Blog Entry #10

Title: "Coupons Ease Chaos in Efforts to Feed Haitians"

Summary:

Thanks to United Nations, food coupons have been distributed out to earthquake victims. The coupons are equivalent to 55 pounds of rice which is reported to be more valuable than the Haitian dollar. Because of that it isn't a surprise to find out that people have been given fake coupons. As of Sunday United Nations has reached 639,200 people but even though that is a substantial amount there are thousands of Haitians out there that still need food assistance. Although good progress has been made organizations have been crutched due to confusion, guidance and lack of thought out principles.

Reflection:

I think that if things were planned out and not rushed through, GREATER process could have been made during for first couple of weeks after the earthquake. I believe if organizations continue to think positively and realistically, further growth can be achieved. No matter what people should be thinking about what they can do to improve this situation and make things more sufficient.

Evidence:

“One of our main tools to achieve security is also a source of insecurity,” he said after being sent to Haiti to speed the relief effort. “We need to do it in a well-planned, well-organized and well-coordinated manner.”

"Food rations — a basic meal — had been distributed to less than half of the people the government believed needed them. And while potable water was reaching about 500,000 a day, only 20,000 had been given access to latrines."

"The World Food Program started out by trying to feed as many people as possible, wherever, whenever. But by Week 2, some aid groups and Haiti’s interior minister, Paul Antoine Bien-Aimé, were saying that without better coordination, “it’s like we are shooting in the dark.”

Questions:

How are organization stepping up their game to distribute food to more people?
What are some challenges that have been overcome?
What is the ultimate goal of government officials, what is their plan?
What are some new confrontations?
What is the most demanded food item?

Works Cited:

Cave and Thompson, Damien and Ginger. "Coupons Ease Chaos in Efforts to Feed Haitians." 2 Feb. 2010. 6 Feb. 2010. New York Addition. New York Times.<http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/world/americas/03haiti.html>.

Blog Entry #9

Title: "Haiti Judge Questions Jailed Americans"


Summary:

10 Americans were arrested in questions of child trafficking. After trying to take 33 children, ages ranging from 2 months old to 12 years old. Apparently the ten Americans were Baptists from a group called Southern Baptist Convention. One of them said that they were only trying to help and did not know that they were in the wrong. Although they have never had any association with Haiti global charity work or adoption in previous years. So far no charges have been made against the Americans. The Haitian government officials are in works with the U.S. on deciding the fate of the Americans.

Reflection:

Personally, I think that what they did was ignorant and not well thought out. There are other ways to contribute to help Haitians regroup from after the disaster. For them to say that they did not know they were doing something wrong is a lie. If they wanted to adopt those children, they should have done it the legal way just like everyone else.

Evidence:

"If they were acting in good faith — as the Americans claim — perhaps the courts will try to be more lenient with them, he said."

"Pastor Clint Henry told the TODAY show on Tuesday that the church members were doing what they thought was right and what "they thought they had permission for."

"In a country that already had an estimated 380,000 orphans before the quake."

Questions:

What are some ways to make sure things like this don't happen again?
What was the intentions of the 10 Americans, how were they going to support all those kids?
Should those Americans be charged or punished?
Why did they think they were not in the wrong?
How would they feel if we're them being kidnapped?

Works Cited:

"Haiti Judge Questions Jailed Americans." NBC News and The Associated Press. 2 Feb. 2010. 5 Feb. 2010. Msnbc.com. NBC News and The Associated Press.< http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35181444/>

Blog Entry #8

Title: "Haiti's Mass Graves Swell"

Summary:

Workers have been creating mass graves using earth-movers to bury approximately 10,000 bodies a day. The mass graves are about 25 feet deep and 15 feet wide. One of the workers said that he had not seen so many dead children in his life and that at night he sometimes would have nightmares. Since there are so many bodies to bury, there isn't enough time to have the proper religious burials. Nor enough time to make graves shallow enough for individuals to recover them. Since earthquake hit approximently 200,00 Haitians have died, 80,000 are reported to be put to rest in mass graves and 2 million roaming the streets for new hope.

Reflection:

This is very unfortunate that so many Haitians have to be put to rest like this. There's not that many solutions I can think of to help make things better, because there can't be dead bodies lying all over the place. The fact that there are multiple mass graves out there is very surprising. I didn't really realize how many people have died and how many people do not have nowhere to go.

Evidence:

"I have seen so many children, so many children. I cannot sleep at night and, if I do, it is a constant nightmare," said Foultone Fequiert, 38, his face covered with a T-shirt against the overwhelming stench."

"We just dump them in, and fill it up," said Luckner Clerzier, 39, who was helping guide trucks to another grave site farther up the road."

