Square of Europe (Russian: площадь Европы, romanised: ploshchad' Yevropy) is a square in Moscow. It is located outside the Garden Ring, just off Dorogomilovskaya Street, and borders on Kievsky Rail Terminal, the Radisson Slavyanskaya Hotel, and Berezhkovskaya Embankment overlooking the Moskva River.

The square used to be part of Kiyevsky Rail Terminal Square and received its present name in 2002 after it was redeveloped and enhanced with an animated fountain The Abduction of Europa designed by Belgian sculptor Olivier Strebelle. Another major landmark is the pedestrian Bogdan Khmelnitsky Bridge across the Moskva River, built in 2001. The bridge links the southern corner of the square to Khamovniki District.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Evropy Square

Photo gallery[link]

• 

  Animated fountain, lit at night

• 

  Square of Europe lit at night

Coordinates: 55°44′38″N 37°34′10″E / 55.7438°N 37.5694°E / 55.7438; 37.5694

This Moscow location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Beppe Grillo
Leader of the Five Star Movement
Incumbent
Assumed office October 4, 2009
Personal details
Born	(1948-07-21) 21 July 1948 (age 63) Genoa, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Political party	Five Star Movement
Relations	Married
Children	6
Occupation	Comedian, Activist, Politician
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Website	http://www.beppegrillo.it/

Giuseppe Piero Grillo, better known as Beppe Grillo (born 21 July 1948), is an Italian activist, blogger, comedian and actor. He has been involved in politics since 2009 as leader of the Five Star Movement.

Biography[link]

Grillo was born in Genoa, Liguria.

After receiving his degree as an accountant, Grillo became a comedian by chance, improvising a monologue in an audition. Two weeks later he was discovered and launched by Italian TV presenter Pippo Baudo. He subsequently participated in the variety show Secondo Voi for two years (1977–78). Later, in 1979, he participated in Luna Park by Enzo Trapani, and Fantastico.

In the 1980s his success rose further, thanks to shows like Te la do io l'America (1982, 4 episodes) and Te lo do io il Brasile (1984, six episodes). In these shows, he narrated his experiences of his visits to the United States and Brazil, with anecdotes and witticisms about the culture, lifestyle and beauty of these places.

As a result, his popularity grew more and more, and he became the protagonist of another show developed especially for him, called Grillometro (Grillometer). In 1986, he was the star of prize-winning advertisements for a brand of yogurt.

Soon after this, his performances began to be characterized by an increasing level of political satire, often expressed in such a direct way that he quickly offended a lot of Italian politicians. In 1987 during the Saturday night TV show Fantastico 7, he attacked the Italian Socialist Party and its leader Bettino Craxi, then Italy's Prime Minister, on the occasion of his visit in the People's Republic of China. Grillo said:

If the Chinese are all socialists, whom do they steal from?

The joke hinted at the totalitarianism of the PRC, but even more to the widespread corruption for which the Italian Socialist Party was known. As a consequence, Grillo was effectively and silently banished from publicly owned television; yet, he was vindicated a few years later when the Italian Socialist Party had to be disbanded in a welter of corruption scandals known as Tangentopoli, uncovered by the Mani pulite investigation. Craxi himself died in Tunisia, unable to return to Italy where he would have been jailed for several convictions.

Consequently, from the beginning of the 1990s his appearances on television became rare: according to many people, the reason for this is a silent ostracism by politicians offended by his revelations about their hidden financial activities, frauds and false claims. When one of his shows was finally allowed to be broadcast by RAI, in 1993, it obtained a record share of 16 million viewers. He was later banned definitively from Italian television.

He currently performs in theatres in Italy and abroad, often with outstanding success.^[1] Grillo's themes include energy usage, political and corporate corruption, finance, freedom of speech, child labour, globalization, and technology. Recently Grillo started to encourage the use of Wikipedia as the future of knowledge sharing, and generally he is a strong proponent of internet freedom.^[2]

Political activism[link]

Beppe Grillo in Bologna speaking at V-Day.

Grillo has spearheaded several national and international political campaigns. On Sept. 8, 2007, he organized a "V-Day Celebration" in Italy; the "V" stood for vendetta, vengeance, and vaffanculo ("fuck off"). During the rally, Grillo projected the names of two dozen Italian politicians who had been convicted of crimes ranging from corruption and tax evasion to abetting a murder. More than 2 million Italians participated in this rally.^[3] Grillo also used this rally to urge Italians to sign a petition calling for the introduction of a Bill of Popular Initiative to remove members of the Italian Parliament who have criminal convictions of any kind from their office.^[4] According to Internet scholars, V–day was the first case in Italian history of a political demonstration developed and promoted via word–of–mouth mobilization on the blogosphere and the social web.^[5]

This was followed by the second V-Day on 25 April 2008, in Turin, S.Carlo square. This V-Day was dedicated to the Italian press and its government financial support; Grillo heavily criticized the Italian press for the lack of freedom; Umberto Veronesi (about his support for incinerators); NATO bases in Italy, the politicians (Silvio Berlusconi had recently been re-elected) and Retequattro, still holding on to TV frequencies already assigned to Europa 7 [2].

