tagged w/ Haiti earthquake
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Research into the Haiti earthquake, leaves scientists making some pretty interesting assumptions...Research into the Haiti earthquake, leaves scientists making some pretty interesting... more
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Haiti's injured animals lowest priority
More than six months since Haiti's earthquake, family dogs and pigs search for food in the rubble. "Animal welfare is a new concept in Haiti," said Max Millien, director of animal health at the Haiti Ministry of Agriculture.
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First aid groups treat Haiti's injured animals
By Daphne Sashin, for CNN
August 9, 2010 10:44 p.m. EDT
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* Groups say animals are lowest priority in aftermath of Haiti's earthquake
* For the first time, the nation has non-profit animal welfare organizations
* They have treated tens of thousands of animals since the January disaster
* One group plans to build an animal care and veterinary training center
(CNN) -- More than six months since the earthquake in Haiti, family dogs and pigs paw through garbage and rubble in search of food, putting them at risk of infections, abscesses and parasites, according to animal welfare groups.
Owners want to help their pets and livestock, but they have little to give. With 1.5 million people still living in tents and the nation in the middle of hurricane season, animals are the lowest priority, animal rescue groups say.
Despite this, tens of thousands of animals have been treated while a public service campaign features a Creole-speaking dog telling families to include their animals in evacuation plans.
"The animal situation is only a reflection of the people's situation," Gerardo Huertas, of the UK-based World Society for the Protection of Animals, told CNN from Costa Rica.
"They live together. Until the whole shelter situation resolves, all you can do is help them with little veterinary support that we can provide," added Huertas, the society's Director of Disaster Management for the Americas.
But animal welfare groups are hopeful that in time they can actually give the nation and its people something it didn't have before the earthquake -- equipment, training and an awareness that animal welfare is critical to their own survival.
"Often in disasters we try and only deal with the problems caused by the disaster and not the underlying problems ... but Haiti was a special case," said Ian Robinson, Emergency Relief Program Director for the International Fund for Animal Welfare, based in Massachusetts.
The animal situation is only a reflection of the people's situation
--Gerardo Huertas, World Society for the Protection of Animals
"To put it back like it was before the earthquake wasn't good enough."
There wasn't a single animal welfare organization in Haiti before the earthquake. The government was focused on preventing the spread of animal-to-human diseases like anthrax, rabies and classical swine fever.
"Animal welfare is a new concept in Haiti," said Max Millien, Director of Animal Health at the Haiti Ministry of Agriculture.
"The children have to start to understand ... if you treat the animals well, that's a way to protect yourself."
Robinson and Millien recently presented their observations at the annual American Veterinary Medical Association conference, in Atlanta, Georgia.
The earthquake damaged the buildings that held vaccines for rabies, heartworm and other diseases. Vets lacked supplies. International volunteers struggled to get around the country.
As for the animals themselves, hundreds were injured. Some of them had wounds caused by the quake or from having to find food in dumps. Others had infections and needed immediate treatment.
Days after the earthquake, the two non-profits created The Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH), with a dozen other animal rescue groups to provide more than $1.1 million in aid to the Haitian government over the next year, including:
• A team of Haitian vets to reach the hardest hit areas with antibiotics, vaccinations and other treatments for animals that in many cases had never been seen by a doctor. Since January, the ARCH mobile clinic has treated 30,000 pigs, goats, dogs, cats and other animals.
• Solar-powered freezers and refrigerators to store temperature-sensitive vaccines in rural areas without electricity, along with coolers that will fit on the back of motorcycles, horses or bicycles for mobile veterinarians.
• Haiti's first census of dogs and cats to determine the level of care they are receiving, people's attitudes toward companion animals and the risk of rabies and other diseases to humans.
• A public awareness campaign to educate families about disaster planning. Last month, public-service announcements began airing a speaking dog telling families to take them along if they have to evacuate.
"Any emergency plan is better than no plan," Huertas said. "We're just asking them to include their pets."
