What is Digg?580 Comments
- fadeout, on 01/31/2008, -20/+212"Charlene, 16 with a 1-month-old son, "
That's part of the problem right there, sadly. - WordsnCollision, on 01/31/2008, -7/+138Send food... and condoms.
- ALyken, on 03/25/2008, -33/+126This is outrageous! People in the West are eating so much they've become deformed and bed ridden. People walk around with the weight of 3 whole people around their fat bellies. Why should this happen.
- rizla420, on 01/31/2008, -7/+92Im Haitian, I left Haiti when I was 5 but my father is still there working closesly with grass roots organizations and USAID/IMF companies down there. I talk to him (email) frequently about whats happening in both countries (Haiti and the US). The situation is pretty dire right now. Here's an email i got from him this AM:
The political situation here is getting explosive and possibly dangerous after the president's and the PM's recent statements to the effect that we've done all we could and we have no money for development. The question to the INternational community is of course: why shore up a failed state and bank roll an inept government while leaving the people unattended and in dire straights? Do you wish for more instability and violence to justify an official international take-over under a High Commissioner nominated by the UN Security Council?
More later as I gotta rush. I'm here for a few more minutes. Dad
So thats his words from this morning. But i'll briefly tell you seomtihng regardint his food crisis down there. There are two main factors at play here. 1.) The top soil in Haiti is all but eroded due to mudslides during heavy rains. The reason for the erosion? Haitians chop down trees to create charcol to cook with. The trees keep the soil in place. 2.) The economic aspect of US food exports to Haiti
1st issue is easy to understand. They need a source of fuel to burn to cook, so they chop down trees. The idea of conservation and re planting what you've cut down is foreign. Its about basic survival, not thinking about tomorrow when you have to eat today.
2nd point, is that the US has flooded the market with cheap rice which the haitian farmers can not compete with. They sell their land and move to the cities for "work". Haiti used to support itself agriculturally but now is relient on handouts from the government in order to simply survive. The situation is desperate but the US hasnt helped. You do not help with handouts. Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he will have food to eat for his life. Look at our welfare situation here, i know people need help, but to simply give people money DOES NOT HELP. Sure it seems like your helping and you feel good, but your not addressing the issue just the result.
Now, Haiti's problems stem from the fact that Haitians have never had stable government ever since they were the first black democratic nation in the WORLD! Ever since we revolted against the french its been a series of quasi dictators, people who acted on the behalf of the rich elites (sound familiar?) Only within the past 20 years has their been any semblance of democracy, but its strictly a facade. The people buy into the fact that their votes count which they do to a certain extent, but whoever they elect ends up perpetuating the same *****. ***** the poor and helping the rich. You cant make it down there as a president if you dont cater to the rich, you will be snuffed. Haiti is such a dire country with no real signs of hope. My fathers been fighting this battle for far too long, sacrificing his own family (parents got divorced 12 years ago) to help his people, but nothing has come of it. There are still genuine people who want to help but the obstacles are very difficult.
Last note in closing. If the United States is so hell bent on being the beacon of democracy and nation building, why not really try in Haiti. It is the perfect petri dish to attempt something like this. Its a relatively small nation with a lot of hostility. If you can bring democracy there you have an idea of how to "export" it elsewhere. Alas, you cant transplant democracy. Haiti has nothing to offer from a capitalist perspective.
Oh I guess one last thing. My dad told me that a lot of big companies are buying the rest of the fertile farmland to plant sugar cane for ethanol. Great you'd think, but the people are starving and yet they're investing in crops to fuel machines (for the US btw)
I'm out. - inactive, on 01/31/2008, -15/+91Because people in the west have more productive economies? It's Econ 101. By the way Haiti is in the west too...
- inactive, on 01/31/2008, -17/+85Oh shut up. Haiti isn't poor, it's retarded.
Haitians liberated themselves by massacring entire families of honest farmers and plunging themselves into poverty for the following two centuries.
My brother was a doctor without borders and he went over there about 5 years ago. He is no longer a doctor without borders. He got held up at gun point and FREE MEDICAL SUPPLIES were stolen from his organization and the Red Cross and sold back to people who don't even have money.
They attack, steal and profit from humanitarian aid. While he was there two male nurses were shot to death while driving a truck of food for the hospital. FREE FOOD FOR SICK PEOPLE. You can't help these people because they'll kill you if you try. I honestly don't give a ***** about Haiti. - b0wl0fud0n, on 01/31/2008, -6/+58It's also a problem that's difficult to solve. It's not a matter of education, or intelligence, but rather a problem of economics. High birth rates are a trait that is typical of nations in poverty, so the question becomes - do high birth rates cause poverty, or does poverty cause high birth rates?
