Grieving Haitians demand Aristide return
Hundreds of mourners have called for the return of ousted president Jean-Bertrand Aristide - at a gravel pit in Haiti where countless earthquake victims have been dumped.
Haiti: Third World Disaster Capitalism By Will Soto
Millions around the world cannot help but feel horror and sympathy when they read such headlines as "Bodies on the Streets in Port-au-Prince," "Smoke Rising Over Port-au-Prince," "Haitians Struggle Over Relief Supplies," or "Police in Port-au-Prince Shoot Suspected Criminals." But had they been paying attention, the news services of the world could have carried any of those headlines during most weeks before the January 12th earthquake. The recent earthquake has hit the poorest metropolitan area in the Americas and brought a new wave of devastation to a country that had already suffered the worst effects of capitalism, poverty and imperial meddling.
Criticism of Aristide is misplaced
I thought that Helen Scott's fine review of Haiti's history was unfortunately marred by her view of the second Haitian government under President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, 2001-2004 ("Haiti Under the Eagle").
The "friends" of Haiti meet in Canada... with friends like these, who needs enemies? By José Antonio Gutiérrez D. What is being offered by the "Friends" of Haiti? Just more militarization, more debt, more sweatshop-style economic "development", new slums and more social exclusion.
On Monday 25 January there was a meeting of the "friends" of Haiti: France, the USA, Brazil, Canada and several other countries, prominent amongst whom are governments involved in the Haitian occupation such as Chile, Argentina and Peru. In other words, these "friends" are those countries that in one way or another have participated in the destruction of Haiti over recent centuries. Also present, almost by way of courteous gesture, was Haitian Prime Minister Jean Max Bellerive. The meeting, conducted entirely out of earshot of the Haitian people, was apparently to discuss the strategic guidelines for what is supposed to be the "reconstruction" of Haiti, but in reality was nothing more than a forum to shed crocodile tears, to show off certain donations in emergency funds to the world (supposedly irrefutable proof of the "commitment" of the "international community" to Haiti) and to ask empty, philosophical questions about Haiti's past and future, such as "Why has so much effort [ie. on the part of the "international community"] not led to the development of Haiti?".
Hait and U.S. policy The story of Americans taking Haitian children out of the country illegally struck me as a parallel to the worst aspects of U.S. policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean in general (and globally). We are divinely guided to interfere in other countries, and their laws are irrelevant if we believe the cause is just. If those in other countries do not understand, that is not our problem because we believe we meant well.
Haiti: The Impacts of Militarized Aid By Jamie Way
As the story of the tragedy in Haiti continues to unfold, the spotlight seems to have turned away from the aid and the tragedy itself, and instead now largely focuses on the U.S. military aid effort. Doctors Without Borders and the director of French aid have both complained that the U.S. military has impeded the progress of the relief mission. Many have noted that the priority of the military would appear to be security over rescue, causing the delivery of medical supplies to be postponed while the military brings its troops and supplies.
Ezili Dantò's Message to Paul Farmer, Senate Foreign Rel. Committee, Dobbins and Francois By Ezili Danto
Folks, an international crime is happening in Haiti, again. And none of the people coming on TV or going to Congressional hearings are willing to speak truth to power. I just watch Paul Farmer bite his tongue and allow Senator John Kerry, Chris Dodd, Bob Corker and others to talk about putting Haiti under receivership because the Haitian government is too weak to take care of its own people. What weakened the Haitian government? Wasn't it the US, their multinateral financial institutions, their NGOs and the "private sector" they represent, that forced Haiti's governments, since 1991, not to invest in public services? The absolute lunacy of having to listen to that hearing, particularly the second half of it, is unsupportable. Unsupportable.
Haiti: The flood (Lavalas) to break occupation By Manuel Rozental "New Haiti" is being established on the ruins of the old Haiti: A concentration camp under military rule, where maquilas are the only option for enslaved work
The obvious is now being stated daily from different angles and perspectives and supported by strong evidence. The occupation of Haiti for transnational Capital through the US and its allies is being implemented. Aid is a political, geo-strategic and military-terror tool with local and external impacts. On the ground, controlled starvation and despair are aimed at justifying the military presence and the racist arguments, while subduing the population to beg the uniformed masters for compassion at the expense of discipline, obedience and submission. Imagine becoming a beggar in your own country to a foreign occupation force for food, water, shelter, medical care, while having to express gratitude for the little bit that you finally get.
