Comments on: Haiti and Corporate Greed

By: sallie

sallie — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:39:22 +0000

The greed we are aware of is to be expected from the economic system we are subjected to. We can only guess as to how the military establishment and the politicos work together to ensure their poosition of power. As Howard Zinn said, “they can only have their power as long as we let them have it”

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:40:55 +0000

Understand that corporations are “for profit” but with a growing death toll of 250,000 people in one of the largest catastrophes of our generation, I think we should do our most to help.

Some of the CEOs earn US $1 every 2 seconds day and night – 365 days a year. I can ask the same question, at what point is there enough money in the bank and when is it time to keep a few more kids from dying?

By: Brandon

Brandon — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:01:32 +0000

Corporations are profit-creation entities, so it’s not unethical for them to reward their owners with large bonuses. If the amounts given by each of the corporations you mention isn’t enough, what is?

By: Nomadic Chick

Nomadic Chick — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:09:09 +0000

Dan has somewhat of a point when it comes to regular people. However, NGOs operate differently than corporations. A majority of their dollars come from government funding. Programs go through rigorous proposal stages until a program is approved. There are restrictions and sometimes limited budgets for NGOs. If government were to reduce funding programs to study child trafficking for instance, there’s nothing an NGO can do, other than partner with another agency or fund raise.

However, corporations have unlimited growth and much of the money flows upwards, in a pyramid pattern. The folks at the bottom lose, while the guy at the top makes 20 mil.

Greg, nice touch by using The Corporation to drive your point home.

By: Andy Graham

Andy Graham — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:13:58 +0000

I am happy people are donating, and for sure business needs to donate. I suspect it is possible the Kentucky University had a few large corporations donate to them.

I have been to Africa five times, I was in Haiti for two months prior to the Earthquake and left by accident five days before it occurred.

Haiti has become a welfare state, the United Nations has been providing the Police force there for years.

I just talked yesterday with a airplane pilot who went into Haiti within 7 days of the quake, I will interview him soon on my Blog.

Business or Corporations are worried. They want to support the creation of jobs for Haiti, so the people have price, dignity and sustainable happiness. They are not happy to make more welfare recipients.

I was in Niger when they had a malnutrition crisis.

The money is first used by the NGO’s to build a building….
Because they are never leaving.

Micro-Entrepreneur Ideas is the answer, these countries need good ideas.

Thanks, Andy Graham of HoboTraveler.com in Dominican Republic 2010

A Gift to Africa – Haiti

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:39:42 +0000

Greg,
Check out The International Book Project, http://www.intlbookproject.org.
I am not sure of the exact quote is but educating one woman in a third world country lowers infant mortality rates more than sending one doctor!
I have done book drives at my office the last couple years during the holidays for this non-profit. They are located here in Lexington as well.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:06:49 +0000

Oh forgot to mention insurance, most Australian would have been insured in the bushfire. In the other two events it would be a minority who will be covered.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:04:23 +0000

I agree but sadly it doesn’t just apply to corporations and big business it is regular people as well.

2004 Tsunami
Death toll: 184,000 Confirmed
Displaced: 1.7 Million
NGO and public donations: $280AUD Million

2010 Haiti Earthquake
Death toll: 180,000 Confirmed
Displaced: 1.2 Million
NGO and public doantions: Not yet availible ($400,000AUD donated to Red Cross appeal on the 15th Jan)

2009 Australian Bushfires
Death toll: 173
Displaced: 7562
NGO and public doantions: $372AUD Million

Donation amounts are Australian private donations, you might like to compare donations to hurricane Katrina for a US perspective.

There exists a very strong “take care of our own” mentality worldwide completely ignoring that wherever a crisis like these happen they are all “our own”.

Wiki was sourced for the numbers.

By: Francoise

Francoise — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 03:18:45 +0000

Great, albeit telling piece Greg.

Sadly, it isn’t surprising after the behaviour of those same corporations and banks over the past year’s economic crisis.

I 2nd your recommendation to watch The Corporation. IMO, it should be viewed by everyone at least once before they enter the job market.