Isak Gerson, founder of kopimist church: 'File-sharing' is not 'stealing'
Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:30:00 -0000
‘We don’t believe in god at all,’ says Isak Gerson. However, this was no obstacle for the 20-year-old Swedish philosophy student to establish the missionary church of kopimism (from ‘copy + me’) – a church without hierarchy, whose 6000 followers actively encourage internet users to share all kinds of files
Italian spritz aperol: the future’s orange
Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:00:00 -0000
The Italian-born spritz aperol has gained official international recognition, being classed as a ‘new drink’ by the international bartenders’ association. We took this as an excuse to try out the sparkling brew, which the Italians will tell us is anything but new
Megaupload, FBI, anonymous: internet battle over copyright
Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:15:51 -0000
After a vast legal process in the American courts, the internet platform megaupload was closed down. Copyright struggle or third world war? One Frenchie looks for a more differentiated approach
Danes use their bike as others use their vacuum cleaner
Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:26:45 -0000
From 1 January to 30 June 2012 Denmark holds the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union for the seventh time since joining the European community. In Budapest, the European Point information center’s programmes provided great opportunities in January to get to know the culture of the country. We could get informed about a special Danish high school (called folk high school or Folkehøjskole), we could assist a Danish film evening, and at the end of the month, favoring the very young generation, Danish Children’s Day was celebrated.
Those who visited the lecture 'Copenhagen by bike' on 12 January, could learn a lot about the Danish transportation system. Beyond discovering the 'City of Cyclists', we could also see the photo exhibition of Cycle Chic founder, Mikael Colville-Andersen. After the opening speech by Tamás Szűcs, head of the The European Commission Representation in Hungary, Hanne Tornøe, head of the Danish Cultural Institute in Budapest said some words about the biking culture in Copenhagen. It was followed by short presentations given by János László, president of the Hungarian Bicycle Club and Péter Dalos, traffic engineer at Danish origin architecture company, COWI. While various statistics were reported, the audience could draw obvious parallels between the biking life of Copenhagen and Budapest.
Happy birthday everyone! cafebabel.com is 11 years old on 1 February 2012
Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:22:38 -0000
CIA in Greenland: story about a polar whodunit
Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:45:59 -0000
What’s aboard the CIA aeroplanes that have been illegally flying over Greenland since 2001? That is what the Greenland government wants the Danish authorities to tell them. They, however, seem oddly reluctant to answer
Euro 2012 Warsaw stadium: once a bazaar hosting pop star popes
Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:58:42 -0000
With its roof looking like a waving Polish flag, the national stadium became the newest addition to the Polish capital's fantastic skyline on 29 January. It opened seven months later than planned on the historic banks of the Vistula river but still in time for the 2012 European football championships this summer
Fictional Russian hopefuls in 2012 elections
Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:54:48 -0000
Russia’s presidential elections on 4 March are creeping ever closer. Following demonstrations across Russia in the wake of parliamentary elections in December, the run-away favourite Vladimir Putin is now more of a walk-away favourite. Who else is in this one-horse race?
Monti: “From now on, the EU sits on a rock”
Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:11:06 -0000
By Matteo Adduci
Presenting the freshly reached agreement on a fiscal pact ratified by 25 EU member states (everyone except the UK – same old story - and the Czech Republic – due to “different problems in relation to the possible adoption of the agreement”), Italian PM Mario Monti stated that Italy had had significant impact in the achievement of this “very good and successful result”.
Megaupload vs Sopa and Pipa: it'll be e-right on the night
Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:44:29 -0000
Act one: stop online piracy. Act two: protect international property. Act three: shut down a famous file-sharing site. Act four: anti-counterfeiting trade agreement. We call for a bit of order in the debate on internet freedom versus intellectual property rights which has kicked off 2012
Fashion-forward female leaders to make it right
Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:13:40 -0000
By Cristina Mariani
‘I am here with my little bag to collect a bit of money’ said IMF head Christine Lagarde in Davos recently, proferring her big LV handbag. It's big, but is it big enough? And is anyone going to offer to fill it for her?
My name is Martin Schulz, “Guardian of the European Union”
Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:57:06 -0000
By Matteo Adduci
Photo by Davide Martinotti
Youth employment pivotal to growth
Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:57:11 -0000
By Julie Kavanagh
The Party of European Socialists have dismissed as ¨empty proposals¨ a new EU draft paper detailling measures to tackle youth unemployment. With the issue expected to be high on the agenda at today´s informal summit, politicians and policy-makers alike are eager to emphasise youth employment as pivotal to growth.
Arab spring in Morocco: royalists recognise indigenous language
Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:49:52 -0000
Large-scale protests, like those seen on 20 February 2011, continue to be a familiar sight in Morocco. We talk to young Moroccans whose demands follow in the footsteps of the Arab spring – democracy, freedom, social justice – albeit with a royalist twist
Brussels Summit starts as Belgian strike action continues
Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:26:47 -0000
By Julie Kavanagh
Photo by Davide Martinotti
Today´s general strike in Belgium has seen transport ground to a standstill, but the European quarter of Brussels remains a hive of activity as the latest EU summit kicks off.
Dario Ivkovic: 'people don’t seem interested in roots of Balkan music'
Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:06:49 -0000
Best-known as a member of both the German touring group Shantel & The Bucovina Club Orkestar and French band Les Yeux Noirs, the Serbian accordionist is an electrifying personality onstage. We talk music legends, Balkan beats and why 'girls like guitarists better'
'Europe's painful fight against Asia' - British prime minister quoted in Polish newspaper
Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:00:11 -0000
Budapest: Another successful art center must leave its place due to political decisions
Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:38:06 -0000
After Trafó and Tűzraktér, Gödör must also go
On January 17, 2012 the management of the popular club in the heart of Budapest, Gödör, was informed about the rejection of their previously submitted plans and proposals, and they were also told to leave the territory of the Cultural Center and Park of Erzsébet Square on 1st of February 2012. From February on, the Cultural Center will be managed together with the neighboring Design Terminál as a common economic asset, and the Terminál will be responsible for the daily programs of both places. After Trafó and Tűzraktér, another successful art center must leave its previous place due to political decisions.
The Cultural Center and Park of Erzsébet Square has been hosting Gödör Club since 2002. The construction of Erzsébet Square started according to the plans submitted by the club-owner architecture firm, UNI-CO in 2000, but even until now, only the first phase of construction has been finished, the second phase is planned to be finished by 2013. The management of Gödör Club kept on submitting complex tenders for investments and operations, and they stated to the Trustee of the Hungarian Ministry of Administration and Justice that if they were forced to leave, they would need at least three months for the relocation. If so, they asked to be allowed to operate at least until 31st March, and to organize a farewell festival together with the new operators.
