Madagascar Initiatives

Ny Fanazarana, F fahatelo ilaina amin'ny fampianarana

2018-11-16T11:41:00.002+03:00

Ny Fanazarana dia tahaka ny zazakely mianatra mandeha ; Mila:

- Fahasahiana manao dingana vaovao. Tsara ny manonofy, fa mila miroso amin'ny hetsika azo tsapain-tanana. Eto ilay zazakely manomboka manara-drindrina sy latabatra iva sady mamototra tsimoramora, mianatra mijoro irery.

- Faharetana sy Fitokisan-tena. "Vitako io ary ho tratrako ny tanjoko. Na haingana na ela (faharetana), tsy maintsy mandeha aho!! (fitokisan-tena)" hoy ilay zazakely!

- Famerenana: Na mianjera indroa-polo ary ilay zaza, tsy manary-toky izy fa mitsangana foana. Ny fitsanganana no zava-dehibe na dia milatsaka inbetsaka ary.

Ho anao efa lehibe mahay mamaky teny io, tadidinao ve ianao nianatra nandeha? Ataoko fa tsy dia misy mahatadidy loatra angamba isika satria efa zatra isika, efa lasa fiainana andavan-andro ilay izy.

Mitsangàna! Mijoroa! Mandehana! :)

Kilalao momban'ny voambolana - "Word Ladders" na "Tohatry ny Teny"

2018-04-26T20:48:00.003+03:00

Maro ny fikarohana milaza fa ilain'ny ankizy - sy ny rehetra - ny milalao satria mampivelatra saina. Misy kilalao "Word ladders' na "Tohatry ny Teny" nataoko tamin'ny lakilasy iray ary hitako nanitikitika ny sain'ny mpianatra.

Marihiko fa ny akamaroan'ny mpianatro dia ankizy sahirana mafy amin'ny fiainana amin'ny ankapobeny ka tsy dia havanana loatra amin'ny fianarana. Noho izany dia mila mitady famerenana tsotra fa mety hifantoka ao an-tsainy foana. Tsy mandaitra ohatra ny fianarana voambolana ao am-pianarana amin'ny andro A, dia manomboka ny fampianarana amin'ny andro A+1 amin'ny famerenana ny zavatra hita tamin'ny andro A satria tsy manokatra kahie mihintsy ny ankizy any an-trano!

Misokatra ny adihevitra momban'ny fanomezana enti-mody... na tsia. Izaho manokana mino fa ilain'ny ankizy ny mamerina ny zavatra natao tany am-pianarana mba ho tadidiny. Ary tsy mila mihaotran'ny atsakadiny akory izany any an-trano, nefa fotoana mampiova zava-dehibe.

Ka inona ary ilay Word ladders?

Kilalao hitako tao anatin'ilay boky "The Emergency English Teacher" - David M. Scraggs, izy ito. Afaka atao rehefa misy fotoana banga fohy ohatra, na rehefa avy nianatra voambolana maromaro.

Fitsipika: Mandefa ankizy roa na telo hifaninana eny amin'ny solaitrabe. Manonona teny iray ny mpampianatra, izay soratan'ny mpianatra eo amin'ny tohatra voalohany (ambany). Miakatra tohatra iray isaky ny teny ny mpianatra. Ary ny litera farany amin'ny teny nosoratany no tokony hanombohany ny teny eo ambony.

Ohatra: Nanonona aho hoe "freedom". Samy manoratra eo ambany ny mpianatra. Dia ny teny ho soratany eo ambony tsy maintsy manomboka amin'ny "m", ohatra hoe "mother". Manomboka amin'ny "r" indray ny teny eo ambony...

Rehefa tapitra ny fe-potoana dia izay niakatra ambony indrindra tamin'ny tohatra ary tsy nandiso tsipelina no mandresy.

Nianatra momban'ny "Civil Rights and Segregation in the United States of America" adin'ny 3 ora izahay alohan'ny kilalao.

PS: Raha misy kilalao hitanao fa nahomby tsara tamin'ny fampianaranao na fianaranao teny hafa dia mba ataovy ao amin'ny "commentaires" fa tsara foana ny mifanakalo fomba-fanao! Mazotoa.

Ny Fitaovana, F faharoa ilaina amin'ny Fampianarana

2018-04-22T21:52:00.000+03:00

Tohiny ilay 3F ilaina amin'ny Fampianarana: ny Fifandraisana, ny Fitaovana, sy ny Fanazarana.

Ny (tsy fisian'ny) Fitaovana eo ampelatanan'ireo mpanabe miasa amin'ny sekoly-panjakana Malagasy ny ho resahako eto, araky ny nahitako maso azy (izay mety ho diso hoan'izay tsy hitako maso! :)), ary amin'ny maha mpampianatra teny Anglisy aho.

Efa kely sisa dia ho folo taona lasa izay, nampianatra ankizy teo amin'ny 100 teo ho eo tany Ankatso aho ny Sabotsy maraina. Alohan'ny fampianarana, nitaky "vidéoprojecteur" tamin'ny tomponandraikitra aho.

Ny Sabotsy voalohany nahazo kilasy tsara, nandeha tsara ny fotoana. Ny Sabotsy faharoa, niova kilasy tsy nisy jiro. Tsy afaka nampiasa "vidéoprojecteur". Ny herinandro manaraka, nafindra tao amin'ny tranobokin'ny fianarana izahay. Tsy ampy ny seza ka nisy mpianatra nitsangana na nipetraka tamin'ny tohatra na tamin'ny tany... Tany antokontanin'ny Ankatso niafaranay indray-mandeha satria ni-grevy ny mpiasa tao. Tokony nanao famelabelaran-kevitra ny ankizy ary efa nitondra afisy, nanomana tsara ery. Tsy ho adinoiko mihintsy izay andro izay satria nahatsapa ny finiavan'ilay ankizy hivoatra amin'ny fiainana aho na dia maro ary ny sakana amin'ny fiainany. Rehefa vita ny fotoam-pianarana dia sendra nisy niteny tamiko izy ireo hoe ilay vidéoprojecteur nofainy ka samy nandoa vola kely daholo ilay mpianatra rehetra. Nanomboka teo, naleoko nanontany ny fitaovana misy ao amin'ilay sekoly mba afahako miheritreritra fomba fampianarana mifanandrify amin'ny zava-misy.

Raha sendra mitsidika fianaranam-panjakana ianareo, maro ny tsy ampy dabilio, tsy omby ny ankizy ny lakilasy fa maro be, tsy (dia) misy boky hanampian'ny fanjakana ny mpanabe sy ny mpianatra. Firy ny fianarana miforona izay tsy manana ny fandaharana ofisialy tokony atao isaky ny taranja? Firy ny mpampianatra mangataka fiofanana mba ahafehy ny taranja ampianariny? Tsy vitan'ny nahita fianarana, dia mitsangana eo anoloan'ny mpianatra dia miresadresaka fotsiny anie ny atao hoe mampianatra e...

Lasa mampieritreritra hoe tsy laharam-pahamehan'ny mpitondra (na ny taloha, na ny amin'izao!) ny fampianarana ny vahoaka Malagasy, ny zanak'i Madagasikara. Ary ny mahagaga ahy dia faly mirehareha ny mpitondra Malagasy rehefa nahazo Ariary be dia be avy amin'ny mpamatsy vola mba afahana mampianatra ny zanany. Izay midika hoe faly isika rehefa miankina amin'ny vahiny ny fahafahantsika na ny mpiray tanindrazana amintsika mandeha mianatra... na tsia.

Hisy hiteny hoe "Inona moa ny olana? Ny zanako ampianariko amin'ny fianarana tsy miankina!" Ka na ampianarinao amin'ny fianarana tsara be ny zanakao, tsy maintsy hifanerasera amin'ny tontolo manodidina foana izy. Sarotra ny fiaraha-monina rehefa ratsy ny tontolo iainana. Ny mpanao politika mety tsy mila vahoaka marani-tsaina mba afahany "mamitaka" azy.

Ka mety ho tsara raha mifanome tanana ny mpanabe mba afahana mandrafitra fandaharana mety hoan'ny Malagasy, ary natokana hoan'ny Malagasy, mba tsy haka tahaka ny avy any ivelany foana, dia avy eo gaga rehefa adino ny kolotsaina maha Malagasy ny Malagasy.

Ny Fifandraisana, F voalohan'ny Fampianarana

2018-04-12T23:34:00.000+03:00


Sary nalain'i Dina Andriamihajamanana

Alohan'ny hidirana amin'ny antsipirihan'ny fampianarana, misy F anakitelo tsara apetraky ny mpanabe ho tanjona mba hampivelatra kokoa ny sain'ireo mpianatra rehetra tsy ankanavaka: ny Fifandraisana, ny Fitaovana, ary ny Fanazarana.

Ny Fifandraisana

Matetika rehefa manomboka ny taom-pianarana dia samy mitaintaina na ny mpampianatra na ireo mpianatra. Ny mpampianatra mametraka ny torolalana tokony hajain'ireo mpianatra, ary mila miezaky ny mahafantatra ny mpianany tsirairay avy.

Ireo mpianatra kosa, na dia faly mihaona amin'ny namany ary, dia matahotra ny mpampianatra vaovao ihany koa, sao masiaka be... Kanefa raha tsara fanahy loatra ny mpampianatra dia mety tsy hajain'ny mpianatra indray.

Noho izany dia mila fehezina dieny voalohany ny mpianatra mba hampirindra ny fiarahana avy eo. Tsy midika akory izany hoe ampitahorina ny ankizy, na hoe mivazavaza lava. Azavaina tsara ny zavatra andrasana amin'ny tsirairay, ny fomba fifampitondrana sy ny fomba fiasa hampivoatra azy ireo. Tokony hifototra amin'ny fifanajana sy fahasahiana - fahasahiana mandiso, mianatra miteny, maneho ny heviny... - ny fifandraisan'ny mpanabe sy ny mpianatra. Tadidio fa ny olona miaina ao anaty ny tahotra tsy ho sahy hiteny loatra. Ka raha hampianatra hiteny anglisy ianao ohatra dia tena ho sahirana satria ny sofina sy ny vava no miasa voalohany rehefa mianatra teny vaovao. Iza amintsika moa no tsy mbola nahaino na nahazo hoe "Vendrana! Tsy mahay n'inon'inona! Tsisy ilana azy!"? Tsy mampazoto olona hivoatra mihintsy izany teny izany fa mahatezitra sy mampalahelo. Rehefa mitsara mpianatra - na olon-kafa koa - dia mitady zavatra tsara nataony aloha vao miteny ny zavatra afaka hatsarainy.

