CaribWorldNews Feb19, 2010

UNITED NATIONS, NY, Fri. Feb. 19, 2010: The United Nations and its aid partners on Thursday issued a call for nearly $1.5 billion to assist 3 million Haitians – one third of the Caribbean nation`s population – following last month`s colossal earthquake.  read more....

CaribWorldNews Feb 17, 2010

CaribWorldNews, WASHINGTON, D.C., Weds. Feb. 17, 2010: The U.S. State Department on Tuesday did its best to side-step a question related to a reported no-bid contract from the USAID agency for Haiti.   read on....

Caribbean Net News Feb17, 2010

WASHINGTON, USA (AFP) -- Rebuilding Haiti could cost up to 14 billion dollars, which would make last month's quake the most destructive natural disaster in modern history, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) said Tuesday.    read more....

Caribbean Net News Feb 16, 2010

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) -- Haiti urgently needs tarpaulins, tents and 25,000 toilets one month after a magnitude 7 earthquake killed more than 200,000 people, the United Nation's top aid official said on Friday.   read article...

Caribbean Net News Feb 15, 2010

OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) -- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will visit Haiti Monday and Tuesday to meet with its leaders and take stock of the quake-ravaged country's needs, his office said Sunday.    read article..

CaribWorldNews Feb 15, 2010

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thirty days after the catastrophic earthquake that killed more than 170,000 people in Haiti, the Pan American Development Foundation renewed its call for financial support as the nonprofit and its partners are implementing plans to get Haitians to work, to rebuild their homes   read more...

This could be another tragedy.... the race is on...

Stabroek News Feb 10, 2010

The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) and the Caribbean Institute for Hydrology and Meteorology (CIMH) is focusing on helping Haiti provide sound areas to resettle some survivors of the January 12 earthquake before the hurricane season begins.   read on...

Chronicle Feb 8, 2010

Efforts are intensifying to assist and improve the living conditions of Haitians following the January 12 earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince. The Guyana National Committee for Haiti Relief will be sending more assistance to the island as the donations topped $261M as of last Friday. Minister of ...read article...

RELATED ARTICLE:

Guyana most generous when it comes to Haiti aid.....read article...

Caribbean Net News Feb 8, 2010

CALLEBASSE, Haiti (AFP) -- "I would like to give up my son again," says Anchello Cantave, a farmer here, who willingly handed over his five-year-old to US missionaries now facing charges of child abduction in Haiti's post-quake chaos. read more....

Caribbean Net News Feb 4, 2010

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) -- Sitting at a table under billowing bed sheets, David Delva tries to compile a list of around 12,000 people who now live in an open field below a hillside slum that collapsed in Haiti's January 12 earthquake.   read on....

Caribbean Net News Feb 4, 2010

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA) -- As vital supplies continue to pour in from compassionate Guyanese individuals and charitable donor organisations, the Guyana National Committee for Haiti Relief on Wednesday shipped another 11 containers to Haiti.  read on....

RELATED ARTICLE:

Haiti death toll tops 200,000 as aid anger mounts.. read more...

http://www.scribd.com/full/26370363?access_key=key-exb6yjyvih1utdqavf7

Caribbean Net News Feb 2, 2010

WASHINGTON, USA -- During a meeting on Monday of the Group of Friends of Haiti, the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) and Chair of the Group of Friends of Haiti, Albert Ramdin, presented a report on his recent visit to the earthquake-devastated country. read more...

RELATED ARTICLE:

OAS assistant secretary general tells Haitians they will be highest priority ...read article...

Stabroek News Feb2, 2010

Japan has pledged a total of US$70million in aid to support current relief and recovery efforts in Haiti.

In a press release the Japanese embassy in Trinidad and Tobago said the pledge was made at the recent Ministerial Preparatory Conference on Haiti that was held in Montreal, Canada last Monday.

Japan had also indicated that it is currently considering the dispatch of Japan’s Self-Defence forces to join the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti.

Honest sentiments shared and we understand and respect the sentiments of the people of Haiti.  America is there to help. 

US troops more than welcome in Haiti _ for now
BEN FOX,Associated Press Writer

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  Young men gripping a steel fence along
Port-au-Prince's waterfront call out "Hi, Sir!" to two U.S. Army
soldiers, pleading for jobs as translators, drivers, laborers.

