TEDxSMU Tuesday 1.18.11
As a follow up to our conversation about Haiti and the challenges it faces in rebuilding, we’ve put together a list of resources for further exploration in the areas of architecture/engineering, politics, healthcare, and microfinance.
Architecture/Engineering
Haiti’s Quake, One Year Later: It’s the Rubble, Stupid! Time, January 12, 2011
“[Rubble removal] requires massive funding, and little of the $9 billion that other donor nations pledged last year — only 10% of which has materialized — is earmarked for backhoes, earth movers and dump trucks.”
A Plan to Spur Growth Away From Haiti’s Capital New York Times, March 30, 2010
“The guidelines’ well-reasoned thinking about environmental threats and the history of urban development in Haiti suggests that they could become a reliable blueprint not just for reconstruction, but also for solving many of the urban ills that have plagued the country for decades.”
Corruption Kills Nature, January 12, 2011
“The structural integrity of a building is no stronger than the social integrity of the builder, and each nation has a responsibility to its citizens to ensure adequate inspection. In particular, nations with a history of significant earthquakes and known corruption issues should stand reminded that an unregulated construction industry is a potential killer.”
AIDG in Haiti
The Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group (AIDG) helps individuals and communities get affordable and environmentally sound access to electricity, sanitation and clean water. Through a combination of business incubation, education, and outreach, we help people get technology that will better their health and improve their lives.
Architecture for Humanity
The Haiti Team of Architecture for Humanity runs its reconstruction programs out of the Rebuilding Center in Port-au-Prince. These efforts are aimed at coordinating and collaborating with local professionals, educational institutions and other NGOs, training and educating professionals and building owners and directing the design and construction of primary and secondary schools.
The Rebuilding Center will serve as a one-stop shop for professional design and construction services. It will provide workforce training, consumer education, professional referrals, and serve as a clearinghouse for reconstruction bid and tender opportunities. Architecture for Humanity intends to transfer ongoing operations to Haitian hands within five years, following our long-term plan for reconstruction.
Watch Architecture for Humanity co-founder Cameron Sinclair’s TED Prize Wish.
Politics
Former Haitian Dictator Taken Away by Police New York Times, January 18, 2011
“One year after the nation was hit by a devastating earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people, the country has been grappling to absorb the potentially destabilizing blow of Mr. Duvalier’s surprise return this week, which drew condemnations from around the world and ignited new fears of conflict.”
United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti
MINUSTAH’s original mandate was to restore a secure and stable environment, to promote the political process, to strengthen Haiti’s Government institutions and rule-of-law-structures, as well as to promote and to protect human rights. The Security Council, by resolution 1908 of 19 January, endorsed the Secretary-General’s recommendation to increase the overall force levels of MINUSTAH to support the immediate recovery, reconstruction and stability efforts in the country.
Healthcare
Partners in Health in Haiti
Founded in Boston in 1987 by Paul Farmer, Thomas J. White, and Todd McCormack to support activities in rural Haiti, Partners In Health (PIH) has three goals: to care for our patients, to alleviate the root causes of disease in their communities, and to share lessons learned around the world. Through long-term partnerships with our sister organizations, we bring the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need and work to alleviate the crushing economic and social burdens of poverty that exacerbate disease. PIH believes that health is a fundamental right, not a privilege.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Information from the CDC on the October 2010 cholera outbreak in Haiti.
Microfinance in the Caribbean
Chiapas International
Chiapas International supports Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic) through Esperanza International and the Grameen Foundation.
ACCION International
In collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank, ACCION is assisting five partner institutions in expanding their microfinance services to rural clients in Latin America. This multi-year project involves Banco ADEMI, Credife, Finamerica, Financiera FAMA, and MiBanco and includes innovative work in the areas of financial products, alternative distribution channels, value chains, financial education and systematization of knowledge.