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Arabica Robusta

Pambazuka - Haiti 2010: Exploiting disaster - 0 views

www.pambazuka.org/...68623

earthquake haiti 2010 history haitian news pambazuka

shared by Arabica Robusta on 20 Nov 10 - No Cached
  • If the 1980s were marked by the rising flood that became Lavalas, by an unprecedented popular mobilisation that overcame dictatorship and raised the prospect of modest yet revolutionary social change, then the period that began with the military coup of September 1991 is best described as one of the most prolonged and intense periods of counter-revolution anywhere in the world. For the last twenty years, the most powerful political and economic interests in and around Haiti have waged a systematic campaign designed to stifle the popular movement and deprive it of its principal weapons, resources and leaders. The January earthquake triggered reactions that carried and that are still carrying such measures to entirely new levels.
  • For the time being, at least, it looks as if the threatening prospect of meaningful democracy in Haiti has been well and truly contained.
  • When Aristide then won a second overwhelming mandate in the elections of 2000, the resounding victory of his Fanmi Lavalas party at all levels of government raised the prospect, for the first time in Haitian history, of genuine significant political change in a context in which there was no obvious extra-political mechanism – no army – to prevent it. In order to avoid this outcome, the main strategy of Haiti's little ruling class all through the past decade has been to redefine political questions in terms of 'stability' and 'security', i.e. the security of the wealthy, their property and their investments.
  • ...9 more annotations...
  • During these years, the UN authorities behind this extraordinary 'stabilisation mission' have resorted to levels of violent coercion without parallel in UN operations anywhere else in the world. They have been reinforced by thousands of re-armed and re-trained Haitian police, along with thousands more private security guards hired to protect wealthy families, their businesses, and the foreign contractors and NGOs they do business with. Dozens of anti-occupation demonstrations held on the streets of Port-au-Prince during these years have had little or no political effect.
  • In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, few tried to counter arguments in favour of allowing the US military, with its 'unrivalled logistical capability', to take de facto control of the relief operation. Weary of bad press in Iraq and Afghanistan, US commanders also seemed glad of this unexpected opportunity to rebrand their armed forces as angels of mercy. As usual, the Haitian government was instructed to be grateful for whatever help it could get. That was before US commanders actively began, the day after the earthquake struck, to divert aid away from the disaster zone.
  • The earthquake took place on Tuesday; among many others, World Food Program flights were turned away by US commanders on Thursday and Friday, the New York Times reported, 'so that the United States could land troops and equipment, and lift Americans and other foreigners to safety.'[7] Many similar flights met a similar fate, right through to the end of the week. Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) alone had to watch at least five planeloads of its medical supplies be turned away.[8] Late on Monday 18 January, MSF 'complained that one of its cargo planes carrying 12 tonnes of medical equipment had been turned away three times from Port-au-Prince airport since Sunday,' despite receiving 'repeated assurances they could land.' By that stage one group of MSF doctors in Port-au-Prince had been 'forced to buy a saw in the market to continue the amputations' upon which the lives of their patients depended.[9]
  • 'Together with geopolitical control', observed Camille Chalmers a few weeks later, 'we believe that the militarization of Haiti responds to what Bush called a "preventive war" logic. The U.S. fears a popular uprising, because the living standards in Haiti have for so long been intolerable, and this is even more so the case now; they are inhumane. So the troops are getting ready for when the time comes to suppress the people.'[17]
  • No foreign rescue workers, for instance, were dispatched to the site with perhaps the single highest number of casualties, the Carrefour Palm Apparel factory contracted to the Canadian company Gildan Activewear, which collapsed with hundreds of workers still inside.[22] (Gildan responded to the disaster, within hours, with a reassuring announcement that it would be shifting production to alternative sewing facilities in neighbouring countries.[23]).
  • Haiti can be proud of its survivors. Their dignity and decency in the face of this tragedy is itself staggering.'[28] As anyone can see, however, dignity and decency are no substitute for security. No amount of weapons will ever suffice to reassure those 'fortunate few' whose fortunes isolate them from the people they exploit.
  • 'We see throughout Haiti the population themselves organizing themselves into popular committees to clean up, to pull out the bodies from the rubble, to build refugee camps, to set up their security for the refugee camps. This is a population which is self-sufficient, and it has been self-sufficient for many years.'
  • While Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade offered 'voluntary repatriation to any Haitian that wants to return to [the land of] their origin', American officials confirmed that they would continue to apply their long-standing (and thoroughly illegal) policy with respect to all Haitian refugees and asylum seekers – to intercept and repatriate them automatically, regardless of the circumstances.[31]
  • When US ambassador to Haiti Kenneth Merten paid a visit to Washington in mid February he declared himself satisfied with the work in progress. 'I believe that this will be something that people will be able to look back on in the future as a model for how we've been able to sort ourselves out as donors on the ground and responding to an earthquake.'[35]
Paul Allison