None are getting any jobs today. But that doesn't dampen their
enthusiasm for the U.S. military, despite a checkered history in Haiti
for the forces that are now providing a huge humanitarian mission after
the Jan. 12 earthquake killed at least 150,000 people.

"The Americans are our friends," said Jean Rony Doudou, a 28-year-old
jobseeker. "They are here to help us."

Many Haitians  at least for now  share that sentiment as they see U.S.
troops bandaging the wounded, clearing debris, handing out food and
water and even directing traffic. The soldiers are generating goodwill
and are given a large degree of credit for keeping Haiti relatively
peaceful during these worst of circumstances.

And for the soldiers, Haiti is a welcome respite from dodging suicide
bombers, snipers and roadside explosives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Here you don't go in there with your war face," said Sgt. Warren Bell
from Hampton, Va., a paratrooper who did three tours in Iraq before
handing out meals in Haiti. "You go in there with your peace face. You
try and treat people like you would in the United States."

"We want to show that face of compassion," Capt. Clark Carpenter, a
spokesman for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, said in Leogane, just
west of the capital. "We're here to help the Haitian people. We're here
to get relief to them as quickly as possible."

American troops, part of a 20,000-strong U.S. military humanitarian
mission in Haiti, are not supposed to be arresting looters.

"They are not there to participate in any police operations," said Jose
Ruiz, a spokesman for the U.S. Southern Command.

But as Haitian police and private security guards struggle to maintain
control, the U.S. soldiers will have to decide how and whether to get
involved.

A dozen Army soldiers decided to take action Friday when they came upon
a violent confrontation after a private security guard shot and killed a
man who was among a group of organized looters inside an appliance
store. The U.S. Army 82nd Airborne platoon, which happened to be on
patrol nearby, rushed up and quickly dominated the scene, shouting "Stop
it!" and pulling guards off the captives.

The crowd outside cheered the Americans. But the incident underscored
the tensions and growing frustrations among Haitians in the earthquake's
aftermath, which could present a security challenge for U.S. troops.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Mike Billman sees the Haiti mission as a way to
change opinions after the Abu Ghraib prison scandal tarnished the
military's image.

"Now they see us helping others in a third-world country. They see us
bringing food," said Billman, 30, of Centerville, S.D. "They know there
is a softer side."

Billman, who now leads supply convoys from the airport to the
paratroopers' base in the hills overlooking Port-au-Prince, had to hop
out recently to check on a truck that broke down. In Iraq, it would have
exposed him to a possible ambush. Here, Haitians patted him on the back
and thanked him for coming.

"It felt safe walking down the road. I wasn't worried about some guy on
a rooftop," Billman said. "All they want is food and water from us."

The Haiti effort could not be more multinational  with peacekeepers,
rescue teams and medical volunteers from across the planet  but the
U.S. presence is the most visible. There are more than 6,000 troops on
the ground, including Marines west of Port-au-Prince and an 82nd
Airborne Division brigade in the city. The rest are aboard 23 Navy
vessels, led by the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson. The U.S. Navy hospital
ship Comfort has treated more than 3,000 patients since arriving Jan.
20, and more than 400 earthquake victims have been evacuated from Haiti
on military flights.

The troops run orderly food distributions where there have been many
warm encounters with Haitians.

Outside the destroyed Hotel Montana on Friday, a half dozen children,
all living in a field since their homes were destroyed, stopped to greet
U.S. soldiers guarding the front. The kids started doing Michael
Jackson's moonwalk and the soldiers joined in.



"They're good. They dance really well," said 12-year-old Samuel Petion.

His brother, 16-year-old Jethro, added: "They've come to do some good
works here."

Some Haitians even rate the Americans more highly than their own
government, which, to be fair, lost many senior officials and virtually
all of its important buildings in the earthquake.

"I hope the Americans stay forever so things can get better," said
38-year-old Lenau Deschamps, an ice vendor who has camped out on a
wooden pallet near the ruined National Palace since his house was
destroyed. "We should keep the Americans and get rid of the Haitian
government because it's worthless."

But many know the good feelings could come to an end.

For two decades in the early 20th century, the U.S. occupied the country
 sometimes in brutal fashion. Later, it supported despotic rulers,
including the notorious Duvalier dynasty. U.S. troops also helped return
Bertrand Aristide, the fiery priest and president beloved by the poor
who was ousted in a coup.

