Diman wrote: “Once again it is sad to see that in the world we are living in, usually it takes a catastrophe to make people care for one another.”

I wouldn’t be so quick to jump to that conclusion.

In the first place, VERY few of those rushing to help are volunteers - most are being paid VERY WELL to do so. Just like firefighters and riot police - they just hide in the shadows until the bell rings - and presto! out they come to do their thing.

Further, you don’t actually think that those tons of supplies and equipment just magically appear within hours of any disaster, do you? I don’t have any hard evidence to prove my belief but I’d be willing to bet that almost NONE of that stuff is actually donated - it’s all BOUGHT, ON ORDER, FOR A PROFIT, from the manufacturers who are making a FORTUNE on the deals - the more disasters, the merrier! That’s where the “donations” being collected from you are going… straight into the pockets of manufacturers and distributors. You don’t think nice little old lady volunteers are standing on street corners in Port au Prince handing out dollar bills to the disaster-ravaged victims, do you?

I’m not so cynical as to suggest that those doing this work don’t care at all for at least the plight of the victims. Of course they do. So do I. But if they weren’t being paid handsomely to be there I wonder how many would go out of compassion?

Disaster Relief is BIG BUSINESS. If it weren’t, there would be very little of it.

Obama is pledging 100 M. of dollars to the disaster relief in Haiti, while planning to ask Congress for another 30 Bil. or so for wars against “terrorists”. Mr President you are so jenerous. Once again it is sad to see that in the world we are living in, usually it takes a catastrophe to make people care for one another.

It’s a tragedy for sure.

In a way, this event could be a prescient metaphor for the global denial currently underway regarding clean air, water and land. While we investigate, negotiate, drag our feet and wait for the “other guy” to sacrifice first, Mother Earth is going to hell in a handbasket.

Anyone in Haiti with an IQ over room temperature had to know that one quick shake and the whole deck of cards would tumble. Dirt poor. Can’t afford to “do it right?”

Well now you all get to do it over - and Mother Nature has given you a big head start - the demolition costs are “on the house” so to speak!

Xntrk

You’re right, we do what we can as individuals - give where you know it can help.
Then
Call Congress, email them, the White House and tell them this is an opportunity to show what we can do, instead of what we have done in the past.  We cannot change the past, but we can take this opportunity to help build that country, we could work with Cuba and the OAS to bring relief and a commitment to pull up
the wretched.  We can be human, we can…..

Dreamin .... yes, but one day it will come to be.

stellarwinds, Yes, I don know what the usual diet of the Haitians is. I also know whose fault it is. I also do what I can to educate and help battle the dominant culture here in the US.

But, just like the Haitians, I cannot change my skin color or the country of my birth.
All I can change is the few people I can influence.

So, I do what I can - and not just to buy off my conscience while I cheer yet another invasion by the Earth Destroyers called the US Military.

Yeah, go ahead, feel bad,

shed your couple of digital tears on a blog,

which amount to absolutely nothing

while your beloved ‘merica is the one who brought this about.

Indeed, most of these people died because they live in slums, with rocks to hold down their roofs.

They now lie under the rocks.

Dead.

Now ‘merica brought this about, perhaps not the earthquake (although… google HAARP for details)

‘merica lllegally invaded and overthrew the duly elected Aristide in 2004 to replace him with the preval crony with all the corruption that goes with it… (and prevented Aristide from coming back several times since despite popular clamor for his return)

in 6 years of lllegal US occupation, and all these supposed dollars in foreign aid…

how many in cite soleil were able to to put a real roof, and not rocks, over their heads?

That’s the proof in the put-in,

everything else is bla bla…

This is what ‘merica has wrought.

I know you’d rather not face that reality.

but this is you,  who you are,

the scrouge ‘merica (whether under bush or obama) is for the planet.

Did you know that the main staple for most of these people is salt mixed with mud?

where’d the foreign aid go?  Ah, I see, in the free trade zones, right back in those corporate pockets!

and then you’ll act surprised when the chicken will come home to roost?

It wasn’t much, but I donated thru SOA for the Haitian relief efforts. These people have been hammered for well over 200 years for having the audacity of being Black and throwing out their White Owners [Literally]. Whether it is the UN, The US, France, England, or some other country/organization, the Haitians take it in the ass and the neck, both. Starving them seems to be the kindest means utilized by the irate White Supremacists. As long as they all vanish, who cares?

I care, for one. Haiti was the richest colony in the Caribbean and has been trashed worse than Africa. The arrogance of throwing out the Whites, how dare they? The only country we have abused more and for almost as long, is Cuba. But even Cuba has the advantage of ‘Wet foot, dry foot’ when it comes to immigration [And the luck of not ALL being as Black as the Haitians].

Anyway, send what you can. Just make sure you donate thru an NGO that actually spends the money as they promise…