cafebabel.com

Documentary 'Listening to Garzon': Spain’s most famous judge judged

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:00:46 -0000

‘Escuchando al Juez Garzón’ is an 87-minute documentary shot as a single interview with the high-profile human rights judge in Madrid in late 2010. Over a year later, he is going on trial for triple prosecutions on his abuses of power at his country's supreme court. International human rights activists argue that this 'Judge Dredd' case is one of Spanish science fiction

2011: God Bless Relativised Europe

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:30:17 -0000

'Happy' was our EU in 2011 – not ‘blissful’, in accordance with the Danish bible society's dumbed down translations of its revised new testament, released this year. The EU is still about ‘unity in diversity’, its guiding motto, but has also become about unity in losing faith

Hope in 2011: Tahrir and Puerta del Sol utopias

('Annie Rutherford',) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:20:56 -0000

This time it’s for real. Bad luck for Greece. Thomas has made up his mind: he’s leaving tonight. He climbs into the boat – and goodbye. Between Thomas More’s Utopia and Charles Fourier’s concept of the phalanstery, a literary look back at 2011

Vetusta Morla, band of the moment in Spain

('Buzz',) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:05:13 -0000

Their debut album One Day In The World ('Un día en el mundo', 2008) turned them into one of the leading bands on the Spanish music scene. Most locals confess to either loving or hating the six-piece, who formed in high school in Madrid. Interview

Spanish actor Santi Senso, creator of 'house theatre'

('Annie Rutherford',) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:12:25 -0000

The thirtysomething actor is otherwise known for his 'intimate' theatre performances in people's homes across Spain, something he says is driven by a ‘beautiful madness’ inside him. His latest play 'Orgy Me' has just ended its residency in a hotel room in Madrid

Illustrating 'indignados': revolution in comic books

('Tom Gale',) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:00:00 -0000

The ‘indignant' movement is a publishing success in Spain. Two works in particular are illustrated, engaging and funny: Revolution complex and Enrique Flores' Cuaderno de Sol. The message is unequivocal: get involved or risk being sidelined

Pope Benedict XVI in Madrid: Habemus (50 million euros worth of) controversy

('franglese',) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:53:23 -0000

There were two opposing faces to world youth day 2011, which was celebrated in Madrid between 18 and 21 August. Crowds of enthusiastic young people dressed in yellow sang in various cities whilst the highest authority within the catholic church was visiting. Why did this year’s event spark anger amongst a large sector of the population?

'Indignant ones': left-wing populism or politics of the underdog?

('ZoeBBee',) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 08:00:00 -0000

An increasingly common view of the 'indignant' protest movement coming out of Spain is: 'and then what?' Philippe Thureau-Dangin, publishing director of the Courrier International newspaper, calls it 'left-wing populism'. Others are perturbed at the idea that the 'European summer' has anything in common with the 'Arab spring'. Four young Europeans give us their views on the 'M-15' (15 May) movement, its aspirations and limitations

Go on, say it. It’s the Spanish spring

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 24 May 2011 08:00:00 -0000

There’s renewed fighting in Yemen, 1, 000 people have died in Syria and Nato is campaigning against Libya. In a peaceful echo of the Arab people’s battle for democracy, Europe has caught the ‘real democracy’ bug, starting in the streets of Spain on 15 May

'Real democracy NOW!': #spanishrevolution becomes #europeanrevolution

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Mon, 23 May 2011 14:15:00 -0000

Spain’s so-called 15-M has become 29-M, referring to the dates of the sit-in protests of a Spain in May which saw local elections swinging to the favour of the opposition conservatives. The rage is sweeping Italy, Belgium and France

Spain's EU presidency: Numantian resistance?

('James Friscia',) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:33:21 -0000

The Numantians burnt their own city down when they lost a thirteen-month Roman siege. There are references to Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's similar resistence with the current Spanish presidency of the European Union, which ends on 1 July. The term has limped along with more grief than glory, despite propaganda efforts in Brussels. Opinion

Madrid's Theatre Yeses troupe breaks prison bars

('James Friscia',) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:37:57 -0000

Its director is a prison officer with a degree in stage and performance management. Its actresses are inmates of the Alcalá de Henares penitentiary centre. The studio has allowed many to eventually begin new lives in the 'free world' and its story is depicted in a movie: everything about this artistic group is unique. Quick, the show is about to begin…

Music: (subversive) songs for the European city

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 10:35:08 -0000

Madrid's famous Gran Via boulevard celebrated its 100th anniversary on 7 April, with a local survey seeing 'Gran Via' by crooner Antonio Flores top a list of songs dedicated to the city. From monkeys in Berlin to Red Bull and Swedes in Barcelona via Stalin in Warsaw, a selection of offbeat videos suggested by the cafebabel network

