Videos: can divided Belgium hold together?

Belgians divided by language barrier - 23 Sep 07



Belgium Divided?_July 15 2008



There's another video here, and a couple more here (part1 and part2)

The BBC has a few articles on the Belgium Crisis (20 October 2008) ...

Belgium has launched a drive to reshape its institutions, following months of government paralysis. At the heart of the crisis is a tension between the Dutch-speaking Flemish and Francophones. In the final of a series of articles, Henri Astier asks if Belgium can remain united, and considers the lessons for other multi-ethnic entities.

How ironic that the home of the European Union is paralysed by diversity, and sees independent/separatist/homogenous sentiment grow stronger - no doubt partly as a backlash against the assault from open-borders immigration. Chairman Rudd is trying to tell us that open-borders is also the way of the future for Australia. But maybe the real future for Australia is also polarisation, political paralysis, and separation along ethnic lines.

And, just for a spectacle of nature, check out this trailer for a film about Belgium.