UkraineBlog2006

Hello from John Edward

Maria has suggested a few opening words, so here goes.

I work in the Scotland office of the European Parliament, so this is a real busman's holiday for me.

I confess to knowing little about our destination other than what past history and recent news has taught me, but obviously its intercation with the EU as a possible future applicant and neighbourhood partner is fascinating.  I managed to download a couple of podcasts from www.ukrainematters.org and hope the 'plane allows me time to hear them...

Likewise, the involvement of new media and the general public in popular democracy in a way that is rarely seen in western Europe.

My background is either representing Scotland in Brussels, or the EU in Scotland - so this will be an interesting take on national identity and international interaction.

Have attended an inital 21st Centruy Trust event in Kligentahl back in the mid-90's, as well as helping organise one in Scotland House in Brussels.  Some colleagues also play an active part in the John Smith trust, and I attended Chris Patten's lecture in Edinburgh to the Fellows earlier this summer.  What a good combination of organisations..!

About the study tour

A little background by way of explaining more about this blog. Earlier this year, knowing that I’d be coming on a study tour of with the 21st Century Trust and the John Smith Memorial Trust, I had the bright idea of organising a group blog to coincide with the trip. The idea was to create another forum to extend the discussions beyond the meeting rooms, and to involve other people in them. We’ll be meeting some very well placed and informed people here in , and I thought it would be a good idea to share some of what we learn. The main idea behind the study tour is to create and strengthen international links, so what better way to continue that than with a blog?

About this blog

This blog has been created to mark the September/October 2006 study tour of Ukraine organised by the 21st Century Trust in collaboration with the John Smith Memorial Trust and in partnership with Asquith and Granovski Associates. (The views expressed in this blog don't represent those of the organisations involved with the study tour. They're simply the thoughts and impressions of the contributors.)

This blog is tied to a one-off event. So it's probably going to be live for a fairly short time.  The idea is to capture and discuss the thoughts and impressions of people involved with this study tour, and to note down some of what we learn for others to share. And discuss and dispute.

I've been to quite a few 21st Century Trust events, and they are life-changing affairs. There are quite a few non-profits and foundations out there that promote high brow discussions of serious issues by earnest young over-achievers. The Trust is rather different. First off, they don't let you off with a forty eight hour think-in punctuated by bouts of Blackberryitis. To become a Trust fellow, you have to spend eight or nine days holed away in an Oxford college or a German castle with twenty people, a fresh daily supply of learned experts, and no chance of escape. You really, really get to know the other Fellows through sharing rooms, meals and intense political discussion for about eighteen hours a day. It could be hell. It's not. Somehow, the Trust has developed a magical algorithm for sorting through the CVs of its accomplished applicants to pick the fun ones.  And the impeccable chairing, coaxing and finessing of John Lotherington, our doughty study tour leader, should mean that the trip goes smoothly in every possible way.

We'll be arriving in Kiev on Monday, 25 September and having several days of lectures and discussions with ministers, MPs, journalists, diplomats and political scientists. There'll also be a day of work-shadowing John Smith Fellows and other Ukrainians that match the professional interests of each participant. And we'll have a weekend in Yalta for a visit to the Livadia Palace where Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin met for the Yalta Conference. It's going to be a fantastic experience.

So do check back into this blog over the next couple of weeks. We'll be meeting some very informed people (and I type very fast so take very comprehensive notes!) and hopefully we'll have plenty of posts from participants on the study tour and others associated with the Trust. And if you're interested in taking part in the discussion, drop me an email at maria dot farrell at gmail dot com.

Of course, if you want to know about Ukraine, nothing beats talking to a proper Ukrainian. Here are some Ukrainian blogs written in English that I've been following for the last year:

CyberCossack
Orange Ukraine, and
Neeka's Backlog