cafebabel.com

German books on generation Y: crisis of ego and well-being

Kate Saunders-Puntis — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:23:44 -0000

In the last year, two women writers have described generation Y, which was born in the eighties and nineties. Whilst one author evokes pity and the other admonishes, the pair agree on one thing: things can’t go on they way they are

French book attempts sex, loyalty, internet definition of 'generation y'

Christopher N — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:33:01 -0000

Are they pretentious, or just ambitious? Unfaithful to their company, or just looking for a way to unite their professional and personal lives? Riddled with nuances, this is a portrait of generation Y as viewed from France

B-boys, b-girls and rappers on Seville's hip hop identity

Meggymoo — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:11:15 -0000

Seville and flamenco belong together like Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Yet the Andalusian city also gained a reputation in the nineties for establishing a new genre of Spanish-speaking hip hop. Bands like SFDK grew in tower block neighbourhoods such as the one-time 'Bronx of Seville', Pino Montano

Ice-cream: born in China

Erin Woycik — Thu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 -0000

A fascinating look at how ice-cream has travelled from the Far East to Europe, and from the highest peaks to our deep freezers

Election Results in London and Europe

Matteo Minoli — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:48:47 -0000

Photographers: join the PES group photo competition!

ovidiu tataru — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:17:34 -0000

The 5th edition of the competition is inspired by the theme of Active Ageing and Solidarity between generations. Send your best pictures before 30th June to win the prize!

Hollande Through Belgian…and European…Eyes

Nathalie — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:45:30 -0000

By Aris Kokkinos
Translated by Danica Jorden

All of Belgium has been fascinated by the French presidential election, from Prime Minister Elio di Rupo to the general public. Spared by the French law on divulging results, Belgian media has been under assault in the online community during the two rounds of voting, their estimates being rapidly mocked in tweets with hashtags like #RadioLondres. The rest of Europe is also closely following the election. On 7 May, a day after the second round, Journalists@YourService organised a debriefing on Hollande’s victory.

Swiss, Slovenian, Swedish and Italian media on new nationalist Serbia president

euro topics — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:15:03 -0000

The leader of the Serbian progressive party won a surprise victory against current pro-European president Boris Tadić in the presidential election on 20 May. Tomislav Nikolić's victory means the country's past is catching up with it, commentators write, fearing a major setback for EU enlargement

A babelian conversation with Jan Philipp Albrecht

Nathalie — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:20:03 -0000

By Cristina Mariani

Cafebabel Brussels had an interesting conversation with one of the youngest Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), Jan Philipp Albrecht. He is a member of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) and he works for the delegations for relations with Israel and Iraq. He is also a substitute member of the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), of the special committee on organised crime, corruption and money laundering, of the delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula and with Japan. His political group is the group of the Greens/European Free Alliance and he is German.

Shitstorm

English language version of cafebabel.com — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:00:00 -0000

What do an elephant hunted by an outed Spanish king and a poem critical of Israel by a German nobel prizewinner have in common? The German internet world called them ‘shitstorms’ of current news situations, picking up on a stateside phrase whose usage doesn’t seem to have spread across the EU

Pride Week, Celebrating Pride in Colour

Nathalie — Tue, 22 May 2012 09:44:45 -0000

By Alfonso de Cea
Translated By Danica Jorden

This year, the 17th Pride Week will be held from 4-12 May 2012. “La Pride du 12 mai” (Pride of 12th May), which will take place in the centre of Brussels, will conclude and be the culmination of “Rainbow Week” in Belgium. This festive event, organised by Rainbow House (La Maison Arc-en-Ciel), will present the demands of the LGBTQI collective.

Serbia: elections under high-tension

Nathalie — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:46:40 -0000

By Tanja Milevska
Translated by Francesca Cerri

There are not only the French who vote on Sunday, May 6th. The Serbs also get ready to renew their institutions and in a much less serene atmosphere. The Serbs of Kosovo will also vote but will the authorities there succeed in managing the tensions? Cafebabel Bruxelles spoke to Ian Bancroft, executive director of Transconflict, to try finding an answer.

Street Workout Activism in Latvia

Antoaneta Ivanova — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:28:03 -0000

cafebabel.com's Balkan turn: behind the scenes on Orient Express Reporter

Nabeelah Shabbir — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:22:47 -0000

China: can ‘Soft Power’and iron fist coexist?