Ka amin'ny fomba ahoana ary no afahana mifanantona amin'ny mpianatra?

Amin'ny fiainana andavanandro ohatra hoe manaraha maso ny fanazarana ao am-pianarana, na manontany vaovao rehefa misy zavatra tsikaritra. Asiana lanjany ny ezaka ataon'ny mpianatra na dia tsy mitovy ary ny fahaizan'ny tsirairay.

Raisiko ohatra ny mpianatro amin'izao. Misy ny tsy ampy sakafo, ny tsy misy mpitaiza, ary misy ny tsy manan-kialofana. Tsy tena mifantoka amin'ny fianarana ny sainy ary tsy afaky ny hitaky zavatra betsaka aminy aho. Na dia izany ary amporisihako handray anjara ao am-pianarana foana izy rehetra. Rehefa manamarina izy dia miteny aho hoe "good!" dia faly izy. Ary miandry an'iny "good" iny foana izy, dia lasa miezaka ho azy. Dia raha manome fanazarana an-tsoratra aho ka mahavita mialoha ny sasany, dia tsaraiko avy hatrany. Raha marina daholo dia asiko soratra kely, ohatra hoe "very good" na "good job". Eritreretitsika olon-dehibe ho fihetsika madinika ilay izy, kanefa mety ho reharehan'ilay mpianatra iny soratra kely iny, ho azy mety tsy zatra ankasitrahana. Izay ny antony tokony ho fantatry ny mpampianatra aingana ny mpianany tsirairay mba afahany mamaritra ny ezaka andrasany amin'ny tsirairay.

Tahaka ny ankizy kely mianatra mandeha io; ankahereziny foana izy na dia zavatra farak'zay tsotra ho antsika olon-dehibe ary ny mandeha tongotra. Ho an'ilay ankizy efa mahay mandeha, afaka amporisihana izy hiazakazaka indray ohatra. Tsy mitovy ny tanjona apetraka satria tsy mitovy ny fiaingan'ny tsirairay.

Mitombina ve ny fomba fijeriko raha ny fahitanao azy? Noraisiko avy amin'ny boky fampianarana miteny anglisy ny hevitra sasany ("The ESL/ELL teacher's survival guide"), dia ny sasany nianarako teo am-perin'ny asa. :)

Ho tohizako amin'ny manaraka ny momban'ny Fitaovana sy ny Fanazarana.

Fampianarana miteny anglisy - Poem on Nature

2018-04-09T00:45:00.001+03:00

Rehefa niresaka tamin'ny mpampianatra teny anglisy an-tsekoly mpanjakana tao Antananarivo aho tamin'ny Marsa 2018, dia niverina foana ilay fanirin'izy ireo hanatrika fiofanana afahany manatsara ny fomba fiasany.

Rehefa nandinika aho dia marina tokoa fa tsy manana boky manokana hoan'ny mpianatra malagasy izy ireo fa matetika maka ireo boky avy amin'ny sekoly fampianarana amin'ny teny hafa dia avy amin'ireny no misintona lesona...

Eo ihany koa ilay tsy fitokisan-tena satria sady mety tsy hoe nianatra niteny anglisy ela be ary nahazo mari-pankasitraha manokana ilay mpampianatra no tsy nampianarina hampianatra ihany koa.

Ny zava-dehibe mila jerena ihany koa dia ny mombamomban'ny sekoly sy ny lakilasy. Raha ireo sekoly vitsy nalehako, dia miisa eo amin'ny 50 na 60 eo ny mpianatra isaky ny lakilasy, izany hoe maro be ny ankizy. (Misy koa sekoly tsy ampy latabatra sy seza dia mitsangana ny ankizy sasany.) Ary matetika tsy misy vola nahatokana hoan'ny fitaovam-pianarana (photocopies, impressions, magnétophone, Internet...) fa manoratra amin'ny solaitrabe ihany no tena afaka ataon'ny mpampianatra.

Ireo zava-misy ireo no hiezahako ho tsarona isaky ny manolotra hevitra hanampiana ny mpampianatra malagasy miteny anglisy. Tononkalo momban'ny natiora no anisan'ny lazaina ataoko amin'ny mpianatra amin'izao fotoana izao. Ito ary ny rohy.

Hevitro manokana no zaraiko ary matetika zavatra efa nataoko tany am-pianarana ka hitako nahasarika ny ankizy na koa hoe lazaina nahafinaritra aho manokana. Fizarana moa ny antsika fa raha misy soso-kevitra...

Here I am... back! (at least trying :))

2018-04-02T09:54:00.002+03:00

In a public school called "CEG" in Antananarivo.

Hello folks,

It's been forever since last post... Life!!! Let's say that I'd been a caterpillar that needed to stay in its "cocoon" and which is now trying to become a butterfly with the rainbow colors! :) See how it can be hard to change status in real life, nothing like Facebook!? :) To be more serious, those drastic changes will also impact this blog. Indeed, if I used to promote some places or cultural dimension in Madagascar before, I will now focus more on education there.

Why education?

First, I believe that everything should start with education. By "everything", I mean the parents' obligations, the society's duty, the schools' main goal... and let me not forget one that makes me ask myself millions of questions: "Shouldn't education be the top priority of every kind of organizations - specifically those international organizations who love to play the "know-it-all" game?" (I had to let that one out!!!)

Second, I've found my professional way into education. And it has not only opened my eyes on the meaning - shall I rather say "on the utopia" - of equality, fairness, and development but it also made me see how screwed up some educational systems can be! For example, Madagascar is one of the few countries where education given at schools is not done in the mother tongue. This would have been fine if most people were bilingual.

Another point that seems important to me is that kids who go to public schools - the majority of kids - tremendously lack of resources and tools to complete the program. It has become "normal" to get books from donors, which of course comes from a very generous intention. However, the contents of these books don't always match the national program, and it often happens that teachers don't know how or cannot use them correctly.

And last but not least, because I love Madagascar, and even if I don't live there anymore, I want to give some of my time and energy to lend a hand to people working into education there... bringing my own brick on the currently falling wall of hope!

That's it for now, let's see where the flow brings us from here! And if you have ideas about how to improve education in Madagascar, please leave me a comment, I'm all ears... or shall I say "I'm all eyes" on this specific context since I can't hear you! *nasty joke, I know* :)

Adinon'i dada (Father forgets)

2018-04-02T08:51:00.000+03:00

Tononkalo nadika avy tamin'ny "Father forgets - W. Livingston Larned."

Anaka, izao no teny ataoko aminao na dia matory ary ianao, ilay tanana kely ao ambanin'ny takolaka, miaraka amin'ilay volo miolakolana, miraikitra amin'ny atsembohan'ny andrinao. Nangalatra irery tao amin'ny efitra fatorianao aho. Minitra vitsy lasa izay, raha nipetraka namaky ny taratasiko aho tao amin'ny tranomboky, nisy onjam-panenenana nanenika ahy tampoka. Meloka aho tonga eto ampandriananao.

Ireto ny zavatra noeritreretiko anaka: Tezitra taminao aho. Nobedesika ianao raha niomana hianatra satria zara fa nifafa tarehy amin'ny servieta. Nosaziko ianao raha tsy nanadio ny kiraronao. Nikiakiakia aho raha nisy entana latsaka tamin'ny tany.

Nahita ho kianina koa aho amin'ny sakafo maraina. Nandraraka sakafo ianao. Nirangorango ianao. Nanao kiho eo ambony latabatra ianao. Nataonao natevina loatra ny dibera tamin'ny mofonao. Ary raha nanomboka nilalao ianao rehefa haka ny fiarako aho, dia nitodika ianao ary nikopa-tanana nanao hoe "Veloma dada!" Dia niketrona aho namaly hoe "Ataovy mankany aoriana ny soroka!"

Dia nitohy ohatr'izay indray rehefa faran'ny tolakandro. Nitsikilo anao aho teny an-dàlana, hitako nandohalika nilalao kanety ianao. Rovitra ny ba kiraronao. Nalako baraka ianao teo imason'ny namanao rehefa nasaiko nandeha teo alohako hatrany an-trano. Lafo be ny ba kiraro; raha ianao no nividy azy dia nitandrina kokoa ianao. Alao sary an-tsaina anie izany anaka e, avy amin'ny rainao!

Tsaroanao ve, taty aoriana, izaho niasa tao amin'ny tranomboky, ianao nitsirika moramora miaraka amin'ilay maso mipitrapitra kely? Raha napetrako ny taratasiko, tsy nanam-paharetana amin'ny fiatona aho dia nisalasala teo am-baravarana ianao. "Inona ny tadiavinao?" hoy aho.

Tsy niteny na inona na inona ianao fa niazakazaka nanantona ary nofininao ny tratrako dia norohanao aho; Ilay tanana kely mamihana, feno fitiavana nomen'Andriamanitra ao am-ponao, fitiavana tsy resin'ny tsirambina. Dia iny ianao lasa, nandeha niakatra ny tohatra.

Anaka, fotoana fohy toarian'izay nitsarapaka ny taratasy tety an-tanako ary teo aho no lasa natahotra be. Inona ity nanaovan'ny fahazarana ahy? Ny fahazarana hitadiavana fahadisoana, ny fanaratsiana - izao no valisoa azoko tamin'ny naha zazalahy anao. Tsy hoe tsy tiako akory ianao fa nanantena zavatra maro loatra aho tamin'ny tanora. Norefesiko tamin'ny metatra natokana hoan'ny taonako ianao.

Ary betsaka tokoa izay tsara sy mety sy marina amin'ny toetranao. Ilay fo kelinao izay ngeza ohatran'ny mangiran-dratsy ambonin'ny tendrombohitra. Izany dia nasehonao tamin'ny fahatsoraponao niazakazaka niditra sy nanoroka ahy ho tafandria-mandry. Ny ankoatr'izay tsy ahoana anio alina anaka. Tonga eto andoham-pandriananao aho ato anaty haizina ary mandohalika, feno henatra!

Fanavotana kely izany; Fantatro fa tsy ho azonao ireo resaka ataoko ireo raha ambarako anao rehefa mifoha ianao. Fa rahampitso, ho ray mendrika aho! Hiaraka aminao aho, hiaraka hifaly aminao aho, hiaraka hiomehy aminao aho, ho tapenako ny vavako rehefa tonga ny teny masosotra. Ho averimberiko foana tahaka ny fombafomba: "Mbola ankizy izy - ankizy lahy kely!"

