It's the middle of the day; the sun is up, the heat rising in Port au Prince, the capitol of Haiti. Thousands of young men and women fill the streets, lining up, moving from place to place. They are looking for work, any work; work that might pay them enough to eat for hunger is on the march here. Garbage is carefully sifted for whatever food might be left. Young babies wail in frustration, seeking milk from a mother to anemic to produce it.
Haiti is an epicenter of the global food crisis. Its people live on the margin of survival. According to the UN World Food Programme, the largest and most effective food aid organization here, 56% of the population exists on less than a $1.00 a day. 60% of household cash goes to food. Hunger is a constant companion. 61% of all children under 5 are anemic; 46% are women. Nearly half - 47% -- of all Haitians are malnourished.
But now the price of rice, wheat, flour and oil has doubled in the last year. In October of last year, $4.50 was sufficient to buy two full meals; now that money would buy one meal. Haiti only produces 43% of its food needs; it imports more than half. Food aid provides only 5%.
Now hunger is spreading; mass starvation is threatened. Earlier this month, Haitians rioted in anger over soaring food prices; and the legislature dismissed the former Prime Minister. On Monday of this week, a new prime minister, Ericq Pierre, was sworn in.
The new president is an experienced diplomat, former senior advisor to the Inter-American Development Bank. He understands that US friendship is vital. In his first statements, he put priority on stopping the drug trade. Needless to say, he was concerned that Haitians temporarily in residence in the US not be sent home. Remittances from the US are Haiti's leading source of revenue, larger than any export. He looks to extend the agreement that keeps US markets open to Haitian textiles, clothing that Haitians finish and ship back to the US. He hopes for debt relief. Impoverished Haiti sends $70 million a year back to the World Bank, headed to $100 million. He needs that money to invest in schools in infrastructure, in agriculture. And finally, he says Haiti needs food aid now to stem the upheaval that will come from spreading desperation.
Here is where America has an opportunity to demonstrate that we see the Haitians as human, as neighbors. Mr. Bush, who has grown ever more unpopular at home and isolated abroad, can use this crisis to demonstrate leadership. Why not set up a program to insure that every Haitian child has a school to attend, that supplies a book pack and a breakfast and lunch? We could help educate and feed the next generation of Haitians.
The wealth of America is most visible from these shores. Faced with a desperate economy, Haitians are not going to get a rebate from their government. The situation of this tiny nation of 9.2 million is getting worse. Last week, over twenty Haitians died as their boat capsized trying to make it to America. Desperation will drive many more to make the attempt.
America, of course, is experiencing its own troubles. Soaring food and gas prices are squeezing budgets here also. The recession is likely to get worse before it gets better, despite the rebates arriving in the mail. Can America respond to its neighbors even when its own economy is in trouble, when many of its own citizens are worried about their future? It is an unfair challenge, perhaps. But hunger won't wait for our economy to recover.
Who's to blame for our vetarans coming home from war and ending up homeless? Your logic would suggest that they spend less time serving the country and more time brushing up on their typing skills.
Your comments breach the bounds of the moronic.
I great primer on Haiti in Paul Farmer's book The Uses of Haiti.
Are you really oblivious to the destructive policies of the US in Haiti and elsewhere??
“Rice has been grown in Haiti for centuries, and until twenty years ago
Haitian farmers produced about 170,000 tonnes of rice a year, enough
to cover 95% of domestic consumption. Rice farmers received no
government subsidies, but, as in every other rice-producing country at
the time, their access to local markets was protected by import tariffs.
In 1995, as a condition of providing a desperately needed loan, the
International Monetary Fund required Haiti to cut its tariff on imported
rice from 35% to 3%, the lowest in the Caribbean. The result was a
massive influx of U.S. rice that sold for half the price of Haitian-grown
rice. Thousands of rice farmers lost their lands and livelihoods, and
today three-quarters of the rice eaten in Haiti comes from the U.S.”
http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8836
Perhaps you didn't get Reverend Hagee's memo: Let them "STARVE! STARVE! STARVE!"
But then again, you and he are in two different spiritual worlds. Yours is empathetic and altruistic, his is hate-filled and murderous.
(and to those who would argue with my inclusion of PBS in the corporate category should check who has been controlling their board, the influence of their sponsors, and the resulting degredation of the quality in the ethics and professionalism of their coverage. Note- PBS is NEVER included on the short list of those who got the Iraq story right).
Haitians had the audacity to revolt against slavery, and they have paid for it ever since.
- Martin Luther King, Jr., "Letter from Birmingham Jail"
If you support this, why is your entire comment dismissive? You seem to have replied simply to insult Rev. Jackson, and to suggest that people should shut up about the US.
Great way to contribute to the conversation.
You know what's really sad? I can't tell if jrockbg is a Hillary supporter or a Republican. The differences have evaporated. Incredible.
http://www.sugarbabiesfilm.com/cgi-local/content.cgi?pg=3
I wish Jesse Jackson's trip and commentary had shed light on the inter-relatedness of labor exploitation of Haitians by Dominican Republic sugar growers; US sugar subsidies to those growers who also own US interests (straight from the pockets of US taxpayers); financial support of US politicians and candidates by those growers; and the effect on US policy-making. Little do we know just how complicit we are in being a part of the problem and not part of the solution. Its time for this dynamic to be illuminated so we can hold our politicans accountable.
We must lower the cost of food, we must STOP PUTTING THE FOOD OF THE POOR INTO OUR GAS TANKS.
End food to fuel. End it. It' makes MORE CARBON not less and it starves the poor. It's time to stop the nonsense, end food to fuel. Jackson doesn't have a clue.
I didn't realize the Hatian people owned US farmers' crops.
It just blows my mind why they always take the more difficult road - oh yes, lobbyists!
The US is and has been for a very long time, the world's leader in foreign aid. We've been helping Haiti for years. Quagmire. A word I'm sure you are familiar with is a great way to explain the economic situation in Haiti. Its much more complex than providing the country with funds or food.
And don't worry about the cost of the war in Iraq. Compared to a socialized medicine program that would be a failure in the US, the war is CHEAP! Tell you what. Let's stop funding Planned Parenthood until they quit doing abortions with our tax dollars and give the money to Haiti. I'd have your back on that.
Inform yourself a bit more accurately, please.
Haiti is the western hemisphere's shame. Port au Prince has been a war zone for years and now the innocent people there are at the end of their rope. It is time to forgive any debt they ever had and let them use the few dollars they have to work towards true independence.
Until then the UN is needed to keep the peace. When I was there a few years ago working in a charity medical clinic, the conditions were extremely dangerous for everyone. Kidnappings and murders were a daily occurrence. Until the food crisis emerged, life was getting better. It totally infuriates me that anyone sitting in their cushy office in DC thinks that repayment of those loans is just.
Stop starving the poor for your gas.