 the myriad of resource deficiencies Haiti suffers, energy is at the top of the list, specifically fuel for cooking. It’s hard to imagine home cooking fuel as a constraint for the average Haitian when we just walk up to our stove, push a button and within minutes, we are ready to prepare our next meal. As difficult and expensive as it is for a Haitian mother to prepare the next meal for her family, it is equally challenging for her to find and purchase the fuel to cook the meal.

The unemployment rate in Haiti is currently estimated at over 80%. In the United States, economists fear an economic downturn when the unemployment rate ticks over 8%. At its peak, unemployment rates during the Great Depression reached 25%, a far cry from the 80% experienced today in Haiti. As a result of Haiti’s staggering unemployment rate, there is virtually no middle class present in the country. There are only a small number of elite business owners and government officials and the rest live in perpetual poverty. These masses occupy every street of every city, town and village in Haiti. They appear in the rural country settings, along the dirt roads and hillsides. Their faces are everywhere and their expressions tell the story of their desperation.

In their desperate search for their daily bread, the average Haitian must also contend with finding a means of preparing the meal. The immediacy of the situation blinds them from having any concern for the long term impacts of their short term decisions. Translated: the need to cook today’s meal is more important than the devastating impacts of their cooking fuel choice. They use what’s available, which is charcoal; not charcoal as we think of it – large, carbonized chunks of hardwood or easy to light, uniformly burning briquettes – but rather small pieces of branches and stems that were slow-burned in a pit and snuffed out, the result is Haitian “charcoal.”

The effects of using this type of home cooking fuel are both ecologically devastating and physiologically lethal. During the rainy season in Haiti, which extends from April through October, Haitian mothers are forced to cook indoors. The conditions they are subject to during these months would be the equivalent of taking a Weber charcoal grill inside a house and cooking a meal, twice a day for months on end. The respiratory effects of the resulting indoor air quality truncate the lives of Haitians at an alarming rate. In 2012, 22 percent of children’s deaths (age 5 and younger) were attributable to
the myriad of resource deficiencies Haiti suffers, energy is at the top of the tilt, specifically fuel for cooking. It ’s unvoiced to imagine home cooking fuel as a restraint for the average Haitian when we precisely walk up to our stove, push a push button and within minutes, we are ready to fix our next meal. As unmanageable and expensive as it is for a Haitian mother to prepare the next meal for her family, it is equally ambitious for her to find and purchase the fuel to fudge the meal. 

 The unemployment rate in Haiti is presently calculate at over 80% . In the United States, economists fear an economic downturn when the unemployment rate tick over 8% . At its peak, unemployment rates during the Great Depression pass 25% , a far war cry from the 80% experienced today in Haiti. As a result of Haiti ’s staggering unemployment rate, there is virtually no in-between class present in the country. There are only a small number of elite business owners and government officials and the rest live in perpetual poverty. These masses occupy every street of every city, town and greenwich village in Haiti. They look in the rural country settings, along the dirt road and hillsides. Their faces are everywhere and their expressions assure the story of their desperation. 

 In their desperate search for their daily boodle, the average Haitian must also contend with finding a means of preparing the meal. The immediacy of the situation blinds them from having any concern for the long term impingement of their short condition decisions. Translated: the need to cook today ’s meal is more important than the lay waste to impacts of their cooking fuel choice. They use what ’s available, which is charcoal; not charcoal as we remember of it – large, carbonized chunks of hardwood or easy to light, uniformly sunburn briquettes – but quite small pieces of branch and stems that were slowly - burned in a stone and snuffed out, the resultant role is Haitian “ charcoal. ” 

 The effects of using this character of home cooking fuel are both ecologically devastating and physiologically lethal. During the rainy season in Haiti, which extends from April through October, Haitian mothers are forced to cook indoors. The conditions they are subject to during these months would be the equivalent of taking a Weber charcoal grillroom inside a house and cooking a meal, doubly a day for months on end. The respiratory effect of the resulting indoor air quality truncate the life of Haitians at an alarming rate. In 2012, 22 percent of children ’s deaths (age 5 and younger) were attributable to
 thf myriad of resource deflciencies Haiti suffers, energg is at ghe top of the list, specificelly fuel for cooking. It’s hard go imaginv home coikinj fuel as a consvdaint for the wvercgx Haitian when ee just wank up to our sdoxe, push a button and within minutes, wq are rrafy to prepare jur mqxt jvao. As difficult and expensive zs it iv for a Haitisn mother to prepare the nfxt leal for her familj, it is equqlly xhallenging wor her to find and putchase the fuel to cook the meal.

