$(document).ready( function () { talk_rendercallback({"enabled":"0","islive":"0","eid":6419,"total":"84","discussion":[{"nm":"Joseph Carnegie","rs":"0","ms":"We jamaicans did all we could and still our prayers are with the Haitians","pt":"Apr 12, 2010 09:59"},{"nm":"Creolelady10","rs":"0","ms":"It\'s really amazing to me why the the Haitian people have not revolted over a corrupt inefficient government backed by France and the United States. The flagrant disregard for the people of Haiti by the Duvaliers and other other officials was in my opinion the worst of the worst. Sometimes the masss have to take matters in their hands. I must admitt, the Haitian government cronies has done an excellent job by keeping the masses scared.","pt":"Apr 11, 2010 15:07"},{"nm":"mahesh","rs":"0","ms":"I don\'t understand why is it always that we are so close to achieving our goals and yet we don\'t achieve them. I think it has to do more with money and power. People who want to make a change are not powerful enough and those who don\'t care rule the country. My question is what is the most effective solution to these problems. How can we confidently say &quot;NEVER AGAIN&quot; for any man-made or natural catastrophe in future. We have said this a gazillion times in the past yet we fail AGAIN & AGAIN.","pt":"Apr 11, 2010 14:23"},{"nm":"Matthew Isles","rs":"0","ms":"Your recounting of Haitian history was pithy and inaccurate.  No mention of the debt slpped on Haiti by Fance and the US.  No mention of US support for the Duvaliers.  No mention of the US led coup that deposed Aristide in 2004.  What a joke.  No wonder Americans are mystified by Haitian\'s continuing dispair.","pt":"Apr 10, 2010 15:14"},{"nm":"Alexa","rs":"0","ms":"Thank you Tim (Mar 31. 2010. 3:17) for a comprehensive response to the video and the situation in Haiti.  Anybody interested in reading an intelligent, concise summary of how US Foreign and Economic policies helped set Haiti up for this tragedy and how US military presence also played a role in the ineffective distribution of aid in the days following the earthquake scroll down and read.\nThank you Frontline for an informative film that brings the reality of the destruction home for those of us unable to go to Haiti.  I would have liked to see more analysis and explanation of how/why aid did not get effectively distributed.  I also would have liked to see a little more discussion of plans for rebuilding.\n","pt":"Apr  9, 2010 21:40"},{"nm":"Mike Sherman","rs":"0","ms":"Dear Haiti,\n     I have seen the video &quot;The Quak&quot;.It thought me and showed me that you are all in need of help, supplies,and amidit care.After seeing the video I decided that i will start savings acount for the people of hatiti.Your President did not spring into action as George Washington Bush did not to the city of New Orleans.WE are in deep prayer for you.","pt":"Apr  7, 2010 14:48"},{"nm":"jamekia","rs":"0","ms":"hey we are at school writing letters to haiti at my church we are raising money for them and their children","pt":"Apr  7, 2010 13:55"},{"nm":"CATHY DAVIES","rs":"0","ms":"I was in Haiti as a RN in February--what I saw and did changed my life forever!! The Haitian people are such wonderful loving people who can not say THANK YOU enough for what we have done for them--\nI can not wait to go back. This video is so moving--I have ordered it","pt":"Apr  5, 2010 12:37"},{"nm":"blabla","rs":"0","ms":"While the section on Partners In Health was great, I took issues with the fact that the journalist kept saying the government of Haiti is weak without showing the role the western powers play in weakening the Haitian state.\n\n\<a href=&quot;http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jan/13/our-role-in-haitis-plight&quot;\>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jan/13/our-role-in-haitis-plight\<\/a\>\n\nThis is the type of misinformation, disinformation, no information in the Western Mainstream Media that has dodged Haiti throughout its history and has allowed the western powers to maintain and enforced a system of apartheid towards the vast majority of the Haitian people without them ever being call on it. ","pt":"Apr  5, 2010 00:50","er":"The role of the U.S. and western powers in Haiti\'s history is addressed in this report (see chapters 3 and 4 of the \<a href=&quot;http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/haiti/view/&quot;\>streamed video\<\/a\>), and it is also covered in greater depth on this Web site.  The section called \<a href=&quot;http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/haiti/etc/wayforward.html&quot;\>The Way Forward\<\/a\>,  for example, deals with how for decades foreign aid has prevented the growth of a strong Haitian government and infrastructure, and why it is time to rethink the foreign aid model.  And in their interviews, Haitian Ambassador to the U.S. \<a href=&quot;http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/haiti/interviews/joseph.html&quot;\>Raymond Joseph\<\/a\>  and journalist \<a href=&quot;http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/haiti/interviews/danner.html&quot;\>Mark Danner\<\/a\> offer background and commentary on U.S.-Haiti history.\n\n\nAnd we\'d like to note another critical review of FRONTLINE\'s report from \<a href=&quot;http://thehaitianblogger.blogspot.com/2010/04/quake-haiti-through-distorted-lenses-of.html&quot;\>The Haitian Blogger\<\/a\>."},{"nm":"stereo","rs":"0","ms":"I am reading different view point from Haitian having been living abroad for many years(even being born overseas can\'t prove it,does it make a difference, it has nothing to do with the discussion). Having been one who spent his whole life inside(Haiti) a country he love\'s and will cherish untill he dies.,the probleme is not the rest of the world but only th Haitian people who can\'t since it became a country, find a way to make a good life for themselves and their countrymen.\\\nWould only hope that with the help from the rest of the world due only to the earthquake of Jan 12 20100,we will be able to acheive our farfathers dream of a world where everybody lives in peace allowing the world to grow.,as said in the American Constitution(The right to be as a whole).\nI beleive whe need not even mention the past, let us talk about what we can do for the future of Haiti and the World.MAY WHY DON\'T WE STOP WAISTING OUR TIME ARGUING ABOUT THE PAST WHICH IS GONE,WHY DON\'T WE SIMPLY LOOK AT OUR FUTURE SINCE THE EARTH OUR WORLD IS KNOW A LITTLE VILLAGE.,IF WE CAN\'T DO THAT LET\'S FORGET ALL SPACE RESEARCH THAT IS COSTING THE G8 MONEY THEY COULD USE ELSEWHERE EVEN IN THERE OWN COUNTRY.\nWAITIN FOR COMMENTS???\nSTEREO ","pt":"Apr  4, 2010 21:32"},{"nm":"Laura Cruz","rs":"0","ms":"Thank you for continuing to remind us of Haiti.I was there helping as a relief medical volunter from feb 19-28.I came back a changed Woman.My life will never be tha same. I wish for the world to know that Haiti still needs help,we can not forget about them simply because its no longer the frontline news.Please continue your support!\nHaiti needs the worlds Help! \nLaura.","pt":"Apr  4, 2010 19:09"},{"nm":"Peter","rs":"0","ms":"I\'ve seen very little coverage of the impact that US trade policies had on Haiti in the 80s which lead to the complete destruction of the country\'s agricultural system and the urbanization of population.  First there was the pig massacre which was the foundation of the informal economy of the country\'s poor, then the creation of import tariff\'s on sugar which led to the collapse of the world sugar market and finally the aid in exchange for lifting import tariffs on rice, which crashed the country\'s rice industry.  These were the catalyst that finally led to the end of the Duvalier regime.  \n\nThe first order of business in Haiti should be to address food security and the availability of cooking fuel.  A suitable replacement for the Creole Pig would restore the prior informal economy and the US should dump charcoal into the country to eliminate the cutting down of trees for firewood.  It would be a stop-gap measure until more suitable technology/fuel could be introduced that is affordable by the majority of the population.  Pigs were also largely displaced by goats which are far more damaging to the envrionment than pigs because they kill trees by chewing the bark off. ","pt":"Apr  4, 2010 17:49"},{"nm":"Christine","rs":"0","ms":"Thank you Frontline for sharing this story.  I just returned from a trip to Haiti.  I founded a small non profit organization in 2007 which primarily works in Tanzania, after the earthquake in Haiti we held a fundraiser for Haiti and raised $10,000.  We went to assess to see how we could help. We paid for our own expenses and we have no paid employees - 100% of the funds received were donated to Haiti.  The problem I encountered was that they need millions of dollars.  The $10,000 we raised is nothing.  Everyone we spoke to wants millions of dollars to help...we found a Sister who is housing (in tents) 300 people on her property, has 75 orphans, a half crushed house and a school that needs repair.  We bought her community a 600 gallon water tank, had it filled, 75 bags of cement, 1000 cinder blocks and gave her the rest in cash.  I know she is expecting another $10,000 donation from our organization as is many others.  No matter how hard I told them we are a small NGO they ask. We don\'t have any more to give. I am among the unemployeed who lost my job last year and run this organization to keep busy while looking for a career opportunity. I saw no signs of the big NGO\'s during my two week stay.  The problem is so big...the need is so great.  