Janine Mendes-Franco · January, 2010

Latest posts by Janine Mendes-Franco from January, 2010

Trinidad & Tobago: Butter Bread

  22 January 2010

“In one of Port of Spain’s wealthiest neighbourhoods…the older, tastefully-designed homes can no longer be admired because they cannot be perceived: their garden walls are now higher than their eaves; and topped with razor wire: pass your butter bread over such a wall and it comes out the other side...

Trinidad & Tobago: Emergency SMS

  22 January 2010

Further to Taran Rampersad‘s call for Trinidad and Tobago to get an emergency SMS number, he finds out a local communications provider has plans to implement one: “Kudos if they get it up before a national disaster. Well, other than continued parliamentary disaster…”

Barbados, Haiti: Power of Love

  20 January 2010

“Yes, there is good emerging from the horror in Haiti, a very great deal of it. If it could, that power – the all-encompassing, ominpotent power of love – would end suffering” – and, blogging from Barbados, B.C. Pires is quick to remind us that “it comes unbidden from human...

Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti: Supporting Citizen Media

  20 January 2010

“Anything I can say about Haiti is going to sound like a platitude, so I’ll spare you those having to do with human misery and direct another one at myself instead: I have no idea what to expect and am not sure my imagination can prepare me”: Global Voices’ Managing...

Haiti: Communities

  20 January 2010

“As we consider the rapid militarization underway in Haiti and the prospect of a long-lasting U.S. or U.N. military presence in the country, there is growing concern about supporting local Haitian organizations who could lead the nation into an independent recovery attentive to local needs”: Repeating Islands posts a list...

Haiti: “Our hope has not died”

  19 January 2010

A truly inspiring update from The Livesay [Haiti] Weblog: “The reports of violence – we don't get those. Have not seen it. Have not experienced it. Nothing even remotely close. People are helping each other and are warm and kind and humble. I only know one thing – Our hope...

Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti: Emergency SMS

  19 January 2010

Know TnT.com sees the value of emergency SMS: “It could save lives and improve the quality of life of people. And it would work best if it's set up beforehand instead of afterward.”

Barbados, U.S.A., Haiti: Business as Usual?

  19 January 2010

Barbados Free Press harshly criticizes a cruise line for proceeding with business as usual in the midst of disaster as its passengers “continue to enjoy themselves at the ‘five pristine beaches’ leased from the Haitian government.”

Haiti: Beyond the Capital

  17 January 2010

Much of the coverage of the destruction in the earthquake's aftermath has been focused in and around Haiti's capital city, Port-au-Prince. But many other areas close to the 'quake's epicentre have also been affected, as bloggers are quick to point out...

Haiti: Hoping for Miracles

  17 January 2010

“This city is more densely populated than I can fathom. The work ahead in Port and other areas is mind-numbing. I know there are tons of efforts being made — some of which you'll never get to hear about on media or blogs”: The Livesay [Haiti] Weblog is sure they...

Haiti: Power of Music

  17 January 2010

Repeating Islands recognizes that music by Haitian artists is making a difference on to survivors of the ‘quake, inspiring resilience and strength.

Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti: Blame the Alcohol

  17 January 2010

“As thousands in [Haiti] were trapped under rubble and were wailing for their lives, our politicians…decided to go ahead with the ceremonial opening of Parliament. Prime Minister Patrick Manning…left the day’s proceedings early, promising $6.3 million in aid to Haiti. Then…he hosted…a ‘media appreciation’ event…there was not a single press...

St. Lucia, Haiti: Role of Social Media

  17 January 2010

“It is at such times of large-scale catastrophes that we get a true sense of the incredible power of the Internet and social media”: St. Lucia's Caribbean Book Blog on the Haiti earthquake.