Amy Goodman: Haiti, Forgive Us - Truthdig - 0 views

www.truthdig.com/...haiti_forgive_us_20100209

earthquake AID history responsibility haiti 2010 truthdig exploitation

shared by Paul Allison on 14 Feb 10 - Cached
  • Paul Allison on 14 Feb 10
     
    "Earthquakes alone do not create disasters of the scale now experienced in Haiti. The wealthy nations have for too long exploited Haiti, denying it the right to develop in a secure, sovereign, sustainable way. The global outpouring of support for Haitians must be matched by long-term, unrestricted grants of aid, and immediate forgiveness of all that country's debt. Given their role in Haiti's plight, the United States, France and other industrialized nations should be the ones seeking forgiveness."
Lynise James

Haiti's mass graves swell; doctors fear more death - Yahoo! News - 8 views

news.yahoo.com/...cb_haiti_earthquake

death haiti uncrowded

shared by Lynise James on 20 Jan 10 - Cached
  • St. Juste, a 36-year-old bus driver, wakes up every day and goes out to find food and water for his daughter. "I wake up for her," he said. "Life is hard anymore. I've got to get out of Haiti. There is no life in Haiti."
    • Lynise James
      Lynise James on 21 Jan 10
       
      I wonder if her mother died in the rubble? This poor man has to watch his little daughter on his own and wake up everymorning and leave her to get her food and water. I wonder how she feels when she is left alone. Who does he leave her with?
  • Diallo EWSIS on 20 Jan 10
     
    There was another earthquake that just made the situation worse. There was an aftershock on Wednesday, and buildings broke down and people ran out on the streets running. "The most powerful aftershock yet struck Haiti on Wednesday, shaking more rubble from damaged buildings and sending screaming people running into the streets eight days after the country's capital was devastated by an apocalyptic quake." l just hope that there are no more earthquakes in this area, people there are already suffering from their loss of family members and properties..
  • Lynise James on 21 Jan 10
     
    Its horrible that survivors are now dying. They already been through the worst but now have to face even more struggles. Some of them are getting diseases as they wait laying under tents for doctors to save them. Some of them have big wounds and its not being treated. Their getting diarrhea and other sicknesses that can possibly kill them. Living in overcrowded tents and unsanitary conditions also add to the death tolls. Its already at about 200,000.
  • diane ewsis on 21 Jan 10
     
    The father has to go out on his own to find food and water for his little girl
Jeannie EWSIS

Op-Ed Contributor - Aftershocks - NYTimes.com - 4 views

www.nytimes.com/...21trouillot.html

aftershocks earthquake media US

shared by Jeannie EWSIS on 21 Jan 10 - Cached
  • Jeannie EWSIS on 21 Jan 10
     
    I bookmarked this article because it is written from the perspective of Haitians. The writer is resenting the way the media is showing the earthquake itself, oftentimes overly exaggerating what is going on in Haiti. "I am focusing now on what is essential in life: love and friendship. Like most people here, I am not watching the news. We have limited power, and anyway it seems futile and even absurd to be a spectator of my own life, especially when the TV images highlight only the misery of our country. Many of us Haitians are offended by the coverage of the earthquake. Once more, a natural disaster serves as an occasion to showcase the impoverishment, to exaggerate the scenes of violence that are common to any catastrophe of this type." The author does mention in the article that many Haitian victims are even more hurt by the other foreign media because many of them exaggerate the situation.
Diallo EWSIS