I went to Haiti and did my best and it is not enough. ","pt":"Apr  4, 2010 15:51"},{"nm":"Kelly Hart","rs":"0","ms":"One piece of the puzzle of rebuilding Haiti that is being put into place now is a simple method of building disaster resistant housing using earthbags. These are common plastic grain sacks that can be filled with soil and then stacked like bricks to form walls. Barbed wire is placed between each row of bags so that whole wall becomes a kind of woven matrix, and the structure can be reinforced in other ways to resist seismic and storm related pressures. This technique can be used for quickly assembled emergency shelter as well as more permanent housing. \n\nI have been working with a team that has assembled some plans and basic information about earthbag building that is being offered to individuals and relief agencies online at www.earthbagstructures.com. Much of what is presented there has been fashioned to mirror the cultural distinctions unique to Haiti.","pt":"Apr  4, 2010 00:30"},{"nm":"B. Guinn","rs":"0","ms":"The world needs an organization to deal with disasters, &quot;The Word Disaster Fund&quot;, not the UN, not outside NGOs. Too often when there is a calamitous event there are reports of mismanagement, funds that don\'t get used and massive corruption. We need a better model. Disasters have been increasing and will increase more and unless the world bands together soon to put in place a relief infrastructure, things will only get worse. I fear what would happen if a major disaster hit somewhere in the &quot;first world&quot; with its multi-levels of bureaucracies. Now THAT would be a disaster of monumental proportions!","pt":"Apr  3, 2010 11:32"},{"nm":"TP","rs":"0","ms":"As always, excellent work from Frontline. I recently saw the Haitian Ambassador speaking at a Washington,D.C. conference on plans to rebuild Haiti, and he announced the construction of 3 international airports. Is that really a priority at this moment when the rains are coming, and plague and starvation are imminent? It just goes to show that regardless of the amount of humanitarian aid sent, its capacity to be used wisely is in the hands of an elite few.      ","pt":"Apr  3, 2010 02:23"},{"nm":"nothing nitwit","rs":"0","ms":"Haiti does not need aid or foreign investment. The recent donor\'s conference is a scheme to further entrench power in the hands of few and provide financial kickbacks to countries that eventually make good on their donations.\n\nHaiti needs justice and deserves billions of dollars in reparations from France, US, and Canadian for responsibility of foreign interventions (example see: Ottawa Initiative on Haiti) that have denied basic democratic and human rights to the Haitian people. Haiti has not yet seen a day when Western countries weren\'t contriving to subvert and overthrow any elected official who would have challenged power held by the elite families and have seen the standard of living for the majority of Haitian move from grinding miserable poverty to a level of &quot;dignified&quot; poverty. \n\nI reject the general claims made in this documentary that Haitians are weak, corrupt, and unworthy of handling their own affairs. I instead assert that former US presidents Clinton and Bush are criminals, should be indicted on numerous charges, and definitely not be allowed to serve as special envoys to Haiti. Aristide should be allowed to return to his country and Haitians should be given the opportunity to rule their own affairs without foreign intervention for a change.","pt":"Apr  2, 2010 20:21"},{"nm":"Dorothy Pearce","rs":"0","ms":"I was there before, during and after the quake.  It was unimaginably horrific.  I drove thru the airport and saw tons of supplies sitting there, doing nothing.  Thank God no one tried to &quot;coordinate&quot; supplies brought in by small groups thru the Dominican --- those were all that sustained us while the big NGOs were in meetings, arguing about who would do what.  My friend asked UNICEF to help some young teenagers in her neighborhood who were caring for their small siblings because their parents had been killed in the quake.  They had no home, no adults to care for them.  UNICEF took their names and did nothing else.   Haiti\'s problems are complex and multi-faceted.  The greatest culprit is the greed, corruption and laziness of the government. Foreign countries sending aid to Haiti are well aware that a certain amount will be skimmed off the top for the government and the elite: they do nothing to stop it. Elite Haitians own most of the land: they are not willing to part with it to help their countrymen. &quot;The Strong&quot; care only about themselves.  &quot;The Weak&quot;, the vast majority of Haitian people, are not at fault:  they try hard to live quietly and decently in an impossible situation. Many times I have seen Haitian doctors refuse offers of help because of their pride: they will not accept that they do not know everything.  Pride is good but only when tempered with humility.  Strength is great but only when coupled with compassion.  The Haitian government is bypassed by NGOs because of corruption in the government.  NGOs are ineffectual when they get so large and powerful that any action must be approved by many layers of authority.  Those at the top do not relate to those on the front lines.  The UN doesn\'t want Haitian children in orphanages or given to foreign adoptions but many Haitian families don\'t want to raise their children themselves.  Who loses?   The children.  Solutions are not simple.  PBS gave a balanced view of a complex situation.  GOD is the only answer.  I pray for HIS guidance for all of us who are working to improve the lives of these very oppressed people. \n","pt":"Apr  2, 2010 16:04"},{"nm":"Frank","rs":"0","ms":"Thank you so much frontline PBS for such an incredible story about Haiti. I am from Africa and was just amazed by the lack of Africa nations participation in the wake of the disaster. Apart from Senegal that offered to resettle the displaced, nothing came from Africa. This is largely because African nations think its not their job to respond. Rather its their duty to wait and have someone respond on them. In a way we have African nations just seated somewhere waiting for the big brother (USA, Canada, EU, Japan, Russia, Brazil, China and Israel) to respond. Of course everyone does not expect Africa to respond in a big way, but how about even sending volunteer rescue missions.\n\nAnother aspect is while the international community was responding to a natural humanitarian disaster, in most of African nation, the response is about responding to political and man made crisis. How can we in Africa explain about the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Rwandan genocide, the Kenyan post election violence and the synonymous macabre of violence in Somalia that takes new dimension every time. I think the Haiti crisis was a wake up call to African nations to get their acts together, by being responsible as human beings and take charge of their affairs. International community should be left to respond to natural disaster like Tsunami, earthquakes etc and not man-made political crisis that plague Africa.\n\nIt is a high time for the International community  to start responding to African man-made crisis by carrot and stick. Move in for the sake of the innocent civilians but ensure engineers behind the crisis face the full wrath as a result of their consequences.","pt":"Apr  2, 2010 06:21"},{"nm":"Barry Banks","rs":"0","ms":"Shameless, self-serving nationalistic American propaganda. Shame on Frontline from airing such scandalous half truths and misinformation. The insulting temerity of Bush and Clinton(s) to show their hypocritical faces in Port O Prince is offensive to decent people. I ask myself often how the American Government can get away with inflicting such misery and suffering upon such a defenseless and kind Haitian people? The answer is shameless greed and brutality. Anyone that doubts that the USA hates democracy in Haiti and all over the globe, explain why Haitian President Aristide and his family were kidnapped by the USA and forbidden to return to their beloved country by the Bush CIA?","pt":"Apr  2, 2010 02:10"},{"nm":"Ree","rs":"0","ms":"My heart is full, I got chills. Thanks, again, Frontline for knocking the ball out of the ball park with this thought-provoking documentary. I hope there is a follow up documentary, in the not too distance future, about Haiti. ","pt":"Apr  1, 2010 20:23"},{"nm":"Colorado Bob","rs":"0","ms":"Some friends and I set-up a site to raise funds for ShelterBox. As of today, we have raised \t\n$ 75,506.20 , that means we bought 96 full boxes, and had a share in another 14 boxes. Or 1,100 people will have a chance to start over in a dry place. Here\'s out site :\nThe TM Fish Camp \n\<a href=&quot;http://tmfishcamp.blogspot.com/&quot;\>http://tmfishcamp.blogspot.com/\<\/a\>\n\nWe are looking to do a more long term effort in Haiti, nothing big, just sustainable. \nOur donation page -\n\<a href=&quot;http://www.justgiving.com/Colorado-Bob&quot;\>http://www.justgiving.com/Colorado-Bob\<\/a\>","pt":"Apr  1, 2010 15:14"},{"nm":"Jean Lans","rs":"0","ms":"Good reporting. Once again Frontline has shown example of good journalism. However 3 months later nothing has changed for the many Haitians, especially those who have lost homes and jobs. So much money collected and/or pledged. How much more money they need to collect before they start building houses, roads, schools and hospitals. Red Cross has collected a lot of money for Haiti, when will that money be given to Red Croos Haiti? Who will hold all those NGO\'s collecting funds for Haiti accountable? I would like to see Frontline investigate the work of those 6,000 and counting NGO\'s in Haiti, as far as the impact of their work and if they are not involved mostly in pauperistic tourism.\n\nI have seen a lot of fires against the haitian Government about their response in the Crisis. The Haitian Government has nothing in its hands and nothing in their pockets and yet with a lot of responsibilities and no means but about 4,000 police officers for the whole country. Have anyone asked what was the UN doing with so much more ressources, about 9,000 troops and 2,000 civilians? I am encouraged by so much money the international community is pleadging for the rebuilding of Haiti. I am also confident that Prime Minister Bellerive and President Clinton will do great things, but we have heard many more pledges and many more promises... We\'ll see.  Mwen se St Antoine, m\'ap chita gade. ","pt":"Apr  1, 2010 14:17"},{"nm":"Marie G. Bastien","rs":"0","ms":"As an educator, I believe Haiti needs to rebuild its schools and provide every child with a quality education. The children are our future. The new schools should not only teach literacy and math, but provide art classes to help students deal with the stress of being earthquake survivors.  I believe all Haitian students should have access to music, art, and sports classes.  We have a strong culture of the arts and this should be reflected in our schools. I also believe that counseling should be provided for all students that need it. Haiti needs to replace the professionals that it lost. Investing in our children\'s future is the best investment we can make.