Talk of the city

('Annie Rutherford',) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:06:57 -0000

Madrid, Krakow, Rome? Europe discusses its genius loci

Romania turns to a coalition government

('Chetan Khushal',) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Romania’s socialists are currently making the most progress with proposals against the crisis, on the day when the party of European socialists presents its election manifesto in Madrid

Testimony: German Erasmus student in Madrid looks for the lecturer

('Andrew Christie',) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:05:34 -0000

‘Studying in the Spanish capital turns out to be harder than expected - there’s someone missing.’ Anna kicks off the first testimony in our five-part Erasmus series, reporting on her beginner’s luck – or lack of it

Almost Dead in Spain and other weird summer festivals

('Sarah Truesdale',) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:43:37 -0000

Mobile phone throwing championships in Finland, the Almost Dead Festival in Spain, pig calling contests in France and the swamp diving champs in Wales; this summer, any extravagance is allowed

Lucia Etxebarria: ‘it's a threat if women sell more books than men’

('Akli Hadid',) — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:31:55 -0000

The Spanish sex, drugs and rock’n’roll writer, 41, juggles motherhood and feminist ideals in her literature, and explains why she is sometimes categorised as a lesbian or 'at best, emasculator'

Ebay or ham: how to save money in Spain

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

We’re more used to tightening our purse strings after the loss in purchasing power in countries like Spain. It’s become a veritable challenge to get to the end of the month for those who having to do a balancing act with their current accounts. How to buy for less?

Jean-Benoît Dunckel: 'the English are a hard audience to win over'

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Ten years since the release of Air's first album 'Moon Safari', one half of the French duo, 38, talks Czech audiences, being a vanguard of the European electronic scene and why Air are not like Radiohead

Zapatero celebrates a complicated victory in Spain

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 03:43:00 -0000

On 9 March, the socialist prime minister won another four year term in office, but his margin of alliances is limited with the rise of the right. A 75.3% participation rate quashed the nationalist pole, allowing for an English–style two-party system

Photos: Europe sprays ideas

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

From Madrid to Bucharest, Europe's streets of art are bursting with creativity and new talents

Spain votes on 9 March, and not just in Spain

('Erin Woycik',) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Both Spanish and French voters go to the polls to vote in their legislative and municipal elections this month

Ismael Serrano: 'Music helps us to connect with others'

('Erin Woycik',) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0000

From his Madrid studio, the Spanish singer-songwriter, 33, justifies how songs contribute to improving the world and his take on what 'canción de autor' music is

Barón Crespo: the European parliament has sacrificed as much as anyone

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0000

The EU parliament has withdrawn from the debate surrounding the latest reform treaty

A dog’s life

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:26:00 -0000

Pets are now an integral part of society. Even the competitive European markets are being flooded with dog and cat accessories

World Carfree Day – not a great success in Europe

('Jo Ashworth',) — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Widespread traffic-jams throughout European cities and the rest of the world show that without publicity campaigns, World Car Free Day is just a fantasy

Cat-isms

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Classes in citizenship: controversy in the classroom

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:00:00 -0000

The Spanish government is set to introduce compulsory classes in citizenship. The law has been blighted by controversy and critics even before some schools have incorporated the subject into their curriculum

All you Europeans, Dance!

('Sophie Paterson',) — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Hundreds of Europeans arrive at the second Summercase festival, the first music event to be held at two 'airports' at the same time

Let’s all go for a drive

('Rebecca Caulfield',) — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 12:00:00 -0000

60% of Europeans choose the summertime to escape from their daily routine and go on holiday. Of those, 55% take their car according to Eurostat

London, Berlin and Madrid: cine-pigs

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Between 8 and 14 June London hosts the third part of ‘Picture Europe’, the first film festival taking place simultaneously across different European cities

Endesa takeover bid: good deal for shareholders

Mon, 28 May 2007 12:00:00 -0000

On 1 June, Enel and Acciona are due to discuss their Endesa bid with the European Commission. The latter then has 25 days to resolve the situation

50 years of football - of Hungarians and Frenchmen

('Andrew Burgess',) — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0000

Ferenc Puskás and Vikhash Dhorasoo's parallel career paths outline two universes - both of which feature a round ball

Are the winds of change blowing for Hungarian football?

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Next April, UEFA’s Executive Committee will choose the host nation for Euro 2012. Hungary and Croatia are candidates in the race

Branislav Djordjevic: 'We don’t know what Europe wants from us Serbs'

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0000

On January 21 2007, Serbia sees its first general elections since the new democratic constitution was approved in October last year. The big parties are favourites to win in a country that seems unsure of where it’s going