Haiti
I, like many people, have been watching the news coming from Haiti. I have been to Haiti, and to the capital city of Port au Prince. Haiti is a beautiful country, with incredibly friendly people, and desperate poverty. I had taken many years of French in school and was prepared to be able to speak, at least in a basic way, with Haitians. Not so. The creole spoken there sounded vaguely like French once in a while, and my feeble attempts at communication were generally met with big wide smiles and lots of laughter.
My trip there was the first time I witnessed what a society looked like where a tiny percentage of the people controlled the vast majority of the wealth. I was an impressionable teenager at the time and that trip changed the way I look at the world. There is nothing that will pull a typically self-absorbed teenager out of their own head so much as walking among sweet, beautiful children who have no shoes and are literally on their knees begging for pennies, or trying to sell woven shawls made by family members to tourists for a pittance. I still feel immense gratitude for my time there. Despite the desperate circumstances of the people, Haiti broadened my mind, opened my eyes and my heart, and made me feel connected to humanity outside my own borders. My problems became insignificant quickly. And so it is with a certain degree of personal “reality” that I have heard over the years about the AIDS epidemic, the political unrest and violence, the devastating mud slides, and now this terrible earthquake.
When I heard the news, and that the epicenter was under the capital city, my memories jolted to the front of my brain, and I thought of Port au Prince, and the buildings. Cinder blocks, concrete everywhere, and so many people – the worst case scenario for a major quake. Those children I saw who are now adults with children of their own maybe, who have suffered in so many ways since I was there long ago, are living through something right now that I find unimaginable.
Associated Press journalists based in Port-au-Prince said the damage from the quake — the most powerful to hit Haiti in more than 200 years — is staggering even in a country accustomed to tragedy and disaster.
Women covered in dust crawled from the rubble wailing as others wandered through the streets holding hands. Thousands gathered in public squares late into the night, singing hymns. Many gravely injured people still sat in the streets early Wednesday, pleading for doctors. With almost no emergency services to speak of, the survivors had few other options.
Thousands of buildings were damaged and destroyed throughout the city, and for hours after the quake the air was filled with a choking dust from the debris of fallen buildings.
The scope of the disaster remained unclear, and even a rough estimate of the number of casualties was impossible. But it was clear from a tour of the capital that tens of thousands of people had lost their homes and that many had perished. Many buildings in Haiti are flimsy and dangerous even under normal conditions.
“The hospitals cannot handle all these victims,” said Louis-Gerard Gilles, a doctor and former senator, as he helped survivors. “Haiti needs to pray. We all need to pray together.”
For those wishing to help, the American Red Cross is accepting monetary donations to support earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. Donations can be specifically earmarked for Haitian relief by designating the gift to AP 2885 Haiti Relief and Development.
The American Red Cross honors donor intent. Donations can be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013, or made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org.
Unspecified donations will be used where they are needed most.
Video HERE.
my heart goes out to them, what devastation
This demonstrated which are true news channels. I surfed around the stations, and found that CNN, MSNBC, and the “locals news” were all covering the earthquake early in the evening. I made a brief stop by Faux News and saw Glenn Beck gushing over Sarah Palin making her debut on the network. No mention at all of the earthquake. (I confess, that I could only handle Beck for about 5 or 6 minutes before I felt the urge to vomit)
Thanks for donation site…I dont usually like to give to the red cross for various reasons…but in this case, as they seem to be the first responders, will give
we dont have much, but when compared to those in desperate need…we are so incredible rich…
Thank you for posting the information and the wonderful post, AKM.
I think Doctors Without Borders may be able to take a designated donation as well, but in any case they can also direct donations to most-needed areas.
My heart is breaking for them. I shall donate immediately. I cannot even imagine the magnitude of this. Our government has stepped up immediately to offer help.
My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, survivors and their families. Gawd, I feel like 9/11 again.
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/
UN Dispatch has twitter feeds and other social networking links following the story. Hotels are reportedly collapsed, hospitals are destroyed and god only knows what has happened to the make-shift dwellings that house so many residents. It just couldn’t happen to a poorer, less fortunate place.
And there’s this:
UPDATE VI: A very disturbing and curt report from AFP: “The headquarters of the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti has been destroyed in large part. There are numerous people underneath the rubble, both dead and injured,” a local employee of the force said. Keep in mind, these are the very people who would be first responders themselves.
Reports on CNN say that people are hearing screaming, crying — and cheering as survivors are pulled from the rubble in the dark.
another organization where you can specify where your donation will be used, their motto is “give and it gets there”
Operation USA
http://www.opusa.org/
As soon as my credit union here is open and I have confirmation of my soc. sec. deposit..small though it is..I will then call Red Cross. Yes..we ARE..incredibly well-to-do..when looking at a roof over our heads, potable water, food and ‘strength of community’ around and about us. All this to say I can give $ 15.00..but..each gives..and in the ..Global Family..it Will..seed the rebirth of Haiti..ignored for so long..misused..by too many. Peace..and Hope..and the generation of rebuilding..coming now from all corners…’he ain’t heavy…………………..
