Eurovision and Olympics: can culture be separated from politics?
As the Olympic Games and Eurovision once again claim political neutrality, ongoing wars, selective bans, and public protests expose how fragile that statement really is. By comparing the IOC’s and EBU’s inconsistent decisions on participation, this article questions whether events built on national representation can ever be apolitical — and whether continuing to pretend so only deepens public distrust.
Blame it on the Newcomers: Who is really to blame for the Dutch housing crisis?
In the Netherlands, finding a place to live has become harder than getting admitted to university. As politicians point to international students as part of the problem, the real question remains: is the housing crisis caused by the people arriving, or by the houses that were never built?
Those of us who live on the social outskirts of our own country – a collection of queer stories.
“…One wrong turn and you may end up dead.” – Here’s what queer people are saying about the rising pressure they face in Georgia.
When Equality Meets Reality: Why Some Olympic Stars Didn’t Make the Games
The International Olympic Committee seeks to reduce costs and promoting gender equality by limiting athlete quotas, but at the cost of excluding stars.
Decolonising Language: How Words Shape Power, Identity, and Freedom
Language is never neutral. Everyday terms like “Middle East,” “Third World,” and “ethnic” still echo colonial perspectives that place Europe at the centre and cast other cultures as the “other.” Decolonising language means recognising these hidden power structures and rethinking the words that shape how we see the world.
The EU Migration & Asylum Pact 2026
The EU Migration and Asylum Pact, taking effect on 12 June 2026, seeks to standardize asylum rules across Europe through unified procedures, shared responsibility, and minimum living standards. As someone who fled Syria in 2013, I know the impact that safety and opportunity can have, access to education and programmes like the JA Company Programme allowed me to grow in ways that would have been impossible without protection.
Petra reports hate speech to social media: YouTube completely ignores us
Petra monitors online hate speech. Most illegal posts are ignored by social networks.
Voting, but not really heard
Civic education tells us how institutions look on paper, not how to influence them. And in a political culture that feels loud, tribal, and overwhelming, many young people enter their first election already feeling like outsiders.
Gender Equality as a European Policy Priority
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science was declared by the UN in 2015 a pivotal year marked by the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and is celebrated each year to support and advance women’s equal opportunities and participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The gender gap in science appears as a representation of persistent and structural inequalities that continue to limit women’s access to scientific careers.