Manahy aho fa nijery anao ho toy ny lehilahy lehibe. Rehefa mijery anao eto aho anaka, mivonkina sy reraka ao anaty farafara, zazakely no hitako. Omaly ianao mbola teny an-tanan'ny reninao, ny lohanao eo amin'ny tratrany. Be fangatahana loatra aho, be loatra.

Sary namboarina! :)

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Ny hafatra: Raha tokony hanameloka ny hafa isika, andao hiezaka hahatakatra ny fihetsiny. Hiezaka hahazo fa maninona izy manao ny ataony.

Madagascar + Internet, what relationship?

2015-07-03T11:52:00.002+03:00

In mid 2015, there are two distinct kinds of lives, guess which ones.
The believers who worship VS non-practising believers? Indeed!
The heterosexuals VS LGBT? Indeed, we heard a lot about them these days.
The white VS black? A real cliché of forbidden issues that won't disappear anytime soon!
If all these are true, nowadays we also have real life VS virtual life. Since the Internet revolution in the late 1990s, we also live with the "digital divide".

Wikipedia describes the digital divide as " an economic and social inequality according to categories of persons in a given population in their access to, use of, or knowledge of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)."

This definition brings me to a key question: Is Madagascar (and by extension developing countries) prepared to take the plunge into virtual life and marry internet?
For or against ? Place your bets!

1st argument against: according to data from the World Bank, GDP / capita in Madagascar in 2013 is 463 $ per year. I divide this figure over 12 months and 30 days, I get a result of $ 1.29 income per capita per day. (Excluding income disparities...) Hungry stomach has no ears. You readers, how much do you spend for groceries per month?

2nd argument against: As if that wasn't enough, the slower Internet is, the more expensive. Indeed, the meaning of "high speed Internet" is very different depending on whether you are in a developed country or in a developing one, and yet the corresponding invoices are inversely proportional to the services received.

3rd argument against: For a country like Madagascar, Internet use requires a higher level of education compared to other users. If a prerequisite for all countries is not to be illiterate, which already is a huge challenge, the Malagasy user must also master at least one foreign language - French or English - to understand what goes on in the head of the Internet.

4th argument against: It should be noted that Madagascar's basic infrastructure will soon be listed among the national heritage (unfortunately, we can not yet claim to go "global" on this one) as worthy of museum pieces are used to decorate rather than serve the population with water and electricity. Do you know that in the most remote areas of Madagascar, we go to the nearest phone booth to charge the battery of a phone because it is the only place where there is electricity? We are far from the live video conversations, consultation documents and creation of a virtual identity. It reminds me of the joke: "Wikipedia said" I know everything ", Facebook said: "I know everybody." Google said: "I have everything." Internet said: "Without me, you are nothing." And electricity replied: "Let me laugh ..."

I began by exposing the worst scenario in the relationship between Madagascar and the Internet to finish off with the best! Here it is not the quantity that matters but the quality !!!

1st argument for: Following the joke above, Internet is the reference tool to gain more knowledge and education in general. All the answers are on the Internet and are at hand.

2nd argument for: For professionals, the Internet allows you to literally open up to the world and explore opportunities at all levels. Whether tour operators, professional import-export, or individuals seeking a network with common interests, the Internet can respond positively to all requests.

Also, although Mrs Madagascar and Mr Internet belong to two different signs that appear in opposition, they will be eligible for an informed relationship in order for Mr. Internet to help Mrs. Madagascar grow in personal development through education, with the possibility to expand her network beyond the geographical borders.

Madagascar + Internet - Quelle compatibilité ?

2015-07-03T08:03:00.000+03:00

En mi 2015, il existe deux sortes de vies distinctes, devinez lesquelles.

Entre les croyants et les non pratiquants, toutes religions confondues ? Certes !

Entre les hétérosexuels et les LGBT ? Effectivement, ils font la une des médias ces derniers temps.

Entre les blancs et les noirs ? Cliché classique quoique l’une des rares espèces qu’on souhaiterait être en voie d’extinction... même pas en rêve !

Tout ça est vrai... mais il y a aussi la vie réelle et la virtuelle depuis la révolution Internet à la fin des années 1990. Et qui dit Internet dit technologie... dit aussi « fracture technologique», traduit de l’anglais « digital divide.»

Wikipédia qualifie la fracture numérique de « disparité d'accès aux technologies informatiques, notamment Internet... Cette disparité est fortement marquée d'une part entre les pays riches et les pays pauvres, d'autre part entre les zones urbaines denses et les zones rurales.»

Cette définition m’amène à une principale question : Madagascar (et par extension les pays en développement) est-elle prête pour sauter le pas dans le virtuel et se marier à Internet ?

Ouvrons les paris sur la relation entre Madagascar et Internet. Ce dernier a t-il une touche ou va t-il se faire botter en touche ? Faites vos jeux...

1^er argument contre : d’après les données de la Banque Mondiale, le PIB/habitant à Madagascar en 2013est de 463$... par an. Je divise ce chiffre sur 12 mois et sur 30 jours, j’obtiens un résultat de 1,29$ de revenu par habitant par jour. (sans compter les disparités de revenus...) http://donnees.banquemondiale.org/indicateur/NY.GDP.PCAP.CDVentre affamé n’a point d’oreilles. Vous qui lisez ceci, combien dépensez-vous en nourriture par mois ?

2^ème argument contre : Comme si c’était pas suffisant, Internet est d’autant plus cher qu’il est lent. En effet, la notion de « haut débit » est très relative selon que vous soyez dans un pays développé ou « en cours » de développement, et pourtant les factures y afférentes sont inversement proportionnelles aux services reçus. Il y a la bande passante et la bande passée... ou dépassée, c’est pareil.

3^ème argument contre : Pour un pays comme Madagascar, l’utilisation d’Internet nécessite un niveau d’éducation supérieur aux autres utilisateurs, pourquoi ? Si un prérequis pour tous les pays consiste à ne pas être analphabète, ce qui déjà n’est pas gagné d’avance, l’utilisateur malgache doit également maîtriser au moins une langue étrangère - le français ou l’anglais - pour comprendre ce qui se passe dans la tête d’Internet. Certains diront, heureusement que les réseaux sociaux existent pour se spécialiser en mythomanie et en paparazzi dans son petit cercle !

4^ème argument contre : Il est à noter que les infrastructures de base de Madagascar vont bientôt figurer parmi le patrimoine national, (n’exagérons rien, on ne peut pas encore prétendre à l’échelle mondiale) dignes des pièces de musées puisqu’ils servent plus à décorer qu’à desservir la population en eau et électricité. Savez-vous que dans les coins reculés de Madagascar, on va dans le kiosque le plus proche pour charger son téléphone parce que c'est le seul endroit où il y a de l'électricité ? Nous sommes bien loin des conversations vidéo en direct, de la consultation de documents et de la création d'une identité virtuelle. Ça me fait penser à la blague : « Wikipédia dit : "Moi, je sais tout." Facebook dit : "Moi, je connais tout le monde." Google dit : "Moi, j'ai tout." Internet dit : "Sans moi vous n’êtes rien." Et l’électricité de finir : "Laissez moi rire ! » ...
Bref, rien ne va plus, jusqu’ici, c’est du «pas touche !!! »

Maisons malgaches au pied d'une montagne, sans électricité.

J’ai commencé par exposer le pire dans la relation entre Madagascar et Internet pour pouvoir finir en beauté avec le meilleur ! Ici, ce n'est pas la quantité qui compte, c'est la qualité !!!

1^er argument pour : Suivant la blague ci-dessus, Internet est l’outil de référence pour acquérir plus de connaissances et pour l’éducation en général. Toutes les réponses se trouvent sur Internet et sont à portée de mains.

2^ème argument pour : Pour les professionnels, Internet permet de s’ouvrir littéralement au monde afin d’explorer les opportunités à tous les niveaux. Qu'il s'agisse des opérateurs touristiques, des professionnels de l'import-export, ou d'individus cherchant un réseau aux intérêts communs, Internet peut répondre favorablement à toutes les requêtes.

Aussi, bien que Madame Madagascar et Monsieur Internet appartiennent à deux signes différents qui semblent en opposition, ils pourront prétendre à une relation éclairée, en vue pour Monsieur d’aider Madame à se surpasser pour son épanouissement personnel, par le biais de l’éducation et de la possibilité de développer son réseau au-delà des frontières géographiques.

Independence day in Madagascar - June 26, Celebrate it the Malagasy way

2015-06-27T15:21:00.000+03:00

With the risk being labelled as a close-minded islander, one of the Malagasy traditions that are not entirely eaten up by globalization (...yet) is the way to celebrate the independence day on June 26. (Madagascar is independent from being a french colony since 26 June, 1960.)

Indeed, on the eve of the independence day of Madagascar, families go out at night with small lamps made of paper called « harendrina taratasy ». You light up the lamp by sticking a piece of candle inside. While walking down the street, people sing « harendrina taratasy ô, may may may » ("may" = "it’s burning" in malagasy), of course, trying to not burn the lamp.

Since the malagasy culture holds more oral secrets than written ones, it’s been said that the tradition of harendrina comes from a purification ritual of the king and his subjects on the malagasy new year’s eve. Indeed, they would purify themselves with water (the malagasy « bath » tradition) in order to « clean up » all the issues of the year. Then, they would organize a procession around the village in order to ward off evils and ask the ancestors to bless the newcoming chapter.

That being said, the survival of this national tradition is also confronted with many threats.

First, the current politicians’ outstanding performance leads to an increasing insecurity within the island. So people hesitate to go out at night, and bring their children, fearing pickpockets...

Also, the lack of confidence towards the governors makes malagasy citizens repulse globalization because they feel that foreigners invade Madagascar, leaving the local population with nothing but their faith to believe in a better future. The closest related example is the international business practices regardgin the different kinds and shapes of lamps and gadgets with lights flooding the market few weeks before the independence day in Antananarivo, the capital city.

Last but so not least, independence day is « the » yearly opportunity for leaders to reinforce the nation’s identity, to call for more patriotism... Right now, our ancestors must be turning in their graves with bitter disappointment.

As a malagasy citizen, I’m proud to join this tradition. Life in my country is not the easiest and our leaders are not the most enlightened but I learned that if anywhere could be my home, there’s only one place that I belong to: my country. And while I was playing with the harendrina on June 25, I made the wish that from this independence day, may Madagascar be cleaned up of all its diseases, starting from its human crabs.

Madagascar, it's also... homeopharma

2015-03-15T18:23:00.000+03:00

As the 4th biggest island in the world, Madagascar is a real heaven on earth regarding the diversity of its fauna and flora. Attracting foreign scientists and biologists, the Malagasy business called homeopharma knows how to take the most out of this gift from nature... through homeopathy.

