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"Poor Haitians Resort to Eating Dirt"
We need to help them! CLICK HERE to read the heartbreaking article accompanying this headline.
Update: Click here to find out how U can help!
Poor Haitians Resort to Eating Dirt
It was lunchtime in one of Haiti's worst slums, and Charlene Dumas was eating mud. With food prices rising, Haiti's poorest can't afford even a daily plate of rice, and some take desperate measures to fill their bellies. Charlene, 16 with a 1-month-old son, has come to rely on a traditional Haitian remedy for hunger pangs: cookies made of dried yellow dirt from the country's central plateau.
The mud has long been prized by pregnant women and children here as an antacid and source of calcium. But in places like Cite Soleil, the oceanside slum where Charlene shares a two-room house with her baby, five siblings and two unemployed parents, cookies made of dirt, salt and vegetable shortening have become a regular meal.
"When my mother does not cook anything, I have to eat them three times a day," Charlene said. Her baby, named Woodson, lay still across her lap, looking even thinner than the slim 6 pounds 3 ounces he weighed at birth.
Though she likes their buttery, salty taste, Charlene said the cookies also give her stomach pains. "When I nurse, the baby sometimes seems colicky too," she said.
Food prices around the world have spiked because of higher oil prices, needed for fertilizer, irrigation and transportation. Prices for basic ingredients such as corn and wheat are also up sharply, and the increasing global demand for biofuels is pressuring food markets as well.
The problem is particularly dire in the Caribbean, where island nations depend on imports and food prices are up 40 percent in places.
The global price hikes, together with floods and crop damage from the 2007 hurricane season, prompted the U.N. Food and Agriculture Agency to declare states of emergency in Haiti and several other Caribbean countries. Caribbean leaders held an emergency summit in December to discuss cutting food taxes and creating large regional farms to reduce dependence on imports.
At the market in the La Saline slum, two cups of rice now sell for 60 cents, up 10 cents from December and 50 percent from a year ago. Beans, condensed milk and fruit have gone up at a similar rate, and even the price of the edible clay has risen over the past year by almost $1.50. Dirt to make 100 cookies now costs $5, the cookie makers say.
Still, at about 5 cents apiece, the cookies are a bargain compared to food staples. About 80 percent of people in Haiti live on less than $2 a day and a tiny elite controls the economy.
Merchants truck the dirt from the central town of Hinche to the La Saline market, a maze of tables of vegetables and meat swarming with flies. Women buy the dirt, then process it into mud cookies in places such as Fort Dimanche, a nearby shanty town.
Carrying buckets of dirt and water up ladders to the roof of the former prison for which the slum is named, they strain out rocks and clumps on a sheet, and stir in shortening and salt. Then they pat the mixture into mud cookies and leave them to dry under the scorching sun.
The finished cookies are carried in buckets to markets or sold on the streets.
A reporter sampling a cookie found that it had a smooth consistency and sucked all the moisture out of the mouth as soon as it touched the tongue. For hours, an unpleasant taste of dirt lingered.
Assessments of the health effects are mixed. Dirt can contain deadly parasites or toxins, but can also strengthen the immunity of fetuses in the womb to certain diseases, said Gerald N. Callahan, an immunology professor at Colorado State University who has studied geophagy, the scientific name for dirt-eating.
Haitian doctors say depending on the cookies for sustenance risks malnutrition.
"Trust me, if I see someone eating those cookies, I will discourage it," said Dr. Gabriel Thimothee, executive director of Haiti's health ministry.
Marie Noel, 40, sells the cookies in a market to provide for her seven children. Her family also eats them.
"I'm hoping one day I'll have enough food to eat, so I can stop eating these," she said. "I know it's not good for me."
Re: Jo –
who the fuck ever said i was white? bitch i know my fucking history. and this isn't about history, this is about ignorance-which you have so graciously shown. anyways, point being is the United States of America needs to help itself first. Haiti and all other nations need to learn to stand on their own two feet. People, get your heads out of your asses-stop being so fucking politically correct. If you want to save anything at all, save your own fucking soul. you are all buying into this capitalist bullshit. I wouldn't be surprised if the half of you showing pity to these idiots over in haiti are voting for a black president by the name of obama just to be different. OPEN YOUR FUCKING EYES PEOPLE-he wants to open our borders and pretty much have free reign, next thing ya know we will be just like haiti. eat shit all of you fucking immigrant, haiti loving asswads.