America's Sad History with Haiti, Part 2 By Lisa Pease The Haitians have a saying in their native créole language: Piti, piti, wazo fe nich li. "Little by little, the bird builds its nest."
Freed of the powerful grip of the Duvaliers in 1986, and despite a dysfunctional system, little by little, the Haitians undertook the difficult work of rebuilding their nation into a more democratic place from within.
Haiti: No Natural Disaster By Marnie Holborow
Haiti's devastating earthquake has made Port-au-Prince a hell-hole of human misery with some 200,000 dead and three million displaced, many seriously injured or orphaned, facing disease, amputations, hunger and dehydration. Everyone can see that practical help needs to pour into Port-au Prince. But we also owe it to the Haitian people to understand how and why it became such a human catastrophe.
Freedom is a Constant Struggle TV show: Haiti's Heroic History
By Kiilu Nyasha 3-part interview with Pierre Labossiere on Haiti's heroic history:
Guest, Pierre Labossiere, a Haitian national, co-founder of the Haiti Action Committee, has been a long-time social-justice activist and supporter of the Lavalas Party of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, currently exiled in South Africa. Pierre has also been active in the campaigns to free political prisoners and to demand an investigation into the kidnapping and disappearance of Haitian Human Rights Advocate, Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine in August, 2007.
Haiti after 5 centuries of genocide, slavery, isolation, colonization and globalization By Nick Egnatz
With the devastation of the Haitian earthquake of January 12, many Americans are literally learning of Haiti for the first time. The following is an attempt to present a very brief outline of Haiti's history: first being dominated by Spain, then France and certainly for the last two centuries the United States. The inspiration to write this came from reading and studying William I. Robinson's Promoting Polyarchy -- Globalization, US Intervention, and Hegemony. Haiti, along with the Philippines, Nicaragua and Chile are case studies examined in detail.
Americans Probed in Haitian Child Trafficking (YouTube)
Haitian officials say are thinking of sending 10 U.S. Baptists to the United States for prosecution after they were arrested trying to take 33 children out of the country without government permission.
Ten Arrested after Abducting 33 Haitian children
The ten members of the Idaho-based New Life Children's Refuge (NCLR) have been arrested by Haitian authorities for attempting to abduct 33 Haitian. The NCLR says that this is just a misunderstanding; however Wayne Madsen says that the group may have wanted the children for trafficking. He also adds that three types of groups show up for children during a disaster; adoption mills, pedophiles and organ traffickers.
'Child smuggling' arrests in Haiti
Haitian police have detained 10 US nationals for trying to bus 33 children across the border into the Dominican Republic.
Haiti: A few good men...and women By Raffique Shah
Before the Herculean task of reconstructing Haiti can begin, the current relief programme must reach every Haitian. It must first ensure that all those who suffered physical and mental trauma during and after the earthquake are properly treated. Last week I made reference to amputations being done with hacksaws and without anaesthetic. Hello! Anaesthesia was introduced in the mid-19th century! The US military has large numbers of field hospitals equipped a wide range of medications to meet such emergencies. Where were they?
Africa mobilizes assistance for Haiti By Abayomi Azikiwe
Various organizations and governments throughout Africa are working to provide relief to the people of Haiti in the aftermath of the Jan. 12 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks. In South Africa, churches, mass organizations and the government are encouraging the people to immediately come to the aid of Haiti.
Africa mulls resettling Haitians
The African Union has agreed to consider a proposal to resettle thousands of Haitians left homeless by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, and possibly create a state for them in Africa. The idea was suggested by Abdoulaye Wade, the Senegalese president, who said that the history of Haitians as descendants of African slaves gave them the right to a new life on the continent.
The west owes Haiti a bailout. And it would be a hand-back, not a handout by Gary Younge The Caribbean nation should be reimbursed for centuries of punitive treatment and brutality by the outside world
Last week started with a conference in Montreal, called by a group of governments and international agencies calling themselves Friends of Haiti, to discuss the long and short term needs of the recently devastated Caribbean nation. Even as corpses remained under the earthquake's rubble and the government operated out of a police station, the assembled "friends" would not commit to cancelling Haiti's $1bn debt. Instead they agreed to a 10-year plan with no details, and a commitment to meet again – when the bodies have been buried along with coverage of the country – sometime in the future.