2010 Haiti Earthquake - 3 views

docs.google.com/...Doc

earthquake haiti 2010 history

shared by Diallo EWSIS on 20 Jan 10 - No Cached
  • Diallo EWSIS on 20 Jan 10
     
    When I think about Haiti it makes me really sad because the earthquake just had to hit an area where most of the residents there are really poor. They can barely support themselves and their family with their jobs, and now they had to deal with this horrendous disaster. They lost their homes, jobs, properties, and family members. It's sad to hear that the Haitian government itself has also broken down and it is not strong enough to give support their own people. They have to rely on foreign organizations to recover. I have also read in a Wikipedia article that even the United Nations feels that the earthquake is one of the worst disasters, because of the lack of help from the national government. Other organizations are giving lots of support to help the victims but they need immediate help in finding shelters, food, and money. I'm wondering when the kids can go back to school. If it's going to be months before they can go back to their education system I think that some sort of help in education children should also be there. What kind of support is the Haitian government giving while the victims are suffering? What is the United Nations doing? How are the victims dealing with the situation? How long before Haiti get on its own feet? How can Haiti be more prepared for future earthquakes?
  • Lynise James on 21 Jan 10
     
    2010 Haiti Earthquake I am a caring person. I sometimes may care too much about certain things that doesn't have anything to do with me. However, this disaster in Haiti touches me deeply. So deeply that I tend to cry sometimes. Its very sad. My mother and step father has donated hundreds of dollars however, to help the victims. Many people have lost their lives and sanity and dignity. Families are destroyed and homes are demolished. The Haitian people may think that their is no more hope, and that their lives are over, but its actually just beginning. They have a chance to make positive changes now in their lives. Start new, fresh and find new beginnings. All hope should not be lost. Many people are doing their best to help these victims. Its because they have hearts and they care so much about humanity. People like that deserve awards and medals even though they may not want it. No one deserves to be crushed alive, or left in indecent places to starve and suffer. It just happens though sometimes. It is life. This was a natural disaster. However, its not about toughing it out though. Its more about believing in your self and that you can overcome this. 5 Questions 1. How many deadly natural disasters has Haiti had for the past five decades? (earthquake,decades,natural disasters) 2. Why hasn't celebrities donated more money to the relief fund? (money,celebrity,help,donate) 3. Why does US owe Haiti billions of dollars, they were always very poor?(poor,broke,Haiti spending) 4. Who else owes Haiti reparations? (money,haiti,bills,reparations) 5. Will Haiti ever bounce back from this destruction? (death,destroy,lives lost)
Masaki EWSIS

Hati sorry dont know dont care - 10 views

@Ammy: It's unfortunate, but there are other horrible things going on in this world. Worrying about everything going on in the world is a waste of time in my opinion. There are better things you ca...

sadist hatred hati 2010 sucks for you

started by JustinM EWSIS on 20 Jan 10 2 follow-ups, last by Masaki EWSIS on 21 Jan 10
corey stanley

Bill Quigley: Why the U.S. Owes Haiti Billions - 8 views

counterpunch.org/quigley01182010.html

shared by corey stanley on 21 Jan 10 - Cached
    • corey stanley
      corey stanley on 21 Jan 10
       
      This is the same thing i want to know, how do we owe them billions if they are the poorest country in the world?
    • corey stanley
      corey stanley on 21 Jan 10
       
      This makes no sence that they only make 2$ a day, this is not like old times, why dont they have regular paying jobs like we do?
  • AndreaLee EWSIS on 21 Jan 10
     
    For this week, my "English" class has been researching both Haiti's history and current situation. As you all may know, Haiti has suffered 7.0 and 6.0 recorded earthquakes as well as strong tremors. The country has lived in poverty and is known to be the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Bill Quigly writes an article about the economic relationship between the United States and Haiti. Basically, America has bullied the small country into ruins. At first, France charged Haiti to pay reparations at the cost of nearly 150 million francs. When Haiti could not pay that off, it had to take loans from both French and American banks. They nearly owe the United States over $20 billion dollars. However, this is just plain bullying. It is unfair for America to support dictators, especially when the reason is to stabilize economic interests. And also, they forced Haiti to go into the world economic market. We owe this little country a lot more to make up for the years of damage we caused. And I'm surprised people are more willing to help Haiti more than other country America imperialized.
Helen EWSIS

