Stories about Western Europe from December, 2012
Global Voices: Where Every Voice Counts
The idea that every voice counts is one that is very close to the notion of Global Voices as a platform and as a community. As netizens unite to have their voices heard when the world's authorities argue on who should run the internet, we decided to ask our diverse community speak out on issues that matter to them and look back at issues we have covered over the year bearing in mind that every voice counts.
Iran's Diplomatic Missions Under Attack
Iran's diplomatic missions have been under attack around the world in recent weeks by Iranians and Afghans, for different reasons. The actions sparked a hot debate within the Iranian blogosphere, with ideas ranging from praise to condemnation and denouncements.
Spain: Young Emigrants Have “Spirit of Adventure”
Marina del Corral Téllez, the Secretary General of Immigration and Emigration of the Ministry of Employment and Social Security, has been in the spotlight thanks to certain statements which have inflamed social media with indignant messages. Del Corral states that the emigration of Spanish youth is due not only to the crisis currently hitting the country, but to their "youthful drive for adventure."
Italy: Staying in Venetian Monasteries
Olia and Claude Barrère, two French expatriates in Venice, Italy, write on their blog, “Olia i Klod” [fr]: Today, as in the past, monasteries offer the possibility of accommodation. They are places of peace, places rich in culture, very well managed, and offer moments of serenity. In Venice, many of...
Pardon Granted to Police Officers Convicted of Torture in Spain
The sentence of police officers found guilty of torturing a Romanian citizen in 2006 has been commuted and they have been fined instead. This development has reignited the debate on Spain's system of granting 'pardon,' which has been used to benefit those in closest proximity to power for years.
The Many Faces of Everyday Violence Against Women
The United Nations General Assembly designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Abdoulaye Bah gives an overview of reactions in the francophone blogosphere on this important day.
Italy: Governement and Immigration – plenty of words, less action
According to Stefano Femminis (popoli.info [it]), the current Monti government has shown more talk than actual action in regard to immigration, and the followings are emphasised [it]: The situation remains the same as an year ago: expensive and unnecessary “human dumps” that in fact function as prisons for people that...
Portugal: Digital TV Controversy
A PhD thesis on the process of implementing Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) in Portugal presented evidence that the National Communications Authority, ANACOM, favoured private company Portugal Telecom (PT) in the tender. In response, PT and ANACOM have announced that they will take the researcher to court for defamation.
Brazilian Immigration Policy Faces New Challenges
Whereas the subject has long been debated in Europe and the USA, the issue of immigration has only recently gained prominence in Brazil. This new Brazilian reality throws up a series of new challenges both for Brazilian society and the government.
Italy: Clandestines in prisons without dignity
Explaining why 35,6% out of the prison population is constituted of immigrants, according to “Without Dignity” : The Observatory report [it] of the Antigone association, the website cronachediordinariorazzismo.org writes [it]: The presence of foreigners in Italian prisons is mostly due to recent charges in immigration laws, that effected greater flows...
Access to Public Information: It's Your Right!
It is not always easy to obtain information, data and documents from public administrations, despite the fact that the information in their hands belongs to citizens. This is one of the motives for which some civil society organizations, dedicated to pro-transparency activism, have launched a series of online platforms that allow people to request information from public institutions.
