Economic Bulletin No. 1 - 2021
https://www.bancaditalia.it/media/notizia/economic-bulletin-no-1-2021/
https://www.bancaditalia.it/pubblicazioni/bollettino-economico/2021-1/index.html
Full texts in Italian
and English
https://www.bancaditalia.it/pubblicazioni/bollettino-economico/2021-1/boleco-1-2021.pdf
https://it.w3ask.com/mappa-principali-gasdotti-europa/
https://www.databaseitalia.it/sanzioni-usa-ora-anche-per-i-gasdotti-russi-in-europa/
https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2020/11/20/10463483/topic-page-nord-stream-2
https://www.msp-platform.eu/sites/default/files/gas_and_oil_pipelines_in_europe_en.pdf
(2009)
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/210517/EPRS_IDA(2020)649334_EN.pdf
(2020)
https://www.ispionline.it/it/pubblicazione/eastern-mediterranean-gas-what-prospects-new-decade-25102
https://ec.europa.eu/info/news/focus-energy-security-eu-2020-avr-27_en
https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/report_on_the_state_of_the_energy_union_com2020950.pdf
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/
https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBU48JHJ-4M
Talk to your UN Youth Delegate.
Here are some links and notes to get you started on research for an essay. First examine some current and recent events connected with youth, e.g. in Hong Kong, Ecuador, Lebanon, Iraq, Chile.
Then have a look at the activities, initiatives and positions or statements by international relations organizations, governments and public figures, e.g. Greta Thunberg's impassioned speech at the United Nations Climate Action Summit on 23 September 2019, or Boyan Sat (see the links at the end of this post), or this
https://ec.europa.eu/youth/policy/youth-strategy_en
https://www.esteri.it/mae/it/servizi/italiani/opportunita/nelle_oo_ii/pergiovani/jpo.html
https://www.un.org/development/desa/youth/iyd2020.html
https://www.un.org/development/desa/youth/news/2020/05/covid-19/
https://www.un.org/youthenvoy/2020/03/5-things-young-people-can-do-against-coronavirus/
https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/youth-employment/publications/WCMS_753026/lang--en/index.htm
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/10/3-ways-covid-19-has-changed-youth-activism/
https://www.voanews.com/student-union/students-italy-protest-schools-reopen
The definition of
'youth' according to the UN is roughly 15-24 years old.
https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/documents/youth/fact-sheets/youth-definition.pdf
Think about a possible line of
argument. For, example, mine would be that:
youth has long been a victim in national and international affairs, but it must now become, or perhaps I should say again become, a committed protagonist, a real actor in the promotion of multilateral strategies to deal with the challenges that youth faces across the globe and that it will inherit from today's older generations and have to face in the future (e.g. climate change) but perhaps this has always been the role every younger generation.
As victims and in
terms of rights the definition of youth must often be broadened to include
children as they are the youth and adults of tomorrow.
Youth as victims – in the developing world
/living conditions, clean water, food, shelter, sanitation, health care /
starvation / malnutrition / poverty rates / disease e,g. HIV-AIDS /the lack of
medical care and its effects on long-term health / unemployment rates (e.g.
North Africa) / child marriage / boy soldiers / female education rates,
discrimination, lack of equal employment opportunities, inequality / exploitation
of child and young workers / sexual exploitation / climate change, population
growth, desertification, political instability leading to migration / human
trafficking and migrant smuggling, refugees / labour exploitation of migrants
in developed or more developed countries of arrival.
In the developed world – unemployment /
underemployment, labour exploitation, poor contracts or unregistered black
market labour / migration of graduates and other young people / voting in
frustration for non-traditional parties and for radical alternatives.
For a developing or developed country,
youth should be a 'smart' investment for governments as they have long working
lives ahead of them, flexibility, IT skills and the ability to learn new
things.
On their part, young people need to
organize, to form an effective and vocal lobby, to become active in national
politics and international relations, to become proactive and try to influence
and, if possible, to set the international agenda.
