It isn't in the national tradition either. Even Toussaint, mild mannered as he was (most of the time) ends up looking like a bloodthirsty tyrant when compared to the two you just mentioned (mind you, Mandela wasn't always a dove, but his kill count is nowhere near Louverture's). The most we can aspire from them is another Toussaint, Christophe or Geffrard, and at worse, another Dessalines, Soulouque or Nord Alexis. I don't mention Papa Doc because at the end of the day he was just a copycat of the latter bunch, specially of Soulouque, from whence he took the concept of zinglins and just renamed it Tonton Macoutes...
- Thread starter mountainannie
- Start date
US has awakened to situation on the ground
Being retired does not count for having viable knowledge know matter your other retired contacts.
Day after 9/11 my phone went nuts looking for information while working in my gardens.
I was amazed being called so many times! And they didn't even ask about my gardens.
Most info from retired, out of the loop is ....mostly B.S.
Day after 9/11 my phone went nuts looking for information while working in my gardens.
I was amazed being called so many times! And they didn't even ask about my gardens.
Most info from retired, out of the loop is ....mostly B.S.
I am sure all those older ladies you see on the north coast walking around with those young Haitian men with chiseled abs, rock hard pecs and arms of steel are propping them up with extra remittance. Trickle down is a powerful financial mechanism.
From the chief operations officer on the ground
1/3 of PauP is under gang control
Indeed... I have suggested that one of my Haitian friends in Canada to contact https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Brigades_International who would be able to pull together an international French speaking force - from their sister organizations in France, Switzerland, & Belgium. These are highly trained peace keepers, unarmed. who have gone into many hot spots around the world. Now in
Currently, in 2020, PBI has field projects in Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico and Nepal.
..."PBI attracts volunteers from diverse backgrounds for its work in the field projects. Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States — among many other countries — have all been represented among PBI's volunteer pool. Potential volunteers must be strongly committed to non-violence, and all applicants must attend in-depth training where they learn the philosophy of non-violence, non-violent strategies, and team dynamics. All volunteers must be fluent in Spanish for the Mexican, Guatemalan and Colombian projects, and all volunteers for the Nepalese program must be fluent in English and have a basic understanding of Nepali. An applicant may not be a citizen of the country they desire to work in, and must be able to make a minimum commitment of one year.
Apart from getting involved in the field projects, there is also the possibility for individuals to be able to volunteer in PBI's country groups."...
What is implicit - though not stated - is that they must also be prepared to die.
The Quakers (my faith tradition) were long involved in India and had a heavy influence on Ghandi https://ramachandraguha.in/archives/the-last-quaker-in-india.html who - in turn had a strong influence on Mandala.
Likewise - Rosa Parks - known for not giving up her seat on the bus in Montgomery Alabama - had received training in non-violence https://www.loc.gov/collections/rosa-parks-papers/articles-and-essays/beyond-the-bus/
At https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highlander_Research_and_Education_Center
Leadership in Non Violence require training. I don't think it is human nature to actually BE non-violent.
Ghandi said he did not want followers who were unwilling to fight. He wanted followers who wanted to fight but had overcome it.
en.wikipedia.org
Likewise - Rosa Parks - known for not giving up her seat on the bus in Montgomery Alabama - had received training in non-violence https://www.loc.gov/collections/rosa-parks-papers/articles-and-essays/beyond-the-bus/
At https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highlander_Research_and_Education_Center
Leadership in Non Violence require training. I don't think it is human nature to actually BE non-violent.
Ghandi said he did not want followers who were unwilling to fight. He wanted followers who wanted to fight but had overcome it.
Alternatives to Violence Project - Wikipedia
FONKWOSE is one of the operations in Haiti to which I donate. I have heard nothing but excellent reports of their work - with small banks, micro finance, micro lending...
Here is their latest appeal letter.. (Not suggesting that anyone ought to give $$ just reporting the letter and stating my endorsement of the organization should anyone WISH to donate)
I hope you have received my most recent update from last week about the current situation in Haiti. This week I had my regularly scheduled zoom meeting with the other two Fonkoze CEOs and I felt it was imperative that I share with you what our friends are facing and how much uncertainty they are currently experiencing.
