WikiLeaks Cable: Obama Admin. Pressured Haiti Not to Raise Minimum Wage

Eco.Soul.Intellectual

What can you buy for 61 cents? In the case of the Obama Administration, that was simply too much for the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

Wikileaks cables expose that the Obama Administration put pressure on the disaster-stricken country, Haiti, to not raise its hourly minimum wage to 61 cents an hour, or $5 a day.

Perplexing being that everything in Haiti has skyrocketed since the January 2009 earthquake. A large can of peaches is reported to be roughly $40 American dollars by Haitian activist Mawiyah Duperval of Haitian American Ministries and Ujaama International based in Haiti.

According to the report by the Columbia Journalism Review, American corporations who hire Haiti's 25,000 garment workers, like Hanes and Levi Strauss, were pissed off because that meant they had to pay their workers an increase. So let's put this together, a pair of Hanes' underwear costs more than a worker making about 200 of them in a day.

Since the earthquake there has been much criticism of the lack of aid that actually went directly to the Haitian government, less than 7 cents, the question remains "Where is the money?" According to a Huffington Post article back in 2010, here was the breakdown.

One Year Later, Life no Better in Haiti [VIDEO]

"Stability of markets depends on countries like Haiti remaining poor, Europe, US's commitment is to their own subsidies only" - Nicole Lee (President of TransAfrica Forum)


BIO: Nicole Lee is the President of TransAfrica Forum. She has worked as a human rights attorney in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.Nicole Lee lived in Haiti where she worked for a human rights organization that investigated and prosecuted the human rights violations by the military during the 1994 coup.

Sean Penn is 'Suspicious' of Wyclef's Bid to Become President of Haiti

So Wyclef has decided to run for president of Haiti, Lauren Hill is currently working on making a comeback, and the fifth Beetle still remains more popular than Pras. Oh well, so much for that long awaited and anticipated Fugee reunion album...

Sure there've been questions raised as to the legitimacy of Wyclef's quest to become president beyond his ability to lead his beleaguered country out of the throngs of centuries old colonialism. But beyond the question of his ability to lead a nation after displaying the obvious inability to keep a three man musical group together, serious questions are being asked.

One such voice comes from Sean Penn, an activist who is no stranger to controversy. Here is Penn in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Larry King Live last night, after Wyclef's official announcement of his candidacy:

George Bush still doesn't like black people, or their Haitian germs

So George Bush and Bill Clinton have been out putting in work; they've been raising funds for the people of Haiti, who are still suffering even two months removed from the tragic earthquake that rocked their country. Yesterday, they both visited one of the many "tent cities" on the ground and shook a few hands in a meet the natives sorta moment. Their visit was slated to be an effort "to remind donors of the immense needs facing the recovery effort." Good idea; but take a look at this following clip and tell me what else we were reminded of. Oh and here's a hint: pay attention to George Bush's right hand after shaking a few hands:


Now I don't wanna pass judgment, nor mention the obvious "message" or perception - Kanye West already covered that angle. But I'll say that from what I read, Bush is somewhat of a germaphobe; he once infamously used a woman's shirt to wipe off his glasses. So in-spite of him reportedly having an aide give him "a big dollop of hand sanitizer" after shaking Barack Obama's hand. I won't be my usual race-baiting self and suggest that he has a problem with black people. Now his mother? That's a different story; and I wouldn't dare suggest the notion that the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.

For Sale: Haitian Children for as Low as $100

Yes, for the sweetheart deal of only $100, you too can purchase a Haitian child displaced by the recent earthquake. Why take a chance of getting caught at the border of the Dominican Republic as a few Christian do-gooders were, after abducting 33 children without the proper documentation? Why do that when you can have that and more for the low-low, by employing the services of Mr. Yis Jean Guerson pictured below as he poses with a would be or eventual child lost to the clutches of evil human trafficking opportunists.

This fine gentleman and stallworth humanitarian just so happens to also be a school teacher who is dedicated to improving the lives of Haiti's youth. He was caught on tape recently by British journalists trying to uncover a child trafficking ring in Haiti. A group of journalists who were shocked that this is so easily done, and at such a low cost:

Lap Dances for Haiti: Shake ya ass, show me what you working with!

