cafebabel.com

Dario Ivkovic: 'people don’t seem interested in roots of Balkan music'

('Ili Pusk\xc3\xa1s',) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:06:49 -0000

Best-known as a member of both the German touring group Shantel & The Bucovina Club Orkestar and French band Les Yeux Noirs, the Serbian accordionist is an electrifying personality onstage. We talk music legends, Balkan beats and why 'girls like guitarists better'

Are you confiscating my ipod? EU citizens against ‘Acta’ treaty

('Matthieu Amar\xc3\xa9',) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:27:06 -0000

A proposed worldwide ‘anti-counterfeiting trade agreement’ (ACTA) would impose a legal framework on online intellectual property rights. The term 'internet' is not even mentioned once in the entire treaty, infuriating European citizens who fear for their freedoms and about censorship

Odd ode to Eric Cantona

('Andrew Burgess',) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:21:04 -0000

The Olympic Marseille football club is beginning to form a reputation as the starting block for 'wannabe presidents'. Following in the footsteps of George Weah and his candidacy for the presidency in Liberia, it’s now the turn of Eric Cantona to make his ambitions for high office known, writes one French blogger, 'ASL'

Arturo Ripstein: ‘Making films is like waking from a nightmare’

('Annie Rutherford',) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:16:11 -0000

The Mexican director was the guest of honour at a French international festival of film schools in the town of Poitiers. Whilst he has been in the business for more than forty years, with twenty films under his belt and numerous Cannes appearances, the 68-year-old remains unknown for a European public

Dinner for one in 2012

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:32:23 -0000

The Brits have spent the end of year in a 'lull' whilst the Germans are going through 'new year's fatigue'. In their new year's addresses at least, Europe's Franco-German leaders warned us it won't be getting any better this new year

Pesetas, liras, franks and drachmas: euro is living on borrowed time

('Marta Nathansohn',) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:00:00 -0000

Multiple defaults, a return to the lira, pesetas and francs, the break-up of the monetary union and Europe comes crashing down. Sounds like an endless chain of unreal events? Perhaps not: the end of the common currency is no longer a taboo for European press and economists

Europe's new 'Germanophobia': Who's afraid of big bad Germany?

('JamesBliss',) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:27:42 -0000

Tones of anger against German chancellor Angela Merkel's lack of action over the eurocrisis and a 'Germanophied' Europe, are getting louder and more intense

Hipster director, Quebecer, who cares? Welcome to Xavier Dolan's world

('Annie Rutherford',) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:22:56 -0000

European cinema nourishes a certain ignorance towards the seventh art, cinema - particularly when this cinema comes from Canada. One director is in the process of taking all philistines of Canadian cinema down a peg at the age of 22

Sexist grammar: the French and German cases

('Sarah Fisher',) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:37:50 -0000

Poor adjectives need take their husband's name no more. Sort of. Whilst one French association has attacked a centuries-old 'oversight', the Germans (or at least their moderate feminists) have taken plural forms to task. In all, the debate succeeds in desexualising our common language

University initiation rites debate hits France and Belgium

('Amy Hargreaves',) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:36:06 -0000

In the UK at least three people had died by 2008 because of initiation ceremonies for undergraduates, whilst recent incidents in France and Belgium featuring physical abuse and comas have helped raise awareness about a dangerous student ritual

Contentious Guéant circular rejects work visas in France

('Annie Rutherford',) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:07:12 -0000

France’s governmental memo on employment for their residing non-European students caused quite a commotion, and we’re not talking Jerry Maguire style. Graduates like Nabil Sebti are taking a stand against what could either turn into a long-term policy of sealing France off or be a strategy to gain votes in 2012 elections

French actress and singer Melanie Laurent’s directorial debut: ‘The Adopted’

('Cari19',) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 15:32:19 -0000

At the age of 28, the actress and singer released her first film as a director, ‘Les Adoptés’, on 23 November in her native France. Do all good things come in threes? Film review

Big city life: Europe’s pigeons

('Annie Rutherford',) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:45:00 -0000

Doves and pigeons are one and the same except that the former got the 'symbol of peace' gig and the latter became the grey critters affectionately known as ‘rats with wings’. Whence the flight of fancy?