Beppe Grillo in Turin during electoral campaign.

On 1 September 2005, thanks to contributions from readers of his blog, Grillo bought a full page advertisement in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica in which he called for the resignation of the Bank of Italy's (then) governor Antonio Fazio over the Antonveneta banking scandal. In October 2005, Time chose him as one of the "European Heroes 2005" for his constant battle against corruption and financial scandals.^[6]

On 22 November 2005 Grillo also bought a page in the International Herald Tribune, again claiming that members of the Italian Parliament ought not to represent citizens if they have ever been convicted in a court of law, even in the first degree of the three available in the Italian system.^[7] His blog now contains a regularly updated list of members of the Italian Parliament who have been convicted in all three degrees, in what he calls "operation Clean Parliament".^[8] Grillo claimed, in 2007, that data suggested that even Scampia, the most dangerous suburb of Naples and one of the areas with the highest crime rate in Europe, actually had a lower crime rate than the Italian parliament's membership.^[9]

On 26 July 2007 Grillo was permitted to speak to the members of the European Parliament in Brussels, where he drew attention to the dangerous, negative state of current Italian politics.^[10]

In August 2008, Grillo was the subject of a report on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC-TV) international affairs program "Foreign Correspondent". Titled "The Clown Prince" the report profiled Grillo's life, political activism, V Day campaign, and use of the internet as a political tool.^[11]

In 2010, he started a political movement called "Movimento 5 stelle" ("Movement five stars"), without the desire to be a leader and to be elected, but only to join, by the Internet, people who believe in ideals like honesty and direct democracy, and saying that politicians are only subordinates of the people and that they should work for the country only for a short time and only if they are not condemned for crimes, and thinking about the problems of their country without any other interest. The movement will be truly a party chance only from the next political round, when they will purpose their name not only in some regions but also in the political elections. The five stars represent the five basic points of the shared program: Water, Environment, Transport, Connectivity, Growth.

Beppegrillo.it[link]

Grillo maintains a blog (available in Italian, English and Japanese) at beppegrillo.it which is updated daily. Comments to posts regularly top the thousands (in the Italian version). According to Technorati, the blog is ranked among the 10 most visited blogs in the world. In 2008, The Guardian ranked Grillo's blog among the world's most powerful blogs.^[12]

Grillo often receives letters of appreciation and support from prominent figures, such as Antonio Di Pietro (former Italian Minister of Infrastructures), Fausto Bertinotti (former President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies), Renzo Piano, and even Nobel Prize Winners (like Dario Fo, Joseph E. Stiglitz, Dalai Lama, Muhammad Yunus).^[13]

Legal issues[link]

In 1980 he was found guilty of manslaughter for a car accident in which he was the driver; three passengers lost their lives.^[14]

During his shows Grillo never hesitates to name firms and personalities he considers corrupt, always supporting his views with data and documents^{[citation needed]}. For this reason he has been sued several times for libel by many people and organizations which he had exposed, such as Telecom Italia.

When Italian judges were investigating the Parmalat scandal, which was then the world's largest corporate bankruptcy scandal ever, Grillo was called to testify as he anticipated the imminent collapse of the dairy conglomerate in one of his shows. When he was asked by judges how he has been able to discover that, he simply said that Parmalat's financial holes were so evident that anybody who had enough ability to see them would see them, since the corporate accounting was easily accessible.^[15]

Criticism[link]

Grillo is often criticized for his lifestyle. In particular, critics blame him for owning a motor yacht and a Ferrari sports car, both being in contradiction with his well known ecologist stance. In his blog he admits that he did, in fact, acquire both but has since sold them.^[14]

Grillo is also criticized for taking advantage of the Condono Tombale, a fiscal amnesty granted by the first Berlusconi government in 2001, which Grillo publicly opposed.^[16] Grillo commented on this issue during the V-Day demonstration. He said that he had personally benefitted by only €500^{[citation needed]}.

Grillo has proposed that members of the Italian Parliament who have a criminal record should be barred from public office. As Grillo himself has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter caused by a car accident^[14] his critics^[who?] say he has no right to represent Italians either. Grillo has always stated that he is not interested in becoming a member of the Italian Parliament anyway.^[14] Despite this, in July 2009 he publicly expressed his intention to present himself as a candidate for the PD's primary elections^[17] which, however, does not imply automatic presence in the Italian parliament.

