Dear Barack Obama,

I know you're busy. But your kind attention to the situation in Madagascar would be much
appreciated. The last political crisis on the island only started down a solid
road to resolution when the Bush administration weighed in with its point of view and evaluation of things... It really would be good if you could consider some action relating to Madagascar before the situation on the island heads
further down a road into humanitarian and environmental catastrophe...

Insightful and stirring piece.

I believe the conclusion Rowan Moore Gerety arrives at in his article about the tragically diminished rain forests of Madagascar are substantially incorrect. The future of those forest and the species of plant and animals that exists in the rain forests is in the hands of the Malagasy people, not international donors and not Marc Ravalomanana.

Few Malagasy care about the rain forests. Most are not concerned at all, many dislike the forests and the creatures that live there. Many, many people who live in the forest or at the edge of the forests prefer open land to dark, wet forests with strange animals and spirits.

Madagascar's inherent, age old bent towards political instability is what prevents the nation from adopting strong, viable, long term policies that would educate the Malagasy to the beauty and value of the unique ecosystems. Real progress will never be achieved by outside influence, only by the concerted effort of the nation's government and the Malagasy people.

These marvellous forest ecosystems will only dwindle to park size islands that can be maintained by inadequate government supervision and the very few citizens who care and appreciate.

Fabulous article Rowan! I believe you are dead on with the turmoil in Madagascar. I was fortunate to spend 3 weeks on the enchanted island July of '08, before all hell broke loose. It is a travesty what is happening with the natural world there. The truth that many Malagasy don't care about their unique world comes from the lack of understanding, and education. If the world is to survive, it is up to ALL of us. We are not separated. What's happening in Madagascar truely affects us all. Thank you again Rowan for an honest and up to date account.

In a brink of en eye, the comment in the article offer us the real face of the pseudo-democracy practiced during the last 7 years. The power grips and the misuse of democratically expressed rhetoric's have been proved absurd. the promotion of various grassroots' organizations to protect the environment was just to hide the massive looting by the higher political group that functioned under secure ground of corruption. Now as their political shelter has no ground, all activities are barely naked and obvious.
This again show the inefficiency lo the former regime that left behind a difficult issue to tackle to the struggling transitional government.

things will get worse before they get better

INQ 1 - are your comments dark sarcasm or do you actually think Obama is any different than Bush?

if you are just tuning into reality now - heres a catch up. they wont do anything. nor will the NGOs or big conservation.

read the US policy planning papers for the 21st century. more blood for oil, kill climate refugees. environment and poor people are not in the best interests of defending amerikkka.

I see that your knowledge about madagascar is very small and I think honestly that you couldn't judge our president if you don't know more.
1) Do you think an economic growth of 5 or 7 will affect the life of Malagasy if 60 % of budget depend on foreign country.
2)A lot of thing changed in Madagascar trhough Ravalomanana.(you don't know that)you didn't know our suffering during socialism and actualy the things start to improve France comes back.I agree that you foreigners are never a friend.Even you do something for poor countries,you do it because of your interest.You don't care of people or poverty but animals and wood.You just close your eyes if our democracy is endangered because you never loved malagasy people but his fauna and flora.
3) the fault of Ravalomanana is to be too peacefull.If such crisis happened in Africa,Rajoelina was already died.

“If such crisis happened in Africa…” Hullo? Where’s Madagascar?

It's an island to the far east of the United States…

Obama surely is substantially different to Bush, but also the situation in Madagascar today is significantly different to that in 2002. Whatever its motivations, the Bush administration’s ‘taking of sides’ in Madagascar’s affairs in 2002 did help knock a few dominos over, breaking the impasse and making for a bit of stability – giving Marc Ravalomanana his chance. Unfortunately, ultimately, Ravalomanana blew it. As Rowan Moore Gerety notes in this article, “Ravalomanana cannot have been a good president to Madagascar’s natural world when he was not a good president to his people”. Andry Rajoelina RIGHTLY protested but FAILED to let democracy take its course. Since then, Rajoelina has amply demonstrated his readiness to ditch democracy for fascism when it suits. Without labouring any points about hypocrisy, immaturity, greed, egoism, etc., etc., suffice it to say that, contrary to their high self-regard, neither Marc nor Andry are Madagascar’s messiah – they’re both very naughty boys. This is not to say that most leaders around the world today aren’t very naughty boys too, but both Ravalomanana & Rajoelina have shown themselves too interested in power and their own glory to make the best decisions for Madagascar’s sustainable development. The situation remains a stalemate because the Malagasy people, and the international community, duly lack faith in such men. Madagascar deserves better - urgently needs better. If only the country had someone like Wangari Maathai to lead it. But at least any leader it might have might be wise to her point, as Rowan Moore Gerety aptly quotes of her: “responsible governance of the environment [is] impossible without democratic space.”