Lova Rakotomalala
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Francophone EditorCurrently the editor of the Francophone region for Global Voices, I am a researcher in biomedical engineering and consultant in Global Health. Raised in Madagascar, I have a strong interest in international development and digital media as a tool to promote social change and transparency in the developing world. I am currently attending the Woodrow Wilson School of International Affairs and Public Policy at Princeton U to further that specific interest. I am also part of the core team of the Foko , an NGO driven to promote the online exposure of social grassroots projects based in Madagascar. I can also be found at twitter.com/lrakoto and on my personal blog.
Latest posts by Lova Rakotomalala
8 March 2012
Africa: Tech Entrepreneurship Bubbling in the Developing World
To illustrate the technological transformation that the African continent is undergoing, CNN's African Voices has highlighted 10 leading tech voices from different African countries. While the article put a much needed emphasis on the innovation trend originating from the African continent and their achievements, many tech experts felt that the feature did not represent the whole scope of tech innovation and entrepreneurship that is brewing in all the regions of the continent.
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6 March 2012
Madagascar
Rivonala Razafison reports in Africa Review that “scores of Antananarivo residents wore black clothes to denounce poverty in the country”. He adds that Madagascar has experienced over 10 different forms of protests since early January. The latest protest is still ongoing and was initiated by army officers of the CAPSAT, the same regiment who helped put the current government in power.
18 February 2012
15 February 2012
13 February 2012
Madagascar
Cyclone Giovanna was expected to make landfall on February 13th at 23h00 local time in Madagascar. Malagasy Bloggers have set up a citizen reporting platform to crowd source information during the storm. If you have any relevant information regarding the cyclone, you can share those with mutliple channels: via SMS at a local number 0326705819, send an email to cyclonegiovanna@gmail.com, fill out this form online or by posting on twitter with the hashtag #Giovanna.
11 February 2012
Tunisia
Jolanare is weary of where the Tunisian revolution is heading to in terms of women's rights [fr]. She writes: ”A young man verbally attacked me because I was wearing red lipstick. He shouted at me : “these are the so-called women of the democracy.” I replied that it is thanks to the democracy he makes fun of that he can open his big mouth.”
9 February 2012
Burkina Faso
Afrik.com reports that [fr]: ” because of the low harvest and an increase of 60 to 80 % in cereal pricing, 10 millions people across Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Chad will be affected by food security issues, including 1.6 million children.”
16 January 2012
South Korea
Sam posts an open letter to Andry Rajoelina written by Mamy Rakotondrainibe that demands more transparency on the return of Daewoo Logistics in the economy of Madagascar [fr]. Mahefa Rakotomalala provides more context on this return [fr]. The South Korean company is notorious for an attempted land grab deal that provoked the fall of former president Ravalomanana. Other land deals are still supposedly in the work in Madagascar.
12 January 2012
Ethiopia
The association “Collectif TANY” for the Protection of Land in Madagascar has published an exhaustive list of the instances of Land Grab by foreign entities in Madagascar [fr]. They warn the public opinion that sales or leasing of arable lands at discount prices are still taking place in Madagascar (2 euros/m2 in Nosy Be) and in Ethiopia [fr] (rental of 2,500 km2 of land for 180 euros/week). As an example of such deal, the association links to the current land contractual agreement between Ethiopia and the International Sannati Agro Farm Entreprises. The contract allows the Sannati group to be exempt of taxation on capital rapatriation and import duties.
I want to ask, there is not software to change from letter to letter Latin...