For example, did you know that lemongrass is a mosquito repellent ? Or that ravintsara could give you energy to fight against flu? Have you heard about the numberless virtues of the aloe vera - or vahona in Malagasy?

Visiting homeopharma makes you discover the benefits of flowers and plants that you can find in some parts of the island... such as orchids, baobabs...

In order to remedy the lack of the Government’s support regarding healthcare in Madagascar, not only is homeopathy by far cheaper than imported medicines, but it also has limited side effects because their products are 100% natural.

And in the end, if you feel that it didn't heal, you will at least enjoy the experience!

Madagascar, it’s also... the « kabary », or speeches

2015-02-11T17:28:00.001+03:00

In Madagascar, kabary -or speech in English- is a traditional art revealing how respectful and courteous the population « initially » is. Indeed, all formal events, if done following traditions, cannot start without a kabary. We call it an art because it’s a real show with verses similar to prose-poems.

Like any other event’s agenda, the kabary starts with greetings, the difference being about the length of the latter.

The video 1 shows the opening and greeting speech during the launching of the Ankiteny club in Tsiroanomandidy.

After the greetings come the apologies for taking the floor. The eldest - implying the wisest- person should do the kabary but it generally is someone else : another member of the family or a professional « mpikabary » (a person whose job is to do kabary).

The video 2 shows the apologies speech during the first diffusion of the movie « Ady gasy » or « The malagasy way » in Madagascar.

It’s only after these few long oral formalities that they get into the purpose of the event. In the end, the kabary gives a theatral touch to a formal occasion

Antananarivo, it’s also... wall painting advertising

2015-01-19T16:01:00.001+03:00

As you walk down the streets in Antananarivo, you get to the conclusion that indeed, there must be a theoretical relationship between advertising and consumption. Out of the few cities I have visited and lived in, Antananarivo is where I can find a lot of wall painting advertising almost everywhere. These kinds of street marketing are mainly drawings of food, beverages and telecommunication products painted on houses’walls.

This interesting practice of course lets people know about the product itself, but it also helps you find directions when you go somewhere since you can rarely find streets’ names.

I remember a friend who came for the holidays asked me once : « how do people find their way here, there’s no streets’ name, no map, nothing ?!? » :) Oh well, instead of telling you: « go along Common. Ave and turn left at Brighton St. », the malagasy way would be: « go left from here until you find a Total gas station, then turn right until you see the yellow and red THB house, take the first on your left... » For sure, life in Antananarivo breaks many people’s learned or well-processed habits but isn’t the most important thing to find our way, and get to the place we wanted to go?!?

Antananarivo, it’s also... fine marquetry

2015-01-05T17:02:00.000+03:00

If Madagascar goes along with all kinds of handicraft, let’s focus on an amazing meeting I had with Mr. Lanto, an artist in fine marquetry.

As a member of a team of 5 persons, he has the main role of putting the pieces of wood altogether in order to form the masterpiece. The wood he uses comes from Antananarivo and Ambositra, the latter being one of the most famous regions of the country for handicraft made out of wood.

Here are few samples of his incredible talent and meticulous work, some of them inspired by world-known pictures.

From few testimonies of Malagasy craftsmen - which can’t reflect formal datas - if they work as an employee, their monthly income is approximately around 150$, an amount that can hardly cover minimum living expenses in the capital city. Such a low price for such a great asset !

May you have a picture you’d like to frame into marquetry, Mr. Lanto is the right person you want to talk to... and we can help you find him !

Antananarivo, it’s also... the beige cabs

2014-12-29T16:25:00.002+03:00

Have you already heard about the yellow cabs in New York City (NYC) ?

In Antananarivo, you have a more « ancient » version with the beige cabs. « Ancient », not because the decision on the uniform color was made before the yellow color of cabs in NYC, but because most of cabs in Antananarivo are old cars which - in other countries - might somehow deserve to be « exposed » in museums.

Indeed, the most common taxi car you’ll find downtown is a Peugeot 4L. I don’t have the statistics but it’s what I see the most everywhere I go. You can also get a ride in a Citroën 2CV... not that comfortable but worth the exotic experience. Needless to precise that there’s no production of these models anymore.

The very simplistic and subjective conclusion I draw from this fact is that, ages ago, Malagasy people used to have a better standard of living before because they could afford buying those cars. Also, they know how to take care and to make profit of the "very few and fewer" resources in their hands ; I’m not sure everyone can keep an old car running for years, managing to repair the spare parts with what they have because they obviously can’t find them in the market anymore... leading to the famous notion of « system D ».

And if your taxi happens to stop in the middle of a traffic and you see the driver going out the car, don’t be too surprised, he might add some « fuel » that he was stocking in a bottle... When you aren’t « rolling in money », you try to save every single penny, right?

The rate of a ride depends on the distance... and on how you look like ! You can bargain the taxi fare in Antananarivo.

Antananarivo, it’s also... handicraft items made of raffia

2014-12-12T15:11:00.002+03:00

One of the many typically Malagasy souvenirs you could get is a handmade raffia product.

Women, aren't you interested in getting unique articles such as purses, hats, baskets for you and your children, picture frames, table mats, gadgets...?!?

Where to find this kind of Malagasy art in Antananarivo?

If you can find all kinds of Malagasy art here and there, the place to go for the best deal is at Koum on thursdays, the market-day. It’s an open market where you’ll find the hard work of craftsmen from different cities ; and it’s also a place where you want to have chameleons’eyes to make sure you haven’t lost anything while roaming around.

There’s also a market - or tsena in Malagasy - called CENAM in 67ha area, one on the route digue, and another gallery called Lisy Boutique at Antanimora. These are the most common places we know but if you -reader- know any other must-known places, feel free to share them by commenting this post.

How much?

In Antananarivo, bargaining is part of the local culture... which is not always true in other parts of the country. Sometimes, the seller seems to hesitate, staring at you as if he forgot the price. Actually, he looks at your face, makes a quick estimation of the amount of money you may have and how well informed you are regarding local prices, before giving you the magic number which can be three times higher than the real value of the product.

The example I experienced the other day was with a guy selling christmas hats in the streets. I asked for the price ; he replied « 3 500MGA ». I didn’t care and left so he followed me, saying : « 3 000MGA ».... walking... loading... « 1 500MGA if you take many »... « I just want one !!»... I finally bought it at 1 000MGA.

Anyhow, bargaining has two sides. On the one hand, you can get irritated that the seller wants to make so much money selling you a cheap product. On the other hand, a lot of these craftsmen and sellers just have one line in their accounting table : « the money I make today is the food I’ll eat. » In any case, if you’re a foreigner -or vazaha in Malagasy- it can be cheaper for you to go shopping in these open markets with local people.

A variation of these products are made of jute, items that are as pretty as useful, from the purse to the "sobika" (tr. basket).

... By the way, a Christmas with raffia is very possible too! Merry Christmas to you all.

Antananarivo, it’s also... the diversity of fruits

2014-12-05T10:35:00.000+03:00

When you’re in a tropical island like Madagascar, seasons have a more colorful meaning than the changing weather in the North. Indeed, if in the North, we talk about seasons as winter, summer, fall or spring, in Madagascar, seasons go along with the fruits -produced locally - that are available each month.

I can already hear you, living in developed countries, saying that the good part of being where you are is that you can find almost any fruit you want almost whenever you want. True... the difference being about the main thing : the taste !

Let’s take the example of one of the famous fruits in December : « lychees » !!! In Madagascar, they mainly come from Toamasina, Fénérive Est, Brickaville, Vatomandry, Manakara, Mananjary, Farafangana, Vohipeno and Fort-Dauphin. If you’ve already tried them locally, you’d want to cry if you taste the imported ones... which are moreover among the most expensive fruits in grocery stores.

In Madagascar, in December 2014, fresh lychees are 800Ariary - or less than 0,50USD... yes, less than fifty cents - the kilo.

So remember, December in Antananarivo is lychee season.

Elle nous donne l'eau à la bouche... Portrait du Chef Stéphanie Andriamampandry

2014-11-06T23:34:00.000+03:00

"Cuisiner. C’est l’art le plus beau et le plus complet. Il engage nos cinq sens, plus un – le besoin de donner le meilleur de nous-mêmes."

Paulo Coelho

Mettons la main à la pâte avec Chef Stéphanie Andriamampandry, jeune maman et cordon bleu... une autre de celles qui porte haut - mais plus discrètement - les couleurs de Madagascar. Elle nous fait l'honneur de nous parler un peu plus d'elle.

MI : Peux-tu nous raconter comment est née ta passion pour l'art culinaire et nous retracer ton parcours ?

SA : Mon intérêt pour l'art culinaire a commencé dès mon plus jeune âge. J'ai toujours été attirée par les émissions télé et films sur la cuisine, en plus des hôtels et restaurants où j'ai découvert les spectacles de Chefs qui cuisinaient devant les clients.

C'est ainsi que j'ai effectué des études en Management hôtelier à l'INTH avant d'y donner des formations de formateurs et de devenir formateur technique en cuisine pâtisserie pendant 4ans.

J'ai aussi eu l'occasion de voyager grâce à mon travail en collaborant notamment avec l'Office National du Tourisme de Madagascar (ONTM) : Antananarivo, Antsirabe, Fianarantsoa, Ranohira, Isalo, Moramanga, Toamasina, Foulpointe, Mahajanga. Sinon, j'ai travaillé avec le Projet Pôles Intégrés de Croissance (PIC), le Ministère du Tourisme, le Ministère de la Formation Professionnelle, quelques hôtels à Madagascar... en plus d'être traiteur et chef à domicile, sous le label de "Culin'Art".

En 2007, j'ai représenté Madagascar à un concours culinaire en Afrique du Sud, à Cape Town. Sur 14 équipes dont le lot était le meilleur dessert, j'ai été classée 4ème.

Depuis Juin 2014, je suis devenue Chef de cuisine et formatrice technique en cuisine pâtisserie chez Vatel Madagascar.

MI : Tu fais partie de l'équipe Malagasy qui participera à l'International Catering Cup (ICC) en Janvier prochain, félicitations. En quelques mots, qu'est-ce-que l'ICC ?

SA : L'ICC est la coupe du monde des traiteurs charcutiers qui se déroulera au Salon Sirha Lyon. C'est un grand concours au même titre que Bocuse d'or et la coupe du monde de pâtisserie. 12 pays ont été sélectionnés. Madagascar représente le continent africain.

