American Morning
We Listen – Your comments 1/13/10
Editor's Note: On Wednesday’s American Morning, many shared various thoughts on the international disaster in Haiti, including hopes that the rebuilding efforts would bring a more positive future to the country, and provide opportunities for unemployed U.S. construction workers. Others were more concerned about the influx of refugees to the U.S., suggesting that refugees be housed at Guantanamo until they can be returned to Haiti.
- Lonnie: In the midst of reporting on the poverty of Haiti, all news agencies that I have listened to over night have focused on the abject poverty of Haiti, but failed to point out that Haiti fought and won a war with Napoleon Bonaparte and as a result the west, American and England, refused to trade with Haiti thereby isolating it. It is my opinion that this is what contributed to the poverty of Haiti.
- Gina: The Disaster in Haiti will be devastating But, as millions of unemployed America Construction Workers sit idle, they can be deployed to RE-BUILD Haiti & clean it Up. Of course the first thing is send massive amounts of food & medical supplies, but, Unemployed Americans if given some compensation, like making sure the mortgage gets paid back home would more then willing to rebuild the place back to code. If the monies come from all over, this can be done to Help Haitians & the vast unemployed American Construction Workers. If Obama & his Administration allow unemployed rather then our nasty Military complex, to rebuild Haiti, as our unemployed sit around looking for side jobs, it could save his Presidency.
- Collin: Hurricane Ivan caused serious damage to Grenada. People died, economy suffered major strain but it was the turning point for Grenada. The island is now in a better position than it EVER was. Let’s Pray that this is the turning point for Haiti. If people died in Haiti for the betterment of the country/people/lifestyle then God be with them...Haiti was over populated...Port de Prince was designed to house 50,000 people but instead it houses between 2,000,000 – 3,000,000 persons. The country can afford nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing – 8/10 people living from less than $2 per day...and more babies are being born daily...when will it stop...when will the outside world realize the situation that these countries are in before they offer assistance...Its sad that blood must be shed in order for major assistance to be given...but its better late than never...i really think this is Haiti’s Turning point. I see progress for Haiti in the near future.
- Dj-pa: one thing i pray for is all those homeless Haitians do not end up on boats headed for the states.. Let them stay at Gitmo until they get back.
As the U.S. and other countries prepare to send aid to the disaster-stricken country of Haiti, how do you feel about the potential influx of refugees to the U.S.? Should they be housed at Guantanamo and returned to Haiti when the crisis is over? How should the U.S. and other countries be involved in Haiti’s rebuilding process?
FULL POST
Haiti aftermath: Keeping order in chaos
Saving lives and keeping order are top priorities in Haiti right now but that will be a considerable challenge. The capitol city Port-au-Prince and its police precinct are in ruins and there are no fire and rescue resources to speak of. New York City police commissioner Ray Kelly has been overseeing the training of law enforcement in Haiti. He spoke to CNN's Kiran Chetry Wednesday.
Health care and mammograms
Many doctors and patient groups have long supported early, frequent screening for breast cancer. The senate just approved an amendment to its health care legislation that would require insurance companies to offer free mammograms and other preventive services to women despite a federal panel's recommendation back in November that most women in their 40's no longer need to be screened yearly. Dr. Freya Schnabel, Director of breast surgery at New York University's Langone Medical Center spoke to CNN's Kiran Chetry Wednesday.
Scenes of devastation: "The world is coming to an end"
Thirteen hours after a catastrophic magnitude-seven earthquake shook Haiti's capital city of Port-au-Prince, scenes it is still not clear how many people are dead. But one thing is certain from eyewitness accounts this is an unimaginable disaster. CNN's John Roberts reports.
For further information and help in Haiti
The State Department has set up a hot-line for information on family members in Haiti:
Call 1888-407-4747
If you want to help, you can text 'Haiti' to 90999 to donate ten dollars to emergency relief efforts. Your cell phone will be charged the bill.
You can also make donations at unicefusa.org
Haitians wait for daylight for full look at quake devastation
(CNN) - After the earth shook more violently in Haiti than it has in two centuries, its citizens hunkered down for the night, awaiting daylight Wednesday to ascertain the full scope of death and devastation.
The United States and global humanitarian agencies said they would to begin administering aid on Wednesday amid fears that impoverished Haiti, already afflicted with human misery, was facing nothing short of a catastrophe.
No estimate of the dead and wounded was given Tuesday evening, but the U.S. State Department had been told to expect "serious loss of life," spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters in Washington.
"The only thing I can do now is pray and hope for the best," the Haitian ambassador to the United States, Raymond Joseph, told CNN.
The grim list of Tuesday's destruction included the U.N. peacekeeper compound, a five-story building where about 250 people work every day.
Three Jordanian peacekeepers died and an additional 21 were injured, according to the state-run Petra News Agency.
Limited communications hampered reports of casualties and destruction. But the quake had reportedly brought down The Hotel Montana, popular with foreigners visiting Port-au-Prince. French Minister of Cooperation Alain Joyandet expressed concern Wednesday for the approximately 200 French tourists staying there.
Read the full story here
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