By Bryan Schaaf on Sunday, May 11, 2008.
Jule Hanus from the Art of Living Foundation sent us a video clip featuring a Youth Leadership Training Program which incorporates music, dance, yoga, and environmental preservation. Take a look at it by clicking here. Even when the Haitian government (someday) releases a strategy and appeals for funds to support nationwide reforestation communities will do the heavy lifting. In a country, where almost half the population is under fifteen years of age, there are many opportunities to involve the young in reforestation.
Other low resource countries such as Ethiopia have been very successful in their reforestation efforts - not by waiting for international donors to solve the problem, but by declaring it a priority, encouraging government officials at all levels to get involved, and providing support to communities so they could establish tree nurseries, take part in National Days of Planting, etc.
It doesn't matter what political party you are for, whether urban or rural, whether rich or poor, whether Christian or Voudouisant - As Jonathan Katz noted in an article last month, Haiti's future depends on being able to halt and then reverse environmental degradation. If not, there will be continued food insecurity and political instability. At a minimum, this should be something we can all agree on and thus something we should all be able to work together on.
Haiti has a wide network of schools, churches, and other organizations that could and should be involved in reforestation. If the students from each school were given one week a year to learn about the environment and to take part in reforestation, it could plant a seed in the minds of young students who could become the next generation of environmental leaders. Regardless of whether you are Christian or Vodouisant (or both), nature is sacred and it is the responsibility of humankind to be a good steward over it. If the environment were discussed in church, and if every church had a tree nursery, it would make a difference. Both schools and churches would benefit from National Days of Service which could incorporate the environment and other important social issues.
There are other organizations that could play a role. Village banks, women's groups, youth clubs, Rotaty Clubs, etc. also have a lot of potential. We hope that someday a nationwide Civilian Conversation Corps will be created and could have a complementary role - but there is no replacing the role of communities.
In the Katz article, Mousson Finnigan, who heads up the Organization for the Rehabiliation of the Environment (ORE), states "Everything has been studies and the solutions are already known...but when it comes to implementation, it becomes a place where everybody is fighting for the money. They are not fighting for results."
The Youth Leadership Training Program is just one example of what can be accomplished with just a little bit of training and encouragement. The energy and enthusiasm of Haiti's youth, if channeled, could help bring the results that we are all hoping for.
Bryan
Indian Vedas
Indian vedas recommends every human to plant atleast three trees in his lifetime to compensate for his uses.
Good Job.
I was delighted to see yoga included in the leadership program. Yoga is often ignored as a vital solution to some of the worst ills in todays society.
Reforestation
I don't think it is impratical for Haiti to concentrate on reforestation versus jobs. The population could be put to work (given jobs) doing reforestation work. Getting paid to plant trees is something that is done here in the U.S. and in other countries. Especially when you have a poor, uneducated population (no slight intended) it is a good way to employ them and is a great benefit to the country.
In the U.S. during the Depression, the government did anything and everthing to put people to work to generate jobs and stimulate the economy. They put people to work in the forests, building dams and other public works, they put artists to work painting art in public buildings. Haiti needs to do and try everything to help its citizens and its environment.
Reforestation
But ask yourself why Haiti is hungry? It is largely because an agricultural society can no longer feed itself. The environment has been degraded (deforestation) and is less productive. Coupled with chronic under-investment in the agricultural sector and an over-reliance on imports, it is a tough situation to be in - and one that will get worse without environmental protection. Reforestation is a first step which will also protect against natural disasters. Think of fruit trees and hardwood trees (people are less likely to cut them) as well as quick growing scrub and bamboo (which has plenty of uses). Seeing as how Christians are instructed to be stewards of the earth, addressing immediate deforestation in one's own community is a logical place to start.
this idea
This is a great idea but some what inpracticle. Although Haiti could use trees for wood and to help keep flooding down as well as other things, Haiti doesn't need those things as much as food and clothes and most of all jobs. Jobs are the key because they provide food and clothes as well as stabilize the economy. Most churches that i know of wouldn't start a nursery for trees when they have christian brothers and sisters dieing of starvation.
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