Why for god’s sake ?

Why for god’s sake ?

Cardiff: The Multi-Cultural CityDaniel John Carter / Wales, UK

Ramon Martensen / Netherlands

p. 6

p. 4

Multiculturalism in Macedonia

Goran Stamatoski / Macedonia

Milos Kovacevic and Tijana Mirkovic / Serbia

Culture and individuality

Evgenia Kostyanaya / Russia

p. 8

Friends without borders

Charlotte Buchanan / England, UK /

p. 14

Incredible Lessons from India

p. 16

Multicultural societies as an impulse to development

Lukas Valek / Czech Republic

p. 18

p. 20 Volunteer in Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia. Why for godís sake?

Valentina Joshevska, Macedonia

p. 3Films about living in a multicultural world

Interview: Living in a multicultural community

Nevena Smilevska / Macedonia

p. 10

Multiculturalism - Positives and Negatives

Henrike Pauling / Germany

Vladimíra Brávková, coordinator

p. 12

EDITORIAL

Dear Libertas+ readers,The May issue of Libertas+ is dedicated to living in a multicultural world. What does it mean? Multiculturalism is difficult to define. You can find many explanations in dictionaries: a philosophy that recognizes ethnic diversity within a society and en-courages others to be enlightened by worth-while contributions to society by those of diverse ethnic backgrounds, interaction and communication between different cultures, diversity and cultural uniqueness, etc.Several young people from different Euro-pean countries would like to share their ideas and views on this topic. Use the opportunity, read the articles and think about "your multicultural world". In this issue you can find excellent essays about examples of multicultural societies and communities, culture and individuality, positives and negatives of multicultural-ism, and interesting stories from various countries. Enjoy reading.

3121 min

Language: German | Turkish | EnglishRelease Date: 11 March 2004 (Germany

Director: Fatih AkinWriter: Fatih Akin (book)Stars: Birol Ünel, Sibel Kekilli and Catrin Striebeck

Valentina Joshevska, Macedonia

Film review

The question is: who do you ask to lend you a hand when you are faced with difficult moments while you’re abroad? Are you going to ask your mate whose destiny brought it like you or a foreigner /stranger whose family roots belong to that ground? One of the leading European direc-tors Fatih Akin takes the multicultural-ism as a main topic for almost all his films. He follows a specific line of creation in his films. He depicts a perfect picture about living in a multi-cultural world. The heroes of his films are facing situations when the tradi-tion and sometimes ethnic back-ground win over the modern western way of life. On one hand he is very subtle in unfolding the stories of the lives of his protagonists and on the other hand he is very critical with the differences between people and the

role of the individuals in the society. To this category of directors belongs our film director Milco Mancevski with the unforgettable film “Before the rain”. Both, Fatih Akin and Milco Mancevski use an essential point of understanding the references to identity and subjectivity. The protagonists’ research poses the question of cultural belonging and identity of roots of contemporary migrant. After several failures and the struggle with changes the protagonist are stepping back to their own lands. The souls of the characters are captured in the swimming pools of their hard lives trying to answer the question about the life philosophy and trying to find them self in something that they don’t belong to. There are changes, as well.

Changes involve its models and structures, and highlight questions about relationships between multicul-turalism and inter-ethnicity, putting attention on issues about identity. People think is important to work upon these changes.

The directors use traditional music to tell already told stories and a destiny already fulfilled. The irony of life sends the protagonist in foreign countries where migration is a central issue of modern society.

Films about living in a multicultural world

During the past decades, our world’s economy has grown closer together as globalization casts its shadows everywhere. Economists will tell you how profiting multinational markets are. Their stories explain how impor-tant international contacts are. Globalized economy, as well as social networks like Facebook and Twitter provide a constant and fast paced exchange of people’s stories and have had an increasing impact on cultural exchange.It has become tremendously easy to travel into neighbouring countries: You simply jump on a train or get into a car and only a few hours later you have arrived in a different country; in a different culture. It gets even more

confusing when using an airplane. You haven’t even found the best position for your feet or determined the perfect spot to rest your head on, suddenly someone announces the arrival. You exit the plane finding yourself in a world where everyone’s watches seem to be off by a few hours. Or is it your watch, which is off? Jostein Gaader has once put into question, if descending from the sky makes you land from above or from

below. Obviously, the one employer watching the sky waiting to refuel the landing airplane will agree with you that you approach from above. Is looking down on him the righteous attitude to enter a different culture, his culture? Knowing that our world is no disc, one may question that point of view. From space you could be seen landing from below, since the earth may be above the sky you came from. Does the positional relation of the

4

Multicultural societies as an impulse to development

«It has become tremendously easy to travel.»

