As I walk by Georgian Parliament on my way to the nearby café in the morning, I notice two flags always flying out front: The Georgian ride and white flag, and the European Union navy blue with yellow stars flag (Georgia is a part of the Council of Europe among other institutions). When I discuss the position of Georgia in the world, although bordered by nations like Russia and Armenia (to name 2) it is widely proclaimed that Georgia is part of Europe. Like numerous nations located even closer to the heart of the European Union, the goal here is very much to one day be part of the European Union. Why? Although I don’t usually get a specific answer, the implied answer is a sense of belonging. Perhaps also the goal of achieving the quality of life similar to that which it is thought members of the EU enjoy. Or to make it even more basic, one major reason is to further distance this place from Russia, a nation that is – to put it mildly- disliked. As part of not liking Russia, there is the goal to make sure the world knows (as well as Russia itself) that Georgia is very much with those guys over there on the other side of the Black sea. No longer a victim of their occupation but standing on its own two feet with its European friends.
Now compare this sentiment with that in Southern Europe these days, where people are enraged and disillusioned; not exactly with the European Union, but with their own governments who of course are members of the EU and have presided over, if not played a role in, a massive economic collapse and policy failure. While some nations in the EU curse their governments for not representing them in what is financially a very troubled union, here we find those outside wishing to get in. With what seems like very different goals, at least when it comes to the symbolic desire to be EU… maybe Georgians would find more happiness in being a member state, even if the economy looks pretty bad.
In the coming days here in Tbilisi, I’ll of course hear more about this bid to be part of the EU and the primary reasons for it. I’ll report back with what I learn.
I suddenly find myself in the republic of Georgia and the first thing one needs when arriving in a new country such as Georgia is a guide. Mark Mullen knows Georgia, he has been here since the late 90’s and pays close attention to what is going on in the present. Who better to sit down with on my first night in Tbilisi, to talk about this country.
I’m on my way to Tblisi, Georgia, the jewel of the Caucuses. Nestled next to the Black Sea, under the more infamous regions of Russia, and next door to the lovely nations of Armenia, Turkey and Azerbaijan. My focus in Georgia will be digital activism, a topic near and dear to my heart, and of interest to many people in that nation. As I conduct workshops I shall also be learning about the country from people I meet, specifically what is working and what is not working for Georgian citizens today. So stay tuned for podcasts, writing, and surely some video entries! See you in Tblisi!
As I travel around the Northeast of the United States, I am also struggling to keep up with events unfolding in Spain. Disturbing events as protesters throughout the country suffer the wrath of a police force out of control. While millions throughout the country assemble in city squares demanding political and social reform, their story goes mostly unreported and downplayed by many international media outlets. What is going on in Spain? On today’s podcast I talk about the situation, while also giving an update to several themes from recent podcasts.
While people continue to die in Libya as part of the battle to oust Gaddafi, NATO continues to drop bombs on what are known as “strategic targets”. While their governments talk tough about liberating the people of Libya from tyranny, up in Europe, France and Italy are panicing about the increase in migrants arriving from Africa on their shores. Despite long being part of the Schengen treaty that ensures free travel between EU states, they have now openly taken action to check and limit such travelling. A decision that is causing alot of concern and frustration to those that believe in respecting agreements and free travel within the EU.
But in fact, long before the uprising in Libya or the adoption of the no-fly zone, a far greater crime was being committed on Libyan soil with the help of European Union money. For more than a decade, Italy has funded and equipped immigrant detention centers hosted and run by the Libyan government. Detention centers where migrants from all over Africa were held, extorted and tortured. While humanitarian and legal limits prevented Italy from running such centers on their own soil, nothing and no one prevented them from doing so.. including the EU which was completely aware of their existence.
After years of living under the most horrific circumstances, the Libyan state seems to be falling apart and migrants are making the dangerous journey towards Europe in search of work and a better life. EU states cry foul and claim they have no choice but to tighten border controls and turn migrants away. They act as victims after having long been engaged in the inhumane and torturous detention of migrants.
As a designer, at some point David Kousemaker became interested in finding where our old phones and electronics in general end up once we in the western world throw them away. His interest took him to parts of Indonesia, China, Brazil and Thailand, among other places. There he observed not only how things like mobile phones are broken down, recycled, rebuilt etc, he also saw how entire industries and ecosystems form around these practices.
Through his photos and blog entries you can follow his travels and see some of the highlights. David Kousemaker met up with me here in Amsterdam to talk about how he got into this subject and what he learned from the journey about just how big an impact our love of gadgets is having on this world.
While people continue to die in Libya as part of the battle to oust Gaddafi, NATO continues to drop bombs on what are known as “strategic targets”. While their governments talk tough about liberating the people of Libya from tyranny, up in Europe, France and Italy are panicing about the increase in migrants arriving from Africa on their shores. Despite long being part of the Schengen treaty that ensures free travel between EU states, they have now openly taken action to check and limit such travelling. A decision that is causing alot of concern and frustration to those that believe in respecting agreements and free travel within the EU.