World Water Day Is on March 22nd!

  • Posted on: 13 March 2008
  • By: Bryan Schaaf

Is water a right, a commodity, or both?  Perhaps the better question would be whether clean water is a right - considering that 1 billion people live without access to water that is safe.  Water sustains life, but shortages bring about desperation, disease, and conflict all of which fuel poverty.  It doesn't have to be this way.  World Water Day is coming up and presents a good opportunity for us to redouble our efforts to ensure that even the poorest of the poor have access to enough safe, drinkable water.

Haitian Movie Takes Grand Prize at the Miami International Film Festival

  • Posted on: 11 March 2008
  • By: Bryan Schaaf

Haiti is a beautiful anomaly at the heart of the crossroads formed by Africa, North America, Latin America, and Europe.  Michelene Quay, Director  of "Eat, This Is My Body", took first prize for at the Miami International Film Festival.  She notes that Haiti's very existence confounds the notion of what Latin America is.  Above all, Haiti is unique and its art, music, and film reflect this. You can view the trailer here.

Fondwa - Haiti's First Rural University

  • Posted on: 8 March 2008
  • By: Bryan Schaaf

Haiti is not known for the quality of its educational system.  However, the country has a handfull of top notch institutions educating and training a new generation of community leaders.  These institutions can be expanded and replicated for the betterment of andeyo Haiti. One of the best examples is Fondwa, a rural University with a strong emphasis on service learning.

 

 

Haiti Ranked Twelfth on Brookings Instability Index - A Fair Assessment or Not?

  • Posted on: 8 March 2008
  • By: Bryan Schaaf

According to the Brookings Institution, "Threats to international peace and security often come from the world’s weakest states. Such countries can fall prey to and spawn a host of transnational security threats, including terrorism, weapons proliferation, organized crime, infectious disease, environmental degradation, and civil conflicts that spill over borders."  The Index of State Weakness in the Developing World ranks 141 developing nations, including Haiti, according to economic, political, security and social welfare.   It is interesting to glance at, but how useful is it?

Safe Water System: A Community-Based Approach

  • Posted on: 2 March 2008
  • By: Bryan Schaaf

The Jolivert Safe Water System developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Pan American Health Organization is a successful example of a community-based clean water program. CDC partnered with Missions of Love Clinic in Jolivert and Deep Springs International to treat water using a hypochlorite solution in a safe container at home. The program employs local Haitians to produce and distribute the solution, while providing community education on healthy water and sanitation practices.

Germany Announces Increased Support for CARICOM Regional HIV/AIDS Program

  • Posted on: 1 March 2008
  • By: Bryan Schaaf

Germany recently announced that it would contribute an additional eight million Euros to CARICOM in support of its efforts to fight HIV/AIDS in the Carribean - broadly known as the  Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean or PANCAP for short.  These funds will support HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment programs throughout the Caribbean, including Haiti. 

Is Jatropha a Viable Option for Biodiesel? Find out at Jatropha World 2008

  • Posted on: 26 February 2008
  • By: Bryan Schaaf

Haiti Innovation is proud to be partnering with the Centre for Management Technology in the leadup to the Jatropha World 2008 conference, which will be held in Miami and focus on the potential of Jatropha as a biofuel in Latin America and the Caribbean.   We will report before, during, and after the Conference, which we anticipate will help raise awareness and bring together key stakeholders who could make the cultivation and processing of Jatropha in Haiti a reality.  Below is further information from CMT about the conference.

World's First Biofuel Flight Takes Off!

  • Posted on: 25 February 2008
  • By: Bryan Schaaf

Ever thought that you would see the day when jumbo jets were powered by biofuels?  Thanks to Virgin Airlines, we now know it is possible.  Click here to watch the (successful) test flight and then check out this article in the Toronto Global and Mail. What does this have to do with Haiti?  Presently, not much.  But it has a great deal to do with the future viability of biofuel production in Haiti for domestic and international consumption.

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