Some say that history is one reason to keep the American mission as
short as possible.

"Our country is in a situation in which it needs help and we can't
manage on our own," said Anne Doris Vital, a 21-year-old electrical
engineering student at the University of Haiti. "I appreciate having
them here, but I don't want this to turn into an occupation."

Another student, 25-year-old Wesly Sagesse, agreed: "We are patriots and
we only want to see American troops here until we can get back on our
feet."

For now, though, the U.S. forces are performing some badly needed
functions  handing out food, clearing debris, and even creating
artificial beaches in the capital's destroyed harbor offload aid in
commercial chip containers.

"They could take over the country," 19-year-old Nickinson Rene said with
a laugh, watching an oversized, olive-green bulldozer at work. "As long
as they give us jobs." 
 
 
 

CaribWorldNews Jan 28, 2010

NEW YORK, Jan. 27  /PRNewswire/ -- `Hope for Haiti Now` today announced that it has raised more than $66 million to date for Haiti relief and recovery efforts.  The figure includes proceeds from sales of the `Hope for Haiti Now` album, a collection of live performances from last week`s global telethon that today became the first-ever digital-only album to debut at no. 1 on the Billboard 200.  read article....

Interesting article!   I thought of placing it under the "Guyana Embraces Iran" thread because I think it lends to what Shawn Mangru reported.   Nonetheless, if what is stated in the following article is accurate then Guyana may be fortunate to receive help from the Arab world if they can arrange to move Guyana closer to Iran.  

Another point to ponder:  "The feeling here in the region is that these states are already giving a lot," Dr. Mustafa Alani, research program director at the Gulf Research Center told The Media Line." 

Try to imagine America or Canada taking that position? 

Since I have posted this article I am truly happy to report that Iran sent in a 747 to Haiti we do not know of its contents because the plane is still in the queue for landing. 

 January 24, 2010 11:37 a.m. EST

Topics: Politics, World, Earthquake, Disasters and Accidents

Israel (TML) - A commentator in an influential Arabic language paper says it is "an outrage, in every sense of the word" that wealthy Arab countries are not giving more money to help victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

 In an opinion piece published in the influential London-based Arabic daily Al-Hayyat, Khaled Hroub, a Palestinian academic at Cambridge University, wrote that while millions are being wasted in the Arab world on trivial matters, Arabs have failed to contribute respectable amounts of financial assistance in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake.

"Even the Arab media, both print and televised, are not giving this catastrophe enough attention to bring it home for public opinion and strengthen feelings of human solidarity," Hroub wrote.

"Following the news coverage of the earthquake in the first days, the news of the earthquake and its aftermath soon faded out," he continues. "We began reading about how the United States 'occupied' Haiti through military forces that were sent there to protect the airport, facilitate the aid and provide security, more than reports about the hundreds of thousands of those afflicted who were sleeping in the streets."

Hroub referred to a comparison of the pledges of aid by countries and organizations all over the world published in The Guardian. The British newspaper claimed that United States has pledged the most money, amounting to around $160 million, followed by Canada and the World Bank.

No Arab countries were listed among the top 20 donor countries and organizations in The Guardian's list. The first appearance of an Arab nation is the United Arab Emirates, ranking in 23rd place.

But some argue that even if this is true, the Arab world's response is not unreasonable, and makes economic sense.

"The feeling here in the region is that these states are already giving a lot," Dr. Mustafa Alani, research program director at the Gulf Research Center told The Media Line.

Still, Hroub was not alone in noticing the absence of Arab states from the top of the list, with several readers engaging in some 'naming and shaming'.

"I don't see any pledges from the rich oil producing Middle East countries," one reader wrote in a talkback. "So much for partnership and reaching across... It seems to me the Western world always reaches out."

Hroub also criticized non-Muslim nations such as Venezuela, Cuba, China and Russia, all of which he accused of sending minimal amounts of aid.

Hroub said that despite a deadly 2003 earthquake in Bam, Iran, in which killed more than 26,000 people were killed, Iran only sent a symbolic contribution to Haiti.

"We don't know how [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadi Nejad wants to confront the American arrogance throughout the world with that!" he wrote.

