“We are the 45%; the spirit of Yes; the people of Yes, pressing onward for justice, equality, hope, intelligence and freedom, for the 45, the 55, for Scotland.” More than a week after the Scottish independence referendum, some 'Yes' activists are still campaigning on social media. On September 19, Scotland made headlines by rejecting independence with 55% voting “no,” meaning it will remain a part of the United Kingdom. This came as a relief for many well beyond the borders of the UK, but as...

While China is about to celebrate its 65th anniversary, on these late days the country has been facing consequent pro-democracy protests. The « umbrella revolution » is happening, and protesters seem to be determined to reach their goal. While the news spread in the media, one should precise the circumstances of the movement. Status report. Since then, Hong Kong people could get, for the 2014 legislative election, the right to vote by universal suffrage for half of the 60 members of the...

Riga, the European Capital of Culture in 2014, multiplied events and festivals on Latvian culture this year. This distinctive status enables the inhabitants of the city to express themselves, and even to sing, in the name of the national folklore. Indeed, Latvians are often (and rightly so) considered as singer people. Like haikus in Japan, Latvia has its own poetic form: dainas, which are either sung or recited during people’s festivals. These unifying texts are vital to understand the...

It's been 20 years now that relations between Azerbaijanis and Armenian, two peoples from South-Caucasus, have been on standby. While business discussions between France and this region are good, one shall enlighten the territory conflict which is opposing them about Nagorno-Karabakh. In 1991, the USSR breakdown involved de facto the independence of its former Republics, among them Azerbaijan and Armenia. Nagorno-Karabakh – Azeri mountain region accounting for 94% of Armenians –...

A cross between football, sumo wrestling, and bumper cars, “bodyzorbing” is relatively unknown in France, but in England around 60 youngsters got the chance to try the new sport. Here is a look into the pastime that blends fun and physical activity. Could you imagine the joy on the faces of 12-13 year old teenagers to whom it is announced that they are being given the chance to push each other around, not only in a completely safe way without running the risk of being punished but also with the...

The Islamic State (IS) has taken centre stage worldwide in the past few months with its increased influence in the Middle East and threat to the rest of the world. The media has incessantly notified us of the beheadings of western journalists, of the torture, of the foreign recruitment and the advanced propaganda but history’s wealthiest terrorist group has also been committing terrifying sexual crimes against women. And it has been happening in obscene amounts, yet we don’t really hear that...

Between the alleged attach on a US air marshal with a syringe eight days ago, and health authorities overwhelmed by an unprecedented number of cases since its discovery, the Ebola virus is now the subject of concern about possible worldwide transmission. An article published by the New York Times questions experts on the possibility of people using the deadly virus as a means of biological terrorism. Pictures and figures are everywhere. The epidemic that has been rampant in West Africa has...

The South China Sea has been the stage of confrontations, for about fifty years, between its local residents concerning the wealth it withholds and its territories without formal owners. This unresolved conflict extends to the western world with the intervention of the United States and influences the relationship between its opponents. Since countries have discovered that there was as much, or even more, wealth in the continents than is the seas and oceans, they have been racing as to...

On September 14th, Swedish citizens went to the polls to elect their representatives at the national, regional and local level. Several stakes, such as the state of public finances and the privatisation of state-owned companies drove the elections, but the question of hospitality and integration for foreigners in Sweden was what drew the most attention, and probably led to the breakthrough of extreme right. The Moderates of the centre-right coalition, led by Fredrik Reinfeldt, also known as the...

This was an historical day, the day Scotland ultimately chose to adopt the “sorry not sorry” attitude thus saying no to its chance of becoming an independent nation. But what does this tell us about the recently vigorously encouraged Scottish nationalism ? And above all, what uncertain future is there for this newly divided people ? Despite SNP’s (Scottish National Party) hopes, 55% of voters dared to contradict their own leaders and chose to follow a different path for their future. The...