Communcation Breakdown

What are we doing wrong? European Unity seems to be an ever more unpopular concept. Can we not do something to fix it? I'd like to hear your opinions. I promise to respond.

EU Apathy in France
Today, many French people remain suspicious of the EU’s direction and what they see as its free-market policies. The upside is Eurosceptiscm seems to be putting an end to a generation of political apathy in France. Alasdair Sandford has more from Paris.
Want all kinds of information about the EU at your fingertips? Try EuroStat!

Border Coffeeshops
The Belgium government is deeply unhappy about the growth of coffeeshops, where marijuana is sold, all along the Dutch/Belgian border. Remco de Jong has more from a coffeeshop in the Dutch border town with Belgium, Terneusen.
The last large Dutch government report on their (soft) drugs policy in PDF Format.

Eurostorytellers
Traveling through a European airport this summer, you might well come across some weird and wonderful sounds and languages in story form. That’s thanks to a new EU-backed project to whet people’s appetites for European languages. Vanessa Mock went along to Brussels Airport to find out more.
An organization whose ridiculous name I won't write out, but here's the acronym, CICEB, has organized the airport storytelling. Check it out.

Esperanto Radio from Poland
Helene Michaud meets WOJTEK VSAKIEWICZ or Adalberto of Radio Polonias Esperanto service. She asks him about the world of broadcasting in a so-called constructed language.
Multlingva Informcentro pri Esperanto
Radio Polonia in Esperanto

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The Other Side of the Fence

Today's EuroQuest has one side of the story, standing on tiptoes and peering over to the other side of the story and maybe seeing it their way, for just one second. Maybe they're living another lifestyle. Maybe they're moving country. Maybe they're trying not to hate. The other side of the fence in this week's EuroQuest.

Spiritual/Secular Struggle in Turkey
The shooting of two high court judges in Turkey prompted mass demonstrations. Tensions in the country have been steadily rising over concerns about the country’s direction. Dorian Jones has more from Istanbul.
Der Spiegel has a fantastic English language interview with Turkish writer/dissident Orhan Pamuk on the nature of Turkish secularism.

Polish Migrant Workers in Holland
The Dutch government took what measures it could to keep Polish workers out...but two years on, it’s clear that substantial numbers have nevertheless found their way to the Netherlands. Fiona Campbell takes up the story...down on the farm.

Belgian Asylum Seekers
Churches in Belgium are full because of an ongoing protest by thousands of asylum seekers wanting a general pardon and residence permits for all illegal immigrants. Some have even gone on hunger strike to press their point home. Remco de Jong looked for himself.

As an addendum to the two previous items, recent polls have show that there has been a steep rise in xenophobia in the Netherlands. Click here for the full Radio Netherlands article.

Jewish Muslim Friendship Bus
The Jewish Muslim Friendship group wants everyone to "get on the friendship bus": literally. It’s a bus, and it’s been on the road for the past year. Nick Champeaux recently flagged it down in the Parisian suburb of Nogent sur Marne.
Want to know more? Here's another article from CRIF- The Committee Representing the Jewish Institutions in France.

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What a Waste!!!!!

These gentlemen planted their recyclable mobile phone and grew a sunflower. If they can do it, so can we!

A program filled with some original ideas about how to limit waste. Plus a few warnings. Plus something about sausages.

Segment 1 - Eco Clothing
It seems the latest fashion trend is "Green" clothing. Naomi Fowler reports from London’s first comprehensive ethical fashion exhibition that’s trying to persuade designers and consumers to care about what you wear.
Click here for more on Eco Clothing info for the UK

Segment 2 - France to Bury Nuclear Waste
This is what the French are debating solutions to disposing their waste. But as Nick Champeaux reports, the option will not be burying it if the people of Bure, the proposed site, have something to say about it.

Segment 3 - Green Mobile Phones
It seems most of us put mobile phones in the bottom drawer for good after an average of only 18 months. But the thing is, they’re filled with plastic and heavy metals and, as Marnie Chesterton discovered, that’s becoming a serious problem.
Link to the Dead Ringers Exhibiton at the London Science Museum

Segment 4 - Cities and Water Use
If we’re to believe scientists, the melting icecaps will mean there’ll be too much water around. The problem is too little of it will be potable. Professor Huub Gijzen says it’s time for change in the way we use water.
For more info on the Switch project click here.

Bretzel Anyone?
Segment 5 - Kyle James on German Food
Kyle James opines about the options available to the millions of soccer fans from around the globe, currently searching for something to nosh on in Germany.

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Reconcilation in this Week's EuroQuest

At left, the Basque separatist movement ETA announcing what it calls a permanent ceasefire. But how likely is that?

In a world filled with violence and acrimony, a program of unlikely reconciliatons.

Segment 1 - Poland Proves to be Israel’s Ally
Poland has developed a "special relationship" with Israel. A fifth of the Israeli population has roots in Poland. Democracy and membership of the EU have transformed Polish/Israeli relations as Radio Polonia’s Rafal Kiepuszewski reports.
Here's the original article from Radio Polonia.

Segment 2 - Theo Richmond on Polish Anti-Semitism
Theo Richmond is a British author of Konin: a Quest, in which he traces his own family history in a Jewish village in Poland. Here’s what he had to say about Jewish persecution in the West of Poland in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Here's a link to Theo Richmond's Page at Random House

Segment 3 - Armenian Resurgence
As Turkey is trying to join the EU, it is liberalizing all its minority laws. As a result, the sound of Armenian music and especially books by Armenian writers are reappearing. Rhoda Metcalfe speaks of a second awakening of Armenian culture in Istanbul.

Segment 4 - The ETA Ceasefire: Do They Really Mean It?
Last March, ETA made the announcement everybody was waiting for: a permanent ceasefire. There have been other ceasefires. But this time, as Christophe Schmidt reports from the region, most observers seem to think they mean it.
Wikipedia has a fantastically good page on ETA.
*Addendum: The conservative Popular Party just withdrew its backing for the peace process with ETA. Click here for a Reuters article.

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