Europe at a turning point – Minister for European Affairs Frans Timmermans on European integration
March 11, 2009 2 Comments
Dutch European Affairs Minister Frans Timmermans recently visited his birthplace Maastricht to explain why he believes that Europe has “the best system in the world” to overcome the current economic and financial crisis. A review by Sofia Tussis.
The iron gates next to the windmills – Amnesty International Maastricht Students speak out on detention centres in the Netherlands
February 19, 2009 Leave a Comment
Is the welcoming attitude which characterized the Netherlands in the 1960’s and 70’s fading away? Amnesty International Maastricht Students on February 8th hosted an awareness-raising event titled “Detention without crime in the Netherlands?- A refugee’s reality”. A review by Sofia Tussis.
Will religion evolve or die?
February 14, 2009 Leave a Comment
Religion was at the core of the two recent events in Maastricht hosted by Studium Generale, and while they were both very different in their perspectives on the topic, they both succeeded in provoking conversation amongst the audience, and perhaps reorienting our ideas about the nature of our relationship with the transcendent. A review by Eliot Rolen.
How Calvinistic is modern Dutch society?
February 12, 2009 7 Comments
The influence of Calvinism in Dutch culture was the theme of a recent lecture at Maastricht University by Dutch author Han van der Horst. A review by Amandine de Rosnay.
Will Barack Obama redeem the US to the world?
January 28, 2009 Leave a Comment
“As an American expat who has lived abroad for much of the Bush presidency I have become accustomed to being told by everyone how much respect the world has lost for the United States because of its incompetent leadership, and I admit, I have lost faith in it as well,” says Eliot Rolen.
Will the newly elected US President Barack Obama redeem the US to the world? According to Dutch journalist and US politics expert Frans Verhagen, Obama appears to have what it takes. Eliot Rolen reports.
“You want to play a role in 2018? Then you need to be convincing” – Alexander van Grevenstein, artistic director of the Bonnefanten Museum
December 17, 2008 4 Comments
The Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht will in 2009 celebrate the 125th anniversary of its foundation. “With time, our institution has grown into the only art museum in the area, focusing both on old masters and contemporary art,” says artistic director Alexander van Grevenstein in an interview with Crossroads writer Saramicol Viscardi.
The Day of the International Student in The Hague
November 30, 2008 Leave a Comment
The Day of the International Student (DIS) this year again attracted thousands of foreign students to the city of The Hague. An initiative of the Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education, or NUFFIC, DIS is an opportunity for international students to get together and take part in various workshop or debates, have fun together during a dinner and a party, and overall feel welcomed in the Netherlands. A review by Catalina Goanta.
Going Glocal in the visual arts
November 22, 2008 1 Comment
The Glocal Affairs – Where Are You visual arts manifestation encompasses a number of different, and often unusual, events across the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion, with the city of Maastricht as its main location.
Besides exhibitions, the programme is rich in intriguing lectures, performances, tours and concerts, lasting until November 30, 2008. A review by Saramicol Viscardi
Kader Abdolah: “I learned this arrogance from the Dutch”
November 11, 2008 14 Comments
In the interviews he’s given to the media, the Iranian born writer Kader Abdolah says that he hopes that his books will lead to a better understanding of Islam and help promote the dialogue between Muslims and non-Muslims.
But the views he expressed on October 29 in front of the packed audience at Maastricht University were very hard to hear for faithful Muslims like myself, says Belgian-Moroccan student Esma Alouet.
Centre Céramique hosts 2008 World Press Photo exhibit, and more
October 27, 2008 Leave a Comment
Apart from hosting the 2008 World Press Photo exhibition in the coming weeks and presenting Limburg-made “Cradle to Cradle” products as of 7 December 2008, Centre Céramique offers many valuable resources for expats in Maastricht. A report by Catalina Goanta.
Review: All that Jazz!
October 24, 2008 Leave a Comment
A record number of 50.000 visitors, many of whom travelled from Belgium, England and France, converged to Maastricht for the recent Jazz Promenade festival. A review by Catalina Goanta.
Researchers’ Night: That’s Edutainment!
October 8, 2008 Leave a Comment
Organised by the European Commission, the Researchers’ Night is a European project that aims to increase public recognition for researchers through a variety of activities bringing together education and entertainment, or “edutainment”. This year, the Researchers’ Night took place on 26 September and the two Dutch host cities were Amsterdam and… Maastricht. A report by Catalina Goanta.
Cultural season opens in Maastricht
September 19, 2008 Leave a Comment
Maastricht recently celebrated the beginning of a new cultural season with a vast range of activities taking place in the city centre as part of the popular festival “Het Parcours” and the national Heritage Days . A photo-reportage by Catalina Goanta.
Maastrichts Mooiste 2008: Racing for health and habitats
June 18, 2008 Leave a Comment
About 9,000 people raced for healthy living in this year’s edition of the increasingly popular Maastrichts Mooiste event, which has evolved over the five years of its existence into a five-day fitness extravaganza. Next year may see the addition of a sixth day, organisers say. Or the event might become biannual. A report by Kathlyn Clore for Crossroads.
The Great Dragon: Africa’s great hope for development or simply profiteers?
June 9, 2008 Leave a Comment
May or may not Africa be viewed as an economic springboard for China’s forecasted rise to geo-political dominance? For its last event of the season, Maastricht Debates on May 20 decided to take a closer look at the Chinese strategy in Africa. A critical review for Crossroads by Eliot Rolen.
Schuman lecture 2008: Is Europe a reality without theory?
May 27, 2008 1 Comment
“Why is Europe boring? Why doesn’t it sell?” asked professor Ulrich Beck and the audience gathered in the lecture hall of the Maastricht Faculty of Economics went quiet. “The history of Europe is a story of ‘NO’,” answered Beck to his own question, “Europe is a lady in her 50’s, without a name. It’s a reality without theory.”
