cafebabel.com

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

Seadas or sebadas: how to make Sardinian cheese pastry

('Alexandra Baxter',) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:00:00 -0000

Originally simple dishes of rural origin, 'sebadas' or 'seadas' have been given a new identity and today are served as a dessert. This is the brief story of a Sardinian delicacy whose roots are buried deep in the ancient rustic tradition

Itanglish: new Italian dialect?

('Sebastian Baciu',) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:00:00 -0000

With their trendy gossip over social media, sometimes in a chat live online, Italians have integrated English words into their common vocabulary to a surprising extent. Does Italy still speak Italian? Or has the country switched to Itanglish, the new Anglo-Italian hybrid dialect?

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

My beautiful camp: Italy's Roma success stories

('Tom Gale',) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:00:50 -0000

Between a Roma camp claiming to be an example of social integration and a laundrette which is a supposed symbol of multiculturalism, profound problems linger at the heart of Rome’s gypsy communities

Multiculturalism in Piazza Vittorio, Rome

('Sebastian Baciu',) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:30:51 -0000

Rome's Piazza Vittorio Emanuele was once a prime example of integration, but today some residents claim that the area has since become overrun by 'Chinese trash culture'. The good news is that there are efforts to unite the district's inhabitants through art

Most expensive EU TV production Borgia: outsiders from Spain in renaissance Italy

('ZoeBBee',) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:58:00 -0000

The fifteenth century Italian crime family is the subject of a hit Franco-German TV series originally filmed in Prague and screened as of this summer in three European countries. We discuss reality and fiction with French Borgia expert Pol Bruno at his welcoming home on the Breton coast

Second generation Romans in multicultural Italy

('Anj',) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:58:29 -0000

The facts point out that they are important for the country’s economic growth, but they are still stigmatised by the ruling class and forgotten by the law - what do young Romans Puia, Fatou, Queenia and Franck say?

Multiculturalism in Italy: emigration and exodus

('Sophie Inge',) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:02:55 -0000

Not only are Italy's privileged leaving their country as fast as immigrants are arriving in Italy, but when they do move abroad their perception of their own national identity naturally changes. A new open-minded multi-cultural sensibility contrasts with the mindset of their parent's generation, but will they stay attached to their homeland?

Italian economist Eugenio Benetazzo: 'act now or wait for social unrest'

('Amy Hargreaves',) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:00:00 -0000

In 2006 the Italian economist and independent trader forecasted the collapse of the global economy with his prophetic book Duri e Puri (‘Hard Core’). The financial guru gives us his bleak forecast for Europe

Jazz man Raphael Gualazzi: Italy’s Jamie Cullum?

('Marta Nathansohn',) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:36:31 -0000

The weekly German magazine Die Zeit called him ‘the perfect synthesis between Paolo Conte and Jamie Cullum’. In person, the 30-year-old is shy, but onstage he turns into a wild devilish creature. We catch him on the European tour for his second album Reality and Fantasy

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?

Documentary Italy: love it or leave it in a Fiat 500

('Eva Vanhee',) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:00:00 -0000

When the lease on their flat in Rome was up, film critic Luca Ragazzi convinced television journalist Gustav Hofer to spend a last six months touring their country and understand why they were moving abroad. Little did they know that those were the six months that changed Italy

Papademos and Monti, Super Mario Bros vs markets

('euro topics',) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:45:06 -0000

Lucas and Mario, the new independent prime ministers for Greece and Italy, have been delivered in advance for christmas in what has been a historic November for crisis-riddled Europe. The Swiss, Dutch, French, Spanish and local press blow a wind of caution concerning having technocrats in power

Meeting Mario Monti, interim Italian prime minister

('Tobias Sauer',) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:45:42 -0000

On 13 November the independent candidate, known as the president of Italian university Bocconi, officially succeeded Silvio Berlusconi in the middle of a deep debt crisis. Ave Mario, cries French newspaper Le Monde. Super Mario, scream spoof websites. We meet at a press conference in Berlin

Italian writer Alberto Toscano on political gaffes

('Eva Vanhee',) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:02:12 -0000

On 12 November Silvio Berlusconi is scheduled to officially resign. Yes, he is leaving the stage, the king of all the clumsy politicians who has been one of the models of Italian journalist Alberto Toscano’s latest book, which was published in September in France

Four young Europeans react to Berlusconi's resignation: 'There will be civil war'

('Annie Rutherford',) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:49:24 -0000

Barely a week after the Greek prime minister George Papandreou was forced to step down, Italy's prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is gradually following suit. Four young Europeans give us their reactions: something to be expected, or not at all? Where next for Europe: can the 'indignados' step into the limelight or is it all downhill from here? Vox pop from Paris

Berlusconi raised us; how to re-educate Italy?

('Marta Nathansohn',) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:00:00 -0000

What can we say: it was intense. The post-Berlusconi era is almost upon us: will we cope with the tediousness of political debate, with the absence of a man to love and hate, with the end of a television trend where success is available to all?