Separately, The Christian Veterinary Mission has promised laptops and projectors for mobile veterinarians to give presentations on animal care.
In addition, Humane Society International has spent $400,000 in Haiti and pledged more than $1 million over the next five years. It has begun planning an animal care and veterinary training center in Croix-des-Bouquets and is also working to establish spay-neuter and vaccine clinics.
"I do consider the earthquake as an opportunity," Millien said. "We have a lot of promises ... I hope the situation will be better than before."
Click here to see photos of our voiceless friends...
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/08/06/haiti.animals/index.html?hpt=C1Haiti's injured animals lowest priority
More than six months since... more
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July 12, 2010, marks the six month anniversary of the devastated earthquake that has destroyed much of Haiti. We decided to mark the unfortunate occasion by focusing on a story showing the strength of the Haitian people.
We found that story Today when we met Nadine, a women who has just given birth to a baby boy after being more than a month overdue. The doctors had explained to Nadine that the trauma from the Earthquake and her deep state of depression were preventing her pregnancy from moving forward. The fact that Nadine wasn’t eating and felt their was nothing to live for was certainly taking a toll on her unborn baby.
Pregnant during the earth quake, Nadine lost her 5 year old daughter, her home and the small business she ran before the disaster. Her husband was injured when a wall fell directly on top of him and he is currently unable to work. Nadine and her husband Ajutethomme have 3 other children scattered about the camps living with relatives and friends. The couple now call Gaston Margon camp site with its tiny tents and dirt floors their home. The camp is located in the Marianna neighborhood in a notorious section called Carrefour. This location is considered to be one of the most dangerous places in the world.
Nadine has recently gone through a psycho/social program for mothers offered by the C.A.R.E. Organization. Nadine gives this program all the credit for helping her find the change of heart and mind that she needed to move forward with her life. Discovering the personal strength she needed, nadine was able to successfully move forward into the process of birth and becoming a new mother once again.
In this episode of Life addict we head to the Gaston Margo camp site to see Nadine, her husband and their born son with in hours of the babies arrival.July 12, 2010, marks the six month anniversary of the devastated earthquake that has... more
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According to U.N. and aid officials, in the three months since donors at a U.S.-sponsored conference pledged more than $5.3 billion to rebuild Haiti, only a fraction of the money has been disbursed, and a special reconstruction commission has barely started to function.According to U.N. and aid officials, in the three months since donors at a... more
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explore.org teams up with HATCH to champion the selfless acts of
others through a short film award at this year’s HATCHfest Bozeman
film festival.
The explore/HATCH Award presented by explore.org will be given to a
filmmaker who best tells the story of a remarkable individual's
actions in response to a devastating environmental event.
Winner of the explore/HATCH award will be flown to HATCHfest Bozeman
September 22-25 and be presented with a Canon HD SLR camera package
from explore.org’s founder, Charles Annenberg Weingarten, and HATCH.
For submission info please click here:
http://explore.org/about/explorehatch_award/explore.org teams up with HATCH to champion the selfless acts of
others through a... more
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Two-time Academy Award-winning actor and director Sean Penn was honored by the Haitian government on Monday at a ceremony marking the six-month anniversary of the earthquake that killed 300,000 people and left more than 1.5 million homeless. Penn first came to Haiti after the earthquake struck to help with immediate relief efforts. He decided to stay to finish what he started. He co-founded the J/P Haitian Relief Organization and is managing a tent camp on the Petionville golf-course that now shelters some 55,000 people. On Sunday night, we went to visit Sean Penn’s camp. We walked in and asked to speak to him. We were ushered in to a large tent and ended up sitting down with the Hollywood star for more than an hour talking about Haiti, recovery efforts and the lack of them, his life and what inspired him to do what he is doing.
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/7/13/sean_penn_on_haiti_six_monthsTwo-time Academy Award-winning actor and director Sean Penn was honored by the Haitian... more
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July 12, 2010, marks the six month anniversary of the devastated earthquake that has destroyed much of Haiti. We decided to mark the unfortunate occasion by focusing on a story showing the strength of the Haitian people.