The answer in a way is both. If you look at it from a macroeconomics standpoint, if you have less people, with the same amount of wealth - the average wealth of all increases. This seems like simple logic - so what is the problem? The problem is that in poor nations, the average lifespan is lower and the percentage of children who live to adult life is lower; as a result, people in poverty tend to have more children to increase the chances that their offspring will survive. Also, labor laws are not the same in poorer countries. Children do have the ability to work, which in turn also pushes families to have more children so that they can help support the family economically. However, more labor in turn reduces wealth per capita since now you have more laborers which in turn drives down wages.
So how do you solve it? One way is just to limit people from having children. Rationally though, this is very difficult to accomplish unless the government has the power to enforce the rules. China has really been the only country to ever successfully go down this path because of the strength of the central government. In a country like Haiti, it'd be impossible to enforce. The other option is throwing money at the problem. By improving conditions for life in general, people tend to have less children.
This is not some small task though and the amount of cash necessary to induce the conditions which move the population out of poverty is immense depending on the size of the country. In most cases, the country doesn't have the cash to invest in basic technology to improve their situation. How can a country whose only real resource is manual labor compete with countries who have major advantages in technology? There is a major barrier to entry in that countries in poverty don't have the capability or resources to invest in the technology. It's sad that poor nations can't even compete in agriculture. A farmer in Haiti who has an ox and a wooden plow can't compete with an American farmer with a John Deer tractor and access to cheap fertilizer. - ronpaul20008, on 01/31/2008, -5/+51why don't they just fish? they're on an island aren't they?
- EarthernJar, on 01/31/2008, -3/+47Bill Mahr said it best: "America is the only country in the world where the poor people are fat"
- pintomp3, on 01/31/2008, -14/+57you seem to forget the fact that haiti was under colonial rule, then occupied by the US, then the US supported Papa Doc and later disposed the democratically elected Aristide because he wouldn't do the bidding of US business interests. it's not a simple matter of "more productive economies", we have been screwing with country for a long time.
- spearce, on 01/31/2008, -8/+50i wonder how many plates of food Wyclef could have bought instead of his last custom painted, chromed out, exotic car. i mean, he's haitian. they're haitian. i'm just sayin'.
- wreckosaurus, on 01/31/2008, -5/+41How about religious organizations' opposition to contraceptives and abortion. I guess they could just pray for food and practice abstinence, cause we know those work so well. idiot
- cliffzdude, on 01/31/2008, -2/+38CORRUPTION.
Plenty of food can go to Haiti , actually our country gives quite a bit from the private sector. The problem lies with the corrupt-evil bastards who run the country, and the gangs who run the slums. We can pour millions of metric tons of corn into Haiti, but it'll all be stolen. This isn't my gut feeling or a hypothesis, its from experience from friends and loved ones who've spent time in Haiti trying to help. Same story as in Africa, we try and TRY to help, but corruption and evil stand in the way. - slvrbullet87, on 01/31/2008, -8/+43Alot of these comments are bashing on the USA(shock shock digg) Where in the hell is france or england in all of this, why dont they send food and money... oh wait they wont but it will be our fault for starving people.
- inactive, on 01/31/2008, -0/+32 You don't see too many Dominicans starving, why is that?
- BingoPower, on 01/31/2008, -4/+36There is plenty enough food in the world for everyone.
Those in poor, famine-ridden countries are generally under the rule of some despot/idiot or another.
Ethiopia, in historical terms, was an awesome principality. Successive ***** meant Bob Geldoff had to intervene.
Remove despots.
Feed the Starving.
Distribute Contraception. - iamsocruel, on 01/31/2008, -7/+37They should call Bono.
- republicker, on 01/31/2008, -4/+33maybe some day they will think of that.
- Screwy1138, on 01/31/2008, -12/+39I'm poor, I can't feed myself or possibly take care of a family. But let's have sex anyway! That's a grave offense to humanity and child abuse. You intentionally brought an innocent life into a horrible, painful situation. Sex has consequences. I know it's not cool to talk about responsibility these days, but some things are just true regardless of how our society likes deny it.
- inactive, on 01/31/2008, -4/+31Uhhh what's religion got to do with it? There's tons of religion in 3rd world *****.
