the place where Eva was supposed to bring Vicente, the real surprise came: Vicente was not coming. He was sick, needed to go to the emergencies and, even though he was going to be well, he could not leave home... Nobody knew what to say and everyone was amazed at how the surprise had been turned on us... But, as we were sure that this was exactly what Vicente would have wanted, we partied anyway. And the catering was perfect, the venue nice and the company great. Then, at the end of the evening, and as my return flight was early in the morning, Eva invited me to come over and see Vicente. So I did. At first, he didn't even recognise me, due to a mix of short vision, lots of drugs and the huge surprise. Then, he realised and gave me that smile that only Vicente can give. That honest, sincere, almost childish smile that conquered us all, and made so many of us travel from far away to spend his 40th birthday with him. We spent a couple of hours updating each other on the latest developments of our lives, and laughing a lot. That's what we do when we spend time together. Vicente is one of those friends that no matter for how long we don't see each other, we only need one look and one hug to make it like if we have never been apart. We used to call each other « brother », and that's exactly how I see him: like a elder brother. In the meantime, a new week has started. I finished Inspector Chen's mystery and started another book linked to Shanghai: the already mentioned autobiography of J.G. Ballard. It's beautiful! Very well written as it was to be expected, and surprisingly close to the way my own childhood memories come to me when I think of it. And seeing such important events as the end of the British Empire, the World War II or the Chinese Revolution, through the eyes of a teenage boy is, to say the least, different and interesting. At times, it's even difficult to believe that the book has actually been written by a 77-years-old man... That's why I love books!

Friday evening

2008-04-18T20:41:00.001+02:00

Friday evening. One more week gone, one more « chinese food+movie » evening about to start. I just came back from my run and, even though I feel tired, I am happy: who would say, three weeks ago, that I could run for 30 minutes? I certainly wouldn't! Tomorrow I will go to Spain again. It will be nice, but I can't tell much about it yet. It's a surprise! I will be back on Sunday. Next week will be a busy one. Difficult too. But it will still be a good one: I will have an important guest coming to visit me, someone I miss a lot and whose presence will make me very happy. I hope the Spring will finally come to Brussels too; it's about time! As a friend said earlier today, we could all use a bit of vitamin D... In the meantime, my mind will keep traveling back to Shanghai. Chief Inspector Chen, while solving another mystery, will introduce me to its places and its people, its smells and its tastes. I really need holidays! Real holidays!

Miracles of Life

2008-04-15T20:52:00.001+02:00

Francisco fell and broke three teeth last Friday. The news arrived like this, cold and straight forward. I was in a plane, about to take off, and didn’t have time for more than sending a short written message, acknowledging receipt of the information and sending one word of support and another of solidarity. It must be difficult to be there when your own son falls and breaks three teeth… Anyway, after landing there was more time for the details and to feel proud of the four-years-old son who didn’t even cry while in the hospital, and to be amazed by his optimism: as the doctor said that the teeth would grow again, Francisco assumed that it would happen fast, maybe within one or two days! I couldn’t help smile… but I was also worried about his reaction when he found that it wouldn’t be that fast. Today, when I asked him how his teeth were, he replied, simply: almost well! Francisco isn’t only the cutest little boy in the whole world; he’s also the greatest!

This morning, when I woke-up, the sky was rather grey and, during the day, it rained. While I slowly got ready for another working day, I didn’t think, not even for a single moment, that the late afternoon would be full of sunshine over a completely blue sky… Instead, I started the day in a bad mood, complaining of the Brussels’ weather… While running around the park nearby, under the sun, I couldn’t help thinking of Francisco and his innocent optimism, and wondering what is wrong with growing-up… I mean, what is the purpose of accumulating experiences and knowledge over the years if, in the process, we lose the ability of hoping for the best and expecting everything to be alright? Would it harm us if we did it? I don’t think so! And, yet, that’s what we do; that’s what I do… Being rational has a downside, and I have the impression that we would be happier if we recuperated a bit of plain, irrational, unexplainable faith…

These last months, I have been investing a lot in old habits that I realised I was missing: losing weight, reading, running, spending quality time with good friends, just to mention some examples. Lately, I have been reading a lot and that makes me happy. And, as it makes me happy, I have bought more books; now, I have quite a lot of books in my waiting list, and I plan to read them all quite fast. One of the next will be “Miracles of Life”, the autobiography of the writer J. G. Ballard. Maybe because I like so much to read, I always found writers to be very special people, capable of very special things. When I saw that his autobiography was called “Miracles of Life”, I couldn’t resist. I am convinced that we could all use miracles in our lives… or maybe, more simply, to be able to recognise the miracles in our lives. Francisco - and children in general - do it very well!

