Haiti: Persistent Devastation and Unreachable Stability

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The Republic of Haiti is located in the western hemisphere located between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. This mountainous landscape occupies a western portion of the island of Hispaniola that it shares with the Dominican Republic. Haiti is marked with fertile valleys, mountain ranges, plateaus, and dozens of small streams and rivers. Its tropical climate tendencies are hot and humid, consisting of heavy rainfall and reoccurring natural disasters. Its location near the center of the hurricane belt contributes to these storms in addition to flooding, earthquakes, and occasional droughts. Mostly residing in urban areas, the Haitian population mainly consists of Africans while the majority of others are of mulatto decent. The widespread AIDS disease and cholera brought from UN troops reflect main health factors that negatively impact the population. These untreated epidemics are apparent in statistics of higher death rates and lower life expectancy. Particularly after the devastating 2010 earthquake, Haitian peoples often migrate to the United States to escape destitution in hopes of discovering the “American Dream”, obtaining jobs, and sending money home. Haiti’s geographical location not only contributes to its poor physical conditions but also presents a detrimental obstacle to its economic standing.
Founded by Christopher Columbus is 1492, the country of Haiti is infamous for its devastating poverty rates and overall political instability. Haiti, then known as Saint-Dominque, was once a land illuminated with slave-filled plantations where nearly 800,000 Africans recruited by Spain and France supplied a large production of sugar cane, cotton and coffee. In August of 1791, however, this profitable land experienced, “the larg...

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Klitgaard, Robert. “Tackling Corruption in Haiti is Possible, Here’s How.” American.com. 30
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Leopard Capital. “Why Invest in Haiti.” Leopordasia.com. (n.d.) Web. 9 Feb. 2014.
Maps of World. “Haiti.” Mapsofworld.com. (n.d.) Web. 9 Feb 2014.
Nations Online. “History of Haiti.” Nationsonline.org. (n.d.) Web. 18 Feb 2014.
Slagle, Tracy & Rubenstein, Madeleine. “Climate Change in Haiti”. The Earth Institute. 2012.
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