The why... because of you...

One day somebody asked me one question, "why did you join us?" As I thought, the answer was easy, at least it seemed : "because I love these countries". I still have the same reasons to corroborate this sentence, however I did not imagine that I will find such a good place, or better said, such a great people... Now I see there is more than I can tell you, because the best feeling is to experience it.

The Scandinavian landscapes are one of the best precious treasures the world can keep. The mountains, the green and white meadows and valleys, the forests and of course its fjords. I fell in love with Norway last year, after living there for 10 months. The greatest time in a long time. I have visited fabulous places, I have hanged out with really cool people from everywhere in the world, and I am glad to say that many of them are still close to my heart.

Border line. Sweden on the left, Norway on the right

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Scandinavian people, specially Norwegians, told me once that they only have two seasons "The green winter, and the white winter" and it is true, they are cold countries, but by cold I also mean that you can really breathe, feel the nature on you, this cool breeze that runs through your body and refreshes you per seconds. What I felt in that moment, it was just freedom. However, these countries have more that wonderful landscapes. The cold weather does not reflect the warm heart of their people. I felt welcome since the first time I met them, I went into their houses, I cooked, partied or played sports with them, and I still do. What to say about their level of life. Great laws about security, natality, jobs, steady economy, high level of education and many other things you must figure out for yourself coming here. I can say Scandinavian countries are some places that you can not afford to miss visiting.

Aarhus, Denmark

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After living in Norway and travel to Sweden and Findland I knew that I had to come here, the last of my lovely Scandinavian countries; Danmark. I finished my BA on Journalism, and I decided to apply for a Master. I knew that two things had to match: Scandinavian place and communication studies. Found it! I am living in Denmark since last August, and I am studying what I wanted, a Maters in Journalism, Media and Globalization, something that I will tell about you other day. The thing is that I came here, and I found also you, "The Youth Goodwill Ambassador Corps". And without hesitating I knew I would join you.

As I said, I thought I knew the answer of the question you told me the first day: "Why...".

However, after three months living here I found something else, I found Denmark deeply nude, I found what its people call "Danish culture", "hygge", but also I found all you "International Youth Ambassadors". Now I can tell you a more complete answer: "I joined you because I want to know everything about you, Denmark, but also because I found that your people fill my every day here"

Thank you for the trip to Copenhage, thanks for the 07/ 12/ 2011 Christmas dinner, and above all, thanks to welcome me to your life, Denmark. It is a pleasure to be here, and of course to share this experience with all of you, my friends.

What to say more... Love you Scandinavia.

Copenhage ------------------------------------------------------------Oslo

Götemborg------------------------------------------------------- Findland

Dreaming to see you again

I am here talking to you for the first time in a long time. I barely remember your face, your touch, your smile but I still can feel your warmth close to me. I do not remember when I met you the first time, but I am sure it was magic. What I do remember the last time I saw you. You wore a white shirt, we were all together; it was a special day. However, I did not know I will remember that day for the rest of my life. This was the end of the happy story. But not the end of the book.

I growth up having your image in my mind, hiding all your memories, but you were always present in my everyday. Those times were tough times, but I had a great company by my side who I will never leave apart. I did not feel alone, although I simply did not feel. There was cold, there was no unity, there was no love.

I do not know where you went, and I do not where I was, but today I can tell you, my still fighting, I am still alive, and everything is thanks to you. After many years, things come back to their natural place, but everything seems different. Those time were tough times, we missed you, but nobody talked about it. I was young, innocent and ignorant. And that made me fall and fall again. That hurt, but I did not realize that I was not fighting alone, even if we were not fighting together. I lost you many times, but I never forgot you, and you have never left me alone.

Time passed, and with it also the bad memories. We found the way to meet again, overcoming the
differences. We found each other again, and your memory has made us stronger. Things are different, but that does not mean negative. We learned, I did, and I am still doing so.

Those times were hard times, but I am still fighting, I am still alive, and everything is thanks to you. We love each other, we are again together and we still miss you. This day I missed more than only you... I remember everyday that you are still with me, and we are again all together. Different place, different live...same feeling.

What it is, what is was and what it can be

In this globalized world, people share political ideas, ideals and social affairs. We are concerned about what it is happening in the world, and Internet gives us the possibility to do so. This is just a small example of what global public sphere is creating. If you live in the West, what is was considered the world, you will have an idea of the facts that probably will not be reflected totally with the reality. Now, media tries to develop a new scenario where everybody can express their
opinions through the networks. My favorite example is Al Jazeera news channel. The revolutionary Arabic channel is now competing with the largest and until the moment the mainstream media broadcast channel. The polarization between the West and the Rest is now narrower.

