Earthquake in Haiti

[AGBF]

I really don''t know what to say. The situation is Haiti is so terrible, that it is beyond my ability to deal with in words. I just thought I should start a thread on it here because I can''t continue to post blithley about diamonds and high karat jewelry while seeing such incredible misery unfold and not at least comment on it. This is misery that is, at least in large part, not due to man. The poverty in Haiti no doubt contributes to the structure of the buildings and the structure of the government (in terms of how quickly aid can get flowing). Yet the United States is an "advanced" nation and we didn''t get aid moving very quickly during Hurricane Katrina.

We have to say that the primary cause of this disaster is nature. And it is terrible. And no matter what we do to help, that we are really helpless in the face of this. And it is sad beyond our our wildest nightmares.

AGBF

 

[monarch64]

Thanks for starting this thread, Deb.

 

[iluvcarats]

Oh my God.
This is beyond misery.
These poor people.
I don''t know what to say.

 

[Should Be Studying]

Hello all,

I posted this in the Hangout section as well (I hope that''s ok), but I just hope as many people read this as possible.

I am a longtime lurker who has only posted once. I enjoy reading this website for the support and compassion you all provide to each other. As a Haitian-American with family in Port-Au-Prince, I am hoping that everyone around the world continues to pray for Haiti and provide whatever sort of support possible.

I was born in America, but I have traveled to Haiti several times to see my family. I was there just a few months ago and I was happy to see that things seemed to be getting better compared to the last time I was there. That being said, the poverty there is SHOCKING and UNBELIEVABLE. To be honest, it hurts me to go there because I cannot stand to see the conditions that people live in. CNN keeps repeating that Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, but those words do not convey the plight of the Haitian people. I thought I had seen the worst of it, but now these people truly have NOTHING.

I have been lucky enough to hear from my family, and I am so thankful that they are alive. But they report that the devastation is indescribable. I have been watching as people post on facebook (from their Blackberrys) about being trapped under rubble, or calling for help for their families and friends. It looks horrible on TV, but I guarantee you it is so much worse in real life. Haiti has no infrastructure, their government is truly useless, and the people are on their own. I have lived through catastrophic hurricanes and seen my city destroyed, but I am lucky enough to live in a country where the government was here to help immediately. They have nothing. They are using their hands to dig people out from under the rubble, because they have no tools or bulldozers. These people are living a nightmare, without the benefit of waking up.

This is just the beginning. Food will run out quickly (the markets are destroyed, and they have no power to preserve anything anyway), disease will spread quickly. They are already running out of medical supplies.

I am writing this partly because it has hit so close to home. It is not just a news story...these people are scared (they are still experiencing aftershocks) and confused. They are heartbroken. So I mostly write this to encourage you to PLEASE DO WHATEVER YOU CAN. If you can donate money, supplies, ANYTHING, please do. There are issues with sending money legitimately, but CNN.com has a list of trustworthy places for donations. Anything will help.

Please continue to keep Haiti in your thoughts and prayers. And please do whatever you can to help.

Thank you so much for reading this long post.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 1/14/2010 12:37:16 AM
Author: Should Be Studying

Hello all,

I posted this in the Hangout section as well (I hope that''s ok), but I just hope as many people read this as possible.

I am a longtime lurker who has only posted once. I enjoy reading this website for the support and compassion you all provide to each other. As a Haitian-American with family in Port-Au-Prince, I am hoping that everyone around the world continues to pray for Haiti and provide whatever sort of support possible.

I was born in America, but I have traveled to Haiti several times to see my family. I was there just a few months ago and I was happy to see that things seemed to be getting better compared to the last time I was there. That being said, the poverty there is SHOCKING and UNBELIEVABLE. To be honest, it hurts me to go there because I cannot stand to see the conditions that people live in. CNN keeps repeating that Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, but those words do not convey the plight of the Haitian people. I thought I had seen the worst of it, but now these people truly have NOTHING.

I have been lucky enough to hear from my family, and I am so thankful that they are alive. But they report that the devastation is indescribable. I have been watching as people post on facebook (from their Blackberrys) about being trapped under rubble, or calling for help for their families and friends. It looks horrible on TV, but I guarantee you it is so much worse in real life. Haiti has no infrastructure, their government is truly useless, and the people are on their own. I have lived through catastrophic hurricanes and seen my city destroyed, but I am lucky enough to live in a country where the government was here to help immediately. They have nothing. They are using their hands to dig people out from under the rubble, because they have no tools or bulldozers. These people are living a nightmare, without the benefit of waking up.

This is just the beginning. Food will run out quickly (the markets are destroyed, and they have no power to preserve anything anyway), disease will spread quickly. They are already running out of medical supplies.

