Should cruise ships have returned to Haiti?

As humanitarian aid arrives and rescue workers continue their efforts to rebuild Haiti following the devastating earthquake last week, there's been much talk about Royal Caribbean's decision to resume calls on Labadee — the cruise line's private “island” destination about 100 miles from capital city Port-au-Prince (it was not damaged in the quake).

Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas was the first to return, on Friday. And, despite rumors on Cruise Critic's message boards that Royal Caribbean might reverse its decision, swapping Labadee for sea days, a cruise line spokeswoman tells us there are no plans to cancel calls. Both Navigator (which arrived today) and Liberty of the Seas (which calls on the port Friday) have been loaded with 80 pallets worth of supplies. On Friday, Celebrity Solstice will make its regularly scheduled stop — also bringing passengers and aid.

The majority of Cruise Critic readers support Royal Caribbean's decision, according to a homepage poll that ran on both cruisecritic.com and cruisecritic.co.uk. A resounding 67 percent of readers supported Royal Caribbean decision, saying that it was a good idea to continue calling in the region as the ships and passengers were bringing much needed aid and money.

There are some cruise travelers who disagree with the quick return, however, as conversations on controversial subject continue on Cruise Critic's message boards. “I have donated my money, but I would not feel comfortable going there for a vacation at this time,” posts Cruise Critic member jerseygirl79. “Not only would I not feel safe, but I wouldn't feel comfortable enjoying a vacation so close to utter devastation and loss of life.”

Ac110, meanwhile, disagrees: “Don't you see that depriving these people of employment is the last thing we should be doing right now?! Go, enjoy, and tip generously.”

Member Mechcc offers even more advice to those arriving in the port who want to help: “First off, everyone gets off the ship and heads to the market and buys a trinket at an outrageous price. And add a few dollars to the price. Then tip someone on the beach for carrying their bag. It has been reported that food that is not eaten by the passengers is taken home by the Haitians working at Labadee. So passengers — don't eat while on Labadee. Have a big breakfast, head back to the ship for a slice of pizza for lunch, and enjoy your dinner onboard.

“Leave the food that is prepared at Labadee for your enjoyment to be taken by the Haitians. Some of it will find its way to the shelters. You can do without it. Also, leave a few unopened bottles of water with the Haitians. And if you are on a cruise that RCI is donating profits from that stop to charity, well buy an excursion. You don't have to go on it, just buy it. Or donate that money to one of the charities that are helping out.

“Honestly, you can get off the ship, contribute, and have a subdued day. I also would probably leave several pair of brand new pairs of flip-flops on the beach. Not to mention a few new T-shirts and whatever. New and unused.”


More from Cruise Critic
Major cruise line returning to Europe
How you can help in Haiti
Cruise line relief efforts

Beyond Royal Caribbean, cruise line relief efforts vary. A passenger who was onboard Carnival Miracle in the Caribbean when the quake hit told Cruise Critic via e-mail that passengers were not told about the tragedy until the next day. “We wished Carnival would do something ... food, water,” she writes. “Granted passengers were on ‘vacation,’ but that didn't mean they stopped caring about humanity. Another reason to look to Royal Caribbean or Celebrity for our next cruise.”

Carnival Corporation on Monday announced that its cruise brands — including, among others, Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Crystal Cruises, P&O Cruises and Holland America Line — will donate $5 million toward Haiti relief via multiple international organizations.

What do those closer to the disaster think? Cruise Critic Editor-in-Chief Carolyn Spencer Brown shares this firsthand story after engaging in conversation with a Haitian taxi driver in Miami while traveling there this weekend. “He's from Labadee of all places, which is a good distance from Port-au-Prince. I asked him: how do Haitians feel about a cruise ship coming back so soon. He said that Labadee was not affected and that it's still crucial for people there to keep working, to have some sense of normalcy — and that the country needs any supplies it can get (which Royal Caribbean was bringing in).

“I said, ‘So it's not disrespectful, then?’ He looked incredulous, and said, ‘absolutely not.’ ”

Royal Caribbean has committed to providing $1 million in humanitarian relief to Haiti, a portion of which will augment the company's Crew Relief Fund, which can be drawn on by any of the company's more than 200 Haitian crewmembers. Passengers onboard can make a donation to Food for the Poor's Haiti Relief Fund, via a charge to their onboard account; others can visit the organization's Web site to make a donation.

