Haiti

Of course, what's happened there is horrible.  If there were any people who less needed a disaster, surely it was the poor of Haiti.  Over the weekend, there were of course constant ads on TV from all of the Red Cross' corporate partners asking that I give to the Red Cross.  I'm not comfortable doing that.  After 9-11, the Red Cross raised a ton of money, and gave only a small percentage of that to the victims.  After Katrina, I heard too many stories from people who were in New Orleans giving aid that the Red Cross stayed out in the (white) suburbs and wouldn't enter the city.

But, a dislike of the American Red Cross is no reason not to help. So, here's a list I found of other groups that are doing aid for Haiti in its time of need.  Personally, I like the American Friends Service Committee, but there are lots of other choices here.  Even the Red Cross is on this list if you so choose.

Interaction members respond to the earthquake in Haiti

Anarchist have organized "Mutual Aid Disaster Relief in Haiti"  If this stems out of the Common Ground collective effort in post-Katrina New Orleans, then they probably deserve support.

Also, via CounterPunch, a report from on the scene with regard to what is, and isn't, happening to aid the survivors of this horrible earthquake. The Rescue Operation's Priorities in Haiti by Nelson Valdes.

First, the foreign aid teams "rescued" and took out of the country the non-Haitians, particularly the Europeans, Americans and assorted other tourists. The Voice of America on Jan. 16 reported: "In the last day or so the United States and French governments have started running passenger flights out of the country [Haiti] for evacuees from those countries. People line up and wait for a plane to arrive so they can leave Haiti and leave behind what is a very difficult, traumatic experience for many." [1]

Second, five days have gone by without any real significant distribution of medical supplies, food or water to the neediest people.

The facts indicate clear priorities: the Haitians are not first in line. In fact, the rescuers seem to have a widespread fear of the poor and desperate Haitians. A Scottish reporter said, "aid workers in Haiti today called for more security amid fears of attacks by increasingly desperate earthquake survivors." [2]

Yet, the Haitians have been extraordinarily patient despite the fact that their world has collapsed around them.

Of course, for wealthy western tourists, life continues as usual. After all, one couldn't let a tragic disaster interfere with one's holidays, now could one.

Cruise ships still find a Haitian berth by Robert Booth of the Guardian (UK).

Sixty miles from Haiti's devastated earthquake zone, luxury liners dock at private beaches where passengers enjoy jetski rides, parasailing and rum cocktails delivered to their hammocks.

Also ....
The Militarization of Emergency Aid to Haiti: Is it a Humanitarian Operation or an Invasion? by Michel Chossudovsky at Global Research

“The International Community Must Let President Jean-Bertrand Aristide Return to Haiti” by By Ansel Herz on NarcoNews