Haiti shame

[jbg]

And why exactly were we foolish? I realize, as a libertarian that you would never willingly give away money, but the rest of us like to help people.

I like to help people. I hate being robbed.

[Smallc]

I don't think I was robbed at all. There is a lot of good work being done in Haiti....of course that story, is far less news and tinfoil hat worthy.

[bloodyminded]

I'll give you a distant memory from my childhood (well sort of, I was 14). This is the reason the Bangladesh fiasco was listed.

During that period of my life, Bob Dylan and George Harrison were among my favorite musicians, since I liked (and still like) intelligent, literate rock and folk music. When I was at sleepaway camp during August 1971 I learned that Bob Dylan made a surprise appearance at the Bangladesh benefit concert organized by George Harrison and sitar guru Ravi Shankar at Madison Square Garden. Around January 1972 the benefit album was released. I was at my parents' throat to become among the earliest purchasers, for the good of the world as much as for my listening pleasure. I was actually sincere and idealistic about helping the starving people of Bangladesh.

I was extremely disillusioned to learn a few months later that almost all the proceeds went to production overhead and that what little "profit" was left was taken by corrupt politicians. I was also naively surprised that Bangladesh didn't return the West's generosity by recognizing Israel or otherwise joining with the West. They were willing to accept our help, and do nothing in return.

But as you say, they received practically no help at all. And while this is not the fault of the donors (like yourself), it was certainly not the fault of the Bangladeshi people either. When folks are starving to death, we can't really expect them to waste what little time they have in gratitude for the unfulfilled intentions of Western record buyers.

[Sir Bandelot]

There is a lot of good work being done in Haiti....of course that story, is far less news and tinfoil hat worthy.

Tinfoil, eh?

I like to make my claims based on reasoning and evidence, using real news websites. I try to do it without ridiculing others, even when they're point of view is different from mine. Now, where are your links, smallC? I expect more from you. Provide the evidence that disputes the claims of UN assistant secretary general Edmond Mulet. The ones that dispute the statements made by prime minister of Haiti Jean-Max Bellerive, and even the ones made by Bill Clinton. All of them are listed in the article above, by the CBC. Perhaps you think they are all wearing their tinfoil a little too tight?

[Smallc]

I think that bad news sells. I saw the PM of Haiti on CTV today saying the criticism was unfounded.

[Sir Bandelot]

Anderson Cooper, big expose, Haiti still completely paralyzed. Millions displaced by the quake still living in tents, no electricity, no light, no running water. Orphanages without food. YET WAREHOUSES STOCKED WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF GOODS, ONLY A FEW MILES AWAY. Some of it still from the original deliveries made and held in storage, since January.

Cooper reports that out of 5 the Billion dollars pledged to help Haiti in those first glory days after the quake, less than 100 million has been delivered. A lot of this money was donated by private citizens and groups. Where has the money gone?

Clinton says some governments have held on to the donated money to make interest off it, during this time of economic restraint.

US- pledged 1.15 billion. Delivered: 0

Venezuela 1.32 billion. Delivered 0

Canada 378 million. Delivered: 0

France 170.9 M Delivered: 0

World Bank: 266 M, Delivered: 0

Brazil 163.5M, Delivered 45 M

Norway 107 M, Delivered 31.2 M

Then they showed several football-field sized warehouses full of dried and canned goods. I mean FULL. And some long-haired white dude was in charge of the place. Anderson asked him why the food cannot be delivered and he gave some kind of bullshit excuse, like we don't got a truck, we're not paid, or something like that. He looked nervous and shifty eyed. He looked like he was on drugs.

Anderson arranged to have a truck deliver a load of these goods to the orphanage he had visited. Truck packed full of goods, doesn't even make a "dent" in the huge amount stored in this one warehouse alone.

Seems to me that all you people who don't see any problem, are simply living in a fantasy world. If you were one of the people who gave some cash, hope it made you feel good because it only was used to line the pockets of criminals. And no, I don't just mean the guys at the warehouse.

[bush_cheney2004]

....Anderson arranged to have a truck deliver a load of these goods to the orphanage he had visited. Truck packed full of goods, doesn't even make a "dent" in the huge amount stored in this one warehouse alone.

Great job Anderson Cooper...what a stunt! This media whore has done more to profit from the disaster than anyone else.

[Smallc]

Did you expect all the money to be spent in six months? I would certainly hope not, because such a belief would be beyond naive...and would also be rather short sighted and without thought....to put it mildly.

