Global Voices » Claire Ulrich

France, Turkey: Retaliations Expected for Controversial Law on Armenian Genocide

Claire Ulrich — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:10:32 +0000

The Huffington post, in the launch issue of its Francophone version, publishes a column [fr] listing ”Five retaliations Turkey could take on France” as the French Senate is preparing to vote the final draft of this controversial “memory” law this monday, January 23, 2011. This bill will enforce a fine or even a prison sentence for anyone in France denying that the Armenian genocide actually happened.

France, Syria: Syrian Cartoonist Ali Ferzat Receives Reporters Without Borders Award

Claire Ulrich — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 15:11:34 +0000

Syrian cartoonist Ali Ferzat has been awarded the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom award for 2011. François Forcadell on Iconovox [fr] gives the link to a video interview [fr] of Le Monde's political cartoonist Plantu, paying hommage to his Syrian colleague.

France: A Magazine For Women Living with Breast Cancer

Claire Ulrich — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:23:37 +0000

Rose (Pink) is a new bi-yearly French magazine for women living with breast cancer or who had survived one. The publication is resolutely upbeat and “glossy”, it covers health issues as well as fashion and beauty, to fight the stigma and silence attached to breast cancer. An online version of the first issue is available here [fr].

Catalonia: From Arab Spring To Islamic Autumn

Claire Ulrich — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:20:35 +0000

Pepe Nieto from SODEPAU, a Catalan international aid organization, published a post entitled: “From the Arab Spring to the Islamic Autumn“ [cat]. Nieco forecasts that political Islam will be the great benefactor of the recent events unfolding in the Arab world, after the elections in Tunisia and the statements from the new Libyan leaders. He adds that media should not be surprised by the turn of event given that similar outcomes took place in Algeria, Palestine and Turkey, where repressions never succeeded in stifling Islamic movements.

Algeria: Algerian Journalists Reactions to the Tunisian Elections

Claire Ulrich — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:36:48 +0000

Algerian blog Algérie-Politique published a round-up of Algerian journalists' comments [fr and ar] on the October 23 Tunisian constituent election. Many were very impressed and inspired by this “example of democracy”.

Mauritius: Tikoulou, Children’s Literature Success Story

Claire Ulrich — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:43:27 +0000

Christophe Cassiau-Haurie writes about the sucess story of Tikoulou, a collection of books for children published in Mauritius, which has captivated 4 to 9-year old Mauritian children since 1998. Tikoulou has now become a best seller of Francophone children’s literature.

Libya: A Convenient Execution

Claire Ulrich — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:20:24 +0000

Alain Gresh outlines in his post on Libya, “An Ambiguous Liberation” [fr], that Gaddafi's execution “puts an end to the possibility of a trial that would have shone light on the support given to Gaddafi by different countries, including France and Great Britain, since 2003.”

France: Tunisian Diaspora Open “The Blue Finger Club”

Claire Ulrich — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 08:21:17 +0000

This post is part of our special coverage Tunisian Revolution 2011.

From October 20 to 22, during the three-day vote for Tunisian living abroad, Tunisian voters in France have joined the “Blue Fingers Club.” Facebook and Twitter are flooded with pictures of inked-stained blue fingers, proof that they have - many for the first time in their lifetime- cast their ballots and are now part of the select club of early voters in the historical Tunisian constituent elections that culminates the Tunisian revolution.

One of the club new members, @Sonia_72 [fr], is ecstatic:

A voté, le cœur léger, un ciel bleu d'espoirs au bout du doigt, Youhouuu !

Has voted, with a light heart, and a blue sky full of hope at my finger tip, Youhouuu!

Image by @sonia 72 on Twitter

The ballot boxes are full: Image by @Emnalamine on Twitter

Cell phones were forbidden during the vote. While standing in the queue, Emna Lamine took this picture in her poll station, in the Northern suburb of Paris. It confirms a large turnout for the diaspora:

Les urnes pleines!

The ballot boxes are full!

