Latest posts by Joel Gilbourd
Africa Celebrates Renowned Scientist Ameenah Gurib-Fakim as Mauritius’ First Female President
Maurtius' parliament confirmed Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, a world-renowned biodiversity scientist, as the country's first female president.
Why Is the Internet So Much Slower and More Expensive in Mali Than in Senegal or Côte d'Ivoire?
Compared to other countries in West Africa, Mali has low Internet speeds and high prices. A Malian civic group has launched a campaign to change this.
Djibouti: At the Heart of the Fight Against Islamic Extremism in the Horn of Africa
Regional instability is a weight around strategically-located Djibouti's neck. But it is also a key source of income for the impoverished country.
How a Traditional African Game Spread Throughout the World
An ancient strategy game enjoyed from the villages of the Sahel to the Mozambique Channel's fishing communities shows how intermingled Africa's cultures are.
Burkina Faso Activists Confront a Potential Coup After President's Departure
Confusion in Burkina Faso about what will happen after a popular revolution expelled President Compaoré.
How the Merger of Two of its Largest Providers May Transform the French Telco Market
The recent merger between French telcos SFR and Numericable is but another example of the broader trend that dominates today’s telecommunications market: operators are seeking to integrate their products in...
Can France Catch Up With Internet of Things World Leader China?
The Internet of Things is permanently and fundamentally revolutionizing our consumption habits.
Fight Against Ritual Killings Gears Up in Gabon
The discovery of a young girl's mutilated body on a beach in Gabon's capital city of Libreville has renewed the fight in the Central African country against the superstitious practice of ritual killings.
Giants, Hackers, Trolls: Where Mythology and Online Activism Meet
The online world has much more in common with the mythological world than you might expect. A look at Bradley Manning, WikiLeaks, and Anonymous and their corresponding roles in mythology.
“TrashOut”: RuNet's Interactive Map of Illegal Dumps
A new 'illegal dumps' interactive map has been launched in Russia for iOS and Android devices. The first of its kind in Russia, it allows users to mark unauthorized landfill sites.
Nine Street Kids Die in Senegal Quran School Fire
A raging fire that broke out in Dakar, Senegal in a crowded Islamic school room where students were sleeping killed at least nine children on the night of Sunday 3 March, 2013. The tragedy has highlighted just how tough living conditions for Quran school students, known as talibs, can be.
Dueling Demonstrations Surround Same-Sex Marriage in France
For several months there has been a raging debate in France surrounding 'universal marriage' (i.e. same-sex marriage). Those who oppose same-sex marriage Commitment 31 want for the whole nation, not merely the parliamentarians, to engage in the debate.
Africa's Tainted Global Media Coverage
The #Kony2012 campaign contained quite a few over-simplifications about Africa. African media itself is not immune from this sort of criticism either. Here is a summary of the gems, errors and other inaccuracies in media coverage of Africa.
Rebel Attacks on Ndélé and Bria, Central African Republic
These last few weeks, with attacks on the the cities of Ndélé and Bria, rebels have been threatening the regime of Central African Republic President François Bozizé. This fresh wave of attacks, which caused significant civilian displacement, has rendered the peace agreements signed in 2007 definitively obsolete.
Côte d'Ivoire: Online Campaign Says No to Holding Multiple Public Offices
Ivorian bloggers have initiated a campaign for a real public debate on the issue of parliamentarians simultaneously holding multiple elected offices in Côte d'Ivoire. Tired of seeing parliamentarians also being mayors or presidents of local councils, these netizens are using social media and organizing a petition.
France: Will Winter Come Early for Nice's Famous Flower Market?
Florists in Nice's iconic Flower Marker are having to deal with more and more administrative red tape - in addition to problems posed by the waste-management authorities. Will this spell the end for one of the city's most famous attractions?
Madagascar Struggles to Control Domestic Instability
The social and political upheaval engulfing Madagascar extends way beyond its cities. Government forces are also attempting to curb violence between cattle rustlers and farmers across southern Madagascar.
Russia: Online Platform for Auditing Court Decisions
With the appearance of "RosPravosudie," Russians have gained a comprehensive database of information about lawyers, attorneys, judges, and judicial decisions. Its founder, Gleb Suvorov, recently spoke to Greenhouses of Social Technologies about what can be achieved in just 100 days of online existence and about ways to improve Russia's judicial system.
Mauritania: “Facebook is at the Center of the New E-Dissent”
In the wake of the Arab uprisings, the media often overlook Mauritania and its 3 million inhabitants - another country where dissent and social discontent are on the rise. Here is an interview with well-known Mauritanian Internet activist Nasser Weddady on the country's social media scene.
