Stories about Western Europe from August, 2012
Ecuador Grants Political Asylum to WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange
#AsiloAssange (Assange Asylum) is a local Trending Topic on Twitter in Ecuador as netizens from all over the world react to Ecuador's decision to grant asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. “Gracias a Ecuador” (“Thank you Ecuador”), the words tweeted by an unofficial Julian Assange account (@JulianAssange_), is a worldwide...
Greece: August 15 Celebration Overshadowed by Brutal Athens Murders
On August 15, 2012, as user @northaura points out: “Greece celebrates the Assumption of Mary, one of the biggest Greek orthodox days”, yet “2 people are found murdered thrown in a dustbin”. Journalist and human rights activist @NikoAgo had earlier tweeted [el] about the discovery of two murdered people in an Athens...
Ecuador: WikiLeaks Releases “Statement on UK Threat to Storm Ecuadorian Embassy”
WikiLeaks has released a “Statement on UK Threat to Storm Ecuadorian Embassy and Arrest Julian Assange.” The statement reads: “In a communication this morning to the government of Ecuador, the UK threatened to forcefully enter the Ecuadorian embassy in London and arrest Julian Assange. […] This threat is designed to...
France: Stories of Everyday Sexism
After being harassed and insulted by men in the streets of Brussels, Belgian student Sofie Peeters made a hidden-camera film to denounce the male chauvinism experienced every day by unaccompanied women in the streets. Under the hashtag #harcelementderue (street harassment), French women are testifying to the verbal abuse and sexual harassment that they are subjected to in the streets.
Wales Celebrates its National Eisteddfod Festival, With a Digital Twist
Last week an event took places in Wales, which for many eclipsed even the Olympics. The National Eisteddfod of Wales is one of the only festivals in which the Welsh language is the primary language of every aspect of activity.
China: Netizens’ Comments on 2012 London Olympics
Fauna from ChinaSMACK translates Chinese netizens’ general comments and impressions of the 2012 London Olympics.
Russia: “The True Blasphemy” – Slavoj Žižek on Pussy Riot
Russian collective “Chto Delat? // What is to be done?” published an essay by Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek, who considers Pussy Riot “conceptual artists in the noblest sense of the word: artists who embody an Idea,” and fight against the cynicism of power-mongers who strive to return Russia to the...
Afghanistan: When Bronze Means More than Gold
"In a year filled with suicide bombings, school poisonings and kidnappings, the bronze for Afghanistan was more than gold." The country celebrates its one and only Olympic winner - Bronze medalist and Taekwondo fighter Rohullah Nikpai.
Athens: Virtual Community Initiative Under the Acropolis
Shop owners on picturesque Pandrosou street in Plaka, Athens, have started a virtual community initiative with a blog and Facebook page. They aim to “rebrand the image of Greece into one that reflects collaborative cooperation, innovation and honest hard work”. With their most recent project, they hope to inspire others to reclaim the beauty of pedestrian...
Cameroon: Olympic Escape – Blame the System, Not the Athletes
"It's rather sad, however, to see that our country has become a prison, from which everyone wants to escape at any cost." Cameroon delves into reasons behind the disappearance of seven athletes from the 2012 London Olympic Games.
London Olympic Games made in China
Beatrice from Ministry of Tofu puts together a set of infographic and reports on products related with London Olympic Games which are made in China.
Spain: Expropriation of Food for the Most Needy
Politicians and labor unionists have expropriated food from supermarkets in order to give it to the most needy in times in which Spain is experiencing a serious socioeconomic crisis. Chris Moya writes about the action that has caused a commotion in the country.
Cyprus: Remembering ‘Operation Atilla’ Across Borders
On the 38th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus - Operation Atilla - netizens from Cyprus, Greece and Turkey comment on what they see as either a day to mourn or celebrate.
Tajikistan: Female Boxer Fights Odds, Wins Olympic Bronze
"I hope Chorieva will become a motivation for other Tajik girls and women, and we will have more female champions in future. It doesn't matter whether she wins or loses, she has already broken a social stereotype."
Palestine: Swedish Ship Attempting to Break the Blockade Sails to Gaza
Scandinavian ship SV Estella will attempt to sail to Gaza in an attempt to break the blockade on the Palestinian enclave. The ship sailed from Oslo on August 7, 2012, and is backed by mostly Swedish and Norwegian groups. Organizers hope that other ships will join them before they reach...
Spain: ‘I Won't Pay’ Campaign Hits Catalan Highways
A wave of protests against rising tolls on Spanish highways reached its five-month mark last week, when a clash between motorists and private authorities motivated a company that oversees more than 6,713 kilometers of European motorways, to put up barriers blocking the flow of traffic on the C-33 highway.
Cyprus: First Ever Olympic Medal at London 2012
The London 2012 Olympics will be a landmark in Cyprus’ sport history. Twenty-two year old Pavlos Kontides, who is from Limassol, Cyprus, became the country's first ever Olympic medalist. Kontides won the silver medal at single-handed Laser class in Men's Sailing.
France: The Currency Taboo Deciphered
In the latest [fr] podcast episode “Monnaie Libre,” dedicated to deciphering monetary systems, French bloggers Galuel and Jean-Baptiste B. discuss the reasons why currency is taboo among economists. They also explain how central banks work and give alternatives to the monetary system, such as basic income and neo-chartalism.
UK: Taking on ‘Brandalism’
The collectively maintained website Brandalism presents an ever-growing collection of street art. The project is inspired “from the Dadaists, Situationists and Street Art movements” and its goal is to “see the largest reclamation of outdoor advertising space in UK history as artists challenge the authority and legitimacy of the advertising...
Team GB's Super Saturday at London 2012 Olympics
After a slow start at the Olympic Games in London, on Saturday 4 August, the host nation's team (popularly known as #TeamGB) achieved some of its greatest victories in a single day.
Italy, Macedonia: Funny (and Inappropriate) Country Name Translation
Macedonian portal Press24 published [mk] a photo posted by a Facebook user who discovered that instead of Macedonia, a display with telephone country codes at Milan airport featured the words “Fruit Salad” – which is synonymous with “Macedonia” in Italian, Spanish and some other languages. According to Google Translate, the...
