More on Haiti
January 25th, 2010Naomi Klein’s The Shock Doctrine is shaping up to be a key text for making sense of the 21st century. This excerpt from the book may be prophetic. The positive thing is that knowing what’s going on can be part of preventing it – protests have led to £100M from the IMF being converted into a grant instead of a loan.
In terms of what’s going on on the ground, there’s some pointed criticism of the behaviour of some journalists, consciously or otherwise desperate for footage of a “savage” black mob “looting”. Former Radio 1 DJ Andy Kershaw (white) has been to the island plenty times and calls out, among others, the BBC’s Matt Frei:
Over the weekend we saw him anticipating an outbreak of unrest, standing before a crowd of thousands of hungry, humiliated Haitians as they waited, patiently and quietly, to be given rations by UN soldiers. Their dignity and stoicism seemed to escape Frei who was, in any case, looking away from them while ranting about the inevitability of looming bloodshed – conspicuously unlikely, judging from the evidence of his own report.
And:
This self-imposed blockade by bureaucracy is a scandal but could be easily overcome. The NGOs and the military should recognise the hysteria over “security” for what it is and make use of Haiti’s best resource and its most efficient distribution network: the Haitians themselves. Stop treating them as children. Or worse. Hand over to them immediately what they need at the airport. They will find the means to collect it. Fill up their trucks and cars with free fuel. Any further restriction on, and control of, the supply of aid is not only patronising but it is in that control and restriction where any “security issues” will really lurk. And it is the Haitians who best know where the aid is needed.
I’ll leave the last word to (some of) the Haitians themselves. Batay Ouvriye (it means Workers’ Struggle) have put out a message indicating just how big a struggle they face to rebuild. Give them some money.
CALL FOR SOLIDARITY AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE
12 JANUARY 2010 IN HAITI
On January 12th, 2010, an earthquake hit us, we, the Haitian people, terribly.
Besides the public buildings, for sure, it was the popular neighborhoods that were most destroyed. No surprise there, since they are the most fragile, the most unstable structures; they are the ones who never received any services, nor consolidation, nothing; quite the opposite, the ruling classes were always set on getting us out, displacing us, which is why we were never able to even try to consolidate ourselves by our own means.
As some capitalists try to force the workers to return to work in factories that are still damaged; while the store owners clutch their merchandises, not to speak of those who’ve decided to sell at exorbitant prices; while the state is showing (again) its complete nonexistence, a characteristic incapacity and incompetence (all they know is stealing, corruption and serving the big landowners, the bourgeois and the multinationals); while the “protect and serve” police force never showed up to assist the population faced with the gangs (which is normal, since all they know is repression); while the imperialist forces are taking advantage of the help they’re giving to establish a protectorate they hope to be definitive… the workers and working class, the popular masses in general are undergoing a catastrophic situation in which they are left alone and helpless.
Some press agencies developed their progressive aspect in allowing for a minimum of coordination in the field, some individuals helped in this too, consistent popular organizations are working without respite to do all they can, but: there are no means! Truly, beyond having utterly massacred us, the earthquake was completely beyond us.
As much as we can, we refuse to go through the dominant circuit. But the situation is beyond belief! That is why, today, we’re launching a SOLIDARITY APPEAL, to all workers, working class, all consequential progressives all over the world, to help us try to emerge from this terrible moment we are in.
According to the inventory we have made up to now, here are our most immediate needs:
Destroyed homes US $ 50,000.00
Destroyed belongings 20,000.00
Hurt, crippled 10,000,00
Daily existence 30,000.00
Dealing with deaths 10,000.00Total US $ 120,000.00
We need to add 40% to this calculation because the various prices keep skyrocketing and will continue to do so. So, the real TOTAL of this section is about: $US 170,000.00.
Furthermore, there are the various contacts we had begun to develop in the struggle for the 200 gourdes salary adjustment. They are many and in various neighborhoods. We have to help them too, in our own way, but actively. This demands an additional accounting, to be added to the first one. Also, in the areas where our militants and members live or function, several community actions are taking place. We’re active amongst them. To impulse our energy amongst them, to mark the necessary orientation. Immediately, too, we have to take the initiative to launch our own actions, in the context of the reconstruction, in which we can’t just accept that it’s the dominant classes who are giving it the form they want it to take. All this requires funds.
Taking into account all these forms of action and solidarity, we can say the grand total we need presently, for this first period, is roughly: US$ 300,000.00.
This is the necessary to help us survive, to help many workers hold on and resolve in the the minimum of their own lives, and, too, to mark a political direction in the struggle for our lives presently, so as to be able to develop more force in the face of the next catastrophe facing us: that which the imperialists, the dominant classes and their reactionary state are preparing.
We thank in advance all contributors. These times demand such forms of SOLIDARITY, which should all direct towards bridging together, an advance in our shared battles.
For those who wish to send help in kind (medicine, clothes, food, sheets, chairs…), the address is that of our central base: Batay Ouvriye, Delmas 16, #13 bis, Port-au-Prince.
For those who can send cash, our account information is as follows:
Bank Name: City National Bank of New Jersey
Bank Address: 900 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102
ABA Number: 0212-0163-9 City of NJ Newark
For further credit to:
Account Number: 01 000 9845
Account Name: Batay Ouvriye
Account Address: Ave. Jean Paul II, # 7
Certainly, we will inform publicly all contributors (individuals and organizations) of that which was received at all times and the use of these funds.BATAY OUVRIYE
Port-au-Prince, January 20th 2010
