Design Observer :: Join the Discussion http://places.designobserver.com/feature/a-view-of-haiti-from-liberty-city/12677/ en-us Design Observer Group 2010-03-17T18:32:29-05:00 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0
Indeed you are correct in pointing these observations. I am grateful for critical readers like you to point them out to young writers like me. Through my research I am finding out that Liberty City and Little Haiti not only share common location but also subtle differences and shared experiences. In time, I plan to fine tune my knowledge in this regard.

I also would like to expand upon the importance of the Haitian and Hatian American voice in these debates. Whether these conversations are about planning and/or reconstruction. The questions that are raised by individuals like you surely contribute to an ongoing prolific discussion.

Sincerily
Hector Fernando Burga ]]> Hector Fernando Burga http://places.designobserver.com/feature/a-view-of-haiti-from-liberty-city/12677/#comments 2010-03-17T18:32:29-05:00
Nevertheless, if things go well in Haiti hopefully it will lead to changes throughout the 3rd world. As a Haitian American one thing I do not want is for Haiti to remain a country dependent on foreign aid and IMF Loans. In fact, I don't wish this for any country in the 3rd world. Though the situation saddens me I am optimistic about the future. ]]> asaintjean http://places.designobserver.com/feature/a-view-of-haiti-from-liberty-city/12677/#comments 2010-03-10T15:43:11-05:00 x24 http://places.designobserver.com/feature/a-view-of-haiti-from-liberty-city/12677/#comments 2010-03-08T17:25:32-05:00
You are right that there are a lot of "designers" out there that do nothing more than academic exercises and create conceptual portfolio pieces. However, there are also designers out there like myself who have been working nonstop for years to get their projects off the ground and in place for those in desperate need of help.

For 5 years now I have been trying every avenue and knocking on every door I can find to get my system off the ground. All the while, I have to sit heart broken and watch event after horrific event unfold that I know my work could make a difference with.

The problem comes down to this from my perspective – money. The greater good has no bank account and can not pay for what it needs. That leaves designers like myself in an awful position of designing a solid solution (not for profit or personal gain) and then having to find someone to foot the bill to get it actually produced. That means you are looking for someone with a big heart, big wallet, or you trying to make a solid business model so a corporation will be interested in order to actually get the solution produced and into the hands of those you originally intended to help.

For me personally, I don't feel good, I have not forgotten, and I have not retreated to a coffee house to surf facebook. I am still fighting the fight and running the race. Anyone want to help?]]> Michael McDaniel http://places.designobserver.com/feature/a-view-of-haiti-from-liberty-city/12677/#comments 2010-02-12T02:40:49-05:00
It troubles me beyond end to hear of children be carted away to be sold as slaves lured by promises of food and safety. Of kidnapping. Of parents desperately giving away their own children. That there is and has been such monstourous marketplaces and what is being done? very little, certainly now where's near enough. These are problems not just of Haiti but of the world although the need in Haiti is front and center. See http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2010/02/04/itn.china.chained.boy.cnn

Governments and society as a whole have failed and it is magnified in the event of tragedy.



]]> swiatekt http://places.designobserver.com/feature/a-view-of-haiti-from-liberty-city/12677/#comments 2010-02-05T17:14:51-05:00
I bet it makes them feel oh so good, that they "thought" really hard about the people there. Well, enough to make pretend shelters and imaginary cities for them to live in.

And just like New Orleans, once they've exhausted every opportunity to generate renderings, hold "conferences", complete with catered lunch, to opine about crap like "sustainability" and "empowerment", and every design student has gotten every last drop they can for their end of the semester thesis project, They will all forget about this place and go back to their MacBooks, Facebook, and overpriced coffee, looking for the next "cool" thing to care about. ]]> ViaMeceia http://places.designobserver.com/feature/a-view-of-haiti-from-liberty-city/12677/#comments 2010-02-05T10:36:19-05:00 Nancy Levinson http://places.designobserver.com/feature/a-view-of-haiti-from-liberty-city/12677/#comments 2010-02-03T18:14:46-05:00 Caleb http://places.designobserver.com/feature/a-view-of-haiti-from-liberty-city/12677/#comments 2010-02-03T16:59:46-05:00 cooper http://places.designobserver.com/feature/a-view-of-haiti-from-liberty-city/12677/#comments 2010-02-03T12:51:47-05:00 Erin Miller http://places.designobserver.com/feature/a-view-of-haiti-from-liberty-city/12677/#comments 2010-02-03T11:50:46-05:00 Thaisa Way http://places.designobserver.com/feature/a-view-of-haiti-from-liberty-city/12677/#comments 2010-02-01T01:02:47-05:00