Latest posts by Andrew Kowalczuk
‘Space is about dreaming’ — an interview with International Space University president
"We hope that space will not become a space of confrontation (...) Space makes children dream and all of humanity as well."
‘Space ventures can improve the quality of life on Earth’ — an interview with International Space University president
Today, the International Space University has more than 4600 former students, and of those, more than 80 percent are working in space industries.
Simone Veil, the Immortal: A conversation with author Pascal Bresson on Veil's human rights legacy
"Beyond her image of rectitude and honesty, Simone Veil was, first and foremost, a woman who embodied her era and her struggle."
From Madagascar, Four Poems on Impossible Love for Valentine's Day
"My whole heart has been driven wild as well, and refuses to forget. Silence remains around the one whom I love, but I continue to believe."
Guinean Cities Keep a Strong Heart Despite Ebola Epidemic
Ostracized from the rest of the world, Guineans cope valiantly with life's daily challenges, despite the risks, the sorrows, and the suspicion from the rest of the world.
Less Than 10% of Rural Sub-Saharan Africans Have Access to Electricity. What's Being Done to Change That?
Fifteen percent of the world's population lives in Africa, yet they represent only 3 percent of global electricity consumption. Organizations are carrying out various electrification projects to wire the continent.
French Startup Companies Want to Make Your Home Smarter
Want a smart thermostat to control your home's heating? Or one that is hooked up to the Internet and measures your home's concentration of CO2? French start-ups are on it.
Another Rural Japanese Elementary School Disappears Due to Declining Birthrate
Every year, about 500 public schools in Japan are closing due to shortage of children as the cost of education becomes unbearable for rural communities.
‘A Good Blogger Must Already Have the Intrinsic Qualities of All Good Journalists’
Award-winning Cameroonian blogger and multimedia journalist Dorothée Danedjo Fouba speaks to author Dibussi Tande about the state of digital journalism in Africa.
The Influence of Francophone Africa on the French Language
The news site Afrik.com features an article on the way in which African slang has influenced the French language [fr], and informs us that Verlan is no longer a preferred...
Promises of Social Justice for India's Landless
As rapid industrialization and development in India snatches up land and livelihoods, activist groups such as Ekta Parishad have loudly campaigned on behalf of the landless and homeless and pressured the government into reform.
Can Cyprus Turn Back from the Abyss? Three Options to Escape the Financial Crisis
The small island of Cyprus continues its race against bankruptcy. Following the European decision to tax all depositors, the Mediterranean republic faces a critical situation. Three options are emerging for the island: to carry out an agreement with Europe, to turn to Russia, or to declare bankruptcy and leave the Eurozone.
The Highest Money Transfer Fees in the World Are in Sub-Saharan Africa
Babylas Serge de Souza wrote [fr] on his blog: Sub-Saharan Africa is the most expensive destination in the world for money transfer: the average cost of transfer from abroad reached 12.4%...
One Billion Rising: Progress for Women Worldwide, But Still Much to Do
On February 14, 2013, a worldwide event "One Billion Rising" was held, in which women were invited to gather and to dance, to demonstrate against gender violence. On this occasion, Barbara Auger raises a question still faced by women today: what role should they take ?
Italy: Staying in Venetian Monasteries
Olia and Claude Barrère, two French expatriates in Venice, Italy, write on their blog, “Olia i Klod” [fr]: Today, as in the past, monasteries offer the possibility of accommodation. They...
An Initiative to Keep Portuguese Language Teaching in French Universities
Portuguese is the sixth most-spoken language in the world, and there are about two million Portuguese speakers in France. Geneviève Fioraso, the French Minister of Higher Education and Research, said that having rare disciplines such as Portuguese in all French universities may not be efficient.
France: Photos and Impressions from the World Forum for Democracy 2012 in Strasbourg
The first World Forum for Democracy took place in Strasbourg, France, from October 5 - 11, 2012. The co-editor of Global Voices in French was in attendance and reported on the conversations that took place.
Ghana: Obstacles to the Advancement of Women
Betty Mould Iddrisu, jurist and Minister of Justice of Ghana, writes [fr] on pambazuka.org: To reach the upper level is rare, and once you have arrived there, you still have...
The Breakthrough of Films in Local Languages in Sub-Saharan Africa
Nicole Gillet, General Delegate of the Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur, now in its 27th edition, was interviewed by Falila Gbadamassi [fr] on afrik.com: In the past, Senegalese films...
Japan: Imagining Future Japanese-Korean Relations with ‘Free Hugs’
A "free hugs" video filmed in Korea by a young Japanese man attracted another round of attention this summer. The creator's intent was to "prove that there is hope for the future of Japan and South Korea". The deterioration in international relations between the two countries, reported upon daily in the media, has been causing a stir recently.
Cameroon: Olympic Escape – Blame the System, Not the Athletes
"It's rather sad, however, to see that our country has become a prison, from which everyone wants to escape at any cost." Cameroon delves into reasons behind the disappearance of seven athletes from the 2012 London Olympic Games.