\n\nMarie G. Bastien","pt":"Apr  1, 2010 13:31"},{"nm":"tominhaiti","rs":"0","ms":"Decentralization to the other large cities around Haiti is a mistake as it will only compound their problems. Look at St Marc and Gonaives when it rains. The streets flood, trash covers the road and waste goes to the ocean. Instead, take the smaller communities, those of 3-10,000 people, and develop a plan to grow them. Start with improving the water and electrical supply. Add extensions of universities in PAP (perhaps two year associate degrees). Lower customs so people will come in with manufacturing. \n\nRegarding immediate housing needs - move people out of the damaged areas into these small communities North of Port that had no damage (ie: the road from Pont Sonde to Mirebelais is dotted wiht many small towns and has a lot of open land - stay out of the irrigated farmland). Place them in tents, under tarps, whatever, for this rainy season. Use churches and schools as shelters for them when hurricanes threaten. Our small village of Verrettes has over 20 churches and I\'m sure all would agree to take people in for the short term as long as the burden of feeding them was not on their shoulders. \n\nPut these refuges to work building prefab 2 room homes of wood and tin, that are designed to be hurricane and quake proof. Next winter when the rains end start relocating the people back to Port, taking their new homes with them. Have them build on their original homesite. Provide food and a small amount of money for the work.  \n\nThere should be one or two home designs that are approved by all NGO\'s and the plans made available on line, on the street corner, etc.  ","pt":"Apr  1, 2010 08:49"},{"nm":"cdc","rs":"0","ms":"The term &quot;crisis&quot; had not officially died. First New Orleans, now this. The only thing that can practically intervene in a timeframe to address the coming rain + waste + disease = more suffering is death IS a complete take over by an organized force which is in this day and age a combo of military forces - whether all US or not - because we are watching the daily suffering of lack of public infrastructure and the wherewithal to design and build it. If we were really serious about saving homeless Haitians, we would relocate them and building would be rising, pipes would be being laid - at the level of what a &quot;city&quot; is, not what villagers can patch together by hand. This is a example of the total breakdown of the government and the so-called aid system. It\'s not like we don\'t know how to teach people, so why isn\'t that happening in Haiti? To try and solve one set of problems, we\'ve created another. It\'s not accidental. It\'s not intentional per se. Finally, what\'s happening to all the money? There are not small sums involved. You did not see it rising up - what is happening to that $700 million? and all the rest? If It sounds as if it\'s going via the NGOs - but there is need for something bigger than that. This is an emergency, not a time to argue about politics. Things need to be built and dealt with. Civilization is failing.","pt":"Apr  1, 2010 01:30"},{"nm":"JamieP","rs":"0","ms":"... I think that some of the posters above display a total lack of ignorance of the real economic issues that Haiti been facing. \n\nIt’s funny when people like (Jan) who never  visit or learn about Haiti history think they are expert on a country based on the lies the media constantly feeding them.\nThe media is missing a valuable opportunity to explain why Haiti is so poor. Once again, Americans are receiving a hefty dose of misinformation. They are learning that Haiti is simply a poor country where bad things happen all the time. Always blaming the Haitians by making them look like savages or portray their government as week and ineffective. The media does nothing but reinforce bias and racism toward other countries. They have always been irresponsible and bias when it comes to Haiti and their irresponsibility has contributed to Haiti\'s misery. The focus on poverty, with the repeated tagline &quot;the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere&quot; and references to crime and unrest, make it hard for viewers to imagine any other aspect of life in Haiti.\n\nIt is a myth Haiti is not an overcrowded country.  Haiti, with 27,560 sq km of land mass, is 3rd largest nation in the Caribbean. Haiti is  big Country for the Caribbean La Selle massif rises 2700 meters above sea level Port-au-Prince (almost 9000 feet) Compares to 14,300 ft Mt. Evans above &quot;mile-high\' Denver (~ 9000 ft)\n\nHaiti has Low population density compared to her crowded neighbors. Large rural areas are virtually unpopulated. The majority of the Haitians live in the urban areas. &quot;Haitian Outback\' Neither barren nor lifeless as hysterical news media stories claim!\n\nThey claimed that Haiti has no resources. the truth: Important natural resources are largely undeveloped: Haiti is rich in oil, natural gas, gold, limestone, bauxite, copper, sisal, uranium\nThere is evidence that the US found oil in Haiti decades ago and due to the geopolitical circumstances and big business interests of that era made the decision to keep Haitian oil in reserve for when Middle Eastern oil had dried up. There is also good evidence that these very same big US oil companies and their inter-related monopolies of engineering and defense contractors made plans, decades ago, to use Haiti\'s deep water ports either for oil refineries or to develop oil tank farm sites or depots where crude oil could be stored and later transferred to small tankers to serve U.S. and Caribbean ports. \n\nHere is the reason Port- au –Prince is overcrowded:\n\nThirty years ago Haiti has a thriving agriculture industry & imported no rice. Today Haiti imports nearly all its rice. Though Haiti was the sugar growing capital of the Caribbean, it now imports sugar as well. Why? The U.S. and the U.S. dominated world financial institutions – the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank – forced Haiti to open its markets to the world. Then the U.S. dumped millions of tons of U.S. subsidized rice and sugar into Haiti – undercutting their farmers and ruining Haitian agriculture. By ruining Haitian agriculture, the U.S. has forced Haiti into becoming the third largest world market for U.S. rice.  Local Haitian farmers, unable to compete with these prices, leave their farms and move to the city to try to find work. So to whatever extent the earthquake was made worse by the overcrowding.\n\nIn 2002, Bush stopped hundreds of millions of dollars in domestic loans to Haiti & also persuaded the international community to follow suit. These loans were to be used for, among other public projects like education, roads. These are the same roads which relief teams were having so much trouble navigating now! \nThe US government bear a very heavy responsibility for their country\'s foreign policy in this hemisphere. It has been established for almost two centuries during which only Haitians licensed by Washington have been allowed to rule. \n\nThe basic problem is that the American public are utterly oblivious or indifferent to the evil that their governments do, abroad, in their name. (And they are not that bothered about what it does at home either.) \nAnybody who truly wants to help Haiti, should not go to Haiti with handouts, but go to Washington with questions and demands for better, more humane representation of the US citizenry abroad. Ask Washington to stop its abuse in Haiti, its bullying, its endless IMF/World Bank debts, financial colonialism and neoliberal, privatization programs that maintain and sustains Haiti\'s containment in poverty. ","pt":"Apr  1, 2010 00:47"},{"nm":"JMF","rs":"0","ms":"The only place I was treated rudely was at the U.S. Embassy.  Not one American was available in the lobby; nothing but scowling, unresponsive Haitian men.  I was even asked to pay to leave my phone in a cubby-hole outside the building.  At 11:30a.m., I was told that the Visa office was closed; I had to threaten to phone the State Dept. in U.S. before the man at the desk would pick up his phone and contact an American inside the compound.\n\nOne last observation.  Upon landing, we looked for the Immigration office.  The sign was hung - upside down - in a window.\n\nIf those two experiences are any indication of how our two governments operate, it might be a good idea to turn Haiti over to the N.G.O.\'s, who, God bless them, DO care about what\'s happening to Haiti\'s people. ","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 23:03"},{"nm":"Dave Van Wingerden","rs":"0","ms":"Just returned from 3 weeks in Haiti.  Excellent reporting.  The hope for Haiti is Christian missions (and other NGO\'s) They were there before the earth quake - during and they will be there long after the world goes home..","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 22:54"},{"nm":"Christopher Carnovale","rs":"0","ms":"Wow.  What a powerhouse presentation.\nWhy is it, be it cosmic law or some other divine or natural reason - the most beautiful places and creatures on earth can conspire with nature or custom; an absolute paradise to be the amongst the most deadly and poisonous on earth?","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 21:58"},{"nm":"Debbie E","rs":"0","ms":"This was an excellent documentary.  It tackled many different issues involved in understanding what is going on in Haiti, both because of recent events (the quake) and past events (the revolution).  I love how it talked about the contradictions in the appointment of Bill Clinton as he has not always been a friend to Haiti.\n\nI particularly liked the part about the reasons why the Haitian government is ineffectual.  Yes, as we have all heard, the Haitian government is corrupt and incompetent.  But there are various reasons for the governments inability to provide basic services to its peopel.  A big part of that is that the government has been replaced with aid.  The way aid is delivered needs to change. It needs to more directed at results, accountability and helping the local people to help themselves out of poverty.  Paul Farmer is a revelation.  His model is the way forward, not throwing money at the problem and hoping something sticks.","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 21:20"},{"nm":"Rebecca G","rs":"0","ms":"BTW...I still believe the world is surreptitiously punishing Haiti because of the &quot;awful&quot; crime of being the first black free nation in the West.  France forced the Haitian gov\'t to pay an indemnity if they wanted to stay a free nation.  The U.S. placed an embargo and the list goes on.    ","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 19:44"},{"nm":"Rebecca G.","rs":"0","ms":"May God bless the Haitian people!  