Earthquake ravages Port Au Prince Haiti

[transplant99]

But really, when you think of it, these people had nothing to begin with prior to the earthquake, with the exception of family members that were alive.

No...they didn't have "nothing". They had very little by our lofty standards, no question.

They still had a shelter over their head, a place to cook their food they could get at market, schools to teach their children in, drinkable water, working toilets, hospitals to care for the ill, churches to show their faith in, gas stations for the few that had vehicles, electricity to power tools, etc etc etc...basic necessities.

That stuff is ALL GONE. All of it for the majority of the population.

That's what this is about...just getting them back to some semblance of livable conditions. It is going to take a LOT of money, no question about it, but it is also going to take a lot of HELP and even more time....time that is running out now for an estimated 75,000 still buried.

That's where humanitarian assistance comes in...they simply cannot do it on their own.

I guess I just can't find a place in my mind where not helping at all is OK. Even if it's 5 bucks...thats 5 bucks more to be used for those that need it. I know not everyone is in a position to help. and no one should be asking them for a thing. This is about if you can....and if you can, you should.

The alternative is rather disturbing.....dont you think? Seriously if all the aid was pulled right now, the death toll would approach several million. That's holocaust numbers. I guess we shouldn't of tried to stop that either?

Mind-boggling.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

Like I said before, Haiti is the one of the most lawless countries in the world.

First you said it was the most lawless, now it's just one of them! Your confusing lack of funds in Haiti for a proper police force with countrys with no regard for actual law.

Somalia(undisputed #1),Sudan,Chad,Zimbabwe,Congo and Gaza/West Bank are "lawless"

Haiti just has dangerous areas.

[simonsays]

Originally Posted by troutman

Luxury Cruise Ship docks at Haiti:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_427247.html

A Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines ship made its scheduled docking at a private beach. Though the cruise ship delivered 40 pallets of relief supplies while it docked, vacationers frolicked and held a barbecue on the private area, just miles from the devastation caused by the 7.0 earthquake last week.

And as awful as that sounds it's probably some of the best things that those tourists could do to help Haiti. I understand there are 250+ Haitians employed at that place, so to not stop would have put them out of work as well.

Yeah, it's a small drop in the bucket, but every one helps about now. It would have been worse news if they'd skipped that port.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by simonsays

And as awful as that sounds it's probably some of the best things that those tourists could do to help Haiti. I understand there are 250+ Haitians employed at that place, so to not stop would have put them out of work as well.

Yeah, it's a small drop in the bucket, but every one helps about now. It would have been worse news if they'd skipped that port.

I agree, the cruise line decided to lend a small hand by donating supplies so they docked for a few hours, It wouldn't surprise me if the passengers took up a collection for relief as well.

It would have looked worst if they avoided stopping there IMO.

[flamingreen]

I've been to Labadee. It's completely staffed by Haitians. Not only that but there is a large flea market where people can buy local wares. If people are poopooing Royal Caribbean and these tourists because they texted $5 to Red Cross and think they hold some moral high ground they need to give their head a shake.

[cyclone3483]

Man, 1stLand sure has a lot to say for someone who has never been to Haiti and does not care for the people. While I have already said I support your right to voice your opinion, I also have to say you don't have a clue what you are talking about. Nobody cares about Haiti? I do. So do Dixie and John Bickel, so much that they moved from the States to set up God's Littlest Angels in Petionville, much like A Child's Hope and the dozens of other Haitian orphanages. So does Ben Stiller who started his charity stillerstrong.org BEFORE the earthquake, and he is not the only celebrity to have CARED about Haiti before this disaster. What about Doctors Without Borders, Samaritan's Purse, UNICEF? Been in Haiti for years. Nobody cares? Please revise that to 1stLand doesn't care. Probably should stay away from blanket assumptions and observations, they often reflect a lack of intellectual maturity.

[firebug]

I would like to know what 1stLand has done to deserve his comfortable modern lifestyle.

I guess winning the womb lottery entitles one to disregard the losers.