Possible examples: Malala Yousafzai, young people in Hong
Kong, the Y20 summit
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/youth/
They should press for
(well, you choose, but possibly):
a) a global response
to global warming and climate change
b) economic inclusion
for youth
c) greater turn-out
and youth participation in elections, as voters but also as candidates
d) more opportunities
for youth like the Erasmus programme and programmes for youth in difficulty
c) greater
responsibility from governments and the international community regarding
challenges affecting children and youth
d) better prevention
of nuclear proliferation
e) a lowering of the
voting age?!?
f) prioritizing
education and learning skills
There are some signs of hope – support for Greta
Thunberg's School Strike for Climate movement, youth climate
demonstrations, the UN Youth delegates, Malala Yousafzai and her campaign for civil rights and the right to
education, role of youth in demonstrations in Hong, Kong, Tunisia
https://www.esteri.it/mae/it/sala_stampa/archivionotizie/approfondimenti/2017/09/partecipazione-italiana-al-united.html https://www.facebook.com/UNYouthDelegateItaly/
In the West the younger and older
generation may not be so different. Today's older generation were once the
younger generation and protested against the war in Vietnam, against
dictatorship in Chile and Argentina, against the oppressive Soviet system in
Eastern Europe (and celebrated its fall in 1989) against China's repression of
protests in Tiananmen square and against the
Iraq war and in favour of the Arab Spring.. They campaigned for jobs minority
rights and social justice and founded the Green Party and ecological movement.
Perhaps the main difference is
technology. Young people today can use social media to exchange ideas across
borders, organize action and make their situation, views and action known to
the world. They can put their case to the global community, Hong Kong, Iraq,
Lebanon, Chile. Global warming will affect them more than the older generation
but that is mainly a question of life expectancy. The
older generation needs to respond to the situation and integrate the younger
generation into the consultation and decision-making process, to empower youth.
Give an example of where this is, or is not, happening, like https://www.yepp.it/
In conclusion, perhaps we should not focus too
much on the West but should look at the role of youth in the developing world
where global warming may not be the priority. Physical and economic survival,
escaping from poverty, violence, exploitation and human rights abuses, the
fight against unemployment and income inequality may be their priorities. Many young people remain the victims and hostages of our
global society and are hardly in a position to voice their grievances except
through street protests.
https://www.un.org/development/desa/youth/what-we-do/youth-delegate-programme.html
https://www.facebook.com/UNYouthDelegateItaly/
https://www.sioi.org/attivita/focus-on/unydp/
https://www.romunsioi.org/what-is-unydp/
https://www.un.org/development/desa/youth/issue-briefs.html
https://www.un.org/development/desa/youth/what-we-do/faq.html
https://www.un.org/development/desa/youth/what-we-do.html
https://www.un.org/development/desa/youth/world-youth-report.html
http://www.unworldyouthreport.org/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwT1QrWaj60
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4Faz7CNT8k
NEET è l'acronimo inglese di "not
(engaged) in education, employment or training".
https://www.romunsioi.org/youth-resolution-e-neet-un-grande-risultato-per-i-giovani-italiani/
http://www.econ.uniurb.it/RePEc/urb/wpaper/WP_15_08.pdf
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1354571X.2017.1409529?src=recsys&journalCode=rmis20
Boyan Sat
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyan_Slat
https://www.readersdigest.ca/culture/european-year-boyan-slatan-wants-clean-oceans/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROW9F-c0kIQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBaTeXZNk9c
https://www.greenme.it/informarsi/ambiente/ocean-cleanup-funziona/
Here's another possible subject for an
essay:
'What are the challenges for companies
wishing to do business in Italy? What changes have been and could be made to
help them?'
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/economic-bulletin/articles/2018/html/ecb.ebart201804_01.en.html
https://data.oecd.org/fdi/fdi-stocks.htm
https://www.ice.it/en/invest/foreign-direct-investments
https://www.ansa.it/documents/1610403841219_Bozza_Recovery_01_Cover.pdf
https://www.ice.it/en/invest/invest-italy
https://ideas.repec.org/p/ces/ceswps/_2416.html
file:///C:/Users/HP/Downloads/SSRN-id1094329.pdf
https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/doing-business-in-italy
https://www.doingbusiness.org/content/dam/doingBusiness/country/i/italy/ITA.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_received_FDI
https://www.invitalia.it/eng/doing-business/doing-business-in-italy/our-services
The WTO’s list, by country: http://www.doingbusiness.org/rankings
Here is Italy: https://www.doingbusiness.org/en/data/exploreeconomies/italy/
https://italian.doingbusiness.org/it/reports/subnational-reports/italy
https://tradingeconomics.com/italy/ease-of-doing-business
https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/doing-business-in-italy
https://www.tmf-group.com/en/news-insights/business-culture/top-challenges-italy/
https://undisciplinedenvironments.org/2015/02/16/sblocca-italia-extractivism-made-in-italy/
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD
US
FDIs around the world and in Italy:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/188806/top-15-countries-for-united-states-direct-investments/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/188651/united-states-direct-investments-in-italy-since-2000/
China’s outflows of
FDIs
https://www.china-briefing.com/news/chinese-fdi-eu-top-4-economies/
Are you still making elementary errors?
