Compared with the rest of Europe Slovenia is among the countries with the lowest number of women in politics and women in leading positions at large organisations are also a rarity there. In an opinion piece in the daily Večer, teacher Danica Jordan examines why this is the case: "In Slovenia the concerns of the women's movement are seen to only be relevant for certain women and above all in established circles are perceived as uninteresting. ... But what is happening on the periphery could take centre stage and bring a turnaround if activists and academic initiatives for women left their relatively closed circles and moved into the limelight; if by applying their theoretical and specialist knowledge they sought to bridge the gap between theory and practice and thus exert a global influence on the diverse and cultural relations within civil society where politics plays a key role." (05/09/2008)

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All available articles from » Danica Jordan

The Danish daily Jyllands-Posten turns its attention to so-called Freetown Christiania, the alternative neighbourhood founded in 1971 in the borough of Christianshavn in the Danish capital Copenhagen. For years the government tolerated the consumption of soft drugs like hashish and marijuana there. Under pressure from the liberal right-wing government, the hash dealers demolished their stalls in 2004 and since then the drug dealing has moved underground. Jyllands-Posten notes that in recent times Christiania has increasingly come to be associated with drug consumption and other types of crime. "Over the years the residents of Christiania have become so accustomed to lax and fearful authorities that the confrontation with a resolute man like director Carsten Jarlov [of the real estate authorities] came as a shock. He has announced that the party is over and that charges will be brought against a number of private individuals in the so-called Freetown unless public order in accordance with the law of the land is established." (05/09/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Social movements, » Denmark

Because Bulgaria's state budget currently has a large surplus, the ruling socialists have come up with plans to send 5,000 pensioners on holidays for free. Journalist Martin Dimitrov comments ironically in the daily Dnevnik on how the lucky 5,000 could be selected from among 100,000 pensioners: "I will take the liberty of proposing two different approaches: one could go through the entire photographic archive of the communist and the socialist parties and select the most active participants. In my opinion participation in at least three demonstrations should be the minimum requirement. A national lottery could be held to determine the other half of the winners. But that leaves the problem of deciding which hotels are to accommodate the holidaymakers. Therefore I will make another suggestion to the government: the hotels should be owned by businessmen who are already on the blacklist for misappropriating EU funding - this would be a kind of compensation for the funding they can no longer receive." (04/09/2008)

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All available articles from » Martin Dimitrov

A conflict has broken out on the Baltic island of Usedom between German nudists, adherents of the "Freikörperkultur" or free body culture, and Polish holidaymakers. The weekly newspaper Die Zeit reports from the front line in the "nude beach war". "The birthday suit is older than the swimsuit industry, and beach ordinances are younger than the nudist tradition. What people forget today is that Goethe bathed naked, Bismarck bathed naked, and the royal spa-doctor Richard Kind from Swinemünde on Usedom warned in 1828 against bathing in swimsuits, because they neutralise the beneficial effect of the pounding of the waves. ... The bathing war is as old as bathing itself. It is an irony of history that Swinemünde of all places should fall prey to prudish mores. You will never see a topless woman on the beach at Świnoujście, but you will see masses of people in various states of undress. ... Soon Poles will be warned in Polish of naked Germans, while the Germans will be warned in German of prudish Poles. The finishing touches are being put on the signs." (28/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Enlargement / Neighbourhood Policy, » Public Culture, » Germany, » Poland
All available articles from » Evelyn Finger

Legalised squatting in the Netherlands is to be banned after 30 years. This is stipulated in a draft law supported by a majority in parliament. "Finally", writes the tabloid De Telegraaf: "These distinguished squatters are not above using violence, they abuse the property of others and attract troublemakers from other countries to terrorise house owners and entire neighbourhoods. Finally they are getting what they deserve. This has been far too long in coming. Thanks to the support of city council workers, many of whom also have a squatting past, the squatters were able to do just as they pleased for decades. ... This marks the end of a sombre era for which the state also bears responsibility. Because the large number of vacant buildings is a result of the mismanagement of our country, and a solution must be found. But the law will soon make clear: anyone who squats buildings and uses violence will go straight to jail." (27/08/2008)

