French geopolitician Jean-Christophe Victor passed away

Yesterday, Wednesday 28 December, Jean-Christophe Victor died at too young an age for a knowledge passer with his geopolitical television show Le Dessous des cartes (Underneath the cards/maps).

A planisphere with a political message to analyze, what other picture? (Libray and Archives Canada).

On the French-German channel Arte, every Saturday, he described and explained what is at stake in our world through maps of all scales for a quarter century. In parallel, he created with Virginie Raisson a private laboratory to teach and work on these problems with firms and public powers.

His biography reminds his actions and experience in Afghanistan late 1970s and during the 1980s, a diplomat as a cultural attaché and a humanitarian as a cofounder of Action Against Hunger.

These two aspects of his life can be linked to his parents: polar explorer Paul-Émile Victor and television journalist Éliane Victor.

Afghan philately today

In September 2007 issue of Scott Stamp Monthly, Charles Snee presents some covers, philatelic result of his afghan journey while serving his tour of duty.

In January 2007, in post offices of Afghanistan, you find stamps whose dates of issue can spread over more than fifty years : from the 20 poul "Buddha of Bamian" to nowadays stamps (the link connects to the WNS Afghan page).

Thank to this mail, he obtained stamps of the 2000's that Scott catalog hadn't referenced until then, certainly because the editors didn't have the proof of actual postal use.

I strongly advice you to read the "From the Scott Editors" section of this magazine. During my first three months of subscription, each article was a surprising enlightment of what is the serious writing of a stamp catalog.