YES, WE CARE!: MAKING CITIZENSHIP AND DEMOCRACY MEANINGFUL TO

YOUNG PEOPLE IN EUROPE.

HELLO EVERYONE!

We are Dani, Berta,

Irene & Laura !!!

ABOUT OUR SCHOOL…

WE COME FROM BARCELONA !

Barcelona is the capital city of Catalonia, our region.

Catalonia is one of the 17 regions of Spain, whose capital city is Madrid.

WE ARE MULTILINGUAL!

• In Spain there are 17 regions and in 5 of them people speak their own language as well as Spanish.

• Euskera in the Basque country.

• Galician in Galicia.

• Catalan in Catalonia,

the Balearic Islands and València.

WE ARE A PARLIAMENTARY MONARCHY!

We have a monarch, King Juan Carlos.

And a Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, from the Socialist Party.

BUT WE WEREN’T ALWAYS A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY!

• Following a period of political instabiliity in the early 20th Century, in 1936 elections were won by the Popular front Government (a coalition of all left wing political parties: Communists, Socialists, Anarchists) who wanted radical reforms.

• In July a revolt of Army officers led to a civil war.

1936-1939: THE CIVIL WAR Republicans

The elected government who had the support of some army officers as well as workers, peasants and left wing political groups.

NationalistsLed by General Franco consisted of the Army, Church, Landowners and right wing political groups.

1937: PICASSO’S GUERNICA

1936-1975: DICTATORSHIP• The war ended and

Franco’s dictatorship resulted in 40 years of poverty, political and cultural opression.

• Thousands were killed and imprisoned just for expressing their political ideas, defending their rights, speaking Catalan, being gay, etc.

1975: DEMOCRACY AT LAST!!!

• When Franco died in 1975 there was a slow transition to Democracy and the country held its first democratic elections in 1977. We could join any political party, demonstrate in the streets, speak our own language, FREEDOM!!!

1986: SPAIN IN EUROPE

• After years of economic and cultural isolation from the rest of the world, Spain started to catch up with its European neighbours and joined the European Union in 1986.

1992: THE OLYMPIC GAMES

OUR YWC! ACTIVITY

• Actors: 16 students aged 16• Organization: 4 groups (delegations) become experts in 4 political issues.

ROLE PLAYING GAMECOUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Spanish Delegation

Women

Dutch Delegation

Environment

Italian Delegation

Immigration

Finnish Delegation

Health

WHAT DID WE DO?•Research on the topic assigned.

• Writing a speech about the state of the arts in Europe.

• Writing of law proposals to improve the situation in the European Union.

•Preparing an International Breakfast!

THE VOTING …

2 VOTING METHODS

1) UNANIMITY2) QUALIFIED MAJORITY

THE OPTIONS

1) ACCEPT 2) REJECT THE RESULTS- SPANISH DELEGATION: 2 PROPOSAL- DUTCH DELEGATION: 2 PROPOSALS- ITALIAN DELEGATION: 1 PROPOSALS- FINNISH DELEGATION: 1 PROPOSALS

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNT?• To care about the political issues that

affect the European Union.• To improve our knowledge of the

European Institutions.• To reach agreements with other parts.• To use English in an effective way.• To enjoy politics.

UNITED IN DIVERSITY