She is a criminal..
She is forbidden to enter Scandinavia and there were some speculations about Shengen countries as well. Why? Because she was working one year (legally) as a volunteer for something she believes in - for peace and tolerance, for drug free lifestyle, for mutual understanding, for youth all over Europe...
Irony is that she was dealing with visas and travels and she did it really great. Found the best connections, called embassies, fixed documents..and now..just because she is not coming from the right country, she can sit at home and wait three months till she can feel free to travel wherever (relatively) she wants again.
This system makes one feel as a criminal of the century sometimes...
NOM
Right now I have been sititng at the computer already 3 hours having "meeting" with NOM - which is slovak temperance youth organisation. They are having board meeting in Slovakia and me as a president I am trying to contribute on distance as much as possible from Sweden via Skype. Honestly.. I miss them. I like them and admire them. NOM is a small organisation with almost no financees inspite of that we have existed for already 7 years. All people working just voluntarly often very frustrated cause it is not easy to recruit new members into something what has very little to offer except friendship, nice atmosphere and sponatneous and improvised fun.
There has been some discussion going on in UNF about why to have many members in an organisation based on voluntarly base. Yes to spread ideas, to have better influence etc. I agree. But there is aslo another aspect - and that´s smth what an organisatoin has to offer to others. NOM is a small organisation but I think it is a very important "place" for those who are membes. They find space for self realisation. They feel that they belong somewhere thus they are assured that there are more people having the same believes, they found new ideas and new friends and they have something to hold on.
Now when they finished discussin some local things where I really can´t contribute I go back to them although it is a bit frustrating not to see their faces and hear their voices as good as in the real time and real space but still... the feeling to contributing and keeping NOM alive is stronger!!!!
..and now they r playing some slovak music for me =)
There has been some discussion going on in UNF about why to have many members in an organisation based on voluntarly base. Yes to spread ideas, to have better influence etc. I agree. But there is aslo another aspect - and that´s smth what an organisatoin has to offer to others. NOM is a small organisation but I think it is a very important "place" for those who are membes. They find space for self realisation. They feel that they belong somewhere thus they are assured that there are more people having the same believes, they found new ideas and new friends and they have something to hold on.
Now when they finished discussin some local things where I really can´t contribute I go back to them although it is a bit frustrating not to see their faces and hear their voices as good as in the real time and real space but still... the feeling to contributing and keeping NOM alive is stronger!!!!
..and now they r playing some slovak music for me =)
Basel at the spot..
There are many things to write about from one week in Basel. When I look back. I was trying to sort out my thoughts but I am still overwhelmed by feelings.. Nevermind..i´ll give it a try.
So the EGTYF congress started. I was "just" an observer since I work for EGTYF so it wass logical that I wasn´t a delegate. I can say it was great to observe. And I felt very happy. I saw people I work for in action. I saw new organisations taking active part during the sessions, I saw old organisations who havent taken part in previous congresses talking and expressing their wishes. I saw people gathering, dicsussin, laughing, thinking, creating coalitions..I heard great speeches, board reports and I was proud to be member of EGTYF..
....or Active which is the same. Yes we changed the name into "Active - sobriety, friendship and peace". There are still discussions going on. Is it good or not? Is it the right name for temperance organisation? There are arguments that we will make an impression of being sport organisation. I do not agree really. Not only sport has something to do with activity. What about active participation? What about living an active life and not being passive? Passivity leads to using drugs for example. And our members are active in what they do. They actively promote the ideas of the organisation and also their believes, they take active step forward. It is up to us to make word "active" connected with temperance. I believe that it will help the organistion to grow and change the discourse connected to "active". And maybe it will also help some people to realize that sport and alcohol really do not belong to each other. Maybe..
When it comes to IOGT International congress..I liked it a lot. I was charing it twice. The first day and the day before the last day (how to call it in english). As I said I have learnt a lot from Robert and Andreas who were chairing the EGTYF congress. I have learnt that one has to be really clear and strict and be focused all the time. When being a chairman I had one thing on mind. Respect. From my side and from side of others. There were more than 45 countries presented at the congress. People of different ages, from different cultures, having different "congress habits" but keeping those four things on mind - it was easy to handle. I loved it!!!!
Free time, evenings - I was amazed by many situations - drummers, Balcans together, winning volleyball, party in Basel...yes I have to describe it by few words.
During the excursion day, we had also street action in Basel. We went through the down shouting: "what´s a party without alcohol? Real party!!!" untill we reached the town hall and there we had disco, photo making etc. It was REAL party!!! So much fun! It was great final of the whole bus tour action. Many people dancing and enjoying. I felt very proud again!!!!
Maybe I can write a bit more about being elected vicepresident of IOGT International as well. Yes..when I got to know some day in May that EGTYF (now Active) wanted to nominated me for vicepresident of IOGT I, I was very surprised. It was very unexpected but the timing was incredible. Right those days I was walking around thinking that I have been very much active in Europe, but that I should step further cause Europe is not a desert island and I should live only in my "small" european bubble although it feels very nice and safe. I had to think a bit. I didnt know what such a position carries and so on but after some days of thinking I said yes. And am happy that i did! After the congress I am very motivated to represent IOGT International and tp copntribute to its aims. I hope I will be able to do that. I will do my best!!!
