Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 01:35 PM

72 hours and still disorganized chaos. A tremendously complex problem.

The air force is trying to get the airport organized (only one long runway, little space for unloading).
The U. S. has unloaded some troops and aid workers in the port, but docking facilities and cranes have been destroyed. The small tsunami did not affect the land, but part of the port is under water.

Some supplies may get to the city later today. Roads largely blocked by rubble from collapsed buildings.
Rescue crews are working in Port-au-Prince, but no heavy equipment to shift debris. Many more will die as time runs out.

No food or water has yet reached other cities like Jacmal, also heavily damaged.

I hope the U. S. does set up a government, puppet or otherwise; control to prevent turmoil will be required for sometime to come.

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: SINSULL
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 01:42 PM

At least then it will be out there for people to eat.

Today's news has a picture of a young teenage man with a machete running from a collapsed supermarket with a small box of what looks like cereal. The caption? Looters On The Loose.

Now, as I understand it, everyone has been advised to prepare to defend themselves and carry weapons. Even a Christian group on their way to help an orphanage they support are all armed. The young man in question hasn't eaten in three or four days. AND the supermarket is a shambles.
Do we really expect people who haven't eaten in days to sit and wait until someone gives them permission to salvage food before it rots in the humidity? Or wait until the next aftershock makes it impossible to get to the food?

Meantime, the UN Special Envoy to Haiti is campaigning for a senate seat in Massachusetts.

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 02:07 PM

Sins full, your remarks about the UN Special Envoy to Haiti are odious. An excellent representative and fund-raiser.

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: Beer
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 09:10 AM

After these days of watching the magnitude of this catastrophe I tend to agree with Michael Harrison and Q that the U.S. should set up some form of puppet government. It may have had a status as a third world country but is worst that that now.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 12:22 PM

There have been worse earthquakes...(like in China)..but there it was in a huge country with places for people to go and some roads & landing strips for relief vehicles...and a central government which had resources.
This is too many people in too small a space, with no roads/streets in many places in the city, no power, almost no government, and many people who will decide that "survival of the fittest" applies.
You don't just drive a truck up in the middle with food and water for a thousand when 100,000 will try to get it.
It will be a nightmare devising a distribution system that both gets supplies where they are needed and keeps the suppliers safe.

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: GUEST,999
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 12:33 PM

"Meanwhile, the Canadian army has begun assembling hundreds of soldiers and military equipment at CFB Trenton in the event that additional soldiers are required to keep the peace and assist rescue efforts in Port-au-Prince, sources say.

While the orders have not come down from the government to deploy, a "battle-group-plus" of up to 800 soldiers from CFB Valcartier in Quebec are on standby in Trenton.

The Valcartier-based force comes from the [mostly] francophone Royal 22nd Regiment, known as the Van Doos, and would be a logical choice to send to the devastated French-speaking Caribbean nation."



As an aside, the term 'van doos' comes from a mispronunciation of the French "vingt-deux" which means 22.

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 01:19 PM

Also the Canadian Navy dispatched two ships from Halifax as soon as they could be readied.
Many charities are requesting donations and I hear of some scams. Therefore I made my donation to the Red Cross because they have people on the ground there and I trust that it in some small way may help a few.
When the city of Halifax was mostly destroyed by a massive explosion in 1917 a relief train was quickly dispatched from Boston with doctors, nurses, and medical supplies. They saved many and Nova Scotia has never forgotten that deed by our American friends.
As terrible as the situation in Haiti is, humanity from around the world is stepping in with empathy as well as sympathy, and differences are cast aside in an effort to help others. My hope is that such a level of international co-operation would continue!

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: GUEST,999
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 01:28 PM

Would that it could, Sandy.

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 01:38 PM

Even the Dominican Republic is sending help. They and Haiti have traditionally been something between 'adversaries' and 'distant neighbors'. The Dominicans are being careful not to allow a mass exodus of Haitians to overwhelm them, but are allowing staging of some aid parties and providing other help.

