Latest posts by Alice Backer from February, 2007
Senegal: Poor Working Conditions for Workers at a Chinese Owned Factory
Blog Politique du Sénégal outlines (Fr) poor working conditions for Senegalese workers at Henan Chine, a chinese-owned factory in Senegal: “Holidays are not paid, social contributions are not made even though they are withheld from salaries.” Adds the blog: “Can things be any different given the rights (or non-rights) of...
Haiti: A Rising Sun Themed Carnival in Memory of Painter Tiga
The official site for Haiti's carnival explains (Fr) the Solèy Leve [Rising Sun] theme of this year's carnival: “The theme was chosen to pay homage to the Saint-Soleil Haitian artistic movement. The logo, a woman embracing the sun, is taken from a painting by Prosper Pierre-Louis, one of the artists...
La Réunion: After Decolonization, Responsibility
La Réunion local official Eric Fruteau writes (Fr): “After the end of slavery in 1848, after departmentalization in 1946 and all the other fights to end colonial misery, instaure the great social laws that have marked our island, after the achievement of social equality, we must now anticipate and prepare...
Madagascar: Pictures of Mahajanga
Za'Gasy posts (Fr) pictures of Mahajanga, Madagascar and asks readers to post about what they inspire.
Madagascar: Hundred Greatest Malagasy Historical Figures
Malagasy Miray starts (Fr) a list of the greatest Malagasy historical figures that it asks readers to complete.
Haiti, India: The Perils of Having Girls
India-based Haitian blogger NatifNatal writes (Fr): ”For certain families in rural parts of India, doom can hit in many ways: natural disasters, financial difficulty or simply the birth of a girl.” She then posts an article from the India Times to that effect.
Sénégal: Dakar in Pictures
Blog Politique du Sénégal posts (Fr) snapshots of Dakar.
Guinea: Conté Declares State of Siege
Senegalese blogger Alex Seck resumes his watch of Guinean developments (Fr): “Dictator Lansana Conté has … appeared in a radio and tv broadcast during which he announced a Presidential decree instituting the state of siege until Feb. 23 … In short, Conté is choosing escalation … All evidence indicates that...
Mayotte: En Route to the Farmer's Market
Expat blog Mayotte L'Ile au Lagon posts (Fr) annotated pictures of a stroll to the farmer's market of Labattoir. Says the blog: ” Wild mint grows along the road and invades the atmosphere with its tonic smell. Toothpaste in the outdoors…!!!”
Africa: Toko Blaze Live Video
Arkayog posts (Fr) a video of a performance by Ivoiro-Cameroonian French reggae artist Toko Blaze who — if you aren't yet confused — was born in Niger.
Madagascar: A Win-Win Solution to Deforestation
Harinjaka posts and cites (Fr) a video by CommerceEquitable.com: “[The organization] … decided to create the cooperative Equimada which put in place a project of tree planting coupled with an equitable commerce project. The project seeks to create an economic alternative to deforestation. This encourages peasants to plant trees rather...
Martinique: The Dangers of Nationalism
Le Blog de [Moi], deploring the emergence of a movement led by novelist Raphaël Confiant in Martinique, cites the words of Guadeloupean Professor Jacky Dahomey (Fr): “Nationalism, a political ideology of social linkage invented in Europe, especially in its excessive form, is what we should not copy here. But be...
Guadeloupe: Criticizing the French Socialist Party
Toto criticizes (Fr) the French Socialist Party: ” Blinded by their ideological rage from another time, they can't stop wanting to instaure a so-called social justice. A social justice which has for main ingredient and main weakness … its tendency to attack property.”
Senegal: Candidates Should Declare Assets
Blog Politique du Sénégal writes(Fr):”Ïnstead of telling us for the umpteenth time that they believe in ethics and morals … [candidates] should declare their assets. The law doesn't require it but who made the laws?… After all no one is forcing them to run for the highest office! ”
Senegal: President Wade Wants A Nuclear Plant
Blog Politique du Sénégal writes (Fr): “ [President] Wade … announced that he wants a nuclear power plant. Just what we needed! … Senegal doesn't even have the means to pay for the plant's enclosure, never mind the plant itself! “
Haiti: Cité Soleil raids and judiciary
Jojo at Collectif Haiti de Provence reacts to a story about a recent UN raid in Cité Soleil, alleged siege of the gang leaders who have terrorized the capital with kidnappings: “We acknowledge with emotion and desolation the total blackout on the judiciary activity that should end the process begun...
Haiti, France: Benefit for Haitian Schools
Collectif Haiti de Provence posts (Fr) pictures of a benefit for Haitian Schools held in France.
Congo-Brazzaville: How Long for Sassou Nguesso?
Hot afternoon in Pointe-Noire, Congo. Photo by Kaysha. As Guinea has started a process that may lead to the dismantling of its 50-year dictatorship, bloggers from the Republic of Congo (not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of Congo), a country with its own dinosaur dictator Denis Sassou Nguesso...
Senegal: Historic Landmarks in Danger on Gorée
Blog Politique du Senegal posts (Fr) pictures of Goree including certain “endangered historical landmarks.”
Guadeloupe: Upcoming French Election Detached from Local Realities
Convention Pour Une Nouvelle Guadeloupe reacts (Fr) to French presidential candidates Segolene Royal and Nicola Sarkozy's presidential platforms. According to the blogger, neither candidate “really takes into account the real situation of Guadeloupe which by international law is a non autonomous territory whose identity [France] has not managed to suppress....
Guadeloupe, Senegal: Remembering Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Jean-Claude Halley of Guadeloupe Attitude writes (Fr): “Ardent defendor of human rights and engaged abolitionist, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges was the first composer of African ancestry of classical music to the court of Louis XVth in France and a reputed invincible fencer. At the end of 2006, for Mozart's bicentennial...