Au menu, il nous faudra préparer :
- Truite farcie au cabillaud et noix de st jacques,
- Pâté en croûte 100% canard,
- Plat principal : déclinaison de cochon (3 sortes de préparation de cochon avec la garniture),
- Tartelettes et entremets aux fruits exotiques,
le tout pour 16 pièces en plus d'une grosse pièce pour le buffet qui doit être décoré.

MI : De qui est composée l'équipe qui représente Madagascar ? Comment vous êtes-vous connus et qu'est-ce qui a "mis du piment" dans votre savoir-faire respectif pour arriver à cette collaboration ?

SA : Lalaina Ravelomanana : Chef d'équipe, déterminé et habitué aux concours de hauts niveaux. Exigeant envers lui-même et envers son équipe, il a déjà gagné et participé à plusieurs concours.

Je connais Lalaina depuis mon adolescence, avant même que je ne décide de faire l'art culinaire, et il fait partie des chefs qui mont inspiré pour faire ce métier. C'est Lalaina qui a composé l'équipe pour l'accompagner dans cette aventure.

Coach Rocco Andriamiarisatrana, il a travaillé dans des grands restaurants en France, c'est le grand gourmet de l'équipe.

MI : En parlant de gastronomie de façon générale, que penses-tu des plats typiques Malagasy ?

SA : J'adore les plats typiques malagasy... surtout les manger. :) C'est pour les dresser sur assiette, qu'il faut être créatif.

MI : Être cordon bleu nourrit-il son homme à Madagascar ?

SA : Comme tout métier, il faut savoir se différencier et faire valoir son talent et ses capacités. Je m'estime chanceuse d'être là où je suis aujourd'hui, sachant que le chemin n'a pas été un fleuve tranquille... mais le jeu en vaut largement la chandelle.

MI : Si tu avais un message pour inspirer les jeunes passionnés de cuisine à se lancer, que leur dirais-tu ?

C'est un dur métier donc il faut être passionné sinon on abandonne rapidement. Persévérance et Endurance sont les mots-clés pour réussir.

Merci encore Stéphanie d'avoir bien voulu répondre à nos questions et nous te souhaitons - ainsi qu'à l'équipe repésentant Madagascar, bien entendu - bon vent... aux saveurs épicées de Madagascar.

The World Chocolate Awards - Madagascar is in with Menakao and Madécasse

2014-10-14T12:29:00.000+03:00

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.” - Charles M. Schulz

Whenever we - people in general - think of the "best" chocolate in the world, one particular country or brand comes to our mind.

But what does "best" really imply?

We are honoured to have Ian Whitaker (IW), an expert in chocolate, and the editor of the World Chocolate Awards, enlighten us about the variable bitter sweet taste chocolate can have through this interview.

MI: Would you please introduce yourself and the world chocolate awards concepts (history, criteria...)?

IW: My name is Ian Whitaker. I am the editor of the only independent guide book to chocolate called the World Chocolate Awards (WCA).

Effectively you have two books in one: a guide to the best chocolates and an encyclopaedia of the world of chocolate.

The book presents the world’s best chocolates to the reader in a very interesting way, including details of their flavour. We discover the story behind this chocolate. How it was made, facts about the origin of the cacao, interesting details about who makes the chocolate. We advise the reader where it can be sourced.

The guide is also something of an encyclopaedia to the entire world of chocolate. It tells the story of chocolate from planting seeds to harvesting the cacao from the tree, to making the chocolate in old traditional or modern industrial methods.

We research first hand wherever possible, which is important in an age where passing on unverified information from books or the internet is common. Our method is costly but it means that we can offer the reader genuine and trustworthy guide of high quality content not to be found anywhere else.

To get good information we visit cacao plantations, factories, workshops, speak to people at every level, visit archaeological sites, interview chocolate makers, observe the process of chocolate making and meet with scientists involved in research.

This is why, in addition to profiling the world’s best chocolates, we can provide so many interesting and beautiful photographs in the book. There are about 900 photographs in the current edition’s 384 pages. The book weighs nearly 1.5 kilos.

Like the Olympics or the World Cup, the book is published every four years. A lot of research is necessary. We have to ensure that chocolates from all over the world are evaluated for our readers and that it is done in fair way. For example we don’t permit chocolate bars to be given to us, so our readers can be sure that we evaluate the same chocolate that is on sale to the public.

The WCA is the only award for fine chocolate that has no friend, family or business connection to the chocolate industry and their marketing people. We are not consultants to the chocolate industry. We are funded 99% by our readers through book sales. The rest is by sales of a shop window sticker that informs the public that award winning chocolates are sold on site.

One of many things that I thought were necessary to gain the best understanding of the subject was to grow several varieties of cacao trees from seeds, in a variety of conditions. I believe this kind of investment pays off for the reader: everything in the book is real. It’s my job to insist that the books contents be of high value. If the book states, for example, that a cacao tree can grow over 10 metres tall then it is because I or one of my colleagues have stood next to such a tree.

The idea for the guidecame because of 3 reasons: first, it is unique. There is no other independent award or guide book for fine chocolate. We are not an “award sausage machine” set up to make money from chocolatiers paying entry fees. These schemes issue awards to nearly every entrant as it is in their best interest to do so. They refuse to share with the public the very small list of non-winners. We, on the other hand, avoid influential financial connections with award winners. We are also unique in the chocolate awards of the world because we are the only one publish the list of all the chocolates evaluated including those who did not receive an award. It’s on our website.

The secondreason for making the guide book is that everyone wants to make their own mind up about their favourite chocolate, holiday spot, car, hotel, or restaurant. But people appreciate trustworthy resources that assist with this.

Let me give you one example which is peculiar to the chocolate world: without the information provided in our guide book, an adventurous chocolate lover could spend a small fortune trying various chocolate bars which are in fact all the same chocolate packaged in different wrappers and sold under different brand names. It is difficult to know which chocolates are unique without a guide.

Thirdly, although chocolate is one of the world’s favourite foods, very little is generally known about it. There are also lot of tall tales, myths and misunderstandings about the subject. Much of the information that is not accurate or simply not true, which only adds to the mystery. So in the World Chocolate Awards book there is a wealth of little known information about chocolate’s history, how it is made, who makes it and the tropical tree that it comes from, and a wealth of never before seen photography, which means we can offer to our readers a really fascinating and enjoyable book.

MI: Can you tell us which country is the biggest cocoa producer with the highest quality? To what quantity do they produce per year?

IW: Generalisations can be misleading. The truth is that in all of the tropical countries in which cacao is grown you will find the capability for supplying high or low quality cacao beans.

The quality of cacao is selected, or accepted, by the chocolate maker. So it is irrelevant if country X has mostly poor grade cacao if chocolate is made using high grade cacao produced in country X.

When the chocolate industry say “high grade cacao” it normally means that a high percentage of the beans in a particular batch were found to be free of defects such as breaks, mould and insects, when they are inspected.

It is not always as easy as it may sound to consistently obtain high quality cacao from any one country because of numerous reasons. For example, adverse weather conditions, pest populations, diseases.

Then any number of calamities can happen to the cacao during its (usually very long) journey to the chocolate factory.

The way that cacao is graded prior to its sale can vary by country or plantation: there is no international standard. What a good chocolate maker tries to do is obtain the best cacao beans that they can from any given country, or plantation, that interests them, because the quality of the cacao limits the potential for good chocolate. There was never a good chocolate made from bad beans.

MI: How about Madagascar, what is its cocoa quality ranking?

IW: In the previous question I spoke about quality. I would like to answer this question instead in terms of potential flavour… The potential flavour of cacao produced from quality Madagascan beans is distinctive and unique. It is prized by many consumers and chocolate makers. Some of the world’s best chocolate is made with Madagascan cacao.

MI: How many chocolates made of Malagasy cocoa have won the world chocolate awards? Can you name us few of them (if there are many)?

IW: There are five award winning milk chocolates that are made with from Malagasy cocoa.

Our current guide book lists milk chocolates. Our next guide book will deal with dark chocolate.

Two of these chocolates are manufactured entirely in Madagascar: one is sold by a company called Menakao and the other is sold by Madécasse.

The chocolate bars recognised by the World Chocolate Awards that are made with Madagascan cocoa include those produced by Chocolaterie A. Morin who are located in the beautiful Rhône-Alpes region of France, not too far from Lyon. This is a historic chocolate maker who have handed down skills from father to son, generation to generation.

Pralus in Roanne, France. Pralus also have a shop in Paris.

Coppeneur in Cologne, Germany. Coppeneur also have a shop and online order service in Canada and USA (http://www.coppeneurchocolate.com).

To manufacture the chocolate in the same country as the cacao is harvested is rare. This helps the local economy significantly. Madagascar can be proud of giving the world truly Malagasy products like this that are enjoyed by people around the globe.

MI: What would you recommend to cacao producers in Madagascar to improve their quality product?

IW: I believe that cacao producers know what is best. What matters is if the person purchasing the cacao from the producer will reward them for better quality cacao.

The world’s best chocolate makers work with high quality cacao and so the more the public becomes interested in good chocolate, the more growers will be able to be rewarded for high quality cacao beans.

MI: Is there anything else you would like to add?

IW: I would like to invite, inspire, or I could I say even challenge, people to try a new chocolate and discover new natural flavours of cacao. Expect the unexpected. There is such a diverse variety of characteristics in good chocolate that it will surprise you and change how you think of chocolate and how much you enjoy it.

I have a few general tips about buying chocolate…

- When shopping judge a chocolate less on the packaging, shape or size, price, country it’s made in and more on its ingredients. It is not true that a high price will guarantee better chocolate. It is not true that certain countries exclusively produce the world’s best chocolate.

- If the ingredients say vegetable fat, palm oil or anything similar, do not pay a premium price. A premium chocolate will only use cocoa butter from the cocoa bean, not vegetable fat, which is a cheap substitute and does not taste the same.

- If the ingredients include vanilla flavour, natural vanilla flavour or vanillin, the chocolate manufacturer has decided to save money and compromise flavour by not using real vanilla. Do not pay a premium price for the chocolate.

- Chocolate without vanilla or any vanilla substitute in the ingredients will reveal a lot more of the natural taste of the cacao for you to experience. Some people prefer vanilla in chocolate, some do not: it’s entirely a personal choice.

The World Chocolate Awards guide book is available in the USA from www.amazon.comand to the rest of the world via www.amazon.co.uk. Facebook.

Héritage culturel - Eco-musée du sel de Bandrélé - Mayotte

2014-10-06T15:08:00.001+03:00

L'éco-musée du sel de Bandrélé nous partage un savoir-faire traditionnel avec des outils rudimentaires, qui se perpétue de génération en génération à Mayotte.

