Haiti - Its All So Sad...

[pacman]

The right thing to do is to make a donation to help those poor buggers in Haiti.

But give it to who? The Red Cross so they can redecorate their grand offices? Pay for their new executive cars?

I'm sorry, they lost me a long time ago. Along with sending money to any 3rd world dictatorship that routinely syphons off all money sent to help the country.

Look at the fiasco that occurred in Burma after the cyclones left 2 million homeless in 2008.

The poor are still waiting for help. An increasingly suspicious & neurotic government turned back UN aid teams sent to deliver the supplies meant to rebuild the place. Food was left to rot on the docks rather than allow an opportunity for an anti-government political message to be spread.

Better those 5 star generals hold onto power than bother with the needs of their fellow countryman.

And the millions donated? I am sure the same generals appreciated the increase in their personal living standards.

And so it goes. Now we are expected to think that our money will directly benefit Haiti. All corrupt practices are stamped out so don't worry.

Sorry, we don't know who will benefit directly but you can be sure little will get through to those most desperately in need.

I see the charity quickly thrown together by Wyclef Jean has come under scrutiny for having no distribution plan, no strategy as to how the money will be spent. What exactly does he plan to do with it?

Surely this can't be another scheme designed to cash in on the good motives of those in the affluent west? I would like to think no but where is the condemnation for all the previous money drives for past catastrophes where the money never arrived?

I know cynicism at a time when so many people are in need may not sound charitable but if someone could show me how my money could help feed a hungry family or put a roof over their heads, I would be first in line.

[smuttleydfs]

(Bumpa STIKKA @ Jan. 17 2010,22:02) Can't stand that pig Limbaugh but he's on the money over the Haiti deal.

The "money" issue is the only thing I can "semi" agree with the painkiller addict on. The rest of his ignorant statements is what I have a problem with.

We have planted plenty of funds towards countries that fail to even try to help themselves. Food and support is adequete and any funds should be monitored extremely closely.

[kevin4252]

Send the money to Wyclef Jean, you know who he is, the brain surgeon who wanted President Obama to declare Haiti in a state of national emergency, as if it were part of Ohio, duh, also the same guy who started a charity to alleviate suffering in Haiti more than 12 years ago, and filed the charity's first tax return in August of 2009, who ran a benefit concert in Haiti for his charity, pocketing 250k for himself, explained in the charites filing as a substantial discount from his normal fee, and as reported on CNN has already raised 2 Million USD since the earthquake, all of the above from CNN and The Drudge Report, (nary a word from FOX), sorry about that guys.

[MARKUK]

charity starts at home hence i will never donate to these large charities, i would rather give money to beggars on the street.....
when you travel to some pretty poor places and see some quite bad sights and ways of life you can bet your life that the UN will be there in the Land Cruisers, living in top accomodation and partying all expenses paid, not just the UN but every NGO tht i can think of (prehaps with the exception of Médecins Sans Frontières who IMO appear to be the better of a bad bunch.

The UN has been in Haiti for years trying to keep the peace and billions have been spent, maybe a levelling of the country is a good thing as it needs to start again... of course dont like to see people suffering but thats an unfortunate way of the world.

[strocube]

As far as charitable organizations go, from what I've seen and read MSF (doctors without borders) does good work.

[strocube]

It's amazing what people refuse to acknowledge, especially Americans.
Check it out, peeps.

Breaking Haiti

Why the U.S. Owes Haiti Billions

By BILL QUIGLEY

Why does the US owe Haiti Billions? Colin Powell, former US Secretary of State, stated his foreign policy view as the €œPottery Barn rule.€ That is €“ €œif you break it, you own it.€

The US has worked to break Haiti for over 200 years. We owe Haiti. Not charity. We owe Haiti as a matter of justice. Reparations. And not the $100 million promised by President Obama either €“ that is Powerball money. The US owes Haiti Billions €“ with a big B.

The US has worked for centuries to break Haiti. The US has used Haiti like a plantation. The US helped bleed the country economically since it freed itself, repeatedly invaded the country militarily, supported dictators who abused the people, used the country as a dumping ground for our own economic advantage, ruined their roads and agriculture, and toppled popularly elected officials. The US has even used Haiti like the old plantation owner and slipped over there repeatedly for sexual recreation.

Here is the briefest history of some of the major US efforts to break Haiti.

In 1804, when Haiti achieved its freedom from France in the world€™s first successful slave revolution, the United States refused to recognize the country. The US continued to refuse recognition to Haiti for 60 more years. Why? Because the US continued to enslave millions of its own citizens and feared recognizing Haiti would encourage slave revolution in the US.

After the 1804 revolution, Haiti was the subject of a crippling economic embargo by France and the US. US sanctions lasted until 1863. France ultimately used its military power to force Haiti to pay reparations for the slaves who were freed. The reparations were 150 million francs. (France sold the entire Louisiana territory to the US for 80 million francs!)

Haiti was forced to borrow money from banks in France and the US to pay reparations to France. A major loan from the US to pay off the French was finally paid off in 1947. The current value of the money Haiti was forced to pay to French and US banks? Over $20 Billion €“ with a big B.

The US occupied and ruled Haiti by force from 1915 to 1934. President Woodrow Wilson sent troops to invade in 1915. Revolts by Haitians were put down by US military €“ killing over 2000 in one skirmish alone. For the next nineteen years, the US controlled customs in Haiti, collected taxes, and ran many governmental institutions. How many billions were siphoned off by the US during these 19 years?