We found that story Today when we met Nadine, a women who has just given birth to a baby boy after being more than a month overdue. The doctors had explained to Nadine that the trauma from the Earthquake and her deep state of depression were preventing her pregnancy from moving forward. The fact that Nadine wasn’t eating and felt their was nothing to live for was certainly taking a toll on her unborn baby.
Pregnant during the earth quake, Nadine lost her 5 year old daughter, her home and the small business she ran before the disaster. Her husband was injured when a wall fell directly on top of him and he is currently unable to work. Nadine and her husband Ajutethomme have 3 other children scattered about the camps living with relatives and friends. The couple now call Gaston Margon camp site with its tiny tents and dirt floors their home. The camp is located in the Marianna neighborhood in a notorious section called Carrefour. This location is considered to be one of the most dangerous places in the world.
Nadine has recently gone through a psycho/social program for mothers offered by the C.A.R.E. Organization. Nadine gives this program all the credit for helping her find the change of heart and mind that she needed to move forward with her life. Discovering the personal strength she needed, nadine was able to successfully move forward into the process of birth and becoming a new mother once again.
In this episode of Life addict we head to the Gaston Margo camp site to see Nadine, her husband and their born son with in hours of the babies arrival.July 12, 2010, marks the six month anniversary of the devastated earthquake that has... more
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Listen and watch new sensation Taylor Ivy and her inspirational song "Save the World" courtesy of Endyo Records. Taylor's song is one of the theme songs for REEL MCKOY Media's new television series "UNSKRPTD". Stay tuned. Video produced by REEL MCKOY Media In association w/ Mad Men Collective and Filmmakers ReloadedListen and watch new sensation Taylor Ivy and her inspirational song "Save the... more
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Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) -- On January 12, the earth shook here. More than 220,000 people were killed. More than 300,000 people were injured. The city and large stretches of surrounding countryside were devastated.
Six months later, not much appears to have changed. It still looks like a bomb just dropped on this city.
The government has barely begun the cleanup process. Roads in the center of the city are still blocked by debris. And some experts predict that it could take up to 20 years to remove all of it.
"We have moved 250,000 cubic meters of rubble, which sounds like a lot, until you realize there's 20 million cubic meters of rubble here," said Imogen Wall, spokeswoman for the United Nations office of humanitarian affairs in Haiti.Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) -- On January 12, the earth shook here. More than 220,000... more
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This is beautiful to watch! Haitian farmers (approx. 10,000 protesters in all) protested on June 4 for World Environment Day by burning seeds sent to Haiti by Monsanto. The video is not in English, but words are not necessary. The symbolism of this action is profound and the message is clear :
MONSANTO OUT OF OUR FOOD!
Thank you Haiti, and there are organizations working to make sure Haitian farmers receive natural seeds and methods to return their soil to health and to provide true sustainable agriculture and food sovereignty to their country. The way it SHOULD be.This is beautiful to watch! Haitian farmers (approx. 10,000 protesters in all)... more
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Members of the phenomenal organization Sow a Seed speaks to the "Unskrptd" film crew about their organization at the Save 509 walk for Amputees/Haiti. SOW A SEED is a non-profit Org started and led by a group of Haitian-American professionals to provide the basic essentials for disadvantaged children living in extreme poverty in HaitiMembers of the phenomenal organization Sow a Seed speaks to the "Unskrptd"... more
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Check out snippet of new sensation Taylor Ivy and her phenomenal music producer "Hyptno" courtesy of Endyo Records for a taste of inspiration. ONE SINGER, ONE PRODUCER, ONE PURPOSE, BE INSPIRED, UNSKRPTDCheck out snippet of new sensation Taylor Ivy and her phenomenal music producer... more
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Look out for new sensation Taylor Ivy and her inspirational song "Save the World". Taylor's song is one of the theme songs for REEL MCKOY Media's new television series "unskrptd". Stay tuned. Video produced by REEL MCKOY Media In association w/ Mad Men CollectiveLook out for new sensation Taylor Ivy and her inspirational song "Save the... more
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Jim Goodman talks to the crew from Unskrptd at the Save 509 Walk for Haiti/amputees and breaks down his mission for "Ambulance for Haiti"Jim Goodman talks to the crew from Unskrptd at the Save 509 Walk for Haiti/amputees... more
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For Haiti’s agricultural renaissance to benefit from the post-earthquake exodus, aid had better come to the outlying regions soon, farmers say. Residents who have returned complain there are no jobs and little to eat, and speak of returning to the capital.