Hroub argued that Arab and Muslim countries only opened their pockets and responded to catastrophes and natural disasters when the victims were themselves Muslim. "The Islamic charities are absent from these kind of catastrophes in a way that's scandalous," Hroub wrote.

"With the exception of a few very symbolic charity organizations and other semi-governmental organizations in Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan and Lebanon, these organizations' calls to duty end with helping other Muslims alone. It's as though these organization only respond to the pain of Muslims and the pain of non-Muslims does not deserve a response."

Alani argued that geography also played a part in Arab world charity.

"Regionally they are very active in giving this sort of help. They feel they are not under obligation to go beyond that. Haiti is not part of the region. It's a humanitarian issue, but the people here in the region have no links to the people in Haiti," Alani said.

Alani rejects the notion that Arab countries are not being generous on account of the fact that the victims are non-Muslim.

"I don't think this is a question of religion but a question of geography and cultural links - we're missing both of those here with the question of Haiti," he said.

"We're giving help to the international community but those people have to understand, we have other commitments as well and the economic situation in the region is not that great. I think we have to do this in a balanced manner. We give help, but this help shouldn't be a huge amount of money when we have our own problems - we have the Palestinian refugees, the Yemeni problems, Pakistan and Afghanis and the Iraqi refugees. I'm not against giving but it has to be measured."

Hroub does not fully agree with this argument, especially when comparing the scope of the disaster in Haiti with the situation in Gaza.

"Some people say that Arab aid should be allocated to Gaza and its people, who are closed in on all sides, instead of giving it to Haiti," he writes.

"This is poor logic," he concludes. "The siege on Gaza and the part that Arabs play in its perpetuation is a shameful outrage. The suffering of hundreds of thousands of Gazans under the Israeli and Western siege is a disgrace for Arab officials?but our solidarity with this must not come on account of our solidarity with catastrophes that other people are facing, especially when their disaster is far worse than ours. If you compare the numbers, there are more than 130 dead in the Haiti earthquake for every Palestinian who died in the Gaza war. And there are more than 200 homes that the earthquake destroyed for every for every home that the Israelis destroyed in Gaza. My intention here is by no means to diminish the suffering of the Gazans but rather to open our eyes to disasters that afflict other people, so that we don't wallow in pathological narcissism that takes delight in playing victim."

Dr. Ayed Yaghi, director of the Gaza-based charity Medical Relief, agreed that the Gazans should not take precedence over victims of other disasters.

"It's a humanitarian crisis and I think not only Arab countries but all the countries must donate towards Haiti and not to compare it with Gaza's crisis or suffering," he told The Media Line. "A human is a human all over the world and not just in Gaza or in Haiti. I understand, Arab countries must help Gazan people, but at the same time they must also assist people in Haiti."

Sir Hilary Beckles is pro-vice-chancellor and Principal of the Cave Hill Campus, UWI.
[**The following  article by Sir Hilary Beckles was published in the Barbados Sunday Sun on 17 January 2010].

The University of the West Indies is in the process of conceiving how best to deliver a major conference on the theme Rethinking And Rebuilding Haiti. I am very keen to provide an input into this exercise because for too long there has been a popular perception that somehow the Haitian nation-building project, launched on January 1, 1804, has failed on account of mismanagement, ineptitude, corruption.
Buried beneath the rubble of imperial propaganda, out of both Western Europe and the United States, is the evidence which shows that Haiti's independence was defeated by an aggressive North-Atlantic alliance that could not imagine their world inhabited by a free regime of Africans as representatives of the newly emerging democracy.

The evidence is striking, especially in the context of France.

The Haitians fought for their freedom and won, as did the Americans fifty years earlier. The Americans declared their independence and crafted an extraordinary constitution that set out a clear message about the value of humanity and the right to freedom, justice, and liberty.

In the midst of this brilliant discourse, they chose to retain slavery as the basis of the new nation state. The founding fathers therefore could not see beyond race, as the free state was built on a slavery foundation.

The water was poisoned in the well; the Americans went back to the battlefield a century later to resolve the fact that slavery and freedom could not comfortably co-exist in the same place.

The French, also, declared freedom, fraternity and equality as the new philosophies of their national transformation and gave the modern world a tremendous progressive boost by so doing.

