Stories about Western Europe from August, 2009
Arab World: Young People Gather to Learn Social Media Tools
Young people from eight Arab countries and Sweden met last May to learn certain leadership and organizational skills, and how to use the tools of social media to advance social change. Now, they are preparing to meet again in November.
Spain, USA : Artists (Dis)cover the Veil
Two recent events highlighting how artists look at the hijab issue inspired bloggers. Swiss motsd'images enthuses (Fr) about a beautiful outdoor photo exhibition of African women in Seville, Spain; and updateslive gives a thorough account of “The Seen and the Hidden, (Dis)covering the Veil,” an exhibition held in New York...
Africa/UK: South African blogger on Ramadan in the UK
Ramadan in the UK is a bit… different, writes Muhammad Karim, a South African blogger in the UK: “In the UK, specifically here in Epsom, there’s a community as well, albeit a younger, less developed one. So, in essence, it can be a little lonely.”
Africa: BarCampAfrica UK 2009
An announcement for BarCampAfrica UK 2009: “So a tweet , a retweet ,a couple of emails back and forth and an organizers meeting later we are on course for an inspiring and action oriented BarCampAfrica UK on the 7th of November 2009.”
Netherlands: Too young to sail the world alone at 13?
Laura Dekker from the Netherlands is 13 years-old and wants to sail around the world alone to break a world record, but the Dutch Child Welfare Council have taken legal action to stop her.
Maghreb: Ramadan Good Wishes and More
The Maghreb blogosphere has been blooming with an outpouring of congratulations, welcoming the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. And amongst the usual greetings and formal congratulations, controversial thoughts, often at odds with conventional views on Muslims, are being aired.
Greece: Wildfires encroaching on Athens
Forest fires are blazing still closer to Athens, the capital of Greece, threatening to consume even more land and property. Meanwhile, citizens are tracking developments via the web and Twitter.
World: Reactions to the Release of the “Lockerbie bomber”
A huge debate is brewing in both the mainstream media and the blogosphere regarding the release of the only man ever convicted over the bombing of Pam Am flight 103, Libyan Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi. Katharine Ganly sums up reactions here.
East Timor: Celebrating Global Solidarity for Freedom
Ten years after the referendum, global voices are again spreading the word for East Timor, but this time celebrating the strong international solidarity that back then culminated in the country's recognized self-determination.
Hungary: 20 Years Since the Pan-European Picnic
Hungarian Spectrum writes about the 20th anniversary of the Pan-European Picnic, which was “held on a field in the middle of nowhere on the Austro-Hungarian border on August 19, 1989″: “A memorial park now commemorates the event that allowed about 600 East Germans to cross into Austria and to freedom...
Cuba: Blogging Event in Spain
Even though probably no bloggers from Cuba will be attending the event, David Chapet of BloggersCuba [es] still thinks it is important to follow the event Blogueando a Cuba [es],which is taking place in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
The Balkans: “Greek Journalist Sued for Writings on Bosnia”
A Fistful of Euros and Greater Surbiton report on the case of Greek journalist Takis Michas: “A few years back, Michas wrote a book about the links between Greece and the Bosnian war — Greek support for Milosevic and Karadzic, Greek volunteers going to fight for the Serb side in...
Greece: Armenian singer passes away
Unknown to most Armenians, but loved by many Kurds for his songs sung in the Kurmanji dialect of Kurdish, Aram Tigran has passed away in Athens, Greece. Born in 1934 in Syria, Tigran's death has affected many, and not least those recognizing the important contribution he made as a cultural bridge between Armenians and Kurds.
Japan: Reactions to the Japanese tourist rip-off in Italy
Japanese tourists in Rome are said to have diminished in the last period. Not only the economic crisis but also the bad service that Italian restaurants and hotels provide to the tourists as well as the fear to have their wallet or mobile phone ripped off, have made the Japanese...
United Kingdom: Asylum seekers telling their stories
More and more refugee organizations are using online social media and asylum seekers' own words in their advocacy work and outreach to donors.
Celebrating National Days in Singapore and Switzerland
The Temasek Review has an article comparing the National Day celebrations in Singapore and Switzerland.
Poland, UK: “Polish Action”
Sylwia Presley posts a review of a “new portal, Polish Action, dedicated to promotion of a positive image of Poles abroad.”
UK, EU: Ignorance and Voting Preferences
Wu Wei recounts a conversation about the EU that she had with a young British mover during preparations for a move to Lithuania.
Kuwait: Jailed Brit Documentary
Writing at Chillnite Kuwait, DA posts a documentary featuring the story of a British man jailed in Kuwait under drug charges.
In France, Sudan, Burqas and Trousers Cause Controversy
The world is once more talking about what women wear, or rather, should not wear. A planned ban against burqas in France? A trial against a woman journalist in trousers in Sudan? French bloggers draw parallels and question what is at stake beyond religion or decency.
Azerbaijan: London protest
Media Helping Media updates its readers on detained video bloggers Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli. The blog says that supporters of the two activists yesterday protested outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London. A video of the demonstration has also been posted on YouTube.