plane and earth really matter? Who can tell whose point of view is “normal”, whose culture is “normal”? Well, some people will rise up shout-ing “Mine, of course!”If they were to do a handstand, they would soon realize that in a multicul-tural world an airplane doesn’t neces-sarily descend from heaven, but rises from heaven. They would see a different, but at the same time very similar world to their own.Experiments like that are necessary to widen our own horizon and learn that a foreign culture may not be too different from your own.To be valued as a highly educated person these days, one is required to spend at least a year abroad. This is

not at all new: Most scholars of the 18th and 19th century have had such experiences. It was necessary not only to fit the educational ideal, but because mankind’s knowledge had passed the point of compre-hending by a singular individual by a long time. To study and learn, one had to go someplace else, into a different culture and society. It was their duty to manage cultural differ-ences, learn foreign rituals, language and traditions.However, having been taken away from a place called home – a place where you feel safe and find refuge – one will soon discover that the unknown, the new world does not lack like-minded people. People that

strive to the unknown, absorb it and grow from it. People that share simi-lar experiences, adventures and stories. Stripped off their fear and worries, the divert experiences these people make, share and eventually carry to other places will teach others to broaden their own horizon and maybe even step into their footprints.Today, our contact lists in chat programs are sorted by the contact’s origin for matters of organization and order. Is this necessary?The diversity that every travelling person offers, every person that leaves his own culture to enter another, adds another little piece to a better world. When someone visits, he will bring a little piece of his own culture to your home: a little present of knowledge, tradition and experi-ence; a collection of stories, songs, scents, recipes or poems. It is good, that people allow this to happen. Living here and there and always bringing small pieces of expe-riences from one place to the other, will allow you to arrive home on every visit. True happiness is found by someone who can say: “As a child I was born into this world and no matter where I arrive, I will be home”

5

Henrike Pauling,Germany

Who can tell whose point of view is «normal», whose culture is «normal» ?

6

It is important that young people not only from Serbia but from all over the world learn about other cultures and understand the beauty and impor-tance of it. Besides all the things that have historically afflicted our country, we try not to repeat the same mistakes and to show young people that it is possible to live together no matter how different we are. On that occasion, following interview with peers from Novi Pazar (in Sandzak), Harris and Katherine and their stories of how they are living in a multicul-tural community.

MT: In Sandzak is there ethnic or religious discrimination?

Harris: Since the majority are Bosnians I don’t feel threatened. However, there is no discrimination against the Serbs. In general, I don’t know of anyone in Novi Pazar who was discriminated against; perhaps the older people a little bit more at bay, but not the younger generation.

Katherine: Sometimes a person may feel threatened, but I think that there is no specific reason. There are people who are not tolerant towards people of other religions and there-fore may experience some discom-fort; only because of that. I specifi-cally don’t feel threatened or discrimi-nated against, and I believe no other Serbs do either.

MТ: What music is listened to in Novi Pazar?

Katherine: As in any other city there is a division of people that go to places where they listen to folk and those who go out and listen to rap, rock and other alternative music. Most of those who go out, go to places where they listen to turbo folk. They are usually high school students who don’t listen to folk, but there are, of course, in other schools, people who prefer other types of music, beside folk.

MT: Does the choice of music affect culture, religion or national-ity?

Katherine: No, there is absolutely no division. All types of people listen to everything.

MT: Do you hear the Adhan and if it bothers you? (Adhan is the Islamic call to prayer. Pronounced by the muezzin from the minaret five times a day)

Katherine: Yes, you can hear it all over town, and I specifically don’t mind but I know people who do. As I said, the majority population is Muslim, so there are plenty of mosques from which you can hear the daily Adhan.

Interview: Living in a multicultural community

7

MT: Are there any secessionist aspirations in the Sandzak?

Katherine: I didn’t notice, but there are probably people who think that way.

MT: What about the rights of women? Hiding behind the veil women is not accepted in the modern world?

Harris: This is normality in Islam. It’s not just extremists, as is usually thought. This actually applies to all Muslims; for Muslims from Sandzak, as well as for those in Arabia, at the center for Islam. However, in terms of coverage of women in full-face, in Sandzak it’s not practiced.

MТ: Are the covered women more respected than those who do not cover themselves?

Harris: In Pazar thus be extracted is greater believer. There are not so many covered girls in schools, but

there is a special school in Pazar, where all the girls are covered. It’s something like a religious school. When you look from the other side it may look strange, but if you know the person you can see that she is happy and not looking at it as some-thing that is limiting. They don’t do it because someone makes them. It is simply their will. It’s rare that some-one is made to respect it. However, if a girl is not covered, it doesn’t mean she doesn’t respect other traditions.

MT: Are there arranged mar-riages?

