While the U.S. defends interest in the Middle East, poor Haitians next door eat mud cookies.

Sorry toussaint, but that movie has been laying on it's belly for a while now. Its been at least three years. Danny has a hard time getting funding for such a project because well, no body cares about the first black independent country that has yet to get its act together.

Haiti is dear to me and though I have hopes for its possible success one day, Haiti, like many other African nations have had to pay for it's freedom. Perhaps if that initial debt load were removed, they could move on. They should add that to the tagline of the "poorest country in the western hemisphere."

In 2009 I hope we'll talk also about haiti history and about the legendary figure of Toussaint l'Overture, "the black Napoleon". A movie is ready to come out. Actors ? Wesley Snipes and Angela Basset. the director is Dan Glover.
Haiti is poverty but also historical culture

Maybe we could introduce "Vegan Cooking" to the Haitians. They would be able to feed a lot of people for little cost. Also bring in fresh water and irrigation systems for the possibility of farming. Maybe even fly some of these medical students over there to help the sick, it would be a win/win situation for them. Just a few ideas but the only way this will ever take off is by raising lots of cash and government officials speak up.

No problem Suffer. My father is from Haiti and I've made it a point to know all about it.

Shamu, there was a documentary done on Haitians eating dirt cookies swimming around on Youtube. The best one is in creole so you won't know what's going on, but the footage you seek is there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rGxSE6YAy8

I'm not sure what's so illogical about them eating the dirt cookies however. They've found away to mix a particular kind of dirt, mix it with butter and sugar or salt to make it edible. It may be a very foreign concept for people to willingly ingest something like dirt, but I've known many kids here who've come home with a face full of mud. Not all Haitians eat dirt cookies, the poorest of them do, and it's nothing new. It isn't propaganda, it's a reality, but I hope with this kind of information, Haiti doesn't become the 'country of dirt eaters'. They've already got the stamp of the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

i'm sorry about the caps....i'ld also like to apologize if i offended you in anyway ,,in hindsight i think my comments were totally insensitive. in the future i'll try to be better informed before i comment on the subject...have a great day....http://sufferahs1tv.blip.tv/

we need way more info before we just fall into this propaganda. not one pic showed someone actually eating the dirt. and for it to be a main staple there would be a lot of dead people there is no nutritional value to dirt unless you get a bug or worm in there. i can see if they do this to help with hunger pains from no acctual food but much more reasurch has to be brought to light, do anothe4r segment with footage not stills that anyone can put any words infront of. use your minds people, dont just point and stare, find out more info before making such flamboiant propoganda. and dont get me wqrong i know that the country is in poverty but the story isnt logical.

i think everyone in america should join the haitians in the celebration of eating mud cookies . beats an apple of wisdom anyday.

Keith, in essence we're saying the same thing. Haiti's corrupt government is however, only a symptom of the underlying problem. Haiti reminds me of Africa in that someone rises up the ranks, seems promising, makes promises, but before they know it, are pocketing everything for themselves. There's this constant fear that there just isn't enough to go around. Being so focused on 'getting mine', makes it difficult to build a system that will benefit everyone else. It seems simple, the government is corrupt, but what government isn't? The difference is in the people, their expectations and whether or not they're willing to start doing for their country, instead of waiting for someone to save them.

“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime." The Haitian mentality says give me all your fishing rods and this pond is mine. Get your own.

Perhaps their "puppet government" is a result of their every man for himself mentality.

Kudos Neghie. I don't think anyone would be misinformed so severely that they would get excited about some “dirt cookies”. I DO think people would be desperate enough to eat dirt however. Ten days of hunger is allot, but generations of hunger can change an entire culture.

Sufferahsmusic,

Why are you yelling! Get off the caplock!

"I wouldn't advise anyone to eat mud cookies...that's just ignorant?

You think they have a choice between beef steaks and mud cookies? I mean really! You were hungry for 10 days? Try 365 days and maybe mud cookies might start looking remotely appealing. To be ignorant is to uninformed. I highly doubt they eat the cookies because they don't know any better. For someone who thinks he's felt hunger, you sure seem ignorant to the extent people will go to sustain themselves.

You are right on a couple of things, but also misinformed. On the education front, Haiti's private schools can take on America's schools, if not trump them. In math and science the students are light years ahead when they're done. Not many Haitians can go to school, but the ones that do, can hang pretty damn well with the world.

Haiti does need to learn to sustain itself. Perhaps they did boot the French out prematurely, but Haiti's biggest problem to date is it's people's mentality. It's always been about what can the government do for me and never what I can do for my country. Not to mention how every promising figure that rises up the ranks seems to be unforgivably corrupt. With this every man for himself mentality, Haiti's mentally incapable of even beginning to care for itself.

NOT ONLY POOR THATS JUST NASTY AND RIDICULOUS...I'VE BEEN REALLY HUNGRY BEFORE AND I MEAN HUNGRY FOR 10 DAYS NUTTIN TO EAT...I DRANK WATER....NEVER ONCE THOUGHT MUD WOULD BE A TASTY SUBSTITUTE...WOW...AND ..LETS BE HONEST..HAITI WAS THE FIRST SLAVE COLONY TO GAIN FREEEDOM AND TO THIS DAY ...THEYRE PAYING FOR IT...HAITI DOESNT HAVE A LOT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO COMPETE IN TODAYS GLOBAL ECONOMY ..YOUR EDUCATION RATE IS WAAAAY BELOW CURRENT GLOBAL LEVELS...IT SEEM TO ME THAT HATIANS NEED TO EMPOWER THEMSELVES AT THIS TIME IN HISTORY TO BEGIN THE NATURAL GOD GIVEN ABILITY TO NURTURE CHANGE...DID YOU PEOPLE KNOW THAT HAITI IS THE NUMBER I DISTRIBUTER OF ILLEGAL FIREARMS IN THE CARIBBEAN...THATS A STORY IN ITSELF.....WE DONT HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS JUST OPINIONS...BUT SERIOUSLY THOUGH I WOULDNT ADVISE ANYONE TO EAT MUD COOKIES...THATS JUST IGNORANT..

Well, you can help the people of Haiti regardless of what this government does. Doctors Without Borders works around the world to provide medical aid, food, water, and shelter for people in third world and developing countries involved in wars, famines, and civil unrest.

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=2608

I always mention this organization because it is reputable and non partisan. When you donate to them it goes where it is supposed to go.

lol, thats what i said!

i still wonder why the wet foot, dry foot policy doesn't apply to Haitians.