every day all of us are confronted with new images of natural and environmental
new images of natural and environmental
new images of natural and environmental disasters these disasters take all kinds
disasters these disasters take all kinds
disasters these disasters take all kinds of forms it can be forest fires that
of forms it can be forest fires that
of forms it can be forest fires that destroyed thousands of acres of forests
destroyed thousands of acres of forests
destroyed thousands of acres of forests and threatened homes lots of jobs they
and threatened homes lots of jobs they
and threatened homes lots of jobs they can be floods the destroys cities
can be floods the destroys cities
can be floods the destroys cities coastlines threaten lives they can be
coastlines threaten lives they can be
coastlines threaten lives they can be human disasters exploding oil rigs
human disasters exploding oil rigs
human disasters exploding oil rigs contaminate huge oceans destroy wildlife
contaminate huge oceans destroy wildlife
contaminate huge oceans destroy wildlife and cause environmental impact but what
and cause environmental impact but what
and cause environmental impact but what all these impacts these environmental
all these impacts these environmental
all these impacts these environmental impacts and natural disasters have in
impacts and natural disasters have in
impacts and natural disasters have in common they’re drastic their shocking
common they’re drastic their shocking
common they’re drastic their shocking their immediate and their newsworthy but
their immediate and their newsworthy but
their immediate and their newsworthy but what if there was a different kind of
what if there was a different kind of
what if there was a different kind of natural disaster occurring kind of
natural disaster occurring kind of
natural disaster occurring kind of natural disaster that doesn’t take place
natural disaster that doesn’t take place
natural disaster that doesn’t take place immediately it’s a slow-motion disaster
immediately it’s a slow-motion disaster
immediately it’s a slow-motion disaster we think about a coral reef that’s been
we think about a coral reef that’s been
we think about a coral reef that’s been degraded over decades slowly invisibly
degraded over decades slowly invisibly
degraded over decades slowly invisibly without anyone noticing and to all of a
without anyone noticing and to all of a
without anyone noticing and to all of a sudden we realize that the coral reef is
sudden we realize that the coral reef is
sudden we realize that the coral reef is no longer living it’s no longer
no longer living it’s no longer
no longer living it’s no longer supporting life it’s no longer realizing
supporting life it’s no longer realizing
supporting life it’s no longer realizing the functions it was meant to a hillside
the functions it was meant to a hillside
the functions it was meant to a hillside on a mountain slowly chipped away at and
on a mountain slowly chipped away at and
on a mountain slowly chipped away at and fragments disappear of this forest until
fragments disappear of this forest until
fragments disappear of this forest until it’s no longer a viable habitat these
it’s no longer a viable habitat these
it’s no longer a viable habitat these kind of environmental disasters happen
kind of environmental disasters happen
kind of environmental disasters happen gradually incrementally slowly almost
gradually incrementally slowly almost
gradually incrementally slowly almost imperceptibly and we don’t realize
imperceptibly and we don’t realize
imperceptibly and we don’t realize they’re taking place scientists have a
they’re taking place scientists have a
they’re taking place scientists have a term for this type of disaster they call
term for this type of disaster they call
term for this type of disaster they call these landscape amnesia creeping
these landscape amnesia creeping
these landscape amnesia creeping normality shifting baselines death by a
normality shifting baselines death by a
normality shifting baselines death by a thousand cuts the idea is essentially
thousand cuts the idea is essentially
thousand cuts the idea is essentially the same for all of them environmental
the same for all of them environmental
the same for all of them environmental wreckage occurring over long periods of
wreckage occurring over long periods of
wreckage occurring over long periods of time gradually incremental e that we
time gradually incremental e that we
time gradually incremental e that we rarely see we rarely perceive as
rarely see we rarely perceive as
rarely see we rarely perceive as happening and it changes our perception
happening and it changes our perception
happening and it changes our perception to the point where we feel that it’s
to the point where we feel that it’s
to the point where we feel that it’s acceptable becomes normal in 2011
acceptable becomes normal in 2011
acceptable becomes normal in 2011 we started work on a film not
we started work on a film not
we started work on a film not coincidently called death by a thousand
