Aged 16-18? Win a trip to Africa!

Thanks to Eoin Ryan MEP for highlighting this on twitter. Vist www.dyp2008.org/ to see how you could win a trip to Africa. One person from Ireland has to win! Check it out! Best of luck if you enter!

First Th!nk Post

Image via Wikipedia

Well my first post is up on the Th!nk about it blog. It is on "How do we make Europe Sexy?". Please read, comment and vote!

Heres an excerpt from it:

One of the issues that kept coming up during the Launch event last week in Brussels was how do we make Europe Sexy? By Europe I mean the European Union. This is something that I have spent much time thinking about since getting back to Ireland.

I cannot think of any country in the world where politics is considered sexy except in the USA where Obama reinvigorated politics, but how can that work in a disconnected Europe?

Read the full post

Thanks
Steve

Brussels

Well, I think I am finally recovered after my trip to Brussels and it was amazing. I met amazing people!

There was fantastic talks and I will share some of my thoughts on them in later blogposts.

My only problem with the event was the fact my baggage didnt arrive till Monday!! Luckily a friend of mine had recently moved to Brussels and actually had a shirt that fitted me!

The two days of the event were great (when I recovered from the dancing on Sunday night), i met some really interesting people, including the other two participants from Ireland.

I got to know really cool people from around Europe (who have all being adding me on Facebook! - thanks guys!) and have found about really cool events around Europe for the elections. Expect some interesting posts!

Oh and my baggage made it back home in one go thanks to the hepful ground crew in Brussels International Airport who put a priority sticker on my bag when I explained to them my situuation! - Huge thanks to them!

I still must upload my pictures and stuff and write posts on the talks but that will have to wait until atleast Sunday when I start my spring week - holidays yay!

The Picture is from the EJC, It was taken on the Monday

What will I be up to in Brussels?

This is one of the most asked questions about my upcoming trip to Brussels for the Thinking about it competition so here goes an idea of what I will getting up to.

Monday sees me in a hotel all day at talks from fascinating people. After a welcome, Tony Barber of the FT, Mark Mardell of the BBC and Stefan Happer of Politikportal (German) and Brussels Media (English), will be talking to us about blooging about the EU and the relavance of these elections. After that Piotr Kaczynski of CEPS will be telling us the hot topics of 09. The last talk before lunch sees a talk on Vlogging from Raymond Frenken of EUX.TV.

After Lunch sees a discussion around is Blogging Journalim involving Joseph Hennon, a Commission Spokesman and Michael Opgenhaffen, a Researcher. Then there is a talk by Julian Popov of the Bulgarian School of Politics, on how to blog about politics creatively. After that is a talk on Standing out in the bloggersphere by Clo Willaerts of the Sanoma Group.

After a coffee break we are told the rules of the competition! Then there is a talk by Mario Giuseppe, UK National Manager of AEGEE, on covering elections. Then there is a panel discussion on creating an award winning blog.

Tuesday sees us in the European Parliament. There we will start off with an introduction to the European Parliament by Ioannis Darmis. Then we well get talks on the European Parliament online and elections online from the Webcomm Unit. After that the Parliament's Press Office will give a talk on the electoral background. Then there is a talk on how the polilitical groups are following Obama with their online stuff. Then we have a tour followed by a talk by 3 MEP's Christopher Fjellner (EPP), Marianne Mikko (PES) and Alexander Alvaro (ALDE). Then I fly home.

It will be an interesting two days an dlots of paper and ink will be used. Think I will get a few ideas for blog posts too!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Will 2009 see the End of the UEN?
• EU News Sources
• Think About It - Update

Think About It - Update

Yes this, is the Blogging Competition thing that I am in. Im off to Brussels on Sunday for the launch. Will be back in Cork on Tuesday.

The organisers have a blog up with advice and stuff for us, but there is also information on the EU and other campaigns on it.

Some of the others taking part have linked to their websites, so here that are if you want to check out what I am up against. Not all the blogs are in English!

