HAITI REVOLT: CANADA SENDS SOLDIERS Introduction

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1 HAITI REVOLT: CANADA SENDS SOLDIERS Introduction Focus Labeled a failed state by the international community, Haiti once again collapsed into turmoil with President Jean- Bertrand Aristide in exile and an unstable, uncertain, and unpredictable interim government taking power. With no clear alternative political force ready to take charge, Canada, the United States, France, and Chile sent in troops to keep the peace. Lying in the balance: the hope for a stable future and the survival of democracy in Haiti. Definition Liberation theology refers to a form of Christianity that stresses freedom from political, social, and economic oppression, as well as traditional salvation. It has meant that many clerics have become active in politics as well as in traditional religious issues. YV Sections marked with this symbol indicate content suitable for younger viewers. It should have been a year of great promise. Haiti started 2004 with celebrations marking its 200th year of independence. Citizens could revel in their history with memories of the slave rebellion led by Toussaint L Ouverture. The defeat of Napoleon s troops on Haitian soil ended French colonial rule. History was made in 1804 as Haiti became the first free black nation in the Western Hemisphere. However, the celebrations soon gave way to chaos, as rebels marched toward Port-au-Prince from the north and opposition political groups mobilized to grab power. Understanding Aristide To understand the latest crisis in Haiti, one must come to terms with the controversial nature of President Jean- Bertrand Aristide. Depending on whom you talk to, Aristide is either a hero or a villain. After studying theology and psychology in Montreal from 1982 to 1986, Aristide returned to his homeland to discover that time for revolution was ripe. A staunch advocate for the poor, Aristide, a former Catholic priest with a foundation in liberation theology, empowered the poor and helped topple the dictatorship of Jean-Claude Duvalier, or Baby Doc. Aristide championed democracy. In 1990, he won 67 per cent of the vote and became the first democratically elected president of Haiti. However, within a year, Aristide was removed from power in a military coup that forced him into exile. Popular support for Aristide did not wane. Instead support grew and, in 1994, with the help of U.S. troops, he returned home. Haiti s constitution prevented Aristide from running for consecutive terms so, in 1995, he supported René Préval s bid for the presidency. According to many political analysts, Préval was Aristide s puppet. The two pledged to create a harmonious democratic society that fought for the rights of Haiti s poor. Unfortunately, little progress was made and, as time passed, Aristide s political opponents claimed that he was good at delivering speeches but poor at delivering on his promises. Election Irregularities Problems began to surface for Aristide and his loyalists in May Parliamentary elections yielded promising results for the president s Lavalas party. However, in several multi-candidate races Lavalas, while winning the most votes, failed to earn a majority of the votes. The Haitian constitution calls for new elections to determine a majority winner in each district. Instead of calling new elections, officials adjusted the results so that Lavalas, the party with the most votes in the disputed districts, would win the seats (Harper s Magazine, January 2004). International election observers noted the irregularities, and Lavalas opponents made this breach of the constitution their rallying call against Aristide. By the time he ran for the presidency later in 2000, the opposition had alerted the international community, drawn attention to Aristide s ambivalence to the situation, and boycotted the election. Without an opposition, Aristide was able to win 90 per cent of the vote in an election marked by violence and intimidation. The international community responded CBC News in Review April 2004 Page 32

