Haiti’s bloody history is repeating itself once again as its streets erupt in gang violence, the spectre of starvation stalks society and the healthcare system has collapsed. The question of what, or who, could bring stability to this fragile Caribbean nation is asked with despairing regularity by outside observers as they see images of Port-au-Prince in flames and the brutality of the latest gang leader fighting his way to international attention.
It is not a question of pinpointing where Haiti went wrong but rather, as Observer columnist Kenan Malik explains, why the nation – born in 1804 out of a revolution in which the enslaved people of Saint-Domingue overthrew their French colonial masters – never had a chance to thrive. A burden of reparation payments, US occupation in the early 20th century and then support of a vicious anti-communist dictator set a course that hobbled the development of robust political institutions.
Reporting from the Dominican Republic’s side of the border, Dan Collyns sees how acute insecurity for 4 million Haitians threatens to become starvation after armed gangs have blockaded ports and laid siege to Port-au- Prince’s international airport. He also hears from the NGO workers who have attempted to keep hospitals open and deal with increasing numbers of patients presenting with gunshot wounds and other injuries caused by the spiralling violence.
A glimmer of hope raised by the most recent prime minister, Ariel Henry, for international support to set up a transitional council vanished with his resignation. And, as Peter Beaumont’s analysis explains, there are cogent reasons for Haitians to fear and resist solutions imposed from outside to their deep-seated problems. So while our big story does not come up with any easy solutions to Haiti’s latest bout of chaos, it does explain why stability is so hard for the country to reach.
We also catch up with the latest developments in the Middle East and in Russia and Ukraine, but below are a few other highlights in this week’s issue.
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Five essential reads in this week’s edition
1
Spotlight | The ‘carbon cowboys’ cashing in on credit schemes
Carbon schemes are touted as a way to transfer billions in climate finance to the developing world – but, as Patrick Greenfield reports, people at the Kariba project in Zimbabwe say most of the profits never arrive.
2
Science | How cathedral rooftops could hold the key to cosmic secrets
Mini missions are being launched amid English spires – a haven for dust particles that, as Sarah Wild discovers, may contain clues about the cosmos and the early Earth
3
Feature | ‘The little girl in Persepolis?’ She has grown up
As a new wave of protests sweep Iran, Marjane Satrapi explains in an interview with Angelique Chrisafis why she has returned to drawing. Plus: an extract from her new collection of protest cartoons
4
Opinion | Gary Younge on the racism row around the Tories’ biggest donor
This latest political scandal goes far beyond comments about Diane Abbott and Labour’s opportunistic response, but reveals how, in Britain’s degraded politics, fighting racism has become a cynical game
5
Culture | Stealing the show
Adrianne Lenker, singer and guitarist from US indie folk band Big Thief, tells Kathryn Bromwich about her latest solo work and disconnecting from modern technology
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What else we’ve been reading
Charles Spencer, the brother of Diana, princess of Wales, has written a memoir detailing how he was sexually abused as a boarding school child in 1970s Britain. His interview with Tim Adams for the Observer New Review was a shocking insight into the British private school system and its lasting impact on the county’s social elites. Graham Snowdon, editor
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Other highlights from the Guardian website
• Audio | Should forests have rights?
• Video | The Gambia: FGM supporters march to overturn ban
• Gallery | Stars in disguise: behind the scenes with Gary Oldman, Jennifer Lopez and Jerry Lewis
• Interactive | UK general election opinion polls tracker: Labour leading as election looms
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