Today, Haiti is widely accepted as the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Sixty-percent of Haitians are living below the poverty line and there is a seventy-percent unemployment rate throughout the country. Five out of ten people in Haiti do not have clean drinking water easily accessible to their household, the average life expectancy is 63 years old, and the country suffers from a high infant mortality rate. Haitians suffer from many diseases, including AIDS, tuberculosis, and cholera. Currently, Haiti is suffering from a severe cholera outbreak - causing close to 9,000 deaths in the last five years. The country is being heavily deforested for agriculture and fuel, while the environment is generally overlooked. The history of …show more content…
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Mexico, Canada, and the Haitian government called for the eradication of the pigs. By 1984, 1.3 million pigs were killed. Unfortunately, in Haiti, these pigs were very important. 85% of households had creole pigs. They were hearty, could survive three days without food, ate garbage, didn't need clean drinking water, and provided a nucleus for the economy. The pigs were traded for school, books, medicine, doctor visits, food, marriages, and funerals. They were even seemingly resistant to the swine fever. Because of their importance, Haiti began a swine repopulation program. They took close to 30 million dollars in loans from the IMF, but had to follow strict guidelines, which eventually led to the complete failure of the program. The guidelines included strict rules, including clean drinking water for the new pigs (which, at the time, was unavailable to 80% of the population), feeding the pigs imported feed, and specific pigsties built by US standards. On top of the expenses and rules, the Iowa pigs didn't even taste good and were susceptible to disease. Haitians started calling the pigs "prince a quatre pieds", or "four footed princes". In the end, the project failed, there was a 30% drop in enrollment for school and poor Haitians lost an estimated …show more content…
If they hadn't pushed sweat shop labor Haitians wouldn't have moved to big cities, including their capital, Port-au-Prince. In 2010, an estimated 150,000 people died because of an earthquake in the metropolitan area of the capital. How many people would still be alive if they were still farming rice in rural Haiti? The only way I feel that Haiti could have been saved is if they never took money from the IMF. The chain of circumstances in Haiti that the IMF has caused is very deep, and they planned to create their own garment industry in the 1970's. I do not see a scenario in which they could do that and not be responsible for the earthquake deaths of 2010. After doing research of my own, I have quickly concluded that the IMF is a global mobster. I think the loaning system is flawed and when countries have more votes and more shareholders than other countries, there will never be an objective loaning system - just loan sharks. The IMF and World Bank cut down education in countries to receive payment, they create their own systems of import and export which undermines the debtor's country, kill rural populations in poorer countries, and allow big businesses to come in and kill smaller economies. I do not think an international loaning system will ever work, because there will always be big countries with more influence on the world, offering to loan developing nations money for
It’s stated more than once in this story that a true and honest living is not easily come by for any native of Haiti and they earn very little money when a job is available. The people are paid an insubstantial wage, live in shantytowns, and often times go to bed with their stomachs distended from a voracious and unforgiving hunger. In The Norton Mix Introduction to Literature, Danticat shows these significant consequences of the Revolution through stating that when it got really bad for the family, they would boil ground sugar cane so that it would get rid of the hunger pangs that often tormented the children of the poor (p. 229). The way they live shows the negative effects of the Revolution by showing that although they are technically free, they are still oppressed through economic conditions and puny and sporadic
The Republic of Haiti is in the western part of the island of Hispaniola in the West Indies. It is densely populated and has the lowest per capita income in the western hemisphere (Kemp, 2001). The population of more than seven million is made up of mostly descendents of African slaves brought to the West Indies by French colonists. The horrible conditions in Haiti, such as crushing poverty, unemployment and illiteracy, and high rates of acute and chronic illnesses and child and infant mortality, result in the illegal immigration of many Haitians to the United States, France, and other countries in Western Europe. Most immigrants are adults and teens who leave Haiti in tiny boats, despite the risk of drowning and other hazards. According to Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) 2001 statistics, the number of refugees has declined to several thousand per year since the early 1990’s.
