I’m in Paris, for the UNESCO Youth Forum, presenting tomorrow morning, in a working session, the Language as Violence, Violence as Language project that we’re running at TIG in partnership with UNESCO and the SalesForce.com Foundation.

Anyways, this post is about something else. The wondrousness of a train ride. My first thought when I received them in the post: wtf train tickets. A mere first impression that has now changed. Four hours, city-centre-to-centre ville. Versus, a one hour flight, at the airport an hour earlier, one hour train ride to get to the airport, another hour metro ride from CDG to Paris, plus all the queuing, security checks and the occasional dude who steals your sunglasses. Then there is the food factor. I indulged in smoked salmon with apricot and sweet potato chutney, rye bread with raisins and butter. Followed by fillet and rosemary cream sauce, sided by horseradish mash potatoes and carrot battons. Chocolate and pear tart, an espresso, a grand finale. Chardonnay along the whole way. The high above land alternative, water, maybe a coke, and a cold sandwich with cheese and ham flavoured something. The seat. Large and soft. Enough space to actually stretch the joint of my knees beyond a 90 degree angle and fit my backpack under the seat at the same time time. On a plane, its your legs that have to go under the seat. Free newspapers and magazines to read. The surprise is that calculating all the costs of the journey it's actually more convenient too.

Once off the train, the problems begin. It's raining, my shoes, flat soles, I slipped and fell. Twice. A 10-minute queue at the ticket machine. It worked only with French credit cards. A 20-minute queue at the more human ticket counter. The metrò in Paris indicates directions with the last station of the line. If you know where you're going but not where the train will go once you descend, you're in trouble. I got lost. Twice. The hotel reservation email had the wrong directions. Lost again. Steak for dinner with an old friend from university, that I hadn't seen in years. Lots to talk about. I am now safe in the hotel. It has wireless but no hair-dryer. A parable of life.
Sweet dreams.
A domain.

The first phase of WSIS has finished a few minutes ago. The governments adopted a final version (in English. To be revised the wording of the Spanish, Chinese and French versions) Declaration of Principles and a Plan of Action. Alex spoke to the plenary, giving an amazing speech and personally I believe it was of the strongest moments of the whole process.His words where really outstanding. I felt them resonate inside. I'm sure they had a potent impact on all delegates. I felt proud and excited to be part of this process. The people from every angle of the world that I have met within this one year journey are by far the most amazing group of boys and girls that I have had the chance to work with. Each and everyone of them, both those here and those that in some way have contributed to this process, they have all thought me something, have had knowledge and value to share, and something that I will bring along with me for many years to come.
I don't like making names, but in this occasion I feel like saying a special, small, big, thank you to Nick and Alex for their endless commitment.

I am truly and deeply convinced that all together this group of young people has contributed in some way to the growth of their local reality and to this place and home that we all call earth. I believe that we still have many challenges infront of us and so much is still to be done. We have yet to begin. We're at the first sentence yet I know that thanks to the energy, commitment, passion and genuine ideals of this group of people something will change. My hope is that others, governments. organizations and individuals will walk on our same path. A path that we will discover as we walk, but a path that we will find. We all have a great opportunity thanks to our times and spirit, if united we all stand, young and old, we will make change. If divided we stand, united we will fall.
It's matter of will. We have a dream and we believe that gaps can be bridged, conflict prevented, lives saved, children learn and rights and possibilities become universal. In the years to come we will open our eyes and discover if we have realized it. Bon Voyage!

Just came back from dinner and as it often happens, when I say I'm from Italy people say "Berlusconi"...
Today I found out that thanks to the Italian Government's (and rest of the EU) strong position and it's firmness in not acceppting any form of compromise with China and Iran around human rights, a reference to the Universal Declaration is back in the declaration of principles that world leaders will sign in a few hours.
A surprise. I thought I never would have such positive words for this Italian Government. Wow. I really felt proud and it's not about the land of the free and home of the brave kind of thing but I was truly happy that someone stood up in the name of something that is universally right and against something that is universally wrong. We may (luckly as it's at the base of freedom) all have different ideas of what is the "absolute good" or superior morality, but all human's have, I believe, a common feeling around what brings sufferance, fear and pain. I am happy that a governement (finally) stood up and said this admitting no compromise. Good Night. p.s. I feel much better today.
Buonanotte.