A small item that could be a sign of improvement and community effort, mostly unnoticed on the Corbett list, were the birth of stop lights; the first baby step in nation building and sign that anarchy may be on the wane.
Just a few short years ago, before the earthquake, stop lights appeared. At first they didn't work and when they did most people viewed them as more of a nuisance, or a suggestion, than a law. But today they are working. People stop and go pretty much as they do every where else in the world. A civil accomplishment.
In Haiti, where there is very little power, water, sanitation, health, security or any other vestige of community effort, the lights are more than just a means to improve the flow of traffic: they are beacons of hope.
Earthquakes, hurricanes and disease have cut through all socio-economic levels and tens of thousands of people live on the street, but the lights blink on and people's lives are just a little better. Can sewer and water be long delayed now for people who have mastered traffic lights?
My Repsonse:
I have never responded to any of the emails that come through this list, but I feel compelled to respond to a statement in this posting by John.
The statement that caught my eye was this: " Haiti, where there is very little power, water, sanitation, health,
security<span> or any other vestige of community effort</span>, the lights are more than
just a means to improve the flow of traffic: they are beacons of hope."
Let me assure you that there are many other "beacons of hope" and "vestige of community effort".
If one would like to see real community effort, one only has to visit the camps of Canaan - Canaan 3 in particular. Here you will see community effort in high definition!
Unfortunately the "outside world" does not get to see these types of efforts because these communities do not have a Sean Penn or Wycliffe Jean in the spotlight for them. These community groups have made the same types of strides in organizing and running these camps/new communities - but with one huge difference: they have NO FUNDING.
Just because the high profile people get all the attention does not mean that there are not other "little people" doing things just as large in the lives of those all around them!
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| Some of the Canaan 3 Committee Members and Some Members of the Recent Mission Lazarus Medical Team |
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| The Canaan Community wants to turn this buidling into a Children's Home |
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| Front View of Possible Canaan Children's Home |