Haiti is a small country in the West Indies and is the western third of the island Hispaniola (Rodman, Selden). According to Selden Rodman Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world and after the earthquake in 2010 they are way worse than they were before. The Earthquake changed a lot for everyone living there rich and poor. “Over 200,000 people died as a result of the earthquake another 2.3 lost their homes” (Haiti). This quote shows how bad the 7.0 Haiti Earthquake was that happened in January of 2010. The conditions are already awful for the people there and all the human rights violations happening are not helping. The conditions are so bad many are trying to flee their country and come to the United States even though they know that the chance of making it there is very slim (Human rights violations…). According to Richard Horton and William Summskill the United States did a survey test called the lancelet to get results from the Haitians on human rights violations happening. The survey showed us murders, women getting raped and other human violations numbers. This showed the United States that we should take action, because we had real evidence from the victims of the human rights violations in Haiti. One of the problems is that the United States does not know how to help. Haiti is so behind in everything; technology, inexperienced policemen, lacking a judicial system and their economy is very unstable. We should take action in Haiti because of these human rights violations; police and government abuse, women not getting their rights, and poor people not getting their rights.
Corruption and abuse have been cancerous hallmarks of Haiti’s political system and leaders. Until recently, power switched hands quickly and brutally as dictators faced assassinations, coups, and international interference. The instability of political roulette has made it difficult to accomplish or establish any social, economic, or environmental plans or policies. Racism is a rampant residual from the colonial era. Wealth and power are controlled by the mulatto elite and little concern or regard is shown for the poor. Few social programs have been created to assist the poor as resources are diverted away from communities and into the hungry pockets of the corrupt. Differences in languages and religions also echo the past. The ruling class speaks French and is predominately Roman Catholic while the majority of Haitians speak the slave language of Creole and practice the voudon (voodoo) religion. The focus of power resides in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Rural communities are ignored and struggle to survive by farming. During the colonial era, much of Haiti’s land was deforested to accommodate sprawling plantations. Wood is also used in the building of homes and as a primary fuel. The removal of trees caused severe erosion and the loss of the nutrient topsoil which washed into the ocean, impacting marine life and fishing. Farmers have moved to Port-au-Prince to seek employment. The desperate
The economics of Haiti has deceased in the last 4 years after the devastating earthquake that struck it 4 years ago. The Haiti economy has become very poor and one of the poorest country in the south, Central America and Caribbean region making it ranked 24 out of 29 countries in this area and its overall score is below average. Haiti’s economic freedom is 48.1 making it economy the 151st freest country while in the last several years Declines in the management of government spending, freedom from corruption, and labor freedom make its overall score 2.6 points lower than last year. Recovering from the disastrous earthquake in 2010 with the support of the U.S. recovering efforts “Haiti’s post-earthquake reconstruction efforts continue, assisted by substantial aid from the international community. Governing institutions remain weak and inefficient, and overall progress has not been substantial. The parliament has not renewed the mandate of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission, which had been tasked with overseeing reconstruction efforts but was unpopular.”( .heritage.org). The open market of Haiti trade weighted to be 2.1 this is because the lack of tariffs hamper the trade freedom of Haiti. Foreign investors are given national treatment but the investment is small and the financial sector is remained underdeveloped and does not provide any adequate support.
Currently, almost two years ago Haiti was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. It sparked an international urge to help aid and relieve Haiti of its catastrophe. Not only governments in various countries reached out, but independent organizations as well. This disastrous event showed how the world could come together when their neighbor is in need. But prior to this 2010 earthquake, Haiti was already facing devastation other than a natural one - societal.
He chronicled why the island nation was hit so hard. Economic dependence on France, the forced embargos, the forced repayment to slaveholders, then Haiti’s economic dependence on America that made the nation’s own structures so weak (Farmer). Farmer writes that HIV came to Haiti from the United States in the sex tourism trade and spread rapidly. The people in Haiti are killed not by the HIV, but tuberculosis often kills those infected. Treating nonhuman hosts would get rid of the disease, but aid refusals or the inability to properly treat due to constraints-- all examples of structural violence -- leave men and women in Haiti to die (Farmer). These elements can also be found in Sub-Saharan African nations.
