Final Thoughts

Being very new to me, I initially thought that blogging would be a rather painful and boring process. However, much to my amazement this was not generally the case. I often found myself very immersed in my blog writing; this is particularly shocking since I prefer more formal styles of writing.

As is noticeable in my first couple of blog entries, I tried to model my weekly posts as if they were essays. I usually wrote more formally and usually did not add pictures, links or other interactive aspects. Nevertheless, because I feared my grades would drop in the blog I started including pictures and links to my posts. Ironically, I ended up actually enjoying this part. In fact, in some of my posts I even added my own pictures, so as to give a personal character to it. For example, I recall posting a picture of me playing percussion, which I used to illustrate how I can have a positive influence on other people through my art. Additionally, I later added a picture of a perplexed me, in order to show my state of confusion at the time of writing that particular post.

Despite the epiphany which I have so far described while writing my blog, there have been some moments of frustration. I must say certain posts felt endless and pointless. For example, blog #2 was very boring for me. We had to make a list of green things we already did. To be honest, I felt like I was in elementary school once again. Sort like writing that “what you did over the summer” thing we used to do after returning to elementary school in September.

Overall, I think blogging was very effective; it not only works for a writing intensive course, but it also makes the task of writing weekly assignments much more easily and comfortably. In a way blogging allows for more freedom and personality.

Meeting the deadlines was not a problem at all, because we were not restricted to a specifc hour or class. Instead, all we had to do was submit the writing before a certain time. And that, it think, worked amazingly.

Nevertheless, this freedom of expression can either work very well or not well at all. You might get some students who enjoy writing this type of stuff, yet others because of its apparent freedom undermine the writing.

I think there is a possibility that I might continue blogging. Maybe not in the near future though.

The Green Book

After reading the Green Book I must say that some these steps are simple, but nevertheless incredibly hard to commit to. It is so convenient and comfortable to simply leave the water running while brushing our teeth that most of us would not close it even considering its simplicity. Thus, I think part of the problem is that parents are not raising their kids appropriately. We need to start instilling good habits in the youth, especially here in the United Sates, where resources are so readily available. For instance, I see the carelessness that my brother has for everything that surrounds him. In part I blame my parents for the situation. But I also think that because my older sister and I grew up in a different country where water and electricity are not taken for granted; we have a different outlook on wastefulness.

While reading the foreword of The Green Book, I almost immediately related to William McDonough. He mentioned how during his childhood in Hong Kong his family only got water access every four days. The same was the case for me while growing up in the Dominican Republic. Not only did we not get water all the time but we did not have electricity all the time. As was also true for McDonough we had to learn how to save water and in my case how to not rely so heavily on electricity.

But, my brother did not grow up in the Dominican Republic and did not experience bathing with a bucket of water; he does not know what 8 hours of electricity a day feels like. In fact I don’t even think he can envision being away from his computer for eight hours. Here is the problem with America. Because in the United States you can get things relatively easy, Americans fail to see that they get all these privileges at the expense of other countries.

Anyhow, here are my steps in order of difficulty:

Closing the faucet while brushing my teeth: I think this is something I can do relatively easily since I did it very much while growing up in the Dominican Republic.
Using high Speed Internet: This is also an easy thing to do. But does anybody actually still use dial-up?

Closing faucet while shaving: Well this one is a little trickier because it is just way to comfortable to leave it running. I know this might seem particularly odd since I do it while brushing my teeth. I do not know why it is so difficult for me to even remember to close the faucet while shaving.

Reusing plastic bags: This could vary in difficulty depending on the circumstances. I find it very hard to actually carry used bags for the supermarket or for shopping for anything else. However, in my house we do save bags and reuse them for garbage as well as other things.

Using porcelain or glass containers: I simply cannot imagine a world without plastic. For example, it would be very difficult to carry around your lunch in a heavy glass or porcelain container. But, I think the real problem is not that we are using plastic, but that we are not recycling it. Whenever I order food I save the plastic containers and use them to store food in the fridge.