Ahoj!

2008-04-12T15:29:00.002+02:00

After two more busy days at the office, on Thursday evening I went to Prague, where I attended, once more, the opening session of the General Assembly of the European Youth Parliament. I already wrote in this blog about how much I like the city. I visited it for the first time in 1992 and, for a long time, it remained one of my Top 3 favourite cities, which was strengthened by the readings of Milan Kundera and Bruce Chatwin. Then, the long period of absence from Prague, combined with the discovery of many other cities, sent the city into a kind of imaginary limbo, and it remained there for a long period of time, until I went back in June 2006. At that time, I wrote that things had changed and that the city didn’t live up to the idealisation I had made of it. Well, yesterday Prague re-conquered my heart and its well-deserved place on the top of my list. Prague is a near-mythical city and it exerts a kind of a siren pull on me… As my meeting finished at lunch-time and the search for a good price forced me to book a flight that left in the evening only, I had the opportunity to roam through the maze of the Old Town, discovering its back-street secrets, getting to know each stone saint on the Charles Bridge and enjoying the nice weather and the breath-taking views over both sides of the river. I can’t help thinking that I should have stayed for the weekend! And that I should go back as soon as possible!

Corporate Social Responsibility

2008-04-08T18:42:00.002+02:00

"America's immigration system is outdated, unsuited to the needs of our economy and to the values of our country. We should not be content with laws that punish hardworking people who want only to provide for their families, and deny businesses willing workers, and invite chaos at our border." - President George Bush, State of the Union Address, February 5, 2005

At American Apparel, we agreed with the President's call for immigration reform, so why has nothing been done for the last three years?

It's time to give a voice to the voiceless. Businesses are afraid to speak to the media about immigration, frightened of reprisals by government agencies. But we cannot just sit in the shadows and watch the government and politicians exploit and misrepresent this matter to advance their careers.

Over 12 million human beings have become integral to our society, economy and culture here in the USA, yet they do so in legal purgatory. While no serious political voice calls to send them back to their previous home countries, very few have the courage to admit that the only realistic option is some form of legal integration, coupled with legitimate, forward-thinking immigration policy.

Migration and economic experts generally agree that the productivity and hard work of immigrants improves the economy, makes goods more affordable and available to US citizens, and creates more jobs for US workers. Immigrants not only increase the wealth of the nation, they have contributed significantly to major scientific, medical and industrial advancements, as well as to the arts. Many of them have become great entrepreneurs too.

At what point are we going to recognize that the status quo amounts to an apartheid system? At what point will America stop living in a state of denial?

At American Apparel we support our workers. We support our community. We support Los Angeles. We support the pride of America and the American Dream.

Enough is enough.

It's time to Legalize LA, and Legalize the USA.

La ciudad de los prodigios

2008-04-07T23:20:00.002+02:00

As I said, the beginning of last week was busy and difficult. And its end wasn’t easier… But, whereas the difficulties of the beginning were strictly professional, the ones at the end were more personal and intimate. And, therefore, I decided to refrain from writing for the last few days. There are some limits to what I am willing to share with my readers. But, then again, some signs of hope were given, and my friends did the rest. And they made me feel better. On Friday we took another step on what is becoming a tradition of “Chinese food + movie” evening; and on Saturday I finally went and meet Raphaël. He is indeed a very cute baby, and it was great to see the happiness expressed by his parents’ eyes. It makes me happy to see my friends happy! And the truth is that being there and sharing their intimacy brought many nice memories back. Memories of when I too was blessed by the birth of my son and everything that came with it. Every time I think of it, I can’t help smiling. Then, I went for a short trip to Catalonia, and apart from the more professional part of it – which included 400km on the road to go to Deltebre and back to Barcelona – I had a great time with a very good friend and colleague: beautiful views, charming atmospheres, tasty food, and even a visit to Camp Nou, for a Spanish League football match. Barcelona is indeed a great place to be! The only downside was that my flight back to Brussels left today at 7am, which means that I had to wake-up at 5 and therefore am quite sleepy and tired. Courtesy of Khaled Hosseini, as “A Thousand Splendid Suns” finale kept me awake for the whole duration of my early morning flight. And I think this is the best compliment I have ever made to a book and its author! Don’t miss it; it is an absolute must read!

