MOMENT DA BEIRA 1ST EYP SCHOOL SESSION AT MOIMENTA DA BEIRA - 26TH APRIL 2013

Waking up at 5:30am is never a pleasant experience... The moon is still there, filling the sky with its bright colour. From Matosinhos, a 2h car journey is what it takes to reach Moimenta da Beira. From curve to counter-curve, the mountains start rising as well as the sun at the horizon.

A day full of the EYP spirit makes anything worth it. Being my first time as an editor, I was quite curious to meet my team and to find out how my reaction would be while having to deal with short deadlines and a big pile of photos, videos and interviews.

I could really say I felt like home... Everyone was in the right mood, there was an easy-going spirit, but I always knew everyone was giving their best to leave a mark on this session!

Here are some of the best (unfortunately, short) moments we were able to caught during the day. I hope you all had a wonderful time and we will be waiting for you so that you can repeat this experience, not once, nor twice,... You won’t regret it, we promise!

Your session’s Editor,

MARIANA BRANCO

Moimenta is a municipality in the northern part of Portugal, more precisely, in the district of Viseu. Famous for the production of wine and apples, in particular the origin protected type “Bravo de Esmolfe”.

About Moimenta...

WELCOME!

1ST EYP SCHOOL SESSION AT MOIMENTA DA BEIRA - 26TH APRIL 2013

The first speaker was Tiago Pereira, APPEJ President. He presented some important numbers: EYP started 26 years ago, his first experience was in 2007, where he realised this could be “a life-changing experience”, 10 is the number of school sessions in Portugal only this year. Undoubtedly a great achievement for this association!

Then it was time for the local representatives to have their say. Francisco Cardiça welcomed the participants and congratulated them for giving their time and dedication to this kind of initiatives. Promoting the magnificent Moimenta da Beira, he remembered some of the well-known figures who were born here, such as Aquilino Ribeiro and Amadeu Ferro - great defensors of democracy and incredible writers during their lives.

Then, Alcides Sarmento, director of the Schools Agrupamento, complimented APPEJ for being formed by young volunteers who want to have an active role in our society. Guiding us through a bit of History, he took us back to the beginnings of EU and emphasized the importance of dialogue between all countries in order to maintain the basic values of our Union - freedom and democracy.

With his final words, where you hopefully were awake again, Tiago Pereira dropped the final bomb:

Opening Ceremony

This is probably the first opportunity the Committees have to enter the big auditorium where they will try

to prove why their motions must pass.

Well, this is the part of the day where everyone is too anxious and excited for what awaits them in the next

few hours... The last preparations, trying to fix the little missing details, while a bunch of important

people are making boring speeches... If you were not focused at all, then take a look at the next few lines.

“Freedom is a very powerful weapon. Use your word as your own weapon!”

CHAIR:

ANA SILVA

Age: 19

Home City: Mangualde, Viseu.

Studying: Chemistry at University of Porto.

Favourite Super-Hero: Homer Simpson

My perfect life would be a combination between... EYP, “Tuna” and swimming.

If I could impersonate someone for a day, it would be... Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth of England.

Awkward fact about myself: My wardrobe is extremely organised - everything must be in the exact place and divided by colour.

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Facejack your chair

“lovegervásio_AZ8_HelloKittySummerLove” - we’ve even found her password, too easy...

Commitee’s Music Theme

”Top of the world” - Imagine Dragons

Commitee’s Motto

“JURI, the power of

judgement"

JURI - Committee on Legal Affairs

JURI IS HERE, READY TO DEBATE ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL THEMES IN THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES OF THE 21ST CENTURY.

“It’s a dilemma between scientific and ethical issues”, says JURI when asked about their theme. “On the one hand it is immoral to use frozen embryos, as they are already considered human beings, on the other hand, stem cells can be a powerful source when it comes to finding an effective cure to almost any kind of disease.”

Ana confessed us that every session is an intense adventure full of anxiety and tension. Of course that practice leads to perfection and since 2011, when she had her first EYP experience, this uncomfortable situation is seen as a new challenge. Especially when you are a chairperson... The keywords must be motivation and teamwork!

