Haiti

Nearly 6000 kilometers away in Haiti, hundreds of thousands of people lay dead or dying in the rubble of what was a nation on brink of collapse before the earthquake that hit it.

Hope, in Haiti has been largely absent since the mostly black slaves population of the island revolted in the late 18th century and expelled the French colonialists. Military coups, dictators such as the Duvaliers (whose actions, if even half true would place their family square within the ranks of Pol Pot, Hitler, Milosevic et al in terms of destruction of humanity), drought, disease, and famine all became part of the Haitian consciousness as the slow passage of time continued.

I remember doing a Social Studies unit on Haiti in grade 6 and thinking then, much as I do now that hope and promise are not words often associated with Haitian futures. Much like East Timor, Haiti lacks attractive natural resources and had enjoyed a degree of independance from it colonial masters that created a perfect storm of underdevelopment and ignorance from the international community. Exiled Haitians have flocked to Toronto and Montreal, enriching their culture and making aid to the island a political hot button issue (after Afghanistan, Haiti receives the second largest committment of Canadian foreign aid). The Arcade Fire, in their song "Haiti" sum up many Haitian exile's perceptions of their lost homes and families.

SO, the last thing this impoverished country needed was a 7.0 magnitude eartthquake. Hundreds of thousands of people lay dead or dying and much of the capital of Port-au-Prince is destroyed. It is an ultimately tragic and horrifying occurance and the international community needs to be commended for its rapid response.

Where to from here? This earthquake needs to be a rallying point for the people of Haiti, hope must rise from the ashes. The event has occured, mourning must take place and progress must grow from that. There is no short term fix, the shantytowns and dilapadated buildings are rubble right now but they can be rebuilt. A new and better foundation can be built where the errors and mistakes of the past can be rectified. The people have a chance, with the world's eyes fixed on their island and their chequebooks open to begin a new future using motivation drawn from their fallen friends and family members. As members of the wealthy nations, it is OUR responsibility to keep the money and aid flowing and our attention fixed a little more on those who need it.

Wyclef is on the case, if he can save a song that features the The Rock I think Haiti will be alright

Don't forget, when this is not in the news anymore, the people still will need help