I just posted the websites of the Red Cross and Operation USA on my Facebook page. If anybody is on a social networking site, please do the same.
(((Mudpuppies)))
We have so much. For us, $10, $15, $20 is pocket change.
I wish all those stupid Palinbots would send their money there where it would do some humanitarian good and some Christian good instead of lining the pockets of Granny O’Palin. Hey, Sea of P.ee, are you listening??? Get your heads out of your nether regions and justify your existence by doing something useful. You guys have nothing to complain about in your lives.
Idiots.
For those you with texting, the White House has posted this link on Facebook . The donation will be charged to your cell phone bill. Please pass it on …
Text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to @RedCross relief efforts in #Haiti. Learn more: http://bit.ly/6KiRtE
The devastation is horrible, not sure how they’ll recover from this, really. I heard the US is sending the hospital ship Comfort down there to assist and the runway is accessible at the airport, so aid and assistance will be rolling in soon.
You can also donate $10 to the Red Cross by texting the word ‘Haiti’ to 90999. It’s what I’m going to do, as I can’t really afford much more than that myself. For those not wanting to donate to the Red Cross, there will be other groups going to help, I’m sure any of them will gladly accept donations.
Thank you for the reference to the Red Cross. As a Red Cross volunteer who spent 110 days in 2007 volunteering for the Red Cross and most of that time on National Disasters, this organization is their first to provide for the emergency needs of the victims of any disaster. The goods and services of the Red Cross are available through the generosity of the American public. I encourage everyone to consider volunteering, giving blood and making a donation. It is the least we can do for our fellowman.
2 GoI3ig Says: January 13th, 2010 at 4:03 AM
This demonstrated which are true news channels. I surfed around the stations, and found that CNN, MSNBC, and the “locals news” were all covering the earthquake early in the evening. I made a brief stop by Faux News and saw Glenn Beck gushing over Sarah Palin making her debut on the network. No mention at all of the earthquake.
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You expected different from faux news? I mean, come on. They are the white people’s network. Why in hades do you or anyone else expect that they’d cover breaking news that has nothing to do with stupid white people?? If they interrupt their regular white people programming to cover a major disaster not involving white people, then how do you expect they will keep attracting all those white morons to their pile of [poop]? I mean, really… there really was nothing more important last night than the debut of s’error palin.
Thanks for the post. Wishing them well. Glad that aid from US is getting out to them hopefully soon. Our planet is smaller than we think.
Doctors Without Borders operates free of charge clinics in many of the world’s most needed and neglected areas, including Haiti.
http://doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=4147&cat=field-news
I have lurked here for quite some time but never posted. I even have my husband checking your blog daily now.
I just made my donation by the text feed.
My connection to Haiti is through friends of my family, doctors, who volunteer at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in the central Artibonite Valley. One of our closest friends is on the board. Here is the web sight if people are interested in helping beyond the earthquack.
http://www.hashaiti.org/A1a.html
Haiti is full of black people, so why would FOX care what happened there?
As my boss said this morning, “there is nothing to save there anyway.” Except HUMAN BEINGS, but then, they don’t count, property counts with Republicans.
MercyCorps is also a good organization to donate to, if you can’t get through on the RedCross website. Nicholas Kristoff recommends them.
http://www.mercycorps.org/
for those who like myself are at work today, this is a live feed of news from Haiti:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8456322.stm
cnn has a live feed as well: http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stream1
Thanks AKM… for the info…soooo sad..
I saw the first few photos of the devastation at NYT links last night. It certainly put things in perspective for me yesterday.
I’d like to suggest Americares http://www.americares.org/. There is a Haiti aid link on the home page. Administrative expenses are low with over 98% of donations go to services.
GoI3ig @2 – I hear you. I can never handle more than 4-5 minutes of Beck. I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s going to be like with Beck and Palin ocassionally sharing the spotlight.
And the right wing nut jobs are using the crisis in Haiti to attack Obama. So far I’ve seen things like ” he’s quick to come to the aid of Haiti but took 10 days to comment about a terrorist attack” and ” take a good look at Haiti because that would be the US if current dems were our forefathers” and ” Haiti is Obama’s Katrina – When does he plan to send aid?!?!”
Also so a lot of ” God will use this to fill the godless vacuum of Haiti with good Christians”. There were also a good number of kind words and prayers from the teaparty camp but I’d say they’re running neck n’ neck.
I feel like such a heartless beyotch going “off topic” in this thread, but thought you all might be interested in reading a post by one of the people originally involved in the formation of Tea Party Nation (TPN). Palin is hoping to be be paid a large sum of money for addressing their “convention,” but apparently neither her “legal team” or anyone else in her entourage bothered to do any due diligence with respect to the legitimacy of this group.
