cafebabel.com

What is the difference between a revolution and a coup d’etat?

('Katrina',) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:30:00 -0000

In the midst of the popular revolts which have seen the fall of dictatorships across the Arab world, almost 31 years have passed since the events of '23-F', an attempted coup d’état against the Spanish government on 23 February 1981

Turkey: army and Kurdish 'toxins' flushed

('Angela Kubik',) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 10:15:52 -0000

For more than a month now a new broom has been sweeping clean the streets of Istanbul – as well as the country's football and armed forces. But who’s wielding the broom? What ‘rubbish’ are they trying to get rid of? ‘Turkey eats dirt’ is cafebabel.com's response to the summer ‘dust up’ by the Turkish authorities. Read the second of three articles in a series on the shake-up of the nation, about an army which resigns

Holy wow!

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:00:09 -0000

Are you more a Sacre bleu! or a Gosh-Golly-Goodness squealer? Do you Mamma Mia! or prefer a bit of Jesus Christ in that equation? Blasphemy and the art of exasperation are part and parcel of the phrase of the week, as seen through cafebabel.com's six official tongues

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?

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?

Pope Benedict on TV on 22 April: church in crisis?

('Tina',) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:57:44 -0000

5pm on Good Friday or 22 April 2011. That's when the pope will make an appearance on Rai 1, the most popular television channel in Italy. The revolution in the catholic church follows suit from pope John Paul II. Television is a powerful means of communication where matters of faith and religion can be discussed; Joseph Ratzinger is taking it one step further by not only participating in the programme, but being open to questions

Spain’s Satan lovers

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 10:30:00 -0000

Occult rituals, sects, animal sacrifices, disappearances...the fascination with the devil is on the rise on the Iberian peninsula, just as more and more priests are performing exorcisms. Where is this fascination coming from? Is it dangerous to dance with the devil? When can we even begin to talk about this thematic seriously?

Brussels: 'There are many more scientologists than we think'

('Daniel G. Ross',) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 11:20:11 -0000

Last January, the Churches of Scientology for Europe opened a new branch on boulevard Waterloo in Brussels. Considered a cult or simply a commercial organization in France, Belgium and Germany, scientology continues to claim to be a religion. A interview with Agnès Bron, in charge of public relations at the boulevard Waterloo site.

Hannukah fun-ukah

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 12:37:10 -0000

Christmas markets, singing angels, hectic shopping and chocolate Santas. Traditional jews don’t have any of that Christ-plus-hype. They celebrate Hannukah instead and down oil rather than sweets

World's tallest jesus and crossing out secularism in Poland

('Ems_8674',) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 13:30:00 -0000

Every country has its own vision of secularism.In late November, a 51-metre Jesus Christ statue was erected in western Poland, 14 metres taller than its colleague in Rio de Janeiro. Though privately funded, the Polish state is still looking for that perfect balance between sacrum and profanum in the public domain - takes its various crossings with the cross

Knecht Ruprecht and his motley crew of Christmas meanies

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 12:03:26 -0000

Santa Claus is coming to town...and so what? Europe’s christmas traditions don’t always bring nice surprises

Berlin: Eid al-Adha is our christmas

('anuja',) — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 18:20:04 -0000

It's early in the morning. Kreuzberg lays silent in the drizzling rain under the grey sky of Berlin. It is a November day like every other - and special for the more than 4 million muslims in Germany

Press review pope Benedict XVI: condom statements

('Annie Rutherford',) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 12:27:04 -0000

In an interview, pope Benedict XVI accepted the use of condoms in individual cases to prevent infection with HIV. Critics have welcomed this concession but doubt that it signals a fundamental change of direction for the catholic church

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I: ‘Young people in Europe feel unsafe’

('Ozcan Tikit',) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 12:57:11 -0000

He speaks seven languages, he’s down with the green cause and he’s the leader of the global orthodox movement which in Europe exists in the east, north and the Mediterranean, but he resides in Istanbul. Interview with the spiritual leader of 300 million worldwide. cafebabel.com in Athens and Istanbul meet the man

Building a mosque in Warsaw: is it all trouble and strife?

