Haïti: Ways to help
Just some signal-boosting in the hopes that everyone can do at least a little something to help out with the humanitarian catastrophe in Haïti.
First off: Get educated! Earthquakes are natural disasters; the poverty that exacerbated the disaster isn't. Here's a brief primer on why Haïti is so poor, but it doesn't really go into the politics much. Basically, Haïti was punished by European, and later, North American powers for having the audacity to claim its freedom and self-determination. Haïti was forced to pay reparations to France-its colonizer and slave-master-until 1947. (That's right-France murdered the indigenous population, then kidnapped and enslaved Africans and worked them to death. The slaves revolted and kicked out their oppressors; France demanded-and received-payment to compensate them for the lost profits.) The dictatorship of "Papa Doc" Duvalier, propped up by guess-who, put the country further into debt, which lenders have not forgiven despite the international legal principle of odious debt. Even more recently, the democratically elected government of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, which came to power on a platform of social justice, transparency, and literacy, was topped by American, French, and Canadian forces.
Okay, but what can we do now? I immediately donated to Médecins sans Frontières (a.k.a. Doctor's without Borders). I'm told that the American Partners in Health is also a good group to donate to. skywardprodigal has a list of more options.
And fandom-oh, how I love you-has responded with help_haiti, so you should bid, offer, or pimp if you haven't already.
In better news the Doomsday Clock got set back! I think it's sad that I found out about this through watchdom but, in fairness, I've been a bit busy.
First off: Get educated! Earthquakes are natural disasters; the poverty that exacerbated the disaster isn't. Here's a brief primer on why Haïti is so poor, but it doesn't really go into the politics much. Basically, Haïti was punished by European, and later, North American powers for having the audacity to claim its freedom and self-determination. Haïti was forced to pay reparations to France-its colonizer and slave-master-until 1947. (That's right-France murdered the indigenous population, then kidnapped and enslaved Africans and worked them to death. The slaves revolted and kicked out their oppressors; France demanded-and received-payment to compensate them for the lost profits.) The dictatorship of "Papa Doc" Duvalier, propped up by guess-who, put the country further into debt, which lenders have not forgiven despite the international legal principle of odious debt. Even more recently, the democratically elected government of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, which came to power on a platform of social justice, transparency, and literacy, was topped by American, French, and Canadian forces.
Okay, but what can we do now? I immediately donated to Médecins sans Frontières (a.k.a. Doctor's without Borders). I'm told that the American Partners in Health is also a good group to donate to. skywardprodigal has a list of more options.
And fandom-oh, how I love you-has responded with help_haiti, so you should bid, offer, or pimp if you haven't already.
In better news the Doomsday Clock got set back! I think it's sad that I found out about this through watchdom but, in fairness, I've been a bit busy.