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The Week in Germany: Culture May 11, 2007 Eurovision to Plug Fair Treatment Message in Europe
This Saturday (May 12), people from all over Europe will be tuning into
Eurovision 2007, an annual festival of fun and zany musical acts from
a cornucopia of countries, with one performance eventually emerging victorious
at the head of the pack based on TV viewers voting preferences on a nation-by-nation
basis. Like the European Union itself, Eurovision reflects the rich tapestry
of Europe, and goes beyond the EU's borders, including countries such
as Ukraine, Russia, and even Israel. So it is only fitting that this year,
along with the wacky costumes and catchy tunes, a more serious message
will also be flagged up by the European Commission - equal opportunities
for all.
As the Commission states on its website, the Eurovision song contest
and European year of equal opportunity have thus come together in Helsinki
for a week of entertainment and a chance to get a serious message across:
everyone has the right to equal treatment. Although EU anti-discrimination laws are among the toughest in the world,
only one third of its population know their rights in the face of discrimination.
At the same time, 64% of Europeans questioned in a survey think the problem
is widespread and 51% that not enough is being done to combat the issue.
Employment, Social Affairs & Equal Opportunities Commissioner Vladimír
Špidla, who was in Helsinki on Wednesday for the celebrations, explained
that the song contest provides a perfect way to let people know about
their rights: "What better framework than a vibrant European-wide
entertainment event bringing together all the different cultures and flavors
of Europe?" The contest has been running since 1956 and this year 100 million people
are expected to tune in. The equal opportunities campaign will have a
pavilion at the Eurovision village where it will pass on its message to
the 2,000 journalists expected to attend. As previously reported by TWIG, Germany's entry for this year's Eurovision
contest is jazz musician and swing crooner Roger Cicero with his song
Frauen regier'n die Welt (Women rule the world) - a tongue-in-cheek
title that perhaps inadvertently, however, underscores the EU's message
at the event. (TWIG/European Commission) Links: European Year of Equal Opportunities for All (European Commission) Swing Crooner Roger Cicero to Represent Germany at Eurovision Song Contest (TWIG, Feb. 23, 2007) Eurovision Song Contest Today (Everything you ever wanted to know...) |
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