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A future post 'consumption', that deadly 21st century internet disease
As the 'anti-counterfeiting trade agreement' (Acta) is discussed in public in the European parliament for the first time on 29 February, one Italian journalist imagines what it might be like if we have to pay for every online service. The consumer's copyright-protected future would be free no more
social networks, literature, gmail, techno-media, internet, society
2011: God Bless Relativised Europe
'Happy' was our EU in 2011 – not ‘blissful’, in accordance with the Danish bible society's dumbed down translations of its revised new testament, released this year. The EU is still about ‘unity in diversity’, its guiding motto, but has also become about unity in losing faith
social networks, egypt, divorce, best of cafebabel.com, geert wilders, madrid, tony blair
United Hush-ia: will Russians elect another doomed Duma?
On 4 December Russians will elect a new parliament. Whilst ruling party United Russia has been in power for over a decade, it looks set to reduce its majority in the lower house, or State Duma. The centrist party’s success will doubtless foreshadow Vladimir Putin’s comeback as president in a ‘job swap’ with Dmitry Medvedev at elections in March 2012. Behind the scenes of this circus, the chorus is beginning to grow edgy. Whilst over 60% of United Russia supporters are female and its popularity is growing amongst young people and across a strengthened Eurasian region, more and more journalists, activists and students are speaking out, especially across social networks. Even the purported star of the show Putin has lost favour, receiving his first ever catcalls. Has the bread and circuses act fallen through? (Image: © Kristof)
- Read the special edition United Hush-ia: will Russians elect another doomed Duma?
- Cyril Tuschi’s ‘Khodorkovsky’: 'I’m not so frightened - I’ll be flying to Moscow premiere'
- Boo-tin: Russian prime minister Vladimir catcalled in public
- Strategy 31: Russians protest for right to demonstrate
- Reforms and Russians: mapping young people’s stalled futures
- Why I like Putin for president: young Russians speak
- Dear granddad, for Christmas I'd like a Eurasian union
Twitter feed: reactions to Steve Jobs death
The CEO of Apple was without a doubt the biggest genius of the last decade. He passed away after suffering from pancreatic cancer at the age of 56 over the night of 6 October. Social networks such as facebook and twitter have overflooded with 2.0 tributes
social networks, death, culture, consumers, technology, lifestyle, united states
‘Webouting’ site publishes list of ten ‘gay’ politicians in Italy
On 23 September, an Italian LGBT movement ‘outed’ ten homophobic politicians who they have esteemed have ‘ulterior motives’ for their overt phobia online. Is it a criminal action or justifiable revenge? 75% of the country’s gay community have agreed with the US-based blog's initiative
social networks, italy, lgbt, homosexuality, internet, human rights, politics
Germans ban ‘I Like’ facebook button, Spanish want to ‘Dislike’
The north German state Schleswig Holstein has announced that it is banning facebook’s famous ‘I like’ button, with websites which haven’t removed it before the end of September facing fines of up to 50, 000 euros (44,000 pounds). Whilst Germany and the UK have raised more general concerns, the Spanish were there first
social networks, tower of babel, germany, spain, poland, belarus, twitter
'Indignant ones': left-wing populism or politics of the underdog?
An increasingly common view of the 'indignant' protest movement coming out of Spain is: 'and then what?' Philippe Thureau-Dangin, publishing director of the Courrier International newspaper, calls it 'left-wing populism'. Others are perturbed at the idea that the 'European summer' has anything in common with the 'Arab spring'. Four young Europeans give us their views on the 'M-15' (15 May) movement, its aspirations and limitations
social networks, spain, madrid, arab spring, 'indignant citizens' movement, facebook, politics
Erasmus, 9/11, social networks mark unnamed eighties generation
We're more used to typing on a computer keyboard than to putting pen to paper. It's hard to define our generation - generation google, generation Y, the lost generation... Young people between 20 and 35 have always been connected to a whole world which has little in common to that of their parents. Analysts and victims of this incertitude present the key facts needed to understand this unknown generation
social networks, lifestyle, 11m, budget, facebook, ecology, society
Editors parents speak: Generations 1950 and 1960 on Generation 1980
A generation separates us. The space of two decades allows our parents an affectionate but criticial vision on our generation, born in the eighties. From video games and unemployment to travel and money, time for one last pan-European lecture
social networks, money, safety and security at work , europe, parents, eurogeneration, unemployment
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
social networks, wine, greece, youth, blogs, macedonia, vote
Chatroulette: Sodom and Gomorrah of web
'While you’re still young, test your strengths and practice in that which appears pointless and seems like pure verbiage to the common man. Without it, the truth will escape you,' Plato tells us in his famous dialogue Parmenides. The adage provides enough strength and reason to dive into the latest internet communications buzz. Two months on, we test it for you
social networks, lifestyle, sex, sexuality, internet, youth, web 2.0
'Conciliabules': French women fight for European poverty via theatre
Marginalisation, precarity - in any case, women are 'poorer' than men. But the ladies from this French troupe use art, not negativity, in their official response to Europe's designated 'year of poverty and social exclusion'
social networks, european year for combating poverty and social exclusion, poverty, culture, european union, theatre, european commission
Guide to Twitter tongue
Tweet tweet. During both world wars carrier pigeons relayed short, sometimes vital messages, backwards and forwards when the electricity lines were out. Today, it’s Twitter’s 140 character posts which play the role of social network messenger…as long as you can master its language. So what are the basic ABCs of European Twitter?
social networks, tower of babel, europe, internet, e-government, technology, citizen journalism
Europe's 'beautiful laundrette' culture: socialising chores
Social networks have allowed a whole generation to abandon any sense of shame and showcase its private life. The fashion for exposure doesn't limit itself to the screen; Europe's urban landscapes offer more and more spaces which mix the private and the public. Washing your dirty laundry in public in Germany, France and Denmark
social networks, mangelwirtschaft, cleanicum, laundrette, laundrette, laundromat, germany
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