Haiti is the land of NGOs, but I don\'t understand where all the money sent to Haiti has gone.  If I could afford it, I would go to Haiti with loads of supplies.  I don\'t really trust any of these NGOs.  Will the supplies I buy go to the relief workers first and then whatever\'s left over goes to the Haitian people?  Rene Preval should be ashamed of himself.  \n\nEven after much research I\'m not sure which organizations are doing the most good for the Haitian people.  Could someone PLEASE let me know.  Are there any organziations that are planning on building houses?  What will happen when the rains start?  I feel so powerless in all of this.  I\'m a broke student, but I have the pleasure of going to a food pantry, but these people have no where to go.  \n\nThe media has to play a bigger role of keeping the current images of Haiti impressed in the public\'s eyes.  Otherwise the world will forget...again.  I believe the purpose of living is to help other people.  \n\nAre we still human?   ord2world@hotmail.com     ","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 19:39"},{"nm":"Myriam KP","rs":"0","ms":"I suspect the reason people keep saying President Preval never addressed his people is because it was only aired on a Haitian TV station.  I personally saw him on TV everyday from day 3- day 5.  You could see the effects of the stress on him. Much of the footage was of him meeting foreign officials. Few Haitians in the quake affected areas had electricity and the cell phones did not work well for nearly a week.  Radio might have been a better choice for Preval to speak to the people.\nIt is my understanding that Preval can not run again for president as he has already served two terms.  I know this is in question because one term was incomplete. This same issue applies to Aristide. This means that a new president must take over next January. \nI was a little disappointed that the whole show was centered on Port au Prince and gives the illusion that the whole country was destroyed by the quake.  The damage does extend far from PAP, but did not engulf the whole country. Haitians all over Haiti and the world are working hard to help the refugees. Tents can\'t be bought in Haiti and none are making it to the outlaying areas. \nThe best way to secure Haiti\'s future is to support Haitian agriculture. Even Partners in Health is creating a Partners in Agriculture program in Haiti because they see that food and income are key elements to good health.","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 19:29"},{"nm":"Rony Blain","rs":"0","ms":"The earthquake revealed the everyday Haitian life, from the back stage to the front. The International Community loves it and wants it that way, to back up the theory : Blacks are inferior.  Do you remember the AIDS charge?\n\nThey show us Port-au-Prince, but where are the other cities and the great hospitals?  Why do they give so much money to a corrupt government, ask nothing in return?\n\nI invite you to read my article HAITI: POLITICAL EUTHANAGIA, published on September, shortly after visiting my country.  \<a href=&quot;http://artunivers.org.over-blog.com/article-36436893.html&quot;\>http://artunivers.org.over-blog.com/article-36436893.html\<\/a\>\n\nI am the author of Le Guide de la réforme haïtienne, book on a general reform.\n","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 18:58"},{"nm":"leslie","rs":"0","ms":"my 25-year old daughter was teaching in petionville, a suburb of port au prince, during the quake.  amazingly she was spared and gave everything she had, along with her fellow teachers, to give aid and comfort for the ensuing 12 days until actual medical help arrived.  she came home for a bit and just returned yesterday.  i was grateful to see frontline\'s topic was so relevant and timely and i was riveted to the program.  haiti\'s situation seems so hopeless but i believe in a GOD who does the impossible!","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 18:47"},{"nm":"Sammie","rs":"0","ms":"Haiti needs aid  for recovery, and rebuilding, not military occupation.  The UN occupation of Haiti must end. \nThe international community must end indirect aid to Haiti.\n\nForeign Aid/loans should go to Haiti directly to build its infrastructure, not the churches and the NGO false charity industry imposed on Haiti. They  must support and respect  Haitian sovereignty, not boost NGO profits and power in Haiti.  \nThey must support community organizing, community policing, transparency and participatory democracy. \n\nHaiti\'s largest political party can’t continue to be banned from participating in elections as has happened in Haiti ever since the 2004 Bush Regime change and UN/US/Canada/France occupation began. \nRespect Haitian human rights and dignity. Stop criminalizing the poor in Haiti. \n NGOs like charities and international aid groups are extremely powerful in Haiti - they too must respect the human dignity and human rights of all people. \n\n Relief, rebuilding and redevelopment should be designed by Haitians and their collaborators, not USAID, the UN or the “international community.”\n\nReform  USAID policy,  international agencies and the over 10,000 NGOs over Haiti. Their grip must be loosened if a new paradigm is to be installed for the people of Haiti that promotes Haitian self-reliance not Haitian dependency\n\nUSAID has a history of mistreating the Haitian majority, feeding dependency, starving democracy, promoting the neoliberal death plan that contains-Haiti-in-poverty and creating and financing the anti-democratic sector that excludes, impoverishes and terrorize Haiti\'s majority.\nEnd free trade, began fair trade. \nSupport domestic food production, indigenous Haiti manufacturing and job creation. Stop IFIs policies that limit social spending, require that Haiti remove tariffs on food and other imports, privatize public enterprises, exempt foreign investors from taxes on their profits. Support grassroots, indigenous Haiti capacity building organizations.","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 16:04"},{"nm":"jannie","rs":"0","ms":"I had to stop watching because I was so disturbed. It is hard to believe that such appalling horror, suffering, injustice, and corruption exists in the world and how bad the situation continues to be in Haiti. I don\'t know how we can call ourselves human and allow this to go on. What can I personally do about it? I don\'t know.","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 15:48"},{"nm":"gladys mathieu ","rs":"0","ms":"haiti need all of us ","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 15:03"},{"nm":"Cory Barnes","rs":"0","ms":"Im only 14 and i would spend every dime just to rebuild Haiti because we all know that Haiti is one of the poor counrty in the united states america.Im just trying put help Haiti get back most of what they lost like sending them cloths giving there country money,health care and lots of food can goods and anything they need.We all wouldn\'t mine helping and giving for what we care about.Please somebody write my back so you can give me some tips on makeing haiti a better place to live. ","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 12:09"},{"nm":"Tim HOughtaling","rs":"0","ms":"You would do well to consider the comments of &quot;RH&quot;.\nI thoroughly enjoyed the program then realized it was more cheerleading for fund raising than a documentary.  Topics dramatically missing include the security issues pre & post quake (gangs of machete wielding thugs); arrests for human trafficking; Haitian refusal to accept help from Dominican Republic neighbors; Destruction of the sea port and impact on goods transit (no diesel fuel to power rescue equipment); Bill Clinton\'s involvement with Haitian telecom during his invasion creating millions in profits in a scheme some went to jail for .... is the same program in effect now?; The street economy of scrap US/UN purchased concrete rebar sold to China to be resold for US/UN dollars as new rebar.","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 11:43"},{"nm":"Lorraine","rs":"0","ms":"The Frontline story last night was very interesting.  \n\nI just finished reading Mountains beyond Mountains by Kidder.  Kidder was interviewed on the Rachel Maddow show right after the quake.  I was glad to see Partners in Health personnel given a lot of chances to speak on last night\'s Frontline.  Kidder talks about Graham Green\'s The Commedianne, so I borrowed that from my local library and am reading that too. We Americans have certainly been kept in the dark about the history of an Island so close to the continental united States.  Could it be from embarrassment of the government?\n\nAs Captain Bruce Braithwaite states, we probably won\'t see much change in Haiti with the corrupt government allowed to be in office and the Tontons Macoute still very much in control.\n\nThank you Paul Farmer and Partners in Health for all you do and try to do.","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 10:59"},{"nm":"Ebrima Tunkara","rs":"0","ms":"No words to say ,just tears.","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 10:21"},{"nm":"Greg Jenkins","rs":"0","ms":"The story really brought to life all of the pictures that we saw in the news but put a voice to\nwhat the people of Haiti had to go through.  It was definitely heartbreaking and calls for us to\ncontinue to act and not put Haiti behind us because it is not in the headline every week.  As one who studies hurricanes I am very much afraid for the people of Haiti this summer and in the years to come.  The people do not have enough protection from tropical storm or hurricane force winds or heavy rain.  I don\'t know where the government can move so many people if there is a TC threat.  We should be putting the best minds, especially those from Haiti, and elsewhere around the world on this problem now.  We have 61 days before the start of the hurricane season and the clock is ticking.  The people of Haiti deserve our best global efforts along with our prayers. ","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 08:54"},{"nm":"Bill Andrews","rs":"0","ms":" Haiti economy in future,Somebody needs to project some future for Haiti to give this country a new direction for it\'s economy. And then make sure to keep out a more corrupt Government. Once most of the cleanup is done Haiti needs to start growing rich coffee and sugar beats to better help it\'s economy.( The two best crops for it\'s economy area.)","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 08:37"},{"nm":"Captain Bruce Braithwaite","rs":"0","ms":"I made three trips to Haiti in the past year.  