Evacuation Helicopter
The Disruption Caused by
POLITICAL UNREST
With Venezuelan oil cut off, rising oil prices and economic deterioration have been issues in Haiti for months. In September and November the country experienced various troublesome “manifestations” (street demonstrations).
During the last month, political turmoil escalated to include demands for the President’s resignation which created a worrisome situation. The US Embassy raised the travel advisory to Level 4: Do Not Travel To Haiti due to crime and civil unrest.
In Leogane, all roads were closed for ten days, blocked by makeshift barriers of branches, rubble, and burning tires. People stayed inside and normal commerce ceased. The road up the mountain to CODEP was blocked, and there was concern that food supplies were getting low. Michael Anello organized a helicopter to evacuate a dozen Americans who were visiting a nearby reforestation non-profit. He, however, chose to stay, believing correctly that many people “have his back” and that it is important to weather these events with our CODEP friends.
In the middle of this, Edvy Durandice, one of CODEP’s senior leaders, was hoping to return from a trip to the US for medical treatment. It was uncertain that he could make his way from the Port-au-Prince airport to CODEP. It was lucky that just before he arrived, the government dispatched earth moving equipment along the roads literally pushing the barricades off to the sides. Edvy was able to get home.
Roads are more open now but the situation continues to be tense. None of the fundamental problems has been resolved. It is a time of limbo. We are continuing our plans for the 30th Anniversary celebration at the CODEP Depot in May. But, we are watching and assessing.
Board Member, Bill Piatt, samples ingredients for new CODEP product: peanut butter
The Disruption Caused by
PLANTING TREES
Reforestation is the best kind of disruption!
For 30 years our Haitian partners of CODEP have been planting and nurturing trees. Millions of them. With our partnership support, CODEP has also been planting and nurturing improvements of another kind: 42 seedling nurseries, a micro-financing organization, school, guest house, incentive houses, depot (aka marketplace), church, and small economic ventures. Life looks very different three decades later.
This is disruption at its best — shaking things up and spilling out new possibilities, incentives, ideas, and connections. CODEP matters and Haiti Reforestation Partnership matters. The former is on the ground in Haiti — doing the daily work of environmental and economic restoration; the latter is on the ground in the US — sending financial support, advising, inviting new partners, building awareness, fundraising, and communicating.
We hope and trust that Disruption-Through-Reforestation will be the favored form of disruption going forward in Haiti.
“Michael Anello has been in regular touch with me and recently expressed his great appreciation for the notes, emails, and support he has received from a number of you. Thank you for extending your thoughts and best wishes to him during this time of unrest and tension.”
— Martha Johnson, Board Chair