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The brutal attack on two Dutch citizens in Rome has led to a political dispute which culminated in the mayor of Rome saying it was the victims' own fault. De Telegraaf newspaper suspects the mayor's remarks are motivated by domestic policy considerations. "Apart from the fact that we do not know why the couple chose precisely this spot to set up camp, it is in the worst possible taste to use their tragedy to clear one's own political reputation. Naturally the two suspects who have now been arrested were entirely responsible for their acts and no one can blame Rome's municipal authorities. But by talking about it being the victims' 'own fault' the mayor is making it clear that he is oblivious to the feelings of the Dutch victims, who certainly did not ask for all this. If the mayor of Rome is unable to keep his election promises he cannot blame the unsafe situation in his region on two unsuspecting holidaymakers." (26/08/2008)

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A mass drinking bout planned in Zürich for the end of August by a 17-year-old apprentice is causing a stir in Switzerland. Thousands of prospective bingers have announced their participation over the Internet, and the city's sanitation department is considering banning the event. "Why is this curious idea upsetting people at all?" asks Der Tagesanzeiger newspaper. "The provocation lies in its senselessness. All intellectual explanation has been avoided, and in this over-commercialised event-driven world the invitation has been reduced to the core: guzzling alcohol. ... A ban would be the wrong reaction. One must not overreact in the face of provocation. But both the public and the authorities must self-critically observe what really transpires at this mass booze-up - and if need be intervene. Noise and dirt have long been not just a problem caused by senseless binge drinkers, but by a society part of which has abandoned all pretence of politeness and style. This reality cannot be be dispelled by the police." (20/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Hartmeier, Peter

Luxury dwellings are being built in the Berlin district of Kreuzberg - much of whose population has a low standard of living - which for security reasons have parking spaces on the upper floors. De Standaard newspaper comments: "Why don't people who are so afraid of their surroundings that they don't even want to walk from their cars to the front door just move to another neighbourhood? Rich people need an audience, they need looks of admiration and envy. They feel especially secure when they know that wolves are prowling outside their 'gated community'. ... The elevators for the luxury cars can lift almost five tons, meaning the armoured limousines can also come upstairs. But what happens when the lift is busy, or worse still, broken down? The inhabitants will be forced to take the stairs, and walk (unprotected) among all the beggars and loitering youths to get a cab. All at once they will be humans in the midst of other humans, and in need of trust." (18/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Oscar van den Boogaard

In the Italian daily La Repubblica, British writer and TV producer John Lloyd responds to the British daily The Independent's accusation that Italy is rife with bans nowadays. "I find it difficult to believe that my illustrious colleagues at The Independent are talking of the same Italy I know. ... Unlike Italy, where social titles, rank and courtesy are still deeply rooted, the United Kingdom often demonstrates a rather confused behaviour in the social sphere. ... To emphasise the prevalence of bureaucratic regulations and social norms that ban any form of enjoyment is to misjudge Italian society. The cliché that Italians have a happy disposition is well-founded. ... We envy the Italians their capacity for fun and drama. It may be true that the rules of society control and also restrict, but seldom for long. In Italy the desire for pleasure is stronger." (18/08/2008)

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All available articles from » John Lloyd

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung calls the top French politicians' handling of the visit by the Dalai Lama in France a "pitiable balancing act. ... President Sarkozy is not about to endanger nuclear deals with China, and has offered the Tibetan religious leader a meeting with his wife. And foreign minister Bernard Kouchner, who was always clear on what human rights were in the past, let it be known he had no time for the Dalai Lama. Of course, Ségolène Royal had no intention of losing this opportunity. The defeated socialist presidential candidate received the Dalai Lama, although her message had been entirely different during the election campaign. And all of a sudden perhaps Kouchner does have time. All the while the Dalai Lama smiles politely at this ignoble game. He is used to his presence giving politicians high blood pressure." (18/08/2008)

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