Stories about Western Europe from March, 2013
Assault Against Immigrant Causes Outrage in Spanish Town
Moulaye Ndiaye, a street vendor from Senegal, was thrown from a bridge in Buñol, Valencia, Spain. There has been a large civilian mobilisation to condemn the attack and find the perpetrator.
In Spain, Money for Bulls But Cuts for Citizens
In February, the government of the People's Party (PP) agreed to debate a popular initiative to name bullfighting a "Cultural Interest Good" in Spain. It is calculated that more than 500 million euros are invested in bullfighting a year in Spain in the midst of severe of welfare cuts and austerity measures.
Italy: Fire Destroys Interactive Museum ‘Città della Scienza’ in Naples
On 4 March a fire (presumably arson) destroyed the cultural centre. Alongside worried comments, netizens (and some local authorities) immediately launched a campaign to rebuild this public structure, well appreciated throughout Europe and important scientific centre for the youth and future generations.
The Right to be Forgotten: Spain and Google Before the European Court
On 26 February, Google and Spain appeared before the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over the redaction of certain pages yielded in search results that contain the personal information of Spanish citizens. The ECJ, which will weigh the public's right to information against the right to be forgotten will issue its non-binding ruling on 25 June 2013.
Video: Greece Austerity Protests Teargassed
A reportedly peaceful attempt to revive the mass anti-austerity “indignant protests” of 2011 on the evening of March 10 in Syntagma square, Athens, was met with teargas and police brutality, as shown...
The State of Torture in the World in 2013
On January 23, 2013, an excerpt from the annual report of l'ACAT-France, A World of Torture 2013, makes a fresh assessment of the state of torture in the world [fr]:...
Taiwan Denies Entry to Anti-Nuke Visitor Ahead of Protest
A German man who marched in an anti-nuclear protest two years ago in Taiwan was detained at Taiwan's international airport and denied entry [zh] into the country on March 8, 2013, a day before protesters planned to hold a large-scale anti-nuclear demonstration there.
French Magazine's 50 People Shaping Japan
Interest for Japan is at its peak among readers in France [fr] despite the Asian nation's gloomy economic outlook. Therefore, French Magazine ZoomJapan [fr] has featured 50 Japanese people that are transforming...
Crowdmapping Media Layoffs in Greece
Journalist Ioanna Iliadi has created a crowdmap to monitor press layoffs in Greece, mounting in numbers and frequency, as an already brewing media crisis has been compounded by the financial...
Greece: Corruption, Police State and Struggle in Skouries
Skouries residents, a region in Chalkidiki, Northern Greece, oppose against Canadian company Eldorado Gold, which obtained the Kakkavos Mountain gold mining rights through a controversial process. Netizens in solidarity play a significant role in news dissemination.
Activists Worldwide Mourn French Author Stéphane Hessel
Writer, human rights advocate, and French resistance fighter Stéphane Hessel, whose bestselling manifesto on peaceful uprising inspired the disenchanted of Europe and the United States to organize into protest, died on the night of February 26, 2013. He was 95. A peaceful march is planned on March 7, 2013, the day of his funeral.
Viral Japanese Animated Video Leaves Internet Misty-Eyed
A short animated video created by popular Japanese comedian Tekken, better known for cracking jokes in black-and-white makeup than producing stop-motion tearjerkers, still has the Web talking a year after it was first went viral.
The Conflict in Mali: Who is Fighting Whom, and Why?
Since the bloody conflict in Mali began one year ago, the crisis has evolved in fits and starts, all the while immersed in a historical framework that the mainstream media too often oversimplifies. Here we will try to unpack the complexities of the conflict by putting into context the violent fighting currently engulfing the northern African country.
‘Global Voices Can Help Explain Catalonia to the World’
Interview with Violeta Camarasa, Global Voices Online's Catalan-language editor. Global Voices Català has demonstrated over the past several months that it has the capacity to explain Catalonia to the world, supplementing the mainstream media's historical neglect of the region.
Portugal Gets the Giggles Ahead of Austerity Protests
Austerity-weary Portuguese feeling shut out of the country's decision making are giving laughter a try, protesting against the government's tough tax hikes and spending cuts in creative, non-violent, and funny ways.