So the EGTYF congress started. I was "just" an observer since I work for EGTYF so it wass logical that I wasn´t a delegate. I can say it was great to observe. And I felt very happy. I saw people I work for in action. I saw new organisations taking active part during the sessions, I saw old organisations who havent taken part in previous congresses talking and expressing their wishes. I saw people gathering, dicsussin, laughing, thinking, creating coalitions..I heard great speeches, board reports and I was proud to be member of EGTYF..
....or Active which is the same. Yes we changed the name into "Active - sobriety, friendship and peace". There are still discussions going on. Is it good or not? Is it the right name for temperance organisation? There are arguments that we will make an impression of being sport organisation. I do not agree really. Not only sport has something to do with activity. What about active participation? What about living an active life and not being passive? Passivity leads to using drugs for example. And our members are active in what they do. They actively promote the ideas of the organisation and also their believes, they take active step forward. It is up to us to make word "active" connected with temperance. I believe that it will help the organistion to grow and change the discourse connected to "active". And maybe it will also help some people to realize that sport and alcohol really do not belong to each other. Maybe..
When it comes to IOGT International congress..I liked it a lot. I was charing it twice. The first day and the day before the last day (how to call it in english). As I said I have learnt a lot from Robert and Andreas who were chairing the EGTYF congress. I have learnt that one has to be really clear and strict and be focused all the time. When being a chairman I had one thing on mind. Respect. From my side and from side of others. There were more than 45 countries presented at the congress. People of different ages, from different cultures, having different "congress habits" but keeping those four things on mind - it was easy to handle. I loved it!!!!
Free time, evenings - I was amazed by many situations - drummers, Balcans together, winning volleyball, party in Basel...yes I have to describe it by few words.
During the excursion day, we had also street action in Basel. We went through the down shouting: "what´s a party without alcohol? Real party!!!" untill we reached the town hall and there we had disco, photo making etc. It was REAL party!!! So much fun! It was great final of the whole bus tour action. Many people dancing and enjoying. I felt very proud again!!!!
Maybe I can write a bit more about being elected vicepresident of IOGT International as well. Yes..when I got to know some day in May that EGTYF (now Active) wanted to nominated me for vicepresident of IOGT I, I was very surprised. It was very unexpected but the timing was incredible. Right those days I was walking around thinking that I have been very much active in Europe, but that I should step further cause Europe is not a desert island and I should live only in my "small" european bubble although it feels very nice and safe. I had to think a bit. I didnt know what such a position carries and so on but after some days of thinking I said yes. And am happy that i did! After the congress I am very motivated to represent IOGT International and tp copntribute to its aims. I hope I will be able to do that. I will do my best!!!
Basel from the beginning
As I promised and planned..I am back with some more detailed report from my "Basel" weeks.
There are many people writing about Basel week. So why do I write about weeks? Because I also had to get somehow to Basel. And I chose one of the longest ways of course =) It was long but it was very enriching and exciting. We started one week before the opening of EGTYF congres. We means around 15 Swedes from UNF, Sasa from Slovakia and our bus and bus drivers. The first day went rather easy. We came to our ferry, boerded and went to Estonia. We landed in Estonia close to Tallin and picked Kadri. It feels like this was real beginning of our time confusion. Instead of 2 hours to Tartu, we counted 7 hours. So of course we arrived rather early. But this was the better case. We arrived 5 hours earlier so we got some food and rest and sight seeing. At 16.00 our estonian friends arrived to joing our tour. It was amazing to see familiar faces. I do not know how estonians do that but I feel very close to them although I see some of them maybe once, twice a year. So they came and our party started. The meaning of going one week before the congress was to visit several places on the way "down" and promote life without alcohol and other drugs. The message wasnt only fighting drugs but also offerning the alternative to drugs - Real party with friends and fun!!! We really had nice party. We created leaflets (directly in the streets of Tartu), we build party tents and had disco on the square, we stopped people, invited them to the party and we also took a picture of some of them which was directly printed out and they wrote on it their name, age and smth that makes them happy.
We repeated this activity in all the places we stopped and it was real success. People were really happy about the pictures and there were many of them who supported our message. It was really pleasure to make party in the streets inspite of hot weather (still better than rain in this case). In the night we had some games with estonians and went to sleeping bags (we slept in a gym).
Next day our tour continued. Some more people on board (6 estonains) Next stop - Latvia. There we changed our plan a bit. Due to the fact that we havent got permission to have a party in the cetre of the town, we joined our latvian friends in demonstration walk through the town a later on we arranged the party out of the town at the street children centre. The experience is unforgettable. So many children, really happy for a single lollypop or music playing, amazed by our fire show.
