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 March, 2007
Madagascar: Growing with China
Madagascar Croissance reflects [Fr] on Madagascar's trade with China and East Asia, the main exporters of rice, textiles and technology to the country: “Trade between China and Madagascar … leaves the big island in deficit. But … Malagasy products were just exempted of taxes and rights in China which presents...
Haiti, India: Becoming a local
Haitian blogger Pascale Doresca reflects [Fr] on the ways she is settling into life in India: “For while now I have not found the time to write, to be moved or to be shocked by India. Maybe it finally happened. Although I didn't see it coming, I am now from...
Martinique: Owing De Beauvoir
Says Blog de Moi[Fr]: “I am not sure that young women of today are fully aware of what they owe an author such as Simone de Beauvoir and to feminism in general given how hard some of them work to distance themselves from it.”
Mauritania: Successful Election
The CRIDEM blog points to a press release by Ould Maouloud stating [Fr}: “The March 25, 2007 election happened in good conditions marked by transparency, civic duty, responsibility and serenity. The Mauritanian people and its democracy are only better for it… In this occasion, I want to pay homage to...
Mauritania: First Arab Country to Hold a Second Round in a Presidential Election
The blog of Convergence Républicaine pour l'Instauration de la Démocratie en Mauritanie (CRIDEM) points to a La Tribune d'Algérie article stating [Fr]: “Long considered a back-country, Mauritania just proved to its neighbors and to the world that when it comes to democracy, the country can now be an example. Never...
Morocco: El Bicho and Darga Perform April 1st
Chadstoune is happy Moroccan band Darga and Spanish band El Bicho will be performing in Casablanca on April 1. Says the blogger: Says the blogger [Fr}: “El Bicho is one of the best bets of flamenco fusion based on daring mix of music! ” and “Darga is a group united...
Global Voices en Français Celebrates Journée Mondiale de la Francophonie
Today is Francophonia Day. About 50 French-speaking countries and territories, some belonging to the Organisation Mondiale de la Francophonie and others not, will reflect on what it means to have French as a language –often alongside others. (Not to worry we will tell you what the bloggers said as soon...
Senegal Army: Face of Luxury, Back of Misery
In its usual deadpan humor, Blog Politique du Senegal highlights an architectural anecdote about the military headquarters of Senegal to make a wider point about the army's budget and priorities: Military headquarters entrance. Courtesy Blog Politique du Senegal. Je ne sais pas si vous connaissez l'intendance militaire, en bas de...
Haiti: Chavez Visit and the Diplomatic Dance
Anticipating Chavez's upcoming visit to Haiti, Roody Edme writes [Fr]: “His arrival requires an apt diplomatic dance… The recent American decision to list the country as a nation that might possibly benefit from the ethanol project echoes Caracas’ decision to make us benefit from the Petro-Caribe clause … While we...
DRC, Belgium: 25th Anniversary of UDPS
Le Renouveau Congolais posts pictures [fr] of UDPS Belux's (Belgium-Luxemburg branch) celebration of the party's 25th Anniversary. UDPS is the main DRC opposition party.
Nigeria, Cameroon: Purple Hibiscus
Cameroonian Sanaga Peregrinations writes [Fr] of Nigerian Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's novel Purple Hibiscus: “Important questions are raised in this book, between respect of tradition and conformity to christian teachings, does the fight against sin justify damnation on earth through corporal punishment?”
Senegal: A Report Card for Reporters Without Borders
Le Pangolin posts [Fr] a press release by the Syndicate of Information and Communication Professionals of Senegal stating that a recent Reporters Without Borders report on the Senegalese elections was “selective” in its interest and “approximative”. The report goes on to say that the RSF report used “nebulous methodology” and...
Morocco, Tunisia: Women to Give Nationality to Children Born to Foreign Fathers
TunisienDoctor writes [Fr]: “Finally another Arab country, Marocco, adopts a law that authorizes women to give their nationality to their children even when married to foreigners. Tunisian women have had this right for about 20 years.”
La Reunion: Women's Day and Women's Magazines
Blogger Pierrot Dupuy comments [Fr] on a local women's magazine's Women's Day issue: “One of the main articles is titled Mentalities Must Change. Sure, no doubt. But why then do all the ads featured in the magazine contribute in conveying a negative image of women?“
French Elections and Darfur
Le Pangolin posts [Fr] the flyer for a meeting to take place March 20 in Paris where French presidential candidates including Ségolène Royal and Nicolas Sarkozy will answer the question: “What do you plan to do about Darfur?”
Third World Women Have a Ways to Go
For Women's Day, India-based Haitian Blogger Pascale Doresca compares [Fr] the lot of women in the third world to that in the first world and concludes: “Developed countries are far in advance of developing ones if one takes into account that having a daughter in many parts of India is...
Morocco: Comedian Back Home to Perform
EspaceMaroc writes [Fr]: “Comedian Gad El Maleh is coming home to present his one man show I am the Other, his latest comedic creation featuring very original sketches. He will be in Casablanca on Marh 12 and 13 and then in Rabat on March 17. The comedian was named one...
Senegal: Public Transportation Fare Hike
Blog Politique du Sénégal [Fr] doesn't understand why some are unhappy with the doubling or tripling of public transportation costs during the Magal, an annual event of the Mouride moslem sect. “Personally, I find logical and normal that the drivers increase the fares as mush as they can. We are...
Haiti: Make Women's Day Matter
After reminiscing disillusioned early engagements with Haitian feminist groups and an instance where she was not allowed to commission her son's birth certificate without her husband's authorization, Nancy Chapoteau of Notedor.com concludes (Fr): “When will there be concrete and just actions in our country in women's favor? … Haitian women,...
Francophone Bloggers on Oscars and Césars
Hostess Valérie Lemercier performs a Guadeloupean zouk hit from the 80's at the Césars awards. Blogger reactions to the recent film award ceremonies in France and America are quite varied. Congolese Alain Mabanckou is happy with the attention Africa is getting in Hollywood. In particular, he is pleased with the...
Haiti: Goat on a Plane
New Haiti-based Haitian blogger (and published author) Nancy Chapoteau of Notedor.com writes about her strange encounter with a strange plane fellow on a flight from Cap Haitian to Port-au-Prince [Fr]: “My son's reaction [to the billy-goat] was as funny as could be: ‘Was the goat wearing his seatbelt?’ Instead, the...
