Europe and Youth 2015
Outlines for a Competition
3 Febbraio 2015
The Regional Institute for European Studies of Friuli Venezia Giulia (IRSE) announces the competition “Europe and Youth 2015”. The competition is open to students in Universities and Schools of all levels throughout all the regions of Italy and the European Union.
DEADLINE: 21 MARCH 2015
Concorso
Europa e Giovani 2015
immagineCHOOSE A THEME
UNIVERSITY
N.B. The titles proposed for university students, recent graduates, and those who are not more than twenty-seven years old on the deadline, 21 March, 2015, must not exceed a total of 20,000 spaces, unless otherwise specified.
Works accompanied by a summary in English (not more than 1500 spaces), and a brief (maximum: 2 minutes) video presentation in English by the author, will receive extra attention in the awarding of prizes.
SPECIAL PRIZES OF € 500,00 for the best paper in each of the seven proposed themes. Other prizes of 300 and 200 Euros.
1. The Entrepreneurial State. Private enterprise is believed by all to be innovative, while the State is branded as immobile, incapable of acting as a dynamic force. The book The Entrepreneurial State by Mariana Mazzucato, professor at the University of Sussex, means to debunk this myth, and provide some suggestions for an intelligent, inclusive and sustainable European growth. Find examples and express your opinion, analyzing problems and prospects in your specific territory.
2. Organic Farming. Study the goals of organic farming and read up on the UE organic regulations, as well as what is done in your region to support it and to discourage scams and fraud.
3. Digital Makers. From the use of new technologies to promote traditional handicrafts to the cooperative evolution of “Makers”: technology-based hobbyists who create things using instruments such as laser cutters, CNC (computer numerical control) machines, 3D printers and scanners, and are characterized by open source and sharing. Using one or two real experiences, Italian and European, describe problems and prospects.
4. If This Is a Man. In his book Se questo è un uomo Primo Levi, a jewish Italian writer, described with great lucidity the human dynamics of intolerance. His analysis remains valid today, in a world dominated by global forms of intolerance, like that of fundamentalist islam or that based on racial prejudice, as well as the covert forms, nonetheless dangerous, of those who exploit privilege and position in a pervasive system of corruption. Express your thoughts, beginning with real examples from the world around you.
5. Cost or Investment? European welfare models do exist, but they are perceived more and more as a cost and not as an investment in people. What has been the evolution of social policies in the history of the European Union? What are the possible prospects in a period in which other general principles, tied to European Stability Mechanism, prevail?
6. Feeding the Planet. “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” is the theme of Expo Milan 2015. With what objectives are Italy and other European countries preparing for their participation in this event?
7. Luis Supúlveda: The Sweetest Lie. After reading the chapter entitled The Sweetest Lie from Luis SepúIveda's book Raccontare, resistere. Conversazioni con Bruno Arpaia, demonstrate the validity of the theory contained therein, with one or more examples taken from works of the author or other European writers. (Luis SepúIveda will be the protagonist of the Dedica Festival 2015. Pordenone 7 to 14 March 2015).
HIGH SCHOOL
N.B. These themes may be developed individually or in couple. A summary in English of not more than 500 spaces, will receive extra attention in the awarding of prizes.
PRIZES of € 300,00, € 200,00, enrolment in formative week-long seminars studying European themes in the summer of 2015, books, DVDs, material for language learning.
1. 25 Years Wall Fall. The evolution of democracy and socio-economic development in Eastern European countries and the Balkans took a variety of paths after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Describe the reality of two or more of these countries, investigating also styles of life and expectations of young people.
2. On the Bride’s Side. The film Io sto con la sposa, by Gabriele Del Grande, Antonio Augugliaro e Khaled Soliman Al Nassiry, gives a different perspective to the reality of immigrants. Beginning with your review of the film, write a newspaper article in not more than 4,000 spaces describing the various European policies treating the phenomenon.
3. Legality is Convenient. Giancarlo Caselli, an Italian magistrate, after years of work on the scene of the fight against the Mafia and different forms of corruption, makes this emphatic affirmation. Analyze the recent Anti-Corruption Report of the European Commission. Gather information about investigations in your territory and express your opinion in an article of not more than 4,000 spaces, and/or a graphic text (or comic strip using Comic Life or other apps).
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
N.B. The works can be developed individually, by small groups, or by a class.
PRIZES of € 300,00, € 200,00, books, DVDs, material for foreign language learning.
1. Reading Food Labels. Find out about new UE regulations on the labelling of food. Create a convincing video spot, comic strip or rap that, with useful tips, will help your parents read and understand food labels.
2. Healthy Pets. At times “humanized” to excess, at others not respected and even badly treated or abandoned. Study the directives of the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals and create a decalogue of good behavior with your companions, teachers and parents.
RULES
The works can be written in Italian or in another mother-tongue language. Each participant or group of participants can submit a single work only. The works submitted (two copies for written works, single copy for video presentations) must reach the IRSE offices (Via Concordia, 7 - 33170 Pordenone - Italy) BEFORE THE DEADLINE OF 21 MARCH 2015. They must be accompanied by the typewritten ATTACHED FORM (pdf form which can be completed online), giving the following information about the contestant: name, surname, address (street, city, postal code and email address), date and place of birth, telephone, e-mail address, specification of school class or university course of study, name and complete address of School or University, name of teacher or teachers who assisted.
Obligatory: each work must be accompanied by a bibliography of works consulted and/or by a list of web sites consulted. All participating works become the property of IRSE, and will be divulged through its publications and various projects.
THE AWARD CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE IN PORDENONE ON SUNDAY 24 MAY 2015.