They abolished slavery, but Napoleon Bonaparte could not imagine the republic without slavery and targeted the Haitians for a new, more intense regime of slavery. The British agreed, as did the Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese.
All were linked in communion over the 500 000 Blacks in Haiti, the most populous and prosperous Caribbean colony.
As the jewel of the Caribbean, they all wanted to get their hands on it. With a massive slave base, the English, French and Dutch salivated over owning it - and the people.

The people won a ten-year war, the bloodiest in modern history, and declared their independence. Every other country in the Americas was based on slavery.  Haiti was freedom, and proceeded to place in its 1805 Independence Constitution that any person of African descent who arrived on its shores would be declared free, and a citizen of the republic.

For the first time since slavery had commenced, Blacks were the subjects of mass freedom and citizenship in a nation.

The French refused to recognize Haiti's independence and declared it an illegal pariah state. The Americans, whom the Haitians looked to in solidarity as their mentor in independence, refused to recognize them, and offered solidarity instead to the French. The British, who were negotiating with the French to obtain the ownership title to Haiti, also moved in solidarity, as did every other nation-state the Western world.

Haiti was isolated at birth - ostracized and denied access to world trade, finance, and institutional development. It was the most vicious example of national strangulation recorded in modern history.

The Cubans, at least, have had Russia, China, and Vietnam. The Haitians were alone from inception.. The crumbling began.

Then came 1825; the moment of full truth. The republic is celebrating its 21st anniversary. There is national euphoria in the streets of Port-au-Prince.

The economy is bankrupt; the political leadership isolated. The cabinet took the decision that the state of affairs could not continue.

The country had to find a way to be inserted back into the world economy. The French government was invited to a summit.

Officials arrived and told the Haitian government that they were willing to recognize the country as a sovereign nation but it would have to pay compensation and reparation in exchange. The Haitians, with backs to the wall, agreed to pay the French.

The French government sent a team of accountants and actuaries into Haiti in order to place a value on all lands, all physical assets, the 500 000 citizens were who formerly enslaved, animals, and all other commercial properties and services.

The sums amounted to 150 million gold francs. Haiti was told to pay this reparation to France in return for national recognition.

The Haitian government agreed; payments began immediately. Members of the Cabinet were also valued because they had been enslaved people before independence.

Thus began the systematic destruction of the Republic of Haiti. The French government bled the nation and rendered it a failed state. It was a merciless exploitation that was designed and guaranteed to collapse the Haitian economy and society.

Haiti was forced to pay this sum until 1922 when the last installment was made. During the long 19th century, the payment to France amounted to up to 70 per cent of the country's foreign exchange earnings.

Jamaica today pays up to 70 per cent in order to service its international and domestic debt. Haiti was crushed by this debt payment. It descended into financial and social chaos.

The republic did not stand a chance. France was enriched and it took pleasure from the fact that having been defeated by Haitians on the battlefield, it had won on the field of finance. In the years when the coffee crops failed, or the sugar yield was down, the Haitian government borrowed on the French money market at double the going interest rate in order to repay the French government.

When the Americans invaded the country in the early 20th century, one of the reasons offered was to assist the French in collecting its reparations.

The collapse of the Haitian nation resides at the feet of France and America, especially. These two nations betrayed, failed, and destroyed the dream that was Haiti; crushed to dust in an effort to destroy the flower of freedom and the seed of justice.

Haiti did not fail. It was destroyed by two of the most powerful nations on earth, both of which continue to have a primary interest in its current condition.

The sudden quake has come in the aftermath of summers of hate. In many ways the quake has been less destructive than the hate.

Human life was snuffed out by the quake, while the hate has been a long and inhumane suffocation - a crime against humanity.

During the 2001 UN Conference on Race in Durban, South Africa, strong representation was made to the French government to repay the 150 million francs.
The value of this amount was estimated by financial actuaries as US$21 billion. This sum of capital could rebuild Haiti and place it in a position to re-engage the modern world. It was illegally extracted from the Haitian people and should be repaid.

It is stolen wealth. In so doing, France could discharge its moral obligation to the Haitian people.

For a nation that prides itself in the celebration of modern diplomacy, France, in order to exist with the moral authority of this diplomacy in this post-modern world, should do the just and legal thing.

