January 31, 2010 | Posted by NE Admin
Breaking The Habit. Police Impound Smuggled Cigarettes
1 Feb – Combating the Global Illicit Trade in Tobacco and the consequences for Europe and Africa
17:30 – 19:00, European Parliament, ASP, 1G2, Brussels
Speakers include; Austin Rowan (European Commission’s Anti-Fraud Office [OLAF], Head of Operations, Task Group Cigarettes); Dr. Michael Anibueze (Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health); Bart Staes MEP.
It has been estimated that 10.7% of global cigarette sales were attributed to illicit trade in 2006 and the major tobacco companies were implicated in the hidden trade, including British American Tobacco, according to an investigation by the British Medical journal, who say “Documents show that BAT has advanced its corporate interests by systematically exploiting strategic opportunities to supply the contraband tobacco trade throughout Africa. To date, BAT and its senior directors have remained unaccountable via litigation or public inquiry for these activities, which was epitomised by the abandoned investigation by the UK Department of Trade and Industry in 2004 amid reports of political pressure.87 The lack of public accountability to date for these activities, in some of the world’s poorest countries, starkly undermines BAT’s claims of corporate social responsibility.”
A new protocol to be discussed and signed by governments at a meeting in Geneva in March is expected to boost the war on illicit trade in tobacco products as it will make it possible for countries to disclose bank accounts of suspected smugglers. The manufacturing or distributing of tobacco products whose duty have not been paid or dealing in products that do not bear applicable fiscal stamps or unique identification markings is considered an offence under the protocol that would be ratified by governments.
The issue has huger implications, not just for health and lost taxes, but also for fighting organised crime and the dubious uses of the profits from smuggling.
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January 31, 2010 | Posted by NE Admin
5 Feb – 27 Mar – Olivier Megaton, Our Faces On Your Walls
11:30 – 18:30, Wereof, rue Antoine Dansart,
Olivier Megaton directing Transporter 3
Olivier Megaton, was born in 1965, exactly 20 years after the US army dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, which inspired hid pseudonym. He is best known as the Director of The Transporter 3, staring Jason Stratham, has had a varied career. He initially qualified as a psychologist, but took up a paintbrush instead. Deeply interested in urban culture, he took up street art and his grafitti, whilst his paintings began to be exhibited in galleries, firstly in France and then worldwide. In the nineties, Jean-Baptiste Mondino who encouraged him to take up film making and he has become one of France’s foremost action movie directors.
He has produced a great deal of short films and video clips for well-known or emergent artists, such as Negresses Vertes and JL Aubert and he has made ads for the some of the best known brands like Coca-Cola, Audi and Nike as well as TV shows or soundtracks and documentary films.
In a continuous attempt to work on the image, Oliver successfully managed to adapt his painting techniques to new materials and life experience. So, over the decades, he used aerosol paints, plexiglass and ink paintings. His major theme is to question the way icons are evolving and he succeeds in immortalizing their emotion. He takes special care to prepare his portrays which testify of a moment of life and telling us a full story. With his own language and sensibility, he communicates with everyday people through his artworks, having never truly left his love of street and urban art behind.
This exhibition, in the seriously cool Wereof Gallery is a chance to see this multi-skilled artist return to his roots.
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January 31, 2010 | Posted by NE Admin
4 – 7 Feb – VRAK Festival
7 rue Major René Dubreucq
This four day festival features over 30events, organized by The L, and provides opportunities for resident artists to share their research on work sites or mature multidisciplinary projects including theater, dance, performance, installations. It also includes concerts, cinema and a journey into the city. for the more sedate, there are workshops above the bar at the festival. The L said through his project that is taking the time to seek, to hesitate, to go back to better move forward and confront the public will emerge in surprising forms. Celebrating its second year, the organisers offer a pass, sold at a special price of 10 €, provides access to more than 30 events.
The festival mascot is the Lion of Ixelles and if you want a taste of the creativity and talent on display at the festival, check out the VRAK website, where a wonderful stop motion animation, featuring the lion moving through the streets of Brussels: http://tinyurl.com/neweurope304
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January 10, 2010 | Posted by Andy Carling
Stoned Immaculate
Ian Brown,
13 Jan – 20:00, Ancienne Belgique
We get the chance to see one of the most influential musicians of the last 25 years play live and at the top of his game. Ian Brown was the frontman for The Stone Roses, who in 1984 were one of the major forces behind the ‘Madchester’ scene that gave new life to the music scene in the North West of England. However the atmosphere around the band was chaotic and, after long legal disputes the band finally folded in 1996. The band have been cited as a major influence by Oasis, The Verve, The Charlatans, Kasabian, Coldplay and The Bluetones.
Since the split, Brown has continued to release records, some better than others, but all have been an interesting blend of musical styles as well as occasionally getting arrested and appeared in a cameo role in a Harry Potter film. His sixth and latest solo album, My Way has been getting good reviews, especially for its track “Stellify” that he claimed that the song was originally written for pop star Rihanna, but he thought he had created “a great sound” and kept it for himself. Speaking to Clash Magazine, he explained the song’s title, which turns out not to be a reference to a Belgian beer, but, “On each album, I try and get a word in on a Pop song that I’ve never sung before… that’s right back to ‘Waterfall’ and ‘Roses.’ I’ve never heard the word brigantine in a song before and it’s like find the word and on this one it was ‘inclement,’ like this inclement weather. I’d never heard before and then I came across ’stellify,’ the one before that was ’solarised’. Yeah, I just try and put one in each album.”
So, go and see a living legend, one who has mastered the mix of edgy and powerful guitar sounds, a rhythm coming from Jamaican dancehall, traces of soul and funk, but above all something unique, something original.