Have a look at Dott. Luigi Baker’s dispensa, which should help you resolve some of your basic questions and doubts about the differences between Italian and English. There's lots of quick translation to check the grammar items:
https://www.lewisdispensa.com/#
You can download the material.
10 years after the protests in Egypt - was the Arab Spring simply a failure for the Arab world?
What are the main characteristics, benefits and drawbacks of globalization and the current trends global economic relations?
1) Can you define globalization? In its original, narrower sense? And in its wider sense?
2) What were the drivers of globalization in the 1990s?
3)
What
is the main economic benefit of globalization?
4)
What
other benefit regarding international relations is often claimed by supporters
of globalization?
5)
What
are some of the other advantages sometimes cited?
6) Which countries are least likely to benefit from the globalization process?
7)
What
is the main criticism of globalization often heard in some developed economies
like those of Western Europe?
8)
And
the criticisms from environmentalists?
9)
Make
a list of other possible drawbacks.
10) Can you think of practical examples (e.g. things,
countries, phenomena, events etc…) to illustrate your points in questions 1- 9?
11) What policies did President Trump pursue on trade, why
and with what effects?
12) What effects has the Covid-19 pandemic had on the global economy and national economies?
13) What kind of conclusion do you want to come to in an
essay on this topic? Remember you need to be informed, up-to-date and balanced
How is the role of NATO evolving? What are the main challenges facing the organization? Discuss the EU Defence Agency and cooperation with NATO.
Introduction: Start with a reference to one or two recent developments
relating to the question to show you are up to date on the issue. For example, plans for the next NATO summit or NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe or
https://www.france24.com/en/20191107-macron-claims-nato-is-suffering-brain-death
or a statement by Biden on NATO.
Line of argument: This essay
will argue that in an increasingly volatile world, with the re-emergence of
Russia as an important but authoritarian, international actor and neighbor,
NATO, working closely with the European Defence Agency, will remain fundamental
to the security of the EU and Italy as regards threats and challenges from the
East and South (the Mediterranean). Europe needs to work to become more capable
of acting independently when and where necessary while resisting the dangers of
any American tendencies towards disengagement. At the same time, it should
work, where possible, towards a modus vivendi with Russia to reduce tensions
and the dangers of misunderstandings.
https://carnegie.ru/commentary/75283
Explain the origin and historic purpose of NATO, what happened after the
fall of the Berlin Wall, the collapse of Communism and the dissolution of the
Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Union. What were the expectations? What new tasks
did NATO set itself?
What resources does it have? Was it successful? What happened in Russia?
What was the Russian view and response to NATO and the EU’s expansion. Events
in Transnistria, Georgia and Ukraine. The sanctions imposed by the EU and US
(and by many NATO and non-NATO but allied countries). The difficulty of
resolving this and other questions and moving forward. The NATO missile defence
and later ballistic missile defence system. The US withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range
Nuclear Forces Treaty. NATO's Advanced Forward Presence policy, and the role
of the Italian contingent.
Italy and NATO, NATO forces and bases in Italy and threats to Europe
from the South. The recent developments at the European Defence Agency. Why is
this necessary? Mogherini on understanding the NATO-EDA relationship and plans
to enhance cooperation. European relief to see Biden elected and the prospect
of a more stable and traditional Atlantic alliance.
Conclusion – In a world with growing signs of
instability, NATO remains vital to Europe as an ultimate guarantor of security,
its traditional role to which it has returned after Russia's turn towards
authoritarianism and the events in Ukraine. At the same time, however, NATO
will have to continue to adapt to non-traditional, asymmetric threats. Europe
will need to ensure that the EDA works closely with NATO whenever and wherever
possible, while developing its capabilities to act alone if and when necessary.
The EU will also need to work diplomatically to keep the incoming US
administrations committed to NATO's collective approach to security and undo
some of the distrust and tension that was a characteristic of relations with
the Trump administration. A reference to some recent NATO- Italian event or
statement?
Have a look at the following and make some notes. Check the dropbox articles too.
