Haiti's disaster is appalling. However, Port-au-Prince will be rebuilt in one way or another. Wouldn't it be great if Haiti's disaster were taken as a chance to rebuild the country as a green economy, an example to the world of how people could live well and sustainably?
It will be rebuilt, but how? The way it was? Why not do it right? Cuba went organic by necessity when cut off from trade and Soviet subsidies, and has shown that an island can feed itself. Haiti could be the second example, and sorely needs to be self-sufficient.
What if a coalition formed to bring community gardens, green, affordable housing and other buildings, and build local expertise so Haiti's future becomes one of vibrant sustainability? This is an opportunity for a Green Shock Doctrine to change the course of a nation, and by example, help change the world.
Imagine community gardens (ideally permaculture) feeding the people. Organic intensive gardening can be highly productive (one example of many).
It's a worldwide effort. Just one item, per Wikipedia
Dr. Doshi’s innovative techniques on farming:
Dr. Doshi’s city garden methods are revolutionary for being appropriate to apply in reduced spaces as terraces and balconies, even on civil construction walls, and for not requiring big investments in capital or long hours of work. His farming practice is purely organic and is mainly directed to domestic consumption. His gardening tools are composed of materials available in the local environment: sugarcane waste, polyethylene bags, tires, containers and cylinders, and soil. (snip)The concept of city farming developed by Dr. Doshi consumes the entire household’s organic waste. He subsequently makes the household self-sufficient in the provision of food: 5 kg of fruits and vegetables are produced daily for 300 days a year.
What if Haiti became a test case for how food production could be scaled up in a non-chemical way? Jobs plus food, something Haiti has been very short of.
Solar lighting and hot water are obvious - how to make them affordable? Lots of room for innovative design.
What about housing of renewable materials (bamboo grows there, or would if cultivated, someone mentioned), or of recycled (upcycled) shipping containers.
A lot of work has been done on converting shipping containers to cool dwellings and commercial structures.
Shipping containers are piling up in enormous yards, with little to do with them. They're a resource looking for a use. Supporting governments could offer great tax deductions for donations by shippers. Then there's the opportunity to create a local retrofitting and installation construction industry - a green building industry providing jobs and skills.
The tops of containers would easily support the weight of gardens and shade/cool the structures at the same time. The sides can support hanging/climbing plants and likewise shade and cool the structures Containers are also hurricane-proof and earthquake-proof if anchored.
It's a disaster, but the potential is that the ground is cleared for something better. With the status quo on its butt, what about a green shock doctrine? What would a creative, experimental, open-ended approach produce?
Lots of room here for innovative design at all levels. I would love to see a "Green Haiti" project. It could have global effects as being a model of the new to compare to the old.
What do you think? If it could happen, how could it happen? These are a few ideas off the top of my head. What else could be included to create a sustainable culture on Haiti, and what problems would there be? Care to explore the idea?
Update: Here's a post from Tom Atlee of the Co-intelligence Institute with a large amount of background on how Haiti got to be the way it is, with many links.
Particularly relevant to this diary is this one about a nascent Permaculture Relief Corps forming, with people already on the ground in Haiti. That might be a good vehicle to carry this idea forward if you want to take a next step with donations or more active participation, or connect up other groups.
And thanks for the Rescue, Rangers, and the words of welcome below.