Energy Environment

Our country of Haiti is being used as an example of what the world will likely look like by 2015 and it is not a good picture. Considered to be one of the world's most endangered places in the world in term of environment, Haiti is giving the entire world a glance of the future with climate change and global warming. As a result of climate change and deforestation, farmland in Haiti countryside has been reduced in their capacity; consequently, this has led to massive emigration into urban areas, a wave of internal migration from rural to urban areas. Ultimately, his has caused the development of slums areas.

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The site of La Hotte has been added by UNESCO as a Biodiversity Reserve along with 19 other sites to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves during its meeting in Lima, the capital of Peru on March 18 and 19. So far, UNESCO has a total number of 669 biosphere reserves around the world, scattered in 120 countries under its International Co-coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program created in 1971.

It is an intergovernmental scientific endeavor for the improvement of the overall relationship between people and their environment. Biosphere Reserves are geographical areas that are representative of the planet's diversity of habitats. Every biosphere reserve represents an ecosystem with plants and animals of unusual scientific and natural interest. 'Biosphere Reserve' is a title given by UNESCO to help protect the sites. The plan is to promote management, research and education in ecosystem conservation. MAB has been formed with three main objectives: Minimizing the loss of biological diversity; Making people aware of how cultural diversity and biological diversity affect each other; and Promoting environmental sustainability through the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

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This is a study that took place recently. It analyses the probability of an extreme natural disaster and the vulnerability of the people affected in term of their response capacity, and also the level of prevention measures in place against future risks.

First the group conducting the study looked at Haiti geographical location. The country is highly vulnerable to hurricane. In addition, as a result of several seismic faults that cross the territory, Haiti is highly vulnerable to earthquake.

Another criterion where Haiti scored poorly in the study was hunger. Haiti was among the top seven countries most exposed to the problem of hunger. In that list we find: Bangladesh, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Madagascar, Niger, Sierra Leone and Chad.

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Gary Conille explains his role in funds from PetroCaribe

Former Prime Minister Gary Conille who was invited to the Permanent Commitee and Senate Ethics Corruption to explain the management of fund from PetroCaribe under his administration made it clear that he had reservations about the system, procedures and in supporting different types of projects that were chosen.

He completely washed his hands off PetroCaribe funds and from some of the juicy contracts with some Dominican companies as juicy like Pontius Pilate at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus. Garry Conille reminded the committee that he was in charge of the PetroCaribe funds only for a period of four months(from October 17, 2011 to February 24, 2012).

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The site of la Hotte which is located in the Massif o La Hotte in Haiti has been selected by UNESCO as a Biosphere reserve. This decision was made in Peru by UNESCO as they added 20 additional sites to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. This brings the total number of biosphere reserves around the world to 669, scattered in 120 countries.

Haitian Kreyol:

Massif de la Hotte chwazi pa UNESCO kòm Biosphère mete an rezèv

Massif de le Hotte te chwazi pa UNESCO kòm yon rezèv byosfèr. Desizyon sa a te fè nan Perou pa UNESCO pandan ke yo te ajoute 20 sit anplis nan Rezo Mondyal byosfèr Rezèv. Sa a pote kantite total rezèv byosfr atravè mond lan a 669 ki gaye toupatou nan 120 peyi.

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In an address to the Nation on Sunday, March 13, 2016, President Jocelerme Privert described the current condition of the Petrocaribe contract with Venezuela as sick, almost dead. The contract has major problem, according to Privert.

One, We have not paid for the gas we purchased since August, 2015 (more than six months ago). As a result, the Haitian government owed several millions of dollars to Petro caribe.

Two, the Haitian government also owed the companies that received this particular fund from Petrocaribe to do several work projects in the country lots of money. At this time, most of these projects have stopped.

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How many people thought that the problem of gentrification currently faced by the residents of Little Haiti has anything to do with climate change and sea level rise in Miami? Probably, not too many. This is the reality my friend, Little Haiti is a prime land in Miami because it has higher elevation and thus less prone to long-term effect of sea-level-rise. And as a consequence, developers are buying up land in areas such as Little Haiti like crazy. As sea levels continue to rise, investors in Miami are buying up land with higher elevation, often displacing low-income residents

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It has been observed that around 3.6 million people in Haiti are currently struggling to feed themselves. According to the World Food bank, this has been caused by three consecutive years of drought that have affected harvest and raised food prices in Haiti.The water shortage is caused by a weather phenomenon called El Nino. According to observers, the current El Nino has caused widespread crop losses in several countries.

What do you think?

Haitian Kreyol

Ayiti mank

Pwoblèm manje ak grangou an Ayiti vini pi mal pa sechrès ki te koze pa El Niño

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The quality of gasoline used in Haitian cars must be very special. While the price of gasoline around the world has plummeted to its lowest level in 12 years, Haitian drivers continue to pay premium cost for gas. Now, the Haitian government has decided to reduce gasoline cost in Haiti by just a fraction. The Minister of commerce Industry (MCI) and finance announced that starting today, January 13, 2016, the price of gasoline has decreased as follows: price of gasoline at the pump to be reduce by 6 gourdes, while the price for kerosene by 8 gourdes.

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In the past one year, Sargassum, a type of brown invasive alga that got its name from its huge floating masses in the Sargasso Sea, is choking off the Caribbean's beaches. Its massive tide is affecting some communities in Haiti, as well, especially at St Jean du South, St Louis du South, Côtes de fer, Les Cayes, Jacmel, Cayes Jacmel, and Marigot. Surrounding waters of these areas are exposed to the risks of invasion and pollution of this brown, dead seaweed. Thick piles of Sargassum release hydrogen sulfide gas, which has an odor similar to rotten eggs. If this hazardous gas is inhaled over a longer period, it may cause headache, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, irritation of the eyes, throat, ears, etc. Some countries in the Caribbean like the Dominican Republic in the north, Mexico's Caribbean resorts to the west and Barbados in the east have initiated emergency money to fund to clear the stinking mounds of Sargassum blocking the beaches (in some cases upto 10 ft high) and the moored boats. If no immediate action is taken, it would be a definite cause of coastal pollution, losses in fishing and tourist revenue.

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