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55498657
https://actalliance.eu/news-post/paris-climate-agreement-a-good-but-insufficient-step-forward/
https://skepticalscience.com/flaw-paris-agreement-millar-schurer.html
https://www.yesmagazine.org/environment/2021/01/12/climate-change-hope-momentum/
https://www.wri.org/blog/2020/12/interactive-chart-top-emitters
https://www.wri.org/blog/2020/02/greenhouse-gas-emissions-by-country-sector
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change_denial
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/paris-global-climate-change-agreements
https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-review-2020/global-energy-and-co2-emissions-in-2020
The European Union
https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/eu-climate-action_en
https://www.techeconomy2030.it/2020/06/26/energia-da-fonti-rinnovabili-a-che-punto-e-litalia/
https://ec.europa.eu/clima/citizens/youth_en
https://apnews.com/article/22d55a676a7d49ed11a9ac2d1ad8d208
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/10/eu-priorities-climate-buzzwords-critics
Italy
https://ilbolive.unipd.it/it/news/cambiamento-climatico-che-strategie-italia-europa
https://www.cmcc.it/it/analisi-del-rischio-i-cambiamenti-climatici-in-italia
https://www.techeconomy2030.it/2020/06/26/energia-da-fonti-rinnovabili-a-che-punto-e-litalia/
Possible title for an essay or essay plan:
Climate change, global warming and green energy - too little, too late?
If not done yet.
Do each reading comprehension, first without a
dictionary. Then check the words you don't know and see if you want to change
your answers. Then check the answers.
B2 level
https://www.examenglish.com/FCE/fce_reading.htm
https://www.examenglish.com/FCE/fce_reading2.htm
https://www.examenglish.com/FCE/fce_reading3.htm
https://www.examenglish.com/FCE/fce_reading_part1_test2.htm
https://www.examenglish.com/FCE/fce_reading_part2_test2.htm
https://www.examenglish.com/FCE/fce_reading_part3_test2.htm
all the texts here
https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/first-certificate-reading-multiple-choice.php
and
https://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/FCE-Part-5-Multiple-Choice-Practice-Test.htm
https://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/1part3.htm
https://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/2part2.htm
https://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/2part3.htm
https://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/3part2.htm
https://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/part2.htm
https://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/part4.htm
https://www.learninginstitute.ch/pdfs/fce-reading-uebungen-tests-98.pdf
more difficult, C1
https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/toefl-reading.php
https://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/prepare/practice_sets/reading/
http://www.examenglish.com/IELTS/IELTS_academic_reading1.htm
and then all the other texts on the right of the page,
Academic Reading 2-9
http://www.examenglish.com/CAE/cae_reading1.htm
and then the other texts on the right of the page
http://www.examenglish.com/BEC/BEC_Higher_reading_part1.htm
and then the other one on the right (BEC Higher)
http://www.examenglish.com/PTE/pte_general_level4_reading1.htm
and then the other ones on the right, B2 and C2
https://www.examenglish.com/TOEFL/TOEFL_reading3.htm
not texts 1 and 2 please, but the other ones on the
right, 4-8
http://www.examenglish.com/cpe/cpe_reading_part1.htm
and then the other ones on the right, 2-4
http://www.lofoya.com/Verbal-Test-Questions-and-Answers/Reading-Comprehension/l3p1
and then pages 2-12, text and questions
http://www.esl-lounge.com/student/proficiency/cpe-074-last-photo-reading-multiple-choice.php
http://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/ielts-practice-global-temperatures
http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/reading-public-debt.php
and the other sections under 'related materials'
http://www.esl-lounge.com/student/reading/4r3-mother-fined.php
https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/reading/4r1-air-base.php
https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/reading/4r5-siberian-winter.php
https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/reading/4r6-snake-bites-boy.php
https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/reading/4r65-advanced-reading-new-website.php
and all the texts here
https://www.esl-lounge.com/toefl-reading.php
https://www.esl-lounge.com/ielts-academic-reading.php
https://www.esl-lounge.com/proficiency-reading-multiple-choice.php
and all the texts at
https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/ielts-academic-reading.php
e.g.
