30607: RE: 30598: (Minsky) reply Corbett (reply) Spinelli (reply) Jacmel Film Festival (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: "tminsky@ix.netcom.com" <tminsky@ix.netcom.com>


I agree with Bob that different people get fired up by different pursuits
and for the most part anything that doesn't harm is positive.

But on the practical side, these seemingly "less prioritized" pursuits have
some practical outcomes.  Short term they put money into the pockets of
Haitians.  From technical helpers, construction, drivers, food services
(including purchase of agricultural products, hoteliers (this is the time
when all the hotels are packed), full commuter airflights,  and helpers.
The recent music festival in Jacmel created 350 short term jobs.  This is
not to mention, the plethora of vendors (all local small
businessfolk)--food, liquor, artisan products, jewelry for sale that were
stationed at the far end of the Jacmel beach during the festival and who no
doubt supplied plenty of food for the thousands on the beach.


Many of these festivals also have a component of training, whether formal
or informal.  For the film festival, Jacmelians were taught how to operate
the projection equipment.

> From a cultural point of view these festivals are priceless.  Offered free
to the public,
they help lessen the geographic cultural isolation. There is a whole world
outside of Haiti and the film festival and the music festivals help bring
that world to Haiti.
The visiting international filmmakers and artists get an education too.
It's win-win.


On seeing a film about the favelas in Brazil one eight year old ("middle
class") turned to his father and said, I didn't know they have poor people
outside of Haiti.


Real tourism is a  way off until Haiti deals with some of its critical
issues. Most people
don't deny this.  In the meantime, festivals are by and for the Haitian
population while the country struggles (hopefully) toward development.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web.com - Microsoft® Exchange solutions from a leading provider -
http://link.mail2web.com/Business/Exchange