Perez news better than other major news outlets: I read this article earlier on aol and after reading it thought to myself, terrible story but why do they not provide a link where people can help…I applaud you for not just providing the sensational story but actually directing people on where to go to help.
Re: mystik –
NO ONE and i mean fucking NO ONE is holding any race down. blacks, mexicans, whites, EVERY RACE holds its own self down. every race has an equal opportunity to advance. you are a complete fool.
im so heart broken for my people.. i feel so helpless…im in tears reading this.. why cant we haitians put our heads together.. why cant we unite.. im a haitian born.. though i've live in the US for 20yrs.. i left when i was 8yrs old and i remember what it was like to have to sruggle from meal to meal and to haitian standards my family was consided middle class… i pray for my country everyday.. i feel so helpless .. i feel guilty waisting food when i know what hunger is like… Haiti is 30 minutes away from the US by plane from Miami.. we have it as bad is it is in Africa..why does america sit and watch.. i beleive its cause we are black and we have no oil on our land.. haiti used to be so beautiful.. americans vacationed there like they visit jaimaica now back in the 1970's and 80's.. i wish the US would take over haiti like they have done the other islands.. i believe it would be better for us..look at puert ico/virgin islands…in Haiti the people in politics stay rich in haiti keeping all the $ and not using it for economic reconstruction .. cause we obviously dont know how to run a democratic country.. im so hurt to the core to see this… my people starving and helpless..cause it could have easily been me.. HAITIANS WE NEED TO UNITE..OUR NATION IS BLEEDING… i would like to see what we can do.. contact me dana.jeanpaul@hotmail.com
STOP having kids!!
Re: Michael –
you are one sick sack of shit
karma is a bitch
this makes me sick.. here we are stuffing our faces, spending money on worthless luxuries, while these people have to resort to eating dirt. we have to help.
Re: ronald mcgomery – YOU GUYS KNOW IM RIGHT…YOU JUST WON'T ADMIT IT CUZ YOU ARE ALL AFRAID OF WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK. i AM AN HONEST PERSON, AND I DON'T PRETENT TO HAVE EMPATHY WHERE THERE IS NO NEED FOR IT.
Re: Michael – i AGREE WITH YOU…YOU ACTUALLY MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.
Re: BeautifulHaitian – ha ha. Isn't "Beautiful Haitian" an oxymoron? Is a beautiful haitain even possible? Seriously?
Perez i love youo, you are great but this story is bogus !!! i am haitian and never have i seen haitians kids eat dirt. i was just there last month , things are hard , yes, things are expensive yes. but dirt… those people writting those stories should take a trip there and see what it's really like over there. it's one of the greatest places to live in… don't believe everything the news says…
In the U.S. we have many opportunities. There are lots of jobs here. Many starving and homeless people choose to live that way. For the children, the government provides assistance.
Yes, these (Haitian) people need to quit having kids they can't take care of, but rape is common in countries where the legal system is corrupt if not non-existent.
Not everyone in a country like Haiti lives near the ocean where they can fish. They can't all live on the coast. And if you can't afford food, you probably can't afford a vehicle or fuel to take trips to go fishing.
I will donate to help cause this is too sad. I just want to mention some things(1) Some people have said why these people are having babies when they are still very poor. Well in the great depression, Americans were very poor and created the baby boomers!!(2) Im pretty sure if people could get a job to feed their family they would, but Haiti is a very small country and is very very poor. So some Haitians escape to Florida to have a better life. Some of you please educate yourself so you don't make a ass of yourself cause your stupid.