JURI’s chair, Ana Silva, admitted that, at first, her delegates relied a bit too much on her, but then they opened their arms and all their ideas easily flowed during the GA. They were not expecting this to be such a tough theme to debate, but it seems they were ready to handle it!

FEMM I - Committee on Human Rights and Gender Equality

CHAIR:

MARGARIDA PEREIRA

Age: 17

Home City: Marco de Canaveses, Porto

Studying: 12th Grade - Sciences

Favourite Ice-Cream Flavour: Mint

Favourite Movie Character: Iron-Man

Favourite Planet: Venus

If I could impersonate someone for a day, it would be... João Moreira (ENVI’s Chair)

Awkward fact about myself: I have skin depigmentation.

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Facejack your chair

“We wouldn’t do anything in special... We’d just check her chat and make nasty comments on her friends’ photos”

Commitee’s Music Theme

”Não és homem para mim” - Ágata

Commitee’s Motto

”We’re simply the

best!”

FROM A COMMITTEE FULL OF WONDERFUL WOMEN, WE COULD ONLY EXPECT A GROUP PRESENTING WHAT THE DEFYING FEMALE POWER IS CABAPLE OF!

There’s not a single woman that wasn’t born with the multi-tasking feature, which can be really useful (or painful) at some occasions. The truth is that women have the ideal skills to be team leaders and impressive communicators. “This is not something usual at our society and that’s our role. Women must show that they can be at the same level of men in the job market... or even exceed it!”. As you can see, these girls had the power, but they admitted they were starting to feel their bodies a bit heavier... I’d blame it on the high heels!

Margarida had no barriers in expressing her love for FEMM I: “They are all perfect and beautiful... Indeed, more than me!”. For a first impression, I would say that it was love at first sight. However, when questioned about what her committee would do if they were in a lost island, she was not so kind: “Definitely climb a tree to get coconuts... They’re always thirsty and hungry!”.

Some chairing advice: “Be patience and interact with your committee. A bad thing about being a chairperson is that you cannot intervene during the GA...”. Each monkey on its own branch!

FEMM II - Committee on Human Rights and Gender

Equality

CHAIR:

DIOGO SANTOS

Age: 18

Home City: Matosinhos, Porto

Studying: Law at University of Porto

Favorite Super-Hero: Batman

Favourite TV Show: Pokémon

If I could impersonate someone for a day, it would be... Cavaco Silva, Portuguese Republic President.

Awkward fact about myself: I used braces for 5 years.

Facejack your chair

“I am a beautiful flower!” - this would be Diogo’s new profile

“state”.

Commitee’s Music Theme

”Coelhinho” - that music children learn at

primary school...(Coelhinho se eu fosse

como tu... and you probably know the last

part of it)

Commitee’s Motto

“We are too fast and too

furious."

ONE COMMITEE - FEMM. TWO MEN - II. THIS IS FEMM II. QUITE AN APPROPRIATE NAME... AND DEFINITELY A WINNING TEAM!

Diogo can proudly say his committee did a great job, at least their performance at the GA was considered the best of this session! This group of winners must have felt “the magic of EYP”, as described by their chair. Never had a first time delegate thought being part of a session would be easy and they were not an exception.

“To be authoritarian is essential for anyone who is leading a team” and, according to FEMM II, this chair’s words reflected on his work - “He is really demanding, although he does a have good laughter with us! He is really relaxed.”

And it seems Diogo feels the same about his committee - “If they were in a lost island, they would build a shelter and just rest under the leaves of a banana tree...”

ENVI - Committee on Environment, Public Health

and Food Safety

CHAIR:

JOÃO MOREIRA

Age: 20

Home City: Matosinhos

Studying: Law at University of Porto.

Favourite Planet: Jupiter

Favourite Super-Hero: Gandalf

If I could impersonate someone for a day, it would be... Eddie Vedder

Awkward fact about myself: I hate it when anyone tries to touch my nose... And I clap a lot everytime I laugh.

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Facejack your chair

We would definitely upload a video of him

while sleeping.

Commitee’s Motto

“You are the Environment, so save yourself!”

ENVI CHANGED THE COLOUR OF THIS SESSION... TO GREEN! THEIR LITTLE RIBBON WAS A SYMBOL OF UNION AND ALSO A BIG BREATH OF FRESH AIR!

