cafebabel.com

Steve James: 'In the 80s, I can’t imagine anyone wanted a documentary-making career'

('Helene Bienvenu',) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:22:46 -0000

The American director perhaps best known for his 1994 film Hoop Dreams is in Amsterdam for the city’s international documentary film festival. We talk 'new media', starting out in the eighties and why an oscars snub doesn't matter when you've got good old Europe to fall back on

International Documentary Film Festival: Amsterdam cinema’s leading lady

('Tom Gale',) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:46:37 -0000

In Amsterdam, there are coffee shops, bicycles, Rembrandt and a port. But between the paintings and the pedals lies the IDFA, the largest documentary film event in the world and one of the biggest festivals in the world you’ve probably never heard of

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

Europe's suicide tourism

('Helen Bowden',) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:45:00 -0000

Al Pacino put a damper on the atmosphere at the 50th Monte-Carlo television festival. In 'You don't know Jack' he interprets a doctor who is convicted several times for his practice of euthanasia. Soon to be released in France, Barry Levinson's film threatens to revive a debate which divides Europe, beginning wih the Netherlands, where the supporters of the 'Out of Free Will' initiative are campaigning for a 'right to die' for everyone over 70

Cinema horror in Europe: happy yucky Halloween

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:00:00 -0000

In light of the ‘love-it-or-hate-it’ upcoming Halloween on 31 October, we propose three of Europe’s best horror movies at the moment from Serbia, France and Holland, with a running commentary from Franco Calandrini, director of the Ravenna nightmare film festival

'Shooting galleries' in Europe: political jab or social cure-all?

('ruth gray',) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:45:00 -0000

Supervising the use of hard drugs or not is an issue that's cropping up across Europe, with some countries tackling it with a different intensity than others; the UK has three injecting clinics. While eight progressive governments have already established the centres, others wish to silence such crazy calls for change. All in the name of morality. Obviously...

Interview with psychic Paul, the German octopus

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:15:00 -0000

A slew of tanned, ageing football commentators aside, he was the only one to correctly predict Spain's glory and Germany's shock defeat at the 2010 world cup. He's also an octopus, hatched in 2008, who lives at the Oberhausen aquarium in a North Rhine-Westphalia zoo. Three questions for the eight-armed prophet

Spanish smacker: Netherlands beaten to world cup 2010

('eurotopics',) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:45:16 -0000

They were in the final three times, they lost three times - the Netherlands conceded the Fifa championship to La Roja, who won their first ever title on 11 July. The Spanish, Dutch, Czech and Swedish press urges politicians to learn from the harmonious play of the Spanish team: 'at least in football, Europe is on top'

Uruguay vs Europe: what world cup identity?

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:41:44 -0000

28 countries out, four left. Uruguay aside, the football championship final will definitely feature either Germany or Spain, one of whom could be facing the Netherlands to contend for a title currently held by Italy. It's not about football anymore though – does this bridge a stronger European identity for those of us on the continent, supporters or not?

Porn, drugs and Domenech: a Eurovision of World Cup songs

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:29:04 -0000

As the World Cup moves into the next phase – sixteen of the best battle it out for the second round from 26 June – we follow the 2010-featuring European teams in song. Spain, Holland and Germany are EU favourites as runners-up on 11 July, with Brazil or Argentina to win, according to betting agencies

Dutch elections: did Geert Wilders get the last laugh?

('euro topics',) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:15:00 -0000

Italian, Dutch and Belgian commentators doubt that VVD leader Mark Rutte will be able to form a more stable government than his christian democratic predecessor Jan Peter Balkenende after elections on 9 June

Job Cohen: is this who The Netherlands needs as leader?