Last March to deliver a Trawler for a fouth generation French Company &quot;Marinetec S.A. - Alex Rouzier&quot;.  They operate all tug boat activity in Port au Prince.  Again a delivery of two tugs bought in Maine were taken for use in the port in September.  Both times I walked the streets of Port au Prince and saw the squaller that was prevalent in the streets. Though people were striving to make an existance, it was still obvious that they were just getting by.  The last trip made on February 8th, 2010 was to deliver a 150 passenger ferry that was bought to move U.N. personnel back and forth to shore from a cruise ship brought in for that purpose.  Again I walked the streets to observe the destruction and devistation from the quake.  My Haitian captain &quot;Ever&quot; who was with me the first two trips, lost his wife and 3 year old daughter in the quake.  As of yet, now over two and a half months, the bodies have not been recoveed from the four story building that collapsed and buried not only his family but at least 10 other people.  The body recovery efforts were directed to the buildings in the heart of the city and not the outlying areas.  With the rainy season about to begin soon, the problem now is the contamination of the water and desease attributed to the flooding. I dodn\'t see where the living standards of the people will change because of the humanitarien efforts now being provided.  The people of Haiti will continue to live as before.  I belive I can go back in ten years and not see any beneficial change in the living conditions the the heart of ort au Prince.  It is disheartening.  I feel deeply distressed for the population of Haiti.","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 07:18"},{"nm":"RH","rs":"0","ms":"This coverage of the Haiti disaster was full of dramatic video, but terribly short on policy-informing substance and details -- and represented almost exclusively English-speaking viewpoints. \n\nThe modern history of Haiti was inadequately explained and explored, the economics and business of Haiti were almost tossed aside altogether.  A few important basic facts about the disastrous \'disaster relief\' were put forward and illustrated, but not really analyzed nor covered in depth.  \n\nThe interviewees offered little really concrete information.  None of the several successful leaders of tiny poor-but-healthy Caribbean / Central American nations were interviewed for their wisdom. \n\nNo detailed analysis was provided of the aid efforts before or after the quake, and some major scandals were ignored (American Red Cross withholding blood, Larry Jones\' \'Feed the Children\' not actually feeding Haitian children with the millions they solicited ostensibly for that purpose, Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort scheduled to arrive after most critically ill would die, U.S. military and Florida government feuding over whether to airlift critically wounded Haitians to Florida hospitals, a complete lack of effective national U.S. operating protocol for dealing with such a catastrophe right next door, etc.). \n\nIn short, a whole raft of Katrina-esque fiascoes were swept aside with a few summary comments about the lack of adequate response, and some gory video.\n\nThis episode of Frontline seemed to be chiefly a vehicle for its star reporter to ask \'tough\' questions of high-profile people on national TV.  It was more \'journalistic\' grandstanding, rather than serious in-depth analytical reporting -- and far less valuable than it could and should have been, especially about such a life-and-death issue.\n\nI\'m very disappointed at how little new info or perspective I learned from this episode -- quite unlike most other Frontline programs.\n","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 06:02"},{"nm":"RH","rs":"0","ms":"To help fix Haiti, start with a thorough and competent analysis -- in credible media -- of the problems of Haiti (and frankly, that should include a post-mortem on the world\'s, and Haiti\'s, disastrous disaster response).  \n\nStudy, analyze and discuss Haiti not only in first-world terms, but from the perspective of \'successful\' third-world (\'developing\') nations.  \n\nFrankly, saying the U.S. and France know how to fix Haiti, is like saying millionaires understand how to rehabilitate the homeless.  \n\nPeople closer to Haitians\' experience need to be the leaders in the nation\'s renovation -- people who understand how to have a viable tiny Caribbean coastal/island nation.  \n\nThe Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Costa Rica, Belize -- and even American colony Puerto Rico -- have a far clearer grasp of the issue than Washington or Paris. Nicaragua, Chile and Peru know more about rising from the rubble of devastating earthquakes.   Frankly, Cuba and Venezuela, despite their obvious ulterior motives, probably know more than most American leaders about how to effectively help Haiti rise from the ashes of desperation.\n\nThe absence of foreign views on American media coverage of this issue (even on PBS Frontline) is a major shaping influence on the defects in dialoge and decision-making on this issue.  \n","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 05:44"},{"nm":"Tim","rs":"0","ms":"Hello, My name is Tim, I am a member of an activist group in Vancouver called Haiti Solidarity BC. Haiti Solidarity BC came together in 2004 to oppose the illegal overthrow of Haiti\'s democratically elected president Jean Bertrand Aristide. I have been active with the group since January, immediately after the earthquake.\n\nI just finished watching the Frontline documentary on Haiti. I was heartened that the documentary gave as much airtime to Partners in Health as it did. From what I can tell, Partners in Health is one of the best NGO\'s in Haiti, employing Haitian nurses and doctors to provide the highest quality health care possible under extremely difficult circumstances. The network of hopsitals and clinics that are run by Partners in Health could in the future serve as the foundation of a public health care system for Haiti.\n\nI was dissapointed that the documentary did not explain the reasons why aid was so slow in reaching the Haitian people. During the first 24 hours after the Quake, the US government took control of the Port-Au Prince airport, deciding what flights could and could not land. While millitary planes containing US soldiers were allowed to land (some 10,000 US soldiers arrived in Haiti during the first week after the quake), flights containing vital aid from other countries were turned back and forced to land instead in the Dominican Republic.\n\nThen once the US soldiers were on the ground in Prot-Au Prince, they were used in the first few days not to distribute aid, but rather to establish order. Only once the US millitary decided that there was sufficient order did the US millitary begin to distribute aid to the Haitian people. The US millitary also did not rely on the Haitian people to help distribute aid. The US millitary did everything in their power to keep the Haitian people disempowered during the aid distribution process.\n\nThe US millitary also established green zones and red zones in Port-Au Prince, as the US millitary did in Baghdad after the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Only the airport, the downtown area near the presidential palace, and the small wealthy section of Port-Au Prince were designated as green zones. The rest of Port-Au Prince was designated as a vast red zone, and the US millitary made the decision not to distribute aid to these areas during the first weeks following the coup (though I believe some of these areas have now received some aid, albeit far from what is needed).\n\nIt must also be noted that while the US government has spent in the vicinity of US $1 billion dollars on aid to Haiti since the earthquake, much of this money has been spent on the US millitary presence. This millitary presence was ostensibly to establish order, yet there was not a significant problem with violence in Port-Au Prince during the first days following the earthquake. When there were signs of violence, it was mainly because the Haitian people were not receiving aid and were growing desperate.\n\nThe Frontline documentary showed a scene of a crowd of Haitian people outside the Port-Au Prince airport, demanding to receive food, and UN soldiers telling them they could not be given food. It must be noted that at that time there was lots of food sitting on the tarmac in the airport, and that the US millitary made a deliberate decision not to allow the UN soldiers to distribute this food to the starving Haitians rallied outside.\n\nIt must also be noted that the US millitary has made the deliberate decision not to distribue tents to the Haitian people who have been rendered homeless as a result of the quake. Thus the &quot;tent cities&quot; that have sprung up around Port-Au Prince could more accurately be described as tarp cities. Tarps are not an adequate defense against the rains that have arrived with the onset of the rainy season. Tents covered with tarps would be better. Better yet would be to provide the Haitian people with building supplies (lumber, plywood, nails, hammers ect.) with which they could build basic housing that could keep out the rains. \n\nThe other aspect of the Frontline documentary that dissapointed me was the discussion of Haiti\'s history and its government. The Haitian government was portrayed in the documentary as &quot;weak and ineffective&quot;. While this may be an accurate statement, the documentary did not point out the role of the US government in undermining the Haitian government. The US government orchestrated the coup that overthrew Haiti\'s elected president Jean Bertrand Aristide in February 2004. The major reason the US government worked to overthrow Aristide was because he implemented modest reforms such as the implementation of a $5 a day minimum wage; because he decided he would no longer continue implement the neo-liberal reforms hoisted on Haiti by the IMF in the mid-90s; because he had engaged in talks with Cuba and Venezuela to form a progressive political alliance (ALBA); and because he demanded that France repay to Haiti the money that it extorted from Haiti in the 19th and early 20th centuries as the price of Haiti\'s freedom from France.\n\nThe Frontline documentary correctly noted that most of the aid given to Haiti by foreign governments bypasses the Haitian government and goes instead to NGO\'s. However, the documentary did not point out that this is a deliberate strategy on the part of the US and other governments to keep the Haitian government weak and ineffective.