Oh, and your numbers are wring. Canada has donated about $400M, yes....but Canada has spent about $150M.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100712/wl_canada_nm/canada_us_haiti

[Smallc]

Of course, Canada's commitment goes much deeper than the numbers you have show. That $400M...well...that doesn't include any private money...it isn't even close to being all of the government money:

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Haiti+numbers/3269456/story.html

[lictor616]

You know what bugs me, how this recent disaster in Haiti is being whipped up in the media. Now the UN is asking for money, another reason to start distrusting their intentions. As their spokesman just said on the TV news, this disaster is an opportunity. If its an opportunity to improve life in Haiti, why did we wait until an earthquake destroyed their capital?

Headlines screaming Haiti is like a war zone. Footage of people dressed in dirty rags, roaming about the devastated street scenes aimlessly, scavenging for food. They should show us the "before" footage, the way it looked before the earthquake. Not too different, just a bit worse than before.

Don't get me wrong about the plight of Haitians, those people need immediate help. But it certainly appears a lot easier to drop in teams of reporters, than it is to bring in useful supplies and real help.

"No rescue workers, or aid have arrived" - Lloyd Robertson, CTV Newsnet, 5 minutes ago.

Lloyd continues with "The graphic pictures out of Haiti have caused Canadians to give generously, and some have given VERY generously".

Haitians, Habeas Pecunium?

We are being warned to be wary of con artists acting in the guise of charities. Seems to me the bigger con artist is the one that Haiti needs to be wary of. And thats us. Haiti is probably one of the worst countries in the world in terms of its poverty. Ignored. Manipulated and abused, by Canada even.

After the coronation of Baby Doc, American planners inside and outside the U.S. government initiated their plan to transform Haiti into the "Taiwan of the Caribbean." This small, poor country situated conveniently close to the United States was instructed to abandon its agricultural past and develop a robust, export-oriented manufacturing sector.

From the standpoint of the World Bank and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Haiti was the perfect candidate for this neoliberal facelift. The entrenched poverty of the Haitian masses could be used to force them into low-paying jobs sewing baseballs and assembling other products.

http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=16985

"The current situation in Haiti, for which the Canadian government bears much responsibility, is characterized by political assasinations and imprisonments, the murder of peaceful protesters by police, the destruction of limited social programs and health care, and the repression of democratic activity.

The evidence shows that at every turn, Canada has declined every opportunity to uphold democracy in Haiti, while taking the lead in overthrowing the country's democratically elected government and legitimating a power grab by Haiti's wealthy elite.

Consequently, Canada finds itself in league with a grim roster of alumni from Reagan's murderous interventions in central America such as Roger Noriega, John Negroponte and Jesse Helms and on the wrong side of a war against Haiti's poor majority."

Canada out of Haiti

The 2004 Haiti rebellion was a coup d'etat that happened after conflicts that occurred for several weeks in Haiti during February 2004. It resulted in the premature end of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's second term, in which he left Haiti on a United States plane accompanied by U.S. military/security personnel. Controversy remains regarding the involvement of the U.S. in his departure and whether or not the departure was voluntary. Aristide described his departure as a kidnapping. An interim government led by Prime Minister Gérard Latortue (brought back from the US) and President Boniface Alexandre was installed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Haitian_rebellion

What happened on February 29, 2004?

Thats why Haiti descended into the craphole it became, before the quake. So now lets feel good about how much we really care and want to help them. Keep in mind, during this critical first 36 hours almost nothing of any real value has arrived to help rescue them. Except reporters, camera crews, and lots of media footage asking us to give with our wallets.

I absolutely know that out intervention in Haiti would eventually be a source of contempt against us...

months ago i suggested we adopt a policy of strict separation and non intervention as far as that cesspool is concerned...

I was right it seems.

Haiti is a dependency beggar state, and it quite incapable of running anything by itself... but doesn't mean we should be in there anyway... and for god's sake to import the very dregs of THEIR society HERE! that is simply suicidal lunacy...

but obviously liberals being the masochists they are... they brought em in by the droves... and predictably ministers were calling anyone questioning this tactic: racists.

the "boobus liberalus" is a creature of habit after all..

Edited July 14, 2010 by lictor616

[jbg]

Anderson Cooper, big expose, Haiti still completely paralyzed. Millions displaced by the quake still living in tents, no electricity, no light, no running water. Orphanages without food. YET WAREHOUSES STOCKED WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF GOODS, ONLY A FEW MILES AWAY. Some of it still from the original deliveries made and held in storage, since January.

Cooper reports that out of 5 the Billion dollars pledged to help Haiti in those first glory days after the quake, less than 100 million has been delivered. A lot of this money was donated by private citizens and groups. Where has the money gone?

****************

Seems to me that all you people who don't see any problem, are simply living in a fantasy world. If you were one of the people who gave some cash, hope it made you feel good because it only was used to line the pockets of criminals. And no, I don't just mean the guys at the warehouse.

I've always doubted that the aid made it to the beneficiaries. I didn't realize it was this bad.