Haiti s charcoal, DR forests

[mountainannie]

the outcry was raised as expected

in an open letter to President Fernadez

signed by 30 diaspora and haitian intellectuals about the murders and the "culture of hate"

crowded out a bit by news of the replacement of the Prime Minister of Haiti

met with indifference by official sectors here in the DR

who said predictably that haiti needs to get control of its migration

and

they live better here (the ones who were not killed, obviously) than there and you should thank us

[minerva_feliz]

I heard that it was pretty much immediately dismissed as unfounded by the vice-president and Miguel Vargas, that all foreigners get the same treatment regardless of nationality. RIIIght. If it were 3 dead gringos, like I said, people would have a fire under their butts for sure. I would love to do an investigative documentary about that "equal treatment" using hidden cameras, a gringo and a Haitian.

Those silly Haitian intellectuals (sarcasm)

Anyone have a link for that letter?

[suarezn]

Annie: Your post made me wonder how come there isn't a huge black market for subsidized propane from The DR to be sold in Haiti. Maybe there is and I'm just not aware, but it seems that if you owned a propane station and you could sell your gas for even 20 pesos more per gallon that could be a very tempting profit.

[mountainannie]

Originally Posted by minerva_feliz

I heard that it was pretty much immediately dismissed as unfounded by the vice-president and Miguel Vargas, that all foreigners get the same treatment regardless of nationality. RIIIght. If it were 3 dead gringos, like I said, people would have a fire under their butts for sure. I would love to do an investigative documentary about that "equal treatment" using hidden cameras, a gringo and a Haitian.

Those silly Haitian intellectuals (sarcasm)

Anyone have a link for that letter?

Kiskeya! 1994-2009...15 ANS!!!

No, there was more on point than that.. the Cardinal said Haiti should take care of its immigrant problem itself and stop the flood....

[mountainannie]

Originally Posted by suarezn

Annie: Your post made me wonder how come there isn't a huge black market for subsidized propane from The DR to be sold in Haiti. Maybe there is and I'm just not aware, but it seems that if you owned a propane station and you could sell your gas for even 20 pesos more per gallon that could be a very tempting profit.

we had a long discussion on this on the Haiti list serve.. The problem is the poverty.. the poor simply do not have the money to fill up a tank.. they may have enough money to buy enough charcoal for today's dinner but not enough to put aside to fill up a tank.-----there is propane available in Haiti... at about 20 pesos more per gallon, I think.. perhaps not even that much. But one good estimate I read is that outside PauP there are 300,'000 people who wake up every morning with absolutely nothing to eat. Their job is to find food for that day-- for them and their family.

[mountainannie]

On Environmental Brink, Haiti Scrambles for a Lifeline - NYTimes.com

note where they say that they are even pulling up roots now to use for charcoal

[mountainannie]

Recycling in Haiti Eases Tensions in 'a Very Violent Neighborhood' - NYTimes.com

I am wondering if this project might not be a good one for SD where there are so many papers --

Not everyone has a puppy

[mountainannie]

There was an earlier question posted here about importing propane from the DR and on the Haiti listserv someone posted an explanation of why this is not done which I thought would be of interest.

"The Dominican model of subsidizing propane as a cooking fuel is a good idea [maybe Chavez can send some] but the problem in Haiti is the monopoly of the propane distributor[s]. The gas regulator which fits the Haitian propane bottle has been banned in most countries due to being dangerous and is not interchangeable with any bottle I know of except for those imported to Haiti by whoever controls the propane industry in Haiti. For example; you cannot bring a propane bottle from the DR, the US or any other country and have it refilled in Haiti without a special adaptor nor will your safer regulator fit the Haitien bottle. Why is this?
Many people are horribly burned due to propane fires from these dreadful regulators each year. Who controls the propane industry in Haiti and why have that not adopted the safer bottles and regulators?"