Haiti Feb/2013
Notes from trip-
My Brother Gerry (filmographer) and I learning alot-
I fundraise a lot for Haiti
This was my 2nd trip there.
This time focusing on environmental concerns-
Visited Agroforestry school-
With a few strategic and critical NGO’s -
(Those who can and are making a difference – CF, JPHRO, INGA)
Agriculture and reforestation are top issues.
With Inga Foundation’s Mike Hands- tropical ecologist from Cambridge -
Who- has had great success in Honduras (and did years of study in Costa Rica. Alternatives to slash and burn)
Inga can act As “nurse” to rainforest trees–And used in alley cropping.
Long term idea.
10 year programme
Haiti is in need of reforestation, which will help with ground integrity, planting in “rainforest environment” growing quickly- sturdy- creating canopy. Then prune for firewood. Discouraging farmers from slash and burn – it will be an essential part of what people need.
Inga is a great source for all these  issues -
We made a lot of stops over the few days.
I keep looking for surf spots. A surf contest/fundraiser would be a good idea. And -surfers are easy to house- will enjoy the adventure and the ability to help-
It was very nice to revisit JPHRO after I was there 2 years ago.
(I brought cold beer for the volunteers )
This time-
We felt more comfortable not filming tent camp area/families … I didn’t want to be intrusive- for more information please visit www.JPHRO.org to see all their great work.
We had a nice long tour and were amazed at how far they have come.
Great people – hard working – intelligent efforts.
Re housing most of the Tent camp families. Finding ways to rebuild and remove rubble in hardest hit areas.
They have cleared roads , built medical facilities, rebuilt schools,
I was so proud to see familiar faces. A lot of hugs in order.
I remember a much different place. I’m amazed how many young people- How many Hatians working hard for the organization and in the field -all focused. A common goal. They are succeeding. They have become the Model to follow.
Good to see.
We visited a vitiver factory
vitiver can be a popular export. Also the waste from vitiver is good for eco- briquettes-(a possibility)
I love the Amazing Haitian Mangoes, coffee, Beer…
Tomatoes..peppers,
Soul of Haiti is helping to teach good business practices, local farming. They say all Hatians are entroreneurs- Selling produce is important and community building.
ORE was our last Agricultural visit.
Moussant and Allesant (agroforesters)
Have been at this issue for a long time –trying to reforest areas of national park. But having to deal with so many other issues- You can tell its been difficult. Uphill battle. People cutting into park for firewood. Survival–. (Inga will provide people firewood)
Great long meeting–Lots of smiles- everyone felt encouraged.
Mike and Moussant really hit it off. Inga will be very useful here.
-it all makes sense.

The trip was very successful.

Grace children’s hospital and Mother Theresa Orphanage are in  a transitionary phase.
But are managing.
Lets hope enough funds are raised to rebuild the Hospital -safely.

I have fallen in love with Haiti. Its an inspiring place.
We all may face
a time -where survival and instinct will be what defines us -Helping each other now. Teaches us that no matter what- There is always hope.

I’m very Excited to be here. It’s overwhelming, flattering. At very least I’m honored to be here with you today.

I’ll tell you a bit about my background. -
How all this started for me- .
I was the one -friends brought the sick dog to or the Bird with a broken wing- there’s usually one person in every neighborhood.
My Aunt and I always were putting food and water out for the feral cats in the neighborhood-I was fascinated.- I felt they spoke a secret language because she was deaf…
My father was a hunter. I grew up in Venison and Moose meat.
One day he told me – “Pamela Do Not Go in the Pump house”- so as any 5yr old tomboy would do I swiftly gathered all my girlfriends in ribbons and curls (added for dramatic effect) and marched straight to the pump house. We opened the door – and there hanging upside down was a dead dear with no head dripping -blood into a bucket. Screams – running. I think I blacked out. But do remember returning the favor- traumatizing my father and his friends learning incredible negotiating skills. Pulling out all the stops-
I convinced all of them to
never to Hunt again- I know my Dad never did anyway-
I learned at that age- speaking up does make a difference.
When I was on Baywatch I was getting a lot of attention worldwide. Press was new to me-I wrote to PETA.
I was bored of talking about boyfriends and boobs.
Dan Mathews and I became fast friends and have traveled around the world- crusading for animal rights attaching whatever issue in whatever country I was in for whatever reason- usually making an appearance – it has given meaning to what I do-
We were able to enact a animal protection law that didn’t exist in Austria. Just recently convinced Vladimir Putin to stop importing seal products from Canada. (Where I am from) The first part of the seal hunt this year – so far has been cancelled.

