♪ >> hello and a very warm welcome to "european journal," our weekly magazine from brussels with stores from all over europe. -- compulsory in armenian schools. paribas in danger. why yorkshire cod become a mining center again. and kids keep up -- the controversial ban. armenians do not have eas

the cease-fire with neighboring as a rise and is very unstable, and the relationship with turkey is difficult because the turks still deny the mass murder armenians during and after the first world war. things are not much brighter when it comes to the country's economy, either. in florida prospects in the small country in the caucuses are low, prompting people to leave the country look for jobs elsewhere in russia or in the u.s.. so how do you make young armenians believe in their future? give them somethingrmenns are famous for. >> they may be only seven, but they already know how to topple a king. these second graders in armenia are learning to play chess. it is a required subject at the anton chekhov school. she says chess is great because

it change your mind. it will make some clever. this boy says he likes the king best becse he is e mt portant chess piece. this girl says she plays against her grandmother at home and wins every time. today's lesson is about checkmate in one move. younger children can pay attention only for short periods, so easy tasks are best. this math teacher has taken an advanced course in teaching chest to children. >> chess trains logical thinking, trends memory, strengthens will power, and teaches -- motivates children to win and teaches them how to deal with the fee. it is the only school subjects that can do all this. >> chess was added to the primary school curriculum last

year. the program started with second graders and later will be expanded to older students. >> for armenians, chess is in our blood. we have greaespect forhe game. that is why we did not have any trouble when we made chess compulsory in school. we are all crazy about chess here. >> armenia is a small country in the southern caucasus nestled between larger and more powerful neighbors. but when it comes to chess, armenia is world class. it is a national obsession. this chess grand master is the founder of a chess academy for children. he also initiated the project to bring chest to the schools, to help make his idea a reality, he trained many schoolteachers

and wrote textbooks on chess. >> it is an honest game. that is the most important thing. the children learn how to play honestly right away, how to win with honesty, and how to lose. those are important in life. >> he says aenia shod encourage young peoe to think big and achieve. most of the parents who bring their children to the school agreed. they suggest is part of their hope for a better future. this mother brings her son to the acade every day. he is 11 years old and the current european champion in his age e group. >> i started playing chess when i was 5 years old. my father taught me, and i liked it right away. you need a lotf wi power and strong nerves to win. matches sometimes take a very long time, so the first player

to lose his nerve loses the match. >> the trophy and gold medals hold a place of honor at home. his family comes from a small village. he is now well known as a chess prodigy. he once even played against the prime minister and one. but his mother does not have enough money to accompany him on international tournaments. >> we know we have an important job to do as parents. we will do whatever we can to help him, to make sure he has a good coach, and that he has everything he needs. >> today, the school second graders are not learning chest. they are learning about history. they are visiting a memorial dedicated to what our media calls the genocide that took

place in the ottoman empire in 1915. although turkey refutes this. the mass murder is an unresolved trauma for armenia and an important part of its national identity. even young children have been talked about it. >> the turks committed genocide against the armenians, she says. we are here to remember the victims. "we remember so it will ner happen again," he says. it is a difficult subject for young children, but the school director says until chickee acknowledges the genocide, the memory needs to be kept alive. emma the children need to know their own history. they have to love their country, and that means understanding our history.

>> armenia is a country with a difficult history, but also a country that tes pride in its traditions, and chest as part of that. armenians take special pride in the 33 chess grandmamamamamamams tournaments, armenians regularly trounced players from other countries. that's what our forefathers played chess. now we play chess, and we try to pass along our passion for the game to our children. our country loves chest. we all do -- young and o. >> armenia hopes it carries forward the idea of it's just program. they have already had other countries interested in the project. after all, every country needs logical, curious young minds,

not just armenia. that hundreds of thousands of people in many european countries rallying against austerity measures. another effect of the debt crisis. people across europe are united in their anger and frustration, well beyond the borders of the eurozone. when romania's prime minister step down earlier this year, he was just the latest victim of protests. many governments have tumbled since the crisis began. many romanians blamed him for making them tighten their belts so much that it became impossible to breathe. one romanian who launched the protest movement with a spectacular act. >>hen he turns his television, old feelings come flooding back. is there, fear of death, pain, but also pride and relief. he sees the crowds protesting in