Harris: No, it's a myth. It doesn’t exist. In order to marry a girl, some time needs to pass to meet a guy; he needs to be sure that she is the one whom he wants to marry. But if she doesn’t like a certain guy or disagrees with him, it isn’t manda-tory to marry him.

«Learn about other cultures and understand the beauty and importance of it.»

«If she doesn’t like a certain guy, it isn’t mandatory

to marry him.»

Milos Kovacevic &Tijana Mirkovic, Serbia

One simple and truthful fact about Cardiff is that immigration made the city what it is today. If the city was built on the coal and steel of the industrial revolution then those who built it were the immigrants the revolution brought.

Due to the masses of coal in the South Wales Valleys, the massive steel works and the expansion of the British Empire, Cardiff grew into a major international dock. Exporting coal and steel across the world to serve the empires needs.

The fist major wave of immigration to hit Cardiff was not from so far away, Ireland. The large population of Irish who moved over married into the Welsh community which accounts for the large proportion on Irish surnames and Catholics within

Cardiff today. Irish immigration was continual right until World War 2, even late fifties / early sixties and there are still very close links between Ireland and Wales today.

As immigration grew, so did Cardiff docks. In the turn of the 20th century, It developed its own residential area which was called Tiger Bay. Tiger was one of the first real 'multi-ethnic' communities within Wales and the UK. Tiger Bay consisted of Africans, West Indians, Chinese, East Europeans, Italians, Spanish, Irish and of course Welsh. The community was formed well before the UK's massive immigra-tion periods of the 60's and 70's. Even thought the area no longer exists and has been incorporated into other suburbs as well as rede-veloped, it lives on in the hearts of

Cardiff residents. Remembered for being a peaceful, safe and tolerant area where racism had no place.

As with the rest of the UK mass immi-gration continued throughout the 60's and 70's. This period brought large proportions of Caribbean and Asian people and with them new cultures, food and religious practises. Every year Cardiff bay hosts a Caribbean festival and an international food festival. Chinese, Pakistani and Indian food have basically become national foods with 'traditional Welsh curry's' now in existence. Cardiff now houses 19 Mosques, 2 Gurdwaras, 2 Synagoges several Hindi temples and a handful of Buddist centres as well as other religions existing in practise.

8

Cardi�: �e Multi-Cultural City

“Cardiff grew into a major international dock.”

Immigration as a whole has not only continued in Cardiff until the present day, but will continue for the foresee-able future. More recently the large influx of immigration has been from predominantly Islamic areas such as Sudan, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan as well as many others. Due to large influx of Islamic people, Cardiff recently has a proposal to build another mosque and in a nearby town the largest Halal food processing centre in Western Europe is to be built.

In the UK since the July 2005 bomb-ings of London, Islamophobia and nationalism has been on the rise leading to the creation of the British National Party (BNP) and and organi-sation considered closely linked to them the English Defence league (EDL). The EDL travelled to Cardiff and held a protest on the 5th June 2010 against the building of the new Mosque and the Halal food process-

9

ing centre. The protest didn't go down well with most local residents, a counter protest called 'Cardiff Together' was set up for the same day by the Cardiff 'Antifascists'. On the day of the protest a couple of hundred EDL turned up and a couple of thousand antifascists from Cardiff turned up. Four arrests were made that day due to acts of violence from antifascists against the EDL. The EDL were escorted back to the central train station by the police who issue a statement to several organisations suggesting the EDL were not looking to return to Cardiff any time soon.

Prime minister David Cameron was recently stated that “multiculturalism does not work”. I suggest Davis Cameron takes a good look at the UK, especially one of the nations capitals. Like Cardiff, most of the UK was built up by immigration, without it Cardiff and the UK would not be what they are today. Immigration has been continual and will continue. David Cameron should put his hands in his pockets and realise the money lining those pockets is taxes paid by people whose ances-try and parentage is immigration.

«Cardiff recently has a proposal to build another mosque.»

Daniel John Carter.Wales, UK

Sources:www.migrationnews.com www.census.ac.uk www.bbc.co.ukwww.islamophobia-watch.com www.hurriyetdailynews.com

“As immigration grew, so did Cardiff docks. ”

I will begin with an introduction. I'm Goran Stamatoski, from Kicevo, which is my hometown, known as Mijak. I’m 21 years old and I am a student at the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology. Since I enrolled in college, some things about my multi-culturalism have become clearer. It may have happened because I grew up in a fairly conservative environ-ment, so the environmental impact of my socio-cultural development. But anyway, after I realized the differ-ences (they are not large) between people from different parts of the world I saw that we are all unique in at least one thing; the spread of culture and accepting of the "other". The spread of culture in Macedonia represents a walking tour of some familiar and unfamiliar places, listen-ing to Macedonian folk music, and observation of Macedonian folk costumes. But my opinion is just that. The spread and acceptance of crops are very dependent on how people see their and others' culture. I think

that so far I have achieved sufficient success, given that I haven’t partici-pated in many international projects, other than the Youth Exchange in Strumica where the main goal was to revitalize old games from child-hood, and through it all evoke memories of childhood, what more does someone need to see cultural similarities and differences that we have in huge numbers. After that exchange my worldview on certain segments of multiculturalism has changed. Previously I had many occasions to speak English, and I had a great need. Also I had a need, to tell the situation to someone about Macedonia.