2 Did you know... Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere? Seventy per cent of the population is chronically malnourished and the per capita income is $500 a year. Aristide supporters claim that the flawed election results involved 10 senate seats and that six of those senators offered to resign. They also point out that René Préval was president at the time not Aristide. Source: Washington Post, March 5, 2004 by cutting off $500-million in aid until the election controversy was settled. Still, Aristide refused to budge. Suddenly impressions of Aristide became confused: was he a true champion for the poor or a power-hungry, arrogant elected dictator? Unrest In 2004 This set the stage for the events of early Only the leaders of South Africa and the Bahamas attended Haiti s bicentennial celebration. Thousands of people demonstrated during the festivities on January 1, many for Aristide and many against him, highlighting the deep divisions that existed right across the country. Aristide had many political opponents. The strongest was a loose coalition of politicians, students, and business people. They soon mobilized their support. By the middle of the month, Aristide agreed to call new parliamentary elections, but it appeared to be too late. The opposition demanded the president s resignation, and armed rebels, capitalizing on the desire for change brought on by the anti-aristide political movement, began to strike in the north of Haiti. The rebels moved swiftly, eventually taking control of Gonaives, Cap-Haitien, and St-Marc by late February. Events spiralled out of control. Aristide pleaded for international assistance. The Organization of American States (OAS) and a coalition of Caribbean countries called CARICOM tried to bring the feuding sides together. In the end, Aristide agreed to share power with the opposition. The opposition refused, and eventually Aristide was abandoned by Canada, the United States, and France. He resigned and went into exile in the Central African Republic. The Canadian Response By the time Aristide fled Haiti, Canada s foreign affairs department had set in motion an action plan for dealing with the crisis. First, Canada made a military commitment to send stabilization forces to Haiti. An initial group of nine Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2) soldiers were deployed in Port-au-Prince in late February to protect the Canadian embassy and other Canadian interests. This was followed by a 90-day commitment of 450 Canadian personnel on March 5 to complement an international force composed of U.S., French, and Chilean troops. Prime Minister Paul Martin all but confirmed that Canadian troops would stay beyond the 90-day period. Second, government aid money started flowing into Haiti. By the end of March, almost $13-million went into food and water programs, medical assistance, and support for democratic institutions (CIDA news release March 18, 2004). United Nations Secretary- General Kofi Annan applauded Canada s humanitarian role in Haiti (as well as in Afghanistan and Bosnia) while visiting Ottawa in early March. During a gala dinner hosted by the Governor-General, Annan said, Your ability as Canadians to look at the needs of others, to feel compassion for their suffering as part of your own, speaks to the best of you as people (The Globe and Mail, March 9, 2004). Annan went on to encourage Canadians to pledge themselves to efforts like the one in Haiti in the hopes of bringing peace to the region. Prime Minister Martin responded to the Secretary-General s challenge, saying, We are ready to be there for Haiti s rebuilding. We don t want to make the same mistake the international community made the last time and leave prematurely (The Globe CBC News in Review April 2004 Page 33

3 Quote Haiti clearly is unable to sort itself out, and the effect of leaving it alone would be continued or worsening chaos. Kofi Annan, Los Angeles Times, April 2, 2004 and Mail, March 6, 2004). Time will tell if the people of Haiti will emerge from this latest crisis with a renewed commitment to democracy and the rebuilding of their nation or if they will continue to struggle for survival in a cycle of perpetual crisis. To Consider 1. Why should 2004 have been a year of great optimism in Haiti? 2. Why were people hopeful that Aristide would help bring justice and integrity to Haitian politics? 3. What role did election irregularities play in the downfall of Aristide? 4. How did Canada respond to the crisis in Haiti? 5. Is Kofi Annan s assessment of Canada s performance on the international stage a fair one? 6. Do you think Canada should be involved in Haiti at this time? Explain fully. CBC News in Review April 2004 Page 34

4 YV HAITI REVOLT: CANADA SENDS SOLDIERS Video Review Fill in the blanks following these questions as you view the video. You may need a few moments after viewing the video to complete this exercise. 1. Why were Canadian troops sent to Haiti? 2. What was controversial about Arisitide s departure? 3. Describe conditions in Haiti after the president left. 4. Why has Haiti been such a political mess for so long? 5. Who was Papa Doc? 6. What does Elizabeth Abbott suggest Haiti needs most? 7. Canada is sending troops to Haiti. 8. What is Canada s military mission in Haiti? 9. How does Canada s Haitian community view the recent events in Haiti? 10. What do you think will be the likely future of Haiti? CBC News in Review April 2004 Page 35