his city against the romanian government's budget cuts to bring the country's debt under control. is the first person to protest, and it almost cost him his life. his lone action took place on december 23, 2010, during iranian parliamentary session. he threw himself from the parliament balcony, wearing a t- shirt that read, "you have killed our children's future peak in his early 40's, he worked as a technician for the country's public tv network. he is the father of an autistic child and was worried how he would be able to care for him after the government drastically cut wages and social services. more than a year has now passed since the incident. he lives in this high-rise with

his family. he has largely recovered from his injuries but still experiences occasional pain from the metal plate in his head. he sustained a broken skull from the fall. he is back working for the state broadcaster, although he is barred from entering parliament. the government has since widened its austerity measures. >> i wanted take a snce, i s soespete. the politicians always get the worst off with their cuts, but i would not jump again. i would not cause my wife and family such anguish again for anything in the world. >> the incident did not just leave his family in shock. the entire nation was stunned. how could a father two with a steady income was one of also work reached the point where he did not know how he would pay for the upkeep and education of his 8-year-old daughter and6-

year-old son. the media explore the question in depth. today, the money is still tight, but one major concern has been lifted. >> before, i had to go to a special school for the disabled, but i was not able to learn anything there, and i did not like it. our teacher did not push us. >> it was not the teachers fall. it is the school system. luckily, now you can attend a good school that meets your need >> she has asper syndrome, a form of art is a war sufferers often possess above-average intelligence. his father knew that and was frustrated because the system was failing his son. after the balcony jump, a wealthy romanian family got in touch. they own this furniture business, one of the biggest in

romania. they offered to pay for psychological treatment and ensure that he could attend a normal school. the woman and her husband did not want publicity for their good deed. they have two children themselves, one of whom was seriously ill. that is why they spontaneously decided to help. he is now one of the best pupils in his school. his is not the only live the couple is helping to improve. they have set up a charitable foundation to help others. memo we are worrie abo eure and romania becse t cut are at the expense of the week. >> we elected this government understand the protests. people's prospects are grim. >> since january, adrian has attended the daily rallies in bucharest. hundreds of people now regularly

protests against the social cuts, and almost everyone knows adrian and his story. >> your jump in parliament was really courageous. it was a rude akening. the rest of us were lted out of o lethargy too late. >> he is our hero, the father of the rumanian protest movement. >> but please, do not do anything like that ever again. >> adrian does not plan to risk his life again with a second jump. he wants to be around to take his son to school every day and see him finish his education. >> closed window shutters are a common sight in britain's ne. what were once thriving towns are now often desolate, and to

places. -- never really recovered from the closure of the coal mines. the government became the biggest employer, but since the financial crisis, london has been cutting jobs. however, there are hopes that the ne might be in for a new boom. a new era of mining could be daunting, but is the work sacrificing a ltle pch of paradise for? >> yorkshire is one of england's most picturesque regions. in the north of the country lies the north yorkshire national park with what expenses of heavy moreland stretching up to the coast. rose grew up here and played in the national park as a child. she cherishes the area. >> the national pa is one e last places in this

overcrowded little island, which is protected. it is very special. >> the peace and quiet of the national park is a thing of the past. in recent months, a minerals company has begun test-drilling, revealing the moors to be rich in potash deposits. rose is concerned. >> but i am also very worried about the volume of traffic that this will bring, the infrastructure the pipeline, the pollution, the chemicals involved. the impact on tourism. knows? the roads already have a lot of pressure on them, and these are only small country roads. >> but the minerals company senses a lucrative business opportunity with huge potential profits.

it has plans for a major mining operation. >> it will be certainly one of the deepest mines in europe. it will be one of the first new mines in the u.k., and in terms of output, it will be certainly the biggest in the u.k. backup image company video shows the potential of the reserves. the minerals a source of potash, and potassium compounds used in fertilizers all over the world. >> what i have here is from the first borehole. it is a very hard minimal. we cut the core in half. we learn the actual quality of

the mineral. it is around 260 million years old. >>uitenterting >> other residents of the national park plan to join forces to oppose the project. they point to this still smoldering mine from the 1970's on the northern edge of the park. it homes. loudly. -- it hums. loudly. but the minerals company insists the new mine will be almost invisible thanks to technology. >> we will do everything in our powers to duce the environmtal impact. based on the design of the mind area, everything will be low- impact. we are well aware of where we are. we're trying to do this in a national park. we're sensitive to the and will maintain the highest accountability possible. >> is chairman of an

environmentalist group does not buy the argument. >> claims they you can somehow concealed a point of production of 3 million tonsf ore a year is just comple noense. this will be a large, industrial site, and it cannot be mitigated to the point where it will be invisible. there is no such thing anywhere in the world as an invisible line -- mine. >> they're not just facing opposition from the mining operator. several residents, too, are in favor of the project, hoping it will revitalize the region and bring thousands of much-needed jobs. >> it is very difficult. i have been trying for the six months now. there is lack of industry. no one is building houses anymore.