The situation of cultural values in Macedonia. While attending univer-sity got received great knowledge of other cultures and their values. I

photo by Greg Lindquist, Flickr

have already researched a lot of them and have a picture of their culture. I can say that ethnographic documentary films take great plea-sure and I think just by visual presen-tation of other cultures through ethno-graphic film and photo will be enough to get a clear picture about the culture they studied. English has benefited, as I communicated with cultural presenters from other states. It is interesting that when you speak the native language it gives you an indig-enous perspective on certain things, but when you speak English, you are telling aspects that are more accept-able to the various characters. Somehow I found the smallest and least common denominator that plays a major role in multiculturalism. It’s the self presentation, but not in egoist-concept. Did you see my homeland as a multicultural country?

10

Multiculturalism in Macedonia

«I look for differences in the past and the similarities in the present.»

photos: Charie Delhumeau

11

With a mouthful I would say YES. Here are several reasons for this. From general knowledge of history it’s known that the Balkans represent a cultural crossroads in Southeast Europe. Quite important historical moments occurred here in which some states have defined the multi-cultural image. In Macedonia there are three major ethnic groups. Mace-donians, Turks, Albanians and smaller groups such as Roma, Vlachs, Torbesh, Armenians, Greeks, Bulgarians, Serbs etc. Especially in the western part of Macedonia, it is known for centuries in brotherhood which are living all these ethnic com-munities. Military conflicts in indepen-dent Macedonia artificially created inter-ethnic tensions in order to satisfy certain political interests. Before that inter-ethnic conflict there was almost no ethnic problems. I knew for myself, growing up in Kicevo with Roma, Turks, Albanians, Vlachs, and I had no problems with them. Many of them went to the same

schools. The whole point was that people were not very politicized and so there was no great pressure on it. The opinions I deduce that all people are equal but also different. I look for differences in the past and the simi-larities in the present. Since early human civilization we lean towards social progress and its definition as a special opportunity in each region differently. I also think that it is all very positive for all of us who explore world cultures as the only way we will know who we were, who we are and who we will be. According to me cultural similarities and differences will lead us to find a global solution that serves as a culture with all the features by which, they who will want to declare to the world will be fully understood.

We are all unique in at least one thing; the spread of culture and ac-cepting of the "other".

Goran Stamatoski, Macedonia

12

The traditional Dutch way of dealing with diversity was to facilitate every culture in expressing and living their own culture the way they wanted to. Offering the opportunity to build their own schools, learn their own language and have their own religious places. Now the question is raised if newcomers should adapt to a greater extend to the dominant culture adapt to the dominant culture. The native Dutch feel like their culture and national identity have been ignored. Therefore they ask the question if newcomers should show more connection to it by acting upon it. To them, giving the freedom to reject the culture entirely is denying its value to the own people and the outsiders.

I have been involved in this question on an academic level. The problem with this approach is that you talk about others without involv-ing the emotions that are involved in actually experiencing the situation they are in. Being in Macedonia is an opportunity to experience what it means to be a cultural minority .

The first time I was confronted with the meaning of being from a different culture was when I was without any consider-ation living the liberal lifestyle a normally do. I later found out that some of the acts contained in this liberal lifestyle were gossiped about by the people surrounding me in this environment. This was a very strong eye-opener to me. Not only was it new to me that all the people in a place were so tightly connected that an action of one individual is within one week known by all, it also made me feel very lonely; because gossip-ing is a way of judging a person and his actions. If my acts weren’t considered controversial or morally despicable, no one would consider them worth spreading around or focussing on it. My name became connected to the moral judgements people have of my actions.

The reason I felt lonely was the realisation that the acceptance for me as a complete person was limited by the culturally determined boundaries of those around me. I

know now that if I am going to express my cultural values and act upon them, they would be rejected by the people I am relying on to have relations with in this new situation. Of course I cannot blame the people for that. It is unrealistic to demand from them that they change a value system they have build up throughout their lives. The other option is to put a lock on the behav-iour that is rejected by the cultural value system of this country, thereby denying a part of myself.