3 short points

2008-04-02T22:40:00.006+02:00

1 - The content of the previous entry, despite the date, is true.
2 - I did it! I went running today! My legs hurt, but I feel fine!
3 - Radiohead's "OK Computer" is the best music album ever.

The Desert

2008-04-01T20:15:00.002+02:00

The first two days of this week have really been busy… actually, more difficult than busy… It’s not like if I had been running from meeting to meeting, or flying from country to country ; it’s more like having thousands of small things to do and having the impression that more small tasks are added faster than I can get them done… I hate it! And, I know, on days like these, I become irascible and totally unable to enjoy the good things and focus, instead, on making sure that everyone else around me gets a bit of my own frustration… I also hate that! And, most of all, I hate myself for not being able to control this and simply act differently… I guess I should recuperate my long-time lost jogging habits! I remember that I used to feel good after twenty minutes of fast running, heavy sweating and totally empty mind. And, even more so, after one long, hot shower. I should definitely try it again. The good thing of jogging is that you can’t really excuse yourself for not doing it just because you’re not in town; you can actually do it everywhere. And it might even be a good way to explore new points of view on the places I visit. So, what’s the downside? Being lazy, I guess… The same reason why I ended up not going to the movies over the weekend (even though I watched one movie that I strongly recommend: The Darjeeling Limited) and I spent it at home instead… The movie made me think again about this train trip through Turkey (did you notice that the last five words all start with a T?) I want to do… and the one through India… both of which I probably won’t ever do because of the same laziness… On the other hand, I read quite a lot. I started the newest Khaled Hosseini’s book, “A Thousand Splendid Suns”, and I am enjoying it as much as I did “The Kite Runner”. Really good writing, but what I like the most is exactly this insight it gives on Afghanistan, its culture and its history, that makes you want to know more and go there and engage with its people; that makes you dream of travelling! So, at the end of the day, it all gets down to the same: I need to go. Need to go and learn, about places, about people and, most importantly, about myself. As I have found out in Morocco, more or less three years ago, there are some things about ourselves that we only learn when in the desert…

PS – Speaking of Morocco: Luiza and Razvan have become the proud parents of the second cutest little boy in the whole world: Raphael. Paul Hymans sends its warmest wishes to the parents and welcomes Raphael to this wild, yet beautiful world.

Always expect the unexpected

2008-03-29T14:32:00.002+01:00

This was a busy week, and it ended in an unexpected way. After the great and long Easter weekend, the snow stopped falling and I went to Madrid. As it happened the last time I was there, the flight was delayed for more than two hours… but Madrid is always a nice destination and I had a nice time in there: met good friends, got my coffee dose delivered, attended quite successful meetings, enjoyed nice food and even had time to visit the bookstores around Gran Via and buy a couple of books of two Spanish authors I like very much: Arturo Pérez-Reverte and Eduardo Mendoza. I came back to Brussels on Thursday late in the evening, unpacked, packed again and got ready to go to Vilnius, where I should have landed yesterday around 10pm. I didn’t. Air Baltic decided to cancel its flight from Brussels to Vilnius and suggested the passengers to go to Riga instead, and then, from there, take a bus to the Lithuanian capital. Estimated arrival time: 6am… Even though I was really looking forward to going to Vilnius and attending this seminar on Intercultural Dialogue, while meeting good friends and enjoying a city I like a lot, I declined… I started to realise that I am getting old mainly because I get easily tired; and all these trips and all these flights delayed and cancelled are slowly killing me… so, this Baltic road-trip and another night without enough sleep, courtesy of Air Baltic, were the last things I needed! Instead, I decided to ask for the reimbursement of the price of the ticket and stay in Brussels. And here I am, at home, enjoying an unexpected free weekend with no plans at all… Guess I will try to sort some things out on my apartment, maybe go for a walk and try to spend time with friends, read and listen to music… unless... is there anyone up for a movie?