coincidently called death by a thousand
coincidently called death by a thousand cuts what we wanted to do is look at the
cuts what we wanted to do is look at the
cuts what we wanted to do is look at the famous case study of the island of
famous case study of the island of
famous case study of the island of Hispaniola as you know Hispaniola is one
Hispaniola as you know Hispaniola is one
Hispaniola as you know Hispaniola is one island shared by two different countries
island shared by two different countries
island shared by two different countries Dominican Republic in haiti and the
Dominican Republic in haiti and the
Dominican Republic in haiti and the island has a shared history but
island has a shared history but
island has a shared history but different cultures different language
different cultures different language
different cultures different language different political systems delivering
different political systems delivering
different political systems delivering different colonial pasts but they share
different colonial pasts but they share
different colonial pasts but they share the same resources you may remember this
the same resources you may remember this
the same resources you may remember this photograph was published in 1987 in
photograph was published in 1987 in
photograph was published in 1987 in National Geographic and then it was
National Geographic and then it was
National Geographic and then it was reproduced numerous times in books in
reproduced numerous times in books in
reproduced numerous times in books in magazines it even made an appearance the
magazines it even made an appearance the
magazines it even made an appearance the oscar-winning film Inconvenient Truth
oscar-winning film Inconvenient Truth
oscar-winning film Inconvenient Truth what we see in this photo is the famous
what we see in this photo is the famous
what we see in this photo is the famous case study of Hispaniola on the one side
case study of Hispaniola on the one side
case study of Hispaniola on the one side we have the verdant green of the
we have the verdant green of the
we have the verdant green of the Dominican Republic which has been
Dominican Republic which has been
Dominican Republic which has been responsible about the way they manage
responsible about the way they manage
responsible about the way they manage their environment the Dominican Republic
their environment the Dominican Republic
their environment the Dominican Republic is protected their forests the
is protected their forests the
is protected their forests the implemented aggressive and almost
implemented aggressive and almost
implemented aggressive and almost drastic measures to protect their force
drastic measures to protect their force
drastic measures to protect their force they militarized the protection of
they militarized the protection of
they militarized the protection of national parks they declared over twenty
national parks they declared over twenty
national parks they declared over twenty five percent of the National territories
five percent of the National territories
five percent of the National territories National Park and they’ve been able to
National Park and they’ve been able to
National Park and they’ve been able to recover the area to close to thirty
recover the area to close to thirty
recover the area to close to thirty percent forest cover and it’s also known
percent forest cover and it’s also known
percent forest cover and it’s also known as one of the fastest growing economies
as one of the fastest growing economies
as one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America on the other side we
in Latin America on the other side we
in Latin America on the other side we see Haiti we all know Hades story it’s
see Haiti we all know Hades story it’s
see Haiti we all know Hades story it’s barren it’s treeless it’s ben de
barren it’s treeless it’s ben de
barren it’s treeless it’s ben de forested they’ve been irresponsible
forested they’ve been irresponsible
forested they’ve been irresponsible about how they’ve managed their
about how they’ve managed their
about how they’ve managed their resources they’ve cut down all their
resources they’ve cut down all their
resources they’ve cut down all their trees to make wood charcoal a
trees to make wood charcoal a
trees to make wood charcoal a subsistence living and not surprisingly
subsistence living and not surprisingly
subsistence living and not surprisingly as we all know Haiti is the poorest
as we all know Haiti is the poorest
as we all know Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere but
country in the Western Hemisphere but
country in the Western Hemisphere but what if we know about this story and
what if we know about this story and
what if we know about this story and about this photo is not altogether
about this photo is not altogether
about this photo is not altogether accurate what if there’s a different
accurate what if there’s a different
accurate what if there’s a different story behind this photo what if in one
