EXCLUSIVE OP-ED: Japan’s Commitment to Enhance Human Security in Haiti

After the devastating earthquake in January, Japan was one of the first international donors to swiftly come to Haiti's aid. At the International Conference towards a New Future for Haiti in March, Japan announced a contribution of $100 million to Haiti's recovery and reconstruction. Since then, Japan has provided assistance through both bilateral and multilateral channels, and more than 60% of our pledge has already been disbursed. As Foreign Minister Maehara told the opening plenary of this week's International Conference on Haiti's Reconstruction, Japan and the rest of the international community will continue to stand with Haiti in its time of need.

However, in order to more effectively address the threats faced by Haiti's most vulnerable, Japan strongly believes that the international community should adopt enhanced human security as the centerpiece of its implementation strategy. This concept, which is gaining momentum in the international community including the United Nations, focuses on the security of each and every individual; it is not limited to traditional notions of national security. Human security means protecting a newly-born in Port-au-Prince from the threats of infectious disease and starvation. Human security means empowering and employing youths in Cite Soleil, so that they can rebuild their lives with dignity while contributing to Haiti's recovery. Human security means working with impoverished farmers in Limbe to ensure that Haiti's development is sustainable and locally-driven.

With this in mind, the Government of Japan encourages delegates at this week's conference to adopt four approaches towards Haiti's recovery: (1) a protection and empowerment approach; (2) a participatory approach; (3) a multi-sectoral approach; (4) and a top-down and bottom-up approach. The Haitian people need to be not only protected from immediate threats, but also empowered so that they can stand on their own feet. Assistance should be inclusive and incorporate all major actors concerned, especially NGOs and local government. Moreover, since threats to human security are interwoven

and deeply interrelated, projects should be comprehensive and cover different development fields. Finally, assistance should go beyond top-down mechanisms to include bottom-up approaches, which nurture local ownership.

To date, Japan has concentrated its assistance to Haiti in three areas: education and capacity building; health and medical care; and food and agriculture. As an earthquake-prone country, we pledge to strengthen our technical assistance in the field of disaster prevention so that Haiti will never again experience such a tragedy. Japan will also enhance its partnership with the Haitian government to facilitate implementation and local collaboration. As a first step, we are now in the process of establishing a field office of the Japan International Cooperation Agency in Haiti.

Japan, in collaboration with the international community and the Haitian government, will continue its efforts to support Haiti in the weeks, months, and years ahead. Only through international cooperation can we help each and every Haitian regain hope for a better and brighter future.

Minister of for Foreign Affairs Seiji Maehara (Atsuko Tsuda) and MOFA Caribbean Division Director Kozo Honsei (Brian Kelly)

BREAKING NEWS: Canadian Ship Intercepted Off Coast of Haiti

A Canadian ship was intercepted in the Caribbean waters 25 miles off the coast of Haiti carrying what looked like hockey pucks and net equipment. After some investigative journalism, HuffPo got information from an anonymous source at NGO Right to Play that Canada plans on building a hockey rink a couple of miles from port-au-Prince. “A hockey rink is a great way to exercise Canada’s ‘soft power’ in an area traditionally in the U.S. sphere of influence,” says an anonymous source in the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who did not want this article to be attributed to him due to the secretive nature of the operation. “Canada really wanted this to be a surprise. Canada wants to leave a lasting legacy in Haiti. I think the idea is to get Haitian kids off the streets and into hockey rinks and to help Haiti, through infrastructure and technical assistance, develop a professional hockey team that would qualify for the next winter Olympics. If Jamaica can have a bobsled team, why can’t Haiti have a hockey team? It’s quite inspirational, eh? Very few countries think outside the box like that.” 

Canadian cargo ship sailing off Haitian waters

Canadian delegate displaying his patriotism 

Transformative Power of Technology

Technology is changing the way we do business. That’s certainly true of this conference. Long gone is the era of diplomatic notes. As delegates click away at their fancy MacBooks, HuffPo gets snips of their IMs.

USAID: Hey, how’s your session going? 

NORWAY: WB just called me Sweden. It’s going great. 

USAID: Ouch. Don’t take it personally - geography’s not their thing. 

NORWAY: You?

USAID: The peasant is way out of line. I’m about to give her a dose of Monsanto seeds she’ll never forget.

SPAIN: Hey amigo, what’s shakin’ in working group 2?

CANADA: Venezuela just stole my show! Isn’t that rude? I should be angry, right? 

SPAIN: Dude, just tell him to shut up. Stop being so nice.