"So don't be actin like you don't be backin that stuff up, girl in the club that's what you got ass for." - Mystikal (Shake Ya Ass)

Well, from the looks of it, everyone is getting in on the charitable bandwagon for Haiti. There was a  telethon aired on MTV, Hip Hop for Haiti, and a host of other events aimed at raising funds for the beleaguered nation in the wake of one of the worlds worst natural disasters. In downtown Toledo Ohio, Marilyn's On Monroe got in on the act last weekend in assisting with funds for relief as advertised:


A couple of weeks ago in a featured post by Renee of Womanist Musings. We discussed the sexualization of black women as it played out in a new PETA ad campaign that featured a nude model. In that post I think we pretty much came to the conclusion that the ad was exploitive of black women; at least that's the idea many people who commented arrived at. I mean anytime a woman's body is used (or taken advantage of) to push a message or an agenda it's sexist, right? Shoot, we even discussed the exploitation of Beyonce's sexuality in the music industry in another post by my blog sister Seattle Slim.

Well, with that in mind, do we feel the same way about the undertakings of Marilyn's Of Monroe in Toledo Ohio? I'm just asking because I'm sure the people in Haiti could care less if any of the money used to purchase supplies came out of the crack of some strippers ass, or out of the pockets of the Pope himself.

Personally I found it funny that the "Christian" organization had no problem taking the money. Nor had any qualms with where any of the money is coming from. I especially loved the line "We don't have a right to judge a persons heart, if somebody is doing something they have to do for a living then that's the way it is." I loved it especially because we're often taught that "All money isn't good money."

But I guess the tragedy in Haiti warrants compromise, so I understand. Yep, and I can see a Dope Boys For Haiti fund coming real soon. That said, are you willing to compromise on your morals and principles and accept this act of charity even if it supports a patriarchal system? I mean clearly these women "own their sexuality," right? That said, is it really sexist, if the end justifies the means? I really would love to hear your thoughts, on this one. You can read the story at the Huffington Post, and I think you'll find the comments as interesting as I did.

So they're remaking We Are the World, without having a Michael Jackson séance? And Lil' Wayne & T-Pain on the track??

So I heard the other day that they were remaking the USA for Africa 80s classic We Are The World as a charitable effort to help victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Then I heard that Lil' Wayne was gonna be one of the artists featured in the song and singing Bob Dylan's part, no less. My first inclination was to run up on somebody and do a Rambo, just because. I mean did they invite him to be on the track because, well, he himself looks like a starved child from the Sudan? But then I heard they also invited Fonzworth Bently; you know, Pdiddy's jigging no talent havin' umbrella carrying Negro man-servant?

Surely inviting Lil' Wayne had nothing to do with him being a top selling popular Hip Hop artist, and had more to do with the sympathy factor, right?  Nothing like seeing a malnourished looking black guy with gold in his mouth covered in tattoos to bring white folks to tears. OK, yeah, so I don't particularly care for Lil' Wayne; you got me; guilty as charged. However, I heard what he said at the end of a recent press conference discussing the remake and, well, I'll let you check it out:

The Blindside II: White Folks Stealing Haitian Babies

It's often said that the road to hell is paved with bibles and people with good intentions. But don't tell that to the ten Christian missionaries from the United States currently sitting in jail in Haiti charged with conspiracy and kidnapping. And  from what I've been told, Haitian jail cells do not come with tropical resort-like accommodations. But hey, when you try and steal kids from a country cross the border without proper documentation other than the idea that God's on your side, it's to be expected:

Paul Shirley to Haitian Victims: "Maybe Use A Condom Once In A While"

Just when I thought that the ignorance afflicting certain dumbass racists was tempered, here comes the biggest douchebag of 2010, Paul Shirley, a pathetic excuse for an athlete, and supposed basketball player.  The guy's basically a jack of all trades, and master of none.  He couldn't even be bothered to do the research on Haiti before writing this racist, boorish screed against Haitians and Haiti. 

Shirley asks whether what he is about to write makes him a monster.  Well, damn!  If you need to ask you stupid sumbitch, you probably are a freaking monster!  As soon as I read that part, I knew that I was going to have to tune my brain to deal with undistilled fuckery.  He did not disappoint, the little oaf.

If you want to read some straight up vitriol, then I suggest you read his ode to his white privilege (Mmmm!!!  Privilege!  You SUCK if you don't have it, People of Color!  Shame on you!) and his inability to be a feeling, compassionate human.  It's clear that the guy is a troglodyte when it comes to humanity, and I can't tolerate too much of it.  Let me just highlight some of his most ignorant sentiments from his blog post:


I haven’t donated a cent to the Haitian relief effort. And I probably will not.