En marée haute, l'eau de mer s'infiltre dans le limon avant de s'évaporer pour y laisser du sel.

Les "mamans Shingos" grattent alors le limon pour former des petits tas de terre qui seront filtrés. Elles utilisent des marmites en aluminium trouées, y versent le limon ainsi que de l'eau de mer pour enrichir l'eau filtré en sel dissous avant de rejeter le restant de limon sur le côté.

Ensuite, l'eau filtrée est versée dans un bac métallique rectangulaire, mise à ébullition sur un feu de bois jusqu'à évaporation de l'eau et obtention de cristaux de sel.

Le sel est porté dans des sacs pendant plusieurs jours pour bien sécher, avant l'empaquetage et la mise en vente sur le marché Mahorais.

Water bucket, the Malagasy challenge

2014-09-23T12:19:00.000+03:00

Antananarivo Madagascar, September 2014

After the clear success of the ice bucket challenge worldwide, it was a bit of a surprise to see Malagasy friends living in Antananarivo, Madagascar join the trend of misusing water despite the scarcity of that resource. Indeed, with the defective services of the JIRAMA (Jiro sy Rano Malagasy, the public utilities providing electricity and water in the country), shortages of electricity and water often happen. So not only is it a challenge to have tap water 24/7, but it also becomes a luxury to have a fridge and to change water into ice!!!

Also, we may want to mention that a considerable share of the population does not have electricity and water at home! (I don't have the data but you just have to walk in the streets to see it, and it tells much more than numbers in beautiful reports!!!)

The pictures below show you a daily use of buckets, queuing for hours for the public fountains to open and get water.

I'm not sure how the action of throwing ice on oneself can effectively help save people from diseases (I understand this is pure viral marketing) but what I'm sure of is that promoting waste of water just to have fun... and thinking a bit of sick people... is not globally appropriate.

Finally, talking about diseases, if the ice bucket challenge inspired people to fight against ebola through the "lather against virus", there's a clear link between hygiene, water, and ebola... unlike ALS.

What are world days for?

2014-09-03T16:21:00.000+03:00

Funny how every year comes with more and more days to celebrate, to remember, and celebrate!!! If you happen to find it funny, wait... the World Laughter Day is on the first Sunday of May!!! Yes my friend, it does exist!!! Oh, by the way, as I called you my friend, since 2011, we should party a bit on July 30 to celebrate the International Day of Friendship!! The goal of that day is, as you may have guessed, to promote mutual understanding and inspire peace efforts... Talking about peace, obviously, there are few days dedicated for peace: January 01, November 10, and September 21. So, what do we do apart from these 3 famous days? We do like to live as if we were in a play station game, we kill each other - in the name of peace - and start wars here and there... needless to talk about the coming back with the latest brand new version of justice!!! International justice that we celebrate on July 17 please!!
This world is going mad. Oh no, there's no day for madness... not yet!! On the other hand - HAND with the global handwashing day on October 15 - we understand that health is a real issue, especially on April 7 and during all the days for specific diseases: rare disease, cancer, malaria, tuberculosis... you name it!!! I know some people who go through hard times because of health issues but honestly, I've never heard any of them recovering faster thanks to all these celebrations. When you're deep down the hole, you need someone who can get you out of there, you don't want to see them -up there- and hear them say "I think of you my friend!!!" while watching you passing away; It's that simple.

In the end, you have a chance out of three days to celebrate something during the year... (Please find below in brown the "busy days" to be celebrated). Maybe it will become trendy to call days by what we celebrate rather than the regular calendar?!? For example, I'll start working out on "world suicide prevention day" rather than saying on September 10.

The more time goes by, the more too many go away from what "making a real difference" means and live, dream, die with illusions.

Hey, if you want to celebrate something every single day, go see this link (here); it's not as serious as the list below but I find it less skewed than all these marketing/communication tools we see everywhere, which have zero impact on the real thing!

SHORT LIST OF INTERNATIONAL/WORLD DAYS

January
1 January	World day of peace	http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/war-and-peace/world-day-of-peace.cfm
4 January	World braille day	http://www.calendarlabs.com/holidays/international/world-braille-day.php

27 January	International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust	http://www.un.org/en/holocaustremembrance/2014/calendar2014.shtml

February
4 February	World Cancer Day	—
6 February	International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation	http://www.un.org/en/events/femalegenitalmutilationday/index.shtml
13 February	World Radio Day [UNESCO]	http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/world-radio-day/
20 February	World Day of Social Justice	http://www.un.org/en/events/socialjusticeday/
21 February	International Mother Language Day [UNESCO]	http://www.un.org/en/events/motherlanguageday/
21 February	International Mother Language Day [UNESCO]	http://www.un.org/en/events/motherlanguageday/
22 February	World thinking day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thinking_Day
28 February	Rare disease day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_Disease_Day

March
1 March	Zero Discrimination Day [UNAIDS]	http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/campaigns/20131126zerodiscrimination/
3 March	World Wildlife Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/wildlifeday/
8 March	International Women's Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/womensday/
14 March	World sleep day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Sleep_Day
20 March	International Day of Happiness	http://www.un.org/en/events/happinessday/
21 March	International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination	http://www.un.org/en/events/racialdiscriminationday/
21 March	World Poetry Day [UNESCO]	http://www.un.org/en/events/poetryday/
21 March	World Down Syndrome Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/downsyndromeday/
21 March	World Down Syndrome Day	draft A/C.3/66/L.27
21 March	International Day of Forests and the Tree	http://www.un.org/en/events/forestsday/
22 March	World Water Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/waterday/
23 March	World Meteorological Day [WMO]	http://www.wmo.int/wmd/
24 March	World Tuberculosis Day [WHO]	http://www.who.int/campaigns/tb-day/2014/event/en/
24 March	International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims	http://www.un.org/en/events/righttotruthday/
25 March	International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade	http://www.un.org/en/events/slaveryremembranceday/
25 March	International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members	http://www.un.org/en/events/detainedstaffday/

April
2 April	World Autism Awareness Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/autismday/
4 April	International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action	http://www.un.org/en/events/mineawarenessday/
6 April	International Day of Sport for Development and Peace	http://www.un.org/en/events/sportday/
7 April	Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide	http://www.un.org/en/preventgenocide/rwanda/commemoration/annualcommemoration.shtml
7 April	World Health Day [WHO]	http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/
12 April	International day of street children	http://www.streetchildrenday.org/
12 April	International Day of Human Space Flight	http://www.un.org/en/events/humanspaceflightday/
22 April	International Mother Earth Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/motherearthday/
23 April	World Book and Copyright Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/bookday/
23 April	English Language Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/englishlanguageday/index.shtml
23 April	World book day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Book_and_Copyright_Day
24 April	World day for laboratory animals	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Day_for_Laboratory_Animals
25 April	World Malaria Day [WHO]	http://www.who.int/campaigns/malaria-day/2013/en/index.html
26 April	World Intellectual Property Day [WIPO]	http://www.wipo.int/ip-outreach/en/ipday/
28 April	World Day for Safety and Health at Work	http://www.un.org/en/events/safeworkday/
29 April	Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare	http://www.un.org/en/events/chemwarfareday/
30 April	International Jazz Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/jazzday/

May
3 May	World Press Freedom Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/pressfreedomday/
4 May	International firefighters' day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Firefighters%27_Day
5 May	World laughter day	http://www.laughteryoga.org/english/events
5 May	International day of the midwife	http://www.internationalmidwives.org/events/idotm/international-day-of-the-midwife-2014.html
8-9 May	Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War	http://www.un.org/en/events/remembranceday/
10-11 May	World Migratory Bird Day [UNEP]	http://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/
12 May	International nurses day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Nurses_Day
13 May	"Vesak", the Day of the Full Moon	http://www.un.org/en/events/vesakday/
15 May	International Day of Families	http://www.un.org/en/events/familyday/
17 May	World Telecommunication and Information Society Day [ITU]	http://www.itu.int/wtisd/
18 May	International museum day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Museum_Day
21 May	World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development	http://www.un.org/en/events/culturaldiversityday/
22 May	International Day for Biological Diversity	http://www.un.org/en/events/biodiversityday/
23 May	International Day to End Obstetric Fistula	http://www.un.org/en/events/endfistuladay/
23 May	World turtle day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Turtle_Day
25 May	Geek pride day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geek_Pride_Day
29 May	International Day of UN Peacekeepers	http://www.un.org/en/events/peacekeepersday/
31 May	World No-Tobacco Day [WHO]	http://www.who.int/tobacco/wntd/

June
1 June	Global Day of Parents	http://www.un.org/en/events/parentsday/index.shtml
4 June	International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression	http://www.un.org/en/events/childvictimday/
5 June	World Environment Day [UNEP]	http://www.unep.org/wed/
8 June	World Oceans Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/oceansday/
12 June	World Day Against Child Labour	http://www.un.org/en/events/childlabourday/
14 June	World Blood Donor Day [WHO]	http://www.who.int/worldblooddonorday/en/
15 June	World Elder Abuse Awareness Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/elderabuse/
17 June	World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought	http://www.un.org/en/events/desertificationday/
18 June	Autistic pride day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autistic_Pride_Day
20 June	World Refugee Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/refugeeday/
23 June	United Nations Public Service Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/publicserviceday/
23 June	International Widows' Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/widowsday/
25 June	Day of the Seafarer [IMO]	http://www.imo.org/About/Events/dayoftheseafarer/Pages/Day-of-the-Seafarer-2014.aspx
26 June	International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking	http://www.un.org/en/events/drugabuseday/
26 June	United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture	http://www.un.org/en/events/torturevictimsday/

July
5 July	International Day of Cooperatives	http://www.un.org/en/events/cooperativesday/
11 July	World Population Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/populationday/
17 July	World day for international justice	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Day_for_International_Justice
18 July	Nelson Mandela International Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/
28 July	World Hepatitis Day [WHO]	http://www.who.int/csr/disease/hepatitis/world_hepatitis_day/en/
29 Juky	International tiger day	http://tigerday.org/
30 July	International Day of Friendship	http://www.un.org/en/events/friendshipday/
30 July	World Day against Trafficking in Persons	http://www.un.org/en/events/humantrafficking/index.shtml

August
1st Friday of August	International beer day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Beer_Day
9 August	International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples	http://www.un.org/en/events/indigenousday/
10 August	World lion day	http://worldlionday.com/the-campaign/
12 August	International Youth Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/youthday/
12 August	World elephant day	https://www.facebook.com/worldelephantday
19 August	World Humanitarian Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/humanitarianday/
21 August	World entrepreneurship day	http://www.worldentrepreneursday.org/
23 August	International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition [UNESCO]	http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-days/international-day-for-the-remembrance-of-the-slave-trade-and-its-abolition/
29 August	International Day against Nuclear Tests	http://www.un.org/en/events/againstnucleartestsday/
30 August	International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances	http://www.un.org/en/events/disappearancesday/

