EuroQuest This Week: Thinking Big!
To the right, a picture of a house flooded during the Dutch flood of 1953. A disaster that led to the creation of one of the great engineering marvels of the 20th century, the Delta Plan.This week's EuroQuest theme is "Thinking Big".
Here's the rundown and you can even download the show in high quality at the bottom of this posting.
Segment 1 - Superpower Europe?
The EU can in no way compete with the US when it comes to military might. This is why Rob de Wijk has called for greater security and defense cooperation amongst European nations in a book called: "Europe the Superpower". Here he tells his ideas to Margreet Strijbos.
Click here to learn more about the Clingendael Institute.
Segment 2 - Strengthening Dutch Dikes
Around half of the Netherlands is under sea level, and as such, dike building and maintenance has always had the highest priority. Thijs Westerbeek reports on Dutch diking, starting his report on a dam that was so big it turned a saltwater sea into a freshwater lake.
Click here to learn more about the Delta Works
Segment 3 - France’s Manifesto City
Figures just published in France show the countryside is fast disappearing under concrete. But this is a tendency France’s top architects are determined to counter. And they’ve built a whole new model city to prove it. John Laurenson reports.
Segment 4 - Art Museum in Ceausescu Palace a Great Irony?
Ceaucescu’s Palace is considered to be one of the world’s most controversial monuments to megalomania. So, when the government decided to build the new Museum of Contemporary Art there, it created a small riot in local art circles. Jonathan Groubert reports from Bucharest.
Want to know more about the Palace? Check out the posting from November the 21st.
Please click here to download the full program in high quality.
Comments or violent dissent. As ever, you can leave them here below.
posted by Jonathan Groubert @ 3:12 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Hi JG, I had a chance to listen to the show today (running, as usual), and I had a couple of comments. I hope they're, um, 'useful.' ;-)
1) In terms of these 'ideas' the Romanians say they are 'so good at' coming up with for the future uses of the Palace (as per what was stated in the piece) I was wondering, since they are candidates for 2007 accession, whether they might find it an affront to have their ideas 'checked' against a panel of relevant EU experts from the outside? I mean, there are plenty of intiatives in other parts of the superregion where the teams are cross-border, yes? What I'm saying is, perhaps they've become too familiar with their own notions and need them to be checked from the outside, that might be the great harmonizer? Part of the 'opening up' process? Crazy idea, or fairly stated?
2) The dike piece: I loved it, and I was trying to visualize what Thijs was seeing as he stood out on it (even more, I was trying to imagine what a colossal feat of engineering it must have been for the Dutch back in the 50s!!!) but I think it more of a 'Research File' type of segment (my $0.02), and if I'm not mistaken, I think I heard Thijs and Laura already do it over there. Am I right? No umbrage intended.
3) I'd like to see more pieces about Romania and Bulgaria in the approach to 2007 -- anything planned?
Hi to Sarah, all the best.
Nothing planned, but have no fear, we will certainly do many things, particularly in Romania where we have good contacts.
JG, I know flattery is the fastest way into the heart -- but I have an honest admission to make -- you would make for an excellent mayor. No guff...
We need young guys like you to take the reigns. Take this link about the mayor of Prague's "Prague 6," Tomas "the Shoes" Chalupa (Chalupa means "shoes" in Czech), for instance...
With young guys like you running the show...you never know.
Thank you Jonathan Groubert & Euroquest, you solved the identity of a song I used to hear quite regularly on a community radio station. I christened it the ‘foreign whistling song’ as I couldn’t understand the lyrics and had no idea who it was by. I was listening to this segment aired on News Radio in Australia on Saturday, and you were speaking of the Numa Numa song, and I thought it sounded very similar to the song I liked. Anyway I immediately went on the internet and after searching on google and wikipedia and so on I discovered that the 'whistling' song, is O-Zone's Despre Tine. I had never heard of their other hit Dragostea Din Tei, the European wide summer hit of 2004. It never made it to Australia, which is such a shame as it’s so much better than the crazyfrog or schnappi schnappi. I like Dragostea Din Tei too now, but I still think Despre Tine is the best, the video clip is great and the whistling, what can I say, I love it.
Thanks so much!!!
Rachel in Australia
Apologies for the slightly frivolous subject matter of my comment, I just wanted to express my gratitude.
P.S. I enjoy listening to your show on ABC News Radio, its always interesting.
You're welcome Rachel. Indeed, Ozone is the new Las Ketchup. Remember that Spanish song with all the nonsense talk?
Anyway, thanks for the compliment!
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