So Fresh and So Green

Photo Credit: Getty Images PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI-Feb. 28: Residents of the Tapis Vert internally displaced persons camp navigate the mud and sewage after overnight rains soaked the tent village February 28, 2010 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Tapis Vert, which means large green lawn in French, is normally used as a football pitch but is now home to some of Haiti’s 1.2 million people left homeless by last month’s 7.0 earthquake.

As soon as the passion of this moment fades, the US government will continue contributing to repressive trade policies that keep places like Haiti impoverished. Am I the only one disillusioned…concerned that almost nobody — especially those in our media or government — is talking about this?” ~Rick Steves

In an earlier post The Top 5 White People Worth Interrupting Black History Month For I gave Rick Steves honorable mention, but I wanted to talk about this some more.

I recently read his article about post and pre earthquake Haiti No Aid to Haiti. After reading some poorly researched and rather inhumane commentary I appreciated his take on the the shower of aid for Haiti.

I admit I greatly underestimated Rick Steves whom I know from his Public TV show Rick Steves’ Europe Through The Back Door. While I liked the show I used to wish he would go to other parts of the world, maybe even the Caribbean. If he did I never saw that show and who knows where else Rick Steves have been.

As a person of Haitian descent I was touched by his take on Americans giving aid to Haiti and impressed his knowledge of the binds so called developing countries are in. (more…)

If you like it then you shoulda put a bookmark on it!

The border between Haiti (left) and the Dominican Republic highlights the relative deforestation of Haiti. Photograph courtesy NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio

I didn’t go out yesterday but it rained in New York City. After a conversation with my mom, who got back from Haiti only a few days before the earthquake, I considered what it would be like if it rained in Haiti yesterday.

I’ve spoken of my love of trees and what they mean to me personally, but I’ve been wanting to write about the trees in Haiti for a while now…because there aren’t very many anymore.

Located so close to the equator Haiti has a tropical/rain forest climate and at one time many trees. Now Haiti is considered one of the most heavily deforested country in the world.

The trees were cut for fuel to burn or turn into charcoal. Some say the wood was also used in European furniture. I can’t find any evidence of that but it would not surprise me. (more…)

If you like it then you shoulda put a bookmark on it!