A FLOWER IN YOU HAIR IS NO LONGER ENOUGH

November 21, 2012

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted by six to five to ban public nudity in the city. District Supervisor Scott Wiener said that he proposed the ban after mounting complaint by all demographic sectors including the gay community. Naturists had become a common sight, particularly in the predominantly gay Castro District. Exceptions will, however, be permitted on special occasions, such as street fairs and parades.

Whilst there is something quite liberating and even innocent about naturism, most people are not ready for it and they may not be for centuries to come. So it would seem best, then, to keep it where it belongs: out of the public eye. This is not pandering to narrow-mindedness, it just a matter of consideration and respect. We have after all been wearing clothes or covering up for millennia. Of course some may say that the same argument can be used for eating meat or persecuting homosexuality, but the difference here is that the inconvenience of wearing clothes is slight in comparison to the discomfort and embarrassment people may feel at the sight of naked people running around the streets.

In the meantime, perhaps art is the best way of gently prodding the taboo. I just wished I could live in a country where one could consider nudity without the prospect of freezing to death!

HEY WORLD!
The Globecatcher website is being developed and the aim is to have regular bite-sized impartial news from every nation in the world. We have started writing on all mainland South American countries, just to get Globecatcher moving, but we need correspondents form all over the world to breath life into the project and and make Globecatcher a record of world events as they unfold. If nothing noteworthy happens in a particular country, for period of four weeks or so, then a feature on its culture, history or geography, for instance, will keep it in the picture. We will also have fact files on every country, like the one that has just been completed on Australia.

If you would like to be a part of this exciting project, please follow this link and I will get back to you with all the information you would need.

I look forward to hearing from you.

SHAME ON INDIA'S GOVERNMENT

November 20, 2012

What on earth is going on with governments! India has now decided to join the not-so-exclusive club of ignorant oppressors by arresting a 21 year-old for mildly criticising the virtual shut-down of Mumbai for the funeral of the ultra-nationalist Bal Thackeray. Shaheen Dhanda's "crime" was to write on her Facebook page on Sunday that:
"People like Thackeray are born and die daily and one should not observe a 'bandh' [shutdown] for that."

And to add insult to injury, her 20 year-old friend, Renu Srinivasan, was also arrested for "liking" the comment.

With all the rubbish and vulgarity that some youngsters post on Facebook, India should be proud that members of its youth can post intelligent and mature comments. India knows better and such hypocrisy does not become it. Apparently the arrest was prompted by a leading politician of the right wing Hindu nationalist party Shiv Sena, that had been founded by Mr Thackeray. The irony is that such nationalists are closer to like-minded bigots in other countries than anything that is of true value and uniqueness in the nation they purport to love. So it is not surprising that people in India are beginning to express outrage at these ridiculous charges.

ARTICLE 19 SLAMS ASEAN HUMAN RIGHTS POSTURING

November 19, 2012

The 21st Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) held in Cambodia has just drafted its very own declaration of human rights. Cause for celebration? Apparently not!

The principles provide enough loopholes to make it a worthless mesh. Its provisos cover national security, public order and morality; in other words anything a government may choose to take objection to. ASEAN was conceived in 1967 and its original membership consisted of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. It was later expanded to include Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. The ten countries are pledged to support each other in matters of national security as well as economic and social well-being.

Dr Agnes Callamard, ARTICLE 19 Executive Director, had this to say about the hypocritical declaration:

"The ASEAN Declaration is a slap to the face, there is no other way to interpret it. With the Cambodian government cracking down on protestors and activists while it sells off the country’s resources; with Vietnam patrolling the Internet and locking up bloggers; with Thailand’s draconian lèse-majesté law and its devastating penalties; It is clear that the priority of the ASEAN governments is self-preservation above all else." Ouch: the truth hurts!

MALAWI'S BANDA DESERVES THE SUPPORT OF HER PEOPLE

November 18, 2012

President Joyce Banda of Malawi has revealed that confidential documents that she has gained access to as head of state, contain details of a plot by her predecessor, President Bingu wa Mutharika, to have her assassinated. Speaking to the Sunday Times, President Banda spoke of her tribulations as vice-president and how Mr Mutharika had made it immediately clear that he wanted her replaced by his brother. The alleged plot was planned on 2010 and involved having a loaded lorry smash into her car. The "accident" occured, but Ms Banda had been sitting in a different car in the motorcade on the advice of one of her security officers. She explained that the motivation was to stop her form inheriting the presidency in the event of President Mutharika dying in office.

