· September, 2012

Stories about Western Europe from September, 2012

Spain: Should the Church Pay (All) its Taxes?

  30 September 2012

In May of this year, Zamora became the first city in Spain to enforce that the Catholic Church pay Property Tax (IBI). Social networks have captured information and a variety of comments on the topic.

Portugal: Unionists Take to the Streets in Protest

  29 September 2012

Following the biggest popular protest of the last decades in Portugal, on September 15, 2012, every week people have been taking to the streets. More demonstrations were called for September 29, “against the theft of wages, pensions and retirements” by the union confederation CGTP. On Twitter hashtags #29s, #29sPT –...

New Caledonia: Political Tension Grows Over Rights to Nickel Mines

  28 September 2012

Claudine WERY writes [fr] that political tension grows between independentist and non-indenpendentist political parties in New Caledonia over the exploitation of Nickel mines. Non-independentists accuse the other party to strike deals with China and South Korea that they are not authorized to pursue. A referendum on gaining independence from France is scheduled...

Spain: Creative Alternatives to an Economy in Crisis

  28 September 2012

Since the start of the crisis that continues to embroil Spain's economy, many Spaniards have opted out of that economic model and instead created viable alternatives to their economy in crisis, such as networks for sharing goods and services or new systems and currencies that promote responsible consumption.

Spain: Proposed Changes for Abortion Law

  27 September 2012

The 28th of September is the celebration of the Campaign for the Legalization of Abortion, which has taken place for years in Latin America and the Caribbean and this year will be celebrated all around the world for the first time. The group known as“Feminismos 15M”[es] has chosen this date...

Spain: Two Journalists on Trial for Revealing Corruption in Catalonia

  27 September 2012

On September 27, Albano Dante and Marta Sibina, editors of the magazine Cafè amb Llet, will appear in court in Catalonia, Spain. The journalists are being sued for libel by an advisor to the Catalan president after alleging that senior officials are involved in corruption of the health care system.

Japan: Petition to Release Violin from Frankfurt Customs

  25 September 2012

On August 16, 2012, German customs officials at Frankfurt Airport seized a Guarneri violin from Japanese professional musician Yuzuko Horigome when she failed to present correct documentation. They demanded that she pay nearly US$ 500,000 in order to get it back.

Global: The 2012 edition of ‘Wiki Loves Monuments’

  24 September 2012

Julien L. wrote the following on numerama.com: The Wiki Loves Monuments copyright-free landmarks photo contest is going particularly well. Nearly a week after its launch, more than 50 000 photographs have been sent in by contributors. And this is just the beginning, because there are still 22 days left to...

Spain: Catalans Continue to Push for Independence

  24 September 2012

Since last Tuesday saw the largest pro-Catalan independence rally in the region's history, pro-independence activists have continued to pressure politicians to match rhetoric with swift action. Read an overview of the week's action here.

Singapore: Charity Group Targets Poor Children in Laos and Vietnam

  24 September 2012

A group of seven professional Swedish women based in Singapore have formed the charity organization Together for Charity. Today, the group gathers donations to support an orphanage in Laos and an English school in Vietnam. The group's founders discussed with Global Voices how their charity work is helping poor children in the region

Portugal: Demonstrations During Presidential Meeting with State Council

  21 September 2012

Following September 15's massive anti-austerity protests around Portugal ‘Screw troika! We want our lives’, new demonstrations were organized for September 21, the day President Cavaco Silva is holding a meeting of his advisory State Council at the Belém Palace. Follow hashtags #15sPT, #CE21s and #QueSeLixeaTroika on Twitter for updates.

China: Good Englishman in Xian

  21 September 2012

Peter Barefoot from ChinaSMACK translated a local media's feature story of a British engineer, Tony, who founded the “Yellow River Soup Kitchen” in Xi’an in 2005 and has distributed food to the homeless people there regularly since then.

Kosovo: Venice Biennale “Newcomer”

  19 September 2012

Facebook page “Southeast Europe: People and Culture” notes that “Kosovo is one of this year's newcomers to the [Venice Biennale]”: The pavilion allows visitors to share their views on Kosovo's future design landscape. More on the Kosovo Pavilion – here.

France: Study Shows GM Corn Fed Rats Display Higher Tumors Levels

  19 September 2012

Guillaume Malaurie reports that [fr] a team of French researchers led by Pr. Gilles-Eric Séralini found that laboratory rats fed with a steady diet of Monsanto genetically modified corn displayed higher levels of tumors and multiple organ damage than those of control rats.  The researchers worked in quasi-clandestine conditions [fr] to prevent...

Italy: Workers Occupy Sardinian Coal Mine

  18 September 2012

When threatened with the future closure of Carbosulcis coal mine in Italy, miners from the pit occupied their workplace some 373 metres underground in protest. The occupation may have ended but over all the situation remains uncertain.