White Easter

2008-03-24T14:13:00.003+01:00

On Friday, while the calendar pointed out the beginning of spring in the Northern hemisphere, in Brussels the first snow of 2008 fell… Since then, it has been snowing every now and then, which rose among many of us, expectations concerning the possibility of experiencing the first ever white Easter. It didn’t quite happen, because it was never cold enough for the snow flakes to accumulate and create a thick white layer on the streets, buildings and trees; but it has snowed enough to make it unpleasant to be on the open air, and for opening the mouth in amazement when looking outside the windows… But not even the snow disturbed the already traditional Brussels’ Easter celebration with friends and colleagues, marked by great food in enormous amounts, accompanied by en equally generous amount of liquids of diverse kinds and, most of all, by good humour and human warmth provided by an amazing group of people who, apart from constituting a great professional team, make up for a great bunch of friends too. I said it already many times, but it is indeed both a pleasure and a privilege to work and share my life with them all! After a 15-hours-long Easter lunch, I woke-up a couple of hours ago only to find out, with a certain surprise that I managed to avoid the expected (and well-deserved) hangover… Therefore, in spite of the ugly weather and the fact that I spent the last two hours cleaning (again!) the apartment, I feel good. And I plan to keep the feeling throughout the day, the week that will bring me back to the airports and flights routine, and the month that will soon start and hopefully include a very much desired re-encounter with some of my most loved ones. And real spring!

Weird, but it can always get more weird...

2008-03-21T12:08:00.002+01:00

And now is snowing... heavily!

Good Friday, but it could be more good…

2008-03-21T11:48:00.001+01:00

I feel weird… Today it’s Good Friday and I am working… and it simply doesn’t feel right! The weather seems to be confused too: after almost one hour of hailing, now the sky is blue and the sun is shining… My son is at my parents for Easter holidays and I just feel like I should be there too; on the other hand, I am so sick and tired of traveling that I am really looking forward to staying at home for the long weekend. I will spend time with other friends who share the fate of not being with their families for Easter – and I know that it will be nice -, but I also know that I will miss the people I love. So… impossible not to think on these dichotomies that our lives are made of… Why can’t we have it all? Why can’t we get enough? Why do we have to make choices? Why can’t we avoid thinking that we should have chosen the other option? It’s kind of funny, and yet dramatic too… As one very famous youth leader would say, “it is good, but it could be more good”! So, shall we be happy that it is good or rather frustrated because it could be “more good”? I guess it is a matter of attitude and mood… when it is hailing, I feel frustrated; when the sky turns blue, I feel rather happy. Weird? That’s what I said!

Garden Fetish

2008-03-19T19:35:00.003+01:00

Here it is, the most awaited release of the year:

Garden Fetish live at Paul Hymans!

Holy Week

2008-03-17T22:11:00.001+01:00

I don’t know exactly how many miles I flew, but I have just realised that, since the beginning of March only, I already took sixteen flights and was in nine different countries… from the ancient Istanbul to the modern New York, from the snowy Helsinki to the warm Cartagena, from the small and calm Ohrid to the big and hectic Madrid, I have visited many different cities in a very short period of time, and it has some consequences: recently arrived from almost one week in the Americas and the last two nights in planes, I feel tired and sleepy… yet, I have been trying to postpone the sleeping time while anticipating the full adaptation to Central European Time and it seems to be working. It seems… Yesterday I was for more or less twelve hours in New York and I used the opportunity to spend time with one friend who I haven’t seen for many years; we had a nice brunch in the Village, strolled around Chelsea and almost up to the Broadway, but as it was raining, we could not really enjoy the walk much. These twelve hours were enough to catch up with this friend’s life, to confirm that I really like New York and to find out that the Euro-Dollar exchange rates makes everything in New York look very cheap! Which is kind of a new feeling but, for a change, nice. I should go back there soon! This stop-over in New York also allowed me to verify some improvements made at JFK airport or, maybe, that I have been developing prejudices about American airports that help keeping my expectations very low… In one hand, the immigration procedures upon arrival, considering that I was arriving from Colombia, weren’t as unpleasant as I feared and, in the other, the self-check-in terminals installed by American Airlines for all its European flights make a huge contribution to ease the departure procedures, which is of course very welcome. This week of long flights also allowed me to read a lot and, today, when I came home, I was happy to realise that my most recent order from Amazon had arrived and, therefore, I spent the whole day listening to Chris Bathgate’s last independent, sombre album: A Cork Tale Wake. Sounding a bit like a sober Ryan Adams, might seem like missing the point, but the truth is that Bathgate’s tight lyricism and beautiful ballads are the perfect companion for a day under the sign of jet-lag and the beginning of a whole week without travelling. Guess that is why it is known as the “holy week”… Good night!