As president, Ms Banda has struggled to tackle the corruption that was endemic in the corridors of power and in her pursuit for reform she found many of her initiatives blocked. Some proposed changes were stalled by public opinion, such as her intention of legalising homosexuality. Despite the hurdles, however, she has managed to make a positive impact, reviving foreign aid, tackling the economy and trimming government excesses. Her problem is that the benefits of her programmes may not be felt until after the next elections due in another 15 months.

It is remarkable that she has managed to achieve so much already. Given the full trust and backing of her people, she would no doubt steer her nation to prosperity and full human rights for all Malawians, irrespective of their gender, religion or sexuality.

CUBA GETS A TRANSGENDER COUNCILLOR

November 17, 2012

Anyone who watched the outstanding film Fresa y Chocolate (Strawberry and Chocolate) would know that Cuba was no picnic for homosexuals.

Adela Hernandez, 48, is a real life example of the persecution Cuba's communist regime meted out to anyone in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) bracket. Born "male", she chose to live as a female since a child. Her family eventually reported her to the authorities when a teenager and she was brutally imprisoned for "dangerousness" for two years. Well, things in Cuba are certainly changing...

Adela Hernandez has now become Cuba's first transgender official, winning a seat in the municipal election in the central province of Villa Clara. The change has been gradual and started with Fidel Castro himself expressing regret over Cuba's anti-LBTG policies.Nowadays even the daughter of President Raul, Mariela Castro, can openly advocating for civil unions and people like Ms Hernandez can be councillors.

Perhaps Cuba can now be an example to other homophobic nations and show that openness and the exercise of human rights brings enlightenment and dignity to a nation.

NOBLESSE OBLIGE

November 16, 2012

Whatever happened to good old diplomacy? Of course there have always been heads of state without savoir faire, but it seems as thought this is becoming the norm. So many leaders think it cool to just bulldoze ahead like a spoilt executive running daddy's company. Civilities are what keep us civilised.

Today for instance the President of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaite, defied protocol by welcoming the nation's newly elected parliament with a written message. she may as well have sent a text message. The former president, Valdas Adamkus, has suggested that it is because of her differences with the leading parties following the October elections. The 141-seat parliament was split between the three major parties: the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (38 seats) the Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats (33 seats) and the Labour Party (29 seats). Two seats were left vacant following allegations of allegations of foul play in two single-mandate electoral constituencies. A president has to be gracious and respect due process. Ms Grybauskaite will now be expected to chose the premier from the Social Democratic Party as it is the one with the most seats. She'll be wise not to ignore tradition too much or her stance may backfire.

ANY MAN'S DEATH DIMINISHES ME...

November 15, 2012

The news today has been pretty depressing. More climate madness; intensified hostilities in the Middle East; Russia sleepwalking into a dictatorship; the economic downturn spreading like the plague... Even the trains can't seem to be able to run on time any more! Someone with a clapper-board needs to shout: "CUT! This just won't do!" Let's take another shot; without all the crap this time!" He or she had better hurry, or we are going to end up with a real mess on our hands...

"No man is an iland, intire of it selfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Mannor of thy friends or of thine owne were; any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee...."

John Donne
From Meditation 17

THE KARMA OF THE BAILOUT

November 14, 2012

There have been protests and riots in many European countries today: Italy, Portugal, Greece, Spain... It seems unfair when the governments in question have so little options. But they are all guilty really. With the the general consensus to bail out the banks, the man in the street was being to pay for the misdeeds of the powerful. The very people whose threats and supercilious insensitivity is still leading people to jump out of windows. So the chickens have come home to roost. Where did they expect them to go?

DEATH PENALTY WOULD BE DEATH BLOW TO TURKEY

November 13, 2012

Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, objects to the label "moderate Islam"; and rightly so... After all there is very little in his vision of Turkey that is even close to moderate. The generals saw it coming so he quickly put them in their place. And step by certain step he drags Turkey back in time. Just like Putin's Russia, liberties are being eroded behind the convenient façade of traditionalism.