5 HAITI REVOLT: CANADA SENDS SOLDIERS Perpetual Crisis Did you know... Before going into exile, Aristide was preparing a legal claim against France seeking $21.5-billion in restitution for alleged crimes committed against Haitians during colonial rule? (Washington Post, November 21, 2003) How did Haiti assume the unfortunate moniker of failed state? Certainly to be labeled as such is something that no country, particularly one with such an inspiring beginning, would want to assume. However, history demonstrates that Haiti has never been able to establish a solid footing in the quest for political and economic stability. Some historians think that Haiti s troubles are rooted in their distant past. After Toussaint L Ouverture led the slave rebellion of 1797 and Jacques Desssalines led the Haitian army to victory over Napoleon s troops, the fledgling republic struggled to establish strength and credibility. Historian Elizabeth Abbott puts it this way, Haiti took its own independence after a brilliant and complicated military campaign, and so the United States, which was then a slave nation, punished Haiti by a blockade that lasted for decades and therein we find the roots of the economic chaos. * The blockade was just part of the problem. The French left the new republic with a debt of 90 million francs and demanded that Haiti pay off the sum or they would reinvade in This left the Haitian economy in trouble from the start. According to professor and author Robert Fatton Jr., once Haiti earned its independence it was considered a pariah nation by the Americans and the French. Those hungry for political power exploited Haiti s vulnerability, with over 30 coups taking place between 1804 and the emergence of the brutal dictator François Duvalier, or Papa Doc, in Scores of people died tens of thousands according to some estimates as one oppressive ruler followed another. Papa Doc was succeeded by his son Jean-Claude, or Baby Doc, in The rule of the Duvaliers was characterized by unprecedented terror for the people of Haiti. The Duvaliers maintained power through the Tonton Macoute, a brutal civilian militia gang that secured the regime through intimidation, torture, and murder. Even the army feared the Tonton Macoute, whose death squads have become macabre legend in Haiti. One would think that the popular uprising that led to the end of the rule of the Duvaliers would have signaled an end to government support for gangs like the Tonton Macoute. However, the tradition of civilian militia protection became a fact of life even for Jean- Bertrand Aristide. One of his first acts after his re-election as president in 2000 was to dissolve the Haitian military. This left him vulnerable to coup attempts by dispossessed members of the army. To maintain his grip on power, he gave tacit support to a gang of his own: the Chimères, a pro-aristide group that routinely resorted to violence to quell opposition to the president. Elizabeth Abbott notes, Haitian presidents are traditionally terrified of their army because armies coup d étated them, so they establish[ed] parallel civil militias. * As the rebels of 2004 made their way toward Port-au-Prince, it appeared that another coup was inevitable. Aristide became desperate when it was clear that the international community had abandoned him. He turned a blind eye on the violence of the Chimères. Despite a platform for the poor designed to in- CBC News in Review April 2004 Page 36