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: artbrooks
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 01:52 PM

US Army web site with relief information.

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: GUEST,Kendall
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 02:08 PM

Since I can't get there I sent a generous donation to the Salvation Army. They do great work.
Does anyone know why Haiti is so poor?

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 02:26 PM

Donations to relief in Haiti may be sent to the Salvation Army, which has low administration costs, insuring most of the money is actually used for help.

Another is The Clinton Foundation:
Clinton Foundation

This foundation, founded by former President Bill Clinton, UN Envoy to Haiti, is providing funds for immediate relief.
In Canada, the Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative (Canada) is helping to raise funds via mobile text messaging for the relief effort in Haiti. 100% of donations will be directed to Haiti relief efforts.
Details at the above website.

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: Ron Davies
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 02:35 PM

Why Haiti is so poor:   has a lot to do with wretched government for a long, long time.

Nothing of course to do with Robertson's allegation.   Maybe he should be sent over there--and dropped from a great height.

Stifling him--legally--would be a big step forward, including--or maybe especially--for Christians.

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: GUEST,999
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 02:40 PM

Why is Haiti so poor--the short version.

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: Ron Davies
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 02:52 PM

999's link is indeed a good start.    It's certainly true that the French considered the island their crown jewel.   Sugar plantations made colonial operations fabulously wealthy--and not just on Hispaniola.   As I recall it was a burning issue right after the 7 Years War as to whether Hispaniola or Canada was more valuable.

It's also true, as the Haitian Ambassador pointed out, that there's a link between Haiti and the Louisiana Purchase: after the successful Sainte Domingue revolt, Napoleon decided it was better to get some money for European operations and sell off French holdings in the Western Hemisphere--probably also did not mind strengthening a rival to Great Britain.

But any explanation of Haiti's poverty which leaves out misgovernment is misleading.

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: Ron Davies
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 02:54 PM

Point re: 7 Years War:   being that Canada, which had no sugar plantations, was not rated highly.

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 02:59 PM

A comment on BBC News - One fourth of Haitian income is obtained from those who have entered the United States and Canada, both legally and illegally.
I wouldn't doubt it.

This article adds to the one linked by 999:
Paradise Lost

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 03:46 PM

Does anyone know why Haiti is so poor?

Here's an article from the Guardian, giving some background and reasons why the two countries are so different. It's complicated.

It's worth reading - it's an extract from a book about these kinds of published in 2005, ie, not a piece of hackwork knocked together in face of the present disaster, like most of the comments that get printed and quoted.

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: GUEST,999
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 03:53 PM

Corruption Perception Index

"Political corruption is a common problem in Haiti. The country has consistently ranked as one of the most corrupt nations according to the Corruption Perceptions Index, a measure of perceived political corruption. In 2006, Haiti was ranked as the most corrupt nation out of the 163 that were surveyed for the Index.[4] The International Red Cross reported that Haiti was 155th out of 159 countries in a similar survey of corrupt countries.[5]"

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 04:06 PM

I still remember with shudders the reign of Papa Doc, and his son, Baby Doc. They raped the island for almost 20 years. Haiti has never had a decent government, and the only 'regular' decent product from there was Rhum Barbancourt, which I doubt we'll be seeing for awhile.

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 04:09 PM

I think the U.N., working with what's left of the Haitian government, must take over the country for a while - with other nations helping via them.

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 17 Jan 10 - 02:47 PM

Just signed a petition calling for banks and governments to drop Haiti's debt.


http://one.org/international/actnow/haiti/#

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: gnu
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 02:41 PM

Survivior found after a month.

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 02:33 PM

Fascinating how this has simply disappeared from the news headlines. Like the tsunami victims and people in New Orleans, the quake survivors in Haiti will be overlooked after a while by the main stream media as old news. Sad but true.

Subject: RE: Major Earthquake in Haiti - 12 January 2010
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 03:00 PM

It's sure lessened, but CNN still has folks there, and I see updates pretty often. Anderson Cooper & Dr. Sanjay Gupta seem either be staying, or going back regularly.