A woman making mud cookies as food in Haiti (Photo: AP)
When I originally set out to do this column, I wanted it to be as objective and unbiased as I could make it. I wanted to stay out of the way with my (often warped) sense of self and deliver straight facts to my readers for themselves to decide how they feel. You don't need me telling you that; the television in your living room does a damn fine job. Before this becomes a multi-paragraphed monologue taking shots at people/organizations, let me get to this week's Polly. And to "throwing my objectiveness out the window" this week. You ridin'? Knew you would.
How is it that countries get to be in such dire situations like the one Haiti is facing right now? There are other countries that have fared worse, but I chose Haiti because of its combination of political upheaval, economic devaluation and influence from other countries.
You Gon' Eat Yo' Con'Bread?!?
The state of the poor in Haiti isn't great, but you already knew that. There are many, many people who live in the slums that don't eat that often and rely on alternative means of chasing away the hunger pangs. One means of surviving are "cookies" made of dirt, salt and vegetable shortening.
The problem comes from that being the only food at times, and with it being both unsanitary and problematic to health, change must come and soon. The dirt can contain deadly toxins or parasites within it, and continued eating of it can run the risk of malnutrition or worse.
But with the price of two bare cups of rice being a staggering sixty cents (considering that the norm people live on is $2.00 daily, that's huge) there isn't much of an alternative. The U.N. declared a state of emergency for Haiti and other Caribbean countries and held a summit to discuss cutting food taxes and create farming in various regions to stem the need for import.
Some blame the super increase on the few controlling the economy, the global price hikes and one of the worst hurricane seasons in recent memory. Haiti has been one of the least-developed countries in the Americas, owing this to the numerous violent outbursts and political upset. (It's kind of hard to get things going in a positive direction when the majority of your leaders are either corrupt, assassinated, run out of office or instilled by U.S. armed force.) It's estimated that approximately 80% of the population live in squalor with zero economic growth.
Education is another pothole that the country has run afoul with the numbers being barely under half of the 8 million citizens being illiterate and less than 30% even finishing the sixth grade. The majority of the schools are non-public and controlled by neighboring communities. Wyclef Jean is one of the country's biggest supporters through his Yele Haiti foundation that provides scholarships for underprivileged students with more than 9,000 grants given.
Tropical Storm Jeanne killed over 6,000 people in 2004 (largely in Garnalves and near the southern border of the Dominican Republic) because of massive deforestation, and the soil is eroding rapidly.
I think I'll inject a little bit of how I feel into this joint; even though I said earlier that I was "throwing objectiveness out the window", I've been trying to refrain from talking down on any particular branch giving aid. I mean, I'm not Haitian, I do have some French in my lineage, but I can't truthfully say that my life has ever been comparable to what's been going on over there in the slightest. For that, I am lucky. I just see the world for what it should be, and could be: a community of people who wouldn't let the next man get down on his luck like that, not just "making it rain," but helping to cultivate the various aspects that make the country unique instead of simply coming in and imposing a foreign governmental set-up the people don't agree with. Are we doing enough? That I don't know. I just hope we do all that we can. Check out Yele.org for contribution information. It's 2008, y'all... we shouldn't be eating no damn dirt cookies!
Drop a line at themondaypolly@gmail.com and let me know what y'all think or leave it in the reply form below. Until next time, keep it movin', positive and productive. Uno Bravado!
Features Brooklyn Zu: Doing It For Dirt Dog The late, great Ol' Dirty Bastard sadly isn't with us anymore, that is at least physically. However, as tribute to his ... full story
Editorials & Columns Hustle Harder: Have Fun This past weekend I attended the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival and I really had a good time. From bouncing around the stage ... full story
Beyond Hip-Hop Game Review: Army Of Two Army of Two follows Salem and Rios, Army rangers turned for-hire mercenaries, over a 16 year time span during which ... full story
Digg It
Del.icio.us
