Earthquake in Haiti
By lizardgod
@lizardgod (443)
United States
January 14, 2010 2:57pm CST
So by now you have probably heard that there was a 7.0 Earthquake in/around Haiti. The main damage occurred in the Haitian capital of Port Au Prince, where about 2 million people live. What you guys may not have heard was about 5 days ago (Saturday for those in the U.S.) there was a 6.5 just off the coast of San Francisco, California, United States. Although a 7.0 is a much stronger earthquake in terms of damage the number of people in the affected area is close enough. The Haitian response to the earthquake was to call out and ask for International aid. America responded by calling FEMA and we suffered 0 deaths after the fact and about 10 during or as a result of the actual earthquake. I understand that Haiti is filled with a lot of poor people but why has it come to this point, that during every major disater no matter where it is in the world that the first thing most of them do is call for international help.
Well that is just my 2 cents worth what do you guys think about the earthquakes in Haiti and San Francisco. (seems to be a lot of larger earthquakes lately)
5 responses
@veromar (1453)
• Argentina
14 Jan 10
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. It stands to reason that they would call for aid. They have nothing and now they have less than nothing. They most certainly don't have the resources to handle this massive event on their own. Hospitals were destroyed as well. We are all humans, firstly. They shouldn't have to call out for international aid. It should be automatically given by wealthier countries, if humanity matters to people any more. Several countries have offered and rightly so. As far as the SF quake (or series of them as I recall reading), it was off the coast. They don't have the same impact as the edone that happened a mere 10 miles from Haiti's capital. A large part of the population lives there. Californians have dealt with earthquakes for as long as people have been living there. FEMA was put in place specifically to aid in these situations. Didn't do much good for the people of Louisiana a couple of years ago though.
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
14 Jan 10
I can recall that the British were very ready to send aid to New Orleans. We had plane loads of food ready to go. Much of it was turned down because it contained beef and the import of beef from the UK (or even Europe, I believe) to the US was banned. The US rejected quite a lot of proffered aid simply because they thought they could handle it.
@lizardgod (443)
• United States
14 Jan 10
Exactly my point. I don't mean that the other countries didn't try, but that it wasn't needed. It might have gone a little smoother with the help but for the most part we had it. Also I think it is most of Europe that is banned, not sure though. Wasn't it from that mad cow disease years ago? I am very pro preventive measures. I think that electrical wires should be buried in areas that sometimes (if even rarely) get ice storms to lessen power loss during disasters. Now there are measures in place to greatly lessen the impact of another hurricane like Katrina. I know that is just wishful thinking but if other countries really want to help then teach those people how to better themselves don't just do it. Eh I mean you guys are right in that they need the help and I am not saying they don't but I am saying that it is a sad state of affairs that they need some much help. That because of one earthquake (although it was a large one) that most of an entire country would be virtually unable to survive on its own.
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
14 Jan 10
There seem to be sad historical reasons for the poverty in Haiti - corrupt politicians and so on - one of the reasons why the UN have/had such a large presence there, I believe. I haven't had a chance to do more than a brief skim of the recent history.
@marymarj2002 (1769)
• Philippines
15 Jan 10
It was a sad news to hear about this earthquake and the deaths of thousands of people. The world was shocked. Even in our own way we can help them. Prayer is one way of helping them. And we are thankful for those who help them especially the volunteers.