Making Things Happen - Italy
Kleita - Latvia(Its Martha that is in the Competition I think)
Jose Miguel Calatayud's websitt -Spain
Etan Smallman - UK
Paris Never Ends - Lithuania
Katrina Bishop Blogs - UK
AriRusila’s BalkanBlog - Finland
The International - Germany
(un)fencing the mind - The Netherlands
Блогът на Юруков - Bulguria
phat phred - Sweden
European Tribune Diary of Frank Schnittger - Ireland
pypiaus blog’as - Lithuania
Corina Murafa - Romania
AnTyx - Estonia
BORUT PETERLIN, a Slovenian photographer in a rabbit hole of photography - Slovenia
Thailand tur/retur - Denmark
Lehet, Más a Világ - Hungary
Eamonn Fitzgerald's Rainy Day - Ireland
Intialektualu - Lithuania

I will update the list as I get more links.

Sunday night sees a meetup in one of the hotels followed by a 9:30am start on the Monday in Sofitel. We will be having panel discussions on blogging on the like. It should be fun! Tuesday will see us visit the European Parliament. It will be my third visit. I am getting the full program tomorrow!

I am very excited!

I'm in Shock

Remember my post about the EU Blogging Compeition? Well guess who has been selected as one of the three participants from Ireland to attend the launch event?

ME!

I cannot believe it! I am soooo excited and over the moon! On sunday the 25th I head out to Brussels for the launch event! So there shall be plenty of blogging from me next year!

Blogging Competition

Think about it is a european blogging competition. The full details of which is on the website.

What does it entail?

Each participant will post at least once a month (February 1 – June 9, 2009) on the THINK ABOUT IT Elections 2009 blogsite. In February and March, any European-related topic is welcome and from April-June the theme is the European Elections 2009 (issues, candidates, parties, EP, national views on the elections). Photos, audio and video are always encouraged! Postings have to be made in English (does not have to be perfect English; the five site editors can help with the language, if the blogger so wishes).

It sounds interesting and as I will be involved with the European Campiagn here in Ireland South it should be really interesting.

Eurovision Dance Contest 2007

Well the 1st of September (8pm) sees the first Eurovision Dance Contest taking place in London. The website was launched on Wednesday, linky. A lot of stuff is still coming soon.

16 countries are taking part. They are:
Austria (ORF),
Denmark (DR),
Finland (YLE),
Germany (ARD/WDR),
Greece (ERT),
Ireland (RTE),
Lithuania (LRT),
the Netherlands (NPO/TROS),
Poland (TVP),
Portugal (RTP),
Russia (RTR),
Spain (TVE),
Sweden (TV4),
Switzerland (SRG-SSR),
Ukraine (NTU),
the United Kingdom (BBC)

Ireland will be represented by Nicola Byrne & Mick Donegan, who still have to announce their dance styles.

The voting is in the usual eurovision style so it should be fun!

Oh, also its being hosted by Graham Norton and Claudia Winkleman, in English and French!

PS this is the second Eurovision post alluded to during the week!

Eurovision Final!!! Preview

Well last nights semi was very surprising, only 1 of my predictions got through and that was Turkey, which means no Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Norway, Denmark or Andorra (my favourites). I voted for Andorra and Denmark, I think my predictions are a kiss of death. I got 4 right last year. Anyway the final is on tomorrow night on RTÉ2 and BBC 2 at 8:00pm. I shall be Instinct watching it on the big screen, so if your around come say hi! Now I'll run through the finalists, with links to their songs and their betting odds from paddypower.com.

Bosnia & Herzegovina (Youtube) 80-1

This year Bosnia and Herzegovina is represented by Marija Sestic with 'Rijeka Bez Imena'. A nice uplifting song. Don't think it will do well.

Spain (Youtube) 66-1

Spain is represented by D'nash with 'I love you mi vida'. Really upbeat song, surprised its so low in the odds, as one of the big four its guaranteed to be in the final next year. A song that I really like!

Belarus (Youtube) 4-1

The first to qualifiers from last nights semi-final, meant to pick this to get through but too late now.... I missed the performance as i was rushing home from work, but Dmitry Koldun obviously impressed with 'Work Your Magic'

Ireland 33-1


Have to show the video, its the Irish entry! Its Dervish with 'They Can't Stop The Spring'. Not in my opinion a great Eurovision song, but they've done a lot of work on it and its sounding great! Could do well as Dervish are known on the continent!

Finland (Youtube) 25-1

Well Finland is represented by Hanna Pakarinen with 'Leave Me Alone'. Its definitely a Lordi influence, why change a winning formula??

FYR Macedonia (Youtube) 40-1

Macedonia qualified last night with 'Mojot Svet' by Karolina Goceva. Nice song! Did very well last night.

