RN Documentary: Paradise Lost
Series: RN Focus: Failed States
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Length: 00:29:29
- Playing
- RN Documentary: Paradise Lost
- From
- Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Haiti is the world's first black republic. Ever since achieving independence two centuries ago, the country has been plagued by political instability. Today it is the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere. It's often cited as a typical example of a failed state. The police and justice system are almost non-existent. Even in the capital, public schools, hospitals, electricity, water and sewage barely function. In Paradise Lost, Eric Beauchemin looks at the collapse of the Haitian nation.
This is the third program in The Abyss, a four-part series on failed states, produced in collaboration with the Ford Foundation.
More from Radio Netherlands Worldwide
RN Documentary: Swimming, Sinking or Simply Paddling
(00:29:30)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
The first in a 4-part series on failed states looks at the meaning of the term, the causes and what can be done to pull countries away from the abyss.
RN Documentary: A Deep Cancer - The Collapse of Zimbabwe
(00:29:30)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Zimbabwe used to be one of the most prosperous countries in southern Africa. Today it is a state teetering on the brink of collapse.
RN Documentary: Starting from Scratch
(00:29:29)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
The last in a four-part series on failed states, looking at Cambodia
Hear the World 2012, program 9
(00:58:01)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Nainako / Tshala Muana / DWMD: Di Gojim / Khaled
The State We're In 2012, Story of the Week, part 20
(00:05:00)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
AUSTRALIAN ANGEL REMEMBERED: For almost 50 years, Don Ritchie lived close to Australia’s most notorious suicide spot, known locally in Sydney as “The Gap”.
Hear the World 2012, program 8
(00:58:01)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Rango / Te Vaka / DWMD: Nynke Laverman / Zehava Ben
The State We're In 2012, Story of the Week, part 19
(00:05:00)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
DESCRIPTION: THE HUMAN GOOGLE:
Give Brad Williams a date – any date – from the past 53 years and he’ll know instantly where he was, and what was happening in the news that day ...
The State We're In 2012, Story of the Week, part 18
(00:04:59)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
THE WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE: Dutch photographer Michel Szulc Krysanowski put an ad in 10 newspapers,
The State We're In 2012, Story of the Week, part 17
(00:05:00)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
“Mohamed” (not his real name) is a blogger and journalist in Benghazi, Libya.
The State We're In 2012, Story of the Week, part 16
(00:05:00)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Busi Ndlovu had a plan to get her family through the continuing tough times in Zimbabwe
Related Pieces
Piece Description
Haiti is the world's first black republic. Ever since achieving independence two centuries ago, the country has been plagued by political instability. Today it is the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere. It's often cited as a typical example of a failed state. The police and justice system are almost non-existent. Even in the capital, public schools, hospitals, electricity, water and sewage barely function. In Paradise Lost, Eric Beauchemin looks at the collapse of the Haitian nation. This is the third program in The Abyss, a four-part series on failed states, produced in collaboration with the Ford Foundation.
2 Comments
|
Review of RN Documentary: Paradise LostParadise Lost is a sobering documentary about the poor conditions in Haiti, and the government?s inability to improve the quality of life for its people. Healthcare, poverty, corruption, crime, and lack of services all are addressed by the reporter and the experts (mostly from Non Governmental Organizations) who appear in the piece. As one might expect, the picture is very bleak, although the report manages to highlight a couple of encouraging developments. The reporter?s narration is competent, if a little formal, and the report does a good job of providing history and context to today?s situation. Where the piece falls short however is in building compelling scenes, and including the voices of ordinary (non ?expert?) Haitian people. There is a powerful scene near the top of the story at a maternity ward, and I found myself wanting to hear more first-hand experiences such as this, rather than the analyses of professionals. Nevertheless, it?s important that Haiti not be forgotten even though it?s not in the headlines these days. |
Transcript
Paradise Lost
CD 238149-8 ? 2?05?
Radio Netherlands Worldwide presents ?Paradise Lost?. It?s the second programme in ?The Abyss? a four-part series on failed states produced in collaboration with the Ford Foundation. It?s presented by Eric Beauchemin.
TEASERS:
SCHNEIDER: Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. It?s gone through several decades of dictatorial rule and then civil conflict.
BAUD: There?s large scale violence. There?s lawlessness. State institutions do not function, and if they function, they only function partially.
REIJNERS: If in Port-au-Prince, you have a problem, a serious health problem, you die. It?s so simple as that.
CURELLY: We?re getting in and getting the first little bit of sanity going.
CD
Haiti is the world?s first black republic. It obtained independence over two centuries ago, but today it?s often mentioned as a classic e...
Read the full transcript
Musical Works
?Man Man Moin? Air Mail Music SA 141033 Composer ? Unknown 2?05?
Additional Files
- Les Salines, a slum in Port-au-Prince (img0374.jpg)
Of 2 purchasers of this piece...
- 2 also bought:
- 2 also bought:
Deep In Our Hearts (00:58:57) - 2 also bought:RN Documentary: Starting from Scratch (00:29:29)
- 2 also bought:
- 2 also bought:
John Voci
Posted on November 27, 2006 at 10:23 AM | Permalink
Review of RN Documentary: Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost is the second part of a four-part series examining failed states. The program focuses on Haiti, the first black republic and the poorest country in the western hemisphere. It also is a prime example of a country that has a history of failure to provide for its citizens and the stories of violence and lack of services referred to in Paradise Lost are horrific.
This well researched documentary is primarily comprised of interviews with experts from non-governmental organizations and, although it is well produced, the program moves a bit too quickly through several topics. The opening segments are the most compelling with startling statistics on violence and the health care crisis. The program could also benefit from more interviews with some of Haiti?s citizens about the challenges of daily life.
For those of us living in the western hemisphere, it?s important for us to understand our neighbors and Paradise Lost is a good introduction to the problems one of our poorest.