story behind this photo what if in one
story behind this photo what if in one iconic photo we’ve changed our
iconic photo we’ve changed our
iconic photo we’ve changed our perception of way this island operates
perception of way this island operates
perception of way this island operates and we’ve distorted our ability to take
and we’ve distorted our ability to take
and we’ve distorted our ability to take effective action to change this paradigm
effective action to change this paradigm
effective action to change this paradigm death by a thousand cuts was a journey
death by a thousand cuts was a journey
death by a thousand cuts was a journey that we took over the course of five
that we took over the course of five
that we took over the course of five years to investigate
years to investigate
years to investigate fectly the illegal trafficking of wood
fectly the illegal trafficking of wood
fectly the illegal trafficking of wood charcoal from the border force of the
charcoal from the border force of the
charcoal from the border force of the Dominican Republic into Haiti Haiti
Dominican Republic into Haiti Haiti
Dominican Republic into Haiti Haiti still relies on wood charcoal for over
still relies on wood charcoal for over
still relies on wood charcoal for over ninety percent of their needs for
ninety percent of their needs for
ninety percent of their needs for cooking fuel Dominican Republic has made
cooking fuel Dominican Republic has made
cooking fuel Dominican Republic has made aggressive changes and no longer relies
aggressive changes and no longer relies
aggressive changes and no longer relies principally on wood charcoal so as a
principally on wood charcoal so as a
principally on wood charcoal so as a result the Dominican forests have become
result the Dominican forests have become
result the Dominican forests have become an attractive source for wood for
an attractive source for wood for
an attractive source for wood for production of charcoal and so we follow
production of charcoal and so we follow
production of charcoal and so we follow the production of wood from the high
the production of wood from the high
the production of wood from the high mountain forests of the Sierra Nevada Co
mountain forests of the Sierra Nevada Co
mountain forests of the Sierra Nevada Co national park to the lowland surrounding
national park to the lowland surrounding
national park to the lowland surrounding la going at ikea lagoo angry kyo lake
la going at ikea lagoo angry kyo lake
la going at ikea lagoo angry kyo lake where the poorest of the poor produce
where the poorest of the poor produce
where the poorest of the poor produce rudimentary charcoal ovens out of local
rudimentary charcoal ovens out of local
rudimentary charcoal ovens out of local trees we follow as a charcoal is
trees we follow as a charcoal is
trees we follow as a charcoal is trafficked across the border illegally
trafficked across the border illegally
trafficked across the border illegally by night by trail on people’s heads on
by night by trail on people’s heads on
by night by trail on people’s heads on mule on the backs of trucks even on
mule on the backs of trucks even on
mule on the backs of trucks even on boats and at the end charcoal arrives in
boats and at the end charcoal arrives in
boats and at the end charcoal arrives in the urban centers of haiti where it
the urban centers of haiti where it
the urban centers of haiti where it becomes a prized commodity there’s
becomes a prized commodity there’s
becomes a prized commodity there’s almost an insatiable appetite for
almost an insatiable appetite for
almost an insatiable appetite for charcoal and in haiti and the dominican
charcoal and in haiti and the dominican
charcoal and in haiti and the dominican republic is increasingly becoming the
republic is increasingly becoming the
republic is increasingly becoming the source of that charcoal what’s left
source of that charcoal what’s left
source of that charcoal what’s left behind is environmental wreckage barren
behind is environmental wreckage barren
behind is environmental wreckage barren trees and hillsides loss of soil rivers
trees and hillsides loss of soil rivers
trees and hillsides loss of soil rivers that are drying up loss of habitat loss
that are drying up loss of habitat loss
that are drying up loss of habitat loss of productivity but more than just that
of productivity but more than just that
of productivity but more than just that more than just the environmental
more than just the environmental
more than just the environmental consequences of the production of
consequences of the production of
consequences of the production of charcoal there’s also real human
charcoal there’s also real human
charcoal there’s also real human consequences there’s a human drama
consequences there’s a human drama
consequences there’s a human drama unfurling on the board of Dominican
unfurling on the board of Dominican
unfurling on the board of Dominican bollock in Haiti and we follow this in
bollock in Haiti and we follow this in
