NEW ARTICLE OF THE MEP PETER SLOVAK “The assets of the volunteering tour"

The year 2011 was declared the European Year of Volunteering. The fact that the European Union is interested in voluntary work raised our curiosity in this issue. Our curiosity about voluntary work has become even much stronger by the motion „Get mobilised through voluntary work“ by Adam Kunikowski. We have read many articles about voluntary work and have understood how complex and hard for logistics the voluntary work is.
We were discussing the option of getting more information from the ”first hand” with our colleagues – assistants of the MEP Tomáš Hric. We decided to take part in the volunteering tour that was organized in several Slovak towns by three institutes together: Representation of the European Comission, the Information office of the European Parliament and National Agency IUVENTA during the month of May. So, on 19 May 2011, the assistants of Peter Slovák Michal Adami, Matúš Kotora and assistants of Tomáš Hric Zuzana Demeterová and Monika Škvarková decided to search for some further and practical information about volunteering. Thus in the morning all of us went to Nitra, where in the occasion of the Europe Day was occurring the Volunteering tour.
We saw a very nice programme dedicated to volunteering, some interesting interviews with volunteers. We have heard a few nice speeches of volunteer leaders and even the European Union specialists.
We were very positively affected and surprised by the discussion with the representative of the organization the Red Cross Slovakia intended ambassador of voluntary work. He gave us answers on almost every question we had and after that he had a very touching speech on the podium.

Beside other activities there were also many stands dedicated to volunteering activities and the European Year of Volunteering as Inex, YMCA, and Step forward the Red Cross and many others.
There were even stands of non-profitable organizations that help to drug addicted people by providing them safe injections and tools for jolt. At first we thought that this is not the way we would consider as a good way of help to such people but after the discussion with one of the volunteers from that organization I got the point and admitted it is good for them and even for the whole society.
The assistant of the MEP Peter Slovák - Michal Adami stopped at the stand of the Red Cross volunteering organization and tried one of their activities -to pack the present only with one hand to try how the life of handicapped people is hard. He also had a short walk with his eyes bounded using a Braille stick. These are only a few activities that could have been tried there. The assistants of the MEP Peter Slovak have realized how happy they should be only because of the fact that they are healthy people.
The activities of the volunteering tour had a great impact on peope taking part of the tour and have brought them deeper to understanding of the sense of volunteering and contribution of common people all over the world.

NEW ARTICLE OF THE MEP PETER SLOVAK “New technology uprising - No more changing rooms in clothes stores!"

New technology uprising - No more changing rooms in clothes stores!

That could be the trousers that will not belt up. Customers in some of Britain´s top clothing shops may soon find their prospective purchases telling them whether they would be a good fit. The system, which can also be applied to jackets, skirts and almost any other garment, is heralded as the most exciting innovation in retailing in years. It could cut the hours spent trying on clothes that will never fit and, once perfected, could mean the end of the changing room.

A version of technology is already being worked on Marks and Spencer, whose next big sizing survey, the first in more than 10 years, will make use of the latest three-dimensional scanning technology. Mark and Spencer will use the information to determine the shapes of its future clothing and to run a test in which selected customers can use the cards to order bespoke suits and other clothes.

The technology has already been taken further in the United States, with smat cards holding an individual´s scan details being designed to plug into a portable device that shoppers carry round the store with them. The beauty of scanning systems, as opposed to conventional tape measures, is that they detail an individual´s shape as well as their size. “A tape measure may tell you that a lady´s hips are 36 inches, but it tells you nothing about where on her hips the bulk of those inches lies but with a scanner you can see exactly”. Specialist on clothing at MaS said.
The most likely scenario, and one which is already possible, is that the shopper, once scanned, would be given a smart card holding all the information about their body type. That card could be used to guide the customer automatically to the clothes which fitted them best.
It will be possible for shops to go a step further and allow customers to use their smart cards to order tailor´s made clothing. Translating three-dimensional images into two-dimensional clothing patterns is a skill e have lost as traditional tailoring has disappeared. However, it is something clothing manufacturers are going to have to relearn and then automate.
For some customers the prospect of successive pairs of trousers – in sizes that once might have fitted – loudly announcing that they are far too small could turn shopping into a humiliation – but the system is likely to be designed with them in mind. Instead of loudspeakers, customers can choose a small ear-piece, so that their potential trousers, suit or even underwear would not need to talk. They could just whisper softly in the ear.
I think that this technology will help especially to people with very big or small sizes. And it would bring joy even for shopping men, who don´t like it because of stripping off and on in the changing rooms.
Sources:
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/hs/dod/ADM/front_news.php
http://www.marksandspencer.com/Jargon-Buster-Technology/b/526316031
http://books.google.sk/books?id=smpJ_1_KEoAC&pg=PA143&lpg=PA143&dq=mark+and+spencer+three-dimensional+scanning+technology&source=bl&ots=jcOhNQJUCp&sig=RPZD2RVjWI-MIwG-5FKwA9NypYg&hl=sk&ei=i6X8TYSaGo3Dswb3xrzxDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CE0Q6AEwBg#v=onepage&q&f=false..