The weather was with us again. Feeling tired we decided to take it easy next day and not to hurry to Kaunas, Lithuania. The morning was free so we spent it in street of Riga and we left after lunch heavier and noisier by some 9 lativans. In the bus we had a talk show about situation in alcohol advertising in different (participating) countries. The street action in Kaunas was canceled. We didnt have a permission and we were tireeeeeed. So after dinner we had some group activities together, improvisation theater, getting know each other etc. And then shoooop to bed cause our departure time for Slovakia was 6 a.m.
We woke up just to move to the bus and we slept more. We were on the road the whole day and arrived to Slovakia after midnight meaning that we traveled like 19 hours (with some small breaks of course). Slovaks were already waiting for us, we slept in a student house which was for some of the participants real adventure regarding the size and conditions...
Next morning - with a new information that our bus has to stay 10 hours without moving we somehow got into the centre of Bratislava and fixed the party there again. (I met my parents and my dog there - which really cheered me up). We took some more pics, danced some more (it was veeeeeeery hot), heard some words of support and then we left again. We left on time BUT....
Our next destination with some more people in bus (6 slovaks) was Freiburg, Germany (close to Basel) and estimated arrival time was midnight..hmm...OK..let´s say that we were 6 hours late..hmm..Considering all the complications we would have when arriving there (no shower, no bed, bus waiting 10 hours again) we deceided to change our destination, to skip Freiburg and to go directly to Basel. We did it =) We arrived to Basel at 9.30 ready for breakfast and shower and for one more week of great time.
The bus tour was about lots of sitting in the bus but also about seeing different cultures (remember the student house in Slovakia), different people and different reaction of people, exploring the cities and expressing what we believe in - fun without drugs and alcohol!!! It would never happen without UNF´s contribution and that´s why I want to THANK unf also here and send greetings to all partiicipants and organizers. It was unforgettable week..
There are many people writing about Basel week. So why do I write about weeks? Because I also had to get somehow to Basel. And I chose one of the longest ways of course =) It was long but it was very enriching and exciting. We started one week before the opening of EGTYF congres. We means around 15 Swedes from UNF, Sasa from Slovakia and our bus and bus drivers. The first day went rather easy. We came to our ferry, boerded and went to Estonia. We landed in Estonia close to Tallin and picked Kadri. It feels like this was real beginning of our time confusion. Instead of 2 hours to Tartu, we counted 7 hours. So of course we arrived rather early. But this was the better case. We arrived 5 hours earlier so we got some food and rest and sight seeing. At 16.00 our estonian friends arrived to joing our tour. It was amazing to see familiar faces. I do not know how estonians do that but I feel very close to them although I see some of them maybe once, twice a year. So they came and our party started. The meaning of going one week before the congress was to visit several places on the way "down" and promote life without alcohol and other drugs. The message wasnt only fighting drugs but also offerning the alternative to drugs - Real party with friends and fun!!! We really had nice party. We created leaflets (directly in the streets of Tartu), we build party tents and had disco on the square, we stopped people, invited them to the party and we also took a picture of some of them which was directly printed out and they wrote on it their name, age and smth that makes them happy.
We repeated this activity in all the places we stopped and it was real success. People were really happy about the pictures and there were many of them who supported our message. It was really pleasure to make party in the streets inspite of hot weather (still better than rain in this case). In the night we had some games with estonians and went to sleeping bags (we slept in a gym).
Next day our tour continued. Some more people on board (6 estonains) Next stop - Latvia. There we changed our plan a bit. Due to the fact that we havent got permission to have a party in the cetre of the town, we joined our latvian friends in demonstration walk through the town a later on we arranged the party out of the town at the street children centre. The experience is unforgettable. So many children, really happy for a single lollypop or music playing, amazed by our fire show.
The weather was with us again. Feeling tired we decided to take it easy next day and not to hurry to Kaunas, Lithuania. The morning was free so we spent it in street of Riga and we left after lunch heavier and noisier by some 9 lativans. In the bus we had a talk show about situation in alcohol advertising in different (participating) countries. The street action in Kaunas was canceled. We didnt have a permission and we were tireeeeeed. So after dinner we had some group activities together, improvisation theater, getting know each other etc. And then shoooop to bed cause our departure time for Slovakia was 6 a.m.
We woke up just to move to the bus and we slept more. We were on the road the whole day and arrived to Slovakia after midnight meaning that we traveled like 19 hours (with some small breaks of course). Slovaks were already waiting for us, we slept in a student house which was for some of the participants real adventure regarding the size and conditions...
Next morning - with a new information that our bus has to stay 10 hours without moving we somehow got into the centre of Bratislava and fixed the party there again. (I met my parents and my dog there - which really cheered me up). We took some more pics, danced some more (it was veeeeeeery hot), heard some words of support and then we left again. We left on time BUT....
Our next destination with some more people in bus (6 slovaks) was Freiburg, Germany (close to Basel) and estimated arrival time was midnight..hmm...OK..let´s say that we were 6 hours late..hmm..Considering all the complications we would have when arriving there (no shower, no bed, bus waiting 10 hours again) we deceided to change our destination, to skip Freiburg and to go directly to Basel. We did it =) We arrived to Basel at 9.30 ready for breakfast and shower and for one more week of great time.