bollock in Haiti and we follow this in the movie becomes a personal story we
the movie becomes a personal story we
the movie becomes a personal story we look at the consequences of how
look at the consequences of how
look at the consequences of how deforestation can impact people in this
deforestation can impact people in this
deforestation can impact people in this case we follow the murder of a Dominican
case we follow the murder of a Dominican
case we follow the murder of a Dominican park ranger who’s murdered by Haitian
park ranger who’s murdered by Haitian
park ranger who’s murdered by Haitian charcoal producer while doing his job in
charcoal producer while doing his job in
charcoal producer while doing his job in the Sierra vuko National Park Milania
the Sierra vuko National Park Milania
the Sierra vuko National Park Milania Vargas goes into the National Park to
Vargas goes into the National Park to
Vargas goes into the National Park to apprehend the Haitian charcoal producer
apprehend the Haitian charcoal producer
apprehend the Haitian charcoal producer and he’s murdered there’s a
and he’s murdered there’s a
and he’s murdered there’s a confrontation he’s killed with a machete
confrontation he’s killed with a machete
confrontation he’s killed with a machete he’s
he’s
he’s to pieces his throat is cut and the film
to pieces his throat is cut and the film
to pieces his throat is cut and the film follows the story of what happens
follows the story of what happens
follows the story of what happens afterwards the consequences on the
afterwards the consequences on the
afterwards the consequences on the families on the individual and on the
families on the individual and on the
families on the individual and on the communities that are impacted by this
communities that are impacted by this
communities that are impacted by this murder we get to know chichi Milano’s
murder we get to know chichi Milano’s
murder we get to know chichi Milano’s brother who has never been able to
brother who has never been able to
brother who has never been able to recover from the death of his brother
recover from the death of his brother
recover from the death of his brother Chi Chi is also a park ranger and he’s
Chi Chi is also a park ranger and he’s
Chi Chi is also a park ranger and he’s never come to terms with the fact that
never come to terms with the fact that
never come to terms with the fact that the Sassen is still free there’s been no
the Sassen is still free there’s been no
the Sassen is still free there’s been no justice in Milan neo is still dead we
justice in Milan neo is still dead we
justice in Milan neo is still dead we get to know Kalina colino is the widow
get to know Kalina colino is the widow
get to know Kalina colino is the widow of Melania and colinas also Haitian this
of Melania and colinas also Haitian this
of Melania and colinas also Haitian this is almost the perfect border story
is almost the perfect border story
is almost the perfect border story Dominican park ranger married to a
Dominican park ranger married to a
Dominican park ranger married to a Haitian woman they have three children
Haitian woman they have three children
Haitian woman they have three children half haitian half Dominican we learn
half haitian half Dominican we learn
half haitian half Dominican we learn about colinas struggle as she’s trying
about colinas struggle as she’s trying
about colinas struggle as she’s trying to survive after the death of Melania
to survive after the death of Melania
to survive after the death of Melania she has to find work she has to help her
she has to find work she has to help her
she has to find work she has to help her children survive she faces deportation
children survive she faces deportation
children survive she faces deportation and she faces separation from
and she faces separation from
and she faces separation from Millennials family who no longer want
Millennials family who no longer want
Millennials family who no longer want anything to do with her specifically
anything to do with her specifically
anything to do with her specifically because she’s Haitian and they associate
because she’s Haitian and they associate
because she’s Haitian and they associate the death of Melania with Haitians when
the death of Melania with Haitians when
the death of Melania with Haitians when we think about our perspective on
we think about our perspective on
we think about our perspective on environmental change it’s really
environmental change it’s really
environmental change it’s really important to think about the way we
important to think about the way we
important to think about the way we perceive environmental change what if I
perceive environmental change what if I
perceive environmental change what if I were to tell you that this photo of a
were to tell you that this photo of a
were to tell you that this photo of a forest is not actually Dominican
forest is not actually Dominican
forest is not actually Dominican Republic this is in Haiti the image we
Republic this is in Haiti the image we