6 Fact Of 42 Haitian leaders since independence in 1804, 29 have been overthrown or assassinated. Canada s position regarding developing nations is referred to as the Montreal Consensus. The consensus calls for simultaneous focus on health, education, and the economy when giving aid. The U.S. model (known as the Washington Consensus ) focuses on building the economy of a developing nation, with social institutions coming second. (Toronto Star, January 13, 2004) crease the living standards of the disenfranchised, Aristide resorted to the same thuggish tactics as his predecessors. Whether he was forced to utilize this tactic or not is subject to debate. Time will tell if his use of the Chimères will be his legacy. Currently, Haiti remains the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. The percentage of people who are malnourished is equal to the number of people who are unemployed: 70 per cent. The United Nations estimates that a quarter of a million Haitians have HIV/AIDS and fewer than half the people have access to clean drinking water. Haiti s meagre food supply was put in further jeopardy early in the year as food shipments failed to make their way to the people who needed them most. In desperation, the starving resorted to eating the seeds for next year s crop just to stay alive. Eating the seeds meant that no planting took place and that there would be no harvest in 2004 in some parts of Haiti (Washington Post, February 26, 2004). The people of Haiti continue to suffer 200 years after they earned their independence. As Fatton puts it, Haiti suffers from massive deprivation, massive scarcity. * What is really needed is a government that will build national infrastructure like roads, water purification systems, sewer and sanitation systems, and food distribution systems. The choice rests with those who hold power. Meanwhile, most of the people of Haiti wait for deliverance from poverty. *Abbott and Fatton quotes taken from Indepth: Haiti The Crisis in Haiti: Roots of Revolution - Inquiry 1. Look up the following words in the dictionary: moniker, coup d état, macabre, tacit. 2. How did the United States and France respond to Haitian independence? 3. How has Haiti suffered from massive political unrest since 1804? 4. What role have civilian militia groups played in helping the rulers of Haiti maintain power? 5. What must happen to help Haiti emerge from the blight of poverty and instability? 6. How optimistic are you for the future of Haiti? Explain. 7. What role might Canada play in the future development of Haiti? Be specific. CBC News in Review April 2004 Page 37

7 HAITI REVOLT: CANADA SENDS SOLDIERS Headlines and Voices Sometimes a series of quotes can tell a story. Review the quotes and see if you can understand the events leading up to and immediately following the departure of Haiti s President Jean- Bertrand Aristide. When you have viewed the quotes, complete the activity at the end. Did you know... From 1994 to 2001, Canada sent 600 RCMP officers to Haiti to train a reliable police force? However, they left before completing the job. Opposition to Aristide Grows The problem is, President Aristide will promise you God when God is not even his friend. That is why he is in trouble. He promised too much and has never done what he promised. Jean H. Laurenceau, an Aristide opponent, Washington Post, February 3, 2004 Rebels Control Gonaives, St-Marc, and Grand Goave It is not a matter of how many there are, but of how capable they are of fighting. And these groups know exactly what they are doing. the commander of the anti-riot police in the city of St-Marc (who refused to give his name to journalists) referring to the rebel forces operating in the northern part of Haiti, Washington Post, February 12, 2004 Aristide Warns of Coup Plot It s not a democratic opposition, but a terrorist opposition. We feel bad because we need a democratic opposition, but these people do not believe in one man, one vote. Aristide warns the international community of trouble on the horizon, Washington Post, February 13, 2004 Rebels Capture Cap-Haitien I think in less than 15 days we will control all of Haiti. rebel leader Guy Philippe self-proclaimed leader of the disbanded military in Haiti after taking Cap-Haitien, Haiti s second largest city, Washington Post, February 23, 2004 Aristide Grows Concerned Now they are back with the same methods. They prefer to use weapons to kill the dream of democracy, killing the people who vote. Aristide comparing the rebels to the Tonton Macoute death squads in the days of Papa and Baby Doc, Washington Post, February 25, 2004 Aristide Appeals For Help Should those killers come to Port-au- Prince, thousands may be killed. We need the presence of the international community as soon as possible. Aristide pleading for international assistance as rebel forces advance on the capital, Toronto Star, February 26, 2004 Rebels Gaining Ground We are not plotting a coup. We re plotting to liberate the people. Loius-Jodel Chamberlain on accusations that rebels were plotting a coup. Chamberlain was prosecuted in absentia for taking part in the massacre of 34 people in a 1987 coup attempt, Toronto Star, February 26, 2004 Leader Threatens President I will get him. rebel Guy Philippe claiming he will get Aristide, Washington Post, February 27, 2004 U.S. Pulls Away from Aristide We urgently call upon President Aristide to issue the necessary instructions so his supporters stop the violence. a statement from the U.S. embassy in Port-au-Prince, Toronto Star, February 28, 2004 Canada Pulls Away From Aristide We are frustrated with the violence. We are frustrated with Aristide. Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham at CBC News in Review April 2004 Page 38