Mr Erdoğan's latest retrograde move was to announce that he was considering reintroducing the death penalty that had been abolished ten years ago. He blames the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) and their escalation of violence in pursuit of autonomy for the necessity of it. So on the one hand he pretends to want to join the European Union, while on the other he is eroding Turkey's every chances of doing so. Regular visitors to Turkey complain of a dark cloud descending over the nation. the Prime Minister review his policies before he too becomes a victim of his own momentum.

What the Autonomous Turkish Republic of Kurdistan could look like within Turkey
He could start by listening to the PKK. Karakalpakstan with an area of 164,900 km², resides perfectly happy as an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan, whose total area is just 447,400 km²; so why does Mr Erdoğan not look for a similar solution? By doing this he would make his EU bid more realistic and at the same time give the prospective autonomous Turkish Kurdistan more incentives to be part of Turkey and that process. After that he could start considering going back to the future...

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL FOR PALESTINE

November 12, 2012

President Mahmoud Abbas has announced that the Palestinian Authority will be presenting its bid to be upgraded at the UN on November 29, 2012. His intention was shared with Arab League foreign ministers today, despite US and Israeli opposition to the request. If successful, Palestine will move up to the position of "non-member observer state" from that of "permanent observer" and as such may have access to more negotiating opportunities.

Palestine's history goes right back to the dawn of civilisation and the heady days of Jericho: if fair is fair, it should be elevated to UN member status with immediate effect. So letting it crawl up to its deserved place is the least the international community should do for it. Perhaps its time President Obama stood up to pressures of the Mafia-like powers that surround him. Perhaps it is time he took some risks for justice. After all he has had enough time to consolidate his power base now, so he should start standing for something.

ASSAD'S LAST CHANCE TO NEGOTIATE

November 11, 2012

Syrian cleric Moaz al-Khatib, who had fled to Egypt last July after several interrogations and detentions, has been chosen to lead the opposition movement against President Bashar al-Assad and his government. Sheikh Moaz al-Khatib, 52, is a moderate who is also cultured and experienced in dealing with people and events; as such, he appears to be the perfect choice to lead the up-until-now disjointed and somewhat unruly band of anti-Assad factions.

Sheikh al-Khatib studied applied geophysics and followed his distinguished father as Imam at the Grand Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. He has been prominent in the in the opposition movement while in exile and had warned President Assad a month ago that he should negotiate an exit strategy before it became too late. Ironically, with Sheikh al-Khatib's election, that opportunity is drawing to a close and it's now or never for President Assad. A united opposition, led by the moderate and sensible Sheikh al-Khatib, means that western powers will be more inclined to step-up their tactical support and may even be tempted to raise the stakes. Turkey, a NATO member, already has a pretext or two and now Israel, one of the USA's closest allies, is firing warning shots over Syria after one of its outpost in the occupied Golan Heights was hit in the "crossfire" from across the border.

Estimates put the death toll of the conflict, which started in March 2011, somewhere between 36,000 and 40,880; the last figure being that give by the opposition website Syrian Martyrs. UNICEF states that 500 of the dead were children. Thousands more have been made homeless or have fled the country.

With such a legacy, perhaps President Assad feels it would already be too late for him to escape with his life. Even if this were the case, the longer he hangs on, the poorer will be the chances of his friends and allies. So even if he could cherish a life prolonging at the expense of so many innocent civilians, he needs to think of those he does care about, if there are any.

RHINOS NEED MORE THAN JUST SCAPEGOATS

November 10, 2012

Friday was a good day for Africa's rhinoceroses after a judge there sentenced a poacher, Thai national Chumlong Lemtongthai, to a 40-year jail sentence. Mr Lemtongthai was the head of a criminal ring that traded rhino horns, mostly for the Asian medicine markets. Charges against South African and foreign accomplices, however, were dropped.

