· May, 2008

Stories about Western Europe from May, 2008

  30 May 2008

Cédric Kalonji blogs the arrest of Jean-Pierre Bemba [Fr], Congolese president Joseph Kabila's main rival, in Belgium last weekend. The Central African Republic brought charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Bemba, who will be tried by the International Criminal Court.

Saramago's reaction at the lauch of Blindness, the film

  23 May 2008

Bárbara Axt [pt] publishes a spot on video showing Jose Saramago‘s reaction just after watching Blindness, an adaptation of his book by Brazilian Fernando Meirelles, which was launched the Cannes film festival on Wednesday. “I am so happy to watch this film… as I was when I finished writing the...

Global Agenda for Lusophone Africa

  23 May 2008

“The past, present and future of Africa will be debated for two days in Lisbon during the II International Congress of Lusophone Africa. Organized by the University of Lusophone Humanities and Technology, the event's theme is ‘Global Agenda for Lusophone Africa’ and it will be attended by a range of...

Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria: Zorba the Greek

Greater Surbiton quotes from Nikos Kazantzakis‘ “Zorba the Greek”: “Given current Greek policy toward Macedonia, it is illuminating to read the words that Kazantzakis placed in the mouth of this most popular of Greek fictional heroes when the latter described his role in the Greek struggle to colonise Macedonia […].”

Jamaica: Homophobic Talk?

  22 May 2008

The Jamaican Prime Minister's comments on BBC‘s HARDTalk programme spur blogger Francis Wade to make a few comments of his own: “Golding…candidly responded that he would not have a gay person in his cabinet. His distaste and contempt seemed palpable to me. I imagined Jamaicans looking on with pride…I imagined...

Armenia/Georgia: Online Diasporan Communities

Social Science in the Caucasus examines the Internet presence of Armenian and Georgian communities in Switzerland. The blog of the Caucasus Research Resource Centers says that examining the extent of activity in online communities is one way of tracking how organized migrant communities abroad are.

Macedonia: Greek Pacifists’ Visit

Anastas Vangeli posted his impressions of the anti-nationalistic and anti-militaristic Greek-Macedonian Dialogue which took place last Saturday – in Macedonian and English. The participants were branded as traitors in the Greek media, and the Metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Church put an anathema on them in his Sunday sermon.

Russia: British Fans and UEFA Cup

LJ user yashin posts LJ user marie_automne‘s pictures of the British football fans arriving in Moscow for the Champions League final. Pictures of Moscow posts a photo report from the “idol worship” in Moscow's Red Square, where the UEFA Cup is being displayed next to Lenin's Tomb.

New Research Programme for Sustainable Decision-making

  20 May 2008

The Inspired Economy blog writes of a new research program being launched. “It aims to support the world’s decision-makers in their promotion of sustainability and at ensuring that their decision-making will rest on scientific foundations leading to – real change.”

Armenia: Royal Visit to Turkey

Unzipped covers the Queen and Prince Philip's first visit to Turkey since 1971. As the official state visit has been taken as signifying the importance of Anglo-Turkish relations, the blog makes reference to concerns that it could also impact on the international campaign to have the 1915 massacre and deportation...