~Firebug

[cyclone3483]

Comment on lawlessness: Haiti had problems in the past, but have never been truly lawless. They have teetered on the brink of lawlessness for a long time, but have maintained a semblance of order. I could walk the streets of Haiti without fear. They had a 4000 man police force in Port-Au-Prince, trained by RCMP among others. The current situation could fall into lawlessness easily since the police force is now only 1500 in Port-Au-Prince and people are very desperate. There is a need for international security forces to help maintain order. Likely with need to stay for a few years to allow the national police force to stabalize, recruit and train. Not truly lawless like other nations previously mentioned, but at risk of becoming lawless.

[cyclone3483]

"Womb lottery" is my favorite post in a long time. Thanks, Firebug. That was worth the price of admission.

[LChoy]

I too have been to Labadee (twice actually)
The cruise ship industry really helps out the local economy. It also did drop off aid, so it's not as bad as it looks.

[cyclone3483]

I read that Haiti was trying to start a tourism industry, so I think it is good they still anchored there. Perhaps it would have been better if the passengers and crew took the time to physically help in the aftermath (*if any help was needed in that area) instead of frollicking in the ocean. Optically would have been better.

[Cowperson]

A good, dispassionate, apolitical, look at the contrasting histories of Haiti and the Dominican Republic which appeared in the National Post yesterday.

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2454507

It's legitimate to wonder why two countries sharing the same smallish island would turn out relatively differently.

Cowperson

[cyclone3483]

I truly do not know what to make of Anderson Cooper and Sanjay Gupta. I believe they are reporters who are also tremendously caring people, willing to do what it takes to help their fellow man: http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/1...looting-chaos/ and Gupta staying behind with dozens of patients when the UN ordered doctors away, plus operating on a girl on one of the ships, etc. They seem to be absolutely fantastic....but there is that little kernel of doubt that perhaps some is staged and some is opportunistic because the camera is on. I hope they are the former rather than the latter.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by cyclone3483

I truly do not know what to make of Anderson Cooper and Sanjay Gupta. I believe they are reporters who are also tremendously caring people, willing to do what it takes to help their fellow man: http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/1...looting-chaos/ and Gupta staying behind with dozens of patients when the UN ordered doctors away, plus operating on a girl on one of the ships, etc. They seem to be absolutely fantastic....but there is that little kernel of doubt that perhaps some is staged and some is opportunistic because the camera is on. I hope they are the former rather than the latter.

Gupta, if I remember correctly, faced some criticism for crossing the line between being a journalist - an observor - and practicing medicine during the 2003 invasion of Iraq when he intervened to operate on a young Iraqi patient, a little girl if I remember right, at a forward field situation.

He's a talented neurosurgeon.

Personally, I don't think there has to be a firm line between being a dispassionate observor of ugly events and being a human being in those kinds of situations and just because there is a camera rolling to record it shouldn't automatically cast doubt on their intentions.

If you save a life, you'll probably feel good about it after, no matter what anyone says or thinks.

Yes, theoretically, however, journalists shouldn't be involved, even as people are dying in front of them. That's theory. Reality is different.

Cowperson

[troutman]

Where does Gupta rate on the Quackmeter?

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=367

The question I sought to answer was, “is Sanjay Gupta a crank?”

The short answer is: I’m not sure. Although I wouldn’t go so far as to say that he is a crank, I think he’s more likely to be a shruggie. For those of you who haven’t read my post on shruggies, here’s the definition:

Shruggie (noun): a person who doesn’t care about the science versus pseudoscience debate.


The longer answer involves an exploration of Gupta’s disturbing insistence on flirting with cranks, if it gets him publicity. The back cover of Chasing Life carries an endorsement from Deepak Chopra – and the inside page a favorable review from Andrew Weil. Normally, I would assume that the author of any book endorsed by those two would contain an intolerable blend of science and pseudoscience and refuse to read it. But for the sake of the readers of Science Based Medicine, I stifled my gag reflex and purchased the book.

On the quackometer scale (where zero is Barker Bausell’s Snake Oil Science, and 10 is anything written by Suzanne Somers) I’d give this book a 5. Not exactly full frontal quackery, but also some really concerning misstatements and an openness to snake oil that scares me.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by troutman

Where does Gupta rate on the Quackmeter?