It is not clear why Marnus Steyl, two of his farm labourers and a couple of foreign nationals were let off the hook; not why Harry Claasens, a professional hunter and hunting safari operator, was granted complete immunity for agreeing to testify against Mr Lemtongthai. This is clearly sending out mixed messages. Even more misleading is South Africa's lax attitude to hunting. The syndicate was exploiting one South Africa's laws allowing hunters to kill one rhino a year, by paying prostitutes to pose as hunters. The government is entrusted with protecting its wildlife not exploiting it for sport.

The WWF summed it up nicely in its statement regarding the conviction:

"Sadly, this does not send a similarly strong message regarding South Africa's attitude to the ongoing involvement of its own citizens in rhino crimes."

SOUTH SUDAN DEFIES THE UN

November 9, 2012

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Navi Pillay, has raised serious concerns with South Sudan over the expulsion of a human rights officer working with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The official in question was declared persona non grata for highlighting human rights violations in the country and is currently in Uganda pending the UN's appeal.

Ms Pillay warned South Sudan that it risked being in breach of international law, as well as UN agreements pertaining to UNMISS, since it has failed to provided any evidence of misconduct relating to the member of staff in question. UNMISS was established following the creation of South Sudan on July 9, 2011, with the intention of promoting peace, security and development in the new country.

“The regular activities of a UN human rights officer cannot and should not be considered as serious misconduct or a criminal activity,” Ms Pillay said. “The promotion and protection of human rights is an essential element in a country’s development and the establishment of rule of law.”

A Train To Nowhere?
This is certainly a bad move by the government in Juba and a slap in the face for the UN who has supported the nascent nation from the onset. President Salva Kiir Mayardit should be striving to make his country a beacon of peace and hope in the troubled region. If the people wanted more of the same, they may as well have remained as they were in Sudan. Its first year did not bode well and it second one is not looking any better (see post dated July 9, 2012: South Sudan is one today: Many Happier Returns). Mr Kiir is not only letting his people down: he is letting history down.

IRAN CARRIES ON PERSECUTING

November 8,2012

So the killings in Iran continue (see post dated October 27, 2012: Iran Tribunal highlights a decade of atrocities). Last week, Mr Sattar Beheshti, was taken into custody accused of undermining national security. His crime consisted in engaging in a blog that criticised the government; his punishment it seems: torture and death. Yesterday his body was released to his family. Only one relation was allowed to attend his funeral.

When a government degenerates to the point of using such evil tactics, it deserves to be overthrown and Iran has been at that point for many years now. Of course, Israel would be more than willing to oblige. The irony is that Iran may be quite justified in seeking to achieve a nuclear status, particularly when Israel's capability creates an unfair balance of power in the region. Irony, because its real evil is its internal policy, which so oppressive that its people could hardly say "boo", let alone rise up in a Persian Spring. So, like Al Capone, who was finally arrested for tax evasion, despite his countless crimes, the Iranian government may also find that Karma always manages to find the back door.

DARFUR ON THE EDGE

November 7, 2012

More trouble in Darfur has prompted the acting head of the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to urge the Government of Sudan to urgently launch an investigation into the violence.

The UN website reported the incident on its website today:

"UNAMID had received reports some days ago of an alleged attack on civilians that resulted in fatalities, an abduction of a civilian and widespread population displacement in Sigili, located in the Shawa area, about 40 kilometres southeast of El Fasher, the capital city of the west Sudanese state of North Darfur. The attack reportedly took place on Friday."

Despite the various peace talks between the Sudanese government and Darfuri guerrillas after the worse of the Darfur Genocide between 2003 and 2010, the situation is still volatile. Much of the region had been operating as an independent sultanate for several centuries before it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. Many of the inhabitants, however, are non-Arab and these have age-old grievances against the Arab "elite".

UNAMID was established in July 2007 in order to protect civilians, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and assist with "an inclusive peace process in Darfur". This is all very welcome, but unless the government of Omar al-Bashir doubles its efforts to foster harmony, UNAMID will simply become more and more vulnerable in a festering scenario. President al-Bashir has, despite his indictment, shown that he can at times, make concessions and think creatively, as some of his negotiations regarding the creation of South Sudan has shown. Let him surprise us again. Established in July 2007, UNAMID has the protection of civilians as its core mandate. In addition, the Mission is tasked with facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid and assisting with an inclusive peace process in Darfur, among other responsibilities.