I feel sorry for the people who have been ripped off by Judson Phillips, but this is what they get for believing rubbish.
After the tsunami years ago (while I was living in England), a neighbor pulled together a coffee/fund raiser to help the victims of the disaster. The entire village showed up with donations in hand. One of the neighbors works for Oxfam and was able to tell us what additional help we might provide. The effort made us all feel like we could do something to help, albeit something small considering the magnitude of the disaster.
This kind of effort is simple yet effective as it delivers monetary help and shows people that they can do something by coming together.
karen marie @22 – i know! I had some non-Haiti posts to add earlier but felt awful posting them here so I posted over on twitter instead! I think the crisis might need its own thread ? ( thanks for your link. off to read it !)
Here’s an article from the Daily Beast on the recent history of Haiti. There’s so much I don’t know about our world ! http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-01-13/haiti-in-crisis/full/
Canada’s Lieutenant-Governor Michaelle Jean is from Haiti. I know the Cnd. Prime Minister has called for immediate aid to be sent. And, rescue teams. This tragedy, unlike the Tsunami in Indonesia, is close to home. The only good news out of this was last night on CNN? some were reporting that Port-au-Prince north was not as damaged, and the outskirts, farming communities were ok. The geology of this island is rock, mountain range, and a smaller flatlands where the millions live near the coast. Thankfully, no Tsunami arrived on top of this devastation.
Yes, the french dialects, like Cajun, and northern new england, Acadian, do not sound exactly like the parisian french that is taught in schools. Am familiar with Acadian french, and I remember back in the day, “Chu pas capable” (in english means, I am not able). In proper french, it should be, “Je ne suis pas capable”.
But “Chu” is a bunched up “Je ne suis” and only fellow locals know what it means. They actually know the proper language, but it’s a tradition to speak like the old folks.
karen marie…thanks for the link as it is important.
I cannot imagine the horror of their existence this morning…and in the coming days, years ahead.
We are holding them in our prayers ~ and let us do whatever it is that we can in the bonds of humanity for this tremendously impoverished island nation; which is now compounded by this devastation.
Thank you AKM for this very touching post–and for caring enough to get involved.
Peace be still.
AKM, if you haven’t read Tracy Kidder’s book, “Mountains Beyond Mountains,” pick it up because it is a good read about Dr. Paul Farmer who has dedicated his life to helping the people of Haiti.
I have been so sad to hear about this terrible devastation in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. I cannot watch the news reports because it just breaks my heart.
BuffaloGal –
And the right wing nut jobs are using the crisis in Haiti to attack Obama. So far I’ve seen things like ” he’s quick to come to the aid of Haiti but took 10 days to comment about a terrorist attack” and ” take a good look at Haiti because that would be the US if current dems were our forefathers” and ” Haiti is Obama’s Katrina – When does he plan to send aid?!?!”
************************************************************
i can hardly believe that – i have the bbc page and the cnn live feed on, and i check in here and at DU periodically (at work). but this really illustrates their real agenda: defeat obama. nothing but nothing else matters but to make obama look bad and to attempt to turn the people against his leadership. such stupid hateful hypocrites! it makes me want to SCREAM.
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/01/all-the-mountains-are-down.html
Live blogging from Haiti:
General Hospital in Port-au-Prince is down, Palace is damaged.
No one knows how many dead or injured. The aftershock is reverberating. People can only see dust,
Obama is sending in military troops.
Phone lines that are working are: Haiti-tel and Voila.
Digicel tower is down.
Tsunami warning still in effect
All windows are shattered in houses in la plaine
Houses are falling down everywhere.
All the poor on the mountains, whose houses were build on the mountains, all tumbled down, one on top another
A terrible situation!
Nothing works. No one available to assist anyone.
No one knows where necessary personnel are. State Department has little contact with US Embassy compound
There is also Direct Relief International which is highly rated on Charity Navigator, I think.
Early word on twitter via the Catholic News Service is that the body of the Archbishop of Port-au-Prince has been pulled out of the rubble.
http://tinyurl.com/y975c7t
More ways to help:
http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/charity-news/Haitiappeal
For UK readers
http://www.sos-kinderdorf.de/
For readers from Germany.
They are already in Haiti, which makes them first responders, but unfortunately means that they were in harms way. I´ve been donating to SOS every month and for emergencies for more than 20 years. Give whereever you can. The first link demonstrates very nicely how far our “small” contributions go in Haiti. Thanks and hugs to all.
a tweet from the bbc:
“melindayiti tweets: talking to Joe in Jacmel…says the city is destroyed, the Alcibiade is missing a part, the Hotel Lamandou… many places damaged… the hospital also seriously damaged and turning people away…the ocean receded a half mile from the coast”
i hope this does not portend a tsunami?