As a result, “Blue Fingers” have sprouted as fast as mushrooms on social networks in France. The picture below from Emna Ben Jemaa 's Facebook photo gallery “I have voted. And you?” has been published in media around the world. It is worth a thousand words to express the deep emotion Tunisians felt to be able to vote democratically.

A Tunisian in tears after voting in France - image by Emna Ben Jemaa

A Tunisian with his daughter after the vote: A day of pride - image by Emna Ben Jemaa

A young man shows off his vote for Tunisia- image by Emna Ben Jemaa

A Tumblr blog has also been created for new voters to upload the picture of their blue fingers. Below are a few contributions.

Someone took her blue finger to the Eiffel Tower, to snap her Photo of the Year:

Voting in Paris

V spells victory, and voting:

V for victory

Someone sends a personal message to former president Zeine Al Abedine Ben Ali:

A special message to Ben Ali

The blue-finger set has gained a nickname in France: “Stroumpfs” (Smurfs). Skydancer is feeling like a kid again.

The Smurfs make a come back

And A Photoshoped promise is sent over the Mediterranean sea to Tunisia, where voting has started today (October 23).

A promise of hope

Meanwhile, two young citizen reporters, Lynda El Awadey and Eléonore Bounhiol have collected video testimonies from voters in Paris [fr and ar]:

On Saturday, Zied Mhirsi (@Zizoo) worded this wish:

I hope that everyone in his life, lives days like this one, months like these ones, a revolution like this one #tunisia # tnelec

This post is part of our special coverage Tunisian Revolution 2011.

Tunisia: A Crowdmap to Monitor the Elections

Claire Ulrich — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 07:18:37 +0000

The Independent Tunisian electoral commission has set up a crowdmap to monitor the voting process in Tunisia, in French and Arabic. Citizens are encouraged to report irregularities they may witness during the October 23 constituent elections. The crowdmap is also accessible from the official homepage of the electoral commission.

France: Blue Fingers and Tears of Joy as Tunisian Diaspora Vote

Claire Ulrich — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:42:41 +0000

This post is part of our special coverage Tunisian Revolution 2011.

Tunisians living in France went to the polls today, ahead of the October 23 election in their country. Voters are giddy with joy and pride to vote freely and democratically, for the first time in 50 years and just nine months after the first of the Arab revolutions.

France is home to an estimated 600,000 Tunisians who have been exercising their right to make their voices heard in the make up of their new assembly, which will rewrite the country's constitution. Nearly 11,000 candidates, some amongst them Tunisian bloggers, are to contest 218 seats.

A good luck card published by Aly Ben J on Facebook to Tunisians voting abroad ahead of Tunisia

On the night before elections started in France, Myriam (@yezzyoufay) retweeted the hashtags that made history: the names of the Tunisian towns where the uprisings started earlier this year:

@yezzyoufay: Demain je vote. Merci #SidiBouzid #Thala #Rgueb #Kasserine #Kef #Gabes #Gafsa #Sfax #Bizerte La #Tunisie entière, les Tunisiens tous Unis.

@yezzyoufay: Tomorrow, I'll vote. Thank you, #SidiBouzid #Thala #Rgueb #Kasserine #Kef #Gabes #Gafsa #Sfax #Bizerte and all of #Tunisie, Tunisians united.

A total of 20,000 voters are expected to vote in the Tunisian Consulate in Paris from Thursday 20 to Saturday 22, October. Fears of a low turnout evaporated early this morning, when huge queues started forming in front of poll stations.

The crowd in front of the Tunisian consulate in Paris this morning. Image by @__imen on Twitter

Rabaa Youssef [fr] commented on Facebook:

Ca n'arrive pas tous les jours de se dire: “magnifique cette file d'attente” :D

It's not everyday that one can says: “How magnificent is this waiting queue!” :D

Imen, a Phd candidate and herself a candidate on independent electoral list Saw Moskatel in France, had confessed in her electoral pledge [fr] a very common situation for Tunisians in the land of rigged votes:

Jusqu’à il y a quelques mois je pouvais me présenter en disant : “Bonjour je m’appelle Imen, j’ai 28 ans et je n’ai jamais voté en Tunisie ” Dur à admettre, mais c’est une réalité.”

