BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported

Subject: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Oct 13 - 08:08 PM

a country so close to the USA is in abject poverty,but little is reported about it, why?

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Bobert
Date: 19 Oct 13 - 08:14 PM

Because our BIG MEDIA doesn't give a rip... It is now owned exclusively by the 1% and they are cramming as much propaganda down our throats as they can...

"Caring" about our fellow man ain't in with the 1%... I mean, if we care about Haitians then what next??? Our own poor??? Horrors...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: mg
Date: 19 Oct 13 - 08:21 PM

I think it is reported quite a bit..the cakes they have to make out of mud and oil and eat..still living under tarps after earthquake...it is horrible...we could have at least ongoing boatloads of tools and blankets and tents culled from peoples' garages to take there..there was no excuse for how long help took to get there..it is not far from US and we have water on both sides..oh but the docks were wrecked..true...let creative people know that food and water is a rowboat away and they will start rowing or building a raft or swimming or whatever...ships could have gotten very close iwth rescue supplies. We have to think in terms of shipping rather than 4 helicopters to help out in disasters..but anyway, yes, we are often reminded of the terrible poverty there.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Bill D
Date: 19 Oct 13 - 08:54 PM

It is noted.. not everyday, because so many other stories pop up to shove it out of the headlines.

There are well known activists working there, and interviews happen often... with active aid offices open.. especially in Haitian areas in east coast cities. The American Red Cross has active programs going.

But an ongoing problem like this, even 'so close' to the US can never generate enough attention when local floods, fires, tornadoes, shootings, and the all-important "what is happening to the Kardashians" stories compete for attention.

Sadly, there is NEVER enough attention and help in situations like this.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Don Firth
Date: 19 Oct 13 - 09:06 PM

I was very much aware of it.

But then, I get much of my news from PBS and NPR.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Ebbie
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 12:58 AM

I agree. I think it is widely reported.

It's not only a tragedy that conditions are so bad there - it is a downright crime. Papa Doc and Baby Doc and lots of others have a lot to answer for.

Ya know, more than once I have heard religious persons justify the extreme conditions there by saying that Haiti is being punished for their belief in and practice of voodoo...

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 10:56 AM

Part of rural deprivation in Haiti is due to US policy in exterminating the established pig population (that could thrive there) and sending US-farming-style pigs that the owners were supposed to raise - but they were simply unsuited for the conditions and died.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 10:58 AM

And, I'm out of date on this, but isn't the country still paying reparations to France dating from its liberation by uprising?

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 12:39 PM

The poverty in Haiti has been reported so often that I cannot conceive of anyone not being aware of it.

They are trying to recover from the cholera epidemic, and are suing the UN because African troops sent to help after the earthquake brought the infection to their major rivers as a result of poor waste disposal practices.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 02:05 PM

Q where do you live, it has not been reported often in either the irish media or the English media.TELL ME HAS IT BEEN REPORTED IN THE JAPANESE MEDIA OR THE AUSTRALIAN MEDIA OR THE RUSSIAN MEDIA.
you speak with such authority, but is your opinion based on anything other than the us media, Bobert seems to think differently from you.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 03:42 PM

GSS... what you ASKED was whether it was reported on in the US media.... and that has been answered....and my friend Bobert was emphasizing it wasn't enough. I agree with him, though I would debate him a bit about the details and the causes.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 03:58 PM

I Live in North America. Bobert was trying to make a point against "the Big Media;" not sure that he reads anything but left wing blogs.

Agree with me- Mg, Bill. D., Don Firth, Ebbie, and Richard Bridge.
Disagree- you and perhaps Bobert.
I get most of my news from the BBC, CBC and CTV (Canada), subscribe to Aljazeera on cable, and the Sunday NY Times. All have covered the Haiti situation.
Ignorant of the situation- you and perhaps Bobert. Is your opinion based on anything at all?

I don't read Russian media- they print only what Putin and his coterie approve (I look at Mainichi (Japan English edition) to keep abreast of the continuing Fukushima disaster.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 04:16 PM

I don't remember saying it was widely reported.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 04:17 PM

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/10/17/3695696/haitian-americans-haitians-take.html

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 04:19 PM

http://www.economist.com/news/americas/21588085-michel-martelly-pushes-ahead-reviving-army-who-needs-them

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 04:19 PM

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/Latin-America-Monitor/2013/1017/Haiti-s-child-slaves-land-country-high-on-new-global-slavery-index-video

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 04:22 PM

http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/sustainable-fashion-blog/haiti-garment-industry-ready-change

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 04:24 PM

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/haiti/


But it seems fair to say there isn't a huge amount about it.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: GUEST,Ed T
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 05:26 PM

I believe media has covered it a lot in the past-maybe lesser so more recently, but - as it seems like little has changed to make it a continuing or major news story.