Getting back to the question about the newcomers in the Nether-lands. Can we expect that from them? To deny this part of them-selves? For them it is even more urgent because they very often can’t leave after nine months due to lasting poverty or war/dictatorship in their own country. They don’t have the choice to leave the environment.

Culture and individualityCulture and individualityCulture and individuality

«A compromise can be found.»

photo - Paleontour, �ickr

13

My first impulse was to with-draw myself from the culture I was in and that was judging me for the things I consider normal. I wanted to seek out the people that were think-ing alike. The people with whom I could show myself and act the way I wanted without constantly having to question if something I do crosses some sort of unfamiliar line. Of course this kind of escape is not possible. I have to work with Mace-donians and meet them on a regular basis to have any sort of social life. The newcomers in the Netherlands also are facing this. They have to go to school, work and the latest generation is increasingly visiting the universities. So to build up a successful life they are dependent on interactions with the people that view them through their own domi-nant cultural perspectives.

So here is the dilemma. People have to build up a new life and they need to interact with others for that. They need to be part of a society that is rejecting parts of the culture that they consider one with who they are. They have the choice between feeling the suffocation of not being able to be themselves or the loneliness of being rejected for who they are by the people they are depending on to be loved and

accepted.Is there any good answer to this dilemma? I do not know. During my job as a temporary teacher in Social and Cultural Dialogue I met a girl who had a very creative way of dealing with this dilemma. She was a very strict and convinced Muslim. She really liked to express this part of her identity with pride. Once, during a discussion she declared that dancing was devilish and therefore undesirable. A lot of people who were more liberal attacked her for that opinion because they felt attacked in their identity and they couldn’t grasp an opinion like that being legitimate. She was crying eventually.During a fieldtrip where everybody was dancing, she was sitting on the side. Until she stood up and declared she wanted to do an imita-tion game. The game was one in which she imitated all sorts of activi-ties (running, vacuuming, arranging traffic) on the rhythm of the music while the others danced. She was part of the dancing experi-ence and in that way connected with the others without having to give up her cultural/religious determined convictions.

And maybe here a compro-mise can be found. The minorities can find ways and openings within their value system to connect with the dominant culture without com-pletely ignoring them. Not asking themselves what limits they should have in restricting themselves to fit in but rather what devices they can use to make their identity itself fit in. And the people of the dominant culture

should recognise this effort and not being too strict about the form in which the participation is presented. For instance, I could stop fighting the gossip or wanting to avoid it. Instead I could embrace the role that people give me in the community based on my liberal and individualistic behav-iour. And they in return should not reject me as a person but accept it as part of my role in the collective.

«The native Dutch feel like

their culture and national identity

have been ignored.»

Ramon Martensen,Netherlands

It is quite a funny thing when a friend from abroad happens to be closer to you than a person from your country. Even 5 years ago I wouldn’t have imagined that I would be so close to my foreign friends who are ready to give me a hand when needed, even if it is a hand via Skype.

Friendship does not depend on the nationality, it seems, it more depends on some inner waves, or fluids that bring people together and make them friends. So even if you do not share the same language, the same history of a country, government, traffic jams on your way to work, you are still able to be close friends.

Of course there are some disadvan-tages in having friends who live far away, because you can’t:

1.Hug them.2.Meet your friends in the evening in a bar and have fun with them.3.Call your best friend when your romance is over and cry upon her/his shoulder.4.Have a birthday party together.5.Go hiking/shopping/to the cinema/theatre/etc together!6.Make them understand your favor-ite joke in your own language (well, usually).

What you can:

1.Chat/talk to each other on Skype.2.Write emails/Facebook messages/postcards.3.Have some great time discussing where to meet up/planning your next travel together.4.Benefit from an absolutely different point of view shaped by another culture.5. Stay awake until 4 in the morning chatting with your friends on Skype trying to help him/her find their way in life – since you do not have an oppor-tunity to do it together in a kitchen drinking tea or a bottle of wine (unless you sit there with your com-puter).

14

Friends without borders

«Democracy is an echo of unrealized hopes and unful-filled dreams. »

15

But even if in “you can”-part there are mainly writing opportunities to keep in touch with your friends, it doesn’t mean they are worse or the friend-ship is not as intense as it could be if you lived in the same city or spoke the same language. Everybody has the same problems and the same issues to discuss – job, studies, love, friendship, future plans, career, etc. So even if your friend eats tortilla and even if you have never heard this word, it does not mean he/she will not give you the best advice possible as to whether you should quit your job or not.

It is the quality of relation that matters, not the quantity of times you see your friends. Even if my friend lives a couple of thousand kilometers away from me and we have totally different time zones I know he cares about me, and that is what matters to me.

