Capitalism: Stop Them Before They Shock Again

Naomi Klein Issues Haiti Disaster Capitalism Alert

Speaking to Amy Goodman in New York, journalist Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, addressed the crisis in Haiti: “We have to be absolutely clear that this tragedy — which is part natural, part unnatural — must, under no circumstances, be used to, one, further in debt Haiti and, two, to push through unpopular corporatist policies in the interest of our corporations."
The first headlines told the story: Aid came quickly -- food, water, medicine, rescue workers -- from Europe and the United States, Israel, China, neighboring Cuba, tiny Iceland, from American citizens in power boats and Cessnas....but what came first from the United States government was troops. As wearisome as it is to say in the face of the appalling conditions in Haiti today, the long-term needs of this abused people need to be addressed now, too. Like a vacant lot in the South Bronx, Haiti is now on the market. It will be a further tragedy if, like the gorgeous beaches of Southeast Asia after the tsunamis or the buildable land in New Orleans post-Katrina, the country is auctioned off to exploiters at firesale prices.

For more on the history of American militarism in Haiti, visit Amy Goodman's Democracy Now!
Further reading: Naomi Klein's website.
Disaster Profiteering: US 'Security' Companies Offer 'Services' in Haiti by Jeremy Scahill (Common Dreams 2010-01-18)

Another take: The Right Testicle of Hell: History of a Haitian Holocaust by Greg Palast (Greg Palast 2010-01-17)
Update: More Pain for Devastated Haiti: Under the Pretense of Disaster Relief, U.S. Running a Military Occupation by Arun Gupta (AlterNet 2010-02-12)