Stories about Western Europe from June, 2010
Global: Greek to English, Chinese to Russian, and Spanish to Macedonian
Wikidioms is a new online resource that aims at helping translators to cope with this challenge of translating idioms. Below is an interview with Wikidioms' founder Pavel Kats, and with one of its contributors, Yasna Trandafilovska.
Middle East: Goodbye Saramago
Bloggers across the Middle East mourned the death of Portuguese writer Jose Saramago. Tarek Amr rounds up their reactions.
Italy: Large protest against “gag” rule bill on local media
“No Bavaglio” (No Gag) is a large protest movement in Italy against a proposed privacy law that would impose heavy fines on newspapers (and blogs) that publish transcripts of phone calls. The law is suspect, because wiretapping has played a key role in media investigations that have led to mafia...
Global: Statistics on Countries Participating in World Cup
SRF from GeoCurrent Events blog writes about the economic geography of the 2010 FIFA World Cup participant countries.
Spain: The Prospect of Catalonia Competing On Its Own
The participation of the Spanish National Team in the 2010 World Cup renews the debate whether the autonomous community of Catalonia should send its own team to the international competition.
Japan and the World Cup: Silencing the critics
Ranked near the bottom of the 32 teams on the field in South Africa, facing odds estimated at 400-to-1 and four straight pre-tournament losses to boot, Japan was not even expected to win a game in this year's World Cup. But with their convincing 3-1 win over Denmark, perceptions have completely changed, propelling coach Takashi Okada from the butt of all jokes to a national hero.
D.R. of Congo: The Murder of Human Rights Activist Floribert Chebeya
Floribert Chebeya, the leader of a human rights organization in D.R. of Congo, was found dead on June 2 under suspicious circumstances. Protests against his murder and other killings and rapes are planned by the Congolese diaspora this week.
China and France: Overseas Chinese in Paris protest against violence
Fauna from ChinaSMACK translated netizens’ comments on a recent overseas Chinese protest against violence in Paris.
Algeria: Still Hoping with a Lucky Dove on their Side
After the defeat against Slovenia, the Algerians have regained some strength on June 18th by drawing against the English team. They have given hope again to millions of fans who hope to see the green team go through the first round.
Portugal: A Tribute in Unison to Nobel Prize Winner Jose Saramago
Today the Portuguese writer and only Portuguese language Nobel Prize Winner in Literature José Saramago died at age 87 in his residence in Lanzarote. Though he might not have liked it, he received a tribute in unison on Twitter.
Poland-Norway: EEA & Norway Grants
Polandian comments on how Norway supports various socio-economic projects in Poland and other Eastern and Central European states by its EEA & Norway Grants.
Netherlands: Two women arrested at World Cup for promoting wrong beer
Two Dutch women working for Netherlands beer company Bavaria were arrested for promoting a beer that is not an official World Cup sponsor during the World Cup Netherlands-Denmark match in South Africa on Monday. The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs defended them on Twitter.
Algeria: The Provisional Government of Kabylia – A Threat to National Unity?
The creation of a provisional government of Kabylia (GPK) has caused a great deal of controversy in Algeria. Bloggers wonder what are the implications of this new development for the country's unity.
Greece: World Cup-Mania Provides Respite from Financial Crisis
Despite the dire financial crisis unfolding in Greece, many Greeks have taken to the 'social media World Cup' with gusto - perhaps hoping for a repeat of the amazing and uplifting victory in the Euro 2004 championship.
France: Reflections on Being Part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla
Miloud was on board of a Greek ship sailing to Gaza with the Freedom Flottilla that was raided by the IDF. Back in his home town of Marseilles, he tells [Fr] Marseille Bondy Blog about his experience.
Israel: Barred from Spain's Gay Pride Parade
In an entry entitled “You Know You're an Outcast When…” Israeli blogger David Bogner remarks on Spain's barring of Israel from its gay pride parade. Meanwhile, Tel Aviv celebrated its largest parade ever with 100,000 participants, Isrealli reports.
Global: Tweeting the USA/England Match
The Twittersphere was abuzz during the USA/England #worldcup match on June 12. The game was highly anticipated in the United States, where TV ads touted it as the "most anticipated" match of the World Cup, whereas in England, fans were nearly certain their team would win.
Macedonia: Gender Aspects of the Football World Cup
Young Macedonian blogger and writer thinks that focus on defense combined with propagation of gender stereotypes make the Football World Cup unattractive.
France : Poetry Slam World Cup
Bobigny, in the Paris suburbs, is hosting a different kind of world cup, namely the 4th Poetry Slam World Cup (the quarter finals), on June 12th and 13th. Bondy Blog interviews [Fr] two finalists: Le Wise, from Gabon, and Philipp Sharri, from Germany.
France: Illegal Immigrants Strike in Paris
Blogger Ménilmuche points to a blog that documents a strike by illegal immigrants at the Bastille in Paris with lots of pictures [fr].
Brazil: Graffiti Artists Lighten Up Europe
Once persecuted by the authorities, street art has made it to the mainstream. The Brazilian twin brothers known as GÊMEOS are on exhibition in the first event of street art in a Portuguese museum, according to local bloggers [pt]. In collaboration with Italian graffiti artist Blu, they also left their...
