Let's talk about Haiti for a moment.
Saturday, 23 January 2010 09:14 | Written by Administrator | 
I'll probably make a few folks angry with what I'm about to say, but you should know the facts before just sending money because you feel sorry for the earthquake victims. I'm not saying you shouldn't help, just make sure you know where your donation goes.
Before your heart bleeds you and your wallet dry consider the following:
The Facts:
The Dynastic dictatorship of the Duvalier family ended in February 1986, when Jean-Claude Duvalier fled in face of popular revolt. He was succeeded by a five-member National Council of Government (Conseil National de Gouvernement--CNG), made up of two military officers and three civilians. Members of constituent assembly, elected by popular vote in October 1986, produced new constitution ratified by plebiscite on March 29, 1987. Presidential elections held on November 29, 1987, disrupted by violent attacks perpetrated mainly by former members of Duvalier's paramilitary organization, the tonton makouts. Armed forces administered subsequent presidential balloting on January 17, 1988. In balloting marred by nonparticipation of major candidates and low voter turnout, Leslie F. Manigat was elected president. Manigat was overthrown on June 20, 1988, by military coup led by Lieutenant General Henri Namphy, who had headed the CNG. Namphy suspended the 1987 Constitution and ruled as dictator.
Lieutenant General Prosper Avril, backed by significant faction of noncommissioned officer corps, overthrew Namphy on September 17, 1988. Avril partially reinstated the 1987 Constitution in March 1989 and survived a coup attempt in April 1989 by officers with Duvalierist ties. Avril promised elections and paid lip service to democracy but essentially ruled as a military dictator.
Haitian international relations are focused mainly on the United States, the country's leading trade partner and traditionally it's major source of foreign aid, and the neighboring Dominican Republic.
International condemnation of the Duvalier regime isolated the country during 1960s and 1970s. Jean-Claude's economic policies, calculated to attract foreign investment and tourism, relieved this isolation to some extent. Relations with other Latin American and Caribbean countries is limited by linguistic and cultural disparities.
Haiti is officially a semi-presidential republic, although it is often claimed to be authoritarian in practice. Suffrage is universal, for adults over 18. The constitution was modeled after those of the United States and of France. It was approved in March 1987, but it was completely suspended in 1988 to and was only fully reinstated in October 1994. On February 29, 2004, a rebellion culminated in a coup against the popularly elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, allegedly with the assistance of the French and United States governments; U.S. and French soldiers were on the ground in Haiti at the time. The first elections since the overthrow were held on February 8, 2006 to elect a new President. Rene Preval was declared to have won with over 50 percent of the vote. Runoff elections for legislative seats were held on April 21.
In 2008, Parliament voted to dismiss President Preval's Prime Minister following severe rioting over food prices. His selected replacement for the post was rejected by Parliament, throwing the country into a prolonged period without a government. Haiti is undergoing a major food crisis as prices for food escalate.
Because of the political unrest, and the past militant rule of Haiti, the United States granted political refugee status to thousands of Haitians throughout the '80s and '90s. While attempts are ongoing to correct the political problems of Haiti, political solidarity seems just out of reach. This also means that economic solidarity is also out of reach.
My opinion:
There are already numerous relief mission efforts underway in Haiti, most hosted by United States faith based initiatives, and they do good work, by feeding, clothing and educating Haitians and their children.
Tragedies such as the recent earthquakes, are horrible and unforeseeable. However the current "bandwagon" mentality of people in the United States such as the Clinton Bush Haiti Relief Effort, and the myriad of posters, flyers and pop-up advertisements, are placing the focus of relief on the earthquake victims, instead of relief for the entire nation of Haiti.
Yes, the earthquake was bad, but there were people starving before the earthquake. There have been people starving since the early '70s, so this sudden outpouring of sympathy and money needs to be better focused, better coordinated and managed properly.
I refuse to donate to just anyone. How will I know that the extra dollar I give the cashier at Kroger, or Walmart will actually go to help feed someone in Haiti? How much of the dollar that I donate at check out time, actually makes it to Haiti in the form of relief?
I have a friend Donald Curtis, who has made it his mission in life to assist those in need in Haiti, well before the earthquakes. He, his family and organization have spent years attempting to help people in Haiti, and they've helped many.
I'm not a religious person, and I would rather not have someone else's faith pushed upon me. I'm seldom moved by the work of religious or faith-based organizations, after having dealt with a corrupt televangelist I am always skeptical of their motivation.
In this situation as in all donations, I ask everyone to really evaluate any organization to which they donate. Where is that money going? How much of that money is turned directly into food, clothing or shelter? Who is ultimately accountable for the donations? Who do you trust to do the most good for the people of Haiti?
I really can't stress enough, that simply throwing a dollar at the cashier at your local quikie-mart, because there is a red photocopied flyer taped to the counter, isn't a good idea. Think before you donate and know to whom you are donating.