The bus tour was about lots of sitting in the bus but also about seeing different cultures (remember the student house in Slovakia), different people and different reaction of people, exploring the cities and expressing what we believe in - fun without drugs and alcohol!!! It would never happen without UNF´s contribution and that´s why I want to THANK unf also here and send greetings to all partiicipants and organizers. It was unforgettable week..
Two weeks of happening
I have been offline for more than 2 weeks. Nothing has happened in my blog but very much has happened in my life. The EGTYF Camp and Congress 2006 and IOGT World Congress were just full of happening and it is very difficult to start writing about it. Don´t know where to start. And I will not start from the beginning. I will just name some strongest moments and I will get back to the real beginning some other time.
I have never met so many friends at the same time and at the same place as I did during the congress week. Wherever I looked I saw faces which mean a lot to me. I could stop at whatever group and join people without any doubts. At the same time I feel that i have been with everybody and nobody. I managed to talk to a person maximum 15 minutes and some other people or tasks appeared. It made me feel a bit sad when i look back. I was looking forward to many friends and long talks but this I havent managed.
I slept maximum 4,5 hour every night.
I have never faced so much support as I did during the week. Even people who do not know me came to me to support me in what I was doing (chairing IOGT congress)
Btw. chairing the congress is one of the best things I have done in last years. I have never done it before but i guess I learnt a lot from Andreas and Robert during EGTYF/Active congress and I just applied it at IOGT International congress...
Yes EGTYF has changed the name into Active and I am very exciting about future promotion. (I will have to change my cathegory EGTYF into Active)
Our volleyball team won midnight tournament =) =) =) Seems that Switzerland is bringing me luck.
I got elected as vicepresident of IOGT International. It makes me think a lot too. Four years ago I took part at my first IOGT International congress in Eastbourne. I felt so little, unimportant and unexperienced. And suddenly four years later I was leading the congress and got elected. It just gives me lots of energy and motivation to continue in what I am doing. (seems I will have to add cathegory IOGT International as well)
I managed to change one part of constitution =) From sentence "IOGT I is the organisation for all women and men of all ages.." into "IOGT I is the organisation for people of all ages regardless gender,...." I think it is very important change. I have dealt with gender a lot last year and "men" and "women" do not cover all the cathegories. Moreover, although "all ages" were mentioned it can be a bit misleading and the fact that also children are members can disappear. So I am very happy that my proposal went through.
And I am impressed by the youth at the IOGT congress. They were great!!!
I have seen all the participants from Balcans together at the stage singing and having fun and it made me almost cry. Very warm feeling. Yes I definitely do believe in IOGT and Acitve.
OK..my emotions are stlil not sorted out so I will continue some other time..
I have never met so many friends at the same time and at the same place as I did during the congress week. Wherever I looked I saw faces which mean a lot to me. I could stop at whatever group and join people without any doubts. At the same time I feel that i have been with everybody and nobody. I managed to talk to a person maximum 15 minutes and some other people or tasks appeared. It made me feel a bit sad when i look back. I was looking forward to many friends and long talks but this I havent managed.
I slept maximum 4,5 hour every night.
I have never faced so much support as I did during the week. Even people who do not know me came to me to support me in what I was doing (chairing IOGT congress)
Btw. chairing the congress is one of the best things I have done in last years. I have never done it before but i guess I learnt a lot from Andreas and Robert during EGTYF/Active congress and I just applied it at IOGT International congress...
Yes EGTYF has changed the name into Active and I am very exciting about future promotion. (I will have to change my cathegory EGTYF into Active)
Our volleyball team won midnight tournament =) =) =) Seems that Switzerland is bringing me luck.
I got elected as vicepresident of IOGT International. It makes me think a lot too. Four years ago I took part at my first IOGT International congress in Eastbourne. I felt so little, unimportant and unexperienced. And suddenly four years later I was leading the congress and got elected. It just gives me lots of energy and motivation to continue in what I am doing. (seems I will have to add cathegory IOGT International as well)
I managed to change one part of constitution =) From sentence "IOGT I is the organisation for all women and men of all ages.." into "IOGT I is the organisation for people of all ages regardless gender,...." I think it is very important change. I have dealt with gender a lot last year and "men" and "women" do not cover all the cathegories. Moreover, although "all ages" were mentioned it can be a bit misleading and the fact that also children are members can disappear. So I am very happy that my proposal went through.
And I am impressed by the youth at the IOGT congress. They were great!!!
I have seen all the participants from Balcans together at the stage singing and having fun and it made me almost cry. Very warm feeling. Yes I definitely do believe in IOGT and Acitve.
OK..my emotions are stlil not sorted out so I will continue some other time..
Congress
I am leaving in 2 hours to Basel - to the IOGT World Congress and EGTYF Camp and Congress 2006. The event itelf starts on 30th of July but first we will travel from Sweden through Estonia, Latvia. Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Germany. Every day one country (except Poland which we just pass through). In each country a street action and activities about alcohol advertising.
Veeeeeery exciting!
