Subscript of post title is "why I love Haiti"...read on to find out.
The deluge has started. As an anniversary approaches, the mainstream media is beginning its 'insightful' look at "Haiti: one year later." My daily newsfeed haunts are spiking from their baseline of independent/alternative press and policy analysis sites to include NYT, WashPo, NPR, BBC at greater concentration.
On this blog, I will offer a manageable digest of what I think are the salient points on the one-year mark...one year since 30-seconds of shaking marked arguably the worst natural disaster in recent history, in a place most vulnerable to such destruction. I promise to give a readable listing, for anyone who wants to turn off Anderson Cooper (nothing personal against the guy) and spend 30-minutes getting the real story. One time, 30 minutes. I hope there are a few of you folks out there...
In coordination with the anniversary, a number of Haitian-rooted advocacy groups are updating their investigative reports across the spectrum of calamities: IDP camp conditions, gender-based violence, ballot fraud, cholera, aid accountability etc... Another deluge, but of the pivotal "bearing witness" kind. I'll attempt to post links for these as well.
Understandably, given our busy lives, we can tune out this crisis and overlook its heightening intensity. Yet, 1 million people have been living in tents for one full year, and they cannot forget. Ever, not for even a second.
So, the most *important* message January 12, 2011 is what comes from these people. Instead of waiting passively for aid that is not coming, they have ORGANIZED. See below agenda (courtesy of original post in Bri Kouri Nouvèl Gaye), English translation not mine.
Haitian camp residents, civil society organizations, and other grassroots efforts have coordinated to produce a WEEK OF ACTIVITIES in the displacement camps themselves. Including a 45-panel photo exhibit, and critically analytical forums and discussions---these people are living their rights. Imagine trying to feed & care for your family, living in a wind-battered tent with no brighter prospects in the foreseeable future...and you still muster the energy to work together, to demand something better?
These people are my heroes. Their courage is why I love Haiti.
-----------------------------------
We Will Not Forget, The Struggle Has Just Begun
A Week of Activities to Mark One Year Since the Catastrophe of January 12, 2010
Initiative to Resist the Eviction of the Internally Displaced*
*Members of the Initiative/Supporters of the program include: Bri Kouri Nouvèl Gaye, Bureau des Avocats Internationaux, FRAKKA, Inivesite Popile, Asosyasyon Vwazen Solino (AVS), Batay Ouvriye, Camp Committees from Camp Imakile, Camp Kanaran, Camp Babankou, Camp Kozbami, International Action Ties, Let Haiti Live (a project of TransAfrica Forum)
January 5, 9am - 2pm
- Press conference to launch week of activities
January 8, 3-5pm
- Conference Debate and Photo Exhibition at Camp Imakile and Kozbami
THEME: The Struggle for Land and Right to Housing in the context of the application of the neoliberal political economy
Panelists: Patrice Florvilus (BAI), Camille Chalmers (PAPDA), Mark Snyder (IAT), Mark Schuller
January 9, 11am - 5:30pm
- Conference Debate and Photo Exhibition at Camp Babankou
THEME: The Right to Housing, The Struggle of Peasants and Workers
Panelists: Mario Joseph (BAI), Patrice Florvilus (BAI), Mark Schuller
January 10, 3-5:30pm
- Conference Debate and Documentary Film at Camp Karade
THEME: Right to Housing at the Crossroads of the NGOs Waste; Passivity of the Haitian State and Demagogy of the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission (IHRC)
Panelists: Didier Dominique (Batay Ouvriye), Patrice Florvilus (BAI), Mark Snyder (IAT)
January 11, 10am-4pm
- Conference Debate at Camp Kanaran
THEME: Right to Housing, Gender-Based Violence, Wasteful NGOs, Demagogy of the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission (IHRC)
Panelists: Patrice Florvilus (BAI), Carole Pierre Paul, Camille Chalmers (PAPDA), Mario Joseph (BAI), Mark Snyder (IAT), Mark Schuller, Melinda Miles (LHL)
Witnessing: Victims of the earthquake speak of their experiences living 12 months under tents
Witnessing: The peasants' movement
Documentary Film Screening: A Soapbox in Haiti
Final Declaration
January 12
Public Demonstration starting at the Ministry of Health on Rue St. Honore near the General Hospital
Kreyòl version:
INISYATIV REZISTANS KONT EKSPILSYON DEPLASE ENTÈN YO SEMÈN AKTIVITE POU MAKE 1 AN KATASTWÒF 12 JANVYE 2010 LA
12 JAVYE 2010 – 12 JANVYE 2011
NOU PAP MANJE MANJE BLIYE, BATAY LA FENK KOUMANSE.
5 janvye (9è-14è)
• Konferans pou la près / lansman semèn aktivite yo
8 janvye 2010 (3zè -5è)
• Konferans deba ak Ekzpozisyon foto nan Kan Imakile ak Kozbami
Tem: Batay pou tè/Dwa lojman nan konteks aplikasyon politik ekonomik liberal yo
Animaté : Mark Snyder , Mark Schuller , Patrice Florvilus , Camille Charlemers
9 janvye 2011 (11zè -5è 30 )
• Konferans deba ak Ekzpozisyon foto ( Babankou )
Tèm: Dwa lojman /Lit peyizan ak ouvriye
Animatè: Mario Joseph, Mark Shuler, Patrice Florvilus
10 janvye 2011 ( 3è-5è30)
• Konferans deba ak fim dokimantè ( Karade)
Tèm: Dwa lojman nan Kalfou gagotay ONG ,konpòtman manfouben Leta Ayisyen ak demagoji Komisyon Rekonstriksyon Enterimè a (CIRH)
Animaté : Mark Snyder , Didier Dominique, Patrice Florvilus
11 janvye 2011 (10è-4è) - Kan KA NAWAN - Konferans deba
Tèm : Dwa lojman , vyolans sou fanm nan kan yo, gagotay lan ONG yo ,konpòtman manfouben Leta Ayisyen ak demagoji CIRH la Komisyon Rekonstriksyon Enterimè a (CIRH)
Animaté : Mark Snyder ,Melinda , Mark Shuller , Patrice Florvilus, Carole Pierre Paul , Camille Cha
-Temwanyaj viktim tranbleman sou eksperyans yo fè pandan 12 mwa anba tant
-Temwanyaj mouvman peyizan
-Fim Dokimantè
0Deklarasyon Final
12 janvye :Manifestasyon piblik kap soti devan Ministe Sante nan Ri Sentonore bò Lopital Jeneral
No comments:
Post a Comment