What's going on in Haiti?

PFVA · **Posted:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 11:21 am 0

Besides the earthquake, destruction, logistic problems with aid delivering we all know about.

First MSN (the French organization Doctors without Boarders) came out saying that their medical supply planes were being refused permition to land for the 5th time.

Now Spanish RTVE is saying their journalists were given 2 hours to get out of the airport area. Another Spanish media claims receiving the same order.

BBC made its way from the boarder to the capital even though the oficial explanations blame the airport for the bottle neck of supplies.

What on earth are they doing? Trying to make sure only American stuff makes its way in no matter how badly they need everybody else's help?

sack · **Posted:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:59 pm 0

something seems rotten.

maybe they're worried we might give them free healthcare or something nasty like that...

betamax · **Posted:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 2:29 pm 0

A cover up for a nacent zombie outbreak?

zip accident · **Posted:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 3:11 pm 0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Duvalier

A legacy of corruption still ongoing?

(o)(o) · **Joined:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 1:21 am 0 **Posts:** 164

PFVA wrote:

Besides the earthquake, destruction, logistic problems with aid delivering we all know about.

First MSN (the French organization Doctors without Boarders) came out saying that their medical supply planes were being refused permition to land for the 5th time.

Now Spanish RTVE is saying their journalists were given 2 hours to get out of the airport area. Another Spanish media claims receiving the same order.

BBC made its way from the boarder to the capital even though the oficial explanations blame the airport for the bottle neck of supplies.

What on earth are they doing? Trying to make sure only American stuff makes its way in no matter how badly they need everybody else's help?

Aftershocks west of Port-au-Prince, 11am today.

disciple · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 10:33 pm 0 **Posts:** 11340

zip accident wrote:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Duvalier

A legacy of corruption still ongoing?

Yeah there was an interesing article in the comment section of the Guardian today talking about suspicions about what's going on in Haiti with the US atm. Implications of US sponsored corruption (via the Duvaliers), within Haiti. How the US have already taken the presidential palace (looting it for all its worth?). Can't seem to find the article online though.

disciple · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 10:33 pm 0 **Posts:** 11340

Doh, here ya go : http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... lationship

Quote:

Thirty years ago, for example, Haiti was self-sufficient in its staple of rice. In the mid-90s the IMF forced it to slash tariffs, the US dumped its subsidised surplus on the country, and Haiti now imports the bulk of its rice. Tens of thousands of rice farmers were forced to move to the jerry-built slums of Port-au-Prince. Many died as a result last week.

...

What this saga translates into in real life can be seen in the stark contrast between Haiti, which has taken its market medicine, with nearby Cuba, which hasn't, but suffers from a 50-year US economic blockade. While Haiti's infant mortality rate is around 80 per 1,000, Cuba's is 5.8; while nearly half Haitian adults are illiterate, the figure in Cuba is around 3%. And while 800 Haitians died in the hurricanes that devastated both islands last year, Cuba lost four people.

betamax · **Posted:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 6:37 pm 0

disciple wrote:

Doh, here ya go : http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... lationship

Quote:

Thirty years ago, for example, Haiti was self-sufficient in its staple of rice. In the mid-90s the IMF forced it to slash tariffs, the US dumped its subsidised surplus on the country, and Haiti now imports the bulk of its rice. Tens of thousands of rice farmers were forced to move to the jerry-built slums of Port-au-Prince. Many died as a result last week.

...

What this saga translates into in real life can be seen in the stark contrast between Haiti, which has taken its market medicine, with nearby Cuba, which hasn't, but suffers from a 50-year US economic blockade. While Haiti's infant mortality rate is around 80 per 1,000, Cuba's is 5.8; while nearly half Haitian adults are illiterate, the figure in Cuba is around 3%. And while 800 Haitians died in the hurricanes that devastated both islands last year, Cuba lost four people.

Sounds like a typical IMF M.O.- for other examples, go anywhere in the developing world and throw a rock in a random direction.

Orava · **Posted:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 6:43 pm 0

People of mostly African origin (95%) African culture in the Caribbean and surprisingly you get similar society as in West Africa.

disciple · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 10:33 pm 0 **Posts:** 11340

Racist.

Orava · **Posted:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 6:58 pm 0

disciple wrote:

Racist.

No. An observation of facts. Culture follows people, surprisingly.

Not saying West African culture is any better or worse than Caribbean.

It's got voodoo too - must be quite interesting.

gibbsjoh · **Joined:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 6:30 pm 0 **Posts:** 1

Haiti is/was a failed state even by West African standards. Despite the popular conception of West Africa as a hellhole there are a handful of (relative) success stories: Cape Verde, Ghana, and (more or less) Cote d'Ivoire. Liberia may even get there if the ambitions of her current government become reality.

Off topic, I guess, but please don't tar all of Africa with the same brush.

disciple · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 10:33 pm 0 **Posts:** 11340

Good edit.

Orava · **Posted:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:34 pm 0

disciple wrote:

Good edit.

PC involuntary over-reaction.

disciple · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 10:33 pm 0 **Posts:** 11340

So why bother editing it then?

YakYak

What's going on in Haiti?

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