Friendship does not have any nationality, it is fantastic to compare different cultures and different ways of thinking, which is perhaps one of the greatest advantages of having international friends – they look at your situation from totally another angle and thus help you find the solution you would have problems finding by yourself.

Friendship is beyond language you speak, friendship is when your heart speaks, and it speaks across the borders.

Evgenia Kostyanaya, Russia

«Everybody has the same problemsand the same issues to discuss.»

«Friendship does not depend on the nationality.»

«It is fantastic to compare different cultures»

Researching this article, I’ve found that most people write about their own society as the “most multicultural one”. Does that mean we live in a completely multicultural world? That there are no pure cultures anymore? Is every culture becoming a mixture of other cultures? Influenced by others?First of all, what is multiculturalism? We all hear this word used so often, but can we give one definition the meaning? Hardly, and I say so because the meanings of multicultur-alism are numerous. It could mean appreciation, acceptance and promo-tion of multiple cultures; having respect for diversity; extending equi-table status to distinct ethnic and religious groups without promoting the specific ethnic, religious or cultural community values of any

culture as central; and my personal favorite: a “cultural mosaic” often contrasted with the concepts of assimilationism and social integra-tion that can be described like a “salad bowl” rather than a “melting pot”.Multiculturalism gives members of the cultures that are brought together a taste of what others have to offer. As people come together, different ideas are shared and others can learn things from cultures, things they would not have known about at all if there have not been more than one culture in their society. Some of us don't realize it but many foods they eat, or clothes they wear or even games they play can belong to another culture.As with most things in life, there are positives and negatives to multicul-

turalism. Social, ethnic and religious tensions, racism, ethnocentrism, assimilationism are among the most prominent negatives. But they are in no case the only ones. Spend some time in a multicultural society and you will soon be aware that multiculturalism, along with its vibrant colors and tasty foods, brings also the barrier of language. The barrier of language leads to low self-confidence in newcomers to a soci-ety, driving them to find members that belong to their culture and to confine themselves to the comfort zone of their own culture group, a tendency known as segregation. Some, for many and varied reasons, may find it hard to integrate properly into the new society which can often cause unemployment. The struggle to

16

«The positives of embracing multiculturalism are many.»

«Is every culture becoming a mixture of other cultures?»

Multiculturalism

Positives

Negatives &

tandbere

survive may see such people turning to petty crime and other criminal activities such as drug-dealing, illegal prostitution, the selling of counterfeit or pirated goods and a lot of other organized crime as well.While such aspects of multicultural-ism may be becoming a problem, to a certain extent, for many, the positives by far outweigh the negatives. The

17

positives of embracing multicultural-ism are many – and are not limited to the introduction of mousaka or chow mien, and of sarma or bourek. Embracing multiculturalism means that a newcomer to a society and his or her culture become real and vivid in the eyes of the people with whom they hope to integrate. It means opening dialogues so that, one

understands a little better the struggles of other people from a different culture. The never-ending array of food and language which we can enjoy, the ability to connect with other cultures and learn other customs, as well as the doors being opened to present opportunities for those wishing to grasp them scream in favor of multiculturalism. As for problems, we can only hope that tolerance and compassion will prevail. But with so many different viewpoints on multiculturalism, will this be a likely possibility?

«A ‘salad bowl’ rather than a ‘melting pot’.»

Nevena Smilevska, Macedonia

“Monument to multiculturalism”, Toronto - Canada

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I have recently returned from an incredible month in India, where I learnt a few lessons in Indian culture. Just in case you ever find yourself in India or thinking of going to India, I feel it is my duty to pass on these lessons to you, so you can avoid making the same faux pas I did.I was in India as a result of being selected to take part in a “Study India Programme” sponsored by King’s College London. The programme, which is based for three weeks in Mumbai, allows undergraduate university students the opportunity to experience India first hand. This is done through a mix of language and culture classes, visits to cultural and historic sites and a week’s placement with an NGO. The programme is really insightful. However, in order to gain as much as possible from the opportunity I spent an extra week in Delhi and a weekend in Kerala, where my experience of India was a lot more ‘hands-on,’ as I had to actu-ally live and breath Indian culture.

To explain further, in Delhi I stayed with a traditional Hindu family. And when I say family, I mean it! I lived with the immediate family of my host, the Grandparents, the Cousins, the Aunties and the Uncles! In total there were about twenty of us. So, as you can imagine I was never lonely. In fact, it was such a novelty for me to be visiting them that they followed me everywhere, to the extent that I never had a moment to myself – even if I went to the toilet they waited outside! So, lesson number 1; be prepared to be followed. But don’t worry this is friendly following not the same sort of following as in CSI or other detective programmes. Your hosts will just want to ensure you are constantly having a good time.