I am looking forward to so many things and so many people that it is difficult to name it here.
EGTYF is the best =)
I´ll be back around 7th of august and then the report from the whole event comes!!!
Yuhuuuuuuuuuu......
Veeeeeery exciting!
I am looking forward to so many things and so many people that it is difficult to name it here.
EGTYF is the best =)
I´ll be back around 7th of august and then the report from the whole event comes!!!
Yuhuuuuuuuuuu......
Hard worker =)
Today I have done a looooot =)
I have been counting and counting and counting and I found out that I still can do it =) And it made me happy. It was such a great feeling when I found a system and logic..hurraaaaa =)
Then I was writing final report from Kiev seminar - yeeee..it was so nice to be back and think of those nice moments again =)
Then I was updating website
And of course answering emails.
I am satisfied =) And now I can go home and watch Friends and then bikeeeeeee =)
I have been counting and counting and counting and I found out that I still can do it =) And it made me happy. It was such a great feeling when I found a system and logic..hurraaaaa =)
Then I was writing final report from Kiev seminar - yeeee..it was so nice to be back and think of those nice moments again =)
Then I was updating website
And of course answering emails.
I am satisfied =) And now I can go home and watch Friends and then bikeeeeeee =)
Soul in Europe...
My body in Sweden, luggage in Copenhagen, soul in Europe...I at least felt like that when I came home from the board meeting in Germany.
Traveling by 1st class train, Hege blocking the slef check-in system at the airport, my camera (expensive) forgotten in luggage (me worried the whole way), Hanna speaking german, meeting people I haven´t seen for more than one and a half year (some of them at least) and being happy to see them again, meeting people I haven´t seen for few days (some of them at least) and being happy to see them again, talking and silence, discussions and jokes, playing basket, jumping, laughing, winning, taking pics, different opinions, same aims, agreements, first spring day..
It gives so much energy to continue working..
Thank you for that guys!
Traveling by 1st class train, Hege blocking the slef check-in system at the airport, my camera (expensive) forgotten in luggage (me worried the whole way), Hanna speaking german, meeting people I haven´t seen for more than one and a half year (some of them at least) and being happy to see them again, meeting people I haven´t seen for few days (some of them at least) and being happy to see them again, talking and silence, discussions and jokes, playing basket, jumping, laughing, winning, taking pics, different opinions, same aims, agreements, first spring day..
It gives so much energy to continue working..
Thank you for that guys!
Lite mer om förebilder och alkohol
Åsa H. för ett par dagar sen skrev en blog om förebilder. Då diskuterades mer de som är aktiva i politik och är verkligen "public property". Igår fick jag ett mail från min handbollkompis. Mailet var till hela laget för att ett fest (arrangerat för att förbättra relationer mellan damlag och herrlag och att ha det roligt..hmmm) närmar sig och det behövs att fixa lite saker. En del av mailet gjorde mig verkligen ledsen. Det stod där att herrarna kommer redan till festen lite runda i fötterna och att vi (tjejer) borde också komma lite avslapnade. Det stod ingenting om alkohol i mailet men visst var det klart utan tvekar.
Det är bra att slapna av men varför med hjälp av alkohol..? Fy f.. det finns så många andra olika sätt att slapna av. Jag blev verkligen ledsen för att de där tjejerna spelar jag med och jag kan säga att de kan visa glädje och ha det roligt på träningar och är duktiga handbollspelare utan alkohol!!!! De har inga problem att prata med varandra och vara sociala. Alkohol är verkligen onödigt i det här laget. Aha men tillbaka till förebilder. Tjejen som skrev mailet är lärare. Jag är säkert att hon är akcepterad av studenter och hennes asikter "väger mycket". Att alkohol är än vanligt vara i hennes liv och hon pratar öppet om det i koppling med social liv och fun är ett klart budskap att det är bara bra så. Då kännde jag mig lite hjälplös men å andra sida, det är jag inte. Jag kan göra samma sak som hon. Visa att det är helt normalt att ha det roligt utan alkohol och droger. Man kan slapna av, man kan skratta ihjäl sig, man kan prata med människor utan att vara berusad. Moreover..man kan köra bil hem från festen, man kan spela handboll dagen efter utan att ha huvudverk eller känna sig snurrigt, man kan spela säkert och det viktigaste - man kan vara säkert att alla upplevelser är på riktigt!
Det är bra att slapna av men varför med hjälp av alkohol..? Fy f.. det finns så många andra olika sätt att slapna av. Jag blev verkligen ledsen för att de där tjejerna spelar jag med och jag kan säga att de kan visa glädje och ha det roligt på träningar och är duktiga handbollspelare utan alkohol!!!! De har inga problem att prata med varandra och vara sociala. Alkohol är verkligen onödigt i det här laget. Aha men tillbaka till förebilder. Tjejen som skrev mailet är lärare. Jag är säkert att hon är akcepterad av studenter och hennes asikter "väger mycket". Att alkohol är än vanligt vara i hennes liv och hon pratar öppet om det i koppling med social liv och fun är ett klart budskap att det är bara bra så. Då kännde jag mig lite hjälplös men å andra sida, det är jag inte. Jag kan göra samma sak som hon. Visa att det är helt normalt att ha det roligt utan alkohol och droger. Man kan slapna av, man kan skratta ihjäl sig, man kan prata med människor utan att vara berusad. Moreover..man kan köra bil hem från festen, man kan spela handboll dagen efter utan att ha huvudverk eller känna sig snurrigt, man kan spela säkert och det viktigaste - man kan vara säkert att alla upplevelser är på riktigt!
