Thursday, March 11, 2010

Radio Prague Today 3.11.2010

Articles posted on www.radio.cz today

Current Affairs: North America's "punk Islam" scene focus of One World film Taqwacore

The film Taqwacore, which is being screened in the One World festival of human rights documentaries in Prague, focuses on young American Muslims who have embraced rebellious punk rock music, leading to disapproval from some in their community. I spoke to its director Omar Majeed, who is himself Pakistani-Canadian, and began by asking about the origins of the style described in the film as "punk Islam."

Current Affairs: New take on legendary Velorex three-wheeler unveiled at Brno car show

It's been sixty years since the legendary Czech three-wheeler, Velorex, first took to the road. Ridiculed by some and admired by others, the curious vehicle gained many fans around the world. Now, the legend is back – on Wednesday, a luxurious remake of the vehicle was unveiled at a car show in Brno.

Current Affairs: Czech watchdog proposes EU data retention directive be looked into by Constitutional Court

The watchdog organization Iuridicum Remedium is proposing that the European Directive for Data Retention be looked into by the Czech Constitutional Court to assess if it is in line with the Czech Constitution. The proposal, which has backing from 46 parliament deputies, aims to stop the mandatory storage of technical data by communication providers, implemented in 2006 on the grounds of the said EU directive. The watchdog's Filip Pospíšil explains what data retention is exactly and how it could violate people's right to privacy.

Current Affairs: Labour offices told to get tough on work permits for foreigners as unemployment bites

Local Czech labour offices have been instructed to take a tougher line on permits for foreigners seeking work in the country or those wanting to prolong their existing permits. The instruction is a direct result of the mounting number of jobless Czechs. We look at the new recommendation and who it affects.

Panorama: Three North American imports help boost level of Czech women's hockey

The women's hockey club HC Slavia Praha last season recruited three foreign hockey players – two of them from a Canadian and one from an American university team - to help boost the level of women's hockey here in the Czech Republic. Julia Bronson, Stephanie Jones and Carson Duggan have just finished a successful season with their team, which won the Czech league, and are now heading to the women's hockey finals that are about to take place in Berlin. The three players talk about their experience here, the future of women's hockey and how they first started playing.