EarthTalk is produced by E/The Environmental Magazine. SEND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS TO: EarthTalk, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php. EarthTalk is now a book! Details and order information at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalkbook.



See what we're tweeting about






2 Comments
Add CommentSo has the 'quake destroyed The American Dream once and for all ? - or were these sad beggers hoping to get away from it ?. Search me, I'm confused as it is. God alone knows what I would be in Haiti. First a piss-up, then an Earthquake ? - that's livin allright !
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisbertwindon, I have no idea of what you are trying to say! I can only assume english is your second language. Can someone translate please?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHaiti is doomed unless it addresses it's population growth. The country produces virtually nothing and is dependent on foreign humanitarian and economic aid for survival. Approximately 80% of the population live in abject poverty and over one million people are totally dependent on foreign aid. The evergrowing mass of humanity is putting unsustainable pressure on natural resources. Fore example less than 30% of the population has some form of sanitation. Raw sewerage is contaminating fresh water supplies and come the rainy season, rivers of excrement will no doubt result in outbreaks of the usual water borne diseases and carry nutrients and even more garbage out to sea to choke the already polluted coastline, killing marine life and futher depleting fish stocks . I could go on and on and on but you've read the article and get the picture. How can Haiti ever climb out of the poverty trap if it keeps producing more people. Yet something that is so obvious is almost completely absent from commentry on helping Haiti. Talking about population control is taboo, the proverbial white elephant in the room. I'm sure it is being addressed at some level, but unless it is made a priority and a condition of providing aid, then donating to Haiti is much like throwing money into a black hole.