Slovenia (Youtube) 25-1

Slovenia also qualified from last night. Very opera as a friend in Kildare remarked last night!!! Its Alenka Gotar with 'Cvet Z Juga'

Hungary (Youtube) 16-1

Hungary also qualified last night represented by Magdi Ruzsa with 'Unsubstantial Blues'. An excellent performance, and should do well. Loving this song.

Lithuania (Youtube) 150-1

An outsider according to the bookies, Lithuania is represented by 4Fun with 'Love Or Leave'. very gentle melodic song. Latin influences definitely to be heard in the beat and guitar.

Greece (Youtube) 16-1

One of my favourite songs in the final its Sarbel with 'Yassou Maria'. In with a good shout, hes gorgeous!!! Real dance one!

Georgia (Youtube) 40-1

Georgia, through the final on their first try! Sopho was fab with 'Visionary Dream'

Sweden (Youtube) 6-1

One of this years favourites (and my mums!) its Sweden represented by the Ark with 'The worrying kind'. With the ESC move next door to Sweden? I hope so, my hopes are on this one at the moment (Spillane kiss of death again?) come on Sweden!!!!!!!!

France (Youtube) 50-1

One of the best French entries in recent years! They are represented by Les Fatals Picards with 'L'amour à la française'. I really like. As ferance is part of the bug four they are automatically in next year!

Latvia (Youtube) 14-1

This proved very popular and performed in the coveted last place in the show. Good odds here and looks like they ahve a shoe in!

Russia (Youtube) 10-1

Russia is represented by Serebro with 'Song Number One'. Really good song, i really like it!! Wonder will win it? Russia have been waiting awhile for it.

Germany (Youtube) 14-1

Germany, another one of the Big 4, is represented by Roger Cicero with 'Frauen Regier'n Die Welt'. Its a very rat pack song. Think it will do well, its growing on me!

Serbia (Youtube) 5-1

One this years favourites, performed very well last night, hence why its here!!! Its Marija Serifovic with 'Molitva'. What a singer!

Ukraine (Youtube) 7-2

This year the Ukraine are represented by Verka Serdyuchka with 'Dancing Lasha Tumbai'. Very strange song, but fun! Its a guy btw... there was war over that!!! They are also the favourites i think (I get very confused with odds like 7-2!)

United Kingdom (Youtube) 33-1

Its Scooch! Singing 'Flying the flag for You'. Loving this song!! So gay! lol!!! It should do well!

Romania (Youtube) 40-1

Romania is represented by Todomondo with 'Liubi, Liubi, I Love You'. Really nice song. Its sung in a few languages so its great fun!!!! Hope it does well!!!

Bulgaria (Youtube) 8-1

Well Elitsa & Stoyan got in with 'Water'. I missed the performance, but i still dont like the song!

Turkey (Youtube) 25-1

My only prediction to get in! Its Kenan DOĞULU with 'Shake It Up Shekerim'! Went down very well last night and I enjoyed the performance, it with a good shout!!!

Armenia (Youtube) 80-1

An outsider in the betting, Armenia is represented by Hayko with 'Anytime You Need'. Hes quite good looking! NIce ballad of song, but no fast paced chorus, cant see it doing well!

Moldova (Youtube) 25-1

Was she wearing a pants last night? Thought it was going to fall off her! Natalia Barbu with 'Fight' qualified for Moldova last night. It was a giood performance!!

Well thats it. I've given sweden the kiss of death, who do you think will win? Leave a comment or email me!

Irish Blog Awards Voting closes at 5pm (Irish Time)

Well the time for voting nears the end, and if you plan on voting get yourself over to the voting page and vote! of course if you dont know who to vote for in the Best News/Current Affairs Blog, please consder voting for me!! Im listed under Stephen Spillane, for some reason people dont refer to this site as My Opinion at all :(

Update:All those who vote in the blog awards will be entered into a draw for a copy of Vista Home Premium. There’s 5 to give away. That’s a final incentive to have people vote for you. Best of luck to everyone. Voting closes at 5pm today. One vote per person.