EGTYF
I am member of EGTYF - European Good Templar Youth Federation. Our aims are peace, tolerance and human dignity. We consider alcohol a hinder of development and democracy and that is the reason why none of EGTYF members drinks alcohol and use other drugs in any amount. That´s it. No more things. No we have nothing to do with religion, no we do not secretly carry Da Vinci´s code during the decades, we are not a sect, we do not have secret rituals, we do not sacrify animals or people.
We talk about society and the role of youth in the society, we run free time activities without drugs and alcohol, we help each other and we help people outside the organisation, we really like fun, we go to discos, theater, we read books and sometimes just do nothing and we are open for everybody (in both ways - whoever can enter and whoever can leave. Whenever.)
We talk about society and the role of youth in the society, we run free time activities without drugs and alcohol, we help each other and we help people outside the organisation, we really like fun, we go to discos, theater, we read books and sometimes just do nothing and we are open for everybody (in both ways - whoever can enter and whoever can leave. Whenever.)
Alcohol in our lives
Am I too radical? I am member of a temperance organisation and I work as a volunteer for European Temperance oragisation EGTYF. I dont drink alcohol. i dont drink it at all. There are several reasons for that.
I didnt start to drink alcohol because I had some nice life plans and I didnt want to do anything what could ruin them. My typical characteristic is that when I do something I have to do it in the best possible way (the best I can). I felt that alcohol and drugs would be a problem in this field.For example: I wanted to be a proffessional handball player (to be fast, strong and sharp - hmm - alcohol wouldnt be the best way), then I realized that I dont need alcohol at all so I dint start drinking for New Year Eve or birthday celebrations. For me alcohol and drug fun is too artificial and I like only natural things and natural people. Fun with people who were high or drunk seemed to me very unsecure (for myself). I didnt know what was real and what was just in their head and which nice moment would stay and which would disappear forever. SInce I didnt drink at all I became an alien for some people. It was very nice revealing feeling when I found out that there were more such aliens as I was =) So I became a member of EGTYF. By being member I got a new perspective on my temperance. It was impact of alcohol on society. Not "only" on individual health. I became more interested in alcohol questions and the result is that I really dont think and I dont see ANY argument for alcohol in our lives (regarding consumption). I dont like the fact that many people die and suffer because of alcohol, I dont like the fact that it is used for manipulation, that it is used for hiding probems, that it is just a business for those who bring it into society every day (there are no health reasons, there is no wellfare reason, just money). So my standpoint is not to support alcohol and alcohol industry at all. One think is not to drink it..BUT there is also a broader aspect of this issue. I would never work as a bartender, I would never give alcohol to somebody as present, I even wouldnt accept it as a present. I simply wouldnt contribute to its distribution.
There are many people who are teatotalers, but who agree to sell alcohol. Their question and argument is: "should I be unemployed? It is just a job." Yes it is job but it is we who can decide and who can create an opinion in society. If thousands and thousands of poeple would say NO to something like that - alcohol would get another connotation. It would not be an ordinary thing in our lives. And then there would be more people who would dare NOT to drink there where it is expected...
I didnt start to drink alcohol because I had some nice life plans and I didnt want to do anything what could ruin them. My typical characteristic is that when I do something I have to do it in the best possible way (the best I can). I felt that alcohol and drugs would be a problem in this field.For example: I wanted to be a proffessional handball player (to be fast, strong and sharp - hmm - alcohol wouldnt be the best way), then I realized that I dont need alcohol at all so I dint start drinking for New Year Eve or birthday celebrations. For me alcohol and drug fun is too artificial and I like only natural things and natural people. Fun with people who were high or drunk seemed to me very unsecure (for myself). I didnt know what was real and what was just in their head and which nice moment would stay and which would disappear forever. SInce I didnt drink at all I became an alien for some people. It was very nice revealing feeling when I found out that there were more such aliens as I was =) So I became a member of EGTYF. By being member I got a new perspective on my temperance. It was impact of alcohol on society. Not "only" on individual health. I became more interested in alcohol questions and the result is that I really dont think and I dont see ANY argument for alcohol in our lives (regarding consumption). I dont like the fact that many people die and suffer because of alcohol, I dont like the fact that it is used for manipulation, that it is used for hiding probems, that it is just a business for those who bring it into society every day (there are no health reasons, there is no wellfare reason, just money). So my standpoint is not to support alcohol and alcohol industry at all. One think is not to drink it..BUT there is also a broader aspect of this issue. I would never work as a bartender, I would never give alcohol to somebody as present, I even wouldnt accept it as a present. I simply wouldnt contribute to its distribution.