Not only as a journalist, but as a citizen you must be able to create your own opinion of the fact. Governmental press and tycoon enterprises no longer have the power to roll the world in their own benefit. Now facebook, twitter and a variety of websites offer an alternative to inform the audience about what is happening across borders from different perspectives. The famous sentence "everything that appear on tv is true" is questioning, and therefore also media in general. There are many social movements that are trying to change the rules established from the elites. Occupy Wall Street movement is the current example of people mobilized to fight for what they believe. This movement started in New York was spread all over the world with physical manifestations, but also with virtual activism through Internet.

Taking the strikes on Seattle November 1991 against corporate organizations (anti-WTO) as one of the major examples of this social justice movements, we can see who people move away from government positions and express their ideas and opinions of what it can be a better world.

There are global issues that affect all of us, and if we do not express our opinion to create a real democracy, governments will continue acting as "everything for the people, but without the people"

Join "them"

Expectations have been met: Spanish People´s Party (PP) will lead the country for the next four years. I am scary. Big words appear in my mind: Protectionism. Cutting. Control. Reforms. Changes...

All these words are associated with different areas in economic, political and especially social policies: Protectionism of the market, control from the state under enterprises, privatization of social services, education cuts, reform on the law of dependency law reform, regulation on the political system, ect.

As a consequence of the crisis, many governments have changed their political structure in the countries. In Europe, first it was Greece who changed its political government to the economist Papademos as a new head of the country. Italy was next with the resignation of Berlusconi and the establishment of a provisional government with M. Monti as a new Prime Minister. Now it is the time for Spain. Mariano Rajoy waas elected yesterday 20 of November as a new President of Spain. As his program says, "[He] will be the President of all Spanish people, and he will always set the common interest above any particullar interest".

However, and altough he got the absoluty majority on the eleccions and the Spanish mainland has been "dyed on blue" (the color of PP´s party), there are still different perceptions on how to procede with the changes. In that sense, I am restless. Many untouched areas as homosexuality, abortion law, privatizing health care and the next changes on education and pensions will provoke conflicts between different ideologies, and mentalities (here the Catholic Church plays an special role). I do not know how Rajoy will address these issues, but they will not be easy, and he will not be able to meet the demands of everyone, but if I could meet the needs of the disadvantaged (i.e. homosexuals, but do not know if that's what it includes his social policy...). What is necessary is a change in the course of the economy and to restore confidence of the Spanish is the first challenge of the new president, both within Spain and its role with the European Union (especially satisfying the demands of the European Central Bank).

There is a delicate time for Spain where the right decisions have to be made the sooner the better. I personally think that even I do not share some of the social policies of the People´s Party and the changes they are going to make, they are now how can solve the economic problems in Spain, let them act...but at the moment, as I said, change is served.

20-N: changing the course

Today Spain elects new president. It is obviously what it will happen. After the crisis this country is immersed since 2008, the Socialist Party led by J.L.R. Zapatero can not assume the challengue any longer. Early elections were convened due to the chaos Spain is suffereing with almost five million people unemployed. As all the polls say the right-wind "People´s Party"- or as I would say: some people´s party-"(Partido Popular) is predicted to win led by Mariano Rajoy.

However, what is the future that awaits Spain? Is Rajoy the most viable solution now? Probably it is. Anyways, Spanish people do not have other chance now, due to the bi-partidism (look at the graphic) that roll the country (right-left, blue-red). This means that after three attempts to get the longed power, Rajoy finally will get it, not because he will deserve it, but because there is not other clear possibility, unfortunately.

I guess that after the economic and financial crisis the world is living since 2008, the current system that leads the world -classical capitalism- will also fall down. At least for Spain. The rightwing party is well-known for its private policies, control of the state under the market, imports and companies. I think this change could be the right solution to reactivate Spanish economy, market and consumtion (with the desired increase in value of euro).

However, a change from below is necessary, apart from a reestructuration of the political system. Spain will change tonight, I hope, but the feeling of real improvements, that Spanish people will get something good, or better that it is now, it is not clear enough.

Here I am

Today I begin a new path. To write about what I see in the world, what I feel in the everyday and why not, what I dream about the reality. Experiences (contact with people, articles, news, movies, music etc...) form your knowledge but there is always a piece of that fact that its unique for each person, what you think about that, what you feel and how you will act as a consequence of the information, background and ideas you receive. Besides that, there exists also a small space that needs to shed light on it, the part of your dreams, the question that always hover your head: "What if..."". What you can change, improve and do in the world might also change your point of view of the things.

Today, November 20, 2011 I pretend to change something, maybe in my self, maybe in the international sphere.