French cartoonist on German neo-nazi terror

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:55:38 -0000

Germany has been stunned by the news of three suspects in a secret terror cell in Zwickau which literally got away with murder over the last decade. Is it news well received over the border in France, where Marine Le Pen, head of the national front party well-known for fraternising with neo-nazis itself, is a candidate for 2012 elections?

Spain, country in a (property) bubble

('ckb',) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:38:45 -0000

Dearest European neighbours: I am sorry to inform you that the crisis in Spain does not have anything to do with the crisis in your countries. Our case is not simply rooted in 'structural problems', as it were, but literally in cement

How to make Polish potato pancakes

('Paulina Dominik',) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:00:00 -0000

It’s cheap and available, warm and nourishing, omnipresent in most traditional European cuisines – but the starchy crop only hit the continent from South America as late as the 16th century

French caricaturist on satire magazine petrol bombing

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:56:56 -0000

On 2 November the Paris HQ of Charlie Hebdo, a French weekly satire magazine, were completely burnt in a Molotov cocktail attack at the next day's planned release of the paper called 'Charia Hebdo', dedicated to Tunisia's moderate islamist election victory. One French cartoonist replies

‘Nos plusieurs’: autistic theatre stars meet Indian epic in French documentary

('Annie Rutherford',) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:00:51 -0000

In filming a theatre production performed almost entirely by young people with learning difficulties, French director Fred Soupa blurs the boundaries of what we typically perceive as ‘normal’. His ensuing documentary ‘Many Of Us’ is released in national cinemas on 28 September

Post-World Cup guide to language of European rugby

('ZoeBBee',) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:10:57 -0000

On 23 October, France lost to New Zealand at Auckland’s eden park. At the rugby world cup final, France had the 'all blacks' seriously worried, with just a point in it. If you’d have liked a European victory, this little article is your consolation prize: a chance to become multi-rugby-lingual

The rise of divorce parties in Europe

('Isabella',) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:15:00 -0000

Inspired by a trend from the United States, an increasing number of companies and services are being established in the UK, France and Germany. Amongst the European Union member states, divorce was not possible until 1970 in Italy, 1981 in Spain 1995 in Ireland and, most recently, 2011 in Malta

Tips for taking a ‘laughter yoga class’ in Paris

('Katrina',) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:10:15 -0000

Laugh for the sheer pleasure of laughing. Laugh standing up, laugh sitting down, laugh lying on your back, laugh sprawled on your front, laugh during the day, laugh at night, and most importantly, laugh with someone else

Question of the week: getting through the euro-crisis - united or apart?

('Annie Rutherford',) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:19:45 -0000

The euro has drifted off course and there is no land in sight. How will we emerge from the crisis: united or everyone out for themselves? We ask who rules Europe: one united superstate, or nations ruled by self-interest? Four young Europeans start the debate: join in at cafebabel.co.uk/europaplus

Why French pop singer Ornette hated Serge Gainsbourg

('ZoeBBee',) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:01:20 -0000

Far from offbeat artistic families, broken computers and restrictive music conservatories, the 28-year-old Parisian and mother-of-two has created a highly colourful musical project. Her debut album Crazy was released in France on 26 September

Feminist France: ‘mademoiselle’ vs 'madame'

('Annie Rutherford',) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:20:43 -0000

Is it discriminatory that women have to tick whether they are a ‘mademoiselle’ (unmarried) or a ‘madame’ (married) on administrative forms, whilst men can just put a tick next to ‘monsieur’? The feminist association Osez le feminisme says YES, and calls on women to claim their right to be ‘madame’

‘Allez Calais!’ Historic French football match replayed in theatre

('ZoeBBee',) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 11:00:00 -0000

‘Come on, Calais!’, a theatrical monologue written by the Italian journalist Osvaldo Guerrieri, tells the story of the amateur football team who played FC Nantes in the historic French cup final in 2000. It’s one in the back of the net for football, as the epic tale of the underdog takes to the stage in Paris

The hills are alive with the sound of Viviane Reding

('Annie Rutherford',) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:00:00 -0000

The EU commissioner for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship ‘comes from the heart of Europe,’ insists former EC president Jacques Delors, as he introduces her to French students at Paris’ political institute Sciences Po. Meanwhile, Reding goes all out to be less bureaucratic than she is