What I find puzzling is the fairly good economic conditions (in comparison) in Dominican Republic, who share the Island - (and , it's even better in Cuba, which is near by and have to deal with USA sanctions). I travel to DR frequently, and find it hard to believe it was once one nation, and there is such an economic, governing and cultural dfference on the other side of the mountains.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Charmion
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 05:28 PM

I live in Canada, and I read the New York Times as well as several Canadian newspapers.

For the record, the cholera epidemic arose from a sewage leak into the Artibonite River from a UN camp used by the Nepalese battalion in MINUSTAH. The causative organism has been positively identified as a central Asian strain of the species. I read a major feature story about the impending court challenge, unique in the history of the UN, only two days ago in the Globe and Mail.

Why is there so little coverage of the terrible poverty in Haiti? Simply put, because it's not news. Haiti is a hellhole now; it was a hellhole 20 years ago; the signs indicate that it will probably be a hellhole 20 years from now.

One of the primary reasons for the apparent inability of Haiti to drag itself out of poverty is the weakness of the economy, which has been systematically poisoned by political, financial and social corruption while inflows of donated goods hinder the development of the most basic and essential forms of commerce. Over 200 years, international interventions of various kinds have done more harm than good in Haiti.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 05:33 PM

bILL D , I did not say that at all, my point of mentioning the USA was that it in close proximity to the usa, a country that has enormous wealth.
similiar to CUBA, before Castro took over, cuba was another country close in proximity but that was in abject poverty.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 05:34 PM

should read haiti was similiar to cuba etc

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 06:20 PM

Stories about Haiti have been in the UK media though more so several years ago than now. However sadly it is not alone in that there are many countries as poor or even poorer with the vast bulk of them being in Africa. I saw one list giving 9 out of 10 of the poorest countries being in Africa. 17 out of the 20 poorest countries being in Africa. Haiti was down as the 20th poorest hence 17 African countries potentially in a worse state. Unfortunately they tend to hit the headlines only when something occurs to exacerbate already dreadful situations. There are sometimes stories about extreme poverty in general though there is no reason, as far as the UK media goes, that Haiti would be given special prominence over the others. Especially places with closer or former links to the UK. eg Zimbabwe etc. Different for the US media I would imagine as it is on your doorstep.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 10:05 PM

"...a country so close to the USA is in abject poverty,but little is reported about it, why?"

If that was someone else's post about some other country(s), how would YOU interpret its meaning?... All we can do with a short question is go by context.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: mg
Date: 21 Oct 13 - 06:32 PM

I have read that the differences have somewhat to do with deforestation in Haiti as opposed to Dominican Republic. Growing food is very difficult.   There is also a French colonial history vs. Spanish if that means anything. The earthquake did not help. I don't know the religions but Catholics still try to force non-contraception on very poor people..but both parts of the island might be equally Catholic. We do not tend to know the governance of DR, but have the overall impression that it is very dismal in Haiti..lots of corruption etc.

Would be nice if they could become one happy country following whatever DR does that is not harmful to people.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Don Firth
Date: 21 Oct 13 - 07:40 PM

I don't know where the idea got started that the conditions in Haiti have NOT made the news. Especially after the 2010 earthquake. There were plenty of aid missions, both official and unofficial (such as church groups of various demoninations sending volunteers, not missionaries) that rushed to the aid of the Haitians. And there was a UN mission already there.

It's been in the news aplenty. I think Charmion, above, pretty much has the right of it. Anyone not aware of the abject poverty in Haiti just hasn't been paying attention.

CLICKY.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: GUEST,Big Ballad Singer
Date: 21 Oct 13 - 09:45 PM

Haiti makes the news, but it doesn't make it all the way to where the fat cats in Washington will appropriate funds to help on any real level. That's because Haiti doesn't have any resources that our government's leaders would kill to own, unlike in the Middle East, where there's EARL to be had, boys! Go catch those "turrists" and their WMDs!