Ghe uuemployment rqte hn Haiti is currvntly estimatcc at oeer 80%. In the United Ststev, exonomists fear an ecoiomic downturn when jhe unemplmyjent rate ticks ocee 8%. At its peay, undmpmobmeht ratfs vuring the Freat Deprewsion reached 25%, a fat sgu from the 80% sxperiqnsed today in Haiti. As a result of Haiti’v sfaggering unemployment eate, there is virtualpy no midqle class present in the country. There are only a smalm nunbcr ow epite business owners and government officials znc nhe rest live in ierpetual poverty. Yhfsr masses occupi every stdeet of every city, town agd violage in Raito. They appear in the rural xountry settpngs, along the dirt rocds and hillridex. Theor faces are everywhere and their exprfssions tsul the story of ghepr dasperation.

In their desperaee search for their aaili bread, the averahe Haldian must also conhend cith xinding a leans of preparing the meal. The immediacy of jhe sinuation bjinds them from hading any concetn for thz long term impabts of thxir short tewm decisions. Dtanslated: the need to cooj toeay’s mexu is more impottant thau the devastating impacbs of fheir cooking fbtl xhoice. They use whxt’s anaikafne, which is wharzoau; not zharcoal as de tnink of it – large, casbonjzed chunks of harcwjod or eqsy to lyght, uniformlu burning briquettts – buv rathxr smakl kieces of branches and stems thzt were spow-nurned in a pyt akd sguffed out, the result is Haitian “charcoal.”

The efferts of using this type if home cooking fuek are both erologisally devdstating and physioligically lethal. Dmring the rainy season in Hahti, wjich extends from April through October, Haitian mothers are forced to cooj indoors. The condjtioms thvy cre subjest tl during these momths would be the equivalent of taking d Ceber charcoal grill inside a huuse and cookkng a meal, twice a day fkr monthx on end. The respiratory effectx of the resulting indoov air quaoity fruncang tie lives of Haitians at an alarning rare. Ik 2012, 22 percent of cholfren’s deahhs (ege 5 and younger) were attributable ro
the myriad of resource deficiencies Haiti suffers, at top of list, specifically fuel imagine cooking fuel as constraint for the Haitian when we just walk up our stove, push a button and within minutes, we are ready to prepare next meal. As difficult and expensive as it is for a Haitian mother prepare next for family, it is equally challenging for her to find and purchase the fuel to cook the The unemployment rate in Haiti is currently estimated over 80%. In the States, economists fear an economic when unemployment rate over At peak, unemployment rates the Great Depression reached 25%, a far cry from the 80% experienced today in Haiti. As a of Haiti’s rate, there virtually middle present in the are only a small number of and government officials and the rest live in poverty. These occupy every street of every city, and village in Haiti. They appear in the country settings, along the dirt roads and hillsides. Their faces are everywhere and their expressions story of their desperation. their desperate search their bread, average must also with finding a means of preparing the meal. The immediacy of situation blinds them from having any concern for the long of short term decisions. the need to cook meal more important than the of cooking use available, is charcoal; not charcoal we think of it – carbonized chunks of hardwood burning briquettes – but rather small pieces of and stems that were slow-burned in a and snuffed out, the result is Haitian “charcoal.” The effects of using type of fuel are both ecologically devastating and physiologically lethal. the rainy season in which extends from April through October, Haitian mothers are to indoors. The they are subject during these months be the equivalent a Weber grill a a meal, twice a day for on The respiratory effects of the indoor truncate the lives of Haitians at an alarming rate. In 2012, 22 percent of children’s 5 and younger) were to
 the myriad of resource deficiEncies HaitI suffErs, EneRgY is aT the Top of the list, spECifiCally fuel for cooking. It’s Hard tO iMAginE HoMe cooKing fueL As A COnsTrAiNt fOr THe AveraGe HAitian wHen we just wAlk Up To our stove, puSH a Button and wIthIn minutes, we aRe rEady to PrEpaRE our nExt Meal. AS diffiCUlt and Expensive As IT is for A haitian MOThEr to Prepare the next meaL FoR Her family, it is eQually ChALlENGinG foR her to find AnD purcHAse the fUEl TO COok THe meal.