Such an act at the outset of this century would open the door for a sophisticated interface of past and present, and set the Haitian nation free at last.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/25512470/Haiti-Update-20012010-13h-1

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – The most powerful aftershock yet struck Haiti on Wednesday, shaking more rubble from damaged buildings and sending screaming people running into the streets eight days after the country's capital was devastated by an apocalyptic quake.

Clcik link below to read entire article

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/cb_haiti_earthquake

This is from a really good buddy of mine, Mark Anthony, who also works at UN.. Please say a prayer for all who have suffered in the Haiti Earthquake.. Thanks,

Mark

Top Stories

• Media reports that looting continues and Haitians are leaving the capital for the countryside and the Dominican Republic.
• A Haitian official told the European Commission that an estimated 200,000 have died. Meanwhile, AP has recorded 70,000 bodies have been recovered and buried.
• More than 90 people have been pulled out alive since international search and rescue teams began combing through the debris, according to the UN.
• More than 2,200 Marines arrived aboard the USS Bataan.
• A CBS News poll conducted Jan. 14-17 said eighty percent of Americans approved of Obama's response to the Haiti crisis, with Republicans, Democrats and independents giving the president high marks. Just 8 percent disapproved.
• Media reports that looting continues and Haitians are leaving the capital for the countryside and the Dominican Republic.

US Government Actions

• U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said U.S. forces have not taken up a policing role in Haiti, but do have the authority to protect "innocent Haitians" and themselves if necessary.
• US Southern Command said a US rescue and salvage vessel had arrived and would send down divers to assess the damage at the port.
• Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitan said the United States will temporarily allow entry to orphaned children from Haiti to receive needed care after the devastating earthquake in their country.
• Lt. Gen. Ken Keen said in an interview with the Washington Post that efforts are being made to figure out what areas are hardest hit and to make sure help gets there. He said Marine units are working to help distribute food and water in Lake Leogane, where more than 60 percent of the city was destroyed.
• Pa. Governor Ed Rendell leads mission, aided by State Dept. and Homeland Security, to fly 53 Haitian adoptees to U.S.
• Some 14,000 ready-to-eat meals and 15,000 litres of water were air dropped in a secure area north-east of Port-au-Prince.

International Government Actions

• The EU on Monday pledged nearly $200 million in short-term aid to help Haiti recover from the earthquake and is earmarking almost $300 million in longer-term assistance.
• Individual European countries have also pledged more than $100 million.
• The Chinese medical team worked at the assistance station set up at the prime minister's residence, giving treatment as well as medical service to local victims. They also handed out medicines and sterilized areas surrounding temporary tents.
• Bolivian Vice President Alvaro Garcia traveled on Monday to Port-au-Prince aboard a military plane with 50 tons of humanitarian aid, including food, medicine, blood and plasma.
• The Brazilian Air Force announced on Monday that another plane full of supplies took off from Rio de Janeiro for Port-au-Prince. The Boeing 707 carried 14.8 tons of food.
• The Swedish government said it would disburse its entire annual contribution of $67 million to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for quake relief in Haiti.
• France increased its aid to $28.6 million.
• Thailand's weekly cabinet meeting Tuesday approved some $100,000 worth of a humanitarian fund. Thailand will also send some 20,000 tons of rice. Thailand's defense and public health ministries have been assigned to send some army engineers and medical staff to Haiti.
• Nigeria's Lagos State government launched an appeal to raise $1 million for aid.

Social Media and Communications

• The NY Times' Lede Blog posted a video by film students in Jacmel surveying the damage in the town on the southern coast.
• Haiti's largest carrier, Digicel, reports 70 percent of its cellphone towers and antennas are fully operational. A second network, Voil-Comcel, reports 80 percent of its cell sites are operating.
• Major U.S. wireless carriers, facing increasing questions about how quickly they can route funds pledged, said Monday they all plan to speed up deliveries.
• The move by the carriers to front the pledges means that money pledged in recent days could be sent to the Red Cross within a week.
• The Guardian's blog posted a map of which areas are and are not accessible for relief workers to get to.
• Amid warnings from the FBI and computer-security companies, a wave of dodgy e-mails and websites soliciting charitable donations has popped up. These emails are up 400% in the past few days.

