Treaty of Middelburg
I believe that basic education and critical thinking skills should be taught to as many people as possible. This is the only way to make informed decisions that reflect your core values. Besides, I would like important decisions (about migration, grants/loans, career advancement) to be made on a more personal level rather than based on a passport in many cases. I believe this limits development of both, the person in question and the society.
Team members
- ■ Daria Lukina
Why do you want to participate?
I want to exchange the views on the topic of Freedom with as many people as possible, with as many backgrounds as possible. Freedom is one of the most discussed and debated topic in the modern world and our approach to it shapes the future for many years ahead.
What does freedom mean to you?
Freedom for me is about choosing your future, the path you want to follow. Whether literally (as freedom of movement) or metaphorically (as freedom of belief, choice etc.). It is a great gift but also a burden to carry, as it comes with accountability for your thoughts and actions.
What are the biggest challenges?
First of all, it is the overflow of information. Using your freedom means making decisions based on your knowledge and beliefs. However, we get such a huge volume of information every day from all the sources that it is very easy to get confused about your true desires. Is there actually a freedom of choice if your choices are influenced so much by external forces? Secondly, there is a clear gap in the extent of freedom given to people between countries/cultures. A lot of people are still risking their lives for freedom. Thirdly, the limits of freedom. For example, when sharing a controversial opinion, where does freedom of speech ends and hate/discriminative speech begins?
Do you have a message?
I once heard a phrase "your freedom to swing your fist ends where my nose begins" which is also interpreted as "your freedom ends where mine begins". I believe this is a very good foundation for a harmonious society.