Photo Credit: Getty Images PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI-Feb. 28: Residents of the Tapis Vert internally displaced persons camp navigate the mud and sewage after overnight rains soaked the tent village February 28, 2010 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Tapis Vert, which means large green lawn in French, is normally used as a football pitch but is now home to some of Haiti’s 1.2 million people left homeless by last month’s 7.0 earthquake.

As soon as the passion of this moment fades, the US government will continue contributing to repressive trade policies that keep places like Haiti impoverished. Am I the only one disillusioned…concerned that almost nobody — especially those in our media or government — is talking about this?” ~Rick Steves

In an earlier post The Top 5 White People Worth Interrupting Black History Month For I gave Rick Steves honorable mention, but I wanted to talk about this some more.

I recently read his article about post and pre earthquake Haiti No Aid to Haiti. After reading some poorly researched and rather inhumane commentary I appreciated his take on the the shower of aid for Haiti.

I admit I greatly underestimated Rick Steves whom I know from his Public TV show Rick Steves’ Europe Through The Back Door. While I liked the show I used to wish he would go to other parts of the world, maybe even the Caribbean. If he did I never saw that show and who knows where else Rick Steves have been.

As a person of Haitian descent I was touched by his take on Americans giving aid to Haiti and impressed his knowledge of the binds so called developing countries are in.

In other Haiti news I understand the rainy season is upon Haiti now and there are fears of disease and flooding. I wrote about the impact of rain and deforestation in Haiti and why it’s at least a good thing that the earthquake didn’t strike during the rainy season in Haiti’s Lack Of Trees Could Lead To Post Earthquake Landslides.

Check out the rest of my Haiti coverage HERE.

I also came across this article about recycling Haiti. Yep you read that correctly. The materials used in creating the now destroyed building in Haiti could potentially be recycled to make new buildings there. Check out Should Port-au-Prince be Recycled? at greenbiz.com.

Not to put the two together but my prayers are also with the people of Chile I hope we can keep a good thought for those folks as well.

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