I realized it might be interesting for everyone to know what's in the news here.
French President (funny little guy) Sarkozy made a stupid comment about Africa's men not being in the history books (wonder why that is you stupid colonialist!) and then his opposition apologized profusely about it during a visit to Dakar.
There's a solar energy convention happening in Cotonou! Woot!
Benin's wonderful president Boni Yayi is celebrating 3 productive years in office. Various meetings, demonstrations (in the good sense), and debates ensue. (More on him in another blog entry. A very interesting fellow. Good guy.)
The opposition party is delaying parlementary sessions by having parlementary assistants call in sick.
The government has decided to make césariennes free (or almost free). From what I understand, they used to cost around $250, plus medication post-birth. I think they made the operating kits and operation free. The tests and medication may still cost... Editorial cartoons of men chasing their wives to make more babies... as if they needed another reason to make more babies! LOTS of debates and problems around this (what is free, what is not free, what comes in the free kits, etc.), although generally everyone agrees that it's a good idea. Personally, I would make birth control pills free. Mathieu says that you could never take away an African's right to make babies... I prefer to ask the women feeding 'em.
In Cotonou, the rain is coming and they're fixing up the drainage systems. The work is behind schedule.
Football. Something about World Cup qualifiers or something, I dunno. ;)
2 comments:
I love that Kouchner called her a demagogue when he works for the most transparent demagogue that ever vomited forth the French language. Oh, sorry, that statement was an exagerration and hence demagoguery, as is every criticism of that disgusting trolly fuck Sarkozy.
A lot of people feel as though birth control programmes in developing countries, promoted by developed countries, are more about 'control' than the economic liberation of women. I can understand that but I do feel that the means need to be available. Women's reproductive rights, one way or the other, are one of the most important human rights issues in the world. Surpassed only by not getting killed.
Sarkozy is so little. that makes me giggle. teehee. I think if I ever met him I couldn't help but pat him on the head or pinch his cheek or something.
maybe if we let old ladies from Québec who had 16 kids introduce the birth control program, it'll go over better. "listen honey, i KNOW."
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