Haiti is said to have more non-governmental organizations per capita than any country in the world, a supposed blessing that has become something of a curse. NGOs filled many governmental roles, like providing health care and education, but without the overreaching framework a government normally provides to ensure an equal distribution of resources throughout the country. The resulting inability to govern was obvious in the earthquake’s aftermath, when Haiti’s government was practically invisible and NGOs took over relief efforts.
Decades of international aid has also fostered a culture of dependency among many. Well-intentioned food aid is crippling local farmers unable to sell their produce.
Post-earthquake redevelopment plans unveiled in late March bring hope for the regions, promising two new regional airports, two new sea ports, more than 600 kilometres of roads and economic zones in several cities to move the focus away from Port-au-Prince.
Proponents of agricultural development acknowledge there are issues: The common trend worldwide is movement toward cities in search of employment and government services lacking in the regions. Most countries, developing or developed, have trouble attracting or retaining professionals like doctors, nurses and teachers to remote rural areas,which in turn dissuades others from settling there. Most young, educated city dwellers are not hankering to head out to the fields and wield a hoe in the blazing sun all day in locales that don’t even have electricity.
But, the proponents say, agricultural renewal can provide food security and dignified, self-sufficient livelihoods to millions who currently have neither, and form the basis for social and economic growth.
Farmer Roland Hyppolite notes the challenge for farmers is great, and while he appreciates the efforts, he has seen little of NGOs or government officials in Lascahobas, located 50 kilometres northwest of Port-au-Prince.
Farmers, he said, need technical training in how to create nurseries that won’t be washed away during the four-month rainy season; they need money to buy pumps to get them through the dry season. There are few places to store their goods, be it cold rooms or warehouses to protect food from the elements and animals (Baker estimates half of Haiti’s total crop rots because of the lack), so farmers bring their produce to market at the same time, driving down prices and leaving much unsold. Although Port-au-Prince is only 50 kilometres away, getting produce there by local transport can take hours over roads that resemble dried out riverbeds.
In the Central Plateau, it’s estimated 40 per cent of children are malnourished. Many die because their parents cannot find work. Revive the agricultural base, Hyppolite says, and wealth will follow: Factories that need labourers, managers and technicians will be built to transform the food and ready it for export; schools and hospitals will be built; light industry offering decent wages can then move to the countryside.
Hyppolite has shown it can be done — he is a member of a group of six farming co-operatives made up of two to four farms each that have combined to share costs and labour and put together a large mix of products to interest foreign buyers.
In one year, just one of the co-operatives produced 30,000 kilograms of yams, 9,000 kilos of potatoes, 1,000 kilos of pears, 25,000 kilos of red beans and 25,000 kilos of black beans, among other crops.
Hyppolite found Brooks Pepperfire Foods based in Rigaud on the Internet, and has since opened contracts with other Canadian importers.
