· November, 2006

Stories about Western Europe from November, 2006

Hungary: ID Cards

  30 November 2006

As Britain is thinking of introducing an ID card system, Paul of Further Ramblings of a N.Irish Magyar cites an example of Hungary and discusses whether IDs have made the country and its citizens safer.

Pakistan: Government tracks your movement

  27 November 2006

The Oyster travel card in London maybe a bit more than just a device for convenience according to Suspect Paki. “If you register your Oyster Card, the police can, without your knowledge, determine the extent of all your London Transport wanderings.”

Cote d'Ivoire: France and UN Resolution 1721

  27 November 2006

Generation Consciente writes (Fr): “Despite its best efforts, Paris did not succeed in getting the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution that might oust President Gbagbo. After intense negotiations at the UN headquarters, Resolution 1721 regarding Cote d'Ivoire, a French intitiative, was adopted by the Security Council. It maintains...

French minorities: Questioning the Republican Model

  27 November 2006

Togolese-origined French politician Kofi Yamgnane posts a December 13 conference announcement that questions the limitations of French republicanist integration (Fr): “Integration in the French tradition … is resolutely hostile to any differentiation or separation founded on individual origins … Contrary to the Anglo-Saxon model, the Republican model rejects communities and...

Reunion: Sarkozy and Nassimah Dindar

  26 November 2006

Pierrot Dupuy writes (Fr): “I am learning from different sources, some of which are close Parisian relations of [French Interior Minister] Nicolas Sarkozy, that if he is elected President, he will offer a minister job to Nassimah Dindar … Is the best way to avoid Nassimah the minister for Sarkozy...

Guadeloupe: Pictures of Route du Rhum Transatlantic Race

  23 November 2006

Bienvenue en Guadeloupe posts (Fr) pictures of the Route du Rhum transatlantic sailing race and writes (Fr): “This race starts in Saint-Malo and ends in Pointe-a-Pitre [Gaudeloupean capital]. It was created by Michel Etevenon, in 1978 … This transatlantic race from continental France to overseas France happens every 4 years...

Caribbean: Local Telecom Digicel to be Traded on the NY Stock Exchange?

  23 November 2006

InternetRapide.com writes (Fr): “According to last weekend's edition of Irish newspaper Sunday Times, Denis O'Brien, owner of Caribbean mobile telephone operator Digicel, allegedly consulted investment banks JP Morgan and Citibank on the trading on the New York Stock Exchange of his company. The introduction on the New York Stock Exchange,...

Serbia: Karadzic

  22 November 2006

Slobodan Milosevic could have known where Karadzic was, writes Finding Karadzic. And Jean-Marie Le Pen, a French presidential candidate, has a t-shirt with the images of Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic, reports Neretva River.

Esperantoland through Pictures / Esperantujo tra Bildoj

  22 November 2006

Only one more month until Esperanto Day! If you would like to participate you can sign up here, especially if you would like help with translation. Nur unu monato ĝis Esperanto-Tago! Se vi volus partopreni, vi povas enskribiĝi ĉi tie, speciale se vi deziras helpon je tradukado. Welcome back for...

Arabisc: One Blogger Arrested..1000s More to Go!

  21 November 2006

There doesn't seem to be a week passing by without Egyptians and its bloggers rocking the boat and taking the virtual limelight in our part of the world. This week the huge ripples in the Nile are being caused by no other than Egyptian Culture Minister Farooq Hosni, who has...

Haiti: Syto Cave Podcast

  20 November 2006

French literary blog Topolivres posts (Fr) a podcast of an excerpt of Haitian poet and playwright Syto Cave's show Voisins Complices [Neighbors and Accomplices]. Voisins Complices has been performed in Haiti and Barcelona and is scheduled to go to New York in 2007.

Lusosphere's PanAmerican Elections Wrap-up

  18 November 2006

Elections across the American continents are still reverberating in the Lusosphere as citizen journalists and analysts are attempting to find the meaning of and predict the future politics set in place by recent events. As commentaries of all political flavors fly into cyberspace, there is both a general agreement that...

Magascar: Do We Deserve Global Award 2006?

  18 November 2006

At Madagascar Croissance, Aiky is happy (Fr) that Madagascar improved its image and that of its environment in the past couple of years leading to the country receiving the Global Award this year. However, the blogger wonders whether the award is indeed deserved given the endurance of certain problematic environmental...

Madagascar: What Happens When We Live Abroad

  18 November 2006

At Madagascar Croissance, Aiky reflects (Fr) on social dynamics among Malagasies living abroad. Says the blogger: “What is good about Malagasies is their friendliness and hospitality especially those living in Madagascar and those who have left recently. By contrast, these values evaporate once we live abroad, especially when we move...

Bosnia & Herzegovina: Sevdah Music in London

  15 November 2006

East Ethnia links to the London-based fans of traditional Bosnian music: “Turbo folk, in my opinion, has killed the real values of our region. One of those values is Sevdah music (in its original shape and form). This is why I am putting my best efforts into resurrecting this and...

Arabisc: Best Blog Awards Winners and Recurring Nightmares

  14 November 2006

Arabic blogs are making their mark on the international blogging scene, with more writers and commentators taking to their keyboards and enjoying the thrill of the instant publication of their ideas away from government censorship, newspaper censorship and self-censorship! The BOBS – Best of the Blogs Awards 2006 highlighted a...