Ukraine
Pan-Slavism, Slovio and Polish the 'status symbol'
The Slavic languages all have their roots in Proto-Slavic. Since the twelfth century, however, they have drifted apart. One of them reached its zenith in the seventeenth century: Polish
ukraine, tower of babel, languages, esperanto, russian federation, slovakia, slovenia
Dear granddad, for Christmas I'd like a Eurasian union
In October Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin proposed a 'Eurasian union' of former soviet nations that could be a major global player competing for influence with the US, the EU and Asia, creating instant headlines about the threat of Russian expansionism. Is Putin mastering geopolitics? Where are the limits of his modernisation strategy?
ukraine, kyrgyzstan, regionalism, empire, tajikistan, uzbekistan, kazakhstan
Odessa to Vilkova: Ukraine's Venice
Inspired by British website 'Nerdy Day Trips', we should say that cafebabel.com isn’t just about metropolises and life in the big city, but also Europe’s far-flung corners. A German correspondent discovers pelicans, tortoises and old believers in a sleepy fishing village in Ukraine
ukraine, lifestyle, travel writing, danube, history, post-soviet states, travel
Yulia Tymoshenko: Ukraine’s absurd two-month old trial
On 24 August 2011 Ukraine celebrated 20 years of independence. Preparations for the festivities were accompanied by a performance on the political stage, with the lead role taken by the 60-year-old. The country is revolting the lawsuit which the former prime minister and heroine of the orange revolution is facing, and which has been ‘postponed’ until October
ukraine, yulia tymoshenko, orange revolution, kiev, politics
Ukraine, Belarus, Egypt...free the online activist in you
Ukraine’s ‘Day of Wrath’ against its president on 14 May has been organised online. Belarus’ internet is the only escape from regime propaganda. The Arab world reported its transitions online. Amidst these examples, Peter Ludlow, cyber rights activist and philosophy professor at Northwestern University in Illinois, emphasies that politics can be influenced in bottom-up solutions. Interview
ukraine, protest, iryna vidanava, internet, arab spring, euro-arab dialogue, activism
Ukraine and Europe on 9 May 2011: tying ribbons
On 9 May 'Europe Day' marks the 61st anniversary of the European Union, but in Ukraine we will celebrate Victory Day. This time it will be special, because our MPs bound local authorities to hang red flags (‘Victory Flags’) alongside national yellow-blue flags. It has already aroused indignation amongst not only intellectuals, but all men of good sense too
ukraine, 9 de mayo, empire, anniversary, euweek, european union, russian federation
Self-identification, multiculturalism and erasmus in the EU
In a world where the physical borders are a blur, no wonder the mental ones are blurring as well. With nationalists turning to the 'protection of Europe' rather than the 'protection of the homeland', it is fair to say that the erasmus generation is the face of future Europe. United within itself, far past the division to Germans, French, Poles, or Italians, it's an identity in its own right - even for me
ukraine, identity, orange revolution, multiculturalism, borders, islamophobia, israel
Ukraine feminists ‘Femen’: topless a political weapon
At first the 300 members of the feminist community came to the streets to protest against the expansion of sex tourism in the Ukraine. The 12, 000 active 'sex pats' are growing under the indifferent gaze of the authorities. Femen has been organising nude performances as a political weapon for three years now. After a run-in at the Italian embassy, Inna Shevechenko vents her anger
ukraine, feminism, censorship, sex, sexuality, sex, silvio berlusconi
Yuriy Gurzhy: 'Achtung! The party is Russian-rock-free'
The legendary 'Russendisko' organiser is a notorious DJ and producer in Berlin. The Ukrainian-born musician co-created the club dance event in 1999 and his band Rotfront in 2003 with fellow Jewish Russian and Hungarian 'emigrantskis'. Time for some tea in Cologne
Ukrainian students fight uncertain future
Like many other Ukrainian students, Varvara Shmygalyova hopes her country can one day integrate the European Union. The government’s recent education policies made her turn her hopeful wishes into a fight for her future, writes Delphine Reuter
World Aids day 2010: the 'plastic' pope has spoken
Condoms aren't bad for your health! Clear the ship for action, because we've still a long way to go. More than 41 million people have the HIV virus or Aids, which counts around 800, 000 people in Europe. To mark world aids day on 1 December in the UK, crooner Elton John has become editor for the day for The Independent. But whilst he's been known for his brash concerts in the Ukraine in the past, that country is seeing its own clinics being closed down. Prudence, because younger generations are less interested in plastic than news of when a virus kills en masse. Is the fashionable lack of protection the problem? One thing is sure; despite all the treatments, being HIV positive in 2010 is still no sinecure. Read the cafebabel.com archives before you feel the love tonight (Pictured, life through a condom lens, Image 'Mary Soaking' by (cc) Lomo-Cam/ Flickr)
Euro 2012 in Warsaw: hanging around the stadium
The UEFA football championship kicks off in Warsaw’s brand new national stadium on 8 June 2012. While it prepares to host over 100, 000 fans and tourists, the Polish capital is abuzz with excitement about revealing how far it’s come to the rest of the world
ukraine, football, sport, warsaw, eucrisis on the ground, euro 2012, europe
EU press react: Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine's new president
Five years after he was deposed by the Orange Revolution, the opposition leader won Ukraine's presidential elections on 7 February, narrowly edging out prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko in a runoff vote. The Swiss, Czech, Polish and Portuguese press bemoan the rise to power of a politician who is widely regarded as pro-Russian, but believes that Ukraine has now finally proven that it is truly democratic
ukraine, orange revolution, euweek, viktor yanukovych, elections, russian federation, viktor yushchenko
Ukraine elections: EU press reacts as Tymoshenko trails Yanukovich
Early exit polls suggest that pro-Russian opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych has a clear lead in Ukraine's presidential elections, followed closely by head of government Yulia Tymoshenko. But according to the Latvian, Swedish and German press, no matter who wins the runoff vote on 7 February 7, Ukraine will be more oriented towards Russia in the future, albeit as a sovereign democratic state
ukraine, euweek, viktor yanukovych, elections, viktor yushchenko, politics
Michael Jackson dies aged 50: eastern EU grab their crotch in tribute
On 25 June, the king of pop died after a cardiac arrest in LA. He remains a firm musical reference for the 'eurogeneration’ growing up in the seventies and eighties. Ukrainian folk rock, Lithuania’s late MJ and Bulgaria’s Wacko Jacko wannabe – soundtrack tribute in videos
ukraine, videos, folk music, death, culture, obituary, music
Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia: domino game of governmental crash
On 22 March, Hungary’s socialist prime minister, businessman Ferenc Gyurcsany, announced his resignation for 14 April. There is a huge amount of strategy beneath his move and it reveals a trend appearing in central and eastern Europe. Today, the Czech Republic establishes a new chapter
ukraine, fidesz, ferenc gyurcsány, hungary, economy, mirek topolanek, economical crisis
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