\n\nThe Frontline documentary did not point out the historical reasons why Port-Au Prince had such a large population living in substandard housing vulnerable to collapse under conditions such as the January 12th quake. In the early 1970\'s, the Duvalier government implemented policies which reduced the tarrifs on rice and other imported foodstuffs into Haiti. They also gave tax breaks to the garment industry, which began to move into Haiti at this time. These reforms put many Haitian farmers out of business, and they moved to Port-Au Prince in search of work in the garment industry.\n\nThere were not enough jobs in the garment industry to go around, and the jobs that were available barely paid subsitience level wages. This forced the recent migrants to Port-Au Prince into burgeoning slums with substandard homes.\n\nThe neo-liberal reforms hoisted on Haiti in 1994 by the IMF when Jean Bertrand Aristide was reinstated required further reductions in the tarrifs for rice and other foodstuffs, as well as the privatisation of many state owned companies. This second round of tarif reductions on rice and other foodstuffs devastated what remained of Haiti\'s agriculture sector, and a second wave of migration from the Haitian countryside to Port-Au Prince ensued. Port-Au Prince thus went from a population of under 1 million at the beginning of the 1970s, to over 2 million by 2009.\n\nAt the same time there were no building codes in Haiti, and so to save money, buildings were built in Port-Au Prince without any rebar columns. And with the second wave of migration to Port-Au Prince, the population grew large enough that substandard housing was built on the sides of the mountains surrounding Port-Au Prince, further exacerbating the perilous situation. \n\nIt must be noted that in Chile the Allende government passed a building code in 1972 requiring the use of rebar colums in all new building construction. This meant that although the Chilean earthquake that also happend earlier this year was stronger than the Haitian earthquake, the buildings in Chile did not pancake the same way that those in Haiti did.\n\nFinally, I was dissapointed that the Frontline video seemed to take a favorable stance towards the development of Haiti\'s garment industry. This is an industry which forces Haitians to work in terrible conditions for extremely substandard pay. Not to mention that 80% of Haitians had no formal employment at all prior to the earthquake. Thus even before the quake, many in Haiti were eating clay patties with no nutritional value to allieviate their hunger pains, becuase they could not afford real food. This puts the lie to the view peddled by Bill Clinton, and repeated in the Frontline video, that Haiti was improving prior to the earthquake.\n\nThe donors conference that will take place tomorrow in New York is deeply flawed. The development plan which will be presented at the conference will call for more garment factories in Haiti, and for slashing import tarrifs on garments entering the United States from Haiti. This is not a positive development model for Haiti. A far more positive development model would be to put money into helping Haitians re-establish their agriculture sector which has been decimated by successive neo-liberal reforms. Haiti was once self-sufficient in agriculture, and with the right support, it can be self-sufficient again.\n\nThe donors coference will also propose an umberlla organisation to coordinate all aid money being spent in Haiti. This is a disturbing development. It is unclear what the mandate of this organization will be. Will this organisation cherry pick which aid organisations receive moeny based on the dictates of the united states and other imperialist nations? Will NGO\'s even consent to having their money go through such an agency, and if they don\'t, will they simply bypass it and render it ineffective? Finally, will this organisation start to address the systematic sidelining of the Haitian government in Haiti\'s affairs and start to direct money to the Haitian government, so it can become a positive force to empower Haitians and free them from reliance on foreign NGO\'s?","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 03:17"},{"nm":"Thoams","rs":"0","ms":"Next time build your houses without 10 ton concrete roofs. Go back to the straw and earth huts. Haiti has alot of potential for agriculture and its in a ideal trading position with other countries. Maybe Haiti would be better off occupied as slaves in order to get anything done cause the government sure can\'t and the people all want to kill each other instead of work together.","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 03:01"},{"nm":"Resph","rs":"0","ms":"I will accept the hypothesis that misdirected foreign policy and interventions most recently by the Clinton Administration may have contributed to Haiti\'s longstanding problems but asserting that the United States contributed to the problem by way of some bizarre linkage to Napoleon and the Haitian revolution is ludicrous.  Napoleon knew beginning in 1800 that he could never defend Lousiana against the British in Canada and any confrontation would inevitably lead to British reassertion of hegemony in the transMississippi west.  Furthermore negotiations for the Louisiana purchase began in 1801 after the treaty of San Ildeforso and before the Haitian revolt of 1802-1803.  You are just going to have to find a more plausible reason for blaming the United States for Haiti\'s early problems.","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 02:37"},{"nm":"Harry Fouche","rs":"0","ms":"Good reporting Frontline.  \nNearly 3 months after the quake it is indeed sad to report that aside from rubbles cleared from some streets much of the city of Port au Prince is still as it was after the January 12 Quake. \nOutside of Port au Prince, the town of Leogane totally flattened is left on its own.  The town of Jacmel in South Eastern  Haiti received some help from Canada.  People are moving to the provinces areas that were totally ignored by the central governement administration sitted in Port au Prince.\nNow that Port au Prince is no more, there is hope that attention will be paid to the provinces where the majority of the 10 million Haitians live.  Tent cities or &quot;Preval Cities&quot; as some people called them are also springing up in the provinces.  People are complaining that no effort is made\nto inquire about their lot, yet &quot;Plans&quot; are being discussed about the future of Haiti.\nCap-Haitien in the North, Haiti\'s 2nd city with an international airport and port, even after the quake had ravaged Port au-Prince airport and port, has not been brought on line by the authorities or the international community to receive relief supplies and personnel, or just pick up some of the traffic Port au Prince airport and port.\nWhen the Haiti government finally manifested it-self, it was to announce that it was going to tax the relief goods coming into the country, this as a way to control NGOs said an offical.\nHaitians are willing and need to go to work rebuilding their country, but care must be taken to not turn this disaster into an industry where unscrupulous people in Haiti and outside of Haiti will line up to loot the foreign assistance.  The Preval government is a lame duck government at the end of its term, it will be foolish for the international community to invest too much in a government with a poor track record and held in contempt by the majority of the Haitian people.  A Haiti reconstruction Board is needed with representatives from Haiti\'s 10 provinces and the diaspora assisted by a Board of trustees from the international community with a clear mandate and claer deadlines to effect projects such as: road grid system, public and private housing, water distribution system, sewer systems, setting up an electric grid, buiding or setting up temporary shelter not tents in unaffected areas outside of Port au Prince to begin evacuating the tent cities or &quot;Preval cities&quot;.\nBetween 1950 and 1954 in preparation of Haiti\'s 154th Anniversary the government of then President Paul Magloire laid down Haiti\'s road systems, water distribution systems, sewer systems, housing schemes.  The city of Cap-haitien was completed paved and sewer systems added, along with water distribution and electric grid, same with Gonaives where on January 1, 1954 Haiti celebrated its 154th anniversary with all brand new infrastructure work.    \nIn July 2020, the Citadelle Henry Christophe, a formidable fortress sitting on a mountain top near Cap Haitien long considered a symbol of Haiti\'s resilience will be 200 yearts old, let us embark on a rebuilding campaign of Haiti to be completed in time to have the world come down and celebrated Haiti\'s rich history.  Haitians in New York and in Haiti have began a conversation last summer on the needs for such a rallying around the Citadelle for a new Haiti, we definitely would welcome others to the conversation.\nLet us give a Haiti a break.  Haiti needs a helping hand not a handoout.\n\nHarry Fouche, Chairman\nConsortium For Haitian Empowerment\nwww.haitianconsortium.org \nhfouche@haitianconsortium.org   or   hjf1954@yahoo.com ","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 02:19"},{"nm":"Alicia","rs":"0","ms":"Thank you PBS for a very objective and informative documentary.  In my opinion, getting the most vulnerable members of the population into permanent and/or supportive housing is critical (i.e., children, elderly, and women etc.)  The immediate response is very much about the basics (i.e., food, water and shelter).  However it cannot only be about the basics.  Whether you believe in Maslow’s hierarchy of human basic needs or in the human essentials conflict theory (i.e., human needs are sough simultaneously), what is clear is that concerted and focused action is needed, now.  I also believe that the restoration of Haiti can and should involve the Haitian community working to bring about systemic change culturally, socially, politically, and spiritually.  The people of Haitian need opportunities to learn how to feed and govern themselves once more.  The question is who will teach them?   Overall, I believe in a future where Haitians affected by the earthquake and years of poverty/ injustice will “Arise and Walk” with their heads and shoulders high because they have the food, water, shelter, safety and security, sense of belonging or love, self-esteem, and personal fulfillment they so desire and deserve.   