@lettersfromeurope
What a wonderful agency. I bookmarked them on my Facebook page and I shall sign up to become a monthly contributor. I wish I had known about them sooner, ah, but better late than never, right? I always get a warm, fuzzy feeling knowing my few dollars are being added to other few dollars to create big piles of dollars that are being put to good use. I research all my charities very carefully.
This is how we effect change in the world – a little step at a time.
Thank you.
Now I shall go send a few more of my pennies out into the Universe.
Half a mile? My god yes that is whats coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SOS Childrens Villages – USA
http://www.sos-usa.org/Pages/default.aspx
Tsunami warning still in effect.
Isn’t Haiti a paradise for Republican/Libertarian ideology?
Small Government (very low tax rates), Fiscal Conservatism (no new government spending), Free Market Capitalism (no social services), so that the super-rich are unencumbered by concerns about the poor (they can damn well pull themselves up by their boot straps)?
Of course Fox isn’t interrupting their propaganda programming to cover the earthquake: that would entail giving “handouts” to those poor souls!
As I’ve been watching twitter feedback and reading many responses referencing this being an opening for Christ to come to the region, I’ve been wondering what Palin will post. All of the sudden I got a really creepy feeling about her strange prayer warrior group and their spiritual mappings of demonic strongholds. I’m off to see if I can find any info but I’ll bet you my last bottle of wine (and that’s a big deal!) that they see Haiti as needing to be dealt with in some manner. I can feel it in my bones.
Just saw a post that UNICEF has posted an emergency tsunami alert. Damn.
Just donated to the RC. Thanks for the link. I would love to tell my right-wing, anti-tax, anti-government to move to someplace like Haiti. See what no taxes and almost no government gets you?
I have donated through Concern in Ireland. That is very worrying news about the tsunami alert!
@LiladyNY Big hugs to you. Yes, SOS has given me a lot of hope over the years.
Adult children of two of my friends are in Haiti – both injured. One is being cared for at a UN camp and the other is helping to dig people out of the rubble. Please keep them in your prayers.
thanks so much for posting about this. I’ve been doing volunteer medical work in Haiti for years…I’ve taken over 15 trips and lived there for a period of time as well. the devastation I’m seeing on the news is surreal, unbelievably tragic, and heartbreaking. please help in any way you can. I have dozens of friends/family working in Haiti and so far everyone we know is safe, but so many others didn’t make it
Please keep us posted Writing from Alaska. The latest numbers coming out are staggering.
And I’m sorry to do this considering everything going on but covering Palin is what I do so I have to include this. Over at Palingates http://www.palingates.blogspot.com/ you’ll find info about the tabloid piece that Bristol supposedly received a great sum of money for. After everything Van Flein came out with re: Levi seeking publicity, this is just insane. It’s like the entire family is mentally unstable.
I just put up a new open thread because people were feeling funny about using the Haiti thread for other stuff. I should have done it that way from the beginning. So anyone who has posted other stuff, please repost on the open thread as well. Thanks! AKM
you can follow my close friend Troy Livesay on Twitter–he lives in Haiti and is providing updates:
http://twitter.com/troylivesay
you can also follow updates on their blog:
http://livesayhaiti.blogspot.com
Karen Marie- thanks for the link. Since I live in Nashville it is particularly interesting to me.
It seems to take a drastic situation to wake certain segments of the population up to the needs of others. I’m referring to the Palinbots and their sudden interest in bringing Christianity to the Haitians. If they had shown any interest in the past, they would be aware the there are many religious organizations who have headquarters there and work with the people in a wide variety of needed areas, not just bringing them to God. I have lived across the road from a Baptist church for over 20 years and although it is not my regular church, I occasionally attend and know the people well because they are my neighbors in this rural area. One widowed lady goes to Haiti several times each year, supported by the church, and donations of goods are accumulated in preparation for each of her trips. She takes school supplies, baby items, household utensils, garden tools, and on and on – whatever is collected. Once she, the team she goes with, and the supplies arrive, the supplies are distributed to different agencies and the team members work in so many areas. Some work with mothers teaching infant/child care, healthy eating, sanitation, etc. Others work in the schools and yet others work in the *fields*, meaning they work on potable water solutions, agriculture, etc.
She is just one of thousands caring enough to leave her home for months at a time to give whatever she can to others.
If those crazy Palin-followers were true Christians, they would know there is more to being a Christian than converting someone – so much more goes along with being “my brothers keeper”. They absolutely disgust me!
Now would be a good time for some of these big Corporate Cruise ship lines with deep pockets to step forward and make some large donations.
I have taken cruises in the Carribean and almost all of them use Haiti as part of their itineraries as a port of call.
The people in Haiti really need it first and foremost, and it would be a good PR move at this point for them. You don’t think people would remember their name and support that Cruise Line in the future for what they did. For the humanitarian reasons FIRST , but corporately speaking it makes sense as well.