NEW ARTICLE OF THE MEP PETER SLOVAK “Schengen zone – not for everybody"

Romania and Bulgaria face new delays in their aspirations to join the European Union's borderless travel zone.

The European Union decided, that Bulgaria and Romania will stand out of Schengen zone for now. The EU made this decision despite the fact that both these countries fulfilled required technical standards for incorporation among the countries without border controls.
The decision of EU interior ministers was made during the time of high concerns about illegal immigration and criminality in Europe, which pressured on Schengen system in last weeks.
This decision was made after after EU governments asked for more evidence of Romanian and Bulgarian anti-corruption efforts. The ministers of EU countries rejected Bulgaria and Romania only a day after the European parliament (EP) voted for with statement that both countries are ready to enter the Schengen zone. In their report they reported that both countries fulfilled necessary technical conditions. The European Parliament the entry of both countries to Schengen recommended with addition , that Balkan countries have to take additional measures to fight with illegal immigration.
The decision was stopped by the Netherlands because of the doubts about the ability of protection of external borders of Schengen zone. “ It is to early to accept such an important decisions. It needs to take some time.” said Netherlands minister for immigration Gerd Leers. The Netherlands was not the only state that was against.
Italy has asked in recent months to change the bloc's rules to allow for temporary restoration of internal borders, citing concerns over an influx of illegal immigrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea to flee violence in North Africa and the Middle East.
Even Germany and France were not in favour to this matter. They expressed concerns about deficits in area of fighting against corruption and organizing criminality. They said that it is necessary to prove that reforms of judiciary in these 2 countries were effective and irreversible.
European ministers will request of Bulgaria and Romania about association to Schengen zone repeatedly to negotiate in September. So there must be great efforts of Bulgaria and Romania to reach the requirements of the EU, but their hope and will is strong that they will do their best to get to Shengen zone…

NEW ARTICLE OF THE MEP PETER SLOVAK “Is Equality between Men and Women Possible?"

For many years people, especially men, have considered women as less worth human beings. This idea originated already in the oldest periods of our history. Men used to fight, hunt animals and try to find some food. Women had to stay at home, cook and bring up the children. Tomáš Akvinský is the author of the quotation: „A woman was created to help a man, however only in the act of generation, because he can find much better help for any other work elsewhere.“
Throughout the other eras it was the same. Women were requested to serve to men. Men thought women were not able to do anything else apart from staying at home. It was not an easy task for women to oppose against this idea and to prove their qualities. It was impossible to see a woman as a politician, as a businesswoman or in other leading positions. In addition to this, women had no right to vote at first.
As a result of dissatisfaction with that situation and injustice, several women grouped together. They were called ´feminists´. Their main aim was to fight for women´s rights and to achieve the same chances like men had.
At some point of time the situation changed. Women did not want to be a tool of their men anymore. They want to reach independence, improve their education, as well as grow professionally. Finally, they have managed it. And in my opinion, nowadays, men and women are fully equal in our society.
In the first place, women and men have the same rights and opportunities to educate themselves. Both can attend the same schools and universities, where they have exactly the same conditions during their study and the same requests when graduating.
Secondly, when applying for a job, there should be no discrimation. Women are interviewed in the same way like men are. All of them are asked the same questions, everyone has to show his abilities and then they are considered independently of the sex. Later, work duties result from your profession and your position.
Thirdly, the level of salaries does not depend on if you are a woman or a man. Everyone, who is successful and has excellent results, has the chance to be promoted.
Furthermore, many women are famous politicians. They are members of the parliament, ministers, prime ministers, what is more the United Kingdom has the Queen. These women found various organizations and charities. They provide a humanitarian aid. This could be a result of their natural character. Women are more sensitive, percipient and sympathetic. Undoubtedly, they do amazing work.
Last but not least, nowadays it is quite common to see a man on maternity leave instead of a woman. It is a proof that men is willing to stay at home with a child and to let her woman to work and make the professional career.
Finally, there are the rules of proper behaviour in the society. Many of them say about polite manners in the presence of a woman. For instance, a man should open the door for a woman. He should also help her to take off the coat. In addition to this, a man should offer a woman a seat by the table. This would not happen if men were more appreciated than women.
On the other hand, we can also find some points why women and men are not at all equal in our society.
Even though women proved that they are independent, there are some places in the world where their position in society is not so ideal. For example the rights of women are still a big problem in Moslim and African countries.
First of all, these women are not treated very well. Men consider them as they were their property and behave to them in this way.
Secondly, they are told what to do. What is more, they are ordered to whom get married. It is something unimaginable not to be allowed to live with someone you want.
Last but not least, many women are tortured. Lots of men want to show their strength and power and think that to hit a woman is something normal. But definitely, it should be stopped.
Taking everything into account, the present situation is different from the past. Women have succeeded and gained the equality of rights for men and women. In my point of view, it is right. Why should people be categorised according to the sex? Everyone is unique, has his knowledge, abilities, skills, experiences and dreams which he wants to fulfil. Both men and women should have the right to show their qualities and be successful.

