Athens
Frappé, cult official beverage of Greek economic crisis
Having an obligatory iced coffee in the Greek capital is a heady mix of the crisis, anarchic events and corruption at all levels with the wisest and healthiest farniente (pleasant idleness). Only those much-condemned across Europe could own such a flavoursome melange
athens, economical crisis, greece, europe, media, yum nyam, piigs
Liv Holm Andersen: 'Danes like to lose their sense of security'
She talks and laughs with Mediterranean hand gestures and speaks a bit of Greek, but don't be fooled. The 24-year-old is actually one of Denmark’s youngest politicians, a candidate for the Scandinavian’s country’s second smallest party Radikale Venstre in elections on 15 September. In Athens, we talk Europe, the Balkans and learning from Spain
athens, balkans, greece, bosnia and herzegovina, immigration, youth, right wing extremism
German writer Hatto Fischer on Greece 'madness' and 'European debts’
The Bavarian-born philosopher and co-founder of the NGO Poiein Kai Prattein (‘create and do’), which launched in Athens in 2003, explains why Europeans have thought that the Greeks were mad, and how we can learn from their current fiscal tragedy
athens, germany, brunch, greece, interview, philosophy, stereotype
Athens: Got 99 problems and environment is one...
The Greek capital has other problems to deal with than the environment. While the main Kifissos river has dried up due to poorly planned construction works, the Aegean sea is being swamped with illegally dumped waste. The battle of Keratea, a small village outside the capital, against an immense landfill site which has been in the pipelines for the last fifteen years, is just one more worry for the government. Athens’ expanding cycle lanes are to die for, especially on a Friday night – but otherwise the town is breathless because of pollution and the oppressive heat. Will the anger of citizens be enough to protect the marvels of Attica? (Image: © Benedicte Salzes/ benedictesalzes.com)
- Read the special edition Athens: Got 99 problems and environment is one...
- The attican landfill war: a load of trash?
- Environmental art in Athens: art project for Kifissos river
- Freeday: beer vs bikes through Athens on Fridays
- Forget environment! Cars rule the road in Athens
- Sex, Sartre & rock n’roll in Paris theatre
'Debtocracy' director Aris Chatzistefanou: 'Greece should exit eurozone'
His documentary was seen by one million people in the first month. Many Greeks have learned that debt is ‘illegal’ and they don't have to pay for it. After leaving the conservative broadcaster Skai, the Greek television presenter has become a mentor for the movement of Syntagma Square. It’s where he dreams of a ‘magic night’: when the prime minister flies away on a helicopter as the state declares its bankruptcy
athens, economical crisis, eurozone, economy, 'indignant citizens' movement, politics
Artists, freaks, revolutionaries: what remains of protests in Greece
'We are not anti-system, the system is anti-us'. This is just one of many slogans that are prominently displayed on the banners around Syntagma Square in the heart of Athens. The word ochi, meaning ‘no’, can be seen everywhere here: no to the government, no to the financial and political system, no to the betrayal of democracy
athens, economical crisis, greece, best of cafebabel.com, revolution
Five gay friendly neighbourhoods in Europe
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
athens, germany, paris, greece, berlin, homosexuality, culture
Greece 2010 mayoral poll: first social(ist) media elections
New Athens and Thessaloniki mayors George Kaminis and Yiannis Boutaris managed the impossible on 14 November. This socialist victory sends five main messages - including the fact that 'people dont give a monkeys about the politicians'. Extract from the cafebabel.com blog in Athens
athens, social entrepeneur, wine, greece, youth, vote, blogs
Celebrating eid without a mosque in Athens
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
Arianna Huffington: blogger role model for Greek girls
With quotes like 'Darlings, make blogs, not war', the Athenian, 60, has become a big name stateside. However, the woman once known as Arianna Stassinopoulos has never seen the same notoriety in Greek circles. Too bad
athens, california, lifestyle, greece, lifestyle, blogs, arianna huffington
Greece crisis: profiling rich, scot-free yacht-owners
The economic flavour of the Greek crisis tastes different for those on top - the shipowners, the yachting association bosses - than the diet prescribed for the masses. In Athens though, the latter rage against the state rather than the privileged classes. Lucky richies
athens, eucrisis on the ground, money, protest, economical crisis, corruption, greece
Athens in video: German cliches on the Greeks
A Berlin-based Italian video journalist heads to the Greek capital to film social reality under the stranglehold of the crisis. A series of opinions range from Germano-Greek tensions to the weakness of the Greek state, as well as ideas for future solutions. Watch the ten-minute video in two parts (in English with French subtitles)
athens, eucrisis on the ground, economical crisis, germany, greece, europe, financial crisis
Can renewable energy save Greece?
99% of private buildings in this Mediterranean country use solar energy for hot water and currently only Cyprus’ utilisation is higher. More uses for this renewable energy are eminently possible, if only policy makers would cooperate
athens, eucrisis on the ground, european union, economical crisis, energy, greece, economy
Greece: 'Time to teach civil servants a lesson'
No public transport for 24 hours in Athens and flight cancellations at Greek airports
athens, protest, economical crisis, greece, trade unions, politics, society
Greece crisis: lowdown on Germany's role, US credit agencies and more
Interview with French economist Céline Antonin ahead of the eurogroup summit on 7 May, where the attendees should confirm their €110 billion financial aid package to Greece, and the three burning questions arising from the crisis which also apply to the European union
athens, european union, economical crisis, stability and growth pact, germany, greece, euro
