7.0 Earthquake Hits Haiti. Presidential Palace and Hospital Collapse

[Whisper]

I saw him on news lastnight talking about that.ABC right now is all about it and how they are trying to tell people to please donate through agencies.Dont jump on plane or boat and go there because you will become a victim or a burden.They have agencies set up if you want to go then go through an agency dont get people together and show up b/c the Haitians are turning angry now b/c they have no food or water yet and its just unstable and to let the agencies handle it.

[Chaindrive]

Please, please, don't let Bush go anywhere near Haiti. He botched Katrina so bad I look at him as a murderer because of that.

[Echo]

Please, please, don't let Bush go anywhere near Haiti. He botched Katrina so bad I look at him as a murderer because of that.

I know. I was stunned that Obama would ask him to go. I could not believe it.

Don't worry he cant fuck anything up. Bill Clinton is with him.

[Chaindrive]

You have a point. Clinton shouldn't let Bush out of his sight, however.

[Echo]

You have a point. Clinton shouldn't let Bush out of his sight, however.

They could watch each other. Bush can keep an eye on Bill and make sure he doesn't touch the ladies and Clinton can just make sure that George W doesn't touch.......... ANYTHING.

[Twisted]

I know. I was stunned that Obama would ask him to go. I could not believe it.

I could. In this case, it's another example of Obama trying to run from the "liberal" label that's been applied to him. I think it's pushed him rather hard toward the right in order to appear moderate.

[Whisper]

Windsor woman pulled from Haiti rubble

Windsor-born woman is recovering with only minor scrapes after she was miraculously rescued from a collapsed house in Haiti.

Danielle Trepanier, 35, spent almost 24 hours underneath the debris of a building that was destroyed by the earthquake on Tuesday.

"We could've lost her there," said Emerence Trepanier, Danielle's mother, who lives in Stoney Point.

Emerence credited Danielle's safety to "the power of prayer.... Everybody was praying. My parish, my community, friends. Even strangers."

Danielle was in Haiti as a logistics administrator for the aid organization Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders).

According to MSF, Danielle was resting on the second floor of a staff house in Port-au-Prince when the quake hit.

Two other MSF members on the ground floor managed to escape before the building came down, but Danielle fell through two floors and ended up in a small space in the basement.

"She was buried under quite a bit of rubble," said MSF spokesman Jake Wadland.

Wadland said MSF members could hear Danielle's intermittent cries for help.

"They risked their own safety to dig her out," he said.

Word that Danielle was trapped came to her mother late Tuesday night, leading to some very tense hours.

Emerence said MSF provided the family with updates, informing them on Wednesday morning that Danielle was still alive and her voice could be heard.

The rescuers found and freed her on Wednesday afternoon. "Danielle's fine. She has some cuts and bruises, but she's OK," Wadland said.

"She called us when she came out," Emerence said. "She sounded OK. We're very thankful."

At press time, Haitian officials were estimating the death toll from the quake as high as 200,000.

Interior Minister Paul Antoine Bien-Aime said about 50,000 bodies have been collected so far, and he anticipates between 100,000 and 200,000 total dead -- "although we will never know the exact number."

Danielle is the youngest of four daughters.

A professional logistician, her resume includes project management in northern Canadian aboriginal communities.

Wadland said Danielle first went to Haiti last July, but she's worked with MSF since 2005. Her previous field assignments for the organization have included Niger, southern Sudan and Burundi.

Wadland said Danielle is still in Port-au-Prince, at a safe location. "The plan is to get her back to Canada as soon as possible," he said.

But Wadland wasn't sure when that will happen. "The airspace over Haiti is quite crowded at the moment. It's very difficult to get planes in or out of the country. Our top priority is to get her home and back to her family," he said.

That's good news for Emerence, who described Danielle as travelling all over the world throughout her adult life.

"She studied in Sweden. She's been to Georgia (Russia). She's been to South America.... It's like owning a butterfly."

Asked why she thinks her daughter feels compelled to assist humanitarian efforts in places so far from their Stoney Point home, Emerence said she doesn't know.

"It's an admirable thing to do," she said about Danielle's work.

MSF describes itself as the world's leading independent international medical relief organization, seeking to alleviate human suffering, to protect life and health and to restore and ensure respect for human beings and their fundamental rights.

