Stories about French from February, 2009
Madagascar: Rumors terrorize Antananarivo
Truth and freedom of speech and opinion seem to be victims of the political crisis that is now crippling Madagascar. Threats are being made and rumors being spread, all contributing to a climate of terror that prohibits peace and normal life. Jentilisa, a blogger who has not given his support...
Martinique: Bitterness after “The Last Masters”
Ever since the February 5th broadcast of The Last Masters of Martinique, a documentary about the Békés, the French West Indies have experienced the equivalent of a sociological tsunami. Bloggers and regular citizens alike are writing to express the shock, sadness and humiliation felt by many non-Béké Martinicans after watching the documentary.
Haiti: Fanmi Lavalas and the next elections
Last weekend, the Haitian blogosphere was buzzing about the exclusion of political parties from the April 2009 Senatorial elections by the Conseil Electoral Provisoire or Temporary Electoral Council - and on Friday January 6th, the CEP published a list of the candidates for the next democratic parliamentary elections in Haiti. Bloggers share their thoughts about the rejected candidates.
Morocco: And The Winners Are…
The second annual edition of the Maroc Blog Awards were held in Casablanca on January 31. The awards honor the best Moroccan bloggers (as well as bloggers whose primary blog topic is Morocco) in 13 categories. Jillian York reports on the event.
Madagascar : Bloggers react to Red Saturday's bloodshed
Since riots and lootings claimed fifty dead in Madagascar on January 26, the situation has become bleaker. Saturday, February 07 was an even bloodier day. Dubbed “Red Saturday” by some, it saw the presidential guard fire upon a crowd of protesters who had gathered outside the Presidential palace of Ambohitsirohitra. The crowd...
Madagascar: More than 25 killed in march to presidential palace
At least 25 people were shot dead today in Madagascar's capital Antananarivo during a march to the presidential palace called by the city's mayor Andry Rajoelina after he declared himself the leader of a new transitional government at a political rally. In the past weeks, a power struggle between the mayor and the president Marc Ravalomanana has led to both violence and looting.
DRC: Volcanic eruption may be imminent
Local radio are reporting that Nyamulagira volcano, near Goma, is showing intense activity, suggeting that an eruption may be imminent.
Morocco: Quran Controversy on the Way
Jillian warns us about a new controversy which could rock Morocco once the new issue of popular Moroccan weekly TelQuel hits the streets. The issue's cover story is entitled “Le Coran: Est-il vraiment applicable ‘en tout temps et en tout lieu?'” (or “The Qur'an: is it really applicable ‘at all...
Martinique: The last masters of the islands?
As the two-week-long-protest in Guadeloupe continues, the other French Overseas Departments of America - French Guiana and Martinique - are thinking about their own contribution to this deep thinking and massive mobilization. In the midst of this brainstorming, the French-encrypted and sometimes trouble-making channel, Canal+ is seasoning up the debate with a sizzling hot documentary about the tight relationships between certain ethnic groups and economic domination on the French island of Martinique. The Martinican blogosphere, naturally, has been buzzing...
Martinique: Yes “Oui Canne”
le blog de [moi] [Fr] writes about “Oui Canne”, a new ad campaign for a Martiniquan liquor, a riff on Barack Obama's famous campaign slogan.
Tunisia: Attacks on Freedom of Expression
The Tunisian government is confirming again its “strong support” for freedom of speech. According to local journalists on Tuesday, January 27th plainclothes policemen surrounded the offices of the newly launched satellite radio station Kalima and detained one of its journalists, Dhafer Ottey. On Wednesday, Kalima’s journalists and reporters stayed in...