September
5 September	International Day of Charity	http://www.un.org/en/events/charityday/
8 September	International Literacy Day [UNESCO]	http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-days/literacy-day/
10 September	World suicide prevention day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Suicide_Prevention_Day
12 September	United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation	http://www.un.org/en/events/southcooperationday/
13 September	World first aid day	http://globaldimension.org.uk/calendar/event/4715
15 September	International Day of Democracy	http://www.un.org/en/events/democracyday/
16 September	International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer	http://www.un.org/en/events/ozoneday/
18 September	World water monitoring day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Water_Monitoring_Day
20 September	International red panda day	http://redpandanetwork.org/get-involved/international-red-panda-day/
21 September	International Day of Peace	http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/
21 September	International Day of Peace
25 September	World Maritime Day [IMO]	http://www.un.org/en/events/maritimeday/
26 September	International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons	http://www.un.org/en/events/nuclearweaponelimination/
27 September	World Tourism Day [UNWTO]	http://www.un.org/en/events/tourismday/
29 September	World heart day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heart_Day
30 September	Blasphemy day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasphemy_Day

October
1 October	International Day of Older Persons	http://www.un.org/en/events/olderpersonsday/
2 October	International Day of Non-Violence	http://www.un.org/en/events/nonviolenceday/index.shtml
4 October	World Animal day	http://www.worldanimalday.org.uk/
5 October	World Teachers’ Day [UNESCO]	http://www.unesco.org/new/en/world-teachers-day
6 October	World Habitat Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/habitatday/
9 October	World Post Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/postday/
10 October	World mental health day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Mental_Health_Day
11 October	International Day of the Girl Child	http://www.un.org/en/events/girlchild/
13 October	International Day for Disaster Reduction	http://www.un.org/en/events/disasterreductionday/
15 October	Global handwashing day	http://globalhandwashing.org/ghw-day
15 October	International Day of Rural Women	http://www.un.org/en/events/ruralwomenday/
16 October	World Food Day [FAO]	http://www.fao.org/world-food-day/home/en/
17 October	International Day for the Eradication of Poverty	http://www.un.org/en/events/povertyday/
24 October	United Nations Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/unday/
24 October	World Development Information Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/devinfoday/
27 October	World Day for Audiovisual Heritage [UNESCO]	http://www.un.org/en/events/audiovisualday/

November
2 November	International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists	A/RES/68/163
2 November		draft A/68/456/Add.2
6 November	International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict	http://www.un.org/en/events/environmentconflictday/
10 November	World Science Day for Peace and Development	http://www.un.org/en/events/scienceday/
12 November	World pneumonia day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Pneumonia_Day
13 November	World kindness day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Kindness_Day
14 November	World Diabetes Day	A/RES/61/225
16 November	International Day for Tolerance	http://www.un.org/en/events/toleranceday/
16 November	International Day for Tolerance	http://www.un.org/en/events/toleranceday/
16 November	World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims	http://www.un.org/en/roadsafety/remembrance.shtml
19 November	World Toilet Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/toiletday/
20 November	Universal Children’s Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/childrenday/
20 November	World Philosophy Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/philosophyday/
21 November	World Television Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/televisionday/
21 November	World hello day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Hello_Day
22 November	Africa Industrialization Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/africaday/
25 November	International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women	http://www.un.org/en/events/endviolenceday/
29 November	International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People	http://www.un.org/en/events/palestinianday/index.shtml

December
1 December	World AIDS Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/aidsday/
2 December	International Day for the Abolition of Slavery	http://www.un.org/en/events/slaveryabolitionday/
3 December	International Day of Persons with Disabilities	http://www.un.org/en/events/disabilitiesday/
5 December	International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development	http://www.un.org/en/events/volunteerday/
5 December	World Soil Day	A/RES/68/232
5 December	World Soil Day	Draft: A/68/444
7 December	International Civil Aviation Day [ICAO]	A/RES/51/33
9 December	International Anti-Corruption Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/anticorruptionday/
10 December	Human Rights Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/humanrightsday/
11 December	International Mountain Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/mountainday/
14 December	International monkey day	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_Day
18 December	International Migrants Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/migrantsday/
20 December	International Human Solidarity Day	http://www.un.org/en/events/humansolidarityday/

HUManity VS CAPitalism

2014-08-21T12:09:00.004+03:00

"How much do we love our children?"
- Enough to do anything for a promising future!

Have you noticed how we, the very smart human race, have found THE regular and global mealy-mouthed solution to real vital "socio-economic" issues?
* Do you own or/and earn anything valuable enough for the State to scrape together against promised services which are not even always available? Tax it!
* Does what you do harm health? Tax it more!
* Is the final goal of what you do against human rights? If so, keep doing but tax it!
* Have the results of the evaluation proven to affect the environment? Again, tax it!

Tax it, tax it, tax it, keep capitalism alive!!!

That moment when you receive the tax forms and think about your acquisitions, assets, and earnings.

Our everyday life is surrounded by taxes: VAT, income tax, property tax... so if you think you failed your career, that you're a total human wreck who "has-never-been", raise your head because the world has made of you a taxpayer specialist. Yes, be proud since you're contributing to the development of your community if not of your politicians' standard of living in the worst... or shall I say most of the - case.

Anyway, as long as it doesn't kill, there's still hope. Then, what to think about the increasing taxes on "unhealthy" products such as cigarets and alcohol? I'm not sure how efficient those businesses and States' strategies work!!! Do they make you pay more so that you'll feel guiltier when you buy it... and they'll be happier to make more profit out of your vice? In "non-marketing" words, isn't that just taking advantages of people's weaknesses? OK, let's not go too far, we can argue that noone puts a gun to your head to force you to smoke or drink; it's your choice and you're free to treat your body the way you feel like!!! Milton Friedman said it clearly: "Corporations are in business to make money, not to save the world."

Talking about gun, have you ever thought about the origin of all these weapons used in all these past and current wars? No naming here but it must come from Governments' decisions... In other words, a share of the tax you pay will help some governments build more weapons to kill people -on the name of fight against terrorism among other excellent arguments. How does it feel to contribute to kill people, dear taxpayer? Here we have one more reason to lie and pay less tax, or not pay any at all!!! :)

When you think that's the worst situation that could happen, let's dig even more our own graves. I now laugh at this beautiful and utopic lie of a goal that "sustainable development" is... The whole system itself isn't sustainable but we can't focus marketing and communication on that "reality" because the few who rule the whole world would lose "their Precious"!!! Indeed, we now live in a very "hot" era, and we're going to sweat as life -or capitalism- swings us up and down - or down, and more down? I must confess not to be an expert in climate change... I mean, I thought I wasn't until I read this article about "Green Capitalism: The God That Failed". Actually, we're all experts in climate change since we're active polluters and short-minded pawns... If before, I thought some jobs were meaningless, now, I wonder how can we "pretend" to save the world and work for the protection of the environment by not only focusing on animals more than on people -who are the main problem since they're killing animals- but also by reinforcing the dead-end money-based strategy of capitalism, like with the carbon market and anything similar to that stupid concept of "pay-pollute".

Since the article is very long, I took some sentences that truly opened my eyes below:

"Scientists warned that unless we urgently adopt "radical" measures to suppress GHG emissions (50 percent cuts in emissions by 2020, 90 percent by 2050) we're headed for an average temperature rise of 3 degrees or 4 degrees Celsius before the end of the century. (...) Sea levels will rise 25 meters - submerging Florida, Bangladesh, New York, Washington DC, London, Shanghai, the coastlines and cities where nearly half the world's people presently live. Freshwater aquifiers will dry up; snow caps and glaciers will evaporate - and with them, the rivers that feed the billions of Asia, South America and California. The "wholesale destruction of ecosystems" will bring on the collapse of agriculture around much of the world. (...) for the most part, given capitalism, imposing big cuts in greenhouse gas emissions means imposing big job cuts across industrialized economies around the world. That's why, regardless of protests, no capitalist government on the planet will accept mandatory cuts in GHG emissions. (...) maximizing profit and saving the planet are inherently in conflict and cannot be systematically aligned even if, here and there, they might coincide for a moment. That's because under capitalism, CEOs and corporate boards are not responsible to society; they're responsible to private shareholders. (...) So CEOs, workers and governments find that they all "need" to maximize growth, overconsumption, even pollution, to destroy their children's tomorrows to hang onto their jobs today.

If they don't, the system falls into crisis, or worse.(...) this means that, so long as the global economy is based on capitalism and private property and corporate property and competitive production for market, we're doomed to a collective social suicide (...) therefore, if humanity is to save itself, we have no choice but to overthrow capitalism and replace it with a democratically planned eco-socialist economy. (...) In short, for all the green initiatives, corporate business practices have changed little - or the little they've changed has had no great effect. (...) They (governments) will not sacrifice growth today to save the planet tomorrow.(...) The problem is capitalism. (...)
Given capitalism, tragically, the workers' best hope for job security today is to work to destroy their children's tomorrows. (...) But with respect to the issue of growth, the science is unequivocal: Never-ending growth means the end of civilization, if not humanity itself - and in the not-so-distant future.
Yet the worst problem with the carbon tax idea is that even if serious carbon taxes were actually imposed, there is no guarantee whatsoever that they would reduce greenhouse gas emissions because they would do little, if anything, to stop overall growth and consumption.

Humanity's current "global footprint" is equal to 1.5 planets. (...) The footprint of high-income countries is three times that of middle-income countries and five times that of low-income countries. (...) Americans have the biggest footprint of all, consuming the most energy and producing the most waste. If everyone lived like Americans do, we would need 5.3 planets to support all this."

We need more than a simple desintaxication, don't we?

HUManity VS CAPitalism, I read somewhere that the 3 HUM are HUMor, HUMility, and HUManity... VS the 3 CAP being CAPrice, CAPtivity, and CAPitalism.

Again,

"How much do we love our children?"
- Enough to steal their (long run) future and give them a forecasted shortened lifespan!

Les acquis issus des débats

2014-08-10T00:19:00.002+03:00

Le débat* se définit par une "discussion généralement animée entre interlocuteurs exposant souvent des idées opposées sur un sujet donné."