('Peter Robbins',) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:00:00 -0000

Muslims in Poland go back several centuries, beginning with the arrival of tatar settlers in the eastern reaches of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The muslim community in Poland has only recently begun attracting attention, with the building of a mosque financed by a Saudi sponsor in the Warsaw district of Ochota. Not everyone is happy

Sorry, we’re women: inside Istanbul’s modern-traditional Blue Mosque

('Aleksandra Sygiel',) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 18:22:50 -0000

Guards make sure that everyone picks up a carrier bag and takes their shoes off before placing even a toe onto the carpeted steps of the Blue Mosque. We’re three German, British and Polish tourists who have come prepared with headscarves, but inside we see lots of bare-headed female tourists

Spain ‘aggressively secular’ according to Pope

('euro topics',) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:34:14 -0000

On his two-day trip to Spain Benedict XVI drew parallels to the situation in the 1930s. Spanish, Belgian and Dutch commentators are divided on his comments - vilifying or justified? Press review

Islam for beginners: first stop Istanbul

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 15:45:00 -0000

Hanging out on the streets of Turkey’s European capital can be an exotic experience for those who haven’t had too much contact with islamic culture. University lecturer and islamic history expert Anas Eryarsoy takes us though everything we wanted to know, but were too afraid to ask

Three muslims in Brussels: (almost) ordinary citizens

('Nettah',) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:15:00 -0000

Being Belgian and muslim poses no particular problem for Omar, Younes and Mourad. They don't wear the burqa, which is banned in Belgium, yet are often turned away from bars. In the EU capital, tolerance and rejection go hand-in-hand

What does terrorism mean in Europe anyway

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:30:00 -0000

On 18 October EU counter-terrorism coordinator Gilles de Kerchove warned about governments crying wolf during recent threats of a new terrorist alert. The last time the EU continent was attacked was during the London bombings of 2005. The term ‘terrorism’ has taken on various meanings

Celebrating eid without a mosque in Athens

('Georgios Kokkolis',) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:10:05 -0000

For the first time, group prayer celebrating the end of Ramadan was held this morning in the Kotzia square by Muslims living in Athens, capital of a country which is 96% Greek orthodox - blog excerpt

Swinger clubs: Blue Berlin 'liebt dich'

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:45:00 -0000

Berlin loves you. Berlin is young and isn’t ashamed of its exuberance. An Italian visits the premises of a capital’s red-light soul which is not expecting anyone. Far from Amsterdam’s sex ghettos and Italy’s hypocrisies, between the naked bodies of those for whom sexuality is no taboo

Vilnius: 'Jerusalem of Lithuania'

('Daiva Repe\xc4\x8dkait\xc4\x97',) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:47:26 -0000

Tired after a busy day and prepared for a casual chat, I meet a summer school student, with whom I've arranged to do Hebrew language tandem. 'Do you mind keeping me company to go to the synagogue?' Apparently, the person is a second year convert-in-progress to Judaism. 'Umm, my skirt is kind of short for that...' Anecdote from cafebabel.com blog ‘Wonderland'

Becoming an atheist? Renounce your religion online

('Tim Mac an Airchinnigh',) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:09:21 -0000

The internet transformed our relationship with organised religion; it could now become its downfall. In 2009, Irish website Countmeout.ie caused an international stir by offering a quick, simple way to leave the catholic church. Panorama on how Europe's muslims, christians and jews exchange faith for freedom of speech

Belfast riots 2010: Orange Order, not girl guides

('Tim Mac an Airchinnigh',) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:01:16 -0000

More bad news from the North? On the evening news in the Irish Republic, a report on the Belfast riots in catholic districts came third after a local car crash and economics reports. In the shadow of the 1998 peace process, the riots are the product of raging frustration in a shattered community