I am writing this partly because it has hit so close to home. It is not just a news story...these people are scared (they are still experiencing aftershocks) and confused. They are heartbroken. So I mostly write this to encourage you to PLEASE DO WHATEVER YOU CAN. If you can donate money, supplies, ANYTHING, please do. There are issues with sending money legitimately, but CNN.com has a list of trustworthy places for donations. Anything will help.

Please continue to keep Haiti in your thoughts and prayers. And please do whatever you can to help.

Thank you so much for reading this long post.

Hi, Should Be Studying-

I just read this posting in the Hangout thread about the earthquake, which has evolved into quite a good thread. Thank you for contributing it. It is excellent for those of us who cannot see what is happening to have reports from people like you and Gailey who are on the island. It is not that we do not see sufficient misery, but that we do not know what is happening to the people who have survived. Your reports make it real. Please post here and in Hangout as often as you want!!! We feel lucky that you joined us.

Hugs,
Deb/AGBF

 

[AGBF]

I thought that I might post some links here. They will, of course, quickly go out of date. Others are welcome to post new ones if they wish to keep this thread a place where people can come to see some up to date news.

Report (via CNN) on surprise at extent of devastation in Haiti. "Restituyo, a pilot for Aero Ambulancia, a private medical air transport company -- the first in the Dominican Republic -- made two runs to the impoverished nation Wednesday, the first to drop off Puerto Rican National Guard medics. He flew 45 minutes to Santo Domingo, the Dominican capital, and then 90 minutes to Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. From there, he flew 35 minutes to Barahona, back in the Dominican Republic, for supplies, which he then took to Port-au-Prince."

Aid workers will face some obstacles as they encounter the problems that the Haitians, themselves, are enduring in the aftermath of the earthquake. "International aid workers scrambling to get into Haiti face a series of obstacles, from an airport that is already overwhelmed to blocked roads and a lack of communication, electricity, food and water. And, as if that weren't enough, they will encounter a serious crime problem, a veteran disaster relief specialist told CNN....the gangs and the drug culture have taken hold of Haiti, and that is why over the last four to five years, the United Nations has been trying to administer security in the capital and all the provincial cities as well," he said."


AGBF

 

[movie zombie]

banking industry stands to make millions off disaster in haiti:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20100114/cm_huffpost/423238

go here to make your donation and american express will honor 100% to haiti relief:

http://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti

mz

eta: 1-assuming you have AmEx and 2-my donation is going to Oxfam as they've been doing work in the country for 30 years.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 1/14/2010 7:34:34 PM
Author: movie zombie

banking industry stands to make millions off disaster in haiti

You know, I didn't think through what I did, MZ. Maybe I'll plan better next time since your articles raised my consciousness (to use an old 60's phrase). I didn't want to use a credit card for the reasons listed, so I paid by check (i.e. had money taken directly from my checking account) on-line to the Salvation Army...but I did it through Paypal. Paypal will, no doubt, take its fee. That was dumb of me. I just didn't think it through!!! Thanks for posting.

Deb/AGBF

 

[Should Be Studying]

Date: 1/15/2010 7:34:14 AM
Author: AGBF

Date: 1/14/2010 7:34:34 PM

Author: movie zombie


banking industry stands to make millions off disaster in haiti

You know, I didn't think through what I did, MZ. Maybe I'll plan better next time since your articles raised my consciousness (to use an old 60's phrase). I didn't want to use a credit card for the reasons listed, so I paid by check (i.e. had money taken directly from my checking account) on-line to the Salvation Army...but I did it through Paypal. Paypal will, no doubt, take its fee. That was dumb of me. I just didn't think it through!!! Thanks for posting.


Deb/AGBF

Well, according to the updates, it looks like some of those concerns are alleviated. Here's the thing, plenty of people stand to make money off of this tragedy, but we cannot deny the convenience of credit cards, text messaging campaigns, and more. Without these options, people would not donate so easily. Many people would say they were going to donate, but then life would get in the way and many would not get a chance to do it. Still, it is important to make sure we think before we donate, because sadly there are so many scams popping up.

As for Paypal, maybe if enough people will contact them, they will waive their fees. I will try to contact them to find out.

mz--Thank you for posting that list of charities and the article. Very helpful.

ETA: I checked the Paypal website and they have lower transaction fees for nonprofit organizations. I am still going to contact them to find out whether they can waive all fees for Haiti right now.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 1/15/2010 5:32:58 PM
Author: Should Be Studying

ETA: I checked the Paypal website and they have lower transaction fees for nonprofit organizations. I am still going to contact them to find out whether they can waive all fees for Haiti right now.

