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Research Question: Still today, what are the social, economical, and political effects of the earthquake in Haiti? Citation Source: "LEARNING LIFE LESSONS THROUGH INSPIRING HAITIAN PEOP." States News Service 16 June 2010. Student Edition. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. Summary: This Article is about associations that helped Haiti after the earthquake. "The NFL Players association, along with 3 other sport unions, Jack  Brewer Foundation and the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, is an active participant in the "One Team 4 Haiti" campaign." These organizations aids in the recovery efforts to help the people of Haiti. Haiti was and is a nation inflicted by poverty. The average life expectancy is around 53 years do to all of the lack of resources Haiti has for its people. Along with the "Long way to go for Haiti's reconstruction" article,  this article talks about the support starting to dwindle as a year passes. However, with the help from World Vision, Good Samaritan, partners at Voila, and many other supporters, Haiti is still given the aid it needs.   

"NY TIMES OP-ED: WHAT HAITI NEEDS MOST A YEAR ON ARE JOBS." States News Service 12 Jan. 2011. Student Edition. Web. 11 Apr. 2011 Summery: This article is about different ideas to work on to help Haiti gain more jobs. It talks about how Haiti is still suffering from post-quake shock, and they are struggling to emerge from this. A man named Nicholas Kristof implies that economic growth is very necessary, and they need to beak the cycle of "more needs, more crises, more tragedies, more victims." He says that things such as sending in doctors, aid workers, and people to educate children are all important, but what is even more important is sending in business investors. They would to this to help create jobs for the people of Haiti.  Reflection: I definitely agree with this article. Like Nicholas Kristof said, it is very important to be there for the Haitians when they need doctors and teachers and aid workers, but now it is time to make some progress and rebuild the country. They need to be better off than what they once were, and in order to do that, they need to help the people find jobs and teach them how to work these jobs.  Questions: 1. What type of jobs and businesses would be appropriate to start in Haiti? 2. How long could this development take? 3. Will this be something easy for the Haitians to accept and take on?

"ITU to help Haiti build wireless networks to re-establish communications." Xinhua News Agency 11 Feb. 2010. Student Edition. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. Summary:  This article is basically about providing equipment for better communications in Haiti. The International Telecommunication Union is building wireless networks to re-establish the reliable communications. There are 100 wireless hotspots being built in Port-au-Prince and other cities that have been affected by the earthquake. There have also been 100 satellite terminals to Haiti which are part of the 1 million United States dollars that they have attributed.  Response: I think that it is definitely very important for Haiti to have this wireless connections so that they can keep their communications--but I also think that there are much more needed things that should maybe be put ahead of this. There are still so many people that are suffering from this tragedy, and their lives have been changed dramatically--yet some of the help they are getting is for technologically, and wireless connections. My take is that they should definitely still do what they are doing, but not as extreme as they may be doing. They could make fewer hotspots, and then donate the money to a different cause within the country which may need more help, and which might help the people in a different way throughout the country. 

Schindall, Julie. "To recover, Haiti needs leaders." CNN. CNN, 13 Jan. 2011. Web. 9 Mar. 2011. . Summery:  This article is about the recovery of Haiti. It says that even though it is one year after the earthquake, the reconstruction has hardly even begun. One of the big topics throughout this article is about how even before the earthquake struck, Haiti was still in a world of hurt. It is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Many Haitians are hoping that this is their chance to reconstruct their country into a place in which is better and safer. The recovery is the hardest part though. They now need to know how to make smart changes. They need to make their government more capable of doing its job, they need to stop corruption, and make donors follow through with their promises. It is so hard for them because there are so many times where there are donors that try to help, but they don't always follow through. Or now, a year later--people have forgotten about them...even though they still need so much help. They need someone who can take control as a leader and help them take steps forward. As for now, they need to live knowing that the most important thing is to survive, and pray that their country rebuild.

Research Question: Still today, what are the social, economical, and political effects of the earthquake in Haiti? Citation Source: "UN EXPERT ON DISPLACED PERSONS SAYS HAITI IS STILL IN CRISIS." States News Service 19 Oct. 2010. Student Edition. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. Summary: This article is about the 1.3 million people who lost their homes during the earthquake and were left with no where to go. Nine months after, Haiti is still struggling with the natural disaster. However, the government isn't doing the best job of helping. In camps that have been set up for the homeless, rape has become a serious concern. That is why the Haitian National Police and the Unites States Stabilization Mission in Haiti must increase it's presence in the camps. Then, their is the government that needs to enforce police power and the justice system so that the injustice can soon come to an end. Nevertheless, these are the issues that are left behind and often forgotten. The time after the quake when the reality of a broken government really comes out.   