NEW ARTICLE OF THE MEP PETER SLOVAK “Everybody gets what he deserves”

“Everybody gets what he deserves”
General Ratko Mladic's ruthlessness was legendary: "Burn their brains!" he once bellowed as his men pounded Sarajevo with artillery fire.
Ratko Mladic, Colonel General, former Commander of the Main Staff of the Bosnian Serb Army (VRS) is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of the war against Bosnian Muslim, Bosnian Croat and other non-Serb civilians in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 1992-1995 war.
Mostly known for personally leading his troops in the 1995 Serb on slaught against the UN-protected enclave of Srebrenica - where thousands of Muslim men and boys were killed - Mladic was indicted for genocide against the Bosnian town's population. Just hours before the massacre, Mladic handed out lollypops to Muslim children rounded up at the town's square and assured them all would be fine - even patting one child on the head. That sinister image is forever imprinted in the minds of Srebrenica survivors.
Ratko Mladič was born in Bosen village Božinovič in 1942. He became an army officer in Tito´s Yugoslavia. In 1991 when Yugoslavia started collapsing, he led the army against the Croatian forces near the Croatian city, today known as Knin. In May 1992 Bosen-Serbian Parliament decided to form a Bosen-Serbian army and Mladič became its general. He is considered as an initiator of shelling on Sarajevo. “That was Mladič who kept the siege of the Sarajevo for 3 years. Siege under cities he had known well, places where he grew up, where his mother and friends lived. Before he had to retreat, 12 000 people lost their lives in Sarajevo.” These words are from the book – “They wouldn´t hurt a fly”, writtennby Croatian writer and publisher Slavenka Drakuličova.
Mladič led his army during the attack at Muslim enclave Srebrenica in 1995. Srebrenica was then provided as a „safety zone“ by the UN. 40 000 Muslims were hiding there. Serbian forces were shelling Srebrenica for several days. Afterwards Mladič ´s army entered the city, separated men from women and killed no less than 7500 moors aged from 12 to 77 years. Soon after the war Mladič was accused of war crimes.
Mladič was brutal and arrogant, confident about his own military geniality. He didn´t respect anybody, not even the representatives of the international community, neither the commanders of foreign troops. The source of his arrogance grew out his character and his mental situation, he lived in his own mythological world what was noticeable from his public speeches where he used to mix up past and present in one sentence.
After the end of the war Mladič freely and luxuriousl lived in Belehrad thank Svobodan Miloševič the ex-Yugoslavian president. In the 2001 Serbia got under the international pressure to cooperate more with the Hague tribunal, Miloševič was arrested and Mladič disappeared like a ghost.
There were many theories about his shelter, some indications were suggesting that he still lives in Belehrad. There were many speculations about the arrest of Mladič in the past. After the pro-west government came to power in 2008, speculations were more real since the new government was attempting to get to the EU. The EU set as one of the main conditions the arrest Mladič and Karadžič to let this Balcanic country enter the EU.
Again the old wisdom applied: “That one who really wants to achieve something and tries hard, in the end he achieve his aim”. And finally, Mladič was arrested by the Serbian police and extraditabled to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague (ICTY).




Sources:
http://www.channel4.com/news/who-is-ratko-mladic
http://article.wn.com/view/2011/05/30/mladi_ov_obhajca_sa_odvolal_gener_la_asi_aj_tak_odvez_do_haa/

NEW ARTICLE OF THE MEP PETER SLOVAK "Destruction in Japan - “the wake up” for the western Europe"