Thank you PBS for telling their story in such a responsible manner.","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 01:46"},{"nm":"William Zaffer","rs":"0","ms":"No country is ready for such devastation including USA.  There is a product I heard someone talk on www.ted.com that can be used to make good drinking water on the spot. I wonder if the companies products is being used?  I also hate that Wal Marts and other did use the Haitians for cheap labor and the few elite families made all the money.  That included Disney. Americans in many areas are facing the same hard truth and we cannot keep borrowing to extend unemployment checks constantly.","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 01:43"},{"nm":"Mike Caggiano","rs":"0","ms":"As the need is for effective leadership I don\'t see what great crime caused us to depose Aristede. He at least appeared to galvanize people. He would have been so much more effective than Preval. He should be brought back and at least the morale of the people would be lifted. Grassroots organization could be improved and a push for rebuilding agriculture and smaller sized towns towards self suficiency could improve lives at a faster rate. Not to just cater to foreign business people who are looking for an easy profit.","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 01:38"},{"nm":"Fredyt3","rs":"0","ms":"Powerful!  Thanks for sharing your perspective.  There is not a simple solution other than good will come from bad and hopefully those with resources will truly help the people of Haiti rebuild and CONTROL their own country without the history of putting puppets and other hustlers in place, in the guise of democracy when the only one\'s benefiting are them, their croonies.  Anyway, you made good use of the hour.","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 01:11"},{"nm":"Ernest","rs":"0","ms":"@Jan,\n\nFirst of all, you don\'t have any knowledge about Haiti and it culture. You said the problem with Haiti is its population, well it\'s not. Haiti have a population of nine million and they have all the land to do what they please. The only problem is the government who only have a interest in Port-Au-Prince and leave the other cities in Haiti to fend on their own. Don\'t blame Haiti for all it\'s problem, it\'s the United States fault that Haiti can not prosper. If you know your history, USA invaded Haiti in 1915 and they\'re responsible for so many corruptions in Haiti. Back in 2004, Former President Bush sent American military in Haiti to kidnapped the Haitian president Mr. Aristide and sent him in South Africa. Americans keep enforcing their foreign policy into Haiti, so they can sell more of their cheap rices.How do you think those people are going to survive if they are only living on American imports?","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 00:59"},{"nm":"Cargo Containers","rs":"0","ms":"The biggest problem is shelter. There is an abundance of cargo containers in the world. Each container is very large, and could potentially house several families. They\'re waterproof, and they could be returned to the owners once a suitable housing situation is resolved.","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 00:58"},{"nm":"Nunu","rs":"0","ms":"I find did to be very hard to watch, I can\'t stop crying cause Haiti truth is never being told. It\'s now being painted as Haitian are the crimmals in reality they are the victims. You ppls have no clue at all what they have done to the mass ppls in Haiti.","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 00:58"},{"nm":"Deanna Hik","rs":"0","ms":"Thank you for covering this story on the earthquake in Haiti. It was heartbreaking for me to watch the amount of pain that this amazing country is in. I think everyone should watch this and learn about Haiti. I have been many times to Haiti and it takes your breath away, it stays with you forever. Everyone could learn from their strength and will to live. These are the most amazing people and deserve better. ","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 00:52"},{"nm":"mike neaton","rs":"0","ms":"WHY, do we not hear about the U.S. intervention in the Haiti politics that has supported the few elite. After hours of listening to reports on Haiti I never heard the circumstances regarding the removal of the elected President Aristide being dicussed. How can we preach democracy and our press gives us no meaningful in depth understanding of those in power and the relationship to the U.S. I find it very worrisome  that even our pubic supported news media has avoided this focus.  There has been little reflection on this despite it is at the very core of Haitian sever poverty; a society that reduces people to eating mud disks to fill empty stomachs and allows 300,000 children legally  to endure  servitude that can only be called slavery. The circumventing of a real political expose\'  of U.S. Haiti relations is eventually going to be viewed a as serious injustice concealing the pervasive and corrupting policy of the United States and  Haiti\'s elite. \nThe lack of coverage is in effect the suppression of real democracy in Haiti. The people of the U.S. have shown their good will but this country\'s government fails to meet its declaration of democracy in aligning with Haiti\'s elite. I\'ve  not seen shows such as Charlie Rose, 360,BBC or Nightly Report providing investigative journalism regarding Haiti\'s politics. This is suspect and professionally irresponsible. Will Front Line inform the American public about the underlying politics that may put the U.S. policy in the light?","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 00:50"},{"nm":"Catherine Anastasia Whipple","rs":"0","ms":"Would I be forward to volunteer our Armed Forces for a period of 1 year to go to Haiti, train the citizens, rebuild while training the citizenry, and then Leave Them with all of the neccesary tools to survive and thrive again. The cost to rebuild Haiti would be less than the cost of our presence in the Middle East.\nJust One Year.","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 00:08"},{"nm":"Jerry","rs":"0","ms":"FRONTLINE stated that Haiti\'s problems began 200 years ago.  Not really the case.  Haiti\'s problems began a lot earlier when Columbus landed & slaughtered most of the native population because he understood that native peoples don\'t make good slaves.  A few years later the Catholic King of Spain (Ferdinand) authorized the importation of slaves from Africa.\nUnfortunately Haitians breed at an unsustainable rate.  I\'m sure many women would like to avail themselves of birth control if it were availabe.  Rape & forced pregnancy is a way of life.\nBy the way, where is the $700,000,000 that has already been donated to help rebuild the country?  &quot;Administration&quot; expenses? \n","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 00:07"},{"nm":"Catherine Anastasia Whipple","rs":"0","ms":"Thank you for showing the Truth about the Haitian government.  I want to inform anyone reading that Haiti was the FIRST free indepenent country in The New World.  It appears that the world has forgotton that Haiti was THE richest port in The New World.  Yes, and it claimed independence from the outside world (France)long ago.  I feel that perhaps the world turned its back on poor little Haiti.","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 00:03"},{"nm":"Theodore C","rs":"0","ms":"We need a strong government in morality, but not only sees what luxury life their going to live while serving the government and while living the government...\nTheir need to demonstrates the enthusiasm by making good laws to protect the citizens of the land and justice for all,to create good job, and good infrastructure, good zoning, the agriculture must be upgrade - must be in top list.\nThere is a lack of irresponsibility of the government of over sees whats need to be done.\nfrom now on we need a committee from the Haitian international community diaspora as an adviser to Mr Preval government and as follow to the next future government to help rebuilding Haiti.","pt":"Mar 30, 2010 23:49"},{"nm":"Gerri Michalska","rs":"0","ms":"Very good reporting.  Hopefully, this will keep Haiti in the forefront so tht we will not forget them.\n\n1.  Too bad the UN, the US military at the Haitian airport were not more organized in the beginning.  Afterall, they have been at it a long time.  Time is lives and limbs lost.  We cannot be unconcerned just because it does not affect us personally.  Let us be biblical.\n\n2. It is beyond irritating to still hear about lack of sanitation for the tent cities.  What has the Haitian gov., UN and NGOs been doing??  Even on tonight\'s Frontline there was still the same comments from people there about NO sanitation and the rains are coming.\nWhy doesn\'t/didn\'tanyone ask what is being done about this to high officials??  Such passivity and irresponsibility.\n\n3. For so long we have heard about deforestation in Haiti BUT we never hear of anyone, including Frontline, asking why nothing is being done??  Why do we not hear about the stopping of deforestation and the introduction of solar powered from metal cooking that is maikng the rounds all over Africa?\nIs Haiti so out of it??","pt":"Mar 30, 2010 23:47"},{"nm":"jean&mimi","rs":"0","ms":"Haiti current situation will never change,unless the international community take charge,and also come to the understanding that the people who govern haiti are corrupt,inconpetent with no basic knowledge in administration,and how to organize a country.And the best thing for haiti now ,is for the United nation to bring  retired expert from around the globe,people such a the finance ministers,ex judges,ex social workers,ex mayors,city managers,health ministers,expert on tourism,chief of police to work along side the haitian government another to train how to govern a country,we are aware that the international community is about to release billions of dollars for the reconstruction of haiti,we would\'nt want any of that money to go to the haitian government,because they\'ll sent it straight to swiss bank,because they don\'t respect themserlf therefore they don\'t respect their fellow haitians and that is why haiti is the way it is today.","pt":"Mar 30, 2010 23:45"},{"nm":"Gerri Michalska","rs":"0","ms":"Very good reporting and should help to keep us on track in helping Haiti.\n\n1.Sad that the UN and the US at the airport were so disorganized in the beginning.