"The next health risk could include outbreaks of diarrhea, respiratory tract infections and other diseases among hundreds of thousands of Haitians living in overcrowded camps with poor or nonexistent sanitation," said Dr. Greg Elder, deputy operations manager for Doctors Without Borders in Haiti."

Questions:

What do earth-movers look like?
How many mass graves were created because of the earthquake?
Is there a chance that they'll run out of space?
Have the percentage of bodies come down?
Will the workers job end anytime soon?

Works Cited:

"Haiti's Mass Graves Swell." Melena and Haven, Mike and Paul. 21 Jan. 2010. 5 Feb. 2010. The Associated Press. BET.<http://www.bet.com/Specials/helphaiti/news/helphaiti_news_haitismassgravesswell.htm?wbc_purpose=Basic&WBCMODE=PresentationUnpublished&Referrer=%7B9E4DD346-6FE0-4CBF-B587-61CA79D77A02%7D>

Blog Entry #7

Title: "Arrests Intensify Haiti Adoption Debate"

Summary:

Arguments have begun to spark about international adoptions, after recent headlines about 10 Americans attempting to take child earthquake victims out of Haiti with no consent. The 10 Americans were arrested and held at Port au Prince's police headquarters Friday.

There are two sides to this topic either adopting children right away and have them sent to homes or going through legal process making sure no other relative has survived the quake. Many people feel that rather than have homeless kids on the street, they should have them in loving homes that will give them the attention that they need. Others believe that going through recommended 2 years of adoption is a wiser choice, because it gives time for the family to make sure they are ready and it helps give time trace surviving relatives. For example, a 3 year old boy and other orphans had flew on a plane expecting new parents, but the adults responsible had second thoughts and changed their minds.

Reflection:

I think that instead of rushing into the adopting process, people should take their time. It's not fair to the children if the family that proposes to adopt them is not one hundred percent sure and ready for them. These kids have been through so much, it's important that proposing family knows what their getting into and does not bail out. No matter what, it is crucial to make smart decisions about things like this that are carefully planned and that will benefit the children in the end.
Evidence:

"No matter how horrific the situation looks ... the full process of reuniting children with parents and relatives must be completed," said Deb Barry, a Save the Children child protection expert."

"It's an example of why it's important to be patient and thorough," said Olivia Faires, director of children's services for LIRS. "It does add trauma, even in the midst of the chaos, to remove them from their customary surroundings."

"There were 330 adoptions of Haitian children by Americans last year, about 900 more were in the works at the time of the quake, and Johnson said the Haitian government had identified an additional 7,300 orphans as eligible for international adoption."

Questions:

Is every adoption case normally take 2 years?
How are planning to manage the orphans?
What if no one decides to adopt a child, what happens to that child?
What are some ways to ensure a safe and effective adoption?

Works Cited:

"Arrests Intensify Haiti Adoption Debate." 1 Feb. 2010. 5 Feb. 2010. Msnbc.com. The Associated Press. < http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35188317/ns/world_news-haiti_earthquake//>

Blog Entry #6

Title: "As Aftershocks Continue, Haiti Ponders Rebuilding"

Summary:

Since nearly every structure in Haiti did not withstand the earthquake, it has been an important task to clean up all the rubble. Many buildings have fallen, blocking streets and walk ways making it hard to walk through streets. In result many residents are now homeless and have nowhere to go where they feel safe. An underestimated 10 percent are living in the streets and tent cites away from structures (in case of another aftershock occurs). People are so fearful that when planes/helicopters fly over buildings, they get nervous that the wind created by it will knock the weak standing buildings down.

Education government offices are trying to get schools to reopen as soon as possible. But approximately 97 percent of schools that were designed to uphold disasters have been destroyed. Unfortunately the first priority of inspectors is to work on government buildings, which means homes of residents will have to be on a back burner who knows how long. The reason why is because there isn’t a lot of people to help clean up. Many people have lost their families and their absence in understandable. The goal as of now is 3 months, but hopefully with more assistance things will pick up.

Reflection:

I think that so far it is to figure out what will help things get better quickly. With nearly every building in the city is now longer standing, it hard to see thinks pick up without much help. The most I can really suggest is to continue to stick to the plan, and stay consistent. This situation is very sticky, and it is going to better very hard to move.

Evidence:

"In Delmas, the top two floors of a pastel yellow apartment building collapsed onto the two lower floors, crushing them, and now lean precariously over a busy road. A spray-painted sign reads “À démolir” (“demolish”), with the agency’s initials and a large X circled in red." 

It was a pretty dramatic story, because the rescuers could hear kids crying and banging,” said the spokesman, Tyler Marshall. “They apparently died during the attempt to remove the rubble.”

