By Odeisel
Those who work for themselves know that freedom is very expensive. As the descendants of slaves, Black people in the Diaspora know that freedom is elusive and a difficult struggle to both attain and maintain. As the only country whose independence was borne of successful slave rebellion and the first independent Latin American country, it seems as if Haiti has been paying that price almost since its inception. The repeated defense against foreign powers and decades-long political instability, have relegated Haiti to an existence rife with poverty and corruption.
Along with the above socio-economic and political issues that have plagued the island, Haiti also faces the environmental issue of deforestation and soil erosion. Logging has reduced the once lush landscape to less than five percent of its forest just 80 years ago. The prime mover of this logging is the production of coal, which is Haiti’s principal source of fuel. The unfortunate side-effect of this deforestation is an added vulnerability to flooding and mudslides. As a country in the middle of the Atlantic hurricane belt, that is of significant importance. While the political obstacles are ongoing, there are efforts to at least curb deforestation as well as address the need for fuel and the need to create jobs and bolster a battered economy.
Love N’ Haiti, a recycling project which was started in Port-au-Prince Haiti, was formed to combat the environmental issues that Haiti is facing as well as provide jobs to the Haitian people a provide alternative sources of energy to coal. Their efforts have garnered international attention not only from both entertainers and captains of industry like Wyclef, Garcielle Bouveau, Russell Simmons, and Mona Scott-Young, but to heads of state like former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. Love N’ Haiti has made it all the way to the final 12 participants in the BBC World News’ annual World Challenge contest, which awards recognition and monetary grants to innovative global business or programs.
Love N’ Haiti tackles Haiti’s problems on multiple fronts. They recycle trash from the slums and paper into fuel cell briquettes that burn cleaner than coal and reduce the amount of trees harvested with their creation. That reduces air pollutants as well as reduces waste products and eliminates trash from slums overrun with debris. On other levels, the project ads jobs to the economy of a country so economically weak that almost 40% of the annual budget is dependent on foreign donation. More jobs contribute to the reduction of crime and an increase in the pride and aspiration of common Haitian denizens.
As stated above, Love N’ Haiti is one of 12 finalists in the World Challenge contest. Here’s your chance to get involved and to make a difference in the self determination and advancement of a once proud nation. They need your vote (AND IT’S FREE!!). Take two minutes and visit http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk and make sure that your votes get Love N’ Haiti the win and the grant to extend its program for the environment, for the people, for the country. Act now, voting ends on Friday November 13th, 2009.
Follow Love N’ Haiti on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/lovenhaiti