For more information on how to help Haiti, check out our list of worthy charities.

Source:msnbc.msn.com/

Guatemala, Venezuela, Argentina earthquakes after Haiti Earthquake

It's one week after the Haiti Earthquake and the World has seen earthquakes in Argentina, Venezuela and most recently Guatemala.

This AP video shows the eruption of a quake in Guatemala City, Guatemala:

It was 6.0 on the Richter Scale and rocked Guatemala and parts of El Salvador on Monday, but no damage was reported.

On Sunday a 6.3 earthquake was reported in the South Atlantic, just near Argentina. The Latin American Herald Tribune reports:


The earthquake occurred some 380 kilometers (236 miles) south-southeast of Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego, in the Drake Passage at a depth of 25 kilometers (15 miles).
Again, no word of damage or a tsunami warning.

Venezuela was struck by a 5.6 Richter Scale earthquake, Friday of last week, and right on the heels of the 7.0 Haiti Earthquake. According to NPR (National Public Radio), it hit near the coastal town of Carupano, Venezuela, which is just 813 miles from Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
A point six miles below and 10 miles from Port-au-Prince was the epicenter of Tuesday's 7.0 Haiti Earthquake, which left thousands of victims.

The US Geological Survey reports that the quake hit 7.3 miles below the ground in a region called Sucre, Venezuela.

There's no word of damage; just reports of people scared and shaken up.

The last large quake in Venezuela was in September 2008; it was 6.2 on the Richter Scale.

There's no word if these quake events in South and Central America and the Carribean - all close to each other - are in some way related, as of this writing. But the timing alone would seem a good reason to investigate what's happening.

Source:sfgate.com/

Sandra Bullock Donates $1 Million to Haiti Relief

Golden Globe winner Sandra Bullock has turned anything but a Blind Side to the situation in Haiti – and has donated $1 million in relief aid to the victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake, which is now estimated to have killed 200,000 people and left 1.5 million people homeless.

Bullock's contribution matches those by George Clooney and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, reports Variety. The trade paper also notes that Gisele Bündchen has pledged $1.5 million to Haiti, while Madonna says she has given $250,000.



The gifts come as the star roster for Friday's multi-network Hope for Haiti telethon, organized and to be co-hosted by Clooney and Wyclef Jean, continues to expand. Among those set to perform now include Christina Aguilera, Bono, Alicia Keys, Sting and Justin Timberlake. Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts have already been announced as answering the phones during the telethon.



The special will air live from Los Angeles and New York at 8 p.m. ET on MTV, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX, BET, The CW and HBO, among other networks. Donations will benefit Haiti relief efforts by the Red Cross, UNICEF, the Yele Haiti Foundation, Oxfam America and Partners in Health and be divided evenly among the groups.



On Monday, a tearful Jean defended his foundation against allegations that he profited from donations to the Yele.

RELATED: How Telethons Help: Haiti Will Be Clooney's Third





Reaching Out with Help

Others heeding the call to action include Taylor Swift and Ashley Judd, who already helped the University of Kentucky (Judd's alma mater) raise $1 million during a 4½-hour Hoops for Haiti telethon on Lexington's WKYT-TV.



U2 has also penned a song for a separate Haiti relief event being organized by Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz.



Major League Baseball also hopped on the bandwagon, pledging a $1 million starter donation. The New York Yankees came forward with $500,000, and the Toronto Blue Jay owners Rogers Communications gave $250,000 in cash and goods.



And some stars are literally giving the clothes off their backs to help the effort. Meryl Streep, Gerard Butler, Amy Poehler and Olivia Wilde are donating the outfits they wore at Sunday's Golden Globes to Artists for Peace and Justice, which will auction the outfits to the public on eBay next week.

Source:people.com/

Wyclef defends his Yele Haiti Foundation, but admits mistakes

His country facing a veritable apocalypse, Wyclef Jean took time out Monday to make an impassioned plea for help and yet another emotional defense of his charitable motives.

Days after The Smoking Gun posted financial records suggesting his Yéle Haiti Foundation may have enriched the former Fugee, Wyclef reiterated remarks from this weekend and insisted that all donations were going directly to help his homeland.



"Have I made mistakes? Yes," Jean said a press conference Monday. "Did I use Yéle money for personal gains? Absolutely not. The books are open. We have a clean bill of health from an auditor."