Nathalie — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:24:34 -0000

By Bibbi Abruzzini
Photo : Santosh Thatal
“Everybody in Europe is watching China and everybody –well informed or not- has an opinion about China. These opinions are often ambiguous; on many issues, in particular political matters, perceptions are negative; but at the same time European seem intrigued by, and attracted to, China” writes Ingrid D’Hooghe in the report ‘The limits of China’s Soft Power in Europe’. Europe’s economic crisis and cash-rich China are both under the spotlight but what are the perceptions that Europeans and Chinese have of each other?

Creative Europe

Nathalie — Mon, 21 May 2012 08:45:17 -0000

By Agata

On 23rd of November 2012 the European Commission introduced the Project of the new programme ‘Creative Europe’ which aims to stimulate cultural, creative and media sectors. The programme is adapted to the new financial framework for years 2014-2020.

Supporting Vulnerable Children in EU Neighbourhood

Nathalie — Mon, 21 May 2012 08:18:23 -0000

By Francesca Cerri

© European Union 2012 PE-EP
Children in Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries remain among the most socially and economically vulnerable groups in the region. Increasing number of children are susceptible to circumstances of violence, abuse and neglect. For the EU to achieve regional security, democracy and economic stability it must first minimise the numbers of children vulnerable to estreme harm and lack of opportunity.

French indie band Stuck in the Sound: 'Filling stadiums would make me impossibly nervous'

Naomi R — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:58:15 -0000

Released on the independent French record label Discograph, the Parisian four-piece is making its mark with their new album 'Pursuit'. After ten years together in 2012, they’re dreaming of an international fame such as that of Phoenix or M83 - but not Coldplay

Porn director Erika Lust: 'I felt uncomfortable like all women when they're watching porn'

bobe.barsi — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:32:16 -0000

In her native Stockholm Erika Hallqvist was a politics student who pondered why the porn industry wasn't more feminist. Today the 34-year-old award-winning writer, director, producer and mother-of-two is based in Barcelona and successfully rebelling against gender cliches with her 'new indie adult movies' - making 'love, not porn'

Personal helicon: in praise of muses

Annie Rutherford — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:52:05 -0000

«Me, Myself and Brussels» Intercultural Speed dating // June, 21

Nathalie — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:26:04 -0000

World music in Vienna: Yezidi we can

Dzina Donauskaite — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:22:26 -0000

From a Yezidi party in central Vienna to the world music stage of artists resident in Vienna from Syrian and other origins, the patterns of the Austrian capital's oriental music world don't quite mirror society when it comes to integration. Can oriental rhythms foster social change?

When in Europe, 'gag' as the Chinese do

Nabeelah Shabbir — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:12:00 -0000

The EU and Civil Society: Where do we go from here?

Nathalie — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:29:40 -0000

By Francesca Cerri

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are vital partners for decision-makers, as they are best placed to know population's needs in terms of development. The role of CSOs has to be strenghten from being implementing partners to sharing more responsibility with the State as the developing countries claim ownership of their own development.

12 Hours for Greece

Nathalie — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:58:05 -0000

By Nathalie Jusseaume

12 Hours for Greece is an initiative of citizens of various nationalities living in Brussels, acting in their own name, wishing to address a sign of support and solidarity to the Greek people in times of crisis. This event will be held on 16 May 2012 from 10.00 am to midnight at Halles de Schaerbeek in Brussels!

Greece: There were 21 neo-nazis in parliament and the little one said, roll over

Georgios Kokkolis — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:15:00 -0000

The wonderful Greek word 'charmolypi' describes the exact sentiment of the majority after the 6 May elections: joy (hara) and sadness (lypi). There is relief, because the two major parties were punished, but also scepticism about the rise of extreme right and the course of the country

Silence of statues in Budapest's Memento Park, House of Terror

Vuksa Velickovic — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:06:23 -0000

Budapest’s Park, built shortly after the fall of communism, commemorates the visual iconography of four decades under communist rule in the Hungarian capital. In sharp contrast to its frozen lethargy, the House of Terror bursts with life. Could things have been different for Hungary today if it had a revolution back in 1989?

