From Joshua Goodman (The Gaulois/Eclectica):

New: Suuns – 2020
“I spent the last part of March in my native Canada, so it seemed only appropriate to go local.”

Old: Suuns – Arena (2011)
“Thumping tune. It’s entirely possible I picked ’2020′ just to be able to share this song.”

From Solène Meissonnier (The Gaulois/Eclectica):

New: Coma – My Orbit
“A very atmospheric track, with male voices that are like a caress. Perfect to handle Brussels’ winter hangover.”

Old: Coma – Faimless (2011)
“Another track from Coma which made me dance crazily a few years ago when I was just discovering this city’s nightlife…”

Nicolas Bucci (Eclectica):

New: Jens Bond, Jacob Phono – No Cure (Audiojack’s Jam On Mars)
“From Leeds, passing through Chicago, Audiojack’s alien techno brings you straight to Mars. Especially after minute 4.”

Old: PETS025: Rachel Row (Follow The Step) – Follow The Step (Trikk Mix) (2012)
“And yet another great remix of one of the best tunes of the last months.”

Edward, James and Joshua have been discussing John Kerry’s recent visits to European capitals in his new role as US Secretary of State. They also chat more broadly about how the EU is viewed by it’s friend across the Atlantic.

1. The Detroit Experiment – Think Twice

2. Smak – All I Need

3. Genius Of Time – Tuffa Trummor Med Synt

4. Bicep – Don’t

5. Ejeca – Pushed (Bicep Remix)

6. Tube & Berger & Milan Euringer – Lovebreak

7. Mario Basanov – We Are Child Of Love

8. Oliver – I Need You

9. Joris Delacroix – Air France

10. Rachel Row – Follow The Step (Kink Remix)

11. Bit Funk – It’s My Love

12. Grum – Want U

13. Janet Jackson – Got Til It’s Gone

I posed that question one year ago, on International Women’s Day, when I looked at the distribution of senior positions to women in a few of the European institutions: the cabinets of European Commissioners, the Directorate Generals and the European Parliament. The results were not encouraging, leaving the European Union and Commission Viviane Reding susceptible to charges of hypocrisy.

A year gone, it seems appropriate to broaden the scope of analysis. After all, if the EU’s main grievance is with the boards of European corporations, why not look at the gender representation on the boards of some of its own key institutions?

So let’s take a look at the gender balance on the three EU boards:

• The European Central Bank (ECB)
• The European Investment Fund (EIF)
• The European Investment Bank (EIB)

The ECB has three governing bodies: the Governing Council, the Executive Board and the General Council. While each body varies in size and composition, there is one commonality – there are no women serving on any of them. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

A damning statistic, indeed.

The EIF has a slightly better record, though it’s rather difficult not to improve on nothing. Out of the seven positions on its board, only one is held by a woman. The board also has six alternate positions, of which none are occupied by females. If you look at the board in total, then, only 7.7 percent of the available positions are held by women.

The ray of sunshine in this picture, if there can be one, is the EIB. Of the 28 Directors of the institution, eight are female (a meagre 28.6 percent). Five of the 16 alternate positions are also held by women (31.3 percent). That’s not great, but a noted improvement over the ECB and the EIF. Concerning, is the fact that the EIB’s expert body (three positions) has no women; the same goes for the alternates.

If we total the numbers, it’s a very concerning picture. Only 14 percent of positions on boards are held by females, though the number increases to 15 percent when you consider alternates. That level of representation is analogous to that which exists in the corporate realm, something the European Commission is trying to fix.

And therein lies the problem. The EU remains divided over whether to implement a quota system on the corporate world to ensure greater gender balance, and that debate will almost certainly intensify today (see here). Last year I argued that “If the EU truly wishes to promote gender equality in corporate Europe, it should lead by example; less a worthy initiative be doomed by glaring hypocrisy.” Sadly, that conclusion still holds true.

1. Kathleen Edwards (Kathleen Edwards) – Buffalo

2. Emily Haines (Metric) – Twilight Galaxy

3. Ruth Radelet (Chromatics) – The Page

4. Andrea Estella (Twin Sister) – All Around And Away We Go

5. Madeline Follin (Cults) – You Know What I Mean

6. Kazu Makino (Blonde Redhead) – My Plants Are Dead

7. Jana Hunter (Lower Dens) – Propogation

8. Beth Gibbons (Portishead) – The Rip

9. Tessa Murray (Still Corners) – Endless Summer

10. Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak) – Civilian

11. Bethany Cosentino (Best Coast) – I Want To

12. Leslie Feist (Feist) – Past In Present

13. Régine Chassagne (Arcade Fire) – Haiti

It felt right to start and finish with some Canadian music. I hope you enjoyed it! Stay tuned for our next mixtape.

