Stories about Western Europe from July, 2008
France: Restrictions on marriages with foreigners
Racisme et Histoire writes it's getting harder and harder for French to marry foreigners [Fr].
Hungary: Outsourcing
Hudin explains why Ebay Germany is “running the bulk of their customer support operations in Hungary.”
France: Morrocan Woman Denied Citizenship
Blogger Sabria Jawhar writing for Arabisto comments on the recent French ruling denying citizenship to a Moroccan woman for wearing a “burqa”.
Ukraine, Russia: Yushchenko and Litvinenko
Taras Kuzio believes that “the connections between the Yushchenko’s poisoning and Litvinenko’s murder are closer than at first seems.”
Europe: Roma People in Italy
At A Fistful of Euros, a discussion of the situation with the Roma people in Italy, inspired by this piece from the Guardian's Comment is Free (229 comments).
Death Penalty for Malagasy Farmers over Land Dispute
Twenty one farmers from the locality of Ankorondrano-Analavory (90 km west of Antananarivo) were sentenced by the state because of a collective act of rebellion that stemmed from a dispute over land ownership. An online campaign for clemency for the farmers and conversations about the verdicts are taking place, keeping online forums users and blogs busy.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Srebrenica Anniversary
Yesterday, on July 11, Bosnia and Herzegovina commemorated the 13th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre, which the International Court of Justice in The Hague referred to as genocide against the Muslim population of the area last year. Elia Varela Serra reports on the online remembrance in the blogosphere and on Facebook.
Guatemala: Was Antigua the Inspiration for the Little Prince?
For a relatively small country, Guatemala's magnificant scenery can awaken one's imagination. From the 37 volcanoes that rise up from the landscape to the mystical Lake Atitlan, it is a country that has attracted intellectuals in the field of culture and arts, who may have been drawn to this magical land. One other author, Antoine De Sain Exupéry, who is best known for writing “The Little Prince,” visited Guatemala by accident, and leads to the question: Was Antigua, Guatemala his Muse for writing about Asteroid B-612?
Japan: Apologize for Graffiti in Florence
James from Japan Probe wrote a sum-up on the Graffiti scandal in Japan: A Japanese teenager who was caught on video daubing graffiti on the Duomo in Florence flew back to the Renaissance city at her own expense to apologise.
And here comes Global Voices in Italian!
Many of our dearest supporters have already heard the big news released on the second day of Global Voices Citizen Media Summit in Budapest, Hungary. We officially re-launched three Global Voices Lingua sites: Hindi, Macedonian, and Albanian, and introduced a brand new language to our global readers: “Global Voices in Italian“!
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Chemical Weapons; Dutch Graffiti
Srebrenica Genocide Blog writes about chemical weapons allegedly used against Srebrenica civilians and about the obscene graffiti left by the Dutch troops stationed at the UN base in Potocari.
Ukraine, Russia: Integrum Technologies Ordeal
Hans Stege of Kremlin, Inc is trying to figure out who's behind “a mysterious Austrian investment firm called Integrum Technologies [that is] involved in the controversial Vanco Black Sea offshore project.”
China: Is Sarkozy the problem with Sino-French relations?
'Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, what intoxicating words! So why is there still so much animosity between China and France?'
Colombia: Hostage Rescue Raises Concerns
After the rescue dubbed as “perfect” by liberated former Presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who was rescued by the Colombian army on Wednesday July 2nd along with 14 other hostages being held captive by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) for up to 10 years in some cases. The Colombian community has been voicing concerns about the repercussions the rescue might have, and what interests might have been behind it.
Slovenia: Former Border Photos
Borut Peterlin posts photos from the former border between Slovenia and Italy in Nova Gorica.
Bulgaria: Georgi Markov's Murder Investigation
Edward Lucas writes about the investigation of Georgi Markov's 1978 murder.
Azerbaijan: Asylum Campaign Meeting
Unzipped: Gay Armenia updates its readers on the case of a gay Azerbaijani currently in Wales. Babi Badalov's claim for asylum has been rejected and the artist faces deportation. The blog notes that there have been attacks on Babi Badalov in the Azerbaijani media and that he will also be...
Bahrain: From Italy to Hungary
After almost a month in Italy, Bint Battuta in Bahrain was in Budapest, Hungary, where she attended the Global Voices 2008 Summit.
