Stories about Western Europe from June, 2012
Spain: Miners on Strike Bring Struggle to the Net
Spanish miners, on strike to protest cuts to their sector, have used social media to further their cause. Take a look at how some of the workers are taking their struggle to Facebook, Twitter, and the world wide web.
Greece: Flash Opera in Metro Station
To honor European Music Day on June 21, the Greek National Opera organized a small flash concert in Syntagma metro station in Athens, in front of hundreds of surprised passengers, young and old, who enjoyed arias from The Barber of Seville and Faust, as well as the Libiamo duet with...
Greece: Immigrant Knifed on Election Night
Violence against immigrants has been steadily mounting in Athens since last year's spate of attacks, especially before the recent elections which saw the extreme right Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn) party gaining 18 seats in parliament. A video surreptitiously filmed in an Athens subway station on election night, June 17, and captioned in English, fleetingly shows...
Spain: No to Eurovegas in Barcelona Gathers Momentum Online
The possible arrival of the Eurovegas mega project to the Llobregat delta in Barcelona has provoked outrage in social networks. City dwellers, social groups and the Church show their disapproval to the project that they feel is detrimental to Catalonia.
Sharing Photos of the Afghanistan You Never See
Most media covering developments in Afghanistan carry terrifying images. Through their lens, Afghanistan is presented as a country drowning in the waves of violence and militancy. A number of photographers help people to see the war-torn but beautiful country from a different perspective.
Greece: New Prime Minister Makes First Official Facebook Comment
Newly elected Antonis Samaras posts his first message [el] as Greek Prime Minister on his official Facebook page, asking for Greek people to “show patriotism and unbreakable national unity and trust”. He also underlined that “with God's help, they will do everything possible to get the country out of crisis...
Ukraine: Marko Dević's “Ghost Goal”
On Facebook, in the past two hours, over 4,800 users have ‘shared’ and over 2,900 have ‘liked’ the screenshot of the “ghost goal” by Ukraine's Marko Dević in today's Euro 2012 game against England. The screenshot was posted by Korrespondent, a Ukrainian news site and magazine, and over 400 comments...
Ukraine: President Yanukovych's European Assets
On OpenDemocracy.com, Ukrainian journalist Serhij Leschenko writes about President Viktor Yanukovych's “luxury residence and the money trail that leads to London”: “Having completely rejected such European values as human rights and democracy, the Ukrainian president uses Europe as a place to hide his dirty money with impunity. European leaders who...
Angola: Rhythms of Resistance, Past and Present
While international human rights organizations and bloggers are calling attention to the escalation of violence and repression against Angolan activists and musicians in the run up to this year's elections, in Lisbon, recently a tribute was paid to the Angolan music of resistance from the 1950s and 60s - N'Gola Ritmos. We invite you to time travel to the past of Anglola's rhythms of resistance and reflect on the country's political present.
Spain: 15M Presents Legal Complaint Against Bankia
The 15M has presented a legal complaint before the National Audience against commercial fraud committed by Bankia executives. Social media have played a key role in the campaign.
Afghanistan's First Computer-Animated Movie
Leaving the three decades of war and destruction behind, Afghans make use of modern technology and media to rebuild the country and raise new generations with a brighter vision for the future. ‘Buz-e-Chini‘ (Goat) is the country's first ever 3D computer-animated short film.
Portugal: Cartoon Satirizes Merkel's Influence on Upcoming Greek Elections
A cartoon of German Chancellor Angela Merkel as the Uncle Sam of Europe, with her finger pointed saying “I respect your right to vote, as long as you vote right”, is the way Portuguese ‘guerrilla’ designer Gui Castro Felga [pt] addresses the upcoming Greek elections on June 17. She wonders...
Colombia: Conflicting Reactions Following Release of French Journalist Roméo Langlois
The French journalist Roméo Langlois was released on May 30, after having been held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) for a month. The journalist's statements after his release caused conflicting reactions among Colombian netizens.
Germany: Anti-ACTA Rally in Berlin – Signal to Politicians, Reminder to Citizens
"Don’t forget to be against ACTA" – with these half-humorous words organisers of the anti-ACTA protest closed the demonstration that took place on June 9 in Berlin. Kasia Odrozek reports.
Poland: Obama's “Polish Death Camp” Gaffe Causes Controversy
In the last days of May, a storm of controversy struck the Polish public opinion when the US President Barack Obama used the expression "a Polish death camp" rather than stating clearly that what he meant was a Nazi Germany-operated death camp on the Polish territory. Anna Gotowska reports.
France: Interview with Pirate Party candidates
Framablog posts a long interview [fr] with 3 candidates from the Pirate Party for the upcoming French parliamentary elections of June 10/17. They explain their ideas about Internet freedom and a new way of doing politics.
Greece: Inspiration Behind the Shocking ‘Modern Maenad’ Photo
A photo showing a young naked woman, a modern Maenad (a mythological female follower of Dionysus) bleeding from her navel and holding in her hands like a newborn baby, the Greek flag, has travelled around the world. For the photographer, it underlines the current psychological situation of Greek people, their lost pride and anger, while experiencing the crisis.
Spain: Crowdfunding Against the Impunity of the Banks
In view of the indifference of the government and the district attorney’s office to investigate the management of Bankia by it's ex chairman, Rodrigo Rato, people in Spain raised money from donations to submit a complaint before the court. In 24 hours, more than the €15, 000 (Euros) of the required funds were raised, resulting in the collapse for a few hours of the crowdfunding website.
Spain: “Occupying” the Banks on the Street and the Net
The bailout of Bankia could cost 23,000 million euros but the governing politicians and the managers of Bankia do not seem interested in holding those responsible accountable. In the face of this, the Spanish people have taken matters into their own hands. Since the crisis began, popular initiatives have flourished both digitally and on the streets.
Greece: Community Project for “Authentic Natural Food”
“Hippocrates believed food was the human's medicine. Today, food is the reason that people need medicine”. That's what Radiki (‘Chicory’ in Greek) states, a small community project in Raches village [el] in Messenia, Peloponnese. In their website, they argue that people should return to authentic food forms, as they have become too...
Greece: “Stay in Europe” Movement
A new movement, “Stay in Europe” [el], aims to gather all Greek citizens who want Greece to remain in the Eurozone and European Union in a big demonstration in front of Syntagma Square in Athens one week before elections (June, 10, 2012). The movement has started an online campaign calling all people, regardless...
