$(document).ready( function () { talk_rendercallback({"enabled":"0","islive":"0","eid":6421,"total":"3","discussion":[{"nm":"Doug Daniels","rs":"0","ms":"I enjoyed Mr. Danner\'s input in The Quake video, and was eager to read this interview in addition. I was most interested in his view on NGOs and their role in past, present and future Haiti. I am currently writing my Masters Thesis on Emergency Management in Haiti, and NGOs play a pivotal role in my premise on how the country can leverage NGO presence in that arena.\n\nI have been to Haiti both pre and post earthquake, and I agree that the country can not depend long term on NGOs, but it seems to me they are the only ones doing anything productive. ","pt":"Apr  2, 2010 14:05"},{"nm":"Jerome French","rs":"0","ms":"I agree with most of what Mr. Danner says. He has the history pretty much right and he is not the first American to fall in love with the Haitian people,their art, ingenuity, entrepeneurial talent and ability to persever and even find joy under the most deplorable conditions.  In addition to being the kingdom of NGOs Haiti is also the Kingdom of Anthropologists. However like many journalists Mr. Danner is a romantic and a populist and sometimes mis-lead by his instincts.  I would love to talk to him about some of his misconceptions about the role of foreign aid in Haiti and his views about the philosophy of the aid community.  I think he is hopelessly naive about Haiti\'s reconstruction possibilities. but I agree with most of his ideas about what external assistance should try to do.  However, under the current circumstances, the best that foreign assistance can do is what it has been doing for some time, and that is to slow the pace of Haiti\'s decline.  \n\nIncidently, remittances from Haitians abroad is the biggest source of external assistance to the Haitian people.  That and U.S food aid, which Mr. Danner deplores, is what keeps many of them alive.  ","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 00:51"},{"nm":"David Coker","rs":"0","ms":"I would like to make contact with Mr. Danner.  We share a common vision for the future of this troubled country.  \n\nMy background is in construction and writing.  I am traveling to Haiti next week to work at the orphanage operated by my church.  We want to establish a building trade school to teach badly needed construction skills to young Haitians.  \n\nWe would also like to explore ways that we might tap into the reconstruction effort in an effort to generate cash flow on the island to make the orphanage and the school self sustaining and not remain a financial burden upon our church.","pt":"Mar 31, 2010 00:17"}]}); });