"Mr. Hygin’s inspectors began work on Monday, delayed, he said, because many of them lost family members or their own homes in the earthquake."

Questions:

What is the hardest task about inspecting buildings?
How long does it take for each building to be inspected?
How much does it cost do inspect these buildings? Is there a fee?
What is the most effective way other countries can help to intervene specifically on this topic?

Work Cited:
Rivera, Ray. "As Aftershocks Continue, Haiti Ponders Rebuilding." 28 Jan. 2010. 4 Feb. 2010.

Blog Entry #5

Title: "In Quakes's Wake, Haiti Faces Leadership Void"

Summary:

With all of the chaos going on after the earthquake, Haitian citizen’s need their president, Rène Prèval more than ever. But so far Mr. Prèval has yet to make an effort to attempt to resolve issues. Some might even say that he doesn’t care, after tuning in and out during a meeting and going through his cellular device. He has lacked to communicate to the public about his plans to move Haiti forward to the right direction. As of February 1st he has only releases one message through radio stations. Although Rène Prèval is showing lack of leadership, surprisingly he wasn’t like this before. In the earlier years of his election he was able to build new schools, create work and new farmland for farmers. But his trust is begging to thin out. This year he decided to personally choose the council. This action made people assume that he was trying to make it easier for him to get reelected for what would be his third term. It has been a couple of weeks since the disaster, and Mr. Prèval is slowing attacking the many tasks on an extremely long demanding list.

Reflection:

I think that there is no excuse for the way Mr. Prèval is approaching this situation. After all the people in Haiti has been through the least they deserve is reassurance that things will get better. I definitely understand how many Haitians are furious with few actions being done. If anything I feel that Mr. Prèval is going about things the wrong way, he is thinking about himself more than he is about everyone else.

Evidence:

"When he needed us, we went out to support him,” she said. “Now that we need him, where is he?”

“What the country has seen since the earthquake is not a leader, but a broken man,” said Mirlande Manigat, a former first lady of Haiti who makes no secret of her presidential aspirations. “He’s not doing. He’s not speaking. He’s not acting. He’s not moving. And if he’s not moving, how’s the country supposed to move?”

Mr. Préval makes no apologies for his low profile. “I don’t do politics, O.K.?” he huffed in one recent interview. “My work is to find ways to ease the pain of those suffering, instead of being trailed by journalists to pose for pictures with people who suffer.”

Questions:

What Rène Prèval done so far?
What is going to be his plan to help Haitians get back on their feet?
Does he have a plan or a solution?
How is going to communicate more consistently?
Can Haitians honestly trust him?

Works Cited:

Thompson & Lacey, Ginger & Marc."In Quakes's Wake, Haiti Faces Leadership Void." New York Times. 1 Feb. 2010. 4 Feb. 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/world/americas/01haiti.html?scp=1&sq=Haiti+Leadership&st=nyt

Blog Entry #4

Title: “Fighting Starvation, Haitians Share Portions”

Summary:

It has been reported that there is an estimated 2 million Haitians that are need of food immediately. Many survivors of the Haiti earthquake have little food to eat, most have to share with one another. The majority of the earthquake victims do not digest at least one whole meal to sustain/fulfill themselves from hunger. Because of that people have become desperate enough to steal to survive, and in return some have been killed. Fruits, Vegetables, and other local grocer items are still there to consume but there are insufficient portions. The little mass of food that the country once had has been perished thanks to the earthquake, causing prices for cuisine to sky rocket.

Reflection:

This article is very unfortunate and in a way depressing to read. Because Haiti is already a poor country that is struggling but, now things are even worse than were before. Dying from starvation is a very painful and slow process, that’s why people should grow to really care and grow to understand. Everyone including myself knows how it feels when your stomach is empty, but many don’t know what that feeling feels like for more than a day. I think that people should raise more awareness to try to lower the rate of starving people in Haiti.

Evidence:

"The communal rationing, along with signs all over the city that say “S O S” and “we need food,” suggests that the food crisis here is growing."

"And food imports — typically 48 percent of the nation’s total food consumption, according to the United Nations — have slowed to a trickle. "

"Children are most likely to return with something to eat, but no matter what is found, or how hungry the forager, everything must be shared."

Questions:

What can people do to help?
Where is the main food source coming from?
How many have already died from starvation?
What kind of food are they eating to survive?
Approximately how many have been killed or injured due to fighting over food?

Works Cited:

Cave, Damien. “Fighting Starvation, Haitians Share Portions.” 2010 Jan. 25. New York Times.
2010 Jan. 28  <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/world/americas/26hunger.html>.

