Berlin wall: version Vilnius 2009
Nostalgic? Nearly two decades after ‘die Wende’, as the Germans call it, the Lithuanian capital has become the EU capital of culture. In 2009 though, it is still fighting its old demons. Russian symbols have been erased without mercy. A cold soviet wind blows through the Baltic republic with regards to energy. Belarusian students find exile in a special university four hours from Minsk. The domestic brain drain is ongoing. Three journalists plus one photographer and one videomaker (see below) hunt the clash of cultures in our monthly cities stop: ‘EU Debate on the ground’
Energy in Lithuania: tick A, B or C for 'nuclear', 'renewable' or 'both'
From 88% nuclear energy in 1993, the Baltic country used just 26% in 2007. The intervening 14 years saw its entry into EU and a dramatic increase in energy dependence on Russia. Lithuania is relying on Europe to guarantee its energy security but what is the answer? Nuclear, renewable or both?
Soviet nostalgia: Russian drink, bunker parties and film in Vilnius
Twenty years after the Iron Curtain, the Baltic tiger is experiencing a bout of nostalgia. A young, trendy generation, fed up of hearing about the past, is looking back at a not-quite-so ‘carefree’ childhood under the soviet regime
lenin, joseph stalin, reunification, cold war, kgb, best of cafebabel.com, nostalgia, film, berlin wall, berlin, soviet, eurogeneration, art, youth, vilnius, iron curtain
15.5% unemployment, diaspora: Lithuanians try luck elsewhere
Whilst Vilnius welcomes visitors from around the world because of its status as the European capital of culture 2009, countless are leaving the country in an attempt to escape widespread unemployment and salaries which are under the European average for the most part
identity, nationalism, cities, immigration, unemployment, vilnius, society
Visit to the EHU: Belarusian elite university exiled in Vilnius
The decision was taken: the European humanities university, created in Minsk, Belarus in 1992, packed up to join Vilnius (and democracy) in 2004. In this oasis of free education, Belarusian youth have been exiled further and further to the west
university, education system, eudebate2009, best of cafebabel.com, alexander lukashenko, dictature, minsk, cities, vilnius, society
