Stories about Western Europe from August, 2011
Spain: Racism and Intolerance Advance Relentlessly
In Europe, xenophobia advances at an immense rate. Author Ana Lucía Sá writes about the situation of immigrants in Spain, the invisibility of the issue of racism and hate crimes in public discourse, and offers comments and analysis from bloggers and organizations that work against racism.
China: Law professor claims all Chinese girls studying in France are debauched
A law professor Zhang Haixia in Ministry of Justice claimed that “All the mainland girls who study in France come back as losers and become like “Super Pan Jinlian”. Pan...
China and Britain: how do they compare?
A British who has settled in China recounts his observations about the differences between the daily life in China and Britain, and how Britain has changed since he last visited...
Denmark: At Last, the Prime Minister Calls the Elections
Today the Danish PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen has finally called the parliamentary elections: the big day is in three weeks, on September 15. Maria Grabowski reports on two online initiatives inspired by the long wait for the PM's announcement.
Chile: Expats Unfazed as U.S. Embassy in Santiago Issues “Emergency Message”
The United States Embassy in Santiago has emailed an “emergency message for U.S. citizens” registered in Chile to keep out of the frequent and increasingly violent protests, but foreigners in Santiago don’t seem to be losing sleep over the roaring demonstrations.
Spain: Pope's Visit Leaves a Violent Trace in Madrid
On August 17, Europe Laica (Secular Europe) brought together over 150 organizations to protest in Madrid against the public financing of Pope Benedict XVI's visit. Police repression and acts of violence took over the capital's streets. The Pope's visit also brought to bear the debate between state secularism and religion.
Spain: Brutal Police Repression Against Journalists Covering “Secular March”
Pope Benedicto XVI's recent visit to Spain sparked a civil "Secular March" in protest against the use of public funds for religious acts in a secular state. The encounters between secular and religious individuals resulted in a wave of police repression against the journalists covering the events. Global Voices presents a selection of videos of the protests.
Ukraine: Closing Window to West
LEvko of Foreign Notes writes about increasing western critique against the trials against former Ukrainian Prime Minister, Yulia Timoshenko, and several of her ex-colleagues, and how this – combinded with...
Baltics-Sweden: Twenty Years of Independence
Albatros of Litauen blog reports about [ger] Swedish celebrations of 20 years of independence for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and how Swedish Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, apologised to his Baltic...
Vietnam: Blogger Pham Minh Hoang Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison
On August 10, 2011, Pham Minh Hoang, a math teacher and political blogger, has been sentenced to 3 years in prison and an additional 3 years of house arrest; he...
Africa: The Looting of African Fishery Resources
The first chapter of the Greenpeace project SOS Oceans is entitled: “How Africa feeds Europe “. The website introduce the project with the following statement [fr] : “After depleting the...
The Balkans, Norway: Anders Breivik and Srđa Trifković
Eric Gordy of East Ethnia writes about the Balkan dimension of the July 22 terrorist attacks in Norway: “[…] [Anders Breivik] has the revelation that his path to violent idiocy...
Portugal: A Guide for Digital Literacy
With the aims to “increase digital literacy and citizenship”, the Portuguese blog Sobre Literacia Digital (About Digital Literacy) [pt] by Ricardo Santos Silva, provides tips, a range of examples, and...
Blogging in Portuguese on Special Education
The blog Grito de Mudança (Cry for Change) [pt] gathers several articles and resources on special education and children with special needs in Portuguese language.
Germany: 50th Anniversary of the Berlin Wall
Kelly Hignett at The View East writes about the Berlin wall, and its historical significance as a divide between East and West, as it is now 50 years since the...
Syria: World Cities Rally Against and For Bashar
Events in Syria are being echoed around the world. Syrians in the diaspora rallied in the majority of the cities in the world, either asking to overthrow Bashar Al Assad and his regime or chanting their love to their leader. Check out this video round up for footage from demonstrations worldwide.
China: Tweets Didn't Start the Fire
China's main state television station has launched a second offensive against microbloggers and users of other social media, this time on the back of the recent British riots. The attack has left netizens guessing at the true motivation at play.
Portugal: Petition For Galicia to Enter the Lusophone Space
The association MIL – Movimento Internacional Lusófono (International Lusophone Movement) [pt] – has written an open letter [pt] to the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Portas, addressing the “inflection...
World: Share Your Life With the World on 11-11-11
What will you be doing on November 11, 2011? Share it with the rest of the world through 11Eleven Project and help achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals!
Lebanon: Royal Air Force Uses Beirut Scene to Recruit
“It's a recruitment video to get young British men and women to join the Royal Air Force.” But the UK Royal Air Force uses exaggerated scenes of Beirut with none...
Slovenia: A Comment on the U.K. Riots
Sleeping With Pengovsky comments on the riots and looting in the U.K.: “But I must say I got the heebie-jeebies when I heard on the BBC that some people were...