The right testicle of hell: History of a Haitian holocaust | San Francisco Bay View - 19 views

www.sfbayview.com/...history-of-a-haitian-holocaust

shared by Helen EWSIS on 18 Jan 10 - Cached
  • 11. How did Haiti end up so economically weakened, with infrastructure, from hospitals to water systems, busted or non-existent – there are two fire stations in the entire nation – and infrastructure so frail that the nation was simply waiting for “nature” to finish it off? Don’t blame Mother Nature for all this death and destruction. That dishonor goes to Papa Doc and Baby Doc, the Duvalier dictatorship, which looted the nation for 28 years. Papa and his Baby put an estimated 80 percent of world aid into their own pockets – with the complicity of the U.S. government happy to have the Duvaliers and their militia, Tonton Macoutes, as allies in the Cold War. (The war was easily won: the Duvaliers’ death squads murdered as many as 60,000 opponents of the regime.)
    • Paul Allison
      Paul Allison on 18 Jan 10
       
      This is part of the important history that we need to remember now.
  • 4. China deployed rescuers with sniffer dogs within 48 hours. China, Mr. President. China: 8,000 miles distant. Miami: 700 miles close. U.S. bases in Puerto Rico: right there.
    • AndreaLee EWSIS
      AndreaLee EWSIS on 20 Jan 10
       
      Great job, United States!
    • Jose EWSIS
      Jose EWSIS on 20 Jan 10
       
      Holy Moly! That is just plain sad. It amazes me how just when you thought things can't go any more unbelieveable you read things like this.
    • Helen EWSIS
      Helen EWSIS on 21 Jan 10
       
      I remember watching a report on this on TV. [Chinese TV that is...]
  • 8. But don’t worry, the International Search and Rescue Team, fully equipped and self-sufficient for up to seven days in the field, deployed immediately with 10 metric tons of tools and equipment, three tons of water, tents, advanced communication equipment and water purifying capability. They’re from Iceland.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • Send in the Marines. That’s America’s response. That’s what we’re good at. The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson finally showed up after three days. With what? It was dramatically deployed – without any emergency relief supplies. It has sidewinder missiles and 19 helicopters.
  • Gates wouldn’t send in food and water because, he said, there was no “structure … to provide security.” For Gates, appointed by Bush and allowed to hang around by Obama, it’s security first. That was his lesson from Hurricane Katrina.
    • Luis EWSIS
      Luis EWSIS on 20 Jan 10
       
      it seems that the United States is incompetent or it just dont want to help
    • Helen EWSIS
      Helen EWSIS on 21 Jan 10
       
      Agreed. We lack effort.
  • Alexis EWSIS on 20 Jan 10
     
    This article makes me hate being an American even more than I usually do D=
Paul Allison

With Foreign Aid Still at a Trickle, Devastated Port-au-Prince General Hospital Struggl... - 15 views

www.democracynow.org/...t_au_prince_hospital_struggles

shared by Paul Allison on 21 Jan 10 - Cached
  • Paul Allison on 21 Jan 10
     
    Amy Goodman in Haiti. Hospital.
Adriana EWSIS

What will we do now ? - 1 views

New York 1,Good Morning America,ABC News all had the same headline Earthquake in HAITI ....at first it did not really catch my eye but when i logged on to the int ernet the first thing that po...

started by Adriana EWSIS on 20 Jan 10 no follow-up yet
Dylan EWSIS

First Natural Disaster of the New Year - 3 views

When I think of the people in Haiti I think about how fortunate I am to live in a society where opportunities are thrown at me everyday. The things people take for granted in my society are the sam...

2010 Haiti Earthquake Natural Disaster

started by Dylan EWSIS on 20 Jan 10 no follow-up yet
Ming Liu

My thoughts on Haiti - 0 views

started by Ming Liu on 20 Jan 10 no follow-up yet
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