Okay, I'm putting the soapbox away, and this will be all I'll say on the matter.
Before your heart bleeds you and your wallet dry consider the following:
The Facts:
The Dynastic dictatorship of the Duvalier family ended in February 1986, when Jean-Claude Duvalier fled in face of popular revolt. He was succeeded by a five-member National Council of Government (Conseil National de Gouvernement--CNG), made up of two military officers and three civilians. Members of constituent assembly, elected by popular vote in October 1986, produced new constitution ratified by plebiscite on March 29, 1987. Presidential elections held on November 29, 1987, disrupted by violent attacks perpetrated mainly by former members of Duvalier's paramilitary organization, the tonton makouts. Armed forces administered subsequent presidential balloting on January 17, 1988. In balloting marred by nonparticipation of major candidates and low voter turnout, Leslie F. Manigat was elected president. Manigat was overthrown on June 20, 1988, by military coup led by Lieutenant General Henri Namphy, who had headed the CNG. Namphy suspended the 1987 Constitution and ruled as dictator.
Lieutenant General Prosper Avril, backed by significant faction of noncommissioned officer corps, overthrew Namphy on September 17, 1988. Avril partially reinstated the 1987 Constitution in March 1989 and survived a coup attempt in April 1989 by officers with Duvalierist ties. Avril promised elections and paid lip service to democracy but essentially ruled as a military dictator.
Haitian international relations are focused mainly on the United States, the country's leading trade partner and traditionally it's major source of foreign aid, and the neighboring Dominican Republic.
International condemnation of the Duvalier regime isolated the country during 1960s and 1970s. Jean-Claude's economic policies, calculated to attract foreign investment and tourism, relieved this isolation to some extent. Relations with other Latin American and Caribbean countries is limited by linguistic and cultural disparities.
Haiti is officially a semi-presidential republic, although it is often claimed to be authoritarian in practice. Suffrage is universal, for adults over 18. The constitution was modeled after those of the United States and of France. It was approved in March 1987, but it was completely suspended in 1988 to and was only fully reinstated in October 1994. On February 29, 2004, a rebellion culminated in a coup against the popularly elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, allegedly with the assistance of the French and United States governments; U.S. and French soldiers were on the ground in Haiti at the time. The first elections since the overthrow were held on February 8, 2006 to elect a new President. Rene Preval was declared to have won with over 50 percent of the vote. Runoff elections for legislative seats were held on April 21.
In 2008, Parliament voted to dismiss President Preval's Prime Minister following severe rioting over food prices. His selected replacement for the post was rejected by Parliament, throwing the country into a prolonged period without a government. Haiti is undergoing a major food crisis as prices for food escalate.
Because of the political unrest, and the past militant rule of Haiti, the United States granted political refugee status to thousands of Haitians throughout the '80s and '90s. While attempts are ongoing to correct the political problems of Haiti, political solidarity seems just out of reach. This also means that economic solidarity is also out of reach.
My opinion:
There are already numerous relief mission efforts underway in Haiti, most hosted by United States faith based initiatives, and they do good work, by feeding, clothing and educating Haitians and their children.
Tragedies such as the recent earthquakes, are horrible and unforeseeable. However the current "bandwagon" mentality of people in the United States such as the Clinton Bush Haiti Relief Effort, and the myriad of posters, flyers and pop-up advertisements, are placing the focus of relief on the earthquake victims, instead of relief for the entire nation of Haiti.
Yes, the earthquake was bad, but there were people starving before the earthquake. There have been people starving since the early '70s, so this sudden outpouring of sympathy and money needs to be better focused, better coordinated and managed properly.
I refuse to donate to just anyone. How will I know that the extra dollar I give the cashier at Kroger, or Walmart will actually go to help feed someone in Haiti? How much of the dollar that I donate at check out time, actually makes it to Haiti in the form of relief?
I have a friend Donald Curtis, who has made it his mission in life to assist those in need in Haiti, well before the earthquakes. He, his family and organization have spent years attempting to help people in Haiti, and they've helped many.
I'm not a religious person, and I would rather not have someone else's faith pushed upon me. I'm seldom moved by the work of religious or faith-based organizations, after having dealt with a corrupt televangelist I am always skeptical of their motivation.
In this situation as in all donations, I ask everyone to really evaluate any organization to which they donate. Where is that money going? How much of that money is turned directly into food, clothing or shelter? Who is ultimately accountable for the donations? Who do you trust to do the most good for the people of Haiti?
I really can't stress enough, that simply throwing a dollar at the cashier at your local quikie-mart, because there is a red photocopied flyer taped to the counter, isn't a good idea. Think before you donate and know to whom you are donating.
Okay, I'm putting the soapbox away, and this will be all I'll say on the matter.
Last Updated (Tuesday, 26 January 2010 13:05)