Fw: [searchnet] Europe/youth - can someone write a short article?

Tue Dec 28 14:52:14 PST 2004

Saw this on the future search list and wondered if anyone might be inspired to write something about Open Space for this online space?  Here's the link: 
http://www.cafebabel.com/en/

best of the new year to everyone.

from sunny (and somewhat chilly) Seattle,
Peggy

P.S.  Many thanks to everyone for your answers to my earlier questions...on academics in OS and on an OS with a subgroup before the OS.  My academic friend was willing to take the leap when he, in essence, found himself experiencing what I'd been attempting to tell him.  He stayed with a conversation even though he was annoyed and frustrated by differences in language and was not feeling heard, because the topic was important to him.  :-)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Bonnie Chandler 
To: future search 
Sent: Monday, December 27, 2004 7:04 AM
Subject: [searchnet] Europe/youth - can someone write a short article?

      Dear FSN members,

          Could someone volunteer a short article on fs/FSN for this very interesting European youth venue?  Read below - - a hot new website (25,000 visitors each month) and newsletter (17,000 subscribers) called Cafe Babel is trying to unite youth to make change in Europe, toward the end of creating a real and active European activist constituency to match the European government structure growth that is taking place.

          Since fs has done some amazing work with youth leadership groups, and we have many active members in Europe, a great article on fs/FSN could be published in this group's materials, inviting emerging groups to contact us and utilize future search!  Cafe Babel translates material into 8 languages and distributes to various European sectors.

          Café babel  says, "articles are not simply about imparting information. They aim to analyse and criticise the status quo and, where possible, suggest alternatives.  Europe's wonderful paradox is that we have a common cultural base from which to launch a variety of ideas." - - so I think coverage of the fs model & resources would be most welcome!

          See below for a full article on this group, and contacts for your article inquiry are at the bottom.

          Whoever is interested in making this contact and putting together an article, please respond on the listserve, so we can coordinate.

          Hope someone will take this up!  Thank you!!!!

      - Bonnie Chandler
      FSN Communications Coordinator
      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Young People Are Crucial to the Development of a European Audience

            While Europe boasts the grandeur of a Commission, a parliament, and the imminent birth of its own armed forces, what it lacks is an audience. It's an imbalance which a Website called Café Babel is trying to redress. 

            For the past four years, a polyglot project with an essentially European vision has been working away from the historic heart of Paris to tap into what founders believe is an unexploited audience. 
            "This job is like no other. We work with young people from across Europe on a project which is based on genuine idealism, a transnational debate which breaks down the boundaries of national media, and the ability to get excited about the idea of creating a European audience," Tobias Troll, head of the German edition of Café Babel said.

            Project founders know that they cannot force an awakening of interest in EU subjects, but they also know that if they are to succeed in their vision, they have to approach people in their native tongue. To that end, Café Babel draws from a huge pool of freelance writers and translators who each week put between 8 and 10 long articles on the site in the six project languages. The palette of subjects is extensive, with EU-Russian relations getting just the same column space as Muslim life on the continent.

            Staying alive

            The unique nature of the project fills a gap in the market, even in Germany where reporting on European issues is less of an industry than it once was. 

            "We need more than statements such as 'no more war in Europe' in order to integrate people and to create a mutual European feeling. And given that so many people are interested in European culture, that's where the chances are," Düsseldorf media expert Klaus Kamps said.

            In order for Café Babel to secure as broad a spectrum of opinion as possible, they have set up editorial departments in most EU countries. In some countries, as in Germany, they have offices in more than one city. 

            It's expanding, but for all that, the project survives on the goodwill of those who volunteer to contribute to it. One of the site founders, Adriano Farano is concerned that the project could run into difficulties if Brussels were to remove its rug of financial backing.

            "It's a danger for all initiatives, but that said, there is a chance that in the future Café Babel will manage to access its own source of funding, for example through subscription. At the moment we are very proud that what we offer is for free," Adriano Farano said. 

            Europe makes perfect sense

            With 25,000 hits on the site monthly, and 17,000 newsletter subscriptions, Café Babel has already established a core audience. Nonetheless Farano and his colleagues have begun to explore other ways of penetrating a larger potential audience. For the coming year, the site is planning a continuation of audience debates with EU representatives on the subject of the European constitution. Tobias Troll hopes that such initiatives will help to strengthen a generation of Europeans such as create the fabric of Café Babel.

            "We fully believe that the European Union not only makes sense, but is also necessary in order to sensibly tackle the pressing problems of our time. National systems can no longer solve problems of the economy, the environment, unemployment and terrorism alone. What's needed now are larger, supranational units like the EU," Troll said.

            -------------------

                  The Editorial Team 
                    350 young people from across Europe contribute to the production of café babel. Their work is co-ordinated by a central office in Paris and several national editorial offices. Whether you are already a contributor or want to get involved, you will find all the necessary information below.

                  Contributing to café babel

                  How do you go about writing for us? 

                  café babel articles are not simply about imparting information. They aim to analyse and criticise the status quo and, where possible, suggest alternatives. We can therefore hope to inspire innovation and creativity by discussing the European and not just national angle in every article. Europe's wonderful paradox is that we have a common cultural base from which to launch a variety of ideas. 

                  Variety based on union; a wealth of languages in which to debate; exchanging views through discussion: this is what Europe can become when ideas can circulate freely beyond our linguistic boundaries.

                  The topic for each issue is taken from current affairs and must always be viewed from the European perspective. When you write, you must always remember that you are addressing the European public and not just the Spanish, Italian or British ones. Numerous national references must be avoided and when discussing foreign policy issues, you must look for the role that Europe has or could have in each case.

                  Articles should never exceed 5000 characters, spaces included. Each article is written and published in your mother tongue and will be translated into the other five working languages. Its content must conform to the topic as set out by the editorial team and, specifically, by the person in charge of each issue.

                  We look forward to hearing from you! 

                  For more information, please write, depending on the language, to:

                  Julia Mills for English
                  Laia Vallès and Fernando Navarro for Spanish
                  Adriano Farano for Italian
                  Simon Loubris for French
                  Tobias Troll for German
                  Laia Vallès for Catalan 

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