Not Flushing the toilet as much: This I find incredibly hard to do and impractical. It is not particularly pleasant to leave the toilet unflushed. Additionally, I do not see how we can control going to the bathroom. Should we take Pepto-Bismol and limit the amount of liquids we intake? I do not think that is the answer. Maybe this is something we cannot do much about.

Blue ray discs: Well, yes this is easy to do. However, not everyone can afford to buy blue rays. If the prices of these discs were to go down then it would be a possibility.

I want to publicly commit to close the faucet while shaving and to reuse plastic bags. I will also try as much as possible to refuse bags when buying at the grocery store or deli.

Reviewing My Peers

Rhodine

1) Does the draft have a main point (thesis)?

It is not clear to me what her thesis is. However, from what she has what looks most like a thesis to me is: “all these places of a couple of things in common, one they
are all places of low income two they are places that get dumped on.” Perhaps, she is trying to prove that low income neighborhoods are being subject to high levels of pollution. I think this kind of thesis would guide her more towards a report than a research essay.

2) Find an instance of what you consider an interesting or useful example, image, chart, etc. and explain why.

She has only completed part of the paper. Therefore, she has yet to incorporate examples.

3) Find a place in the paper that you consider confusing or boring and explain why.

“Environmental racism is when one particular group, usually people of low income have to take on the burden of caring for another group’s environmental mess.” This part is a bit confusing to me. I don’t think this is the appropriate definition of environmental racism. Instead, she is observing what occurs as a consequence of environmental racism.

4) Does the draft acknowledge where information comes from IN THE BODY OF THE TEXT?

No, citations have not been included yet.

5) If the draft has a fictional "human interest story," discuss whether it is convincing/imaginative/detailed or forced/tedious/general.

Not included.

6) Would you recommend that the writer get some help with grammar before turning in the last draft? Why? Why not?

I do not think she necessarily needs help with grammar. Nevertheless, she does have several grammatical errors, which I think she can correct herself once she proof-reads the paper.

Jocelyn

1) Does the draft have a main point (thesis)?

Well, it is not explicitly stated in the beginning, but it is later developed. If the professor wants a standard form essay then she needs to write it in the intro. However, I do not think is necessary. As it is it works fine because it builds up in intensity. Based on what I read her thesis is something like this: Guarani Indians are strongly connected to the environment and thus, do not feel compelled to join the modern industrial society. Nevertheless, money driven investors have been buying land, which the Guarani do not legally own but have inhabited for hundreds of years, for raising cattle. The consequence of this has been terrible for the Guarani people. Because the Guarani have been dispossessed of their land, many now have sought to abandon their traditional ways and tried to join modern society by obtaining low paying jobs. The Guarani are now ostracized and discriminated against.

2) Find an instance of what you consider an interesting or useful example, image, chart, etc. and explain why.

“Thus, even though the indigenous tribe has occupied an area for decades, they have no claim over it. Land purchases by big corporations and the constant expansion of ranchers have forced them deeper into the forest or onto small plots of land that have already been cleared, and are of no use to anyone. Up to a thousand of them are crammed into these sections, where they can barely sustain themselves with what little crops they do manage to grow. Malnutrition plagues the communities, increasing the child mortality rate; some children barely make it to their fifth birthday. Sadly, even these plots do not provide security to the populations.” It is interesting to me how over and over we see that the wealthy continuously attain wealth by the suppression of the poor majority. The same holds true for my topic. In Haiti, foreign investors, who during the American invasion dispossessed the Haitian peasants, have largely contributed to the destruction of agriculture and horticulture in Haiti.

3) Find a place in the paper that you consider confusing or boring and explain why.

I find that Jocelyn is doing a god job at maintaining the reader’s attention. I do not find anything boring or redundant.

4) Does the draft acknowledge where information comes from IN THE BODY OF THE TEXT?

Generally yes. However I found an instance where I believe she needs a citation: “Ranchers often ravage the villages, shooting their rifles near small children in play areas and raping women who have ventured out of sight of their families. Men who come to the aid of the helpless are beaten relentlessly, or shot point blank.” Since, this information could be a bit controversial and unknown to many, I deem it necessary to insert a citation.

5) If the draft has a fictional "human interest story," discuss whether it is convincing/imaginative/detailed or forced/tedious/general.

