It shook again!

The Clintons are there. This time, not on a delayed honeymoon as they first did back in Dec 75 in Haiti.

This time, to coördinate UN and US efforts along with other 10,000 NGO’s (whose competing interests i.e. suboptimizing-  result in logistical nightmares). Before the world gets compassion-fatigued, it shook again. This time 6.1 magnitude.

Why, why, why. Katie Couric’s hand was held tied by a 13-year-old boy, whose leg had been broken and face burned.

Images of Haiti. Images of a world in suffering!

Should be enough to ruin your cream-cheese bagel.

Haiti, a microcosm of the world at large, demands nothing more than a seat at the table.

The fact that it has Third-world living standard in Second-world hemisphere traces back to its root in history of slavery.  I will not venture down the road of Voodooism in trying to explain away present suffering.

All I am commenting on is that we have gone on and on about climate change, alternative energy, human right and equality, liberty etc… sounds like “all for one, one for all” Musketering philosophy, until the rubbers hit the road.

Then we find out to our own surprise that compassion sometimes is wearing thin. One quake and a few aftershocks.

OK, we can handle it. But competing long-term development projects? Iraq, Afghanistan, and Haiti?

Pretty soon, this coming decade will become the NGO decade. Rush will rush to saying that it’s a decade of “meals on wheels, or meals on trucks (Mass senatorial election).

With leadership comes privileges and responsibilities. America and UN are facing tests , just as Haiti its own. There will be many learning curves in emergency and development efforts. Starting from our very own nature: are we compassionate creatures, or basically selfish human being?

If the later, then putting together 10,000 NGO’s which in turn are comprised of selfish people, the “network effect” will result in fingers-pointing and worst of all, compassion-fatigue. With the climate rate we are experiencing, there will be more disaster coming (flooding in Long Beach?)  Maybe we should outsource some development efforts to the Chinese. It makes sense and more cost-containing. Win-win solution. After all, China is an emerging leader by its own right, seeking to move up the value chain. Those who share the burden of suffering alleviation tend not to fight each other (which will inevitably produce more suffering). Acrobatically, the Chinese team work well together, albeit  strong handedness. Haiti doesn’t care what modus operandi outside help take (doesn’t matter if the cat is black or white, as long as it catches the mouse) even if help comes via the Royal Caribbean cruise line.