Stories about Western Europe from October, 2009
The Balkans: Open Letter to Amnesty International
Samaha posts Ed Vulliamy's open letter to Amnesty International regarding the invitation to Professor Noam Chomsky to lecture in Northern Ireland – as well as background info on the campaign.
France: Language Lessons in the Park
Sarah Hay blogs about the French lessons she gives to a group of young Afghan asylum seekers in a park in Paris. “They’re incredibly keen that I learn the Pashto for everything I teach them to the point of comical mishap, for example when I taught them the word metro…”
Czech Republic: Lisbon before court
The Reference Frame writes about the EU Lisbon Treaty being addressed by the Czech Constitutional Court to review its accordance with national legislation.
Germany and China: Berlin Twitter Wall
berlintwitterwall is a project organized by the city of Berlin to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of Berlin wall. The wall is now filled up with messages from Chinese twitterers against the Chinese Great Fire Wall which blocks Chinese Internet user from connecting with the outside world.
Tunisia: Al Jazeera and France
From Tunisia, Farhat Al Tunisi remarks [Ar]: “The similarity between the news on Tunisia that the occupying French media and Al Jazeera broadcast has reached a point which makes you think that our country is under French rule.”
Armenia: Twitter counters false media report
After a news item in the local press reported that a British MP had been appointed as rapporteur on Armenia and Turkey, Unzipped says that it used Twitter to check the accuracy of the story. Tweeting a question to the MP in question, it turned out that the report was...
Pregnancy and Prisons: Women's Health and Rights Behind Bars
It is still a struggle to ensure human rights for pregnant women worldwide, and it seems that in the process, pregnant women in prison are many times overlooked. What have been some of the steps made to ensure that they are also treated humanely, with respect to the life they carry?
GV Blogger Interview: Sylwia Presley
Sylwia Presley is a name which pops up regularly on Global Voices Online. Her interactions spark discussions and ignite new ideas which helps our community develop. Juan Arellano catches up with our Translation Manager for Global Voices Polska and learns more about her fascinating work on and offline.
Global: International Creole Month
October has become the month of the worldwide celebration of Creole language and the Creole blogosphere is paying attention.
Adoption: Securing the Rights of Mothers and Children
Women speak out from all sides of the issue: adoptees, natural mothers and adoptive mothers try to make sense of the legal, reproductive and human rights issues behind adoptions.
UK: Russian Film Festival
Siberian Light writes about the 3rd Russian Film Festival, which begins on Oct. 30 in London.
ICT4D: When mobile phones link with computers
In the second of three posts, we ask: How are new technologies changing the field of ICT4D? Will linking computers to portable phones benefit human development in the developing world?
United Kingdom: ‘Super injunction’ lifted on Côte d'Ivoire waste dumping report
Trafigura, the British oil trader, has finally released The Guardian newspaper from a secret injunction preventing it from reporting the so-called Minton Report, after an extraordinary week of online activity.
Israel: Exploring Hebrew's Latin Roots
BaLashon (On the Tongue) explores the Hebrew term kalgas קלגס, meaning soldier. He discovers Latin roots: “Caliga- Roman sandals, secured with nails (which made quite a bit of noise)- were apparently frightening enough to give their name to the Roman soldiers.”
Israel: Can Tel Aviv Become a Biking Mecca?
Can Tel Aviv join the Netherlands and China as an ideal location for cyclists? Ami Vider of Tel Aviv Tomorrow discusses its potential.
Posts in Portuguese on Blog Action Day '09
Portuguese-speaking bloggers from various countries have joined global bloggers on Blog Action Day to reach readers and raise awareness of climate change.
Greek Posts on Blog Action Day '09
This year's Blog Action Day was aimed at raising awareness about climate change. More than 150 Greek bloggers registered to participate.
What future for ICT4D?
We know the capacity of mobile phones to affect human development. But that is last year's news. Some thinkers argue that we are on the verge of another round of technological changes that will force ICTs to evolve. What will ICTs for development look like in the next few years?
Azerbaijan: Tea
Now based in the U.K., Scary Azeri in Suburbs looks at one custom that both English and Azerbaijanis have in common — drinking tea. The blog says that enjoying the drink is an important tradition for both nations.
Germany: Photos of Berlin's Jewish Sites
LJ user marina-pavlova posts photos (RUS) of Berlin's Jewish sites – here and here.
Serbia: More on Brice Tatone's Murder
Popkitchen writes about the murder of Brice Tatone, a French football fan, in Belgrade. (More on the reactions of Serbian bloggers – in Sinisa Boljanovic's GV post.)