As I’m sure you’ve read or hear through news outlets this week, Haiti – and in particular Port-au-Prince – is in shambles. Gangs have declared that this is a revolution and access to some areas of the country (Jacmel in particular) are completely blocked. Covid-19 is ravaging the country with prominent individuals succumbing to the virus. Those who are able to are selling all of their possessions and leaving the country. School children have had their school year cut short, again. Meanwhile, food and fuel shortages are becoming more commonplace – indeed, the threat of a humanitarian crisis for Haiti is on the horizon and the world is not prepared to respond.
My heart is grieving as I write this because I am thinking of our clients and of their need to feed their children, protect their livelihoods, and keep themselves safe against an ever-worsening environment. Those who are most vulnerable are the ones who will feel the brunt of this emergency in the most acute way – and I know those people, they are the families served by CLM, they are the women who sell their goods in Port-au-Prince and are unable to access the roads to market safely, and yet they are repaying their loans on time and maintaining their commitment to Fonkoze. But it isn’t just our clients, it is also our colleagues. The ones that daily commit to serving their fellow Haitians in an effort to provide pathways for prosperity. Those that have resolute faith that they hold the power to create change within their country. The nearly 1000 staff whose dedication to this mission is relentless, but who are showing signs of exhaustion. Because it is exhausting to battle daily for survival; for yourself, for your family, for your community, for your country.
Things in Haiti are really difficult right now – in some ways more difficult than after the earthquake. In 2010, the world was laser-focused on helping Haiti. Nothing was pulling the world away from the needs of the people. But, what is happening in Haiti at this moment is overshadowed by competing needs of a global pandemic and the economic and social fall-out of 2020. Some who don’t understand the history of Haiti, will brush off current events and declare, “Haiti always needs saving”. I want to be really clear, Haiti – and its people – don’t need saving. In fact, Haitians have always known what they need to succeed, the first free nation of the Caribbean doesn’t need the world to save them, they need allies. They need allies who will stand shoulder to shoulder until the job is done. They need allies like you and me who trust the Haitian people to create change, build a stronger prosperous Haiti, and ultimately become the strong nation we all know they are.
So, I’m asking you to continue to be an ally of Haiti. Help us – one of the very few Haitian-founded organizations – prepare to respond to this current crisis. Help Fonkoze remain the steadfast organization that the people of Haiti have continued to depend on, the constant fixture in the community that is unflappable while so much around them is in chaos. Whether you’re an ally who is new, long-standing, or been detached, we ask that you give today so our friends can have a secure tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Mabel Valdivia
Executive Director, Fonkoze USA
Here is their latest appeal letter.. (Not suggesting that anyone ought to give $$ just reporting the letter and stating my endorsement of the organization should anyone WISH to donate)
I hope you have received my most recent update from last week about the current situation in Haiti. This week I had my regularly scheduled zoom meeting with the other two Fonkoze CEOs and I felt it was imperative that I share with you what our friends are facing and how much uncertainty they are currently experiencing.
As I’m sure you’ve read or hear through news outlets this week, Haiti – and in particular Port-au-Prince – is in shambles. Gangs have declared that this is a revolution and access to some areas of the country (Jacmel in particular) are completely blocked. Covid-19 is ravaging the country with prominent individuals succumbing to the virus. Those who are able to are selling all of their possessions and leaving the country. School children have had their school year cut short, again. Meanwhile, food and fuel shortages are becoming more commonplace – indeed, the threat of a humanitarian crisis for Haiti is on the horizon and the world is not prepared to respond.
My heart is grieving as I write this because I am thinking of our clients and of their need to feed their children, protect their livelihoods, and keep themselves safe against an ever-worsening environment. Those who are most vulnerable are the ones who will feel the brunt of this emergency in the most acute way – and I know those people, they are the families served by CLM, they are the women who sell their goods in Port-au-Prince and are unable to access the roads to market safely, and yet they are repaying their loans on time and maintaining their commitment to Fonkoze. But it isn’t just our clients, it is also our colleagues. The ones that daily commit to serving their fellow Haitians in an effort to provide pathways for prosperity. Those that have resolute faith that they hold the power to create change within their country. The nearly 1000 staff whose dedication to this mission is relentless, but who are showing signs of exhaustion. Because it is exhausting to battle daily for survival; for yourself, for your family, for your community, for your country.