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=367

The question I sought to answer was, “is Sanjay Gupta a crank?”

The short answer is: I’m not sure. Although I wouldn’t go so far as to say that he is a crank, I think he’s more likely to be a shruggie. For those of you who haven’t read my post on shruggies, here’s the definition:

Shruggie (noun): a person who doesn’t care about the science versus pseudoscience debate.


The longer answer involves an exploration of Gupta’s disturbing insistence on flirting with cranks, if it gets him publicity. The back cover of Chasing Life caries an endorsement from Deepak Chopra – and the inside page a favorable review from Andrew Weil. Normally, I would assume that the author of any book endorsed by those two would contain an intolerable blend of science and pseudoscience and refuse to read it. But for the sake of the readers of Science Based Medicine, I stifled my gag reflex and purchased the book.

On the quackometer scale (where zero is Barker Bausell’s Snake Oil Science, and 10 is anything written by Suzanne Somers) I’d give this book a 5. Not exactly full frontal quackery, but also some really concerning misstatements and an openness to snake oil that scares me.

There is a certain self-promotion about him. He has political aspirations and was in the running to be Obama's Surgeon General. Then again . . . . he's a skilled neurosurgeon and his abilities would naturally be highly prized on the ground in a war zone or disaster zone.

Cowperson

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

A good, dispassionate, apolitical, look at the contrasting histories of Haiti and the Dominican Republic which appeared in the National Post yesterday.

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2454507

It's legitimate to wonder why two countries sharing the same smallish island would turn out relatively differently.

Cowperson

Very very good article. The more you hear about European colonialism, the more its no wonder why no one trusts them.

[Knut]

Another MSF update. For those that are interested in what they have done so far
----------------


Dear Friend,

It's been one week since the devastating earthquake in Haiti. As I committed, I'm reporting back to you on MSF's activities to date.

As of yesterday, our teams in Port-au-Prince have provided emergency medical care to more than 3,000 people and performed over 400 surgeries. Open fractures, head injuries and seriously infected wounds are the most common injuries. Doctors and surgeons have extremely limited resources so they are focusing on patients with the gravest injuries. Hospitals that remain standing are filled with patients.

As you can imagine, MSF teams are still under great pressure, searching for more facilities to carry out urgent surgery and trying to get in more medical supplies. You can click here to read a blog from Isabelle Jeanson, one of our staff members in Port-au-Prince right now.

Part of our inflatable hospital arrived yesterday, and workers are erecting it as you read this. Two operating theatres that are part of the structure are scheduled to arrive later today. You can watch a video report with further information about this structure and MSF's logistical response by clicking here.

MSF is also travelling beyond the capital to extend medical aid to people there. In Jacmel, on the southern coast very close to the epicentre of the earthquake, over 60 per cent of the buildings are destroyed. The hospital is partially collapsed, but the operating theatre is still usable; teams will be working from there as soon as possible.

Medical supplies are being used up very quickly and replacing them is difficult due to blocked roads and restricted flights. Still, more than 160 new international staff have arrived since the quake and many of our Haitian staff continue to work despite the fact that they've suffered terrible losses themselves.

You can continue to help by forwarding this message or sharing it with your networks on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you again for your support and solidarity. Please check our website for the latest information and photo slideshows on MSF's emergency response; I'll continue to share further news with you in the coming weeks.

Marilyn McHarg
General Director, MSF Canada

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[cyclone3483]

at 6 this morning, they had another quake. 6.1 magnitude.

[wooohooo]

Yikes that's crazy.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100120/...iti_earthquake

The extent of additional damage or injuries caused by the magnitude-6.1 temblor was not immediately clear, AND Prime Minister Jean-Max said the government was sending a plane and an overland team to check on the situation in Petit-Goave, the center of this morning's aftershock.

Wails of terror rose from frightened survivors as the earth shuddered at 6:03 a.m. U.S. soldiers and tent city refugees alike raced for open ground, and clouds of dust rose in the capital.

The strong aftershock prompted Anold Fleurigene, 28, to grab his wife and three children and head to the city bus station. His house was destroyed in the first quake and his sister and brother killed.
"I've seen the situation here, and I want to get out," he said.