Haiti and Hunger
One of the most baffling mysteries to face mankind is how a nation can starve in a world
rich with resources. In April 2008 reports were coming from Haiti that people were so hungry
that they resorted to eating dirt pies; that’s right, pies made from dirt. Hunger is not only
devastating Haiti, but other third world nations as well. What is confounding about Haiti, is the
fact that at one point Haiti had a significant share in the tourism and hospitality industry that
islands in the Caribbean rely on for sustenance. As a result of political violence and hunger riots,
Haiti has seen a dramatic decrease of tourists. However, that is not the only reason why people
in Haiti are starving. Due to dramatic changes in climate, and economic growth in some nations,
the price of basic foods has increased. “Food prices globally have climbed 83% in the past 36
months and are expected to stay high through 2015, according to the World Bank” (Steve Hamm,
John Carey 483: 26).
There are solutions to Haiti’s problem, though they may take time. Haiti must play a role
in solving its own problem, while wealthier countries should combine resources to help. The
governing body of Haiti needs to strategically plan on boosting their economy by establishing a
good reputation and reentering the travel and tourism sector. The end results of such actions will
reduce the number of people that have to resort to eating dirt for survival.
Haiti is a beautiful island with white sand beaches, and crystal clear turquoise waters and
yet many people are unaware of this due to the bad reputation Haiti receives in the media. That is
why tourism has drastically decreased. “Haiti was once a place of thriving resorts. Then the
AIDS scare in the 1980s and the political instability that came with the ouster of the dictator
Jean-Claude Duvalier in 1986 frightened off most potential visitors” (Marc Lacey, 4). Patrick
Delatour, Haiti’s tourism minister is trying to set the mode for change in Haiti. His plan is to
persuade visitors to travel to locations in Haiti that are not affected by the poverty and violence
that is portrayed in the media. The people of Haiti also have to put their differences aside, and
think about how their actions will affect their country’s reputation. The government of Haiti also
needs to start spending money on advertising the beauty of their country for the world to see.
Royal Caribbean makes a stop in Haiti, but because of fear of losing customers they identify the
stop as Hispaniola (Lacey).
There is no doubt the reputation Haiti has acquired over the years is putting a strain on
their economy, therefore it is prudent that the citizens and the government work together to
establish a good reputation. Once that is done, it will be easier to attract tourist and to ultimately
earn money that can feed the people.
Another course of action that will help to reduce hunger in Haiti is financial aid from
wealthier nations like America and Japan. The current economies of America and Japan are
not doing as well as they were in the past, however when compared to the economy of Haiti
they are in great shape. Countries that have an economies that allows them to help other
nations and still be in good standing should help as best as they can. In April 2008,
President Bush asked Congress for funds to help fight hunger. Some people see that as a
good thing while others feel that more should be done, especially for Haiti. A reporter for
USA Today wrote, “That's a good thing. But the Bush administration could make an even
greater contribution by coming up with a plan to wipe out hunger at its epicenter -- in Haiti.
Given this country's history of heavy-handed involvement in Haiti's domestic affairs and the
ineffective government the Bush administration has foisted on the Haitian people, such a
move would be a great victory in the fight against global hunger”(DeWayne Wickham,
11A).
The current food crisis effecting Haiti, has an effect on the whole world. Haiti is just one
extreme example. Other extremes include Bangladesh, and Northern African nations. There is
no one particular reason that the world is facing a food crisis. Many blame global warming,
which is probably the most significant factor, but there are other reasons. “The cause of the
current food crisis is multifaceted. A prolonged drought in Australia's wheat belt, combined with
richer diets and massive increases in fuel consumption in the surging economies of China and
India, set the stage for higher food prices everywhere. The soaring cost of oil makes producing
and distributing food more expensive. At the same time, the increased use of corn for ethanol,
while not creating shortages, has helped drive up the price of bushels” (Steve Hamm, John Carey
483: 26).
Collectively the whole world needs to be more conservative. What happens is that
when nations start to increase their economy, they forget about the ones which are in need.
Such was the case when America started to become industrialized. Smaller, inferior nations
where stripped of their natural resources, and people were left starving while others were
throwing food away because there was too much. On any given night you can walk to the
back of any restaurant and you will see just that, large quantities of uneaten food being thrown
away. This is in fact a part of human nature. We all want more than what we actually need,
even if it means that our neighbor will have nothing. Meanwhile children in places like Haiti
are contaminating their bodies with dirt in order to meet the basic human instinct for survival.
Solutions to the hunger crisis are being researched by scientist and economist.
Advanced farming technology is being tested, and relief agencies have been gathering
pledges for emergency aid from governments, but every individual has to do something in
order for solutions to actually work. We need to buy food wisely and teach our children not
to waste. Instead of buying food in excessive amounts we should only buy what we need. If
everybody in the world does this it will eventually result in a decline in the demand for food
which will force prices to go down.
Haiti has a long way to go before it will become the great nation it once was in the past.
Even if Haiti successfully re-enters the travel and tourism sector, it will still face poverty on
a large scale. The areas of Haiti that will accept tourist is a far cry from what things are like
in the capital, and other poverty stricken areas. The good thing is that the amount of people
that are starving will reduce, because the country will have more money to feed the people.
Also, if Haiti is to receive more aid from other nations, it is hard to determine how the aid
will be used. The government of Haiti has proved in the past to be corrupt. The true
solution to Haiti’s problem and the whole food crisis depends on collaboration with
everyone in the world as one collective body.
Works Cited
Hamm Steve, and Carey John. “SOLUTIONS FROM A HUNGER CRISIS; The global food
shortage could lead to lower trade barriers and innovation that may raise farm productivity.”
Business Week 12 May 2008, Major U.S. and World Publications. General. LexisNexis
Academic. LaGuardia Community Coll. Lib., Long Island City, NY. 22 July 2008
<http://www.lexisnexis.com>.
Lacey Marc. “Beyond Mountains of Woe, a Haitian Paradise Beckons.” The New York Times
16 Feb. 2007, late ed. Major U.S. and World Publications. General. LexisNexis Academic.
LaGuardia Community Coll. Lib., Long Island City, NY. 22 July 2008
<http://www.lexisnexis.com>.
Wickham, DeWayne. “Position Haiti at the epicenter of a U.S. war on hunger.” USA Today 6
May 2008, Final Ed. Major U.S. and World Publications. General. LexisNexis Academic.
LaGuardia Community Coll. Lib., Long Island City, NY. 22 July 2008
<http://www.lexisnexis.com>.