\nBy now both shuld have better organization skills.  Here time is lives or limbs.\nWe should not be so relaxed only because it is not affecting us or ours.  Be biblical.\n\n2. From the beginning we heard that there was no sanitation for the people.  We still hear that months later.  It mind blowing that NOBODY IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.  It is beyond irritating to continue to hear that the rains will COME AND THERE IS NO sanitation and that will lead to disease.  SUCH PASSIVITY BY ALL is INEXCUSABLE. This is the same reporting that we heard on Frontline tonight.\n\nI am tired of hearing that there is no sanitation and now the rains are coming, etc.  \nWHY IS NO ONE, INCLUDING FRONTLINE, ASKING WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT??  AT THE LEAST, THERE SHOULD BE CITIZEN BRIGADES.\nbut what are the Haitian gov.,UN and NGOSdoing??  I can\'t believe neglect and passivity.\n\n3. For years if not decades we have heard of deforestation in Haiti BUT  I don\'t hear that this problem\nhas been tackled.  WHAT IS THE PROBLEM HERE?  Why is deforestation still such an egregious problem?  The Haitians themselves must do more.  Where is creative thinking?  Local entrepreneurs?\n\nWhat about what we see making the rounds in African countries, i.e. the metal reflectors heat for cookking or the solar powered cooking??  What is wrong with this picture??","pt":"Mar 30, 2010 23:26"},{"nm":"Patricia ","rs":"0","ms":"I liked what Lara said &quot;Sometimes taking a marathon focus rather than a sprint focus can have a more lasting impact.&quot;  I think that statement goes a long way.  \nWhile I was in Haiti last month I was told by more than a couple of Haitians that people often promise to return to help but they do not return. I think that many people do plan to return and help and include Haitians in the process but are up against a system that is very hard to understand that often pushes people away.  I am not sure why this is. Haiti is complicated.","pt":"Mar 30, 2010 23:26"},{"nm":"Kay Rubendall","rs":"0","ms":"Well let\'s see you take NINE million people living in abject poverty beyond repair or salvation apparently and then you take the Seven million dollars of donated money from Americans and what is there to not understand in the solution here? Divide the money among the familys and individual survivors, bring them all to the USA, give them immediate citizenship, let them buy property, spend their money here, give them ObahmaCare, and educate them and teach those who don\'t speak English (many already do) to use English - then they can all have the jobs of the Illegal aliens already here which will be put on the planes that brought the Haitians, back where they belong.  The Hatians will be paying into our tax system & Soc. Security. Sounds like a plan to me.  Happy Easter and Passover to all.","pt":"Mar 30, 2010 23:08"},{"nm":"Bob","rs":"0","ms":"I do not know anything about the weather season in Haiti, but doesn\'t the hurricane season affect Haiti? Even if a hurricane does not make a direct hit, tropical storms can generate very high winds. What is this going to do to the tent cities? Are there any plans to quickly create new structures that are resistant to high winds (and earthquakes)?","pt":"Mar 30, 2010 23:08"},{"nm":"pierre senecharles","rs":"0","ms":"Thank you for such indeph reporting about the earthquake in Haiti and to also display greatly the inadequacy and the Government. In a time of such catastrophe, the GOvernement clearly had no pans and or coordinations for some basic relief.  Unfortunately, as you reported, the Government failed miserably. The internatinal community sees no interest in Haiti, financially or otherwise. It\'s no wonder, help was so slow to arrive. I can almost guarantee it, had it been a country in Latin America or Europe, the world would have been on stand-by ready to help. \nAmerica, if you can, please take over the country and give it life again..Thank you.","pt":"Mar 30, 2010 23:07"},{"nm":"carol ","rs":"0","ms":"I just got done watching frontline on hati.  I would think one answer to the housing problem.  Is to use the empty cargo boxes and empty train and trailors from 18 wheelers.  To me that would seem to be the quickest way to give them housing","pt":"Mar 30, 2010 23:06"},{"nm":"Mario Arboite","rs":"0","ms":"I really enjoyed watching this documentary on Haiti. I strongly believe that the current haitian government needs a lot of assistance before tackling such a yeomen job. There are at least 20,000 Haitian and Haitian American professionals living in the United States who can participate actively in the rebuilding of Haiti. The US State Department could sponsor a sabbatical program that will allow these professionals to take six months off from their current jobs so that they can go to Haiti and help the current legitimate government of Haiti start the rebuilding of Haiti. Remember one of the major problems Haiti has had for years was political instability. Haiti does not need a new government now. Haiti needs a functional government now. Remember that the president of any major corporation including PBS no matter how qualified he or she is can not accomplish much if the people working for him or her are not qualified to do the work. Furthermore if the people are qualified and the are not getting paid they won\'t last a day. The current Haitian government is weak indeed but it can be strengthened by the expertise of Haitians living abroad. Does anyone know how many people are working for the current haitian government and when was the last time these people got paid a salary? What is the organizational structure of the haitian government? Does the haitian government have an effective way to collect taxes from its citizens and businesses?  Frontline correspondent Martin Smith can find out the answer to these questions. Once again I am very grateful to PBS for such an in depth documentary about Haiti. Please do not make it the last one because Haiti can not be forgotten any more.","pt":"Mar 30, 2010 23:02"},{"nm":"Gladys Estime","rs":"0","ms":"The problem I see in Haiti situation that the country \ndoesn\'t have a strong a gorverment . The people needs a leader for themself.We are willing to what ever takes to help the nation that is crying for help. We do know Haitian people are very strong. Despite of all the ostacles they all are showing sign of strength. I am an educator I create a group with my colleages  to collect school supplies for the children who will be going school soon. We are waiting for ok where to send what we have so far . We also written all company of electronic , shoes for children, good refurbish computers basic thing children and young adult for school. I am willing to volenteer my self for two months to give the teacher some basic training.\n","pt":"Mar 30, 2010 22:55"},{"nm":"Bill","rs":"0","ms":"Amazing visuals.\n\nIs anyone else noticing a lag between the audio and visual?","pt":"Mar 30, 2010 22:33","er":"If you notice any video problems please \<a href=&quot;../../contact/&quot;\>let us know.\<\/a\>"},{"nm":"MarieGeorge Francois","rs":"0","ms":"There should be an international organization committee set up (which should include a representative from the Haitian Diaspora) to work together with the Haitian Government in rebuilidng Haiti.  People need to be accountable.  Eventhough the international community is supplying the monetary funds, they still need to be accountable.  It is too tempting for one group to be in charge of such amount of money.  I am afraid if there is not accountability, I am looking of an Haiti that will never be...","pt":"Mar 30, 2010 22:27"},{"nm":"Jan","rs":"0","ms":"Problem of Haiti is its population and specifically the population explosion that can’t be sustained. I have no compassion for people who multiply irresponsibly and then expect others to feed and house them.\n In turn they occupy other people\'s land and cry about discrimination and not being wanted. The example of one woman who complained to the Frontline how to feed her seven children demonstrates the core of the problem. Haiti population explosion has been going on for generations resulting not only in local misery, but in the infestation and criminalization of major cities in USA, Canada and France. The PBS program Nova that preceded the Frontline illustrates the Haiti problem.  \n","pt":"Mar 30, 2010 22:25"},{"nm":"Daphnee","rs":"0","ms":"In your commentatry you said that that many fear Preval will not survive the fall elections.\n\nPreval cannot survive any election this year or thereafter because he can never run for president again. The Haitian Constitution only allows two non-consecutive presidential terms.\n","pt":"Mar 30, 2010 22:17"},{"nm":"Susan Price","rs":"0","ms":"\tWe need a documentary about Slavery to help the world understand the economy, sociology and politics of human bondage. So shamed by the immorality and blinded by the ancient religion of slavery, this legacy is too difficult to face honestly, which greatly pervades and perpetuates human exploitation into our modern times. We need a clear view of the cataclysmic collision of natural disaster with underdeveloped sustainability of ecosystems and society in Haiti. Help the world understand the economy, sociology and politics of exploitation of the earth and humanity. If we do not get this understanding and bring Haiti from her dark past back to sustainability, this tragedy will continue to haunt our future. Help us see what happened in Haiti; so, we can aid her to what she must be for the future, regaining Peaceful Sustainability for her people to shine as a star to guide the world to stewardship of the earth and sustainability of mankind.","pt":"Mar 30, 2010 21:05"},{"nm":"Lara ","rs":"0","ms":"We have a small company called Nourish that developed a patented formula-ready bottled water for babies and a spill-proof bottled water for kids.  As a small company we figured our strength was in our customer base - so we partnered with our customers and with Childspring International and we have sent Nourish bottles (which provide not only clean bottles but also clean water)  and baby formula every 2-3 weeks down to various villages and orphanages.  By sending regular shipments the product goes immediately to the people and is never stored or stockpiled.  We told our customers up front we view this as a long-term effort and we plan to keep sending regular shipments as long as we can.  Sometimes taking a marathon focus rather than a sprint focus can have a more lasting impact.","pt":"Mar 30, 2010 20:37"}]}); });