Répétons-le, il s'agit d'une "discussion (...) sur un sujet donné" et non d'une "dispute entre deux sujets donnés". Autrement dit, toute divergence d'opinion ne devrait en aucun cas entraîner une animosité entre plusieurs personnes, parties, entités, pays... C'est pourquoi il me parait important d'exposer les apports du débat dans notre vie quotidienne puisqu'elle a aussi son rôle à jouer dans tout ce qui est compréhension, entente mutuelle et cohésion sociale.

Concrètement, que pouvons-nous tirer de la culture de débat ? Sans que la liste ne soit exhaustive, le débat nous permet de nous entraîner à :

A. Raisonner

Le premier point crucial qu'apporte le débat est la capacité d'analyse puisque nous ne nous faisons une opinion que de ce que nous connaissons ou croyons connaître, de ce que nous apprécions ou son contraire ! Si avoir une opinion coule de source pour certains, la voix de la liberté n'est pas une voie toute tracée pour ceux qui, dès leur plus jeune âge, n'ont pas été habitués à s'exprimer, et donc à :
(1) choisir : "Mets un pull parce qu'il fait froid !!!" VS "As-tu froid ? Assez froid pour mettre un pull ?" ou ceux qui se vantent d'avoir des goûts éclectiques mais qui finalement n'ont juste pas de goût du tout ;

(2) s'opposer à une opinion, d'un adulte par exemple, pour entendre des répliques telles que : "Les jeunes d'aujourd'hui manquent de respect à leurs parents, ils désobéissent et trouvent toujours quelque chose à répondre !!! Quand on avait leur âge, on n'osait jamais contredire nos parents." ;
(3) être différent : "Comment ça tu veux devenir un artiste ? Ton grand père était docteur, ton père est docteur... Et toi, tu veux chanter ?" ... Et dire que l'ancienne génération (dont je fais partie :D) se divertissait notamment devant l'unique chaîne télévisée à regarder l'école des fans, émission où les parents poussaient leurs enfants à s'affirmer et à développer leurs talents !!!

B. Argumenter

C'est bien d'avoir des idées ; Savoir les défendre, c'est mieux !
En restant toujours à la petite enfance où finalement, nous, adultes, avons autant de choses à apprendre des enfants que l'inverse, l'âge des "pourquoi ?" démontre que l'homme est de nature curieux et réfléchi... et que son environnement façonne le moule dans lequel il évolue.
Par exemple, la réponse qu'aura l'enfant X sur "pourquoi il est important d'avoir une religion dans la vie ?" sera orientée selon les convictions de sa famille. Bref, nous sommes relativement libres de nos jugements et le fait de savoir pourquoi nous faisons ceci, pourquoi nous pensons cela nous permet de vivre de façon plus cohérente.

C. Accepter d'autres perspectives / Respecter la différence

Le jeu de relativité de perceptions !!! Il n'existe pas une unique vérité. Le point de vue de tout un chacun est fondé sur des valeurs, traditions, expériences... Chaque personne a évolué différemment, ce qui entraîne cette diversité d'opinions.

Néanmoins, force est de constater que la diversité d'opinions ne constitue pas toujours une richesse puisqu'elle est aussi source de guerre de nos jours. L'incapacité d'accepter la différence d'idées/idéologies - malgré les beaux discours commerciaux de Terre Libre, de Liberté d'Expression, de Démocratie... - nous amène trop souvent à confondre le sujet et l'objet, et par conséquent, à nous "attaquer" à notre interlocuteur et non à ses pensées. Pour simplifier ce qui l'est déjà, nous arrivons à des logiques qu'un enfant de 3 ans n'aurait pas, celles d'éliminer une personne parce qu'elle n'a pas la même religion que nous, parce qu'elle est née à droite et non à gauche... et bien entendu, nous le faisons au nom de la Justice, Paix, Liberté, Démocratie...

"Lorsque vous attaquez le messager et non le message, vous avez perdu le débat"

D. Écouter

La nuance entre "écouter" et "entendre" est fine mais les répercussions de la capacité à exercer l'une et l'autre est considérable non seulement lors de débats mais même pour la qualité de nos relations au quotidien. Parfaitement expliqué dans "Les sept habitudes des gens efficaces", l'habitude 5 parle de chercher à comprendre, à avoir le sens de l'écoute avant de chercher à être compris.
Nous entendons la radio toute la journée alors que nous vaquons à nos occupations, mais nous avons écouté les actualités de 13 heures... et nous avons entendu la position des uns et des autres sur les dispositions quant à la lutte contre le terrorisme !

Là, je me demande pourquoi je vous raconte tout ça... et je vous dis : "A bon entendeur salut !!!"

La culture de débat, facteur de cohésion sociale

2014-07-31T21:06:00.002+03:00

"A la fin, nous nous souviendrons non pas des mots de nos ennemis, mais du silence de nos amis." - Martin Luther King

Nous avons tous, à un moment ou un autre, été confrontés au dilemme "se taire et accepter OU parler et contredire ?" ; Quand notre boss nous prend pour un robot, ou quand nos amis bravent les interdits, ou quand la famille ne cesse de mettre les 10"0" commandements à jour... Nous ne nous en rendons pas toujours compte mais notre vie quotidienne est autant faite de négociations -discussions pour que chaque partie puisse tirer le meilleur d'une situation- que de débats -discussions sur des opinions divergentes et qui peuvent arriver à un consensus... ou pas. Oui mais encore faudrait-il s'exprimer !!!

Les Anciens Malagasy ont bien compris l'importance de l'art de communiquer puisque le kabary (discours oratoire) fait partie intégrante de la culture du pays. En effet, les évènements culturels comprennent généralement des mpikabary (débatteurs). La beauté du kabary réside notamment dans les innombrables métaphores qui n'ont de limite que notre imagination, mais aussi dans l'assurance du respect de l'autre puisque, comme dans les vrais débats, ce sont les idées et arguments qui se confrontent et non les individus. Aussi, le kabary ou le débat n'entraîne aucune animosité entre les protagonistes aux opinions ou intérêts divergents.

Par ailleurs, la maitrise du débat nécessite un apprentissage ainsi que de la pratique. S'il existe des écoles ou club de kabary à Madagascar, les plateformes dédiées aux débats commencent à s'implanter au travers de concours et d'activités d'associations.
A bien y réfléchir, nous avons été préparés au débat dès le lycée (à moins que les programmes scolaires aient changé depuis que j'ai quitté le lycée !!!). Il y a forcément eu une matière où on vous a appris à rédiger une dissertation : (1) Chaque partie comprend une introduction, l'idée principale, suivie des arguments, et illustrée par des exemples ; (2) Nous avons la formule "thèse, antithèse, synthèse"...
Et bien le débat est structuré de la même façon, sauf qu'ici, vous ne défendez qu'une position - celle de la thèse par exemple - et une autre personne se charge de vous contredire -l'antithèse. Quant à la synthèse, elle n'est autre que l'issue du débat ; si vous avez bien argumenté, vous aurez plutôt gain de cause, sinon... il vous faut peaufiner les techniques de débats, et cet article sur les "stratagèmes pacificateurs" pourrait vous intéresser. (ici) Vous l'aurez compris, il y a s'exprimer, et bien s'exprimer !!!

Combien de fois avons-nous entendu, ou dit les phrases du genre :
"Cette personne/chose est vraiment trop nulle !!!",
"Tu le fais parce que je te dis de le faire, un point c'est tout !!!",
"Le chef/prof a toujours raison",
"C'est n'importe quoi, mal structuré, mal agencé..."
Ces affirmations sont soit exemptes d'objectivité et de bonne foi, soit non complètes puisque nous ne retrouvons que l'idée, sans les arguments, et encore moins les exemples. Il est plus respectueux et constructif de donner des détails sur les lacunes de la structuration d'un travail par exemple et épargner les gens des jugements et a priori.
Lorsque nous disons d'une personne ou d'une chose qu'elle est nulle, en réalité, c'est qu'elle ne correspond pas à nos préférences, critères d'éligibilité... Dénigrer tout ce qui ne correspond pas à notre façon de voir les choses empêche toute discussion ou débat de commencer, mais surtout de finir pacifiquement. Rejeter la différence, c'est être étroit d'esprit puisqu'il nous est impossible d'imaginer une réalité autre que la nôtre qui est aussi imparfaite que la perception des autres. L'exemple que je ne me lasserai jamais de répéter et qui fait littéralement tomber des vies depuis des siècles : la ségrégation du fanatique religieux !!!

Les Malagasy eux, sont réputés pour être "conciliants" (le terme moins soutenu mais plus adéquat serait "dociles") mais quand ils atteignent le point de non-retour (que vous n'aurez certainement pas vu venir !!!), ils font des coups d'éclat, voire des coups d’Etat. A croire que beaucoup prônent encore l'adage : "Izay mangina volamena" (tr. : "le silence est d'or) et le silence est "dors" jusqu'à étouffement total. Ahhh, ce silence !!!! Est-ce culturel, parce que nous avons toujours des aînés pour s'exprimer à notre place ? Parce qu'on ne nous a pas appris à dire ce que nous pensons ? Est-ce la peur d'offenser l'autre en le contredisant ? Est-ce de la pure lâcheté dissimulée en stratagème pacificateur, feignant l'ignorance, puis l'indifférence ? Est-ce parce que nous pensons qu'un semblant de paix vaut mieux qu'un débat ouvert, qui soit dit en passant, sera vu comme un conflit ?

"Nos vies commencent à finir le jour où nous devenons silencieux à propos des choses qui comptent."
- Martin Luther King

A votre avis, quelles-sont les principales lacunes des dirigeants (je précise bien les "principales" parce que je conçois que la liste de leurs qualités serait plus courte que celle de leurs défauts !!!) si ce n'est de ne pas arriver à faire entendre les intérêts à long terme du pays et de s'accommoder des miettes qu'on leur offre sur un plateau en or... ces miettes de pain rassis qui rassasient et clouent le bec de ces pigeons (Vous remarquerez que nous aimons bien traiter les autres de noms d'animaux vu que nous en avons beaucoup qui sont endémiques - pour de vrai !!!)... Mais le plateau en or made in Madagascar lui, il revient à l'envoyeur qui n'hésite pas à profiter de ces langues de bois... souvent sans les langues d'ailleurs !!!

Ne soyons pas -ou plus- des mort-vivants muets qui nous réjouissons d'avoir évité les gouttes de pluie aujourd'hui et qui au final, serons frappés encore et encore par des typhons de l'extérieur qui déracinent un peu plus à chaque fois tout ce que nous sommes et avons. Apprenons à mieux communiquer, soyons ouverts au débat, à la différence de nos atouts, pour une réelle amélioration de la cohésion sociale !