Stories about Western Europe from March, 2009
Water: One Take International Video Contest
“Is access to clean, safe water for drinking a basic human right? Why? or Why not?”. That is the question One Take is asking for you to answer in your own language, recording it on a video no more than 2 minutes long, uploading it on their site and on DotSub and having it subtitled in at least 1 other language. Just this month, world leaders met in Istambul, Turkey at the World Water Forum to have this discussion, and although they aren't sure what the result will be, it is our chance to show what we believe about this issue, and make our voices heard.
France, Americas, Africa: The “Y'a Bon” Awards
On March 17th 2009, a group called les Indivisibles [Fr] launched the “Y'a Bon Awards”, a dubious honour bestowed upon politicians, journalists, or any public officials who have contributed to the spreading of racism in France. The Awards have sprung from reactions to a century-long advertising campaign that has not sat well with most black people in France.
Israel: A Letter to Bernard Kouchner
Dr Hatim Kanaaneh has written an open letter to Bernard Kouchner, French foreign minister: “The news that you have preemptively spoken against any official objection to the expected appointment of...
Germany: Berlin Wall Murals Destroyed
IZO writes about “an act of extraordinary cultural vandalism”: “a section of the Berlin Wall that had been preserved with its post-fall graffiti, including the iconic painting by Dmitri Vrubel...
Russia, Italy: Putin's Namesake Arrested For Shoplifting
Vilhelm Konnander writes about a namesake of Vladimir Putin who was arrested for shoplifting in Italy.
The Baltics: Deportations of 1941 and 1949
Eric Dickens guest-blogs at A Step At A Time about the Baltic deportations of 1941 and 1949.
Tunisia: Outcry over Italian Court's Verdict on Tunisian Pilots
Two Tunisian pilots of Tuninter Flight 1153, which crash landed in the sea off Sicily in 2005 killing 16 people, were sentenced to 10 years in prison by an Italian court. The decision is being contested by Tunisian bloggers, who say the pilots' heroic efforts in saving the 23 other passengers on board should have been celebrated.
Azerbaijan: Corrupt Medicine
Scary Azeri in Suburbs continues to compare life in England with that in Azerbaijan. In particular, speaking from experience, she compares health-care in the UK to that available in the...
Azerbaijan: Novruz in absentia
Scary Azeri in Suburbs recounts celebrating Novruz in London with her friends from Azerbaijan. The blog says that for a moment she felt as if she was in Baku and...
Senegal: One foot in Granada and the other in Dakar
Luna at Expatria is getting ready to move to Dakar, Senegal, “I am spending [time] with Senegalese migrants here in Spain: listening to their stories about Senegal, taking pictures of...
Ukraine: West turns its back on Kiev?
Kiev Ukraine News Blog re-posts a Newsweek piece, which argues that the United States and the European Union are turning their backs on Ukraine, reverting the celebratory politics of an...
Japan: Italian news commentary in Japanese
Italian comedian and opinion-leader Beppe Grillo's blog [ja] is the only blog that is translated into Japanese (and English), presenting Italy from an unusual perspective. In his blog, he also...
Global: Bubbles, Bailouts and Stimulus Plans
Identifying the economic woes of the United States is crucial. But we should also understand that other countries are also grappling with bankrupt companies and shrinking economies. Many countries are also implementing their own stimulus plans. What are some of the examples used by bloggers around the world when they discuss the bubble economies, bailout of banks and stimulus plans of their countries?
Poland, UK: “Polska! Year”
the POLSKI blog writes about the Polska! Year in the UK, “a joint initiative of the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and...
Czech Republic, Slovakia: 2nd Republic of Czechoslovakia
The Reference Frame writes about the 70th anniversary of the disintegration of the Second Republic of Czechoslovakia.
Europe: Six Years of EU Blogging
Nosemonkey's EUtopia is 6 years old: “The trouble is, you see, that the EU hasn’t progressed AT ALL in the six years I’ve been writing about it. I’ve been over...
Ukraine: Tymoshenko's Geopolitical Views
Ukrainiana compares Yulia Tymoshenko's geopolitical views now and some two years ago and concludes that she is “arguing with herself.”
Egypt: Disaster Ferry Owner Finally Guilty!
The life of each one of the 1,000 plus Egyptians killed when the Salam 89 ferry sank in 2006 is worth about 11 hours in prison for ferry owner, former lawmaker and business tycoon Mamdouh Ismail, who has been sentenced in absentia to seven years in jail for “involuntary slaughter,” say Egyptian bloggers.
Dominican Republic: Upset at World Baseball Classic by Dutch Team
The 2nd edition of the World Baseball Classic tournament is underway and features Major League baseball players representing traditional baseball powers like the the Dominican Republic whose roster was filled with professional All-Star talent. The tournament also features countries with less tradition playing this sport, such as the Netherlands, who pulled off two improbable victories over the Dominican team eliminating them from the competition.
Iran: Iranian Women's art in London
Iranian female artists share their stories in London. Watch their art here
China and France: Patriotic young girl PK anti-Chinese French guy
Fauna from ChinaSMACK translated a post from MOP about a young girl arguing with a French guy on an airplane.