Sometime I feel I have a Hate/Love relationship with you Perez and its these type of posts that make me realize that although you sometimes talk unnecessary BS you make up for it with informative articles as this one. Your site is visited MILLIONS of times a day and you are really making a difference by shifting our attention to these unknown but tragic events happening around the world… I donated $20 and if your other million viewers donate $1 we can actually bring a real dinner to their table……. I LOVE YOU PEREZ
Re: Michael – totally uneducated remark
I will donate to help cause this is too sad. I just want to mention some things(1) Some people have said why these people are having babies when they are still very poor. Well in the great depression, Americans were very poor and created the baby boomers!!(2) Im pretty sure if people could get a job to feed their family they would, but Haiti is a very small country and is very very poor. So some Haitians escape to Florida to have a better life. Some of you please educate yourself so you don't make a ass of yourself cause your stupid.
Re: amytoby00 –
#94 IS A FU$#$%NG IGNORANT ASS!!!!
HELLO!!! NO MONEY NO EDUCATION YOU MORON!!!!!!
if they're so hungry then why don't they turn into cannibals?..
I don't understand why you people would want to spend these people any money or food, they are doing it to themselfs. Why would the parents keep on having kids that they are going to have to feed dirt. Why don't you people look around at the millions of people that live here in the USA that don't have food, water, a home, or anything. Why don't we help our own people. I hate it that us as a contry want to help other people and places and we can't even help ourselfs. What kinda people are you? All you just spend out the message that we don't care about our own people… whocares that they don't have food, money, clothes, or a place to like. The only way we can help anyone we need to help ourselfs.
Thank you Perez for the post, because we need to help the people in the world..I just want to say to all the igorant, racist, pathetic excuses for a human being on this site the fake ass cyber "thugs" who say sh!t online that they would never say to a black person you are a waste of flesh and you can kiss my black ass!!!!!!
What a crock of b.s. Don't they have FISHING POLES?
REALLY WHAT IS A GIRL WHO IS 16 DOING HAVING KIDS ANYWAYS? IT IS NOT AMERICA'S JOB TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THIS!!!! IF THEY CAN NOT AFFORD TO FEED THEM SELF THEN THEY SHOULD NOT BE HAVING KIDS!!!
It amazes me how many ignorant people are roaming around the richest and most powerful countries in the world-it's absolutely sickening. HELLO!! These people cannot help themselves, they are born into poverty, have no education, no way to get a job to EARN a living and their government is corrupt and evil.. So being an educated and very blessed person who was fortunate enough to be born in a country where we take these things for granted I cannot understand the sheer ignorance and hatred from dumb fuck americans who just don't give a shit. Losers!! If you were born in a third world country you would be in the exact same position, no you're not better, you're not more naturally intelligent, you are not superior in any way-you're dumb and heartless and all it comes down to is the fact that you were fortunate to be born in the US (or any other western country). Why don't people understand that without education people cannot better themselves, and when that is not even a possibility for milllions of humans in the world IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY to help them. We have no excuse for our ignorance and hatred, and if we just don't give a damn then we're worthless fucks!!! You are selfish idiots that don't care about anything that does not directly affect you-that's how the world became the fucked up place it is now!!!!!
I have no noubt that here is a system in place that keeps these poor families in dire poverty: unfair international debt, maybe corruption, and certainly a lack of education. But before a complete overhaul takes place, aweareness must be made, and average people like us have got to help these very REAL people eat. It is inhumane to ignore a problem like this. We're all in this together. It makes no difference if poverty is happening in Haiti or in your own neighborhood. If you can help, you absolutely should.
wow, ten million dollars donated to scientology when shit like this is happening.
Re: reality –
Wrong. The Dominican Republic has been taking vast measures to remove all Haitians . They've been deporting all Haitians and have extreme border patrol. I really shouldn't use this as an example but…haitians are like mexicans over there. They live in such horrible conditions even in the dominican republic…most of them have to resort to begging! I feel horible I just went on vacation to the dominican republic and visited a few poor cities last month! To all you ignorant assholes I wish you'd take a trip down there and witness this its horrible!!
Oh please, that's a "Sweet Tart Tongue" if ever I saw one!!!
Re: IDEALISM = EGOMANIAC – No. I'm sorry life has made you bitter and selfish but that's not the path most people take. Many people retain energy and compasson as they age, and will reach out to help members of our world community when they can. And thank goodness for that because they help make the world a better place for all of us.