79th Academy Award Nominations

Well i did it for the Golden Globes so why not this! and the nominations are:


Performance by an actor in a leading role
Leonardo DiCaprio in “Blood Diamond” (Warner Bros.)
Ryan Gosling in “Half Nelson” (THINKFilm)
Peter O’Toole in “Venus” (Miramax, Filmfour and UK Council)
Will Smith in “The Pursuit of Happyness” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Forest Whitaker in “The Last King of Scotland” (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Alan Arkin in “Little Miss Sunshine” (Fox Searchlight)
Jackie Earle Haley in “Little Children” (New Line)
Djimon Hounsou in “Blood Diamond” (Warner Bros.)
Eddie Murphy in “Dreamgirls” (DreamWorks and Paramount)
Mark Wahlberg in “The Departed” (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Penélope Cruz in “Volver” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Judi Dench in “Notes on a Scandal” (Fox Searchlight)
Helen Mirren in “The Queen” (Miramax, Pathé and Granada)
Meryl Streep in “The Devil Wears Prada” (20th Century Fox)
Kate Winslet in “Little Children” (New Line)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Adriana Barraza in “Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage)
Cate Blanchett in “Notes on a Scandal” (Fox Searchlight)
Abigail Breslin in “Little Miss Sunshine” (Fox Searchlight)
Jennifer Hudson in “Dreamgirls” (DreamWorks and Paramount)
Rinko Kikuchi in “Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage)

Best animated feature film of the year
“Cars” (Buena Vista) John Lasseter
“Happy Feet” (Warner Bros.) George Miller
“Monster House” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Gil Kenan

Achievement in art direction
“Dreamgirls” (DreamWorks and Paramount)
Art Direction: John Myhre
Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh
“The Good Shepherd” (Universal)
Art Direction: Jeannine Oppewall
Set Decoration: Gretchen Rau and Leslie E. Rollins
“Pan’s Labyrinth” (Picturehouse)
Art Direction: Eugenio Caballero
Set Decoration: Pilar Revuelta
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (Buena Vista)
Art Direction: Rick Heinrichs
Set Decoration: Cheryl Carasik
“The Prestige” (Buena Vista)
Art Direction: Nathan Crowley
Set Decoration: Julie Ochipinti

Achievement in cinematography
“The Black Dahlia” (Universal) Vilmos Zsigmond
“Children of Men” (Universal) Emmanuel Lubezki
“The Illusionist” (Yari Film Group) Dick Pope
“Pan’s Labyrinth” (Picturehouse) Guillermo Navarro
“The Prestige” (Buena Vista) Wally Pfister

Achievement in costume design
“Curse of the Golden Flower” (Sony Pictures Classics) Yee Chung Man
“The Devil Wears Prada” (20th Century Fox) Patricia Field
“Dreamgirls” (DreamWorks and Paramount) Sharen Davis
“Marie Antoinette” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Milena Canonero
“The Queen” (Miramax, Pathé and Granada) Consolata Boyle

Achievement in directing
“Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage) Alejandro González Iñárritu
“The Departed” (Warner Bros.) Martin Scorsese
“Letters from Iwo Jima” (Warner Bros.) Clint Eastwood
“The Queen” (Miramax, Pathé and Granada) Stephen Frears
“United 93” (Universal and StudioCanal) Paul Greengrass

Best documentary feature
“Deliver Us from Evil” (Lionsgate)
A Disarming Films Production
Amy Berg and Frank Donner
“An Inconvenient Truth” (Paramount Classics and Participant Productions)
A Lawrence Bender/Laurie David Production
Davis Guggenheim
“Iraq in Fragments” (Typecast Releasing)
A Typecast Pictures/Daylight Factory Production
James Longley and John Sinno
“Jesus Camp” (Magnolia Pictures)
A Loki Films Production
Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady
“My Country, My Country” (Zeitgeist Films)
A Praxis Films Production
Laura Poitras and Jocelyn Glatzer

Best documentary short subject
“The Blood of Yingzhou District”
A Thomas Lennon Films Production
Ruby Yang and Thomas Lennon
“Recycled Life”
An Iwerks/Glad Production
Leslie Iwerks and Mike Glad
“Rehearsing a Dream”
A Simon & Goodman Picture Company Production
Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon
“Two Hands”
A Crazy Boat Pictures Production
Nathaniel Kahn and Susan Rose Behr

Achievement in film editing
“Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage)
Stephen Mirrione and Douglas Crise
“Blood Diamond” (Warner Bros.)
Steven Rosenblum
“Children of Men” (Universal)
Alex Rodríguez and Alfonso Cuarón
“The Departed” (Warner Bros.)
Thelma Schoonmaker
“United 93” (Universal and StudioCanal)
Clare Douglas, Christopher Rouse and Richard Pearson

