· February, 2011

Stories about Western Europe from February, 2011

France: New Right-Leaning Website Enters the Fray

  28 February 2011

Atlantico.fr, a new right-leaning website in French modeled on several American web successes (including The Atlantic and Politico) is quickly earning notoriety in France in expectation of what role it may play in upcoming national elections.

France: Demonstration in Paris Against Gabon Dictatorship

  28 February 2011

Around 7,000 people gathered in the streets of French capital Paris to demonstrate against African dictators and the French government's alleged collusion with African dictatorial regimes on Saturday 26 February, 2011. Protestors chanted slogans outside Gabon President Ali Bongo's 140 million Euro mansion.

A declaration of love to the Portuguese language, in all its variations

  23 February 2011

On February 21 Global Voices in Portuguese commemorated International Mother Language Day with a tribute to the lusophony in all its linguistic and cultural diversity. Read the blogsphere's reflections on the first novel dedicated to the Portuguese language, Milagrário Pessoal - the most recent work by the Angolan author José Eduardo Agualusa.

Azerbaijan: Assimilation Disorder

  22 February 2011

Known for its caustic humor and sarcastic insight, London-based Azerbaijani blogger Scary Azeri touches upon the sensitive issue of cultural (in)compatibility noting how a traditional mindset of her countrymen may seem out of place when living in a foreign country especially as they often find it hard, or refuse, to...

Portugal: Fight against prejudice on transgenderism

  22 February 2011

In her blog, Eduarda Santos – a portuguese advocate for transgender rights – points several examples [pt] of transphobic prejudice by the mainstream media. In January she had posted a thorough analysis [pt] of President Cavaco Silva's enactment against the change of name and gender of transsexual people.

Video: Learning a New Language Through Online Video

  22 February 2011

February 21st is the International Mother Language Day and this year's theme is Linguistic Diversity and New Technologies. With that in mind, we bring you a series of examples of how people are helping others to learn their mother languages using videos and websites.

Denmark: Taking Facebook to the Streets in 2010

  11 February 2011

Facebook came to life on Denmark's streets in 2010 through events and groups organised via the social networking site. Whether motives were addressing the country's homeless or immigration policy, it was creativity that characterised Facebook in 'real life'.

Goa: Liberation Day or Conquest Day?

  10 February 2011

Paulo Dias writes on the blog Niz Goenkar about the events of December 19, 1961 when the former Portuguese province of Goa was annexed by India. Dias takes this day, which is celebrated nowadays as Goa's Liberation Day, to discuss whether Goa was in fact liberated or conquered by India...

Colombia: British expat loves Bogotá

  7 February 2011

Vicki, a British journalist living in Colombia's capital, has posted her 101 reasons to love Bogotá, including “Streets are numbered, not named. You don’t need an A-Z,” “It is considered acceptable to love books,” “Sometimes people sell chocolate on the buses,” “New people don’t have to be drunk to talk...

Global: Thoughts on interfaith harmony and world peace

  5 February 2011

In this, the first, World Interfaith Harmony Week, people from all faiths have been getting together to forget about differences and promote religious tolerance and dialogue based on the mantras "Love of God and love of one's neighbour" or "love of the good and love of one's neighbour". Worldwide bloggers share views on why this dialogue is so important – and why it is not impossible to achieve it.

Portugal: A journey blog to Antarctica

  4 February 2011

On the blog Permantar-2 [pt] you can follow Gonçalo Vieira's scientific journey to the Antarctic Peninsula. The Portuguese researcher – who is part of an international study about the permafrost and the consequences of climate change on it – invites all readers [pt] to send questions related to the campaign.

Portugal: Reflections on Egypt

  1 February 2011

Portuguese bloggers react to the wave of revolts in Tunisia and Egypt in recent weeks, relating it to issues in their country. In this post we select some of reflections by Portuguese citizens on the scenario of change in comparative, and local and international perspectives.