Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake Rocks Haiti

Tafari Melisizwe
1.13.2010 (6250)

Shake map

Tuesday afternoon a magnitude 7.0 earthquake rocked the Caribbean nation of Haiti, collapsing untold numbers of buildings  and homes, knocking out power in the capital city Port-Au-Prince and destroying already rough roads, leaving hundreds of Haitians trapped under rubble, and thousands more in tears.

The epicenter of the earthquake, about 14 miles southwest of the mountain-side capital city, was the most intense earthquake in the region in nearly two centuries according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).  Subsequent aftershocks of magnitude 5.9 and 5.5 further ravaged the city, rendering local authorities in some areas of the city unable to effectively mobilize. Also according to the USGS, the earthquake only occurred about 5 miles deep into the earth; at such a shallow depth (relatively speaking) the effects have been magnified, evidenced by reports of people feeling the earthquake in neighboring Dominican Republic and as far away as Venezuela.

There have been reports coming from various media outlets about bodies being found in the streets of the capital city; with a population of around 1.8 million in the region where the earthquake hit the hardest; death tolls are expected to rise quite rapidly.

The real tragedy of this earthquake happening in Haiti may not be understood for a few years, or even for a few decades. Our beloved nation from whom our brothers and sisters fought for and achieved independence has been paying for their acts of liberation ever sense. It is a commonly tossed around “fact” about Haiti is that it known as “The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere”; an unspoken microcosm of the “Dark Continent”, yet no one ever speaks on how it got that way. No one speaks about the over 90 million gold Francs in 1863 Haiti was forced to pay to France after the Haitians defeated them; no one speaks about Executive Order No.12775 (Bush 1991), the further trade restrictions imposed on Haiti in October of that same year and March of the following year, Resolution 841 (1993) or Memorandum Circular No. 84 (1994); all of which were said to be implemented in an attempt to “oust” Raoul Cedras, responsible for (with the help of the American Government) the 1991 military  Coup d’état of then Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide (who was returned to power in 1994 and again elected president in 2001 against U.S. backed candidates).  No one speaks about the very questionable circumstances under which then President Aristide was relieved of his presidential duties by the United States government and forced into exile; nor do they speak of the fact that the United States, Canada, and France were opposed to his presidency.

Damage in the City

Why and how is it that a nation slightly smaller than Maryland can earn the hatred of the entire western world? Is the right to be free and self-determining only acceptable when deemed so by a people who have historically been the most oppressive and inhumane on the planet?

While yes; the United States, along with a few other nations have offered aid to the Haitian government, it appears as if it is more so by geo-political obligation than a genuine commitment to the Haitian people. Lest we forget, this is still the same United States government that sent Haitians fleeing from violence and turmoil in Haiti, back to Haiti during the days of Papa Doc, Baby Doc and Raoul Cedras. This is the same United States government that initiated the sanctions that crippled the already struggling Haitian economy… This is the same United States Government that sat back and watched for more than a week while Afrikan people in New Orleans fought for their lives.

Yes, Haiti has been hit by a devastating earthquake today and was rocked by four hurricane-level storms in one month in 2008, but one wonders what really is worse; a series of natural (“natural” is arguable) disasters; or, a mutual understanding by Western nations that by no means can Haiti, the first Black Republic in the western hemisphere, succeed.

Our thoughts and prayers are with our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

Black Power Media is currently looking to work with LIB Radio and other organizations to aid our brothers and sisters in Haiti in their time of need.

Stay tuned and keep researching.

Moving Forward

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