The threat associated with the nuclear power plant in Fukushima in Japan is undoubtedly the hottest topic in the world these days. The devastating earthquake in connection with the followed by he tsunami is the subject of the daily debates in the web sites, in television news or radio stations.
Naturally there are many accounts about the nuclear energy and its total safety. Such discussions are especially in countries where nuclear energy is used in the large scale. On 15th March in Brusel Government officials for Energy of European countries experts, representatives of operators of nuclear power and nuclear regulatory officials met at the request of the Commissioner for Energy Günthera Oettinger to discuss thorny issues relating to European nuclear future.
There are 17 nuclear power plants in Germany, and the current Chancellor Angela Merkel, despite considerable opposition, enforced the policy of extending its life for another 12 years, the last of them should be closed in 2035. In the end, after many protests, German government approved closure of all nuclear power plants in the country by 2022.
The situation in France is due to Japan's disaster tense, since the 1970's 75% of energy is produced in 58 nuclear power reactors in 19 power plants across the country. The French are profitably exporting the excess of the energy. They have even plans of renting and selling their power reactors to other countries. Greenpeace, as well as the French Green Party representation in the Parliament are requiring the referendum for French citizens. Greenpeace says that everybody has the right to decide the country ´s dependence on nuclear energy, according to their beliefs.

In the case of Austria the position is easily predictable. Minister of the Environment Nikolaus Berlakovich asked his ministerial colleagues from the EU to accede to so-called "stress tests, nuclear power" - something in the way banks' stress testing, using computer-generated extreme situations.

Slovakian Environment Minister József Nagy commented to the situation: "Nuclear energy is an acceptable green energy, there is the problem only with it´s security. But each technology has its hazards. I do not consider it as a milestone in the energy sector, but maybe a milestone in nuclear energy. We have to learn from it and implement such technologies, which are resistant to similar or even stronger natural effects. "

The future of nuclear energy is defined by two opposing poles: on one face of its advocates gradual elimination and replacement by other technologies and other industrial lobby promoting its existence. It is certain that the situation in Japan should be seen as a wake-up call, and adopt measures that will lead to the greatest possible safety of nuclear power plants.

Sources:
http://hnonline.sk/svet/c1-52027090-nemecka-vlada-schvalila-plan-zatvorienia-atomoviek
http://www.stopthepowerplant.org/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/mar/18/japan-nuclear-power-plant-updates
http://hnonline.sk/svet/c1-51995830-koniec-nemeckych-atomoviek-zdrazi-elektrinu-o-tretinu-tvrdi-necas

NEW ARTICLE OF THE MEP PETER SLOVAK "Welcome to the Earth - the home of injustice"

Barack Obama: “Good evening. Tonight I can report to the American people and to the world. The USA has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden - the leader of Al-Quaida.”
So and they killed Osama. Special forces killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in the town Abbottabad announced the president of the USA Barack Obama. The action was successful thank the intelligence of the bureau and cooperation with Pakistan side. During the action none of the Americans died. Three man and a woman were killed by the special forces beside Osama during the action. America is celebrating, ruffling with flags. The media, nicely to command, are whooping from joy.
If there is something certain in people´s minds, it is that for the attacks from the 11.9. 2011 is responsible Osama bin Laden, the elusive, dark and evil figure that often plays roles in some people´s nightmares just like a spook scaring children.
How do we know that Osama commited the horror of 11st September? We know it because it was told us by credible media. And it becomes a rule that what we hear from the media is everytime 100% truth and generally known fact.
In America before September 11 2001 applied the principle of "innocent until proven guilty". In the world after September 11 2001 has become normal to condemn suspects without trial or without hearing the accused. I think that in the “media courts” without oaths and testimony was hijacked and destroyed justice itself.
Yes, almost all of us saw Laden´s confession in 2004. We could have seen it in nationwide televisions or in interpreted transcripts in all major newspapers. Two-minute segments of these recordings weren´t analyzed by anyone else than experts from NBC News, Fox and CNN. Therefore, nobody doubts that it is bin Laden, who manages global terrorism and who planned and committed terrorist action on 11 September, although almost none of us can translate a single word he said. And although there is no explanation or clarification – not even a small one. How was he actually able to plan 09/11 and defeat U.S. forces, America had convicted him.
Judgement about the greatest crime in the history of America has been made without evidence, testimony, the court or jury. There is nothing to wonder about why the USA consider Osama bin Laden´s death as a significant success. Since the „invincible“ USA was trying to achieve his death nearly for 10 years. I might be too straightforward when I consider detention and following law suit for useless. Let us be honest, at the end he would either ended up dead. Perhaps this quick way of death was better for him than spending weeks in his cell or in courts in front of a jury, trapped like a lion in a cage.
Everybody has to admit that there is at least one positive thing about his death. And that is nothing else than a relief of millions of people, who are now celebrating his death without feeling the guilt.
To sum up, nothing has changed. Until there are people who have a kind of evil inside them there will always exist terrorism and people who are happy for someone´s death. Dalajlama said: “I felt sad when I heard about Osama bin Laden death…”