Research Question: Still today, what are the social, economical, and political effects of the earthquake in Haiti? Citation Source: "SYSTEM WOULD HELP HAITI BUILD, MODIFY EARTHQUAKE-PRONE STRUCTURES." States News Service 19 Oct. 2010. Academic OneFile. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. Summary: This Article is about engineers studying the effects of Haiti's terrible earthquake. They tell us that if the people had constructed their buildings differently, many would not have been destroyed so dramatically. The engineers have found a system to improve the earthquake resistance of buildings. Out of 170 damaged buildings surveyed in January, 40% were heavily damaged, and 90% of those buildings would have been vulnerable if the system was in place. The Article goes on to tell us that for a certain sized building, the smaller the columns and fewer the walls between the columns, the more damaged the building will be. They discovered that most homes in Haiti had these "captive columns." This is were a wall is attached to a column, but does not extend as tall as the column, leaving a portion unsupported. It tells us around 60% of the 170 buildings had captive columns. However, the engineers have decided to follow the system to help reinforced concrete buildings today. 

"AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH'S CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE COMMITMENTS BENEFIT CHILDREN IN HAITI AFFECTED BY THE JANUARY 2010 EARTHQUAKE." States News Service 21 Sept. 2010. Student Edition. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. Summery:  This article is about what The American Institutes for Research (AIR) is doing in helping the effects on Haiti. This institute has tried to focus on students and on education systems. They have helped assemble emergency classrooms and they have trained for teachers to be a part of a good education system and helped them deal with the unforgotten effects. There have been at least 322 emergency classrooms assembled, more than 25,000 students have been able to resume their education, and a total of 733 teachers and school directors have received training so they can return to their works.   

Research Question: Still today, what are the social, economical, and political effects of the earthquake in Haiti? Citation Source: "Survey Highlights Haitians' Vulnerability; Access to food, shelter, healthcare less prevalent than in neighboring countries." Gallup Poll News Service (2010). Academic OneFile. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. Summary: This Article is about the Haitian people and their lack of basic needs such as food, shelter, and healthcare. The 7. magnitude earthquake effected manly lives of civilians in Haiti. Although, 60% of the people said that in the past year they didn't have enough money to even purchase food for their families needs. While 51% said that they could not afford a shelter. President Rene Preval said that hospitals having been destroyed, the public healthcare system is even more helpless. The Article tells us that less than 22% say that healthcare was fine to begin with in Haiti. Along with 11% that said healthcare was accessible to anyone in the country. Which leads to poor sanitation and lack of clean water in the area. In conclusion, Bill Clinton emphasized that foreign aid must make the country more resistant to natural disasters, and improved basic needs such as healthcare if people wish to survive. 

Research Question: Still today, what are the social, economical, and political effects of the earthquake in Haiti? Citation Source: "Roundup: Long way to go for Haiti's reconstruction." Xinhua News Agency 12 Jan. 2011. Student Edition. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. Summary: This Article is about Haiti's struggle to reconstruct. It tells us that the earthquake has killed at least 250,000 and left 1.5 million homeless. Only 5% of the rubble has been removed in a year since the tragedy. However, Haitians have learned to live with  the destruction and used the collapsed buildings to even become their homes. Because the reconstruction is taking so long, many families have begun to reconstruct themselves. Nevertheless, many organizations around the world have been helping Haiti. The (UNICEF) U.N Children's Fund has vaccinated 2 million children, helped more than 720,000 children go to school, set up 369 centers for activities for nearly 95,000 children. The Haitian government has launched reconstruction for water facilities, electricity, common repair, and homed more then 300,000. More than half of the population lives on less than a dollar a day and access to education and heath sanitation. Above all, reconstruction is not an easy task as shown. 

Reflection: As a whole, the earthquake was overwhelming. Many lives were lost and the poverty of Haiti shown through. Nevertheless, many major organizations like the NFL have done things to help the effort. Its easy to point fingers at professional athletes and complain because they make so much money, however, many give of their time and money to help those in need. I believe that it is great at how athletes give to the needy and less fortunate.  Questions: 1) How much more has to be done in Haiti? 2) How do the Haitians view the world after this tragedy? 3) How can you start to change something when you don't have the money or resources to do so  

Reflection: I believe is is easier said than done. When the article talked about the government and how troubled it has become, its easy to point fingers and ask why the government doesn't do anything about the rape and lack of sanity in camps. However, the government its self has been hurt. While the poverty level in Haiti already being so low, its hard to get the money and resources to give everyone food, shelter, water, and safety.  Questions:1. What must the Haitian government do different to protect the women, men,  and children in camps? 2. How could the United States help with these camps? 3. What are the total number of Haitians in this camp still today? 