I haven’t donated to the Haitian relief effort for the same reason that I don’t give money to homeless men on the street. Based on past experiences, I don’t think the guy with the sign that reads “Need You’re Help” is going to do anything constructive with the dollar I might give him. If I use history as my guide, I don’t think the people of Haiti will do much with my money either.


However, it is not outside the realm of imagination to think that the citizens of a country might be able to: A) avoid putting themselves into a situation that might result in such catastrophic loss of life. And B) provide for their own aid, in the event of such a catastrophe.

And the piece de resistance comes in his sickening mock letter to the Haitian people:

Dear Haitians –



First of all, kudos on developing the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Your commitment to human rights, infrastructure, and birth control should be applauded.


As we prepare to assist you in this difficult time, a polite request: If it’s possible, could you not re-build your island home in the image of its predecessor? Could you not resort to the creation of flimsy shanty- and shack-towns? And could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?


Sincerely,

The Rest of the World

Like Pat Robertson, Shirley insists on speaking for everyone in an effort to validate his racism and classism.  And like Pat Robertson, he's dumb as hell and speaking on a topic he has NO business writing about because of sheer ignorance.  If he had an IOTA of a clue, he would be congratulating France and the United States for their instrumental assistance in developing the "poorest nation in the world" as well.

Bill O'Reilly: Chicago's south side is Just like Haiti

Yes, I'm going to talk about Haiti again, and no I don't care how tired you are hearing me rant about what's happening there [read it here]. As long as there are people suffering and idiots like Bill O'Reilly feel the need to wax philoasstical about the country, I'll be here to open my mouth. Speaking recently on his "Bold and Fresh Tour" which also features another well known conservative knuckle-dragger - Glenn Beck - O'Reilly made the argument that president Barack Obama in no way shape or form could possibly help Haiti.

Yep, according to O'Reilly, Obama couldn't possibly help Haiti because, well, the south side of Chicago is no different than Haiti and obviously he couldn't change things in his adopted hometown:

”If you've ever been to the South Side of Chicago, I mean, it's a disaster. Alright? It's like Haiti. It's like -- I've been to Haiti a couple times, and I support some charities there, but Haiti just never gets better no matter how much money you put in there because they don't have a system.” (Source)

 I haven't been to the City of Chicago in ten years and yes I do have relatives there. But, er, um, I had no idea that it was that bad in Chi-town? The south side of Chicago like Haiti where before the earthquake a can of rice cost $8? And it's that way because Barack Obama was a failed politician from that very city?

Well now I'm confused. I'm confused because last week the director of the anti-immigration org Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), said in arguing about refugees being brought to the U.S. said that Haiti was a "screwed up" country. But checkout his reasoning as to why Haiti is as "screwed up" as he says it is:

"My guess is that Haiti’s so screwed up because it wasn’t colonized long enough…But, unlike Jamaicans and Bajans and Guadeloupeans, et al., after experiencing the worst of tropical colonial slavery, the Haitians didn’t stick around long enough to benefit from it. (Haiti became independent in 1804.). And by benefit I mean develop a local culture significantly shaped by the more-advanced civilization of the colonizers." (Source)

Uh-huh, Haiti is a jacked up country because they basically fucked themselves by kicking the French out by fighting for their freedom from slavery. They would have been better off, or would have become better cultured if only they were more patient and endured as did the other "good negroes" who came from Africa in other Caribbean countries.

So why are you confused RiPPa?

Well, is the south side of Chicago "just like Haiti," and or just as "screwed up" because those Negro residents weren't colonized enough? Even after 400yrs? I mean, is it that, or the fact that Barack Obama wasn't a good enough slave owner in Chicago? Aww to hell with trying to find out or answer those questions. The truth is: these comments and thoughts are just more of the same from a couple of racist bastards who just so happen to be the descendants of European colonizers who refuse to acknowledge their part in history. Here's to hoping that somehow his tour bus mysteriously breaks down on Chicago's south side this year and he gets...

Looting in Haiti: It's NOT a black thing!

OK tell the truth: How many of you people out there had that fifty inch flat-screen plasma TV already picked out that you were gonna grab if Barack Obama was robbed in the presidential elections in 2008 and shit got ugly in the streets? Anyone? Anybody? Oh c'mon don't tell me I was the only one?!! Shit, I know some of you had an entire house of furniture and appliances picked out, no? As human beings we're just greedy like that and at times our animal instinct takes hold, right? Surely that last idea has manifested itself before our very eyes as we watch the situation in Haiti from a distance; and I'm sorry, but I hate to think that race has anything to do with it, but you already know...

