06/05/2012
French election - Turn out at 5pm
71,96 % turnout at 5pm.
It is more than in the first round with 70,57%, but less than in 2007 with more than 75% in the 2nd round.
Paris : radio Londres...
Hello folks and especially hello to those interested in the French elections.
Today is the final day, we are voting in Metropole until 8 pm in the largest cities, while some Pacific and American territories started yesterday. The official provisional results will be announced at 8pm by French media.
I'll be myself voting in Paris then covering the results' announcement tonight for the BBC World Service, French Section.
I'll be reporting from Nicolas Sarkozy's event at the usually very left-oriented venue called La Mutualite, where the UMP already organised its main event on April the 22nd, night of the first round.
I used to live very near the venue for five years between 2001 and 2006, where a lot of socialiist and trade unions' events usually take place.
If they win, they intend to celebrate, after Sarkozy's speech, at La Concorde, where I was in 2007 on May 7 for France24 when he was elected.
I'll be with the right-wing party and the incumbent President to discover the results from UMP side for BBCAfrique.
You can listen online: www.bbcafrique.com.
Tune in and enjoy this big European election day where France, Italy, Serbia and Greece are all voting for different kind of polls.
Talk to you tonight.
Cheers.
Today is the final day, we are voting in Metropole until 8 pm in the largest cities, while some Pacific and American territories started yesterday. The official provisional results will be announced at 8pm by French media.
I'll be myself voting in Paris then covering the results' announcement tonight for the BBC World Service, French Section.
I'll be reporting from Nicolas Sarkozy's event at the usually very left-oriented venue called La Mutualite, where the UMP already organised its main event on April the 22nd, night of the first round.
I used to live very near the venue for five years between 2001 and 2006, where a lot of socialiist and trade unions' events usually take place.
If they win, they intend to celebrate, after Sarkozy's speech, at La Concorde, where I was in 2007 on May 7 for France24 when he was elected.
I'll be with the right-wing party and the incumbent President to discover the results from UMP side for BBCAfrique.
You can listen online: www.bbcafrique.com.
Tune in and enjoy this big European election day where France, Italy, Serbia and Greece are all voting for different kind of polls.
Talk to you tonight.
Cheers.
05/05/2012
Leaving Tunis
My (short) Tunisian trip is over.
These three days have been really interesting and unexpected. And I know I'll be back here.
I’m now going back to Paris to vote and to cover the second round of our
presidential election on Sunday night from Nicolas Sarkozy and the UMP's headquartier in La Mutualite.
Then I’ll leave again on Monday for
Ethiopia.
Africa is so wide and there’s so much to do.
After Ethiopia, I'll be in Kenya mid-May. Then it's still open. Only new appointment: Florence, Italy, mid-June for the Journalism Summer School. Looking forward.
No Light No Light
The sound of this night...
Wonderful song. The lyrics I would have written tonight if I had the gift of music making...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGH-4jQZRcc
"No Light No Light"
You are the hole in my head
You are the space in my bed
You are the silence in between
What I thought and what I said
You are the nighttime fear
You are the morning when it's clear
When it's over, you're the start
You're my head and you're my heart
No light, no light
In your bright blue eyes
I never knew daylight could be so violent
A revelation in the light of day
You can't choose what stays and what fades away
And I'd do anything to make you stay
No light, no light
Tell me what you want me to say
To the crowd I was crying out and
In your place there were a thousand other faces
I was disappearing in plain sight
Heaven help me, I need to make it right
You want a revelation
You want to get "right"
But it's a conversation
I just can't have tonight
You want a revelation
Some kind of resolution
You want a revelation
No light, no light
In your bright blue eyes
I never knew daylight could be so violent
A revelation in the light of day
You can't choose what stays and what fades away
And I'd do anything to make you stay
No light, no light
Tell me what you want me to say
Would you leave me
If I told you what I'd done?