Picture

Photo taken by Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times

Caption: The government of René Préval handed out 10,000 bags of food, worth $50 each. Six thousand of those food bags were handed out at the Cite de Soleil police headquarters.

Blog Entry #3

Title: “Haiti’s Children Adrift in World of Chaos”

Summary:

Thousands of children all over Haiti have been abandoned and are basically left to survive on their own (Since many of their parents have passed or are missing as of the earthquake). It has been reported that 45 percent of Haitian children are survivors of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake. A lot of them have injuries and have undergone surgery. Although the earthquake happened nearly two weeks ago new issues are constantly popping up such as sex trafficking. People have been adopting children only to have their child innocence stripped away from them. The UNICEF foundation is trying to establish a database to monitor the few kids that are still alive. UNICEF is also trying to set up an adoption agency, so that kids who have no living relatives can find a suitable home.

Reflection:

What struck me the most is when I read that only 45 percent of kids survived. Even if this just an estimate and isn’t 100% exact, that is still not a lot compared to the original percentage. This is important because children are the future, and eventually will be the “new” representatives of the country. It is melancholy to know that not many kids are still going to be around to tell the story of this disaster.

Evidence:

"Haiti’s children, 45 percent of the population, are among the most disoriented and vulnerable of the survivors of the earthquake."

“The children of Haiti, unless they get help, they will have lost their childhoods, their innocence, Elisabeth Delatour Préval, Haiti’s first lady, said Tuesday"

“...A lot of group therapy” would be needed to make the children of Haiti feel safe again."

Questions:

How is UNICEF going to keep the percentage of surviving kids from increasing?
What are some solutions from reducing the amount of kids from getting introduced into Sex trafficking?
Will UNICEF’s database actually do what it’s intended to do?
What are some ways Haitians can find out if any of their relatives or friends survived the earthquake?


Work Cited:

ALL information, pictures and quotes were found using the following:

Sontag, Deborah. “Haiti’s Children Adrift in World of Chaos.” 2010 Jan. 26. New York Times.

2010 Jan. 28<http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/27/world/americas/27children.html>.

Picture

Taken By Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times

Caption: Lovely, 8, and her sister, Mariefleur Morin 7, have been orphaned by the earthquake. Frades, a local collective that does everything from providing microloans to serving hot meals, is looking after them.

Blog Entry #2

Title: “What Caused the Devastating Haiti Earthquake?”

Summary:

The reason why there is a lot of destruction in response to the earthquake is because the two plates (Caribbean and North American) that run through Haiti moved about 20mm. Unfortunately the impact was so close, the intensity was more powerful than it would be if it was further away from the Earth’s surface. Another justification for why the earthquake was so disastrous is because it lasted approximently 35 seconds to 1 minute. This isn’t good because a lot of Haiti’s buildings, homes and other structures weren’t built nor designed to uphold an earthquake of any strength. According to a logarithmic scale the energy of the earthquake was a 7.0-magnitude (which is extremely strong).

Reflection:

When I found out how dramatic the earthquake was I was flabbergasted, as soon as the news anchor declared the earthquake was a 7.0 magnitude. I already knew extreme damage had been done. (From previous knowledge I know that earthquakes are determined on a scale of 1-10). This doesn’t specifically effect or relate to me, but I know if I had a loved one over there I would be concerned just like anybody else would be. In many ways I feel helpless, I wish I could help personally, but being that the distance is so far it is hard to do so.

Evidence:

“The shaking started on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at 4:53 p.m. ET in the Haiti region, just 10 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince.”

“The threat is not over.So far we have monitored over 40 aftershocks ranging from 4.5 all the way up to 5.9," Bedwell said. About 14 of those aftershocks were magnitude 5.0 or larger. And they expect more in the coming weeks”

“All of these effects get magnified when the infrastructure is shoddy and not built to withstand shaking.”

"Unfortunately, Haiti has a rather poor economy and not a wonderful building style for earthquake resistance, so we would expect that we would see quite severe and widespread damage from this earthquake,"Michael Blanpeid, associate coordinator for the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, said in a podcast released today.”

Questions:

What does magnitude mean?
Where are these two plates located, and what do they look like?
Can or will it happen again?
Has this happened before?
What were the expenses of damage?
Where was the core of the earthquake?

Work Cited:
I found all of my information and quotes from the following:

“What caused the devastating Haiti earthquake?” MsnBc. 13 Jan. 2010. Live Science. 27 Jan. 2010 <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34842469/>.

Blog Entry #1

Essential Question: Why was the Haiti earthquake so devastating?

The reason why my partner and I decide to make this particular subject our focal point is because it pretty much will explain why the earthquake turned out the way it did. This subject would give people an overall view that we hope people can perceive further in depth.