We are Haitians. We are Like People Like Anybody Else by Lenore Daniels
The people wait as the helicopters of the 82nd Airborne division land and hundreds of U.S. paratroopers become visible. But the paratroopers are in combat gear and armed with automatic machine guns. No food or water or medical supplies until Haiti is SECURE! The U.S. announces that over 2,000 paratroopers will be followed by 8,000 more heavily armed U.S. Marines. Almost two weeks since the earthquake hit Haiti, whole communities have yet to receive water, food, or medical attention. But the whole world watched the U.S. show of power:
U.S. Stops Medical Flights From Haiti by AssociatedPress
The U.S. military has halted flights carrying Haitian earthquake victims to the United States because of an apparent cost dispute, though a doctor warned that some injured patients faced imminent death if the flights don't resume.
America's Sorry History with Haiti By Lisa Pease With all the talk of America taking charge of Haiti for a while, it would be prudent for us to take a step back and review the history of our various interventions in Haiti, and the outcomes of those efforts.
For there is another kind of aid that the people of Haiti need that isn't being talked about. They need us to understand their real history, their culture and their potential. They need us to stop patronizing them and interfering with their progress so they can realize the freedom they are still seeking two centuries after officially casting off the shackles of slavery. [For more on that era, see Consortiumnews.com's "Haiti and America's Historic Debt."]
U.S. to Haiti: "Stand in line, children, or..." By Charles Hardy Thanks to television, on Tuesday, January 19, I heard a member of the U.S. military say to a group of Haitians, "If you don't stand in line, we're not going to help you." I hope the Haitians didn't understand him.
A week had passed since the tragic earthquake struck Haiti. These Haitians had been waiting seven days, "standing in line," shall we say? And this well-fed U.S. soldier had the gall to say to them that if they didn't stand in line the way he wanted them to do so, "we're not going to help you."
The Fateful Geological Prize Called Haiti By F. William Engdahl
Behind the smoke, rubble and unending drama of human tragedy in the hapless Caribbean country, a drama is in full play for control of what geophysicists believe may be one of the world's richest zones for hydrocarbons-oil and gas outside the Middle East, possibly orders of magnitude greater than that of nearby Venezuela. Haiti, and the larger island of Hispaniola of which it is a part, has the geological fate that it straddles one of the world's most active geological zones, where the deepwater plates of three huge structures relentlessly rub against one another—the intersection of the North American, South American and Caribbean tectonic plates. Below the ocean and the waters of the Caribbean, these plates consist of an oceanic crust some 3 to 6 miles thick, floating atop an adjacent mantle. Haiti also lies at the edge of the region known as the Bermuda Triangle, a vast area in the Caribbean subject to bizarre and unexplained disturbances.
Haiti Detains Americans Taking Kids Over Border by AssociatedPress
Haitian police detained a group of Americans on Saturday on suspicion of trying to take children out of the country without proper papers amid the chaos following the Jan. 12 earthquake.
Q & A with the State Department on Haiti By Judith Scherr
The French Cooperation Minister Alain Joyandet accused the U.S. of "occupying" Haiti rather than helping in the wake of the devastating January 12, 7.0 earthquake. Doctors Without Borders and officials from the Caribbean community expressed similar frustrations, as US military personnel controlling the airport turned away their planes. With just under 20,000 U.S. boots on the ground in Haiti or just off shore, the U.N. military force has augmented its numbers to around 12,000. Still, more than two weeks after the disaster, Haitians lack water, food, medicine, shelter and equipment to dig out those that may still be alive under the rubble.
On January 25 I spoke by phone to Virginia Staab a state department deputy press advisor for Western Hemisphere affairs. I asked about the role of the U.S. and U.N. military forces in post-quake Haiti, and the U.S. reaction to former President Jean Bertrand Aristide's announcement that he wants to come home [Aristide was ousted in February 2004 by the U.S., France and Canada and exiled in South Africa]. I wanted to know who will rebuild Haiti and how Guantanamo fits into the picture. The transcript that follows has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
The land that wouldn't lie: Foreign intervention in Haiti by Peter Hallward
The Haitian people overthrew slavery, uprooted dictators and foreign military rule, and elected a liberation theologian as president. The west has made them pay for their audacity. After a couple of weeks of intense media attention, some causes of Haiti's glaring poverty have become familiar: chronic under-investment, disadvantageous terms of trade, deforestation, soil erosion, and so on. What's less well understood is that the fundamental reasons for Haiti's current destitution originate as responses to Haitian strength, rather than as results of alleged Haitian weakness, corruption or incompetence. Four such factors have shaped the country's modern history.