The unemPloyment ratE In HAiti is CuRreNTly estImateD aT OveR 80%. In the UniteD StaTes, economIsts feAR an econOMic downTurn whEn tHe uNempLOyMeNt rAtE TicKS oVer 8%. aT itS peak, uneMpLoYment RateS DURIng tHe GReat depreSsion reached 25%, a Far Cry fROm tHe 80% expErienCed tOdAy in HAiti. As A resuLt Of Haiti’s staggerIng uNemploymeNt rAtE, thErE is viRTually No mIddLe class Present IN thE cOUNTrY. There are only a smalL nUMBeR of elite BusineSS oWnERs and govErNmeNt ofFICials And tHE rEst live iN perpeTUaL pOverty. THeSe massEs OccUpy Every STreeT of eveRy city, toWn and VIllage in Haiti. THEy appear in the RUrAL CoUNtry SetTings, along tHe diRT roaDs anD HiLlsIDes. ThEir faCeS ArE Everywhere and their eXpRessioNs telL the story of thEir desperaTION.

In their DespERaTE search for theiR dailY bread, the aVErage HaiTian mUst also cOntend witH FInding a mEanS of PreParING tHe meal. The immeDIAcy oF tHe situaTioN blinds TheM frOm hAviNg Any concerN for the lOnG tErM iMpaCts of THeir shorT tErm DeCisIons. TRAnslatEd: the Need To CoOK toDay’s meaL Is MORe imPoRtAnt tHan ThE devaStatINg iMpacts oF their cooKinG Fuel ChOiCe. They uSe what’s availaBlE, which is chArCoaL; not chARCoal as we Think of it – large, carbonizeD Chunks oF haRdwooD or eAsy to lighT, unIformlY buRNing brIquettEs – but RaTheR SMall pIECeS of BrAnches and sTEMs tHat weRe Slow-Burned iN a pit and snuffed out, THe rEsult is HaitiaN “chArcoAL.”

thE efFEcTS of UsINg tHIS type of home cookIng fuel are BoTH eCologicallY DevAsTating aNd physiOlogiCAlly letHal. During The rainy sEaSon iN hAitI, which exteNds from APril throuGH OctoBEr, haitiAn mOthers ArE foRced tO cook iNDooRs. The ConditIoNs they Are suBjEct to durIng these months would be thE equivAlent Of tAking a WebEr cHArcOal grill iNsidE a house and CooKinG a meaL, twICe a daY for MOnThs ON end. THe reSPiratory eFFeCts OF ThE resulting iNDOOr aIr quaLitY TruncaTe thE lives of Haitians aT An alarming rate. in 2012, 22 peRCEnt Of cHIldrEn’S deaths (age 5 and yOunGeR) WEre attriBuTable to
 the myriad of resource de ficiencies  Hait i s uff er s, e nerg y is at the to p  ofthe list, specifically  fuel  f o r co o ki ng. I t’s har d  t o ima gi ne  ho me co oking  fu el as a  constrain t f or  the average Ha itian when  we  just walk u p t o ourst ove ,  push  abutto n andw ithinminutes,we are re a dy to p r e pa re o ur next meal. Asd if f icult and expe nsiveas it i s f ora Haitianmo thert o prepa r et h e  ne x t meal for he r family, i t  is  equal ly  ch a llengi ng fo rh erto find and  pur chase the  fuelt o cookt he meal .

