Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

Haiti, July 26, 2025 – For five teenagers, achieving scholastic competence and excellence was a dream they worked diligently to achieve; they are now graduates, part of the class of 2025—but their story is rare in beleaguered Haiti.  In fact, the escalating humanitarian crisis now exposes that life for children in Haiti is among the worst in the world.

In a sobering update from the United Nations, Haiti is now considered one of the most dangerous places to be a child—alongside conflict-ridden countries like Gaza, Somalia, and the Congo.  Children are increasingly caught in the crossfire of gang violence, facing a 500% rise in violence against them, according to recent reports.  Many are maimed, raped, killed, or forced to carry guns and join gangs.  Others, arrested in chaotic crackdowns, find themselves trapped in adult prisons without due process.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   The education system has nearly collapsed under the strain of ongoing violence.  As of mid-July, more than 1,600 schools remain closed—a more than 66% increase since the beginning of the year.  With nowhere safe to learn, children become more vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and gang recruitment.  UNICEF has stepped in to provide emergency learning opportunities to over 16,000 children and reached more than 100,000 with mental health and psychosocial support—but this barely scratches the surface.

The malnutrition crisis adds to the horror. Since January, UNICEF and partners have screened more than 217,000 children for acute malnutrition.  Over 21,500 have been admitted for life-saving treatment—representing only 17% of the 129,000 children projected to need help this year.  Many are like little Homer, who arrived at the “Love A Child Malnutrition Clinic” near death—unable to eat, move, or drink.  He is now recovering after receiving care and food support, thanks to organizations like “Feed My Starving Children.”

In total, 5.7 million people in Haiti face high levels of acute food insecurity, more than half the country’s population.  Meanwhile, humanitarian access is severely limited due to violence and instability. Health centers have closed, supply chains are choked, and fear has stopped mothers—who traditionally sell goods in markets to feed their families—from leaving their homes.

And yet, there are glimmers of hope.  Five young adults—Dieubon, Yolanda, Ada, Samuel, and Christian—will graduate from “Philo,” the 13th and final year of school in Haiti.  Their achievement is monumental not only because of the educational hurdles, but because orphans in Haiti often face stigma and marginalization.  As one caregiver put it, “Even if one child graduates, it is a big deal. But we have five.”

Still, the broader reality remains grim. The UN warns that Haiti is the least funded of all global crisis appeals.  As of July 23, less than 9% of the $908 million required for the 2024 humanitarian response has been received.

The story of these five graduates stands as a beacon amid chaos—a testament to the power of perseverance.  But for Haiti’s children to have a future, the world must not look away.  Urgent funding, safety, and long-term solutions are needed—before more dreams are extinguished.

CAPTIONS:

PHOTO OF CHILDREN WITH FOOD

Photo courtesy of HopeofChristHaiti.org posted April 2025/Facebook

PHOTO OF 5 GRADUATES

Photo courtesy of Love A Child, Inc posted June 19/Facebook

Magnetic Media | Editorial Team

Despite record investments, growing public demand, and remarkable technological advances, clean energy is still not winning fast enough. Why? The reasons are more political and structural than scientific. This is a breakdown of what’s really holding back the clean energy revolution—even as the planet cries out for relief.

1. Fossil Fuel Subsidies Are Still King

Globally, fossil fuels received over $7 trillion in subsidies in 2023 alone (IMF). That means oil, gas, and coal are still heavily underwritten by governments, keeping their prices artificially low. Clean energy has to compete on a tilted playing field.

Even with solar and wind now cheaper than fossil fuels in most markets, they aren’t winning on price alone because the global economy still props up carbon-heavy industries.

2. Grids Weren’t Built for Solar and Wind

Much of the world’s energy infrastructure is outdated and designed around centralized, fossil fuel-based power plants. Renewables are decentralized and intermittent, requiring new, smarter grids.

The IEA estimates that for every dollar spent on renewables, only $0.60 is spent upgrading grid infrastructure. As a result, there’s a growing backlog: solar and wind projects are ready to plug in, but there’s no place to plug them.

