Blog Posting #1: Placing Blame

Media provides an avenue for individuals to connect and engage in dialogue on a number of global and local issues. Current media practices are characterized by a multiplicity of form and content. From youtube videos, to blog forums, to official online news sources to radio reports, and of course news papers, the possibilities for consumption and engagement are endless. As such, media has become a powerful force in shaping public opinion on heated global debates and events. The current cholera outbreak in Haiti allows for an investigation into how the media has presented the event and what aspects have been emphasized. Upon an analysis of a number of varying new sources it appears as though many media outlets have been focused on blaming issues on specific groups or events, rather than recognizing the complexity of situation at hand.

What is of interest in investigating this disease outbreak and what is highlighted in many media accounts is the fact that there has been no documented outbreak of cholera in Haiti since the 1960’s (Aljazeera Online 2010). This outbreak came as a surprise given the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s statement in March, that was presented during the public health response to the January earthquake which stipulated that cholera was “extremely unlikely to occur in Haiti” (2010). Thus the surprise that has resulted from the outbreak has resulted in discourse from news sources to focus on the imperative need to determine causation and place blame. When investigating stories it is clear that much of the blame is being placed on the Nepalese UN peacekeeping operation, which was located on the upper reaches of the Artibonite river (thought to be the source of the outbreak). Cholera is endemic in Nepal and the country suffered outbreaks this summer, the troops arrived in shifts starting on October 9^th 2010 after the outbreak in their home country and shortly before the disease broke out in Haiti. As stated by 25-year-old Haitian student Ernest Exilume; "The Nepalese brought this disease to the centre of Mirebalais…we have no water to drink…we have no choice but to drink the water from the river." (Aljazeera Online 2010).

This blame in turn has manifested itself into violent protests and uprisings by many Haitian people, which has had the unfortunate consequence of limiting the ability for foreign aid groups such as OXFAM and Doctors Without Borders to provide critical medical care. Furthermore many aid organizations are critical of the slow pace of international donations in response to the crisis (BBC 2010). Edmond Mulet, the head of the UN mission in Haiti, said that; “…violent protests by people who blame peacekeepers for the spread of the disease were wasting time and costing lives” (qtd in BBC 2010). The article and accompanying video in my opinion heavily blame protestors for the inability of effective aid to reach areas where cholera is rampant.

http://www.katu.com/news/national/106358783.html

I feel that what is missing from the reports is that the lack of available clean water is heavily rooted in historical circumstance, ineffective legislation and natural disasters which have worked to (and continue to) exacerbate the spread of cholera. Ultimately it must be noted that it is the immense inequality and poverty in the region has fostered both the presence of the disease and its spread. The World Health Organization (2010) defines cholera as an acute intestinal infection caused by the ingestion of food or water that is contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.  The primary means of spread is via water infested with fecal matter, thus cholera is a threat to developing countries in where poor sanitation, lack of hygiene and crowded living condition exist. People with low immunity such as malnourished children or people living with HIV/AIDS are at greater risk of death is infected, therefore the disease is often characterized as the disease of poverty, the third world and underdevelopment. Currently 80% of the population in Haiti is living under the poverty line and 54% live in abject poverty (Central Intelligence Agency 2010). This situation did not happen overnight but rather is rooted in the unique historical particularities and political nature of the country something that I do not think is targeted very well by media sources.

From a historical standpoint Haiti is a colony based originally on plantation economy powered by slave labor from Africa (Schwartz 2010). By 1794 the slave uprising began and within 10 years French colonists were excised. As noted by Schwartz; “…there exists outside Haiti no other case of an enslaved people breaking its own chains and using military might to defeat a powerful colonial power”(2010). What accompanied this independence however was a “…devastated economy and infrastructure as well as hostility with much of the rest of the world’s rulers” (Schwartz 2010).  This was followed by occupations of various troops from other countries and dictatorial regimes leading to a mismanagement of resources and the deterioration of the countries infrastructure. I must commend this media article in recognizing the historicity of the situation, however it should be noted that most articles I came across did not include such references. In turn many focused on the immediate situation at hand, quickly passing blame and judgment where they deemed appropriate. Perhaps by making recognition of historical and political events such as the US occupation from 1915 to 1934 (Schwartz 2010), some of the ambivalence presented by Haitian people would be understood and in turn dealt with in a more effective manner. As stated by Gourevitch; “The scenes of suffering that we tend to call humanitarian crises are almost always symptoms of political circumstances, and there’s no apolitical way of responding to them—no way to act without having a political effect” (2010:106).

The inadequacy of aid,  cholera epidemic and riots are complex in etiology and I don’t believe we can place blame to a single source. Although I do believe the media reports can be credited with creating a global awareness of the cholera epidemic allowing for intervention from outside countries, I do not believe that placing blame on certain groups is an effective method of dealing with a situation that is extremely complex, multifaceted and historical in nature

Reference:

Aljazeera Online

2010. UN troops blamed for Haiti cholera: Nepalese peacekeepers accused by some of bringing disease as Tropical Storm Tomas heads towards country. Accessed Online November 7^th 2010 <http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/10/20101029213344370246.html>

BBC News

2010 Haiti cholera outbreak response 'inadequate', says MSF. Accessed Online February 1^st 2010 <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11802488>

 

Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Acute Watery Diarrhea and Cholera: Haiti Pre-decision Brief for Public Health Action

    2010 Accessed Online January 31^st 2011

    <http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/haiti/waterydiarrhea_pre- decision_brief.asp>

Central Intelligence Agency (2010) World FactBook: Central America and Caribbean: Haiti. Accessed online January 31^st 2011: <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ha.html >

Gourevitch, Philip

2010 Alms Dealer: Can you provide humanitarian aid without facilitating conflict? The New Yorker.

Schwartz, Daniel

January 14 2010 Haiti’s Unhappy History. CBC News. Accessed Online January 29^th    2011 < http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/01/13/f-haiti-earthquake-history.html >