I hope someone has made calls to them to ask for support. At this point in time if anybody has any type of connections or business contacts with some of the Cruise Lines it wouldn’t hurt to ask how ‘they’ are helping out.
Even laying a ‘ guilt trip ‘ on them ( or shaming them ) to get money and support is fine at this point. They take from the country all year round… time to give a little something back. Whatever it takes.
**** If anyone has a blog, or is a writer that would get a story or comment posted by an online publication, Editorial page or Letters to the Editor about what or whether these Cruise Lines are doing anything to help… write it and share.
If you made a phone call to a Cruise Company operating in your area ( NY, LA, AK, FL.. etc ) to ask what their company was doing to help the situation please post their response her.
( imagine if RCL,Carnival or Disney had their switchboards flooded with calls asking the same question… ” What are you doing ?” )
And until Haiti gets rebuilt and back on its feet…it affects their business. They have a vested interest there to make it right. Two reasons to give.
I will be watching the News stories to see if any of these Cruise Lines step up to the plate.
This is just so devastating. 80% of people in Haiti live under the poverty level. A Haitian senator said this morning that the death and dying toll could be half a million.
These people had nothing much to begin with and even far less now. I’m so glad our President has taken immediate action, from material aid, to sending a carrier group, to Coast Guard, to FEMA personnel, etc. And other countries are chipping in, too, from China to Iceland. It makes it very clear that Katrina could have been handled much better, of course, with different results.
While Haiti has been pretty much operating as a failed state, perhaps this might be a way for the Haitian people to assume their own power to build up the country with the help of other countries, sans politics–not with their hindrance.
I heard Rush Limbaugh on the radio this a.m. knocking President Obama for suggesting that Americans help the survivors in Haiti. I truly feel Limbaugh is evil from the top of the his head to the tip of his toes! I tune in to Limbaugh seldom, but feel I have to once in awhile just to see what the mouthpiece is spewing. He is so full of hate and anger…he just rants!
@Writing from Alaska,
I am so glad to hear that your friend’s children are relatively ok.
Pat Robertson has put his big fat foot in his mouth about Haiti. Gryphon has a post on it.
And O’Paylin, As in the Alaskan situation, she’ll hook up with Shepherds purse and bring cookies and pamphlets if anything at all in a big shiny jet plane. Then zoom out, Mission Accomplished.
I have watched the Salvation Army do lots of good in Alaska. They already have an established presence in Haiti and probably can do a lot of good there if supported. I heard their spokesperson in Haiti on NPR give a first-person account of the situation there. That is where I sent my donation. Here’s the link if others are interested.
https://secure.salvationarmy.org/donations.nsf/donate?openform&projectid=USN-HaitiDisaster
Alaskans I mentioned in earlier comment have been located and are on their way to a hospital in Miami – thanks to efforts by many including Senator Mark Begich’s staff. Thank you for your continued prayers for them and all others effected by this tragedy.
WfAK
News from Haiti ~
Thank you for writing. We all felt the earthquake also here. I was at my place at the farm when it took place. Everything shook, the school and the hospital as well, but everyone is fine. We have a surgical team currently at the clinic and they are all OK.
It’s pretty bad in Port-au-Prince. There is no communication anywhere in Haiti.
No damages in Ouanaminthe. School will be closed today at noon until Monday in solidarity with the rest of the country.
Please pray for the thousand traps under the rubble in Port-au-Prince.
Hugues
I have been donating to Heifer International for years. Each Christmas I sponsor animals in the name of my granddaughter.
If you can see your way to donating a few dollars to this wonderful organization to help them in their efforts to rebuild Haiti, please do.
http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.5720609/?msource=EB7A090001
https://secure.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.5720617/apps/ka/sd/donorcustom.asp?msource=EB7A090001
Heifer International is issuing an emergency appeal for funds to help families in Haiti recover and restore their lives following yesterday’s catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake.
“Heifer is by no means a traditional first responder,” said Steve Denne, Heifer’s chief operating officer, “but we have projects and partner families in Haiti who likely have lost everything, and now with this devastation, the need is even greater than before. This appeal will help us help our current families begin to rebuild their lives, and provide the chance to help even more families recover from this devastating blow.”
The massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti was the strongest to hit the country in 200 years.
Heifer has worked in Haiti for 10 years, currently supporting 16 projects with more than 16,000 families and several farmer associations. Our projects are scattered around the country and range from training in sustainable farming and crop diversity to gifts of livestock, seeds, trees and grains to training in nutrition, aquaculture and fish production.
Give today to help rebuild lives in Haiti.
“It’s essential that we prepare to follow the important work of first responders,” said Denne. “While they provide emergency food, medical care and aid, we offer our hopes and prayers for the victims and the families, but at the same time, we must prepare for the next wave of help — giving people the tools and the ongoing help to rebuild their lives and their livelihoods.”