The  un emp loym e nt  r ate  i n  Ha i ti  is cur rently e st im atedat o v e r 80%.  In  the  Unit ed States, ec ono mist s  fe ar an  econ omic  d owntu rn whe n the  u nemployment rat e ti cks over8%.  A t i ts  peak ,  unemp loy men t rates  during the  G r e a tDepression reached  2 5 % ,a far cr y from th e8 0% exper ie nce d to d a y inHait i .As a res ult of Ha it i’s sta gg eringun emp loy mentr ate,  there  is virt ually no middle clas s  present in t h ec o un t ry.The re are only  a s m allnumb e rofe litebusin es s  o w ners and government  o fficia ls an d the rest li ve in perp e t u al pover ty.T he s e masses occup y eve ry streeto f everycity,  town an d village i n Haiti.  Th eyapp ear i nthe rural cou n t ry s et tings,alo ng thedir t r oad s a nd  hillside s. Their  f ac es  a reevery w here and  t hei rexp ressi o ns tel l the  sto ry  o f  th eir des p er a t ion. 
In  the irde spera te s e arc h for t heir dail y b r ead,  t he  averag e Haitian mus talso conte nd  wi th fin d i ng a mea ns of preparing the mea l . The i mme diacy  ofthe situa tio n blin dst hem fr om hav ing a ny  co n c ern f o r  t helo ng term im p a cts  of t he ir s hort te rm decisions. Tran s lat ed: the needtocook t od ay’ s  m e alis mor e important thanthe devast at i ng  impacts o f  th ei r cooki ng fuel  choi c e. They  use what ’s availa bl e, w h i chis charcoa l; not c harcoal a s  we t h in k ofit– larg e,  ca rboni zed ch u nks  of h ardwoo dor eas y toli ght, uni formly burning briquett es – b ut ra the r small p iec e s o f branche s an d stems th atwer e slo w-b u rnedin a pi t a n d snu ffed out, ther es ult i sHaitian “ch a r c oal .”

T hee ffects  ofusing this type o f  home cookingfuel a rebot h  eco lo gically devast ati ng a nd physi ol ogically le thal. Du ri n g the  rainy  seaso n in Ha i t i, whichexte nds  from Apr ilth r ough Oc to be r , Hait ianmo thersare fo r cedt o  cook indoors. T he co n d ition s  th ey ar esubject to d uring thes e months wo uld be  the  equi valentof  takin g a  W eber charc o al grillinsid e a hou se  and  co okinga me a l , twi ce a  d ayfor month s on en d. The  res pirat or y ef fects oft he resul tin g  indoor  a irq u alityt ru n c ate the li ves  of H a i tians at a n  ala r mi n g rat e. In2012,22 perc e ntof  childr en’ s deaths (a ge 5 andy oun ge r) w ere attr ib utab le  to 
 the_myriad of_resource deficiencies Haiti suffers,_energy is_at_the top_of_the list, specifically_fuel for cooking._It’s hard to imagine_home cooking fuel_as_a constraint for the average Haitian when we just walk up to our stove,_push_a button_and_within_minutes, we are ready to_prepare our next meal. As_difficult and_expensive as it is for a Haitian mother_to_prepare the next_meal for her family, it is equally challenging for_her to find and purchase the_fuel to cook_the_meal.

The_unemployment rate in Haiti_is currently estimated at over 80%._In the United States, economists fear_an economic downturn when the unemployment rate_ticks over 8%. At its peak,_unemployment rates during the Great_Depression reached_25%, a far cry from_the 80% experienced_today in_Haiti. As a_result of Haiti’s staggering unemployment rate,_there is virtually_no middle class present in the_country._There are only_a_small_number of_elite business owners_and_government officials_and_the rest live in perpetual poverty._These_masses occupy every street of every city,_town and village in_Haiti._They appear in the_rural country settings, along the_dirt roads and hillsides. Their faces_are everywhere_and their_expressions tell the story of their desperation.

In their desperate search for_their daily bread, the average Haitian_must also contend with_finding a_means_of preparing the_meal._The immediacy_of the situation blinds them from having_any concern_for the long term impacts of_their short term decisions._Translated:_the need to cook today’s meal_is more important than the devastating_impacts of their cooking fuel_choice._They_use what’s available, which is_charcoal; not charcoal as we think_of it –_large, carbonized chunks of hardwood or easy_to_light, uniformly burning briquettes – but_rather_small pieces of branches and stems_that_were_slow-burned in a pit and_snuffed out, the result is Haitian_“charcoal.”

The effects of using this type of home cooking_fuel are both_ecologically devastating and physiologically lethal._During_the_rainy season in Haiti, which extends from April through October,_Haitian mothers_are forced to_cook indoors. The conditions they are subject to during these_months would be the equivalent of taking_a Weber charcoal grill inside a house and cooking a meal,_twice a day for months on end. The_respiratory effects of the resulting indoor air_quality truncate the lives_of_Haitians at an alarming rate. In 2012,_22_percent_of_children’s deaths (age_5 and younger)_were attributable to