- warlokaz2004, on 01/31/2008, -1/+25I'd argue that sharing isn't the problem -- its corrupt governments and criminal cartels and even religious whackos employing thugs with weapons that shake down international relief efforts every step of the way. As well as folk being preyed on by these criminal groups who can't exactly fight back when their bowl of rice is taken away by the latest group of thugs. I'm sure they are eating 7 course dinners in Haiti's presidential palace, and in the headquaterers of the secret police.
- b0wl0fud0n, on 01/31/2008, -2/+26More pictures: http://www.daylife.com/search/photos/all/1?q=mud+c ...
- footodors, on 01/31/2008, -7/+30in 200 years they still be eating dirt.
- vuke69, on 01/31/2008, -1/+21"two cups of rice now sell for 60 cents" ~TFA
Wow, that's REALLY expensive (no, that is NOT sarcasm).
I can go to Sam's Club right now and but a 50lb bag of rice for about $5. Two cups of dry rice probably weighs what, 6-8oz max? I'll use the pessimistic 8oz number, because the math is easier, that would make that same 50lb bag of rice cost $60 dollars there. Hell, you could buy rice here, even at retail prices, and FEDEX it to them, and it would still be cheaper. (maybe not quite cheaper, but you get the point)
Even dirt to make their cookies is expensive. "Dirt to make 100 cookies now costs $5" WTF???
According to the article, 80% of the population lives on under $2 a day. I've lived on under $2 a day, lots of rice, and ramen noodles, not exactly gourmet eating. But I wasn't eating DIRT. Especially not this insanely expensive dirt.
I know no one here wants to hear this, but this really is a prime example of where the free market (which they obviously DON'T have now), would alleviate many of their problems. - eryximachus, on 01/31/2008, -2/+21You do realize that no one will ever answer this question on Digg.
You have an island with 2 different people. One side is a deforested wasteland of human misery, a living hell. The other, a moderately productive, modern society with resorts, paved roads, a lush island paradise. In many ways, the island of Hispaniola is a symbol of the world in which we live. Yet, no one will ever acknowledge it. - simplicityiskey, on 01/31/2008, -0/+19Because there aren't any 16 year olds with babies in America.
- Jeffmr1, on 01/31/2008, -3/+22I definitely agree that people in rich countries have a level of abundance that's unparalleled, but it seems that the majority of obese people are overweight not because of quantity, but quality. Most of the obese are poor and they only foods available to them are cheap products with a lot of chemically altered substances, therefore, nobody goes hungry because we can afford to make really cheap food, not because we are rich and can afford a lot of 'normal' food.
- BadseedJR, on 01/31/2008, -24/+42At least we can waste our corn making ethanol while people eat dirt. Way to go capitalist government, choose the dollar over life again!
- bfron110, on 01/31/2008, -2/+19Ive been to Haiti on several different occasions... It is very sad how there general population live and has no other choice but to live like that. To give you an idea in tidal flood zones the government allows you to build on the land for free so you have cylinder block homes with tin roofs that flood twice a day everyday... just because they can build anywhere else. This is all due to there corrupt government.. sad situation overall..
But if you go to the other side of the island to Dominican its is a night and day difference.. you have resorts.. money... paved roads... the difference from the topsoil and vegetation from the air is shocking... Dominican is lush and thriving while you cross the country line on the same island it changes.. just because the people didn't take care of the land. - hulez, on 01/31/2008, -4/+21are you calling their cooking bad? How would you like it if someone came up to you and said , youuuuur mud cookies Suck >=(
- inactive, on 01/31/2008, -6/+23Who cares? Did you hear about Britney??? Sigh...
- spearce, on 01/31/2008, -7/+24condoms are the devil. just pray hard enough and everything will be ok.
- chemam, on 01/31/2008, -0/+17I lived in the Dominican Republic for about 12 years. Haitians are good people, very loyal and hard workers. They have the illegal immigrant role in the DR, usually work in cane fields or construction, intense labor. They practice voodoo as well, the construction workers near my house ate my neighbors' cat. True story.
- pintomp3, on 01/31/2008, -2/+19actually, it's more an example of corporatism than socialism. the subsidies are the result of the influence of the few wealthy businesses at the expense of the public.
- Spero, on 01/31/2008, -2/+18Hey, don't be haitain on Wyclef...
- rizla420, on 01/31/2008, -2/+17Very Darwinian of you and other who say its merely an over population issue. Its really not, its a political and educational issue thats lead haiti to where it is today. Haiti was one of the most prosperous Caribbean countries in the 60's had a lot of tourism. The beach boys had a line about Haiti in the song Coco Mo. BTW, ***** on a nation having to rely on exports for income. A nation can and should firstly be self sufficient. Tourisim died down there because of the unstable political climate. The land itself used to be incredibly fertile. The variety of fruits that are native to the island Hispanola is amazing given the size of it.