In spite of what the media says, what we see happening in Haiti isn't looting folks. Looting is what black people in America do after police officers are acquitted of any wrong doing after being caught on tape beating a black man to near death. Looting is what you do when a black man is shot to death by a police officer at a train station for no apparent reason as seen on video on YouTube. Yes, I could go on and on with other examples but you get the drift, right? Looting is a foolish and opportunistic act done by "certain people" often in our own communities as a show of protest and rage. An act carried out by mobs which do more harm than good to our communities. In Haiti right now, it is very different than described above.

Under Pressure: "Good at the game of Tricknology," how the Media tried to play Wyclef and us all on Haiti

Wyclef Jean doesn't have time right now to make another hit making record as he has consistently in the past. If he did, I think a remake of Queen's "Under Pressure" would be oh so appropriate. As I mentioned a couple days ago on this blog, he has come under fire for the misappropriation of funds for his Yele Haiti foundation; a foundation, which is energetic in raising funds and support for his beleaguered Haitian homeland. Yesterday, an emotional and tearful Wyclef stood before cameras at a press conference to defend his foundation and ultimately himself from the accusations; accusations which he continues to deny.

Fortunately for Wyclef, according to tax experts on non-profits as reported by CNN, there have been no serious wrongdoings by Wyclef or his organization other than not filing their taxes in a timely manner [read it here]. Uh-huh, how about that? Yeah, how about said experts disclosing that it is perfectly routine for non-profits to charge their own charities so long as services are being provided in return. See, this is another one of those incidents in the long line of them always f*cking with us - they're always f*cking with us, even when we're doing good deeds. I felt the need to do a followup on my initial post on this because, well, some of "us" actually felt he was wrong to do what he did as far as charging his charity for services rendered.

After the earthquake, Haiti needs more than your latte money

 

Media images appear to be prime motivation this week in a collective, mobilized response underscored by Western guilt. Bombarded with dust-covered corpses, blood and broken bones, and bodies rotting in the hot sun, millions around the world have donated their money to various relief organizations in support of Haiti. The United States has even organized a text message campaign which allows cell phone users to donate as little as ten dollars by texting the word “Haiti” to a central national phone line. However, this feel-good effort fails to address the circumstances which created this catastrophe. Haiti cannot afford to the typical, Western, Bono-style activism: here today and gone tomorrow, even as its citizens continue to endure the effects of enormous national debt and unfair trading practices which have historically impoverished the nation.

France considered Haiti to be the pearl of the Caribbean and set about stealing both its natural and human resources at will. The average lifespan of a slave in Haiti was a scant twenty-one years, due to harsh living conditions and limited supplies of food. Instead of recognizing the Haitian struggle as akin to that engaged in by Americans against British tyranny, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson gave foreign aid to the supposedly beleaguered French slave owners. Haitians won their freedom from France through armed conflict, defeating Napoleon Bonaparte and the most powerful army in Europe — this is the history that most outside students are familiar with. But what most miss was a move that cannot be considered anything but extortion.

I'm calling bullsh*t on "The Man" for giving Wyclef & Yele Haiti negative publicity with accusations of fraud

Now see, that's that bullsh*t! Every time a brother tries to do something good somebody has to come out of left field trynna shut him down. I read the following story about Wyclef and his foundation - the same foundation that is kicking ass raising funds for Haiti, his native home - over at The Smoking Gun:

JANUARY 14--The Haiti earthquake has already triggered hundreds of thousands of donations to musician Wyclef Jean's charitable foundation, which expects to raise upwards of $1 million a day in the disaster's wake. However, Internal Revenue Service records show the group has a lackluster history of accounting for its finances, and that the organization has paid the performer and his business partner at least $410,000 for rent, production services, and Jean's appearance at a benefit concert. Though the Wyclef Jean Foundation, which does business as Yele Haiti Foundation, was incorporated 12 years ago--and has been active since that time--the group only first filed tax returns in August 2009.That month, the foundation provided the IRS with returns covering calendar years 2005, 2006, and 2007--the only periods for which it has publicly provided a glimpse at its financial affairs.

In 2006, Jean's charity reported contributions of $1 million, the bulk of which came from People magazine in exchange for the first photos of a pregnant Angelina Jolie (the actress reportedly directed that the publication's payment go to Jean's charity, not her personally). As seen on the following pages from the foundation's 2006 tax return, the group paid $31,200 in rent to Platinum Sound, a Manhattan recording studio owned by Jean and Jerry Duplessis, who, like Jean, is a foundation board member. A $31,200 rent payment was also made in 2007 to Platinum Sound. The rent, tax returns assure, "is priced below market value." The recording studio also was paid $100,000 in 2006 for the "musical performance services of Wyclef Jean at a benefit concert." That six-figure payout, the tax return noted, "was substantially less than market value." The return, of course, does not address why Jean needed to be paid to perform at his own charity's fundraiser.