Heifer International has seven employees in Haiti. At the time of this writing, there has been little contact with Heifer staff or partners in Haiti, though efforts continue. “Our thoughts are with them, and we are preparing to respond with the most appropriate and most needed help we can,” said Denne. “This is a country that even in the best of times faces hardships most of us cannot imagine.”
“We, all of us, have an obligation — a duty — to help any way we can.”
Funds raised in this appeal will be used in the recovery and rebuilding effort in Haiti in the wake of the earthquake. Any funds that exceed the level needed to provide relief in this rebuilding effort will go toward the disaster relief fund and for the entire mission of Heifer International.
Sincerely,
Ashley Michael
Heifer International
Does anyone know how to start a campaign against the 700 club? I’ve read some other sites and because it has its own station the FCC can’t do anything (or won’t) do anything about Pat Robinson. Help!
A hammer blow to the poorest of the poor. What a tragedy. The poorest third of human beings are always on the brink of disaster, either natural or man-made. They have no infrastructure to begin with, so relief efforts are excruciatingly difficult. At least in this case there is no gang of Burmese generals standing in the way.
Donating to relief agencies is critically important, but in a disaster of this magnitude we also need to contact our representatives to insist that our US Government throw every available resource, and every useful dollar, at it, right now. And for God’s sake, save their souls later — right now it’s their lives that need saving.
Here is an 800 number for the700 Club 24 hour prayer group: 800-759-0700. It took me quite a while to get through…spoke to a woman that said, “she was not AWARE of what Mr. Robinson said. Unbelievable. Please start calling.
Oh, and BTW, Alaskans: Haiti doesn’t have much in the way of building codes, because they’re poorer than dirt. So their buildings fall down, making a intolerable situation even worse.
This is not a criticism of Haitians — they have no choice, unlike, say, political leaders of the Last-Frontier-in-an-active-earthquake-zone.
Hai AKM: Digby at Hullabullo has compiled many more organisations where people can donate apart from Red Cross. From my experience, there are always some people not really excited about Red Cross, more so after Katrina. I thought you too might want to post this to help your readers with similar thoughts.
• The Red Cross: You can give $10 to the Red Cross’s International Response Fund by texting HAITI to 90999. 100 percent of your donation benefits the Red Cross, and you can print a receipt through mGive, a foundation that helps non-profits take advantage of mobile technology.
• UNICEF, the United Nations Fund focusing on children, has worked on the ground in Haiti since 1949, so has the expertise to make a difference. You can donate here.
• Doctors Without Borders is also present in-country. One senior staff member reports, “The situation is chaotic. I visited five medical centers, including a major hospital, and most of them were not functioning.” Donate to support public health efforts here.
• MADRE, the international women’s rights NGO, partners with the Zanmi Lasante Clinic on the ground in Haiti. “The most urgent needs right now are bandages, broad-spectrum antibiotics and other medical supplies, as well as water tablets to prevent cholera outbreaks,” MADRE reports. Donate here.
• Action Against Hunger has had a team in Haiti since 1985, and is ready to fly planeloads of emergency supplies from Paris to Port-au-Prince. Food is one necessity, but so is sanitation; in some Haitian towns, 70 percent of homes do not have plumbing. Donate here.
• Mercy Corps has a history of deploying aid to regions affected by catastrophic earthquakes, such as Peru in 2007, China and Pakistan in 2008, and Indonesia last year. They are deploying a team to Haiti, and you can support their efforts here.
• Partners in Health is the NGO founded in Haiti in 1987 by Dr. Paul Farmer, the celebrated physician and anthropologist who focuses on international social justice. The group’s emergency response focuses on delivering medical supplies and staff. Louise Ivers, PIH’s clinical director in the country, sent the message, “Port-au-Prince is devastated, lot of deaths. SOS. SOS.” Donate here.
The Clinton Foundation is also accepting donations.
thanks../mia
If you can please make a donation. This situation in Haiti is absolutely horrific. I’m proud of our President for taking the lead. Here is a nice link to remind us of how we are all connected.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xjPODksI08
The Daily Beast has a list of relief agencies that are on the ground in Haiti. Here’s the link: http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-01-13/how-to-help-haiti/
You can click to donate to any of these agencies right from the Daily Beast site. It’s a great resource!
My personal favorite is Doctors Without Borders — they were already on the ground in Haiti before the quake hit providing needed medical services to the people of Haiti and and have since transitioned to disaster relief.
Dear Haiti! I’ve prayed for you and yours today. May your sons and daughters find food for body and soul and comfort in grief. May you find the best way forward to rebuilding lives and country. May your spirits soar though you walk in rubble. May the way be found to get relief where it needs to go and who it needs to go to. And may you find solace and inspiration in the higher power that supports you.
We may not be with you in body, we may not be in need ourselves, but millions of people are with you in prayer and are sending what they can. You are not alone. There are people in this world that love you.