Hell and Hope in Haiti by Bill Quigley
Smoke and flames rose from the sidewalk. A white man took pictures. Slowing down, my breath left me. [In] the fire was a corpse. Leg bones sticking out of the flames. Port Au prince police headquarters is gone, already bulldozed. A nearby college is pancaked. Goverment buildings are destroyed. Stores fallen down. Tens of thousands of buildings destroyed. Hundreds of thousands homeless. Giant piles of concrete, rebar, metal pipes, plastic pipes, doors and wires. Corpses are still inside many of the mountains of rubble. No estimates of how many thousands of people are dead inside.
UPDATES: January 28, 2010
Freedom Rider: Useless Aid, No Donation Without Agitation
by Margaret Kimberley
A telethon hosted by celebrities succeeded in raising more than $57 million in funds for the relief of Haiti earthquake victims. Yet that sum and the many millions more donated by individuals around the world will do little to relieve Haiti's plight. Haitians are living in their latest hellish incarnation created by American meddling and the crushing of that nation's democracy. As long as the United States directs Haiti's affairs, and empowers a corrupt elite instead of the will of the masses, suffering will continue whether caused by natural or human-made disaster.
History May Be Haiti's Greatest Resource by Dr. Joia Mukherjee
Haiti was founded by a righteous revolution in 1804, the first black republic, the first to force Emperor Napoleon to retreat, the first to break the chains of slavery, the only to aid Bolivar in his struggle to liberate Latin America. It is the response of the powerful to that history that has impoverished Haiti.
The kidnapping of Haiti by John Pilger With US troops in control of their country, the outlook for the people of Haiti is bleak
The theft of Haiti has been swift and crude. On 22 January, the United States secured "formal approval" from the United Nations to take over all air and sea ports in Haiti, and to "secure" roads. No Haitian signed the agreement, which has no basis in law. Power rules in a US naval blockade and the arrival of 13,000 marines, special forces, spooks and mercenaries, none with humanitarian relief training. The airport in the capital, Port-au-Prince, is now a US military base and relief flights have been rerouted to the Dominican Republic. All flights stopped for three hours for the arrival of Hillary Clinton. Critically injured Haitians waited unaided as 800 American residents in Haiti were fed, watered and evacuated. Six days passed before the US air force dropped bottled water to people suffering dehydration. - johnpilger.com
Hope for Haiti when? by Alexander Billet
SO FAR, the count is $58 million. That's how much has been raised by this past Friday's "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon. But a question bears asking: How much of this large sum will actually make it to the people of Haiti? As the death toll from the earthquake seems to climb ever higher, it's apparent that real aid is undeniably needed. News from the country itself, however, reveals that what has been coming in looks more like a military occupation than anything resembling help.
The Fourth Invasion: Securing Disaster in Haiti by Peter Hallward
Nine days after the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, it's now clear that the initial phase of the U.S.-led relief operation has conformed to the three fundamental tendencies that have shaped the more general course of the island's recent history. It has adopted military priorities and strategies. It has sidelined Haiti's own leaders and government, and ignored the needs of the majority of its people. And it has proceeded in ways that reinforce the already harrowing gap between rich and poor. All three tendencies aren't just connected, they are mutually reinforcing. These same tendencies will continue to govern the imminent reconstruction effort as well, unless determined political action is taken to counteract them.
Haitians are Helping Haitians by Bill Quigley
Hundreds of thousands of people are living and sleeping on the ground in Port au Prince. Many have no homes, their homes destroyed by the earthquake. I am sleeping on the ground as well - surrounded by nurses, doctors and humanitarian workers who sleep on the ground every night. The buildings that are not on the ground have big cracks in them and fallen sections so no one should be sleeping inside.
Roots of Liberty, Roots of Disaster by Eric Holt Gimenez
The leader of Haiti's historic slave rebellion probably had a good idea of just how vicious the colonial powers could be. He knew they would use all of their political and military muscle to kill the roots of the modern world's first black republic. But L'Ouverture could never have imagined the chain of human tragedies that would follow these vengeful acts of political and economic terrorism. He would never have imagined the national disaster following last week's devastating earthquake.
