Why Haiti?!
Could things get any worse for Haiti? Of all places in the world for something like this to happen. It’s beyond words.
I’m from Miami and so have had the privilege of getting to know many Haitian immigrants. In fact, I had a peak at my ideal world while riding a bus in Miami with Haitian women.
It was in the afternoon and the bus was crowded with Haitian women and children. There weren’t any open seats left when a woman got on the bus with her children. She was holding an infant and three or four small kids got on the bus in front of her.
The woman was paying and the children started walking down the aisle of the bus. As they walked along, random women picked the children up and put them on their laps. The kids didn’t mind in the least. When the mother was done paying, someone moved their kid off of a seat to let her and her baby sit down.
The mother that had just boarded the bus didn’t say a word to the other women. There was no thank you or even a hello. There was no awkwardness about making room for her and her kids. There was no hesitation in accommodating the new arrivals. The people on the bus saw that there was a need and they met it. No questions. No complaints. No bureaucracy needed.
I thought for a while, as I rode the bus, how much more of a production that would have been with some of the spoiled people that I knew (not that most Americans ever ride the bus). I imagined someone calling the city to complain about lack of bus seats and the city forming a commission to study the subject.
The ease with which those women interacted and helped each other has stuck with me. And I really hope that, for once, the Haitian people receive the help they need quickly, generously, and without strings – just like those women would give it.
I know everyone is telling you to donate to massive relief organizations. And you should. Many of them are experts at rescue and sanitation and they know how to handle the crisis. But I know that people tend to forget about a place once it has been off the news cycle, so I hope you’ll consider making connections with some of the organizations that work in Haiti all year round.
Yele Haiti - You have probably heard about Yele by now. If not, it is Wyclef Jean’s organization and they have grassroots programs all over the country.
Haiti Reborn – Haiti is an ecological disaster. Deforestation is a particular problem and is the focus of this Quixote Center funded project.
Kiva – You have probably heard of Kiva by now. They connect you with people around the world who need microloans. And they work in Haiti through their partner.
Madre – This is a women’s human rights organization that is partnered with a clinic in Haiti called Zanmi Lasante. You can also donate to the clinic through Partners in Health
The Haiti Emergency Relief Fund – This is a Berkeley based solidarity organization.
Fonkoze – They are a micro-finance alternative bank for the poor in Haiti.
Lambi Fund of Haiti – A Haitian and American organizations that supports democracy and grassroots development.
There are also several organizations that have long connections with Haiti and are good sources of information on current issues and U.S. policy. They have advocacy campaigns for debt relief, protected status for Haitian immigrants, fair trade…
Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti
Finally, if you don’t know anything about Haiti, look into it. Haiti has one of the most fascinating histories of any place I’ve ever heard about. Unfortunately, entirely too much of that history involves disastrous U.S. policy. A book I read a long time ago is called Haiti: Best Nightmare on Earth. It was a good book and imminently readable.
In the meantime, you can check out the Flash Timeline of American Policy Towards Haiti in the 20th Century over at Mediahacker (who I am happy to hear is o.k.). Or you can check out the comprehensive coverage on Democracy Now.