('Christian Derlagen',) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:00:00 -0000

The moderate and highly popular Amsterdam mayor has revived the labour party, leading in polls before the 9 June elections. Will he be the wonder doctor for Dutch citizens´ worried minds and restore the country´s image in the world? Portrait of a future statesman

The Netherlands, France, Italy: rise of Europe's right-wing

('sofio',) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:00:00 -0000

After Geert Wilders in Holland, the1 Le Pen family in France gained the votes at the regional elections on 14 March 2010, confirming the positive trend of extreme righ-wing at the old continent. Together with Italy's Lega Nord, these parties represent a practical example of new right populists who do not like to be labelled 'extremists'

Fathoming the power of right-wing populist Geert Wilders in Europe

('euro topics',) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:31:36 -0000

If the freedom party leader is successful in the June parliamentary elections, Dutch politics will be destabilised and Europe will be forced to deal seriously with the man once nicknamed 'Mozart', write the Dutch, Swiss, Spanish and Slovakian press

Dutch government fails over Afghanistan

('euro topics',) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:05:50 -0000

The grand coalition government in the Netherlands collapsed on the weekend after it was unable to reach a consensus on prolonging the operations in Afghanistan. The Spanish, Dutch and Belgian press write that although this won't prompt other states to withdraw their troops from the country, it may give the right-wing populists a boost in new Dutch elections

More highs, fewer lies in Prague - the new Amsterdam?

('Andrew Christie',) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:00:00 -0000

15 grams of marijuana, five grams of hashish or even 1.5 grams of heroin. Thanks to a new law that came into effect on 1 January 2010, Czechs can stock up on drugs without fear of prosecution. The Czech Republic now has the most liberal drug laws in the whole of Europe, though its preventive measures still leave something to be desired

Copenhagen climate: what the EU is being asked to commit billions for

('Chris Coxon',) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:20:51 -0000

Confused by talk of CO2 concentration and parts per million? In the run up to Copenhagen, what is all the fuss about climate change?

EU election results: France, Holland poor socialist performance

('Lydia Bigos',) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:11:42 -0000

The EU elections between 4 and 7 June 2009 have revealed the high price of political opportunism in 2005, when they opposed the European constitution

Europe has voted: so what's the trend?

('euro topics',) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0000

From 4 - 7 June 2009 the citizens of the 27 EU member states cast their votes for a new European parliament. The voter turnout was relatively low, but the trends are clear to see. In many countries right-wing parties gained a larger share of the vote while national governments were punished. The press in Holland, Poland, Italy, Finland, Austria and Hungary speak

Speed-skating in Holland: Elfstedentocht threatened by climate change

('Arno van der Zwet',) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:34:46 -0000

The ‘Journey of Eleven Cities’ is 200 kilometres of speed skating over the frozen canals and lakes in Friesland, a province in the north of the Netherlands. Up to 15, 000 lucky (amateur) souls take the challenge on - if it happens. 2009 marks its centenary - so bring a warm jumper and a bottle of booze (+40%) to keep you warm

Media faces are candidates for Sakharov prize

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The EU parliament is preparing its annual human rights prize with a list of media faces – this and more from the latest in Brussels. Weekly edition

Tecktonik - arm-splaying, mullet hair dance craze

('Annika Thornton',) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0000

TCK. Three letters that stand for a phenomenon: tecktonik. Similar in style to electro, it has been a sensation amongst teenagers in France, Belgium and Holland over the last six months - and is also a registered trademark

Velib: bicycle + freedom on city streets

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0000

The French capital has been enjoying the success of the Vélib’ adventure since summer 2007, and the urban rent-a-bicycle-for-next-to-nothing fever has caught the rest of Europe

Reality TV: so bad it's good?