Re: Michael – It takes education you dense child. If they don't have information on birth control then they wont practice it… educate yourself so you don't sound like an asshole.
why do these people keep breeding??? They can't afford to feed themselves and then they go and have numerous children! Someone needs to bring these people birth control STAT.
One way to stop hunger and overpopulation . . . cannibalism.
Re: agreed – no u are the complete fool to make a statement like this. i guess ur head is deeper in ur ass than u showed earlier. moron. and like i tell u go do some fucking history. yall daffed americans try to turn everythign into a race issue when as we speak more and more races are being mixed than ever before. stupid fool!
PEREZ YOU SHOULD ALWAYS POST ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE ON YOUR WEBSITE, PEOPLE COME HERE EVERYDAY AND EVERY HOUR, LET'S REMIND OUR SOCIETY THAT THERE'S A LOT, A LOT , A LOT MORE POOR PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD THAT NEEDS OUR HELP AND SUPPORT!
I'M SO SICK OF STORIES ABOUT SOME STUPID WHORE (BRITNEY), LETS USE THIS WEBSITE A LEAST ONCE TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD OUT OF IT!
USE THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE, HELP THOSE ONES THAT NEED HELP, GIVE THE ATTENTION TO THOSE ONES THAT REALLY NEED ATTENTION!!!
AND FUCK THE REST IN HOLLYWOOD!!!!
Re: ronald mcgomery – fucking pig! if u liked the clothes on ur back u'd never make a sick ass comment like that. no wonder america is 18 and going down in education level in the world. poor u
Re: Hungry – FUNNY BUT YOU ARE SO RIGHT!!!
Haiti has been punished and subjugated by the West [France, UK, US] ever since the people revolted against Napoleon to gain their freedom from being enslaved. It was the first country of free people years and years before slavery was abolished in other countries. France owes Haiti billions in reparations that they've refused to pay back. The US removed Aristide, their democratically elected President and his entire family had to flee the country. For more information read Randall Robinson's book An Unbroken Agony.
oh my gosh this is so sad!!
He probably just ate a rice cake. Those things are nasty and leave tongue residue!
I'm sorry but people are struggling here in the U.S. as well. We may be slightly better off, but in some places just barely. I have to also wonder why people have children they can't feed. I bust my ass everyday and take care of my family. Has everyone noticed taxes and prices of food here are insane. People can't even get health insurance and everyone wants to go and help everyone else. I think we need to help ourselves before we can help anyone else.
Re: ronald mcgomery – How can they work if there are no jobs? How can you say those people. They're human- babies especially are innocent so why is it there fault? It is not the fault of anyone it is just a sad situation. If you are in a position to help then please do if not keep it moving. It only shows how ignorant you really are to post such a comment. No one is begging YOU for money this article is to shed light on things going on around the world. If you and your family ate dirt wouldn't you want help? Wouldn't you hope that some charity or some person would help in your time of need? Think before you type, write or communicate in any way. A lot of women and children are sold into prostitution and so when they become pregnant they end up with nothing and a child that they can't feed. It is unfortunate but not JUST there problem.
Re: marsha – i so agree with u! its because of retarded ppl like michael that our world doesnt walk foward because ppl r too fucking selfcentred i too am a mother and i can feel pain when i read that there poor ppl r living of dirt to feed themselfs and theyr kids, birth control has nothing to do with it, if countries with get together and help more it would be way easier, theres so much rich ppl that only think about theyr asses its time to save on some mercedes and ferraris and share the money with poor countries!and btw michael i hope u burn in hell!
How can we help these people? Give us a link or something. I hope people realize how blessed they are to live in America after reading this.
I feel bad for them. I forget how good i have it to most. If I knew the money would go to them definitely. I would skip a meal or 2 for a family like that in need.
But if you donate money, how much help will it do these people. Most of the time your money goes not where it's needed but into the wrong hands. Their government needs to do something for them. Maybe they shouldn't have cut down 98% of the trees and ruined their land.
Thanks Perez for making me laugh!! I was having a shit day till a friend of mine decided to cheer me up with this article.
