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There are many women of courage in Haiti, but last year, the United States Embassy in Haiti honored one such woman, Marie Yolene Gilles-Colas. She serves as the RNDDH's programming officer and was honored for the steps she has made to promote and advance the public's deference to human rights. A journalist at the start of her career, Mrs. Gilles-Colas became known for her defense of free press. She has been exiled, arrested, and faces continued threats, but perseveres in her fight to bring the awareness of the continued struggle for human rights in Haiti to the forefront of world news.

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Motorcycle taxi drivers have been mandated to wear their helmets as of July 15th. In an announcement by the National Police and the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, it was disclosed that new measures have been set to heighten security of motor vehicles in general, with that of the motorcycle taxis of special note. Director of Traffic and the Traffic Police, Commissioner Will Dimanche says that the drivers should be part of an obligatory association and have helmets that are uniquely numbered.

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Assume the crash position: arms extended, hands crossed, head bent onto palms, using seat ahead of you. Place feet far backwards under own seat.

No front seat? Seated, fold body over lap, head pointed down and clasp arms behind knees.

Place carry-ons under the seat ahead of you. This will prevent debris from hitting you.

Wear clothes that cover your arms and legs. Avoid open-toed shoes so you will not be injured by flying debris.

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In the event of a plane crash some actions can determine odds of passenger survival.

One tactic is to find an aisle seat nearest the exit towards the front of the plane, for an easy access off the plane.

Memorize the formula plus three, minus eight. The first three minutes after take-off, be alert, as this is the window when most accidents occur. The same applies for the eight before landing. During these times, don't doze, read, or use iPhones.

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In the aftermath of the recent plane crash, the public is nervous about flying. Here are the facts.

Statistics indicate plane crashes are rare, one out of 1.2 million actually crash.

In the U.S. between 1985-2000, survival statistics tell us 95% of passengers weathered a plane crash successfully.

According to Popular Mechanics, 40% of plane passengers have higher odds of surviving if they sit towards the rear of the plane.

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Thangy Armand, President of Haitian Foundation for the Environment, is pressuring Martelly-Lamothe administration to participate in planting a National Botanical Garden. A goal date of 2015 has been set to start the garden, pending the government's cooperation in allocating monies from the general fund.

To ensure the government meets the 2015 deadline, an oversight committee will check on the progress of the government as it seeks to win approval from Parliament to subsidize the project.

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Over two-dozen plant specialists from around the world converged on Port-au-Prince for a bio-diversity conference.

Plans to erect a National Botanical Garden were discussed, led by President Armand of Haitian Foundation for the Environment. Because Haiti's government has made no efforts to fulfill the 1987 Constitution to create a network of botanical gardens, agronomist Cinéas said an oversight committee would monitor government's progress to allocate funding from the general fund for the project by 2015.

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Non-government group Haitian Foundation for the Environment (FHE) held a conference in Port-au-Prince about producing a National Botanical Garden. Participants included botanists, agronomists, and other bio-diversity specialists.

President Armand of the FHE discussed the layout of the botanical garden, to be planted on roughly 300 hectares of soil. Armand chastised the Haitian government for its negligence in fulfilling the 1987 Constitution's instructions to create botanical gardens throughout Haiti. He asks for their cooperation now.

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The Government of Haiti (GOH) has failed to fulfill the 1987 Constitution's mandate botanical gardens must be created as part of its infrastructure.

Haiti remains undeveloped ecologically. While the remainder of the world contains 2,500 botanical gardens, Haiti has not one. Les Cayes Botanical Garden, a model of biodiversity, is a private venture.

Botanist William Cinéas is calling on the GOH to start funding a National Botanical Garden, and a network of them throughout the country by 2020.

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Haiti is behind the rest of the world in establishing a National Botanical Garden. Its only botanical garden, Les Cayes, is a private venture, developed by William Cinéas in 2004.

Over the past 21 years Haiti has signed concords to develop a national biodiversity program for botanical gardens. But the government has taken no action.

Botanist Cinéas is pushing the government to introduce guidelines it will abide by to found a National Botanical Garden network by 2020.

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