Holier than Thou: Missionaries Behaving Badly

Bryan Schaaf — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 08:54:23 -0500

Ladies and Gentlemen, Meysedam:

If you will only ever read one of my blogs, then I hope this is the one. It is not often that I see something that makes my blood boil, but below you will find an email that turned my stomach with disgust and anger.

Biodiesel in Haiti, Appropriate Technology, & Micro-Lending

Robert Miller — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 07:32:48 -0500

Recently, Wyclef Jean went to Capitol Hill to discuss Haiti's longterm developmental needs. His visit incited a rarely seen attendance at a subcommittee hearing and elicited some great reactions from the public. Dr. Johanna Mendelson Forman of the Center for Strategic and International Study, who we've mentioned before [link], submitted testimony for the record.

Rob to Speak at US Institute of Peace

Robert Miller — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 14:44:29 -0500

Friday, April 13, I will speak on a panel at the US Institute of Peace regarding Haiti’s transitioning economy with Haiti’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Raymond Joseph, and Haiti Economic Officer, Elizabeth Jaffee from the US Deptar

Partners in Health now In Malawi

Bryan Schaaf — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 10:42:19 -0500

Partners in Health, the Haitian organization which pioneered community based treatment of HIV/AIDS in low resource settings, is now operating in a third African country, Malawi.

Haiti Trade Law Implemented

Robert Miller — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:07:39 -0500

Today, as prescribed in the Haiti HOPE Act of 2006, the President implemented preferential trade status for Haiti.

Chavez continues in his quest to become Santa Claus

Chris Schron — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 21:10:17 -0500

Say what you will about Chavez and his band of socialist rebel-rousers, but whether it’s handing out fuel subsidies to London or, oh who are we kidding, handing out fuel subsidies to whoever will take them, the Venezuelan government does like to hand out some serious donations.

Musicians Making a Difference for Haiti: Arcade Fire

Bryan Schaaf — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 20:47:53 -0500

arcade fireBelow is an interesting article on a band called Arcade Fire, who we have known about for some time. What we did not know is how involved they have been with Haiti. The band had recently contacted Partners in Health, an important NGO based in Haiti which has pioneered treatment for Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS in low resource settings, to see how they could be involved.

Paper Weights

Chris Schron — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 21:07:49 -0500

Last week I received a letter from a relatively large, international NGO. The letter, which was quite hefty, contained a pamphlet describing the work that the NGO was currently doing, a letter from the organization, a monthly newsletter and finally a donation card with a self addressed envelope. The first question that went through my mind was “how much did all of this cost?”

Telecorruption in Haiti

Bryan Schaaf — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 07:44:49 -0500

Peace Corps Volunteers rapidly learn the difficulties of making a simple phone call. As late as 2000, this usually meant going to the local chapter of the state-owned telephone monopoly known as Teleco. Provided that the station worked, and it would often be down for months, one would walk in and call an operator in Port au Prince. The operator would then patch you through collect or you could punch in a phone card. Sounds simple but the process could take the better part of an afternoon in some rural locations. The cost for making a simple call could be sky high.

10th Annual National Haitian Student Conference

Weblog — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 22:21:59 -0500

Greetings, it is my honor to inform you about the 10th Annual National Haitian Student Conference. This event will be taking place on March 2 - 4, 2007 at Pennsylvania State University. This event is being hosted by the Pennsylvania Haitian Student Association, a statewide organization dedicated to the empowerment of Haitian/Haitian-American students as well as the development of the Haitian community in Pennsylvania.