Poland's young funky priests recruiting at Euro 2012

Agata Jaskot — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:06:54 -0000

Empty tribunes of the PGE Arena (the recently built Gdańsk stadium), freshly laid grass and five set of robes proudly rustling it. After all Europe's high-profile sporting event is also a chance to score and join the team of God, according to the Gdansk seminary

Job offer: cafebabel.com recruits sprightly Spanish editor

Nabeelah Shabbir — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:32:46 -0000

Innovations in Education

Antoaneta Ivanova — Sat, 12 May 2012 12:45:43 -0000

Come and debate in Strasbourg on Saturday 12th May: The ECI, a new tool for citizen participation?

Alexandre Heully — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:37:07 -0000

“Goodbye blue sky”

Linda Krajcso — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:14:29 -0000

Wing clippings around MALEV

The unexpectedly reported bankruptcy of MALEV, the 66-year-old Hungarian airline, was a surprise even for its employees. Not only a group of services (eg. direct flights to a number of countries) were lost, but also thousand of jobs. And the not so happy ending of MALEV still does not mean the end of the cut-backs at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, because the planned closure of Terminal 1 put more jobs at risk. We asked Bálint Bukta, a flight operations officer at the airport, about 3rd February 2012, the day when the bankruptcy was announced, and about the current situation. (The interview was made at the end of March.)

Cafebabel.com: Bálint, was the bankruptcy expected at all?

Bálint Bukta: There are two main reasons that caused the bankruptcy, one is based on the fact that the airline has never been properly capitalized, and the other is that it has become a “political toy”. It had been known for a long time that MALEV was in big trouble. There were some negotiation with the Chinese in autumn about taking over the proprietary rights, but they declined the investment opportunity after estimating the status of the airline. It was only on 3rd February at 6:00am when everyone was informed about the bankruptcy.Then the company received bankruptcy protection from the State and the employees were surprised by the news. Some of them were in the air flying when they heard that the company they work for went bankrupt. Actually, the reaction of other airports and airlines was surprisingly quick.

Cafebabel.com: What exactly happened at the airport? Who were laid off?

Bálint Bukta: Each employee got a call at 6:00 am saying he or she no longer works from that day. They had to pack up their belongings from the lockers until 10:00 am, and their access cards were disabled. The last flight landed was from Helsinki because it took off before the declaration of bankruptcy. Then there was a gathering for all the emlpoyees in the hangar. Approximately 2300 persons were fired the same day, and but some of the pilots deprived of their jobs at this meeting were asked to fly back the planes leased by MALEV to the owner companies. Each “flight” was undertook by a pilot. The last Dash Q-400 (HA-LQC) was returned to Torp-Sandefjord, Norway by captain Attila Leposa and first mate Edina Leposa, the pilot’s daughter on February 23. The first mate sang a line from Hungarian singer Charlie as a farewell song (it was a well-known Hungarian song with the title „Nézz az ég felé” – ‘Look up to the sky’ – the translator). With the bankruptcy of MALEV the airline’s pilots, stewards and stewardesses lost their jobs, but the subsidiaries partly remained in operation. MALEV GH (MALEV Ground Handling, a ground support unit responsible for the technical maintenance - ed.) dismissed 75%, ACE (Aeroplex of Central Europe specialises in repair and maintenance services at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport - ed.) dismissed 50% of their employees. Mournful days were coming after the bankruptcy.

20th Festival of Europe

Nathalie — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:18:31 -0000

By Carlo Peano

The Europe Day is not a public holiday, so in Brussels the celebration takes place during the weekend with the Festival of Europe. This year it will occur on Saturday 12 May from 10 am to 6 pm.

Should I stay or should I go - The effect of EU integration on brain drain in Serbia

shadow — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:34:15 -0000

Amelia Andersdotter, the youngest MEP

Nathalie — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:28:55 -0000

By Carlo Peano

Cafebabel Brussels has interviewed Ms. Amelia Andersdotter. She is the youngest current Member of European Parliament (MEP) and her party – the Pirate Party – is having success not only in Sweden, but also in other European countries, such as Germany. She works at the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and at the Delegation for relations with the Korean Peninsula. She is also substitute in the Committee on International Trade, in the Committee on Budgetary Control and in the Delegation for relations with the countries of the Andean Community.

Intercultural communication for reintegration

Andras Szirko — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:36:28 -0000

A debate on the Western Balkans at Centrál Kávéház held by cafebabel.com

What features characterize the European history of the Balkans? What level of integration do our southern neighbours need and through what means? The Budapest team of European online magazine cafebabel.com organised a debate on 19 April entitled “Encouraging the neighbours – Hungary’s role in the Western Balkans” to get answers to these questions.

