Stories about Western Europe from January, 2008
Russia, UK: View From BC's Former Employee
Interesting insight into the British Council scandal from Dmitri Minaev of De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis – in this post's comments section at Siberian Light: “These attacks never really stopped, but the British embassy managed to keep the offices running till in 2007 Russia finally demanded that some offices be...
Russia, U.K.: More on the British Council
Ongoing coverage of the British Council row – at A Step At A Time: “An interesting feature of the present crisis, which was obviously prepared in advance by the Russian authorities, is the flooding of British media comments boards (the Mail and Telegraph are the two leading examples at present)...
Russia, UK: More on the British Council Row
Robert Amsterdam posts an update on the British Council scandal.
Russia, EU: Asylum Seekers
IVAN vs JAAN writes about the EU stance towards Chechen asylum seekers – and about the ongoing row between the U.K. and Russia over the British Council.
Serbia: Kosovo – “A Balkan Taiwan”?
A Fistful of Euros writes about Kosovo: “So we’re going to end up with a Balkan Taiwan: a de facto state without a UN seat, recognized by some nations but not others.”
Russia, UK: British Council
Robert Amsterdam writes on the UK-Russia conflict over the British Council.
Serbia: “Elegy For a Swine”
Many Serbs traditionally celebrate Orthodox Christmas by firing rifles and pistols, and consuming lots of homemade plum brandy and pork. Serbian bloggers have been writing about their Jan. 7 feasts for days now, but one of them, instead of composing her own sentences about it, posted an 1887 satirical poem by Serbian poet Vojislav Ilić. The poem is dedicated to the chief victim of Serbian Christmas celebration - a pig.
Portugal: Shut Guantanamo Bay down
Viriato Porto [pt] reminds us about the 6th anniversary of Guantanamo Bay and joins an Amnesty campaign calling for the camp to be shut. “A sad anniversary which is important to be recalled to denounce around the world hundreds of people's illegal arrests without charge, torture, ill-treatment and the humiliating...
The Balkans: Book Review
Greater Surbiton reviews ‘Peace and Punishment’ by Florence Hartmann, “former spokeswoman for Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), […] the first senior official of the ICTY to have written a book discussing its inner workings.”
Lusosphere: Happy birthday Pimenta Negra
Blog Pimenta Negra [pt] celebrates its 4th anniversary. “It came up due to several circumstances related to the need to find an independent communication channel and an alternative to spread ideas that are far from been echoed in the media”.
Portugal: We have been betrayed
Susana Charrua [pt] is alarmed that Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates has decided to seek ratification of the EU's new reform treaty by parliament rather than in a referendum as had been promised, “We are being governed by a dictator of the worst kind, I believe we should begin to...
Portugal: For a decent health care
gotaelbr [pt] reports on a trip to a hospital in Vila Real, Portugal, and the tales of neglect that he has come across. “The principle of “whoever wants health care should pay for it” that some favor not only is contrary to what is established in our Constitution but also...
Global Voices: A review of 2007, and big plans for 2008
No one could have predicted that a post on Chinese ant farmers would become the most read story on Global Voices in 2007. The top stories on this website were either those where local bloggers became important sources for the international media, or those that mainstream media didn't cover at all. See what next year holds in store for Global Voices...
The Musee Guimet affair: Part Deux
Last week we reported about the bloggers reactions on the controversies surrounding the exhibition of the masterpieces of Ganges in Musée Guimet of France from the collections of the Bangladesh museums. The apprehensions of the art lovers who were protesting the unclear processes of sending the artifacts including their fear...
Last Café com Blogs in 2007
Kontratempos [pt] lets us know that the last edition of podcast Café com Blogs is now available. In this issue, a balance of the year, with facts, controversies and people that shook the blogosphere in 2007.