“I have farming in my blood,” said Hyppolite, the son of a farmer. “The choice to go into agriculture is not without challenges, especially in a country like mine. But my heart and my spirit are there.”For Haiti’s agricultural renaissance to benefit from the post-earthquake exodus,... more
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A photo essay of the tent citites of Haiti, which now like most tragedies has receeded out of the consciousness of the media. Yet, the hardship and struggle goes on for thousands of Haitians fighting off poverty, hunger, and the encroachment of not only the rains, but interests looking to take what little they have left. It is a tragic story, but also one of hope. The people's faces in these pictures are not faces of despair even in the wake of it. They are faces of hope and determination and their faces need to be seen and their stories told.A photo essay of the tent citites of Haiti, which now like most tragedies has receeded... more
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Two weeks ago Port-au-Prince suffered a major gasoline shortage that drove the price of fuel to a whopping $12 (US) a gallon. This story offers a glimpse of how oil deeply affects the Haitian economy and daily life in PAP. Please leave a comment.Two weeks ago Port-au-Prince suffered a major gasoline shortage that drove the price... more
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Some 2,000 protesters flooded the streets of the Haitian city of Les Cayes this past week, calling for President Rene Preval to be removed from his post.Some 2,000 protesters flooded the streets of the Haitian city of Les Cayes this past... more
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Groups who once supported the president of Haiti, René Préval, are arming themselves against the government, putting the earthquake-ravaged country in danger of renewed instability and political violence.
Anger and resentment are growing against both the Haitian government and the international community. The anger is being driven by the widespread perception – three months after the catastrophe – that the billions in aid and reconstruction money coming into Haiti is benefiting the country's more articulate and wealthy minority, while not reaching the vast mass of victims of the quake.Groups who once supported the president of Haiti, René Préval, are... more
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Recently, former President Clinton acknowledged that food policies he instituted in Haiti during his terms in office were a colossal failure. Haiti was encouraged to end rice production and outsource their major food staple so they could instead concentrate on building their market economy for the future. But as the January 12th earthquake has shown, this policy has left them completely dependent on foreign aid to sustain them during this crisis. Millions are now faced with severe food shortages. Reversing this policy and correcting this situation will take time as Haitians once again learn to become stewards of their own food system. Without this, they remain at the mercy of others.
But as we watch this human-created catastrophe play out in Haiti, did it ever occur to you that a similar policy has been operating in the US for the last 60 years? Today, just 2% of the population provides the food for 98% of the US. To do this, we have transitioned from thousands of small farms spread throughout the country to a few mega-industrial food producers. We too are now dependent. Any major crisis occur that would disrupt food distribution for several weeks and we will look much like Haiti. Former Homeland Security Director, Tom Ridge, was once quoted as saying he was surprised that terrorists had not attacked our food system—it was by far the easiest system to disrupt because it was so centralized. Once done, it would create havoc.
What were we thinking? All of these actions stem from the conviction of a “Single Bottom Line” economy. That is, making money and profits are the only measure of success. In the last 60 years, the market economy’s importance has come to over-ride everything else. We’ve let ourselves believe that doing everything and anything to foster unlimited growth and production will result in massive profits and that would be all we would need for economic success. As a result, small farms were gobbled up into big conglomerates in order to make ever-more profits. But as we’re beginning to see, this was at the expense of communities, the environment and ultimately, self-sufficiency across this country.
Clinton was blinded by this Single Bottom Line economy zeal when he, with utter conviction, set into motion the policies that have now left Haiti in crisis. This was occurring as well throughout the US. Businessmen, economists, and government policies are all part of this conviction. But as Clinton has now shown that policy has failed tragically in the acute crisis playing out in Haiti. And in our country, it is playing out through a slow and chronic slide into mediocrity. Today, social problems like obesity, Type II Diabetes, addictions, poverty, and environmental problems of clean air and water are the legacies of the Single Bottom Line economy.
Out of tragedy can come blessings: The good news is that there’s another option besides the Single Bottom Line/profits are everything economy. We can choose the Triple Bottom Line economy. This is an economy that measures and monetizes success through three interwoven criteria: social — doing what’s good for people, environmental — doing what’s good for the environment, and business — making choices/making profits in alignment with what works best for all three parts. The result? We end up creating an economy that works for people, the planet and business.
(Read the rest on the original post.)Recently, former President Clinton acknowledged that food policies he instituted in... more
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