At some point before long, Haiti is going to be rebuilt. It occurs to me that we in BC have available wood to help in the effort. Most things are built of concrete there because there simply isn’t any wood. Rebuilding out of concrete will be massively expensive and massively polluting. And, as Premier Campbell noted in his speech to the BC Truck Loggers Association this week, wood buildings are much better in an earthquake zone than is concrete.
Using the pine beetle wood from our forests for rebuilding Haiti seems like an idea worth considering. What it would take would be enormous amounts of government money to make this happen, but if the Premiere truly wants to “re-establish and revitalize our forest industry” it makes sense.
Come to think of it, I can’t remember hearing anything at all about the BC government’s contribution to the Haiti relief effort. BC municipalities have signaled their intention to give support, and Harper is all over the news with his efforts. It would seem that Campbell needs some encouragement in this direction. I’m sure the forestry sector would be on side, and perhaps even the federal government could be.
Tom Kertes // Jan 24, 2010 at 9:59 pm
I like this modest proposal because what Haiti needs is resources to build its own infrastructures and institutions. Haiti needs resources, beyond the donated labour, management and help of over 10,000 foreign charities. I cannot imagine how hard it would be govern a country with its social infrastructure fragmented by so many missions and agendas, and by so many people based outside of the country.
Iglika Ivanova // Jan 26, 2010 at 10:30 am
Sounds like a good idea to me, too.
As for BC’s government contribution to the relief efforts, they pledged $500,000 to the Red Cross in a January 14 news release (though I’m not sure when the money was or would be actually given).
In the same news release, the government states that forestry minister Pat Bell is apparently coordinating with the Feds about providing wood and construction expertise for the reconstruction effort.
It seems like the provincial government is handling it reasonably well, considering that we’re in the last weeks of pre-Olympics prep.