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

Berlusconi’s greatest crime is humiliating Montesquieu

('Alexandra Baxter',) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:00:00 -0000

It is too late now to name and shame, useless to lament the past, and so only reflection can now help. Silvio Berlusconi has drained power of its authoritarian and institutional nature, placing himself above all institutions, degrading the spirit of Montesquieu and throwing into question the reasonable balance of constitutional powers. However, the credits are finally rolling on his leadership

Eurozone crisis what crisis? 50% of Greece's debt cut

('euro topics',) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:36:46 -0000

On 26 October the 27 heads of state and government of the European Union reached agreement in Brussels on a debt restructuring and new rescue package for Greece, among other things. Last chance saloon for Athens, say French, Austrian, Spanish and Greek commentators

Ascanio Celestini: 'I denounce verbal violence of our time’

('Annie Rutherford',) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:00:00 -0000

He is the mouthpiece of contemporary Italian theatre, a critic of power, an anthropologist who depicts the evils of our time better than anyone else. The 39-year-old actor, director and author talks about coming from outside Rome and where his one-man-show gets its inspirations from

Europe reacts: what Gaddafi’s expiration means

('Matthieu Amar\xc3\xa9',) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:58:29 -0000

On 20 October the world saw a mediatised repeat of bloody images and videos of Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein on their deathbeds: Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi, 69, was killed in his hometown of Sirte. French, US and British forces were part of the Nato airstrikes in the Libyan civil war which began in February 2011. Read presidential and prime ministerial postcards from Poland, Malta, Italy, France and Germany after the news broke

How an Italian boy became a ‘happiness coach’

('amare.ca',) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:16:45 -0000

Born in the land of ‘la dolce vita’, Bergamo-born Frank Ra, 32, travelled Europe before publishing a book on happiness. He offers his thoughts on spiritual scepticism, being a former erasmus student or ex-pat and how ‘no place is perfect unless we accept it with all its features’

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

Riots: Britain's boring thugs and Europe's burning thread

('Metsa Rahimi',) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:23:02 -0000

Don't synonymise the London rioters with the protesting Greeks or Syrians; it is just plain offensive. Yes, Londoners mobilised for four days, but it can't compare to the months of social, political and economic agitation across Europe and the Arab world

Italy Wikipedia strike: anti-censorship protests online

('Eva Vanhee',) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:00:00 -0000

Here we go again: a new chapter of the world of online democracy begins. In response to a draft law restricting freedom of information being discussed in the Italian parliament, Wikipedia Italy has chosen to temporarily close down. The virtual strike has consequences

Giulio Spatola, Mr Gay Europe 2011: ‘People like me don’t create a spectacle’

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:09:58 -0000

The 26-year-old from Palermo, Italy, was crowned the dubious title at the fifth edition of the five-day event in Romania in April. The filmmaker and hotel manager says it’s about more than what is branded a 'beauty contest for the gay community'

‘Webouting’ site publishes list of ten ‘gay’ politicians in Italy

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:00:00 -0000

On 23 September, an Italian LGBT movement ‘outed’ ten homophobic politicians who they have esteemed have ‘ulterior motives’ for their overt phobia online. Is it a criminal action or justifiable revenge? 75% of the country’s gay community have agreed with the US-based blog's initiative

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

Enrico Brizzi on the sense in walking in the 21st century

('Charlie Tango',) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 11:45:00 -0000

There are 1, 600 kilometres and 33 towns between Canterbury and Rome. The 72-day walk follows in the footsteps of Sigerico, the archbishop of Canterbury who was the first to set out the ancient pilgrim's path in 990 A.D. The extraordinary feat is related in the 'Via Francigena diaries' by Enrico Brizzi, who co-authored the book with Marcello Fini

Between Italy and Slovenia, Europe referendum conundrums in 2011

('europaeus',) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:30:31 -0000

In the past a lack of information and lukewarm participation have turned a potentially powerful tool of public reform into a strenuous but futile exercise. The unexpected results of the referendum held in Italy on 12 and 13 June bring one of the oldest form of direct democracy to the fore

Referendum: 57% of Italians signal giant 'Vaffanculo' to nuclear power

('euro topics',) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 12:52:08 -0000

An overwhelming majority of Italians voted in a referendum against reintroducing nuclear energy, and at the same time stopped two more government projects. Still smarting from scandals and corruption accusations, prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is the clear loser, write the German, Italian, Swiss and Spanish press, even though the opposition hardly stands to benefit

Tony Canto, soundtrack to Italy’s 150th birthday

('AdeleK',) — Mon, 30 May 2011 13:10:00 -0000

He is a writer, composer, singer and musician, but above all, he's Sicilian. He's a cross between Ulysses and Don Quixote, but his feet are planted firmly on the ground. Canto’s latest album 'Italiano Federale' is a kind of revolutionary manifesto which is music to the ears, hearts and minds of those who listen

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

Green Rome’s periphery: get thee to the Casale Podere Rosa cultural centre

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:00:00 -0000

On the urbanely disfigured periphery of the Italian capital, activists have spent the last two decades using tools such as squats, organic food markets, film projections, solar panels and the idea of Italian environmental memory to promote a more convivial and environmentally friendly way of life

Pigs can fly or the pope is green

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:00:00 -0000

Does Benedict XVI really have green fingers? He’s been branded the ‘green pope’ for his advocacy of global environmental protection for years – but is it merited?

