Stories about Western Europe from July, 2011
TED Talk by Global Voices Co-Founder Rebecca MacKinnon
In a TED talk on July 12, 2011 Rebecca MacKinnon describes how the internet has become a primary communication channel between citizens and governments, but warns that there is a corporate layer of “internet sovereigns” between the two. Let's take back the Internet," she says.
Videos: Tortillas, Chapatis, Bread and More Around the World
Most cultures accompany their meals with a grain based product; bread, flatbreads and steamed buns are part of people's meals in many places of the world. Today we visit artisans and cooks to see how they prepare and make the food that feeds them and their families.
Portugal: Research on Literacy, Media and Citizenship
The Research Center on Communication and Society from the University of Minho, in Portugal, has made available for download the proceedings of the First National Congress on Literacy, Media and Society. Among more than sixty papers on several topics, there is one dedicated to “Perspectives on info-exclusion in the lusophone...
Spain: More Information on tomalaplaza.net
The website tomalaplaza.net [es] now offers sections (labeled with the names of cities) with information on all the local civic movements that have developed in Spain since last May 15 (15M).
Central and Eastern Europe: Economies more exposed than expected
Edward Hugh of Baltic Economy Watch argues that Central and East European economies are more exposed to risk in case of a Eurozone crisis than what financial ratings say.
Argentine Songwriter Facundo Cabral Murdered in Guatemala
On Saturday July 9 the renowned songwriter Facundo Cabral, whose career was characterised by songs that acted as a vehicle for his messages, was murdered in Guatemala. Moved by his death, many expressed their condolences, memories and emotions on social networks.
Greece: Journalist suffers total hearing loss from police brutality
Greek journalist Manolis Kypraios has suffered total hearing loss from injuries sustained while photographing the general strike protests of June 15, 2011 in Athens, Greece. In his testimony [el] posted on Exandas Documentaries, he says he was fired on with a stun grenade at point blank range by a riot police officer, after...
Portugal: Getting Funded by the Crowd
MassiveMov, the first crowdfunding platform in Portugal was launched on July 7.
The Disputed Reputation of Portugal's Former Political Police Chief
Major Silva Pais, the last director of Portugal's repressive PIDE police force - operative during the country's “New State” period - has been implicated in a play, in the 1965 assassination of democratic opposition politician General Humberto Delgado. A controversial criminal case is underway by Pais' nephews against the play's author and the directors who staged it.
Hungary: Black sheep of Europe?
The Worden Report discusses how Hungary is overriding European Union legislation and decisions, and what the limits for membership are to make European federalism work.
Azerbaijan: Depardieu promotes local cuisine
Kebabistan reports that French actor Gerard Depardieu has signed a contract to publicize and promote Azerbaijani cuisine. The deal comes after recently starring in an advertisement for the national air carrier of Azerbaijan's estranged neighbor in the region, Armenia.
Poland: Article authorization abolished
Max Steinbeis of Verfassungsblog writes about [GER] Poland having to abolish its law that interviewed people have the right to see articles before printing and prevent publication. So at least is the meaning of a ruling from the European Court for Human rights in Strasbourg.
Trydar y Cymry! The Welsh Language Thrives Online
"Trydar y Cymry" means "the twittering of the Welsh" or "the Welsh twitterers" (the verb "trydar" now being used in connection with Twitter) and is an example of the Welsh language adapting and developing as it is used online. Global Voices has spoken to blogger and researcher Rhodri ap Dyfrig about Welsh-language blogging and tweeting and the challenges Welsh speakers face online.
Macedonia: Views from Abroad on Protests Against Police Violence
Filip Stojanovski writes about how the ongoing protests against police brutality in Macedonia are viewed from abroad.
Denmark: Two Months of Rain in Two Hours
From an allotment garden in Copenhagen, Denmark, garden enthusiast and journalist Dan Larsen posts a humorously dramatic video on YouTube of extensive flooding after two months worth of rain fell in just two hours on July 2, 2011.
Greece: “We Gave Birth to Democracy, and We Killed It!”
Jasmina Babic reviews tweets about last week's protests in Athens, Greece, and the violent response of the local police.
Netherlands: Hustling a Creative Job Through Twitter
A creative team in Amsterdam, Bas van de Poel and Daan van Dam, show us on this video how they used the twitter microblogging site to catch the attention of creative directors and land themselves a job in an advertising agency.
Poland: A visionary within the EU?
J Clive-Matthews of Nosemonkey's EUTopia writes about the outset of the Polish EU-presidency and its Premier, Donald Tusk, as a potential visionary for the European Union.