And would you leave me
If I told you what I'd become? '
Cause it's so easy
To say it to a crowd
But it's so hard, my love
To say it to you out loud
No light, no light
In your bright blue eyes
I never knew daylight could be so violent
A revelation in the light of day
You can't choose what stays and what fades away
And I'd do anything to make you stay
No light, no light
Tell me what you want me to say
You want a revelation
You want to get "right"
But it's a conversation
I just can't have tonight
You want a revelation
Some kind of resolution
You want a revelation You want a revelation
You want to get "right"
But it's a conversation
I just can't have tonight
You want a revelation
Some kind of resolution
Tell me what you want me to say
FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE - NO LIGHT NO LIGHT
Wonderful song. The lyrics I would have written tonight if I had the gift of music making...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGH-4jQZRcc
"No Light No Light"
You are the hole in my head
You are the space in my bed
You are the silence in between
What I thought and what I said
You are the nighttime fear
You are the morning when it's clear
When it's over, you're the start
You're my head and you're my heart
No light, no light
In your bright blue eyes
I never knew daylight could be so violent
A revelation in the light of day
You can't choose what stays and what fades away
And I'd do anything to make you stay
No light, no light
Tell me what you want me to say
To the crowd I was crying out and
In your place there were a thousand other faces
I was disappearing in plain sight
Heaven help me, I need to make it right
You want a revelation
You want to get "right"
But it's a conversation
I just can't have tonight
You want a revelation
Some kind of resolution
You want a revelation
No light, no light
In your bright blue eyes
I never knew daylight could be so violent
A revelation in the light of day
You can't choose what stays and what fades away
And I'd do anything to make you stay
No light, no light
Tell me what you want me to say
Would you leave me
If I told you what I'd done?
And would you leave me
If I told you what I'd become? '
Cause it's so easy
To say it to a crowd
But it's so hard, my love
To say it to you out loud
No light, no light
In your bright blue eyes
I never knew daylight could be so violent
A revelation in the light of day
You can't choose what stays and what fades away
And I'd do anything to make you stay
No light, no light
Tell me what you want me to say
You want a revelation
You want to get "right"
But it's a conversation
I just can't have tonight
You want a revelation
Some kind of resolution
You want a revelation You want a revelation
You want to get "right"
But it's a conversation
I just can't have tonight
You want a revelation
Some kind of resolution
Tell me what you want me to say
FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE - NO LIGHT NO LIGHT
03/05/2012
Somalia: World Press Freedom Day - Matt Baugh
Somalia: World Press Freedom Day - Matt Baugh
On World Press Freedom Day, my thoughts are with the families of the brave Somali journalists who were killed on the course of duty and those who still brave the dangers of operating in one of the most difficult places in the world to be a be a journalist.
The shocking fact is that so far in 2012 one Somali journalist has been murdered each month. The latest victim Farhan Jiime Abdulle of Radio Daljir was killed in Galkayo yesterday.
Other victims in 2012 have been Mahad Salad Adan, a reporter for Radio Shabelle, Ali Ahmed Abdi, a Radio Galkayo reporter, Abukah Hassan Mohamoud who was the Ex-Director of Somaliweyn, and Hassan Omar Abdi who was the director of Radio Shabelle.
On behalf of the UK Government, I condemn the killing of Farhan and reiterate the statement of the UK Minister for Africa Henry Bellingham which condemned the killing of Abukah Hassan Mohamoud.
The UK stands for universal human rights, the rule of law, democracy and freedom of expression. As always we wish to express solidarity with Somali journalists in resisting intimidation and maintaining the freedom of the press.
Our commitment is clearly reflected in the Communique of the London Conference on Somalia where all participants emphasised that journalists must be able to operate freely and without fear.
This commitment is further highlighted in the 2011 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights and Democracy Report. The report lists Somalia as one of the countries of concern.
The report notes that international and local media reporting remained limited and journalists continued to operate in extremely difficult circumstances, with media freedoms often suppressed and intimidation of Somali journalists and civil society by armed groups commonplace.
