Stories about Western Europe from February, 2010
Italy: “Tangerines and olives don't fall from the sky”
The first strike of immigrant workers in Italy's history will happen on March 1st, thanks to a broad European initiative to oppose racism and discrimination, and reaffirm the positive role of migrants.
Armenia: Chance meeting
Unzipped: Gay Armenia visits the Yuri Mechitov photo exhibit at the National Theatre in London as part of an festival of events honoring Armenian film director Sergei Parajanov and runs into the photographer. The blog posts photographs from the visit and encounter.
Georgia: Eurovision National Competition
With Armenia having already chosen its entry for this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo, Norway, now comes the turn of Georgia. The Oikotimes reviews the six songs presented to the Georgian public by Sopho Nizharadze. Crazyescfan's blog describes the winning entry, Shine, as a strong and emotional song by...
Rare Disease Day: “Alone we are rare. Together we are strong.”
February 28 is "Rare Disease Day". Patient and family support groups make avid use of online media to raise awareness and share information about proper care and prevention of uncommon diseases that affect millions of people.
Greece, Germany and the middle finger of Venus de Milo
In the continuing drama of the Greek financial crisis, a row erupted last week because of a German magazine cover that depicted ancient Greek statue Venus de Milo flipping a middle finger at the European Union.
Greece: Bloggers respond fiercely to financial crisis
Greek bloggers react with uncommon drama, spirit and gravitas to the financial crisis facing Greece. The socialist government elected last October is battling currency speculators while trying to avoid defaulting on the country's debt.
Italy, Russia: Berlusconi's Russian Style
IZO links to LJ user maratguelman‘s post (RUS) and writes: “Silvio Berlusconi travels round Rome in a Russian-made VAZ-Patriot car and likes to wear a commando jacket given to him by Putin.”
EU, Greece: Greek PM Parody
Greater Surbiton mocks the the Greek prime minister's comment on the EU-Greek relationship in the time of financial crisis.
The Balkans, Italy: Berlusconi's “Albanian Girls” Comment; Doctored Photo
Balkan Travellers re-posts a Balkan Insight piece about the Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi's comment that “his country would accept only pretty Albanian girls as immigrants.” Belgraded writes about the photoshopped photos of Berlusconi and Slobodan Milosevic: “Fours days after the [doctored] photo was published, Milosevic lost the elections by a...
Armenia: Eurovision blog
Despite the controversy following Sunday's national song contest to determine Armenia's entry into this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo, Norway, still lingering, the successful entrant, Eva Rivas, has launched a blog to accompany her bid at http://eva-rivas.livejournal.com/.
Japan: Iceland from a Japanese viewpoint
hey11pop published pictures of the breathtaking Icelandic landscape taken during the blogger's last trip in the region.
Africa: Colonialism alive and well after 50 years of independence
2010 will mark the 50th year of francophone African countries' independence from Belgium and France. While official celebrations are under way, debate about colonialism, past and present, is simmering on blogs in North, Central and Western Africa.
Italy: Realtime Video of Maierato Landslide
Patrizia Venturino filmed and uploaded the video of the Maierato landslide where a whole hill slid down the slope in the province of Vibo Valentia in Calabria. The clear video shows as the citizens run away from the river of rocks, dirt and trees amid the shouts of the police...
Netherlands: Sven Kramer's golden race on Twitter
For the Dutch, the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver started with a very important race: the men's 5000 metres speed skating. Everyone expected Dutch favourite Sven Kramer to win the gold.
Armenia: Eurovision National Competition
Armenia tonight chose its entry for the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo, Norway. Twitter users provided an online summary of the national competition televised inside the country while some blogs offered reaction to the successful entry.
Last chance to nominate blogs for BoBs Award
Deutsche Welle's Best of the Blogs Awards is accepting nominations until February 14th! Nominate blogs in any country. There are special topics for climate change and freedom of expression.
Armenia: Eurovision 2010
Unzipped comments on what it considers to be the two main contenders, Mihran & Emmy and Eva Rivas, as Armenia's entry into this year's Eurovision Song Contest. The blog says that it is not entirely happy with all the choices on offer, but at least notices how coverage in the...
France: International Students in Paris Blog on Cité Babel
The International City of Paris houses a community of international students living and learning at French universities. Their blog and journal "Cité Babel" addresses issues related to identity, cultural exchanges, language, and views of France and the world.
Iran: “Eight Iranian arrested in Copenhagen Denmark”
Oonvar Donya, Iranian blogger, says [fa] eight Iranian got arrested in Copenhagen, Denmark after they threw green paint at Iranian embassy. Watch the photos here.
Spain: Citizen Journalist Award
The Spanish citizen journalism site Bottup announces its 2nd Citizen Journalist Award. The winner, open to anyone in the world, will receive up to 1,800 euros towards a trip to anywhere in the world where he or she will be a “Special Correspondent” for Bottup.
As Liberia stabilizes, youth begin to talk about sex
As Liberia continues to emerge from its horrific civil war, many fear the combination of extreme poverty and risky sexual decisions will increase the country's HIV/AIDS rate and the number of unplanned pregnancies.
