Haiti is one of the poorest nations on earth. Yet it has a noble history and could have been part of America. It as founded by a successful slave revolt and was even able to stand up to Napoleon's armies when he tried to retake the nation. Early in its history there was talk of absorbing it as a state in the United States, yet of course the divide over slavery within the United States made it impossible to accept a nation that had been formed by a successful slave revolt. We did not even afford them diplomatic relations for a long time.

Haiti is even poorer than its neighbor the Dominican Republic. In the book Catastrophe, Jared Diamond fairly convincingly attributed this difference to the fact that Haiti had nearly completely deforested itself while the Dominican Republic had preserved its forests. This difference in forestry policy was almost exclusively due to the fact that the Dominican Republic had one particular dictator who considered preservation of forests important while the various Haitian dictators, following the clear-cutting example of nations like America, over exploited their forests. The results, on top of the usual difficulties poor Third World nations have, was severe soil erosion, flood/drought cycles due to lack of trees, degradation of fisheries due to excessive runoff from the land, etc. All contributing to Haiti's extreme poverty.

America, of course, contributes to this poverty by propping up every two-bit dictator who promises a pro-corporate policy. We have sponsored several coups in Haiti, the last one happened right in front of us during Bush's term in the White House. While most America television showed that coup as an uprising by the people, Democracy Now and my friends with family in Haiti showed it as what it really was: right wing thugs with ties to US business and the CIA toppling a popularly elected president. And, of course, these US-backed coups never help the poverty stricken Haitians, but only those right wing thugs with ties to US businesses.

And, of course, Haiti then gets its share of natural disasters to add to its problems. From hurricanes to this week's earthquake, Haiti gets it all.

Relief will pour in from all over the world. Almost certainly, as with the relief given after almost every major disaster including the massive tsunami that hit the Indian Ocean, the relief that pours in will be inadequate and short term. Still very much needed, but particularly in tough economic times, it is hard to help distant people and even when times are good, relief efforts often forget about rebuilding.

The Global Fund for Women has set up "a crisis fund to enable long-term relief and rebuilding efforts led by Haitian women’s rights activists, whose work will be even more critically needed in the aftermath of this natural calamity." The Global Fund for Women has always been one of my favorite charities and they do excellent work all over the world. I like the fact that they are looking to the long-term recovery of Haiti. Here is the description of the Crisis Fund:

The Crisis Fund is the Global Fund for Women’s response to natural and man-made disasters, and enables our supporters to target their giving during and after a crisis. Contributions will be directed to women's peace-building efforts and the re-building of their organizations and communities after a war or disaster to ensure long-term sustainability.

Please give to the Global Fund for Women's Crisis Fund to help rebuilding of Haiti.

I also present you with other relief pleas I have gotten and which I pass on to you.

From Jennifer Brunner, secretary of state in Ohio and candidate for Governor:

I'm dashing off this quick note to you to urge you to be what we Americans are known for--generous--not for me, but for Haiti.

According to UPI, the death toll from Haiti's 7.0 magnitude earthquake Tuesday is at least 100,000 and could be several times that, according to Haitian officials in Port-au-Prince, a city of 2 million which is virtually flattened.

Haiti, part of an island and reachable only by plane or boat, is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. People are injured and thirsty with little available potable water. The quake's survivors are at great risk.

A good place to give is Doctors Without Borders. (DWB is on the ground in Haiti now.) You can also give to Oxfam America and The Jewish Federations of North America. Huffington Post has a broad list of other organizations as well.

Thanks for caring,
Jennifer Brunner

From the Virginia Democratic Party:

Today, our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of the disastrous earthquake in Haiti.

I was proud to see on the news today that Fairfax County's Virginia Task Force 1 will be on the frontlines of relief efforts. Their leadership and bravery makes us all proud.

For those of you watching this disaster from Virginia, I ask you to join me today in helping with the relief efforts. The American Red Cross has already pledged $1 million in Haiti Relief.

To join the efforts:

Click here to make a financial contribution to the American Red Cross.

Click here to find a blood drive in your area.

Please take a moment to help the victims of this disaster. Thank you for your consideration

From Alex Sink, CFO of Florida and candidate for Senate:

On Tuesday, an earthquake hit off of Haiti's shores and the devastation has been massive: Port-au-Prince is in ruins, thousands of people are still trapped in the rubble, and the entire nation is struggling with food and water shortages.

Haiti doesn't have the resources to bounce back from this crisis alone. I saw that firsthand when Bill and I, along with our children, visited the island on a medical mission trip with my church several years ago.

Please contribute whatever resources you can spare to the International Response Fund of the Red Cross. Haiti needs our help right now. Click here to give now.

Or text "HAITI" to 90999 on your cell phone to make a donation.

Florida is home to hundreds of thousands of Haitians -- and I know many fellow Floridians are desperately trying to contact family on the island right now. As you keep these families in your thoughts and prayers, remember you can make a difference with your donation.

From Planned Parenthood:

HAITI EARTHQUAKE EMERGENCY!
Help PROFAMIL Clinics Aid the Island's Poor and Injured

Dear David,

I write to ask for your urgent support. Please make an emergency donation to PROFAMIL, IPPF/WHR's Member Association in Haiti. As you probably know, yesterday a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck just south of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. Early estimates indicate that up to 3 million people have already been affected.

We urgently need your support right now to help PROFAMIL provide critical, lifesaving services.

Help Haiti Now

Every minute counts! Your tax-deductible gift will directly support restoration of basic medical services at PROFAMIL clinics in Port-Au-Prince, Jacmel and Port-Au-Paix. This is your opportunity to help our neighbors in Haiti during this time of crisis.

Since 1984, PROFAMIL has worked to improve sexual and reproductive healthcare in Haiti, often providing the only healthcare available in some areas. Now, in this life-and-death urgent situation, the time to act is now. Please be generous!

Help Haiti Now

We will keep you updated as soon as we receive further news. Thank you for your emergency support.

Sincerely,

Carmen Barroso
Regional Director
International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region