That's very proactive of you, Should Be Studying (not that I shouldn't have expected it!). Paypal is now owned by eBay. After the attacks of 9/11 eBay sponsored an Auction for America. It forwent its fees and so did vendors and the amount raised by sales of items went to charities chosen by vendors (from among a select group of charities). I was an active participant in it, both buying a lot of expensive items for charity and also selling patriotic items to donate to my charity of choice to help the survivors and dependents of 9/11 heroes, the Robin Hood Fund. Maybe eBay would be receptive to doing more than waiving the fees on Paypal. Maybe it would be receptive to doing active fundraising. It would be a longshot. I do not think they did anything to help tsunami victims or victims of Hurricane Katrina. On the other hand, it doesn't hurt to praise them for publicly for the good that they do. They did help a lot of people when they sponsored the Auction for America. They also insured that I have a good supply of American flag socks bought at a very high price (hey, it was for charity!).


AGBF

 

[movie zombie]

Oxfam employee of 13 years in Haiti injured in quake and died at hospital:

http://www.oxfamamerica.org/press/pressreleases/oxfam-staff-member-killed-in-haiti-quake

and kudos to Sandra Bullock for donating $1,000,000 to Physicials w/o Borders.

mz

 

[AGBF]

Date: 1/16/2010 3:41:24 PM
Author: movie zombie

and kudos to Sandra Bullock for donating $1,000,000 to Physicials w/o Borders.

Indeed. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were mentioned in the Hangout thread for donating the same amount to the same charity, Doctors Without Borders, often referred to by its initials, MSF (Médecins Sans Frontieres). This article mentioned other celebrities who are donating generously, including the model, Gisele Bundchen, who gave $1.5 milllion. It happens to be a wonderful organization.

AGBF

 

[perry]

It is quite the disaster, and I hope that what comes out of this will be a better Haiti.

I actually visited Port-Au-Prince and the surrounding area in the late 70''s and most americans (or people in industrilized countries) have no idea of just what real poverty looks like - and just how bad of shape Haiti was in.

The experienced literally left me "shell shocked" as it was my first experience where I could not say... we''ll, here is how we would deal with this issue in America. I walked around in "zombie" mode for a week while my mind thought through the implications and I came to a new understanding of the world (something that has served me well since).

I am also glad that President Obama committed the US Military in a major way to help.

My thoughts now are on what kind of Haiti can be built from the rubble of the cities (the rural areas are probably doing much better).

Perry

 

[Should Be Studying]

Hi all!

I just wanted to let you know that I contacted Paypal regarding whether Paypal was waiving fees for donations to Haiti, but I could only reach a regular operator who promised to "pass my concern along." I wasn''t too hopeful, but I just did a quick Google search and came across the Paypal blog, https://www.thepaypalblog.com/2010/01/update-on-haiti-relief-effort-via-paypal/ According to the blog, "Donations made through PayPal to any 501(c)(3) organization that is currently raising money to aid relief in Haiti will not be subject to any fees." This is such great news...so much MORE money will get to Haiti.

 

[Should Be Studying]

Date: 1/15/2010 8:23:45 PM
Author: AGBF

Date: 1/15/2010 5:32:58 PM

Author: Should Be Studying


ETA: I checked the Paypal website and they have lower transaction fees for nonprofit organizations. I am still going to contact them to find out whether they can waive all fees for Haiti right now.

That's very proactive of you, Should Be Studying (not that I shouldn't have expected it!). Paypal is now owned by eBay. After the attacks of 9/11 eBay sponsored an Auction for America. It forwent its fees and so did vendors and the amount raised by sales of items went to charities chosen by vendors (from among a select group of charities). I was an active participant in it, both buying a lot of expensive items for charity and also selling patriotic items to donate to my charity of choice to help the survivors and dependents of 9/11 heroes, the Robin Hood Fund. Maybe eBay would be receptive to doing more than waiving the fees on Paypal. Maybe it would be receptive to doing active fundraising. It would be a longshot. I do not think they did anything to help tsunami victims or victims of Hurricane Katrina. On the other hand, it doesn't hurt to praise them for publicly for the good that they do. They did help a lot of people when they sponsored the Auction for America. They also insured that I have a good supply of American flag socks bought at a very high price (hey, it was for charity!).




AGBF

Ebay is also getting in on the action, according to this: http://donations.ebay.com/charity/event.jsp?NP_ID=-52&kw=haiti&src=3286&refurl=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.com%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp3907.m38.l1313%26_nkw%3Dhaiti%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories&_trksid=p3286.c0.m507

They have raised almost a million dollars, according to that website. I am so impressed with all of these companies. It is so amazing to see how much people all around the world are supporting Haiti!

ETA: As for the American flag socks, it is always great to support charity