The 37-year-old musician and his organization have been at the forefront of relief efforts in Haiti, rallying support from politicians and Hollywood bigwigs like George Clooney.



"We went inside the belly of the beast", Jean said. "I was the one carrying the little girls to the morgue. In reality, my people are dying. I have to go back for relief. I do not cry for myself, I cry for them."



Because the destruction is so severe, Jean called for a mass exodus from the capital.



"I am asking the world to move 2 million people out of Port-au-Prince," Jean said. "If I ask them to leave they will leave. We need to keep Haiti alive."



Meanwhile, celebrities are continuing to rally relief support for Haiti, with John Travolta, Bette Midler, Usher and Josh Duhamel among the latest to pitch in.



Travolta is planning to personall fly aid into Haiti.



"I have arranged for a plane to take down some volunteer ministers and some supplies and some medics," Travolta told Entertainment Tonight. "My church has also arranged for 80 medics and 33 volunteers to go down. I hope that inspires others as well. It's needed."



Duhamel, meanwhile, is participating in a two-mile beach run in Santa Monica on Jan. 23 that will benefit earthquake victims.



"If you're like me, you've seen the pain and suffering going on in Haiti right now, and really feel the need to help, to physically help-to actually DO SOMETHING, " Duhamel tweeted Monday. "Well, I think we can!"



The run will be used as a fund-raising vehicle for the American Red Cross. Those interested can RSVP at youthrun4haiti.com.



Usher has partnered up with the United Nations Foundation to send aid, encouraging young people worldwide to join in.



"If only 1 percent of the world's youth population raised $5 each, we could raise $150 million to support the United Nation's relief efforts," he said in a statement.



Amassed donations for Usher's initiative can be sent via www.ushersnewlook.org or by texting "CERF" to 90999 to donate $5 to the cause.



Finally, Midler announced that she will collect monetary donations from fans at her Las Vegas show match the amount she receives up until her final performance of The Showgirl Must Go On at Caesars Palace on Jan. 31.



Thus far, Midler has raised $38,742.62 for Doctors Without Borders.

Source:postzambia.com/

EU offers Haiti more than €400m in aid

The European Union announced on Monday that is offering more than €400m to Haiti in humanitarian aid and longer-term assistance.

The funds consist of €122m in immediate aid from the European Commission and the bloc’s 27 member-states, €107m for short-term rehabilitation and reconstruction, and about €200m to help Haiti rebuild in the medium to long-term.

In addition, EU heads of government will broaden the agenda of an economic policy summit planned for February 11 in Brussels to discuss reconstruction efforts and EU support for a proposed international donor conference on Haiti.

Karel De Gucht, the EU’s outgoing commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, is to visit Haiti on Wednesday. On the same day, Britain’s Lady Ashton, who is in charge of EU foreign policy, will visit Washington for talks with Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, and New York to confer with Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary-general.

EU leaders, speaking after an emergency meeting of the bloc’s foreign affairs council on Monday, said they anticipated that several European governments would send specially trained police forces to Haiti to help maintain security as foreign aid pours in.

The policemen will come from the European Gendarmerie Force, a unit set up in 2006 to improve the EU’s crisis management capabilities.

“There is an urgent need for greater security to make it easier for international assistance to be distributed,” said Miguel Ángel Moratinos, foreign minister of Spain, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency.

He said he expected that about 150 gendarmes would be despatched to Haiti.

However, he rejected suggestions from a French official that US military control of Port-au-Prince’s airport was hampering the aid effort. “We should thank the US administration for making sure the airport is working,” said Mr Moratinos.

Lady Ashton said she had no reason to think that NGOs felt the aid effort in Haiti was being disrupted by the arrival of too many high-profile foreign dignitaries in the capital and its airport.

“I’ve had no complaints of any kind from NGOs,” said Lady Ashton. “We’ve respected what the United Nations asked us to do, which was not to go to the region immediately.”

The EU leaders said one of their greatest concerns was the earthquake’s destruction of the Haitian state’s basic administrative capacities.

“We will send a team of EU experts to assess the most critical needs of the Haitian state and civil administration. This is about the physical devastation of the state structure and the fact that a lot of high officials are missing,” said Mr De Gucht.
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Source:ft.com/