Republic this is in Haiti the image we have of Haiti is of the treeless
have of Haiti is of the treeless
have of Haiti is of the treeless moonscape but there’s nothing left there
moonscape but there’s nothing left there
moonscape but there’s nothing left there it’s barren yet many people go to Haiti
it’s barren yet many people go to Haiti
it’s barren yet many people go to Haiti are very surprised to see there are a
are very surprised to see there are a
are very surprised to see there are a lot of trees in fact recently
lot of trees in fact recently
lot of trees in fact recently researchers have begun looking at the
researchers have begun looking at the
researchers have begun looking at the famous two percent forest cover of Haiti
famous two percent forest cover of Haiti
famous two percent forest cover of Haiti that’s cited regularly and still no one
that’s cited regularly and still no one
that’s cited regularly and still no one has found any evidence that in fact
has found any evidence that in fact
has found any evidence that in fact Haiti has 2% forest cover most estimates
Haiti has 2% forest cover most estimates
Haiti has 2% forest cover most estimates now think that it’s closer to twenty to
now think that it’s closer to twenty to
now think that it’s closer to twenty to thirty percent forest cover much closer
thirty percent forest cover much closer
thirty percent forest cover much closer to what the Dominican Republic has this
to what the Dominican Republic has this
to what the Dominican Republic has this is not to say hey d is not de forested
is not to say hey d is not de forested
is not to say hey d is not de forested it’s not to say Haiti doesn’t face great
it’s not to say Haiti doesn’t face great
it’s not to say Haiti doesn’t face great vulnerability it’s not to say hey d
vulnerability it’s not to say hey d
vulnerability it’s not to say hey d doesn’t have serious environmental
doesn’t have serious environmental
doesn’t have serious environmental issues but it’s not as hopeless as it
issues but it’s not as hopeless as it
issues but it’s not as hopeless as it might look
might look
might look similarly the Dominican Republic which
similarly the Dominican Republic which
similarly the Dominican Republic which has been held up as a model for
has been held up as a model for
has been held up as a model for environmental protection maybe isn’t
environmental protection maybe isn’t
environmental protection maybe isn’t doing such a great job of protecting
doing such a great job of protecting
doing such a great job of protecting these twenty five percent of its
these twenty five percent of its
these twenty five percent of its territory that’s named on paper at least
territory that’s named on paper at least
territory that’s named on paper at least as national parks this is the Sierra
as national parks this is the Sierra
as national parks this is the Sierra about eco national park which has been
about eco national park which has been
about eco national park which has been widely impacted by deforestation both by
widely impacted by deforestation both by
widely impacted by deforestation both by agriculture by charcoal production in
agriculture by charcoal production in
agriculture by charcoal production in the last ten years the national parks of
the last ten years the national parks of
the last ten years the national parks of the Dominican Republic have lost 122
the Dominican Republic have lost 122
the Dominican Republic have lost 122 square miles of forest the sierra echo
square miles of forest the sierra echo
square miles of forest the sierra echo has lost 22 square miles of forest the
has lost 22 square miles of forest the
has lost 22 square miles of forest the dominican republic has had great trouble
dominican republic has had great trouble
dominican republic has had great trouble controlling illegal trafficking of
controlling illegal trafficking of
controlling illegal trafficking of charcoal heading into haiti but in our
charcoal heading into haiti but in our
charcoal heading into haiti but in our research what we found was in fact most
research what we found was in fact most
research what we found was in fact most of the vast majority of the charcoal
of the vast majority of the charcoal
of the vast majority of the charcoal that was illegally transported into
that was illegally transported into
that was illegally transported into haiti was controlled operated and
haiti was controlled operated and
haiti was controlled operated and produced by Dominicans not by Haitians
produced by Dominicans not by Haitians
produced by Dominicans not by Haitians similarly much of the deforestation that
similarly much of the deforestation that
similarly much of the deforestation that happened in Haiti happened in colonial
happened in Haiti happened in colonial
happened in Haiti happened in colonial times and it very little to do with
times and it very little to do with
times and it very little to do with charcoal production it was timber it was
charcoal production it was timber it was
charcoal production it was timber it was demand by the colonial powers for
