My name is Alice Backer. I am founder and former team leader of GV Lingua, which amplifies Global Voices in languages other than English. I used to be Francophonia Editor. I was once an editor of New York University School of Law's Review of Law & Social Change. I have been blogging about Haiti, Haitian-Americans and the Caribbean for 5 years at kiskeácity and I tweet from @kiskeacity. I am also a lawyer and campaign consultant.
Latest posts by Alice Backer from May, 2006
Cameroon: Schedule of Baccalaureate Exams
Fojrega posts (Fr) the nationalschedule of baccalaureate exams in Cameroon.
Togo: Books by Blogger's Friends
Kangni Alem directs us (Fr) to novels recently released by his friends Sara Vidal, Amba Till and Adelaide Fassinou on topics such as love and the border between Benin and Togo.
Martinique: Boat Parking in the Way of Beach Enjoyment
Bien Vu complains (Fr) that a Martiniquan municipality is prioritizing the parking of catamarans along a local beach over the comfort and enjoyment of bathers in order to generate revenue.
Haiti: Mother's Day
“In Haiti May 28 is a day of celebration of Haitian mothers,” says blogger (Fr) AyitiCherieConnexion. “I'd like to say: Happy Mothers’ day to all the women of Haiti, whether they are rich or poor, whether they are from the countryside, from the cities or from the mountains. After all,...
Senegal: Conversations on Drowned Migrants
Senegalese blogger Seckasysteme has been keeping a close eye on thousands of migrants from Senegal who have attempted to reach Europe on clandestine rafts since the beginning of the year. Last week the blogger explained that 23 migrant hopefuls had been intercepted by Senegalese authorities on their way to the...
Martinique: Stabbing over 10 Euros
“Yet another tragedy in Fort-de-France! [Martinique's capital]” says (Fr) Bien Vu. “Two 20-year olds get in a fight over a debt! Of 10 Euros! The borrower did not hesitate to pull a knife and stab the [lender] several times. End result, the young man has been in the coma for...
New Caledonia: Holidays Not Necessarily Days Off
Notre vie a Noumea explains that although today was a holiday in New Caledonia, she did not take the day off. You see (Fr) “In New Caledonia, holidays are not necessarily days off. The employer can ask employees to come to work anyway. Every industry has 6 to 7 days...
Martinique: French Black Presidential Candidate Stephane Pocrain
Le Blog de [Moi] on Stephane Pocrain's candidacy for the 2007 French Presidential Election (Fr): “Yet another candidacy from the left. Ex- Green Party spokesperson and founding member of the Representative Council of Black Associations of France (CRAN), Stephane Pocrain enters the dance. His program? First and foremost, equality and...
Senegal: Immigration as colonization
“No Sarkozy! Immigration does not come from a vacuum,” says (Fr) Semett in a post on French interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy's immigration policies. “With centuries of merciless exploitation of subsaharan countries and a continuous transfer of their riches to the North, it is logical that the disinherited masses from Africa...
Togo: National Treasures in German Hands?
Blogger Kangni Alem contends that (Fr) “no national treasures (…) were taken from Togo by the Germans” but rather that “what colonization generally speaking stole from the Togolese is their soul.” Nevertheless, he plans to tour German museums this summer to test his theory and cautions “do not count on...
Cote d'Ivoire: Census and Disarmament
“Some experiments in census taking started last thursday in six towns of Cote d'Ivoire, where disarmament of the loyalist army and of the rebellion forces that was to happen simultaneously did not take place,” says (Fr) Remwi Abidjan. However, both are prerequisites for elections due to take place on October...
Senegal: Forum on Cheikh Anta Diop
Semett announces (Fr) an upcoming forum taking place from May 25 to May 28 in Dakar entitled “20 years Later: the Intellectual and Scientific Legacy of Cheikh Anta Diop and the Challenge of the Building of Africa in the 21st Century.”
Haiti: Among 10 Highest Producers of Mangos
“The place occupied by the Haitian mango is threatened on the international market given the demands of foreign consumers looking for a quality product,” says (Fr) Haitian newsfeed Alterpresse. “Ranked among the 10 highest worldwide producers of mangos, Haiti needs to do everything to better exploit this niche. A study...
Cote d'Ivoire: Preparing for the World Cup
An article posted by Rewmi Abidjan says (Fr) Cote d'Ivoire is preparing for the Soccer World Cup. The team will be recouping from the African Cup during its first week of training, says its trainer Henri Michel. The team will then prepare for a friendly match against Switzerland to take...
Haitian Diaspora: Franco-Haitian Solidarity Meeting
CollectifHaitideProvence announces (Fr) they received an invitation by Collectif Haitien de France [Haitian Collective of France] to participate in a series of meetings taking place June 3 and 4. The main themes of the meetings will be humanitarian solidarity and education, development, the problems of Haitian migrants in France, and...
Haiti: New Blog CollectifHaitideProvence
CollectifHaitideProvence [Haitian Collective of Provence, France] is the name of a new French and Creole language blog launched by a Haitian organization of the same name made up of nine organizations that seem to be based in either France, Haiti or both. Their first entry posted yesterday explains (Fr &...
Martinique: Reaction to mtvU's “Darfur is Dying” Game
Martinique-based Le Blog de [Moi] reacts to “Darfur is Dying,” an mtvU online simulation game featuring a family attempting to flee Darfur. The game is designed to raise consciousness about the hardships in Darfur but the blogger is not pleased (Fr): “Where is the world going? I know we have...
Haiti: Haitian Flag Remembered on May 18
On the occasion of Haitian Flag Day celebrated in both Haiti and the diaspora, AyitiCherieConnexion says (Fr) “May 18, 1803, Catherine Flon sowed the first Haitian flag … to mark the ending of colonisation. La Dessalinienne, the national anthem, was composed in 1904 with lyrics by Justin Lherisson and music...
African Diaspora: Victory for Sarkozy's Immigration Law
” [French Interior Minister] Sarkozy's immigration law [CESEDA] passed in the French National Assembly! ” says (Fr) Aimafrica . “For a country like Mali, this could be the beginning of an economic catastrophy. France … after having looted our riches and our people, wants business as usual. She no longer...
DRC: Pastor Kutino's Detention
Rvd. Kutino Fernando, founder of Sauvons le Congo [Save the Congo], was recently taken from his church by policemen and his whereabouts are unknown, says (Fr) Tony Katombe at Le Blog du Congolais. The blogger is skeptical that Kutino was stocking weapons in his church or inciting violence as alleged...