Incredible Lessons

from India

Incredible Lessons

from India

«I feel it is my duty to pass on

these lessons to you.»

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This is one of the winning articles of the

www.Mladiinfo.com Article Writing Contest.

On the first day of my stay with the family I was hesitant as to how to initially embrace them. I wondered whether it was like England where a hug or handshake would suffice or more European where a kiss on the cheek is more appropriate. I decided to opt for the safe – and traditionally British – option of a handshake. How-ever, after being looked at funny when I first tried to shake hands with the Grandmother, I decided for my second introduction I would try a kiss. So when being introduced to one of the cousins I went in for ‘the kiss on the cheek’ embrace – big NO, NO. It was at this stage of introductions that I was informed of lesson number 2; do not embrace new acquaintances by kissing them on the cheek or hugging them. This will give com-pletely the wrong impression. Instead it is more polite to touch their feet.My third lesson arrived at dinnertime when I was taken to a local restaurant and allowed to choose anything I fancied for dinner. Being afraid of picking something too spicy for my first night, I decided to choose some-thing I thought safe – an omelette. As how can you go wrong with a simple omelette? Well, turns out eggs are

seen as meat to traditional Hindus. Consequently, my enjoyment and declaration that the omelette was delicious in front of the whole family of traditional ‘vegetarian’ Hindus did not go down too well. Thus, lesson number 3; do not eat an omelette (or any other egg-based dish) and declare it as delicious in front of a whole family of traditional ‘vegetar-ian’ Hindus. From that night forward, they cooked for me. And to try and ensure that I enjoyed the food they constantly told me that the food had been specially cooked so that it was not spicy – it always was. Lesson number 4; even if they say it is not spicy – it is!

Another lesson I learnt was the uniqueness of the Hindu religion. It is beautiful religion full of colour, animals and constant celebration. Thus, lesson

number 5; be prepared for the uniqueness of the Hindu religion. To explain further, I never realised how precious a simple cow was to the Hindu religion until we drove around a twenty-mile long mountain called “Cow Dung” in complete serious-ness, to ensure we got good luck. Equally, we attended – again, in com-plete seriousness – a religious service where an elephant led the prayers!My week’s stay with a traditional Hindu family was only matched in intrigue by my stay in Kerala where I was privileged enough to attend an Indian wedding. It was full of lots of colour and copious amounts of food, as you would expect. However, despite copious amounts of food, the pièce de résistance the wedding cake only had one layer of edible cake – the rest was cardboard! So lesson number 6; If you are attending a wedding and planning on trying the cake, make sure you get the tasty layer! As you can tell I learnt a lot of lessons from my stay in India and if you are planning on travelling to India, I hope this has helped and I wish you lots of luck! But above all, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Road-side Pulse bu Meanest Indian@flickr

Charlotte Buchanan, England, UK

«I feel it is my duty to pass on

these lessons to you.»

20

«Volunteering doesn’t only

mean «working for free» trying

to heal some big world issues.»

That is the question I heard many times and every time I am trying to answer patiently and explain why I decided to spend nine months in Russia working for free. Especially in Russia it is quite a hard thing to explain and only a few, mostly young people, are able to understand. In next few lines I will try to explain why I think it is so good to be volunteer, what voluntary experi-ence gave me, what I think people around got from me, how I came to it, also what I do, and maybe even answer the question “Why Russia?” I decided to be a volunteer for several reasons. I was not satisfied with my work possibilities after university, I needed more life experience and I wanted to do something useful. Finishing university helped me

understand how strange our social system is. During my studies of economics I discovered, that mon-etary redistribution (or if you wish social) system of government of most of countries doesn´t work too good. To explain it shortly I will just say, that as maybe you already know, one of basic and most impor-tant elements in contemporary soci-ety is financial profit. What activity is not creating profit is considered a bit inferior. This “business” thinking is also included when government should support activities of its citizens where it is obvious that they will never create any profit, at least not the kind that is measurable by money. These civic activities are improving the lives of people in a social and intellectual way. After

Volunteer in

Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia.

Why for god’s sake ?

21routard05, flickr

learning this I just pragmatically assumed, that the work of volunteers is really needed in any useful nonprofit area of human life. Until governments start to care about their citizens more, or at least on the same level as they care about their own businesses it will always be neces-sary, where citizens themselves take initiative and help themselves in areas that the government fails.

