7.0 (on Richter Scale) Earthquake in HAITI...

[bounder]

You must be shitting me, do you know what the cost of such "prosperity" was in terms of human suffering and environmental degradation? Do you know what the state of local Haitians was during the same period that Haiti was one of the richest colonies of France? I mean India was the richest British colony, but it had never seen famine of such a grave degree until after they came under British thuggery. "Richest colony" does not mean much.

Slow down there buddy. I was just trying to point out that Haiti was responsible large exports of coffee and sugar among other things. Who did the work of cultivating those goods? It was the hundreds of thousands of slaves brought over from Africa. I was in no way saying that Haiti was a paradise for the slaves, that would be straight up idiotic.

But you can tell me about the environmental degradation during colonial rule if you'd like. Most of the land deterioration that I'm aware of happened after independence where people would take many resources from the land without replenishing. Well, at least that's what my father told me. And I am Haitian.

Please don't confuse my comments with anyone else's (not saying that you are). I'm very proud of the fact that Haiti was the first free black nation. But I'd be lying to you if I said it's been smooth sailing since 1804.

 

[SoulSearcher]

The people are generally worse off.

How so? What basis do you have to say that, and from whose perspective? Although frankly, in my opinion, debating the pros and cons of colonialism is like debating the merits of rape, so I think there wouldn't be a point. People would be worse off was exactly the excuse the Devil used while raping most of the globe, I am one who believes that it is better to die than to live on your knees, especially when you have the master race sneering down onto you, spitting on you, and constantly constructing the essentialised notions of us and them, civilised vs. uncivilised, all just to justify exploitation, oppression and subjugation. Who exactly is worse off? And how exactly were they better off under the white man's subjugation? Which segment of the subjugated lands' population was better off? Not generally, I want specifics.

 

[LESAINT]

There is about 6,000 Canadians living and working there. Montreal has one of the biggest Haitien community outside Haiti, so everyone aroound here is worried and waiting to news of their families and friends.

 

[swerve]

Oh my god...

I cannot even COMPREHEND how HORRIBLE it is down there right now...

I want to go down there and start helping them somehow -- but I don't know how other than try and find a charity (other than the Red Cross) that won't siphon/abuse/misappropriate the funds...

 

[swerve]

^Thanks blacksyringe...

I've heard that you can EASILY donate $5 by texting "yele" to 501501

I was planning on checking them out later tonight to make sure they were legit -- but you beat me to the punch...

THANKS AGAIN!!!

 

[NedNickerson]

They're literally stacking the bodies in the streets. With no place and no way to bury them, and with no shelter, food, water, or sanitation for the survivors, the situation is going to get even worse very quickly...

 

[sabot3ur]

turns out my friend is ok so I'm ECSTATIC about that, but I still can't even watch the news

def giving money to haiti.

 

[Joshua_me]

Text HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross effort.

Thank You !!

Every dollar helps, guys...

 

[infrasound]

Text HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross effort.

Done.

I love this fundraising! Help now, pay later.

 

[seven2go]

A better way to donate is through Wyclef Jean's foundation.

Note the Administrative expense of $325:
http://www.guidestar.org/pqShowGsReport.do?partner=networkforgood&ein=65-0823881

Donate here:

https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=65-0823881

 

[VenomGGXX]

That's horrible. Isn't that Jesus statue in Haiti...it seems like all these natural disasters are happening..I had a vision all these fireballs would be coming out of volcanoes and would burn some major islands up..this is scary

 

[Joshua_me]

That's horrible. Isn't that Jesus statue in Haiti ?

You mean Christ the Redeemer ?

That's in Rio in Brazil.

 

[infrasound]

I'm so glad Obama is handling this and not Bush. Just my heartfelt opinion.

@seven2go
Thanks. Done. My plan is to find a lot of ways to give a little.

 

[ChickenGuy]

Unfortunately, there's already warnings that 'scam charities' will be set up to take advantage of the crisis:

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/wayoflife/01/13/haiti.charity.scams/index.html

Never underestimate the lengths some people will go to, all for the sake of getting your money.

--------

Two lists of reputable charities, from CNN and BBC:

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/01/13/haiti.earthquake.how.to.help/index.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8456730.stm

I'll be donating £50 to the British Red Cross. I can only hope that all the money that'll be raised by these charities, during this disaster, finds its way directly to the people of Haiti, who need it the most.

 

[Yooper]

'...a place where tragedy is more common than lunch.'

A very moving article from the AP.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/cb_survi...yBHNlYwN5bi1yLWItbGVmdARzbGsDLWluaGFpdGksdHJh

 

[seven2go]

Countries are sending aid, and promising more aid.

But I doubt this will last more than a week, two at the most.

It would cost billions to "fix" Haiti. The US people, for sure, aren't willing to make that commitment.

We in the U.S ALWAYS make those commitments and, even in tough times, donate more than ANY other country on the planet.

 

[SoulSearcher]

I know you do, but trying to penetrate your obstinism with facts is a waste of my time.

I'm not being obstinate for the sake of being obstinate, I am widely read about colonialism and was genuinely curious to see what exactly you were referring to, and my prior questions would have been a good starting point.

 

[Mako247]

the situation will get much worse alot faster than people think,
picture it, warm humid weather
massive amounts of dead bodies without a way to remove them
there will be a worsening of the watersupply as the bodies decompose and
leach out into the water....

btw - Pat Robertson said that this was brought on by haiti's pact with the devil



Yes recovering from a earthquake can be difficult (i was in sf when we were hit by the loma prieta quake...) but the human is an amazing animal and can recover from many challenges...




on a dark gallows humor look at it...isnt that the place of zombies via voodoo? well use it to raise the dead and put them to work...okay I will be struck by lightning shortly

 

[SoulSearcher]

btw - Pat Robertson said that this was brought on by haiti's pact with the devil

His comments are enough to make it clear who in reality actually worships the Devil, because there is nothing godly about so called "pastors" who have not an ounce of compassion to say such things about victims of natural disasters. We can't control natural disasters but we can control what we do ourselves, and if Pat is so worried, maybe he should vocally discourage his followers from supporting America's wars, followers who remain the staunchest supporters of Empire.

 

[NedNickerson]

Like a thick fog, the stench of death curdles the air in the streets of this shattered city. It comes from trundling trucks, where corpses are piled up and covered by bloodstained sheets, while young men with scarves on their faces warn onlookers to stand aside. It is expelled from pyres of burning tires that incinerate cadavers that have remained unattended too long in the dust and heat, lit by residents afraid that the carrion will attract prowling dogs and endanger children. And it surges through piles of rocks and rubble, where hospitals, schools, palaces and homes fell like cards as the ground shook with the fiercest earthquake to strike this island in two centuries.

More:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1953379_1953494_1953865,00.html