Keep those starvin' marvins rollin' in. =)
I am Canadian, if any nation knows about peacekeeping and life saving efforts overseas, its us. But there are Canadians and Americans who, while havent resorted to eating mud cookies, are ahving problems keeping their kids fed and clothed too (and trust me january in canada means you neeeeed good clothing). INstead of spending billions to provide remedies to these problems, lets go to the root of the problems and try to stop them from continuing. Lets not only send over birth control, but teach them HOW to use it. Lets not just send pounds of rice and powedered milk, lets TEACH them to farm their own. Education is the only way to solve this, not feeding money to nations where, half the time the govt is so corrupt it goes straight ot the military mouths! PLease, I am just as liberal and world concious as any average Westerner, but I iwll not feel ashamed for being born into a educated country.
A good friend of mine started a charity that addresses this issue in Haiti and other places around the world. It is a program to help children, not through handouts of food or religious materials, but through education. It is not a spam site, or a for profit charity, as my friend and his brother have put much of their money into starting and keeping this charity alive. This man is Douglass Lodmell and his site is World Children's Relief. You may google them yourself as I am not sure if a link will go through. But here it is if you care to look. : worldchildrensrelief.org/wp/
I do not work for these people and I am not affiliated with them in any way. I am just spreading the word. Keep Hope Alive!
Thank you for sharing this. I will do my best to help.
Re: Berna – In the US people have opportunity, a RIGHT to education, a system in place that will help less fortunate. I don't feel sorry for people who choose not to utilize this system as it is in place to help. However that is not true in all countries. They can't depend on government, they can't go out and work for minimum wage when there is no jobs to apply to. They can't help themselves to an education a lot of countries don't value women enough to give them that right. You should really go back to school study American history study history on other countries and thank GOD that you are so blessed to have been given all that you have and then think about those other people out there that didn't have a chance before they were even convieved.
this has been going on for years now i was adopted from haiti 11 years ago and it disgusts me to see how selfish people are..telling people to help your self first all we ever do is help or selves. giving a dollar a day or so on is nothing to us so i dont understand how sick people are. thanks perez for reminding us.
Re: MISHMA IN CALI –
mISHMA, why are you even on this planet if you can't care about other people?guess what there are no "porch monkeys" in africa, or america, or anywhere for that matter.Just people. Try very hard to believe this because its true: WE ARE ALL THE SAME. WE ARE ALL HUMAN. YOU ARE EQUAL TO, NOT SUPERIOR TO ANYBODY.YOU GET NO EXTRA CREDIT FOR HAVING A LIGHT SKIN COLOR OR NOT BEING BORN BLACK. YOU COULD HAVE BEEN BORN ANYTHING LIFE/GOD/FATE CHOSE FOR YOU. So do go ahead and Be ashamed of yourself for what you said.
Where did this article come from?
what new source?
Re: mystik –
what in the fuck are you saying? you are so stupid. mixed races? what? they aren't a cocktail drink. my point was every race has the opportunity to advance. whites really do not give a fuck about what black people do. black people are the ones still bitching about slavery, holding low end jobs and blaming everything that sucks in their life on the "rich white man." fuck that, every person has the equal opportunity to advance. black people are the ones who keep saying "man it's cuz i black holmes" no it is not. grow up, it is just a skin color-act somewhat educated please.
Re: Michael – LMFAO! That was the funniest comment I've read on here no matter what people say. The bottom line is, they keep having children even though they can't feed them. I'd rather help our homeless and hungry first. Let another "wealthy" country do the charity work for once.
britney should just shut the fuck up and stop whining and just give all her money to these people who really need it
Re: Michael – Fucking makes you forget the hunger. And It's not like they have money to abort…
Lets help ourselves first??? Every child born in the U.S. is born with a silver spoon even if you were born from poverty. Everyone here is entitled to an education it all depends on you and if you take advantage of that education. These people have NOTHING we here have welfare and other resources that these people dont. We are a rich nation and should help other countries not because we can but because its the right thing to do.
honestly it makes me sick that people can waste their time worrying about britney spears and angela jolie and her life story and not pay more attention to these people who need the help the most. people are intitled to spend their money on whatever they want we know the topic of world hunger always ends in a debate. people if you have a heart show your love and send do whatever u can to help anyone from hunger-and all you ritches out there who can sit back and say ohh poor little starved kids then go buy your fucking stupid louis vuitton bag HAVE A HEART i have already donated to many different organisations and charites do your part peace/love
Re: Michele – FYI Hunger has no Borders, At least in the US people have shelters and soup kitchens. In Hati They have nothing. Educate yourself!
