posted by Sam Richards
This is a great video to show the complexity of economic life. When you think “economics,” consider consumption and production. People accumulate resources, manipulate them in some way, and then repackage or resell them at a higher price to someone else–produce and consume. Or they offer some service to fulfill some need of others. Economic exchange never stops–not even in an earthquake or when it appears as though an entire social structure has fallen apart.
When this in mind, check out this video about life in one of the refugee camps in which over a million Haitians now call home. (it might take a minute to load…)
These people have such drive. They remind me of street vendors in NYC in that they have so much competition that they really try to attract you via whatever means necessary. They try very hard to please the customer so that they can attract away from the competition. I find it very amusing that many are still interested in buying luxury goods, but it makes sense that they want to live similar to before the earthquake. Sometimes luxury services like the pedicure could be a stress reliever where the customer can do more than simply get a spa treatment—but actually step out of reality for a given time while in the beauty shop. It seems to me that fights could erupt in some cases where store owners from before the earthquake had their shops looted, and found someone else selling their property. I’m sure that’s a not a prevalent problem though. These tent store business owners are very motivated. Selling electronic equipment to a people who did not even have electricity before the quake is interesting. I also believe it is a very good point that people (mostly children) in these tent communities, have nothing but an excess of time to spend doing nothing. Entertainment is a great idea for business, and this cell phone charger man has the right idea. But overall what hits me most about seeing this video is that it is no longer simply water and food that is being sold, but nail-polishing and TV entertainment. This could possibly be a step forward, but I know that it really is not; It’s just a way to pass the time and deny that there is a ton of work to be done to rebuild. If the people of these communities can laugh about things and buy ‘luxury’ goods, then they definitely have the right attitude. They just need the proper assistance by outside organizations.
In the video footage I saw a lot of flies around food, and what not. It made me realize that all these tents are just breeding grounds for disease with human waste and no garbage disposal, sewage, or running water.
Like Ian was saying, America is excellent at creating dependency. There is some saying like, “You can give a man a fish, or teach him to fish, which will get him fish for life.” This is the exact idea Ian was talking about, and I totally believe that this situation is occurring right now. All the money that is donated to fund Haitian relief will end up back in American’s business’s pockets—not Haitian. When Ian started discussing his idea to find entrepreneurs that could invest in starting a manufacturing plant in Haiti to employ Haitians and serve Haitians I really thought that was a good idea. If I had the start up capital I would strongly consider doing that, because that is a serious way to help.
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This is a very interesting turn on events. All we hear about when it comes to Haiti is how porr and devastated the country is after the earthquake. We hear about how many buildings have collapsed. We hear about how people have lost their lives due to the hurricane. Then, we hear about the multiple support groups that have constantly given aid to Haiti with not much drastic actually being accomplished. Finally, we hear about how there economy is in absolute shambles and that it will take decades in order to just back where they were which is not very far in the first place as well.
What we don't generally hear about is the story that this report takes us on. How these Haitian people have taken this tragedy and have been able to move on and restart their lives in these "tent cities". I had no idea that they have already come this far and it truly is amazing how how they have turned their lives around to an extent. These people have been persistent entrepreneurs that have been able to find ways establish businesses and begin to restore the wealth and economy of the country.
It is amazing to see that a woman was able to reestablish her nail salon business in one of these tent cities and have a consistent customer base to make it worthwhile to her. These people have learned the true ways of starting a business by beginning with next to no resources and turning it into something that people will actually pay for.
To me, I would much rather see success stories like these making the news more often then the traditional stories we hear every day. I would rather hear the stories of how these people are changing their lives around and adjusting with the conditions they are to dealing with rather than the classic stories of how devastated and poor the conditions these people are living in. I would love to see these people make the best of their situation which it seems they are doing by the looks of this video. The have already been anle to set up a metropolitan area with a consistent customer base and the beginning of an economy. they have been able to turn a bunch of tents into a lively culture induced city. You even see smiles on many of their faces.
This really makes you think where would the Unites States of America be at if we experienced such a terrible tragedy. Would react and adjust the same way or would we just be absolutely miserable and feel sorry for ourselves. You can really say how far these people have really come when we are not even sure if we would be that far. It shows you the heart and character of the Haitian people to work together and make the best of their situation.
