Not a babelian yet?
Not a babelian yet?
'Banlieue' is the colloquial reversal of 'lieu du ban', literally, 'place of exile'. In the French suburbs, out of work labourers are holed up in prison-style buildings, along with their children, to whom they pass on their despair
High rents, fierce competition - just a couple of difficulties that 100, 000 people in Paris face when looking for accommodation
At 28, the author of comic series 'Marzi' – about a little girl living in the Polish People’s Republic - on her own story as a Pole between France and Belgium
After Eurobarometer and the ‘Index of Happiness’, a new index launched by a British think tank on 31 January aims to ‘measure’ democracy in 25 European countries – and get Europe's citizens to customise their own indices online. Interview
Magazines in auction rooms, high consumption in the art market - trend review
Better processors, improved data management possibilities integrated into consoles. Report from the 'Future Film Festival' in Italy
After seven years of waiting for an end to the Bush presidency, Europeans should not wait indefinitely in hope of redefining US interests
Public opinion in Poland is stirred after the American professor's post-war publication is released
May 1968 was a turning point in world history, but it was also a rupture for women's history. Feminists of yesterday and today tell us about their war
Rue de Seine, Paris 1952. ‘Never work’ is chalked on a wall. Two words about the philosophy of the 'Situationists' who transformed May 1968 and who still inspire activists today
In France, the fortieth anniversary of the May 1968 student revolts is fast approaching. Like it or not, the memory of this working class uprising is ever-present. The young people of France take the lead in their own style
Spain, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Poland and Germany - spinning through Europe's uprisings during that infamous year of rebellion
Dutch MP Pier Anne Nawijn dancing, that Bush-Merkel massage and Finnish MP Alexander Stubb fights for vodka in the European parliament
Talks of a European anthem were recently dropped, but to some Spaniards, it seems a shame to splice lyrics and lose what makes their country’s anthem unique
The Italian-writing, Paris-dwelling, prize-winning Albanian writer, painter and photographer, 39, describes beauty as disturbing, discusses her inspirations and is hopeful for Kosovo
The district in south-west Germany is a pioneering development that puts into action innovative rules for communal living in a unique environment. But this paradise of purity is not without its faults
British exes, banking superheros, Athens and garapos in Cuba - plus the latest Franco-German blog to watch out for
Temperatures soar as a group of young European journalists get steamed up about the Lisbon Treaty
Only 55% of Europeans state that they have any confidence in their parliament. On the benches of the French National Assembly, few young MPs are debating. How can the EU attract a new generation?
Before you make your own brew at home, find out who were the first ancient consumers
New Year kicks off with Mexican aspirations, Norwegian mix up of styles, a French princess of the turntables and a surprise coup from Hungary. This is the European music agenda for 2008!
30-year-old author of the book ‘New Romantic’, the journalist and editor of gay magazine ‘Dik Fagazine’ talks politics, left-wing politics and emotion-drained religion
A capital in transition has ‘bigger’ priorities than music and fashion. Dynamic young patriots use these elements of renewal to bring their city closer to Europe
Leaving an area scarred by ethnic conflict and fifty years of communism is a tempting prospect for young Kosovars. However, most of those who leave to study or work abroad decide to return for good
With a district extension of 572 km² and an uncertain population estimate of half a million, Prishtina is the most populated city of Kosovo and its administrative, political, economic and cultural centre
English teens, the Swedish Aimee Mann, pure Italian pop and the latest Polish hopefuls on the music scene this winter
With its blogs, podcasts, wikis and other so called 'social networks', version 2.0 of the web has propelled the surfer to the crest of the wave. Could this be a virtuous version of globalisation?
