Could you live on $3.00 a day?

As of late the TV, newspapers, and internet have been plastered with the horrific news about Haiti. The last I heard was that the death toll was around 200,000 and the country experienced an aftershock that was 6.1 magnitude. Now before I go any further, I want to make it clear that my intentions are not to take away from what is currently happening in the country. It is horrible what those individuals are experiencing. I cannot begin to imagine what it would feel like being in their position. But what I must say is this, why does it take around 200,000 people dying, and an earthquake of 7.0 magnitude for us (the citizens of America) to turn our heads to this already struggling country? Before this ugly earthquake struck Haiti, I would assume the majority of individuals didn't have the slightest clue what the country was already dealing with.

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. With 80% of individuals living below the poverty line and 54% of them living in, "abject poverty." This small country, about the size of Maryland, holding around 9 million people and, "lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts." They are currently battling a low clean water supply while their forests are being cut down for use of fuel; not to mention the affect AIDS is having on the Haitian people.

Their life expectancy at birth is 61 years old.

60 deaths/1,000 live births.

120,000 people are living with AIDS and

7,200 people die each year from the disease.

Their official languages are French and Creole, though only 53% of people are literate. Their GDP per capita is $1,300 which equals out to about $3 dollars a day. There is no real labor force in sight either therefore, Haitian individuals are not likely to make much money. The labor force is as follows: 66% is agriculture, 9% is industry, and 25% is services (1995) and they suffer from high inflation which led them to -611 million dollars in debt.

Haiti has always been a poor country. They are laking the ability to become more stable and their economy cannot take off the way it needs to in order for them not to be so dependent on the Wold Bank.

Now if you've made it through the boring tedious facts portion, I would hope that your jaw is touching the desk, table, or couch you're currently sitting at in utter shock. I also hope that something along the lines of, 'that's so horrible' or 'I had no idea they were in such poverty' is running through your mind. I'm writing this because I'm frustrated and irate with us, and by 'us' I mean the American people. Before this tragic event, the United States government was already involved with the failing country. They've been attempting to help the Haitian economy turn around while providing policy advice among other things. But we had no clue what the country had already been enduring. That they are poorest country in the western hemisphere. That only 52% of the people living there are literate. Or that out of 1,000 births 60 babies die. Or that they're are high risk of food and water disease. Now to give credit to some...we DID know that conditions of this small country, but I think it's safe to say that many individuals do not.

It's just sad that it takes a 7.0 magnitude earthquake to wake up the citizens of this privileged country. It takes 200,000 people dying to say, 'I want to help.' Why wait for such disaster to occur to lend the helping hand?

source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ha.html#top