Not included.

6) Would you recommend that the writer get some help with grammar before turning in the last draft? Why? Why not?

No, her grammar is impeccable. I also like her style; it flows masterfully.

Progress

As I continue to write my paper my frustration just keeps on increasing. I feel completely powerless. Without exaggeration, Haiti is at the brink of destruction. Haiti is the epitome of an ecologically, politically, socially and economically collapsed state. Without significant international intervention Haiti is hopeless.

I feel powerless, but at the same time ashamed; ashamed, because I live in a country that has been responsible for many atrocities in the world including in my native country. As a research more and more about the situation in Haiti, I continue to discover that the United States has in large been responsible for the demise of Haiti.

Until this day the United States continues to try to impose their ways on other people in order to better benefit from them. The cyclone in Myanmar has been cataclysmic for humans, yet the Bush administration seems to think the problem is not worthy or in need of help. With deaths surmounting the hundred thousands, Bush had the audacity to demand certain preconditions before any aid would be given to the devastated country. Human lives are apparently of not much importance to Bush. How can the United States have a political agenda in a time when people have died and are continuing to die?

I am outrage by American foreign policy.

Sorry for rambling on about things unrelated to my paper, but I feel compelled to express my feelings.

Anyhow, so far my paper is going fine. However, I have still not been able to find much information about actual deforestation in Haiti. Things that I have found merely state that the use of wood as fuel has been primarily the cause for deforestation in Haiti. Thus, I need to continue researching about this stuff.

Additionally, I am now working on diversifying the sources of my paper. I figured I need to give my paper more validity by using several sources as proof. But finding sources and using these sources is very time consuming. I have spent most of the time reading books and articles rather than writing. I have about 7 articles and 3 books, which I have been using to write my paper.

Nevertheless, despite all the holes in my paper as of now, I feel good about the 9 pages that I have written so far.

Research Paper Progress

As I wrote before, my topic regards Haiti. More specifically I am going to focus on the problem of deforestation in Haiti.

It seems like the problem in the western part of the Caribbean island is now almost irreversible. With 98% of the land deforested, Haiti now represents hopelessness at its best.

Many people believe and argue that the Haitian problem is due to internal conflicts and political corruption. Nevertheless, the problem goes beyond that. Haiti since its beginning has represented everything that opposes the aristocratic west. Not only is it a predominantly black republic but also the first country to really declare every citizen free. As opposed to the American revolution which only offered “natural human rights” and “the pursuit of happiness” to white wealthy males, the Haitian revolution freed the enslaved Africans and even welcomed and admitted other blacks and Native Americans as free human beings once in the republic.

Thus, since its independence in January of 1804, Haiti threatened the American way of life. At the time of the Haitian revolution the American economy largely subsisted on the slave labor of African Americans. For this reason, the United States did not recognize the Haitian Republic until 1862.

It is important to note that this pattern of declaring the opposition illegitimate is a distinctive American method of maintaining power. Anything that opposes American ways is then declared undemocratic and savage. The same could be argued for countries like Cuba. Because Cuba threatened American “freedom and democracy” an embargo was raised and Cuba became stigmatized as a backward country that represses human freedom.

How then has the United States influenced the Haitian catastrophe?

Beginning with the invasion of Haiti in 1915 by the Wilson administration, Haiti entered an economic downshift that till this day continues to thrive. The Wilson administration proposed that Haiti become essentially an American Plantation. The proposal was greatly opposed in Haiti and could not be established.

The Wilson administration then proceeded to impose measures of agro-importation. Haitians were then forced to buy from the American companies. According to the American administration this measure aimed to provide more affordable food for the very poor.

Nevertheless, this caused a disparity between the rich few and the poor majority, and the inability for agricultural self-sufficiency. American companies then benefited from the Haitian people while the Haitian peasants could not compete with the American companies. While the Haitian peasants are extremely productive, they cannot compete with the industrialized companies of the United States.

