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Haiti  

HaitiI traveled to Haiti from December 28, 2009 - January 8, 2010 with the Task Force on the Americas.


Update: On January 12, 2010, just a couple days after our delegation returned from Haiti, the country was devastated with a magnitude 7.0 earthquake. Based on our observations in the country, some organizations will attempt to make money off of this disaster. Many NGOs put high percentages of their contributions into salaries, vehicles, and office support rather than helping those who need it most. The following are two organizations that we have identified as being the best, most efficient, most reliable organizations you can contribute to to support Haiti earthquake relief efforts:

Statements from members of our delegation:


our delegationOur solidarity delegation began in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital. We investigated the UN "peacekeeping" force's human rights abuses, visited with political prisoners, investigate continued Lavalas repression and exclusion from February/March legislative ballots, and met with unions and popular movements. Our itinerary included visits to political prisoners, the SOPUDEP School, the late Fr. Jean-Juste’s meal program at St. Clare’s Parish, as well as meetings with union organizers. In the culturally rich area of Jacmel on the southern coast we met with the local NGO KONPAY that introduced us to a number of successful sustainable agricultural and environmental projects.

Statements from our delegation:

Anai Rhoads, Homeland Security Harass Haiti Relief Delegates (January 14, 2010)

My blog (Stuart and BC also blogged about our visits)

My photos

My audio recordings, including

  • my interview on WORT's Third World View with filmmaker and journalist Kevin Pina broadcast on January 17, 2010: play (32 min) / download (30MB)
  • an additional feature with more voices from Haiti broadcast on January 24, 2010: play (32 min) / download (30MB). These programs originally aired on WORT 89.9 FM and streamed at http://www.wort-fm.org.

Powerpoints:

Jennifer Lewis, "All Eyes On: Marc Becker," Index (Truman State University), February 4, 2010, 11.

UN peacekeeping soldiers from Syria imposing democracy on Haiti while playing tourist.I also have some video recordings of our interviews. These include:

  • Mythro Philistin, Parti Solidarite
  • Florence (teacher)
  • Rene Civil, Youth Popular Powe
  • Georges Werleigh, rural economist
  • Petion Rospide, ex-political prisoner
  • Yves Peirre-Louis, activist journalist
  • Olen Calixste, singer

I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do with these recordings (they are mostly too long for youtube), but let me know if anyone wants to see them. If you want video, see http://www.youtube.com/user/longmemoryprod

For more information on Haiti, see:


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