Topic: The Exploration into the D.R.

Convener: Renee Matson-Caring

Participants:

Nancy Newell

Roberta Matueshaund

Scott Bass

Rvyann Marshall

Alex Farr

Cara Kennedy

Sandra Clayton

Jan Roesler

Betty Anne Ford

Lindsey Strauch

Kristin Wavert

Anna Dioguardi

Jonathan Haggard

John Halpert

Jean Roesler

Major Points:

Main reasons for the visit included:

(1) To look for places to send TT gorups and ASL people because Port-au-Prince has become too dangerous.

(2) To see if BB would be a welcome presence in the D.R.

(3) To explore the intertelationship of Haiti and the D.R. and somehow get back to roots of F.A.P.E. which ceased its work in the D.R.

Scott and Anna resquested that the team spend 2 weeks traveling to Santo Domingo in the northwest and southwest. They spoke with Dominicans, Haitians, and Americans responsible for a number of organizations. The team was warmly received and it saw a good bit between the purposes of TT and ASL and that of the organizations in the D.R. There were compatible philosophies between some of the organizations and B.B. and a great interest in our work.

While the infrastructure in the D.R. is more highly developed than in Haiti and there is a larger middle class, there is still a great deal of poverty in the D.R. For example, the team visited neighborhoods comprised of migrant workers. The conditionsin the living areas were utterly miserable and because there was little sense of community there was a prevailing sens of hopelessness.

Racism against people of darker skin color still exists in the Dominican Republic. There are also intense nationalistic and ethno-centric feelings and Hatians who live and work in the D.R. have a difficult time getting documentation for citizenship. This affects their access to education.

The team saw possibilities for harvestors. In fact, the TT model was an inspiration to some people in the D.R. They didn't think Americans would do well in simple homes with no indoor plumbing.

Recommended reading:

Why the Cocks Fight by Michelle Wucher

Collapse by Jard Diamond

Both deal with the interrelations between Haiti and the Domincan Republic.

Followup: Contact John Rigdon at jrigdon@researchonline.net if you have any comments, questions or corrections.