Reading about Haiti, the earthquake, the cholera epidemic, the president elections can be a harrowing experience. When reading your blog, which has some interesting posts, I found that I wanted to read more - to find out more about Duvalier and other leaders, the reasons for the country's lack of progress, what's happening now. You blogged most in January, but only twice in Feb and nothing in March. There is so much more to say, and I hope you'll follow events over the next couple of years or so.
I like the fish and the video bar, but think too you could have made better use of images and created other links to sites discussing Haiti - even aid agencies, there are many.
Nonetheless, you successfully completed a blog and followed and issue.
Well done.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Presidency
President René Préval of Haiti said Monday that he would stay in office for three more months, extending his term until after a March 20 runoff to choose his successor.
Mr. Préval’s term had been scheduled to end Monday, but an emergency law passed after last’s year’s devastating earthquake allowed him to stay longer because his 2006 inauguration was delayed. His chief of staff, Fritz Longchamp, told The Associated Press that Mr. Préval would leave on May 14, which would most likely be enough time for the next president to take over.
Mr. Préval’s decision was largely expected by Haitians and the international community, in part because it is unclear who would take his place. The Haitian Constitution states that the highest-ranking member of the country’s top court would be second in line, but the court’s presidency is currently vacant.
Mr. Préval’s term had been scheduled to end Monday, but an emergency law passed after last’s year’s devastating earthquake allowed him to stay longer because his 2006 inauguration was delayed. His chief of staff, Fritz Longchamp, told The Associated Press that Mr. Préval would leave on May 14, which would most likely be enough time for the next president to take over.
Mr. Préval’s decision was largely expected by Haitians and the international community, in part because it is unclear who would take his place. The Haitian Constitution states that the highest-ranking member of the country’s top court would be second in line, but the court’s presidency is currently vacant.
Monday, February 14, 2011
New Passport for Aristide
In Mexico City, on February 9, 2011 Haitian officials issued a diplomatic passport for Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Haiti's first democratically elected president and even after years in exile, he is one of the country's most popular and divisive figures.
Mr. Aristide's American lawyer, Ira Kurzban said he collected the document in the capital and stated that Mr. Aristide, after seven years of exile, mostly in South Africa "wants to come home as soon as he can".
His reappearance would represent a second stunning return for Haiti: Just three weeks ago, Jean-Claude Duvalier, the dictator known as Baby Doc, arrived unexpectedly in Port-au-Prince after being overthrown in 1986.
Both Duvalier and Aristide claim that they are interested in national reconciliation although, both are doubted by critics of their governments. Experts looking at the topic fear that the presence of the two former leaders could further destroy the country which is already struggling with cholera, tent cities created by last year's earthquake and political instability before the delayed presidential runoff on March 20.
Mr. Aristide's American lawyer, Ira Kurzban said he collected the document in the capital and stated that Mr. Aristide, after seven years of exile, mostly in South Africa "wants to come home as soon as he can".
His reappearance would represent a second stunning return for Haiti: Just three weeks ago, Jean-Claude Duvalier, the dictator known as Baby Doc, arrived unexpectedly in Port-au-Prince after being overthrown in 1986.
Both Duvalier and Aristide claim that they are interested in national reconciliation although, both are doubted by critics of their governments. Experts looking at the topic fear that the presence of the two former leaders could further destroy the country which is already struggling with cholera, tent cities created by last year's earthquake and political instability before the delayed presidential runoff on March 20.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Clinton very involved, Haiti still in distress
U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton was behind a controversial report on Haiti's fraud-filled presidential elections, by telling political actors and others that the United States wants the process to move forward. She pushed the adoption of the Organization of the American States report on Haiti's chaotic Nov. 28 presidential elections, she also looked for advice on how a quake-battered Haiti could dig itself out of the political crisis stemming from the election.
Clinton travelled to Haiti on Sunday, January 30 and spent the day in private meetings with each of the three presidential candidates running to replace President Rene Preval, who may be forced to leave office on February 8, even if a replacement has not been selected.
