Latest posts by Alice Backer from May, 2006
Mauritius: A Lesson on Sirandanes
[Mes] Idees Noires explains that Sirandanes are (Fr) “riddles about everyday life in Mauritius … a relatively traditional aspect of Mauritius that harkens back to the time when Malagasy slaves arrived who brought their riddles with them … and adapted them to the Creole language later on … and as...
Haiti: What Will Preval Bring?
AyitiCherieConnexion summarizes Preval's inauguration and wonders (Fr): “Ever since the election, things have settled a bit in Haiti. Kidnappings have almost disappeared. Will Preval stabilize the situation, eliminate government corruption, crime, unemployment and feelings of resentment …? Will certain countries of the international community stop dividing and conquering so that...
Senegal: Tiff with France over “Chosen Immigration”
Commenting on a recent tiff between French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy and Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade over France's new policy of “choosing its immigration,” Forum Realisance says (Fr): “Wade is dead on because it is evident that France wants its pick of the best of African elites and takes for...
Chad: What is France doing there?
Generation Consciente, Une Autre Afrique asks (Fr) “What is France doing in Chad? In Africa?” and answers: “The day before yesterday, they waved the communist threat to explain France's presence in Africa. Yesterday Anglo-American jolts justified the need to stay. Today Islamist regimes peak their heads in and explain our...
Reunion: Slideshow
Reunion Passion posts (Fr) pictures of the Port of St-Gilles (2 photos), the beach at Boucan Canot and some palm trees.
Cote D'Ivoire: Prime Minister Delivers Speech
News Ivoirien posts (Fr) a speech by Ivoirian Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny delineating his crisis exit plan for the country. “The plan to end the crisis contains three or four important aspects: disarmament, identification, relaunching of the administration and the organization of elections,” said Mr. Banny.
DRC Diaspora: DPLC Demonstration in Liege Yesterday
UDPS Liege posts pictures and an account (Fr) of yesterday's Debout Pour Le Congo demonstration in Liege, Belgium. The demonstration was sparked by a journalist's decision to film undocumented Congolese for remuneration. The people filmed fear consequences on behalf of Belgian authorities but also retribution by the Congolese government if...
Africa: Clandestine Emigration
Seckasysteme would like to see (Fr) “a summit of West African heads of state so that clandestine emigration can be uprooted and so as to find a durable solution to the problem.” “Hundreds have died since the beginning of the year for having simply tried to escape misery,” continues the...
Africa: List of French Institutions Specialized in the Continent
Generation Consciente, Une Autre Afrique posts (Fr) a list of French universities, centers, laboratories and other French institutions that specialize in the study of Africa.
Cameroon: Government Doing Outreach on New Criminal Procedure Code
“Cameroonian authorities have recently launched a national outreach campaign on the new criminal procedural code,” says (Fr) Fojrega. The code is a hybrid between the procedures of the francophone half of the country and those of the anglophone half, explains the blog.
Haiti: Towards an Anti-Feminist Backlash?
At AlterPresse, Myriam Merlet predicts (Fr) an upcoming backlash to the thriving Haitian feminist movement. Certain anti-feminists, she says, “know how to take advantage of media (…) to spread arguments about ‘women who beat women’ and/or men.”
Mauritius/New Caledonia: Bloggers Send Card to Newlyweds
Many GV readers were touched by this picture of New Caledonia-based blogger Sebastien's wedding to Annoella in Mauritius. This week the couple post additional pictures of their big day as well as a best wishes card signed by bloggers from around the world.
Haiti: Photo Essay of Preval's Inauguration
AlterPresse posts a photo essay of President Preval's inauguration including shots of pro-Lavalas demonstrators and Preval's signing of the PetroCaribe Agreement right after the ceremony.
DRC: Demonstration for Congolese in Belgium
Renouveau Congolais announces (Fr) that Debout Pour Le Congo [Stand Up for Congo] is organizing a demonstration today in Liege, Belgium against the “regular explusion [of Congolese] in collaboration with the Congolese government, author of many crimes and ongoing violations of human rights.” The demonstration will also demand that Belgium...
Haiti: Preval Signs PetroCaribe Agreement with Venezuela
Right after his inauguration yesterday, President Preval signed the PetroCaribe Agreement with Jose Vincente Rangel, Venezuela's Vice-President, reports (Fr) AlterPresse. According to the agreement, Venezuela will deliver 500 barrils of oil per day to the Haitian government who will resell to the private sector at market prices. PetroCaribe is a...
Haiti: Prison Mutiny on the Day of Preval's Inauguration
President Preval officially took office yesterday amidst much fanfare but a prisoner's mutiny that was eventually quelled left at least one person dead, reports AlterPresse. The Haitian newsfeed described (Fr) the scene as follows: “Mutiny participants on the roof of the prison screaming ‘Long Live Preval’ and ‘Freedom’, noisy demands...
France & Francophonia Commemorate Slavery Amidst Curriculum Controversy
Image courtesy of oliviermr2 A Day of Remembrance France commemorated slavery for the first time on May 10, reports Haiti's Alterpresse: Le président francais qualifie d’infamie, la traite négrière et invite les Français à « regarder tout notre passé en face », « sans concession ». Abdou Diouf, Secrétaire général...
Images from Haiti: Hinche's New Cathedral
Hinche's new cathedral, Haiti. By Martin Baran. Martin Baran blogs photos of Hinche, capital of Centre department, Haiti.
Haiti: CONAREPA, a New Peasant Organization
“A new coalition composed of six peasant organizations from different regions was created May 4″ says (Fr) Alterpresse. “CONAREPA's [National Coalition for Haitian Peasant Demands] objective is to look for appropriate solutions to the peasants’ main problems” and “does not embrace a particular political ideology or any political party.” Their...
Francophonia: Remembering Bob Marley
“May 11, 1981 – May 11, 2006: It's been 25 years since Bob Marley left us”, says (Fr) Martiniquan blog Bondamanjak. France-based Forum Realisance posts lyrics to Redemption Song and commemorates the Jamaican legend (Fr): “I had the incredible fortune of meeting him in Brussels in a private club; I...
Martinique: Reflections on One Night Stand
Le Blog de [Moi] praises (Fr) another blogger's effort to create One Night Stand, an erotic film made from a non-heterosexual, non-male perspective. Says [Moi]: “I am awaiting its release impatiently …on DVD because it certainly won't be programmed at Madiana (multiplex right next door).”