Is “cosmopolitanism” the missing narrative for Europe, as suggested by Beck?
A review of the annual Schuman lecture that took place earlier this month at Maastricht University, by Misia Furtak.
EuroMUN 2008: global debate, global party
April 25, 2008 2 Comments
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon would have been proud to witness the impact of his institution on young people at the recent EuroMun conference in Maastricht. Organised by the small team of the Maastricht United Nations Student Association (UNSA), the event attracted 450 students from all over the globe to the South Limburg capital. All had come with the same goal: take part in a European Model United Nations, simulating real life UN proceedings. A review for Crossroads by Tobias Gerhard.
Maastricht walks with Chinese Dinosaurs
March 30, 2008 Leave a Comment
The 26 metre long Mamenchisaurus is the largest of the four Chinese dinosaur fossils currently on display in Maastricht’s spacious Centre Céramique. It is the first time that they are being exhibited in Europe and people from all across the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and parts of France are flocking to Maastricht to admire the impressive beasts.
Islamic Student Association Maastricht: “Muslims are not afraid of critical debate!”
March 27, 2008 5 Comments
The newly established Islamic Student Association Maastricht ( ISVM) recently organised its first public event with a “Conference on Islam and the West”. Crossroads writer Henrik Hartmann speaks with ISVM’s chairman Zine Abhidin Zouggari about the perception of Islam after 9/11, Geert Wilders’ controversial statements, and how Muslims are represented in Maastricht.
Cold politics and lots of Russian gas to heat them up – a debate on EU-Russia relations
March 16, 2008 Leave a Comment
Under the heading “the EU and Russia: Strategic Partners or Competing Neighbours?”, three experts participated last week in a hot public debate on the political and strategic relationship between the EU and Russia. A review by Tobias Gerhard.
Democracy in the Middle East? The need for patience
March 16, 2008 2 Comments
Mr Eickelman, a US professor of Anthropology and Human Relations at Dartmouth University, Massachusetts, and senior advisor to the American University of Kuwait, recently visited Maastricht to share his views on “The Knowledge and Practice of Democracy in the Middle East”. A review by Eliot Rolen.
International Women’s Day at Atelier Mondiale
February 22, 2008 28 Comments
A multi art exhibition will on March 1 open the festivities around the International Women’s Day in Maastricht. Mondiaal Centrum has invited three women artists from South America, Alessandra Siviero, Cecilia Agüero and Amara Valencia, to present their work at its Atelier Mondiale.
A Lecture worthy of Charles Cooper
February 18, 2008 Leave a Comment
On 20th February more than 150 Maastricht University students, international scholars and members of the public were treated to a captivating lecture by Dr. Shyama Ramani on “the economics of toilets in India.” In the best storytelling tradition, Dr. Ramani delivered a lively mix of anedcotes and insightful analysis of the complex interplay of economic, [...]
13 Feb: Exploring the economics of toilets: a lecture on the role of innovation in development
February 6, 2008 Leave a Comment
“When Luc [Soete, Director of UNU-MERIT] said, ‘Shyama, why don’t you talk about the lessons for the economics of innovation from your Franco-Indian Reconstruction Project,’ I said, ‘Luc, do you really want to know about the economics of toilets?’ He said, ‘Why not?’,” recalls Indian economist Dr. Shyama Ramani.
Dr Ramani will discuss the potential of technology and innovation for development at the 2008 Charles Cooper Memorial Public Lecture and Debate at Maastricht University.
UNU-MERIT meeting: Can world prize competitions foster more equitable drug research and development?
February 2, 2008 Leave a Comment
Challenging researchers through international prize competitions to come up with innovative medicines and ideas for improving global health can help break existing profit-driven patterns that produce mostly drugs for the rich, according to world experts attending a landmark meeting devoted to the topic. More than 50 experts assembed in Maastricht Jan. 28-29 focused on how [...]
Review: Michael Klare in Maastricht: Oil addiction rehab or bust!
December 1, 2007 Leave a Comment
US Professor Michael Klare, an expert on Peace and Security Studies and author of the book “Blood and Oil,” recently presented a chilling perspective in Maastricht on the topic of energy in international politics. A review for Crossroads.
Review: The Naked European Citizen: State Surveillance in the EU, a lecture by Dr Douwe Korff
November 13, 2007 Leave a Comment
In a recent lecture entitled The Naked European Citizen: State Surveillance in the EU and hosted by Maastricht University’s Studium Generale, Dr. Douwe Korff, a Dutch Professor of International Law at the London Metropolitan University, provided both an educational and worrying perspective on the measures taken by governments in the pursuit of national security which may infringe on the privacy rights that form the core of the democratic ideal.
2 -25 November: World Press Photo Exhibit: The images of our times
November 12, 2007 Leave a Comment
What is the function of professional press photography today? How do images determine the way we look at the world? The citizens of Maastricht can now find out the answers to these questions at Centre Céramique, where the winning press photos of the 2006 World Press Photo Contest are currently on display.
WISER Festival in Maastricht: It’s time to get Wiser!
October 11, 2007 Leave a Comment
Almost 500 professors, researchers and students gathered on 4-5 October 2007 in the area around Centre Céramique to examine the role of women in Science, Education and Research through debates, demonstrations, performances, workshops and more informal parties. A review of the WISER festival in Maastricht for Crossroads.
Mahl magazine or the new Eutropolitan vision
October 5, 2007 2 Comments
Ever wished you lived in London or any other metropolis? Congratulations, say the creators of Mahl magazine, for if you live in Maastricht, Aachen, Hasselt, Heerlen or Liège you are an inhabitant of Eutropolis.