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Charisma, determination, RESILIENCE. These three words were reoccurring themes as I watched this video. When times get tough, the tough gets going. That phrase could not be any more accurate because life is survival of the fittest and if we do not learn to adapt and transform to situations we will always be stagnant. The people of Haiti know this and avoid this state of nothingness. They find life and culture in disaster. They find a way to smile love and live in what many of us would consider Hell. They learn to live as close to their own lifestyle as possible and it is a very noteworthy gesture. It seems to be a cultural thing, many people of color throughout history has demonstrated this ability. I guess it is a learned tactic, a very useful one at that.
When slaves were forced to the Americas from Africa they were forced to live life the ways the European slave masters set for them to live, or so the Europeans thought. They were mandated to eat, sleep, and work on the command of others. They were placed in groups with other Africans who lived a different lifestyle from what they were used to back in their particular country in Africa. They were forced to work and live with people who they could not even communicate with but low and behold they found a way. These American slaves were fed the remains of animals. They turned these discarded parts into delicacies. Who would ever imagine the foot or intestines of pig could be a food many seek to eat. The groups were forced together, the work was mandatory, and the food was given but the way in which they used these things became a way the slaves were able to outthink the much more educated Europeans. They found ways to communicate, they worked, and they made delicious meals from scraps. They found a way to unite and not only endure slavery but contribute largely to this new society.
This behavior is also evident in the blacks in New Orleans. They were citizens of this great nation however they were not given the best support. We showed more vigor to go to war than to go help them, but nothing stopped them. They stood on roofs, waved flags, and helped each other. They resorted to stealing from stores. Many people saw it as barbaric but it was a makeshift tactic to stay alive, to strive until the necessary help arrived.
This is also the case with the Haitians. Pity, sorrow, and regret will get you know where. Help may come but probably too late if you just sit still and wait. Your destiny, your life, your future, your well-being is all in your hands. These Haitians are aware of this and decided to renew their community within this tent city. They are determined to be the strong resilient people they are known to be. No earthquake, war, or poverty will ever be able to change that because those traits are written on their hearts.
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It seems incredible to me that out of all that chaos and pain, people are able to find themselves. I think the thing that surprised me the most was the man charging people to charge their cell phones. And what is more surprising is he is only charging 30 cents. It is a great culture shock to see a community that is working with 30 cents as a charge and that that some is a great amount at this time. I remember in class when the guest speaker said that Haiti was on the cusp of great economy it is disheartening to think that this country could fall so far and yet be able to bring back some sort of semblance of economic culture. It is hard to imagine being placed in a situation like that and being able to think of anything other than being afraid of what tomorrow would bring, but these people have understood their fate and found a way to fight to make it the best they can. I was really surprised that the salon woman was actually making any money. I would think that people would want to save the money they have so it is surprising that they would pay to get their nails and hair done. However, I can see why they would spend their money in that way.
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Too be honest, I expected things to be a lot worse in Haiti. Obviously this is a terrible situation, but at least Haitians aren’t just sitting in their tents all day waiting to be given their lives back, they are back on their feet, and I believe that we can learn a lot from them. I would like to think that if this happened to us, then we would keep our chins up and start back from scratch, rather than dwell on what we have lost (economically), but maybe we are too used to having so much that it would be too hard for us to start over again.
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.The only thing that saddens me, is that at the end of the video they said that most of the people in the tent city won’t be leaving for years. It amazes me how these people will never really be able to pick up their lives and make them what they were before. It’s just not possible for them to do that unless outside help provides them with the means to stimulate the economy more and really work to create a new thriving country. The only thing we can hope I guess is that they can be happy with the way things are going, because in the end that’s what matters the most.
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These tent cities quite amaze me. The ventures, businesses, and the growing “economy” are actually very good for Haiti and it’s just great to me that these people are getting up from this big mess, wiping off the dirt, and trying to create something for themselves. That’s something that takes so much strength and character. From what the visitor in class told us, this is exactly what they need and the funny thing is they are doing this for themselves and by themselves and no one is providing them with the clean water, and bags of rice and it’s just amazing how everything is working out.