Danielle Trepanier, shown in this undated file photo, is recovering after being trapped under a collapsed house in Haiti for almost 24 hours. Rescued Wednesday afternoon, she only has minor scrapes despite falling through two floors. http://www.windsorstar.com/Windsor+w...125/story.html

[Pete Bondurant]

Groups air doubts about Wyclef's charity


Jan. 15, 2010, 8:41 PM EST

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Groups that vet charities are raising doubts about the organization backed by Haitian-born rapper Wyclef Jean, questioning its accounting practices and ability to function in earthquake-hit Haiti.

Even as more than $2 million poured into The Wyclef Jean Foundation Inc. via text message after just two days, experts questioned how much of the money would help those in need.

"It's questionable. There's no way to get around that," said Art Taylor, president and chief executive of the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance, based in Arlington, Va.

Related: Wyclef to co-host Clooney's Hope For Haiti telethon

Taylor reviewed Internal Revenue Service tax returns for the organization also known as Yele Haiti Foundation from 2005 through 2007. He said the first red flag of poor accounting practices was that three years of returns were filed on the same day — Aug. 10 of last year.

In 2007, the foundation's spending exceeded its revenues by $411,000. It brought in just $79,000 that year.

"Here's the bottom line: for an earthquake of catastrophic proportions, do people really believe that this organization is in a position to do anything right now?" he said.

Jean, a 37-year-old Grammy-winning artist, has been imploring followers to text "Yele" to 501501 to donate $5 to his foundation in support of Haitian earthquake victims.

The foundation, founded in January 2005, intends to airlift supplies using a FedEx plane into Haiti early next week carrying medical supplies, water and Clif Bars, according to foundation president Hugh Locke.

An Associated Press review of tax returns and independent audits provided by Jean's foundation showed that it was closely intertwined with Jean's businesses.

Clooney leading Hollywood's relief effort
View more MSN videosGo to Way Too Early
Three of the five foundation board members — Jean, Jerry Duplessis and Seth Kanegis — are involved in his personal music and business endeavors.

According to an IRS tax return from 2006 reviewed earlier by the Web site The Smoking Gun, the foundation paid $250,000 to buy airtime from Telemax S.A., a for-profit TV station in Haiti that is majority owned by Jean and Duplessis.

Part of that money went to pay for a concert in Haiti put on by Jean himself, Locke said.

Another $160,000 that year was spent on a concert in Monte Carlo that Jean participated in, of which $75,000 paid for backup singers and $25,000 went to Jean through a company he owns with Duplessis, Platinum Sound Recording Studios Inc., Locke said.

"I'm not saying he didn't benefit from it," said Locke, who says his own salary is $8,100 a month after taxes. "We were paying that to Platinum Sound because that covered the cost of him participating in the event."

Locke argued that the foundation took in "several hundred thousand" dollars in exchange for Jean's work through the proceeds of an auction.

The foundation also rents office space from Platinum Sound, paying about $2,600 a month in New York. Locke said the foundation also plans to partner with Jean's Sak Pase Records to build a music studio to provide vocational training to Haitian children.

Haiti Quake: How you can help

Sandra Miniutti, vice president of marketing for Charity Navigator, an organization that evaluates charities, said the foundation was too small to have been examined recently, although the current flood of goodwill may change that. Its revenue in 2008 was $1.9 million.

"My concern is it goes against our first tip, and that is to give only to groups with experience with disaster relief," Miniutti said. "I think it's very hard for a new organization even with the best intentions to handle something on this magnitude."

Locke said the foundation has been directly involved in delivering food and providing clean-up services in many disasters, including the hurricanes that devastated Haiti in late 2008. Jean's standing among Haitians can help the foundation gain access to gang-controlled or other troubled regions, he said.

"We have a niche which no one else occupies," Locke said.

He said the foundation is now seeking bridge financing to allow it to use money that has been pledged in unprecedented volumes by text message.

It could take at least a month for donors' money to flow in because it is not released until they pay their phone bills.

That delay presents a challenge and an opportunity, the Better Business Bureau's Taylor said.

"The challenge is they can't do anything until they get the money," Taylor said. "The opportunity is that some people may change their minds and decide that $10 or whatever they text to him might be better used somewhere else."


http://music.msn.com/music/article.a...2067&GT1=28102

[Whisper]

Groups air doubts about Wyclef's charity


Jan. 15, 2010, 8:41 PM EST

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Groups that vet charities are raising doubts about the organization backed by Haitian-born rapper Wyclef Jean, questioning its accounting practices and ability to function in earthquake-hit Haiti.