THREE CHEERS FOR MOZAMBIQUE!

November 6, 2012

The Primeiras and Segundas Archipelago, a chain of 10 almost uninhabited barrier islands and two coral reef complexes which is situated off the coast of Mozambique, has been declared a marine protected area. Mozambique's conscientious decision has made it the administrator of Africa’s largest coastal marine reserve, covering an area of about ten and a half square kilometres.

The first European to discover the islands was the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama in 1498 and they soon became a docking area for Portuguese trading vessels. Their rich fishing stocks and natural beauty attracted a fishing and tourism, both of which were detrimental to the delicate bio-diverse balance. The coral and turtles were particularly at risk.

The WWF (which stood for "World Wildlife Fund" when it was founded in 1961)has spent years striving for this outcome. Florêncio Marerua, Mozambique´s WWF Country Director was delighted with result:

“This is a very important step in our effort to achieve the conservation and sustainable management of Mozambique’s marine and coastal resources, as this adds a globally significant area to the network of marine protected areas along the country’s coast. It is particularly exciting that both the government authorities and local communities recognize the benefits of conserving these resources.”

The decision is a credit to Mozambique's government and its people. It is a lesson to those governments who would put profit before responsibility.

OBAMA? ROMNEY? AND THE WINNER IS...

November 5, 2012

Yesterday I spoke about the Coptic Pope and how his name was pulled out of a jar from a short-list of three, by a blindfolded boy. Well, one can't help thinking about the American elections. Think how much time, money and effort would be saved by just pulling the name out of a hat! You would definitely have to have Barack Obama, and Mitt Romney, of course, but you would have to have a third...

Let's see... It's difficult to have a candidate who does not veer towards one or towards the other... Maybe one who touches a bit of both... I know! Mickey Mouse. If Romney is religious and Obama is spiritual, Mickey now has the Jedi Knights behind him. That should cater for all tastes. So what would the different results mean?

Well, if Obama won, it would take him another four years to make a few inroads: a better health service there, a bit more for gay rights here and the closure of Guantanamo... oh no, sorry, not quite. Oh well, "two out of three ain't bad".

Romney would certainly bring a few surprises out of the hat with him. Perhaps a New Jerusalem (probably void of Arabs), maybe a New Iran (probably void of Persians), but certainly and a brand New America (probably void of liberalism).

It's not looking good. But hey, we must not forget Mickey Mouse. He'll add magic, he'll appeal to the young... and he has all the qualities essential for a good politician: he's resilient, he's resourceful, he knows how to act and most importantly he's at ease with vermin. Mickey: you've got my vote!

HABEMUS PAPAM (A COPTIC ONE, THAT IS...)

November 4, 2012

The Coptic Church has elected a new Pope to succeed Pope Shenouda III, who died last March. Bishop Tawadros, 60, has been chosen in a ceremony in St Mark's Cathedral, in Egypt's capital, Cairo. The nomination follows an age-old ritual that involves the compiling of a short-list of three candidates, one of whose names is then randomly pulled out of a container by a blindfolded boy. The other two nominees were Bishop Raphael and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk. The three were originally chosen last October in a ballot involving almost two and a half thousand Church officials and community members.

Bishop Tawadros has a tough act to follow. Pope Shenouda III had been in office for over 40 years and had managed to guide and extend the Church through difficult times and negotiations, while maintaining his gravitas and traditions of the Coptic faith. Nevertheless the new Pope has a wealth of experience to back him up. Apart from his ecclesiastical knowledge and work, which includes his current post as aide to the acting leader, Bishop Pachomius, he is well read, has studied in Britain and has even managed a pharmaceutical business. He will need great skill in these uncertain times following the fall of President Hosni Mubarak and the dominance of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

The Coptic Church is very similar in doctrines and traditions to the Eastern (Greek) Orthodox Church. It went its own way after the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD, owing to differences of opinion regarding the nature of Christ. It is the main Christian faith in Egypt, with a following of about 10% of the 90 million or so inhabitants. It is unlikely that the new Pope will have to face the modernising forces other Christian denominations are having to come to terms with. His main concern will be the safety and freedom of worship of the Coptic faithful in Egypt. He may well need Heaven's help in order to achieve this difficult task.