'Nordic Country' shocked by WB ignorance of basic geography

Hugo looks threateningly at Canada

Canada tries to do the same

U.S. Congress Quartet Endorses 'Next Steps for Haiti Act'

All four members of the bi-partisan U.S. Congressional delegation attending this week's conference announced via press release today that they support H.R. 417, the Next Steps for Haiti Act. This legislation, introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) in January 2009, would establish a professional exchange program in which Haitian-born Americans with technical expertise would be paired with Haitian public and private sector organizations to work on projects related to the country's reconstruction, in exchange for stipend money and loan forgiveness. “I believe that investing in human capital is one of the best ways to encourage economic growth and rebuild the Republic of Haiti,” said Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. It's unclear whether this program would mirror the State Department-administerd Civilian Response Corp and how generous of a stipend participants would receive (it would certainly have to be generous if it is to persuade professionals to quit their day jobs), but the program enjoys widespread support, including among the Diaspora. 

Congressional delegates certainly had something up their sleeve!

HUFFPO EXCLUSIVE OP-ED (SHOCKING): "Hi-Jinx Perpetrated on Opening Plenary," by OSI President Aryeh Neier

A hi-jinx of the greatest order was perpetrated on Thursday’s opening plenary of the Haiti Reconstruction Conference. The Yes Men turned their sights from impersonating big-time criminals to tarnishing the reputation of one of the world’s leading philanthropists and democracy promoters.

Provocative articles about George Soros began appearing immediately after Thursday’s plenary. Initial stories penned by Glenn Beck did not arouse suspicion, as we are accustomed to outrageous journalism from Fox News. It was not until this esteemed blog reported a peculiar clash between the World Bank and our Open Society Foundations (OSF) that an in-depth investigation was launched at my behest.

Our investigation yielded startling findings. The Yes Men’s ideological leanings did a mysterious 180 last week. They intercepted the invitation to the plenary originally destined for Mr. Soros and sent an imposter. OSF was unaware of and repudiates any connection to last Thursday’s remarks.

It should be noted that although he is indeed rich, intelligent, and sophisticated Mr. Soros has never been “high” on life as suggested in an earlier edition of HuffPo. And despite his support for legalization of marijuana in the U.S., George Soros and OSF unequivocally do NOT support such measures in Haiti. Haiti has more pressing needs to attend to. Likewise, OSF has been unequivocally supportive of blue-blooded democracy - NOT Bolivarian socialism - in Venezuela. And when it comes to Mr. Soros’ personal life, OSF has no comment.

In order to set the record straight, and for those delegates with whom I have yet to speak, please find following the actual priorities of OSF:

(1) Linking Emergency and Development Coordination
It's critical to ensure that the current cluster-based approach to emergency coordination transitions smoothly to a sector wide approach (SWAp) to coordination of development and state capacity building.

2a) Decentralization of Government
Government capacity building must extend beyond the national level. OSF is committed to creating a civilian policing program and to encouraging engagement between the national government and the Interdepartmental Council helping to improve the functionality of the state from the bottom up.

2b) Supporting Local Civil Society
OSF is committed to supporting local civil society to more effectively contribute their expertise to coordination and implementation efforts and to monitor such efforts through civilian oversight mechanisms.

Please direct any questions or clarifications to Mr. Soros and his general counsel at osf.soros@gmail.com. On behalf of Mr. Soros and the entire staff and board of OSF, we remain at your disposal to support this conference and look forward to continuing our fruitful collaboration.

Aryeh Neier

President, Open Society Foundations

Special to HuffPo Investigative Unit

New York, New York

OP-ED EXCLUSIVE: "Rebuild," by Presidential Candidate Michel Martelly

Today is a new day.  As we enter working groups, we must have dialogue centered on implementing sustainable rebuilding... and this time with better standards and with more ambitious performance criteria.

We must rebuild, of course, but not only physical reconstruction efforts; it starts with restructuring the systems of governance, of ethics and principles.

We must activate a revival of Haitian mentality for productivity in agriculture, as well as in culture and tourism.

Most importantly, we must begin by making true the dream of an educational system that provides high quality training for all ages and all social economic groups.

...Because Haiti’s true treasures remain in the potential for development of human resources and the diversity of investment possibilities that can create rapid economic growth.

We must take this opportunity now to take the bull by its horns and rebuild.

This is a new day for Haiti - a new era of pride, success, and progress!

Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly
Presidential Candidate, Haiti
(Kevin Smith)

Palin Visits Haiti, Anonymity Not a Problem

Sarah Palin’s can-do-attitude got the better of her when she decided to go to Haiti this weekend despite hurricanes, cholera and election violence. Palin traveled by private helicopter, accompanied only by Fox News reporter Jordan Reimer and a cadre of private security guards. HuffPo followed her trail and interviewed locals with whom she interacted, but no one seemed to know who she was or what she was doing there. 

Hurricanes, Cholera and Election Violence No Match for Palin's Up-Do