There are many people who are teatotalers, but who agree to sell alcohol. Their question and argument is: "should I be unemployed? It is just a job." Yes it is job but it is we who can decide and who can create an opinion in society. If thousands and thousands of poeple would say NO to something like that - alcohol would get another connotation. It would not be an ordinary thing in our lives. And then there would be more people who would dare NOT to drink there where it is expected...
Om en kul måndag som började redan i lördags..
Igår var en kul dag igen. Det kanske börjar vara tråkigt för de som läser min blogg men inte för mig. Det är kul att ha det kul, eller hur? =)
Min kul måndag började redan i lördags =) och fortsätte i söndags. Jag fick fotografera vår styrelese och några bilder ser verkligen bra ut. Sen spelade vi en match mot Nora och vi vann. Matchen var kanske lite tråkigt men ändå - vi vann =) Nästa gång måste vi spela annan musik innan matchen börjar för att i lördags somnade jag nästan på gund av vår musik som skulle peppa upp oss lite. Så monotont var det!
Efter matchen träffades vi igen. De så blev kvar i Örerbo alltså. Det var Andrey, Jan, Kadri, Pål Jostein och sen Fredrik, Inese, Madlena och jag. Och vi hade det himla roligt. Alla i min liten lägenhet. Jag började fota igen - bra att jag gjorde det. Nu tittar jag på bilder och saknar de alla men samtidigt är jag glad att jag känner dem. Så många människor och så litet kök som jag har..vi bestämmte oss att äta ute. Då gick vi, och satt och pratade mer än 2 timmar om allt möjligt. Vi hade jättebra diskussion om prostitution och porno. Jag är mot båda helt enkelt. Att legalisera prostitution är bara ett sätt att visa att samhälle stödjer den. Bättre än legalisera är att förbetra systemet så att man inte behöver det. Att kvinnor behöver inte sälja sig för att ha pengar och att män inte behöver sånt service. Som sagt..vi pratade om det 2 timmar. Jag tänker inte beskriva alla argumenter för att jag måste plugga nu. Jag kanske återkommer nån dag.
Sen kom vi tillbaka till min lägenhet och pratade mer. Vissa människor var lite trötta så gick de till sängen eller sovsäckar. Andreys buss gick kl. 3 så jag och Madlena fick vänta med honom och prata lite till.
Det betyder att jag inte fick sova så mycket jag ville men det vr värd det. På måndag åkte vi (Kadri, Jan, PJ och Inese) till Stockholm. Det var ganska häftigt. Ingenting specielt hände. Men bara den känslan att vara med de som jag tycker om är toppen! Jag ville veta om jag hade uppskattat de så mycket om vi hade varit varje dag tillsammans. Men jag tror (enligt min egen erfarenhet) att jag skulle göra det.
I Stockholm träffade vi Åsa. Hon är bra! Hon var EGTYFs president från 1998 till 2004 och hon är en av de människorna som orsakade att jag är med i EGTYF. Jag tror att jag inte hade börjat dricka alkohol om jag inte hade varit med EGTYF. Men jag kanske skulle inte bli så engagerad. Jag spelade min handboll och piano och var nöjd med mitt liv. Men sen insåg jag att man kan göra mer =) och då började det allt. Det också får mig att fundera om hur man påverkar sin omgivning utan att vara medveten om det bara med sin personlighet. Det är så stark och stor!!!!! I alla fall. Åsa fick jag krama och sen gick jag och Inese till en konference: Youth takes floor. Vi var inte målgruppet av konferensen men ändå fick jag några gånger förklara vad EGTYF är för organisation och det är bra. Människor skulle veta att vi finns. Och de vet det faktiskt =) På konferensen nämnde nån bara som en exempel att nykterhetsrörelsen i Sverige tillsammans med likadana organisationen i Europa samlas och påverkar på europa:s nivå. Wow! Det kändes bra att sitta där och lyssna och vara stölt over EGTYF =)
Efter konferensen träffade vi Jan och Anela. Med Anela får man skratta mycket! Hon är jättespecielt och roligt!
Sen åkte jag hem. Sov en timme på tåget och sen läste en bok. Missbruk och alkohol heter den. Intressant verkligen. Nu ska jag läsa mer och sen skriva en liten uppgift om den...
Min kul måndag började redan i lördags =) och fortsätte i söndags. Jag fick fotografera vår styrelese och några bilder ser verkligen bra ut. Sen spelade vi en match mot Nora och vi vann. Matchen var kanske lite tråkigt men ändå - vi vann =) Nästa gång måste vi spela annan musik innan matchen börjar för att i lördags somnade jag nästan på gund av vår musik som skulle peppa upp oss lite. Så monotont var det!