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0000

More Brits (14.2 million votes, 2002) dialled a premium-rate phone number to voice their opinion in a 'Big Brother' series than voted for the governing Labour Party at the 2005 general election (9.5 million labour voters). The vox populi asserts that reality TV is here to stay

European TV formats: kidneys and neighbours

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Between live kidney donors in Holland, Model Mosque 2007 in the UK and racism over German garden fences, the precipices of European reality TV formats

Hairy politicians

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0000

Whilst Dutch 'Party for Animals' may have seen its first representative enter parliament last June, other European politicians resist making animals their leitmotif

Trust me, I'm Microsoft

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 12:00:00 -0000

On 17 September the European Union's second highest court slaps Microsoft with a 500 million euro fine for violating antitrust regulations and abusing its monopoly of the market - they have two months to appeal

French adoption: ‘intercity babies’

('Sarah Gray',) — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Restrictive adoption law drives French lesbian couples across Belgian and Dutch borders to be artificially inseminated

Inflation: 'the convergence of eastern and western prices will have to wait 20 years'

('Andrew Burgess',) — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:00:00 -0000

What do you Europeans really think of rising prices and inflation in the Eurozone?

How about going back to your country

('Hanna Sankowska',) — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 12:00:00 -0000

The May 2007 creation of a French ministry of immigration and national identity led by Brice Hortefeux ponders paying immigrants to go back to where they came from. Multiculturalism – a European asset?

Last chance saloon: mini-treaty, or mini-Europe

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:00:00 -0000

The next EU Summit takes place in Brussels from 21 - 22 June - an opportunity for German Chancellor Angela Merkel to encourage members to reconsider the idea of an EU constitution

Simon Wheatley – ‘Photography helps me be a simpler person’

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Life through the lens: the Magnum photographer, 37, on snapping European youngsters, the decline of local communities and fearing Islam

Milli Görüs: wolves in sheep’s clothing

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 12:00:00 -0000

The Islamic Association of Milli Görüs is Europe's largest 'radical' Islamic religious association, monitored by the Office of the Protection of the Constitution

Paul Verhoeven: 'So what if it’s commercial?'

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 12:00:00 -0000

The 68-year-old Dutch film director behind ‘Total Recall’, ‘Robocop’ and ‘Basic Instinct’ is back home in Europe to complete a different project

Who is Right?

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 12:00:00 -0000

Newcomers are lining up on the right, while voters steer to the left

Animals in parliament

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 12:00:00 -0000

Where do newer, smaller parties like the Dutch ‘Party for Animals’ (PvdD), with its prominent logo of a cow contently chewing on a flower, fit into the political spectrum?

Neither vision, nor courage...nor leadership

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 12:00:00 -0000

In the Dutch parliamentary elections the EU clearly plays a secondary role

Lux Voor: the changing face of politics

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 14:00:00 -0000

Neither coalition nor legal organisation, the ‘Lux Voor’ movement, founded in March 2006, radically questions contemporary Dutch politics. We take a look at this flourishing network

Alternative lifestyles: 'I came to Amsterdam to live in a squat'

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 14:00:00 -0000

In the 1980s, a political movement of squatters changed the face of the Dutch capital. Today, young apolitical Eastern Europeans are joining the squatter movement

Dutch prostitution: from sex trade to trade unionism

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 02:00:00 -0000

Though Prostitution was legalised in October 2000, Dutch call-girls enjoy little social recognition

The Amsterdam adventure

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 02:00:00 -0000

Five journalists, five different nationalities and one European town… we take you behind the scenes and revisit our latest project to promote grassroots journalism

Purchase power beats flower power on canals

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 02:00:00 -0000

Once a favourite of the flower power generation, living on a canal boat has become a privilege for the young and affluent. Today modern houseboats are not longer dingy eccentric dwellings for the marginal, but fully equipped modern pads

Sects, song and a free meal

Mon, 21 Aug 2006 07:07:00 -0000

Amsterdam, Holland, summer 2006

Love with no borders – the future of lovers in Europe

('vicki bryan',) — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 14:00:00 -0000

Since the gift of the Erasmus exchange programme, more and more young Europeans have fallen in love abroad. But on return to their home countries, euphoria soon gives way to everyday problems. Three couples tell their story.

Opium, the green gold of Afghanistan

Mon, 26 Sep 2005 16:00:00 -0000

Despite the efforts of the United Nations and the government, the production of opium continues to grow, inundating Europe with tonnes of heroin.