Population growth together with an underdevelopment of infrastructure rapidly caused the degradation of the environment in Haiti. Because of the policies of the American government towards Haiti during the invasion of !915-1934, Haiti could not develop a fuel infrastructure for cooking. As insignificant as this might seem, this has been the major contributor to the environmental disaster. Most Haitians use wood as their only source of fuel for cooking. And over the years this has amounted to more and more deforestation. To this day Haiti cannot afford to bring other sources of fuel for the people.

Thus, the environmental crisis in Haiti has been a consequence of multiple U.S invasions and policies, which have hindered the ability for Haiti to develop alternative methods of fuel. In turn, the Haitian people completely subsist on wood for cooking.

As more evidence for this paper I will also look into the History of the ex-president Aristede. After Aristede made efforts to increase the Haitian minimum wage and establish measures of self-sufficiency the Bush senior administration sponsored military groups responsible for the overthrow of Jean-Bertrand Aristide. It s important to note that Aristede is considered to be the first democratically elected president in Haiti. After the coup, the OAS (organization of American States) decided to impose an embargo on Haiti. The United States violated the embargo allegedly in the interest of the people. Clearly, America wanted to continue to benefit from the exploitation of Haitians. America has never been interested in democratizing the Republic of Haiti.

Furthermore, when in 1994 the Clinton administration supposedly helped reinstate the democratically elected government, they did under the condition that Aristede, again rely on importation of American produce. This measure of course benefited the American Agri-business.

Over and over we see that the United States has imposed policies on Haiti, which simple benefit the American companies and the very rich few. This is largely the reason for which Haiti has not developed the economical means to provide its people with alternative fuel sources or even electricity. In turn this has caused the virtual disappearance of forests in Haiti.

I know that right now my argument is a bit unclear and unsupported. Nevertheless, this was a brainstorm so as to get me started. Now that I’ve put my main ideas on writing I can go back to some of the sources I have read and look for supporting information. Moreover, I now realize that I need additional sources about the environmental problem in Haiti; I have many sources about American policies towards Haiti but not enough about the environmental problem in Haiti.

I am writing this paper because I find it troublesome that though the United States is considered by many the land of the free and the exemplary representation of democracy, the American elite continues the autocratic and oppressive patterns present before the democratic revolutions. It is quite paradoxical that a nation built on the ideas of respect for human rights and democracy, continues the colonialist legacy of exploitation.

In writing this paper I hope to reach all those who care about the existence of all people, and about respect for human rights and freedom. I hope that this paper can become an eye opener. We continue to see that our government is still an oligarchy, ruled by the very small wealthy class who pursue egotistical and self-centered endeavors.

List of Sources additional to the three in the previous posting:

• The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer (book)

• Hegemony or Survival: America’s quest for global dominance by Noam Chomsky (book)

• Haiti Profile from the U.S Department of State

• “Haiti: Hope for the Future” by Robert M. Pedrito (article)

• “The Haiti Dilemma” by Daniel Erikson (article)

Haiti: An Environmental Disaster

It came to me that in writing a paper I should choose something of much relevance to me and to all people as well. Thus, I decided to focus on issues of my native island, Hispaniola as they now call it or better Ayti-Quisqueya, the Native American name. But, more specifically I will focus on the Republic of Haiti, as this country is the epitome of a man made environmental disaster.

Haiti is now only 2% forest land compared to 60% in 1923. This disaster is a direct consequence of human exploitation of the land. Most Haitians rely on wood for subsistence, and this in turn caused an almost complete deforestation of the land. Now, this case is rather different than most scenarios of environmental depletion where big corporations are responsible for the disasters. Instead, the poor people, which constitute over 90% of the population of Haiti are responsible for the problem.

Nevertheless, this is a mere superficial understanding of the situation. Through my research paper I will seek to prove that this is a consequence of racist foreign policies, especially American policies, that have driven the Haitian peasant to completely subsist on wood because of such drastic poverty levels. The American government claims to have intervened in Iraq because people were subject to many human rights violations, yet neighboring countries such as Haiti have remained virtually ignored despite obvious violations of human rights.

I know my topic is rather controversial and difficult to support; nevertheless, I think it is an important point to prove. Not only does this thesis convey what exploitation of the land can do to entire countries, continents and eventually the world, but also that ecological destruction is a political issue as well.

