Submitted by Jeff P. on January 26, 2010 - 8:41am.
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By now I am sure you are aware of the horrible situation in Haiti. Here is a video that explains the true historical narrative of Haiti. This crisis in Haiti did not start two weeks ago. Opportunities to help the Haitian crisis, have been abundant for over a decade. Please watch this five minute video which explains why sympathy is not needed. Instead, a show solidarity with these folks that we understand the US (and Canadian - Harper wasted no time to take advantage of this opportunity) government's previous and continued imperialist influence.
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"It wasn't the devil that hurt Haiti; It was Thomas Jefferson"
"It wasn't the devil that hurt Haiti; It was Thomas Jefferson"
http://www.theroot.com/views/curse-haiti?page=0,0
Henry Louis Gates Jr. | Posted: January 25, 2010 at 10:39 AM -The Root-
This is a comprehensive article which contextualizes the Haitian narrative. It is ripe with revolution, faith and resistance. The Louisiana purchase is further explained.
It's a rewarding read.
"A Legacy of Oppression in Haiti"
Here is another article explaining the history of revolution in Haiti - thus explaining the main contributing factor of the people's dismal living conditions for the past century.
Are humanitarian support efforts engaging in a strategy of liberation and autonomous economic, social and political development? Or, are they/we, as observers and actors of this terrible natural and human made disaster, unknowingly involved in salvaging/rebuilding a systemic mode of exploitation and domination?
A Legacy of Oppression in Haiti
Lynn Holland
POSTED: 01/24/2010 01:00:00 AM MST
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_14247765
"Today, as the country struggles to recover from disaster, we must ask where recovery will take this country. Who will lead and what will the priorities be? Will elites continue to be favored over the 80 percent living in abject poverty? Or can humanitarians support a strategy where health care, education and a decent standard of living for all can be envisioned? In the midst of this great tragedy, it is up to those who care about Haiti to support a recovery process that can lead to a genuinely democratic system. In the absence of that support, only the most powerful interests will prevail - again."
"A Future for Agriculture, A Future for Haiti"
This article is a well articulated response from the people of Haiti, as captured by author Beverly Bell, to the ongoing political, economic and environmental strife which has besieged their domestic population. Can liberation be found from the toils of Neo-liberalism? Of course it can - through food!
Land reform.Those who work the land need secure tenure. Otherwise they
willcontinue tobe unable to support themselves on what Haitians call ‘a
handkerchief of land,'plots sometimes no larger than15' x 15'. Land
reform must be not justa one-time hand-off, which wouldquickly revert to
its previous concentration as strugglingfarmers are forced
toselltheirsmallgardens, but a change intenure laws accompanied
bytechnical support.SylvainHenrilus ofTèt Kole says, "The land reform we
need is not what Préval did in his first term,which was to just divide a
bit of land into very small plots without any support,but wherethose
who work the land have the right to that land with all the
infrastructure and means-notjust to adequately feed thepeople but to
export as we used to do, to have our sovereignty in all dimensions."
It is not so difficult to find solidarity with the people in Haiti, in that, the majority of youth here, in and around London Ontario, would benefit from land reform practices. What hope do young folks have in securing land for the production of local, small scale agriculture? Obviously, youth are more fortunate here to have access to far greater resources than the folks in Haiti - however, so few of such supports are designed to address the lack of access to land. We are landless together - locally, provincially, nationally and globally.
Community Garden Plots
While the previous reply was referring to a larger narrative than small plots of public land in the city - this posting, in addition to a friend I recently spent time with, reminded me of the simple and short story of the community garden plot.
How great it must be for some, to live in a city where access to much needed community garden plots, are seemingly reserved for those with beautiful lawns at home.
Re: Community Garden plots
I'm not sure what you're getting at with that community garden comment, but the plots aren't reserved for anyone. Anyone who wants a plot can get one, except that there are waiting lists in most because the demand is higher than the supply and it is so difficult to get new gardens opened. 40% of the gardeners in the LCRC plots have a household income of less than $15000/year, and that number is higher in many gardens. The plots are geared to income, and the LCRC even arranges to have plants donated to each community garden by local greenhouses. Almost 60% of the people renting plots last year were living in apartments. In our community garden last year, three plots were growing food for the foodbank as well, and we had plots rented by several other community groups.
While the city's overall attitude to community gardens (communities resisting them because they will attract "undesirables") needs to change so that the demand is better met, saying that community garden plots are reserved for people with lawns is unfair.
I am happy to hear they are moving in the right direction!
This is great news. The last time I checked, community garden plots were dominated by middle income earners who literally have full front and back yards they could be using. Do you think there is still a need to target working poor neighborhoods? - that is, the development of programs where success and failure is measured by very different standards than the number of folks involved.
For example: If there was a plot in SOHO (Meredith Garden for example) where only folks who live in SOHO may have access (even if the plots are not filled up throughout the year), and where the situation occurs where only 10% of the folks who signed up in the beginning of the season are left using the space in the end, will this terminate their SOHO membership to the garden the next year? In other words, will those same members who were not able to continue the work on their plot, for many poverty related reasons, have priority access (over anyone who does not live in their community) to them the next year? How much control does that localized neighborhood/community have over the plots? In addition, what if that 10% are dedicated to the idea, so much so, that they would like to plant perennial varieties or winter crops? Is this possible at this point (it wasn't the last time I checked)? This limitation, if it still exists, indicates who the plots are designed to serve (at least in part) - Are they designed to serve those who are using them to subsidize their diets as well as communicate with their neighbors in addition to raise autonomous self reliance and interpersonal skill sharing (a subsistance agricultural approach - located within walking distance of where they live) - or, rather, are they being used primarily as a social status indicator - where the educated lefties gather? Parking lots required and all. That is quite the binary, I know.