The next few months will be crucial as Somalia enters an important phase to end the transition in August, and more than ever there is a need to have a vibrant media sector in Somalia that will be able to inform the Somali public about all that is happening in their country.
It is important that the freedom of the press is enshrined in the new Constitution as this will guarantee the media the space to operate freely. It is in this regard that we look forward to the consultations regarding freedom of expression in Mogadishu next week.
I therefore call on Somali authorities to help protect journalists and respect the principal of freedom of expression, so that Somali media can play an effective role in the stabilisation of Somalia.
As we mark this day, I would like to assure Somali journalists and other stakeholders in the media that the UK will continue to stand with them.
On World Press Freedom Day, my thoughts are with the families of the brave Somali journalists who were killed on the course of duty and those who still brave the dangers of operating in one of the most difficult places in the world to be a be a journalist.
The shocking fact is that so far in 2012 one Somali journalist has been murdered each month. The latest victim Farhan Jiime Abdulle of Radio Daljir was killed in Galkayo yesterday.
Other victims in 2012 have been Mahad Salad Adan, a reporter for Radio Shabelle, Ali Ahmed Abdi, a Radio Galkayo reporter, Abukah Hassan Mohamoud who was the Ex-Director of Somaliweyn, and Hassan Omar Abdi who was the director of Radio Shabelle.
On behalf of the UK Government, I condemn the killing of Farhan and reiterate the statement of the UK Minister for Africa Henry Bellingham which condemned the killing of Abukah Hassan Mohamoud.
The UK stands for universal human rights, the rule of law, democracy and freedom of expression. As always we wish to express solidarity with Somali journalists in resisting intimidation and maintaining the freedom of the press.
Our commitment is clearly reflected in the Communique of the London Conference on Somalia where all participants emphasised that journalists must be able to operate freely and without fear.
This commitment is further highlighted in the 2011 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights and Democracy Report. The report lists Somalia as one of the countries of concern.
The report notes that international and local media reporting remained limited and journalists continued to operate in extremely difficult circumstances, with media freedoms often suppressed and intimidation of Somali journalists and civil society by armed groups commonplace.
The next few months will be crucial as Somalia enters an important phase to end the transition in August, and more than ever there is a need to have a vibrant media sector in Somalia that will be able to inform the Somali public about all that is happening in their country.
It is important that the freedom of the press is enshrined in the new Constitution as this will guarantee the media the space to operate freely. It is in this regard that we look forward to the consultations regarding freedom of expression in Mogadishu next week.
I therefore call on Somali authorities to help protect journalists and respect the principal of freedom of expression, so that Somali media can play an effective role in the stabilisation of Somalia.
As we mark this day, I would like to assure Somali journalists and other stakeholders in the media that the UK will continue to stand with them.
Think Africa Press Google+ hangouts on Oxford University's Africa Society 2012 Pan-Africa Conference
Your Questions for the Oxford Pan-Africa Conference Speakers
This Saturday (5 May) Oxford University's Africa Society is running its 2012 Pan-Africa Conference: Building Capacity for a New Generation. You have the chance to take part and engage with the speakers, even if you can't make it on the day.Think Africa Press will be running Google+ hangouts throughout the conference. This is an opportunity to get involved and ask the speakers your own questions. A Google+ hangout is a real-time conversation between 10 people. Here it will be one speaker, one moderator, and eight other Google+ users.
How to join
If you are a Google+ user and are available on Saturday you can join our hangouts live, just let us know in advance which speaker you would like to hang out with and tell us a little about yourself. We will be choosing eight people for each hangout. If you don't use Google+, don't worry, send us your questions and we can put them to a speaker on your behalf. Leave questions and hangout requests in the comments below, email us on info@thinkafricapress.com, or send them to us via twitter (@thinkafricafeed) using the hashtag #OxAfr12 or via facebook. Please start your message with the name of the speaker your question / hangout request is for.More details about the schedule for the hangouts, and how to follow them live online, will follow soon.