Best foreign language film of the year
“After the Wedding” A Zentropa Entertainments 16 Production
Denmark
“Days of Glory (Indigènes)” A Tessalit Production
Algeria
“The Lives of Others” A Wiedemann & Berg Production
Germany
“Pan’s Labyrinth” A Tequila Gang/Esperanto Filmoj/Estudios Picasso Production
Mexico
“Water” A Hamilton-Mehta Production
Canada

Achievement in makeup
“Apocalypto” (Buena Vista) Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
“Click” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Kazuhiro Tsuji and Bill Corso
“Pan’s Labyrinth” (Picturehouse) David Marti and Montse Ribe

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage) Gustavo Santaolalla
“The Good German” (Warner Bros.) Thomas Newman
“Notes on a Scandal” (Fox Searchlight) Philip Glass
“Pan’s Labyrinth” (Picturehouse) Javier Navarrete
“The Queen” (Miramax, Pathé and Granada) Alexandre Desplat

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“I Need to Wake Up” from “An Inconvenient Truth”
(Paramount Classics and Participant Productions)
Music and Lyric by Melissa Etheridge
“Listen” from “Dreamgirls”
(DreamWorks and Paramount)
Music by Henry Krieger and Scott Cutler
Lyric by Anne Preven
“Love You I Do” from “Dreamgirls”
(DreamWorks and Paramount)
Music by Henry Krieger
Lyric by Siedah Garrett
“Our Town” from “Cars”
(Buena Vista)
Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Patience” from “Dreamgirls”
(DreamWorks and Paramount)
Music by Henry Krieger
Lyric by Willie Reale

Best motion picture of the year
“Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage)
An Anonymous Content/Zeta Film/Central Films Production
Alejandro González Iñárritu, Jon Kilik and Steve Golin, Producers
“The Departed” (Warner Bros.)
A Warner Bros. Pictures Production
Graham King, Producer
“Letters from Iwo Jima” (Warner Bros.)
A DreamWorks Pictures/Warner Bros. Pictures Production
Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg and Robert Lorenz, Producers
“Little Miss Sunshine” (Fox Searchlight)
A Big Beach/Bona Fide Production
David T. Friendly, Peter Saraf and Marc Turtletaub, Producers
“The Queen” (Miramax, Pathé and Granada)
A Granada Production
Andy Harries, Christine Langan and Tracey Seaward, Producers

Best animated short film
“The Danish Poet” (National Film Board of Canada)
A Mikrofilm and National Film Board of Canada Production
Torill Kove
“Lifted” (Buena Vista)
A Pixar Animation Studios Production
Gary Rydstrom
“The Little Matchgirl” (Buena Vista)
A Walt Disney Pictures Production
Roger Allers and Don Hahn
“Maestro” (Szimplafilm)
A Kedd Production
Geza M. Toth
“No Time for Nuts” (20th Century Fox)
A Blue Sky Studios Production
Chris Renaud and Michael Thurmeier

Best live action short film
“Binta and the Great Idea (Binta Y La Gran Idea)”
A Peliculas Pendelton and Tus Ojos Production
Javier Fesser and Luis Manso
“Éramos Pocos (One Too Many)” (Kimuak)
An Altube Filmeak Production
Borja Cobeaga
“Helmer & Son”
A Nordisk Film Production
Soren Pilmark and Kim Magnusson
“The Saviour” (Australian Film Television and Radio School)
An Australian Film Television and Radio School Production
Peter Templeman and Stuart Parkyn
“West Bank Story”
An Ari Sandel, Pascal Vaguelsy, Amy Kim, Ravi Malhotra and Ashley Jordan Production
Ari Sandel

Achievement in sound editing
“Apocalypto” (Buena Vista)
Sean McCormack and Kami Asgar
“Blood Diamond” (Warner Bros.)
Lon Bender
“Flags of Our Fathers” (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by Paramount)
Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
“Letters from Iwo Jima” (Warner Bros.)
Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (Buena Vista)
Christopher Boyes and George Watters II

Achievement in sound mixing
“Apocalypto” (Buena Vista)
Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell and Fernando Camara
“Blood Diamond” (Warner Bros.)
Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer and Ivan Sharrock
“Dreamgirls” (DreamWorks and Paramount)
Michael Minkler, Bob Beemer and Willie Burton
“Flags of Our Fathers” (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by Paramount)
John Reitz, Dave Campbell, Gregg Rudloff and Walt Martin
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (Buena Vista)
Paul Massey, Christopher Boyes and Lee Orloff