Until a few months ago, I could introduce myself by those words : ‘Hello, my name is Imen, I am 28 and I have never voted in Tunisia”. Hard to believe, but it's a fact.

Today, as many first-time Tunisian voters, she posted a souvenir picture of herself and her ink-stained finger, the procedure chosen by the Tunisian electoral commission to avoid multiple votes and frauds.

"I've voted! I've voted!" Image by @imen_ on Twitter

Tunisian Twitter timelines in France are now dotted with many more blue fingers.

"I've voted!" Image by @selim_ on on Twitter

Maher (@mahertekaya) a union-trade delegate in France, just cannot wait:

I want to have my blue finger and I want it now :-( #tnelec

In Toulouse, scientist @mimouna [fr] is close to tears:

Jamais on aura été plus heureux et fiers de voir des doigts bleus :)

Never have we been so happy and proud to see inked-stained blue fingers :)

Emotions are running even higher in poll stations. Ness (@nessryne) [fr] confessed on Twitter, after casting her ballot:

J'ai commencé à pleurer, le président du bureau de vote, directeur régional d'une agence onusienne, a commencé à pleurer aussi ! #TneElec

I started to cry, and the president of the poll station, who is a regional manager for a UN agency, started to cry as well! #TneElec

Amal (@AmalHaouet) a volunteer manning a polling station, has seen many more tears as voting proceeds:

Il faut prévoir des mouchoirs aux sorties des bureaux de vote :) #tnelec

We'll have to provide boxes of tissues on the way out of the polling stations:) #tnelec

Tunisian tweeps watching from Tunisia are enthralled:

@zeineb_ak: les photos prises devant le consulat de Paris me donnent la chair de poule !!! vivement le #23Octobre :))#TnElec

@zeineb_ak: Pics taken in front of the Tunisian consulate in Paris give me goosebumps!!! Can't wait for #23Octobre :))#TnElec

@HFadhel, a computer engineer fresh out of the polling station, paid hommage:

Une journee memorable .. Et une grande pensee a ceux qui ont donne leurs vies pour nous faire vivre ce moment historique #tnelec #tunisie

A mémorable day…and a huge thought for those who gave their lives so that we could live this historical moment #tnelec #tunisie

Tunisians voters in France and abroad will continue to vote until Saturday, October 22.

This post is part of our special coverage Tunisian Revolution 2011.

France: Tunisian Diaspora Set to Vote

Claire Ulrich — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:43:48 +0000

Tunisian residents in France will vote ahead of their compatriots, from Thursday, October 20, until Saturday, October 22, whereas polls in Tunisia open on Sunday 23 October. There are an estimated 600,000 Tunisians living in France. Les cahiers de la liberté (Notebooks of Freedom,) [fr, ar] has published a guide to the many candidates and parties competing for the diaspora vote, as well as videos, debates, and even an online application to sort various political standpoints and corresponding candidates via a list of questions.

France: Violence Erupts in French Overseas Departement Mayotte

Claire Ulrich — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:19:30 +0000

Violence has erupted during demonstrations against the rising cost of living in Mamoudzou, the capital city of the French overseas departement Mayotte, where one man has died and another is reported wounded [fr]. Events can be followed on Twitter via the #mayotte hashtag. Rue89 has published testimonies [fr] from Mayotte citizens, while Politis accuses France of being indifferent [fr] to the fate of its Indian Ocean departement. Strikes and demonstrations are also underway in the nearby Republic of Comoros [fr], due to the soaring oil price.