Caribbean Sweetness

2008-03-14T05:03:00.002+01:00

It took me a long trip and some adventurous moments, but it was definitely worth it: Cartagena de Indias is absolutely gorgeous! The walls, the narrow streets with beautiful and colourful colonial houses with nice wooden balconies and windows with flowers, their internal patios full of trees and green plants, the nice squares, the cathedral and the palaces and, especially, the people. The people available in all the colours and in all their shades, but always beautiful and kind and with warm smiles in their faces. And the music in the air, and the blue sky and the sea behind the walls. Come into the old city through Puerta del Reloj, take a few steps towards Plaza de la Aduana and then to Plaza de Bolivar, with the Palace of the Inquisition in one side. Then walk towards Plaza de Santo Domingo (my favourite) and admire Botero's sculpture "Mujer Reclinada" before visiting Claustro de Santo Domingo. That's where the event I am attending takes place, and it makes you jealous of the people who work for the Spanish Agency for International Co-operation! Then, continue, and get lost. That's the best part of it! Cartagena might be a large city and an important seaport with more than one million inhabitants, but when you're within its old walls, you can't help thinking that you're back at the times of the Vice royalty of New Granada, and the only thing you can fear is a corsairs' attack. Lovely!

Sweetness updated

2008-03-10T17:46:00.003+01:00

Hmmm... I should stop making predictions in my entries... The result of the combination of a very windy morning at Brussels' airport with an Iberia flight with a connection in Madrid is that, instead of being crossing the Atlantic ocean heading towards Colombia, I am now writing from an hotel room in Barajas... What happened was that the wind blew so strongly this morning, that the flight that I was supposed to catch at 10am, coming from Madrid, had to land in Amsterdam instead... and I only left Brussels at around 1pm... the delayed arrival and the hugeness of Madrid's Airport Terminal 4, made me miss my connecting flight to Bogota, despite my fast run through the airport that allowed me to still see the plane leaving the gate... It's frustrating, but actually I shouldn't really complain... the wind was really strong, and after seeing how livid Saray was after landing in Brussels, I stopped being upset... nature still imposes itself to humankind, and that's somehow reassuring. Now, I will go to Madrid, have dinner with some friends and have a proper night of sleep; as another friend put it, the warm weather, the Caribbean Sea and the mojitos are still waiting for me.

Sweet Dreams

2008-03-10T01:27:00.002+01:00

I haven’t been sleeping much… travelling a lot and at weird times is a bit incompatible with my idea of campaigning against sleep deprivation… Maybe this explains why not even one single reader expressed his/her support to this campaign of mine: I don’t inspire enough trust, at least in what regards the issue of sleep… You might be thinking that I would do a favour to myself and to my readers if, instead of writing this entry, I would go to sleep. And you’re somehow right. The problem is that I just came back from Finland, where I spent the weekend attending one meeting, and in about nine hours I will leave again to Colombia to another one; and, therefore, I need to wash clothes and pack my luggage before going to bed… Yesterday I was doing sauna and watching the snow fall in Helsinki; tomorrow I will be staring at the Caribbean Sea and having one mojito in Cartagena. Guess I shouldn’t complain so much about my lack of sleep after all… And, anyway, I have been sleeping in planes. It’s not the same, of course; but it is better than not to sleep at all… The truth is that there’s not much to do in a plane, apart from sleeping: reading, listening to music, eating… and, in long-haul flights, watching movies. That’s about it. All things that make you sleep... So, you shouldn’t be surprised to find out that I have finished reading two books this past week alone. And, tomorrow, I will start a new one. That’s nice, I like reading and there are thousands of books worth being read. And magazines. So, yeah, I shouldn’t complain at all. The only really annoying part of travelling so much is the time spent at the airports… that’s even worse than being in a plane, because most of the airports are actually less comfortable than planes and even reading or listening to music is not as nice there… not to mention all the queues, for the check-in, the security checks and even to board the plane… I like flying, but I hate airports! And you can’t even sleep properly in an airport… so, giving it a second thought, I might have some reasons to complain, right? But I don’t want to do it tonight, because I am in a good mood: the meeting in Helsinki went quite well, the elections in France and in Spain too, Benfica is going to have a new coach and soon I will be swimming in the warm waters of the Caribbean… Life is beautiful! And even though I could not be in Skopje yesterday, I know that I will be back there soon!