Another proposal of his is that members of Parliament be limited to two government terms of office after which they might not stand again. Detractors^[who?] argue that this would shorten the political life of competent and expert politicians, usually drawing Alcide De Gasperi, Aldo Moro and Enrico Berlinguer as examples of brilliant politicians who served more than two terms. Marco Travaglio replied that, for that sake, also the political life of much less popular Clemente Mastella would have suffered.^[18]

Grillo is criticized as being a mere demagogue who attacks politicians on superficial issues and their private lives while unable to provide a valid alternative. For instance, Daniele Luttazzi, famous Italian satirist, criticized Grillo in 2007 in an open letter published on the website of the news magazine Micromega. Luttazzi accused Grillo of being a "demagogue" and a "populist", suggesting Grillo to choose between satire and politics, asserting the two are incompatible.^[19]

In 2007 Grillo criticized the "Memorial Day of Foibe Massacres and Istrian-Dalmatian exodus" and the President of the Italian Repubblic Giorgio Napolitano^[20]

Filmography[link]

Grillo has appeared in three movies:

• Cercasi Gesù (1982)
• Scemo di Guerra (1985)
• Topo Galileo (1987)

In 2008, Grillo featured in the documentary, The Beppe Grillo Story, produced by Banyak Films for Al Jazeera English.

References[link]

External links[link]

Official websites[link]

• The English version of Beppe Grillo's personal blog
• Beppe Grillo's fans meeting map around the world

Other resources[link]

• 'Time' article about Grillo
• 'New York Times' video about Grillo
• 'New Yorker' Beppe’s Inferno

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. Its neutrality is disputed. Tagged since February 2012. Its tone or style may not reflect the formal tone used on Wikipedia. Tagged since February 2011.

Daniel Boys
Daniel Boys at the Stevenage Christmas Lights Switch-on, 18 November 2010
Born	(1979-03-26)26 March 1979 Yateley, Hampshire
Occupation	Actor, singer

Daniel Boys (born 26 March 1979, Yateley, Hampshire) is a British musical theatre actor, best known as a contestant on the BBC talent series Any Dream Will Do in 2007.

Acting career[link]

Daniel Boys is a performer whose career encompasses TV, West End musicals, national tours, as well as numerous concerts and recordings. His appearance on the BBC TV talent show Any Dream Will Do in 2007 established him as one of the UK's emerging musical talents.

Daniel Boys won a Cameron Mackintosh scholarship to study at the Guildford School of Acting, where he graduated with a B.A. Hons, 2001.^[1] He was selected to perform in the first UK tour of Jonathan Larson's Rent, which meant leaving college early. He understudied the characters of Mark (played by Adam Rickitt) and Angel, eventually taking over the starring role of Mark, performing on alternate nights at the Prince of Wales Theatre, in London's West End. He has also played Morino in the UK tour of Sunset Boulevard, which starred Faith Brown.^[2]

Boys appeared as Roger, one of the T-birds, in Grease at the Victoria Palace for its twelve month run. This led to him travelling with the production to Japan, and playing the role of Doody in Scandinavia and Cyprus. He also performed at Party in the Park with the company of Grease.^[3] Guest appearances with Grease also included Blue Peter and The Graham Norton Show. His other theatre credits include; Doug in the workshop of The Trouble with Doug (Northampton Royal & Derngate); Jason in Ordinary Days (Trafalgar Studios); Christian in the London Premiere of "Wolfboy" (Trafalgar Studios); Eddie in the workshop of Painted Lady: The Princess Caraboo Scandal (Bristol Old Vic/Finborough); Princeton/Rod in "Avenue Q" (Gielgud/Noel Coward – Winner of 2009 Theatregoers Choice Award for Best Takeover in a Role); Austin in I Love You Because (Landor); Anthony in "Sweeney Todd" (Royal Festival Hall); Mark in Rent (European Tour) and Parson Nathanial (u/s) in "Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds" (National Tour),

In 2011 Daniel created the title role in a brand new musical version of Peter Pan, firstly playing at the Grand Canal Theatre, Dublin over the summer and then transferring to the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton for the Christmas Period.

[edit] Avenue Q

In late 2008, Daniel joined the cast of the hit show Avenue Q. For over two years, Daniel played the lead roles of Princeton and Rod. He won the What's On Stage Theatregoers Choice Award for 'Best Takeover in a Role' for his performance.