CATHOLIC CHURCH TARGETS SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BILL

November 3, 2012

The Catholic Church in France has launched a full-on attack against same-sex marriage, as a draft bill to legalise it is set to be debated in parliament on Wednesday. The bill is being proposed by President Francois Hollande's left-wing government and aims to give same-sex couples similar rights to traditional couples, including adoption.

Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois of Paris complained that:

“Changes of this magnitude require a broad national debate that does not involve random sampling or pressure from some ostentatious lobby.”

"Ostentatious"? Quite a remarkable choice of words coming form the higher echelons of the Catholic Church. The cardinal, who was speaking at the annual plenary meeting of Catholic bishops at Lourdes today, went on to call for opposition to same-sex marriage by every democratic means possible. This is bold, seeing as laïcité, or secularism, is enshrined in the French Constitution. Can the Church really prove that there is something socially or ethically wrong with same-sex unions and that its antagonism is not purely on religious grounds? Unlikely.

In France, a civil partnership contract, the Pacte Civil de Solidarité (PACS), was introduced 13 years ago and and it allows for a civil union between two adults of any gender. This has largely been taken up by opposite-sex couples, with only 6% or so "pacsé" from same-sex couples this year. That law too caused much controversy, but it did not, in the end, lead to the decadence predicted by those fighting the change. The outcome of this one, should it pass, would be equally non-apocalyptic; it would simply usher a fairer and more inclusive society.

THE METEOROLOGICAL CONGRESS CANNOT DO IT ALONE

November 2, 2012

"Prevention and preparedness are the heart of public health. Risk management is our daily bread and butter. Information on climate variability and climate change is a powerful scientific tool that assists in these tasks. Up to now, this tool has been underutilized... Climate and weather affect the air people breathe, the food they eat, and the water they drink."

This is the point Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, made at her opening speech of the Extraordinary Session of the World Meteorological Congress in Geneva, Switzerland on 29 October, 2012.

The Congress, sponsored by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), plans to finalise a model for the Global Framework for Climate Services. This will focus on four areas that are dependent on an understanding of climate change for their development:

health, agriculture and food security, disaster risk management, and water.

UNISDR chief, Margareta Wahlstrom, emphasised Dr Chan's urgency, stating that:

"Over the last ten years the top 40 recipients of humanitarian aid experienced over 1,500 major reported disasters affecting over 900 million people and causing some 800,000 deaths. Many of these disaster events have been weather related. Many have caused economic losses which have put enormous strains on already fragile states."

It's all well and good to keep an eye on the weather, but unless nations do more to stop it going mad in the first place, the UN's role in this respect will end up being like that of the Red Cross or Red Crescent in a war zone: picking up the pieces. If anything good came out of Hurricane Sandy, it is that the US is being forced to take note.

HAITI DEALT ANOTHER BLOW

November 1, 2012

The United Nations headquarters in New York was closed for "an unprecedented three days straight" following the devastation caused by hurricane Sandy on the east coast of the United States, but one of the UN's first concerns as business resumed, was to draw attention to another of Sandy's casualties: Haiti.

The head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)in Haiti, Johan Peleman, said that up to a million people there now faced "food insecurity" as the the half-island nation was dealt another devastating blow from nature. As well as Sandy, the country was hit by a protracted drought this year and another fierce hurricane, Isaac, which struck last summer. All this in the backdrop of the cataclysmic earthquake which destroyed much of the country in January 2010. Sandy contributed another 20,000 or so homes to the heaps of ruins.

Mr Peleman said that the new storm had possibly wiped out many of southern Haiti's crops:

“Already, the drought and the previous storm had hit the northern part of the country very badly and we had seen the levels of food insecurity rise there... With the south being hit now, we are going to face, in the next couple of months, very serious problems of malnutrition and food insecurity.”

Equally worrying is the spectre of a rapid spread of water-borne diseases and a in particular Cholera.

Nature has not been the only power that has reaped havoc in Haiti. Foreign colonial powers have exploited Haiti and contributed to making it the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. See post dated July 20, 20112: We all owe Haiti a debt.