RiotNrrd:I am curious as to whether there is an Esperanto merit badge in the Scouts.

It took me a little while to Google it. Apparently there are 'Interpreter Strips' that Scouts can earn by showing proficiency in a language (including Sign.) The strip is located near the scout's nameplate. The more 'common' languages are stocked, but any language (probably not Klingon, but who knows) can be ordered.

The requirements for earning a strip are:

1. Carrying on a five-minute conversation in this language.
2. Translating a two-minute speech or address.
3. Writing a letter in the language.
4. Translating 200 words from the written word.

I guess someone else who knows the language is needed to judge whether the requirements have been met.

[I have no connections with scouting, although I was a Cub Scout for a few months and had one of their nifty pocket knives!]

RiotNrrd: I don't know how to go about doing that or who to contact - as I said, I have no connection with scouting whatsoever - nor will I probably follow up with it, so I'm just throwing it into the ring as yet one more idea.

Thank you for your idea.

In fact, each country has their own badges to award to the scouts in different level, for example, there is no snow in Malaysia and we do not have the ski badge.

There is a secretary badge in Malaysia and the juru bahasa (interpreter) badge is almost no one want to touch it as the scout has to learn another language which is outside school curriculum. Most scouts are outdoor types of people and language learning is almost a NO to them especially in my country, the Chinese school pupils must learn 3 languages at the same time, of the 3, two are hard to learn languages, Chinese and English.

I knew about Esperanto scout when I was freshly in the Esperantujo however, I did not pay attention to that as I am not too keen in this group. Only of late, I discovered that the scouting age has a limit and this prompted me to focus more in this group of people.

Esperanto scout has no age limit and normally are those who still love scouting after the rover scout age but alas, the esperanto scout SEL is not focusing on this. They let the rover scouts either abuse the rule, age limit or let them go off with regrets..

That is the reason that I am reminding and reminding the esperantujo to take a look at this aspect.

Christa627:

Tempodivalse:I like to think that "grassroots" efforts - i.e., engaging with people at the human, individual level - is the most fruitful way to spread Esperanto, as opposed to (say) petitioning UNESCO to seriously honour its 1985 resolution in favour of Esperanto (not likely, let's be honest).

But since signing the petition takes about two seconds, we might as well. Couldn't hurt.

I doubt Tempodivalse does not read thoroughly the 1985 resolution of UNESCO, Just imagine how many NGOs in the world ? This is the problem of the senior esperantists that they only think of language right but not much of other facilities already given and need to be awaken.

It should be many prongs to awaken the people and common use of language should be considered. But the conclusion, without a job, who is going to learn that language ?

Senior esperantists keep posting the historical photos of esperanto movement in all professions, but are these professions truly use Esperanto daily ?

Travelling is the most vital part, more youngsters are travelling daily in many parts of the world and they do face many language problem. English is certainly not able to do it as I was a backpacker for a decade. Just a few words but later you are left to be yourself.

If esperantujo does not like to shift the focus from language to usage, esperanto will stay as a hobby club, please do not use the phrase international language.

The yearly world congress is not a good idea as it drains lots of money from the esperantists. If UEA or other eo-assocition can sit down and think of producing the travel phrases in many languages and distribute it to the IYHA agents in the world, esperanto will be sprung up in a few years.

se:I doubt Tempodivalse does not read thoroughly the 1985 resolution of UNESCO, Just imagine how many NGOs in the world ?

I have read the resolution. I simply expressed scepticism that UNESCO would ever care enough to urge its NGOs to adopt Esperanto, or that the NGOs would follow through.

The resolution is a milestone, certainly, but I do not place much hope in the bureaucratic institutions (who have a vested interest in the status quo) to affect the change for us.

Tempodivalse:
I like to think that "grassroots" efforts - i.e., engaging with people at the human, individual level - is the most fruitful way to spread Esperanto, as opposed to (say) petitioning UNESCO to seriously honour its 1985 resolution in favour of Esperanto (not likely, let's be honest). It's ultimately individuals who make up these larger institutions anyway. In that sense, I definitely agree it's better to start from the bottom up.

I agree, but I think there is room for both. China is ripe for a government push to teach Esperanto in schools- 2 years of it would have huge benefits for Chinese society.

