Haitian Relief

 

Earthquakes and other natural disasters are unavoidable, but the full extent of their devastating consequences are not. In Haiti, hundreds of thousands of lives were lost, but a large part of this death toll was the indirect consequence of the actions of you and me.

Encouraged to purchase cheap, disposable commodities manufactured throughout the world by populations virtually enslaved to multi-national corporations held accountable only to their stockholders and board of directors (though paradoxically these same entities are now afforded “free speech” in the US in the form of direct corporate sponsorship of our political system by Supreme Court decree, and cannot be held liable for death, destruction, negligence or the willful manipulation of the consciousness of entire populations), our dollars contribute directly to the depopulation of the countryside that has supported indigenous cultures for millenia so that workers are concentrated in urban areas for the convenience of large scale mass marketed producers of the cheap plastic crap we “need” from Malwart. 

Just hours after this natural disaster, economic development interests in the US had posted on their websites the prospects for the economic opportunities afforded to the organizations, governmental and otherwise, who could through relief efforts indebt, and effectively enslave indefinitely the people of Haiti. Bill Clinton and others have already staked claims on beach side resorts on the island, and no doubt look forward to the day in the not too distant future when they can sell you a berth on a cruise ship destination to a fine hotel in Haiti. George Bush has said right out, “People want to send blankets, or food and water. Just send money.” The Better Business Bureau has given the Clinton and Bush foundations which Haitian relief donations are funneled through poor marks for disclosure of distribution of funds, no accountability for or proper listing of board members, and salary figures for staff that I personally find appalling, especially when compared to typical wages of many hard working Americans, much less the pittance offered “third world” wage slaves.

If I had income to dispose of to support the survivors of the earthquake in Haiti, and many people understandably wish to do something for their brothers and sisters, fellow passengers of Spaceship Earth, I could not conceive of giving to any organization, NGO, even the American Red Cross, that I had the slightest suspicion of furthering an agenda that would turn these once proud people into sweatshop laborers or hotel and restaurant staff in service to their corporate overlords, the holders of the debt required to rebuild the country in the image of American cultural consumerist ideals.

Consider, strongly, contributing to Heifer International, whose efforts throughout the world assist people in feeding themselves and their local community. Check out the website. Casa de Mis Amigos are currently organizing an effort to take bamboo to Haiti to build hurricane and earthquake resistant structures, to establish bamboo plantations so that in 4 years, Haitians can grow their own for construction and other purposes, and/or support their other efforts world wide to build community resilience.

As always, look before you leap. Think critically before you sign a check or text money to any organization whose true motives may not be the same as yours..We all wish to help, but doing so blindly, failing to question the authority of government or charitable business, letting anyone think and act for you, rather than thinking for yourself, may not be helping at all.

(September 18, 2012)
Having re-read this post and checking the efficacy of the links, I am struck by the progress, or rather lack thereof, made to relieve human suffering in Haiti. If only they were on board like the Dominican Republic (fine purveyors of one of my favorite drugs, peddled to white people for centuries, and largely responsible for human slavery "back in the day" i.e. white sugar) perhaps the billions allegedly raised to help them (by building vacation resorts in which they are allowed to cook and clean) could have alleviated some suffering and helped rebuild something besides palaces. After the UN "accidentally" infested the water with cholera to stimulate a vaccination program, I almost gave up any hope of seeing any of the billions raised by the Red Cross and other ngo's go for something other than directors salaries and other important expenses. Oh, wait a minute, I have given up hope on this matter, as it is only resurrected by the presstitutes (thanks James Howard Kunstler) of the mainstream media on the anniversary of the disaster, and slowly fades from the concerns of most of us. In the words of Vonnegut "so it goes."