@bluebanshee: I agree on Doctors Without Borders. They have a 4 star rating on charitynavigator.com and I know for a fact they do good work. The money goes right to the need instead of the “overhead”.
@seattlefan: If you got to the link on the Beast website you will get an up-to-date report on what Doctors Without Borders is already doing in Haiti. They have already set up makeshift clinics in the open air because their hospitals were destroyed. So they are already getting help to those in great need. As you say, not a lot of overhead for Doctors without Borders (aka Medicins Sans Frontieres).
However, the list on the Beast is a good start for anyone who wants to donate to help send relief help to Haiti. The organizations have already been vetted and it is easy to click through to donate.
Since we know S’error or someone else she has assigned to read the messages on these blogs we know she will see this.
I am watching Letterman tonight, Keiffer Sutherland came out .
( BTW: He is dressed in a dress because he lost a bet with a friend of his…very funny segment )
They come back from break. Dave stops the Show to talk to the audience of the very serious situation down in Haiti. He gives the 800 number where people can donate funds. Mentions the Red Cross. Says they are ALREADY out of medical supplies… so you know the situation is serious. Some more small talk. Says his guest next Tuesday will be a person from one of these support orgs.( don’t remember their name ) to update the situation and progress.
PalinBots. This is how a true humanitarian with a good heart thinks. He takes the time to stop his show and make this plea for someone who needs help because he is not obsessed with himself and His needs 24×7.
( Beck Show w Palin…****** crickets **** )
Who is the better person or role model..? Now go pass the word…
Lets see if she says ‘ anything ‘ constructive to Help.
She has a whole Network at her disposal now… Right? No excuses.
If anyone else saw the outrageous comments by Limbaugh re the president and aid to Haiti here is a linnk that lists all his sponsers if you are interested in sending them a boycott notice on their products.
Blog Me No Blogs: BOYCOTT RUSH LIMBAUGH’S ADVERTISERS
GreatGranny2C I have never gotten why some people think you have to be saved before you can get help,food ,housing ect.Makes no sense to me. I just read and article that waned people to watch for scams ab out this on the Internet. Always happens,Also the red cross said they put lists of people dead or found so people could go on line to find loved ones.The people are so poor and devastated how could they have access to computers especially in the damaged areas.
honestyinGov 69 you are so right and hopefully they do read and it makes them feel guilty as it should and makes them feel ashamed of themselves as it should.But after reading some of their remarks on other places I don’t know if they have any shame or guilt about anything.
Alert: Due to reports of fraudulent activity, we are asking all donors to please be wary of third-party solicitations for Haiti relief. To ensure that your donation goes directly to Doctors Without Borders, please use our secure website or toll-free phone number 1-888-392-0392. This was posted when I went to make my donation So everyone please be careful.Haitians need help but we don’t need the fraudelt people taking money needed to help the people that truly need it.
I just called the toll-free number to the 700 Club, ready to spout off with a very smart-assed tirade directed at Pat Robertson. Yes, I had pre-conceived ideas about who would answer the phone and what they would be like. I’m also one who can realize I’m not right all the time.
I began by asking the young man who took my call if the Haitians actually spoke with the devil and if he had horns and a pitchfork, or looked more like Max Von Sydow In “Needful Things”. (Yes, I was in full smart-ass mode.) The young man said his understanding was it was more of a myth among some Haitians and not what Mr. Roberson stated. I asked him if he thought God was punishing the Haitians. His reply? “No, I don’t. God doesn’t act that way.” When I asked why Robertson said such a hateful thing, he replied that he (Robertson) can say what he wants because he pays for airtime. A very honest young man there, answering 700 Club phone calls. When I asked if he believed Robertson’s preaching, he said he believed in the love of God, but not necessarily the interpretations some have of the Bible.
I’m sure this young man had to hedge what he said to me, as he was in a large room with other operators, but I ended by saying I admired him. His reply? “Pray for the world.” This was really a slap to my senses – not everyone is how they appear at first glance. I need to remember that more.
I’m really not sure why I’m posting this, other than to admit I, as a liberal, can be just as rigid in my thinking as those I oppose.
i received this e-mail from my daughter. i told her how the mudpuppies are resonding to this tragedy…………..
From my friends Mark and Renee, filmmakers of Poto Mitan, a documentary about women and labor in Haiti. They share links to reputable organizations receiving donations for Haiti. For those in New York, there is also a supplies drop off location. Others also recommend Doctors Without Borders and OXFAM as good charities and alternatives to the Red Cross.
In Solidarity,
Mireille
Dear Friend
As you know, Haiti has yet again been hit with another incredible natural disaster. Haiti already unfortunately suffers from lack of infrastructure, a struggling economy, unnecessary health problems and more. This 7.0 earthquake makes this bad situation dire.
