cafebabel.com

Seville’s photovoltaic energy, as invented by Archimedes

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Fri, 20 May 2011 11:00:00 -0000

In March 2011 wind energy production surpassed that of nuclear energy production, marking a first in the history of renewable energy in Spain. Yet the underlying paradox is that wind has supplied 16% of the electricity produced in 2010 in the sunniest country in Europe - but the sun is responsible for a mere 2.7%...

Rolling down 120km of bike lane in Seville

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:00:00 -0000

Drivers and vehicles in the centre of Seville cannot be parked for longer than 45 minutes, but it wouldn’t bother the southern Spanish city’s cyclists

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

Malviviendo vs Lisa Kudrow? The rise of EU web series

('James Friscia',) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:56:06 -0000

On 21 April, the UK screened US web series 'Penelope Princess of Pets' on Channel 4, whilst the former Friends actress has found success via the internet. Since 2007, young filmmakers in Spain and elsewhere are exploring formats in the competitive audiovisual world, boasting a more innovative, transgressive spirit than their TV counterparts

'Erasmus is about discovering Europe'

('Nicola Potter',) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:00:00 -0000

Like many an old advertising cliché, the erasmus student exchange programme offers a ‘dual action’ experience. After the culture shock, the parties, the multinational encounters and the adventures across Spain, come the trips to visit new found friends, in all corners of Europe. This new European consciousness keeps us coming back for more

European bloggers describe their Berlin walls

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:20:11 -0000

Monday is 9 November, the day when the Berlin wall was brought down. To reflect on this iconic modern historical event for the eurogeneration, citizen journalists from five cafebabel.com local teams - Sofia, Budapest, Turin, Strasbourg and Istanbul - simultaneously blogged one day about the walls they see in their cities

Fatima Mohamed Kaddur: a muslim in the Spanish people's party

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0000

The 43-year-old is a practising Muslim from Melilla who works for the opposition in Gines, Seville. We talk about why she won't force her daughters to wear the headscarf, which she doesn't see as a barrier and has publicly taken a stance on against her party leader, Mariano Rajoy

Migrants keep coming to Seville, Spain and the rest of Europe

('Thomas Gam Nielsen',) — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:00:04 -0000

But their rights as workers and humans are at stake, while the status of illegal or legal are being sorted out

Seville: Cuba, communists and anticapitalists for the elections!

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:59:50 -0000

Spotlight on the epicentre of southern Spain, whose ruling socialist-communist government leans more towards Cuba than Europe. In the land of the mileuristas - so-called '1000 euros a month-ers' - the rude gap is being bridged with an increasingly politically alternative feeling before the European elections in June 2009

‘Vovis' versus ‘gorrillas’: tackling precarity in Seville

('Kate Stansfield',) — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:23:00 -0000

They’ll find you parking spots for a little loose change. This form of begging in disguise allows the poorest members of society to make themselves a few hundred euros a month. Despite its large-scale growth in the Andalusian capital, the phenomenon is becoming a headache for the authorities

2-0 in Spain-England friendly friendly, but who is more racist?

('Chriomford',) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:00:00 -0000

Spanish racism or Spanish humour? Slitty eyed gestures - is it something the Brits fail to get? Anglo-Spanish relations are far from perfect: accusations, aggression and insults fly in both directions. Even before kick-off the bad press Spain has received affected the friendly between England and Spain on 11 February

Students think 'Europa' at the International School, Seville

('Kate Stansfield',) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:28:37 -0000

Not yet at university, but they are already pondering Europe’s identity. They speak foreign languages, know other countries and want to be listened to, to be able to give their opinion for a better future. Who are these young people? What do they know about Europe? Do they believe in the European dream?

Flamenco – Andalusia’s jazz

('Sarah Gray',) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:00:00 -0000

Flamenco is on a roll. Shows tour all over Europe and hundreds of people travel to Seville in the hope of establishing themselves as professional dancers. But on the dance floor, the native Andalusians are holding onto their tradition and are reticent to share their heritage with outsiders.

Seville will have its mosque back

('Mary Maistrello',) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:45:00 -0000

By 2010, the new mosque in the Cartuja 93 district will be completed. Seen by the administration as a “constitutional duty”, but for others as a “non-Sevillian” project , its construction is sure to provoke heated debate.

Go out in April: Uppsala, nerds and witches

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Enjoy the year's first rays at Walpurgis night in Sweden, a vintage computer festival in Munich or the spring festival in Seville

Losers weepers

('Annika Thornton',) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:03:00 -0000

November pick of Europe's best culture events

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0000

From Helsinki avant-garde cinema to factory fairs in Switzerland, your guide on where to be a culture vulture this month

'You have to accept that Spain isn’t an Islamic country'

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:00:00 -0000

The construction of Europe’s biggest mosque is thrown into limbo two weeks after fresh elections in Seville city council

The 1, 000 Euros a month club

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Europe’s youth follow the cog: university, a first job, building a future. But Seville’s brood of ‘1000-Euro-a-month-ers’ are finding even that hard

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