Happy November 18!

What, you didn't know today is Fèt Batay Vètyè, the day that commemorates the last battle of the Haitian Revolution? Time to brush up on some Haitian history:

- On this day in 1803, Jean-Jacques Dessalines led Haitian forces to victory against the French at their fort in Vertières, near Cap-Haitian in the north.

- Because of this blow to the French forces, the Haitians were able to declare independence a mere six weeks later: Haitian Independence Day is celebrated on January 1 and is the biggest holiday of the year.

- Whether Haitians actually achieved their independence in 1804 appears to be a matter of ongoing debate. In 2005 Fondasyon 30 Septanm argued that
"Just as Napoleon's Army in 1803 was a multinational army with soldiers from many European countries, so today's MINUSTAH, the UN army, is composed of soldiers from Jordan, Chile, the US, France, Canada and 15 other countries -- with the same objective, to crush the aspirations of the Haitian people and re-establish colonial rule. The Haitian people have the opposite objective -- to complete the liberation begun on November 18, 1803. That's why Haiti Liberation Day is so relevant today, and why we are encouraging demonstrations, teach-ins or other activities on or around November 18th."
I'm not totally sure I agree with this perspective, but MINUSTAH's mandate in Haiti is one that surely merits attention and further questions.

- As far as we can tell, no one in Dezam is doing much to celebrate, other than taking the day off. We are marking the occasion by sleeping in, making lots of yummy food, and catching up on various odds jobs.

- More productively, Amnesty International is honoring the spirit of independence by launching a campaign pressing the Haitian government to end child slavery and protect the rights of child domestic workers throughout the country. The restavek system is a major human rights issue in Haiti - let's hope this campaign helps make a difference. (Isn't it almost 2010? Shouldn't we all be alarmed that this type of problem still exists in the world?)

Cloudlessness:

the missing ingredient in uploading photos. Phew.

A few highlights from last week:















Kay Henri Christophe ("House of Henri Christophe"), the palace that the second leader of Haiti built for himself. It was destroyed by an earthquake and is now in the process of being restored.
















A very fishing place, as someone described it the other day. These guys were using a home-stitched sail in a bay just north of Ft. Liberte.















The Citadel, also built by Christophe. It was meant to be a refuge for Haitians should the enslaving French ever invade again. Built with conscripted labor and mortared together with gelatin, animal blood, and sand, this monumental structure was never finished or used.




















Orchid, found along the path to the citadel. Picked by our guide, much to our chagrin.
















Starfish menace. Bryan is not usually such a threat to wildlife. Can't take him anywhere.

(published by Sharon, through Bryan's account)