Things in Haiti are really difficult right now – in some ways more difficult than after the earthquake. In 2010, the world was laser-focused on helping Haiti. Nothing was pulling the world away from the needs of the people. But, what is happening in Haiti at this moment is overshadowed by competing needs of a global pandemic and the economic and social fall-out of 2020. Some who don’t understand the history of Haiti, will brush off current events and declare, “Haiti always needs saving”. I want to be really clear, Haiti – and its people – don’t need saving. In fact, Haitians have always known what they need to succeed, the first free nation of the Caribbean doesn’t need the world to save them, they need allies. They need allies who will stand shoulder to shoulder until the job is done. They need allies like you and me who trust the Haitian people to create change, build a stronger prosperous Haiti, and ultimately become the strong nation we all know they are.
So, I’m asking you to continue to be an ally of Haiti. Help us – one of the very few Haitian-founded organizations – prepare to respond to this current crisis. Help Fonkoze remain the steadfast organization that the people of Haiti have continued to depend on, the constant fixture in the community that is unflappable while so much around them is in chaos. Whether you’re an ally who is new, long-standing, or been detached, we ask that you give today so our friends can have a secure tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Mabel Valdivia
Executive Director, Fonkoze USA
FYI #Haiti #Fonkoze
here is one of their most exciting programs
here is one of their most exciting programs
More on Peace Brigades International - from the WIKI
"The first long term PBI project was started that same year in Guatemala (1983–1999, re-initiated in 2003), followed by El Salvador(1987–1992), Sri Lanka (1989–1998), North America (1992–1999, in Canada and the USA), Colombia (since 1994), the Balkans (1994–2001, joint with other organizations), Haiti (1995–2000), Mexico (since 1998), Indonesia (1999–2011, and since 2015), Nepal (2005–2014), Kenya (since 2013) and Honduras (since 2013).[2]
In 1989, PBI volunteers escorted Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú on her first visit back to Guatemala from exile. Other individuals that PBI has protected include Amílcar Méndez, Nineth Montenegro and Frank LaRue in Guatemala;[3] and Mario Calixto and Claudia Julieta Duque in Colombia."...
So- they were already in Haiti for five years....back after Baby Doc left...(BBC source)
1995 - UN peacekeepers begin to replace US troops; Aristide supporters win parliamentary elections
Rene Preval, from Aristide's Lavalas party, is elected in December to replace Aristide as president.
1997-99 - Serious political deadlock; new government named.
1999 - Preval declares that parliament's term has expired and begins ruling by decree following a series of disagreements with deputies.
"The first long term PBI project was started that same year in Guatemala (1983–1999, re-initiated in 2003), followed by El Salvador(1987–1992), Sri Lanka (1989–1998), North America (1992–1999, in Canada and the USA), Colombia (since 1994), the Balkans (1994–2001, joint with other organizations), Haiti (1995–2000), Mexico (since 1998), Indonesia (1999–2011, and since 2015), Nepal (2005–2014), Kenya (since 2013) and Honduras (since 2013).[2]
In 1989, PBI volunteers escorted Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú on her first visit back to Guatemala from exile. Other individuals that PBI has protected include Amílcar Méndez, Nineth Montenegro and Frank LaRue in Guatemala;[3] and Mario Calixto and Claudia Julieta Duque in Colombia."...
So- they were already in Haiti for five years....back after Baby Doc left...(BBC source)
1995 - UN peacekeepers begin to replace US troops; Aristide supporters win parliamentary elections
Rene Preval, from Aristide's Lavalas party, is elected in December to replace Aristide as president.
1997-99 - Serious political deadlock; new government named.
1999 - Preval declares that parliament's term has expired and begins ruling by decree following a series of disagreements with deputies.
Aristide's second term
2000 November - Aristide elected president for a second non-consecutive term, amid allegations of irregularities.from the ground in #Haiti
We greet all our brothers and sisters, especially those with tears. We wish to tell you more but for now we wish you courage, strength, perseverance. They give us the blow, the blow hurts us. We call mourning, we call resistance too.
Nobody OM will make a road O Let's go with me
#Jistis
We greet all our brothers and sisters, especially those with tears. We wish to tell you more but for now we wish you courage, strength, perseverance. They give us the blow, the blow hurts us. We call mourning, we call resistance too.
