Articles in Europe
Transnistria Open to Freight Traffic
In early May, the European Union welcomed the resumption of railroad freight traffic through the break-away state of Transnistria*, sandwiched between Ukraine and Moldova. Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, described the event as “a crucial step forward for restoring confidence between the sides to the Transnistrian issue.”
Mapping German Anti-Semitism
Since 1945, anti-Semitism in Germany went from official policy to taboo, but nonetheless a striking proportion of the German population to this day holds—and confesses to—anti-Jewish views. In a series of “cultural economy” studies, German scholars Nico Voigtländer and Hans-Joachim Voth set out to map and explain spatial patterns in the distribution of anti-Semitic attitudes in Germany.
Spanish-Argentinean Fishing Disputes
Tensions between Spain and Argentina have recently mounted. Last fall, Spain began to complain that its fishing fleets operating around the Falkland/Malvinas islands were being harassed by the Argentine Navy, despite having licenses from the Falkland Islands government—a government that Argentina does not recognize. More recently, Argentina nationalized the oil company YPF, a subsidiary of the Spanish company Repsol, angering both Spanish investors and European Union officials and provoking reprisals.
Helsinki Guggenheim museum debates
Helsinki may soon become home to a new member of the Guggenheim museum family. The proposed Guggenheim Helsinki would focus on Finnish art, architecture, and design. Yet, debates surrounding the proposed new museum, especially the funding issues, may yet sink the proposal.
Bog Wars in Ireland
An editorial in today’s New York Times, “Drop That Bog,” urges gardeners not to use peat moss, as doing entail the destruction of bogs and releases stored carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The editorial also notes that peat “has been used for centuries as a fuel in Scotland, Britain, and Ireland,” a geographically odd comment that implies that Scotland is not part of Britain.
Reading the Map of Scotland
Reading place names on a map can reveal who used to inhabit the land in earlier times. Take, for example, the map of Scotland. The toponyms here shed light on its earlier inhabitants: Picts, Scots, Anglo-Saxons, and Vikings.
“New City” (with mini-quiz)
The meanings of many toponyms are rather uncreative, describing features of the physical or social landscape. Perhaps one of the most common among those “dull” place names are those that mean “new city” or “new town”.
Norwegian No. 5,000,000 Born—and Other Norwegian Child-Related Issues
Norway has officially crossed the 5 million mark on Monday March 19, 2012. But not all child-related stories from Norway are that rosy.
Anti-nuclear protests in the Baltic states
Last week, environmental and non-governmental organization in Latvia and Lithuania organized a protest against building new nuclear power plants in those Baltic states, as well as in the neighboring Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
Edinburgh Leads at Scottish Restaurant Awards
The Scottish Restaurant Awards, now in its fifth year, acknowledges “the outstanding creativity, customer service and top quality dining that is on offer throughout Scotland”. Unlike in previous years, when the winners were more geographically spread, this year Edinburgh clearly emerged as the culinary capital of Scotland, winning eight of the 14 prizes on offer.
Terranova: The Black Petaltail - A Novel
Diversity Amid Globalization: World Regions, Environment, Development (5th Edition)
Globalization and Diversity: Geography of a Changing World (3rd Edition)