https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/ielts/ielts001-academic-reading-1.php
and
https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/ielts/ielts008-academic-reading-8.php
https://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/reading_obesity.php
http://www.english-online.org.uk/toeflfolder/toeflread1.php?name=TOEFL%20Reading%20test%201
http://www.tolearnenglish.com/free/full/reality/comprehension.php
http://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/reading-do-children-see-enough-culture
http://www.grammarbank.com/reading-comprehension-activity-5.html
https://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/32.html
http://www.infosquares.com/readingcomprehension/
and then choose a text
https://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/
https://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/advanced.html
and choose a text like this:
https://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/24.html
The sample text below on pages 9 and 10 may also be
useful but not the tips
https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading/advanced-c1-reading
http://www.testpreppractice.net/practice-tests/reading-comprehension/rc1.html?testname=IELTS
http://www.esl-lounge.com/student/reading-advanced.php
https://www.testprepreview.com/modules/readingtest2.htm
http://www.infosquares.com/readingcomprehension/esl-reading-comprehension1.html
https://www.ereadingworksheets.com/free-reading-worksheets/reading-comprehension-worksheets/
https://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/advanced.html
https://www.flo-joe.co.uk/cae/students/tests/1part3.htm
https://www.graduateshotline.com/toefl/reading-comprehension-test-1.html
https://www.examenglish.com/cpe/cpe_reading_part2.htm
https://www.flo-joe.co.uk/cpe/students/tests/read1p4.htm
https://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/32.html
https://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/29.html
Lots of texts and 3 levels, Easy, Moderate and
Difficult
http://www.lofoya.com/Verbal-Test-Questions-and-Answers/Reading-Comprehension/l1p1
http://www.lofoya.com/Verbal-Test-Questions-and-Answers/Reading-Comprehension/l2p1
http://www.lofoya.com/Verbal-Test-Questions-and-Answers/Reading-Comprehension/l3p1
then click on pages, 2,3,4 etc for more questions and
next text
https://www.etsglobal.org/Tests-Preparation/The-TOEFL-Family-of-Assessments/TOEFL-Sample-Tests/TOEFL-ITP-Sample-Test-Questions/Section-3-Reading-Comprehension
Here there are 24 questions. Choose an answer to
number 1, check it with View the Correct Answer and go to Next at the top for
the next question.
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sample-questions/reading/1
Useful tips
https://classroom.synonym.com/tricks-taking-multiplechoice-exam-8737068.html
Go to this page and click on one of the tests (e.g.
Test 1). When you finish all the questions, click on
Validate for score. Then go back to the first page and choose another Test.
http://www.greguide.com/gre-sample-tests.html
https://agendaweb.org/reading/reading-pdf-6
https://www.ngllife.com/upper-intadvanced
http://www.euroexam.com/sites/network/files/private/practice-tests/euro_c1/31_WEB_C1_QUP_Reading.pdf
http://www.euroexam.com/sites/network/files/private/practice-tests/euro_c1/33_web_c1_key_reading.pdf
https://www.graduateshotline.com/toefl/reading-comprehension-test-1.html
https://www.graduateshotline.com/toefl/reading-comprehension-test-2.html
https://www.graduateshotline.com/toefl/reading-comprehension-test-3.html
https://www.graduateshotline.com/sampletoefl3.html
https://www.graduateshotline.com/toefl_practice_test4.html
https://www.graduateshotline.com/toefl-practice-test-5.html
https://gre.graduateshotline.com/reading_comprehension_practice.html
https://gre.graduateshotline.com/reading-comprehension-practice-test-2.html
https://gre.graduateshotline.com/reading-comprehension-practice-test-3.html
https://gre.graduateshotline.com/reading-comprehension-practice-test-4.html
https://gre.graduateshotline.com/reading-comprehension-practice-test-5.html
http://prodigy-works.blogspot.com/2018/03/english-assignment1-reading.html
http://prodigy-works.blogspot.com/2018/03/english-task2-reading-comprehension.html
http://www.testpreppractice.net/practice-tests/reading-comprehension/rc1.html?testname=IELTS
http://www.esl-lounge.com/student/reading-advanced.php
https://www.testprepreview.com/modules/readingtest2.htm
http://www.infosquares.com/readingcomprehension/esl-reading-comprehension1.html
https://www.ereadingworksheets.com/free-reading-worksheets/reading-comprehension-worksheets/
https://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/advanced.html
https://www.flo-joe.co.uk/cae/students/tests/1part3.htm
https://www.graduateshotline.com/toefl/reading-comprehension-test-1.html
https://www.examenglish.com/cpe/cpe_reading_part2.htm
https://www.flo-joe.co.uk/cpe/students/tests/read1p4.htm
https://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/32.html
https://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/29.html
Is the site below safe for downloading texts?
http://englishteststore.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=236&Itemid=318
You could also get old Cambridge IELTS, CAE and FCE
Practice Test Books (the version with answers) from your
relatives, colleagues or friends or on Amazon. (Don't get Cambridge IELTS
Academic 11 or General 11, Cambridge CAE 5 or Cambridge FCE 5 or 6 as I have
those). Then do all the reading sections, giving yourself the same number of
minutes to do each one as there are questions.
Plus anything else you can find by doing a search on
Google for:
'free B2 and C1 texts for multiple choice reading
comprehension'
or something similar.
I found this site: https://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/advanced.html
and chose this:
https://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/23.html
