Talk:Madagascar

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Contents

[edit] Other use

I provided a link to the computer-animated film, Madagascar - The Kooky One 00:49, 15 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Non-Decimal Currency?

I don't think the assertion that Madagascar has non-decimal currency is correct: "The Malagasy franc, divided into 100 centimes, is the currency unit (6,588 Malagasy francs equal U.S.$1; 2001 average)." Microsoft® Encarta® Reference Library 2003. © 1993-2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

The Malagasy franc has been replaced by ariary as the currency since 1 January 2005. One ariary can be divided into five iraimbilanja. Hawklord 14:38, 2005 Apr 25 (UTC)

[edit] High background radiation and colonization impacts

Where should the high background radiation facts go, and where should its negative impact on colonization attempts go? BACbKA 21:24, 13 Dec 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Malagasy?

I was reading an article on African law by a British scholar and I noticed that it continually referred to "Malagasy" rather than Madagascar. From looking at the handful of articles on Madagascar, it appears to me that the official name of the nation that is coterminus with the island is the "Malagasy Republic". If this is correct and current, and if Malagasy is the common term for the island in British english, then Malagasy should redirect here instead of to Malagasy language, and this article should plainly state all of this in the intro. Not knowing anything about this beyond what I just perused, I don't feel comfortable making the changes myself. Postdlf 00:59, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)

This is the old name used in the 1960's. Malagasy is the adjective for Madagascar. The name is now Republic of Madagascar, perhaps because people thought that Malagasy was the name of the country. Hawklord 14:01, 2005 Apr 17 (UTC)
People from Madagascar are called Malagasy. The malagasy spelling of Madagascar is Madagasikara.Another reference is just a confusion between terms--Gollum
What I meant above was that the name originally used was Malagasy Republic, but now it's Republic of Madagascar, so the adjective has been replaced by a noun. Hawklord 14:23, 2005 Apr 25 (UTC)
Not really any different from England - we live in England, where we have English culture Tomandlu 15:47, 19 May 2006 (UTC)
"Malagasy Republic" was the name used in English at the UN for awhile, but Madagascar has been used for at least 20 years. I'm not sure when the change was made. Newyorkbrad 01:19, 6 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] One Sentence?

The written history of Madagascar began in the 7th century, when Arabs established trading posts along the northwest coast.

Can the contributors, moderators, and whoever else contribute more to the non-european history of Madagascar? I think we can do better than one measly "before the whites came" sentance. In fact, with Africa articles (and practically all non-European articles of history), we need to wean ourselves from orienting the histories based on a low interest in precolonial, white contact attitude.

———————————

There has been a very good history book recently published here in Madagascar by a Malagasy historian (I am not sure if I am allowed to write his name and its title) that can answer this question. Unfortunately most of the literature on the subject is in french. But if you want to know, the fisrt permanent settlements on the island date most likely from the 4th century CE if not earlier! Knowledge of the island possibly dates from long before. Madagscar stays one of humanitiy's "last frontiers" though.

Fanoendor 07:47, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] asian features?

nevermind. i looked at some other websites and have come to the conclusion that asian means indian/arab.

[edit] ASIAN FEATURES!

Asian features in madagascar can ALSO mean indonesian, malaisian and, since the 20th century, chineese. Madagscar is the indan ocean's melting pot. Is there somewhere (an article) where this aspect can be discussed more?

Fanoendor 07:50, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bias?

Regarding:

"During this period a strategy of nationalization of private enterprises, centralization of the economy and "Malgasization" of the education system crippled the economy, leaving traces even today of a highly centralized economic system and a high level of illiteracy"

Does this represent a bias against a centralised economy? Perhaps this should be explained, instead of just saying that because the government was socialist the country deteriorated. Was there corruption? Were there transport issues that interfered with policy enactment?

