On 5th July 2007, the German Bundestag passed the Second Act Governing Copyright in the Information Society ("Second Basket" of copyright law reform). Four years after the first reform, a new balance has been struck between the interests of authors, exploiters, equipment producers and end-users, none of whom are, however, especially happy with the compromise solution....
more
In the fractured suburbs of France, young Muslim men are
increasingly acting as the guardians of public morals. Girls who don't
conform to Islamic behavioural codes are threatened with rape or death.
Fadela Amara's organisation "Ni putes ni soumises" ("neither whores nor submissive") is fighting back. By Rebecca Hillauer
read more
After turning his back on the opera eleven years ago and dedicating himself entirely to cinema, cult director Patrice Chereau has returned to the Festival international d'art lyrique in Aix en Provence with an impeccable staging of Mozart's "Cosi fan tutte". But why? By Claus Spahn
read more
In response to the French 'no' to the European constitution, France's new Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has proposed a new kind of union between France and Germany. Journalist and historian Gustav Seibt argues that this would be a disaster for Germany and insists that Europe be considered in a broader historical perspective.
read more
The French no is standing guard on the frontiers of the old European Community. The referendum on the constitution became a retrospective referendum against the enlargement from fifteen to twenty-five member states. Formerly Euro-skeptics, the French who recklessly promoted the no on May 29 have become Euro-nihilists. By Andre Glucksmann
read more
Both France and the Netherlands have rejected the European Constitution. German-Iranian author Navid Kermani reflects on what this means to him, as someone who wanted to become - or thought he was - a European.
read more
The practice of holding a referendum on a subject like the European constitution is suicidal. It is an electoral absurdity that puts in question the political intelligence not only of the French president, but also of his immediate entourage and communication advisers. By Paul Virilio
read more
An open letter to French voters from German intellectuals, artists and academics warns the French public that voting "No" to the EU constitution would mean betraying progress and abandoning the ideals of the Enlightenment.
read more
To the French naysayers: A Left which aims to tame and civilise capitalism with a "No" to the
European constitution would be deciding for the wrong side at the wrong
time. By Jürgen Habermas
read more
On Tuesday, Chechen leader Aslan Maskhadov was reported to have been assassinated by the Russian secret service. Philosopher Andre Glucksmann says "Thank you, Messrs Chirac, Bush and Schröder", on behalf of Czar Putin.
read more
RSS