Stories about Western Europe from September, 2008
Libya: Diaspora and Difficult Times
Two young Algerian sisters were killed in the UK. Anglo-Libyan explains how families in the diaspora come together at such difficult times.
Deaf Awareness Week: Organizing Offline activities Online
This last segment of the Deaf Awareness Week (part 1, part 2) shows us how the deaf use their videos to organize their communities and strenghten their offline ties.
Blogger of the Week: Sami Ben Gharbia
This week's Blogger of the Week is none other than Global Voices Advocacy Director Sami Ben Gharbia, known for his dedication to the fight against oppression and censorship. Sami is originally from Tunisia, but has been based in The Netherlands since 1998. He blogs at fikra.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: “Setback in the Srebrenica Survivors’ Search for Justice”
Samaha posts a detailed update on the outcome of the case brought by Srebrenica survivors against the Dutch state.
Lusosphere: Saramago, 85 years, Nobel Laureate, Blogger
A week ago, the 1998 Nobel Prize winner for literature - the first and only Portuguese language writer - started his own blog: Saramago's Notebook, which he describes as his "infinite page on the Internet", has been welcomed by bloggers from many Portuguese speaking countries. But what does it take to become a blogger?
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Speak Out Against Dutch Court's Decision
Kirk Johnson of Americans For Bosnia notes that “a Dutch civil court sided with the Dutch state and dismissed the case against the Netherlands for their failure to prevent Srebrenica genocide in 1995″ and is urging readers “to contact the Dutch embassy in your country to express your dismay at...
Central Europe: Cheap Travel
The Czech Daily Word writes about the wonderful travel opportunities that Central European citizens enjoy, now that the borders are open and cheap plane tickets are available.
Poland, U.S.: Ancient Kings and Presidential Candidates
The beatroot muses on what's considered “politics” in the United States and Poland.
Estonia, Finland, Russia: Relationship Now and Then
A Step At A Time writes in depth about the relationship between Finland, Estonia, and Russia – now and in the past.
Ukraine: Critique of a Text on NATO Membership
The 8th Circle posts a detailed critique of Jeffrey Tayler’s piece in The Atlantic: “[…] in the process of attempting to make the case against Ukraine’s membership in NATO, Tayler resorts (consciously or not) to claims that are either: misleading or factually inaccurate and/or are highly improbable to be true...
Egypt: Kidnapped Tourists
A group of 15 foreign tourists, including five Italians, were kidnapped on Monday in southern Egypt. Egyptian bloggers react.
Deaf Awareness Week: A different type of book signing.
Did you know that most deaf people who sign, consider sign language their first language and the written language as their second? I didn't, but thanks to the dozens of videos uploaded by members of the deaf community from all over the world, I've learned about this and many other things. International Deaf Awareness Week takes place during the last week of September, so I'll be showcasing different videos from or about the deaf communities around the world.
Ukraine, EU: A Closer Relationship?
The EU's plan to finalize an Association Agreement with Ukraine in 2009 was made public at the EU-Ukraine Summit in Paris on Sept. 9. The media and bloggers greeted it with mixed reactions. “EU offers reassurance to Ukraine,” read a BBC headline. “EU offers no promises to hopeful Ukraine,” wrote...
UK: Azerbaijani Gay Artist Deported
Unzipped: Gay Armenia reports that gay Azerbaijani artist Babi Badalov has been deported from the United Kingdom to Azerbaijan. The blog also says that faced with protests, the British Midlands Airways’ spokesperson turned off his phone to avoid calls lobbying on Badalov's behalf.
UK: Azerbaijani Gay Artist's Deportation Update
Unzipped: Gay Armenia reports that following pressure on Azerbaijani Airlines, the details of Azerbaijani artist Babi Badalov's deportation from the UK have been changed. The blog calls on concerned individuals and organizations to lobby British Midlands Airways (BMI) who will fly Badalov to Baku in just a few hours.
UK: Gay Azerbaijani Artist Faces Deportation
Unzipped: Gay Armenia reports that gay Azerbaijani artist Babi Badalov faces deportation from the U.K. this weekend. The blog has chronicled concerns about the persecution of people such as Badalov in the South Caucasus and urges its readers to protest against the decision.
Environment: Polluted Fish?
La Maguerite considers whether to buy a parrot fish or not, especially after seeing the plastic pollution at a beach just the day before. “…I just wonder how safe is it? How much of the chemicals from the pelagic plastic we found on the beach, have made their way into...
YouTube Contest for aspiring journalists
As I had mentioned back in August, YouTube and The Pulitzer Center have launched Project: Report, a contest for aspiring journalists and now the full rules and instructions are up. The contest and awards are limited to participants who are legal residents of countries where YouTube is officially launched: Australia,...
Russia: BP gets off scots free?
Steve LeVine of The Oil and The Glory comments on the apparent reasons why BP seems to have reached an agreement on its Russian assets in TNK-BP.
Poland: Poles return home from Britain
Polandian discusses how and why a growing number of Poles choose to return home from Britain to Poland.
Bahrain: Hair-raising conversation
Sous, a Swede living in Bahrain, repeats a conversation she had with an Indian woman, who after finding out that Sous was fasting told her she should cover her hair: “Swede: Well, I’m thinking to shave it all off and then that problem is solved! Indian:No!…Aren’t you married? Swede: No....