John Protevi's Blog

t r u t h o u t | Haiti Untold: Nonviolence and Humanization at the Grassroots (Video)

Fear, much like violence, is self perpetuating. When aid workers enter communities radiating fear it is offensive, the perceived disinterest in communicating with the poor majority is offensive, driving through impoverished communities with windows rolled up and armed security guards is offensive and, ironically, all of these extra security measures actually increase the level of risk for aid workers…

via www.truthout.org

Notes on Birth of Tragedy, 5-9

Notes on , sections 5-9 now uploaded to my Nietzsche course page.

Notes on Birth of Tragedy, 1-4

Uploaded notes on Birth of Tragedy sections 1-4 to my Nietzsche course page.

Italian official points out unnecessary "securitization" of Haiti relief

"The Americans are extraordinary, but when you are facing a situation in chaos they tend to confuse military intervention with emergency aid, which cannot be entrusted to the armed forces,"

via www.guardian.co.uk

Cancel Haiti's debt now!

Now is the time to put pressure on the IMF to cancel Haiti's debt, much of which is based on loans stolen by the Duvalier regimes. Please visit Jubilee USA or another debt cancellation campaign and do what you can: http://www.jubileeusa.org/

Why did U.S. aid focus on securing Haiti rather than helping Haitians? - By Ben Ehrenreich - Slate Magazine

Why Did We Focus on Securing Haiti Rather Than Helping Haitians? Here are two possibilities, neither of them flattering.By Ben Ehrenreich 

via www.slate.com

Notes on Mirowski, "Defining Neoliberalism"

Notes on Mirowski, "Defining Neoliberalism" uploaded to: http://www.protevi.com/john/research.html

"Haiti and Human Nature" talk and time line

Have uploaded two new pieces to my research page at www.protevi.com: the pdf version of a PowerPoint on "Haiti and Human Nature" as well as a time line of events in Haitian history.

The people in Haiti "were their own first responders"

Click here for Anderson Cooper interviewing Russell Honoré about Haiti.

Honoré tells the truth about widespread and immediate prosocial behavior in disasters. And another truth: "security" fears lead to an unnecessary militarization of rescue efforts that can sometimes produce violence due to that very delay. And he hints at the racism behind "security" fears: "just because people are poor doesn't mean they are dangerous."

Anderson Cooper money quote: "neighbors helping neighbors."

Earthquake relief for Haiti

Peter Hallward recommends Partners in Health as an excellent Haiti-focused agency where your donations will help those in need: http://www.pih.org/home.html .