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After watching this video and listening to the lecture it opened my eyes to the severity of the devastation in Haiti. Of course after the earthquake happened I felt bad and thought to myself what a horrible disaster, and that I would pray for the people of Haiti. What the lecture made me realizes was how much we don’t think about things that go on around the world, unless it directly affects us. This video helps us to acknowledge the amount of strength that the Haitian people have. Even though they have just survived an indescribable lost, they are piecing their lives together in any way that they can. I cannot say that I am surprised, just because Haiti is a poor country, does not make them incapable of being economically prosperous, depending on how you look at it, and how you view prosperity.
I have Haitian friends and I am sympathetic to what they are going through, however, I cannot truly empathize because this situation did not affect me directly. 300,000 is a lot of people. To process that many people dying is unimaginable. Its easy to go about our daily lives unaffected by this at all, but it makes you wonder, how you would feel if it were happening to you. Of course we cannot let everything that is happening around the world stop us from our habitual routines and mourn, but we can take some time to try and see and understand what is going, not just in our backyards, and maybe do a little to help. Why do some people feel that helping someone is such a burden? Some might feel that since its not happening to our country it’s not our job to help, when In fact it is very much our job. Helping someone in need is not an obligation but a moral responsibility. Even in this video, while people are experiencing their own poverty, they are still helping others, even if they are making a profit from it, which you cannot blame them for.
I liked how this video displayed the Haitians building a community to help themselves and others. Of course they also have to worry about themselves, which is why they are getting all of the resources they can and making a life out of what they have. I liked how the man opened up his tent to allow little children to watch television and hang out. Although they had to pay a little of course, he was still helping them to occupy their time, enabling them to deal and adapt to their situations better. Its unfortunate that they must live out of tents, but it is impressive how shortly after experiencing tragedy they are able to prosper. Opening up nail salons, and other stores, may not necessarily be fundamental necessities, but it makes it easier for them to return to the normal everyday life that they are used to. I guess what I’m trying to say is that even among disaster and devastation people always find a way to rebuild, move on, and profit. It may not be our economy, but it’s their economy.
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First of all, I can’t believe that it has already been over 10 weeks since the disastrous earthquake hit Haiti. When the event took its place, people from all over the world got together to help Haitians in need. I remember when Sociology 119 students collected money for helping them also.
In our Tuesday class, I could still see the sadness from Haiti with Ian’s experiences and his photos. From tents without electricity or water to collapsed school and office buildings, those pictures captured the reality of Haiti very well. Until I watched this video, I thought that Haitians were in great pain after the disastrous event. However, very interestingly enough, I could see some Haitians who are trying to make money even during these painful days. At first, I wondered how they can be that positive in that kind of situation. In the video, entrepreneurs were trying their best to make some profits for their future. It was very impressive to see that. If I was in that situation, I might have just given up to live my life without thinking what kind of changes I can make.
There was another interesting part. Even though I admire those entrepreneurs’ efforts to make money by selling their stuffs, do they really think that they can sell electronics such as computers and TVs? As the narrator said in the video, even before the earthquake, most of the Haitians lived without electronics. Then, why are they trying to sell them at this time when no one has enough money to afford their foods? Maybe it tells that how desperate those people are for making money. For sure, they must know the reality. They must know that no one will buy their expensive stuffs. I guess they are relying on their little hopes for selling them one day when they get really lucky.
After hearing the stories from Ian and watching this video, I was a little bit confused about Haiti’s current situation. But I think now I understand a little about what is going on. My only hope for Haiti at this point is to become a country that runs normally as it was before the earthquake. Everyone knows that it will take few years to reconstruct everything. They have to start everything from scratch. However, Haiti is not alone. There are many people who are like Ian, who are willing to go to Haiti and help them. There are many aids coming from countries all over the world to sustain the innocent lives of Haitians. Thus, if they do not stop trying to dream, Haiti will stand up still again sooner than we imagined. I’m really glad to see those people who do not give up in this video.