demand by the colonial powers for
demand by the colonial powers for repatriations in fact in many cases
repatriations in fact in many cases
repatriations in fact in many cases charcoal has been used as a tool to
charcoal has been used as a tool to
charcoal has been used as a tool to explain why haiti is soda forested and
explain why haiti is soda forested and
explain why haiti is soda forested and it has remained as a tool but why does
it has remained as a tool but why does
it has remained as a tool but why does any of this matter why does our
any of this matter why does our
any of this matter why does our perspective on Hispaniola matter why
perspective on Hispaniola matter why
perspective on Hispaniola matter why does our perception of environmental
does our perception of environmental
does our perception of environmental impact matter at all when we look at
impact matter at all when we look at
impact matter at all when we look at Haiti and Dominican Republic we see a
Haiti and Dominican Republic we see a
Haiti and Dominican Republic we see a divided island we see two separate
divided island we see two separate
divided island we see two separate countries we see two separate practices
countries we see two separate practices
countries we see two separate practices we see two separate histories and two
we see two separate histories and two
we see two separate histories and two separates trajectories but at the end of
separates trajectories but at the end of
separates trajectories but at the end of the day Haiti and Dominican public are
the day Haiti and Dominican public are
the day Haiti and Dominican public are in fact one island that share one set of
in fact one island that share one set of
in fact one island that share one set of resources they can have their
resources they can have their
resources they can have their differences they can have their
differences they can have their
differences they can have their different culture they can have their
different culture they can have their
different culture they can have their different language but the end of the
different language but the end of the
different language but the end of the day they rely on the same natural
day they rely on the same natural
day they rely on the same natural resources so instead of seeing a divided
resources so instead of seeing a divided
resources so instead of seeing a divided island like we’ve seen for so long in
island like we’ve seen for so long in
island like we’ve seen for so long in these images of a winner and a loser of
these images of a winner and a loser of
these images of a winner and a loser of a country to emulate in a country to
a country to emulate in a country to
a country to emulate in a country to avoid becoming what we need to see is
avoid becoming what we need to see is
avoid becoming what we need to see is more joint action by Dominican Republic
more joint action by Dominican Republic
more joint action by Dominican Republic in Haiti and recognize that it’s one
in Haiti and recognize that it’s one
in Haiti and recognize that it’s one island
island
island and not two separate countries the
and not two separate countries the
and not two separate countries the Dominican Republic in Haiti have turned
Dominican Republic in Haiti have turned
Dominican Republic in Haiti have turned into a case study but they’ve become a
into a case study but they’ve become a
into a case study but they’ve become a negative case study by changing the
negative case study by changing the
negative case study by changing the perception of the way we view the island
perception of the way we view the island
perception of the way we view the island by changing the way that we look at the
by changing the way that we look at the
by changing the way that we look at the stories we tell about the people that
stories we tell about the people that
stories we tell about the people that are here by connecting environmental
are here by connecting environmental
are here by connecting environmental impact to the people to the communities
impact to the people to the communities
impact to the people to the communities and to the different individuals that
and to the different individuals that
and to the different individuals that are infected by environmental impact we
are infected by environmental impact we
are infected by environmental impact we can create urgency when we create enci
can create urgency when we create enci
can create urgency when we create enci we can create action so rather than a
we can create action so rather than a
we can create action so rather than a cautionary tale for the rest of the
cautionary tale for the rest of the
cautionary tale for the rest of the world dominican republic and haiti can
world dominican republic and haiti can
world dominican republic and haiti can become an example for the world of how
become an example for the world of how
become an example for the world of how to stop a slow-motion disaster thank you
”
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