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Pour mon premier article en français sur ce Blog (car tout le monde ne parle pas anglais), j’ai décidé de mettre en avant les femmes africaines. J’ai récemment lu sur SlateAfrique un article intitulé Les six femmes les plus influentes d’Afrique et qui fait le portrait de six femmes d’influence sur le continent Africain. Elles occupent toutes les sphères d’activités. Le succès de la carrière de ces Africaines en font des personnalités incontournables sur le continent. Parmi ces femmes, plusieurs que j’ai déjà évoquées sur ce Blog : Bineta Diop, l’arme de la paix du Sénégal ; Wangari Maathai, la Kényane qui parle aux arbres ; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, l’executive woman du Nigeria ; Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, la dame de fer du Liberia ; Were Were Liking, la mystique Camerouno-Ivoirienne ; ou bien encore la très talentueuse #Angélique Kidjo, la Béninoise globe-trotter. Des femmes aux parcours très différents mais qui ont en commun de faire…⇒ READ MORE

I have been supporting Every Human Has Rights Campaigns since 2008. It started with the ’60 Signers for the 60th Anniversary Initiative’ I launched on November 24, 2008. My first post about it explained why I decided to ‘go public’ by creating an original piece of art for the campaign. Six months after that, the 60 Signers for the 60th Anniversary Initiative was fulfilled. It was quite an adventure and a great experience to meet with the Paris-based representatives of the most important organizations in the world. In 2009, I wanted to celebrate International Human Rights Day with ‘ordinary’ people doing extraordinary things. We talked about Human Rights, they shared their stories and as usual when you sit down with volunteers and aid workers, you feel humble and so respectful for their dedication and commitment. A great lesson of courage and a very enriching afternoon with people from all walks…⇒ READ MORE

I have expressed my humble opinion about Sudan, Burma, Congo and other issues on many occasions on this blog, looking at the root causes and trying to explain them with simple words. I have close friends working in local organizations in France but also abroad, and it is always rewarding to discuss with experienced people. For the “60 Signers for the 60th Anniversary” Initiative I launched on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I had the opportunity to meet with the presidents of Amnesty International France, UNICEF, Human Rights Watch, UNESCO, UNHCR… Each time it was enriching and I had a glimpse at the other side of the coin, where the decisions are made. Mary Robinson, the first woman President of Ireland (1990-1997), former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and member of The Elders, also signed the artwork I created and…⇒ READ MORE

It has already been a year. Time goes by so fast… The “60 Signers for the 60th Anniversary” Initiative is a year old but it is like it was yesterday. It was a great experience and I had the opportunity to meet with very interesting people. The heads of the organizations who signed the initiative such as Mary Robinson (Member of The Elders), Geneviève Garrigos (President of Amnesty International France – AIF), Jacques Hintzy (President of the French National Committee for UNICEF), Stéphane Hessel (Ambassador of France, Participant in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), François Zimeray (Ambassador for Human Rights), Jean-Marie Fardeau (Paris Office Director, Human Rights Watch – HRW), Souhayr Belhassen (President of the International Federation for Human Rights – FIDH), Pierre Sané (Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO), Francisco Galindo Velez (UNHCR Representative for France), Yves Berthelot (Chairman of the French Comité for the…⇒ READ MORE

The plights in Darfur, Congo and Burma are different on many aspects but the initiatives launched by organizations (human rights, humanitarian, etc) all have the same goal: help the people living in danger and provide them assistance when needed. As you may already know, I truly think Tall oaks from little acorns grow, nevertheless I am not naive and I know the hard work and the perseverance of people of good will offer a glimmer of hope, although the changes take at least years, decades or even centuries to be seen. On the other hand, like I said in Darfur: a World Wide Role Playing Game, willing to do the good is not always paying. It seems like without having to spell things out, activists, aid workers and volunteers are sometimes overtaken by the events and they hardly hide their growing weariness and tiredness for the situation behind their facade of…⇒ READ MORE