A Better, Stronger Haiti: Seven Ways to Make the Recovery Efforts Last

[Matariki]

Great suggestions for long term help for Haiti - including links to organizations.

1. Help build Haiti's economy: while donations are crucial for emergency relief work, they do not lend much to sustainable economic development. Look for fair trade products from Haiti and support local artisans: art made from recycled oil drums, for example, or recycled banana leaves, or other kinds of housewares and crafts. In Haiti, like everywhere else, when you dig a little, you find endless and awe-inspiring sources of innovation. If people are able to grow their market a little, they can sell more and more wares from recycled "junk"—and who knows what else.

2. Microfinance: Fonkoze is Haiti's "Alternative Bank for the Organized Poor." Like microfinance elsewhere, this institution has found one of the most reliable ways to self-sustainably develop local economies.

3. Help reforest Haiti: support various tree-planting efforts in the country. Operation Green Leaves, and Trees for the Future are two places to start.

More - with live links: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/work-connect/stronger-haiti-recovery-efforts.html?campaign=daylife-article

[LeftishBrit]

1. k&r

[independentpiney]

2. How about France repay the money they extorted from Haiti

with US and British support? I think it's around 21 billion francs in modern currency.

[Matariki]

3. In addition to planting trees...

6. Help bring renewable energy to places that have had no electricity at all: the Solar Electric Light Fund has teamed up with Partners in Health and has been working to bring solar power to health centers around Haiti. Help them go even farther.

7. Help provide clean water: it was already a scarce resource in Haiti, but improving water sanitation will become an even higher priority because of the damage to infrastructure and water supplies caused by the earthquake. charity:water had just gotten started on a project in Haiti, and will continue to do much-needed work bringing clean water to people who need it. For now, they are encouraging donations to their partners in Haiti, Partners in Health (truly one of the best organizations around) and Concern Worldwide, but keep charity:water on your radar for the long-term.

links at post: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/work-connect/stronger-haiti-recovery-efforts.html