Stories about Western Europe from May, 2007
Chirac More Bumbling Than Malevolent
As Jacques Chirac leaves office, Le Blog de [Moi] remembers the former French president [Fr] as “more bumbling than malevolent.”
Iraq: Danish Soldiers Captured .. and Released
Iraqi blogger Raed Jarrar reports that three Danish soldiers have been captured in Iraq. ‘A number of Arabic news websites, affiliated with armed groups in Iraq, are reporting that 3 Danish troops were captured by an ‘Iraqi resistance group’. A Danish military spokesman in Copenhagen confirmed that one soldier was...
Election Parallels: Nigeria, France, Mali
Sanaga Peregrinations compares and draws lessons from the recent Nigerian, French, and Malian elections [Fr].
Sarkozy, the “most gabonais of all French”
Reflecting on the French presidential elections [Fr], Don Ray of Le Blog de Don Ray comes away with three impressions: first, the election, with its record turnout, was proof of France's robust democracy; second, socialism in France is finished; and last, Sarkozy's presidency will do little to change France's policy...
The Lives of Africans in Germany
Le Pangolin links to several articles about the lives of Africans living in Germany [Fr] from La Gazette de Berlin, a French language bimonthly.
Food Blogs: Pata de Cerdo from Spain, Pork Katsu from Japan and Stir-fried Pork with Cincaluk from Malaysia
Another installment of food blogs from around the world focuses on the use of pork in many different types of delicious dishes. Chef Melissa De Leòn Douglass takes us on a tour.
Europe: Balkan Blogs on Eurovision
A small roundup of the Eurovision-related posts from the Balkans: Pustolovina: Adventure in Serbian writes on the victory for the “new Serbia” and on “a night of belonging”; East Ethnia writes on the complex politics behind this year's Serbian winner Marija Serifovic; Bosnia Vault writes about the contest's youngest participant...
Serbia: Council of Europe Presidency
Europhobia and Balkan Baby write about the beginning of Serbia's presidency of the Council of Europe.
Slovenia: EU Presidency “Agreement of Cooperation”
As Slovenia is preparing to take over the EU presidency on Jan. 1, 2008, Marko Bucik writes about the “agreement of cooperation” between the country's politicians.
Russia, EU: On the Eve of Samara Summit
Time to study Russian, again, writes Jonathan Newton of Tales from the European Underbelly: “I would have had much use for such skills today, as I seem to be surrounded by Russian-speaking colleagues at the EU Council’s Press Centre, where the EU’s foreign ministers and assorted colleagues will wriggle around...
Europe: Easternization of Eurovision
“… the West is likely to continue getting locked out of Eurovision,” predicts A Fistful of Euros. “Next year in Belgrade!”
Croatia: Virginia Kapic
Neretva River writes [link no longer valid] about Virginia Kapic, who, despite involvement with some “violently racist skinhead organizations” of Europe, remains “a leading figure in the Croatian diaspora community.”
Morocco: French Elections Edition
Morocco, as a former protectorate of France, is still well connected to the country. Beyond French cars and French baguettes, Morocco's law and education systems are influenced by France, and more than half of its citizens speak French fluently. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the presidential elections...
Qatar: Al Jazeera Trial Continues in London
Friend of Al Jazeera, Karim, updates us about the continuing Qatar-based Al Jazeera Trial in London, UK. To check out the details, click on the link.
Croatia: View on the French Election
Neretva River writes on what some Croatian bloggers think of the French election and expresses his own view on the candidates.
DRC: UDPS’ Early Report Card for Kabila
UDPS Liège posts an interview with Rachel Kabua Atwele, a Belgium-based UDPS sympathizer. She says [Fr]: “Let's not kid ourselves, dictatorship is alive and well. Those who believed in the good faith of Kabila the imposter are already having a hard time: Thérèse Nlandu, Pasteur Kuthino, the coup d'état on...
Bulgaria, Libya, France: Appeals to Politicians
Last week, the families of the Bulgarian nurses met with Segolene Royal and Nicolas Sarkozy, Declan Butler reports.
Lebanon: The Shia Sunni Divide in Dutch
Blogger Sietske in Beirut has just published an article on the Shia-Sunni divide — in Dutch.
Morocco: Naming laws, springtime quiet and Sufi music
Although Spring maybe quiet in Morocco as locals dip into specially prepared cuisine, bloggers are busy debating naming laws for new Moroccan parents in The Netherlands and and basking in the spirit of Sufi music in Fez. Follow the arrows to read Jillian York's report.
Guadeloupe: Celebrating May Day
For French Labor Day, celebrated on May 1st, Convention pour une Nouvelle Guadeloupe writes [Fr]: “We … denounce the social model imposed by French authorities of the left and of the right and we … want a new model rooted in Guadeloupean values and founded mostly on the end of...
Guadeloupe: Let's Vote
About the upcoming French presidential second round elections, Guadeloupe Attitude writes [Fr]: “Vote Saturday! Vote well! And let's roll up our sleeves Monday for the challenges that await us!”