You know what? I'm totally sick of hearing about poor people in other countries & the wars going on. It's sad, yes, but the U N was created for just that reason. In North Carolina here, we are having a real long drought & I just heard 4,800 small farms in the state are in danger of loosing their farms not only because of the drought, but the economy!!!!! That's why Willie Nelson & John Mellancamp has concerts for the farmers. We need to worry about the farmers here people, because you think your paying high groceries now, just wait, in the next decade there will be few if any small farms in any state. Organic people take note!!!!!!!! Even though we still import a great many goods from all over the world, I still try to buy locally or from the US, to support our economy…Who will help the US if our economy collapses???Nobody in the world, because harsh as the reality is, & this country is the greatest to live in, all people are envious of our way of life…..so wake up people, God helps those who help themself!!! I stopped giving money to any cause, since Hurricane Katrina, when I saw how many people took advantage of the government & people like me who felt so bad, that I gave $ only to find out alot of people collected $ who weren't there or did so by fraudulent means!!!!!What makes any of you think this $ your giving to these people will make it to them???? NOT!!!!!!!!
How do we help? What do we do? Easy: Wait until Madonna gives a nod of approval by visiting Haiti and snapping up their hungry little babies. Hey, it happened with Malawi! Remember, that country didn't even exist until she discovered it. Same'll happen with this place.
Re: Tia – Shut up, whore!!!
i think its terrible that celbrities are trying to help out the world by donating money to charities that are no where near as important as pressing issues such as this. its about priorities. they are living off MUD for gods sake! that shit is waaay uncool.
Re: JULES – to JULES. black ppl are not lazy WHITES are the lazy ones, thats why you all had to get the blacks and native americans, and no mexicans to work for you all cause you dont want to do anything for yourselves. so for all of you retards who keep making this racial, its not racial, there are plenty of poor white trash whiteys around the word without a pot to piss in, so fuck off losers
DON'T FALL FOR THIS SHIT, IT'S LIKE THAT FUCKING JOKE ABOUT THE FUCKING TREE DUDE, IT'S ALL FAKE!!! THE U.S. SENDS SO MUCH FUCKING AID OVER THERE, THAT THEY FORGET ABOUT THE FUCKING STARVING PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ask the Scientologist. They are loaded!!!!
Re: Mark – Mark, I gave nothing, so fuck you. These charities are corrupt, have no accountability, and just support the existing regimes. A haitian government official just wiped his ass with your c-note, stupid SOB! Hell, Iam eating a Big Mac right now, and ,let me tell you, it tastes good. I even super sized my fries. Iam American, I feel no shame and I never will…I educated myself, and I work. Too bad for the rest. Let the 'poor' liberals worry about the poor.
PEREZ YOU SHOULD MAKE A DONATION PARTY WITH ALL YOUR CELEBRITIES FRIENDS YOULL MAKE BANK WITH THEM RICH STUCK UPS DO IT.
Re: Big Mr. P –
You're really quite ignorant aren't you? No, the problem isn't overpopulation you dumbass. The problem is rising prices, falling employment, government policies, the location you live in (fertile land, by the coast, etc.). Famine hits less than 10% of the population each time, but it's always the poorest population there is. The rich, obviously those who can afford it, don't starve. So the next time you're going to attack "leftist" beliefs, at least educate yourself about other worlds and governments BESIDES the U.S (note, the US is coastal, fertile..). Idiot.
I'm starving here too. Could you guys send me some food??
This is a sad situation. We as americans should take responsibility and help those in need. We have a better life should extend a hand out to others in need. Perez do you have a link that we can donate.
this is just so horrible!! i feel so lucky to live in america where i have no problem feeding my baby. it breaks my heart to know that there are starving little babies there!! and as far as the comments ppl are making about having kids they can't feed, i 100% agree with marsha, it's human nature to have babies, and there is also a lot of rape. and i bet their babies are one of their few sources of joy. everyone donate a dollar!!