DSK back but Lagarde still in charge: France, Germany and Switzerland on IMF chief

('euro topics',) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:05:23 -0000

Dominique Strauss-Kahn may be back in Paris, but this 55-year-old Frenchwoman has had firm hold of the reins at the international monetary fund for three months. The appointment of Christine Lagarde as managing director was seen by some as confirming Europe’s continued might on the world stage, while others foresee problems with emerging industries

Ai Weiwei, or Europe's role in Chinese justice system

('Andrew Burgess',) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:04:24 -0000

Two months after his release, an article penned by the Chinese dissident has once again raised questions about the democratic future of China. Published in Newsweek, Ai Weiwei’s piece provokes us to rethink Sino-European diplomatic relations

Transition towns: in the gardens of Paris

('Annie Rutherford',) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:00:00 -0000

The most densely populated city in Europe, with just four days worth of food supplies and a startling shortage of accommodation, Paris has few resources to offer. It is the ideal city for experimenting with ‘transition’, but this is anything but easy. One young German tries to explain the lifestyle and philosophy to the Parisians

Libya after Gaddafi: Europe’s Iraq?

('Culturissima',) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:13:11 -0000

The post-Gaddafi era is taking shape around the national transition council, which is currently in control of Tripoli. Uncertainty about the future is already taking hold though, with fears that Libya could become a new Iraq. This time it falls to Europe to avoid repeating the post-Saddam disaster

Welcome back to Europe? cafebabel editors size up Dominique Strauss-Kahn

('cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:15:07 -0000

On 23 August the French former head of the international monetary fund (IMF) walked free from criminal charges in New York accusing him of assaulting a hotel maid in mid-May. What would have happened to his French, German or Anglo-Saxon equivalent?

French-American folk musician Redeye: 'I was a bit unsure about country music'

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:47:53 -0000

Guillaume Fresneau is relatively unknown except for his outing as part of French band Dahlia. Moving on from the rock direction, he exclaims why it's good to be independent, travel and find yourself. His five-track EP 'Be The One' was released in February 2011

'Green' weddings – a Strasbourg myth?

('Annie Rutherford',) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:09:43 -0000

It's meant to be the best day of your life, but this is hardly the case for the environment - just take into account the mountains of waste produced. However, the American trend of 'green weddings', where importance is placed on organic and ecological products from clothes through to food and hairdos, has now reached Europe. Strasbourg-based Caroline Lindenlaub, an ethical wedding dress designer, is a pioneer of the movement

Sherlock in Strasbourg: dial G for green crime

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:00:00 -0000

If ever there were to be the perfect ecological crime, it would be in Strasbourg. The city appears to be a little eco-paradise, and were I Sherlock Holmes himself I’d have to retrace my footsteps and leave…or so I think

Eco-architecture in Strasbourg: all hands on the deck

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 11:09:35 -0000

Reduce, recycle and reuse. The eastern French city sails through the 3Rs of the recycling laws. Hundreds of flowers dot balconies across the city, keeping guard over it night and day as well as over its new urban architecture sensibilities. Eco-sustainability and a collective conscience come together to define this emerging city

The life of a busy urban bee on a Parisian roof

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:00:00 -0000

From the roofs of the Opera Garnier to the gardens of Luxembourg, it’s easy to find honeycombs and beehives in Paris. The French capital’s honey taste better and is healthier than the honey from the countryside, which is infected by the pesticides used upon it. Citizens came together to maintain the urban biodiversity

Five gay friendly neighbourhoods in Europe

('Dimi David Opsimoulis Fernandez',) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:00:31 -0000

As the spectacular gay prides flourish across Europe, cafebabel.com local teams from Paris, Ljubljana, Berlin, Budapest and Athens blog about the scenes across Europe

Identikit of a pure, indigenous European

('Aatish Pattni',) — Thu, 26 May 2011 12:30:00 -0000

The True Finns are the third largest political party in Finland. Are these nationalists and eurosceptics an exception to the rule in their Nordic region? Alongside the new leader of the National Front party in France, Marine Le Pen, the collection of ‘Indigenous Britons’ in the UK and Italy's Northern League, Europe has never been more inhabited by so-called ‘pure’ Europeans. There are fewer than they would have us believe; at the risk of scaring those who wish it to stay that way