Even as more than $2 million poured into The Wyclef Jean Foundation Inc. via text message after just two days, experts questioned how much of the money would help those in need.

"It's questionable. There's no way to get around that," said Art Taylor, president and chief executive of the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance, based in Arlington, Va.

Related: Wyclef to co-host Clooney's Hope For Haiti telethon

Taylor reviewed Internal Revenue Service tax returns for the organization also known as Yele Haiti Foundation from 2005 through 2007. He said the first red flag of poor accounting practices was that three years of returns were filed on the same day — Aug. 10 of last year.

In 2007, the foundation's spending exceeded its revenues by $411,000. It brought in just $79,000 that year.

"Here's the bottom line: for an earthquake of catastrophic proportions, do people really believe that this organization is in a position to do anything right now?" he said.

Jean, a 37-year-old Grammy-winning artist, has been imploring followers to text "Yele" to 501501 to donate $5 to his foundation in support of Haitian earthquake victims.

The foundation, founded in January 2005, intends to airlift supplies using a FedEx plane into Haiti early next week carrying medical supplies, water and Clif Bars, according to foundation president Hugh Locke.

An Associated Press review of tax returns and independent audits provided by Jean's foundation showed that it was closely intertwined with Jean's businesses.

Clooney leading Hollywood's relief effort
View more MSN videosGo to Way Too Early
Three of the five foundation board members — Jean, Jerry Duplessis and Seth Kanegis — are involved in his personal music and business endeavors.

According to an IRS tax return from 2006 reviewed earlier by the Web site The Smoking Gun, the foundation paid $250,000 to buy airtime from Telemax S.A., a for-profit TV station in Haiti that is majority owned by Jean and Duplessis.

Part of that money went to pay for a concert in Haiti put on by Jean himself, Locke said.

Another $160,000 that year was spent on a concert in Monte Carlo that Jean participated in, of which $75,000 paid for backup singers and $25,000 went to Jean through a company he owns with Duplessis, Platinum Sound Recording Studios Inc., Locke said.

"I'm not saying he didn't benefit from it," said Locke, who says his own salary is $8,100 a month after taxes. "We were paying that to Platinum Sound because that covered the cost of him participating in the event."

Locke argued that the foundation took in "several hundred thousand" dollars in exchange for Jean's work through the proceeds of an auction.

The foundation also rents office space from Platinum Sound, paying about $2,600 a month in New York. Locke said the foundation also plans to partner with Jean's Sak Pase Records to build a music studio to provide vocational training to Haitian children.

Haiti Quake: How you can help

Sandra Miniutti, vice president of marketing for Charity Navigator, an organization that evaluates charities, said the foundation was too small to have been examined recently, although the current flood of goodwill may change that. Its revenue in 2008 was $1.9 million.

"My concern is it goes against our first tip, and that is to give only to groups with experience with disaster relief," Miniutti said. "I think it's very hard for a new organization even with the best intentions to handle something on this magnitude."

Locke said the foundation has been directly involved in delivering food and providing clean-up services in many disasters, including the hurricanes that devastated Haiti in late 2008. Jean's standing among Haitians can help the foundation gain access to gang-controlled or other troubled regions, he said.

"We have a niche which no one else occupies," Locke said.

He said the foundation is now seeking bridge financing to allow it to use money that has been pledged in unprecedented volumes by text message.

It could take at least a month for donors' money to flow in because it is not released until they pay their phone bills.

That delay presents a challenge and an opportunity, the Better Business Bureau's Taylor said.

"The challenge is they can't do anything until they get the money," Taylor said. "The opportunity is that some people may change their minds and decide that $10 or whatever they text to him might be better used somewhere else."


http://music.msn.com/music/article.a...2067&GT1=28102

Yeah I saw on TV lastnight they were doubting many of the charitys.We wrote a cheque right to Frank Chauvin here b/c hes got 2 orphanages there and we know him and his group personally and this man is beyond honesty and values.So I have no doubt about him but not everyone knows someone that they know will use it properly. Heres a write up about him giving back his medal given to him by the Order Of Canada b.c they gave a medal to Henry Morgetaler.Im not saying I believe or or dont Im just using this article to show what his values and opinions are, http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/ne...5-ac4e5b2b28ab

[Whisper]

Please, please, don't let Bush go anywhere near Haiti. He botched Katrina so bad I look at him as a murderer because of that.