I intend to write this paper for American people who care about helping others and themselves as well. I contend that a lot of the problems of the world, especially those in countries in the Americas, have been caused to large degree by the United States and the American powerful corporations that exploit the resources and the people of other countries.

Sites I will use:

Hartford-Hwp: This site provides general environmental background of Haiti. Moreover, it has records of different economic policies throughout Haiti’s history.

Haiti Innovation: This site is very thorough. It contains the latest news about Haiti and its economy. Although, I believe this is a blog, it does have lots of information that will at least get me started in the process of writing my paper.

Zmag: This is not a website but an article I find to be veryrelevant to my topic. This article was written by Noam Chomsky and though I know I probably will not use this as a source per se, it is a great starting point.

Reflection

Before taking the LIB 200 course I was oblivious to the environment to say the least. Yes, I did hear all the time that Global Warming was affecting us and that soon the world would end. Nevertheless, these claims just seemed like exaggerated presumptions. I often regarded such assertions as mere conspiracy theories.

Nevertheless, we live in a world that entirely consumes and suppresses our feelings and ability to reason. Why would I think about the environment if I am struggling just to live my daily life? The increasing complexity and time consuming nature of our society has stripped us from the ability to take care of an essential part of our existence; our collective home that is.

On this, I would have to agree with Al Gore. We are completely disconnected from the environment. In fact, many of us even hate interacting with it. “Why would I wanna go out and hang out, when I could just talk to my friends through myspace”? asserted my brother. How about a nice park? I said. To which he replied:

“for what, to sit on the grass and get itchy.”

It seems to me that we are trapped in the world of “manufactured information” as Gore says. We are failing to see that we engaging in patterns of self-destruction. Just today I read an article in the New York Times, that talks about an American Government high school book that downplays the relationship between green house gasses and global warming. The books claims that there is little evidence linking global warming to green house gasses. The authors go on to say that though coastal areas will suffer because of a sea-level rise, the world will also benefit from a warmer temperature because of better production rates of crops.

Note that this is an American Government textbook.

Is there then a political Agenda for ignoring Global Warming? Perhaps there is, but I would even say that it is more than simply a political agenda. It is a mechanism of maintaining the status quo. Gore says that we were able to overcome segregation and discrimination after the civil rights movement, but is this really the case?

Why is there still a correlation between being a minority and having a low level of education? Why are minority communities subject to the highest levels of pollution? Why are illnesses connected to pollution, ever-present among minority communities?

Simple: we are still dealing with the same problems we were 50 years ago.

The history of humanity has unfortunately been one where the few who hold power and wealth do whatever it takes to maintain their status. We have never been moral beings concerned about others and the environment. Here I fundamentally disagree with Al Gore.

The solution to the problem is not to reestablish a sense of morality that we once had. I contend that has never been the case. We have essentially always generally been egocentric beings. I propose a more practical solution:

pragmatism.

We need to realize that we are facing a fast developing problem. We need practical solutions that will generate fast results. Otherwise we will cease to exist. And though, Gore’s solution is noble, taking that route would simply take to long if not an eternity.

But going back to the issue of race and the environment, as minorities we have to quickly seek to resolve the problems. The fact is, minorities are the ones experiencing the effects of pollution first hand. Do you think George Bush thinks about Global Warming while smoking his Cuban cigars (isn’t this ironic) in his multi-million dollar estate?

That is why I agree with Terry Cole when he says that we have duty to fulfill with the environment; an obligation.

So, have I learned anything from this class?

I must say I have. I try to be as aware as possible. I evaluate my actions and try to maintain a purpose to my daily life. It’s been a shock. I remember watching the An Inconvenient Truth film. I realized the seriousness of this problem at that point. My brain is now filled with incessant worries and I still don’t know whether we will make it or not.

But it truly is hard, to completely change your lifestyle, the lifestyle that has been inculcated in you since childhood. I find myself struggling with this. Yet, as I browsed through other people’s blogs I realized that others are struggling with the same thing.

I hope the knowledge I have gained in this class will take me in a long journey, a journey of survival.