Two experts participated in the debate: Dr. Imre Szilágyi, Senior Research Associate of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs and Csaba Szikra member of ExperienceBalkan.com, a team organizing intercultural training courses. Two Serbian journalists, Vuksa Velickovic and Valentina Popovic, have also actively participated in the debate from the audience, since they were spending a few days in Budapest as part of the Orient Express Reporter 2 project, the follow-up of last year’s successful Orient Express Reporter.

What’s a Spring without Women?

Elina Makri — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:40:46 -0000

As the Arab world is making a shift and Mediterranean cosmos is in full swing, women of the neighborhood will have a one day get together in Brussels, to discuss various topics.

The meeting is organised by Mediter Network, at 8 th of May in Brussels, and is entitled “Mediterranean women between Arab Spring and the crisis”. Join us!

Journalists! MULTIKULTI on the ground - write for us from Warsaw – 27th June -1st July 2012

Katharina Kloss — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:44:36 -0000

Internships – The First Step to Employment

Antoaneta Ivanova — Sat, 05 May 2012 15:11:02 -0000

Road to London 2012 - Guide

Matteo Minoli — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:17:03 -0000

Syrian protests in Brussels

Nathalie — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:20:50 -0000

By Lisa Kittel

"We support our country and the reforms of president Assad. We don’t want any foreign interference.” With this slogan, Syrians in Brussels were demanding on the 11th of march 2012 and other occasions that Western governments stay out of internal affairs in their country of origin. This Sunday, 29 april 2012, many of those exile Syrians showed that they think differently.

Second edition of Shake-up Europe!: cafebabel.com’s 4 days training seminar gathering European NGOs in Strasbourg, France

ovidiu tataru — Thu, 03 May 2012 10:09:00 -0000

Cafebabel.com proudly presents the Conference Young Europe 2: Multilingual Creation and Education in Theatre : « Introducing European standards in artistic education »

ovidiu tataru — Thu, 03 May 2012 09:08:17 -0000

Polish, Czech, Finnish and German media on Euro 2012 boycott

euro topics — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:22:24 -0000

On 30 April EU Commission president José Manuel Barroso announced that he will stay away from the Euro 2012 in Ukraine as long as constitutional principles are violated there. Many politicians of European countries have rejected the idea, finding a boycott ineffectual and the discussion surrounding it hypocritical

Transparency unlimited - the pros and cons of security scanners

Nathalie — Wed, 02 May 2012 09:41:56 -0000

By Stanislava Gaydajieva

The debate whether European airports should use body scanners was fierce and many-sided. Should Europe follow the US and install numerous security scanners at its airports? Europe already did. Even though partially. Body scanners were allowed on European airports since 25 December 2009 when a young terrorist attempted to blow up a plane flying from Amsterdam to Detroit with plastic explosives hidden in his underwear.

'Debate on Europe' - Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate 2003 speaks

Nabeelah Shabbir — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:02:03 -0000

Devouring Sigrid Verbert, a Belgian food blogger in Italy

mary maistrello — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:45:00 -0000

It's not just scrumptious cuisine and pretty photos in a book. Its pages won't just dunk you into Italy, Belgium or Germany, but inside Europe good and proper. Just as gastronomic traditions mix and merge, 'il Cavoletto di Bruxelles' constructs tastier realities

“EUgoslavia”: Between Balkans Membership and the Yugopean Union

Nathalie — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:03:56 -0000

By Aris Kokkinos
Translated by Danica Jorden
Photo : Davide Martinotti

On April 24, Cafebabel organised a debate on expanding the European Union to include the countries of the former Yugoslavia, bringing up the taboo subject of: Are we seeing a Europeanisation of the Balkans, or a Balkanisation of Europe?

MULTIKULTI on the ground - write for us from Strasbourg - 24-27 May 2012

Jacopo Franchi — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:08:26 -0000

Inner-city immigrant-city Athens: look Greek, look lively

Nabeelah Shabbir — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:39:48 -0000

A crisis can exacerbate a ‘them versus us’ feeling, especially with elections on the cards. Half a million undocumented immigrants* makes Greece one of the three European countries (alongside Spain and Italy) to be the first point of welcome for asylum seekers. Far right parties milk the 'foreigners-out' cow, whilst a general mood of mistrust reins