Re: Mark=sucker –
Speaking of educating yourself— if you're so damn educated, then you wouldn't say the stupidest (and the most cliche) things to say (IE "i earn my money and i went to school") nice job pretty boy, and who gave you the money to educate yourself? you were BORN in the U.S. and that already gives you more opportunities than someone in Haiti! I usually don't even comment on Perez's articles.. but there are so many ignorant people in this comment, I can't stand it. But besides all the economical reasons for why there is a famine… GET A HEART. it helps, on not being a bad-person sort of thing. And THEN teach yourself a thing or two.
Re: Michael –
its not that theyre fucking each other most of the women are rape victims, omg ur like so stupid if it takes a 14 year old to tell you that then youre really pathetic
I HATE Americans I'm embarrased to be called an AMERICAN! U people are so ignorant.
ronald mcgomery ur a fuckin idiot, i can't stand racist ass pieces of shit like you! you make me fucking sick!! you sound like such a low life little bitch. but anyways, something else that makes me sick…. I was watching VH1 fabulous life the other day and it said that David Beckham bought Victoria a $2 million platinum and diamond encrusted DILDO!! wtf!!! he could have fed the whole country with that $2 million instead of giving it to his ugly ass whore wife!!
Re: Michael –
Heartless asshole….
Re: Michael –
Amen to that. Seriously, she has a baby at 16, five other siblings, and neither of her parents work. Birth control? Abstinence? Come on people. Or would you rather watch your babies starve to death too?
Re: Jay –
How are you going to assume ANYONE is white because they say something you don't agree with? So if someone says something you don't like they're "white trash"? You're a bigot. And last I heard, you don't have to be WHITE to have the name Michael, racist asshole.
Re: ronald mcgomery –
You are a moron. And judging from the illiteracy and unintelligence of your post, I would venture that you are a boderline poverty earner yourself.
It's Haiti stupid, not the United States. It's not a commerce state, it's an agricultural society, and due to climate, soil etc. - not a very good one.
You seem kind of stupid, so I will spell it out for you. There are no jobs, there is no way for a person to earn a living in a third world country. That's why they call it "third world".
The government is unstable, and there is much internal conflict, in other words (and I'll spell it out for you cause you seem kind of stupid) the governments foremost concern is to deter a revolution - an internal war civil war. These people have to worry about being hung for no reason - food is (most days) the least of their problems.
You are particularly stupid b/c if you live in the United States b/c you have had every fucking advantage and still you are an ignorant moron, who is completely unaware of a current event that is in the newspapers and in the news everyday.
Your parents should be ashamed.
Re: VBrown – abstention would be a great place to start idiot.
Re: MP –
If fucking helps you forget the hunger…why not do something else that makes you forget that WON'T LEAD TO A BABY? Sports, getting a job, shit try masturbation if you HAVE to get off? Damn. That was a stupid comment, like that's all they can do.
Re: Michael – Oh that's just wrong. SOOOO WRONG. you obviously don't understand a lot about developing countries, ergo, just shut up.
Re: J – AMEN!!!!
Re: Americans Are A Bunch Of Retards –
FUCK YOU! Move to Haiti and starve then if you don't like America! Fucking idiot. Boohoo, I hate my country, the same country that gave you the opportunity to have a computer to write your retarded comment with…if you hate America so much, leave. She won't miss you.
people always say "we need to help our own first" but the US and Canada…and any fucking "developed" country has assistance programs. people are too proud to admit they need help and would rather go without than take a hand out. these people literally have NO FOOD. they cant afford food but there IS no assistance for them in place like the countless homeless shelters and soup kitchens that everyone else has…
if you want to "help your own" then fucking do it by electing a REAL PRESIDENT…stupid enough to vote GWB jr in for 2 terms…maybe YOU should be fucking sterilized, jackass.
Re: agreed – You fuckerr. We're supposed to help others before we help ourselves. Fucking selfish assholes!!. Burn in hell.