From Joshua Goodman (The Gaulois/Eclectica)

New: Still Corners – Berlin Lovers
“I love Still Corners’ first album (Creatures of an Hour – 2011), so I’m eagerly anticipating the follow-up in May. This is the second single.”

Old: Still Corners - Cuckoo (2011)
“If I was still in high school, this song (and likely most of this album) would be on my ‘make-out’ mixtape. Sexy stuff.”

From Solène Meissonnier (The Gaulois/Eclectica)

New: Den Ishu & Noah – Ride the Boogie
“I love this one for the very slow, increasing tension at the beginning and because the whole track makes you feel cosy without killing any ‘let’s go out and party’ mood at the same time.”

Free download here.

Old:6th Borough Project – Miss World (Soultourist Remix)(2009)
“Another great example of where deep house successfully meets soul music!”

James and Joshua recommend a few podcasts – beyond this one, obviously. The links to their favourites are below.

The Bugle Podcast (Satire/Politics)
Slate’s Political Gabfest (US Politics)
NPR’s Planet Money (Economics)
NPR’s Fresh Air (Interview)
This American Life (Storytelling/Everything)
BBC’s The Infinite Monkey Cage (Science/Comedy)

Have other favourites? Send them to us!

One of my favourite tactics is the attempt to capitalize on everyone’s rock star fantasy by taking to the stage to display some sort of musical talent. I always find it amusing, whether successful or not.

This past weekend, while conducting research on the ongoing coalition discussions in Israel, I stumbled upon a video of political hot shot Yair Lapid, leader of the second largest party Yesh Atid (There is a Future), getting on stage at a victory party and partaking in a rendition of The Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends.” Now Lapid is a former TV presenter, rather dynamic and easily relates to the average Israeli, so I don’t think he was in need of a popularity boost. But it did get me thinking: what are my top three favourite political music moments that actually went well?

3) Bill Clinton on the Saxaphone

Former US President Bill Clinton’s saxophone performance on the Arsenio Hall Show certainly made this southern charmer even more likeable, even if it set a new standard for cheese. How could to old men like George H. W. Bush and Bob Dole ever stand a chance against this Kenny G enthusiast?

2) Stephen Harper on the Piano

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is not known for his affable personality or his dynamism. He’s a conservative economist whose commitment to fiscal responsibility is as rigid and unflappable as his hair (you can become a fan of Harper’s haircut here and see Jon Stewart’s take on it at 2:54 of this video). So Harper surprised more than a few when, in October 2009, he took to the stage with cellist Yo-Yo Ma to perform a rendition of “With a Little Help From My Friends” (seems to be a popular choice with politicos). Did it work? Hard to say, but it certainly didn’t hurt. Harper led the Conservatives to a third-successive electoral victory and his first majority government a year-and-a-half later. In fact, yesterday was the seven-year anniversary of when he was first sworn in as Prime Minister. I guess one could put this in the win column.

1) Barack Obama on Vocals

As if President Obama wasn’t cool enough. Last January, at a fundraiser in New York City, he showed that his penchant for captivating speeches isn’t his only talent when placed in front of a microphone by singing some Al Green. (Warning to our male readers: if you watch this with your female partners, their reaction will make you VERY uncomfortable. I suggest leaving the room.)

Hmmm… Obama on vocals, Harper on keys and Clinton on sax – could be quite the band. If you have a favourite political music moment, share it below.

During my three years working in politics in DC, grassroots were a critical component of every advocacy campaign I worked on. In Europe, however, the tactic still remains a foreign concept, for the most part.

On 31 January, I had the opportunity to sit down with Sara El-Amine, who served as National Training Director for the Obama 2012 campaign. Yes, that would be the same Sara El-Amine who was personally congratulated by President Obama on her engagement to a fellow campaign staffer in November (video here).

Sara was in town for a conference on grassroots advocacy co-organised by the AJC Transatlantic Institute and the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung. Our conversation, which took place just before the conference and includes tips for European political campaigners and activists, can be listened to below. (The Gaulois thanks the AJC Transatlantic Institute for the audio)

Whenever I told someone I was going to Cuba over the Christmas holidays, responses varied from “cool” to “I hate you” to “you’re not serious?” But whether impressed, jealous or dubious of my choice, all would ask the same thing as the conversation unfolded: “Why do you want to go there?”

It’s a very good question.

Unlike its neighbouring islands in the Carribean, Cuba is not known for its luxurious resorts and pristine beaches, though it makes a valiant effort to market itself as that with slightly misleading posters. Besides, to travel all that way simply to simply sit on a beach seems a bit excessive. There are certainly better options only a few hours away from Brussels. And anyone who knows me is well aware of my proclivity for hiding from the sun, not exposing myself to it. (I was the one on the trip who came loaded with an arsenal 50+ spf suncream).

