The road to peace cannot be paved with violence
"As you conduct your wars, think of others
(do not forget those who seek peace)As you pay your water bill, think of others
(those who are nursed by clouds).As you return home, to your home, think of others
(do not forget the people of the camps)."-Mahmoud Darwish
Earlier this week, a gunman shot three Palestinian college students as they were walking in a Vermont neighborhood.
Quixote Center’s Theory of Change in Haiti: Part I
Consistent with our mission statement, Quixote Center’s work in Haiti prioritizes systemic change. Our theory of change has three aspects:
Quixote Center in Gros Morne, Haiti
In Fiscal Year 2023 Quixote Center’s agro-forestry work in Haiti directly impacted over 800 families, over 1000 elementary school children, and hundreds more small-scale farmers and cooperative members. Indirectly our reforestation work impacts all 11,000 members of the population of Gros Morne and surrounding areas.
Congress Should Invest in Humane Solutions, not Broken Systems
Congress Should Invest in Humane Solutions, not Broken Systems
Everywhere is War
And until there is no longer first class and second class citizens of any nation…well, everywhere is war.
—Bob Marley
The U.S. Border in Panama
Under pressure from the US, and with a large financial incentive, Panama is attempting to control the flow of migrants in its territory through deterrence and deportations.
Prophets and Mystics
…recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world…
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR), Preamble
Defending human rights is a political act. Without respect for human rights, democracy crumbles and stability gives way to civil unrest, insecurity, and migration, as people do what they feel they have to do to survive.
Are There Really no Alternatives to Armed Intervention in Haiti?
Haiti continues to deal with a heart-breaking crisis situation of extreme violence and food insecurity. Now the US government has signed an agreement with the government of Kenya to provide financial and other support for a Kenya-led “international police” action in Haiti. While the situation is desperate, I remain unconvinced that armed international intervention is the right solution.
TPS for Venezuela Statement
Deterrence is a Failed Policy: TPS and Expanded Pathways are the Way Forward
People Walk to America
The kid with the neck tattoo of bright red lips, I won’t soon forget him. It wasn’t the neck tattoo of a tough guy or a gang member, but the playful tattoo of a baby-faced teenager. I bet I will run into him someday in the U.S., but I first met him near the Guatemala/Mexico border in June.
Fresco de Jamaica Recipe
Tea made from flor de jamaica, or hibiscus, is a popular drink across Mexico and Central America, including Nicaragua. For Quixote Center staff, jamaica has often been a lifesaving thirst-quencher during our travels. Refresco de jamaica—or agua de jamaica as it’s often called in Mexico—is a perfectly refreshing way to close out the summer.