Peace Corps Volunteer Brendan's Mad. Adventure writes: Yesterday, late in the day we got a call from Peace Corps saying that we should expect to stay at Consolidation Points until the weekend



If demonstrations remain peaceful (as they have the last few days) we will go back to site, but remain on ‘high alert.’ (this means that once at site we would need to stay in daily contact with Peace Corps).

Peace Corps Volunteer Brendan's Mad. Adventure writes: Yesterday, late in the day we got a call from Peace Corps saying that we should expect to stay at Consolidation Points until the weekend

Feb 3, 2009

Caption: Madagascan soldiers on patrol in Antananarivo on January 29, 2009. The mayor of Madagascar's capital city, Andry Rajoelina, on Monday sought the removal of President Marc Ravalomanana in the wake of violent anti-government protests that left dozens dead. Photo: AFP/File/Richard Bouhet


The news today…remains unknown (its early here), but I can tell you about yesterday.

Yesterday, late in the day we got a call from Peace Corps saying that we should expect to stay at Consolidation Points until the weekend. If demonstrations remain peaceful (as they have the last few days) we will go back to site, but remain on ‘high alert.’ (this means that once at site we would need to stay in daily contact with Peace Corps). The President (the elected one) made a visit to the Ft. Dauphin airport yesterday and gave a speech, which was an opportunity to demonstrate that he is still in ‘control.’

I wrote this early yesterday, but didn’t get to post it…

1/3/09

Yes, It’s Groundhog Day….and….Yes, It’s a ‘Coup.’

So…the ‘self-proclaimed’ leader of Madagascar (ie the Mayor of Tana) is beginning to pick his team for the creation of the ‘transitional’ government he is planning to institute. He will begin a regional tour of Madagascar to energize and stimulate support. The ‘President’ (ie the elected one) is in Africa at a meeting with the African Union—the Union has his support and full backing. Schools are open today, and people are for the most part back at work. Prices are starting to increase, especially oil—cooking and automotive. We seem to be at a standstill, playing the ‘wait and see’ game. Peace Corps has told us to plan on staying at CP (Consolation points) a few more days, until they gain a little more clarity on the situation and what will happen.

I’ve been telling friends about how I use to think those ‘luxury prisons’ they send white collar criminals to were just on big joke….this situation has forced me to reexamine that opinion. This whole experience has been stressful, frustrating, and a bit torturous. The only information we get are cryptic test messages once a day telling us about how the situation is ‘calm but tense’….’remains fluid’….and we are told…’keep a low profile’….’standby’…..’Stay alert.’

NEW RULE among PCVs in Ft. Dauphin: Don’t talk about it. We have no control over our eventual outcome. Let’s enjoy the Beach!

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: February, 2009; Peace Corps Madagascar; Directory of Madagascar RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Madagascar RPCVs; Safety and Security of Volunteers; Blogs - Madagascar

When this story was posted in February 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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PCOL's Candidate for Peace Corps Director Honduras RPCV Jon Carson, 33, presided over thousands of workers as national field director for the Obama campaign and said the biggest challenge -- and surprise -- was the volume of volunteer help, including more than 15,000 "super volunteers," who were a big part of what made Obama's campaign so successful. PCOL endorses Jon Carson as the man who can revitalize the Peace Corps, bring it into the internet age, and meet Obama's goal of doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011.

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Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL Interview Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez.

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Jan 24, 2009: RPCVs March in Inauguration Peace Corps Community marches in Inaugural Parade 20 Jan Jane Albritton writes: Memories of Maury Albertson 18 Jan Sarah Chayes writes: Failing Afghanistan 15 Dec Volunteers in Guinea are Safe 23 Dec Jim Walsh reflects on 20 years of service 28 Dec Public service in Driehaus' blood 3 Jan An Interview with Kathleen Stephens 3 Jan Robert P. Cristo returns to Nigeria 4 Jan Sarah Holt makes 2,663-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail 5 Jan Zophia Kneiss is metal sculptor 11 Jan Harris Wofford is Godfather of National Service 12 Jan Melanie Edwards founds Mobile Metrix 14 Jan Jody Olsen Named PC Acting Director 16 Jan Lawrence Leamer writes: Obama betrays the Peace Corps? 18 Jan George Packer writes: Obama's Inaugural Address 20 Jan Obama going to do something great for Peace Corps 21 Jan John Bridgeland writes: Volunteer to Save the Economy 22 Jan Foy Spicer writes: Electricity as a scarcity 23 Jan Carl Pope to Step Down as Sierra Club Chief 23 Jan James Rupert writes: US Missile Attacks Kill 15 24 Jan Jeffrey Tayler writes "Murderers in Mausoleums" 25 Jan Read more stories from January 2009 and December 2008.

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Some PCVs return to Bolivia on their own Peace Corps has withdrawn all volunteers from Bolivia because of "growing instability" and the expulsion of US Ambassador Philip Goldberg after Bolivian President Evo Morales accused the American government of inciting violence in the country. This is not the first controversy surrounding Goldberg's tenure as US ambassador to Bolivia. Latest: Some volunteers have returned to Bolivia on their own to complete their projects.

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PCVs Evacuated from Georgia The Peace Corps has announced that all Volunteers and trainees serving in the Republic of Georgia are safe and they have been temporarily relocated to neighboring Armenia. Read the analysis by one RPCV on how Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili believed that he could launch a lightning assault on South Ossetia and reclaim the republic without substantial grief from Moscow and that Saakashvili's statements once the war began demonstrated that he expected real Western help in confronting Russia.

Read the stories and leave your comments.