Re: jend – I don't think he gives a shit about your rhetoric. Don't waste your time. Get over it.
i've been to haiti 4 times in the last 10 year. this is nothing new. haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere with an 80% illiteracy rate and a huge child servitude problem. they have a history of corrupt rulers starting with papa doc and baby doc who raped the infrastructure of the country. best options are to support already established ngo's who try to feed and educate the poor.
Please don't be ignorant about this. A lot of these women are raped. A LOT. Try reading a book called Breath Eyes Memory by Edwidge Danticat. It is a moving book about a Haitian woman. These people need assitance, their government is not going to help them.
Re: Carli – How do you figure that we are "able to help"? Every person in this country lives within miles of somebody who goes to bed hungry at night (whether we realize it or not). Why should these children, the very citizens that help to make up the economy of the "richest nation in the world" go hungry so that another child in a country thousands of miles away might not? I advocate giving back to the less fortunate wholeheartedly. But when faced with the ultimate choice of taking care of your own versus taking care of the world, hard decisions must be made. I think the hungry American children would disagree with you say we are "rich".
Your racial comment was just ignorant and doesn't merit a response.
this is the first thing that you have done that hasnt made me laugh or just turn away in disgust and i am actually thankful for it…thanks for caring about those children in need and putting in the link to help. i am most definitely going to send some of my money out to those kids.
I have been doing volunteer work in Haiti for the past few years. This is nothing new. When you see poor on tv and in pictures, it is nothing compared to the harsh reality these people live with daily. Average income for a family of 4 is less than 200 US dollars A YEAR! Please help. www.friendsofhaiti.com
Thank you for posting this, Perez.
Finally, Something worth reading on this site
Perez, why don't you donate some food to these people
they need it more than you do
trust me
There are some heartless pricks writing on this thread and the fact that they are black should have no bearing on anyone’s opinion, if they were Anglo then it would be a worthy cause? They are human and for that alone should matter to us all. I read some of the posts and I wonder what the hell is wrong with some people.
I am glad Perez posted this some people get their news from here so it was good that he did it. As for you ignorant people who say they shouldn't be helped may you find your soul in the confines of your dirty rusty heart and pray that you never find yourself in a predicament as dire as these poor people.
Excellent story, Perez. This is a tragedy and I appreciate your putting this out there. It's a nice way to mix up the blog and use your fame to get people's eyeballs to view something important amidst the fun of the celeb gossip. I'm going to check out the "how you can help link" now. Thank yoU!
AN THEM THERE ARE FUCKING PICES OF SHIT LIKE TOM CRUSE & JOHN TRAVOTAL GIVING ALL THE MONEY TO SCIENTOLOGY….FUCKING IGNORANT THERE ARE SO BLIND NOT TO SEE THE REAL NEED IN WORLD ….THERE ARE PROBLABLY TO BUSY EATING THERE PRIME STEAK TO GET THEM SELF WORRIE ABOUT S I M P LE T H I N G S LIKE HUNGER IN THE WORLD..!
How about people that can not afford to feed themselves stop fucking and making kids so they can starve them too. I dont feel bad. Stop making babies you cant properly take care of. We have our own damn problems here. Im sick of the US always running to someones rescue. SCREW them and all the other illegals
On top of being the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with very few educated leaders (only 50% of the population is literate), Haiti faces the added stress of inflated prices. The average cost of goods is the same as the United States, if not higher! That means that 80% of Haitians are attempting to live on $2 while facing the same pricing that we do here. I doubt any of us reading this website have ever faced a similar situation.
The saddest part of it all is that many Haitians ARE attempting to scale the high wall of poverty, however, are rarely able to do so. Obtaining visas to go work in other countries is EXTREMELY difficult (if not impossible) for the average Haitian, and finding jobs within their own country is even more rare. While I was in Haiti, one of the brothers in the family I was staying with found a job and the family through a huge party (by huge I mean bought a few cokes) and celebrated merely at the fact that a few extra dollars could make their way into the house each month.
Anyways, if you would ever like any more information, contact me at abitaman6363@yahoo.com . I am always interested in helping those who want to help others.
In Service,
Christen