Public Lecture and workshops on Haiti at University College London
Venue: Christopher Ingold Lecture Theatre, Gordon St.
Date/Time: 15 November, 5.30pm
In this, the first event in UCL’s Haiti Awareness Week, Professor Andy Leak (UCL French) examines the complex reasons for the current impasse and assesses the prospects for a sustainable development in Haiti that meets the needs of its vast, poor majority rather than those of its famously rapacious elites.
The earthquake that struck Haiti at 4.53pm on 12 January 2010 killed some 250,000 people and left a further 1.5 million homeless. Billions of dollars of aid was pledged by individuals and governments the world over. Ten months on, there are still 1.2 million Haitians living under tents – if they are lucky – and plastic sheets. The slogan of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission and the INGOs was ‘Build Back Better’ but reconstruction – beyond a few private initiatives – has barely begun. Unsurprisingly, those living in the makeshift camps counter with their own slogan: Nou bouke! – We’ve had enough!
During the remainder of Haiti Awareness week there will be a number of interesting workshops, social and fundraising events, Please check out the link above.
ThinkingDevelopment: Haiti Week
15 November 2010
From November 15th to 19th UCL-borne NGO, Thinking Development, the Global Development Initiatives Society and the Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction invite you to participate in Haiti Week. The week includes exhibitions, guest speakers from the humanitarian sector in Haiti, panel discussions, workshops, and fundraising initiatives aims to highlight the growing plight of disaster affected communities worldwide, to bring together members of the research, humanitarian and development communities to discussion solutions, and to help raise awareness for their post-disaster rehabilitation project in Haiti. Please visit http://www.thinkingdevelopment.org/haitiweek.html for a full list of events and details. For comments and queries, please contact us with [email protected].
1. Lecture: “Introducing Haiti 10 months On”
5.30pm, November 15th, Christopher Ingold Auditorium
Prof. Andrew Leak of the UCL French Department opens our campaign by providing us a unique overview of the history that contributed to such disastrous consequences after January 12th’s earthquake, and an update of the current state of affairs.
2. Panel discussion: “Preparing for a More Disaster-Resilient Future”, Nov. 18th, 5.30pm
Our four distinguished panelists will consider, from the perspective of their career and with reference to recent events in Haiti, the role of research and humanitarian actor collaboration, and the virtues and dangers of codifying lessons for the future. Chaired by the UCL DPU’s Cassidy Johnson, the panel includes:
— David Sanderson of Oxford Brooks
— Kate Crawford of CARE International
— Camillo Boano, UCL DPU
— Muki Haklay, UCL Dept. of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering
For directions and to register for free, go to http://thinkingdevelopmentpanel1.eventbrite.com/
For more information on this and other Haiti Week events, please visit: http://www.thinkingdevelopment.org/haitiweek.html
3. IRDR Workshop: “Google, Twitter, maps and mobile phones: A tech revolution for disaster response?”
17th November, 14:00-16:00, Gordon House 106, 29 Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0PP (map)
Join the IRDR member Anna Mason to find out how people just like you embraced the technology we take for granted everyday to connect people and information in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. People from every corner of the globe found new innovative ways to use their computers and mobile phones to exchange information that could help save lives or show their support. Efforts to leap geographical barriers were impressive, yet raised many new questions such as how do we filter through the mountains of communication being exchanged to find the really critical information? What motivates people to communicate and engage more? And, how can researchers ensure knowledge on innovation is communicated effectively and put into practice?
Eligibility: All welcome. No technical knowledge required! However, to enable interactivity, places are limited. To secure one, email us at [email protected] with ‘Tech Workshop’ in the subject bar. Please include a sentence or two detailing your background and interest. UCL students will receive priority.
4. New Internationalist Workshop: “Haiti: Disaster Relief or Disaster Development?”
Date: 17th November
Time: 16:00-18:00
Venue: Gordon House 106, 29 Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0PP (map)
Eligibility: All welcome. No technical knowledge required! However, to enable interactivity, places are limited. To secure one, email us at [email protected] with ‘NI Workshop’ in the subject bar. Please include a sentence or two detailing your background and interest. UCL students will receive priority.
Details: This workshop looks at the history of Haiti and explores how this history contributed to the extent of the destruction and suffering caused by the earthquake. It will ask the question: ‘how could it have been different?’ And: ‘what can be done next?’ This is another very interactive workshop. After a short talk on the topic (20 minutes or so), the facilitators will conduct group activities that explore the crucial questions.
Facilitators: Rob Norman and Felix Jakens, New Internationalist