I guess what I am saying is this: it takes a different type of access to a resource, like a community garden, in order for many working poor folks to utilize such - and therein, develop the culture to sustain it - on their own. If this is the case, than the model has really come a long way! And I honestly do say Hurray to that!
In closing, I love community gardens. They are wonderful resources that should expand far faster than the current city budget has alloted for (hence the reason for now accessing the private sector - Will people apply to LCRC for these new plots or will it be directly to 3M, or TD Canada Trust?).
Also, It is important to mention that folks who have spent so much time and energy organizing them should get credit for their hard work! The many people who have enjoyed our community garden plots thank you!
However, as you can tell, I do feel there continues to be room for critique.
Aid efforts criticised
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/03/07/haiti-aid-efforts.html
Quick link for Jeff before bed.
-30-
Written under duress by Mike McGregor
-=There is no Cabal, Long live the Cabal=-
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community gardening and class
I don't think community gardens in London have ever been dominated by middle class folks with large front and backyards. I think, out of the 500 plus community gardeners in London you will find that most have little access to other land for gardening and most are lower-income. In fact, many people come to community gardening because they want organic produce but can not afford to buy it from stores. The fact that you might run into people who community garden who fall into the category you described, might show simply the people you are mainly interacting with. I have started particiating in community gardening children's programs in the East end and, trust me, the gardeners do not generally fit your description. They are a very diverse groups, coming from all walks of life (although, wealthy people are not represented in community gardens!) with a wide variety of motives for gardening.
Of course there is much room - and opportunity - for change,. There are also tensions and contridications within the practice of community gardening (s there is in all areas of life). However, there is overwhelming evidence that community gardens, historically and currently, hugely benefit lower income people and communities. I am literally writing a dissertation on this very topic so if you want to further discuss it, I would be more than willing.
I highly recommend you read the book "Localist Movements in a Global Economy:, in particualr the chapter on urban agriculture. It is really, really interesting and he, in particualr, exmines class issues (as do I in my research and in my community work).
From the book:
"In low income neighborhoods in NYC, gardens became centres of neighborhood activity, including community gatherings, children's activities, health fairs, voter registration drives, and community activism:
and
"Information about the class and ethnic composition of community gardens was not easy to obtain but in the cities we studied the urban middle class was not the primary beneficary...In additon to serving low-income neighborhoods directly, community gardens often contributed to broader urban food security networks."
Of course, he did not study London but from my personal experience and current community work, I think you will find that the last paragraph, in particular, is true for many of the 20 or so community gardens in London.
Hi Becky
Hi Becky,
Not sure what to say here...
I originally wrote a detailed response to this comment but have decided not to post it. Instead I am going make some points on how I feel about community gardens.
1) Community organizing, in any capacity, is incredibly important. Especially when it involves growing food and interacting with our neighbors. I hope London's community gardens are autonomous enough for each community to mark their own destiny within their 'designated' areas.
2) I am well aware of the positive impacts of organized urban farming. Thank-you for offering those positive resources. I have a long list I can offer as well if you would like.
3) I would steer away from the umbrella narrative of food security, and move in the direction of food sovereignty - While the idea of "Food Security" is important for 'serving low-income neighborhoods', in part, I would point in the direction of food sovereignty. Food security, as related to class relations, is limited to the immediate access to food. Such an idea, alone, invites problems such as food dumping, whether it's here in London (it happens all the time) or in 'developing' nations. Food sovereignty demands the recognition of peoples right to claim their own food systems - primarily in resistance to international market forces. While community gardens, in most cases, can be examples of establishing food sovereignty, there are many more that contribute to this narrative. For example, agrarian reform movements that are taking place in the Americas - such as the one referenced in this thread in Haiti. If you get a chance, check out 'La Via Campesina', to hear what the founders of the idea have to say - especially when it comes to the production, distribution and sale of food. I especially appreciate their position on food dumping due to over production (more specifically, their position on institutions with access to free or practicly free labour) - thus undervaluing the cost of food as well as the actors involved in its system - from field to plate.
4) My interaction with community gardens in London, many moons ago, was frustrating. I think that came through in my post. The last time that I had investigated London's community gardens, I was eating 'crap dinner' out of my coffee maker - which is quite a ways back thankfully. I have not had the privilege of spending time around them recently. I look forward to such in the future.
5) I am fortunate to have folks, such as yourself and Melissa, to correct my misunderstanding of the current situation in London's community gardens. Thank-you.
6) I will state again, those involved in organizing community gardens in London are to be commended for their hard work and dedication. I hope community gardens continue to expand to all areas of the city.
Hopefully speak with you soon,
Jeff
"Local activists surprised by Clinton apology to Haiti"
This is old news apparently, but ex-president Bill Clinton made a formal and public apology to Haiti for dumping cheap subsidized rice grown in the US into the Haitian Market. The article goes on to explain how Clinton admits his administration forced Structural Adjustment Programs onto Jean Bertrand Aristide's government as a condition of his return to head of state.
"Local activists surprised by Clinton apology to Haiti"
http://halifax.mediacoop.ca/story/3167
Posted March 30, Bruce Wark
Halifax Media Co-op