Stories about France from May, 2007
Human Sacrifice & the Politics of Death
At Babilown, French-Beninian author Blaise Aplognan describes the religious and political function of human sacrifice (Fr) in ancient societies: “…its goal was to channel violence toward a (sacrificed) individual, toward the sacred realm, institutionalizing violence by supervising it and practicing it according to very precise rules and rituals.”
France's Overseas Territories Now Under the Administration of the Ministry of the Interior
Martiniquian Le Blog de [Moi] writes that under the new French cabinet, the Ministry of Overseas Territories has been abolished, or rather, folded in with the Ministry of the Interior to create the Ministry of the Interior, Overseas Territories and Collectivities. This is a good thing, writes Le Blog de...
Morocco: The Week of Firsts
It was a week of firsts in Morocco - with the first French Minister of Moroccan descent, the first newspaper and the first wine store. Jillian York has more in this report.
Alain Mabanckou on the new French government
Congolese poet-novelist Alain Mabanckou writes about several politicians from the left who were given positions in France's new conservative government, as well as the appointment of France's first African Minister of Justice, Rachida Dati, the daughter of Moroccan and Algerian immigrants. On the basis of these appointments, he calls France's...
France's New “Ministry of Nationalism and Expulsion”
Francophone blogger Et Si Nous Parlions has no love for French president Nicolas Sarkozy's new Ministry of Immigration, Integration, National Identity, and Co-Development. He prefers to call it the “Ministry of Nationalism and Expulsion” (Fr). The ministry's title suggests its broad-reaching ambitions. French human rights groups have criticized the ministry's...
Morocco: Fighting ignorance, injustice, and irrationality
Giving one's child a special first name should be an inalienable right, not a lengthy bureaucratic process. Hamza Daoui covers a debate stirring up over this very issue, as well as the upcoming Moroccan elections and the timeless subject of ignorance.
Madagascar: Malagasy bloggers in France criticize Sarkozy's proposed immigration policy
The platform on which France's new president Nicolas Sarkozy was elected proposes the creation of a ministry of immigration and national identity. Immigrants who have been living in France for a substantial amount of time would have to go through a strict application process providing evidence of their attachment to...
French Annexation of Tunisia: How to Remember History?
Tunisien Doctor explains why it is important [Fr] that Tunisians remember May 12, 1881, the day France annexed Tunisia, and asks why so many have forgotten. At least one reader thinks it's time to “turn the page on that brief chapter of our long history and move on to other...
Chirac More Bumbling Than Malevolent
As Jacques Chirac leaves office, Le Blog de [Moi] remembers the former French president [Fr] as “more bumbling than malevolent.”
Election Parallels: Nigeria, France, Mali
Sanaga Peregrinations compares and draws lessons from the recent Nigerian, French, and Malian elections [Fr].
Sarkozy, the “most gabonais of all French”
Reflecting on the French presidential elections [Fr], Don Ray of Le Blog de Don Ray comes away with three impressions: first, the election, with its record turnout, was proof of France's robust democracy; second, socialism in France is finished; and last, Sarkozy's presidency will do little to change France's policy...
Morocco: French Elections Edition
Morocco, as a former protectorate of France, is still well connected to the country. Beyond French cars and French baguettes, Morocco's law and education systems are influenced by France, and more than half of its citizens speak French fluently. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the presidential elections...
Croatia: View on the French Election
Neretva River writes on what some Croatian bloggers think of the French election and expresses his own view on the candidates.
Bulgaria, Libya, France: Appeals to Politicians
Last week, the families of the Bulgarian nurses met with Segolene Royal and Nicolas Sarkozy, Declan Butler reports.
Guadeloupe: Celebrating May Day
For French Labor Day, celebrated on May 1st, Convention pour une Nouvelle Guadeloupe writes [Fr]: “We … denounce the social model imposed by French authorities of the left and of the right and we … want a new model rooted in Guadeloupean values and founded mostly on the end of...
Guadeloupe: Let's Vote
About the upcoming French presidential second round elections, Guadeloupe Attitude writes [Fr]: “Vote Saturday! Vote well! And let's roll up our sleeves Monday for the challenges that await us!”