Achievement in visual effects
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (Buena Vista)
John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and Allen Hall
“Poseidon” (Warner Bros.)
Boyd Shermis, Kim Libreri, Chas Jarrett and John Frazier
“Superman Returns” (Warner Bros.)
Mark Stetson, Neil Corbould, Richard R. Hoover and Jon Thum

Adapted screenplay
“Borat Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” (20th Century Fox)
Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Peter Baynham & Dan Mazer
Story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Peter Baynham & Anthony Hines & Todd Phillips
“Children of Men” (Universal)
Screenplay by Alfonso Cuarón & Timothy J. Sexton and David Arata and Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby
“The Departed” (Warner Bros.)
Screenplay by William Monahan
“Little Children” (New Line)
Screenplay by Todd Field & Tom Perrotta
“Notes on a Scandal” (Fox Searchlight)
Screenplay by Patrick Marber

Original screenplay
“Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage)
Written by Guillermo Arriaga
“Letters from Iwo Jima” (Warner Bros.)
Screenplay by Iris Yamashita
Story by Iris Yamashita & Paul Haggis
“Little Miss Sunshine” (Fox Searchlight)
Written by Michael Arndt
“Pan’s Labyrinth” (Picturehouse)
Written by Guillermo del Toro
“The Queen” (Miramax, Pathé and Granada)
Written by Peter Morgan

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2006 will be presented on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center

Blog Awards Open!

Well nominations are open for the Irish Blog Awards!

Click here for the nominations page

dont forget there is also a bebo competition and the more entries the better the prize!

Click here to nominate a bebo page

Best of luck to everyone.

Dont forget its on March 3rd in the Alexandria Hoitel in Dublin!


PS: You can nominate me!!! :P

Irish Blog Awards - Bebo Page Nominations open!

Nominations are open click here for more info see the awards bebo page

Essay Competition

Got the following from one of my lectures, think sone of ye might find it interesting

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome: Essay Prize
Competition

The European Movement, Federal Trust and Chatham House are organising an
essay competition to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. Its
purpose is to provoke new thinking on the future of Europe among the leaders
of tomorrow. Entries are invited from students in full time education under
the age of 26 who are residents of one of the member states of the European
Union.

Topic: 'My vision of Europe in 2057'.

Length: between 2,500 and 3,000 words

First prize: £500 and publication as a Federal Trust paper. Two runner-up
prizes of £100.

Essays may be submitted electronically to email@ address.com or as
typescript by post to Professor Richard Whitman, Chatham House, 10 St
James's Square, London SW1Y 4LE.

Closing date: February 16, 2007

Judging criteria: Knowledge of the subject, clarity of expression, logical
structure, persuasiveness of arguments

Essays will be judged by:
Professor Richard Whitman, Professor of Politics, University of Bath
Dr Martyn Bond, Visiting Professor of European Politics and Policy, Royal
Holloway University of London
Mr Brendan Donnelly, Director, The Federal Trust

Prizes will be presented by Mr Geoff Hoon MP, Minister for Europe, at a
Chatham House Conference on March 22, 2007.

I'll more than likely be enetering and will post my entry after the closing date

Morning Briefing, 29th December

Maidin Maith!

An nuacht ar an maidin seo.

The Irish Blog Awards have announced a bebo profile competition! Check out the bebo page for more info! Pandering to the masses eh?

Today is the day that documents from 30 years ago are declassified and breakingnews.ie have a few interesting ones.

Such as the UK wanting to make the North independent to avoid bloodshed. For some reason i think that wouldnt have worked.

They also report on death threats made to JFK when he was going to visit Ireland! My god man! i thought he was loved here. One of our own who went to the US and made it big.

RTÉ reports on Sinn Fein's National Exec meeting on policing today on weather or not to call an ard fheis to decide on it. Just get on with it like

CNN reports on the breaking up of the Canadian ice shelf. We're buggered!

Neways thats all i have time for at the mo! Time to get up and do some work!

Slán!!!

Votetube.org

Found this website on Irishblogs.ie. I think its an excellent idea and I might even enter the competition they have running or I might get UCC YFG to enter! mmmm ideas

Competition Details