Haiti continues to remain a country on the brink and after preliminary results were announced in December showing that Celestin had beaten out singer Michel Matelly, supports of Martelly shut down the capital and two other major cities with three days worth of violent protests.
Clinton travelled to Haiti on Sunday, January 30 and spent the day in private meetings with each of the three presidential candidates running to replace President Rene Preval, who may be forced to leave office on February 8, even if a replacement has not been selected.
Haiti continues to remain a country on the brink and after preliminary results were announced in December showing that Celestin had beaten out singer Michel Matelly, supports of Martelly shut down the capital and two other major cities with three days worth of violent protests.
Monday, January 24, 2011
A good time to take stock and re-focus
Tamara, you have posted on some key events, but your postings still tend to be sporadic - the good news is you posted twice this week, but you need to do that every week, if you're going to be able to follow - and trend - events in any kind of meaningful way. Make sure when you post, you give credit (create a link - or state in the body of your text) as to where you have taken the information from.
You also need to begin to draw events together: how do the presidential elections affect and impact the crisis. What about Duvalier (I asked you to post on him in my post)? What impact will he have on developments? Why is he there? What does this say about Haitian politics, and the history of the country? which it would be nice to know more about in the form of graphics and time-lines. There must be dozens on line.
Stick with it, T. Lots to do.
You also need to begin to draw events together: how do the presidential elections affect and impact the crisis. What about Duvalier (I asked you to post on him in my post)? What impact will he have on developments? Why is he there? What does this say about Haitian politics, and the history of the country? which it would be nice to know more about in the form of graphics and time-lines. There must be dozens on line.
Stick with it, T. Lots to do.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
One Year Anniversary and Still Struggling
January 12, marks the one year anniversary of the devasting Haitian earthquake that shook one of the poorest regions of the world. In past recent years, Haiti has struggled with problems ranging from constant political unrest, health crises, severe environmental degradation and the annual slew of hurricanes. Last year's earthquake was the worst Haiti has experienced in over 200 years, reducing the majority of it's capital to rubble.
The estimated total cost of the disaster was reported to be between $8 billion and $14 billion, but with the emotional cost of about 300,000 deaths. It is now a year later and over a million people remain homeless and living in make-shift homes of tents and tarpulins.
Just as money was being transferred and a chance to begin a new and better life became an opportunity, cholera hit and as if that wasn't enough of a problem, political unrest was once again at the forefront. The national electoral council announced in December 2010 that current President Rene Preval's protege, a former state construction company executive named Jude Celestin, had edged out a popular singer, Michel Martelly, for a spot in a January 2011 runoff against Mirlande Manigat, a former first lady. It was then that violent protestors took the streets.
Despite the negative aspects many Haitians have been taking time to heal, rebuild or simply adjust their sights. Things can only look up from rock bottom.
The estimated total cost of the disaster was reported to be between $8 billion and $14 billion, but with the emotional cost of about 300,000 deaths. It is now a year later and over a million people remain homeless and living in make-shift homes of tents and tarpulins.
Just as money was being transferred and a chance to begin a new and better life became an opportunity, cholera hit and as if that wasn't enough of a problem, political unrest was once again at the forefront. The national electoral council announced in December 2010 that current President Rene Preval's protege, a former state construction company executive named Jude Celestin, had edged out a popular singer, Michel Martelly, for a spot in a January 2011 runoff against Mirlande Manigat, a former first lady. It was then that violent protestors took the streets.
Despite the negative aspects many Haitians have been taking time to heal, rebuild or simply adjust their sights. Things can only look up from rock bottom.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Return of Duvalier - Big News
The return of 'Baby Doc' (Jean Claude Duvalier), the former dictator of Haiti is important, if unsettling news, and is something you should comment on. He fled the country 26 years ago to France, and was, it appears, responsible for numerous crimes against humanity.
This is also the one-year anniversary of the earthquake, a good time to review progress to date.
This is also the one-year anniversary of the earthquake, a good time to review progress to date.
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