We are asking for the international community to come to the Haitians aid IMMEDIATELY. But to who and how do you know who to trust? Below we list trusted groups: the money will go towards aid, not people’s pockets.
Please visit our partners’ website:
* Fonkoze
* Lambifund
* Partners in Health
* Haiti Reborn
* Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees
Other trustworthy organizations that are also giving immediate relief:
* Haiti Action
* Direct Relief International
* Yele**
**Donate $5 to Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund by texting “Yele” to 501501 (the $5 will be charged to your cell phone bill)
And for longterm reconstructive help:
* Architecture for Humanity is raising funds to support the rebuilding of affected areas by supplying construction and design professionals and supporting earthquake resistant structures.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
architecture for humanity sounds like a very good long term way to help.
Baker’s Dozen (68) – That was beautiful. Thank you.
When disaster strikes it does neither recognize people nor does it discriminate them. I had been a part of Red Cross and during my job with them I had been to so many of such places. What happened there in Haiti just brings back those sad memories back. I wish I could run away from all those haunting memories…. It makes you feel that though the humans have achieved a lot, we are so small when Nature Strikes!
Below is an email from the husband of one of the gals I went to HS with, lo, these many years ago. He has traveled the world extensively, visiting missions, and has been both in Haiti and Dominican Rep. (I’ve removed names from his email.) The organizations he recommends are his [recommendations] – I neither endorse nor dismiss any of them; you, as an individual (and should you be inclined to contribute) would be best going where your heart leads you…
I’ve seen the photos and footage, heard info from the media, read about the devastation on the ‘intertubes’ and in the papers, and now have this email…I am unable, though, to wrap my mind around the utter devastation in Haiti. Some things are just too horiffic for me to comprehend; this catastrophy is one. beth.
~~~~~~
His email:
“Some of you have called and written to find out how the earthquake in Haiti has affected ministries I have visited. The short answer is devastating. Our good friends working with Restaveks, [----- ], lost everything when their building collapsed and buried hundreds of people. The hotel where we stayed is completely flattened and 200 guests are lost – including the manager of the hotel.
One of our hosts (a young woman from Knoxville, TN) lost her home, her car and all her belongings. We had a very brief note from her telling us that she was homeless and on foot hoping to spend the night at the French Embassy. We knew the French Embassy was badly damaged and was a dangerous place to be – not to mention the main penitentiary had been destroyed and 5,000 prisoners were loose in the streets.
Needless to say, her parents and friends were anxious. She did make it to the French Embassy and spent the night even though the walls were literally falling around her. After that, we did not hear anything from her for two days. Just this morning we found out she had somehow made it across the border to the Dominican Republic and was boarding a military flight for Washington. She arrived this afternoon and heads to New York City tomorrow to begin raising money for Haiti. We have seen heroism, personal sacrifice, total loss of everything and tens of thousands of deaths.
As you have read in all the reports, unless you have medical skills or other very specific skills for relief work you are better staying here and not trying to go to Haiti to help. It’s grisly right now. The best thing most of us can do is donate money to organizations we know are equipped to do this work. As you have heard, many organizations, unfortunately, are using this as an opportunity to raise money even if they will not use any of it for Haiti. However, I know several organizations who are doing great work right now in Haiti in the midst of an impossible situation. Here are those I’ve worked with in the past:
CURE International. (www.helpcurenow.org/haitirelief) Their surgeons and medical teams are operating in the middle of Port Au Prince in the worst conditions imaginable. They are also flying in surgeons from the Dominican Republic.
Water Mission International (www.watermissions.org) The biggest need now and in the future is going to be clean water. Water Mission has just delivered ten water purification units that can purify ten thousand gallons of water per day for each unit. They have worked in Haiti for years and know how to operate in these conditions.
Samaritan’s Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org) This is one of the best international relief organizations in the world and they have been in Haiti since the day after the earthquake struck.
I know Mercy Ships (www.mercyships.org) and MercyWorks (www.mercyworks.org) here locally are planning to assist with teams and aid. I have talked with them and those are two great options.
Frankly, you could not make a bad choice at this point if you went with an organization with which you are familiar. Do what you can. Anything will help.” (emphasis added. b.)
I agree with Beth above. Do anything and everything you can to help. I have been monitoring and quite frankly, crying all day about what is happening.
Charitynavigator.org or Whitehouse.org are good sources to see where you can contribute.
Just did a quick survey to see what all the news channels are covering. No surprise that Fox is the ONLY one that is not covering this horrific event. Hannity has some story on about a sex offender which just has him all afire. Where is the compassion with him? I can’t disagree that a sex offender is terrible, but a whole city lies in ruin and destruction and he can’t even give it a thought.
Adding to my comment above: Not to mention the death toll may now be as high as 150,000 according to MSNBC.
Sic ‘em ~
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/1/15/825644/-Rush-Limbaughs-Sponsor-List