From 1957 to 1986 Haiti was forced to live under US backed dictators €œPapa Doc€ and €œBaby Doc€ Duvlaier. The US supported these dictators economically and militarily because they did what the US wanted and were politically €œanti-communist€ - now translatable as against human rights for their people. Duvalier stole millions from Haiti and ran up hundreds of millions in debt that Haiti still owes. Ten thousand Haitians lost their lives. Estimates say that Haiti owes $1.3 billion in external debt and that 40% of that debt was run up by the US-backed Duvaliers.

Thirty years ago Haiti imported no rice. Today Haiti imports nearly all its rice. Though Haiti was the sugar growing capital of the Caribbean, it now imports sugar as well. Why? The US and the US dominated world financial institutions €“ the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank €“ forced Haiti to open its markets to the world. Then the US dumped millions of tons of US subsidized rice and sugar into Haiti €“ undercutting their farmers and ruining Haitian agriculture. By ruining Haitian agriculture, the US has forced Haiti into becoming the third largest world market for US rice. Good for US farmers, bad for Haiti.

In 2002, the US stopped hundreds of millions of dollars in loans to Haiti which were to be used for, among other public projects like education, roads. These are the same roads which relief teams are having so much trouble navigating now!

In 2004, the US again destroyed democracy in Haiti when they supported the coup against Haiti€™s elected President Aristide.

Haiti is even used for sexual recreation just like the old time plantations. Check the news carefully and you will find numerous stories of abuse of minors by missionaries, soldiers and charity workers. Plus there are the frequent sexual vacations taken to Haiti by people from the US and elsewhere. What is owed for that? What value would you put on it if it was your sisters and brothers?

US based corporations have for years been teaming up with Haitian elite to run sweatshops teeming with tens of thousands of Haitians who earn less than $2 a day.

The Haitian people have resisted the economic and military power of the US and others ever since their independence. Like all of us, Haitians made their own mistakes as well. But US power has forced Haitians to pay great prices €“ deaths, debt and abuse.

It is time for the people of the US to join with Haitians and reverse the course of US-Haitian relations.

This brief history shows why the US owes Haiti Billions €“ with a big B. This is not charity. This is justice. This is reparations. The current crisis is an opportunity for people in the US to own up to our country€™s history of dominating Haiti and to make a truly just response.

(For more on the history of exploitation of Haiti by the US see: Paul Farmer, THE USES OF HAITI; Peter Hallward, DAMNING THE FLOOD; and Randall Robinson, AN UNBROKEN AGONY).

Bill Quigley is Legal Director at the Center for Constitutional Rights and a law professor at Loyola University New Orleans. He is a Katrina survivor and has been active in human rights in Haiti for years with the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti. He can be reached at: [email protected].

[Lefty]

Good stuff as usual Strocube!!

I have never personally known or even heard of a friend of friend who ever went to Haiti on a sex tourist vacation. Guess it's happened, but there are so many other better choices.

Thanks also to Smutts, for posting all the inane bullshit from scum like Rush and Robertson. I think I hate Pat most of all them reich wingers. What a nut job! And there are fools in the USA who send him money.

[Bumpa STIKKA]

(Lefty @ Jan. 19 2010,13:13) I think I hate Pat most of all...

'Hate' is a strong word isn't it?

I mean - who would actually "HATE" someone you'd never met but who just happens to have an opposing political viewpoint?

[Lefty]

I also hate conservative cunts, yada yada yada, or whatever you said that time.

[Nemisis]

     

I'm glad some one posted that......... good man Strob

[smuttleydfs]

Thanks Stro I had read that also but hesitated to post out of fear of being a bleeding heart

[BlueBallz]

The tragedey plays out. I am getting sick to death of the critics sniping in the background like Hugo Chave spouting off about how we want to occupy and exploit Haiti. The French have the balls to speak up and they helped make the mess in the first place. Fuck them all!!! If we hadnt done anything or had a tepid response, we would have gotten skewered as well. File this under, "No good deed goes unpunished."

[Lefty]

(smuttleydfs @ Jan. 20 2010,06:21) Thanks Stro I had read that also but hesitated to post out of fear of being a bleeding heart      




 

That's never stopped you before.

[PigDogg]

(BlueBallz @ Jan. 17 2010,09:25) In no way do I wish to discourage people who have donated to the cause.  I ahve done so already.  

We donated too. In Pattaya you can do so at the wat on Pattaya Tai, right off 2nd Road.

But really, this country is fucked. I don't really see how they'll be aable to pull it together. One thing the USA should not do is take on a police role.

[katoeylover]

Help is on its way!!

Simon Cowell organising Haiti earthquake appeal single

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8471625.stm

Talent show mogul Simon Cowell has confirmed he is organising a charity single to raise funds for the Haiti earthquake appeal.

Speaking at the National Television Awards in London, he said he had had a request to record a single from Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Sun.

Cowell also said he had a "couple of ideas" about which cover version to do.

X Factor judge and Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole gave the plan her backing, saying she would love to be involved.

Cowell's X Factor show won the prize for most popular talent show at Wednesday's awards ceremony.

Speaking afterwards, he said of the single: "We made a decision today. We had a request from the prime minister and the Sun newspaper - would we put a record together?

"We haven't got an awful lot of time, but we are going to do something and attempt to raise as much money as possible.

"I've got to try and get it all together in about 48 hours."

Asked if the single would include artists like 2008 X Factor winner Leona Lewis and 2009 Britain's Got Talent runner-up Susan Boyle, he said: "As many people as possible, whoever we've got available is going to be on the record."

Cole said: "I think it's a fantastic thing to do, I'd love to be involved in it."