Simon from Is Tropical: ‘England is very oversaturated in music, London especially'

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 11:29:48 -0000

The boy from Bournemouth explains why his low-fi British band, signed to French label Kitsune, is more European than English. The three-piece of former London squatters, who perform with masks, are on a mini European tour in mid-April. Their debut album Native To is released on 13 June

Rome was not built in a day...nor for bikes

('cbinns',) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 16:10:00 -0000

I am a devout cyclist who first rode a bike by chance. I come from Strasbourg in eastern France, a city in which the two wheels reign supreme, so I did all I could to get hold of a bike in Rome. 'It’s suicidal!' those around me squealed, but after four days alone in a city dominated by cars, I realised that cycling can also look like a kamikaze mission

Recycle, reuse, design: eco-creativity in Rome

('Lucy Knight',) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:59:33 -0000

Between designers, actors, musicians, cartoonists and environmentalists pure and simple, a look at the hidden side of Rome, where creativity and art combine to save the environment

Pino Papaluca: Italy's anti-mafia Forrest Gump

('Rachel_Thomas',) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:00:00 -0000

Italy carries pain in its DNA. Its heroes died for national unity, for liberation from fascism and from the Germans during world war two. Today those fighting the mafia continue to die. Pino Papaluca, barber-turned-marathon runner, decided to run 30 km a day across the whole of Italy in memory of each and every one

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

Beppe Grillo: ‘Italy is as little a country now as it was 150 years ago’

('Bruno van den Elshout',) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:30:14 -0000

Giuseppe Piero Grillo, 62, is a national celebrity, blogger and comedian. The married father-of-six is probably the least likely of all 60 million Italians to party over Italy's 150th anniversary in 2011. After falling in disgrace with Italy's powerful media conglomerates, he was banned from national television in the mid-1980s. He now blogs and performs his comedy shows live across the country, and speaks exclusively to Bruno van den Elshout for cafebabel.com

Berlusconism, 'Padania', inequalities: should we celebrate 150 years of Italy?

('hkeet',) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:00:00 -0000

On 17 March 1861, Victor-Emmanuel II was proclaimed king of Italy. Now, 150 years later, the question of knowing whether Italian unification should be celebrated has sparked lively debates. The Italian government only decided to make 17 March a public holiday a month ago

Ukraine feminists ‘Femen’: topless a political weapon

("Miriam O'Brien",) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 20:05:00 -0000

At first the 300 members of the feminist community came to the streets to protest against the expansion of sex tourism in the Ukraine. The 12, 000 active 'sex pats' are growing under the indifferent gaze of the authorities. Femen has been organising nude performances as a political weapon for three years now. After a run-in at the Italian embassy, Inna Shevechenko vents her anger

Italian women for and against accused Silvio Berlusconi

('lebuffle',) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:20:00 -0000

Whilst the satirical search engine 'Bungle Bungle' publishes videos of a million women protesters supporting the dignity of the female sex, Silvio's supporters protest in front of the law courts, where the Italian prime minister is due to show on 6 April, accused of the exploitation and prostitution of minors

Mohamed Elhamdi: are Italian pilots attacking Libyans?

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:45:00 -0000

African mercenaries, commissions on civil assassinations and the alleged support of Italy in the repression are some of the horrors of today’s ‘Libyan genocide’. The president of Libya House (Casa Libia) in Spain left his country 38 years ago, devoting himself to socio-cultural issues, until the revolution kicked off on 17 February. Hundreds have died; interview

Bunga bunga: European hanky panky guide for Mr. Berlusconi

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:45:00 -0000

The Italian fairytale has caused waves across Europe. We Italians can be proud to have exported a word out there amidst our Ferraris and mozzarella. The prime minister has revived the myth of the dying Italian stallion with a term Colonel Gadafi loaned to him, from ‘female harem’, for his orgies. Berlusconi stands trial for abuse of office on 6 April in Milan

Nichi Vendola: is communism the only alternative to Berlusconi?

('Neil Saddington',) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:45:00 -0000

He's catholic, homosexual, a communist, an environmentalist and an opposition candidate to Silvio Berlusconi in the yet-to-be-decided primary elections. In the face of negative forecasts and senior party officials he's a two-time winner of the regional elections in Puglia, and the 52-year-old has noticeable support for his ideas

Hungary's new media law no surprise for Europe

('Koen Colpaert - Brussels',) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:14:43 -0000

The 'media act' was passed on 21 December in Hungary and was implemented on 1 January 2011. It's not such a derogation in Europe, because the context of this law is nothing more than just another sign of an alarming trend in Europe