Ethnic slurs: Polacks and roast beef versus frogs and krauts

('Laura',) — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:00:00 -0000

Europeans call each other the most unfriendly pet names in the trend of the phenomenon of ‘etnopaulism’, which refers to those disparaging vocabularies used when talking about other people. Word dilemmas of the week

Eurovision 2011: French losers and queer angles

('Helen Crumpton',) — Mon, 16 May 2011 15:30:00 -0000

Do you have to be gay to be a eurovision fan? A French researcher has looked into the culture of the fan clubs of the famous European song contest. Whilst references to the competition are ever camp, good old eurovision has turned out to be an excellent recognition tool for sexual minorities - whether the European cultural elite like it or not

Student guide: community-supported agriculture in France

('Craig James Willy',) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 17:00:00 -0000

The system of associations for community-supported agriculture (French initials AMAP) has been growing in Europe over the last 20 years. In recent years, student 'AMAPs' have multiplied on campuses. From Nantes to Palermo, a look between pickers and carrots

Are men dominant or dominated? View from Super France

('Madalina Pierseca',) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:39:16 -0000

With the release of the 'anti-male' documentary Masculine Domination in November 2009, the debate regarding the crisis in masculinity has flared up in the French media. But we are still far from the 'masculinist' theses which originated in America. Perspective from early 2010

Middle finger in Europe

('cbinns',) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:10:52 -0000

Despite the globalisation of the audiovisual world and the constant information overload, gestures appear to be just as effective as when they were first invented many centuries ago, so much so that using a simple gesture to order two coffees can almost end up sparking a row. A rudimentary guide to hands, chins and backsides to help you avoid problems in Europe

Belgian singer Selah Sue, no Amy Winehouse

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:45:00 -0000

She’s a singer with American, even Jamaican soul, but Sanne Putseys is also just like any other young angel-faced Belgian girl, despite her groove sisterhood

Six years after riots, French discuss French 'banlieue'

('hkeet',) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:00:00 -0000

In France you will get a different response to this question about its high-rise estates in the suburbs depending on whether you listen to the 'cliché factory' that is the media or the personal experiences of its inhabitants. Above all, it is the magnifying glass of France’s collective identity problem, and all of Europe is involved

cafebabel.com blogs: 'Nightlife: Paris are you Berlin...still?'

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:59:16 -0000

Where are the new places to hang out in Paris? Is it because Paris is realising she is a dead town that she is starting to organise events called Berlin, like at the Gaîté Lyrique between 29 March and 3 April? View from the cafebabel.com Paris blog

Hungary media law: France journalism cases no better

('Carol Howard',) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:30:00 -0000

On 15 March tens of thousands of Hungarians protested against the government's planned media law. Even the European parliament's socialist, liberal, ecologist and far left politicians adopted a resolution asking for the suspension of the law, which 'needs re-examination'. Republication of an interview with a Rue89 journalist

Show me the money, Sarkozy: Libya's growl

('euro topics',) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:43:23 -0000

The son of the Libyan dictator Saif al-Islam's claim that the 2007 French presidential campaign was funded by his country comes as Nicolas Sarkozy recognises the rebel national transitional council as Libya's official representative body. The Dutch, Austrian and Swiss press condemn the unilateral move as detrimental to all concerned

Port du Rhin: Strasbourg’s problem suburb (which is also on the border)

('Molmash',) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:30:00 -0000

The suburb of Strasbourg which is part of the Franco-German border is famous for having staged anti-Nato protests in 2009. It's all the more reason for its politicians and town planners to realise the urban planning policy set in place to improve living conditions for its population. Mission accomplished?

40% for Norway’s ‘golden skirt’ board members: do companies need quotas for women?

('IMD Insight',) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:46:34 -0000

‘Quotas are a bad answer to the wrong problem,’ says research fellow Jean-Louis Barsoux, but his colleague and professor Ginka Toegel emphasises ‘so far, nothing else has worked’. A ‘women in leadership’ event organised by Swiss business school IMD and the global women’s international network (WIN) marks international women’s day on 8 March