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I think that these Haitians have so much strength. They have gone through so much in their lives, and they are still standing and still fighting. They have built this town out of scraps and tents and have made it work for them. They are people who have really strong character, because without it they would have never made it to where they are. Yes, they have nothing, nothing but their lives, They are striving to try and live, and succeed with the little recourses that they have. These tents are their only homes. They have to try and live in these packed places and make the best of it. I have so much respect for these people who have lost everything and ask for nothing. Unlike some of us here in the United States who have all of our necessities and we still have the nerve to ask for more. Or to feel that we are superior to people. They are trying to rebuild their city even though they are against the odds. They try but there are still some obstacles in their way. The Red Cross is only repairing homes in areas deemed safe to return to. The authorities have banned people from rebuilding homes located less than 10 meters from the water’s edge, but many people lack the skills or the money to move. The international emergency appeal for Haiti has raised only slightly more than a third of the 106 million dollars the UN asked for. Recovery and reconstruction efforts have faltered. The International Office of Migration has distributed construction kits to the displaced, but they contain barely enough materials to rebuild a small room, let alone a whole house. But they still stand strong and united. Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. With oil too expensive for the impoverished nation, charcoal from burnt trees has provided 85% or more of the energy in Haiti for decades. As a result, Haiti's 9 million poor have relentlessly hunted and chopped down huge amounts of forest, leaving denuded mountain slopes that rainwater washes down unimpeded. Thousands of injured people waited for care outside badly damaged hospitals, while an unknown number remained trapped inside collapsed buildings. Basic services like water and electricity were out, and Haitian President Rene Preval said his government needs help clearing streets so rescuers can reach some of the hardest hit areas. About 3 million people one-third of Haiti's population were affected by the quake, the Red Cross said. About 10 million people most likely felt shaking from the earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey said. What Americans have to learn is that we are blessed. I know that not everyone in the United States is well of but no one is Haiti is and they need help.
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This video is beautiful. It allowed me to remeber to think in another lense then I usually look through. Life's complexities are not neccessary to survive. There are communities out there who are much happeir with the limited resources that they have instead of these mega citites and developed countries. The hope and faith of just knowing you will see the sunrise the next day is the glory needed to lifet someones spirit. As far as mega consumers in capitalist economy belive that little materialistic things will eventually make us happy. But the sad part about that is that its only making us more depressed sad and less faithful. Now what does this have to do with the video is that the hope and faith the population of Haiti has had over the past years and now even after the tragedy has been measured out to be greater than many wealthy countries themselves.
This booming economy in Haiti is lovley to see how the country within weeks of the earthquake can turn around and get back on their feet and make ends meet for survival. Its also intereesting to see how money little, none, or alot is good for business. The city of Port A Prince has somwhat of a better economy than before. Haiti has little money but is able to conduct successful business not on the mission to make money but to help the community while being able to help themselves. This is somewhat of a sustainable definition of Haiti's economy. The business to charge cell phones while allowing children to watch movies is an smart economic move in order to attract more business. Many other moves like this are going on throughout these tent cities. It doesnt always takes books and having book smarts to think of these good economic moves. One of the men in the video said the movies are to be of a distraction for the kids of the visible struggle, something to uplift their spirits in order to keep the faith going.
Its an alarming issue to know that these tent cities may be in Hait for years, but its nice to know they are reacting to the tragedy in a positive way instead of sulking around looking for help from other nehboring or even long distant countries. Haiti is building its infrastructure little by little through ends meet. Complex measures are being taken in order to do business and help the citizens of of HAiti. This booming economy in Haiti is lovley to see how the country within weeks of the earthquake can turn around and get back on their feet and make ends meet for survival. Its also intereesting to see how money little, none, or alot is good for business. The city of Port A Prince has somwhat of a better economy than before. Haiti has little money but is able to conduct successful business not on the mission to make money but to help the community while being able to help themselves.
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It is very interesting to see that no matter how devastating an event, life still goes on. People still need to find some semblance of their lives before the earthquake, and help others to do the same. They saw the need for certain necessities like shelter and water, and once those were generally met, they moved on to providing entertainment and luxuries like movies and salon functions. In a very small way, Haiti’s tent cities represent the change in national economies all over the world from the beginning of time. Once basic necessities are met, people start to purchase and bargain for the things they desire on top of that which they need just to survive.
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