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January 10, 2010 | Posted by Andy Carling
Another Bloomin' Artist
Bedroom Art at Hotel Bloom, rue Royale
One of the city’s coolest hotels has been host to an unusual project to support young European artists. After going through a selection process a group of painters get the chance to put their designs on the walls of a hotel bedroom.
This gives them exposure, but more importantly, experience of gaining a commission and dealing with a client. The guests get so sleep in a unique room!
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January 10, 2010 | Posted by Andy Carling
Breakfast Briefing with the US Ambassador to the EU
13 Jan – 08:00 – 09:00, Crowne Plaza Europa Hotel, 107 rue de la Loi
William E. Kennard, the new U.S. Ambassador-designate to the European Union, will be giving one of his first presentations since being appointed by President Obama last December. He will be speaking on the subject of “US-EU relations – a new page or a new script?”
The U.S. President is extremely popular in Europe, and this could present the opportunity for new emphasis on transatlantic and – especially – EU-U.S. relations. There is no shortage of issues of common interest to be addressed between Washington and Brussels – from climate change to trade, from internal security to global finance and the Ambassador will present his administration’s vision and priorities for US-EU relations in 2010 and beyond, giving the audience a vital look at Washington’s aims and aspirations, post-Lisbon.
Ambassador Kennard was previously Managing Director of The Carlyle Group, a global private equity firm. Before joining the firm in 2001, he was Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission where he advanced policies that brought the Internet to a majority of American households, greatly expanded investment in new wireless and broadband networks, and made digital technologies more available to schools, libraries, low-income communities and people with disabilities.
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January 10, 2010 | Posted by Andy Carling
Art Exchange - © EVENTATTITUDE / P. RAOULT
Perrier Truc Troc
16 – 17 Jan – 19:00 – 01:00 (16th) and 10:00 – 18:00 (17th),
Centre for Fine Arts, Rue Ravenstein 23
So, what would you do to get a piece of art? This is the question asked by the organisers of this innovative festival, started in 1971 by Mon de Rijck and Charline Mahy, two Belgian artists who wanted to democratise the business of exhibiting and buying art.
Earlier, de Rijck had pioneered an experiment where artists could display their work for free and people could rent pieces, but the first Truc Troc was an outstanding success with 200 artists participating. Last years event attracted 20,000 visitors, double that of the previous year. Combined with a party atmosphere and DJ’s and others performing, this is an event to really enjoy.
The principle is simple; artists exhibit their work and visitors interested in owning it stick a post-it note next to the artwork, explaining what goods or services they can offer in return, with one proviso, no money! Previous exchanges have included swapping a sculpture for an old clock, a painting for a set of tango lessons, iPods etc. Some artists got a website built in return for a work and one got 20,000 earplugs. Sounds odd, but they were used in another work called 10,000 earplugs and I can still hear you lie. So, come and bid, but bid with imagination!
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December 4, 2009 | Posted by Andy Carling
Baby it's cold outside
Cool Connections
9 Dec, 16:30 – 19:00,Marivaux Hotel and Congress Center, bld Adolphe Max 98
The European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association might not sound too exciting, but they’re going to change that impression with their Cool Connections event. They will be greating live link ups with what they call the “highest, furthest and coldest places on the planet”. These are the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica Research Station, the Solar Impulse Plane (Swisscom, National Telecom Partner) and Research Station in Norway.
At each link up, the audience will be able to speak to and hear from scientists. The Antartic base, a Belgian initiative, is the first to achieve zero emissions and has just finished construction. The solar Impulse plane will be on a round the world flight, but what is special is that it is emmission and pollution free, being powered by solar panels on the wings. the research Station in Norway is also using technology and ICT to further science and the study of the climate.
This evening is an opportunity to speak directly to scientists in very remote places at the cutting edge of sustainable technology. The linkups will be followed by a debate on ICT’s Role in Sustainable Development: Will the EU Policy Framework for ICT-Enabled Sustainable Development Succeed?The discussion is chaired by Jo Leinen MEP, Chairman of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.
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December 4, 2009 | Posted by Andy Carling
“As God once said, and I think rightly...” Monty
Viscount Montgomery
Montgomery Roundabout
Overlooking one of Brussels most notorious roundabouts is a statue of the man it was named after. It’s said that only Montgomery could keep the traffic in order. He has a long – and painful – association with Belgium, being wounded here in WWI to his liberation of the city in WWII. He faces Avenue Tervuren, which is where the allied soldiers arrived in the city on September 3rd 1944.
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December 4, 2009 | Posted by Andy Carling
Satisfied Customers
Experience Brussels
BIP, 2-4 rue Royale
So, you want to know more about Brussels, but you’re short of time. Check out the Brussels Info Place at rue Royale. Inside you will find helpful staff who will introduce you to a variety of exhibits. the pernament expo is Experience Brussels where you will find information on the history and culture of the city, photographic displays of the people who make their home here alongside info on places to go, see, eat and innovative ideas like a scale model of Brussels that you can move around, giving you the chance to re-model a city. This particular feature is meant to be for kids, but nobody objected when I played around. The place is like Brussels, funky, quirky and enjoyable. happily it is also unlike Brussels so you won’t get rained on inside the building.
Currently there is a fascinating photographic exhibition of shots of the old Berlin Wall in alll its new locations and other photos of Europe. What can save you time and trouble is the staff’s expertise on what’s happening in Brussels and they are keen to help you choose events to go to. not only that, they also promote Arsene 50, a programme where tickets to cultural events can be bought for half price!
More information: www.biponline.be
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