Reflection: I believe that mental heath is  something that needs to be stressed more about. It effects both the individual and the community in many ways. I don't think people realize how after all the physical needs are met, people still go through terrible depression and PTSD like we are told. When an individual is mentally unhealthily, I believe it brings down the community and allows the negative effect to spread. That is why experts can stop the entire community from falling if they fix one individual problem.   Questions:1. What can we do about depression and PTSD?2. How can we help this not to spread through the community?3. How can Haiti work together and change as a community? 

Research Question: Still today, what are the social, economical, and political effects of the earthquake in Haiti? Citation: "RESEARCHERS FOCUS ON PSYCHOLOGICAL CARE FOR HAITI'S EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS." States News Service 24 Mar. 2010. Academic OneFile. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. Summery: This article is about researchers from Columbia University who look at the psychological conditions in Haiti's aftermath. These researchers talk about how the mental health effects may stick with the survivors, even though the physical effects may heal. Since there are many of the Haitians that have discovered these mental wounds, the communities is also greatly effected as a result--and it spreads. As a result of these mental illnesses-- Post-traumatic stress disorder falls into this category. This disorder can be experienced by anyone who has been exposed to a traumatic event in their lifetime. Some symptoms that this involves would be depression, anxiety, substance abuse, hyper vigilance, and extreme sensitivity to signs reminiscent of potential threat. About one in every five people who survive a traumatic event with experience this. Galea says, "Mental illness can be debilitating, and can delay both individual and community recovery--that's why paying attention to mental health issues after a disaster is extremely important."

Reflection: I think that It is really good to see engineers working in Haiti. The fact that they want to change their ways of building to have a safer environment to life in. Nevertheless, it makes me wonder if they could have saved many more lives if the buildings were built better. Because many of the houses were build by "captive columns," so much more was distorted in the mist of it all. I also know that many of the towns and villages were poor and probably didn't have enough money to build a better living environment. Its really hard to blame the lose of so many lives on something the people really couldn't control. However, with the help of different engineers and volunteers, I believe that as time goes on, the Haitian people will be helped.  Questions:  1) How many lives might have been saved if the living conditions/homes were better? 2) What will this system cost for the people? 3) Was there any other flaws in buildings that might have also caused them to be destroyed easier? 

Research Question: Still today, what are the social, economical, and political effects of the earthquake in Haiti? Citation Source: "RESEARCHERS FOCUS ON PSYCHOLOGICAL CARE FOR HAITI'S EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS." States News Service 24 Mar. 2010. Student Edition. Web. 10 Apr. 2011. Summary:This article is about the long term effects the earthquake has on the people. After addressing the physical needs such as medical care, food, and water, the long term effect is often forgotten. Weeks, months, and even years after, mental heath effects still prolong. That is why experts are stressing about long-term recovery for the person, and community. Things like PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and depression are diagnosed to 1 in every five people who survived a disaster. The article tells us, "Mental illness can be debilitating, and can delay both individual and community recovery--that's why paying attention to mental health issues after a disaster is extremely important." That is why experts want to look into this further and find positive lessons one can lean from the earthquake. 

Reflection: I believe that mental heath is  something that needs to be stressed more about. It effects both the individual and the community in many ways. I don't think people realize how after all the physical needs are met, people still go through terrible depression and PTSD like we are told. When an individual is mentally unhealthily, I believe it brings down the community and allows the negative effect to spread. That is why experts can stop the entire community from falling if they fix one individual problem.   Questions:1. What can we do about depression and PTSD?2. How can we help this not to spread through the community?3. How can Haiti work together and change as a community? 

Reflection: When I read all of these statistics about homeless children and people living on a dollar a day, I'm struck at how blessed I really am. These people and their community have lost everything. Reconstruction is such a hard task because you don't know where to start. Piles of rubbish are everywhere and its hard to do it all. Stated in the article, even after 1 year there are still 94% of rubble still laying there. I know the world is trying to help, and they did put in an effort to help right after it happened. But after a year or so, people forget about Haiti and how much help it really needs yet. Questions: 1) What can I do to help now? 2) Why hasn't more been done? 3) Who's fault is it that there isn't more help from the world?  

Research Question: Still today, what are the social, economical, and political effects of the earthquake in Haiti? Citation Source: "RESEARCHERS FOCUS ON PSYCHOLOGICAL CARE FOR HAITI'S EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS." States News Service 24 Mar. 2010. Student Edition. Web. 10 Apr. 2011. Summary:This article is about the long term effects the earthquake has on the people. After addressing the physical needs such as medical care, food, and water, the long term effect is often forgotten. Weeks, months, and even years after, mental heath effects still prolong. That is why experts are stressing about long-term recovery for the person, and community. Things like PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and depression are diagnosed to 1 in every five people who survived a disaster. The article tells us, "Mental illness can be debilitating, and can delay both individual and community recovery--that's why paying attention to mental health issues after a disaster is extremely important." That is why experts want to look into this further and find positive lessons one can lean from the earthquake.