Just a gallup

On the second half of March The Financial Times came out with an article that reflected the results of a poll made in 5 bigger states of the EU and in the USA. In the following review I’ll give a small summary and a few comments.

• 44 % of citizens think life has got worse since their country joined the club.
• 25 % of the Europeans questioned felt life in their country had improved since it joined the EU.
• People questioned in the US were much more pessimistic concerning the Emus usefulness to the environment and the economy.
  
  Something from the brighter side:

• 35 per cent of respondents thought the constitution would have a positive impact on their country, compared with 27 per cent who thought the opposite. By far the most negative response (48 per cent) came from Britain.

In spite of many complaints about the EU, including a widespread view that it is too bureaucratic, only a minority thinks their country would be better off if it seceded from the union. Only 22 per cent of respondents in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain thought their country would be better off if it left the EU, against 40 per cent who believed it would be worse off.

In my opinion – nostalgia is what makes people think, that the quality of life has gone worse since joining the EU: the grass used to be greener, the sky bluer and everything seemed to be better; that is how especially the older generation thinks, who seen these so-called golden sixties. (I presume several haven’t noticed, that France, Germany and Italy already were in the EEC at that time). I also think, that many aren’t acquainted with the conditions before the EU (about 50+ years ago). The progress has certainly been, in West-Europe too!

Before: After:

Kids in "Estonianity"

The thought, that our youth is wasted, faded the moment I saw two little girls singing Estonian anthem and “Stay free, Estonian sea”. This heart-warming incident took place in Juku’s playground in Tartu, on the fifth of April 17, 2007 at Linda’s birthday, who now is already seven years old. Ohhoo, there were so many children.

In the middle of their games I managed to ask them a few questions, although the presumption, that any of them would know anything about the EU, seemed quite improbable. Albeit an eight-year-old Vidrik sum it up compactly: “Well, it’s some kind of a society. Didn’t you know that?” The birthday kid said: “I don’t know… It’s a place where my daddy works.”

I only heard a consentaneous “YES!” when I asked my second question: “Do you like to live in Estonia?” Loona-Paula also mentioned the reason: “Everybody speaks Estonian here!” If I told her, that not all the people here speak our language, she said: “Yes, they don’t keep Estonian clean.”

Kirke and Eva-Liisa praised Estonia, because they are born here and it’s “very comfy” to be here.

Linda was assured: “I like Estonia the most, because Estonian flag, coat of arms and language are the most beautiful in the world. I would certainly not like to live anywhere else, cause others have uglier flags and languages.

It is a fortune in consideration of our globalization, that some parents bring their children up in the Spirit of Estonia and their children are Estonians from childhood on. This fact shows that Estonianity doesn’t vanish anywhere even due to the globalization and the EU is more like a conservator for Natives, rather than the creator of a European.

The anthem of Europe

The melody comes from Ludwig van Beethoven`s 9th symphony, which was written in 1823.

In 1972 the Council of Europe decided to name "The ode to happyness" as the anthem of the EU. A well-known composer Herbert von Karajan was asked to make three arrangements of this - one for the piano, one for brass section and one for a symphony orchestra. This anthem expresses the ideals for what Europe stands for: freedom, peace and solidarity.

In 1985 the leaders of the EU decided take this as the official anthem of the EU. It`s purpose is not to replace all the anthems of the memberlands, but to show that these countries have common values and aims in the world.

Oniomania

Recently Ülo Mallene wrote an article, where he likened oniomania with religion and thought that the regulation of Estonian retail business is only based on mass consumption and pragmatical use. He complains that we are one of the few countries in the EU, where the grand stores are opened till 23 p.m and are not closed on the weekends and on the national and religious holidays.
Unlike the rest of the Europe, we don't have strong organized labours, who represent the people of trade. Mallen offers regulating the shops opening times by the Christian pattern as a solution to the problem- it gives a splendid opportunity to the shoppers to spend their time more rationaly.
Siret agrees with Mallen, concerning the better organized labours, but she believes that the opening times of the shops are not ment to tempt the people of trade. They are shapen beacuse of consumer's demand. Furthermore the Christian percentage is not as high as in the rest of the Europe. She thinks that Mallen's idea would be a violaition of descretion and obtrusion of the Christian policy.
Siret is on the opinion that we don't have to do everything likewise the others. So what if we differ from rest of the Christian Europe because of it- let it be our peculiarity.

Sakala

Picture of the week

What is EU`s direct influence to our schoolenvironment? The thing, that I noticed long time ago, was a simple rucksack, that has a big word "CHANGE!" on it and right next to it there`s a sign of the EU.

there`s also a link below the writing: www-climatechange.eu.com

I guess for a long time this union has not been only an economical federation

One of the theories about the etymology of Europe`s name says that it is cued from two words in Greek eurys (broad, opened) and ops (face, visage). The word broad has been used in many different religions to describe the Earth.

The aims of Estonian Government in the EU

In January this year the Estonian Government set its priorities in the EU. Germany has the leading role in this period. I think, that despite of upcoming change of government these sights will generally remain the same. Now the main points:

1. Estonia s aim is to help to find a solution in the European s Constitutions Treaties issue. (It is in the interests of Estonia, that the contract comes into force before the year 2009).
   


2. Estonia supports the broadening of the EU
   


3. To develop the innovation – politics, that would support European ability to compete in everything.
   


4. To assure the supply of energy.
   


5. Estonia wishes to abolish tax – hindrances in the internal market.
   


6. It’s important to start a discussion about the EU`s tax – reform.
   


7. To speed up the international climate – negotiations.
   


8. To join the Schengen`s legal system on time.
   


9. To strengthen up and develop our neighbour – politics and to support market economy in the neighbourhood of the EU.
   

To develop a partnership between the EU and Russia.

A small comment:

One can see, that the EU`s politics sail on a steady course. The aims are ambitious, as they are meant to be. Broadly speaking I agree with the priorities that the government posed although there are some issues that might not be advantageous to Estonia (For example the widening of EU). Must not abandon hope!