by Barry Moody | 30 May 2023 | Europe
As Italian authorities reinvestigate the disappearance of a teenage girl from the Vatican 40 years ago we have to ask: Why is Italy so ripe for conspiracies? The Bramante spiral staircase at the Vatican. Credit: Andreas Tille (CC By-Nc-Nd 4.0) Prosecutors in Rome...
by Keya Dutt and Lusha Greer | 2 May 2023 | Europe, School Year Abroad, Student Posts, Youth Voices
In Palermo, paying “pizzo” or protection money used to be common practice. But now businesses say to the Mafia: Addiopizzo! This article, by high school students Keya Dutt and Lusha Greer, was produced out of News Decoder’s school partnership program....
by Patricia Cîrtog | 28 Apr 2023 | Climate champion profile, Contests, Europe, Writing's on the Wall, Youth Voices
Florin Stoican tirelessly worked to create Romania’s first citizen-led national park in a country that’s home to 65% of Europe’s virgin forests. Florin Stoican. Courtesy of Florin Stoican. This article, by author Patricia Cîrtog, was the Gold Prize...
by Alexander Nicoll | 18 Apr 2023 | Economy, Educators' Catalog, Europe, Nationalism
Brexit gave the British people independence from Europe. But can the value of national sovereignty be quantified and is it worth more than economic stability? A line of trucks wait at Dover to cross the British Channel into Europe post-Brexit in December 2020. AP...
ND correspondent Alexander Nicoll dives into the post-Brexit world in this article, assessing the balancing act between national sovereignty and strong economic growth. He gets into the past, present and future Britain faces as it navigates its independence from the European Union.
Exercise: In an exercise to teach students synthesis skills, have students create a political cartoon illustrating the central tension in this article — the balance between national sovereignty and economic growth in Britain post-Brexit. How students choose to portray this tension is up to them, but they should consider including: a meaningful caption, public figures, symbols, dialogue, etc. It may be worthwhile to show the class examples of successful political cartoons to inspire ideas.
by Elaine Monaghan | 7 Apr 2023 | Decoders, Europe, Journalism
Both sides of the Irish border mark a quarter century since the Good Friday Agreement. But can a divide that lasted generations be permanently bridged? Royal Ulster Constabulary Police officers stand on Market Street, the scene of a car bombing in the centre of Omagh,...
by Clover Choi | 4 Apr 2023 | Contest winners, Europe, School Year Abroad, Student Posts
France has spent hundreds of millions to help refugees with housing, schooling and jobs. But for those who aren’t fluent in French, life remains difficult. The Eiffel Tower is illuminated with the colors of Ukraine to mark the one-year anniversary of...
by Joyce Yang | 17 Mar 2023 | Europe, Personal Reflections
Think of Paris and your mind brings up the scent of fresh baked baguettes, not the reek of rubbish on the Rue de Rivoli. Trash accumulates meters away from the Notre Dame Church in Paris, 16 March 2023. Typically, my morning commute to the News Decoder co-working...
by Clover Choi | 10 Feb 2023 | Economy, Europe, School Year Abroad, Student Posts, Youth Voices
The Ukraine war has caused energy prices to skyrocket across Europe. In France, if costs don’t decrease soon, some bakers might have to say adieu! Baguettes in a boulangerie in Rennes, France. Credit: Clover Choi This article, by high school student Clover...
by Alistair Lyon | 22 Jan 2023 | Europe
One correspondent’s quest to procure French nationality and the maroon and gold passport that proclaims one a citizen of Europe. A French passport. (Getty Images Signature) It requires stamina and determination to become French. It took me three years to thread...
by Tom Heneghan | 19 Jan 2023 | Europe, Nationalism, Religion, Ukraine
Orthodox Christians find themselves in a tug of war in Ukraine. When you celebrate Christmas is political and the language of prayer belies national loyalties. Clerics conduct a service in St.Volodymyr Cathedral on Orthodox Christmas eve in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Jan....