Athens
In the middle of our street
You have to know how to choose them, have fun in them, and leave them. Having a neighbourhood is a bit like having a second skin. It typically has your local, your loyal neighbours and shops. But neighbourhoods have their own skins too. Take the Gazi quarter in Athens which shed its industrial skin to become the latest craze, as happened to Kreuzberg in Berlin, or the renewed district of Jozsefvaros in Budapest. We take a little stroll around some European streets
In Greece, remembering Alexis Grigoropoulos, 15, with riots
Since 6 December, millions of Greeks have been gathering in the country's streets in memory of the teenager who was killed by a policeman during the student revolts. Collisions between anarchists and 6, 000 police have resumed with renewed vigour. 'When will we listen to what the youngsters have to say?'
athens, precarity, anarchy, studies, university, protest, youth
Shlomo: ‘I used to think beatboxing was a way of impressing people’
Simon Shlomo Kahn, 25, preaches his vocal talents to the mainstream and children. The British human beatbox artist, who has Israeli, Iraqi and German origins, talks self-important VIPs, the death of record companies and working with Bjork
athens, festival, music, brunch, street music, olympics, beatboxing
Greek islands resist fire and cement
The Greek islands, so popular among tourists, appear to be surviving the threat posed by excessive construction, something which distinguishes them from their European neighbours. Yet resistance on the islands is not mirrored elsewhere in the country, as urbanisation eats into land susceptible to wild fires
athens, environmental protection, construction, environment, economy, travel, islands
Eur…οpa! As EU elections comes round, 27 European citizens in Athens speak
Whether they are from Finland to Cyprus, or Germany and France, the first charter EU member states, as well as from 'newcomer' states Romania and Bulgaria, 27 Athenians talk about their Europe and how they think it should be. The EU elections take place between 4 and 7 June 2009, with 736 seats in the EU parliament open to 9, 000 candidates
athens, european identity, identity, european elections 2009, turkey, european young journalist 2008, abstentionism
Erasmus testimony: a Greek student in Budapest
In the final installment of a five-part series, a politics and public administration student from Athens, 21, confirms and rejects historical and linguistic stereotypes in the Hungarian capital. The student exchange programme has run for twenty-one years
athens, erasmus, testimony, hungary, budapest, university, education system
Greece youth: violence in the name of education
9 December. As the funeral takes place of a young boy, whose death led to days of continuous rioting in Greek cities three days earlier, a look at where the rebellion is coming from. Voice from Athens
athens, police, reform, riots, education system, protest, death
Third day of violence in Athens after 15-year-old rioter dies
Alexandros Grigoropoulos was allegedly hurling stones at a police car when officials shot him on 6 December. The incident has sparked riots, with protests held in Corfu and Germany. Ahead of a strike on 10 December, Greek, Italian, Swiss and German newspapers analyse the causes and the consequences for the government
athens, switzerland, italy, right-wing, scandal, germany, press review
Babelblogs: little princes and book fair bombs
Some European member states don't get much attention, but are often worth a detour. Our multilingual community blogs take you there
athens, balkans, paris, sarajevo, european union, macedonia, blogs
Babelblogs: Olympics of human rights
British exes, banking superheros, Athens and garapos in Cuba - plus the latest Franco-German blog to watch out for
athens, cinema, sub-prime, olympic games, blogs, politics, europe
Greeks don't snap in elections
The governing conservatives won a reduced majority in general elections on 16 September. The far-left and extreme right rapidly gained seats in parliament, whilst the twice-defeated socialists are the big losers
European heritage battle
At the foot of the Acropolis, a new museum is undergoing construction – but something important is missing: the British Museum is not prepared to return pieces of the world-famous Parthenon frieze to Athens
athens, contemporary art, architecture, museum, cities, cities, southern eu
The more Greek gods the merrier
Only 2% of Greeks aren't Orthodox. Somewhere amongst this low percentile, the polytheist movement who worship twelve Gods fight the state for recognition as a religion
Illegal immigrants ignored by Athenians
At the crossroads of East and West, Athens has become the terminus of many migration routes. The Albanian community, the most numerous, is also the most stigmatised in Greece. It all stems from a misunderstanding
athens, immigration, multiculturalism, europe, society, greece
Hands off Greek universities!
The Greek government has approved a series of reforms intended to modernise its university system, including the opening of private institutions and placing a limit on the maximum study period. However, the students are protesting
athens, ukraine, bologna process, university, education system, europe, society