8 a joint news conference with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell referring to Aristide s use of violent gangs to maintain his hold on power. Support For Aristide In Port-Au-Prince If they force Aristide to leave, there will be bloodshed. The country will never be stable, there will never be democracy, and peace will never develop. Rene Civil, an Aristide supporter in Port-au-Prince, Washington Post, February 29, 2004 Support for Aristide In Montreal This is a coup.... President Aristide has not decided to leave power. It s a coup by the international community. Ferere Coffy at a pro-aristide march in Montreal, February 29, 2004 Aristide Resigns If my resignation can prevent bloodshed, I will agree to go. Jean- Bertrand Aristide in a written statement announcing his departure from Haiti, The Globe and Mail, March 1, 2004 Chief Justice Becomes Interim President The task will not be an easy one. Haiti is in crisis... It needs all of its sons and daughters. No one should take justice into their own hands. Boniface Alexandre, Supreme Court justice and interim president of Haiti, Washington Post, March 1, 2004 Aristide Explains His Departure Today is a very difficult day.... I am determined to respect the constitution... The constitution should not sink in the blood of the Haitian people. Yvon Neptune reading from a statement by Aristide, Washington Post, March 1, 2004 Martin States Canadian Position Canada hopes that this step will halt any further escalation of violence and allow for a new stability to emerge for the people of Haiti. We urge all parties involved to respect constitutional order and the rule of law. Prime Minister Paul Martin announcing military support for Haiti, Toronto Star, March 1, 2004 U.S. Sends Troops I have ordered deployment of marines as the leading element of an interim international force to help bring order and stability to Haiti. U.S. President George W. Bush announcing military support for Haiti, The Globe and Mail, March 1, 2004 Canadian Stabilization Force Deployed I think Haiti is going to need a pretty robust stabilization force. Canada [wants to provide] as much help as we can in a very complicated situation. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham on Canada s decision to help Haiti by sending a 450-person force to the beleaguered country, The Globe and Mail, March 1, 2004 Aristide Makes U.S. Coup Claim I was told to avoid bloodshed, I d better leave. No one should force an elected president to move. I called this coup d état in a modern way... modern kidnapping. Aristide claims that he was forced out of office by the United States on CNN, Toronto Star, March 2, 2004 Coup Claim: Baseless and Absurd It s nonsense, and conspiracy theories do nothing to help the Haitian people move forward to a better, more free, more prosperous future. U.S. chief CBC News in Review April 2004 Page 39

9 Further Research To stay informed about the views of CARICOM (Caribbean Community), consider visiting the official Web site at presidential spokesperson Scott McClellan echoing Secretary of State Colin Powell s declaration that Aristide s coup claims are baseless and absurd, March 2, 2004 Jamaica Calls for an Investigation Despite what we have heard in public and despite what we have learned in private, we simply say that the situation calls for an investigation of what transpired. Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson speaking on behalf of a coalition of Caribbean nations called CARICOM regarding Aristide s coup claim, Washington Post, March 4, 2004 Hindsight: Canada s Position During the Crisis Once the United States and France said they would not go in as long as Aristide was there, we had to decide [if] we would go in on the invitation of Aristide to prop up the Aristide regime. Our judgment was we couldn t do that. Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham explaining Canada s decision not to send in troops to help Aristide maintain power, Toronto Star, March 4, 2004 A Voice in Exile In overthrowing me, they cut down the tree of peace, but it will grow again, because its roots are well planted. They have felled only the trunk of the tree. Branches will sprout again, for its roots are numerous and deep. Aristide in exile, The Nation, March 4, 2004 Canada in for the Long Term We are ready to be there for Haiti s rebuilding. We don t want to make the same mistake the international community made the last time and leave prematurely. Prime Minister Paul Martin, The Globe and Mail, March 6, 2004 Activity Materials needed: four different coloured highlight markers or pencil crayons Review the quotes listed above. Using your markers or pencil crayons, highlight the following perspectives: Colour #1 The Canadian Perspective Colour #2 Aristide s Perspective Colour #3 The Rebel Perspective Colour #4 The International Perspective Discussion Question Which three quotes best describe the political climate in Haiti in early 2004? Support your conclusions with evidence. CBC News in Review April 2004 Page 40