See speakers here:
http://thinkafricapress.com/blog/your-questions-oxford-africa-conference
Presentation on Oxford University's Africa Society's website here:
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~afrisoc/conference.html#conferenceinfo-container
From Tunis @ AfDB
I am currently working from Tunis in the Novotel, I must say it's the best hotel I have been working from since the Metropole in Kampala during the Ugandan elections last year.
Tunis is very welcoming, warm, sunny, full of friendly people and great staff at the African Development Bank (AfDB). It is a mere pleasure to work from here.
The AfDB is organising a workshop for African journalists in Tunis around other events for World press freedom day, this May 3rd.
Today the bank also presented the programme for its coming annual meeting to take place in Arusha in Tanzania from May the 28th. More details here:
http://www.afdb.org/en/annual-meetings/programme/
Tomorrow the UNESCO will be holding a special day to celebrate the improvement of media freedom in countries lie Tunisia. I'll be there and will tell you more.
Cheers from sunny Tunis!
Tunis is very welcoming, warm, sunny, full of friendly people and great staff at the African Development Bank (AfDB). It is a mere pleasure to work from here.
The AfDB is organising a workshop for African journalists in Tunis around other events for World press freedom day, this May 3rd.
Today the bank also presented the programme for its coming annual meeting to take place in Arusha in Tanzania from May the 28th. More details here:
http://www.afdb.org/en/annual-meetings/programme/
Tomorrow the UNESCO will be holding a special day to celebrate the improvement of media freedom in countries lie Tunisia. I'll be there and will tell you more.
Cheers from sunny Tunis!
From Tunis: My interview with Zied Mhirsi on BBC Afrique today
Zied Mhirsi is a journalist and Manager for Tunisia Live, first news website in English in
Tunisia.
Our interview will be on air today on BBC Afrique:
Probably during the evening news at 6.00 pm GMT. Stay tuned.
--
More on Tunsia and press freedom soon.
02/05/2012
Roundtable on World Press Freedom in Tunis
Tunisia Live is hosting a roundtable in honor of World Press Freedom
Day.
Co-sponsored by the African Development Bank, the round table brings together politicians, publishers, journalists and activists around the theme of “Media and Governance: Sustaining the Pioneering Role of Tunisia in the Arab Awakening.”
The conference is taking place this evening at the Novotel Hotel on Avenue Mohammed V, until 7:00 pm, local time.
Co-sponsored by the African Development Bank, the round table brings together politicians, publishers, journalists and activists around the theme of “Media and Governance: Sustaining the Pioneering Role of Tunisia in the Arab Awakening.”
The conference is taking place this evening at the Novotel Hotel on Avenue Mohammed V, until 7:00 pm, local time.
Tunis, African Development Bank and World Press Freedom Day
Hello folks.
While still writing on Somalia (and planning to be for a while) I am in Tunisia for four days where the African Development Bank (AfDB) and UNESCO are organising interesting debates this week.
I arrived in Tunis from Paris CGD this afternoon and listened to talks around climate change issues in Africa, including projects about the Rio+20 Summit and African ambitions for it.
Meanwhile, as tomorrow, May 3rd, is World Press Freedom Day the AfDB and the UNESCO partnered to organised a two-day session about the role of press and social media in social and political changes. Accurate topics for the past twelve months for sure.
If you want to know more, follow me on Twitter: @melissachemam.
Cheers from Tunis.
While still writing on Somalia (and planning to be for a while) I am in Tunisia for four days where the African Development Bank (AfDB) and UNESCO are organising interesting debates this week.
I arrived in Tunis from Paris CGD this afternoon and listened to talks around climate change issues in Africa, including projects about the Rio+20 Summit and African ambitions for it.
Meanwhile, as tomorrow, May 3rd, is World Press Freedom Day the AfDB and the UNESCO partnered to organised a two-day session about the role of press and social media in social and political changes. Accurate topics for the past twelve months for sure.
If you want to know more, follow me on Twitter: @melissachemam.
Cheers from Tunis.
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