Efter matchen träffades vi igen. De så blev kvar i Örerbo alltså. Det var Andrey, Jan, Kadri, Pål Jostein och sen Fredrik, Inese, Madlena och jag. Och vi hade det himla roligt. Alla i min liten lägenhet. Jag började fota igen - bra att jag gjorde det. Nu tittar jag på bilder och saknar de alla men samtidigt är jag glad att jag känner dem. Så många människor och så litet kök som jag har..vi bestämmte oss att äta ute. Då gick vi, och satt och pratade mer än 2 timmar om allt möjligt. Vi hade jättebra diskussion om prostitution och porno. Jag är mot båda helt enkelt. Att legalisera prostitution är bara ett sätt att visa att samhälle stödjer den. Bättre än legalisera är att förbetra systemet så att man inte behöver det. Att kvinnor behöver inte sälja sig för att ha pengar och att män inte behöver sånt service. Som sagt..vi pratade om det 2 timmar. Jag tänker inte beskriva alla argumenter för att jag måste plugga nu. Jag kanske återkommer nån dag.
Sen kom vi tillbaka till min lägenhet och pratade mer. Vissa människor var lite trötta så gick de till sängen eller sovsäckar. Andreys buss gick kl. 3 så jag och Madlena fick vänta med honom och prata lite till.
Det betyder att jag inte fick sova så mycket jag ville men det vr värd det. På måndag åkte vi (Kadri, Jan, PJ och Inese) till Stockholm. Det var ganska häftigt. Ingenting specielt hände. Men bara den känslan att vara med de som jag tycker om är toppen! Jag ville veta om jag hade uppskattat de så mycket om vi hade varit varje dag tillsammans. Men jag tror (enligt min egen erfarenhet) att jag skulle göra det.
I Stockholm träffade vi Åsa. Hon är bra! Hon var EGTYFs president från 1998 till 2004 och hon är en av de människorna som orsakade att jag är med i EGTYF. Jag tror att jag inte hade börjat dricka alkohol om jag inte hade varit med EGTYF. Men jag kanske skulle inte bli så engagerad. Jag spelade min handboll och piano och var nöjd med mitt liv. Men sen insåg jag att man kan göra mer =) och då började det allt. Det också får mig att fundera om hur man påverkar sin omgivning utan att vara medveten om det bara med sin personlighet. Det är så stark och stor!!!!! I alla fall. Åsa fick jag krama och sen gick jag och Inese till en konference: Youth takes floor. Vi var inte målgruppet av konferensen men ändå fick jag några gånger förklara vad EGTYF är för organisation och det är bra. Människor skulle veta att vi finns. Och de vet det faktiskt =) På konferensen nämnde nån bara som en exempel att nykterhetsrörelsen i Sverige tillsammans med likadana organisationen i Europa samlas och påverkar på europa:s nivå. Wow! Det kändes bra att sitta där och lyssna och vara stölt over EGTYF =)
Efter konferensen träffade vi Jan och Anela. Med Anela får man skratta mycket! Hon är jättespecielt och roligt!
Sen åkte jag hem. Sov en timme på tåget och sen läste en bok. Missbruk och alkohol heter den. Intressant verkligen. Nu ska jag läsa mer och sen skriva en liten uppgift om den...
EGTYF människor är kulaste!!!
Jag har haft så bra tid nyss att jag inte vet vart skulle jag börja. I fredags var det Idol och vi tattede på den. OK...det är inte Idol som var bäst men de människor som kom och var hos mig - de tycker jag om. Liza, Andreas, Bettan, Madlena, Katerini, Inese. Alla. Alla är jätteunika och trevliga.
Agnes vann. Trots att jag trodde att Sebastian var bättre under hela tävlingen, hon var också duktig och final låt gjorde hon bättre verkligen.
Efter Idolen gick alla hem. Bara Madlena stannade och vi började med ppt för vår styrelse. Vi ville visa på ett roligt sätt lite om våra liv här i Örebro och i EGTYF. Jag hoppas att vi lyckades. De skrattade då och då och jag hade det roligt under den hela processen när vi förberedde det och presenterade det så..vi får vara nöjda tycker jag.
Nu ska jag ladda ner bilder från Julborden vi hade efter mötet.
Det känns jättekonstigt just nu. Så underbara människor är omkring mig och jag vet inte om de fattar hur underbara de är. Jag hoppas de vet...Jag bara ville gå omkring och säga det till alla..men man är inte van med sånt.Så sitter jag här istället och skriver.
Agnes vann. Trots att jag trodde att Sebastian var bättre under hela tävlingen, hon var också duktig och final låt gjorde hon bättre verkligen.
Efter Idolen gick alla hem. Bara Madlena stannade och vi började med ppt för vår styrelse. Vi ville visa på ett roligt sätt lite om våra liv här i Örebro och i EGTYF. Jag hoppas att vi lyckades. De skrattade då och då och jag hade det roligt under den hela processen när vi förberedde det och presenterade det så..vi får vara nöjda tycker jag.
Nu ska jag ladda ner bilder från Julborden vi hade efter mötet.
Det känns jättekonstigt just nu. Så underbara människor är omkring mig och jag vet inte om de fattar hur underbara de är. Jag hoppas de vet...Jag bara ville gå omkring och säga det till alla..men man är inte van med sånt.Så sitter jag här istället och skriver.