7.3 earthquake in Haiti
- Thread starter Hylian
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Press release from the Salvation Army.
It's so strange. All of the facilities they refer to in that release, I've been to. So eerie.
Also, a report posted on the Salvation Army's Canada & Bermuda Territory website.
And Sin, that's terrible.
Hopefully your friend is okay.
It's so strange. All of the facilities they refer to in that release, I've been to. So eerie.
Also, a report posted on the Salvation Army's Canada & Bermuda Territory website.
And Sin, that's terrible.
Hopefully your friend is okay.
Dave
Staff member
Oh shit, Sin. Positive thoughts to you and them.
Don't get too worried, the communication infrastructure is so beaten and clogged that it's impossible to get a hold of most people over there, so it's probable that she's okay and just incommunicado for now. She should check in before long, keep your friend sane meanwhile, I can't imagine how awful it must be not to be able to get a hold of her yet.
W
WolfOfOdin
I dearly hope there's a special layer of Hell for Pat Robertson to burn in when he dies.
I'll be donating my bonus check to the people of Hati today, and will raise hell if our government doesn't lend a tangible helping hand >_<
I'll be donating my bonus check to the people of Hati today, and will raise hell if our government doesn't lend a tangible helping hand >_<
I
Iaculus
Gods, I hope that doesnae end up like the tsunami mess. You know, government corruption paring off most of the good stuff. I know it's not the most prosperous country, but just how dirty is Haiti?
Also, best wishes to Sin's friend.
When I went into a neighborhood while I was down there, there was literally shit in the streets. In Port Au Prince, we drove over a bridge that spanned a small section of river, almost like a narrow canal. The garbage was so deep, there was no sign of water.
To be fair, they did try and keep the garbage contained, like the pile in this photo.
The beach we went to was covered in garbage.
More garbage on the beach.
Just because it seemed appropriate.
Didn't get many pictures of garbage in Port Au Prince, because it was densely populated and we didn't want to insult anyone by taking pictures of all the refuse. But it was bad.
Don't get me wrong: there was no garbage where people didn't want garbage. At or around the catholic churches, for example, the streets were cleaned up and you could be walking through any developed country as far as you knew. But as soon as you walk into poorer neighborhoods, there was garbage everywhere.
I
Iaculus
I meant metaphorically, as in government corruption. Was wondering what percentage of the donations are likely to mysteriously vanish.
Not an excuse to fail to help out, just summat to consider.
Not an excuse to fail to help out, just summat to consider.
Oh, yeah. Definitely don't give money to the government. I know that that's what most governments would do/probably has done. But on the whole, I think that's probably the wrong way to go.
Rant about Government Aid inside:
I know when talking about Zimbabwe, a missionary friend highlighted that a lot of aid dollars go missing when they are handled by government officials. I'm sure it's either very similar or exactly the same for Haiti. As a result, working in the government becomes the most lucrative job in the country, and it quickly becomes cutthroat and corrupted by people trying to get their hands into the stream of dollars. The best thing that governments could do for nations like Zimbabwe (and Haiti) are to make industry the most lucrative job in the country. That way, all the greedy sons of bitches chase that prospect like moths to the lamp, and leave the government in the hands of people who actually care about the state of the nation.
Aid organizations like the Red Cross, Oxfam, or the Salvation Army are the way to go. Unfortunately, every cent of every dollar might not trickle all the way down to the ground even in those aid organizations, but that's just the reality of operating in a third world country like that.
Plug for The Salvation Army inside:
If I might speak a bit on the Salvation Army, our operations in Haiti aren't solely food programs and aid efforts. The biggest thing we have been doing is building schools, since the government funded education system reaches only 15% of the population - and only the richest 15% at that. The next biggest thing we've been doing is providing loans for people to start their own businesses, or employing Haitians in Salvation Army-built businesses, like the bakery I posted a photo of in the pictures thread.
I can't speak for the other organizations, but I know that the Salvation Army has been there for 60 years already, and will be in Haiti long after this earthquake thing is over. There is an increased short-term need because of this natural disaster, but the 'Army is also committed to solving the long-term problems that Haiti has been struggling with long before January 12th.
And as for the corruption that money brings, there has to be an element of that even in the Salvation Army, but the people I met while I was down there were very honest people, and I have been assured (because this is the sort of thing I worry about as well) that there are safeguards built in to their operation. Salvation Army officers are paid the minimum possible living wage for whatever region they live in, so it's not quite like it's a very lucrative position to chase. Still, it is a living wage, which is more than many make. But before they become paid employees of the Salvation Army, there is a two year training program that happens in the Kingston, Jamaica, where they generally weed out those unsavory characters. But even if the weeding process fails and someone unsavory is given command of a Salvation Army facility, if the appropriate funds don't reach the community for programming there are unpaid personnel attached to each initiative who will get word back to Headquarters if they suspect something underhanded. I was told that it has happened occasionally, but it was taken care of quickly.
But that's just the reality of operating in a country with 80% unemployment.
I can't speak for the other organizations, but I know that the Salvation Army has been there for 60 years already, and will be in Haiti long after this earthquake thing is over. There is an increased short-term need because of this natural disaster, but the 'Army is also committed to solving the long-term problems that Haiti has been struggling with long before January 12th.
