The earthquake in Haiti caused, and continues to cause, such terrible destruction and loss of life because the country is so poor. There are three main reasons for that.
The suffering of Haiti’s people today is rooted in slavery and imperialism. The Times newspaper has described Haiti as "the unluckiest country" while the racist US evangelical Pat Robertson said that Haitians had "swore a pact to the devil" when they rose up against slavery in the 1790s.
What’s it like in Haiti, day-to-day?
1492 – The islands are "discovered" by explorer Christopher Columbus and claimed for Spain as a colony1697 – What is now Haiti is occupied by France and named Saint-Domingue. The French begin bringing in 20,000 slaves a year to grow sugar cane for export1804 – Haiti win its independence following a slave revolt. It becomes the first black republic in the world. A new constitution is adopted, giving people more rights and freedoms1825 – The new country is forced into paying reparations to France for loss of property during the revolt, keeping it locked in a cycle of debt<
Over 100,000 Haitians are dead after a devastating earthquake hit the country last week.
Four days after the disaster in Haiti, the media shifted its attention from images of suffering to those of looting.
Two days after the earthquake struck, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) helped to plunge Haiti even deeper into debt slavery.
Among the thousands of US troops arriving in Haiti is the 82nd airborne division – more commonly known as "the murdering maniacs" because of their torture and abuse of Iraqi prisoners, including those held at Abu Ghraib.
A week into the disaster aid had failed to reach most Haitians as the US pushed aside other agencies, including the Haitian government, to take control of Port-au-Prince.
Rich holidaymakers are sipping rum cocktails on private beaches just a few miles from the disaster as luxury cruise liners continue to dock in Haiti.
