I-Search+by+Noelani

by Noelani In what ways can innovation help the Dominican republic and the inhabitants survive and live in better conditions, than the current state? The Dominican Republic is a small island in the Caribbean neighboring Haiti, which has recently had a devastating earthquake. The Dominican Republic is not Eco-friendly, especially in the capital city, Santo Domingo. Ever since this country started it was always many years behind and is just now starting the industrial revolution, for example the Metro (train station) is just now built in the country. If money is donated to this country, and ideas, our powerful minds can make energy efficient technology to help this island advance and not be in so much poverty. The living conditions in the Dominican Republic aren't very clean( unless you're wealthy). Kids roam the streets, half-naked and playing with hand-made toys and wearing ripped up clothing. The environment there is very beautiful, but the city is dirty. The roads are covered in litter, holes in the concrete, insane driving, UN-safe roadways near the ocean and of course the people. This country is over-populated, and the shacks of houses are very old and vulnerable to the weather. To make matters worse, the so called "Global Warming" has caused dramatic weather changes, not just there but all over. Light snow in Florida, crazy storms in the northern states, the Caribbean was getting weather below the 50's which is unusual. Locals were seen wearing jackets to protect their skin from the freeze never felt by the people of the tropical climate, who are close to the equator.
 * The Issues with Being Behind **
 * Part I--What I already know about my topic **

A couple questions i want to find out the answer for are like: Why is the Dominican Republic so behind technologically speaking, than most other countries? If i knew this answer i could make up millions of ideas that make my brain work. Also I want to know 'Why does the president not really put effort into cleaning up this country and restoring its natural beauty? The Dominican Republic is covered i mountains, beautiful beaches, and so much forest that its unbelievable. Then with all the tourism and the inhibitors of this country, they don't make it any cleaner and these people litter all over as if sanitation will clean it. But DR is nothing like New York, because the state is very organized and the people respect the laws, and you can breathe in clean air.
 * Part II--What I Want to Find Out **

From an expert I found out that the Dominican Republic was always behind in technology, and the structures for buildings were never the best. She said that from personal experience "We never had plumbing, so as a child I'd carry a huge bucket of water to the house in the blaring heat. Sometimes the light would go out and the whole town would black out unless you had a power generator- which wasn't affordable at the time- and we'd spend a whole day without power. No matter what, some buildings would collapse under the storms that came during hurricane season, and that's why some people were homeless. The poverty was not as bad before because the technology wasn't good enough to allow all the partying Dominicans do now; If you traveled there dirt and trash would cover the country in the areas where humanity ruined natural resources. The air is so dense with pollution in the capital, that if you are in a car and you open the windows, your lungs will hurt and you will choke on the poor oxygen." She also claims there is no sewer management or waste management at all in the city and else where in the country they all use outhouses.On a personal note after spending so many summers there I got used to it, but it was disgusting to smell it all, and see the poor care these residents have for such a beautiful island. Another thing about this is that the government takes the money from tourism and taxes, but doesn't spend it on helping clean up or set up laws that prohibit littering. In my opinion it is very selfish of the government to steal all that money, and at least the new president is putting in some effort to clear out the prostitution and trash all over. According to a Travel+Leisure magazine, the Dominican Republic is the 2nd happiest country on the planet. With all the enthusiasm they have to party all night, why don't they work together to clean the place up? But not all Dominicans are dirty or poor; Some of them live in clean and organized homes/ neighborhoods and can afford a toilet and plumbing.
 * Part III--The Search **

"Dominican Republic" Christine Moreno n/a Jackson Heights, New York n/a 23/4/10 Overall I learned that the Dominicans are in desperate need of money because the current situation is putting in danger their lives. I learned that the Dominicans are not that organized, so that's why its so messy and un-neat in the capital along with the tourist hungry cities. I learned thst the Dominican Republic has always been slow and it is just now having an industrial revolution.
 * Part** **IV--What I learned**

"Dominican Republic" Christine Moreno n/a Jackson Heights, New York n/a 23/4/10 Gregory, Steven. //The Devil behind the Mirror: Globalization and Politics in the Dominican Republic//. Paper Back. n/a. California, USA: University of California Press, 2007. 1. Print. Pina, Diógenes. "DOMINICAN RPEUBLIC: Thick Smog On the Caribbean Coast." //IPS Inter Press Service//. IPS, Feb 1, 2007. Web. 24 May 2010. <http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=36404
 * Part V--Works Cited**