3. Upfront Costs & Finance Gaps

Solar panels may be cheap, but setting up large-scale renewable projects requires big upfront capital. Developing countries, where the sun shines brightest, often lack access to affordable finance.

Africa, for instance, holds 60% of the world’s best solar resources, but gets just 2% of global clean energy investment.

4. The Fossil Fuel Lobby Is Strong and Well-Funded

From legal challenges to PR campaigns, the fossil fuel lobby remains one of the most powerful political forces worldwide. They fund misinformation, push back on regulation, and block clean energy initiatives through litigation and influence.                                                                                                                               And in many countries, fossil fuel giants are deeply entangled in politics, making meaningful change economically risky and politically unpopular.

5. Clean Energy Jobs Are Rising—But So Are Fears

While clean energy now supports nearly 35 million jobs globally, many workers in oil, gas, and coal industries fear losing their livelihoods. Without serious retraining and transition plans, politicians are reluctant to pull the plug on fossil sectors that support entire communities.

Just transitions are slow, complex, and expensive. But avoiding them stalls progress.

6. No Global Enforcement = Slow Global Action

Climate goals like those in the Paris Agreement are mostly voluntary. There are no penalties for missing clean energy targets, and no global enforcement mechanisms.

The result? Countries pledge but rarely deliver. Progress is patchy, and ambition often dissolves after an election cycle.

7. Clean Tech Access Is Not Equal

Clean energy tech—batteries, solar panels, EV components—is manufactured mostly in a few countries. Developing nations often can’t afford or access it, locking them out of the transition.

Trade barriers, outdated financial risk models, and monopolized supply chains make clean energy a rich nation’s luxury, not a global solution.

Still, There Is Hope

The 2025 UN Climate Address noted that over 90% of new power added last year came from renewables. Solar is now 41% cheaper than fossil fuels, and countries like India, China, and even Texas are seeing massive economic growth from clean energy.

But the transition must speed up—and clean energy must get a fair shot.

That means cutting fossil subsidies, modernizing grids, financing developing nations, and enacting just transition plans.

The future is sun-powered. But only if we stop throwing shade.

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season has kicked off to a notably slow start, defying early forecasts that called for an above-average year. As of mid-July, only three named storms—Tropical Storms Andrea, Barry, and Chantal—have formed. All were relatively short-lived and modest in strength, marking one of the slowest starts since 2014.

Despite the quiet beginning, experts warn against complacency.

“This isn’t over—it’s just the calm before the storm,” cautions meteorologist Jeff Masters in Yale Climate Connections. He notes that 2023 followed a similar pattern, starting slow before unleashing a hyperactive August and September. The same could still happen in 2025.

A key metric, the Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index—used to measure storm strength and duration—is trailing far below normal. As of July 6, the ACE stood at just 1.5 units, compared to an average of 12+ units by this time in the season.

Here’s a quick look at the three named storms so far:

• Tropical Storm Andrea (June 24–25): Formed far northeast of the Caribbean and lasted less than 24 hours. No damage or casualties reported.
• Tropical Storm Barry (June 28–30): Made landfall in Tampico, Mexico after forming in the Bay of Campeche. At least five people died in flood-related incidents across Mexico. Flooding also severely impacted rural Belize. Estimated damages: US$1.87 million.
• Tropical Storm Chantal (July 4–7): Came ashore in South Carolina with gusts up to 60 mph. Flash flooding affected parts of the Carolinas. In North Carolina, six people died due to flooding and river surges. Dozens of water rescues were conducted.

Scientists say the slow start is due to strong Saharan dust, suppressed tropical waves, and atmospheric interactions that limited cyclogenesis in June and early July.

The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, often vulnerable in mid-summer, have remained unscathed. But with peak hurricane season still ahead, meteorologists warn that warm sea surface temperatures and fading El Niño conditions could supercharge storms in the coming weeks.

“Preparedness is still key,” the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology reminds. “A slow start doesn’t mean a quiet finish.”

The next listed storm name is Dexter. It is the first time this name is being used.

CAPTION: Photo by Daniel Jay Writz/Facebook