Turkey-Israel: credibility and question of anti-semitism

('Karis Eaglestone',) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:18:48 -0000

Since heavy criticism from the Turkish side after the Israeli attack on a Gaza aid ship on 31 May, relations between the two states have entered a further ice age. There has been rising concern in Europe that Turkey is increasingly turning away from the west. A babelian political theorist explains the problems inherent to the Turkish response

Lech Garlicki on judging Europe’s religious fabric

('James Friscia',) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:15:37 -0000

The Polish jurist, who has been a judge at the European court of human rights since 2002, on religious symbols in schools, the burka, security and the status of women

Louis-Georges Tin, the man behind 'international day against homophobia and transphobia'

('Nicola Potter',) — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:30:00 -0000

17 May has marked international day against homophobia and transphobia since 2005. Its international recognition is largely due to the hard work of the IDAHO committee and its founder-president. As a researcher the Martiniquan was convinced that the deconstruction of gender prejudices was the best way to fight prejudice

Atheist campaigners: arrest pope

('donegalbabelian',) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:06:48 -0000

Enunciations and remarks by high ranking catholic clergy only serve to validate two prominent atheist campaigners' proposed legal action for 'crimes against humanity' against the pope. Rather an offbeat way to mark 19 April, which is the fifth anniversary of Benedict XVI's pontificate

Hot-cross Europe

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 07:30:00 -0000

Easter eggs, fried slices of bread in milk or wine and hot cross buns: April 8 sees Europeans celebrate Easter in their own way

Belfast in a black taxi: Europe’s last divided city tries to overcome its past

('Tim Mac an Airchinnigh',) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:17:08 -0000

On 6 February, the Northern Irish paramilitary organisation the INLA decommissioned their weapons, and the province took one more tentative step towards social stability. Now that the former war-zone has re-opened its doors to the world, visitors are flocking to western Europe’s last divided city. A taste of the Northern Irish experience

Dismantled: five myths about Kosovo

('Martin W\xc3\xa4hlisch',) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:46:31 -0000

On 17 February, Europe’s youngest country celebrates its second anniversary. Presumably, most still wouldn't find Kosovo on a map. We regularly read about its soldiers, organised crime and demand for visas. Two roommates in Prishtina – a Kosovar and a German – share their most striking and basic common observations

France: burqa bandits, burqa ban

('euro topics',) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:37:42 -0000

On 26 January, a French parliamentary committee recommended that the so-called 'burqa', or Muslim full-body veil, be banned. While this could check the spread of fundamentalism, it is also humiliating for those affected by it argue German, French and Swiss commentators

Cornershop: 'musicians might as well hand their credit cards over to the man on the street'

('Tim Mac an Airchinnigh',) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Northern English indie band Cornershop give us a talking to about Swiss minarets, metal music and releasing their comeback album - it's been seven years! - cheaply via their website

It's late 2009, and Europeans are getting into a tizzle about religion

('euro topics',) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:08:44 -0000

The Swiss have banned new minarets, the European court of human rights has banned Italy from having crucifixes in every classroom. A Swedish school has rejected veils, a Dutch polytechnic shuns Christmas trees and a study claims religion stems from insecurity. The Dutch, Swedish, UK, Hungarian and Bulgarian press react

'She’s angry' in Ireland: Virgin Mary makes Youtube debut

('Tim Mac an Airchinnigh',) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:15:00 -0000

On 11 October, 5, 000 turned up to the small town of Knock in the west of Ireland to witness (and videotape) a purported apparition of the Virgin Mary. Two weeks later, the crowds doubled to 10, 000. Now that the apparition has become an internet phenomenon, locals look to her next scheduled appearance on 5 December

In a country of 400, 000 muslims, the Swiss vote to ban minarets

('euro topics',) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:40:42 -0000

On 29 November, the people of Switzerland voted to ban the construction of new minarets. The referendum initiated by the Swiss people's party and the conservative federal democratic union has dealt a severe blow to religious peace in the country, write the Estonian, Swiss, Portuguese and Austrian press

Guide: the curiosity of Tel Aviv's dog, gay and religious beaches

('Daiva Repe\xc4\x8dkait\xc4\x97',) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:13:30 -0000

A lowdown on the rules - or lack of - to alternately abide by at neighouring sections of the city's 14km stretch of coastline

Dissecting Europe's crucifix conflict

('euro topics',) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:47:35 -0000

On 3 November the European court of human rights ruled that crucifixes in classrooms violate the religious freedom of schoolchildren. Representatives from politics and the church roundly condemn the judgement, while many media welcome the decision. The Iberian, Maltese and Italian press react

Dear Reader via Johannesburg and Berlin: 'We’re all just geeks really'

('Andrew Christie',) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Cherilyn MacNeil, 24, the charismatic singer and pianist of South African indie trio Dear Reader, speaks to us from the fringes of the Berlin Festival about her home country’s mix of danger and new beginnings, faith and spirituality, broken hearts and summer in Berlin

How to seek the Holy Grail one hour from London

("naomi o'leary",) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:09:27 -0000

As American author Dan Brown's follow-up to 'The Da Vinci Code' is released on 16 September - 'The Lost Symbol' focuses on the Freemasons - we uphold tradition and go questing for the cup that Jesus used at the Last Supper at its rumoured location in Hertford

Israeli national trail: take a bible, talk to your God and don’t walk on water

('yoav',) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:29:08 -0000

The free month-and-a-half trek crosses Israel from tip to toe, via valleys and mountains, winding in the cities, deserts and woods. A bit of context to help you plan carefully and prepare for a tough physical effort, plus some tips

Visit Noirlac Abbey in central France

('Jonny S',) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:00:00 -0000

This Cistercian abbey, nestled in the centre of France surrounded by trees and farmland, welcomes caravans and European tourists interested in art, architecture and music

Subculture: sexes, hairdos and jeans in Iran

('Andrew Christie',) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:00:00 -0000

1 April is Islamic Republic Day, a national holiday in Iran. Thirty years after the Islamic revolution, an unpopular government is once again struggling with a dissatisfied young population. However, the Iranian resistance against its own regime has no strategy behind it, only tactics. A portrait of the mood in the land of the red squares

Atheist bus versus crucifix: Spain's crusade

('Chriomford',) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:00:00 -0000

London's atheist bus campaign, a backlash against Christian advertising on the underground, is now touring Europe. Next stop: Barcelona and with it traditional Spain, where catholicism still carries a lot of weight

More than half of Europe believes in God – but which half?

('Adam Puchejda',) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:01:39 -0000

Europe is not an atheist continent. Whilst religious diversity is at the very core of European construction, secularity might just be its glue

Education: looking for theology in France

('Marie Pepper',) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:00:00 -0000

Theology, or the study 'of realities relative to the divine'. Where can this subject be studied in Europe and who pays? Is it public or private?

Benedict XVI, stuck in the Middle Ages?

('Michelle Williams',) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:45:00 -0000

The catholic church is in trouble. On the one hand the raging controversies with other religions and the non-religious world have been reduced to a minimum. On the other hand however there is a fraction in the Pope's internal world

Richard Dawkins: 'There is something illogical about the fear of death'

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:24:33 -0000

Evolutionary biologist, famous atheist and a pure Darwinian. In September 2008, the 68-year-old's website was banned by a Turkish court for his rejection of evolution. Four questions to ...

Italy: coma patient Eluana Englaro dies after Berlusconi row

('euro topics',) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:22:25 -0000

After more than 16 years in a persistent vegetative state, 38-year-old Eluana Englaro has died in the 'La Quiete' clinic in the northern Italian city of Udine after doctors removed her feeding tubes. The European press discusses the political intrigues surrounding her death