The conclusion to my simple assumption is that if I want to do something useful for both me and society, I have to start in the voluntary sector to discover new values, gain experience and at best help in the

process. Volunteering doesn’t only mean “working for free” trying to heal some big world issues. It is the process of learning from both sides, for volunteer and society which he/she is working for. I can gain experience in new areas, meet a lot of interesting people and change my ways of understanding. When I add to this equation international volun-teering, then I also learn how to live with and within different cultures. By all this of course I will earn no money for living, but constant learning and discovering new things via volun-teering which is giving me good chances for the future to do more useful things for living (work), than I

could do without it.

As I tried to illustrate above, I think by volunteering in any capacity you can be moved forward in the sense of personal development. The main and most important thing is to choose voluntary work that you will enjoy even if you are a bit afraid of it. There are so many opportunities to volunteer and most of them pose a great challenge for a person who is willing to learn something new. My voluntary experience started in Czech Republic by short term inter-national projects called “work-camps”. Than I was a leader of such “workcamp” trying to lead interna-

22

tional volunteers to do some good work, showing them my country and bringing people of different nationali-ties together. Then I became a member and got more and more involved in the Czech voluntary orga-nization called INEX-SDA and over some time I decided to apply and participate in a project of the Euro-pean commission called EVS (European Voluntary Service) which enables young people (18-30 years) to spend 2 – 12 months in foreign country as volunteers. EVS volun-teers can choose their project (work) and can help in many different fields (social, environmental, information technologies, offices of non-profit organizations etc.). In return they get money for food, accommodation, visa, transportation and some little amount of pocket money. From this we can see that the work of EVS volunteers is mainly to help with his/her project, but there is one more important thing. Nowadays you can hardly find better possibility to gain such an interesting and rich experi-ence that EVS can provide you, the experience which develops you and

changes your ways of thinking at the same time. I picked a project in Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia orga-nized in cooperation by local volun-tary movement SFERA1 and Czech honorary consulate. Now I am getting slowly to the question “Why Russia?” The title of my project is “Popularization of the Czech culture in Russia/Nizhniy Novgorod”. There are questions, as to why to make it more popular? The answer is simple. I think that it is important to raise the awareness of people about countries around in general. To show them that foreign-ers are not strange monsters and they are normal people like you. Especially in the Russia where situation with traveling is difficult it is really useful for many people, when foreign countries (represented by foreigners) come to them and they can meet them and talk to them. That is one part of my project, to raise awareness about some other country in general. But more

personally, I must say that I am glad, that I can spread awareness about my own country. There are some students here in Nizhniy Novgorod who are studying the Czech language both at universities and privately. They need language to use it for their future work, studies or they study it just from pure interest. As an answer to the most common question of Russians “Why you came to Russia?” I can ask at the same question to the ones interested in Czech culture “Why Czech Repub-lic?” and reply to ordinary Russians “Why not? As Slavic countries we have in many senses similar language, even when instant under-standing is very hard and requires a lot of skill. Anyway there are many

«A great challenge for a person who is willing to learn something new.»

23

cultural similarities which can help us greatly in understanding, even though Soviet invasion to Czechoslo-vakia in year 1968 and stay of occu-pation forces for next twenty years didn’t make any good impression as soldiers are not the best group of people to represent any country. Therefore it is really important to make connection between normal ordinary people from Czech Republic and Russia showing on both sides, that Czech Republic is not only a small funny country in central Europe with similar language and a lot of beer, with an army that poses no real threat and Russia is not lair of millions of blood thirsty soldiers with machine guns and ridiculously rich people who try and show everybody

Lukas Valek, Czech Republic

around their superiority, but behave really bad. Only by breaking stereo-types like that can we move forward and don’t stay stuck in the prisons of our minds forcing us to see things only in black and white.

«Why Russia ?»

Charlie Delhumeau

is additional European issue of the digital youth magazine LIBERTAS, published every 15th in the month with support from the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe.

LIBERTAS is a monthly youth magazine fully prepared by a group of young people from different countries,supported by the Youth Association creACTive (www.cre-act-ive.org). Published for the young people worldwide, LIBERTAS and LIBERTAS+ are distributed through the internet to anyone who is interested - free of charge.

All texts published in LIBERTAS+ represent solely the opinions of their authors, not of the magazine, its publishers or funders. LIBERTAS, creACTive and the European Youth Foundation are not responsible in any way for the contents of the articles, or for the photos published with them.

If you want to get involved feel free to contact us by e-mail at: hello@magazinelibertas.com

Henrike Pauling / GermanyMilos Kovacevic and Tijana Mirkovic / SerbiaDaniel John Carter / Wales, UK Goran Stamatoski / Macedonia Ramon Martensen / NetherlandsEvgenia Kostyanaya / Russia Nevena Smilevska / Macedonia esCharlotte Buchanan / England, UK Lukas Valek / Czech RepublicValentina Joshevska / Macedonia

Published by

Youth Assocation Creactive

www.cre-act-ive.org