Haiti lifestyle and America lifestyle is different. In Haiti They don’t have the same sources as Americans do. In fact, Most Haitians don’t have Electricity and rely on charcoal for energy. While in America most people are able use stoves or microwaves to prepare food quickly. People in Haiti don’t bathe as much as people in America because they don’t have access to clean or running water. However, In America people are able to bathe every day. In America people often eat 3 meals a day which is breakfast, lunch and dinner. In Haiti they only eat 2 meals a day. Haitians usually eat bread and coffee in the morning and later on the evening they eat fried meat like goat, chicken, pork etc. Americans on the other hand, may eat eggs, bacon, sausages,
Why are these background informations useful? Because these informations provide us some important basic knowledges of Haiti. As a country mainly composed of ex-slaves, Haiti is mainly composed of people of African origin. However, why is Haiti so poor compared to its other black majority neighbors such as Saint Kitts and Neves and Barbados? Because Haiti did not attain its independence through peaceful means. Haitian revolt against the French, and they indeed won, against Napoleon Bonaparte[2].
Maingot, Anthony P. 2013. "HAITI: WHAT CAN BE DONE?." Latin American Research Review 48, no. 1: 228. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed May 4, 2014).
The effects caused by earthquakes are devastating. They cause loss of human life and have effects on infrastructure and economy. Earthquakes can happen at any time anywhere. In January 12, 2010 an earthquake of a magnitude of 7.0 hit the nation of Haiti. An estimation of 316,000 people were killed, and more than 1.3 million Haitians were left homeless (Earthquake Information for 2010). Haiti was in a terrified chaos. After the earthquake, families were separated because many of the members were killed. Homes, schools, and hospitals were demolished. People lost their most valuable belongings. It will take time for the country to recover from this terrible disaster. The long damages are economic issues, health-state, and environmental issues that effect in the beautiful island of Haiti.
Haiti's Health Indicators Reflect Its Political and Economic Pains - Population Reference Bureau. (2004, January). Retrieved February 23, 2010, from http://www.prb.org/Articles/2004/HaitisHealthIndicatorsReflectItsPoliticalandEconomicPains.aspx
The Story of the Three Little Pigs” which originated in England in 1890 tell a story of how three little pigs who meet a man and ask for different materials to build their houses. Unfortunately, there was a wolf who blows two of the pigs’ houses down and eat them. Pig one built his house with straws, and pig two built his house with a sticks. Nevertheless, for pig number three, the wolf's huff and puff many times but could not blow down the house that was made out of brick; however, the wolf trick the pig into luring him out of his house and sending the pig to three different locations, which was turnip field, apple garden, and fair. Moreover, without understanding, the pig outsmarted the wolf by leaving one hour earlier before the wolf arrives.
After describing how each IGO was founded and what their main purpose was it was clear to see that while their intentions seemed to come off as good the reality was that their efforts only corrupted and demoralized third world countries and their citizens even more. For example, when qualifying for, “the HIPC debt reduction or rescheduling, countries had to agree to follow IMF and World Bank measure for achieving creditworthiness,” which are also known as SAPs. Grigsby 301) “To accord with SAP requirements, for example, countries may be required to sell government-owned facilities (such as water delivery systems) or to initiate fees for using public schools or public health clinics. If a country refuses to introduce SAPs, it risks losing the loan.” (Grigsby 302) Therefore, this creates a double edged sword for the countries who are considering a loan from IGOs. Either take the loan and allow it to increase poverty within its borders because individuals cannot afford things that were originally free, or take the loan as well as agree to the requirements and allow their countries main form of income to be demolished and sent to other countries without seeing any of the profit. The catch is that IGO loans say they will help your country become debt free but so far there has only been proof that these loans only increase the amount of poverty and debt. IGOs are only creating false
The IMF was not designed to be an aid agency but its role in economic