By Dady Chery, News Junkie Post | Haiti Chery. How does one drag a people with a sense of enough into the capitalist enterprise? In Haiti, this process is exposed in all its hideousness as it happens in real time.
By Dady Chery, News Junkie Post | Haiti Chery. The Haitian impression of being in the center of a world vortex could not be truer when it comes to climate change. As a result of carbon (mostly carbon dioxide and methane) emissions due burning of fossil fuels by industrialized countries, global sea levels have risen one inch over the last decade alone.
By Staff, Save Jeju Now | YouTube. A South Korean naval-base project for U.S. “missile defense” warships on Jeju Island is threatening to destroy one of Earth’s last great soft coral reefs, numerous endangered species, and centuries-old sustainable communities. The leadership of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress (WCC) taking place near Jeju has refused to criticize the naval base or grant the villagers access to an information display booth. In addition, WCC speaker Imok Cha, who supports the conservation of Jeju, was denied entry into Korea. (Videos)
We Must Kill the Bandits: Kevin Pina Documentary on MINUSTAH, Reviewed By Dady Chery
Kevin Pina, video | Dady Chery, review, Haiti Chery. This documentary video is the definitive account of Haiti’s most recent anti-imperialist revolt. The video covers the actions of Fanmi Lavalas supporters, the Multinational Interim Force (MIF) with the U.S., Canada and France, and the so-called United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) during the year after Aristide’s removal. (English text, Video in English | Portuguese).
By Kim-Jenna Jurriaans, IPS | UPDATE from Haiti Chery. The United Nations is increasingly hiring Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs) for its missions across the world, raising concerns over the use of firms known for participation in human rights abuses, as well as an overall lack of accountability structures governing these contractors within the U.N. system. UPDATE 1: DynCorp boasts of having trained 400 “Haitian police” and is awarded a $48.6 million contract to insert 100 contractors and 10 advisors into the “UN police force” in Haiti.
By Staff, RT. Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement ACTA received a knockout blow from the European Parliament as MEPs voted overwhelmingly against it, with 478 votes against and only 39 in favor. There were 146 abstentions.
By Georgi Gotev, EurActiv. A European Parliament Committee rejected the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) on June 21st despite pro-business lobbying by Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht, who insisted that Parliament should not decide before the European Court of Justice gives its opinion. A final vote in the full Parliament is expected on July 4th.
Top Five Reasons Why Caracol Industrial Park is Disastrous for Haiti
By Dady Chery, Haiti Chery. The Caracol Bay area was slated to be a World Heritage site and park because of its breathtaking barrier reef, mangroves, and migratory birds. The area is also the site of several major archaeological finds, including Guacanagaric, one of the largest and most complete Taino Indian villages. Instead, the area has been converted into the massive Caracol Industrial Park (or Caracol Free-Trade zone, FTZ) that is expected to pollute the Trou du Nord River and the bay and get served by a deep-water port.
PRESS RELEASE, UN via RadioTV Caraibes | Translation by Dady Chery, Haiti Chery. The heads of the UN peacekeeping missions forces in the Congo (MONUSCO), Haiti (MINUSTAH) and South Sudan (MISNUSS) said today to keep in mind that these operations have broad mandates: from classical peacekeeping to conflict mitigation, and even the fight against cholera. (English | French)
Press Release, La Quadrature du Net. The “International Trade” (INTA) committee of the EU Parliament will adopt its draft report on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), on Thursday June 21. Under pressure from the EU Commission and industry lobbyists, members of the committee could decide, potentially in a secret vote, to call for the adoption of ACTA or postponement of the final vote for years. Citizens participation is crucial to ensure the Parliament follows the general interest and votes a clear rejection of ACTA.
By Staff (sgl/emw/mgt/jrr) Prensa Latina | Editorial comment by Dady Chery, Haiti Chery. At a meeting of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), Member countries discussed a timetable for South America’s gradual military withdrawal from MINUSTAH. But the withdrawal plan so far looks more like one for a gradual replacement of Latin American troops with Asian and African troops.
By Staff, AFP via AsiaOne | Editorial comment by Dady Chery, Haiti Chery. Bangladeshi soldiers serving as UN “peacekeepers” have sent home nearly US $1.24 billion during the past three years. In 2010 Bangladesh sent its first female MINUSTAH contingent — a group of 110 — to Haiti to support the military occupation that followed a US-France-Canada coup against democratically elected president Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
The Rush to Haiti’s North
By Roberson Alphonse, Le Nouvelliste | Translation and editorial comment by Dady Chery, Haiti Chery. According to Dieuseul Anglade, director of the Office of Mines and Energy in Haiti (Bureau des Mines et de l’Energie, BME), the outlook is encouraging, and during the negotiations for exploitation, the Haitian state will keep close watch to ensure that the citizens of Haiti benefit from the country’s mineral wealth. Meanwhile, the region’s mayors have been dismissed, depriving the citizens of a voice in their local government, and land prices have skyrocketed. (English | French)
Poor Little Rich Haiti to Be Fleeced of Copper-Silver-Gold Via Caracol Deep-Water Port
By Dady Chery, Haiti Chery. Plans are under way for Canadian and US corporations to mine Haiti’s northeast area near Caracol, which has been discovered to contain a wealth of silver and gold, in addition to copper. As in the Dominican Republic’s Pueblo Viejo project, construction of the mines will involve dynamiting of mountains, and the ore will be extracted by an opencast (or open-pit) mining process that contaminates large volumes of water with cyanide. In addition a deep-water port is slated for construction in Caracol. UPDATES: May 7 (Le Matin) Martelly formally announces construction of a “modern port” in Fort Liberte, near Caracol. December 21/28 (AP/VCS Mining) Haiti Mining Director Ludner Remarais issues mining permits to the US’ VCS Mining LLC and Canada’s SOMINE SA, without any environmental impact assessment (EIA).