With one login in and a few clicks, virtual communities are promising many marvellous things. Meet kindred spirits, find a job or customise your universe
A very personal journey through a Europe of five (or six) senses with the French anthropologist and sociology professor
Having come 'en masse' to our planet, the metrosexuals, uebersexuals and retrosexuals have replaced man, the real thing, which from now on will be classified as an endangered species
The third international festival of reality comics is underway. It's a new kind of neo-realism with innovative trends, small budgets and international celebrities
Not overly handsome, but wickedly sophisticated. Neither being excessively ribbed in the torso department, nor metro-sexual in the feminine sense, here is a whistle stop tour of five 'vintage' men, all of who are ‘made in Europe’
The Paris-born Japanese-German slam poet, 30, lives in Mainz, is married to a Colombian and has more than plenty to recite on what Europe means to him
Whilst Dutch 'Party for Animals' may have seen its first representative enter parliament last June, other European politicians resist making animals their leitmotif
At the Berlin Film Festival, students smitten with the seventh art showcase films overlooked by mainstream distributors. Screenings are followed by heated debate between film buffs, all with a very critical eye
'Islamist' threats to power or positive signs of integration? A Ramadan special
The award-winning British historical and comedy detective novelist, 58, on 'being like most English people' and her original brand of writing
EU defence ministers meet in Portugal on 28 September for the final go-ahead for the deployment of EU troops in Chad and CAR, after the UN approved a resolution on 26 September
Millions of European students are (almost) heading back to their desks
While France and Finland are miles ahead in childcare in Europe, Germany is still struggling against old role models
For years, the convoys of lorries on European motorways have been becoming longer and longer. Stefan Kaegi and Jörg Karrenbauer relate their European-style road movie in Paris with theatre production 'Cargo Sofia-Paris'
Food, fashion, politics, football … a snapshot of the two countries in Alberto Toscano's words
With new stories, new audiences and the latest in technology, the musical is back with a bang in Europe’s big cities
Our pick of the best musicals on tour around Europe this autumn
Biting into Europe's political scandals as we trace five former prime ministers, presidents and ministers and their collective embroilments
In Liguria, north-western Italy, we come face to face with the French tight-rope walker, 35, and hear his views from above on Europe and the world
Basel dances, Barcelona premieres the best international short films and four cultures head the dialogue in ód, Poland – our monthly cultural calendar
The Poles have made up the second largest national minority in Berlin for years, but the eternal stereotype of Polish migrant workers has been disappearing of late. New blood is coming into the city - bringing students, artists and businessmen
Pink, Faithless, The Chemical Brothers, Nine Inch Nails; alongside more than 1, 000 musical events, young people show their commitment to the festival's 'Civil Village'. But for how much longer?
1 August is the Swiss national holiday – an occasion to reflect back on Swiss moves towards joining the EU
Despite a slow start to the summer weatherwise, Europe’s festivals – even outdoor festivals – are in full blossom. THE event overwiew for August
In March 2008 Russia's presidential elections will be held. Although no single one seems capable of taking the lead, candidates are appearing at the pace of mushroom growth
Switzerland’s stubborn neutrality and the fact that the country is considered a tax haven by many, these are the issues we want to discuss with the Swiss ambassador to the EU
Interview with Oscar Nebarada, editor of the Spanish newspaper El jueves banned from sale on 18 July for containing a caricature of the Prince and his wife in the throes of passion
The French singer of Dutch origin, 33, was born in Caesarea, Israel. She lived in the Netherlands until the age of 11 and sings in English. Now, she moves between Iceland, France and New York
Hundreds of Europeans arrive at the second Summercase festival, the first music event to be held at two 'airports' at the same time
Travelling through time, meeting surreal people in unreal places … Nothing is impossible at the cinema
Released in 2006, Elephants Dream was the first animated film made exclusively with open source software and released online as a free public download. Café Babel speaks to the film’s director
VJ-ing is a new fast-spreading discipline, which consists of mixing images and sound live
From 5 to the 11 September Linz will host one of the most important digital arts festivals. For the occasion one of the main streets in the city centre will be transformed into its virtual alter ego
Having finally awoken to the danger faced by our planet due to global warming, politicians and citizens are working to build green and sustainable living spaces. From ecologically-friendly homes to ‘eco-neighbourhoods’, Europe is going greener by the day.
Let's talk about sex, politics, and licking European commissioners on cafebabel.com's newly launched community pages and first multilingual blogging platform
In northern Europe, one out of two women uses a mechanical sex toy and 'Tupper-dildo' parties are increasingly popular
Organised via the internet, orgey offers often help sell holidays. A quick overview of the history of the old continent via this ancient practice which is present in almost all societies