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 Oct 13 - 02:39 AM

Bill d,that is because like a lot of americans you have an insular attitude that assumes everything is about america, that is an american problem. i live in europe, and I am stating that it has not been reported very much, it may have been reported extensively in america, but my statement did not specify that.
bill, how would i interpret?, i would interpret it that it did not specify america particularly.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: GUEST,Musket musing
Date: 22 Oct 13 - 03:18 AM

Of course, if they had oil......


They'd be the 51st state years ago....

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Oct 13 - 10:37 AM

Question: why is the poverty in haiti not reported

Answer: It is.

Maybe it is reported more in the US because it is closer to the US. Maybe events in Europe have overtaken Haitian poverty in the news. Maybe it would be a good idea to ask someone who really knows rather than a bunch of folk and blues enthusiasts.

What is the point of such speculation anyway? Presumably to bring the issue to the forefront of peoples minds. If so, mission accomplished. Now what?

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: GUEST,Ed T
Date: 22 Oct 13 - 06:48 PM

""Would be nice if they (Haiti and Dominican Republic could become one happy country""


My observation from being in Dominican Republic many times, that there is much resentment by many in the DR towards Haiti. Part of it caused by a stormy historic relationship, language and also because of a economic-racial reasons. Below is a historic sketch of some of the tensions that I found.


ConflictsHaiti and Dominican Republic

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Oct 13 - 12:46 AM

I get it: Good Soldier Schweik's question really is "Why is the poverty in Haiti not reported in the UK?" :)

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Thompson
Date: 23 Oct 13 - 04:05 AM

I'm in Ireland and have seen a lot about it, intermittently. Incidentally, weren't the UN troops who inadvertently spread the cholera endemic in their own country from Nepal rather than Africa?

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Charmion
Date: 23 Oct 13 - 01:48 PM

Yes.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Oct 13 - 03:39 PM

I think that charitable organizations in the U.S. take the situation in Haiti very seriously, and they're spending a lot of money and doing a lot of good work there. I have ties to a number of such groups, and I'm impressed with the work they're doing. It's seen as a long-term job that needs to be done, not something that can be dealt with in a matter of weeks and then forgotten.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Janie
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 12:34 AM

Poverty in Haiti is rather well reported, and has been for a number of years. Doesn't often make headlines, but only an ostrich who rarely or never reads mainstream news headlines could be unaware of the desperate poverty that has existed there for years, years and years.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: The Sandman
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 07:05 AM

poverty in haiti is not reported extensibely in my experience, ebbie ireland is not the uk, and no I am not referring to just the uk.
in my experience items do not get reported because.............1 they are not sensational any more.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Charmion
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 11:55 AM

Maybe you should ask this question of the Irish media, Schweik, and not here at the Cat. As you can see, most responses to your question so far have been variants of "It's covered here."

News organizations are interested in news, and the horrible conditions in Haiti have prevailed since colonial times. Journalists go to Haiti to cover political upheaval, disasters, U.N. interventions, other military interventions such as the U.S.-led multinational force in 2004, and charitable efforts such as those by the World Food Programme, the Mennonites and the Unitarians. Every now and then, I see a feature about an orphanage or a temporary housing site that is not quite as nasty as the others, or a school where teachers and pupils are achieving great things despite the obstacles they constantly face.

These stories appear in the Canadian media for two reasons: Canada has a very large expatriate Haitian community, and Haiti is next in line after Afghanistan as a recipient of Canadian foreign aid.

Ireland doesn't strike me as a likely source of development aid for Haiti, and even less as a likely destination for Haitian emigrants, so don't look for those stories in the Irish Times or on RTE.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Thompson
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 06:26 PM

http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=87430

which says, among other things:

"Ireland pledged funding of €13 million for Haiti for the period 2010-2012 at the Haiti Donor Conference in New York in March 2010."

and

"Irish Aid maintains the Rapid Response Corps, a register of highly-skilled individuals who are willing to be deployed at short notice to assist in an emergency relief effort. Since the earthquake, there have also been 18 deployments of the Rapid Response Corps to Haiti to assist in areas such as logistics, engineering and water and sanitation."

Mind you, a niggle somewhere at the back of my memory says that funding that has been announced for certain foreign aid projects has never happened; I don't know that this is so in Haiti, though.

Subject: RE: BS: why is the poverty in haiti not reported
From: Thompson
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 06:27 PM

Incidentally, I have also read that US aid tends to be tied up with a compulsion to make trade agreements with US companies.