France: Global Voices in French Recommended in Volunteers' Guide

Claire Ulrich — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:33:26 +0000

Global Voices en français [fr] is happy to see the work of its volunteer translators highlighted and recommended in a recently published book in France, Impliquez-vous ! (Get Involved!) [fr]. Translating foreign blogs into French as part of the Global Voices Lingua project is one of “101 acts of solidarity” listed by author Christophe Chenebault that contributes to “a more cooperative and human orientated future”.

Worldwide: Dialogue and Peace Through Sport

Claire Ulrich — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 22:33:15 +0000

Joël Bouzou [fr], a bronze medalist at the 1984 Olympic Games and modern pentathlon World Champion in 1987 from France, is the founder and president of Peace and Sport, a global initiative created in 2007 whose objective is building sustainable peace through sport.

Burundi: Peace & Sport sport center in Gihanga - Image from website Peace and Sport

In countries where Peace and Sport operates, the organization supports local actors and heps them design and implement programs for vulnerable youth, while strengthening existing sports facilities damaged during armed conflicts.

In Burundi, for instance, Peace and Sport is funding the renovation of sports facilities, equipment and training for coaches. Since 2008, 300 out-of-school children in Gihanga, war orphans and children living in the streets nearby, have been receiving training in football, athletics, karate, modern biathlon, judo, volleyball, basketball and tennis. Community events are organized to foster reconciliation, education as well as the promotion of peace.

Pascal, a 16-year old former refugee and would-be football player from the Gihanga Center, is quoted [fr] on Peace and Sport's Burundi page:

Sport clears my mind. When I play football, I expend a lot of energy: suddenly, I no longer think about the death of my relatives, it removes dark thoughts from my mind. It soothes me. In addition, through football, I can communicate better with other children. I am learning how to guide them, not necessarily by giving them orders. I like that.

Peace and Sport worked in Côte d’Ivoire, even during the period of political turmoil and ethnic strife in early 2011, and continues to do so in Bouake, Abidjan (Marcory), Daloa, Man and Yamoussoukro. The organization supports local NGOs and reaches nearly 600 children through social, education and social inclusiveness programs (literacy, health, civic education).

Global Voices spoke to Joël Bouzou about his work.

Global Voices (GV): Joël Bouzou, why did you create Peace and Sport?

Joël Bouzou with Nelson Mandela - Image from Peace & Sport website

Joël Bouzou (JB): I created Peace and Sport in 2007 because, as an Olympic medalist, I am particularly attuned to the power of sport to create unity across political, social, ethnic or religious divides, which are often the core reasons for conflicts on the planet.

GV: In which countries do you operate?

JB: We have supported or coordinated the implementation of programs in seven countries: Côte d'Ivoire, Burundi, Timor Leste, Colombia, Haïti, Israël-Palestine and, more recently, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

GV: To what extent do you think you have contributed to peace?

JB: To me, peace is not just a state of “no war”; peace has to be taught, learned and transmitted. Sport is a recognized educational tool. It is easy to implement, even when infrastructure is lacking. Sport, taught in a structured manner, helps vulnerable children regain a personal balance and to set goals and standards for themselves. They reacquire the wish to improve and to succeed. They rediscover the path to solidarity, tolerance and a sense of solidarity. They learn how to communicate, to overcome their prejudices and to engage in dialogue.

Peace and Sport, whose patron is Prince Albert II of Monaco, has also created Champions for Peace, an initiative that brings together 56 world level athletes. It grants awards to grassroot organizations or sports events, such as Skateistan, a skateboarding teaching initiative for both girls and boys in Afghanistan.

On September 21, on the occasion of World Peace Day, the Peace and Sport youth centers organized a special event, an Open Door day, to promote the values of sport.

New Caledonia: From Paris to Nouméa in a Microlight Plane

Claire Ulrich — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:13:43 +0000

Two French microlight planes enthusiasts, aboard the microlight Spirit of Noumea, are planning to re-live French aviators Paul Klein and Henri Martinet's groundbreaking 1939 plane journey from Nouméa, New Caledonia, to Paris. Their journey can be followed on this map and is also documented via their diary [fr] on the project's site.