Stories about Haiti from March, 2011
Haiti: Monsanto's Agenda
Haiti Grassroots Watch takes “a closer look” at Monsanto's seed distribution in the wake of last year's devastating earthquake.
Haiti: Not Like Japan
Toussaint on Haiti has been avoiding news of the Japan earthquake for fear of “triggering sad memories”, noting that stories of recovery there “really b[ring] home…the dysfunction that exists in Haiti.”
Haiti: Awaiting Results
As election results continue to be tabulated in Haiti, The Latin Americanist suggests that “the real victors are the Haitian electorate who supposedly turned out in large numbers to some voting centers.” Toussaint on Haiti also weighs in.
Haiti: Developing Aid
“The agenda of development aid should not be set by people so far removed from the uncertainty of life that has dominated human existence for the majority of time”: Throwing Down the Water wants to get everyone speaking the same language.
Caribbean: Caribe Wave 11, the first simulated tsunami alert
On Wednesday, March 23, the first full-scale simulated tsunami alert exercise will take place in 33 countries in the Caribbean to test the effectiveness of alert, monitoring and warning systems (Hashtag on Twitter: EXERCISE – NOT REAL #CW11) . Open Street Map France [Fr] and Crisis Camp Paris [Fr] will...
Haiti: Was Wyclef Shot or Cut by Glass?
Early on Sunday 20 March, 2011, while Haitians headed to the polls for the second round of a historic and controversial presidential election, a story about Wyclef Jean, the Haitian-born hip hpp star, being allegedly shot in the hand monopolized the mainstream media news cycle about Haiti for a good portion of the day.
Haiti: Aristide’s return, the word “house” and today’s election
To say the twice exiled President Aristide is a mythic figure in the Haitian imagination is an understatement. To say he evokes strong emotions from Haitians, even less so. So what effect might his return have on today's elections? Bloggers discuss the possibilities.
Haiti: The Entertainer, or The Professor?
According to the reports on Twitter regarding today's presidential election runoff in Haiti, the lines at polling stations are long, and voters at certain pollin were unable to find their names on voter lists. But many are also speculating on the outcome.
Haiti: Election Morning in Pictures
Today, March 20, Haitians go to the polls to decide who will be the Caribbean nation's next president. This runoff election is being contested by Mirlande Manigat and Michel Martelly, the two candidates deemed to have received the highest number of votes in the controversial general election held last November. Reports posted this morning by Twitter users on the ground in Haiti pointed to delays in the opening of polling stations, while many outside the country fixated on an incident in which Haiti-born rap star Wyclef Jean, a Martelly supporter, was shot in the hand. Here's a selection of photos posted on Twitter of the scenes in Haiti as the polls opened—or tried to—this morning.
Haiti: As the polls open
Miami Herald journalist Jacqueline Charles, covering the Haiti elections runoff today, notes the lack of a police presence outside candidate Michel Martelly's house, expresses skepticism that the vote will be able to proceed uninterrupted, in spite of what the officials say, and reports that the opening of at least one polling...
Haiti: Aristide's Return “Something Big”?
Haitian bloggers discuss the return of former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide on the eve of the country's controversial election run-off.
Haiti: Winds of Change?
“It is not contentment that changes a nation, or a culture, or the history of the world; it is dissatisfaction with the status quo”: Throwing Down the Water thinks that change just might be possible.
Haiti: Aristide's Return
“Many believe that he still has the power to control the masses and disturb the current electoral process”: From New York City to Haiti thinks that “things just got a bit interesting.”
Haiti: Election Violence Escalates
Election-related violence in Haiti appears to be escalating. As Haitian presidential candidate and legal scholar Mirlande Manigat set out to begin a campaign rally in Mirebalais yesterday, her convoy was stoned by alleged supporters of opponent Michel Martelly, leading to a scuffle that resulted in gunshots and wounds.
Haiti: To Vote or Not To Vote
Throwing Down the Water says that the outcome of the Haitian election will be decided by which sections of the population vote and which stay home.
Haiti: “Literary Foremother” Dies
Writer Paulette Poujol Oriol recently died of a heart attack at her home in Port-au-Prince; Tande pays her tribute.
Haiti: Election Threats
The long-awaited Haitian election is finally scheduled to take place on March 20; the most recent political controversy involves presidential candidate Michel Martelly's threats to the media, accompanied by general references to grabbing power via “the streets”. Netizens are keeping a close check on developments…
Haiti: At the Intersection
Throwing Down the Water witnesses a scene which reminds her that “we contain infinite possibilities. And that if we accept the excuses most easily available to us, we are selling ourselves – and the world – short.”
Latin America, Caribbean: Increase in Food Prices
Bloggings by Boz writes: “The FAO reports that February 2011 was a yet a new high on food prices. This has led to several warnings from organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean including ECLAC [Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean] and the IICA [Inter-American Institute for Cooperation...
Haiti: Manigat's Chances
“We might have a race after all”: Toussaint on Haiti thinks that Mirlande Manigat's campaign “might be picking up steam”, while Dying in Haiti wonders “if the registered voters in [a particular] tent city are going to vote for Madame Manigat, Michael, or….nobody?”