It’s our planet we’re talking about, the one that gives us so much and never asks for anything in exchange... except respect and protection! “Everyone should be aware of the consequences of global warming, such as the ozone layer destruction or the polar ice cap melting... We believe that the EU should take this theme more seriously than it does now!”

“Their best is definitely not at Direct Responses...” - something a chair never likes to hear or say. But João was not disappointed at all, as he referred “tolerance” as being a chair’s feature. Also, “keeping the committee’s attention” is something always essential on aiming any goals. “They were really enthusiastic, though!” - at least we have a pumped up ENVI here! Our journos found a cohesive group and it seems they had a good time saving our environment together...

EMPL - Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

CHAIR:

RITA FERREIRAAge: 20

Home City: Porto

Studying: International Relationships at University of Porto

Favourite Super-Hero: Wolverine

Favourite Artist: Bob Marley

Awkward fact about myself: I don’t know how to swim... The sea really scares me.

UNEMPLOYMENT IS SPREADING ALL OVER EUROPE AND IS SPECIALLY AFFECTING THE YOUTH. WILL THIS YOUNGSTERS MAKE US WORK HARDER AND HARDER? WE HOPE AND BELIEVE SO!

Anything that affects all of us will definitely cause a big impact. Unemployment is that scary bad wolf everyone is afraid of, which is reasonable. That’s why EMPL is here, to scare off all those big monsters.

“She is so beautiful and nice!”, this first impression for a chair is quite an attractive one. EMPL told us they have been working really hard to make this experience worth-value. When this interview was completed, the GA was in its last rounds of debate and their expectations had already been broken!

“Communication is the watchword and giving the correct orders will definitely create the needed atmosphere when leading a committee”. What would your committee do first if they were lost on an island? Rita answered: “As they are all very smart, they know they need a shelter before going out to grab some food!” - I see some really good group chemistry going on!

DROI - Committee on Human Rights

CHAIR:

JOÃO MOREIRA

Age: 20

Home City: Matosinhos

Studying: Law at University of Porto.

Earliest Memory:

Favourite Planet: Jupiter

Favourite Super-Hero: Gandalf

If I could impersonate someone for a day, it would be... Eddie Vedder

Awkward fact about myself: I hate it when anyone tries to touch my nose... And I clap a lot everytime I laugh.

!

CHAIR:

RITA LEITÃO

Age: 18

Home City: Moimenta da Beira, Viseu.

Studying: Humanities at Moimenta’s High School

Favourite McDonalds Burguer: Big Mac

If I could impersonate someone for a day, it would be... Johnny Depp

Awkward fact about myself: When I was young, I used to eat sand.

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Facejack your chair

”We wouldn’t do anything in special... Just check her

chat and make useless comments on her

photos”

Commitee’s Music Theme

”Eye Of The Tiger” - Survivor

Commitee’s Motto

”Against Traffickers, In

favour of Humanity”

STAND UP, SPEAK UP! FIGHTING FOR YOUR RIGHTS, EASY AS “UN, DEUX... DROI”

Every citizen is born free and equal. “That’s why it is urgent to discuss this theme. We believe we can be the difference and make things better about human rights”. It looks like Rita, who was described by her committee as “beautiful, funny, interesting, tall and wavy (yeah, they were referring to her hair)”, had a long way to go: “A chair has to impose respect. Sometimes, it is difficult to control the work when trying to let the delegates work on their own...”

“When I first saw them, I thought to myself: They are all really short...”, Rita confessed us. However, they acted just like giants through the whole GA. And not those giants who like to hide in caves, but the ones who oppose to any obstacle with no fear behind. Well, I guess Rita must have felt like a little dwarf next to them... at least a happy and proud dwarf!

JOURNOS TEAMRodolfo Lopes

Danilo Oliveira

António Filipe

Miguel Silva

Mariana Rebelo

1ST EYP SCHOOL SESSION OF

MOIMENTA DA BEIRA26TH APRIL 2013

EDITORMariana Branco

MULTIMEDIA TEAMCarlos Carvalho

Pedro Silva

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