Resources / Ripples & Wipeouts

The island nation of Haiti has been independent for over 200 years, it has also been in economic and political turmoil for as long as I can remember.  It is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. 

As an American of Haitian descent, I am from time to time, rocketed into awareness about the current state of affairs in Haiti.  It usually happens when a reporter has the opportunity to report on the president du jour or after extreme weather events like the recent hurricanes named Hannah, Gustav, et al.  Even when it is not at top of mind, Haiti is never really far from my thoughts.

Maybe it’s just me but Haiti is in need of a lot more than some humanitarian aid to get through its latest trials.  When a people are so oppressed for so long, it has to take a toll on their psyche.  I have to wonder how many Haitians feel joy, contentment, or peace.

The first and last time I visited Haiti, was in the eighties, just before Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier was ousted.  I traveled with my parents (my mother is Haitian) and spent a couple of days in Port au Prince at a hotel and another couple of days in my mother’s home town of Cayes.  I remember the long bumpy ride to Cayes but I also remember how lush and green the island was, and, very mountainous (Haiti means “mountainous land” in Taino, the language of the indigenous people of the island).  We visited family that I had never met or hadn’t seen for years.  I remember going to see my godmother and the look on her face when it finally registered who I was.  She hadn’t seen me for at least two decades, but she still remembered me.

The food we ate was simple – the accommodations modest, but comfortable.  The markets were vibrant and bustling.  We were able to get around fairly easily and my mother seemed to know from memory how to get to ‘so and so’s’ house.  I regret that I didn’t better document the trip.  The roll of pictures I took were ruined because the film was exposed before they were developed.  I have one photo taken of me with my godmother, none with my mom, who passed away about five years after that trip.  This had been her first trip back since before I was born and I was the last of four children.  I also regret that I didn’t grill my mother more on what this trip meant to her.  I can only imagine.

The island is very different now.  Years of corruption and abuse of the people and the land has taken its toll.  Much of the destruction the island faces during hurricanes and rainy seasons is due to deforestation. For many years, the only means of support for many Haitians was making charcoal out of the trees, and as a result a portion of the island of Hispaniola (shared with the Dominican Republic) is literally falling apart.

There have been many efforts by several organizations to bring aid and comfort to those in need.  There are many individuals who have committed themselves to help and for this, I am grateful.  Wyclef Jean and Matt Damon were there recently.  Danny Glover is working on bringing the life of Toussaint L’Overture to the big screen, though last I heard he was having tremendous difficulty in securing funding for the movie.  If a movie can be made about Idi Amin Dada, then one can definitely be made about L’Overture.

What am I going to do?  I don’t know.  When I figure it out, I’ll be sure to post it.  In the meantime, if you want to help, visit the web sites of the following organizations:

Red Cross: Donate funds to support on the ground relief efforts

Buya: Buy a meal or house for a Haitian family

Friend Ships Unlimited: Donate needed goods

Lambi Fund of Haiti: Support economic justice, democracy, and sustainable development

AMURT Haiti: Donate to local NGO’s

Habitat for Humanity: Help provide shelter

Paix,

Joan