So your view is ridiculously simplistic in regards to the creation of wealth. You can make as much money as you want, but if the poor people eventually get fed up with your ***** and decide to over run your estate guess what? All the money you have is instantly gone, your survival is all that matters in the end. If England tanks economically, your idea of wealth is gone. You have become a popper.
I in no way advocate socialism and welfare programs, but you just see it from a way too basic perspective. In order for a nation to strive economically to create wealth you need a framework in which to operate and that is the role of government and thusly politics. - vuke69, on 01/31/2008, -1/+15Probably like dirt.
- JettaMan, on 01/31/2008, -0/+14No idiot, handouts do NOT save people. Handouts destroy them by making them dependent on handouts. There's a reason park rangers don't want you feeding animals - it makes them dependent for a while, they forget how to get their own food, then when the handouts drop they starve. You need to let them become independent on their own resources and you need to let them find their own way, even if it means making a few mistakes along the way.
- wreckosaurus, on 01/31/2008, -4/+18Oh never mind, you're that retard that gets banned every 2 days. Stop coming here.
- MaynardJK, on 01/31/2008, -1/+15Yeah, it is a good thing that we have religion. Without it, I bet Haiti would be a real dump filled with starving people.
- Maciula, on 01/31/2008, -0/+14Flawed logic. I return/throw out food all the time- it's mine, i paid for it. What difference does it make if I finish my meal or put in the garbage, it doesn't affect hungry people one way or the other.
- dreadroberts, on 01/31/2008, -9/+23Gee, that must be it! Fadeout surely wasn't referring to her age!
- bosssmiley, on 01/31/2008, -4/+18Sorry, not our hemisphere. Monroe Doctrine. ;-)
- ALyken, on 03/25/2008, -4/+17I hope that the person who took this photograph paid for it. If only to put some proper food in these people's tummies. He/she will get paid a lot for photographing these poor people.
- SoulDesigner, on 01/31/2008, -0/+13citation needed
- deslock, on 01/31/2008, -0/+13I lived several years in the Dominican Republic (shares the island with Haiti) and there are plenty of starving people there just not nearly on the scale of Haiti. Part of it has to do with the fact that the gov in Haiti has been so unstable for so many years (decades now) that there is almost no industry there. Companies are reasonably scared to put factories there (looting, stealing, etc. is a real issue when each worker has to support themselves and several families of relatives… 20 or 30 people at least). Also Haiti has been so poor for so long that the country has been almost 100% deforested. There are no trees, wood or other natural resources and, as a result, every rainfall is a flood possibility. No crops are safe in Haiti sadly.
Now, the DR is the second poorest country in the western hemisphere so I wouldn’t call it “good” but they have some strict laws in place (no cutting down trees of any kind) and the gov, though they had a dictator for quite a few years, has been stable. They have agreements with other countries to provide free rice all over the island and, in return, the DR ships out almost 100% of their white sugar (anything except brown sugar is expensive in the DR since it sells for so much more as export). Still the unemployment in the DR is like 70% in many areas and there are lots of people starving.
One family of friends were newlyweds and they had their first baby but they had so little food that her body literally had no milk. They definitely couldn’t afford formula and there were many days of tears before we met. They had resorted to feeding their baby mashed rice… which has very little vitamin nutrition in it and will kill a baby over a long period of time. - inactive, on 01/31/2008, -12/+25Yes, because breeding at the age of 16 is clearly the best idea in the world if you already dont have enough food. Anyone that ***** stupid does not deserve help.
- stellandfly, on 01/31/2008, -2/+15Giving them money is not the answer. Haiti is like little Africa. The politicians and people in government are corrupt. That's the way it's always been.
- Bing11, on 01/31/2008, -1/+14I agree with you. It's horrible that these people are eating "mud" for food, but why do they continue to reproduce then? I don't think "there's nothing better to do" or "ignorance" to be an acceptable excuse. The age thing is irrelevant: if they're 30 and having kids they can't afford to feed, they're still HAVING KIDS THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO FEED.
Don't mistake me: their pain is horrible, and should be stopped. But at what point do we realize that before we are no more responsible for their condition than they are? They have to hold at least some accountability for their own condition. - MysticSavage, on 01/31/2008, -5/+18On one hand, incredibly sad.
On the other hand, tonight's secret ingredient on Iron Chef. -
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