Dan speaks-

Me – water issue
Water is a global issue -
But where I reside at the moment. In the USA.
50 percent of water used is for the meat industry.
To water crops used to feed animals meant for slaughter
To give water to the animals living waiting for slaughter.
Rivers are diverted to water crops and animals
Once beautiful and pristine rivers are now ugly stinky sewers.
Billions of animals waste eventually seeps into water sources choking off marine life- killing off endangered species and messing with the biodiversity of our waterways and our Oceans- pools of sewage farmers sometimes have to suck up and spray so it evaporates into the air and carried by the wind into neighboring fields and up our noses.

Dan speaks of – UN report

Me-Speaking of transport.
The energy it takes -
Starting with
Clearing Rainforest.
Growing grain (mostly soybean- to protein enrich animals) (better to just eat soy no?)Transporting grain – shipped, trucked to refineries that have their own detrimental effects on the environment. The feed is then shipped (often overseas) – then animals are chopped into pieces. – “Prepared”- They are trucked, shipped overseas and are kept in environmentally unfriendly refrigerated warehouses- before finally bring shipped, trucked to grocery store- then there is the food waste element-
Takes up a lot of energy!

Which leads us to some other hopeful solutions- how to tackle reforestation – replace slash and burn agroforestry – replanting possibilities.
Vivienne Westwood made our introduction. We were in Honduras together and most Recently Haiti- returning a week ago.
I’d like to introduce you to founder of Inga foundation -Cambridge Alumni Mike Hands-

Show Glass Walls Video/Paul McCartney
Take Questions

I didn’t read off any paper/ this was what I wrote before going on-
a little intimidated -but kept close to speech–

–talk went 1/2 hr. over. (730-930)
- good questions.

More info: Study claims meat creates half of all greenhouse gases
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/study-claims-meat-creates-half-of-all-greenhouse-gases-1812909.html

Click to Enlarge

Talking to the SUN is always risky- they have written a lot of garbage about me over the last decade or 2. So in fairly good faith – I sat down with them to discuss my newest adventure. -My love of skating!! I went on to talk about all the charity work I’m involved in with PETA, The Climate Revolution, Inga Foundation (reforestation), Haiti with JPHRO, Sea Shepherd and raising 2 teenage boys- quite effectively – and how proud I am of them– they are great citizens despite the odds of being around Hollywood- but we split time between Vancouver Island and Malibu. And that has been a saving grace.

We joked about page 3 girls- ha ha. And they brought up my health and my tax debt (failed to mention the Bogus Construction Lawsuit- the poor business management- and people failing to pay me what I was owed- all at one time- to find out my taxes werent paid on time. Instead of going bankrupt-(trick of the trade) I dug in and was determined to do things right. Work harder than I ever have and pay those bills despite the ill intent of others- it didnt take me down. My last payment on house was in December. Happy New Year. I own a trailer. I have for 6 years. I bought it long before my construction situation (it took me 4 years to build the prettiest house in Malibu- I think )

I have the trailer for guests, family, dirt bikes, surf boards, golf carts. It’s heaven for the boys. It’s their favorite spot- no one should feel sorry for me– I Am doing quite well for a single mom-
And am really enjoying skating. Ill skate the rest of my life no matter what happens. But Im intrigued. I want to know what I’m capable of. I’ve Commited myself to finding out.

Please vote for me tonight. I have so much to give– and I need to perform- it
Is freeing and Lucid. Matt reminds me of my son Brandon in a lot of ways. And the first song is dedicated to him.

I hope you enjoy it. Pamela.