I really think that they are hoping that a mudslide will take Bush off of everyones hands forever!!

[Whisper]

U.S. to allow Haiti orphans to enter temporarilyJanuary 18, 2010 | 5:32 pm

The United States will temporarily allow entry to orphaned children from Haiti to receive needed care after the devastating earthquake in their country, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Monday.

“We are committed to doing everything we can to help reunite families in Haiti during this very difficult time,” Napolitano said in a statement.

"While we remain focused on family reunification in Haiti, authorizing the use of humanitarian parole for orphans who are eligible for adoption in the United States will allow them to receive the care they need here,” she said.

The “humanitarian parole policy” will be applied on a case-by-case basis to children who are legally confirmed as orphans eligible for adoption in another country by the Haitian government and who are being adopted by U.S. citizens.

Also eligible are children previously identified by an adoption service as eligible for inter-country adoption and who have been matched to prospective adoptive American parents, the Homeland Security Department said.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dcno...mporarily.html

[Whisper]

And this ones about orphans in mid adoption and couples in States..Haitian OrphansJanuary 18, 2010

Gov't lets Haitian orphans come to US for care
The Associated Press
The government is making it easier for Haitian orphans being adopted by Americans to enter the United States.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Monday that the humanitarian policy will be applied temporarily, on a case-by-case basis, to orphaned children from Haiti who are being adopted by U.S. citizens or who have been matched to prospective adoptive parents who are U.S. citizens.

Napolitano said the policy is aimed at helping orphans get the care they need after Haiti's devastating earthquake. It comes after the United States last week granted temporary protected status to Haitian nationals in the United States as of Jan. 12, allowing them to stay in the U.S. for the next 18 months.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/new..._for_care.html

[DogMom]

THere was another one this morning.

Aftershock Rattles Nerves in Haitian Capital

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A strong aftershock struck near the Haitian capital on Wednesday morning, shaking buildings and spreading terror through the thousands of survivors who have been living outdoors since last week’s devastating earthquake.

The aftershock, which had a magnitude 6.1, came around 6 a.m. and was centered on Gressier, a village west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The most powerful to hit Haiti since the initial earthquake eight days ago, it caused little evident physical damage to the ravaged capital. Everything that might have fallen appeared to have already done so.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/wo...s/21haiti.html

[Twisted]

The latest aftershock has been downgraded to a 5.9

Event details available here.

[Whisper]

I saw on the news they said its was a pretty good one(6.0) I cant even imagne what they are going through,they are traumatized beyond the max

[Pete Bondurant]

These people.....I mean....the entire population....should just be evacuated to some other country....like....uh....Canada or uh....Norway or something.

[Whisper]

LOL I already said Ill take one or 2 orphans Pete.We have been in process of adopting since last yr.We have been approved all the way around,.We only slowed it down a bit until our daughter has her baby in spring.Now we are seriously considering this option but its so messed up right now I am waiting to see about the fast track adoption they are all talking about.So we wait.

[Marv]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worl...llet-head.html

With his arms wide open and eyes sparkling with joy, he is handed over to his weeping mother's embrace.

This seven-year-old boy named Kiki was pulled yesterday from the rubble of his home after being trapped for nearly eight days.

Little boy lost and found: Kiki stretches out his arms to his sobbing mother after being pulled from the rubble.


How great is that photo?!! His beautiful smile, after all he has been through. I just want to hug him!





Unfortunately, from the same article:

Fabienne Geismar had survived the quake which devastated the family home but died in its aftermath, lying face down in her own blood beside the rubble and the worthless pictures she was said to have been stealing.

Lifeless: Fabienne Geismar died after being shot by police. The pictures she had looted lie beneath her face



She was just 15.

[Pete Bondurant]

This little fellow will one day become......President of the United States of North America.

Little boy lost and found: Kiki stretches out his arms to his sobbing mother after being pulled from the rubble.


How great is that photo?!! His beautiful smile, after all he has been through. I just want to hug him!

[Twisted]

This little fellow will one day become......President of the United States of North America.

Awfully optimistic there, PB. I doubt he'll be of age in 2 years when the world ends.

[Silvahalo]

Not sure if this was posted already. This is one of Haiti's tiniest victims. 2 mo. baby girl, found in the rubble badly injured... truly miraculous to be found alive. She was flown to Miami, FL.

Haitian baby struggles to survive.