On the other hand, the best thing that could happen to raise the awareness of Esperanto in the US is if a few Hollywood stars started learning it, and it became a cool, hip thing to do.

I often wonder why the various Esperanto organizations don't work more towards publicizing Esperanto. Would a primetime TV commercial on Discovery or the History channel get people interested in Esperanto? If done well, I think it would. The interest is out there (as you can see from the 18500 people signed up to be notified when the Esperanto course is released) but it just isn't on most people's radar.

Tempodival:
I have read the resolution. I simply expressed scepticism that UNESCO would ever care enough to urge its NGOs to adopt Esperanto, or that the NGOs would follow through.

UNESCO has no power to tell the NGOs to use Esperanto. The 1954 resolution gave power to the Director General to collect more information about the teaching and learning of Esperanto, but did that person do it ? Don't hope the current director Dr Irina to greet the people Saluton, in the conference with a neutral language, Esperanto.

It is the failure of UEA as well as the national esperanto associations to be blamed. I am still waiting for the UEA to give me the evidence of the 50 years of 1954 celebration report.

The universala kongreso cash in much money and the UEA is more likely to focus more on the UK. Oni can make simple Maths, 2000 x 150 euros. This year has more than 2000 registered for the 100th congress. I withdrew myself from the UEA membership and the fund still no where to be seen. No further correspondence with me.

The 1985 resolutions of UNESCO was passed two years before the 100th year of Esperanto, I did not known Esperanto then, the senior esperantists here could perhaps provide the data, how many NGO celebrate that occasison. I think, the internet was already in Europe but not in my country yet.

Did UEA send greeting cards to the NGO each year ? Did the national Esperanto association send greeting cards to the local NGO yearly ? I did, as a small group of activists, we did send New Year greetings to the local NGOs and UNESCO beginning last year. The UNESCO local office has noticed that and someone followed our webpage.

Surprisingly,the sport page of Esperanto is not updated at all.I left comment in the facebook to created a bulletin for the sports but the ulo replied that they have no time. They posted many photos on Esperanto football team. Can they have the money to build a world class football team ?

They do not foresee how the bulletin can turn into a profitable org later. It is not results, too late but interview of the players, clubs or even translation of those articles. We do not read Spanish, French, do not know what is happening in that areas, with the bulletin, we know what is there. With the bulletin, create the news announcement column for the local teams to announce the matches.

Internet age, all parts of the world can send in. The local teams would be happy despite they still use the local language during the match.

This is how one can sell Esperanto in the long term. Internet webpage, blog is free.

Do not blame UNESCO, blame the Esperantujo for not having good planners and not doing good public relations especially the international public relations. UEA thinks others should come rushing to kowtow to them as Esperanto is recommended by UNESCO twice.

jdawdy:

I agree, but I think there is room for both. China is ripe for a government push to teach Esperanto in schools- 2 years of it would have huge benefits for Chinese society.

Don't wait for Chinese to push the government as most leaders are communist party members, they cannot go against it. If you can read Chinese, read here all the time and read the silly argument.

What the European countries can do is learn from Hungary, how they can get the Esperanto in the examination section of education department. The European education system is more similar to one another.

The billionaires in China now are controlling their say, they have the money to fly round the world with interpreters but did not care about the poor people.

Even one million people learning Esperanto in China, with her population amount, the opposition to Esperanto still will say nothing great.

Alkanadi:What do you think? Is it better to target pop culture or is it better to focus on the establishment?

Yep, target nerds. The Geek Shall Inherit The Earth. Red Dwarf got it right. It scooped in a lot of us, didn't it, and Harry Harrison too. Not me, I was too busy reading my Esperanto translation of Chomsky, glaring down my nose at the kidults with their distriloj.

(Nah, actually Tintin is what got me into it. Mil milionoj da mil lukoj!)

Iu strangulo klopodis pri ĝuste tio ĉi en 2013.

(Some strange person tried to do just this in 2013).

http://www.amara.org/en/videos/lY1RuzAuvXPc/eo/489...

I admired this young Singaporean, he learnt Esperanto about 4 months and already did the programme and this went on a while and now stopped.

Perhaps, his work took him to much of time as he is graduated from university.

His idea perhaps can be adopted, but my Esperanto is too bad and cannot do a youtube programe like his.

For those who can do, it might be a good start for the new ventures in Espeantujo.