Stories about Western Europe from November, 2009
Video: End Violence Against Women Around the World
Today, November 25th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and through videos, many people and organizations around the world are expressing their need to end the violence as well as the efforts they are undertaking to ensure that women have a safer world to live in.
Greece: Police violence against migrant woman triggers reforms
A migrant woman from Armenia was beaten by police in Athens, Greece this week, leading to renewed promises of police reform from the new socialist government. A minister responds directly to citizen complaints via Twitter for the first time.
Jordan: The London Circus
Lama J from Jordan writes about her visit to the UK and then Canada in this post.
Global Health: World Toilet Day Raises a Stink
While it may sound like a bad joke, today's World Toilet Day focuses on a not-so-funny issue impacting almost half the world's population -- a lack of toilets and sanitation.
Japan: British teenager becomes a YouTube star
She is British, blond, slim and cute. Her name is Beckii Cruel [ja] and, at age 14, has become an idol on the Japanese web. Beckii Cruel started to gain...
Denmark: The Climate Debt Agents are Coming
The Climate Debt Agents are group of men and women from Denmark and Africa who are taking on the challenge of getting developed countries to pay their climate debt to the developing world.
Italy: Online activism fires up “No Berlusconi Day”
A group of bloggers-citizens has launched an International protest movement to demand the resignation of Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi due to scandals and corruption trials. More than 280,000 people have pledged to participate in the December 5 rallies.
CEE: The Berlin Wall
The 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall: How To Marry a Bulgarian hosts a series of readers’ personal reflections: Biliana Velkova, Alexandra Grashkina-Hristova, Maria Vassileva; Hungarian Spectrum...
Finland: The Language Issue
Nordic Voices writes about Finland's “language issue.”
France: Does Prestigious Literary Award Entail a “Duty of Restraint” ?
The start of this year's French literary season saw French-Senegalese novelist and playwright Marie N'Diaye awarded a much-awaited Prix Goncourt. However, N'Diaye and her family moved to Berlin two years ago, in large part because of French president Nicolas Sarkozy's politics. Will this be another opportunity to celebrate diversity in a changing French society? Or will the moment be spoiled by controversy?
Egypt: German Justice for Marwa El Sherbini
The killer of Marwa El-Sherbini, the Egyptian woman who was stabbed to death inside a German courthouse by a Russian-German immigrant, Alex Wiens, has been sentenced to life imprisonment, without a possibility for early release. Justice is finally served and the killer is being punished, say Egyptian bloggers.
Japan: Hitler's “Mein Kampf”, the manga version
After more than 80 years since its first publication, Hitler's Mein Kampf has become a Manga comic. The 190 page volume, which sold some 45,000 copies in the first printing,...
Denmark: Immigrants offered money to leave the country
Denmark is offering immigrants from “non-Western” countries 100,000 Danish kroners (US$20,000) if they volunteer to move “home”. A Facebook group protesting the law has been set up to collect 100,000 kroners to pay the leader of the anti-immigrant Danish People's Party to leave the country instead.
Qatar: Anticipation mounts over England vs Brazil football friendly
All eyes are on conservative Qatar, which is bidding for the 2022 World Cup, to see how it handles the upcoming England vs. Brazil football friendly, with residents alternately excited and anxious about the influx of potentially rowdy football fans.
Video: The world commemorates the fall of the Berlin Wall
Today is the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, a complex security structure that once divided East and West Berlin in Germany. Today we are showcasing some of the videos from throughout the globe that are being uploaded to commemorate this date and what it meant to barriers not only in Germany, but throughout the world.
Saudi Arabia: A Blogger's Praise Of Britain
Maram Meccawy is a Saudi writer and blogger, currently living and working in the UK. She recently wrote a post called "Why am I ready to defend Britain?"
Caribbean: French Literary Prizes
This week, two of the most prestigious French literary prizes were awarded to two French-speaking authors of African descent: The French-speaking Caribbean blogosphere has been buzzing over this double satisfaction,...
CEE: “20 Years After the Fall of the Berlin Wall” – a Poll
Foreign Policy Association's Russia blog writes about the results of a Pew Research Center's poll on poverty, wealth and attitudes in Central and Eastern Europe “20 years after the fall...
The future of ICT4D: How soon is now?
In the final of three posts on the future of ICTs for development, we examine a few projects that could change the way people leverage technology in rural areas.
UK, Poland: “Basia is Back”
the POLSKI blog reports that “Basia, whose voice is familiar to anyone who in the early 1980s danced to Whose Side Are You On?, is back with a new album.”
Europe: The Berlin Wall
Leopolis celebrates the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
