· August, 2011

Stories about Western Europe from August, 2011

Spain: Racism and Intolerance Advance Relentlessly

  29 August 2011

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 and Britain: how do they compare?

  27 August 2011

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 there a year ago: “Great Britain is my home, and I love it, but it does feel like many of...

Denmark: At Last, the Prime Minister Calls the Elections

  26 August 2011

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.

Spain: Pope's Visit Leaves a Violent Trace in Madrid

  23 August 2011

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”

  20 August 2011

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

  17 August 2011

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 corruption and bad business climate – is effectively closing the window to integration with the European Union.

Baltics-Sweden: Twenty Years of Independence

  17 August 2011

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 colleagues for recognizing soviet annexation during World War II.

Vietnam: Blogger Pham Minh Hoang Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison

  16 August 2011

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 was charged with “attempt to overthrow the [vietnamese] goverment”  reports Reporters Without Borders [fr].  Hoang, who  has been in pre-trial...

Africa: The Looting of African Fishery Resources

  16 August 2011

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 reserves of fishes in their own waters, European fish boats are now on the move to target other oceans to fish in.”

Portugal: A Guide for Digital Literacy

  15 August 2011

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 step-by-step exercises on how to verify sources and find facts and people, among other internet related subjects [pt].  

Syria: World Cities Rally Against and For Bashar

  11 August 2011

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

  11 August 2011

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

  11 August 2011

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 of the Portuguese State's position towards Galicia”. MIL considers the Spanish region of Galicia as an integral part of the...

Slovenia: A Comment on the U.K. Riots

  9 August 2011

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 thinking of bringing in the army. Please, don’t. […] I come from the part of the world where there was...