Poor Haiti!
Here we have one of the poorest nations in the world, hit by a totally devastating earthquake. Who knows how many have been killed, but millions are now homeless.
Columbus established his first colony in the New World here in 1492 after his ship was grounded and he had to leave 39 men behind. It didn't survive. However his second colony did.
In 1797 a genius slave by the name of François-Dominique Toussaint L'ouverture rallied his countrymen, fought France, and won freedom for all the slaves by 1804. A children's book by Katherine Scherman, called The Slave Who Freed Haiti, was the first biography I can remember reading.
Since the first day of independence, Haiti has struggled. The hillsides have been stripped of trees to make charcoal, which in turn has caused severe erosion of soil, making farming nearly impossible.
Here is a link to some fast facts about this island nation. If you have the ability to help, click here.
t kills me how we see over and over how those the worst off are the ones that suffer most. Very, very sad.
ReplyDeleteThis sure puts the earthquake we just had in perspective! I'm so grateful to be living in a prosperous country with safe buildings. My heart goes out to the Haitians.
ReplyDeleteIt's horrible. The images are heartbreaking.
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