General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThinking of Haiti, how can we send money that actually gets to the Philippines?
It looks like all the major US charities are complicit.
JI7
(89,249 posts)Ava Gadro
(36 posts)They're always there to help those in need. I'm not sure how much money goes to administrative fees, but the filipinos need the kind of help the red cross knows best.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)I think UNICEF does a little better.
Oh never mind, they failed too, I don't know, did anyone get anything done there?
JI7
(89,249 posts)same reason the place was full of religious missionaries who had done nothing to improve the place and the earthquake was the biggest and most sad example of it.
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)Whisp
(24,096 posts)One can easily tell by comparing the very slow construction of shelters and basic infrastructure for the Haitian majority with the rapid rise of luxury hotels for foreigners, sometimes with the help of aid funds which, we were told, were going to provide Haitians with basic necessities.
Most of the aid money went to donor countries businesses, government agencies and NGOs, as usual. International aid is a well-known capitalist scheme aimed at developing markets in the global south for businesses from the North. Of course this aid will benefit Haitians. But only the very few elite ones: those in power and the rich corporate elite. Haitis open for business and deluxe hotels will be welcoming businessmen so they can set up their sweat shops in a cool and luxurious environment.
A year ago the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund invested humanitarian aid money in a five star hotel, as some 500,000 Haitians were still in displaced camps:
Picture (right): Oasis Hotel, Petionville Haiti (can't grab it)
The giant Caracol Industrial Park was inaugurated in March 2013 in the presence of President Martelly, as well as Haitian and foreign diplomats, the Clinton power couple, millionaires and actors, all present to celebrate the governments clarion call: Haiti is open for business. (The Caracol Industrial Park: Worth the risk? Haiti Grassroots Watch, March 7, 2013)
Clearly, in addition to providing slave labor for U.S. and other foreign garment companies, the Caracol Industrial Park has contributed to reduce even more what remains of the local farming in Haiti, eradicated over the years by a barbaric U.S. foreign policy.
Picture: Jean-Marie Vincent camp, January 2013. AP/Dieu Nalio Chery
Jesus Malverde
(10,274 posts)Whisp
(24,096 posts)Jesus Malverde
(10,274 posts)bobclark86
(1,415 posts)and the concept of trusting HIM to spend money wisely...
He has almost an iota of a point. And that is this: You ever try to buy 500,000 blankets and ship them across an ocean for a second time? That's the reason we don't bring crap home from Afghanistan -- you ever try to ship an 5-year-old, beat-up Abrams tank... again?
JI7
(89,249 posts)just because it is easier to deal with in getting what they need and for the people.