it is very hard. >> the towns on the edge of the park are in particularly bad economic shape. for the residents, the park has brought few opportunities strict environmental laws have prevented construction and building activities. >> in the national park, a lot of people are concerned, but dull let's forget that the national park is there not only to preserve but also to make money and look after the people that live in the area. >> at the local council in scarborough, there is excitement about the economic boost it could bring. the council is expected to contribute millions of pounds of public coffers for over 100 years. >> and the fact that it is going to be such a long time trying to transform the makeup of the area -- that means we have a look at

the whole infrastructure and to be that the housing provision will be a huge challenge for us. transportation possibly as well. the thing which is by far the biggest is to ensure that we address the skills agenda. >> the minerals company has yet to get building permission for the mine, but no one expects the government to put up hules for the investors. rose and her supporters, however, remain skeptical of the planned mine. they want to save as much as they can of the unique landscape. >> today, women in germany have an average of 1.4 children, roughly one child fewer than in the early 1960's. the same goes for austria and other european countries -- fewer and fewer babies are being born. that has a big impact on society, of course.

we're simply not used to having chdren aroun anymore, so when they do appear, they are sometimes seen as a real nuisance, especially when it is in places where it is all about peace and quiet life in holiday resorts. >> going places, chasing one another, hordes of children having fun, racing around and generally running riot at a five-star restaurant. they are a nightmare for guests seeking peace and quiet, as well as hotel and is seeking to get money from well-heeled customers. guests and vacationers want just one thing -- to relax in comfort. those who come here often want to leave behind the stress of their daily lives right from the very first minute. such guests often seek luxury hotels to online, and they are usually very demanding.

they want to eat and drink well, and they definitely do not want noisy kids around. that is why this hotel owner ma it difficult decision -- no children allowed in his five- star hotel. >> the main reason was that we saw guests who wanted to have more peace and quiet. children have a natural need to be active, obviously, but that disturbs the atmosphere of the hotel. we learned that from feedback forms from guests. so we acted on the wishes of a variety of our guests, and we decided to develop the hotel as a place for quiet and relaxation. of course, we could have also developed ic -- it as a hotel for the whole family. >> but we decided against that. he himself enjoys practicing far

eastern relaxation techniques and says he needs it especially since he has become a father. he initially struggled with the decision to close his hotel doors to children. >> of course it was not easy. we have had discussions with parents about what is allowed and what is not. it was important to us and our employees, and a compromise is always a half-hearted thing where both sides are unhappy. >> so carl now has a new hotel policy -- nobody under the age of 14 has been allowed here for the past year. it is a decision that sparked heated debate in the village. is it ok to say no to children at a hotel? >> i did not think that is righ children are the fute. then the kids are not allowed anywhere. >> our whole society has become more selfish. >> there are hotels only for

families with children. they would be ideal for such families. >> that is exactly the argument used by the hotel owner for guests to have to leave their children home. he says there are enough child- friendly hotels all over europe. in austria, the child man falls into a legal grey zone. the child and his lawyer for the state government says it is not niceo keep children out, but she questions whether they would feel at home in a luxury hotel in the first place. the hotel owner has the right to choose his own guests. that you have to be a bit ambivalent about it. in this case, in this hotel, i find it really pleasant. >> i have nothing against kids, but it is a hotel with a high standard. people pay lots of money, and you expect service around the clock. >> if you want to take a vacation fromour own kids, we haveone that, too. and it is sometimes disturbing,

depending on how well brought up they are. that kids need to let off steam, but if you come to such a hotel, you are looking for peace and relaxation. than it was not easy for us. we always had regular guests who visited us with their families. so we lost a few guests. but on the other hand, you win back the others. so we are definitely positive about the future and think we are on the right path. >> so here, you have a hotel without kids. next to it, a pure family hotel. is that how tourism will develop in the future? a vacation only with like-minded people? >> that report brings us to the edition of "european journal." until next time, from all of us here in brussels, thanks for watching and good bye for now. captioned by the

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