10 HAITI REVOLT: CANADA SENDS SOLDIERS Haitian History Timeline 1492 Christopher Columbus lands in what we know as Haiti and calls the island Hispaniola, which means Little Spain Spanish settle in Santo Domingo, the capital of today s Dominican Republic Spain cedes the western part of Hispaniola to France Toussaint L Ouverture leads a slave revolt and takes control of Hispaniola. L Ouverture abolishes slavery and declares himself governorgeneral of the island French attempts to take back the island fail Haiti becomes an independent state. Jean-Jacques Dessalines, a former slave, declares himself emperor Haiti struggles to establish itself as a viable independent state Haiti is invaded by the United States. The U.S. claims that friction between blacks and mulattos threatens U.S. property and investments in the country The U.S. withdraws its military but maintains financial control until François Papa Doc Duvalier seizes power in a military coup. He is elected president one year later Duvalier declares himself president-for-life. His rule is brutal and undemocratic Duvalier dies and is succeeded by his son Jean-Claude, who comes to be known as Baby Doc. At the age of 19, Jean-Claude Duvalier declares himself president-for-life A wave of public dissatisfaction sweeps across Haiti. Baby Doc goes into exile in France, and a new president is installed After four years of power political unrest, Jean-Bertrand Aristide is elected president Aristide is ousted in a coup. The Organization of American States, of which Canada is a member, imposes sanctions. This is followed two years later by United Nations sanctions after the military government of Haiti refuses a deal to return Aristide to power Haiti s military government surrenders power in the face of an invasion by U.S. forces. Over U.S. troops land in Haiti in order to guarantee a return to democratic government. Aristide returns to Haiti René Préval, an Aristide loyalist, is elected president. United Nations peacekeepers begin to replace U.S. troops Préval begins to rule by decree when political deadlock brings Haitian government effectiveness to a standstill Aristide is elected to a second non-consecutive term as president. He disbands the army Aristide s government accuses former army offices of plotting a coup. Two coup attempts confirm Aristide s concerns Unrest surfaces in the north of Haiti. CBC News in Review April 2004 Page 41

11 2004 Haiti celebrates 200 years of independence. Celebrations are marred by violence and clashes between Aristide loyalists and opposition rebel groups. Rebels begin seizing towns in the north and eventually make their way south toward the capitol of Port-au- Prince. Before the rebels reach the capitol, Aristide submits his letter of resignation and flees the country. Chief Justice Boniface Alexandre becomes the interim president. International forces arrive to restore order. The future of Haiti is still very much in doubt. Sources: CBC: BBC News: Activity 1. Review the timeline. 2. Select the five most significant events listed on the timeline. 3. Pinpoint what you consider to be the most defining moment of the five that you selected. 4. In a well-written paragraph, defend your selection of this defining moment in Haiti s history. Notes CBC News in Review April 2004 Page 42

