Because the Universe is Confusing
Archive for January, 2010
Empower Haiti Through Real Resources
Jan 23rd
Letters: Haitian empowerment must be the prime goal | World news | The Guardian:
We the undersigned are outraged by the scandalous delays in getting essential aid to victims of the earthquake in Haiti (‘Chaotic and confusing’ relief effort is costing lives, aid agencies warn, 19 January). As a result of the US decision to prioritise the accumulation of foreign soldiers over the distribution of emergency supplies, untold numbers of people have died needlessly. We demand that US commanders immediately restore executive control of the relief effort to Haiti’s leaders, and to help rather than replace the local officials they claim to support.
Obsessive foreign concerns with “security” and “violence” are refuted by actual levels of patience and solidarity on the streets of Port-au-Prince. In keeping with a long-standing pattern, US and UN officials continue to treat the Haitian people and their representatives with wholly misplaced fear and suspicion.
Haiti: Why ask G-d? Ask France!
Jan 14th
Today a lot of left-leaning people are circulating an editorial by Peter Hallward in the UK Guardian entitled Our Role in Haiti’s Plight. I think it’s worth the read, BUT be aware:
There is a huge omission in this article that should not be ignored. While it’s all well and good to point to the repeated US invasions starting in 1915, it’s important to recognize that Haiti’s poverty was enforced earlier by another colonial power: France. After a crippling 20 year embargo as retaliation for the slaves taking their freedom, in 1825 France demanded 150 million francs (equivalent to $21 billion today) as payment for lost profits. In other words, France made the former slaves pay for their freedom. Haiti was forced to sign the treaty with French and German gun boats sitting in their harbor.
Haiti could not make the first payment and so it was arranged that they would receive loans from French banks, at exorbitant interest rates. Haiti was paying this indemnity for 123 years! The last payment was in 1947. At various points they were spending more money on the interest rate payments than on social services for their own people. It was only after the 1915 invasions that the US became involved, when some of the loans were transferred to American banks. (although I haven’t managed to source this last piece of information)
This is a particularly large omission since it is in a European newspaper. France must be held accountable too! And in fact, in 2003/4 Aristide demanded reparations from France, a repayment of all 21 billion. Not too long after, he was forcefully and anti-democratically removed from power and exiled from his homeland.
The New York Times Op-Ed is actually more honest about some of this. In either case, I hope people are beginning to understand that as much as this earthquake has been a natural disaster it is also a post-colonial disaster.
Emergency! Help Earthquake-hit Haiti!
Jan 12th
A calamitous earthquake hit Haiti today. At 7 on the Richter Scale, it is the largest quake in recorded history to ever hit the area. At least one hospital has collapsed and houses are apparently crumbling left and right. Infrastructure is a mess in Haiti, one of the, if not the poorest, nation in the Caribbean.
If you have $1 to spare, please donate. My mother tells me that Partners in Health has done good work in Haiti and will likely be part of the relief effort:
Partners In Health (PIH), Health Care for the Poor. She’ll be mentioning more organizations tomorrow, Wednesday January 13 at 7-8 AM PST on KPFK. You can listen online at their website.
A Dutch Heroine Died Today
Jan 11th
Today we lost a hero of the 20th century. Miep Gies is a name that you may or may not recognize. Anne Frank is probably one that you do, and that is thanks to Miep. Miep and her husband Jan, along with colleagues, hid the Frank family and a few other Jewish people from the Nazis. After an unknown informant made the Nazis aware of the hiding Jews, Miep saved Anne’s diary, hoping to return it to her some day. When Otto Frank, Anne’s father, returned and his daughter’s death was confirmed, Miep gave him the diary, and the rest is history. Anne lives on as a testament to why we must protest apartheid in Palestine, racism in New Orleans, war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and injustice wherever it is found.
Miep had this to say about what she did:
I stand at the end of the long, long line of good Dutch people who did what I did or more – much more - during those dark and terrible times years ago, but always like yesterday in the hearts of those of us who bear witness. Never a day goes by that I do not think of what happened then.
More than twenty thousand Dutch people helped to hide Jews and others in need of hiding during those years. I willingly did what I could to help. My husband did as well. It was not enough.
There is nothing special about me. I have never wanted special attention. I was only willing to do what was asked of me and what seemed necessary at the time.
Let us all hope that we can do the same. Thank you Miep. For courage, decency, and for the part of Anne that could be saved.
Sex Work and the State – Upping the Anti
Jan 9th
It’ll cost you 99 cents, but I think it’s worth it. Read this interview with sex worker and sex worker’s rights activist Kara Gillies. It’s an intelligent and important discussion about how the law endangers sex workers, about the necessity of decriminalization, and how we can make it happen.