And as for the corruption that money brings, there has to be an element of that even in the Salvation Army, but the people I met while I was down there were very honest people, and I have been assured (because this is the sort of thing I worry about as well) that there are safeguards built in to their operation. Salvation Army officers are paid the minimum possible living wage for whatever region they live in, so it's not quite like it's a very lucrative position to chase. Still, it is a living wage, which is more than many make. But before they become paid employees of the Salvation Army, there is a two year training program that happens in the Kingston, Jamaica, where they generally weed out those unsavory characters. But even if the weeding process fails and someone unsavory is given command of a Salvation Army facility, if the appropriate funds don't reach the community for programming there are unpaid personnel attached to each initiative who will get word back to Headquarters if they suspect something underhanded. I was told that it has happened occasionally, but it was taken care of quickly.
But that's just the reality of operating in a country with 80% unemployment.
For a decent eye opener on Haiti Watch/Read The Serpent and the Rainbow.
The story takes place before even more of the corruption or AIDS hit the nation though.
Even before the Aristide Necktie became a common way to force social control. The necktie was where you take an insurgent/opposition leader/or just some one the president did not like, and drop him in the middle of the street. Where the police would hog-tie him, force him on his knees, put a tire around his neck, fill it with gasoline, and strike a match.... Aristide was the president that the USA put back in power because he was the last one elected at the time. Needles to say, his harsh methods were what lead to the revolt.
Your scrotum will hate you for it though.
The story takes place before even more of the corruption or AIDS hit the nation though.
Even before the Aristide Necktie became a common way to force social control. The necktie was where you take an insurgent/opposition leader/or just some one the president did not like, and drop him in the middle of the street. Where the police would hog-tie him, force him on his knees, put a tire around his neck, fill it with gasoline, and strike a match.... Aristide was the president that the USA put back in power because he was the last one elected at the time. Needles to say, his harsh methods were what lead to the revolt.
Goddamn.. this is a tragedy.
And those conspiracy assholes need a punch in the teeth. I say this as someone who's normally a bit of a conspiracy nut on certain issues.
Hundreds of thousands of people die / lose loved ones, and they start bitching about conspiracies and their government before the dust even settles and while people are still trapped in the rubble? What is the point? Can;t they use that energy to like.. start sending money or supplies to charity / rescue efforts?
grah
And those conspiracy assholes need a punch in the teeth. I say this as someone who's normally a bit of a conspiracy nut on certain issues.
Hundreds of thousands of people die / lose loved ones, and they start bitching about conspiracies and their government before the dust even settles and while people are still trapped in the rubble? What is the point? Can;t they use that energy to like.. start sending money or supplies to charity / rescue efforts?
grah
Do not watch, read. The book is a significant work on Haitian Voodoo. The movie is a cheap horror/thriller flick loosely inspired by the book, which makes orphans cry.
Also, I just got a call from the local CBC news crew. They want me to sit down for a brief interview about my time in Haiti in 2007. I'll see if I can post it here once it's done.
UPDATE: Friends wife is okay. She's trying to get back into the Dominican right now but the boarder is crap.
She so upset though...she's been trying to get into Canada for two years. She was very close to be approved but the immigration office is one of the things that collapsed in the earthquake. That sucks bad.
She so upset though...she's been trying to get into Canada for two years. She was very close to be approved but the immigration office is one of the things that collapsed in the earthquake.
That sucks bad.
A note about these text message donations: they are a great idea and I hope more happens with them in the future, but it takes several weeks for the funds to clear. Credit card donations online, if you can do it, can take only a few hours to get into the appropriate Red Cross, Salvation Army, Samaritan's Purse etc. funds.
Several mobile carriers have expressed the intention to expedite the text-message-donation process in the last few days, but as far as I have been informed, that hasn't happened yet.
Also, just received word today that the town I was in while I visited Haiti in 2007, Petit Goave, was actually the worst hit city in the country, tremor-wise. It's not as densely populated or built up as Port Au Prince, so I expect that it held up better, but it is certainly disheartening news. To make matters worse, though, Petit Goave has received no aid since the earthquake: nothing has been able to make it from Port Au Prince, due to both road conditions and the massive need in the capitol.
Several mobile carriers have expressed the intention to expedite the text-message-donation process in the last few days, but as far as I have been informed, that hasn't happened yet.
Also, just received word today that the town I was in while I visited Haiti in 2007, Petit Goave, was actually the worst hit city in the country, tremor-wise. It's not as densely populated or built up as Port Au Prince, so I expect that it held up better, but it is certainly disheartening news. To make matters worse, though, Petit Goave has received no aid since the earthquake: nothing has been able to make it from Port Au Prince, due to both road conditions and the massive need in the capitol.
K
Kitty Sinatra
Indeed, just heard on the news that our gov't is making it easier to sponsor family members.
Dave
Staff member
A guy with a iPhone uses the light, connection and apps to save his life. Pretty amazing.
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/01/haiti-survivor-iphone/
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/01/haiti-survivor-iphone/
I just wonder how he recharged his phone after being on the internet for 30 minutes.
From This Hour Has 22 Minutes a Canadian comedy troupe comes some serious commentary:
Also, less serious but still damning:
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/22_Minutes/Clips/ID=1402932298
Let me know if that link doesn't work for non-Canadians.
Also, less serious but still damning:
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/22_Minutes/Clips/ID=1402932298
Let me know if that link doesn't work for non-Canadians.
Dave
Staff member
New update on the missionaries who were charged with trying to transport orphans across the border into the Dominican Republic...
ALL THIRTY-THREE KIDS have been returned to their parents. That's right, NONE of the kids were orphans and ALL of them have been returned to their parents. Also, the lawyer representing the missionaries turns out to be himself wanted in El Salvadore and the United States for Human trafficking.
ALL THIRTY-THREE KIDS have been returned to their parents. That's right, NONE of the kids were orphans and ALL of them have been returned to their parents. Also, the lawyer representing the missionaries turns out to be himself wanted in El Salvadore and the United States for Human trafficking.
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