The Days of Europe in Murmansk

On May 24, 2013 the second day of the festival “The Days of Europe” was conducted within the frameworks of the project “Establishing the EU Centre in the Barents Region of Russia”, implemented under the financial support of the European Union. Practical seminar “International Experience in the Sphere of Energy Efficiency and Energy Supply” was arranged in Murmansk Regional Demonstration and Education Centre of Energy Efficiency and Energy Supply. The main topic of the seminar was the discussion of strategies, programs, priorities and goals of the European Union in the sphere of energy conservation, cooperation of Russia and the EU in the energetic sphere, including the questions of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, development of cooperation between Russia and the EU in the framework of international projects in the sphere of efficiency increase and reliance of heat and electrical supply of cities and buildings. More than 20 people (representatives of non-governmental organizations, business associations and professors, researchers and post-graduate students ofMurmanskuniversities) took part in the event.  

The seminar was opened by Evgeny Mishchenko, general director of Demonstration and Education Centre of Energy Efficiency and Energy Supply of Murmansk region. Leading specialist of Energy Efficiency Agency of Murmansk region Vadim Ulanov presented report “Energy Conservation Experience inFinlandby the Example of Rovaniemi”. He described the methods which help Finnish enterprises to achieve increasing of energy efficiency as reduction of energy consumption is the key moment for the European Union. Another report was presented by Artur Dudka, project manager from Rovaniemi University of Applied Sciences, Finland. He highlighted international projects in the sphere of energy efficiency which are financed by the European Union and also highlighted the common policy of EU member states related to this issue. The participants were acquainted with the following interesting fact: despite the EU is the world leader in energy conservation, nevertheless there are places with no electricity at all in the developed countries of the European Union for instance, in some French villages. In the EU there is also a problem connected with the lack of investments for the development of advanced technologies in energy efficiency, etc. Seminar resulted in heated discussions, there were many questions, is it possible forRussiato achieve EU standards of energy consumption reduction. InMurmanskregion reduction of energy consumption is implemented mainly by installation of individual heat and energy meters but even this measure doesn’t allow to pull down payment for utilities services. The reporter from Finnish university is sure that we should start from ourselves and show careful attitude to the recourses, be responsible for the home we live in.

Within the framework of the seminar general excursion over education and demonstration centre was conducted by Ludmila Kir’yanova, Deputy Director of Murmansk Centre of Scientific and Technical Information – subsidiary of the federal state budgetary institution “Russian Energy Agency” of the Ministry of Energy ofRussiawhere the boards with the samples of energy conserving products and materials were represented.

On May 28, 2013 within the framework of Europe Days inMurmanskfestival for children “Country of Suomi in the Book House” was arranged inMurmanskregional library for children and young people. The division of Consulate General of Finland inMurmanskjoined organization and arranging this attractive event. Special guests of the festival were Juhani Tiainen fromFinland, Sari Peuhenen, consular mass media and culture assistant in Murmansk Branch of Consulate General of Finland inSt. Petersburg, Tatiana Yashinkina, specialist of Consulate visa department. So, the children could not only implement interactive trip toFinlandbut also to see and directly communicate with the representatives of the country.        

The cognitive festival was opened by Natalia Anikeeva, the head of International Relations Department. She emphasized that such arrangements and the project help to get more information about our European partners and it in its turn will serve for fostering relations with European neighbors. Children were acquainted with the state symbols ofFinland, colors of the national flag and their meaning, national animal, flower and bird. Preschoolers were told about origination of fairytale heroes – moomins which were created by Finnish writer Tove Jansson. With the astonishment and joy children met computer heroes – angry birds. The fact that their favorite birds and piggies came fromFinlandwas a discovery for children. No doubt, everybody know about Finnish Santa Clause. The children saw a realvillageofSanta Clauswhich is on the mountain on Finnish land inLapland. But the most interesting moment was the meeting with Finnish guests. Sari Peuhenen, consular mass media and culture assistant in Murmansk Branch of Consulate General of Finland inSt. Petersburg, told the children about her family and learnt with the children some Finnish words – “hello”, “bye”, “thanks”, “a cat”, “a deer”, etc. Juhani Tiainen played the guitar and sang together with the children the song of Gena the Crocodile in Russian and Finnish. Also the children danced Finish polka. At the end of the festival the children received sweet presents.   

On May 29,2013 inMurmanskregional library for children and young people in the framework of Europe Days media trip “Welcome toGermany”, which demonstrated the world ofGermany, was arranged. The year of 2013 was announced as the year ofGermanyandRussiaas our countries have close historical and friendly ties. The aim of this arrangement was to expand horizons of knowledge in chronology of culture and art development, to give basic conception of the great achievements ofGermanyin different genres of the epoch “the Northern Renaissance”.

At the beginning of the “trip” the country and its unofficial symbols were demonstrated to the participants in the exciting form. They got to know many interesting facts: most of modern dog breeds was developed in Germany, the native land of the Nutcracker, the fairy tale hero, is also Germany, the building of the most grandiose cathedral in the world - Cologne Cathedral (was the highest building till the end of the 19^th century) which is described in UNESCO as “the extraordinary art work of human genius”, was implementing for 600 years. The participants also received information about the history of development of Old Masters Gallery in Dresden, the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag building which are also the symbols of Germany. Everybody knows that Germany is famous for its automobiles – they are the most advanced, the most reliable, the most technological and the most attractive and it is noteworthy that luxury cars of English company Rolls-Royce are also produced in Germany. Germany is also associated with the greatest persons who are the key figures not only in the history of Germany, but also of the whole world. During the arrangement destiny and art of the following persons were illuminated: Beethoven, Wagner, Heine, Goethe, Einstein, Kant, Hegel, the Brothers Grimm, Hauff, Bruegel, etc. The second part of the “trip” was devoted to the epoch of “the Northern Renaissance” and, in particular, to the genius and founder of the German Renaissance Albert Dürer. The examples of painting, architecture, sculptures of this epoch were also demonstrated. It’s noteworthy, that the temples and medieval castles in Germany in Gothic style of the Renaissance still boggle the mind.