But the largest 2006 payout--a whopping $250,000--went to Telemax, S.A., a for-profit Haiti company in which Jean and Duplessis were said to "own a controlling interest." The money covered "pre-purchased...TV airtime and production services" that were part of the foundation's "outreach efforts" in Haiti. No further description of these services was offered, though the return claimed that "the fees paid are below market" and that the use of Telemax was the "most efficient way of providing these services." The group's tax returns also report "consultant" payments totaling $300,000 between 2005-2007, while the 2006 return reported nearly $225,000 in "promotion and PR" costs. These expenses are not itemized further in the IRS returns. (6 pages)

You see this sh*t?! A n*gga can't even do good deeds without being scrutinized and receiving negative media bullsh*t. Obviously Wyclef is doing something right the way he has exhaustively put in work not only over the years for Haiti, but more so in the last week because of the earthquake. I find it very peculiar that this all comes out now, and not before which makes me suspicious. Sounds like typical hater/hoe-sh*t to me that came with great timing and malicious intent. People are in need of help desperately in Haiti and this is what hits the airwaves? But no, instead some asshole is worried that his $5 donation is going towards funding another Spiderman leather motorcycle suit for Wyclef at another Funkmaster Flex car show.

The question is, who's the clown that dug this up? A part of me wants to think it's former Fugee, Pras, with whom 'Clef has had beef years ago. But then Pras is too himself of Haitian descent so it's hard for me to be convinced that this is all his doing especially since he like 'Clef are encouraging people to help. Lauren Hill maybe? Naah!! I dunno, but my inner conspiracy theorist is telling me that this has Rush Limbaugh's grubby fingerprints all over it. Why not, after all, he's been trying to discourage people from donating to Haiti anyway. Well, if not him then some other like-minded knuckle-dragger then...

Look, Haiti needs our help, and you don't have to donate to Wyclef's foundation Yele Haiti exclusively - there are many organizations to whom you can donate to. Yes there are a number of scams as far as Haitian fundraisers are concerned, but please believe this isn't one of them. In my opinion, and having worked with and for 501(c) Charitable Organizations where as little as 6% of donated funds go directly to the charity people support. I trust Wyclef's Yele Haiti above all right about now and I encourage you to support his efforts not for him, but for the people in Haiti who need us right now.

Shout-out to Wyclef and all the "refugees" the world over:





CLICK ABOVE IMAGE TO DONATE

A Crisis in Haiti: When there's blood on the streets...

Back in the day I could remember as an immigrant from the Caribbean myself when "being Haitian" was the butt of all jokes. What can I say, everybody has to have somebody to pick on I suppose. Considering that Haitians have been placed in such an inauspicious position among us West Indians and practically everybody in the western hemisphere if not the world. It's really great to see the outpouring of support here in their darkest hour. It truly gives me hope and a renewed sense of optimism that one day, the realization that we're all citizens of the world becomes obvious. So much so that we may never compromise the humanity of others as we all share space on this planet.

Honestly, my mind has been all over the place as I watch the portentous media coverage. Watching from a distance as we sit comfortably in our lives, I guess we can agree that there's a sense of helplessness which overtakes our being. A feeling which compels us to act with the greatest of humanitarian spirit, hence the outpouring of support financial and otherwise. I have some thoughts swimming around in my head about this event, but before getting to them, I just want to say that it is truly awesome to see that within the first 48 hours of the earthquake, people have donated funds to the Red Cross in record numbers. Numbers that have surpassed the initial 48 hour response period in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the Tsunami in Miramar back in 2004.

Pat Robertson: Earthquake was a result of a Haitain "Pact with the devil"

You know, sometimes there are things that just makes my jaw drop, but then I'm able to pick it up off the floor quickly.  The STAGGERING ignorance, and RACISM, displayed by the human piece of walking shit that is Pat Robertson has rendered my jaw pretty much locked to the floor.  I cannot even begin to understand his latest vitriolic rant against people of color.

Yes, folks.  He blames the Haitians' fight for independence against SLAVERY and OPPRESSION at the hands of French masters--of course after likening it to a "pact with the devil"--as the reason for the 7.0 earthquake that shook an already poverty stricken Haiti, to its knees.

I wish I was making this shit up: