Society
Greek-German erasmus student on Istanbul’s Gezi Park protests
Whether you are a political activist in your home country or not, every erasmus student exchange programme participant who came to Istanbul this semester is a part of the 'gezipark hell', as it was first called in the social media. Protesters trying to stop a small park being turned into an Ottoman-era shopping centre has turned into a Turkey-wide movement of protest against the government, says Hlektra
society, protest, ankara, istanbul, youth, turkey, environment
The Bicycle Supremacy: Dutch icons from Slavic viewpoint
It is an extraordinary experience for Slavic people walking around a city like Utrecht. In most of the countries from the former eastern bloc we see the Netherlands as small country full of ridiculous stereotypes - their passion for orange, windmills, wooden boots, canals, caramel waffles...
society, netherlands, ljubljana, bicycle, turkey, environment, lifestyle
Suffocation of Roma and Sinti camps in Italy
The latest chapter in the decade-long history of housing segregation of Roma groups in Italy occurred in Rome, where the city authorities have enacted measures that prevent the Roma from accessing social housing
society, germany, rome, discrimination, roma, politics, spain
Fire-related deaths in neglected Russia
There was no time. In the space of just a few minutes, early in the morning of 26 April, a psychiatric hospital in the province of Moscow was reduced to ashes - and it's not the first tragedy to make ash out of Russia's people and institutions
Being accepted as gay in Europe (we're getting there)
One 17 May almost a quarter of a century ago, homosexuality was dismissed from the register of 'mental diseases' by the International Health Organisation. Today, that date marks International Day Against Homophobia. Over the past few months of 2013, the world has watched on as history is being made on marriage equality, from Brazil to New Zealand. As Minnesota became the 12th state to legalise same-sex marriage in the United States, the first Zulu traditional same-sex wedding was taking place in South Africa. From Europe, the world also watches on as NGOs and international activists plead for awareness and justice for the most heinous homophobic crimes, as is currently going on in a worryingly violent climate in Russia. In Europe, it took months of debate for the national assembly in France to devote 136 hours and 56 minutes of discussion to finally adopt a 'marriage-for-all' law on 23 April, which will also permit adoption rights to same-sex couples. Five courageous young voices from the LGBTI community agreed to tell us their story and share their views
- Read the special edition Being accepted as gay in Europe (we're getting there)
- Denisas Kolomyckis: 'Lithuanian society will be ready for LGBT rights in a few years'
- Martin Mazza: 'I probably won’t marry - but at least the option’s there'
- Thibault Chiarabini: 'In France today homophobia seems normal'
- Nina Degele: ‘For me, same-sex marriage is not progress’
- Mehmet: 'Being gay is easier in Turkey's metropoles'
'Nobody knows that I am a member of Femen in Paris'
Taking back the female body, crushing male domination, fighting prostitution - these are the battles of Femen, the off-the-wall feminists from the Ukraine. Since establishing an 'office' in Paris, the members are staging bare-breasted protests in all four corners of Europe. Their message is that they can can strike where they want, when they want
society, protest, feminism, paris, men and women, church, war
European Union - similar to Soviet Union?
On 9 May the EU celebrates Europe Day. What do we have to celebrate? The EU is a bold and unique project. It's hard to find historic models. Its approach resembles less that of the United States of America and more that of the Soviet Union, says Andreas Kiener
society, fidesz, identity, union of soviet socialist republics, nigel farage, 9 de mayo, soviet
Rant at Spain's young technology addicts
Have we been consumed by technology? Do we only have time for our virtual avatars? These could become the problems of our time if we don't learn how to separate the intangible world of the internet from that which surrounds us
The business of Queensday mania in Netherlands
A trio of Spaniards and German journalists take to the streets of Utrecht to investigate the reasons for a very Dutch passion. In one of the world's most liberal countries, people are making the monarch's birthday, and historic abdication to her son after 33 years as regent on 30 April - the biggest event of the European monarchichal year
society, football, sport, germany, franco, shopping, royal family
'Girlfriend in a Coma': Film censured by Italy opens in Berlin
Italy has been in a coma for far too long: this documentary wants to wake it up. Director Annalisa Piras herself was at the Babylon Mitte cinema where the audience, mostly made up of Italian expats, was critical yet keen to participate in the debate. One audience member admitted that what they saw on screen pained them
society, italy, economical crisis, censorship, berlin, culture calendar, politics
Zeitgeist number 1: Young, European, with the world on our shoulders
The quinoa-guzzling pan-European generation of today has gone through most its early adult life criss-crossing the continent without any visa or passport problems (well, most of the time). We like escape, and getting the load of the world off our heads, and living the impulses as we want them, when we want them. Male gossip magazines? Bring it on! Former couchsurfers from Hungary or Albania, who are so head-over-heels for the idea of spontaneity that they set up their own flight search engine? Whyever not? While their southern and western European peers struggle to get a real full-time job, young educated Vilniusites enjoy more stability. Yet these Lithuanians are also part of this growing trend of freelance life, self-employment and entrepreneurship. All of this is taking place in an increasingly green and ‘do-you-speak-internet’ European society which, when it does have opportunities, is rolling out unconventional job positions which didn’t exist when we werebeing asked what we wanted to do when we grew up (see photo gallery). Enjoy this special edition, which attempts to expand on who we really are, and want to be (Image: (cc) Chris JL/ Flickr)
- Read the special edition Zeitgeist number 1: Young, European, with the world on our shoulders
- ‘Why is pissing in the sink so good?’: Rise of lads magazines in France
- 'Drungli': Couchsurfers create travel business with a philosophy
- LinkedIn Lithuania: Crisis is catastrotunity for creative entrepreneurs
- Quinoa cool
Invisible woman in Paris, and image of the black female body in Europe
There is a starkness that is processed by the image of the invisible West African woman in the east of Paris that bothers me plenty
society, paris, sex, dominique strauss-kahn, gender, women, prostitution
Church and homosexuality in Italy
One of the legacies of former prime minister Mario Monti was stating that a proper family 'is one made up of a man and a woman'. The relationship between Italian politics and homosexuality is rocky, from presidents of Italian regions to gay pride 2013, and the somewhat inevitable role of the Vatican. Gay pride will be held in Palermo in June 2013
Russian children in US: No-one wins in 'Kramer vs. Kramer'
In the customary trinity that is usually produced in most divorces, there is one element that is sometimes used, sometimes sought-after, and almost always victim: the children. The recent death of a Russian child adopted by an American couple adds to the list of numerous cases of kids from Russia that have been abandoned or mistreated by their foster families
society, cold war, washington, death, russian federation, united states, children
Italy, Spain and Portugal's youth increasingly apply for EU traineeships
Twice a year, the European commission offers recent graduates the opportunity to carry out a five-month internship (generously paid at 1, 000 euros per month) within its departments. Although the number of available posts for each recruitment drive has remained stable for several years (around 1, 300), the number of (southern) applicants has been consistently increasing
society, italy, labour market, economical crisis, employment, european union, spain
Baptism, the ultimate career move in Germany
In Germany the christian church and its institutions are important players in the social work system. To get jobs in organisations like Caritas you don’t just need to have the right qualifications; you also need to be in the right church. Lara R. spent a year working in youth services for 'Diakonisches Werk'. She swallowed her principles, took the plunge and got herself baptised so that she’d have more chance of getting a job
society, labour market, religion, germany, church, precarity, job seekers
