Global Voices Online

Is the economy going down in Madagascar?: “If recent trends persisted during September, three new developments seem to indicate a deterioration in public finance and economic activities: (i) the Government borrowed on the domestic financial market (about half of its monthly expenditures) for the first time since the beginning of the crisis…”

The Foreigner's Guide to Slovakia writes about WWII and the Jews of Slovakia. CzechFolks.com writes about the rescue of hundreds of Czechoslovak Jewish children by Sir Nicholas Winton in 1939. Polandian writes about “the crazy idea of moving Eastern European Jews to Madagascar” that was considered by Poland in 1937.

Lova writes about a community radio project to be run by Radioactive and Foko in Madagascar.

cueTV interviews a dance collective from Mauritius, Reunion and Madagascar about the dance, Ma Ravan', a ritual and a performance, and paying homage to slaves and freedom fighters performed at the Grahamstown Arts Festival in South Africa.

Stephen Ellis, co-author (with Solofo Randrianja) of Madagascar: A Short History, explains that Ravalomanana's removal can be attributed to two main factors: his use of presidential power to further business interests and his alienation of the provincial political class and the armed forces.

Bermudian blogger Catch a fire draws attention to the escalating crisis in Madagascar.

A youtube video of a looting scene at a major shopping center in Antanarivo was posted by c17dabossbaby. Many bloggers are wondering why the police forces are seemingly absent during this time of unrest (video) and speculate that the president may be temporarily located in Mahajanga (not overseas as initially reported) as the capital city is still deemed unsafe (fr). Anonymous sources confirm that this would be the current security procedure.

Blogger Pierre Maury is thinking of the Southwest region of Madagascar as Tropical Cyclone Fanele has made land fall at 4:17 am on January 21st 2009 (fr).  The city of Belo-sur-Mer is threatended by gust of wind as fast as 281 km/h.

Two bloggers report photos and proceedings of political meeting in Antananarivo as tension between mayor Andry Rajoelina and  current president Marc Ravalomanana arises over the closing of a national TV station (mg).  Avylavitra posted photos of attendance at the meeting and Jentilisa wrote a comprehensive timeline of the events (mg).