Brazilian Media Coverage

• Both key newspapers (O Globo; O Estado de Sao Paulo) lead with the story that Brazil is considering doubling their peacekeeping presence in Haiti. Lula is calling for more resources.
• Brazil media continues to pay close attention to the US mission and potential overlaps with their own. Estado quote SECDEF on not taking on a police role.
• Estado also quotes Captain John Kirby at length from a recent teleconference. All on message, all positive, reinforcing the message that the US is supporting the Haitian government and Minustah:
• "A missão é coordenada pela ONU, nós estamos apenas ajudando - o Brasil tem a liderança na Minustah, que tem como função cuidar da segurança no Haiti",
• "A missão é ajudar o Haiti e não ocupar o país"
• "Nossa missão no Haiti é humanitária - o lado militar é coordenado pela ONU, a Minustah, e nós apenas ajudamos. Existe uma missão de segurança, mas essa missão é da ONU e nós respeitamos isso."
• "Ontem só tivemos de desviar três aeronaves"

Thank you Sir Oliver for this support and guidance.....We look forward to seeing you and all of your supporters at the Lime this year which I am sure will assist with getting us as much help needed for our Haitian brothers and sisters from this devastation...

Put the word out, GT LIME 9 is coming back to TO this year.. July 31st.. Details to follow

Sir Oliver here....checking in here to his old stomping grounds....on his way to Haiti, travelling with the Chinese aid delegation. While en-route to Haiti, Sir Oliver did receive an email from a reliable source, indicating that the GTlime site, under the leadership of one Marky Mark, will be donating 100% of the proceeds from the upcoming annual GTlime reunion to the Haitian relief fund. That is one of the most generous contributions to be made by any group amongst the Guyanese diaspora that I know of.

Congratulations to Marky Mark and his colleagues for such generosity.

I come in peace!

FBI Home Page

Just  listening to  CNN news and  what they are saying with regards to the texting  for donating to the Haitian crisis is that it can take up to 90 days for the funds to get to Haiti based on when the phone bill is paid.... This is unacceptable and so please use any of the other direct sites listed to donate your funds  for the Haitians...

Thanks,

Mark

Video link of the President's news conference this morning is below...

On Tuesday, a catastrophic earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but the death toll -- already in the thousands -- is climbing fast.

This is the worst earthquake to hit the area in more than 200 years. Entire communities have been ripped apart and as many as 3 million people have been directly affected, including tens of thousands of American citizens who are in Haiti.

Our neighbors in Haiti are racing to confront the enormous devastation -- and the OFA community can help.

Click here for more information about essential relief efforts and ways you can help today.

Footage is pouring in of homes collapsing, Haitians carrying injured family members, and hospitals being overrun in what was already the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

I have directed my administration to respond with a swift, coordinated, and aggressive effort to save lives. Personnel from the United States and our partners in the international community are on the ground in damaged areas right now, working side by side with the Haitian people. They're providing much-needed food, water, and sanitation supplies, saving lives and helping local communities start to rebuild.

Despite the fact that we are experiencing tough times here at home, I encourage those who can to reach out and help. It's in times like these that we must show the kind of compassion and humanity that has defined the best of our national character for generations.

Click here to find out what you can do:

http://my.barackobama.com/Haiti

As this story continues to unfold, I hope you will continue to keep the people of Haiti in your thoughts and prayers, as well as the many Haitian-Americans who have done so much to enrich our country and who are worried about friends and loved ones in this time of need.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

Click link below picture for more pictures to the devastation in Haiti

Haiti earthquake: aerial and satellite photos of Port-au-Prince from the air and space

This latest setback to the development of the country will truly test the resilience of the Haitian people. Their tremendous resolve and determination however, will undoubtedly serve them in great stead as they move forward from this tragic event. The Caribbean Community grieves with its brothers and sisters in Haiti and extends heartfelt condolences to the Government and People of that Member State and to all others who have lost family and friends......read article....

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFNS) -- Officials from the 1st Special Operations Wing here deployed two MC-130H Combat Talon IIs from the 15th Special Operations Squadron and one MC-130P Combat Shadow from the 9th Special Operations Squadron Jan. 13 in support of humanitarian operations in Haiti...read article...

The 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base is getting involved in rescue operations in earthquake devastated Haiti.

A press release issued by Cannon public affairs said the base is preparing two MC-130W Combat Spear aircraft from the 73rd Special Operations Squadron..read article....