My area of interest is centered on francophone Africa, the status of minorities and immigrants in Europe & media biases. Raised in Madagascar, I hold a Master of Public Policy from Princeton University at the Woodrow Wilson School of International Affairs with a focus on international development & international relations and PhD in Medical Sciences from Purdue University. I can be found on twitter at twitter.com/lrakoto.
Latest posts by Lova Rakotomalala from May, 2014
“How are We Malagasy Supposed to Provide School Supplies and Medications for our Children ?”
Malagasy blogger Tojo Fehizoro posted a spreadsheet that summarized the minimum cost of basic supplies for a Malagasy family of 4 with 2 children, 10 and 7 years old respectively. The spreadsheet lists the cost and description of each item [mg] and the combined salary of both parents: Monthly Income Monthly...
What Happens When a Muslim, Jew, Christian, Atheist and Agnostic Travel the World Together?
Victor, Josselin, Samuel, Ilan and Ismael all belong to different religions (or none at all). Together, they created the InterFaith Tour.
What is Really Ailing France ?
The inability of the French economy to rebound from the Euro zone crisis, the loss of corporate champions like Alstom and Arcelor and the forceful rise of the far right party (Front National) at the latest European elections [fr] are seen by many observers as tell-tale signs of the country’s relative decline. Yet...
“We Are Not Paying Enough Attention to Teenagers’ Health”
The latest report from the World Health Organization (WHO) on the health of adolescents worldwide notes that : The top 3 causes of adolescent deaths globally are road traffic injuries, HIV/AIDS, and suicide. Worldwide, an estimated 1.3 million adolescents died in 2012. The report also adds that : Mortality rate...
Apocalyptic Scenes in Andranondambo, Madagascar as Villages Fight Over Land
L'Express Mada reports that the entire village of Andranondambo in the South of Madagascar was destroyed [fr] during an inter-village conflict that stems from a dispute over land rights. The civilian conflict, which lasted from May 20 to 22, left no residents of the village alive. One of the military police...
A Glimpse Into Life inside the Bamenda Central Prison in Cameroon
Blogger Salma Amadore narrates [fr] how her visit inside the central prison of Bamenda, the capital city of the north west region of Cameroon, made a lasting impression on her : J’arrive à la prison de Bamenda à 9 h 30. Mgr Cornélius Fontem Esua, archevêque de Bamenda y donne une messe pour...
A Low-cost Solution to Heal Cataract in Sub Saharan Countries
One of the main causes of blindness in sub saharan countries are cataracts. A group of french physicians has developed a surgical kit called “Phacokit” to treat at low-cost individuals suffering from cataract and help them recover their eyesight [fr]: Pour vaincre la cataracte, principale cause de cécité, notamment dans les pays pauvres,...
An Open Letter to the President of Madagascar on Land Leases to Microsoft and the Zurich Zoo
In an open letter to the new President of Madagascar Hery Rajaonarimampianina and other elected officials, the Association for the protection of Malagasy Lands asks that several aspects of the contracts regarding the recent land leases be clarified to the general public [fr] : nous demandons une clarification de la part des autorités...
Why Chadian Students Braved Arrest and Stormed Their Embassy in Algeria
Hisham Almiraat interviews blogger Makaila Nguebla about student leader Issa Kelei's arrest and the condition of Chadian students in Algeria.
EU Survey Indicates Correlation Between Anti-Minorities Views and Ideological Right
The French blog Rue89 analyzes the results [fr] of the Pew Center Survey on attitudes toward immigrants and minority groups in the European Union. Rue89 highlights that Roma population are the most ostracized minority group, especially in Italy and France : It also highlights that negative opinions about Roma, Muslims and...
Madagascar to Start Distributing Crude Oil Locally and Hope to Boost Job Market
L'Express reports that the Madagascar Oil Group will start testing distribution of 55,000 to 73,000 barrels [fr] of crude oil from Tsimiroro, Madagascar onto the local market. It is part of the new government strategy to ingnite economic recovery and strive for energy independence [fr]. The oil exploitation is also expected to create new jobs for local...
Two People Are Driving Around Europe to Find What It Means to Be European
On the eve of European elections, two French artists will tour Europe to meet with as many types of Europeans as possible.
When Is Imperialism Actually Imperialism?
The media have been quick to sling the accusation of imperialism at Europe, the U.S. and Russia over their involvement in other countries' conflicts. But what does imperialism really mean?
