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The Haitian Studies Association (HSA) working group for Haiti’s ecology (a.k.a. Konbit) formed in the spring of 2020 and held its first public presentation at HSA’s 32^nd Annual Conference, “Nou La Pi Rèd! Embodying a New Praxis.” The presentation took place in virtual webinar format, with live streaming to Facebook, on October 7th. Speakers across disciplines ranging from environmental sciences and agriculture to religion and musicology but with a common interest in the past, present, and future of Haiti’s ecosystems presented problems and perspectives from their research and application. We presented virtually again on October 19, 2021, at the 33^rd Annual Conference, “Nou La Pi Rèd Toujou! Embodying a New Praxis.” Titled “The Roots Are Many and Deep: Social, Cultural, and Spiritual Dimensions of Haiti’s Ecological Crisis,” the session presented scholars based in Haiti, Puerto Rico, and the United States for an interdisciplinary brase lide (brainstorm) in roundtable format.

Watch both sessions on YouTube: 2020 and 2021.

The Journal of Haitian Studies (JOHS) had concurrently announced a special issue on ecology in Haiti, and Konbit members joined those who worked on the issue and wrote articles for it. The Call for Submissions included a resource list that we further developed for viewing here. Please note that this list is a work-in-progress. The keyword field is not yet complete, but searching author, title, date, and publication information fields finds results.

On July 17, 2021 the Konbit screened Arnold Antonin’s film Men Sa Lanmè Di (Thus Spoke the Sea, Ainsi parla la mer) and held a post-screening discussion with the filmmaker along with marine scientist Jean Wiener. Narrated by Gessica Généus, the Sea reveals its mysteries and raises an alarm. The Konbit hopes to host a screening-with-discussion of the film Mountains in the near future.

The Konbit created a blog called Eco–Notes. We have published six articles to date and invite readers to contribute their work. Scholars and activists of all disciplines may participate. We aim to make Eco-Notes a monthly publication. If you have work to contribute, please review what we have so far here, and download our Guidelines. Questions and comments? You may write blog editors Gary Gervais (ggervais@hushmail.com) and Jodany Fortuné (jodanyfortune@gmail.com), or Konbit convenor Lois Wilcken (lois@makandal.org).

Our purpose

Through this Konbit—so named after Haiti’s rural labor cooperatives—we aim to (1) make recommendations for management of Haitian land and natural resources in a time of climate change and profound environmental challenges, (2) develop more effective models of environmental communication moving forward, and (3) evaluate ecological loss in the interest of determining the nature and magnitude of demands for justice. Haitian history bears numerous approaches to environmental policy, ranging from excessive resource exploitation (at the level of central government and imposed foreign interventions) to a more balanced exchange that sees humans as integral participants within the ecosystem (at the level of a decentralized rural population). The balance of power weighted toward the former pole has brought large-scale destruction of ecosystems and loss of resources that call for restitution and reparations. Furthermore, such externally imposed policies as those of the United States Occupation (1915–34) have exacerbated the erosion of Haiti’s ecosystems. Today, Haiti ranks among the nations most vulnerable to climate change.

We include Haitianists from a range of academic disciplines (natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities) and practitioners with diverse language, gender, and generational perspectives. This working group will examine case studies of programs directly involved in such initiatives as shoreline restoration, forestry, water resources management, and sustainable agricultural programs. We are particularly seeking those who can report on cooperative collaborations with ordinary residents, citing their insights, concerns, advice, and resistance. Participants will identify models with the potential to revolutionize policy and compile a set of future possibilities based on grounded realities.

Contact:

LeGrace Benson (co-convener), legrace.benson@gmail.com

Lois Wilcken (co-convener), lois@makandal.org

Latest post to Eco-Notes: The Working Group Blog

Climate Injustice in Haiti and the Case for Reparations

We are pleased to post excerpts from this report to our working-group blog. Global Justice Clinic at NYU School of Law and The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA School of Law have succeeded in exposing to view the connections among racism, colonialism, extraction, in/justice, and the state of Haiti’s ecosystems. Among other achievements, the report draws from the lived experience of Haitians on the ground in Haiti, and it lists nineteen organizations with which the authors collaborated, all of them developing strategies for adaptation and survival. The authors likewise consulted thinkers outside of Haiti, notably the philosopher Olúfémi O. Táíwò, a leading voice on reparative justice. We cannot separate ecology from reparative justice, and we believe that this report makes a powerful call for reparations to Haiti.

Konbit Meetings and Events

Working across Disciplines toward an Environmental Understanding for Haiti (Oct. 7, 2020)

The recently convened working session on the environment of the Haitian Studies Association (HSA) is pleased to announce its first public presentation at HSA’s 32nd Annual Conference, “Nou La Pi Rèd! Embodying a New Praxis.” The presentation will take place in virtual webinar format on the Zoom platform, with live streaming to Facebook, on Wednesday, October 7th, from 2 to 4 pm Eastern Time. Speakers across disciplines ranging from environmental sciences and agriculture to religion and musicology but with a common interest in the past, present, and future of Haiti’s ecosystems will present problems and perspectives from their research and application.

The Roots Are Many and Deep: Social, Cultural, and Spiritual Dimensions of Haiti’s Ecological Crisis (Oct. 19, 2021)

On boarding the ship to his captivity in 1802, Toussaint L’Ouverture delivered a characterization of liberty that would become famous: its roots are many and deep. In the 217 years since Haiti’s independence, the nation’s liberty has been challenged, its roots entangled with invasive species, likewise many and deep. This meeting of HSA’s Working Group on the Environment (Konbit) will present the multidisciplinary perspectives of five scholars and activists. After introductory remarks—presenters’ names and affiliations and discussion ground rules—each of the five presenters will make a statement of no more than five minutes in order to allow maximum time for comments, questions, and discussion with attendees. The meeting will end with an announcement from our blog/vlog team about the progress of that effort, and with suggested ways for all to become involved.

Documentary Screening: 'Men Sa Lanmè Di' with Q&A with Filmmaker & Marine Scientist (July 17, 2021)

From its trailer text: “The Haitian Sea as you’ve never seen or heard it before. In this documentary, the Sea tells its story with the Haitian people. Wave after wave, the Sea showcases its riches, reveals its mysteries, and raises the alarm. From the excessive use of its resources to the consequences of climate change and pollution, the Sea displays its different shades of blue and suggests opportunities to seize. This film is an invitation to travel, discover, and also to raise awareness. Haiti’s future lies in its coasts or will not be.”