I also can’t say I went to Cuba to pursue my inner-Ernest Hemingway, a man who is indeed a large part of Cuban folklore. Sure, I did trim my beard down to a Hemingway-esque moustache (photo to come) and enjoyed more than a few daiquiris (he was on to something there), but unlike for the many tourists who pay to see where the author slept, drank and whatnot, he was a mere footnote during my travels.

No, my sojourn in Cuba was motivated primarily by curiosity.

Cuba is, on paper, a fascinating country for a number of reasons. First, there is the romanticism one generally associates with the country: whether the tales of Hemingway, the sounds of the Buena Vista Social Club, the legends of the mob life in Havana in the late 1940s and 1950s, or the classic automobiles. And it exists to a certain extent.

A row of classic cars in front of the capital

Second, there is the political intrigue. Now I should state upfront that this chronicle is not intended to offer any sort of political commentary, but one cannot ignore the context. Having grown up in Canada, devoted much of my undergraduate studies to Cold War history and spent the last few years in Europe, I have only seen examples of the shortcomings and failures of communism and socialism. Yet it lives on in Cuba and one has to wonder why and to what degree of success?

So off to Cuba we set; a Canadian, a Brit (fellow Gaulois Edward Robinson) and a German (my friend Daniel), none speaking much Spanish and all truly uncertain what to expect.

When you arrive at Jose Marti Airport, southwest of Havana, any romantic notions you might have had are quickly suppressed. I don’t mean to disappoint any of you, but we were not met at the gate by beautiful Cubans with warm smiles, delicious mojitos and a band playing local music. In fact, the reception one gets lacks warmth entirely.

First, the airport is dated and falling apart – a fact the Cuban authorities attempt to mask with signs claiming the facility is undergoing refurbishment to enhance the comfort and experience of travellers. Yet if one cares to look, there is not a construction worker or tool in sight.

Second, the passport control that awaits you in the basement does its best to intimidate: it’s dark, rigid and full of security officers. At the end of the each passport check booth is a door leading to a mysterious location, which disappointingly turns out to be yet another security check.

Finally, there’s the currency exchange. The national currency of Cuba is the Peso, but tourist are forced to buy and use the Convertible Peso (or CUC) at 25 times the value. Nevertheless, the number quoted as the price is often the same regardless of the currency used. It’s capitalist exploitation at its best. We did come to terms with the concept rather quickly once we realised that, for example, a mojito – over-priced at 2.50 CUC – is still less than 2 EUR. They’re screwing you, but you can’t help but think you’re getting away with something as well.

With the airport ritual complete, we took a taxi to Havana. I’ll reserve the majority of my thoughts on the Cuban capital for the final post, as we returned for two more days at the conclusion of our travels. But allow me to share one aspect of the Cuban experience we were quickly introduced to in Havana – the jineteros or hustlers.

Jineteros are quite literally everywhere. Without exaggeration one can barely wander the streets of Havana for 5 minutes and not hear: “My friend, where are you from?” Don’t think a polite answer of “Canada” will satiate their thirst. It merely enables them. “Canada? Wonderful country! My cousin lives in Toronto!” (Doubtful). If Daniel responded that he was German, “My sister lives in Dusseldorf!” (What a coincidence…) Edward’s English heritage spared him little.

Rather quickly, we figured out the best defence was to select more obscure nationalities: Daniel became Lithuanian, I chose Swedish (immediately and frustratingly confused with Switzerland) and Edward opted for Scottish, which despite its close geographic proximity to his native land, was often deemed a world apart.

Another useful tactic was to lie about when we arrived. You see, a newbie to Cuba is the tastiest prey of all, so it is wise to say you’ve been in the country for at least a week and have travelled around a bit – a line that intimates you’re on to their scam and usually results in the jineteros moving on to a hopefully more naive victim.

On the prowl for tourists…

The jineteros in Havana were mostly a nuisance, simply trying to scam a CUC or two. They would offer to sell us a Cohiba that was not actually a Cohiba, to take us to a special, one-day-only Buena Vista Social Club festival that seemingly occured daily (we never managed to make it despite the countless invites…), or to direct us to a restaurant apparently owned by their cousin – yet miraculously always the same place (everyone in Havana, it would seem, is related to the proprietors of Rosa Castro).

On the flip side, the jineteros also provided some pretty good comedic fodder as we travelled across the country. So after three full days in Havana, we hired a car and hit the road – again unsure of what to expect, but almost certain we would not be disappointed.

(Stay tuned for Part II when the guys travel to Matanzas and Santa Clara.)