12 HAITI REVOLT: CANADA SENDS SOLDIERS Haiti/Canada Fact Sheet Facts at a Glance Nation: Republic of Haiti Canada Capital: Port-au-Prince Ottawa Area (thousands of km 2 ): Population (millions): 8.3 (2003) 31.6 (2003) Population density (per km 2 ): 296 (2003) 3 (2003) Urban population (%-2001): 36% 79% Gross national income (GNI) (per capita): US$440 (2002) US$ (2002) GNI purchasing power parity (PPP) (per capita): US$1 580 (2002) US$ (2002) Structure of GDP (%-2001): Agriculture 28% 3% Industry 20% 31% Services 52 % 66% Ecological footprint (area units per person-1999): Human development index (HDI) ranking: 150 th of 175 countries (2001) 8 th (2001) Gender-related development index (GDI) ranking: 122 nd of 144 countries (2001) 6 th (2001) Life expectancy at birth: 43 (1960), 49 (2002) 71 (1960), 79 (2002) Mortality rate under 5 years old (per 1,000): 253 (1960), 123 (2002) 33 (1960), 7 (2002) Adult literacy rate (%-2001): Total 51% 99% Men 53% 99% Women 49% 99% Population using improved drinking water sources (%-2000): Total 46% 100% Urban 49% 100% Rural 45% 99% Sources Statistics Canada, UNDP, Human Development Report 2003, UNFPA, The State of World Population 2003, UNICEF, The State of the World s Children 2004, World Bank, World Development Report 2004, WWF, Living Planet Report 2002 CBC News in Review April 2004 Page 43

13 Definitions GDP Gross domestic product the total value of all goods and services produced within a country during a given year. GNI Gross national income (formerly gross national product or GNP) made up of gross domestic product plus the net income earned from investments abroad. PPP Purchasing power parity is the GNI converted into a rate of exchange that allows a standard comparison of price levels between countries. One PPP dollar has the same purchasing power in the domestic economy that the U.S. dollar has in the U.S. economy. Ecological Footprint a measure of how much productive land and water an individual, city, country, requires to produce all the resources it consumes and to absorb all the waste it generates. The ecological footprint is measured in area units, or units that correspond to one hectare of biologically productive space with world average productivity. HDI The human development index measures human development by combining three dimensions of development: longevity (life expectancy at birth), knowledge (adult literacy and mean years of schooling), and income. GDI The gender-related development index combines the same three dimensions of development as the HDI. It also takes into account the sociological inequalities between men and women, such as differences in income and education. Population using improved drinking-water sources the percentage of the population with reasonable access to an adequate amount of drinking water from improved sources. Source: Canadian International Development Agency, Activity 1. Carefully review the chart and the corresponding definitions provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). 2. Explain the dramatic difference between Haiti and Canada in terms of the following indicators: GDP GNI Ecological Footprint HDI GDI 3. Respond to the following statement in a carefully drafted paragraph: Canada is clearly a rich country and Haiti is clearly a poor country. The numbers speak for themselves. 4. Which statistic is the most significant in your opinion? Why? CBC News in Review April 2004 Page 44

14 YV HAITI REVOLT: CANADA SENDS SOLDIERS Final Activity Did you know... Of about Haitian-Canadians, about live in Montreal? Quote We intend to participate, and play a role that is more than our share... Prime Minster Paul Martin, speaking in French at the United Nations, Toronto Star, March 2, 2004 What are we doing about it? The Canadian Government When the government announces that they are pledging aid to countries in need, often that money is funneled through international aid agencies. In the case of Haiti, money is given to agencies like the United Nations World Food Program and the International Red Cross to guarantee that resources get to the people who need them most. The office of the Canadian government that handles the transfer of money to needy countries is the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Since 1968, Canada has given $611-million to help the people of Haiti. Activity 1 Check out what Canada and the world are doing for Haiti. Go to the Web sites listed below. Make point-form notes on the activities of these organizations in Haiti. Canadian International Development Agency follow the links to Haiti The United Nations World Food Program follow the links to information on Haiti The Red Cross The International Committee of the Red Cross search word Haiti Activity 2: Canada s Churches Often religious groups raise money and acquire resources to help those in need. They do this based on the spiritual principle of justice for all people regardless of race or creed. Check out what these organizations are doing for Haiti. Go to the Web sites listed below and use the search word Haiti. Make point-form notes on the activities of these organizations in Haiti. World Vision Canada Development and Peace Christian Children s Fund Activity 3 Based on your research notes, what can you do to help the people of Haiti? Write a sentence paper outlining what you would be prepared to do to alleviate the suffering in Haiti. Be sure to develop and explain your ideas. CBC News in Review April 2004 Page 45