I think that statement is valid, but I agree with your concerns about expanding on it and explaining the situation behind it. As is, it does suggest a bias, but I would guess the intent was to explain why the economy and education system is in the relatively poor state it is in. Historically, there is weight to this point of view. I didn't write it myself, and I don't know enough about the topic to expand it though. For the time being, I think that the statement should remain in the article because I believe it is more useful there than not there at all, which may have not been what you were concerned about. Sifaka 01:02, 29 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] largest cities

What are the five largest cities in Madagascar. Many people ask this question every day. Why not answer it. PLEASE

Data from a census taken in July 01, 2001 lists the major cities by population. No doubt the numbers have changed as the birth rate is pretty high there, but probably the cities are still almost in the same order. The info is from this web page: http://www.citypopulation.de/Madagascar.html Sifaka 01:02, 29 March 2006 (UTC)

Rank, City, province, population

1 Antananarivo ANT 1,403,449

2 Toamasina TOA 179,045

3 Antsirabe ANT 160,356

4 Fianarantsoa FIA 144,225

5 Mahajanga MAH 135,660

6 Toliara TOL 101,661

7 Antsiranana ASI 73,491

8 Antanifotsy ANT 59,000

9 Ambovombe TOL 57,000

10 Amparafaravola TOA 43,000

11 Taolagnaro TOL 39,000

12 Ambatondrazaka TOA 36,000

I wonder about the accuracy of these figures, the source does not reference its source. For Antananarivo, the figure is clearly the sum of 2001 estimates for the three districts Antananarivo-Renivohitra, Antananarivo-Atsimondrano and Antananarivo-Avaradrano, so sizeable rural populations may be included. For Toamasina, it's the district Toamasina I, Toamasina II has been left out, so it may be more accurate. Same with the following places.
As for the latter part of the list, I can't find any primary source. The figure for Antanifotsy seems suspiciously high, I remember it as an unimportant village, and the list of telephone subscribers is very short. Hawklord 22:04, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Sport

What are the sports in madagascar? I have no idea, could someone fill me in?

Yes there is a large stadium near the center of the capital city where soccer is played. That sport is very common in Madagascar.

I heard rugby was one of the most popular sports there, does anyone think there should be a section on sport in Madagascar?

[edit] Capital vandalised(?!)

It appears that the information "Capital" has been vandalised to read "lallalallalallala" Have replaced with correct information. Uncertain about latitude, left intact.

This article claims that humans arrived in Madagascar between 2000 and 5000 AD. Perhaps, the author intended to use BC?

[edit] Proposed WikiProject

In my ongoing efforts to try to include every country on the planet included in the scope of a WikiProject, I have proposed a new project on Eastern Africa at Wikipedia:WikiProject Council/Proposals#Eastern Africa whose scope would include Madagascar. Any interested parties are more than welcome to add their names there, so we can see if there is enough interest to start such a project. Thank you for your attention. Badbilltucker 16:25, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Economy

It seems to me that the last sentence in the Economy section is a kind of non-sequitor. It also shows a bias indicitive that it was added by somebody who wanted to redirect to the accompanying link to Mine Your Own Business. I didn't delete or modify it but I was wondering if it strikes anybody else as odd sounding. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by WeekendKruzr (talk • contribs) 06:01, 12 February 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Adjectival form

Please see the discussion at Talk:Madagascan presidential election, 2006.--Pharos 11:56, 23 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Bias in economy section

I'm not a registered user and this page is protected. Someone should can the biased conclusion to the 'economics' section.

"Despite the democratically elected Mayor of Fort Dauphin supporting the ilmenite mining project, outside environmental groups led by World Wide Fund for Nature have stymied development, constraining the local population to the endemic poverty caused by 70% unemployment as documented in Mine Your Own Business."

The word choice is over the top. Also, according to the Mine Your Own Business wiki, the film was funded by a Canadian mining firm. There should be some secondary source for that statistic before it goes into the article

151.201.149.26 05:07, 1 April 2007 (UTC) 1 April 2007

[edit] proposed revised Constitution of 2007

someone who knows the situation must edit. Is an important referendum for the future of the country. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.55.199.9 (talk) 20:21, 8 April 2007 (UTC).

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