EPISODE NOTES

Often the news covers crises without context. That's especially true when it comes to coverage of the Global South in international media. 

Our guest this episode, journalist and documentary filmmaker Etant Dupain, gives us a behind-the-headlines look at events in Haiti, his home country. Dupain says that the gangs who control much of the country now are supported by powerful elites. Their aim, his says, is to suppress a grassroots protest movement that is calling for accountability for the embezzlement of billions of dollars in development funds. 

Dupain's documentary film, The Fight for Haiti, tells the story of the Haitian movement against corruption and impunity, which started with a tweet and at its height had hundreds of thousands in the street. This episode was first recorded in February 2025, and has been updated. 

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• The problematic history of foreign aid in Haiti including the aftermath of the the 2010 earthquake

• The Petrocaribe agreement with Venezuela that was supposed to fund crucial infrastructure projects in Haiti

• Creative tactics activists used to demand accountability

• Who profits when gangs overtake a country

• What the end of temporary protective status for Haitians in the United States could mean for Haiti's future 

Watch a trailer and learn more about the film and the movement at thefightforhaiti.com. Want to host a screening? Email info@thefightforhaiti.com. 

Protest audio used in the episode is from the film The Fight for Haiti, used with permission. Other music in this episode by Xylo-Ziko, Toby Tranter, and Reed Mathis.