Balkans. Thessaloniki. Human Rights. Youth Participation.
We are proud to present our 35th issue of Balkan Beats, a special edition put together in collaboration with the Anna Lindh Foundation! Here is a foreword by Aris Paraschou, co-head of the Greek network of the Anna Lindh Foundation: Τhe Mediterranean basin has always been the womb of civilization from which prominent cultures were […]
Journalistic freedom has had a rough year. Amidst a year of pandemic related restrictions and political tensions that predate the virus, democracy has suffered. It has suffered so much that, according to Freedom House, the state of democracy and human rights has weakened in 80 countries across the world. The World Press Freedom Index published […]
By Michael Magee and Giorgio Zambello In Colombia, heated protests have been taking place for over 2 weeks now, and have been met with extreme violence by the authorities. The trigger for the protests was the new tax reform proposal presented by the government on April 15 which would have lowered the threshold for which […]
2 students arrested for involvement in a pro-LGBTQI+ artwork depicting rainbow flags alongside the Kaaba were released on probation from jail earlier this month. Shortly afterwards, Erdogan pulled Turkey out of the internationally recognised Istanbul Convention on the grounds that it “normalizes homosexuality”. More protests followed as a result, with 12 students being arrested last […]
It feels as if there is nothing permanent but 2020, the endless year. Everyone experiences a struggle at some point in time; these struggles can make us better and stronger. Maybe the aim of the struggle we’ re dealing with now is to start from scratch, from our personal strengths and weaknesses to the way […]
As student protests in Turkey enter their second month, Istanbul’s Boğaziçi University alumni and supporters in Istanbul continue to organize daily demonstrations to voice disagreement with the appointing of their newest rector. Due to recent changes in legislation, Erdogan has become the sole authority to appoint political affiliate Melih Bulu, who was part of AKP […]
Today marks the start of GLAD International Film Festival, an annual event that aims to promote the values of tolerance regarding sex, race or social status. The festival is supported by many sponsors including the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Consulate General of France in Thessaloniki and the French Institute, as well as a […]