· June, 2012

Stories about Western Europe from June, 2012

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...

22 June 2012

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.

22 June 2012

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...

18 June 2012

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.

18 June 2012

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.

14 June 2012

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.

10 June 2012

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.

7 June 2012

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.

7 June 2012

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.

6 June 2012

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...

4 June 2012