[edit] Any Dream Will Do

In 2007, Boys participated in the BBC reality show Any Dream Will Do. On May 19, he was the 7th contestant to be eliminated from the series.^[4] During the series, the judges tested his vocal skills on a wide variety of music genres including rock, swing, ballads, and pop. His only opportunity to sing a musical theatre number was during a sing-off, in which he performed "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables against Lewis Bradley. Daniel received the least number of votes, and was chosen to leave the show by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

[edit] John Barrowman, Another Side and Music Music Music Tour

In 2009, John Barrowman, judge on Any Dream Will Do, invited him to come on tour as a special guest in John Barrowman's Another Side Tour 2008 at the Hammersmith Apollo on 13 April 2008, alongside Ben James-Ellis and Keith Jack. He was a solo guest at the concerts held in Brighton (17 April) and Portsmouth (18 April).^[5] He has toured with John Barrowman on his Music Music Music tour, singing some solo material from his debut album and a duet with John Barrowman, "I Know Him So Well"

Concerts and live performances[link]

Daniel was a featured soloist in the Disney's Enchanted Evening series of concerts that performed all over the UK in the summer of 2004, with the final concert being televised on BBC1 as the BBC Family Prom in the Park.^[6] Also, he has appeared in other high profile concerts in the UK as a featured vocalist, such as The Best of The West End.^{[citation needed]}

In 2005, Boys took part in BBC London's Children in Need - The Musical.^[7]

Boys understudied all male roles in the 2006 UK tour of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds.^[1] He can be seen on the live tour DVD special features, performing in place of Russell Watson in the dress rehearsal.

Boys appeared as Anthony Hope in Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street which was one of the first shows to open at the newly restored Royal Festival Hall in July 2007. He was a guest on Radio 2's Friday Night is Music Night which was recorded live at LSO St Lukes, London. He also took part in three concerts, West End Comes to Walden: An Afternoon of Show Songs, When You've Got It, Flaunt It! and Georgia Stitt and Friends in Concert.

On September 14, 2008, Boys performed at Andrew Lloyd Webber's 60th Birthday concert in Hyde Park, singing "A Light at the End of the Tunnel" alongside other finalists from the TV series "Any Dream will Do" and "I'd Do Anything". Boys appeared on the BBC programme "Songs of Praise" on January 11, 2009, performing the song "You Know Better than I" from the animated musical "Joseph - King of Dreams".^[8] In May 2009 (culminating in a performance at London's Royal Albert Hall on June 1, 2009) Boys performed alongside John Barrowman in his latest Music Music Music tour. He performed 5 numbers, including one from his debut album entitled So Close. On December the 6th 2009, Boys performed with fellow artists in "Christmas in New York" at the Prince of Wales Theatre. Among his songs were "Ave Maria" and "Winter Wonderland".

In February 2010, Boys performed with Jessie Buckley in two concerts in Manchester and Birmingham entitled "Valentines at the Musicals" including songs from West Side Story and My Fair Lady. In 2009 Daniel’s debut solo album So Close was released. To coincide with the release, Daniel embarked on a series of solo concerts performing at venues such as Leicester Square Theatre, the Delfont Room at the Prince Of Wales Theatre, Wilton Music Hall, Greenwich Theatre and three sold out performances at the renowned Pizza On The Park, London. He made his American debut with the show when he performed at Show at Barre (Los Angeles), supported by Broadway actress Megan Hilty, and in Australia he played both Sydney and the Adelaide Cabaret Festival alongside acts such as Olivia Newton John and Chita Rivera.

Further concerts include: No Space For Air (Apollo); Christmas in New York (Prince of Wales & Apollo), An Evening with John Barrowman (Arundel Castle), A Spoonful of Stiles & Drewe (Her Majesty’s), Party in the Park (Hyde Park) amongst others. Daniel is also a regular soloist on BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night.

On Oct 21, 2011, Daniel played Judas in the 40th Anniversary production of Godspell alongside Kerry Ellis at the Palace Theatre, Manchester.

Recordings[link]

In 2008, Boys recorded a song for the CD Act One - Songs From The Musicals Of Alexander S. Bermange, an album of 20 brand new recordings by 26 West End stars, released in October 2008 on Dress Circle Records.

His debut album 'So Close' launched on June 1, 2009, something Daniel had always wanted to complete. Mixed by Grammy award-winner and cousin Jerry Boys in early 2009, each track was carefully chosen to reflect Daniel's varied taste in music. The penultimate track 'Always There' features the backing vocals of friends, family, and fellow cast members as a tribute to their support and friendship.

Boys also recorded the song 'My Brother's Eyes' on Terry Pratchett's 'Only You Can Save Mankind', which was released on November 23, 2009, and recorded a version of I Know Him So Well with John Barrowman for his 2008 album Music Music Music.

Daniel recently recorded an exclusive track for Disney called 'The World is Something You Can Imagine' which can be found in their stores worldwide. It was also released as a charity single with proceeds going to the Disney Appeal at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Daniel can also be heard on numerous recordings including the cast recording of Wolfboy, More With Every Line - the Songs of Tim Prottey-Jones, Only You Can Save Mankind, Christmas in New York and Act One. 2011 has also seen him contributing to Helena Blackman's, Shona White's, Michael Bruce's and Dougal Irvine's debut albums.

Discography[link]

• So Close (2009)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Daniel Boys website
• IMDB Page