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Category Archives: Politics
Brexit: if you’re a masochist, it’s the real deal (Part 2).
In my previous instalment, I tried to address a few common misconceptions around the EU; in this one I’ll try and have a look at the three main scenarios that the UK could follow should it decide to secede from … Continue reading
Posted in Politics, Reflections
Tagged Boris Johnson, Brexit, Britain, Brussells, Bruxelles, David Cameron, EEA, EFTA, EU, EurLex, European Union, Eurostat, Federica Mogherini, Immigration, InFact, Nigel Farage, Norway, Office for National statistics, Politics, Referendum, Switzerland, United Kingdom
2 Comments
Brexit? If you’re a masochist, it’s the real deal (Part 1).
This time last year we were all panicking about a possible Scottish secession, something that surely appealed to Braveheart fans, but didn’t make sense under any other point of view. This year it’s Brexit and, since work has sort of killed … Continue reading
Posted in Europe, Odd ones out, Politics, Reflections
Tagged Boris Johnson, Brexit, Britain, Brusells, Bruxelles, David Cameron, EU, EurLex, European Union, Eurostat, Federica Mogherini, Immigration, InFact, Nigel Farage, Office for National statistics, Politics, Referendum, United Kingdom
2 Comments
The UK general elections: they’re doing it all wrong.
So, on May 7th citizens of the UK will be going to cast their ballot to elect who’s going to have the privilege of living at No. 11 for the next five years. As a foreigner living in London, and … Continue reading
Posted in Europe, Politics, UK
Tagged Cameron, Churchill, Economics, General elections, Immigration, Income inequality, Labour, Manuka honey, Miliband, Nigel Farage, Thatcher, Tories, UK, UKIP, Westminster
4 Comments
Where the vita isn’t dolce.
There are, in every country, in every language, words that have a deeper, more profound meaning than the mere concept they define. Take, for instance, Balaclava: in British English, might be a garment used by bank robbers or motorbikers, but … Continue reading
Posted in Emilia Romagna, Europe, Italy, Politics
Tagged 2 Agosto 1980, Anni di Piombo, Bologna, Bologna Station, Bomb, Bomba, Brigate Rosse, Ciavardini, Fioravanti, Italia, Italy, Italy's Civil War, Marco Biagi, NAR, Politics, Stazione di Bologna, Terrorism, Terrorismo, Years of Lead
8 Comments
Irrelevant differences: visiting Mellah, the Jewish quarter of Marrakech
“Est-ce que ceci a été le quartier juif, donc?” Is this the old Jewish quarter, I ask, rather timorously, to my self-appointed guide. It’s Sunday, the day that will pass to history for the biggest gathering of people in a single … Continue reading
Posted in Africa, Faith, Morocco, Overlooked locations, Politics
Tagged Africa, Islam, Jews, Juifs, Marrakech, Marranos, Mellah, Morocco, Muslims, Peace, Slat El Azama, Spain expulsion, Synagogue
4 Comments
Maids in the Middle East
There’s a brilliant cartoon on the BBC Magazine this week. It’s called Almaz’s Story and it’s been made by Benjamin Dix and Lindsay Pollock of Positive Negatives. It’s a story that most of us must’ve heard frequently, the one of an … Continue reading
Posted in Asia, Dubai, Middle East, Politics, Reflections
4 Comments
Occupy Central vs Beijing: it’s turning nasty.
I don’t want to turn this into a politics blog but I cannot avoid writing about Occupy Central and their protests. Ever since I saw them picketing a skyscraper downtown, belonging to a wealthy billionaire with connections with Beijing’s elite, … Continue reading
Posted in Asia, Hong Kong, Politics, Reflections, Uncategorized
Tagged China, Democracy, Dictatorship, Elections, Freedom, Hong Kong, Journalism, Occupy Hong Kong, PRC, Protests, Universal Suffrage, Xi Jinping
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Reducing one’s personal environmental footprint: my way of dealing with the problem.
I’m a climate change sceptic. It’s not that I don’t believe it’s happening, but I seriously think that most of what’s happening in the world has very little to do with us and there’s plenty of evidence to support that. Look … Continue reading
Posted in Politics, Public Transportation, Random memories, Reflections, Uncategorized
Tagged Climate change, Co2 emissions, Earth, Ecology, greenhouse gas
1 Comment
“Unreasonable Behaviour”, by Don McCullin, Vintage
I was ravaged and confused by this war as never before, and could not see not the smallest justification for it. Or for my presence here – unless it was to remind people, through my pictures, of the futility of … Continue reading
Posted in Books review, Israel, London, Middle East, Palestine, Politics, UK, War journalism
Tagged Books review, Don McCullin, Photojournalism, War
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